JP2023027222A - System and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and an apparatus that can utilize a currently-used shopping basket.

SOLUTION: The system includes: a plurality of shopping baskets 6 having a reading apparatus 18 that reads information attached to a commodity; and an accounting terminal 4 that performs accounting processing on the basis of the information acquired from the reading apparatus 18. The reading apparatus 18 has a reading unit 30 that reads the information, and a transmission unit 34 that transmits the read information to the accounting terminal 4. A case 42 that stores the reading unit 30 and the transmission unit 34 is attached to an edge 14 of the shopping basket 6.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to systems and equipment used in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

Supermarkets and convenience stores have shopping baskets, and customers put the products they pick up in their baskets. These items are removed from the shopping cart at the checkout terminal and scanned with a barcode reader. The cash register terminal acquires product identification information from the barcode reader, and executes checkout processing based on the identification information.

Patent Literature 1 describes a charging system that includes a power supply unit and a plurality of shopping baskets. The shopping cart includes an electronic circuit including a scanner circuit and an information transmitting/receiving circuit, and a secondary battery as a power supply source for the electronic circuit. The information read by the scanner is transmitted to the cash register terminal via the transmitting/receiving circuit. According to the invention of Patent Literature 1, the operation of scanning the product at the cash register terminal is omitted, so the checkout process can be performed quickly.

Japanese Patent No. 6355060

However, supermarkets and convenience stores are equipped with a large number of shopping baskets, and if the shopping basket described in Patent Document 1 were to be introduced in place of these shopping baskets, the introduction cost would be enormous. end up

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a system and equipment that can utilize the cages currently in use.

In order to achieve the above object, the system of the present invention includes a plurality of baskets having reading devices that read information attached to articles, and a processing terminal that performs processing based on the information acquired from the reading devices. The reading device has a reading unit that reads the information and a transmission unit that transmits the read information to the processing terminal, and a case containing the reading unit and the transmission unit is attached to the basket. It is characterized by being attached

Further, the case is attached to the edge of the basket.

Further, the basket has a basket body and a pair of handles connected to the basket body, and the case has a portion where one of the handles is connected and the other of the handles is connected. It is characterized in that it is arranged between the

Further, the reading unit includes a camera, and the camera is provided so as to image the inside of the basket.

Further, a basket holder on which the plurality of baskets are placed is provided, the reading device has a secondary battery, and the basket holder has a power supply unit for supplying power for charging the secondary battery.

Further, the reading device has a detection unit that detects placement on the basket holder, and a reset unit that resets the read information when the placement is detected.

Further, the basket has a switching unit that switches to supply the power supplied from the power supply unit to the reading device of the other basket when another basket is superimposed thereon.

Further, the basket includes a first terminal portion arranged at one edge portion of the basket and a second terminal portion arranged at the other end portion opposite to the one edge portion, One or both of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are electrically connected to the reading device of the other basket so as to supply the power to the reading device of the other basket.

In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a reading section for reading information about an article and a transmitting section for transmitting the read information, and a case housing the reading section and the transmitting section is a basket. characterized by being attached to the

According to the present invention, the case of the reader (equipment) is configured to be attached to the basket. For this reason, the cage currently used can be utilized.

(a) A perspective view showing a cash register terminal of the accounting system according to the embodiment, (b) A side view showing a state in which a plurality of shopping baskets are stocked in a basket rack used in the accounting system. (a) Side view of the shopping cart of the above accounting system, (b) Plan view of the shopping cart Circuit diagram of reader Functional block diagram of the above reader Perspective view of reader Circuit configuration diagram of a reading device according to the second embodiment Charging control flow chart of the reading device according to the second embodiment Functional block diagram of reading device according to second embodiment Circuit configuration diagram of reading device according to the third embodiment (a) Side view showing the connection mode of the reading device according to Modification 1, (b) Circuit configuration diagram of the reading device according to Modification 2 Circuit configuration diagram of reading device according to Modification 3 Plan view of a shopping cart according to modification 5 (a) A circuit configuration diagram of a switching device according to Modification 5, (b) A circuit configuration diagram of a reading device according to Modification 5 A diagram showing how reading devices and switching devices are connected in a plurality of shopping carts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking as an example an accounting system used in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

[First embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the checkout system 2 includes a cash register terminal 4 which is a checkout processing terminal, a plurality of shopping baskets 6, and a basket holder 8 on which the plurality of shopping baskets 6 are placed.

