JP6522197B2 - Payment device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a payment device.

  In POS (Point Of Sales) terminals and the like conventionally used in supermarkets and the like, there is provided an area for temporarily storing and checking money deposited from customers before making it into a drawer. Such an area is called a contemplative table or a vernier. By providing such an area, the store clerk can avoid trouble at the time of money transfer and perform quick and accurate cash register operations.

  In recent years, in supermarkets and the like, self checkout devices (self-checkouts) that allow customers to make their own payments without using store clerks are used. In the self-registration, a coin insertion slot is provided which enables a plurality of coins to be received at one time so that the customer can complete the coin insertion operation at one time.

  By the way, among the customers using the self-registration as described above, at the time of settlement, the coins in the wallet are once arranged in a flat area on the self-registration and confirmed, and then the desired coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot There is a customer.

  In the case of such usage, after arranging coins in a flat area or the like on the self-registration, the customer is required to hold a desired coin again and then insert the coin into the coin insertion slot.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a settlement apparatus capable of easily performing an operation of putting coins into a coin insertion slot after arranging them.

The settlement apparatus according to the embodiment is a settlement apparatus used for settlement processing by a customer, and includes an end portion on both sides in the width direction to store coins and bills, and stores and stores coins and bills. There is provided a housing including a printer for printing receipts of contents relating to the payment processing and a receipt discharging unit for discharging the receipts printed by the printer, and a coin provided in the housing and into which coins are inserted The coin slot is provided so as to be continuous with the coin slot and the width direction of the housing, and has a long shape in the width direction across the central portion in the width direction of the box, and the coin slot is inserted into the coin slot A coin placement tray on which coins to be placed are temporarily placed, a coin discharge tray for receiving coins dispensed as change, and a position aligned in the width direction of the coin discharge tray and the housing, Accommodate inside And a bill insertion slot for receiving bills and a bill discharge port for discharging bills, the coin slot and the coin placement unit, the coin discharge dish, and the reject dish, The bill insertion slot and the bill ejection slot are provided at different positions in the height direction of the housing, and the coin discharge tray is provided close to one end in the width direction of the housing, Either one of the coin insertion slot and the money placement unit is provided close to an end opposite to one end in the width direction of the housing provided with the coin discharge tray, and the bill is inserted The mouth and the bill outlet are provided at positions where the position in the width direction of the casing overlaps with at least one of the coin insertion slot and the money placement unit, the coin tray and the reject tray. Said reci DOO discharge portion, the coin slot and the monetary mounting portion, the coin ejection tray and the reject tray is provided above the position than any of the bill insertion slot and the bill outlet.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a self-checkout apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the state where the door of the payment terminal is opened. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the self-checkout apparatus as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an appearance in the vicinity of the coin insertion slot. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the self checkout apparatus. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing functions involved in the settlement process. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of payment processing.

  Embodiments of the payment device will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present embodiment describes an example in which a settlement terminal of a self-checkout apparatus for a customer to perform product registration and settlement by himself as a settlement apparatus is applied.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a self-checkout apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the self-checkout apparatus 100 includes a settlement terminal 1, a basket storage rack 2, and a bag storage rack 3. The settlement terminal 1 includes a deposit / withdrawal unit 4, a reading unit 5, a display operation unit 6, and a control unit 7 (see FIG. 5) for controlling each unit.

  The settlement terminal 1 includes a first housing 11 and a second housing 12. The first housing 11 includes a door 111 which can be opened and closed. The door 111 pivots up and down around the hinge portion 111a. The first housing 11 accommodates therein a banknote change machine (bill deposit / withdrawal device) 41 and a coin change machine (coin deposit / withdrawal device) 42 (all of which are shown in FIG. 2) constituting the deposit / withdrawal unit 4 . The second housing 12 houses the control unit 7 therein.

  The reading unit 5 includes a scanner 50 that reads an appearance of a product or a code (such as a bar code) attached to the product in order to specify the product. The reading unit 5 further includes a printer 51 that prints a receipt related to the commodity sales data process performed by the control unit 7. The printer 51 has a receipt discharge stand 51 a for supporting the discharged receipts projected from the first housing 11. That is, the receipt discharge stand 51 a is a convex portion provided in a projecting manner in the first housing 11. Furthermore, the reading unit 5 includes a card reader 52 that reads a credit card related to payment processing performed by the control unit 7.

  The display operation unit 6 includes a monitor 61 and a touch panel 62. The monitor 61 displays an image according to the control of the control unit 7. The touch panel 62 is provided on the surface of the monitor 61, and outputs information based on the position touched by the operator to the control unit 7.

