JP4731968B2 - Checkout equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a checkout device that performs a checkout of a product brought in by a customer.

  A checkout device that performs a checkout of a product brought in by a customer is configured by placing, for example, a POS terminal on a checkout counter. As a usage mode of such a checkout device, for example, a mode frequently used in a supermarket or the like is a mode in which checkout lanes are arranged along a checkout counter. In other words, a checkout lane that allows customers to flow from the entrance side to the exit side of the checkout counter is created, a POS terminal is placed at the end of the checkout counter, and a customer who waits for a transaction at the accounting office where the POS terminal is placed Line up along the checkout lane. Then, among the customers waiting for payment, the customer who will be charged next places the product bag containing the product on the checkout counter and waits to read the product code of the product put in the bag. .

  In a checkout apparatus that employs such a usage mode, it is widely performed that a product display shelf is arranged at the entrance of a checkout counter to display various products. The display shelf should appeal to products such as bags, gums, candies, chocolates, etc. that children want, products such as batteries, light bulbs, cotton swabs, or other physiological needs such as soft drinks and luxury products. Often, merchandise is displayed. Based on this product lineup, customers who line up in the checkout lane and children they bring to the store are in front of the product displayed on the display shelf. I tend to put it in my bag. The merchandise display shelf placed at the entrance of the checkout counter makes good use of this human psychology and leads to sales promotion.

JP 2001-338345 A

  A merchandise display shelf arranged at the entrance of the checkout counter is a useful tool for promoting sales. On the other hand, since a certain amount of space is required to arrange the product display shelves, it is difficult to install large product display shelves in small stores, and in some cases, even a space for installing product display shelves cannot be provided.

  Further, since it is necessary to display a large number of similar products on the product display shelf, the types of products that can be displayed are limited. This problem is even more serious in the aforementioned small stores where it is difficult to install a large product display shelf.

  The inventor of the present invention pays attention to the problems of such a conventional product display shelf, and realizes a tool that can provide the same sales promotion effect as the conventional product display shelf installed at the entrance of the checkout counter. Efforts were made toward At this time, as a result of prior art search, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 was discovered. The technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique that enables a product code to be input from the customer side. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is, for example, a convenience store and the like. When inputting a product code of a plurality of types of products (for example, oden) that a customer orders verbally to an operator, an operator-side display and a customer A tool that enables touch input of a product code from both an operator and a customer by a touch panel provided on each of the side displays, and a tool that can provide the same sales promotion effect as the product display shelf, Cannot be.

  An object of the present invention is to realize a tool capable of providing the same sales promotion effect as a product display shelf while being able to guide a variety of products to a customer without requiring a large installation space. .

The checkout apparatus according to the present invention includes a checkout counter having a first area where a customer who waits for an order for accounting faces and a second area where a customer who is accounting faces , and the first of the checkout counters A printing device that prints and issues an order slip in the form of a code symbol, which is arranged in the area of, and displays a display device for guiding and displaying the product, an input device for designating the displayed product, and a product code that identifies the designated product And a virtual commodity display device that guides a customer who is waiting for an order to be able to purchase a product, and is arranged in the second area of the checkout counter and recorded in the product code of the product brought by the customer and the order slip It has a scanner for reading a commodity code encoded symbols of which are, collectively merchandise sales data processing based on the commodity code read by the scanner And a merchandise sales data processing apparatus to perform.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to virtually display the product on the virtual product display device and to issue an order slip in which the product code of the displayed product is recorded in the form of a code symbol. While it is possible to guide a variety of products to customers without need, it is possible to achieve the same sales promotion effect as a product display shelf.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the entire checkout apparatus. The checkout device 101 of this embodiment has a checkout counter 102. The check-out counter 102 has a waiting area 103 where customers waiting for the turnover (a cashier waiting customer in FIG. 1) face each other, and an accounting area 104 where customers who are paying (current customers in FIG. 1) face each other. And have. When viewed from the checkout counter 102, the waiting area 103 is arranged on the entrance side, and the accounting area 104 is arranged on the exit side. Therefore, the checkout device 101 creates a checkout lane that allows customers to flow from the entrance side to the exit side of the checkout counter 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the cashier also faces the accounting area 104.