The cash register terminal 4 extracts product information (product name and product price) stored in a memory (not shown) based on the product identification information of the product that the customer intends to purchase, and displays the extracted product. information and the total amount of the product to the customer and perform accounting processing. different. In this embodiment, the shopping cart 6 reads the product identification information of each product, and the cashier terminal 4 communicates with the shopping cart 6 to acquire the product identification information. Note that the cash register terminal 4 may be, for example, an accounting processing terminal that supports cashless payment, or may be a device in which a customer individually performs accounting using a smartphone incorporating an accounting processing function. .

The shopping basket 6, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a basket body 10 for storing products and a pair of handles 12 connected to the basket body 10. As shown in FIG. The basket body 10 is conventionally used in stores, and is constructed so that a plurality of basket bodies 10 can be stacked (FIG. 1). The pair of handles 12 are also formed in a U-shape like those conventionally used, and are connected to connecting portions 16 provided on the edge portion 14 of the basket body 10 . Of the pair of long edges 14a and the pair of short edges 14b that form the opening of the basket body 10, the connection part 16 is formed on the pair of long edges 14a, and the center of the long edges 14a. Two portions are formed with a portion in between. As a result, the pair of handles 12 are symmetrically connected with a predetermined gap therebetween in plan view shown in FIG. 2(b).

In this embodiment, a reader 18 is attached to the central portion of each long edge 14a (between connections 16a and 16b). The reading device 18 is a device that reads product identification information from products and transmits the read product identification information to the cashier terminal 4 (FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. and is electrically connected so as to be communicable with. The CPU 24 is also connected to the memory 26 and controls the reader module 20 and the NFC module 22 by executing programs stored in the memory 26 .

A reader module 20 of the reading device 18 is a module for reading product identification information from a bar code attached to a product, and controls a camera (not shown) and the camera to analyze an image generated by the camera. and an MCU (not shown) that detects a barcode and reads product identification information from the detected barcode. The MCU transmits the read product identification information to the CPU 24 every time it reads the product identification information. In this way, the camera of the reader module 20 functions as an imaging section 28 (FIG. 4) that images the bar code of the product. Also, the MCU of the reader module 20 functions as a reading unit 30 (FIG. 4) that analyzes an image generated by imaging and reads product identification information. Note that the reader module 20 may be a module that reads information from a two-dimensional code such as a QR code or characters attached to a product, or an RFID reader module that reads information from an ID tag attached to a product. That is, any module may be used as long as it reads product identification information that identifies products in a store.

The NFC module 22 of the reader 18 is a module that wirelessly communicates with another NFC module in a short distance. In this embodiment, the cash register terminal 4 also incorporates an NFC module 32 (FIG. 1), and the mutual NFC modules 22 and 32 realize short-range wireless communication. When communication with the cashier terminal 4 is established, the NFC module 22 transmits the product identification information received from the CPU 24 to the cashier terminal 4 . In this way, the NFC module 22 functions as a transmitter 34 (FIG. 4) that transmits product identification information. Note that the communication means between the reading device 18 and the cash register terminal 4 is not limited to the NFC module 22, and may be wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared rays, or wired communication using a cable.

The CPU 24 of the reading device 18 acquires product identification information from the reader module 20 by executing the program stored in the memory 26, and temporarily stores the acquired product identification information in a storage area provided in the memory 26. and transmits the stored product identification information to the cashier terminal 4 via the NFC module 22 . In this manner, the CPU 24 functions as an acquisition unit 36 (FIG. 4) that acquires product identification information. The memory 26 also functions as a storage unit 38 (FIG. 4) that stores product identification information.

The electronic circuit including the reader module 20 , the NFC module 22 , the CPU 24 and the memory 26 described above is driven by power supplied from the secondary battery 40 . Components such as these electronic circuits and the secondary battery 40 are housed in a case 42 shown in FIG. Here, since the reader 18 is attached to the central portion of the long edge portion 14a as described above, the case 42 of the reader 18 is formed to a length that fits between the connecting portions 16a and 16b, It is configured for attachment to the edge 14 of the basket body 10 . In this embodiment, as a configuration for attachment, a fitting groove 44 is formed in the case 42 as shown in FIG. The fitting groove 44 is formed in a shape that matches the edge portion 14 having an L-shaped cross section, and is formed slightly wider than the edge portion 14 so as to facilitate fitting. As a result, the edge portion 14 can be fitted into the fitting groove 44 by utilizing the elastic deformation of the resin basket body 10 .

