JPH03263295A - Checkout device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the burden of an operator by providing sensors to detect the presence/absence of merchandise at the starting and ending edges of a carry-in belt conveyer and controlling the carry-in belt conveyer based on the outputs of the both sensors. CONSTITUTION:In the state of stopping a carry-in belt conveyer 11, when a customer comes to a checkout position and successively loads the merchandise taken out from the inside of a cart for shopping onto the merchandise loading position of the conveyer 11 one by one, a sensor SA is turned on. When the ON of the sensor SA is detected, a CPU checks a sensor SB and when the sensor SB is not turned on, the conveyer 11 is activated. When the merchandise is carried into a reader part 20 and the sensor SB is changed from OFF to ON, the conveyer 11 is stopped. Next, when the operator picks the merchandise up at the reader part 20, the sensor SB is turned off and the conveyer 11 is restarted. Therefore, the merchandise is carried one by one and stopped in front of a scanner 21, it is not necessary for the operator to pay attention onto the activation of the conveyer 11 and the burden is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a checkout device used in large stores such as supermarkets.

[Prior Art] In conventional checkout devices, when a customer brings a shopping basket containing unregistered products to the front of a scanner, an operator removes the unregistered products from the shopping cart and attaches them to the products. After the product code, or barcode, is read by the scanner, the empty shopping bag placed behind the scanner is stored inside the bag. After registering all unregistered products and making payment, the customer places the empty shopping cart behind the scanner in preparation for the next customer. The items are carried to the packing stand, where they are packed into bags.

However, with such a checkout device, the operator has to take out the items one by one from a shopping cart filled with many unregistered items when reading the items. However, quick operation is hindered, especially when there are fragile items mixed in. A2) Store items taken out of the shopping cart in order, starting with the items that are less fragile, in a different shopping cart. This prevents quick operation because of the need to
83) There are problems such as having to place an empty shopping cart behind the scanner in preparation for the next customer.

In addition, for the customer, B1) the operator's waiting time will be longer due to the above-mentioned problems, 82) having to carry a heavy shopping cart containing registered products to the bagging table after payment, and B3) the bagging table. In this case, it takes time to pack the bags because the registered products have to be taken out of the shopping cart and stored in the packaging bag, with the most fragile items facing down.
There are problems like this.

Therefore, a checkout device that solves both of these problems has been developed and is in use. This one is the 9th
As shown in the figure, there is a carry-in belt conveyor 11 into which unregistered products placed by customers are brought in, a scanner 21 which reads the code of the goods carried in by the carry-in belt conveyor 11, and A sorting section 30 stocks products for each customer and distributes them in different directions, and each bagging section 50 stores the products of the customers sorted by this sorting section 30. , 50□ two delivery belt conveyors 41. ．． 41□ and the scanner 2
The barcode data read in step 1 is registered and transferred to the belt conveyors 11, 41, . 412, and an electronic cash register (hereinafter referred to as ECR) 70. Note that 60 is a soccer table.

Here, the conveyance surface of the carry-in belt conveyor 11, the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21, the upper surface of the sorting section 30, the carry-out belt conveyor 41. ．． 41□ conveyance surface and bagging section 50. ，
The upper surfaces of 50□ are formed at the same height.

Further, in the sorting section 30, the products stocked for each customer are transferred to one of the delivery belt conveyors 41. ．． 412
The base end of the partition plate 32 for guiding the head is rotatably provided.

In addition, the belt conveyor 1 is located near the ECR 70.
1. Foot switch FS that activates 41+ and 412
These belt conveyors 11
．． Sensors SB, SIB, and S2B for detecting the presence or absence of products are provided at the end portions of 411 and 412 in the transport direction, respectively. BCR70 turns on belt conveyor 11.41 when sensors SB, SIB, and 32B are turned on (product detected).
412 and when it is turned off (when no products are detected), the belt conveyors 11, 41 .
．． 41 Restart □. Regarding the belt conveyor 11, when the belt conveyor 11 is in a driving state, the sensor SB detects the signal 1!I! for a predetermined period of time or longer (at least the time required for the product placed at the starting end of the belt conveyor 11 to reach the terminal end).
Even when the belt conveyor 11 is not turned on, driving of the belt conveyor 11 is stopped.

