JPH03273493A - Automatic merchandise vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily move a cart by forming a cart passage at the operator side of a scanning device and forming abutting faces with a prescribed angle located at the right and left portions of the operator of the main body case of the scanning device and making the tip end of the cart abut on it. CONSTITUTION:The front side of a main body case 20, namely, an operator side is designated for a cart passage 24. Two abutting faces 25 with a prescribed angle are formed at both sides of the operator of the main body case 20. The angle of these abutting faces 25 is preset to approximately 60 deg.. Since a cart 26 is moved along the abutting faces 25 formed in the main body case 20 as targets, the cart 26 can be easily moved with distinct targets. Further, since the main body case of the scanning device is served as a guard for the operator, even if the cart is violently handled, the operator can be protected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product vending device equipped with a scanner for reading barcodes provided on products.

Conventional technology Generally, in supermarkets etc., by reading the barcode attached to the product.

It is possible to sell a large amount of products in a short period of time, and to collect various data on the sold products.

In a system that employs such a sales method, the present applicant has proposed a system that allows customers to check out products while they are still loaded in a cart.
No. 7995 proposes and implements one method. That is, the structure will be explained based on FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, l is a conveyance path determined to have a length to continuously convey two carts 2. This conveyance path 1 has the lower ends of opposing cart guides 3 and 4 connected by a connecting plate 5, and one side of the cart guides 3 and 4 connected by an inverted U-shaped vibro whose height is higher than that of the cart 2. One cart guide 3 has the length of two carts 2, but the other cart guide 4 has a short length. A columnar support 7 is fixed to the center of one of the cart guides 3, and this support 7 has a scanner 9 having a reading window 8 on the front, a checker display 10, and a customer display. 11 is installed,
A keyboard 12 is held at the top of the casing of the scanner 9. Further, an extension surface extending from one end of the connecting plate 5]3 has a stand 15 on which the cash register 14 is placed.
is located. The scanner 9 is located inside the transport path 1 and above the cart 2. Furthermore, the display 10 is located on the loading side of the scanner 9 and is mounted on a support 7.
is maintained.

In this configuration, FIG. 4 shows a state in which an empty cart 2 is sent to the discharge side of the conveyance path 1, and a customer 18 sends a cart 2 containing products to the carry-in side of the conveyance path 1.

In this state, the products in Cart 2 on the carry-in side are
16, the product data is read by the scanner 9 during the process of passing through the front side of the reading window 8 and being stored in the cart 2 on the carry-out side. For products that do not have data such as barcodes attached, input is made using the keyboard 12. On the other hand, the customer 18 who is currently paying the bill moves to the cashier 17 and waits for payment, and when the customer 18 has finished checking out all the items in one cart 2, the customer 18 receives the total amount charged by the cashier 17. After payment, the cart 2 sent out from the delivery side of the conveyance path 1 is picked up by the checker 16 and moved to a predetermined packaging location. After this, the checker 16
The empty cart 2 on the carry-in side is sent to the carry-out side of the conveyance path 1, and waits for the next customer 18 to send the cart 2 containing goods to the carry-in side of the conveyance path 1. Therefore, the carts 2 can be sequentially circulated as part of the checkout operation. Further, the cart 2 for taking out products and the cart 2 for storing products are continuous in the conveyance path 1, and the scanner 9, keyboard 12, and display 10 are located inside the conveyance path 1 without interfering with the conveyance of the cart 2. Since the product can be moved closer to the checker 16 with a small movement, the product can be passed in front of the reading window 8 or the keyboard 12 can be operated, thereby reducing the labor of the checker 16. It can be reduced. Furthermore, the checker 16 needs to confirm the location of the product when taking out the product from the cart 2 on the carry-in side rather than when storing the product in the cart 2 on the carry-out side after reading the product data. By arranging the display device 10 on the loading side of the scanner 9,
The data of the previously read product can be confirmed on the display 1o on the extension line of the line of sight searching for the next product to be read from the cart 2 located on the carry-in side, and this allows the direction of the line of sight to be changed significantly. This can alleviate eye fatigue and improve the efficiency of checkout operations.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Although the conventional method has various features as described above, when a customer transports a cart,
It is not clear where to move the cart. Additionally, there is a risk that the cart may collide with the operator. Furthermore, the movement of the customer is troublesome because the cart must be handed over to the operator and then turned around to face the operator.

