JP5354695B2 - Cash register settlement apparatus and cash register settlement method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a register settlement device capable of sufficiently shortening settlement processing time. <P>SOLUTION: After settlement of a preceding customer C1 is executed, when product registration completion information has been inputted from a product registration part 20 for a customer, a POS terminal 10 executes settlement of a subsequent customer C2 on the basis of product registration information by the product registration part 20 for the customer of the subsequent customer C2. On the other hand, when the product registration completion information is not inputted yet from the product registration part 20 for the customer, product registration of non-registered purchase items of the subsequent customer C2 is performed to add the product registration information, and the settlement of the subsequent customer C2 is executed on the basis of the product registration information to which the product registration information of the non-registered purchase items is added. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cash register settlement apparatus that allows a subsequent customer himself / herself to make a preliminary product record for the settlement of shopping items during the settlement of the preceding customer.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-151867 discloses a cashier settlement apparatus that performs a settlement by reading and operating a bar code attached to a product (shopping product), and a cashier settlement apparatus that performs a settlement (self-settlement) by a customer himself / herself. As disclosed in 1-4, many proposals have been made so far.

  However, when a large number of customers are concentrated in a limited time, such as in the evening in a large-scale food supermarket, it is inevitable that there will be a wait for settlement regardless of the operation of either the store clerk or the customer. .

  For such a situation, during the settlement of the preceding customer by the store clerk operation, the technology in which the subsequent customer himself / herself registers the product (self-advance product registration) prior to the settlement of the shopping goods is disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 5 and 6. In these technologies, at the POS terminal operated by the store clerk, when the settlement of the preceding customer is completed and the order of settlement of the subsequent customer comes, the customer product for which self-advance product registration by the subsequent customer's own operation has been executed Subsequent customer settlement data is transferred from the registration unit to the POS terminal. The POS terminal can use the settlement data transferred to complete the settlement of subsequent customers in a short time without the store clerk reading and operating the barcode.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-13518 Japanese Patent Publication No.59-13067 JP-B-2-39833 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-343227 JP-A-7-73380 JP 2005-522769 A

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 5 and 6 are based on the premise that the self-advance product registration of the subsequent customer is completed before the settlement of the preceding customer is completed at the POS terminal. For this reason, even if the settlement of the preceding customer at the POS terminal is completed, if the subsequent customer's self-advance product registration has not been completed, the customer who is often unfamiliar with the barcode reading operation will receive all the shopping items. Until the bar code reading is completed, the store clerk who is skilled in the bar code reading operation waits without being able to operate the POS terminal or perform any other work. For this reason, the techniques as disclosed in Patent Documents 5 and 6 have not been sufficient in shortening the settlement processing time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cash register settlement apparatus that can sufficiently shorten the settlement processing time.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a cash register settlement method that can sufficiently shorten the settlement processing time.

  According to the present invention, the POS terminal for registering the product of the preceding customer's shopping product according to the operation of the store clerk and executing the settlement, and the product registration of the subsequent customer's shopping product according to the operation of the subsequent customer. And a customer product registration unit that transfers the product registration information to the POS terminal as product registration information, and the POS terminal uses the product registration information transferred from the customer product registration unit as product registration information of a subsequent customer. And registering as the customer, after the settlement of the preceding customer, the settlement of the subsequent customer based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer, the commodity registration unit for the customer, Product registration completion information indicating that the product registration of all shopping items has been completed is generated according to the operation of the subsequent customer, and is output to the POS terminal. The POS terminal, after the settlement of the preceding customer, for When the product registration completion information has been input from the product registration unit, the customer's product registration unit performs settlement of the subsequent customer with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer. If the product registration completion information is not yet entered, the product registration information of the unregistered shopping item of the subsequent customer is added according to the operation of the store clerk, and the product registration information is added, and the product registration information of the unregistered shopping product Thus, a cashier settlement apparatus is obtained, which performs settlement of subsequent customers with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information to which is added.

  When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit after the preceding customer has been settled, the POS terminal places the product-registered shopping items in the vicinity of the POS terminal for the subsequent customer. While the guidance to move is output to the customer product registration unit, when the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit, the product registration operation is canceled for subsequent customers. Further, guidance for instructing to move both unregistered and product-registered shopping items to the vicinity of the POS terminal may be output to the customer product registration unit.

