JPH06251249A - Fraudulence prevention system for unmanned store - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an unmanned system which prevent an article from illegally being taken out of the store. CONSTITUTION:This system is equipped with an article conveyance table on which an article that a customer purchases is mounted and carried, a scanner which scans the article identification code attached to the article, and a registered article basket in which the article carried by the article conveyance table is put. The article conveyance table between a position where the customer mounts the article and a position where the article identification code of the article is scanned consists of conveyors 2 and 3 and an article slider 4. Further, the conveyor 2 is installed at a higher position than the conveyor 3 and the article conveyance path of the article slider 4 slants. Furthermore, the article slider 4 is provided with a part which is different in surface roughness at right angles to the conveyance path and a vibration generator which vibrates the whole article slider is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an unmanned store system for unmanned sale of products in supermarkets, mass retailers and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a labor-saving store system, an automatic scanning system has been proposed in which a customer himself / herself registers a product to be purchased. The automatic scanning system
The system is as shown in FIG. By placing the product purchased by the customer on the product carrier 51, the scanner 52-
55 reads the product identification code attached to the product. The product for which the product identification code is read is stored in the registered product basket 56.

When registration of all purchased commodities is completed, a voucher in which a payment amount and the like are entered is issued by a voucher issuing machine (not shown). The customer goes to the checkout counter with this issued slip. Based on this slip, the customer pays the clerk with cash or a card.
When the payment is completed, the customer can take the product stored in the registered product basket out of the store.

[0004]

However, in the conventional unmanned store system, the customer selects a plurality of products so that the product identification code attached to one of the plurality of products is scanned by the scanner. Overlay. As a result, a plurality of products are registered as one product.

The customer throws the product directly into the registered product basket without placing it on the product carrier (without scanning).

[0006] While the customer is registering the merchandise or while paying at the checkout counter, a third party takes out a registered merchandise basket containing the merchandise purchased by the customer out of the store.

Due to the above-mentioned actions (1) to (3), there is a drawback that the product is illegally taken out of the store.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system in an unmanned store system for preventing goods from being illegally taken out of the store.

[0009]

A fraud prevention system for an unmanned store of the present invention according to claims 1 to 3 is provided with a product carrier for carrying a product related to a purchase, and a product carrier on the product carrier. The scanner that reads the product data from the product identification code attached to the product, and the product transport path is an inclined surface between the position where the purchased product is placed on the product transport stand and the position where the product identification code is scanned by the scanner. It is characterized by having a product slider.

Further, the product slider is characterized in that the inclined surface of the product slider is provided with a portion having a different surface roughness in a direction perpendicular to the product conveying direction.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that means for applying vibration to the product slider is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an unmanned store fraud prevention system for an unmanned store, comprising a product carrier for carrying a product to be purchased and carrying the product, and carrying the product on the product carrier. A scanner that reads product data from a product identification code attached to the product, and a registered product basket that stores the product after scanning the product identification code of the product placed on the product carrier with the scanner,
A means for detecting that a product has been put in the registered product basket from a position other than the product transfer stand between the position where the purchased product is placed on the product transfer stand and the registered product basket, and the product transfer to the registered product basket When it is detected that a product has been put in from a place other than the stand, a means for notifying the attendant of that fact is provided.

The fraud prevention system for an unmanned store according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is attached to a commodity carrier for carrying a commodity related to purchase and conveying the commodity, and a commodity on the commodity carrier. A scanner that reads product data from the product identification code, a registered product basket that stores the product after the product identification code of the product placed on the product carrier is scanned by the scanner, and an ID when the registration of the purchased product is completed. A means for issuing a number, a means for fixing the registered merchandise basket, an input means for accepting the registration of the ID number, and a fixing for the registered merchandise basket when the ID number is input from the input means. Is provided with a means for canceling.

[0014]

In the fraud prevention system for an unmanned store according to the present invention, the merchandise purchased by the customer is placed on the merchandise carrier. The product placed on the product carrier is transported to a position where the product identification code attached to the product is scanned. An inclined surface is provided during the transportation of the product to the scanning position. The products placed one on top of the other are separated by the force acting on the individual products at the moment when they start sliding down on this inclined surface, or when they slide down. The separated products are scanned by a scanner and stored in a registered product basket.

