US20190283909A1

US20190283909A1 - Bagging system, shopping assistance system, and control method and non-transitory storage medium of the bagging system

Info

Publication number: US20190283909A1
Application number: US16/351,778
Authority: US
Inventors: Tatsuaki Amemura
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-19
Filing date: 2019-03-13
Publication date: 2019-09-19
Also published as: JP2019164539A; CN110282199A

Abstract

A bagging system includes a bagging mechanism, a switching unit, and a controller. The bagging mechanism is configured to perform bagging to put an item placed in a bagging space into a bag. The switching unit is configured to switch at least one of performing or not performing of the bagging or a type of the bag adopted for the bagging. The controller is configured to control the switching unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-51685, filed on Mar. 19, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to bagging systems, shopping assistance systems, and control methods and non-transitory storage media of the bagging systems. The present disclosure specifically relates to a bagging system configured to put one or more items into a bag, a shopping assistance system, and a control method and a non-transitory storage medium of the bagging system.

BACKGROUND ART

Document 1 (JP2014-15229A) describes a packing machine including a bag storage which stores a plurality of bags made of a resin material in a stacked manner, a taking-out means configured to adhere to the bag, a reciprocating means on which the taking-out means is disposed, an opening means configured to open an upper portion of the bag, and a supply chute. The supply chute is configured to guide an item (desired component) into the bag which is opened.
In the packing machine described in Document 1, the bag is formed by folding a thin sheet to have a rectangular shape and thermally welding a bottom and sides of the rectangular shape with only one side open. The bag storage has a U-shape and is disposed such that an opening section of the U-shape faces upward. The bag storage having the U-shape has a bottom in which a through hole is formed. The through hole has an area slightly smaller than the rectangular area of the bag. The taking-out means is configured to insert a suction cup through the through hole so that the suction cap comes into contact with a center portion of the bag at the bottom of the bag storage, and thereby the suction cup adheres to the bag. The taking-out means moves the suction cup adhering to the bag backward to takeout the bag through the through hole from the bag storage and conveys the bag taken out to the opening means.
According to the configuration described in Document 1, however, a plurality of (a large number of) bags are simply stacked in the bag storage, and therefore, all items are uniformly bagged in the same manner, and unlike, for example, a case where bagging is performed by a person, it is not possible to adopt flexible processing.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bagging system configured to adopt flexible processing in terms of bagging, a shopping assistance system, and a control method and a non-transitory storage medium of the bagging system.
A bagging system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a bagging mechanism, a switching unit, and a controller. The bagging mechanism is configured to perform bagging to put one or more items placed in a bagging space into a bag. The switching unit is configured to switch between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between types of bag for the bagging. The controller is configured to control the switching unit.
A shopping assistance system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the bagging system and a sales system configured to perform a checkout process of the one or more items.
A control method of a bagging system according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a control method of a bagging system including a bagging mechanism. The bagging mechanism is configured to perform bagging to put one or more items placed in a bagging space into a bag. The control method includes switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between types of bag for the bagging.
A non-transitory storage medium according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory storage medium in which a program is recorded. The program causes a computer system to execute the control method of the bagging system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a shopping assistance system according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exterior perspective view illustrating a counter desk to which the shopping assistance system is applied;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a main part of a bagging system according to the one embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a view schematically illustrating a basic operation of a bagging mechanism in the bagging system;

FIG. 4B is a view schematically illustrating the basic operation of the bagging mechanism in the bagging system;

FIG. 4C is a view schematically illustrating the basic operation of the bagging mechanism in the bagging system;

FIG. 5A is a view schematically illustrating the basic operation of the bagging mechanism in the bagging system;

FIG. 5B is a view schematically illustrating the basic operation of the bagging mechanism in the bagging system;

FIG. 5C is a view schematically illustrating the basic operation of the bagging mechanism in the bagging system;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the bagging system;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to an automatic bag determining process of the bagging system;

FIG. 8A is an exterior perspective view illustrating a main part of the bagging system in a case where a customer purchases items by using a basket device;

FIG. 8B is an exterior perspective view of the main part of the bagging system in a case where a customer purchases an item without using the basket device;

FIG. 9A is a view schematically illustrating the bagging system in a case where a customer purchases items by using a basket device; and

FIG. 9B is a view schematically illustrating the bagging system in a case where a customer purchases an item without using the basket device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) Schema