  It further has a belt conveyor capable of moving shopping items from the vicinity of the customer product registration unit to the vicinity of the POS terminal, and the POS terminal receives the product registration completion information from the customer product registration unit after settlement of the preceding customer. Is output to the customer product registration unit after notifying the subsequent customer that the shopping product registered by the belt conveyor is moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. While the belt conveyor is driven and controlled so that the registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal, if the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit, , Canceling the product registration operation and notifying that the unconfirmed and product-registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal by the belt conveyor After outputting the commodity registration section for the customer for guidance, the belt conveyor may be driven and controlled so as unregistered and items registered both shopping goods are moved around the POS terminal.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the POS terminal that registers the product of the preceding customer's shopping product in accordance with the operation of the store clerk and executes the settlement, and the product of the subsequent customer's shopping product in accordance with the operation of the subsequent customer And registering the product registration information transferred from the customer product registration unit by the POS terminal with the product registration information of a subsequent customer. A cash registering method for registering as information and performing settlement of a subsequent customer based on the product registration information of a subsequent customer after settlement of the preceding customer, wherein the customer product registration unit performs the subsequent customer settlement The product registration completion information indicating that the product registration of all the shopping items has been completed is generated according to the operation of the subsequent customer, and is output to the POS terminal, and the previous customer's After calculation, when the product registration completion information has been input from the product registration unit for the customer, while performing settlement of the subsequent customer with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer, When the product registration completion information is not entered from the customer product registration unit, the product registration information of the unregistered shopping item of the customer that follows is added according to the operation of the store clerk, and the product registration information is added. A cash register settlement method is obtained, in which settlement of subsequent customers is executed with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the item registration information to which the item registration information of shopping items is added.

  When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit after the preceding customer has been settled by the POS terminal, the product registered shopping product is placed near the POS terminal for the subsequent customer. While the guidance to move is output to the customer product registration unit, when the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit, the product registration operation is canceled for subsequent customers. Further, guidance for instructing to move both unregistered and product-registered shopping items to the vicinity of the POS terminal may be output to the customer product registration unit.

  Further using a belt conveyor capable of moving shopping items from the vicinity of the customer product registration unit to the vicinity of the POS terminal, and after the settlement of the preceding customer by the POS terminal, the product registration completion information is received from the customer product registration unit. When input has been completed, the customer registration information is output to the customer product registration unit after notifying the subsequent customer that the shopping product registered by the belt conveyor will be moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. While the belt conveyor is driven and controlled so that the finished shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal, when the product registration completion information is not input from the product registration unit for the customer, Notify the product registration operation and notify that both unregistered and product-registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal by the belt conveyor. After outputting the guidance that the commodity registration unit for the customer, the belt conveyor may be driven and controlled so as unregistered and items registered both shopping goods are moved around the POS terminal.

  The present invention can sufficiently shorten the settlement processing time.

It is a figure which shows the cash register settlement apparatus of Example 1 of this invention, (a) is a conceptual top view, (b) is a block diagram. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the cash register settlement apparatus of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the guidance display of the display for customers in the cash register settlement apparatus of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the cash register settlement apparatus of Example 2 of this invention, (a) is a conceptual top view, (b) is a block diagram. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the cash register settlement apparatus of Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the guidance display of the display for customers in the cash register settlement apparatus of Example 2 of this invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The cash register settlement apparatus according to the present invention includes a POS terminal and a customer product registration unit. The POS terminal reads the barcode of the preceding customer's shopping item in accordance with the operation of the store clerk, registers it as product registration information, and executes the settlement of the preceding customer with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information. . When a PLU (Price Look Up) code is read from the bar code of the shopping item, the POS terminal refers to the stored PLU file and acquires the product name and price. When two or more items are the same, the quantity is input from a keyboard (not shown). The customer product registration unit reads the barcode of the subsequent customer's shopping product in accordance with the operation of the subsequent customer, and transfers it to the POS terminal as product registration information. When the PLU code is read from the bar code of the shopping item, the customer product registration unit refers to the PLU file and acquires the product name and price. The PLU file may be stored in the customer product registration unit or inquired of the POS terminal. When two or more items are the same, the quantity is input from a keyboard (not shown). The POS terminal registers the product registration information transferred from the product registration unit for the customer as the product registration information of the subsequent customer, and after the settlement of the preceding customer, based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer, Perform checkout.

