JPH0535968A - Self scanning system device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the job burden of a cashier and to previously prevent illegal action. CONSTITUTION:Self scanning system devices 1A and 1B where an operating part, a carry-in and metering part, a carry-out part and a stock and packaging part are arranged in a row are provided with a scanning product data storing means 31C, a product data storing means 31, product discriminating means 31A and 31B and notifying means 31A, 31B, 35 and 35C. The devices are constituted by notifying the effect that a self-scanned product is automatically discriminated from the product with an identification code, that is, the coexisting product when it is discriminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-scanning system device that allows a customer to scan the product data of a purchased product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a checkout device provided in a supermarket, a self-scanning system device is used by a customer to scan the product data of purchased products, and electronic cash is used for settlement operations including money transfer. There is one configured to be performed by a clerk (cashier) using a register.

For example, the checkout device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-46591 is a dual-purpose cashier system comprising a plurality of self-scanning system devices and a common electronic cash register. On the other hand, 1
There is also a dedicated system including one or two self-scanning system devices and one or two dedicated electronic cash registers.

FIG. 6 shows a general structure of the latter checkout device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a self-scanning system device, which is an operation unit 10 for a customer to perform a scanning operation, a loading / weighing unit 20, an unloading unit 40, and a stock / bagging unit 50.
And are arranged in rows in the product flow direction. The operation unit 10 includes
A product reading means (optical scanner or the like) 11 for reading a bar code attached to a product and an input / display unit 12 including various switches such as a start button and a display are provided. Further, the carry-in / measurement unit 20 is a carry-in conveyor 2 for carrying in the self-scanned products in the arrow direction.
1 and a weighing machine 22 that weighs the weight of the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21. Carry-out section 40
Includes a carry-out conveyor 41 and an inclined shooter 42, and is configured to carry out the products after settlement to a stock / bagging unit 50 having a stock place 51.

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.

In such a checkout device, when the customer himself scans his or her purchased merchandise on the operation unit 10, the merchandise data is stored in the electronic cash register 31.
While being registered in the sales registration file of, the products are conveyed to the stock / bagging unit 50 through the carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 41. Therefore, the cashier only needs to perform the settlement operation for the customer after scanning in the settlement unit 30. After that, the customer goes to stock place 51
Will be packed in.

[0007] Therefore, the cashier can concentrate on the settlement work only, so that the work efficiency is improved. On the other hand, customers can shop quickly without waiting for a long line. According to the checkout device disclosed in the above publication, work efficiency can be further enhanced by the dual role of cashier.

However, regardless of the dual-use system or the exclusive-use system, in such a self-scanning system device 1, the product scanned by the customer and the carry-in conveyor 21 are used.
There may be a case where the product actually placed on the customer does not match. If this is left unattended, the settlement work becomes troublesome and the improvement of work efficiency and customer service due to the introduction of the self-scanning system device 1 cannot be achieved. On the other hand, when a customer is willing to do so, it is difficult to overlook this dishonesty.

In the checkout device, however, the weight of the product scanned by the customer is read from the product data file in the electronic cash register 31, and the weight of the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 is measured by the weighing machine 22.
Is automatically weighed and automatically determines whether or not the two weights match.

That is, when a customer places a product after scanning on the carry-in conveyor 21 which is being transported,
As shown in FIG. 7, the weighing device 22 automatically weighs the product (ST50), while the control unit such as the electronic cash register 31 reads the data input by scanning (ST51), and the input data is the product. The product is a legitimate product registered in the data file (ST52 YE
S) and both weights match (YES in ST53)
On that condition, the sales are registered (ST54).

On the other hand, when the merchandise is not an authorized merchandise (NO in ST52) or when the weight of the merchandise input by scanning does not match the merchandise weight automatically measured (NO in ST53), the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped (ST55). And carry out the reverse transportation operation (ST56) to deliver the product to the customer (operation unit 10).
Return to. Then, it is generally said to display a coping message such as "Please rescan" or "Place the scanned product" to the customer (ST57).