Further, a portion having different roughness is provided in the middle of the inclined surface in a direction perpendicular to the product conveying direction. As a result, when a product that comes in contact with an inclined surface and slides down comes into contact with a portion having a different surface roughness, a braking force is exerted, and an inertial force is exerted on the product placed on top of it. The products stacked on top of each other are separated by this inertial force. The separated products are scanned by a scanner and stored in a registered product basket.

Further, by vibrating the inclined surface, the vibration is transmitted to the products placed one on top of the other.

Then, the overlaid products are separated. The separated products are scanned by a scanner and stored in a registered product basket.

In the fraud prevention system for an unmanned store according to the present invention, the merchandise purchased by the customer is placed on the merchandise carrier. The product placed on the product carrier is transported to a position where the product identification code attached to the product is scanned. The merchandise is scanned at the scanning position and is stored in the registered merchandise basket. Further, the sensor barrier detects that the customer put the product in the registered product basket without using the product carrier.

In the fraud prevention system for an unmanned store according to the present invention, the merchandise purchased by the customer is placed on the merchandise carrier. The product placed on the product carrier is transported to a position where the product identification code attached to the product is scanned. At the position where this scanning is performed, the product is scanned and stored in the registered product basket. The registered product basket is registered during the registration of the product purchased by the customer.
It is fixed. When the registration of all purchased products is completed, the ID issuing device issues an ID number to the customer. The customer inputs the ID number into the ID input device. As a result, the product basket lock mechanism, which is a means for fixing the registered product basket, is released, and the registered product basket can be taken out freely.

[0020]

EXAMPLES Examples of the invention described in claims 1 to 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of a product transport path according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a product conveyor 1 is composed of two conveyors 2 and 3 and a product slider 4 connecting the conveyors 2 and 3. The conveyor 2 and the conveyor 3 convey products in the horizontal direction. Also,
The conveyor 2 is installed at a higher position than the conveyor 3. As a result, the product slider 4 connecting the conveyors 2 and 3 is inclined in the direction of the conveyor 3. Also,
A braking band 4a is formed in the middle of the product slider 4 so as to cross the transport direction (see FIG. 2). The braking band 4a has a roughened surface so that the friction coefficient is higher than that of the other surface of the slider 4. As a result, a strong negative acceleration is applied to the product that slides down while accelerating the product slider 4 in the braking band 4a.

The product is placed on the conveyor 2 by the customer, and conveyed through the product slider 4 and the conveyor 3 to a position where the product identification code attached to the product is scanned by the scanner. By the way, when a plurality of (two) products 5 and 6 are piled up and placed on the conveyor 2 because the customer illegally obtains the products, the piled-up products 5 and 6 are piled up by the conveyor 2 while being piled up. Be transported. The product 6 is now overlaid on the product 5. Then, the stacked products 5, 6 are transferred from the conveyor 2 to the product slider 4.
Since the product transport path of the product slider 4 is an inclined surface, the products 5 and 6 on which the inclined surfaces are stacked are slid down. At this time, at the moment when the products 5 and 6 move from the conveyor 2 to the product slider 4, the product 6 drops in front of the product 5 due to the transition from the horizontal plane to the inclined surface. Further, when the stacked products 5, 6 are not separated at this time, the braking band (a force for preventing the products from sliding down) acts on the sliding down products 5 by providing the braking band 4a. . As a result, the product 6 placed on top of the product 5 is piled up due to inertial force in the same direction as the transport direction.
Separate 6 Further, the braking force acts on the products even at the moment when the products slide from the product slider 4 to the conveyor 3, and the separating force acts on the overlapping products.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the product slider 4. The commodity slider 4 is supported by a vibration generator 7 and vibrates when the vibration generator 7 is driven. The vibration of the commodity slider 4 is transmitted to the commodities 5 and 6 which slide down on top of each other. The product 6 falls in front of the product 5 due to this vibration. As a result, it is possible to prevent the products carried by the product carrier 1 from being carried to the position where the product identification code attached to the products in the overlapping state is scanned by the scanner.

