JPH0546798A - Automatic commodity identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the misreading of data due to blur or the like on an article identification(ID) label by transmitting article data with radio waves or ultrasonic waves and receiving the transmitted data. CONSTITUTION:An article code or an article ID label 1 storing amount is previously stuck to each commodity 2, and when a customer intends to purchase the commodity 2, the commodity 2 is automatically carried up to the under position of a wave receiving directional antenna 4 by a belt conveyer 5. The antenna 4 is provided with directivity so as to react only a radio wave projected from just under the antenna 4 in order to distinuish the commodity 2 from other ones. Thereby the antenna 4 receives data from the label 1 stuck to the commodity 2 when the commodity 2 is carried to just under the antenna 4 and supplies the data to a POS 3 provided with a radio wave receiver. The POS 3 recognizes the article code, amount, etc., from the received data and automatically execute register work.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic item identification system, and more particularly to an item identification system for performing cash register operations in a retail business.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an item identification system is used to identify a product code, a price, etc. when performing a checkout operation using a POS system or the like, and is useful for improving the efficiency of the checkout operation.

As a conventional article identification method, there is a bar code method. In this method, when performing a checkout operation using a POS system or the like, a product code or a bar code indicating a price is attached to the product in advance, and the bar code is directly illuminated to optically read the data.

[0004]

In this conventional bar code, since the data is read optically, it is necessary to directly illuminate the bar code.

Therefore, when performing a checkout operation in the POS system, it is necessary to confirm the position of the bar code attached to the product and whether or not dirt is attached, and the operator can make adjustments so that the bar code reader can read the bar code. It has the drawback of being necessary.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above drawbacks,
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic article identification method that eliminates the operator's work of article identification in cashier operations and improves efficiency by automating cashier operations.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, in an automatic article identification system according to the present invention, an article identification label for transmitting an article code in a contactless manner and an article code transmitted from the article identification label. It has an article code reading device for receiving the contactlessly and an article recognition device for recognizing the article code.

[0008]

In the present invention, data relating to an article is electrically stored in advance in the article identification label, and the data is transmitted and received by transmitting the data to radio waves or ultrasonic waves.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic article identification system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an article identification label, 2 is a product, 3 is a POS with a radio wave receiver, 4 is a directional antenna for radio wave reception, and 5 is a belt conveyor.

The product identification label 1 in which the product code and the amount of money are stored is attached to the product 2 in advance. And when the customer buys the product 2, the product 2
Are placed on the belt conveyor 5. The product 2 is automatically conveyed below the directional antenna 4 for radio wave reception.

In order to distinguish the product 2 from other products, the directional antenna 4 for receiving radio waves is provided with directivity so that it can respond only to radio waves from directly below the antenna. Therefore, the directional antenna 4 for radio wave reception is provided when the product 2 is conveyed to a position right below the directional antenna 4 for radio wave reception.
It receives the data from the article identification label 1 affixed to and supplies the data to the POS 3 with a radio wave receiver.

The POS with radio wave receiver 3 recognizes the article code and the amount of money from the received data, and automatically carries out the article identification work in the cash register operation. Also, the same function can be obtained by using ultrasonic waves for identifying the article.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the article identification label according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 6 is an article code input section, 7
Is a storage unit, 8 is a radio wave transmitter, and 9 is a power source.

The article code input section 6 is a data input interface section from the outside, and inputs data such as an article code and an amount of money by light or the like. The input data is
The data is stored and held in the storage unit 7, and the radio wave transmitter 8 transmits the data to the outside. The power supply 9 supplies electric power to each unit to realize the above function.

FIG. 3 is a structural view showing an embodiment of the article identification label according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, 10 is a printed wiring board,
Reference numeral 11 is an adhesive seal. The article code input unit 6, the storage unit 7, the radio wave transmitter 8 and the power source 9 are connected to the printed wiring board 10.
On the back surface of the printed wiring board 10, which is mounted and wired on the
The adhesive seal 11 is attached so that it can be attached to an article or the like.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the article identification label according to the present invention.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, data is transmitted to the outside by radio waves, whereas in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the data is transmitted by ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic transmitter 12. The point is characteristic.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the embodiment shown in FIG. This product has an article code input section 6, a storage section 7, an ultrasonic transmitter 12 on the surface of a printed wiring board 10.
Is mounted, and the adhesive seal 11 is attached to the back surface of the substrate 10.

In the above description, it is assumed that the POS system is used for identifying articles, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained in sorting of physical distribution systems. The purpose can be achieved.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the article data is transmitted and received by radio waves or ultrasonic waves, so that the data can be erroneously read due to stains on the article identification label. It can be avoided.

Further, it is not necessary to confirm the reading position of the bar code, and it is possible to identify the article in conjunction with the operation of conveying it to the reading position by a belt conveyor or the like, which can realize the automation of the system and improve the efficiency. Have an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic article identification system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an article identification label according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing an embodiment of the article identification label shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the article identification label according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a structural view showing another embodiment of the article identification label shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Product Identification Label 2 Product 3 POS with Radio Receiver 4 Directional Antenna for Radio Reception 5 Belt Conveyor 6 Product Code Input 7 Memory 8 Radio Transmitter 9 Power Supply 10 Printed Wiring Board 11 Adhesive Seal 12 Ultrasonic Transmitter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An article identification label for transmitting an article code in a non-contact manner, an article code reading device for receiving an article code transmitted from the article identification label in a non-contact manner, and an article recognition apparatus for recognizing the article code. An automatic article identification system characterized by having.