  The crucible storage rack 2 is a storage table which is used as a storage space for the container when the product in the container is taken out and held over the reading unit 5. The coffee rack 2 is provided on one side of the settlement terminal 1.

  The bagging rack 3 is a platform for bagging the goods after scanning. The bagging shelf 3 is provided on the other side of the settlement terminal 1 (the opposite side of the tray 2).

  Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the state where the door 111 of the payment terminal 1 is opened. As shown in FIG. 2, by rotating the door 111 upward, the first housing 11 opens the inside of the first housing 11 and exposes the banknote change machine 41 and the coin change machine 42. The banknote change machine 41 and the coin change machine 42 are stacked and stored in the first housing 11, and the banknote change machine 41 is located below the coin change machine 42.

  The banknote change machine 41 determines the correctness of the taken-in banknote, stores a true coin, and dispenses a banknote as a change. The coin change machine 42 determines whether or not the taken-in coin is correct and stores it, and dispenses a coin as a change. The banknote change machine 41 and the coin change machine 42 notify the control unit 7 of the stored money amount. Further, the banknote change machine 41 and the coin change machine 42 receive, from the control unit 7, notification of the amount of money to be dispensed as change.

  The control unit 7 controls the respective units (the deposit and withdrawal unit 4, the reading unit 5, and the display operation unit 6) included in the payment terminal 1 in an integrated manner. The control unit 7 acquires code information from the reading unit 5. Further, the control unit 7 outputs information to be displayed on the monitor 61 of the display operation unit 6, and acquires information of an operation performed by the operator from the touch panel 62. Further, the control unit 7 grasps the deposit to the deposit / withdrawal unit 4 and instructs the deposit / withdrawal unit 4 to dispense.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the self-checkout apparatus 100 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 3, the first housing 11 is provided with an insertion port (coin insertion port) 421 of a coin to be deposited to the coin change machine 42 on one end side of the upper surface.

  In addition, the first case 11 (the deposit / withdrawal unit 4) is provided with the coin placement tray 70 (see FIG. 4) and the coin insertion slot 421 from the back side to the front side, and the coin discharge tray 422 and the reject The plate 423, the bill insertion slot 411 and the bill ejection slot 412 are provided in the order of steps. That is, the middle stage where the surface on which the coin insertion slot 421 is provided is the upper stage and the surface on which the coin discharge tray 422 and the reject tray 423 are provided is lower than the upper stage, the bill insertion slot 411 and the bill ejection port 412 are provided. The lower side is located below the middle level. Further, the coin discharge tray 422 located in the middle stage is located on the near side of the first case 11 in the depth direction with respect to the money placement unit 70 and the coin insertion slot 421 located in the upper stage. Further, the bill insertion port 411 and the bill discharge port 412 located in the lower stage are located on the near side in the depth direction of the first housing 11 with respect to the coin delivery tray 422 located in the middle stage. By arranging the various inlets and outlets (discharge trays) in a step-like manner as described above, it is possible to overlook all the inlets and outlets (discharge trays) from the back side to the front. .

  The coin discharge tray 422 is a tray for receiving the coins discharged from the coin changer 42. The reject tray 423 is a receptacle for receiving coins (rejected coins) that should not be accommodated in the coin changer 42, such as deformed coins, foreign coins, fake coins and the like. The positional relationship between the coin insertion slot 421, the coin discharge tray 422, and the reject tray 423 depends on the structure of the coin changer 42.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the coin discharge tray 422 is provided at an end opposite to the end in the width direction of the settlement terminal 1 in which the coin insertion slot 421 is provided. As described above, since the coin insertion slot 421 and the coin discharge tray 422 are provided by being shifted in the height direction, the width direction, and the depth direction, respectively, visibility and operability with respect to the coin discharge tray 422 are improved. ing. The reject tray 423 is provided on the coin discharge tray 422 at a position below the coin insertion slot 421.

  The bill insertion slot 411 is an insertion slot for bills to be deposited into the bill change machine 41. The bill discharge port 412 is a discharge port for bills discharged from the bill change machine 41. The positional relationship between the bill inlet 411 and the bill outlet 412 depends on the structure of the bill changer 41.

  In addition, in the vicinity of each of the coin insertion slot 421, the coin discharge tray 422, the reject tray 423, the bill insertion slot 411, and the bill ejection port 412, LEDs 43 to 46 for notifying operation procedures and errors are provided. There is. In addition, the place where LED43-46 is provided will not be specifically limited if it is the vicinity of each part. Further, the number and arrangement of the LEDs 43 to 46 are not particularly limited.