  In particular, in the present cash register settlement apparatus, the customer product registration unit generates product registration completion information indicating that the product registration of all shopping items of the subsequent customer is completed according to the operation of the subsequent customer, and the POS terminal. Output to. The POS terminal, after the settlement of the preceding customer, when the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit, the subsequent customer's settlement with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the subsequent customer's product registration information Execute. On the other hand, when the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit after the preceding customer is settled, the POS terminal registers the product of the unregistered shopping product of the subsequent customer according to the operation of the store clerk. Product registration information is added, and subsequent customer settlement is executed with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information to which product registration information of unregistered shopping items is added.

  With the above configuration, the present invention can sufficiently shorten the settlement processing time. That is, according to the present invention, if the registration of the preceding customer is not completed when the settlement of the preceding customer is completed at the POS terminal, the product registration of the remaining shopping items (products) is performed. Since not a customer who is often unfamiliar with the operation, but a store clerk who is skilled in the product registration operation performs the work, it is possible to sufficiently shorten the settlement processing time.

  Hereinafter, more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the cashier settlement apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided, for example, for each of one or a plurality of soccer tables 30 in a food supermarket, and is installed adjacent to each soccer table 30. The POS terminal 10 and the customer product registration unit 20 are provided.

  In the figure, symbol A is a clerk in charge of the POS terminal 10, symbol C1 is a preceding customer waiting for settlement, symbol C2 is a customer waiting for subsequent settlement, symbol B11 is prior to product registration of the preceding customer C1. No. B12 indicates a basket in which a shopping product (product) registered with the preceding customer C1 is stored, and B21 indicates a shopping item before registration of the subsequent customer C2 ( Reference numeral B22 denotes a basket in which a shopping product (commodity) registered for the subsequent customer C2 is stored.

  The POS terminal 10 is connected to a host device of a POS system (not shown) via a communication line (wired or wireless), a bar code reader 12 installed toward the clerk A, a clerk display 14, and a preceding customer C1. And a customer display 16 installed toward the front. Although not shown in FIG. 1B, the POS terminal 10 also includes a keyboard operated by the store clerk A. The POS terminal 10 further includes a control unit 11 and a communication interface (not shown in FIG. 1B) with the host device and the customer product registration unit 20.

  Then, the POS terminal 10 reads the bar code of the shopping item of the preceding customer C1 by the bar code reader 12 according to the operation of the store clerk A, and registers the merchandise registration information in the storage unit (if necessary, the host device The customer C1 is settled with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information.

  The customer product registration unit 20 is connected to the POS terminal 10 via a communication line (wired or wireless) and includes a barcode reader 22.

  The customer merchandise registration unit 20 further includes a customer display 26 and a merchandise registration completion button 27 which will be described later, which are installed on the soccer platform 30 for the following customer C2. The product registration completion button 27 may be a software button displayed on the screen of the customer display 26 when the customer display 26 is a touch panel type.

  The customer merchandise registration unit 20 also includes a control unit 21 and a communication interface with the POS terminal 10 (not shown in FIG. 1B).

  Then, the customer product registration unit 20 displays the product registration information of the subsequent customer's shopping items on the customer display 26 and transfers it to the POS terminal 10 in accordance with the operation of the subsequent customer C2.

  On the other hand, the POS terminal 10 stores the merchandise registration information of the subsequent customer C2 transferred from the customer merchandise registration unit 20 (and also transfers it to a higher-level device as necessary), and the settlement of the preceding customer C1. Thereafter, the subsequent customer C2 is settled based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer C2.

  In particular, in the cashier settlement apparatus, when the subsequent customer C2 presses the product registration completion button 27, the customer product registration unit 20 indicates that the product registration of all the shopping items of the subsequent customer C2 has been completed. Registration completion information is generated, and the product registration completion information is output to the POS terminal 10.