Therefore, when a customer reaches the checkout position, the operator presses the foot switch PS to move from the carry-in belt conveyor 11 to the discharge belt conveyor 41. ．． Activate 41□. When customers or shoppers 10 take out unregistered products one by one from the cart and place them on the carry-in belt conveyor 11, the products on the carry-in belt conveyor 11 are scanned by the scanner 21.
The materials are transported at a preset constant transport speed.

Eventually, when the first product on the carry-in belt conveyor 11 reaches the sensor SB position, that is, in front of the scanner 21, the sensor SB is turned on. Then, the loading belt conveyor 11
is driven or stopped. At this point, the operator scans the scanner 2.
When you pick up the product that has been brought in to the front of 1, the sensor S
When B is turned off, the carry-in belt conveyor IIJ (
Since the scanner is driven, the products placed on the carry-in belt conveyor 11 are sequentially carried in front of the scanner 21.

The operator picks up the products brought in front of the scanner 21 one by one and scans their barcodes into the scanner 21.
After reading the information, the information is stored in one of the areas partitioned by the partition plate 32 of the distribution section 30.

After registering all the products, the stocked products are pushed into the delivery belt conveyors 4L and 41□ in the direction of the kite by the partition plate 32, and then the partition plate 32 is rotated to the opposite side in preparation for the next customer. make it move. Then, the first product on the delivery belt conveyors 411, 412 is the sensor SIB, 3.
2BIfL bagging section 50. ．． When the conveyor belt 502 is reached, the driving of the conveyor belt conveyors 411 and 412 is stopped. Therefore, the customer requested the bagging department 50. , 502, and pack the products into packaging bags.

[The problem that the invention seeks to solve! ] However, in the conventional checkout device shown in FIG.
When the customer reaches the checkout position, the operator must press the foot switch FS to start the carry-in belt conveyor 11, which is in a stopped state with the condition that it is not turned on continuously for a predetermined period of time or more.

This means that, for example, when the carry-in belt conveyor 11 stops while the operator is processing payment for the previous customer, and the operator reaches the checkout position for the next customer, the operator presses the foot switch FS while performing payment processing. Having to press the button as described above places a heavy burden on the operator who performs all the above-mentioned operations by himself, and is accompanied by mental fatigue.

So, is it okay to press the foot switch FS after the previous customer's payment has been completed? In this case, it will take time for the next customer's product to reach the sensor SB position, that is, in front of the scanner 21, and the operator will have to waste time. It will happen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a checkout device that can solve these conventional problems and reduce the burden on the operator.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention includes a carry-in means for carrying in the placed unregistered product, a first sensor that detects the presence or absence of the product at the t & end portion of the carry-in means in the conveying direction. , reading means for reading the product code of the product carried in by the carrying-in means, the driving of the carrying-in means is stopped when the first sensor detects the product, and the first sensor detects the product. The checkout device is configured to restart the carrying-in means when the first sensor no longer detects the product, and to stop driving the carrying-in means when the first sensor does not detect the product for a predetermined period of time. A second sensor is provided for detecting the presence or absence of a product at a starting end in the conveyance direction of the means, and a control means is provided for controlling the carrying-in means based on the outputs of the second sensor and the first sensor. It is characterized by

[Operation J] With the carrying-in means stopped, when a customer comes to the checkout position and places a product at the starting end of the carrying-in means in the conveyance direction, the second sensor detects the product. Then, the carrying means is activated based on the output of the first sensor. Therefore, the operator does not have to pay attention to starting the carrying means, but the burden on the operator can be reduced.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 8. In the explanation of these figures, the same constituent elements as those in FIG. 9 described above are designated by the same reference numerals 44, and the explanation thereof will be omitted or simplified.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the checkout device of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a plan view thereof. Unloading sections 40+, 402 and two bagging sections 50+, 502
, a soccer table 6o, and an ECR 70 that registers the barcode data read by the reading section 20 and controls the driving of the carrying-in section 10 and the carrying-out sections 401 and 402.