  Next, the configuration of the coin insertion slot 421 and the vicinity of the coin insertion slot 421 will be described. Here, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an appearance in the vicinity of the coin insertion slot 421. As shown in FIG. 4, the coin insertion slot 421 has a funnel-shaped inclined surface 421a that descends from the outside toward the inside and a hole 421b provided at the lowermost part of the inclined surface 421a. The hole 421 b is a vertically long hole as viewed from the customer standing in front of the payment terminal 1. That is, the longitudinal direction of the hole 421b is a direction intersecting the direction in which the coin is slid toward the coin insertion slot. The dimension in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hole 421b (that is, the direction in which the coin is slid toward the coin insertion slot) is such that a plurality of coins can overlap and pass, and the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the hole 421b Shorter. With such a configuration, the coin insertion slot 421 can collectively receive a plurality of coins.

  In addition, the door 111 of the first housing 11 is provided with the money placement unit 70 continuously provided at a position aligned with the coin insertion slot 421 in the width direction of the settlement terminal 1. The money placement unit 70 is generally called a review table or a vernier. The money placement unit 70 is positioned across the central portion of the first housing 11 on both sides in the width direction of the first housing 11. The money placement unit 70 is for the customer to take out and arrange money from the wallet and to visually confirm the money used for payment at the time of payment processing of the payment terminal 1.

  More specifically, the money placement unit 70 includes a flat money placement surface 71 on which money (coins, bills) is placed, and a guide wall 72. The money placement surface 71 is not limited to a flat shape, and may be curved in a concave shape. Further, a sheet 71 a formed of plastic or metal is attached to the money placement surface 71. The sheet 71 a is used to cover the connection between the money placement unit 70 and the coin insertion slot 421 in order to prevent the money placement unit 70 from being soiled or damaged by the placed money. It is provided for the explanation display of the usage aspect of.

  The guide wall 72 is provided at an edge of the money placement surface 71 excluding the side connected to the coin insertion slot 421. The guide wall 72 protrudes upward beyond the money placement surface 71 and supports the side portion of the money (particularly, coin) placed on the money placement surface 71. Note that such a guide wall 72 is formed as a part of the first housing 11.

  On the other hand, the coin insertion slot 421 has a planar connecting portion 421c connected to the inclined surface 421a at a position where it is connected to the money placement surface 71. It is needless to say that the connecting portion 421c is molded to the shape when the money placing surface 71 is curved in a concave shape.

  As described above, the money placement unit 70 formed in a concave shape on the door 111 of the first housing 11 rotates the door 111 upward to open the inside of the first housing 11, It is provided in the position which interferes with the receipt discharge stand 51a. The depth of the concave portion of the money placement unit 70 is set to a depth that can avoid a collision with the receipt discharge stand 51a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the vicinity of the money placement unit 70 of the first housing 11, a portion is set back in order to make the coin discharge tray 422 easy to be seen by a camera (not shown) or a customer. . That is, in FIG. 4, the first housing 11 includes the front surface 11 e on the near side of the money placement unit 70 along the width direction of the first housing 11. The length in the width direction of the first housing 11 of the front surface 11 e is substantially equal to the length in the width direction of the first housing 11 of the money placement unit 70. In addition, the first housing 11 includes a front surface 11 f on the front side of the coin insertion slot 421 along the width direction of the first housing 11. The front surface 11 e is configured to be positioned on the rear side in the depth direction of the first housing 11 with respect to the front surface 11 f. Further, the edge 422a on the near side of the coin discharge tray 422 in the depth direction of the first housing 11 is located on the near side of the front surface 11e in the depth direction of the first housing 11.

  Furthermore, an LED 47 (see FIG. 5), which is an irradiation unit that irradiates light by light emission, is provided below the money placement unit 70 in the first housing 11 and above the coin discharge tray 422.

  Further, the settlement terminal 1 is a sensor 73 (see FIG. 5) that detects an object (such as a wallet or a coin) placed on or around the money placement surface 71. Have. Examples of the sensor 73 include an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, and an image sensor. The optical sensor is disposed, for example, such that the optical axis of the optical sensor covers the money placement surface 71, and when the optical axis is blocked, it is determined that an object is present on the money placement surface 71. The magnetic sensor is disposed, for example, at a position corresponding to the back side of the money placement surface 71, and when metal is detected, it is determined that an object is present on the money placement surface 71. The image sensor is disposed, for example, above the money placement surface 71, and determines that an object is present on the money placement surface 71 by image recognition.