  When the product registration completion information has already been input from the customer product registration unit 20 after the settlement of the preceding customer C1, the POS terminal 10 first has an empty basket B21 and a product registered for the subsequent customer C2. A guidance display 3a (FIG. 3 (a)) that prompts the customer to move both the basket B22 containing all the shopping items to the front of the POS terminal 10 is displayed on the customer display 26. Furthermore, an audio output unit may be provided so that this is also output by audio. Next, the subsequent customer C2 is settled with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer C2.

  On the other hand, when the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit 20 after the settlement of the preceding customer C1, the POS terminal 10 first stops reading the barcode for the subsequent customer C2. Guidance that prompts the customer to move both the basket B21 containing unregistered shopping goods and the basket B22 containing shopping goods registered to the front of the POS terminal 10 that is convenient for the product registration by the store clerk A The display 3b (FIG. 3B) is displayed on the customer display 26. Furthermore, an audio output unit may be provided so that this is also output by audio. Next, in accordance with the operation of the store clerk A, the product registration information of the unregistered shopping product of the subsequent customer C2 is added to add the product registration information, and the product registration information of the unregistered shopping product is added to the product registration information. Based on the accumulated amount of all shopping items, the subsequent customer C2 is settled.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of the cash register settlement apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In step S <b> 11, the POS terminal 10 performs merchandise registration of the shopping item (commodity) of the preceding customer C <b> 1 by the operation of the clerk A. That is, the store clerk A takes out a shopping item (product) that has not been registered for merchandise from the basket B11, registers the product, and puts it in the basket B12. The POS terminal 10 registers as product registration information.

  After the merchandise registration of all shopping items in the basket B11 (step S12), in step S13, the POS terminal 10 performs settlement with the accumulated amount of all shopping merchandise based on the registered merchandise registration information of the preceding customer C1. To do. In addition, since the accumulated amount of all shopping items is displayed on the display 16 for customers, the customer C1 can know the amount to be paid.

  Here, while the product registration of the product of the customer C1 is being performed by the operation of the store clerk A, the customer C2 who is the next customer of the customer C1 is the customer product registration unit 20, and the customer's product (product) is purchased. Register the product. That is, the customer C2 takes out a shopping item (product) for which product registration has not been made from the basket B21, registers the product, and puts it in the basket B22. From the customer product registration unit 20, the product registration information of the customer C2 is sent to the POS terminal 10. The subsequent customer C2 presses the product registration completion button 27 when the product registration of all the shopping items in the basket B21 is completed. When the product registration completion button 27 is pressed, product registration completion information is sent from the customer product registration unit 20 to the POS terminal 10.

  In step S21, the POS terminal 10 confirms the presence / absence of the subsequent customer C2 based on the presence / absence of the product registration. When there is a commodity registration for the subsequent customer C2, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S <b> 22, the POS terminal 10 displays the product registration information of the customer C <b> 2 input from the customer product registration unit 20 on the clerk display 14. When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit 20, the process proceeds to step S24. On the other hand, when the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit 20, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S24, the POS terminal 10 displays the guidance display 3a as shown in FIG. The customer C2 who has seen the guidance display 3a moves the basket B22 containing all the shopping items registered with the product and the empty basket B21 in front of the POS terminal 10. In addition, although it does not change with baskets B21 and B22 individually, it will become conceptually baskets B11 and B12, and it can be said that customer C2 is also a preceding customer. Further, the customer who is lined up behind customer C2 becomes a new subsequent customer.

  In step S <b> 25, the POS terminal 10 executes the settlement of the customer C <b> 2 with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the customer C <b> 2. In addition, since the accumulated amount of all the shopping items is displayed on the customer display 16, the customer C2 can know the amount to be paid.

  On the other hand, in step S26, the POS terminal 10 displays the guidance display 3b as shown in FIG. The customer C2 who has seen the guidance display 3b cancels the product registration, and moves the basket B22 containing the shopping product already registered and the basket B21 containing the unregistered shopping product to the POS terminal 10. In addition, although it does not change with baskets B21 and B22 individually, it will become conceptually baskets B11 and B12, and it can be said that customer C2 is also a preceding customer. Further, the customer who is lined up behind customer C2 becomes a new subsequent customer.

