JPH0520481A - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the fall of the contents of the packed commodities by eliminating the need to reverse the commodities when their bar codes are turned to a scanner. CONSTITUTION:The containers storing the unregistered commodities are set at a 1st containiner setting part 2, and the containers storing the registered commodities are set at a 2nd container setting part 18 which is adjacent to the part 2. Then an optical bar code reading part 6 is set at the upper side part of a commodity pass area where the commodities are shifted to the container which stores the registered commodities from the container which is set above a point between both parts 2 and 18 and stores the unregistered commodities.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code reader for inputting and processing merchandise data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a product data processing device in which a registration section and a settlement section are separated, a checker for each product brought by a customer in a shopping basket and a checker for each one are provided with a keyboard, a bar code reader, etc. Operate the input device of to register,
In the settlement department, cashiers settled with customers based on the registration data, and then packed products into bags. As the above-mentioned bar code reading device, a scanner is provided in a position parallel to the surface on which the shopping basket or the like is placed, and the bar code passing through the upper part is read by irradiating light such as a laser from the surface side on which the shopping basket or the like is placed. Stationary scanners are known.

However, such a conventional bar code reader has the following drawbacks. That is, since the light for reading the barcode is emitted from the side on which the shopping basket is placed, the barcode attached to the product must be once directed to the placing table. Although it does not matter so much for fruits and confectionery, a pack product such as fish fillet or meat has a bar code on the top of the product so that it can be seen by the customer.To read this, turn the pack upside down. There is a need to. This causes the contents of the pack to collapse, making it look unattractive and making the customer feel uncomfortable.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional bar code reading device, the contents of the pack may be collapsed when the bar code is directed to the scanner, which may cause discomfort to the customer and the checkeree may be reversed. The operation to turn on is troublesome.

The present invention has been conceived in order to solve such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bar code reader capable of registering product data without impairing the appearance of the product and having good operability of a checker. To aim.

[0006]

A bar code reader according to the present invention is provided with a first container placing portion for placing a container containing unregistered products, and adjacent to the first placing portion. A second container placing section for placing a container for storing the registered product,
A product passage area for moving a product from a container storing unregistered products to a container storing registered products is provided above the first and second container placement parts, and a side portion of the product passage region is provided. An optical bar code reader is arranged above.

[0007]

The unregistered product is placed on the first container placing portion, the unregistered product is passed through so that the light from the optical bar code reader from above can read the barcode, and the second container is placed. By moving the product to the storage unit, the product can be registered without turning the product upside down.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 1, there is provided a table 2 which is a first container placing section for placing a shopping basket containing products, Device body 1
A marker 3 for confirming the passage of the product, an insertion port 4 for inserting the product are provided in front of the right upper surface of the, and a registration unit display 5, a laser scanner 6, a start switch 7, on the rear of the right upper surface, A registration unit end switch 8 and the like are provided. The marker 3 is composed of a red light emitting diode and a green light emitting diode. Further, a card insertion slot 9, a keyboard 10 for inputting an encryption number, a settlement section display 11, a settlement completion switch 12, a receipt issuing slot 13 and the like are provided on the upper left side of the apparatus body 1, and the left side surface of the apparatus body 1 A shopping bag outlet 14 is provided to be openable and closable.

Inside the main body 1 of the apparatus, a weighing and bagging mechanism 15 and a carrying conveyor 16 for carrying the shopping bag sent out from the mechanism 15 to the outlet 14 are housed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the weighing and bagging mechanism 15 is movably provided up and down by a scale unit vertical motor 23 via a belt 24, and a scale 17 is installed at the bottom of the scale 17. The weighing section conveyor 18, which is the second container placing section, is placed on the upper portion. A shopping bag 25 is placed on the scale conveyor 18 from the side of the product inlet 4, and the shopping bag 25 is provided on the bag hook mechanism 19 as shown in FIG. The hole 26 formed is locked.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bag hooking mechanism 19 includes a hook portion 27 for locking the hole 26 of the shopping bag 25, a solenoid 28 for holding the hook portion 27 in a horizontal state as shown in the drawing, and It is composed of a seal portion 29 that seals against the shopping bag 25. A bag set sensor 30 for detecting whether or not the shopping bag 25 is set is provided near the bag hooking mechanism 19 as shown in FIG. 4, and a little above the shopping bag 25 as shown in FIG. A bag up-and-down sensor 20 is provided to detect whether or not the products loaded into the bag are in an overflow state. In addition, the scale 1
A scale sensor 33 is provided which detects when the product 7 is lowered to the lowest position when the product is stored to the maximum extent that can be sealed in the shopping bag.