  With such a configuration, the money placement unit 70 enables coin insertion into the connected coin insertion slot 421. Specifically, the customer takes out money (coins, bills) to be used for payment from the wallet at the time of settlement processing of the settlement terminal 1, and arranges and confirms it on the money placement surface 71 of the money placement unit 70. Next, the customer slides the arranged coins toward the coin insertion slot 421 by sliding on the money placement surface 71, drops the coin into the coin insertion slot 421, and makes a payment. At this time, the guide wall 72 of the money placement unit 70 supports the side of the coin to prevent the coin from falling from the money placement surface 71.

  Subsequently, the hardware configuration of the self checkout apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the self checkout apparatus 100. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the settlement terminal 1 includes a control unit 7, an I / O device control unit 81, and a communication I / F 82. The communication I / F (interface) 82 communicably connects the apparatus with the bagging shelf 3. The I / O device control unit 81 connects the bill change machine 41, the coin change machine 42, the LEDs 43 to 47, the scanner 50, the printer 51, the card reader 52, the monitor 61, the touch panel 62, and the sensor 73 to the control unit 7.

  On the other hand, the bagging shelf 3 further includes an I / O device control unit 31, a communication I / F 32, and a weighing device 33. The weighing device 33 weighs the articles placed on the bagging shelf 3. The communication I / F (interface) 32 communicably connects the device itself to the settlement terminal 1. That is, the I / O device control unit 31 connects the weighing unit 33 to the control unit 7 via the communication I / Fs 32 and 82. The measuring instrument 33 weighs the articles on the bagging shelf 3 for the purpose of preventing fraud.

  The control unit 7 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). The ROM stores various computer programs executed by the CPU and various data. The RAM temporarily stores data and computer programs when the CPU executes the computer programs. The control unit 7 controls the respective units in an integrated manner by expanding a computer program read from the ROM by the CPU in the RAM and executing the computer program.

  The computer program executed by the self-checkout apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is a file of an installable format or an executable format, and is a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Etc.) and provided in a computer readable recording medium.

  Further, the computer program executed by the self-checkout apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, the computer program executed by the self checkout apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Further, the computer program executed by the self-checkout apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  Next, among various processes executed by the control unit 7 of the settlement terminal 1 of the self-checkout apparatus 100, the settlement process which is a characteristic function of the present embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing functions related to the payment processing, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of the payment processing.

  In the settlement process, the control unit 7 of the settlement terminal 1 implements the irradiation unit 91 and the notification unit 92 as functional units as shown in FIG. 6 according to the computer program.

  The irradiation unit 91 causes the LED 47 to emit light to execute light irradiation in accordance with the timing of dispensing of the coin change machine 42.

  When the notification means 92 detects an object (such as a wallet or a coin) placed on the money placement surface 71 or around the money placement surface 71 by the sensor 73 when payment is completed, the fact is notified. Do.

  The settlement process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, first, the control unit 7 of the settlement terminal 1 executes a commodity registration process (step S1).

  Here, the product registration process will be described. When the customer holds the image in which the product code is encoded over the scanner 50, the scanner 50 reads the code and outputs the product code. When the scanner 50 outputs the product code, the control unit 7 refers to, for example, a PLU (Price Look Up) file stored in the storage unit of the own device or an external device connected online. The PLU file is, for example, a table in which the names and prices of products are recorded in association with product codes.

  Next, the control unit 7 obtains information associated with the product code read by the scanner 50 among the information recorded in the PLU file. And while recording such information as information on goods, the price of goods is added to a purchase price. As a result, product registration is performed.

  Next, when the customer finishes product registration and bagging (Yes in step S2), the control unit 7 of the payment terminal 1 performs payment processing (step S3). Control part 7 of settlement terminal 1 returns to goods registration processing (Step S1), when processings, such as a product registration, are not completed by a customer (No of Step S2).

  Here, the settlement process will be described. When the control unit 7 of the settlement terminal 1 receives an operation for proceeding to settlement from the customer, the control unit 7 displays on the monitor 61 the price obtained by totaling the prices of the registered products. Along with this, the control unit 7 of the settlement terminal 1 starts accepting the settlement operation by the customer.

  In cash settlement, the controller 7 calculates the difference (change) from the payment when there is payment to the bill insertion slot 411 of the bill change machine 41 and the coin insertion slot 421 of the coin change machine 42. When there is a change, the control unit 7 dispenses the change from the bill discharge port 412 of the bill change machine 41 and the coin discharge tray 422 of the coin change machine 42.

  Here, the control unit 7 (irradiation means 91) of the settlement terminal 1 executes the irradiation of the LED 47 in accordance with the timing of withdrawal of the coin discharge tray 422 of the coin change machine 42 (step S4). As described above, by performing the irradiation of the LED 47 according to the timing of withdrawal of the coin change machine 42, it is possible to prevent the customer from picking up the coins discharged to the coin discharge tray 422.