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a bagging system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system configured to perform “bagging” to put one or more items 8 (in FIG. 4A, three items 8) placed in a bagging space 700 into a bag 10 (see FIG. 4A). In the present disclosure, “bag” may refer to any bag as long as it has a dimension allowing one or more items 8 to be put in and having a bag opening through which the one or more items 8 are put in or taken out. In the present disclosure, “bagging space” refers to a space which allows one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged to be placed in. That is, the bagging system 1 according to the present embodiment defines the one or more items 8, which are placed in a place defined as the bagging space 700, as targets to be bagged, and the bagging system 1 performs bagging of the one or more items 8. In this embodiment, the one or more items 8 may be directly placed in the bagging space 700, or, for example, when the one or more items 8 are put in a container such as a basket device 2, the container (e.g., the basket device 2), in which the one or more items 8 have been put, may be placed in the bagging space 700.
The present embodiment describes an example in which the bagging system 1 is introduced into, for example, a retail store such as a convenience store, a supermarket, a department store, a drugstore, an electronics retail store, or a home center (hardware store), and the bagging system 1 performs bagging of one or more items 8 to be purchased by a customer. In this example, the bag 10 is a bag made of polyethylene or polypropylene and is a so-called shopping bag (or plastic shopping bag).
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the “bagging” performed by the bagging system 1 includes an operation of moving the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2 from the basket device 2 into the bag 10, in other words, an operation of transferring the one or more items 8 from the basket device 2 into the bag 10. That is, when only one or more items 8 are directly placed in the bagging space 700, the bagging system 1 puts the one or more items 8 into the bag 10, thereby performing the “bagging”. Alternatively, when one or more items 8 are put in the basket device 2, and then the basket device 2, in which the one or more items 8 have been put, is placed in the bagging space 700, the bagging system 1 moves the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2 from the basket device 2 into the bag 10, thereby performing the “bagging”. In the present embodiment, the basket device 2 is, for example, a shopping basket.
In the present embodiment, the bagging system 1, together with a sales system 4, forms a shopping assistance system 100 for assisting customers in shopping in stores. In other words, the shopping assistance system 100 includes the bagging system 1 and the sales system 4. The sales system 4 is a system configured to perform a sales process of one or more items 8. As used herein, a “sales process” refers to various processes required for actions (sales and purchase) of transferring the ownership of an item 8 from a seller (store) to a buyer (customer) and paying the seller the consideration (charge) for the item 8 by the buyer. The sales process includes, for example, an acquisition process, an order process, and the like. The acquisition process is a process of acquiring respective item information on one or more items 8 picked up by a customer in a store. The order process is a process of receiving, from a customer, an order for one or more items 8 which the customer wishes to buy. In the shopping assistance system 100, “goods” sold in a store exemplify a plurality of items, from which one or more “items 8” are picked up by a customer to be bagged by the bagging system 1.
The bagging system 1 includes a bagging mechanism 3 configured to perform “bagging” to put the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700 into the bag 10. The bagging system 1 is installed in, for example, a checkout counter in a store, and the bagging mechanism 3 puts, into the bag 10, the one or more items 8 directly placed in the bagging space 700 or the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700 with the one or more items 8 being in the basket device 2. In this way, the bagging of the one or more items 8 is performed. This allows customers to get the one or more items 8 put in the bag 10 by just placing the one or more items 8 to be purchased in the bagging space 700. It is therefore possible for customers or store employees (clerks) to save labor and time needed for the bagging.
In this embodiment, the bagging system 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a switching unit 11 and a controller 12 in addition to the bagging mechanism 3. The switching unit 11 is configured to switch between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between types of bag 10 for the bagging. The controller 12 is configured to control the switching unit 11. In the present disclosure, “types” of bag 10 include, for example, the size (dimension), shape, color, material, and indication of the bag 10. Examples of the “shape” of the bag 10 include the presence or absence of a “gusset” for securing the width of a bottom 102 of the bag 10. Examples of the “indication” of the bag 10 include an advertisement for promotion by characters or pattern design printed on a surface of the bag 10.
That is, according to the bagging system 1 of the present embodiment, the controller 12 controls the switching unit 11, and thereby, it is possible to switch between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switch between the types of bag 10 for the bagging. The bagging system 1 switches between performing and not performing the bagging in accordance with, for example, items 8, and it is thus possible to bag only one or more items 8 which have to be bugged, and it is possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Moreover, the bagging system 1 switches the types of bag 10 for the bagging in accordance with, for example, items 8, and it is thus possible to perform the bagging by adopting a bag 10 having a size suitable for the volume of one or more items 8, and it is possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Thus, according to the bagging system 1, the bagging mechanism 3 automates the bagging while it is possible to adopt flexible processing concerning the bagging as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person (a customer or employee in a store).

(2) Details

The bagging system 1 according to the present embodiment and a shopping assistance system 100 including the bagging system 1 will be described in detail below. In the present embodiment, a convenience store is exemplified as a store which the shopping assistance system 100 is introduced into. That is, a “user” mentioned in the present embodiment refers to a customer of a convenience store or an employee (clerk) of a convenience store.