The product slot 4 has a door 4a which is controlled to be opened and closed by a motor 31. The door 4a is closed when it is not used, and the door 4a is opened when the start switch 7 is operated. There is.

When the shopping cart is not used, it is stored in a recess 21 formed on the side surface of the apparatus main body 1, and when used, it is pulled out from the recess 21 and held horizontally as shown in the figure.

At the time of registration, the shopping bag outlet 14 is locked by the opening / closing lock mechanism 22 and is prevented from opening.
The lock can be unlocked at the end of settlement and can be released. Further, the shopping bag outlet 14 has a bag outlet sensor 32 for detecting whether a shopping bag is in the outlet.
Is provided.

The laser scanner 6 is erected in a tower shape in a state of being slightly inwardly inclined, and a bar code reading section which is an optical bar code reading section provided with a light emitting section and a light receiving section for laser light at its upper end. 6a is provided and its reading unit 6
The reading surface at a is oriented obliquely downward with respect to the front of the apparatus main body 1.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the registration unit, and 41 is a CPU (central processing unit). This CPU4
1, a ROM (read only memory) 43, a RAM (random access memory) 44, a display interface 45, a transmission control circuit 4 via a bus line 42.
6 and multiple I / O ports 47, 48, 49, 50, 5
1, 52, 53 are connected. The ROM 43 stores program data for the CPU 41 to control each unit.

In the RAM 44, as shown in FIG. 8, an input buffer 441 for storing the bar code data read by the laser scanner 6, a counter 442 for counting the number of shopping bags of a customer, and the registration section display 5 are provided. Display buffer 443 for storing information to be displayed on the display, an output buffer 444 for storing data to be transmitted to the settlement section via the transmission control circuit 46, an A register 445 and a B register 446 used for processing the weight data of the product. , An area 447 for storing the item name and unit price of the barcode-entered product, an area 448 for storing the total price thereof, and an area 4 for storing the weight data of each product corresponding to the code.
49, ENDF for confirming the end of registration operation of the previous customer
(End flag) 450 and the like are formed.

The display interface 45 is connected to the registration display unit 5, the I / O port 47 is connected to the start switch 7 and the registration end switch 8, and the I / O port 48 is connected to the I / O port 48. Scale 17 is connected,
The marker 3 is connected to the I / O port 49. The I / O port 50 is connected to the laser scanner 6, the I / O port 51 is connected to the weigher unit vertical motor 23 and the weigher unit conveyor 18, and the I / O port 52 is connected to the I / O port 52. The bag set sensor 30, the bag up / down sensor 20, and the scale sensor 33 are connected, and
The solenoid 28 and the door opening / closing motor 31 are connected to the O port 53.

The CPU 41 controls each part based on the program data stored in the ROM 43, and the control is performed according to the contents of the flow charts shown in FIGS. That is, first, when waiting for the input of the start switch 7 and the switch input is present in this state, ENDF =
Check 1. If ENDF ≠ 1, it is determined that the registration of the previous customer has not been completed yet, and an error occurs. If ENDF = 1, the door opening / closing monitor 31 is driven to open the entrance door 4a. Then reset ENDF,
Both the red and green light emitting diodes of the marker 3 are turned on. Further, a message such as "Please set the bag." Is displayed on the registration section display 5. In this state, it waits for a signal input from the bag sensor 30. Then, when a bag set detection signal is input from the bag sensor 30, a message such as "Please pass the bar code up and over the marker" is displayed on the registration section display 5.

Next, it is checked by checking the contents of the input buffer 441 whether or not there is a bar code reading input from the laser scanner 6, and if there is, the next item is a shopping bag 25 from the input port 4.
It is checked by looking at the contents of the B register 446 whether or not it has been weighed in and is weighed by the scale 17, and if there is weighing, it is further checked whether the weight of the weighed product is correct. In the weight check at this time, the contents of the A register 445 storing the weight data up to the previous time are subtracted from the contents of the B register 446 storing the weight data from the balance 17. That is, the processing of the B register-A register is performed.

