JPH05120554A - Self-scanning type article vending registration device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lighten the burden of work on a cashier and prevent illegal act by providing inhibited article data storage means, article discriminating means, vending registration rejecting means, and notifying means, and notifying that an article is automatically discriminated as a scanning inhibited article and rejecting automatic vending registration. CONSTITUTION:The self-scanning type article vending registration device where an operation part 10, a carry-in and weighing part, a settlement part 30, a carry-out part, and a stock and bagging part are arrayed in an article flow direction is provided with inhibited article data storage part 31CGA and 31CFA, article deciding means 31A and 31B, and notifying means 31A and 31B. Then when it is automatically discriminated that a scanned article is an article to which an identification mark is added, i.e., the scanning inhibited article, that is notified and the automatic vending registration is rejected. Consequently, the work burden on the cashier is lightened and while the vending of an alcoholic drink or cigarettes to a minor and a certain kind of illegal act are prevented, smooth settlement operation is possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-scanning merchandise sales registration device for allowing a customer to scan merchandise data of purchased merchandise.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a self-scanning product sales registration device used in a supermarket uses a self-scanning system device to scan the product data of purchased products by a customer himself / herself. There is a cash register (cashing section) configured to be performed by a clerk (cashier).

FIG. 5 shows a general configuration of a self-scanning type product sales registration device including a self-scanning device 1 and a settlement unit 30.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a self-scanning system device, which is an operation unit 10 on which a customer performs a scanning operation.
And carry-in / weighing unit 20, carry-out unit 40, stock / bagging unit 5
0s are arranged in a row in the product flow direction. The operation unit 10 is provided with a product reading unit (optical scanner or the like) 11 for reading a barcode attached to a product and an input / display unit 12 including various switches such as a start button and a display. . The carry-in / weighing unit 20 includes a carry-in conveyor 21 for carrying in self-scanned products in the direction of the arrow, and a weighing machine 22 for weighing the weight of the products placed on the carry-in conveyor 21. The carry-out section 40 includes a carry-out conveyor 41 and an inclined shooter 42, and is configured to carry out to a stock / bagging section 50 having a stock place 51 for the adjusted products.

Here, the electronic cash register 31 is
It forms the settlement unit 30, and is provided between the carry-in / measurement unit 20 and the carry-out unit 40. The electronic cash register 31 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and stores a product code, a product name, a unit price, and the like, a product data file 31.
It has a keyboard, a printer, a drawer, etc., which are necessary for executing settlement operations including sales registration and money transfer using CGA. 31CRA in the figure is a sales data file.

The settlement section (31) may be constructed so as to be commonly used by a plurality of self-scanning system devices 1. Also, the product data file 31CGA
May use a file controller (not shown) as a substitute, but the essence does not change.

In such an apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, when the customer himself scans his or her purchased merchandise on the operation unit 10 and places the merchandise on the carry-in conveyor 21 which is being transported, there is read data ( Under the condition of ST20), the weighing machine 22 automatically weighs the product (S).
T21). On the other hand, the electronic cash register 31 is a regular product in which the data input by scanning is registered in the product data file 31CGA (ST2
2 YES) and both weights match (YES in ST23), sales data file 31CRA
It is supposed that the sales will be registered (ST24).

On the other hand, when the merchandise is not a legitimate merchandise (NO in ST22) or the merchandise weight input by scanning does not match the merchandise weight automatically measured (NO in ST23), the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped (ST25). And carry out the reverse transportation operation (ST26) to deliver the product to the customer (operation unit 10).
Return to. Then, a message such as "Please rescan" or "Place the scanned product on the conveyor" is displayed to the customer (ST27).

Therefore, the cashier is the settlement unit 30.
In the above, it is only necessary to perform the settlement work for the customer after scanning. After that, the customer will be bagged at the stock location 51.

Therefore, since the cashier can concentrate on the settlement work only, the work efficiency is improved. On the other hand, customers can shop quickly without waiting for a long line. Thus, it is possible to improve business efficiency and service while preventing intentional or negligent fraud.

[0011]

However, the following problems are being pointed out in large-scale stores handling a wide variety of products.

That is, all the products self-scanned by the product reading means 11 are registered for sales (ST24) unless a negative determination is made in ST22 and ST23. That is,
You have approved the sale of the product.