The carry-in section 10 is provided with a carry-in belt conveyor 11 as a carry-in means for carrying unregistered products taken out and placed by the customer from the shopping cart 1 toward the reading section 20. The sensor SB is disposed at the end of the belt conveyor 11 in the conveyance direction, and the sensor SA, which detects the presence or absence of a product, is disposed at the start end of the belt conveyor 11 as a second sensor in place of the foot switch FS.

As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance surface of the carry-in belt conveyor 11 has a starting end in the conveyance direction, that is, a product placement position where the customer places the product, at a height where the product can be easily placed, and at a height that is close to the reading unit 20. It is formed lower than the reading surface 21A, that is, it is formed with a step that is lower than the reading surface 21A, and the terminal end in the conveyance direction is located at the reading section 2.
It is formed into an #I diagonal surface that gradually slopes upward from the middle of the conveyance direction toward the terminal end so as to substantially coincide with the reading surface 21A of No. 0. Furthermore, protrusions 13 are formed along the width direction at predetermined intervals in the transport direction on the transport surface.

The reading unit 20 includes a scanner 21 as a reading means for reading the barcode of the product carried in by the carry-in belt conveyor 11, as well as a keyboard 22 having a W number key, a subtotal key, etc., and a display 23. It is provided. The scanner 21 is equipped with a substantially horizontal reading surface 21A at a height that is easy for an operator to perform a reading operation, and scans a laser beam upward from the reading surface 2IA, and also scans the product's bar code passing above the reading surface 21A. It receives the reflected light from the surface, decodes the barcode, and sends the data to the ECR 70. At this time, the read barcode data is displayed on the display 23.

As shown in FIG.
1 from the reading surface 21A of the carrying out section 40. .

Slope 31 that gradually slopes downward as it goes toward 40□
is formed. One end of the inclined surface 31 is rotatably supported between the ejecting sections 405 and 402, and each ejecting section 40. ，
A partition plate 32 for guiding in the direction 402 is also provided.

Each of the delivery sections 401, 40□ is provided with a delivery belt conveyor 41° 412 horizontally extending from the lower end of the slope 31 of the sorting section 30 toward the top surface of the bagging section 5050□. Unloading belt conveyor 41. ．． 412
The sensors SIB and S2B are respectively disposed at the end portions in the conveyance direction. Unloading belt conveyor 41. ．． 412
The conveyance surface is lower than the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21 and is formed at the same height as the conveyance surface of the carry-in belt conveyor 11.

The ECR70 has cpulol as shown in FIG. CPU10I has an address/data bus 10.
2, the ROM 103.2 stores the program. A RAM 104 for storing registration data, etc., a keyboard controller 105. Display controller 106, printer controller 1 to roller 107, drawer controller 108, conveyor controllers 109, 112, 113, scanner interface 110, and sorter controller 111
etc. are connected to each other.

The keyboard controller 105 includes a keyboard 71.
However, the display controller 106 includes the display 72 or
The printer controller 107 includes a printer 73 or
Drawers 74 are connected to the drawer controller 108, respectively.

Further, the conveyor controller 109 includes the carry-in belt conveyor 11 and the sensor SA.

SB, the scanner interface 110 includes the scanner 21, the keyboard 22, and the display 23, the sorter controller 111 includes the sorter 33 that switches and drives the partition plate 32, and the conveyor controllers 112 and 113. The above-mentioned unloading belt conveyor 41+
, 412 and sensors SIB and S2B are connected, respectively.

Further, the CPU 10I executes the process of flowchart j shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 according to the program stored in the ROMIO 3. That is, when the sensor SA of the carry-in belt conveyor 11 is turned on, the process shown in FIG. 5 is executed. Here, the CPU 10I and the ROM 103 constitute a control means for controlling the carry-in belt conveyor 11 based on the output of the sensor SB when the sensor SA is turned on. Also, when the state of sensor SB changes,
The process shown in FIG. 6 is executed. Further, when the scanner 21 reads a barcode, the process shown in FIG. 7 is executed. Also,
When the subtotal key is pressed on the keyboard 22, that is, when the reading operation for one customer is completed, the process shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. Note that the carry-in belt conveyor 11 is activated when the sensor SA is turned on while the sensor SB is turned off.

Other stop and restart operations are the same as before.