[0012] Thus, it is possible to improve business efficiency and service while preventing intentional or negligent fraud.

[0013]

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

That is, for example, wines are widely selected from relatively low-priced ones to high-priced ones.
The weight of the product containing the bottle is often almost the same.
Therefore, although a low-priced product is scanned and input by the operation unit 10 depending on the customer, the reality is that a high-priced product having the same weight is placed on the conveyor 21.

Here, it is impossible to detect such fraudulent activity by the method of comparing the product weight data corresponding to the scanning product data with the measured weight data. Therefore, although these fraudulent behaviors are the duty of the cashier, this duty is extremely severe especially when the store is busy.

Further, the carry-in conveyor 21 is continuously operated for speeding up checkout. On the other hand, it is essential to install the product weight scale 22. Here, the scale 22
Since there is a certain limit in improving the weighing accuracy of the weighing device 22 due to the mechanical relation that the sliding contact with the moving-in conveyor 21 is required, the weight data of a certain product should have a certain width. You have to manage it. Therefore, since the number of products that must be handled with the same weight increases, the above problem becomes an important issue that must be solved more and more.

Here, the object of the present invention is to alert the cashier that the products are the same in weight and different in price, thereby reducing the cashier's work burden and preventing fraudulent activities, while also ensuring smooth settlement operations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-scanning system device capable of achieving the above.

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided an operation section including product reading means arranged in a row in a product flow direction, a carry-in conveyor, a carry-in / measurement section having a measuring device, and a carry-out section including a carry-out conveyor. And a self-scanning system device consisting of a stock / bagging unit having a stock location,
Scanning product data storage means for storing product data of a product self-scanned by a customer with the operation unit,
Product data storage means for storing the product data having the same weight and different price as the other products by adding an identification code to that effect, and whether or not the self-scanning product has the identification code. A product determination means for determining
A notification means for notifying that the product is judged to be a product to which the identification code is attached is provided.

[0019]

According to the present invention, when the product data (for example, product code, product name, unit price, etc.) is stored in the product data storage means, when the product has the same weight as other products but a different price. Is attached with an identification code that clearly indicates that fact. Here, when the customer self-scans, the product data is stored in the scanning product data storage means. Then, the product determination unit compares the scanning product data with the product data stored in the product data storage unit to determine whether or not the product has an identification code. When it is determined that the product has the identification code, the notifying means notifies that fact by a display device or the like. That is,
Since the cashier can be alerted, accurate and smooth settlement operations can be performed.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, this self-scanning system device has two units (1A, 1B) arranged in parallel, and a common settlement unit 30 [two electronic cash registers 31 in the middle.
(A), 31 (B)] is provided as a so-called two-lane checkout device.

This self-scanning system device 1A
(1B) has a basic configuration similar to that of the conventional example (FIG. 6), but is provided with scanning product data storage means, product data storage means, product determination means, and notification means, and the product self-scanned by the customer. Is a mixed product (a product having the same weight as other products but a different price), it is configured to be able to notify the cashier by notifying it by a display / warning.

Further, in this embodiment, a weighing product weight data storage means, a comparison determining means, a conveyor operation control means, etc. are provided, and it is determined that the product (weight) self-scanned by the customer matches the weighing product (weight). If
It is formed so that the carry-in conveyor 21 is operated for the first time.

The same or common parts as those of the conventional example (FIG. 6) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

In FIG. 3, the scale 22 has a structure for automatically weighing the weight of the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 which is stopped. Therefore, since it can be arranged corresponding to the upstream side of the transfer conveyor 21, it is much smaller and more accurate than the conventional example. In addition, the conveyor 2 in operation
Since it does not come into sliding contact with 1, it can be constructed at a low cost with a simple structure. The same applies to the carry-in conveyor 21.

Further, since the weighing device 22 can be configured to be able to move up and down, after the weighing, that is, the carry-in conveyor 2
1 is in operation, the weighing machine 22 is loaded into the conveyor 2
Can be separated from 1.