However, for example, alcohol and tobacco should not be sold to minors. In addition, caution is required to prevent certain types of fraudulent activities, especially for expensive products. Further, some products, such as special outer shapes and water products, are not preferable to be carried in by the carry-in conveyor 21, and some products are difficult to automatically measure. It is terrible to bear all of these matters on the cashier's check, and as a result, the sales registration work is delayed.

Here, the object of the present invention is to prevent the automatic sale of certain products to minors, prevent fraudulent acts, optimally handle products, etc. without imposing an excessive burden on the cashier. It is to provide a self-scanning product sales registration device.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided an operation unit including product reading means arranged in a row in the product flow direction, a carry-in / measurement unit having a carry-in conveyor and a weighing machine, and a settlement having a product data file. Section, and an unloading section including an unloading conveyor,
In a self-scanning type product sales registration device consisting of a stock / bagging section having a stock location, an identification code to that effect is added to the product data of a product stored in the product data file for which self-scanning is prohibited. The prohibited product data storage means for attaching and storing the product, the product discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the self-scanning product is the product with the identification code, and the product with the identification code for the product discriminating means. Sales registration denial means that denies automatic sales registration on the condition that it has been determined that
A notification means for notifying an appropriate message to the customer on condition that the product is identified with the identification code is provided.

[0016]

In the present invention having the above-described structure, the prohibited product data storage means sets and stores in advance an identification code for the product for which self scanning is prohibited. When the customer performs self-scanning with the product reading means, the product determination means refers to the prohibited product data storage means and automatically determines whether or not the self-scanning product is a product with an identification code. If it is determined that the product has an identification code, the sales registration denying means denies automatic sales registration for the product, and at the same time, the notification means, for example, “take this product to the cashier” Etc. message is displayed. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary for the cashier to check whether or not the minor purchases cigarettes.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, the self-scanning type product sales registration device includes two self-scanning systems 1
A and 1B are arranged in parallel, and a common checkout unit 30 [two electronic cash registers 31 (A), 31 (B)] is arranged in the middle to constitute a so-called two-lane checkout device. Be served.

The self-scanning product sales registration apparatus 1A (1B), 30 has a conventional basic structure (FIG. 5).
Except that the prohibited product data storage means (31
CGA, 31CFA) and product discrimination means (31A, 31)
B), sales registration denying means (31A, 31B) and notification means (31A, 31B, 14) are provided, and the product self-scanned by the customer is a product with an identification code for prohibiting sail scanning. Is configured to deny (reject) the automatic sales registration and to notify the customer by displaying the fact.

The same or common parts as those of the conventional example (FIG. 5) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

By the way, the prohibited product data storage means, the product discriminating means, the sales registration denying means, and the notifying means in this embodiment are constituent elements of the electronic cash register 31 (A) [31 (B)] constituting the settlement section 30. And the functions that they have are combined. Therefore, first, the electronic cash register 31 will be described.

In FIG. 1, the electronic cash register 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU 31A that controls calculations, determinations, commands, etc., a ROM 31B that stores various programs and fixed data, a RAM 31C that temporarily stores various data, a keyboard 32 (controller 32C), a scanner 33 (controller 33).
C), printer 37 (controller 37C), drawer 3
4 (controller 34C), operator display 35
(Controller 35C), customer display 36 (Controller 36C), and interface 31D are formed, and the general setting mode, registration mode, inspection mode,
Data processing in the payment mode is possible, and data can be transmitted to a host computer (not shown).

The RAM 31C has a work area 31CWA for temporarily storing data being processed, a sales registration area, that is, a sales data file 31CRA, a product data file (area) 31CGA and a prohibition flag area 31CFA shown in FIG. In the product data file 31CGA, the weight of the product is preset and stored in addition to the product code, the product name, and the unit price. However, a file of a separate file controller may be substituted for this product data file 31CGA. Further, an identification code for prohibiting self-scanning is set and stored in the prohibition flag area 31CFA. Identification code (flag "1")
Is prohibited from self-scanning.

Here, the product data file (area) 3
It is understood that the prohibited product data storage means is formed from 1CGA and the prohibition flag area 31CFA. That is, the prohibited product data storage means (31CGA, 31CF
A) is the product data file 31CG as shown in FIG.
Among the products stored in A, an identification code (flag “1”) that prohibits self-scanning is added and stored.