Now, when the carry-in belt conveyor 11 is stopped, a customer comes to the checkout position and pulls the shopping car F.
-The product taken out from the t is carried in the product tl on the conveyor belt 11! When placed in the l position one after another, the sensor SA turns on. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 101 checks in step (hereinafter abbreviated as ST) 1 whether or not the sensor SB is on. If the sensor SB is not on, that is, if there is no product at the end of the carry-in belt conveyor 11, the process advances to ST2 and the carry-in belt conveyor 11 is activated. Therefore, the operator must
There is no need to pay attention to the activation of 1.

Based on the activation of the carry-in belt conveyor 11, the products placed thereon are carried toward the reading section 20. Eventually, when the first product on the carry-in belt conveyor 11 reaches the sensor SB position, Sensor SB turns on. In other words,
Sensor SB changes from off to on. Then, the CPU
As shown in FIG. 6, when L0I recognizes that sensor SB has changed from OFF to ON at 5TII, it advances to 5T12, stops the carry-in belt conveyor 11, and then switches to 5713.
Go to and reset the timer (not shown).

Here, when the operator located at the reading section 20 picks up the product from the carry-in belt conveyor 11, the sensor SB is turned off. In other words, sensor SB changes from on to off. Then, the CPU 101 selects the sensor SB at ST'll.
When it recognizes that the has changed from on to off, 5T14
After proceeding to and restarting the carry-in belt conveyor 11, 5T
Go to step 15 and start the timer. Therefore, the products placed on the carry-in belt conveyor 11 are sequentially transported to the front of the scanner 21 and then stopped, so that the operator picks up the products that have reached that position in order and causes the scanner 21 to read them. I can do it. In addition, the CPU
101 monitors a timer and stops the carry-in belt conveyor 11 when the timer has elapsed for a preset predetermined time.

After the operator picks up the product from the carry-in belt conveyor 11 and passes the product with the barcode side facing the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21, the product is placed in one of the areas partitioned by the partition plate 32 of the sorting section 30. Place it, and then the sorting section 3
The products placed in the interior 1 slide down the slope 31 while
However, the direction of the conveyor belt 41 is controlled by the partition plate 32. ．． 41□ Sent upwards.

At this time, when the product is passed over the scanner 21, the barcode of the product is read by the scanner 21 and then sent to the ECR 70. Then, CF' Ll 10
1, as shown in FIG. 7, when barcode data is input from the scanner 21, the barcode data is registered in S'r21.

Next, the process advances to 5T22, where the currently read product is sorted, that is, the delivery belt conveyor 41 on the side to be cut by the partition plate 32. , -412 sensor SIB,
Check whether 32B is on or not.

If that sensor SIB, S2B is not on, 5T23
Proceed to the unloading belt conveyor 41. ．． 412 by a preset constant distance (for example, a distance corresponding to the size of one product). Therefore, the products that have slipped down the slope 31 of the sorting section 30 and are sent onto the carry-out belt conveyor 7411.41□ are kept at a predetermined distance from each other in the bagging section 501.
When the first product on the delivery belt conveyors 411, 412 on the product sorting side reaches the sensor SIB, 32B, the product is carried out toward the sensor SIB.

Turn on 82B. Then, CPUl0I becomes 5T22
When it is recognized that sensors SIB and 32B are turned on,
5T23 is not processed, and therefore the output belt conveyors 411, 412 remain stopped.

After completing the reading operation for all products for one customer, the operator presses the subtotal key on the keyboard 22. Then, CPU10I performs ST3 as shown in FIG.
After performing subtotal processing in step 1, the process advances to 5T32 and checks whether or not the product sorting side sensors SIB and 32B are on. If that sensor SIB, S2B is on, 5T3
The process of 5T36 is performed without performing the processes of 3 to 5735.

If that sensor SIB, S2B is not on, 5T33
Proceed to the unloading belt conveyor 41 where the products are sorted.
．． ．． After starting 41□, on the condition that the sensors SIB and 32B of the conveyor belts 411 and 41□ are turned on at 5T34, the process proceeds to 5T35 and the conveyor belts 41□ and 412 are stopped. Next, 5T
Proceed to 36 and sort i? i: 33 to operate the other delivery belt conveyor 41. ．． The partition plate 32 is switched so that a passage to 412 is created. On the other hand, customers who have completed their payment will be sent to the bagging department 5.
0. , 502, where they are packed into bags.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, sensors SA and SB are provided at the start and end of the conveyance direction of the carry-in belt conveyor 11 to detect the presence or absence of products, respectively, and when sensor SA is turned on, sensor SB is turned on. Since the carry-in belt conveyor 11 is started on the condition that the carry-in belt conveyor 11 is You can concentrate on your work.