(2.1) Shopping Assistance System

Herein, the overall structure of the shopping assistance system 100 according to the present embodiment will be first explained. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shopping assistance system 100 includes the bagging system 1, the basket device 2, the sales system 4, and a checkout system 5. Note that it is not essential that the basket device 2 and the checkout system 5 are included in components of the shopping assistance system 100. The basket device 2 will be explained in “(2.2) Basket Device” which will be described later in detail. The bagging system 1 will be explained in “(2.3) Bagging System” which will be described later in detail.
The sales system 4 is a system configured to directly or indirectly communicate with the basket device 2 to perform a sales process of one or more items 8 put in the basket device 2. The sales system 4 includes a management device 41, a user interface 42, a detection device 43, and a special reading device 44. Each of the user interface 42, the detection device 43, and the special reading device 44 is a peripheral device of the management device 41 and is connected to the management device 41.
The management device 41 communicates with the basket device 2 to receive one or more pieces of item information (which will be described later) transmitted from the basket device 2. Moreover, the management device 41 is connected to the checkout system 5 which performs a checkout process. Moreover, the management device 41 is configured to communicate with a store terminal including, for example, a point of sales (POS) terminal. Based on the one or more pieces of item information received from the basket device 2, the management device 41 executes a predetermined process such as a transmission process of transmitting information to the checkout system 5. The information is required for the checkout process by the checkout system 5.
Moreover, the management device 41 also communicates with the bagging system 1 and a portable terminal 6 to be able to control the bagging system 1 and the portable terminal 6. Thus, the management device 41 is configured to control the bagging system 1 such that the sales system 4 and the bagging system 1 operate in an interlocked manner with each other. In the present embodiment, the management device 41 controls the bagging system 1 in an interlocked manner with the sales system 4 so that bagging of the one or more items 8 is performed while a customer performs the checkout process or the like by the checkout system 5. For example, the bagging system 1 starts the bagging of the one or more items 8 when the checkout process by the checkout system 5 is started. Note that the bagging system 1 does not always perform the bagging but may perform an operation “not performing the bagging” that the bagging is not performed, which will be described later.
The checkout system 5 includes a computer system as a main component and a peripheral devices such as a cash unit configured to accept and dispense cash. The checkout system 5 is configured to cause a processor of the computer system to execute a program stored in memory of the computer system, thereby performing the checkout process such as calculation of a checkout amount based on the one or more pieces of item information received from the sales system 4. The checkout system 5 includes a card reader and a printer configured to issue a receipt. The card reader is configured to read, for example, credit card information and electronic money card information for payment, mobile phone terminal information, member's card information, and loyalty card information. Information such as, for example, detailed statement, checkout amount, purchase date and time is described in the receipt.
In the present embodiment, the checkout system 5 stores price data corresponding to each of a plurality of pieces of item information. In addition, the checkout system 5, the store server, or the center server may store: an information set such as advertisement information, discount information, producer information and recipe information, corresponding to each of the plurality of pieces of item information; and information such as gender, age, favorite and past purchase history, corresponding to each of pieces of customer information. Moreover, data such as the size and the weight of each of the plurality of items 8 is also stored in the checkout system 5 together with the price data. The information set, which is not stored in the sales system 4, is available to the sales system 4 as a result of the sales system 4 communicating with the checkout system 5, the store server, or the center server.
The user interface 42 includes a display 421 and an operation section 422. The display 421 is a device configured to display various kinds of information to customers. The operation section 422 is a device configured to receive an operation by customers. In the present embodiment, a touch panel display functions as the display 421 and the operation section 422. That is, the shopping assistance system 100 according to the present embodiment adopts a touch panel display as the user interface 42, and the touch panel display displays information to customers and receives an operation by customers. Thus, when detecting an operation (e.g., tapping, swiping, or dragging) of an object such as a button on a screen displayed on the touch panel display, the operation section 422 determines that the object such as a button is operated. Note that the operation section 422 is not limited to the touch panel display but may be, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, a mechanical switch, or a gesture sensor. The display 421 may be a projector or the like configured to project video images by, for example, a projection mapping technique.
Moreover, the user interface 42 may include a voice input/output unit alternatively to the display 421 and the operation section 422 or in addition to the display 421 and the operation section 422. In this case, the user interface 42 is able to provide customers with various types of information by voice output from a loudspeaker. Moreover, the user interface 42 applies speech recognition and semantic analysis to a voice signal output from a microphone to allow customers to perform an operation (voice input) by voice.
For example, the sales system 4 may provide customers with messages such as “Welcome” and “Thank you very much” respectively at a timing at which a customer is detected and at a timing at which the checkout process is completed. In this way, it is possible to give customers a sense of affinity like clerk service. Moreover, a customer, for example, operates the operation section 422 to select a payment method and pays the checkout amount displayed on the display 421. Alternatively, the sales system 4 is able to provide a customer with a utilization procedure of the shopping assistance system 100 by the display 421. In this case, preferably when, for example, the basket device 2 is placed in the bagging space 700, the display 421 then represents each step of the operating procedure sequentially, thereby confirming whether or not fast food or cigarettes are purchased, etc.
Moreover, the detection device 43 includes a camera 431 and a weight sensor 432. The camera 431 photographs the bagging space 700 from obliquely above. Thus, in a state where the basket device 2, in which the one or more items 8 have been put, is placed in the bagging space 700, it is possible to photograph an image of the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2 by the camera 431. The weight sensor 432 is configured to measure the weight of the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700. The weight sensor 432 is incorporated into a shutter 73 forming a bottom surface of the bagging space 700 (a bottom surface of the recess 72 which will be described later).
The camera 431 may be configured to photograph, for example, a customer and may be used also as a camera for age verification. In this case, the camera 431, together with the management device 41 and the portable terminal 6, forms an age verification system. The age verification system is a system configured to assist a clerk (checker) with the age verification of a customer (subject).