On the other hand, the bar code stored in the input buffer 441 reads out the already determined weight data of the corresponding product from the weight data storage area 449. Then, it is checked whether the weight data obtained by the subtraction process and the weight data read from the memory match, and if they match, the barcode read product and the product put in the shopping bag are checked. Judge that they are the same. If they do not match at this time, the green light-emitting diode of the marker 3 is turned off, the marker 3 is turned red to indicate that there is an error, and the registration unit display 5 displays, for example, "mark the bar code up again. Please pass through. "Is displayed. When it is determined that the products are the same, the weight data of the B register 446 is transferred to the A register 445. Then, the red light emitting diode of the marker 3 is turned off, the marker 3 is changed to green, and "OK" is notified, and the item name and unit price of the product entered based on the barcode are stored in the area 447 and the total amount is summed up. The amount is stored in the amount storage area 448. Also,
The item name, unit price, and total price are displayed on the registration section display 5.

Next, it is checked whether or not the registration section end switch 8 has been operated, and if not, it is checked whether or not the bag up / down sensor 20 has detected the product in the shopping bag, and the detection is performed. Scale unit vertical motor 2 if known
3 is driven to lower the position of the scale 17. If the detection is not performed, the scale sensor 33 checks whether the scale 17 is lowered to the lowest position where the product can be put in the shopping bag. If it has not descended to the lowest position, the processing routine is returned to the barcode reading confirmation processing described above. Also, if the lowermost position is reached, the message "Bag is full. Please wait for a while." Is displayed on the registration unit display 5 and the door opening / closing motor 31 is driven to turn on the inlet 4 The door 4a is closed. Then, the content of the counter 442 is incremented by one. In this state, the weighing unit up-and-down motor 23 is driven to further lower the weighing and bagging mechanism 15, and the upper end of the shopping bag 25 is sealed by the sealing unit 29. When the sealing is completed, the scale conveyor 18 is driven to move the shopping bag 25 onto the conveyor 16, and the scale vertical motor 2 is then driven.
3 is driven to raise the weighing and bagging mechanism 15 to its original initial position. Then, the processing routine is returned to the opening control of the door 4a of the inlet 4.

Further, in the above description, the registration section end switch 8
If there is an input of, the settlement department checks whether or not the settlement of the previous customer has been completed. If it is not finished, wait until it is finished. When the payment of the previous customer is completed, the total amount of money is displayed again on the registration unit display unit 5. Next, the door 4 of the inlet 4
It is checked whether or not a is open, and if it is open, the door 4a is closed and the content of the counter 442 is incremented by one. If it is already blocked, this count-up process is passed. Then, the scale vertical motor 23 is driven to lower the weighing and bagging mechanism 15, and the upper end of the shopping bag 25 is sealed by the seal 29. Then, when the seal is completed, the data of the item name, unit price storage area 447, total amount storage area 448 and counter 442 are set in the output buffer 444, and then the transmission control circuit 46.
To the settlement section via. Further, ENDF is set to "1", and the data in the storage areas 447, 448, the counter 442, the A register 445, and the B register 446 are cleared. Further, the weighing section conveyor 18 is driven to move the shopping bag 25 onto the transport conveyor 16, and subsequently, the weighing section vertical motor 23 is driven to raise the weighing and bagging mechanism 15 to the original initial position.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the settlement section, and 61 is a CPU (central processing unit). This CPU6
1, a ROM (read only memory) 63, a RAM (random access memory) 64, a display interface 65, a keyboard interface 66, a printer interface 67, a transmission control circuit 68, and a plurality of I / Os via a bus line 62. O port 69, 70, 7
1, 72 are connected. The ROM 63 has the C
Program data for the PU 61 to control each unit is stored.

In the RAM 64, as shown in FIG. 9, an input buffer 641 for storing card data, an encryption number, etc.,
A display buffer 642 for storing information to be displayed on the settlement section display 11, a print buffer 643 for storing data to be printed out on a receipt, a counter 644 for counting the number of shopping bags taken out from the outlet 14 for a customer, An item name of a product input from the registration unit via the transmission control circuit 68, an area 645 for storing a unit price, an area 646 for storing the total price, and the sales of the product input from the registration unit for each product, Departmental,
A registration memory 647 and the like are formed, which are divided by transaction and accumulated.