A shopping basket 6 equipped with a reader 18 as described above is used by the customer. The customer holds the barcode of the product over the camera of the reading device 18 when putting the product in the store into the shopping basket 6. - 特許庁Then, the product identification information is read from the bar code by the reader module 20 , and the read product identification information is temporarily stored in the memory 26 by the CPU 24 . When paying, the customer brings the reading device 18 attached to the shopping basket 6 close to the cash register terminal 4 . Thereby, mutual communication is established by the respective NFC modules 22 and 32 of the cash register terminal 4 and the reading device 18 . Then, the CPU 24 of the reading device 18 reads out the product identification information from the memory 26 and transmits the product identification information to the cash register terminal 4 via the NFC module 22 . The cashier terminal 4 executes checkout processing based on the product identification information received via the NFC module 32 .

Thus, the reading device 18 of the present embodiment can be used by being attached to the conventionally used shopping basket 6 . Further, since the reading device 18 is configured to be attached to the central portion (between the connecting portions 16) of the basket body 10, the handling of the handle 12 is not hindered.

Moreover, in the reading device 18 of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the optical axis of the camera is attached so as to face the inside of the basket body 10 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the customer from erroneously taking an image of the bar code of the displayed product when moving through the store.

Returning to FIG. 3, the reader 18 of the present embodiment includes a charge control module 46 (charge control unit 64 (FIG. 4)) that controls charging of the secondary battery 40 while monitoring the battery voltage of the secondary battery 40. ing. A charging method for the secondary battery 40 is not particularly limited, and for example, a known charging method such as a constant current charging method or a constant voltage charging method can be adopted. Electric power to the charging control module 46 is supplied through a lower terminal group 48 exposed at the lower portion of the case 42 . Further, an upper terminal group 50 is exposed on the upper part of the case 42 . Each of the lower terminal group 48 and the upper terminal group 50 has power supply terminals 48a, 50a and ground terminals 48b, 50b. The power supply terminals 48a and 50a are connected to each other through a power supply line 52 provided in the case 42, and the ground terminals 48b and 50b are similarly connected through a ground line 54. FIG. Moreover, when another shopping basket 6 is placed on top of one shopping basket 6, the upper terminals are arranged so that the upper terminal group 50 of the one shopping basket 6 and the lower terminal group 48 of the other shopping basket 6 are in contact with each other. The arrangement positions of the group 50 and the lower terminal group 48 are determined. Therefore, when a plurality of shopping carts 6 are piled up, the charge control module 46 of each reader 18 is connected in parallel via the upper terminal group 50 and the lower terminal group 48 of each reader 18 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of stacked shopping baskets 6 are supported on a basket holder 8. As shown in FIG. The basket holder 8 has a pair of horizontal frames 56 provided at the same interval as the pair of long edges 14a of the basket body 10. As shown in FIG. A power supply unit 58 is provided in the central portion of the pair of horizontal frames 56, and the power supply unit 58 is in contact with the reader 18 of the shopping basket 6 located at the bottom. As shown in FIG. 3 , a power supply terminal group 60 electrically connected to the lower terminal group 48 of the reader 18 is exposed on the upper portion of the power supply unit 58 . The power supply terminal group includes a power supply terminal 60 a and a ground terminal 60 b , and these terminals 60 a and 60 b are connected to the output of a switching power supply circuit 62 provided on the basket holder 8 . Therefore, when a plurality of shopping baskets 6 are stacked on the basket holder 8, power supplied from the basket holder 8 is supplied to each reader 18 through the upper terminal group 50 and the lower terminal group 48 of each shopping basket 6. It is supplied to the supply line 52 and the secondary battery 40 is charged by the charging control module 46 .

In this manner, the power supply unit 58 functions as a power supply section 66 that supplies power to the readers 18 of the plurality of shopping carts 6 to charge the secondary batteries 40 . In this embodiment, by placing the shopping basket 6 on top of the basket holder 8, the secondary battery 40 of the reader 18 can be automatically charged.

