JPH0997382A - Store system, bar code reader, and commodity label - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate queuing and prevent commodity from being carried out without paying money by providing a customer participation type store system. SOLUTION: A commodity code registering machine 1 is fitted to a shopping cart 7 and connected by radio to cash register machine 2 that a store clerk 6 operates. In addition to a commodity code, a sale management code which can be erased is added to a commodity 3. A customer 5 when taking the commodity 3 out of commodity shelf 4 and putting it in the shopping cart 7 operates the commodity code registering machine 1 and reads out the commodity code with a bar code reader 11. Once the commody code is read, the bar code reader 11 erases the sale management code of the commodity 3. The cash register machine 2 receives sale-registered commodity code information and calculates the total amount of money, etc., in advance. When there is an unregistered commodity, the code registering machine 1 or cash register machine 2 detects an unearned sale management code and warns the customer 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retail store system, a bar code reader, and a product level. More specifically, the customer participation type store system that omits the operation of registering the product code of the product by the clerk and instead allows the product purchaser to perform the product code registration operation of the product, and the bar code reader and the product used therefor Regarding the product level to be attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional store system, a salesclerk generally carries out a product sales registration operation using an electronic cash register (ECR) or a POS terminal.

FIG. 2 shows a general store layout diagram of a conventional POS system. Each customer 5 takes out the desired product 3 from the product shelf 4 in the store, temporarily stores it in the shopping cart 7, selects all the desired products, and then pays the price. Go to the checkout lane section of Terminal 8. The clerk 6 is the POS terminal 8
Operate the product code reader 9 connected to the product to optically read the product code that is pre-attached / printed on the product 3, and perform the sales registration processing such as price calculation and storage of the product 3 at the POS terminal 8. Carry out. After registering all products, display the total price at POS terminal 8,
The clerk 6 receives the payment from the customer 3 and completes the settlement process. Now, the customer 5 can take home the purchased product.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional system, the salesclerk performs sales registration and settlement processing of all the products in the shopping cart, so that a queue can be formed in the checkout lane during busy periods, and customer service is provided. There was a problem of decrease. As a countermeasure, a large number of POS terminals may be set up, and a store clerk may be provided for each, but there are problems such as an increase in investment amount and difficulty in recruiting human resources.

On the other hand, as described in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-64645, for example, using an article processing apparatus centrally installed near the exit of a store, sales registration of goods in the checkout lane section is performed. There are some cases where the customer himself / herself performs the operation, but this is still the same as the centralized execution of the sales registration operation for all the products in the checkout lane section, and a significant improvement in the queue cannot be expected. The only solution to this problem is to increase the number of article processing devices, but it is quite difficult to implement due to the increase in investment amount and restrictions on the store area.

According to the present invention, a sales clerk who participates in sales registration work is performed without increasing the sales staff so that the sales registration operation of the products is sequentially performed when the customer takes out the products from the product shelves and puts them in a shopping cart or the like. It is to provide a store system that can reduce the number and significantly improve the queue in the checkout lane section.

Further, the present invention is a store system suitable for preventing a customer from intentionally or negligently performing a sales registration operation of a product and carrying out unsettled carry-out of a product not registered for sales, and a store system for using the same. It is to provide a bar code reader and a product level.

[0008]

The store system of the present invention comprises a product code registering machine attached to a shopping cart and the like, and a checkout machine wirelessly connected to the product code registering machine. In addition, a product label with an erasable sales management code is printed or affixed. The product code registration machine has a bar code reader including a product code reading unit and a sales management code erasing unit. further,
One or both of the product code registration machine and the settlement machine are provided with a mechanism for reading the unerased sales management code of the product.

When a customer takes out a product from a product shelf and puts it in a shopping cart or the like, the customer himself operates a product code registration machine, reads the product code with a bar code reader, and sequentially carries out sales registration. The product code information registered for sale is wirelessly transmitted from the product code registration machine to the settlement machine.
When the product code is read, the sales management code erasing unit of the barcode reader automatically deletes the sales management code of the product. If a customer puts an unregistered product in a shopping cart, etc., a sales management code reading mechanism is provided in the product code registration machine so that the customer can detect the unerased sales management code on the product. Warning.