  In step S27, the POS terminal 10 performs merchandise registration of the unregistered shopping item of the customer C2 in accordance with the operation of the store clerk A who is skilled in merchandise registration operation, and stores the merchandise registration information already registered in the customer C2. to add.

  After the merchandise registration of all the shopping items in the basket B21 (the basket B11) (step S28), in step S25, the POS terminal 10 settles the customer C2 with the accumulated amount of all the shopping items based on the added merchandise registration information. Execute. In addition, since the accumulated amount of all the shopping items is displayed on the customer display 16, the customer C2 can know the amount to be paid.

  The subsequent customer product registration information from the customer product registration unit 20 may be transferred to the POS terminal 10 each time the product is registered, or after all the product registration is completed, the product registration completion information and the POS terminal. 10 or may be transferred in response to a request from the POS terminal 10 after the settlement of the preceding customer.

  According to the cash register settlement apparatus of the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the time that the customer waits at the cash register. In particular, if the product registration of the subsequent customer C2 in the customer product registration unit 20 has not been completed by the end of the settlement of the preceding customer C1 at the POS terminal 10, the clerk A continues to store the remaining products. Register. As a result, it is possible to make the most of the ability of the store clerk A who is skilled in the product registration operation and can register the product more quickly than the subsequent customer C2 who is not accustomed to it, and the time that the customer waits at the cash register. Can be shortened.

  The cashier settlement apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the first embodiment includes a belt conveyor on the soccer table that automatically moves the basket that the subsequent customer C2 needs to move. Is different. For this reason, detailed description of the same or similar parts as those in the first embodiment is omitted.

  Referring to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the cashier settlement apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is provided, for example, for each of a single or a plurality of soccer tables 30 in a food supermarket, as in the first embodiment. 10 ′ and a customer product registration unit 20.

  The cash register settlement apparatus further includes a belt conveyor 50 provided on the top surface of the soccer base 30 along the longitudinal direction of the soccer base 30. The belt conveyor 50 automatically moves the basket that the subsequent customer C2 needs to move in the first embodiment.

  The POS terminal 10 ′ is connected to a host device of a POS system (not shown) via a communication line (wired or wireless), and has a bar code reader 12 installed toward the clerk A, a clerk display 14, and a preceding customer. And a customer display 16 installed toward C1.

  The POS terminal 10 ′ further includes a belt conveyor control unit 40 that controls the operation of the belt conveyor 50 as shown in FIG.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4B, the POS terminal 10 'also includes a keyboard operated by the store clerk A. The POS terminal 10 ′ further includes a control unit 11 ′ and a communication interface (not shown in FIG. 4B) with the host device and the customer product registration unit 20.

  Then, the POS terminal 10 ′ reads the barcode of the shopping item of the preceding customer C1 with the barcode reader 12 in accordance with the operation of the store clerk A, and registers the product registration information in the storage unit (if necessary, Transfer to the device is also performed), and the settlement of the customer C1 preceding with the accumulated amount of all shopping items is executed based on the product registration information.

  The customer product registration unit 20 is connected to the POS terminal 10 ′ via a communication line (wired or wireless), and includes a barcode reader 22.

  The customer merchandise registration unit 20 further includes a customer display 26 and a merchandise registration completion button 27 which will be described later, which are installed on the soccer platform 30 for the following customer C2. The product registration completion button 27 may be a software button displayed on the screen of the customer display 26 when the customer display 26 is a touch panel type.

  The customer product registration unit 20 also includes a control unit 21 and a communication interface (not shown in FIG. 4B) with the POS terminal 10 '.

  Then, the customer product registration unit 20 displays the product registration information of the shopping product of the subsequent customer on the customer display 26 in accordance with the operation of the subsequent customer C2, and transfers it to the POS terminal 10 '.

  On the other hand, the POS terminal 10 ′ stores the product registration information of the subsequent customer C2 transferred from the customer product registration unit 20 (and also transfers it to the host device if necessary), and the preceding customer C1. After settlement, settlement of the subsequent customer C2 is executed based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer C2.