The work area 31CWA forms scanning product data storage means. Further, in the sales data file 31CRA, in addition to the product data self-scanned by the customer on the operation unit 10, FIG.
The product data input by the cashier operating the scanner 33 or the keyboard 32 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the following equipment forming the self-scanning system device 1 is connected to the interface 31D. That is, the commodity reading means 11 forming the operation unit 10 and the input / display unit 12 having the 4-digit display 14, the start switch 15, and the stop switch 16 are connected. The start switch 15 is for declaring that the customer starts inputting the product data of self-purchase using the product reading means 11, and the stop switch 16
Is for the end declaration.

Therefore, the start switch 15 is turned on.
Then, the self-scanned product data is automatically input to the electronic cash register 31 via the interface 31D, and the scanned product data is stored in the RAM3.
It is temporarily stored in the working area 31CWA of 1C.

The weighing device 22 is a means for automatically weighing the weight of the self-scanned merchandise placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 in which the customer is stopped, and the weighed weight is temporarily stored in the work area 31CWA of the RAM 31C. Where R
The AM31CWA also forms a weighing product weight data storage means.

Further, the conveyor controller 29 connected to the interface 31D is means for controlling the operation of the carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 41. The carry-in conveyor 21 is started to be carried by the conveyor operation control means described later, and is stopped by the conveyor controller 29 when the sensor 23 (FIGS. 1 and 3) provided on the downstream side of the carry-in conveyor 21 detects a product. On the other hand, the carry-out conveyor 41 is transported after the start switch 15 is turned on.

Further, the conveyor controller 29 is
As shown in FIG. 1, the carry-in conveyor 21 can be transported and operated by a foot switch 38 arranged in a range where the cashier can be operated, and an emergency switch 39 can be used to perform an emergency stop.

The product reading means 11, the input / display unit 12, the weighing device 22, and the conveyor controller 29 are
CPU based on the program stored in ROM 31B
It is executed in association with the control of 31A.

Further, the comparing and judging means compares the product weight data, that is, the input weight set and input in the product data file 31CGA of FIG. 2 and the measured weight data automatically measured by the measuring device 22, and the both weights are equal. In this embodiment, it is formed of a CPU 31A and a ROM 31B. Specifically, it is executed in ST14 of FIG.

Next, the conveyor operation control means is the CPU 3
1A, ROM 31B, and comparison judgment means (31
A, 31B) determines that the two weights are equal, and outputs a transfer operation command signal for the carry-in conveyor 21 to the conveyor controller 29. That is, only when the customer self-scans the self-purchased product and places the product on the carry-in conveyor 21, the carry conveyor 21 is started to carry. Therefore, the waste operation of the transfer conveyor 21 is eliminated, and the transfer conveyor 2
There is no need to drive 1 in reverse. Moreover,
Since only the regular purchased products are transported, it is possible to operate at high speed.

On the other hand, when the self-scanning is unsuccessful, the CPU 31A places an article on the carry-in conveyor 21 without self-scanning, or places a commodity different from the customer's self-scanned article on the carry-in conveyor 21. However, the carry-in conveyor 21 is not operated.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the customer's negligence or intentional fraud without giving the unpleasant feeling of reversely transporting the product.

The shelf 15 in FIG. 3 is used to temporarily store products or the like that have failed in self-scanning.

Here, the product discriminating means is a means for discriminating whether or not the self-scanned product is a product having an identification code. That is, the scanning product data and the product data file RAM3 stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM31CWA).
2 is stored in the 1CGA, and the identification code "1" stored in the prohibition flag area 31CFA serving as the prohibited commodity data storage means for the scanning commodity is compared.
It is determined whether or not the product is marked with, that is, the product for which self-scanning is prohibited. In this embodiment, CP
U31A and ROM31B, and ST1 of FIG.
It is executed in 1.

When the product discriminating means (31A, 31B) discriminates the product to which the identification code is added, the notifying means notifies the customer of the fact by displaying, sounding or the like. In this embodiment, it is composed of the CPU 31A, the ROM 31B and the display 14 shown in FIG. That is, on the display 14 of the input / display unit 12, "Please bring this product to the cashier for purchase", "This product cannot be scanned, so please take it to the cash register".
Etc. message is displayed. Specifically, ST of FIG.
It is executed at 19.