By the way, the scanning commodity data storage means, the commodity data storage means, the commodity discrimination means, the notification means, the weighted commodity weight data storage means, and the comparison and determination means in this embodiment are the electronic cash registers 31 ( A) The components of [31 (B)] and the functions possessed by them are shared and constructed. 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 manages calculations, judgments, 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 printer 37 (controller 37).
C), drawer 34 (controller 34C), operator display 35 (controller 35C), customer display 3
6 (controller 36C) and an interface 31D are formed, and a general setting mode, a registration mode,
Data processing can be performed in the inspection mode and the settlement mode, and data can be transmitted to a host computer (not shown).

The RAM 31C has a work area WA and a sales registration area RM for temporarily storing data being processed.
There is a product data file area DM shown in FIG. In the product data file area DM, in addition to the product code, product name, and unit price, the weight and mixability of the product are preset and stored. Mixability indicates whether or not it is the above mixed product, and for example, the price of 1,000 yen in FIG.
Since the product A of 00 g and the product E of 1,000 g at the price of 4,000 yen are mixed products, the product A and E are identified by the identification code “1”. That is, it is understood that the product data file area DM (RAM 31C) forms the product data storage means of the present invention.

Regarding the mixture of the products E, the identification code "1" is "(1)" because it is the highest price (4,000 yen) among the mixed products within the same weight. This means that it is not always necessary to attach an identification code to the product.

The work area WA forms a scanning product data storage means. Further, in the sales registration area RM, in addition to the product data self-scanned by the customer on the operation unit 10, the scanner 3 shown in FIG.
Product data input by operating the cashier 3 or the keyboard 32 is also stored.

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

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 WA of 1C. Here, it is understood that the RAM 31C constitutes the scanning product data storage means as described above.

On the other hand, the weighing device 22 is a means for automatically weighing the weight of the self-scanned product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 in which the customer is stopped, and the weighing weight is temporarily stored in the working area WA of the RAM 31C. Where RA
It is clear that the M31C also forms the 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. 3, the carry-in conveyor 21 can be transported and operated by a foot switch 38 provided in a range where the cashier can be operated, and an emergency switch 39 can be used for emergency stop.

The product reading means 11, the input / display unit 12, the weighing device 22, and the conveyor controller 29 are
Based on the programs shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 stored in the ROM 31B, they are executed in association with each other under the control of the CPU 31A.

The comparing and judging means compares the product weight data (Di) with the measured weight data (Dm) and judges whether or not both weights are equal (Dm = Di). It is composed of a CPU 31A and a ROM 31B. Specifically, it is executed in ST17 of FIG.

The product weight data (Di) is stored in the product data file (RAM31C) shown in FIG. 2 on the basis of the scanning product data (D) input by the customer's self-scanning and temporarily stored in the RAM31C. The weight of the product in question is calculated by the CPU 31A.

Next, the conveyor operation control means is the CPU 3
1A, ROM 31B, and comparison judgment means (31
A, 31B) determines that both weights are equal (Dm = Di), and outputs a transfer operation command signal for the carry-in conveyor 21 to the conveyor controller 29.
In other words, the customer self-scans for self-purchased products,
Moreover, only when the product is placed on the carry-in conveyor 21, the carry conveyor 21 is started and the carry operation is started.
Therefore, the wasteful operation of the transfer conveyor 21 is eliminated,
There is no need to operate the conveyor 21 in reverse. Moreover, since only the regular purchased products are conveyed, 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 device for discriminating whether or not the self-scanned product is a product having an identification code. That is, scanning product data and product data storage means (RA) stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C ... WA).
2) stored in M31C ... DM) to determine whether or not the scanning product is a product with an identification code 1, that is, a mixed product. In this embodiment, it is formed of a CPU 31A and a ROM 31B, and is executed in ST20 of FIG.