[Second embodiment]
The accounting system according to the second embodiment is common to the first embodiment in that it includes a cash register terminal 4, a plurality of shopping baskets 6, and a basket holder 8. However, as shown in FIG. 68 differs from the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are assigned to the configurations common to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate, and the description will focus on the different circuit configurations.

The reading device 68 of the present embodiment detects that the basket body 10 is stored on the basket holder 8 (that the basket body 10 is directly placed on the basket holder 8 and that the other shopping basket 6 is interposed to indirectly read the basket. 8), and clears the product identification information temporarily stored in the memory 26 when the detection unit 70 detects the accommodation state. and a reset unit 72 (FIG. 8).

The detection unit 70 includes a resistor R1 provided in series between the power supply line 52 and the input terminal P1 of the CPU 24, and a pull-down resistor R2 provided between the resistor R1 and the input terminal P1 of the CPU 24. , and a CPU 24 that monitors the state of the input terminal P1. When the basket body 10 is not accommodated, the power supply terminal is not supplied with power, so the input voltage of the input terminal P1 becomes LOW level. 8, that is, the shopping cart 6 is being used by a customer, the above-described reading processing and communication processing are executed. On the other hand, when the basket body 10 is accommodated on the basket holder 8, power is supplied to the power terminal as described above. Then, a HIGH level signal divided by the resistors R1 and R2 is input to the input terminal P1 (the values of the resistors R1 and R2 are determined so that the divided voltage value becomes HIGH level). ). When the CPU 24 acquires the HIGH level signal, the CPU 24 erases the product identification information stored in the memory 26 assuming that the basket body 10 is accommodated in the basket holder 8 . Thus, the CPU 24 functions as the reset section 72 . As a result, when the shopping by the customer is finished or when the shopping is stopped halfway and the shopping basket 6 is placed on the basket holder 8, the product identification information in the memory 26 is automatically reset. Become.

Further, the plurality of shopping baskets 6 of this embodiment are configured to be charged in order from the secondary battery 40 of the shopping basket 6 at the top when stacked on the basket holder 8 .

Specifically, each reader 68 includes a signal terminal 50c, 48c in each of the upper terminal group 50 and the lower terminal group 48, with the upper signal terminal 50c being the input to CPU 24 via pull-down resistor R3. It is connected to terminal P2. A signal terminal 48c of the lower terminal group 48 is connected to the output terminal P3 of the CPU 24. As shown in FIG. The charging control module 46 and the CPU 24 are communicably connected, and the CPU 24 acquires the battery voltage of the secondary battery 40 from the charging control module 46 via the input/output terminal P4, and performs charging of the secondary battery 40. Control starting and stopping.

In the electric circuit configured as described above, the CPU 24 selects and selects one of the self-charging mode, the lower basket charging mode, and the upper basket charging mode when the shopping basket 6 is accommodated on the basket holder 8. It functions as a processing unit 74 (FIG. 8) that performs control corresponding to the mode.

The self-charging mode is a mode for charging the secondary battery 40 built in the reader 68 of the shopping basket 6. As shown in FIG. A LOW level signal is input to the terminal P2 (s02), and selected and executed when the battery voltage obtained through the input/output terminal P4 is low (not fully charged) (s03: NO). In the self-charging mode, the CPU 24 outputs a HIGH level signal from the output terminal P3 and controls the input/output terminal P4 to charge the secondary battery 40. FIG.

The lower basket charge mode is a mode in which the secondary battery 40 is charged for the lower shopping basket 6 stacked below the shopping basket 6, and the input terminal P1 of the CPU 24 is at a HIGH level (s01) and the input terminal A LOW level signal is input to P2 (s02), and selected and executed when the battery voltage of the secondary battery 40 obtained through the input/output terminal P4 is sufficiently high (fully charged) (s03: YES). In the lower basket charging mode, the CPU 24 outputs a LOW signal from the output terminal P3 and controls the input/output terminal P4 to stop charging the secondary battery 40. FIG.

The upper basket charge mode is a mode in which the secondary battery 40 is charged for the upper shopping basket 6 stacked above the shopping basket 6, and the input terminal P1 of the CPU 24 is at a HIGH level (s01), and the input terminal It is selected and executed when a HIGH level signal is input to P2 (s02). In the upper basket charging mode, the CPU 24 outputs a HIGH signal from the output terminal P3 and controls the input/output terminal P4 to stop charging the secondary battery 40. FIG.