Various messages are stored in the ROM 31B. Further, in this embodiment, the same message is displayed on the operator display 35 (ST.
19). This is to alert the cashier.

When the product discrimination means (31A, 31B) discriminates that the product has the identification code (prohibition flag "1") (YES in ST11), the sales registration denial means (31A, 31B). Deletes the merchandise data previously temporarily stored in the work area 31CWA. That is, the products with the prohibition flag “1” are sales data files 3
It is prevented that sales are automatically registered in 1CRA (ST19).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. A customer who has put a large number of purchased products in a cart stops at the operation unit 10 and turns on the start switch 15.

Then, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message "Please scan the product". Product data self-scanned by the customer using the product reading unit 11 is temporarily stored in the scanning product data storage unit (RAM 31CWA). ST1 in FIG.
0 is YES. At this time, the CPU 31A reads the input weight of the product corresponding to the scanning product data from the product data file RAM 31CGA of FIG. 2 and temporarily stores it in the work area 13CWA.

Here, the CPU 3 forming the product discrimination means
1A indicates whether the product temporarily stored in the work area 13CWA is a product having an identification code (prohibition flag “1”) in the prohibition flag area 31CFA of FIG. 2 forming the prohibited product data storage means. Automatically discriminate (ST1
1).

That is, when it is determined that the product has the prohibition flag "1" set (YES in ST11), the display 14 forming the notification means (31A, 31B, 14) indicates "This product cannot be scanned. , Please take it to the cash register "(ST19). At the same time, the sales registration denying means (31A, 31B) erases the read data that has been self-scanned once and temporarily stored in the work area 31CWA as the scanning product data storage means (ST19). That is, it is denied to store in the sales data file 31CRA. That is, for example, even if self-scanning is performed to purchase the product code 02 and the product name B (pack of 5 cigarettes) shown in FIG. 2, the self-scanning is invalidated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent minors from purchasing cigarettes unconditionally by self-scanning.

On the other hand, the self-scanned products are
When the prohibition flag (“1”) is not set like the product C of the product code 03 shown in FIG. 2, the product determination means (31A, 31B) determines NO in ST11.

Then, the display 14 displays a message "Place the scanned product in the frame of the conveyor". The product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 is automatically weighed by the weighing device 22 (ST12), and the weighed product weight R forms a weighed product weight data storage means.
Stored in AM31CWA.

Here, the comparison and determination means (CPU 31A, R
If the input data including the read data is normal (YES in ST13), the OM 31B) determines the identity between the input weight data and the measured weight data (ST14). When it is determined that the two weights are equal, the CPU 31A forming the conveyor operation control means outputs a transfer operation command signal to the conveyor controller 29 to start the operation of the carry-in conveyor 21.

On the other hand, if NO is determined in ST14, the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped (ST16) and then reversely conveyed (ST1).
7) Is done. Then, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message such as "Please place the scanned product on the carry-in conveyor." It should be noted that the same is true when a negative determination is made in ST13.

Now, the product which is determined to be the same (same weight) as the product self-scanned and the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 (YES in ST14) is moved downward by the carry-in conveyor 21 in FIG. Sent to the unloading conveyor 4
1 to the stock location 51.

When the sensor 23 detects a product during the transportation of the product, the scanning product data storage means (R
The scanning product data temporarily stored in (AM31CWA) is registered in the sales data file 31CRA by the CPU 31A (ST15). At the same time, the conveyor controller 29 stops the carry-in conveyor 21.

Thereafter, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display messages such as "Please scan the next product" and "Press the stop switch".
The following products will be treated similarly. When self-scanning is completed for all products and the stop switch 16 is pressed, the self-scanning work is completed.

After that, the electronic cash register 31
The total amount of money is displayed on the display 36 of the
Pay at. For a product temporarily placed on the shelf 15 due to a self-scanning malfunction, the cashier is manually input using the keyboard 32 or the scanner 33.

For products for which self-scanning has been rejected first, the cashier manually inputs them using the keyboard 32 or the scanner 33. The product data manually input is registered in the sales data file 31CRA and added to the total amount. Thus, the cashier and the customer correspond and settle in the settlement unit 30.