The special reading device 44 is a device configured to read respective item information on one or more items 8 from the one or more items 8 in the bagging space 700 or a reading space 701 (see FIG. 2) adjacent to the bagging space 700. Herein, the “item information” is information for identifying each of items 8 (information identification code), and examples thereof in Japan include Japanese Article Number (JAN) code and the like. Examples of the goods identification code further include European Article Number (EAN) code in Europe, Universal Product Code (UPC) in USA, and the like. The special reading device 44 is a barcode reader configured to optically read a barcode provided to each item 8 so as to read item information thereon. Thus, a customer shows each item 8 which the customer picked up to the special reading device 44, thereby completing reading of the item information by the special reading device 44. The item information read by the special reading device 44 is output to the management device 41.
In the present embodiment, the item information is also readable by the basket device 2, and the management device 41 is capable of acquiring the item information not only from the special reading device 44 but also from the basket device 2, which will be described later. Thus, the special reading device 44 is basically used to read respective item information, for example, when a customer purchases one or more items 8 without using the basket device 2 and when the customer additionally purchases one or more items 8 after transmission of the respective item information from the basket device 2 to the management device 41. In the present embodiment, since the items 8 are goods, the item information is goods information.
The special reading device 44 is not limited to the barcode reader, but examples thereof may further include a reader configured to read a two-dimensional code, and a tag reader configured to read item information from an electronic tag based on a radio-frequency identification (RFID) in a contactless manner. The special reading device 44 may also be configured to read respective item information from, for example, an image of the one or more items 8. In this case, the special reading device 44 includes an image sensor configured to capture an image of the one or more items 8 inside or outside the basket body 21. The image sensor may be used also as the camera 431 of the detection device 43. The special reading device 44 specify the respective item information by performing image recognition processing on the image of the one or more items 8, extracting feature such as outline, color, and texture information therefrom, and verifying by comparing the feature with a template stored for each of items 8 in advance. In this case, the special reading device 44 may utilize information read by the barcode reader as auxiliary information for reading respective item information from the image of the one or more items 8. Alternatively, the barcode reader may be omitted when it is possible to sufficiently read respective item information only from the image of the one or more items 8.
Moreover, the shopping assistance system 100 may further include a supply unit and the like configured to supply, for example, specific goods (e.g., cigarettes) to a customer, in addition to the above-described configuration. As described above, the shopping assistance system 100 preferably includes various components to comprehensively assist customers in shopping in stores.
The portable terminal 6 is a terminal portable by a clerk. The portable terminal 6 is configured to perform two-way communication with the management device 41 based on wireless communication whose medium is radio wave. The management device 41 transmits a request signal to the portable terminal 6. The request signal includes image data of an image obtained by photographing a subject (customer) to be a target of age verification. The portable terminal 6 displays, based on the image data included in the request signal received, an age verification screen including the image obtained by photographing a subject. In this state, a checker (clerk) views the age verification screen displayed on the portable terminal 6 to perform the age verification of the subject. When the portable terminal 6 receives a result of the age verification performed by the checker in this way as an operation of the checker, the portable terminal 6 transmits a response signal including a result of the age verification to the management device 41.
Stores which the shopping assistance system 100 is introduced into enable customers to finish purchasing one or more items 8 by a series of processes of choosing the one or more items 8 in the store, putting the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2, performing the checkout process thereof, and receiving the one or more items 8 automatically put in the bag 10. Thus, with the shopping assistance system 100, it is possible to reduce, for example, a time from the start of the checkout process to customers getting their items 8 while saving clerks' labor and customers' labor, thereby reducing customers' shopping time.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shopping assistance system 100 is incorporated into, for example, one counter desk 7 installed at a checkout counter of a store. That is, the counter desk 7 is provided with the shopping assistance system 100. A plurality of such counter desks 7 may be installed in one store.
The counter desk 7 has the recess 72 which is open at a substantially central portion in a lengthwise direction (lateral direction) of an upper surface 71. The recess 72 forms the bagging space 700 which allows the basket device 2 to be placed in. The shutter 73 which is openable and closable is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess 72. That is, a space above the shutter 73 is the bagging space 700 which allows the one or more items 8 as targets of the bagging to be placed in.
Under the shutter 73, the bagging mechanism 3 is disposed. In a state where the shutter 73 is open, the bottom surface of the recess 72 serves as an opening surface, and therefore, through the bottom surface (opening surface) of the recess 72, the bagging space 700 communicates with the inside space of the counter desk 7 in which the bagging mechanism 3 is accommodated. In this state, through the bottom surface (opening surface) of the recess 72, a placement surface 311 of the bagging mechanism 3 which will be described later is exposed to the bagging space 700. Thus, when the shutter 73 is open, the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700 are released onto the placement surface 311. Then, the bagging mechanism 3 bags the one or more items 8 placed on the placement surface 311.
The management device 41 is built in the counter desk 7. Moreover, the switching unit 11, the controller 12, a bag feeding device 13, and a driver 14 are, together with the bagging mechanism 3, built in the counter desk 7. The checkout system 5 is disposed at the right side of the recess 72 as viewed from a front side of the counter desk 7. The user interface 42 is disposed on the upper surface 71 of the counter desk 7 at a location on the right side of the recess 72 as viewed from the front side of the counter desk 7. The special reading device 44 is fixed to the right side of the user interface 42 as viewed from the front side of the counter desk 7. The camera 431 is disposed above the recess 72.
The positional relationship, shapes, and the like of components of the shopping assistance system 100 described above are mere examples and may accordingly be modified. For example, the bagging mechanism 3 and the recess 72 may be disposed at one end (left end or right end) in the width direction (lateral direction) of the counter desk 7. Moreover, the recess 72 formed in the counter desk 7 is not an essential configuration for the shopping assistance system 100. For example, the upper surface 71 of the counter desk 7 may have the bagging space 700 which allows the one or more items 8 to be placed in.