Next, an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the fraud prevention system for an unmanned store which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4. In FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fraud prevention system for the unmanned store. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control flowchart of the fraud prevention system for the unmanned store.

This embodiment is a system for preventing fraud such as a customer throwing an unregistered product into a registered product basket without registering the product (without placing the product on the product carrier). The controller 10 controls the fraud prevention system. The controller 10 detects a customer monitoring video camera 11 that constantly monitors the customer, a registered product basket video camera 12 that continues to record the registered product basket, and an unregistered product that has entered the registered product basket. The sensor barrier 13, a warning buzzer 14a and a warning lamp 14b for notifying an employee that there is a fraud when it is detected that there is a fraud, a resume button 15 for canceling the warning state and returning to a normal state, and the customer. A video monitor 16 for displaying images taken by the monitoring video camera 11 and the registered product basket video camera 12 is connected to a product carrier drive device 17 for driving the product carrier. The controller 10 includes a sensor barrier control circuit 21 for controlling the sensor barrier 13, a video camera 2 for customer monitoring, and a video deck 2 for recording images taken by the video camera 12 for registered product baskets.
2 and 23, an alarm output circuit 24 that outputs an alarm when there is an illegality, and a reset circuit 25 that releases the alarm state. In addition, the scanner 1 that reads the product identification code
8a, 18b, 18c and 18d are arranged toward the products conveyed from four directions of up, down, left and right of the product carrier. As a result, the product identification code of the product that is carried and carried on the product carrier is determined by the scanners 18a and 18a.
It is read by at least one of b, 18c, and 18d. The data read by this scanner is transmitted to a slip issuing device (not shown) by a wireless signal or the like.

Usually, the customer places the purchased product on the product carrier at the registration position. While this product is being transported, the product identification code is read by the scanner and enters the registered product basket. On the other hand, when the customer illegally obtains the product, when the purchased product is thrown into the registered product basket from the registration position, the thrown product always passes through the sensor barrier 13. The sensor barrier 13 is located between the registration position where the customer registers the purchased product and the registered product basket, and the purchased product enters the registered product basket from other than the product carrier (for example, the customer throws the product). To detect. For example, the sensor barrier 13
Includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element as one set, and a plurality of sets are provided. The light emitted from the light emitting element is always on the light receiving element which is paired. When the product passes through the sensor barrier 13, the light emitted by the at least one light emitting element is
The product is blocked. For this reason, the light receiving element paired with the light emitting element in which the light is blocked cannot receive the light. That is, when the light incident on at least one light receiving element is blocked, it is detected that there is an illegality.

Description will be made with reference to FIG. When the product passes through the sensor barrier 13, the sensor barrier control circuit 21 of the controller 10 detects that the light incident on the light receiving element of the sensor barrier 13 is blocked (n1). As a result, the sensor barrier control circuit 13 causes the alarm output circuit 2 to
Notify 4 that there was a dishonesty. As a result, a signal for stopping the product carrier is sent to the product carrier driving device 17 (n2). Further, the alarm output circuit 24 sounds the alarm buzzer 14a and lights the alarm lamp 14b (n3). The staff member is the alarm buzzer 14a and the alarm lamp 14
Know that there was dishonesty by b. Then, the clerk rewinds the video decks 22 and 23 in which the images taken by the customer monitoring video camera 11 and the registered product basket video camera 12 are recorded, and watches the video when the illegality occurs on the monitor 16. . Switching of the playback screens of the video decks 22 and 23 is performed by switching the channel of the monitor 16 (n4). The clerk sees the playback screen, returns the illegally thrown product to the customer, and presses the resume button. The reset circuit 25 detects that the restart button is pressed and notifies the sensor barrier control circuit 21 and the alarm output circuit 24 (n5). As a result, the system starts normal operation again (n6).

When the customer has completed registration of all the purchased commodities, the customer presses a completion button (not shown). When the completion button is pressed, a slip on which the payment amount and the like are printed is issued from a slip issuing machine (not shown). Take this slip to the checkout counter. Based on this slip, the customer pays the operator for the price of the purchased product with cash or a card. After that, the purchased products stored in the registered product basket can be taken out of the store. In addition, the customer cannot go to the place where the registered merchandise basket is located or the checkout counter through the sensor barrier 13. Also, it is not possible to go to the place where the registered product basket is located without going to the checkout counter.

