JP2022070296A - Self checkout device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a self checkout device that can be used for a prepayment system and a deferred payment system.SOLUTION: A self checkout device 1 is a device that allows users of various types of shops such as restaurants to perform a payment. The self checkout device 1 includes: an issuance unit 106 for issuing a prepayment ticket such as a food ticket according to a payment before a store is used; a reading unit 109 for reading price information recorded in a deferred payment ticket issued to pay the price after the store is used; and reception units 103, 104, and 105 for receiving payments of the price for the prepayment ticket and the deferred payment ticket.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a self-accounting device used in various stores such as restaurants.

For example, in restaurants and the like, self-accounting devices for customers themselves to settle payments are widespread. In recent years, in order to improve the convenience, a self-accounting device having various functions in addition to the conventional settlement function and ticket selling function has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a ticket vending machine provided with an arbitrary information input means for inputting arbitrary information by an input method different from the selection input of the menu to be ordered. In the case of this ticket vending machine, it is possible to convey more detailed requests for the selected menu to the store side, and it is possible to improve convenience.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-134707

By the way, the conventional self-accounting device is for the user to purchase a prepaid ticket such as a meal ticket and pay the price in advance, and can support a postpaid method in which the user pays the price after using the store. There wasn't. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not convenient because it is not possible to properly use the prepaid method and the postpaid method by one self-accounting device.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a main object thereof is to provide a self-accounting device capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the self-accounting device according to one aspect of the present invention is a self-accounting device capable of performing payment settlement by the store user himself / herself, and is a prepaid ticket according to the payment of the price before using the store. The ticketing department that issues the ticket, the reading unit that reads the price information recorded in the postpaid ticket issued for payment after using the store, and the reception desk that accepts the payment of the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket. It is characterized by having a part.

In the above aspect, the output unit may further include an output unit that makes payment information regarding payment received by the reception unit distinguishable between prepaid and postpaid and outputs it to the outside.

Further, in the above aspect, the postpaid ticket may be for the user who has received the issuance of the prepaid ticket to pay an additional price.

Further, in the above aspect, when the user who has received the issuance of the prepaid ticket pays the price by the postpaid ticket, the prepaid ticket is further provided with a linking unit for linking the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket, and the output section is linked. Sales information regarding the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket may be output to the outside.

Further, in the above aspect, the image pickup unit for photographing the user may be further provided, and the linking section may link the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket based on the image captured by the image pickup unit.

Further, in the above aspect, when the user who has been issued the prepaid ticket pays the price by the postpaid ticket, the postpaid ticket is attached with the identification information of the prepaid ticket, and the identification information is read by the reading unit. The linked portion may link the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket based on the read identification information.

Further, in the above aspect, a receipt issuing unit that issues a receipt including the sum of the prices of the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket associated with the linked unit may be further provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to support both prepaid and postpaid payments for users.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the POS system including the self-accounting apparatus of embodiment. Schematic front view showing the external configuration of the self-accounting device. A block diagram showing the configuration of a self-accounting device. A flowchart showing the procedure of prepaid reception processing. A flowchart showing the procedure of postpaid reception processing.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that each embodiment shown below exemplifies a method and an apparatus for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to the following. not. The technical idea of the present invention may be modified in various ways within the technical scope described in the claims.

The self-accounting device of the present embodiment is a device used by the customer himself / herself to settle the price in various stores. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation thereof will be described by taking as an example the case where the self-accounting device of the present embodiment is installed in a restaurant.

[Configuration of POS system]
The self-accounting device of the present embodiment constitutes a POS (Point Of Sales) system together with other external devices. Hereinafter, the configuration of the POS system will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a POS system including the self-accounting device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the self-accounting device 1 is installed in a store S, which is a restaurant, and is communicably connected to a kitchen terminal 2 provided in the kitchen of the store S. Further, the self-accounting device 1 is communicably connected to the management server 3 provided outside via the Internet 4. The POS system of the present embodiment includes these self-accounting devices 1, a kitchen terminal 2, and a management server 3.

The kitchen terminal 2 includes a printer 2a for printing on thermal paper and a display unit 2b composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. As will be described later, when the user places an additional order or the like, the kitchen terminal 2 creates a postpaid ticket using the printer 2a in response to an input instruction from the person in charge of the store. Further, the kitchen terminal 2 displays information and the like received from the self-accounting device 1 on the display unit 2b.

The management server 3 includes a database that stores sales information and the like received from the self-accounting device 1, and performs sales management and sales analysis of each store based on the database. The management status, analysis results, etc. are supplied to information terminals on the store side, which are composed of personal computers, smartphones, and the like.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the self-accounting device 1 is communicably connected to various systems for performing electronic payment via the Internet 4. The electronic payment here includes payment by credit card / debit card, payment by various electronic money, and the like.