The customer goes to the checkout lane section after completing the registration operation for all desired products. Product code information is sent in advance from the product code registration machine to the checkout machine, and by calculating the total price of the product in advance with the checkout machine, the clerk can show the payment to the customer for a short time. The payment process ends. If unregistered merchandise remains at the time of this payment, the unerased merchandise management code on the merchandise is detected by providing a sales management code reading mechanism in the payment machine. As a result, it is possible to prevent unsettled carry-out of a product that has not been registered for sale, even if the store clerk does not perform the business of confirming whether or not all the products are registered for sale.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a shop layout diagram showing an embodiment of a shop system of the present invention. In the figure,
Reference numeral 1 is a product code registration machine operated by a customer 5, and 2 is a settlement machine operated by a store clerk 6. The product code registration machine 1 is attached to a shopping basket, a shopping cart 7, etc., and the barcode reader 1
1, a transmission antenna 12, and the like. The checkout machine 2 is installed in the checkout lane section and has a reception antenna 21. The customer 5 operates the product code registration machine 1 by himself,
When the merchandise 3 is taken out from the merchandise shelf 4 and put in the shopping cart 7 or the like, the bar code reader 11 sequentially performs sales registration of the merchandise 3. The registered product code information is transmitted from the transmitting antenna 12 of the product code registration machine 1 to the payment machine 2
It is received by the receiving antenna 21 and the total amount of payment required is calculated by the settlement machine 2. When the customer 5 finishes the registration operation for all the desired products 3, he goes to the checkout lane section. The total required payment amount is calculated in advance by the settlement machine 2, and the clerk 6 operates the settlement machine 2 to present the payment amount to the customer 5, and the customer 5 pays the price and finishes the settlement.

As described later, in addition to the product code, the erasable sales management code is printed or attached to the product 3. In this embodiment, the product code registration machine 1 and the settlement machine 2 are provided with a sales management code reading mechanism for unregistered products, and further, a sales management code reading mechanism 10-1 is installed at the exit 10 of the store for sales registration. It completely prevents the unpaid items from being taken out. Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the bar code reader 11 of the product code registration machine 1. In addition to the product code 31, a product label 30 having a erasable sales management code 32 such as magnetism is printed or attached to the product 3 in advance. This sales management code 32
For example, shoplifting prevention tags or the like applied with an electromagnetic technique often used in the distribution industry may be used. In addition to the product code reading unit 11-1 that optically reads the product code 31, the bar code reader 11 includes the sales management code 3
2 has a sales management code erasing section 11-2 for magnetically erasing 2.

Here, the printing / pasting position of the sales management code 32 is near the product code 31, as shown in FIG. This positional relationship is physically determined by the performance of the sales management code deleting unit 11-2 that magnetically deletes the sales management code 32. Especially with the barcode reader 11, the product code 31
In the case where the reading of the product code and the erasing of the sales management code 32 are carried out at the same time, the reading / erasing performance of the barcode reader 11 is related to the reading characteristic of the product code 31 in the barcode reader 11, for example, l: L. If is higher, the numerical value of the bar code reader reading port 1 is larger,
In proportion to this, the numerical value of the distance L between the product code 31 and the sales management code 32 can be made large, and when the sales management code 32 is attached to the product label 30, the attaching work can be performed easily.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an embodiment of the shopping cart 7 to which the commodity code registration machine 1 is attached. In FIG. 4, the bar code reader 11 of the product code registration machine 1 is omitted. As shown in the figure, for example, a coil-shaped sales management code reading mechanism 7-1 for reading the sales management code 32 on the product 3 is provided around the product storage portion of the shopping cart 7. When the customer puts the unregistered product 3 whose sales management code 32 is not deleted into the shopping cart 7, the sales management code reading mechanism 7-1 detects the sales management code 32 of the product 3, and the product code registration machine 1 For example, "unregistered!" Is displayed on the display unit 13, or a warning buzzer sounds.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the commodity code registration machine 1. In FIG. 5, 100 is a control unit of the product code registration machine 1, and 110 is a product code storage unit. It is assumed that the control unit 100 holds an ID (cart ID) unique to the product code registration machine 1 in the ROM or the like. The control unit 100 temporarily stores the product code 31 read by the product code reading unit 11-1 of the barcode reader 11 in the storage unit 110 with a cart ID, and when the reading of the product code 31 is completed. , Operates the sales management code deleting section 11-2 of the bar code reader 11 to automatically delete the sales management code 32 on the product 3. The product code information with cart ID stored in the storage unit 110 is transmitted to the settlement machine 2 by the transmission antenna 12. The control unit 100 further includes a sales management code reading mechanism 7
When -1 detects the unerased sales management code 32 of the unregistered product put in the shopping cart 7, "unregistered!" Etc. is displayed on the display unit 13 and a warning buzzer (not shown) sounds.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 14 denotes a removal prohibiting switch, which makes it possible to use the product code registration machine 1 as an inventory terminal. That is, when carrying out stocktaking of goods, etc., by setting the removal prohibition switch 14, the product code registration machine 1 is operated, and the product code reading unit 11-1 of the bar code reader 11 reads the product 3 Even if the product code 31 is read, the control unit 10
In 0, the sales management code removing unit 11-2 of the bar code reader 11 is prevented from operating in association with it, and the product 3
The sales management code 32 of is not erased.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the settlement machine 2. 6, 22 is a display unit, 23 is a sales management code rewriting unit, 24 is a salesclerk ID code input unit, 25 is a sales management code reading mechanism, 200 is a processing control unit of the settlement machine 2, 210 is a product code. It is a storage unit.