However, according to this embodiment, the operation unit 1
In the self-scanning product sales registration device in which 0, carry-in / weighing unit 20, settlement unit 30, carry-out unit 40, stock / packing unit 50 are arranged in a row in the product flow direction, prohibited product data storage means (31CFA, 31CGA) And product discrimination means (31A, 31B) and sales registration denial means (31A, 31)
B) and notification means (31A, 31B, 14) are provided, and when the self-scanned product is automatically determined to be a product with an identification code, that is, a product for which self-scanning is prohibited, the customer is notified to that effect. Since it is configured not to automatically register sales as well as to notify to, the smooth settlement work while preventing cigarette sales to certain minors and certain types of fraudulent activities without imposing a heavy burden on cashiers. Can be possible.

The prohibited product data storage means is a prohibited flag area 31CF integrated with the product data file 31CGA.
Since it is formed as A, it is possible to prohibit self-scanning for all products individually, so that it is possible to handle specially shaped products, glass products, etc. with reasonableness, and the applicability is wide.

Sales registration denial means (31A, 31
Since B) is configured to refuse to be automatically registered in the sales data file 31CRA when the product determination means (31A, 31B) determines that the product is not self-scanning, the price is higher than expected. It becomes possible to eliminate the complexity of the conventional example in which the cancel operation is forced when there is a request to cancel the purchase. There is no room for cautionary work when minors discover that they have purchased alcohol or tobacco by self-scanning.

Further, notification means (31A, 31B, 14)
Notifies the message only to the customer on the operation unit 10, so that the minor who tried to purchase the cigarette does not feel uncomfortable and pays attention to the minor.

Further, the prohibited product data storage means, the product discriminating means, the sales registration denying means, the notifying means are the settlement section 30.
CPU 31 of the electronic cash register 31 constituting the
Since the A, ROM 31B, RAM 31C and the like are also used, organic and high-speed processing is possible, and the cost of the entire merchandise sales registration device can be reduced.

Furthermore, a message similar to the message displayed on the display device 14 when the product determination means determines that the product has an identification code is also displayed on the operator display device 35. The cashier can know that in advance.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operating portion,
In the self-scanning type product sales registration device in which the carry-in / weighing unit, the settlement unit, the carry-out unit, and the stock / bagging unit are arranged in line in the product flow direction, the prohibited product data storage means, the product discrimination means, and the sales registration denial means are announced. Means is provided, and when the self-scanned product is automatically discriminated as a product with an identification code, that is, a product for which scanning is prohibited, it is configured to notify that fact and refuse automatic sales registration. It is possible to reduce the work load and prevent the sale of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes to minors and some kind of fraudulent activity, while enabling smooth settlement work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is also a diagram for explaining a product data file and a prohibited product data storage unit.

FIG. 3 is likewise a plan view of the entire apparatus.

FIG. 4 is likewise a flowchart for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B Self-scanning system device 10 Operation part 11 Product reading means 12 Input / display unit 14 Display device (notification means) 15 Shelf 20 Carry-in / measurement part 21 Carry-in conveyor 22 Metering device 23 Sensor 29 Conveyor controller 30 Settlement part 31 , 31A, 31B Electronic cash register 31A CPU (product discrimination means, sales registration denial means, notification means) 31B ROM (product discrimination means, sales registration denial means, notification means) 31C RAM 31CWA work area 31CGA product data file (prohibited product data Storage means) 31CFA prohibited flag area (prohibited product data storage means) 31CRA sales data file 31D interface 32 keyboard 33 scanner 34 drawer 35 operator display 35C display controller 36 Customer Display 37 Printer 38 Foot Switch 39 Emergency Switch 40 Carry Out Section 41 Carry Out Conveyor 50 Stock / Bag Packing Section 51 Stock Place

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operation unit including product reading means arranged in a line in a product flow direction, a carry-in conveyor, a carry-in / measurement unit having a weighing machine, a settlement unit having a product data file, and a carry-out including a carry-out conveyor. In a self-scanning product sales registration device consisting of a department and a stock / bagging unit having a stock location, among the products stored in the product data file, the product data indicating that self-scanning is prohibited is included in the product data. Prohibited product data storage means for storing with an identification code, product discrimination means for determining whether or not a self-scanning product is a product with an identification code, and an identification code with this product discrimination means Sales registration denial means that denies automatic sales registration on the condition that it is determined that the product is a product, and it is determined that the product has an identification code. It self-scanning type commodity sales registration apparatus being characterized in that the notification means for notifying the appropriate message to the customer, the provided condition.