JPH0380381A - Merchandise data reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To circulate a cart sequentially as a part of a check-out job by moving the cart made empty at the upstream side of a scanner to the downstream side of the scanner by passing between frames at the minimum distance as making pass underneath the scanner. CONSTITUTION:A checker 18 raises the scanner 7 until the bottom plane of the scanner is positioned at the upper side of the cart 1 by depressing a switch 9 and driving an elevation means after performing reading work. And the cart 1 made empty at the upstream side of the scanner 7 is moved to the downstream side of the scanner 7 by passing at the minimum distance between the frames 3, 4 as making pass underneath the scanner 7. Thereby, the cart 1 can be circulated sequentially as a part of the check-out job.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product data reading device for reading data on products sold in, for example, supermarkets.

Prior Art Conventionally, as shown in Fig. 3, two soccer tables 50.5
1, a keyboard 53 and a display 54 facing the checker side are provided on the casing of the scanner 52, and a cash register 55 is provided on the side of the soccer table 51.
The data of the product is read by the scanner 52 in the process of passing the product taken out from the basket 56 placed on one soccer table 50 over the reading window 57 of the scanner 52 and storing it in the basket on the other soccer table 51. There is a product data reading device that does this.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a soccer table 58
A scanner 60 having a reading window 59 on the front is provided in the center of the scanner 60, and a keyboard 62 with a display 61 facing the operator and a display 63 facing the customer are provided on the top of the scanner 60. A cash register 64 is arranged on one end side, and a product taken out from a basket 56 placed on an example of a soccer table 58 is placed in the reading window 5 of a scanner 560.
A basket 56 placed on the other side of the soccer table 58 through the front of the soccer table 9.
There is a product data reading device that uses a scanner 60 to read the data of the product during the process of storing the product.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Since baskets have a small storage capacity for products, customers must carry multiple baskets when purchasing large quantities of products. In addition, some stores lend customers carts with baskets attached to them, which can reduce the customer's effort when selecting products, but when checking out the baskets are removed from the carts, After all, it is necessary to read the product data while moving the products from one basket to another, and it is also troublesome to return the cart to its original position after unloading the basket.

Means for Solving the Problem A scanner having a reading window on the top surface is provided between a pair of opposing frames in a space slightly wider than the width of a cart for storing products, and the scanner is guided in the frame so as to be vertically movable. The scanner is provided with a guide means for raising and lowering the scanner, and a lifting means for raising and lowering the scanner with the lower surface of the scanner at the highest position at a height higher than the height of the cart.

A frame that supports the scanner is installed in the conveyance path of the working cart, an empty cart is placed on the downstream side of the scanner, and a cart containing products is moved to the other side upstream of the scanner. The product data can be read by a scanner during the process of storing the product taken out from the cart in the downstream cart, and after reading the product data, the downstream cart containing the product is handed over to the customer, and the cart is moved by lifting means. By raising the scanner, an empty cart on the upstream side of the scanner can be moved under the scanner, passing between the frames in the shortest distance, and moving to the downstream side of the scanner, which is part of the checkout operation. Carts can be circulated in sequence, and when reading product data, the scanner can be positioned at the desired position, allowing reading work to be carried out in a comfortable posture, which saves space. In addition to improving in-store work efficiency, it is possible to improve service for customers who purchase large quantities of products.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 is a cart in which products are stored, and a pair of frames 3 face each other with a space 2 slightly wider than the width of the cart 1.
, 4 are installed in the conveyance path 5 of the cart 1. A scanner 7 having a reading window 6 on the upper surface is held in these frames 3 and 4 so as to be vertically movable. That is, a plurality of protrusions (not shown) are protruded from both the front and rear ends of the scanner 6, and these protrusions are vertically movable into vertical guide grooves 8 formed as guide means on the inner surfaces of the frames 3 and 4. freely held. Further, elevating means (not shown) for elevating and lowering the scanner 7 is built into the frames 3 and 4, with the lower surface of the scanner 7 positioned above the cart 1 at the highest position. The structure of this elevating means is such that, for example, the rotational motion of a motor that can freely rotate forward and backward is converted into linear motion, and the scanner 7 is raised and lowered by the driving force in the direction of this linear motion. There are various mechanisms for converting the rotation of a motor into linear motion, including a mechanism using gears and a rack, a mechanism using a plurality of pulleys and wires wound around these pulleys, and the like. Of course, the scanner 7 may be moved up and down by a drive unit that moves linearly, such as a linear motor or a solenoid. Although the elevating mechanism itself is not the gist of the invention, its explanation will be omitted here, but the switch 9 that connects the drive unit to the power source is connected to the body support 10.
It is also provided on the frame 4.