(2.2) Basket Device

Next, the basket device 2 will be described in detail. The basket device 2 is a shopping basket, includes a basket body 21 (see FIG. 4A) and a bottom panel 22 (see FIG. 4A), and allows one or more items 8 (in FIG. 4A, three items 8) to be put in. The basket body 21 is provided with a pair of grips 23 (see FIG. 4A) which a customer is to grip to hold the basket device 2. The basket body 21 has an opening at its bottom 211 (see FIG. 4A). The bottom panel 22 is slidable between a closed position closing the bottom 211 of the basket body 21 and an open position. That is, the bottom panel 22 is attached to the basket body 21 so as to allow the bottom 211 of the basket body 21 to be closed and opened. This enables the one or more items 8 put in the basket device 2 to be released through the bottom 211 of the basket body 21.
That is, in the present embodiment, the bottom 211 of the basket body 21 serves as an opening (outlet) through which each item 8 is taken out of the basket device 2 when the bagging is performed. Thus, the bottom panel 22 is in the closed position closing the bottom 211 of the basket body 21 in a normal mode, and when the bagging is performed, the bottom panel 22 is slid to the open position opening the bottom 211 of the basket body 21. In other words, the basket device 2 is configured to open and close the bottom 211 when the bottom panel 22 is opened and closed.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the basket device 2 includes a reading device 201, a transmitter 202, memory 203, and a basket controller 204.
The reading device 201 is configured to read respective item information on the one or more items 8 put in the basket body 21 to acquire the respective item information on the one or more items 8. The reading device 201 is exposed from the outer side surface of, for example, the basket body 21. Similarly, to the special reading device 44, the reading device 201 is a barcode reader and optically reads a barcode on each item 8 to acquire item information thereon. Therefore, a customer picks up each of the one or more items 8 to show it to the reading device 201 and then puts it in the basket body 21. In this case, it can be said that the item information on each of the one or more items 8 put in the basket body 21 has been acquired by the reading device 201.
Similarly to the special reading device 44, the reading device 201 is not limited to the barcode reader, but examples thereof may further include a reader configured to read a two-dimensional code and a tag reader configured to read item information from an electronic tag based on a radio-frequency identification (RFID) in a contactless manner. Alternatively, the reading device 201 may be configured to read respective item information from, for example, an image of the one or more items 8.
The transmitter 202 transmits the respective item information acquired by the reading device 201 to the sales system 4. In the present embodiment, the transmitter 202 is composed of a communication module configured to perform two-way communication with the sales system 4. The transmitter 202 communicates with the sales system 4 by optical wireless communication whose medium is radiation such as infrared radiation or visible radiation. Among different types of wireless communication, especially, near field type communication (near field wireless communication) having a narrow communication area is applicable because the transmitter 202 transmits item information with the basket body 21 placed in the bagging space 700 (the counter desk 7).
The memory 203 is configured to store one or more pieces of item information. For example, whenever the reading device 201 reads item information, the item information is stored in the memory 203. The transmitter 202 may transmit one or more pieces of item information stored in the memory 203 all together to the sales system 4 or divide the one or more pieces of item information into packets to transmit the packets to the sales system 4. In the present embodiment, the memory 203 stores item information acquired through the reading device 201 and the number thereof (i.e., acquisition count of item information acquired by the reading device 201). For example, when there is one or more pieces of item information as respective item information on three items 8 that include two items 8 of “A” and one item 8 (or one product) of “B”, the memory 203 stores item information on “A”, “2” as count thereof, item information “B”, and “1” as count thereof. For example, when the transmitter 202 succeeds in transmitting the one or more pieces of item information to the sales system 4, the one or more pieces of item information stored in the memory 203 is deleted.
The basket controller 204 includes a microcomputer as a main component and is configured to cause a processor of the microcomputer to execute a program stored in memory of the microcomputer, thereby controlling each part such as the reading device 201. The program may be stored in the memory in advance, provided via a telecommunications network such as the Internet, or provided by a non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card storing the program.