The processing / control unit 200 of the settlement machine 2 receives the product code information received by the reception antenna 21 and temporarily stored in the product code storage unit 210, calculates the total payment amount, and operates the clerk. The product name, price, total price, etc. are displayed on the display unit 22. Further, the processing control unit 200
Then, when the customer 5 requests the return or cancellation of the sale-registered product, the sales clerk inputs the ID code of the sales clerk himself from the ID code input section 24 to enable the sales management code rewriting section 23 to operate. The deleted sales management code of the product is rewritten, and at the same time, the return or cancellation process is executed. Further, in the processing control unit 200, the settlement machine 2
When the sales management code reading mechanism 25 installed near the store detects the unerased sales management code 32 of an unregistered product, a warning buzzer or the like (not shown) is activated.

The overall operation of one embodiment of the store system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6.

In FIG. 1, a customer 5 takes out a desired product 3 from a product shelf 4, and the customer 5 himself / herself uses the product code registration machine 1
To read the product code 31 of the product 3 with the barcode reader 11. At this time, in the product code registration machine 1, when the product code reading unit 11-1 of the barcode reader 11 completes reading the product code 31, the product code storage unit 110 adds the product code information such as a cart ID. And temporarily store it, and further transmit antenna 12
The data is wirelessly transmitted to the settlement machine 2. At the same time, the sales management code deleting unit 11-2 attached to the bar code reader 11 operates to automatically delete the sales management code 32 attached to the product 3 (FIGS. 3 and 5).

The merchandise 3 registered for sale is accommodated in the shopping cart 7 by the customer 5. At this time, the customer 3 does not operate the commodity code registration machine 1 intentionally or by mistake,
When the product 3 is stored in the shopping cart 7, the sales management code reading mechanism 7-1 provided in the shopping cart 7 detects the unerased sales management code 32 of the product 3, as shown in FIG. On the display unit 13 of the product code registration machine 1, for example, “Not registered! ], And a warning buzzer or the like is sounded to inform the customer 5 that the unregistered merchandise is accommodated in the shopping cart 7. As a result, the customer 5 takes out the unregistered product put in the shopping cart 7 and carries out the re-operation or the like, so that the unregistered product can be prevented from being unsettled at the initial stage of the sale.

When the customer 5 finishes the registration operation for all desired products, the customer 5 proceeds to the checkout lane section and pays the price by the settlement machine 2 operated by the clerk 6. In the settlement machine 2, the product code information transmitted in advance from the transmission antenna 12 of the product code registration machine 1 is received by the receiver antenna 21, stored in the product code storage unit 210, and processed / controlled by the customer. Since the total amount of money required to be paid is calculated (FIG. 6), the clerk 6 displays the
Only by presenting the total amount of payment required, etc. to the customer 5, the settlement process can be completed in a short time.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the settlement machine 2 is provided with a sales management code reading mechanism 25 so that if there is a product 3 with a sales management code 32 that has not been erased, a product Similar to the code registration machine 1, the sales management code reading mechanism 25 detects the sales management code 32 of the product 3, and the processing / control unit 200 displays the display unit 22.
For example, "Unregistered! ], And a warning buzzer is sounded to inform the clerk 6 that the unregistered product is contained in the shopping cart 7 or the like. As a result, the clerk 6 confirms with the customer 5 whether or not the unregistered merchandise should be purchased, and in the case of the purchase, although not shown in FIG. By doing so, it is possible to prevent unregistered products from being cleared even at the clearing stage.

Further, in the settlement machine 2, as shown in FIG. 6, a sales management code rewriting unit 23 and a clerk ID code input unit 24.
With the provision of the above, if the customer 5 requests the return or cancellation of the registered product 3, the ID 5 of the clerk 6 is entered in the ID code input section 2-4, and the sales management code is rewritten. In the inserting section 23, the sales management code 32 erased in the product 3 can be rewritten, and the return or cancellation process can be executed. Incidentally, the reason why the ID code of the clerk 6 itself is inputted is to record the person who has executed the return or cancellation process and prevent the clearing process due to the familiarity between the clerk and the customer.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the exit 1 of the store
In the case where an unregistered product is about to be taken out by providing the sales management code reading mechanism 10-1 for 0 as well, the unsaved sales management code 32 of the product 3 is stored in the same manner as above. The sales management code reading mechanism 10-1 detects it and sounds a warning buzzer or the like to notify a clerk that an unregistered product is taken out. As a result, it is possible to prevent unregistered products from being uncleared even at the final exit stage. By linking this warning with the opening / closing control of the store exit 10, it is possible to further prevent unregistered products from being unsettled.