In addition, a step in the height direction is formed between the product placement position of the carry-in belt conveyor 11 and the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21, so that the product placement position of the carry-in belt conveyor 11 can be adjusted to accommodate the product! 1f, and the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21 can be set at a height that is easy for the operator to perform the reading operation, so both workability can be satisfied.

Moreover, since a part of the conveying surface is formed into an inclined surface so that the end of the conveying direction of the carry-in belt conveyor 11 substantially coincides with the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21, the product can be placed at the same height as the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21. Since the product can be delivered to the desired position, the operator's operability will not be degraded. At this time, since the protrusions 13 are formed along the width direction at predetermined intervals in the transport direction of the delivery belt conveyor 11, Prevents falling or sliding down slopes.

In addition, the distribution A1!30 is transferred to the reading surface 21A of the scanner 21.
From each unloading belt conveyor 41. ,41. The #Jlj slope 31 is formed so that it gradually slopes downward toward the starting end in the conveyance direction, so that when an operator or the scanner 21 simply places a product read by the scanner 21 on the sorting section 30, the product will slide down the slope 31. Export belt conveyor 411.41
2, the burden on the operator can be reduced.

In other words, unlike the conventional method, the work of transporting stocked products onto one of the delivery belt conveyors can be eliminated.

In addition, the products read by the scanner 21 are placed on the inclined surface 31 of the sorting section 30 on one of the delivery belt conveyors 411 and 412.
Since the partition plate 32 for separating items is switchable, and the partition plate 32 is switched every time one customer's product reading operation is completed, there is no need for the operator to switch the partition plate 32 manually. This can reduce the burden on the operator.

Also, each time a barcode is read by the scanner 21, the output belt conveyor 4 on the side guided by the partition plate 32
1+ and 41i are driven by a fixed distance, the products sent onto the carry-out belt conveyor 41412 can be carried out while being separated from each other by a predetermined distance.

Therefore, the product will not be damaged. However, when the reading operation for one customer is completed, the delivery belt conveyor 41412 on the product sorting side is driven until the sensor SIB, 32B is turned on, so that the product is delivered to the bagging section 5 for each customer.
0+, near 502 (can be reliably transported up to 5i.

In addition, since the conveying surface of each of the output belt conveyors 41+, 412 is set at the same height as the conveyance surface of the input belt conveyor 11, customers can use the conveyor belts 41, . 41□The above product has the advantage of being easy to pack into bags.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the second sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the product is provided at the starting end in the transport direction of the carrying means, and the second sensor is provided at the rear end in the transport direction. Since the carrying-in means is activated based on the output of the first sensor, the operator does not have to pay attention to the activation of the carrying-in means, thereby reducing the burden on the operator.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 8 show one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a perspective view of the whole, Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a diagram showing the relationship among the carry-in belt conveyor, scanner, sorting section, and discharge belt conveyor, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration, 5 to 8 are flowcharts. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional checkout device. 11... Carrying belt conveyor (*human means), 21...
・Scanner (reading means), 101.103...CPU and ROM (control means)
, SB...Sensor (first sensor), SA...Sensor (second sensor).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A carry-in means for carrying in the placed unregistered product, a first sensor that detects the presence or absence of the product at the rear end of the carry-in means in the conveying direction, and the product carried in by the carry-in means. reading means for reading a code, stopping driving of the carrying-in means when the first sensor detects the product, and restarting the carrying-in means when the first sensor no longer detects the product. In addition, in the checkout device configured to stop driving the carry-in means when the first sensor does not detect the goods for a predetermined period of time, detecting the presence or absence of the goods at a starting end in the conveyance direction of the carry-in means. A checkout device comprising: a second sensor for controlling the load; and a control means for controlling the carry-in means based on the outputs of the second sensor and the first sensor.