(2.3) Bagging System

Next, the bagging system 1 will be described in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bagging system 1 includes the bagging mechanism 3, the switching unit 11, the controller 12, the bag feeding device 13, and the driver 14.
When only one or more items 8 are directly placed in the bagging space 700, the bagging mechanism 3 puts the one or more items 8 into the bag 10, thereby performing the “bagging”. Alternatively, when one or more items 8 are put in the basket device 2, and then the basket device 2, in which the one or more items 8 have been put, is placed in the bagging space 700, the bagging mechanism 3 moves the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2 from the basket device 2 into the bag 10, thereby performing the “bagging”.
That is, for example, when a customer purchases one or more items 8 without using the basket device 2, the customer directly places the one or more items 8, which the customer picked up in a store, in the bagging space 700, and thereby, it is possible to cause the bagging mechanism 3 to perform the bagging of the one or more items 8. Thus, both hands of a customer do not have to be occupied to perform the action of the bagging, and the bagging of the one or more items 8 can be easily performed. Alternatively, when a customer purchases one or more 8 by using the basket device 2, the customer picks up the one or more items 8 in a shop and puts the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2, and places the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 have been put, in the bagging space 700, thereby causing the bagging mechanism 3 to perform the bagging of the one or more items 8. Thus, a customer does not have to take each of the one or more items 8 out of the basket device 2 to bag it, and the bagging of the one or more items 8 can be easily performed. When two or more items 8 are put in the basket device 2, the bagging mechanism 3 is capable of collectively bag the two or more items 8.
The bag feeding device 13 is a device configured to feed the bag 10 to the bagging mechanism 3. That is, the bagging system 1 further includes the bag feeding device 13 configured to feed the bag 10 to the bagging mechanism 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of bags 10 are stored in a bag storage 131, and the bag feeding device 13 takes the bags 10 one by one out of the bag storage 131 and feeds the bag 10 taken out to the bagging mechanism 3. In the present embodiment, the management device 41 controls the bag feeding device 13 in an interlocked manner with the bagging mechanism 3 so that one bag 10 is always set on (provided to) the bagging mechanism 3. In FIG. 3, a state of the bag 10 set on the bagging mechanism 3 is shown in imaginary line (long dashed double-short dashed line). That is, the bagging mechanism 3 is configured to perform the bagging by using one bag 10 fed from the bag feeding device 13. Each time the bagging mechanism 3 performs the bagging, one new bag 10 is fed from the bag feeding device 13 to the bagging mechanism 3 in preparation for the next bagging. In other words, the bag feeding device 13 starts feeding a bag 10 to the bagging mechanism 3 when the bagging by the bagging mechanism 3 is completed.
In this embodiment, the bag feeding device 13 includes, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the bag storage 131 which stores a plurality of (in this embodiment, two) types of bags 10A and 10B. That is, the bag storage 131 stores the plurality of bags 10A and the plurality of bags 10B. Each bag 10A is different from each bag 10B in type (including size, shape, shape, color, material, indication, and the like). In the present embodiment, for example, the bags 10A are stored in a lower section of the bag storage 131, and the bags 10B smaller in size than the bags 10A are stored in an upper section of the bag storage 131. In the present disclosure, when the bags 10A and the bags 10B are not distinguished from each other, each of the bags 10A and the bags 10B are simply referred to as “bag 10”.
The driver 14 includes an electric motor (motor) and is realized by an appropriate mechanism configured to drive the bagging mechanism 3 by driving force generated by the electric motor of, for example, a pantograph type or a rack-and-pinion type. Moreover, the driver 14 also generates driving force for driving the shutter 73 and the bottom panel 22 of the basket device 2. In the present embodiment, the management device 41 controls the driver 14.
The switching unit 11 is configured to switch between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switch between the types (including size, shape, color, material, indication, and the like) of bag 10 for the bagging. That is, the switching unit 11 performs switching between performing and not performing the bagging, or switching the types of bag 10 for the bagging, or both switching between performing and not performing the bagging and switching between the types of bag 10 for the bagging. In the present embodiment, the switching unit 11 is configured to both switch between performing and not performing the bagging and switch between the types of bag 10 for the bagging.
Specifically, of functions of the switching unit 11, a function of switching between performing and not performing bagging is realized by, for example, a cancellation circuit electrically connected to the driver 14. In this configuration, the cancellation circuit as a part of the switching unit 11 operates to disable the operation of the driver 14, thereby disabling the bagging by the bagging mechanism 3. That is, the switching unit 11 switches between enabling and disabling the operation of the driver 14 to switch between “performing and not performing bagging”. In other words, the switching unit 11 selects one of “performing the bagging” and “not performing the bagging”. Only when the switching unit 11 selects “performing the bagging”, the bagging mechanism 3 performs the bagging. That is, when the switching unit 11 selects “not performing the bagging”, the bagging mechanism 3 does not perform the bagging.
Moreover, the switching unit 11 switches between the bags 10A and 10B fed from the bag feeding device 13 to the bagging mechanism 3 to switch the types of bag 10. That is, in the present embodiment, the bag feeding device 13 includes the bag storage 131 which stores a plurality of types of bags 10A and 10B as described above. The switching unit 11 switches, for the bag feeding device 13, between the plurality of types of bags 10A and 10B to change a bag 10 to be taken out of the bag storage 131 and to be supplied to the bagging mechanism 3. In this configuration, of the functions of the switching unit 11, a function of switching between the types of bag 10 is realized by a robot arm that takes the bags 10 out of, for example, the bag storage 131 and its driver circuit. In this configuration, the robot arm and the driver circuit which are part of the switching unit 11 take one of the bag 10A and the bag 10B from the bag storage 131. That is, the switching unit 11 switches between supplying the bag 10A from the bag feeding device 13 to the bagging mechanism 3 (see arrow A1 in FIG. 3) and supplying the bag 10B from the bag feeding device 13 to the bagging mechanism 3 (see arrow A2 in FIG. 3), thereby switching the types of bag 10 for the bagging. In other words, the switching unit 11 switches between the bag 10A and the bag 10B to change the bag 10 to be supplied to the bag feeding device 13, thereby switching the types of bag 10 for the bagging.
The controller 12 controls the switching unit 11. That is, the controller 12 outputs instruction information (command) to the switching unit 11 which actually performs the switching, and thereby the controller 12 causes the switching unit 11 to operate. For example, when the switching unit 11 includes, as described above, the cancellation circuit, the robot arm, and the driver circuit, the controller 12 outputs the instruction information to the cancellation circuit and the driver circuit to control the switching unit 11. The controller 12 may be integrated with the switching unit 11. The controller 12 includes a microcomputer as a main component and causes a processor of the microcomputer to execute a program stored in memory of the microcomputer, thereby controlling at least the switching unit 11. The program may be stored in the memory in advance, provided via a telecommunications network such as the Internet, or provided by a non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card storing the program.
The controller 12 is configured to control the switching unit 11 based on actually measured data acquired from the detection device 43 configured to output at least one of an image or respective weights of the one or more items 8 located in the bagging space 700 as the actually measured data. In the present embodiment, the detection device 43 includes the camera 431 and the weight sensor 432 and thus can output both the image and the respective weights of the one or more items 8 located in the bagging space 700 as the actually measured data. For example, when the actually measured data of the respective sizes, respective weights, or the like of the one or more items 8 as targets of the bagging is larger than or equal to a certain value, the controller 12 controls the switching unit 11 such that the bag 10A which is larger in size than the bag 10B is adopted for the bagging.
Moreover, the controller 12 is configured to control the switching unit 11 based on respective item information on the one or more items 8, the respective item information being acquired from an information reading device configured to read the respective item information from the one or more items 8. In the present embodiment, the information reading device includes two types of devices, namely, the reading device 201 of the basket device 2 and the special reading device 44 provided to the counter desk 7. That is, the information reading device includes both the reading device 201 and the special reading device 44. For example, when the price of the one or more items 8 identified based on the respective item information is higher than or equal to a certain value, the controller 12 controls the switching unit 11 such that the bag 10A which is larger in size than the bag 10B is adopted for the bagging. The operation of the controller 12 will be described in detail in “(3.3) Switching Operation”.
Next, the bagging mechanism 3 will be described further in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bagging mechanism 3 includes a support 31 and a guide 32.
The support 31 includes the placement surface 311. The support 31 has a rectangular plate shape. The support 31 has an upper surface which serves as the placement surface 311 on which the one or more items 8 are to be put. In this embodiment, the placement surface 311 has a rectangular shape having rounded corners.
The guide 32 is disposed around the support 31 along the outer periphery of the placement surface 311. The guide 32 is in a shape of a cylinder. Of an upper surface and a lower surface of the cylinder, at least the upper surface is an opening. In the present embodiment, the guide 32 is in a shape of a rectangular cylinder. Both an upper surface and a lower surface of the rectangular cylinder are openings. The opening surface of the guide 32 is slightly larger than the placement surface 311, and the guide 32 is disposed around the support 31 along the outer periphery of the placement surface 311. In this embodiment, the shape of an inner peripheral edge of an upper end surface of the guide 32 and the shape of the outer periphery of the placement surface 311 are in a similarity relationship.
The bagging mechanism 3 changes the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 from a first state to a second state in a state where the one or more items 8 (in FIG. 4A, three items 8) are supported on a bottom 102 (see FIG. 4A) of the bag 10 on the placement surface 311 to put the one or more items 8 into the bag 10. The location of the support 31 relative to the guide 32 in the second state is at a lower level than in the first state. In the present embodiment, a state where the support 31 is located at the upper end of the guide 32 is defined as the first state (see FIG. 4B). When the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 is in the first state, the upper surface (placement surface 311) of the support 31 is located at a slightly higher level than the upper end surface of the guide 32. Thus, in the first state, the support 31 is disposed to close the opening in the upper surface of the guide 32. The second state is a state where the support 31 is located at the lower end of the guide 32 (see FIG. 5A).
In the present embodiment, when the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 changes from the first state to the second state, the one or more items 8 move to the inner side of the bag 10. That is, in the present embodiment, the bagging of putting the one or more items 8 into the bag 10 is completed when the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 reaches the second state from the first state. The operation including the bagging by the bagging mechanism 3 will be explained in “(3.2) Basic Operation of Bagging Mechanism” which will be described in detail later.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the driver 14 changes the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 from the first state to the second state. The driver 14 moves only the support 31 of the support 31 and the guide 32 downward, thereby changing the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 from the first state to the second state. That is, the support 31 is configured to be moved, by the driver 14, in the guide 32 which is tubular and which is fixed at a fixed position in the vertical direction. Specifically, the support 31 is connected to the driver 14 by a drive shaft 33 which is columnar. The driver 14 moves the drive shaft 33 in the vertical direction to move the support 31 fixed to the upper end of the drive shaft 33 in the vertical direction.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the bagging mechanism 3 further includes a holder 312 which holds the bottom 102 of the bag 10 on the placement surface 311. The holder 312 clamps the bottom 102 of the bag 10 to hold the bottom 102. The bagging mechanism 3 keeps the bottom 102 of the bag 10 held on the placement surface 311 by the holder 312 while the relative positional relationship between the at least support 31 and the guide 32 changes from the first state to the second state.