[Structure of self-accounting device]
Next, the detailed configuration of the self-accounting device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an external configuration of the self-accounting device 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2, the self-accounting device 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 10, and each component is housed in the housing 10. A change port 11 for discharging change is provided at the lower part of the housing 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the self-accounting device 1 includes a control unit 100, a display unit 101 connected to the control unit 100, an operation unit 102, a bill processing unit 103, a coin processing unit 104, and a card processing unit 105. , A ticketing unit 106, a communication unit 107, a camera 108, and a reading unit 109. The control unit 100 has a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, controls the operation of each component 101 to 109, and executes each process described later.

The display unit 101 is a display device composed of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 101 includes names of various menus provided at the store S, menu information including images and charges thereof, payment method information indicating available payment methods, and purchase amount, deposit amount, and change amount. Various information such as amount information is displayed.

The operation unit 102 is an input device composed of a capacitive touch panel or the like. By operating the operation unit 102, the user selects a menu and a payment method, and gives an instruction to execute payment.

The bill processing unit 103 is a device for receiving bills inserted by a user, and includes a bill insertion slot and a discriminating device for discriminating the type of inserted bills. Further, the coin processing unit 104 is a device for receiving coins to be inserted by a user, and is provided with a coin insertion slot and a discriminating device for discriminating the type of inserted coins.

The card processing unit 105 is a device for making a payment by various cards such as a credit card, and includes an input device for inputting a personal identification number and the like, a reader for reading the recorded information of the card, and the like.

The ticketing unit 106 is a device for issuing a meal ticket which is a prepaid ticket. The ticket issuing unit 106 is provided with a printer that prints various information such as a date, a time, a product name, a price, and identification information of a meal ticket (hereinafter, referred to as “prepaid ticket ID”) on thermal paper.

The ticketing unit 106 is also used to issue a receipt as well as a prepaid ticket. When the user gives an instruction to issue a receipt, the ticket issuing unit 106 issues the receipt by printing it on thermal paper with a printer.

The communication unit 107 is composed of a communication module for communicating with the kitchen terminal 2 and the management server 3. Further, the camera 108 is an imaging device including an image sensor such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), and is used to image an area including a user's face.

The reading unit 109 is a reader for reading various images including a one-dimensional code such as a barcode and a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). For example, when the user pays the price by electronic money, the reading unit 109 reads the image displayed on the smartphone owned by the user. Further, as will be described later, when the postpaid ticket is issued at the store S, the reading unit 109 subsequently reads the image recorded on the paid ticket.

[Operation of self-accounting device]
Next, the operation of the self-accounting device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart. The self-accounting device 1 is executed when (1) the prepaid reception process executed when the customer of the store S purchases a meal ticket after entering the store, and (2) the user places an additional order while eating or drinking. Execute each process of postpaid acceptance processing. The details of these processes will be described below.

(1) Prepaid Receipt Processing FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of prepaid acceptance processing executed by the self-accounting device 1. The self-accounting device 1 displays a menu screen including menu information related to the menu provided in the store S on the display unit 101 (S101). The user selects a menu to be ordered from the menu screen, and selects the menu by operating the operation unit 102 of the self-accounting device 1.

When the self-accounting device 1 accepts a menu selection by the user (S102), the self-accounting device 1 displays a payment method screen including payment method information related to available payment methods on the display unit 101 (S103). The user selects a desired payment method from the payment method screen, and operates the operation unit 102 to select the payment method.

When the self-accounting device 1 accepts the selection of the payment method by the user (S104), the self-accounting device 1 executes a payment acceptance process for accepting the usage fee based on the amount of the ordered menu and the selected payment method. (S105). In this usage fee acceptance process, the fee is accepted by at least one of the banknote processing unit 103, the coin processing unit 104, the card processing unit 105, and the reading unit 109 according to the selected payment method, and then the purchase is made. Amount information including the amount, the deposit amount, and the change amount is displayed on the display unit 101. If there is a change amount, the change is discharged from the change port 11.

Next, the self-accounting device 1 uses the camera 108 to take an image of the customer (S106). At this time, at least the area including the face of the user is imaged by the camera 108. The captured image thus obtained is stored in the storage area of the control unit 100.

Next, the self-accounting device 1 issues a meal ticket using the ticketing unit 106 (S107). At this time, the ticketing unit 106 prints the date, time, product name (menu name), price, and the prepaid ticket ID of the meal ticket on thermal paper to create a meal ticket, and discharges the meal ticket to the outside. ..