  A virtual commodity display device 105 is installed in the waiting area 103. A merchandise sales data processing apparatus 106 is installed in the accounting area 104. The merchandise sales data processing apparatus 106 includes a first customer display 107, an operator display 108, a scanner 109 for optically reading a bar code, and the like. The product sales data processing based on the product code read by the scanner 109 is executed. The virtual merchandise display device 105 includes a second customer display 110, a bar code printer 111 as a printing device, and the like, and guides a customer waiting for the turn to be able to purchase the merchandise.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the second customer display 110 and its guidance display. The second customer surface display 110 is configured by providing a touch panel 114 as an input device on a display surface of an LCD display 113 as a display device supported by the legs 112. The contents displayed on the LCD display 113 will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of each part. The virtual merchandise display device 105 shares the control unit 115 with the merchandise sales data processing device 106. That is, the control unit 115 is configured by bus-connecting a ROM that stores data in a fixed manner and a RAM that stores data in a rewritable manner in a CPU that executes various arithmetic processes and centrally controls each unit. (Not shown).

  In the merchandise sales data processing apparatus 106, in addition to the first customer display 107, the operator display 108 and the scanner 109, a keyboard 116, a receipt journal printer 117, a drawer 118, and a communication interface 119 are provided in the control unit 115. It is connected.

  In the virtual merchandise display device 105, the above-described second customer display 110 (LCD display 113, touch panel 114) and barcode printer 111 are connected to the control unit 115.

  In the control unit 115, a control program is stored in a RAM, flash memory, or the like backed up by a battery, and the CPU executes various processes according to the control program. As such processing, the control unit 115 typically causes the product sales data processing device 106 to execute product sales data processing. In the product sales data processing, a scanner 109 optically reads a product code (not shown) that is converted into a code symbol attached to a product that the customer has put in the product basket 120 (see FIG. 1) and brought to the checkout counter 102. Be started. The product code converted into a code symbol is typically a barcode. The control unit 115 acquires the product code by decoding the code symbol read by the scanner 109. The product code is a unique identification code assigned to each product. The control unit 115 inquires the PLU (not shown) about the unit price using the acquired product code as a key, and obtains all information necessary for the commercial transaction, such as the total price of all the products read by the scanner 109, consumption tax, and the like by calculation. During such processing, the control unit 115 displays information such as the unit price, total amount, and consumption tax of the purchased product on the first customer display 107 and the operator display 108. For example, when the end of one transaction is declared by the keyboard 116 and the declaration is a cash transaction, the control unit 115 outputs an open signal to the drawer 118. Thereby, a drawer (not shown) of the drawer 118 is opened, and money can be exchanged between the cashier and the customer. In such merchandise sales data processing, the control unit 115 drives and controls the receipt journal printer 117 to perform journal recording and receipt issuance.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the virtual product display device 105. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is processing that the CPU causes the virtual product display device 105 to execute in the control unit 115 in accordance with a control program stored in a RAM or flash memory backed up by a battery. First, the control unit 115 performs a default product display on the LCD display 113 included in the second customer display 110. As an example, the default product display is an image of chewing gum and its unit price (100 yen) as illustrated in FIG. Here, the function of a means for guiding and displaying a product on the LCD display 113 as a display device is executed.

  The control unit 115 displays the order button 201 displayed as “to order” and the product change button 202 displayed as “next product display” on the LCD display 113 in association with the product display. The button 201 and the product change button 202 can be touch-inputted on the touch panel 114.

  Therefore, in step S102, the control unit 115 determines whether or not the order button 201 is touch-input. If the control unit 115 determines that the order button 201 is touch-inputted (Y in step S102), the control unit 115 recognizes that the commodity displayed on the LCD display 113 is designated. That is, the touch input of the order button 201 means designation of a product displayed on the LCD display 113 for guidance. Here, the function of means for designating the commodity displayed on the LCD display 113 as a display device by the touch panel 114 as an input device is executed.

  If the control unit 115 determines that the order button 201 has been touch-inputted (Y in Step S102), the control unit 115 drives and controls the bar code printer 111, and the order slip 301 for the commodity displayed on the LCD display 113 (FIG. 1). (See) is issued (step S103). In the order slip 301 printed and issued by the barcode printer 111, information for specifying a product displayed on the LCD display 113 designated by touch input of the order button 201 is recorded. As an example, this information is obtained by recording a product code for specifying the product in the form of a code symbol, for example, a barcode 302. A means for printing and issuing an order slip in which a product code for specifying a product designated on the touch panel 114 as an input device is recorded in the form of a code symbol (for example, barcode 302) by a barcode printer 111 as a printing device. The function is executed.