  In particular, in the cash register settlement apparatus, the customer product registration unit 20 indicates that the subsequent customer C2 has pressed the product registration completion button 27 to indicate that the product registration of all shopping items of the subsequent customer C2 has been completed. Registration completion information is generated, and the product registration completion information is output to the POS terminal 10 ′.

  When the product registration completion information has already been input from the customer product registration unit 20 after the settlement of the preceding customer C1, the POS terminal 10 ′ is automatically automatically started by the conveyor 50 soon after for the subsequent customer C2. Guidance display 6a (FIG. 6 (a)) to call attention to move both the empty basket B21 and the basket B22 containing all the registered shopping items to the point in front of the POS terminal 10 ' Display on the display 26. Furthermore, an audio output unit may be provided so that this is also output by audio.

  Next, the POS terminal 10 'drives the belt conveyor 50 by the belt conveyor control unit 40, and moves both the empty basket B21 and the basket B22 containing all the registered products to the front of the POS terminal 10'. After that, the subsequent customer C2 is settled with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer C2.

  On the other hand, when the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit 20 after the settlement of the preceding customer C1, the POS terminal 10 'first cancels the product registration for the subsequent customer C2. Soon, the conveyor 50 automatically uses the POS terminal 10 ′, which is convenient for the merchandise registration by the store clerk A, both of the basket B 21 containing unregistered shopping goods and the basket B 22 containing shopping goods registered. A guidance display 6b (FIG. 6B) for calling attention to the effect of moving to the front is displayed on the customer display 26. Furthermore, an audio output unit may be provided so that this is also output by audio.

  Next, the POS terminal 10 ′ drives the belt conveyor 50 by the belt conveyor control unit 40 to store both the basket B 21 containing unregistered shopping goods and the basket B 22 containing merchandise registered shopping goods 10. Move to before '. Subsequently, the POS terminal 10 ′ adds the product registration information by registering the product of the unregistered shopping item of the subsequent customer C2 in accordance with the operation of the store clerk A, and the product registration information of the unregistered shopping product is displayed. Based on the added product registration information, the subsequent customer C2 is settled with the accumulated amount of all shopping items.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the operation of the cashier settlement apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In step S <b> 11, the POS terminal 10 ′ performs merchandise registration of the shopping item (commodity) of the preceding customer C <b> 1 by the operation of the clerk A. That is, the store clerk A takes out a shopping item (product) that has not been registered for merchandise from the basket B11, registers the product, and puts it in the basket B12. The POS terminal 10 'registers as product registration information.

  After the merchandise registration of all the shopping items in the basket B11 (step S12), in step S13, the POS terminal 10 ′ settles the accumulated amount of all the shopping items based on the registered merchandise registration information of the preceding customer C1. Run. In addition, since the accumulated amount of all shopping items is displayed on the display 16 for customers, the customer C1 can know the amount to be paid.

  Here, while the product registration of the product of the customer C1 is being performed by the operation of the store clerk A, the customer C2 who is the next customer of the customer C1 is the customer product registration unit 20, and the customer's product (product) is purchased. Register the product. That is, the customer C2 takes out a shopping item (product) for which product registration has not been made from the basket B21, registers the product, and puts it in the basket B22. From the customer product registration unit 20, the product registration information of the customer C2 is sent to the POS terminal 10 '. The subsequent customer C2 presses the product registration completion button 27 when the product registration of all the shopping items in the basket B21 is completed. When the product registration completion button 27 is pressed, product registration completion information is sent from the customer product registration unit 20 to the POS terminal 10 '.

  In step S21, the POS terminal 10 'checks the presence / absence of the subsequent customer C2 based on the presence / absence of the product registration. When there is a commodity registration for the subsequent customer C2, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S <b> 22, the POS terminal 10 ′ displays the product registration information of the customer C <b> 2 input from the customer product registration unit 20 on the clerk display 14. When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit 20, the process proceeds to step S24 '. On the other hand, when the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit 20, the process proceeds to step S26 '.