After that, the self-accounting device 1 transmits order information indicating that the menu order by the user has been confirmed to the kitchen terminal 2 (S108). This order information includes the contents of the ordered menu. When the kitchen terminal 2 receives the order information from the self-accounting device 1, the kitchen terminal 2 displays the contents of the ordered menu on the display unit 2b. The person in charge of the store S starts the cooking work based on the information displayed on the display unit 2b.

Further, the self-accounting device 1 transmits the sales information related to the issued meal ticket to the management server 3 (S109). This sales information includes information printed on the meal ticket and information on the payment method used. In addition, this sales information includes identification information (hereinafter referred to as "payment method type") for identifying whether the sales this time are due to a prepaid ticket (meal ticket) or a postpaid ticket described later. It has been. The sales information transmitted in step S109 includes a payment method type indicating that the current sales are due to a prepaid ticket.

The management server 3 stores the sales information received from the self-accounting device 1 in the database. This sales information is used when the management server 3 executes sales management and sales analysis.

When the user gives an instruction to issue a receipt, the self-accounting device 1 issues a receipt by the ticketing unit 106. The instruction to issue a receipt is given not only when purchasing a meal ticket, but also when the customer finishes eating and drinking and leaves the store. For example, when the customer leaves the store, the receipt can be instructed by holding the meal ticket over the reading unit 109 of the self-accounting device 1. When the self-accounting device 1 issues a receipt in accordance with an instruction from the user, the self-accounting device 1 stores issued information indicating that the receipt has already been issued for the meal ticket related to the receipt. By using this issued information, it is possible to prevent duplicate receipts from being issued.

This completes the prepaid acceptance process. The customer who purchased the meal ticket in this way presents the meal ticket to the person in charge of the store S and waits for the product of the ordered menu. After that, when an additional order is placed while the customer is eating or drinking (for example, when a customer who ordered ramen using a meal ticket additionally orders a replacement ball when the customer is eating or drinking the ramen), the following The deferred payment acceptance process is executed.

(2) Postpaid reception processing When the customer informs the person in charge of the store S of the menu of the additional order, the person in charge creates a postpaid ticket with the printer 2a by operating the kitchen terminal 2. The date, time, product name (menu name) of the additional order, price, and identification information of the postpaid ticket (hereinafter referred to as "postpaid ticket ID") are printed on the postpaid ticket. In addition, information including at least the price among these information is represented by a two-dimensional code and printed on the postpaid ticket. The postpaid ticket created in this way is handed over to the customer by the person in charge. After that, the products of the additional order menu are provided to the customer.

After finishing eating and drinking at the store S and before leaving the store, the user pays for the menu of the additional order with the self-accounting device 1. In this case, the user holds the postpaid ticket over the reading unit 109 of the self-accounting device 1. As a result, the following postpaid acceptance process is started.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of postpaid acceptance processing executed by the self-accounting device 1. The self-accounting device 1 first reads the recorded information of the postpaid ticket by the reading unit 109 (S201). This recorded information includes the amount of the menu for additional orders.

Next, the self-accounting device 1 displays a payment method screen including payment method information related to available payment methods on the display unit 101 (S202). The user selects a desired payment method from the payment method screen, and operates the operation unit 102 to select the payment method.

When the self-accounting device 1 accepts the selection of the payment method by the user (S203), the self-accounting device 1 receives the usage fee of the additional order based on the amount of the menu included in the record information read in step S201 and the selected payment method. The payment acceptance process for accepting is executed (S204). In this usage fee acceptance process, the same process as the usage fee acceptance process in step S105 described above is performed.

Next, the self-accounting device 1 uses the camera 108 to take an image of the customer (S205). At this time, at least the area including the face of the user is imaged by the camera 108. The captured image thus obtained is stored in the storage area of the control unit 100.

Next, the self-accounting device 1 associates the user's meal ticket with the postpaid ticket (S206). This association is performed based on the captured image stored in the control unit 100. More specifically, the self-accounting device 1 matches the face of the user included in the captured image obtained in step S205 from the faces of the users included in the captured image obtained by the prepaid reception process. Identify the item and link the meal ticket issued at the time of acquisition of the specified captured image with the postpaid ticket this time. Although the focus here is on the face of the user, instead of or in addition to this, the captured images may be compared based on the clothes, hairstyle, etc. of the user.

After that, the self-accounting device 1 transmits the sales information related to the postpaid ticket to the management server 3 (S207). This sales information includes record information of the postpaid ticket including the postpaid ticket ID, information on the payment method used, payment method identification information indicating that the current sales are based on the postpaid ticket, and step S206. The prepaid ticket ID of the meal ticket associated with the postpaid ticket is included.