The display interface 65 is connected to the settlement section display 11, the keyboard interface 66 is connected to the keyboard 10 and the settlement end switch 12, and the printer interface 67 is a printer 73 for issuing receipts. Are connected. Further, the bag take-out port sensor 32 is connected to the I / O port 69, the transport conveyor 16 is connected to the I / O port 70, and the I / O port 71 is connected.
Is connected to the bag outlet opening / closing lock solenoid 22, and the I / O port 72 is connected to a card reader 74 for reading and inputting data of a card inserted from the card insertion port 9.

The CPU 61 controls each unit based on the program data stored in the ROM 63, and the control is performed according to the contents of the flow chart shown in FIG.
That is, first, the total amount of the data input from the registration unit via the transmission control circuit 68 is displayed in the display buffer 64.
It is displayed on the settlement section display 11 via 2. The item name and unit price of the data input from the registration unit are stored in the storage area 646, the total amount of money is stored in the storage area 647, and the count content N is stored in the counter 644. At the same time, the message "Please insert the card" is also displayed. In this state, a card input is awaited for the card insertion slot 9. When a credit card is inserted into the card insertion slot 9, the data of the card is read by the card reader 74 and it is checked whether or not the card is correct. If there is something wrong with the card, it will be judged as an error. If it is normal, the payment section display 11 will be followed by "Enter your PIN."
Is displayed, and the input of the personal identification number from the keyboard 10 is awaited. In this state, if an encryption number is input from the keyboard 10, it is checked whether or not the encryption number is correct in relation to the card, and if it is incorrect, an error occurs. If the code number is correct, a message such as "please check the total amount of money. Please press the settlement completion switch." Is displayed on the settlement unit display 11.

In this state, the operation waits for the input of the settlement end switch 12. When the switch 12 is input, the item name, unit price storage area 646 and total amount storage area 6 are first displayed.
The data of 47 are cumulatively registered in the registration memory 648, are sequentially output to the print buffer 643, and are printed out on the receipt paper by the printer 73, and the receipt is issued from the receipt issuing port 13. Then, the message "Please take the card" is displayed on the settlement section display 11. Next, the input from the bag outlet sensor 32 is checked to determine whether the shopping bag outlet 14 has a shopping bag. If it has already arrived, the bag outlet opening / closing lock solenoid 22 is controlled to be released and the outlet 1
Unlock 4 If not, the conveyor 16 is driven to move to the shopping bag outlet 14 and then the unlocking control of the outlet 14 is performed. Then, the message "Please take the product." Is displayed on the settlement unit display 11. Thereafter, the signal from the bag outlet sensor 32 is checked to check whether the shopping bag is taken out from the outlet 14, and every time the shopping bag is taken out, the content N of the counter 644 is decremented by one, and When the content N becomes zero, it is determined that all the shopping bags for the customer have been taken out. Then, the message "Please close the shopping bag outlet 14" is displayed on the settlement unit display 11 and the system waits for a predetermined time. After that, the total amount displayed on the display 11 is erased and "Thank you for every time."
Is displayed.

In the apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention thus constructed, the customer first places the shopping basket containing the goods on the table 2 and operates the start switch 7. As a result, the charging port 4 is opened. Therefore, the shopping bag is set inside the input port 4. In this state, the product is taken out of the shopping basket and passed over the marker 3, which is the product passage area, and the barcode attached to the product is passed toward the barcode reading surface of the laser scanner 6. Then, the merchandise whose barcode has been read is inserted into the shopping bag through the insertion port 4. At this time, when a product is placed in the shopping bag and its weight changes, whether or not the change in the weight matches the preset weight of the product corresponding to the barcode read by the laser scanner 17 is weighed. Check the data from the product and check the barcode and match the product actually put in the shopping bag to prevent fraud.

In this way, the product whose bar code is read by the laser scanner 6 is surely put into the shopping bag placed on the scale 17 in the input port 4. This kind of work is performed for all the products in the shopping basket. At this time, if the shopping bag becomes full during the process, it is detected by the bag up / down sensor 20, so that the door 4a is once closed and the shopping bag is sealed and sent to the conveyor 16. After that, the door 4a of the charging port 4 is opened again. In this way, the customer again sets the shopping bag, passes the products in the shopping basket through the marker 3 and the laser scanner 6, and puts them in the shopping bag.