The embodiment of the store system and each part of the present invention has been described above. For the purpose of improving the service to the customer, for example, the product name of the product registered for sale on the display part 13 of the product code registration machine 1, The price, the total amount of shopping, etc. may be displayed. This can be done by wirelessly feeding back the information from the settlement machine 2 to the product code registration machine 1 and displaying it.
Alternatively, processing / processing of the product name, price, total amount of purchase, etc. of the product registered for sale in the control unit 100 itself of the product code registration machine 1
It may be provided with a display function. Furthermore, if a prebate card with a customer ID is issued in advance and the customer reads the card into the product code registration machine 1 at the time of product registration, card transactions are also possible. Note that, due to the cost of the sales management code label, the sales management code 32 does not necessarily have to be printed / pasted on all products.

Next, referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the product label 30 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 7A shows an example in which the sales management code 32 made of a magnetic medium or the like is attached near the product code 31 of the product label 30. The interval between the product code 31 and the sales management code 32 is
As described with reference to FIG. 3, it depends on the reading / erasing characteristics of the barcode reader 11. Product code 31 is 13 in Japan
Digit bar code, for example "49 △△△△△ ○○○○○
"C" is used. This 13-digit bar code "49"
When "△△△△ ○○○○○○ C" is read by the bar code reader 11 of the product code reader 1, for example, it is registered as a potato chip 100 yen. This bar code is convenient for the store system. You can change it with, for example, "4
9 △△△△△ ○○○○○ C "to" 21 △△△△△ ○○○○
It may be ◯ C ″.

FIG. 7B shows an embodiment in which a surface coating 33 is provided on the sales management code 32 to prevent the customer from illicitly erasing the sales management code, and the product name is visually displayed. . Further, in FIG. 7C, similarly, in order to prevent unauthorized deletion of the sales management code, the sales management code 32 is embedded in the product label 30 and the product code 31 is printed thereon. This is an example. In addition,
In the case of FIG. 7 (c), as shown in FIG. 8, the product label mount 30 'in which the sales management code 32 is embedded is prepared in advance, and the source label preprinted on the product 3 is the source label.
Change the product code 31 of the key to the sales management code labeler-4
This can be done by reading with the barcode reader 41 built in 0 and printing the same information on the product label mount 30 '.

[0030]

As described above, according to the store system of the present invention, in the checkout lane section, the store clerk only needs to show the customer the total amount of payment required, etc. at the checkout machine. Since it is good, the sales process can be completed in a short time, and the occurrence of a queue can be prevented. In addition to the product code, an erasable sales management code is attached to the product, and the bar code reader is provided with a function to delete the sales management code when the product code is read. It is possible to prevent unregistered products from being unsettled by providing the operated settlement machine with a product unerased sales management code reading mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a shop layout diagram showing an embodiment of a shop system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a shop layout diagram showing an example of a conventional POS system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a bar code reader of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a shopping cart according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a product code registration machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a settlement machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view of each embodiment of the product label of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a sales management code labeler.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Product code registration machine 2 Settlement machine 3 Product 5 Customer 6 Store clerk 7 Shopping cart 7-1 Sales management code reading mechanism 10 Store exit 11 Bar code reader 11-1 Product code reading section 11-2 Sales management code erasing section 12 Transmitting antenna 21 Receiving antenna 25 Sales management code reading mechanism 30 Product label 31 Product code 32 Sales management code

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In addition to the product code, an erasable sales management code is attached to the product, and means for reading the product code of the product, and means for erasing the sales management code of the product when the product code is read. A commodity code registration machine having means for temporarily storing the read commodity code information and means for wirelessly transmitting the stored commodity code information; and commodity code information wirelessly transmitted from the commodity code registration machine And a means for temporarily storing the received product code information, a means for processing the stored product code information, and a means for outputting the processing result. A store system characterized in that a product purchaser operates a code registration machine and a store operator operates the settlement machine. 2. The store system according to claim 1,
At least one of the product code registration machine and the settlement machine is provided with a unit for reading an unerased sales management code of an unregistered product of a product purchaser, and a unit for outputting the read result. 3. A bar code reader for reading a product code of a product, integrally with a product code reading mechanism,
A bar code reader characterized by having an erasing mechanism for erasing an erasable sales management code attached to a product. 4. A product label attached to a product, wherein a product code and an erasable sales management code are arranged adjacent to each other.