Selection and control of the charging mode as described above are executed by the CPU 24 in the reader 68 of each shopping basket 6 accommodated on the basket tray 8 . Here, the input terminal P2 functions as an input section 76 (FIG. 8) to which a signal indicating whether or not charging is possible from the shopping basket 6 stacked above is input. Further, the output terminal P3 functions as an output section 78 (FIG. 8) that outputs a signal indicating whether or not charging is possible to the shopping basket 6 stacked below. The input/output terminal P4 performs communication for acquiring the battery voltage of the secondary battery 40 from the charge control module and communication for starting or stopping charging of the secondary battery 40 to the charge control module. It functions as a communication unit 80 (FIG. 8).

According to this embodiment, when a plurality of shopping baskets 6 are stacked, the CPU 24 of each reader 68 appropriately selects one of the self-charging mode, the lower basket charging mode, and the upper basket charging mode, and By executing the process of (1), it is possible to preferentially supply power to the reading device 68 of the shopping basket 6 placed above which is frequently used.

[Third embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the CPU 24 of each reader 18 selects a mode and selects a predetermined process for a plurality of shopping baskets 6 stacked on the basket holder 8. However, in the third embodiment, As shown in FIG. 9, a power supply unit 84 is provided with a CPU 80 and a memory 81, and the CPU 80 collectively manages charging of the secondary batteries 40 of the plurality of reading devices 82. As shown in FIG.

Specifically, reader 82 includes communication terminals 50d, 50e, 48d, and 48e in each of upper terminal group 50 and lower terminal group 48. As shown in FIG. The communication terminals 50d, 50e, 48d, and 48e are terminals used by the CPU 24 of the reader 82 to communicate with other CPUs 24 (CPUs 24 of readers 82 of other shopping carts 6 stacked above and below). and is electrically connected to the CPU 24 . The power supply unit 84 also includes communication terminals 60d and 60e in the power supply terminal group 60. The communication terminals 60d and 60e are used for communication with the lower terminal group 48 of the shopping basket placed on the basket holder 8. are provided so as to be in contact with the terminals 48d and 48e. The communication terminals 60 d and 60 e are electrically connected to the CPU 80 in the power supply unit 84 . Therefore, the CPU 80 can communicate with the CPU 24 of the reader 82 via the communication terminals 60d and 60e.

The memory 26 of each reader 82 configured as described above stores unique information such as a serial number and an address. When communication is established with the CPU 24 of the reading device 82 of the shopping basket 6 below, the CPU 24 of the reading device 82 reads out the specific information from the memory 26 and detects the battery voltage of the secondary battery 40 from the charging control module 46. get. Then, the read specific information and battery voltage are transmitted to the CPU 80 of the power supply unit 84 .

Here, in this embodiment, as described above, the CPUs 24 of the vertically adjacent reading devices 82 can communicate with each other. Therefore, when a new shopping basket 6 is stacked (stocked), the reading device 82 of the stocked shopping basket 6 is used as unique information for the reading device 82 of the shopping basket 6 below it. Transmit battery voltage. The reading device 82 that has received the specific information and the battery voltage transmits the received information to the reading device 82 further below. In this way, the information is transmitted in order from top to bottom, and finally transmitted to the power supply unit 84 . The CPU 24 of the reading device 82 adds its own unique information and battery voltage when transmitting information to the reading device 82 below.

The CPU 80 of the power supply unit 84 associates and stores the received unique information of each reader 82 and the battery voltage, and compares the received battery voltages. As a result of the comparison, the lowest battery voltage is extracted, and unique information corresponding to the extracted battery voltage is extracted. Then, the CPU 80 associates the extracted specific information with the start information for starting charging, and transmits the start information to the reading device 82 . Upon receiving the information, the CPU 24 of the reader 82 checks whether the unique information stored in the memory 26 and the received unique information match. Cause charging to be initiated by charging control module 46 . On the other hand, when the received unique information does not match, the received unique information and start information are transmitted to the reading device 82 above.