  On the other hand, when it determines with the order button 201 not being touch-inputted (N of step S102), the control part 115 determines whether the goods change button 202 was touch-inputted (step S104). When it is determined that the product change button 202 is not touch-inputted (N in Step S104), the control unit 115 returns to the process of Step S101, and when it is determined that the product change button 202 is touch-inputted (Step S104). (Y in S104), the product for guidance display on the LCD display 113 is changed (step S105). Accordingly, by touch-inputting the product change buttons 202 one after another, different products are displayed and guided on the LCD display 113 one after another. Thereby, from the default screen consisting of the chewing gum image and its unit price (100 yen), as an example, the product image is switched with the corresponding unit price such as candy, chocolate, snack, stamina drink, cigarette, and so on.

  The processing flow in the virtual commodity display device 105 has been described above based on the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the actual operation will be mentioned below. First, a product that is guided and displayed on the LCD display 113 will be described. As an example of a product displayed on the LCD display 113 as a guide, a product that is likely to be purchased when a customer in the checkout lane created by the checkout counter 102 sees in the waiting area 103 is selected. For example, products that children want, such as strawberries, gums, candy, chocolates, etc., products such as batteries, light bulbs, cotton swabs, or products that appeal to physiological needs such as soft drinks and luxury products is there. As a result, customers who line up in the checkout lane created by the checkout counter 102 just want to see the guidance display on the LCD display 113, and eventually want the product displayed on the guidance display. . In particular, the customer and the child accompanying the customer are forced to wait for a long time when the customer who is accounting is purchasing a large amount of goods, for example. The urge to purchase existing products is increased. For this reason, sales promotion of the products displayed as guidance on the LCD display 113 is promoted.

  Next, how to use the order slip 301 printed and issued by the barcode printer 111 will be described. When the customer who faces the waiting area 103 of the checkout counter 102 (the cashier waiting customer in FIG. 1) causes the order slip 301 to be printed and issued by the barcode printer 111, the customer's accounting order comes around. , Hand the order slip 301 to the cashier. The cashier reads the bar code 302 printed on the delivered order slip 301 with the scanner 109 when reading the merchandise brought in the merchandise bag 120 by the customer with the scanner 109. As a result, the product code of the product specified by the barcode 302 printed on the order slip 301 together with the product brought in by the customer in the product basket 120 is read and used for product sales data processing.

  In actual operation, as an example of a method for delivering a product specified by the barcode 302 printed on the order slip 301 to the customer, the order slip 301 once passed by the cashier is delivered to the customer again, and the order slip 301 is received. For example, the customer can adopt a method of bringing the order slip 301 received at the merchandise exchange to have it exchanged for the purchased merchandise. Needless to say, this is an example of a method for delivering a product specified by the barcode 302 printed on the order slip 301 to the customer, and there is no problem in adopting another method.

  FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example different from FIG. 2 of the second customer display 110 and its guidance display. In the product guidance display illustrated in FIG. 2, an example is shown in which guidance display is performed for only a single product. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the product guidance display on one screen of the LCD display 113 may display a plurality of products together with their unit prices. In this case, each product may be displayed in a matrix as illustrated in FIG. 5 or may be displayed in a form other than a matrix.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the virtual product display device 105 when the product is displayed as a guide on one screen of the LCD display 113, as illustrated in FIG. In the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 as well, in the same way as the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. This is a process to be executed. In the default product display in step S201, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of products are guided and displayed on one screen of the LCD display 113.

  The order button 201 and the product change button 202 that are also displayed in the product guidance screen illustrated in FIG. 5 are the order button 201 and the product change button 202 that are displayed in the product guidance screen illustrated in FIG. Performs similar functions. That is, the control unit 115 displays the order button 201 displayed as “to order” and the product change button 202 displayed as “next product display” on the LCD display 113 in association with the product display. The order button 201 and the product change button 202 can be touch-inputted on the touch panel 114.