Next, an embodiment of the invention described in claim 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7: is a figure which shows the structure of the fraud prevention system of an unmanned store which is an Example of the same invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fraud prevention system for the unmanned store. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a control flowchart of the fraud prevention system for the unmanned store.

The present invention is a system for preventing a third party from illegally taking a purchased product registered by a customer out of the store. The control of the present invention is performed by the controller 30.

A registration end button 31 for inputting to the controller 30 that the customer has completed registration of the purchased product, and an ID issuing device 32 for issuing a paper on which the ID number is printed to the customer.
An ID input device 33 for the customer to input the ID number notified by the ID issuing device 32; and the ID issuing device 32
Alarm buzzer 34 for notifying that a number different from the ID number notified in step 3 has been input to the ID input device 33, and a commodity basket lock mechanism 35 for fixing a registered commodity basket storing the commodity conveyed on the commodity carrier. And are connected. The controller 30 stores the ID number determining circuit 41 for determining the ID number issued to the customer, the ID issuing device drive circuit 42 for controlling the operation of the ID issuing device 32, and the ID number input from the ID input device 33. An ID number detecting circuit 43 for reading, an ID number comparing circuit 44 for comparing the number detected by the ID number detecting circuit 43 with an ID number issued by the ID number determining circuit 41, and an ID number in the ID number comparing circuit 44. It is provided with a buzzer circuit 45 in the case where they do not match as a result of comparison, and a product basket lock drive circuit 46 for driving the product basket lock mechanism 35.

Further, the product identification code of the product which is carried on the product carrying table and carried is the scanner 36a, 36a.
It is read by at least one of b, 36c, and 36d. The data read by this scanner is transmitted to the ID issuing device 32 by a wireless signal or the like.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. The customer places the purchased product on the product carrier at the registration position. While this product is being transported, the product identification code is read by the scanner and enters the registered product basket.

When the customer finishes the registration of all purchased commodities, the customer presses the registration end button 31 (n11). The ID number determination circuit 41 of the controller 30 determines the ID number. The method of determining the ID number of the ID number determination circuit 41 is, for example, to repeatedly add a certain number at regular time intervals and use the value at the moment when the registration end button 31 is pressed as the ID number. The determined ID number is transferred to the ID issuing device control circuit 42. The ID number issuing device control circuit 42
The ID issuing device 32 is controlled to print the customer's ID number, the payment amount, etc. on a sheet and output it (n12). The customer takes this printed form to the checkout counter. Then, at the check-out counter, the customer pays the price of the purchased product to the operator in cash or a card based on this slip. When the customer pays the purchase price, the customer can go to the registered merchandise basket containing the merchandise purchased by the customer. That is, the customer cannot take out the registered merchandise basket unless the purchase price is paid at the checkout counter. Then, the customer inputs the ID number printed on the sheet on which the ID number is printed from the ID input device 33 (n1
3). The input ID number is detected by the ID number detection circuit 43 of the controller 30. This detected I
The D number is passed to the ID number comparison circuit 44. The ID number comparison circuit 44 compares with the issued number (n1
4). In this comparison, when they match, the product basket lock drive circuit 46 controls the product basket lock mechanism 35 to unlock the registered product basket (n16). And
The customer goes to a place where he or she can bring the products in the registered product basket together with the registered product basket into the shopping bag of the customer. The customer can replace it with a shopping bag or the like and take it out of the store. In addition, the product stored in the registered product basket cannot be taken out to a place where it can be refilled into the customer's shopping bag or the like unless it is in the registered product basket. For example, a staff member is watching in the aisle going to a place where only registered products can be refilled into shopping bags.
In other words, as a rule of the store, it is not possible to go to a place where only the registered products can be refilled with shopping bags.

On the other hand, if the ID number comparison circuit 44 does not match the ID number comparison circuit 44, the buzzer circuit 45 activates the alarm buzzer 34.
For a certain time (n15). After a certain period of time, the ID input device 33 waits for the input of the ID number. In addition, since the alarm buzzer 34 is activated, a staff member can confirm the cause of the buzzer.