In this embodiment, the memory 26 of the reader 82 functions as a storage unit that stores unique information. Further, the CPU 24 of the reader 82 functions as a transmitter that transmits the unique information read from the memory 26 and the battery voltage of the secondary battery 40 to the CPU 80 of the power supply unit 84 . The CPU 24 functions as a transfer section that receives the unique information and battery voltage of the other reader 82 and further transmits the received unique information and battery voltage to the other reader 82 . Further, the CPU 80 of the power supply unit 84 functions as an extractor that extracts the lowest battery voltage from the received battery voltages and extracts unique information corresponding to the extracted battery voltage. It also functions as a transmission unit that associates and transmits the unique information and the start information. According to this embodiment, the shopping basket 6 that needs to be charged the most among the shopping baskets 6 stacked on the basket holder 8 can be charged.

Although the present invention has been described based on the first to third embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and may be, for example, as described below.

<Modification 1>
For example, the upper terminal group 50 and the lower terminal group 48 in each of the above embodiments may be provided in a manner as shown in FIG. The reader 18 shown in FIG. 10( a ) includes two protrusions 86 formed on the bottom surface of the case 42 and two recesses 88 formed on the top surface of the case 42 . Each convex portion 86 is formed so as to fit into the concave portion 88 when the reader 18 is stacked vertically (when the shopping baskets 6 are stacked vertically). A power supply terminal 48a and a ground terminal 48b are provided on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the convex portion 86 (a portion of the surface facing each other in the drawing). Further, the concave portion 88 is part of the inner peripheral surface thereof, and a power terminal 50 a and a ground terminal 50 b are provided at positions corresponding to the power terminal 48 a and the ground terminal 48 b of the convex portion 86 . In such a mode, the upper terminal group 50 of the reader 18 is always exposed, but since it is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the recess 88, the power supply terminal 50a and the ground terminal 50b are accidentally disconnected. can be prevented from conducting. The power supply terminals 48 a and 50 a and the ground terminals 48 b and 50 b may be arranged on the tip of the projection 86 or the bottom of the recess 88 instead of on the peripheral surface of the projection 86 or recess 88 .

<Modification 2>
In the above modification 1, the case 42 is provided with projections and depressions to prevent the exposed upper terminal group 50 from being suddenly conducted. However, as shown in FIG. It may be a mode connected to the terminal 50a for power supply via. The push switch 90 is provided so that the key top protrudes from the case 42 , and is provided so as to conduct when another reader 18 is placed on the reader 18 . In such an embodiment, the upper terminal group 50 of the reader 18 is always exposed, but not for power unless another reader 18 is stacked (unless another shopping basket 6 is stacked). No power is supplied to terminal 50a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the power supply terminal 50a and the ground terminal 50b from being electrically connected inadvertently. In addition, it is preferable to provide the power supply unit 58 with the configuration adopted in this modified example.

<Modification 3>
Further, in the above modification 2, the push switch 90 of the reader 18 is pushed down when another shopping basket 6 is placed on top of it, that is, the switch is physically switched. A mode in which the switch is switched to . For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the upper terminal group 50 is provided with a signal terminal 50c, and the lower terminal group 48 is provided with a signal terminal 48c. The signal terminal 50 c is connected to the input of the switch circuit 92 . The switch circuit 92 is turned on when a LOW level signal is input to the input. A pull-up resistor (not shown) is connected to the input, and a HIGH level signal is input when nothing is connected to the signal terminal 50c. A signal terminal 48c of the lower terminal group 48 is connected to the ground. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, when the shopping carts 6 are stacked vertically, the upper terminal group 50 of the reader 18 on the lower side and the lower terminal group 48 of the reader 18 on the upper side are connected, and the signal terminals are connected. A LOW level signal is input to the switch circuit 92 via 50c and 48c. As a result, the switch is turned on, and power is supplied to the power supply terminal 50a. In addition, it is preferable to provide the power supply unit 58 with the configuration adopted in this modified example.

<Modification 4>
In each of the above-described embodiments, the reading device 18 is attached between the connecting portions 16 of the pair of handles 12, but the location where the reading device 18 is attached is not limited to between the connecting portions 16, and may be other edges 14. I don't mind. For example, it may be attached to the short edge portion 14b of the basket body 10 . Also, the reading device 18 is not limited to being attached in advance, and may be attached to any edge 14 by the customer when the customer comes to the store. Furthermore, the location where the reader 18 is attached is not limited to the edge 14 of the basket body 10 . For example, when using an RFID reader as the reader module, it may be attached to the bottom of the basket body 10 .