  In step S202, the control unit 115 determines whether an individual product has been selected. The product is selected by touch designation on the touch panel 114. When it is determined that an individual product has been selected (Y in Step S202), the control unit 115 determines whether or not the order button 201 has been touch-inputted (Step S203), and the order button 201 has been touch-inputted. If it is determined (Y in step S203), it is recognized that the commodity displayed on the LCD display 113 is designated. That is, selection by touch input of individual products and touch input of the order button 201 mean designation of products displayed on the LCD display 113 for guidance. Here, the function of means for designating the commodity displayed on the LCD display 113 as a display device by the touch panel 114 as an input device is executed.

  If the control unit 115 determines that the order button 201 has been touch-inputted (Y in step S203), the control unit 115 drives and controls the barcode printer 111, and the order slip 301 for the product selected and guided by the LCD display 113 is displayed. (See FIG. 1) is issued (step S204). The order slip 301 printed and issued by the bar code printer 111 includes information for specifying the selected product displayed on the LCD display 113 that is designated by touch selection of individual products and the touch input of the order button 201. Is recorded. As an example, this information is obtained by recording a product code for specifying the product in the form of a code symbol, for example, a barcode 302. A means for printing and issuing an order slip in which a product code for specifying a product designated on the touch panel 114 as an input device is recorded in the form of a code symbol (for example, barcode 302) by a barcode printer 111 as a printing device. The function is executed.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 115 determines that an individual product is not selected (N in step S202) or determines that the order button 201 is not touch-input (N in step S203), the product change button It is determined whether or not 202 is touch-input (step S205). When it is determined that the product change button 202 is not touch-inputted (N in Step S205), the control unit 115 returns to the process of Step S201, and when it is determined that the product change button 202 is touch-inputted (Step S205). (Y in S205), the merchandise group displayed and displayed on the LCD display 113 is changed (step S206). Accordingly, by touch-inputting the product change buttons 202 one after another, different product groups are displayed and guided on the LCD display 113 one after another.

  As described above, when a plurality of products are displayed simultaneously on one screen of the LCD display 113, the number of products that can be displayed for guidance at a time is increased, or products that can be displayed for guidance at a time are diversified. You can make it.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration example in which the merchandise sales data processing apparatus 106 and the virtual merchandise display apparatus 105 share the control unit 115 is shown. In this case, a processor such as a CPU included in the control unit 115 may have a single configuration or a plurality of configurations. Further, the merchandise sales data processing apparatus 106 and the virtual merchandise display apparatus 105 do not necessarily have to be configured to share the control unit 115. That is, separate and independent processors may be provided in the merchandise sales data processing apparatus 106 and the virtual merchandise display apparatus 105.

It is a schematic diagram of the whole checkout apparatus which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows an example of a 2nd customer surface indicator and its guidance display. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection of each part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the virtual goods display apparatus which carries out guidance display of one goods in one screen. It is a front view which shows another example of a 2nd customer surface indicator and its guidance display. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the virtual goods display apparatus which carries out guidance display of several goods in one screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 ... Checkout counter, 103 ... Waiting area, 104 ... Accounting area, 105 ... Virtual goods display apparatus, 106 ... Merchandise sales data processing apparatus, 109 ... Scanner, 111 ... Printing apparatus (barcode printer), 113 ... Display apparatus ( LCD display), 114 ... input device, touch panel, 202 ... operation buttons (product change button), 301 ... order slip, 302 ... code symbol (bar code)

Claims (3)

A checkout counter having a first area where a customer awaiting an order for accounting faces and a second area where a customer under accounting faces ;
Wherein arranged in the first area of the checkout counter, and recorded in the form of a code symbol commodity code that identifies the input device with the specified goods for specifying a commodity that is displayed and the display device for guiding displays product A virtual product display device that includes a printing device that prints and issues an order slip, and that guides a customer waiting for an order to be able to purchase the product;
A product arranged in the second area of the checkout counter and having a scanner for reading a product code of a product brought by a customer and a product code converted into a code symbol recorded in the order slip, and the product read by the scanner A product sales data processing device that collectively executes product sales data processing based on the code;
A checkout device comprising: The input apparatus includes an operation button for designating the change of the product to be displayed on said display device, according to claim 1 Symbol placement checkout device. The checkout device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the display device displays a product in a changeable manner or displays a plurality of products in one screen.

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