(3) Operation

The operation of the shopping assistance system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described below.

(3.1) Overall Operation

An overall operation of the shopping assistance system 100 from a customer's visit to a store until completion of bagging of one or more items 8 will be explained. In the present embodiment, the bagging system 1 includes, as described above, the switching unit 11 configured to switch between performing and not performing the bagging. Therefore, one of “performing the bagging” and “not performing the bagging” is selected. Thus, “bagging” by the bagging system 1 is not always performed. When the switching unit 11 selects “not performing the bagging”, “bagging” by the bagging system 1 is not performed. Note that the present embodiment describes an example of a case of “performing the bagging” where the bagging system 1 performs “bagging”, and switching between performing and not performing the bagging by the switching unit 11 will be described in “(3.3) Switching Operation”.
When a customer purchases one or more items 8 by using a basket device 2, the customer who visits a store, first takes the basket device 2 from a basket area. Then, the customer carrying the basket device 2 moves in the store and puts the one or more items 8 which the customer desires to purchase in the basket body 21 of the basket device 2. At this moment, the customer shows each of the one or more items 8 picked up to the reading device 201 and then, puts it in the basket body 21. Thus, the reading device 201 acquires respective item information on the one or more items 8.
Thereafter, the customer places the basket device 2, in which the one or more items 8 which the customer desires to purchase have been put, in the bagging space 700. At this time, placement of the basket device 2 in the bagging space 700 is detected by, for example, the detection device 43 (at least one of the camera 431 or the weight sensor 432). The sales system 4 receives the detection result by the detection device 43 and then starts communication with the basket device 2 to acquire the respective item information from the basket device 2.
When acquiring the respective item information, the sales system 4 transmits (transfers) the respective item information to the checkout system 5. As a reply (response) to the respective item information, the sales system 4 acquires pieces of price data transmitted from the checkout system 5. Moreover, the sales system 4 creates, based on the pieces of price data acquired, a purchase list which is a list of the respective information on the one or more items 8.
At this time, the sales system 4 determines whether or not the purchase list includes specific goods which require age verification for sales. As an example of the specific goods, the present embodiment includes alcohol (alcohol goods). Herein, the sales system 4 judges whether or not alcohol is included in the one or more items 8 put in the basket device 2 based on the purchase list. When alcohol is contained in the purchase list, the sales system 4 transmits a start signal to the age verification system. The age verification system receives the start signal and then starts a series of steps for the age verification. When the age verification by the age verification system fails, the sales system 4 interrupts the sales process of the specific item.
When the age verification is successfully performed by the age verification system, or when the purchase list includes no alcohol, the sales system 4 proceeds with the checkout process. At this time, the sales system 4 causes the display 421 of the user interface 42 to display on-screen checkout confirmation including the purchase list. When in the on-screen checkout confirmation, the operation section 422 receives a specific operation for starting the checkout process, the sales system 4 causes the checkout system 5 to start the checkout process.
After the checkout process is started, the sales system 4 causes the bagging system 1 to start the bagging. That is, after the sales system 4 causes the checkout system 5 to start the checkout process, the sales system 4 transmits a control signal to the bagging system 1 to cause the bagging system 1 to start the bagging. Thus, the bagging mechanism 3 of the bagging system 1 starts “bagging” to move the one or more items 8 from the basket device 2 to the bag 10 during the checkout process of the one or more items 8. Note that preferably after the checkout process is completed, the customer is allowed to receive the bag 10 storing the one or more items 8 with the bagging process by the bagging mechanism 3 being completed.
Moreover, when a customer additionally purchases one or more items 8 after transmission of the respective item information from the basket device 2 to the management device 41, the customer shows each of the one or more items 8, which are to be additionally purchased, to the special reading device 44, and then, the customer puts it in the basket body 21. Thus, the special reading device 44 acquires respective item information on the one or more items 8 which are to be additionally purchased. The sales system 4 adds the information (including price data) on the one or more items 8 to be additionally purchased to the purchase list based on the respective item information read by the special reading device 44. Thus, an information list of the items 8 regarding both the respective item information transmitted from the basket device 2 to the management device 41 and the respective item information read from the special reading device 44 is created as a purchase list.
On the other hand, when a customer purchases one or more items 8 without using the basket device 2, the customer shows each of the one or more items 8 to be purchased to the special reading device 44 and places it in the bagging space 700. Thus, the special reading device 44 acquires respective item information on the one or more items 8. The sales system 4 creates a purchase list based on the respective item information read by the special reading device 44. In this case, the bagging mechanism 3 of the bagging system 1 starts “bagging” of putting the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700 into the bag 10 during the checkout process of the one or more items 8.
Moreover, both in a case where a customer additionally purchases two or more items 8 after transmission of the respective item information from the basket device 2 to the management device 41 and in a case where a customer purchases two or more items 8 without using the basket device 2, it is possible to sequentially read pieces of item information on the two or more items 8 by the special reading device 44. Thus, for example, also when a customer purchases two or more items 8 without using the basket device 2, pieces of item information on the two or more items 8 are sequentially read by the special reading device 44, and thereby the two or more items 8 can be collectively subjected to the checkout process.
Here, the sales system 4 may check the consistency of the respective item information read by the special reading device 44 with the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700. The respective pieces of information on the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700 can be sensed by, for example, the detection device 43 (at least one of the camera 431 or the weight sensor 432). For example, when one or more items 8 are added to the basket device 2 placed in the bagging space 700 without the respective item information on the one or more items 8 being read by the special reading device 44, the sales system 4 determines that the pieces of item information are not consistent with the one or more items, and notifies an error.