  In step S <b> 24 ′, the POS terminal 10 ′ displays a guidance display 6 a on the customer display 26, as shown in FIG. 6A, which is a reminder that the belt conveyor 50 will move soon. The customer C2 who has seen the guidance display 6a releases his hands from both the basket B22 and the empty basket B21 that contain all the shopping items registered. The POS terminal 10 ′ drives the belt conveyor 50 by the belt conveyor control unit 40 to move the basket B <b> 22 containing all the registered merchandise and the empty basket B <b> 21 in front of the POS terminal 10 ′. In addition, although it does not change with baskets B21 and B22 individually, it will become conceptually baskets B11 and B12, and it can be said that customer C2 is also a preceding customer. Further, the customer who is lined up behind customer C2 becomes a new subsequent customer.

  In step S <b> 25, the POS terminal 10 ′ executes settlement of the customer C <b> 2 with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the customer C <b> 2. In addition, since the accumulated amount of all the shopping items is displayed on the customer display 16, the customer C2 can know the amount to be paid.

  On the other hand, in step S26 ′, the POS terminal 10 ′ uses the guidance display 6b for the customer to cancel the product registration as shown in FIG. 6B and to alert the user that the belt conveyor 50 will move soon. This is displayed on the display 26. The customer C2 who has seen the guidance display 6b cancels the product registration and releases his hands from both the basket B22 containing the shopping product registered and the basket B21 containing the unregistered shopping product. The POS terminal 10 'drives the belt conveyor 50 by the belt conveyor control unit 40 and puts a basket B22 containing a registered product and a basket B21 containing an unregistered shopping product in front of the POS terminal 10'. Move. In addition, although it does not change with baskets B21 and B22 individually, it will become conceptually baskets B11 and B12, and it can be said that customer C2 is also a preceding customer. Further, the customer who is lined up behind customer C2 becomes a new subsequent customer.

  In step S27, the POS terminal 10 ′ performs the product registration of the unregistered shopping product of the customer C2 according to the operation of the store clerk A who is skilled in the product registration operation, and the product registration information already registered for the customer C2. Add to.

  After the merchandise registration of all the shopping items in the basket B21 (basket B11) (step S28), in step S25, the POS terminal 10 ′ uses the accumulated amount of all the shopping items based on the added merchandise registration information to the customer C2. Perform checkout. In addition, since the accumulated amount of all the shopping items is displayed on the customer display 16, the customer C2 can know the amount to be paid.

  The subsequent customer's product registration information from the customer product registration unit 20 may be transferred to the POS terminal 10 'every time the product is registered, or after all the product registration is completed, the POS together with the product registration completion information. It may be transferred to the terminal 10 ′, or may be transferred in response to a request from the POS terminal 10 ′ after the settlement of the preceding customer.

  Also with the cash register settlement apparatus according to the second embodiment, it is possible to reduce the time that the customer waits at the cash register. In other words, if the product registration of the subsequent customer C2 in the customer product registration unit 20 is not completed before the settlement of the preceding customer C1 at the POS terminal 10, the clerk A continues to store the remaining products. Register. As a result, it is possible to make the most of the ability of the store clerk A who is skilled in the product registration operation and can register the product more quickly than the subsequent customer C2 who is not accustomed to it, and the time that the customer waits at the cash register. Can be shortened.

  In the first and second embodiments, the control unit is provided in each of the POS terminal and the customer product registration unit. However, the control unit is provided only in the POS terminal, thereby controlling the customer product registration unit. It may be.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to two embodiments, various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention. Further, the present invention includes a combination of some or all of the configurations of the above embodiments as appropriate.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical scope described in the claims.

10, 10 'POS terminal 11, 11' Control unit 12 Bar code reader 14 Salesperson display 16 Customer display 20 Customer product registration unit 21 Control unit 22 Bar code reader 26 Customer display 27 Product registration complete button 30 Soccer stand 40 Belt conveyor control unit 50 Belt conveyor A Clerk B11, B12, B21, B22 Basket C1 Preceding customer C2 Subsequent customer

Claims (6)