<Modification 5>
The present invention may also include a reading device 94 mounted on one of the long edges 14a and a switching device 96 mounted on the other long edge 14a, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13(b), the reading device 94 has both the configuration described in the third embodiment and the configuration described in the third modification. That is, when a plurality of shopping baskets 6 are stacked, the CPU 24 of each reader 94 of each shopping basket 6 can communicate with each other via the communication terminals 48d, 48e, 50d and 50e. Furthermore, a switch circuit 92 is provided for switching between cutoff and energization of power to the shopping basket 6 placed thereon based on a signal input through the signal terminal 50c.

As shown in FIG. 13(a), the switching device 96 is a switch circuit that switches between cutoff and energization of power to the overlaid shopping basket 6 based on a signal input via the signal terminal 50c. 92, it has the same configuration as the reading device 94, but it does not have a configuration for reading and communicating product information, such as the reader module 20, the NFC module 22, and the CPU 24. The configuration is different from that of the device 94 . The upper terminal group 50 and the lower terminal group 48 of the switching device 96 include signal terminals 50c and 48c, power supply terminals 50a and 48a, ground terminals 50b and 48b, and communication terminals 50d, 50e, 48d and 48e. It has These communication terminals 50d, 50e, 48d and 48e are electrically connected. Moreover, the cases of the switching device 96 and the reading device 94 have the same shape.

Here, in this modified example, when the shopping basket 6 is stored on the basket holder 8, it is possible to store the shopping basket 6 without the need to match the direction of the shopping basket 6. FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, in addition to the aspect in which the reading devices 94 are connected vertically, the aspect in which the reading device 94 and the switching device 96 are connected vertically is also possible.

In the connection mode as described above, since the reading device 94 and the switching device 96 are provided with the switch circuit 92, the signal input via the signal terminal 50c from the other shopping basket 6 placed above causes the switching. The circuit 92 is switched to an energized state and is in a state of supplying power to the other shopping basket 6 . Note that the switch circuit 92 may be provided in the power supply unit 58 .

Further, since the reading device 94 and the switching device 96 are connected via the communication terminals 50d, 50e, 48d, and 48e, the reading device 94 and the power supply unit 58 are connected as described in the third embodiment. , various types of information can be transmitted.

According to this modified example, when the shopping basket 6 is stored in the basket holder 8, it is possible to store the shopping basket 6 without adjusting its orientation. In addition, since one switching device 96 and one reading device 94 without a reading function or communication function are used, the introduction cost can be reduced compared to the case where two reading devices 96 are attached to one shopping basket.

The present invention can also be implemented in aspects with various improvements, modifications, or variations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, any invention specifying matter may be replaced with another technique within the scope of producing the same action or effect.

The invention of the present application is not limited to reading devices used for checkout systems and shopping carts in stores, but can also be used for picking in physical distribution. Specifically, the reader may be attached to a basket in which articles are collected in a picking operation. Further, the reading device may transmit the read information to the receiving/shipping management terminal.

2 … Accounting system (system)
4 … cash register terminal (processing terminal)
8... basket holder 12... handle 14... rim 18... reader (equipment)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 30 ... reading section 34 ... transmission section 40 ... secondary battery 42 ... case 66 ... power supply section 70 ... detection section 72 ... reset section

Claims (6)

A device on standby that can be interposed between one device and the other device,
a secondary battery;
a power receiving terminal that receives power for charging the secondary battery from the one device;
a power feeding terminal for supplying the electric power to the other device;
a case containing the secondary battery and having one surface in contact with the one device and the other surface in contact with the other device;
with
The device, wherein the power receiving terminal is arranged on the one surface side, and the power feeding terminal is arranged on the other surface side. A charging control unit that controls charging of the secondary battery,
The device according to claim 1, wherein said charging control unit performs said charging when said other device is in a non-connected state. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said charging control unit stops said charging when said other device is in a connected state. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said charging control unit controls said charging according to the charging state of said other device when said other device is in a connected state. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reading unit that operates by power supplied from said secondary battery and reads information attached to articles. A shopping basket having the device of claim 5 attached to its edges.

Images