When the product discriminating means (31A, 31B) discriminates the mixed product, the notifying means informs the purport by the cashier, sounding, or the like. In this embodiment, FIG.
CPU31A, ROM31B for executing ST21 of
The display for operator 35 including the display controller 35C shown in FIG. That is, the cashier can visually confirm in advance from the display 35 whether or not the products conveyed by the carry-in conveyor 21 are mixed products. Therefore, if the cashier is different from the self-scanning product, the scanner 33 is checked under the customer's confirmation. The price can be corrected and input using the keyboard 32.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. A customer who has placed a large number of purchased products in a cart stops at the operation unit 10 and turns on the start switch 15 (ST1 in FIG. 4).
0).

Then, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display the message (1) "Please scan the product" (ST11). The product data D self-scanned by the customer using the product reading unit 11 is temporarily stored in the scanning product data storage unit (RAM 31C) (ST12, 13). At this time, the CPU 31A calculates the weight Di of the product corresponding to the scanning product data D as shown in FIG.
Read from the product data file (RAM31C) of
It is temporarily stored in the work area WA.

Subsequently, the display device 14 displays a message (2) "Place the scanned product in the frame of the conveyor" (ST14). Carry-in conveyor 21
The merchandise placed on it is automatically weighed by the weighing machine 22, and the weighed merchandise weight Dm is stored in the RAM 31C forming the weighed merchandise weight data storage means (ST15, 16).

Here, the comparison and determination means (CPU 31A, R
The OM 31B) determines the identity between the product weight data Di and the measured weight data Dm (ST17). Dm = Di
When it is determined to be (YES in ST17), the CPU 31A forming the conveyor operation control means outputs a transfer operation command signal to the conveyor controller 29, and the carry-in conveyor 21.
Start operation.

On the other hand, when Dm ≠ Di (N in ST17)
In O), the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message (3) such as "Please place the scanned product on the carry-in conveyor" (ST18). In this case, the carry-in conveyor 21 is not operated and remains stopped.

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 ST17) is moved downward by the carry-in conveyor 21 in FIG. (ST19), and is sent to the stock place 51 via the carry-out conveyor 41.

Here, the product discriminating means (31A, 31B)
Determines whether the products self-scanned and stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C ... WA) are mixed products (ST20 in FIG. 5). When it is determined that the product is a mixed product, the CPU forming the notification means
31A displays a message to that effect on the operator display 35 and alerts the cashier (ST21).

When the sensor 23 detects a product during the transportation of the product (ST22 in FIG. 5), the scanning product data temporarily stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C) is registered as sales by the CPU 31A. It is registered in the area (31C) (ST23).
At the same time, the conveyor controller 29 stops the carry-in conveyor 21 (ST24).

Thereafter, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message (4) such as "Please scan the next product" and "Press the stop switch" (ST25). The following products are the same (ST11 ~ 2
It is handled in 5). When self-scanning is completed for all products and the stop switch 16 is pressed, the self-scanning work is completed (ST26).

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.

Even if the product weight Di and the measured weight Dm are the same, the price of the product actually placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 is self-scanned and stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C ... WA). It may be higher (lower) than the price of the product in question.

In such a case, since the cashier has already notified the display 35 of the fact, it is possible to promptly confirm to the customer that he / she should replace the scanning product or purchase the transported product as it is. When there is a declaration to purchase the conveyed product, the product data is input from the scanner 33 or the keyboard 32 and settled. The settled customer bags the product in the stock / bag unit 50.

However, according to this embodiment, the operation unit 1
In the self-scanning system device 1 in which 0, the carry-in / weighing unit 20, the carry-out unit 40, and the stock / bag unit 50 are arranged in a row in the product flow direction, the scanning product data storage means (31C ... WA) and the product data storage means ( 31C ... D
A), product discrimination means (31A, 31B), and notification means (3
1A, 31B, 35C, 35) are provided, and when the self-scanned product is automatically discriminated as a product with an identification code, that is, a mixed product, the fact that the product weight Dm, By paying attention to the cashier that the products have the same Di but different prices, the cashier's work burden can be reduced and fraudulent activity can be prevented, and smooth settlement operations can be performed.