A POS terminal that performs merchandise registration for the preceding customer's shopping items in accordance with a store clerk's operation;
A product registration unit for a customer that performs product registration of a shopping product of the subsequent customer according to an operation of the subsequent customer and transfers the product to the POS terminal as product registration information;
The POS terminal registers the product registration information transferred from the customer product registration unit as the product registration information of the subsequent customer, and after the settlement of the preceding customer, based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer A cashier checkout device that performs checkout for subsequent customers,
The customer product registration unit generates product registration completion information indicating that the product registration of all shopping items of the subsequent customer is completed according to the operation of the subsequent customer, and outputs to the POS terminal,
The POS terminal, after settlement of the preceding customer,
When the product registration completion information has been input from the product registration unit for the customer, while performing the settlement of the subsequent customer with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer,
When the product registration completion information is not entered from the customer product registration unit, the product registration information of the unregistered shopping item of the customer that follows is added according to the operation of the store clerk, and the product registration information is added. A cash register settlement apparatus that performs settlement of subsequent customers with an accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the item registration information to which the item registration information of shopping items is added. The POS terminal, after settlement of the preceding customer,
When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit, guidance for instructing subsequent customers to move the registered product to the vicinity of the POS terminal is provided. While outputting to
When the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit, the product registration operation is stopped for subsequent customers, and both unregistered and product-registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. The cash register checkout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein guidance for instructing to output is output to the customer product registration unit. A belt conveyor capable of moving shopping items from the vicinity of the customer product registration unit to the vicinity of the POS terminal;
The POS terminal, after settlement of the preceding customer,
When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit, a guidance is provided to notify subsequent customers that the shopping product registered by the belt conveyor is moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. After outputting to the customer product registration unit, while driving and controlling the belt conveyor so that the product registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal,
When the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit, the POS cancels the product registration operation for subsequent customers, and purchases both unregistered and product-registered shopping items by the belt conveyor. After outputting guidance to the customer product registration unit to notify that it will move to the vicinity of the terminal, the belt conveyor is driven and controlled so that both unregistered and product registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. The cash register settlement apparatus according to claim 1. A POS terminal that performs merchandise registration for the preceding customer's shopping items in accordance with a store clerk's operation;
Using a customer product registration unit that performs product registration of the subsequent customer's shopping items in accordance with the operation of the subsequent customer and transfers the product to the POS terminal as product registration information;
The product registration information transferred from the customer product registration unit is registered as the product registration information of the subsequent customer by the POS terminal, and after the settlement of the preceding customer, based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer. A cashier checkout method that performs subsequent customer checkouts,
The product registration unit for the customer generates product registration completion information indicating that the product registration of all shopping items of the subsequent customer is completed according to the operation of the subsequent customer, and outputs to the POS terminal,
After the settlement of the preceding customer by the POS terminal,
When the product registration completion information has been input from the product registration unit for the customer, while performing the settlement of the subsequent customer with the accumulated amount of all shopping items based on the product registration information of the subsequent customer,
When the product registration completion information is not entered from the customer product registration unit, the product registration information of the unregistered shopping item of the customer that follows is added according to the operation of the store clerk, and the product registration information is added. A cashier settlement method characterized in that settlement of subsequent customers is executed with an accumulated amount of all shopping items based on product registration information to which product registration information of shopping items is added. After the settlement of the preceding customer by the POS terminal,
When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit, guidance for instructing subsequent customers to move the registered product to the vicinity of the POS terminal is provided. While outputting to
When the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit, the product registration operation is stopped for subsequent customers, and both unregistered and product-registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. The cash register settlement method according to claim 4, wherein guidance for instructing to be output is output to the customer product registration unit. Further using a belt conveyor capable of moving shopping items from the vicinity of the customer product registration unit to the vicinity of the POS terminal,
After the settlement of the preceding customer by the POS terminal,
When the product registration completion information has been input from the customer product registration unit, a guidance is provided to notify subsequent customers that the shopping product registered by the belt conveyor is moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. After outputting to the customer product registration unit, while driving and controlling the belt conveyor so that the product registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal,
When the product registration completion information is not input from the customer product registration unit, the POS cancels the product registration operation for subsequent customers, and purchases both unregistered and product-registered shopping items by the belt conveyor. After outputting guidance to the customer product registration unit to notify that it will move to the vicinity of the terminal, the belt conveyor is driven and controlled so that both unregistered and product registered shopping items are moved to the vicinity of the POS terminal. The cash register settlement method according to claim 4.

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