The height of this body support 10 from the floor is set to be approximately equal to the height of the checker's abdomen.

Furthermore, a display 1 for a checker is provided on the frame 3.
A keyboard 12 having a number 1, a display 13 for customers, and protectors 14 protruding from both sides are attached.

Furthermore, a stand 16 for holding a terminal such as a cash register 15 is installed on the side of the conveyance path 5.

In such a configuration, in FIG. 2, an empty cart 1 is placed on one example of the downstream side of the scanner 7 in the conveyance path 5, and a customer 17 places the cart 1 containing products on the other side upstream of the scanner 7. It is in the state where it was sent. In this state, the products in the upstream cart 1 are passed through the upper surface of the reading window 6 by the checker 8, and the product data is read by the scanner 7 during the process of being stored in the downstream cart 1. When reading product data, the scanner 7 can be lowered to the desired position, and the body support 10 provided on the frame 4
Since the checker 18 can be reclined, reading work can be performed in a comfortable posture. Large products are taken in and out of the lower tier of the cart 1, and since the peripheries on both sides of the frames 3 and 4 are open, it is possible to easily take large products in and out of the cart 1.

Further, for products to which data such as a bar code is not attached, input is made using the keyboard 12.

On the other hand, the customer 17 who is currently paying the bill moves to the cashier 19 and waits for payment, and when the customer 17 has checked out all the items in one cart, he receives the total amount charged by the cashier 19. After payment, the cart l containing the products is picked up by the checker 18 and moved to a predetermined packaging location.

After the reading operation, the checker 18 lifts the scanner 7 by pressing the switch 9 and driving the lifting means until the bottom of the scanner 7 is positioned above the cart 1, and lifts the empty cart 1 on the upstream side of the scanner 7 into the scanner. By moving the cart 1 to the downstream side of the scanner 7 by passing between the frames 3 and 4 by the shortest distance while passing under the cart 7, the cart 1 can be circulated sequentially as part of the checkout operation. Also, during the scanning operation by the checker 18, the customer 17 stands in front of the frame 3 and displays the display 13.
However, since protectors 14 are provided on both sides of the frame 3 to prevent the fingers of the customer 17 from entering, children may not be able to get between the guide groove 8 and the scanner 7 while it is being raised or lowered. It is possible to prevent a situation in which fingers are pinched.

In addition, a low soccer table is passed through the space 2 of the frames 3 and 4, and baskets are placed at both ends of the soccer table with the scanner 7 in between, and the product data is transferred in the process of transferring the product taken from one basket to the other basket. It is also possible to select the usage pattern for reading with the scanner 7.

In this case, depending on the height of the soccer table, the basket can be passed under the scanner 7 after reading.

Effects of the Invention Since the present invention is constructed as described above, a frame for supporting the scanner is installed in the conveyance path of the cart, an empty cart is placed on one side downstream of the scanner, and the other side is placed on the upstream side of the scanner. The product data can be read by a scanner during the process of moving the cart with products stored on the side and storing the product taken from the upstream cart in the downstream cart. The empty cart on the upstream side of the scanner is handed over to the customer, and the scanner is raised by the elevating means, allowing the empty cart on the upstream side of the scanner to pass under the scanner in the shortest possible distance between the frames. By moving the scanner to the downstream side, carts can be circulated sequentially as part of checkout operations, and when reading product data, the scanner can be positioned at the desired position, so reading can be done in a comfortable posture. can be done,
This has the effect of improving in-store work efficiency without taking up a large amount of space, and improving service for customers who purchase large quantities of products.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional example, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another example. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Cart, 2...Space, 3, 4...Frame, 5...Transportation path, 6...Reading window, 7...Scanner, 8...Guiding means Z section 3 L4 -Figure (bag viscosity υ) 5 1 ko;

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of frames facing each other with a space slightly wider than the width of a cart for storing products, a scanner placed between these frames and having a reading window on the top surface, and a scanner provided on the frame that allows the scanner to be moved up and down. A product data reading device comprising: a guide means for movably guiding the scanner; and an elevating means for raising and lowering the scanner, with the lower surface of the scanner being at the highest position at a height higher than the height of the cart.