When all the products in the shopping basket have been put into the shopping bag in this way, the registration section end switch 8 is operated. As a result, the total amount of money is displayed on the registration unit display 5 and the slot 4 is closed. In addition, the upper end of the shopping bag is automatically sealed while the weighing and bagging mechanism 15 descends inside. Then, when the weighing and bagging mechanism 15 descends to the lowest position, the scale section conveyor 18 operates,
The shopping bag on the conveyor is moved to the conveyor 16.

Therefore, when one customer's shopping product is divided into a plurality of shopping bags and put therein, the plurality of shopping bags are placed on the conveyor 16. In addition, data of the item name, unit price and total amount of each commodity, and the count number N indicating the number of shopping bags are sent from the registration section to the settlement section. In the settlement section, the total amount sent from the registration section is the settlement section display 1
It is displayed in 1. Then, the customer goes to the settlement section, inserts the credit card into the card insertion slot 9, and inputs the encryption number from the keyboard 10. In this way, the inquiry about the card number and the encryption number is made, and if the inquiry is correct, the receipt issuance port 13 issues a receipt on which the input data is printed. Further, the data is cumulatively registered in the registration memory 648. Further, the opening / closing lock mechanism 22 is released, and the shopping bag outlet 14 can be opened. Thus, the customer finally opens the shopping bag outlet 14 and takes out the shopping bag. The number of shopping bags taken out at this time is counted by the counter 644, and when the number of shopping bags corresponding to the customer is taken out, the counter 644 becomes zero, and the lock is applied as soon as the taking-out port 14 is closed.

In this way, in the registration section, the shopping basket containing unregistered products is placed on the table 2 and the laser scanner 6
The registration can be executed by reading the bar code attached to the product in step 1 and inserting it into the shopping bag set on the balance conveyor 18 in the input port 4. As a result, since the packed product or the like can be registered without being inverted, problems such as collapse of load and leakage of juice do not occur. Further, by providing the optical bar code reading section between the first container placing section and the second container placing section, that is, above the article passage area, the input efficiency of the article sales data is also improved.

[0035]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
A first container placing section for placing a container containing an unregistered product and a second container placing section provided adjacent to the first placing section for placing a container containing a registered product And a product passage area for moving a product from a container storing unregistered products to a container storing registered products above the first and second container placement parts. By arranging the optical bar code reader above the side of the product, there is no need to turn the unregistered product upside down, the cashier registration efficiency is improved, and the contents of the pack product collapses and the appearance of the product is impaired. It is possible to provide a bar code reading device that does not have such a problem.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the external appearance and internal configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the internal structure of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a set state of the shopping bag with respect to the bag hooking mechanism of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a bag hook mechanism of the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a registration unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a settlement unit of the embodiment.

8 is a diagram showing a main memory configuration of a RAM shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a main memory configuration of a RAM shown in FIG.

10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPU in FIG.

11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPU in FIG.

12 is a flowchart showing the processing of the CPU in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Stand (first container mounting part), 3 ... Marker, 4 ... Product input port, 6 ... Laser scanner, 6a ... Bar code reading part (optical bar code reading part), 15 ... Weighing and bagging Mechanism, 16 ... Conveyor, 17
... Scale, 18 ... Scale section conveyor (second container mounting section), 41, 61 ... CPU (central processing unit), 43, 63 ... ROM (read only memory), 44, 64 ... RAM (random Access memory).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Ikuko Kawakami Inventor Ikuko 1-14-10 Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. Head Office Office (72) Inventor Settsuko Hashimoto 1-14 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 10 Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. Head Office Office (72) Inventor Atsushi Shimomura 1-14-10 Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. Head Office Office (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Saito Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Uchikanda 1-14-10 Tokyu Denki Co., Ltd. Head Office

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A first container placing section for placing a container accommodated in an unregistered commodity and a registered commodity provided adjacent to the first placing section. A second container placing portion for placing the container, and a container for storing the unregistered item above the first and second container placing portions to move the item to the container for storing the registered item A bar code reader, wherein a product passing area is provided, and an optical bar code reading unit is disposed above a side portion of the product passing area.