  Further, the control unit 7 (notification means 92) of the settlement terminal 1 is an object (a wallet, a coin, etc.) placed on the money placement surface 71 or around the money placement surface 71 when the customer's payment is completed. ) Is detected (Yes in step S5), a notification to that effect is given (step S6). The notification method includes voice, screen display, and output of a signal to an attendant terminal (not shown). This makes it possible to prevent the customer from misplacement of a purse, a coin or the like on the money placement surface 71 or around the money placement surface 71. When the controller 7 (informing means 92) of the settlement terminal 1 does not detect an object (a wallet, a coin, etc.) (No in step S5), the process directly proceeds to step S7.

  The control unit 7 of the settlement terminal 1 ends one transaction when the settlement is completed (Yes in step S7), and shifts to a state of waiting for the start of the next transaction (step S1).

  As described above, according to the settlement apparatus of the present embodiment, there is no need for the customer to pick up and move the coin on the money placement surface 71 of the money placement unit 70 and move the coin on the money placement surface 71. The customer can easily carry out the operation of inserting the coin changer 42 into the coin insertion slot 421.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the settlement terminal 1 of the self-checkout apparatus 100 for a customer to perform product registration and settlement by himself is applied as a settlement apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as a settlement apparatus, an accounting machine installed in a semi-self checkout lane and used for settlement processing by a customer after product registration by a store clerk may be applied.

  In addition, as a payment apparatus, a ticket vending machine (ticket issuing machine) that issues a meal ticket of a restaurant, a checkout machine such as a parking lot or a station, a vending machine, or the like can be applied.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the money placement unit 70 is connected to the left side of the coin insertion slot 421, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the coin insertion slot 421 is arranged on the left side, the money placement unit 70 may be connected to the right side of the coin insertion slot 421.

  While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and the gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 payment apparatus 11 housing | casing 41 banknote depositing / dispensing apparatus 42 coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 47 irradiation part 51a convex part 70 money placing part 71 money placing surface 73 detection part 91 irradiation means 92 notification means 111 door 411 bill insertion slot 412 bill discharging Exit 421 Coin slot 422 Coin discharge tray

JP, 2015-156138, A

Claims (5)

A payment device used for payment processing by a customer,
A printer for printing receipts of contents relating to the settlement processing, as well as internally provided with a deposit / withdrawal unit that has ends on both sides in the width direction and stores coins and bills and dispenses coins and bills. A case comprising a receipt discharge unit for discharging the receipt printed in
A coin insertion slot provided in the housing and into which coins are inserted;
The coin input port and the housing are provided so as to be connected in the width direction, and the coin has a long shape in the width direction across the central portion in the width direction of the housing, and the coin inserted into the coin input port is A money placement unit to be temporarily placed;
A coin discharge tray for receiving coins paid out as change,
A reject tray for receiving coins that should not be accommodated inside, provided at positions aligned in the width direction of the coin discharge tray and the housing;
A bill insertion slot for receiving bills and a bill discharge port for discharging bills;
Equipped with
The coin insertion slot, the money placement unit, the coin discharge tray, the reject plate, the bill insertion slot, and the bill discharge port are provided at different positions in the height direction of the housing.
The coin discharge tray is provided close to one end in the width direction of the housing, and one of the coin insertion slot and the money placement unit is provided in the housing provided with the coin discharge tray. It is provided close to the end opposite to one end in the width direction,
The bill insertion slot and the bill ejection slot are located at positions where the position in the width direction of the casing overlaps with the coin ejection tray and the reject tray, respectively, of at least one of the coin insertion slot and the money placement unit. Provided
The receipt discharge unit is provided at a position above any of the coin insertion slot and the money placement unit, the coin discharge tray and the reject tray, the bill insertion slot and the bill discharge port.
A payment device characterized by The coin placed on the money placement unit can be slid in the width direction of the housing and inserted into the coin insertion slot.
A payment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The money placement unit has a money placement surface on which coins are temporarily placed,
The money placement surface is provided with a display indicating the usage mode of the money placement part.
The settlement apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The receipt discharge unit is provided at positions where the coin insertion slot and the money placement unit, the coin discharge tray and the reject tray, the bill insertion slot, and the bill discharge slot and the position in the height direction of the housing are different. And
The receipt discharge unit is provided at a position where the coin discharge tray, the bill insertion slot, the bill discharge slot, and the position in the width direction of the housing overlap.
The settlement apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that: The money placement unit is provided with one end connected to the coin insertion slot and the other end close to the opposite end.
The settlement apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

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