The management server 3 stores the sales information received from the self-accounting device 1 in the database. This sales information is used when the management server 3 executes sales management and sales analysis.

When the user gives an instruction to issue a receipt, the self-accounting device 1 issues a receipt by the ticketing unit 106. At this time, the user can instruct the issuance of the combined receipt of the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket by operating the operation unit 102. When the self-accounting device 1 receives the instruction of this total receipt, the price paid by the postpaid ticket processed in this postpaid acceptance process and the prepaid ticket associated with the postpaid ticket have already been paid. The ticketing department 106 issues a receipt including the price. However, when the issued information related to the prepaid ticket is stored, the self-accounting device 1 displays on the display unit 101 that the receipt has been issued for the prepaid ticket, and is paid by the postpaid ticket. Only the receipt of the price will be issued by the ticketing department 106.

This completes the postpaid acceptance process. As described above, in the present embodiment, the prepaid method and the postpaid method can be properly used by one self-accounting device 1, and the convenience can be improved. Further, in the present embodiment, since the information capable of discriminating between the prepaid payment and the postpaid payment is provided to the management server 3, the management server 3 can perform useful sales analysis.

In addition, in the conventional self-accounting device, when a user purchases a prepaid ticket such as a meal ticket and makes an additional order after making a prepaid price, the user needs to purchase the prepaid ticket again with the self-accounting device. However, in the self-accounting device 1 of the present embodiment, such troublesome measures are not required.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, since the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket are linked, which user pays the price only with the prepaid ticket and which user pays with both the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket. It will be possible to analyze whether the payment was made.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, since the combined receipt of the linked prepaid ticket and postpaid ticket can be issued, the convenience can be further improved.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket are linked based on the captured image, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket are based on various information that can identify the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket. It is possible to do it. For example, when the prepaid ticket ID of the meal ticket (prepaid ticket) is printed on the postpaid ticket by the printer 2a of the kitchen terminal 2, and the self-accounting device 1 reads the recorded information of the postpaid ticket, the postpaid ticket ID and the postpaid ticket ID are used. By associating the prepaid ticket ID included in the record information with the prepaid ticket, the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket may be linked.

Further, in the above embodiment, a restaurant is mentioned as an example of the store S, but it goes without saying that the self-accounting device 1 is also useful in other stores. One example is a beauty salon / barber shop. Customers of these stores may pay additional fees such as shampoo, color, and hair manicure, in addition to basic fees such as cutting. In this case, it is assumed that the basic charge will be paid with a prepaid ticket and the shampoo fee will be paid with a postpaid ticket. The self-accounting device 1 can handle such payment settlement.

Further, in the above embodiment, the self-accounting device 1 directly transmits the sales information to the management server 3, but it may be provided to the management server 3 via another device. For example, when a POS terminal is separately provided in the store S, the self-accounting device 1 may output sales information to the POS terminal, and the POS terminal receiving the information may transmit the information to the management server 3.

1 Self-accounting device 10 Housing 11 Change slot 100 Control unit 101 Display unit 102 Operation unit 103 Banknote processing unit 104 Coin processing unit 105 Card processing unit 106 Ticketing unit 107 Communication unit 108 Camera 109 Reading unit 2 Kitchen terminal 2a Printer 2b Printer 3 Management server 4 Internet

Claims (7)

In a self-accounting device that allows store users to settle payments themselves
The ticketing department that issues prepaid tickets according to the payment before using the store,
A reading unit that reads the price information recorded on the postpaid ticket issued for payment after using the store,
A self-accounting device including a reception unit that accepts payment of the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket. Further provided with an output unit that makes it possible to distinguish between prepaid and postpaid payment information regarding payment received by the reception unit and outputs it to the outside.
The self-accounting device according to claim 1. The postpaid ticket is for the user who has received the issuance of the prepaid ticket to pay an additional price.
The self-accounting device according to claim 1 or 2. When a user who has been issued a prepaid ticket pays the price with the postpaid ticket, a linking part for linking the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket is further provided.
The output unit outputs sales information regarding the associated prepaid ticket and postpaid ticket to the outside.
The self-accounting device according to claim 1 or 2. It also has an image pickup unit that captures images of users.
The linking portion links the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket based on the image captured by the imaging unit.
The self-accounting device according to claim 4. When a user who has been issued a prepayment ticket pays for the prepayment ticket, the prepayment ticket is attached with the identification information of the prepayment ticket, and the identification information is read by the reading unit.
The linking portion links the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket based on the read identification information.
The self-accounting device according to claim 4. Further provided is a receipt issuing section that issues a receipt that is the sum of the prices of the prepaid ticket and the postpaid ticket linked by the linking section.
The self-accounting device according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

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