Means for Solving the Problem A scanning device is provided with a scanner, a cart path is formed on the operator side of the scanning device,
Contact surfaces of the main body case of the scanning device are formed at a predetermined angle to be placed on the left and right sides of the operator, and the front end of the cart is brought into contact with the contact surfaces.

Since the cart can be moved by targeting the contact surface formed on the main body case, the target is clear and the cart can be moved easily.Moreover, the main body case of the scanning device acts as a guard for the operator, so the cart can be moved easily. The operator can be protected even if it is handled roughly, and the customer only needs to be located on the customer side of the main body case, so the flow line is continuous and easy to move. Since the two carts are placed close to the operator on the left and right sides of the operator, the operator can easily move the products.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the scanning device 19 has a main body case 20, and a scanner 22 with a reading window 21 facing upward is provided on the main body case 20. At the back of the scanner 22 is a keyboard 2 that is slanted toward the operator.
3 are arranged. The front side of the main body case 2o, that is, the operator side is a cart passage 24. Two contact surfaces 25 are formed on both sides of the operator of the main body case 20 and are arranged at a certain angle. The angle of these contact surfaces 25 is set to, for example, about 60 degrees.

Thus, the cart 26 is mounted on a base 2 on which wheels 27 are provided.
8, a support 29 erected from the base 28, a box-shaped product storage section 30 for storing products, and a handle 31 placed on the customer side.

Next, a register unit 32 is disposed on the left side of the main body case 20. This register unit 3
2, a keyboard 33, a display section 34, and a printer 35;
and a drawer 36 are provided.

In such a configuration, the customer grasps the handle 31 to move the cart 26, and when making payment, the customer moves the cart 26 toward the contact surface 25 on the left side of the scanning device 19. That is, the tip of the cart 26 is brought into contact with the contact surface 25 of the main case 20.

As a result, the cart 26 containing the products is set on the left side of the operator. At this time, the position where the cart 26 should be set becomes clear, and the cart 26 does not hit the operator, effectively protecting the operator.

On the other hand, the empty cart 26 is set in advance with its tip abutting against the contact surface 25 on the right side of the operator.

In this state, the operator takes out the product from the left cart 26 and reads the barcode using a laser beam emitted from the reading window 21 of the scanner 22. The read product is then thrown into the cart 26 on the right side. At this time, two carts will be placed close to each other on the left and right sides of the operator, so there will be no difference between taking out the products and moving the products.

Operability is greatly improved.

When all the products have been read in this way, the cart 26 on the right side is filled with products. The customer pulls out this cart 26. Then, the empty cart 26 on the left side is moved on the cart path 24 on the operator's side and sent to the right side. Then wait for the next customer.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a scanning device equipped with a scanner, a cart path is formed on the operator side of the scanning device W, and a cart is placed on the left and right sides of the operator in the main body case of the scanning device. The abutment surface on which the tip of the abutment is formed at a predetermined angle
Since the cart can be moved using the contact surface formed on the main body case as a target, the target is clear and the cart can be moved easily.Furthermore, the main body case of the scanning device acts as a guard for the operator, making it easier to move the cart. The operator can be protected even if handled roughly, and the customer only needs to be located on the customer side of the main body case, so the flow line is continuous and easy to move, especially when set. Since the two carts are disposed close to the operator on the left and right sides of the operator, the operator can easily move the products.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional example, and FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof. 19...Scanning device, 20...Body case,
22...Scanner, 24...Cart aisle, 25...
・Contact surface, 26...Cart applicant: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. (Mutsumi Kazumi 9)

Claims (1)

[Claims] providing a scanning device having a scanner, forming a cart path on an operator side of the scanning device;
A product vending device characterized in that contact surfaces of the main body case of the scanning device are positioned on the left and right sides of an operator and abutting surfaces of the cart are formed at a predetermined angle.