In addition to the above, the weighing product weight data storage means (31C) and the comparison determination means (31A, 31).
B) and conveyor operation control means (31A, 31B) are provided, and the self-scanned product and the carry-in conveyor 21
Since it is configured such that the carry-in conveyor 21 is carried when the product placed on the top is determined to be the same, the weighing device 22
Can be weighed while the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped.
Therefore, the structure of the carry-in / weighing unit 20 can be greatly simplified, a significant cost reduction can be achieved, and power saving can be achieved to further improve customer service.

Further, since the weighing device 22 is so constructed as to carry out weighing while the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped, very highly accurate weighing can be performed. Therefore, the product data storage means (31C ... DA)
Since the weight data stored in advance can be subdivided and the number of categories of mixed products can be reduced, unnecessary notification can be reduced and the purpose of notification can be appropriately expressed.

Further, scanning product data storage means,
The product data storage means, the product determination means, the notification means, the measured product weight data storage means, the comparison determination means, and the conveyor operation control means also function as the CPU 31A, the ROM 31B, the RAM 31C, etc. of the electronic cash register 31 constituting the settlement unit 30. Therefore, organic and high-speed processing is possible, and the cost of the checkout device as a whole can be reduced.

Further, since the weighing device 22 may have a structure in which it comes into contact with the carry-in conveyor 21 which is stopped and weighs the weight of the product, it is very small and highly accurate. Therefore, the present invention has wide applicability that can be introduced into a multi-product store with a small weight difference, and a stable operation is assured.

Further, since the carry-in conveyor 21 is constructed so that the operation is started after the product identity is confirmed and is stopped after the sales registration is completed, it can be operated at a high speed, the operation time can be minimized, and the power consumption can be reduced. In the case of deficiency or negligence, it does not give the unpleasantness of carrying the carry-in conveyor 21 backward and returning the product to the operation unit 10.

Although the above self-scanning system device 1 was introduced into the 2-lane dedicated check-out device, it can be directly implemented as the self-scanning system device for the dual-purpose check-out device disclosed in the above publication. ..

[0063]

As described above, in the self-scanning system device 1 in which the operation unit, the loading / weighing unit, the unloading unit, and the stock / bagging unit are arranged in a row in the product flow direction, the scanning product data storage means and the product data storage are provided. Means, product identification means, and notification means are provided, and when the self-scanned product is automatically determined to be a product with an identification code, that is, a mixed product, it is so configured that the product weight is the same. Can alert the cashier that the products have different prices. Therefore, the cashier's work load can be reduced, and fraudulent activity can be prevented, and smooth settlement work can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is likewise a diagram for explaining a product data file.

FIG. 3 is likewise a plan view of the entire checkout device.

FIG. 4 is likewise a flow chart (1) for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is likewise a flowchart (2) for explaining the operation.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B Self-scanning system device 10 Operation unit 11 Product reading means 12 Input / display unit 14 Display unit 15 Shelf 20 Carry-in / measurement unit 21 Carry-in conveyor 22 Metering device 23 Sensor 29 Conveyor controller 30 Settling unit 31, 31A, 31B Electronic cash register 31A CPU (product determination means, notification means) 31B ROM (product determination means, notification means) 31C RAM (scanning product data storage means, product data storage means) 31D interface 32 keyboard 33 scanner 34 drawer 35 operator display (Notification Means) 35C Display Controller (Notification Means) 36 Customer Display 37 Printer 38 Foot Switch 39 Emergency Switch 40 Unloading Section 41 Unloading Conveyor 50 Stock / Bag Packing Section 5 1 stock place

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location // B65G 43/08 C 9245-3F 47/49 8010-3F

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An operating unit including product reading means arranged in a line in the product flow direction, a carry-in conveyor, a carry-in / measurement unit having a measuring device, and a carry-out unit including a carry-out conveyor. In a self-scanning system device including a stock / bagging unit having a stock location, a scanning product data storage means for storing product data of a product self-scanned by a customer in the operation unit, and a product having the same weight as other products and a price Product data storage means for storing different product data with the identification code added to the product data, and product determination means for determining whether or not the self-scanning product is the product with the identification code, And a notification means for notifying that the product has been identified as having the identification code by the product determination means. Self-scanning system unit.