[0037]

As described above, according to the inventions set forth in claims 1 to 3, the customer puts a plurality of products on the product carrier in a pile so that the product can be registered as one product. The products are separated by the force of inertia generated by the product slider and the force of vibration. Thereby, the registration of the purchased product is performed for each individual product. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the customer from illegally obtaining the product.

According to the invention described in claim 4,
When a customer throws a product into a registered product basket without placing the purchased product on the product carrier, an alarm is sounded to notify the staff. In addition, since the image when the customer has committed the injustice is recorded, the clerk can know what kind of the injustice has been performed. Therefore, the fraud made by the customer can be returned to the state immediately before the fraud. Then, it is possible to prevent the customer from illegally obtaining the product.

According to the invention described in claim 5, while the customer is registering the merchandise, the registered merchandise basket that stores the registered merchandise of the customer is fixed by the merchandise basket lock mechanism.

Further, during registration of the customer, the ID number is not issued to the customer, so that the ID input device does not operate. Therefore, a third party can illegally enter the ID input device 3
It is not possible to release the product basket lock mechanism 35 by inputting the ID number from 3. Further, after the customer presses the registration end button 31, until the ID number is input by the ID input device 33 (for example, during payment at the checkout counter), if a third party inputs an incorrect ID number, the buzzer sounds. Will be. As a result, the staff member comes to check, and it is possible to know that the ID number has been input by a third party. Also, if it is not in the registered product basket,
Because I can't go to the place where I can refill my shopping bag,
It is not possible for a third party to bring out only the products in the registered product basket. This makes it impossible for a third party to take out the product in another person's registered product basket.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product transportation path that is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product slider that is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product slider that is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 3;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a fraud prevention system for an unmanned store which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fraud prevention system for an unmanned store which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a fraud prevention system for an unmanned store which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of a fraud prevention system for an unmanned store, which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fraud prevention system for an unmanned store which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 5;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a fraud prevention system for an unmanned store, which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 5;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of a conventional purchase product registration system in an unmanned store.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Product Transport Platform 2.3-Conveyor 4-Product Slider 7-Vibration Generator 11-Customer Monitoring Video Camera 12-Product Basket Video Camera 13-Sensor Barrier 14a-Warning Buzzer 14b-Warning Lamp 15-Resume Button 16 -Video monitor 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d-Scanner 31-Registration end button 32-ID issuing device 33-ID input device 34-Warning buzzer 35-Product basket lock mechanism 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d-Scanner 51-Product transport Stand 52-55-Scanner 56-Registered Product Basket

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A product carrier for carrying a product related to purchase, a scanner for reading product data from a product identification code written on the product on the product carrier, and a product carrier for the product related to purchase. A fraud prevention system for an unmanned store, comprising: a product slider having a sloped product transport path between a position on which the product is scanned and a position where the product identification code is scanned by the scanner. 2. The fraud prevention system for an unmanned store according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface of the product slider is provided with a braking portion having a different surface roughness perpendicular to the product transport direction. 3. The fraud prevention system for an unmanned store according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for applying vibration to the product slider. 4. A product carrier for carrying a product related to purchase and carrying the product, and a scanner for reading product data from a product identification code attached to the product carried and carried on the product carrier. A registered merchandise basket that stores the merchandise after scanning the merchandise item identification code of the merchandise placed on the merchandise carrier with a scanner, a position for placing the purchased merchandise on the merchandise carrier, and the registered merchandise basket. In the meantime, a means for detecting that a product has been put into the registered merchandise basket from a place other than the merchandise carrier, and a person in charge when the merchandise has been inserted into the registered merchandise basket from a place other than the merchandise carrier A fraud prevention system for an unmanned store, characterized by comprising means for notifying. 5. A product carrier for carrying a product related to purchase and carrying the product, and a scanner for reading product data from a product identification code attached to the product on the product carrier.
A registered product basket that stores the product after scanning the product identification code of the product placed on the product carrier with a scanner, means for issuing an ID number when the registration of the purchased product is completed, and the registered product An unmanned system comprising means for fixing a basket, input means for receiving an input of the ID number, and means for releasing the fixation of a registered commodity basket when the ID number is input by the input means. Store fraud prevention system.