(3.2) Basic Operation of Bagging Mechanism

Next, a basic operation of the bagging mechanism 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 5C. FIGS. 4A to 5C schematically shows the operation of the bagging mechanism 3, and the bag feeding device 13 and the like are accordingly omitted. Here, it is assumed that the bagging mechanism 3 moves two or more items 8 put in the basket device 2 from the basket device 2 to the bag 10. Also when one or more items directly placed in the bagging space 700 are bagged, the basic operation of the bagging mechanism 3 is the same except that the basket device 2 is not involved.
First, when the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 is in the first state as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the bag 10 is put on the support 31 and the guide 32 with the opening 101 of the bag 10 facing downward, and the bottom 102 of the bag 10 is supported by the placement surface 311. A state shown in FIG. 4A is a standby state of the bagging mechanism 3, and the bagging mechanism 3 remains in the standby state until the bagging mechanism receives a control signal from the management device 41. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the shutter 73 is already open, and through the bottom surface (opening surface) of the recess 72, the bagging space 700 communicates with the inside space of the counter desk 7 in which the bagging mechanism 3 is accommodated. Note that the embodiment should not be construed as limiting, but a timing at which the shutter 73 is opened may be a timing at which “bagging” is started as illustrated in FIG. 4B.
When receiving the control signal from the management device 41, the bagging mechanism 3 starts “bagging”. When the bagging is started, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the bottom panel 22 of the basket device 2 is opened, thereby releasing the items 8 in the basket device 2 through the bottom 211 onto the placement surface 311 of the bagging mechanism 3. That is, the driver 14 moves the bottom panel 22 of the basket device 2 to the open position. Thus, the items 8 are placed on the bag 10 on the placement surface 311. At this time, the bag 10 is held by the placement surface 311 due to the weight of the items 8 and additionally due to the holding force of the holder 312. That is, the action of bagging includes an operation of opening and closing the bottom panel 22 by the driver 14 to open and close the bottom 211.
Starting from the state (first state), as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the driver 14 moves the support 31 downward relative to the guide 32. At this time, the items 8 move downward along with the movement of the support 31. Then, the items 8 remain on the bag 10 on the placement surface 311. Moreover, stating from the state, the driver 14 moves the support 31 downward relative to the guide 32, and thereby the bag 10 is gradually pulled into the inner side of the guide 32. At this time, a side peripheral part 103 of the bag 10 which is continuous to the bottom 102 of the bag 10 is drawn into the inner side of the guide section 32 while the side peripheral part 103 is squeezed by the upper end surface of the guide section 32. Thus, the guide section 32 around the support 31 raises the side peripheral part 103 of the bag 10 from the outer periphery of the bottom 102.
When the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide section 32 transitions to the second state as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the bag 10 is, in a space surrounded by the guide section 32, turned inside out from the state shown in FIG. 4A, so that the items 8 are stored in the bag 10. At this time, the side peripheral part 103 is in a raised state along an inner peripheral surface of the guide section 32.
Here, the bagging mechanism 3 is configured such that in the second state, a level difference from the placement surface 311 to the upper end surface of the guide section 32 is larger than or equal to the total length of the bag 10 in the vertical direction. Herein “the total length of the bag 10 in the vertical direction” refers to a total length including a pair of handles 104 of the bag 10, that is, a dimension from the bottom 102 of the bag 10 to tips of the handles 104. Thus, the bag 10 inclusive of the tips of the handles 104 is fit in a space surrounded by the guide section 32. Thus, the bag 10 inclusive of not only the side peripheral part 103 but also the handles 104 is in the raised state.
Next, the driver 14 moves the bottom panel 22 of the basket device 2 to the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 5B. Then, after the basket device 2 is removed from the bagging space 700 above the bagging mechanism 3, the bagging mechanism 3 drives the support 31 by the driver 14 to change the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 from the second state to the first state. The bag 10 is thus released from the space surrounded by the guide 32.
That is, as the support 31 moves upward, the bag 10 on the placement surface 311 goes upward through the opening on a side facing the upper surface of the guide section 32. Moreover, the support 31 moves upward, thereby completely releasing the bag 10 from the space surrounded by the guide section 32 as illustrated in FIG. 5C. At this time, the bag 10 inclusive of the handles 104 maintains an independent position. Moreover, the bag 10 is turned inside out from the state of the bag 10 supplied by the bag feeding device 13 in FIG. 4A so as to store the items 8. Therefore, when characters and the like are printed on the bag 10, mirror printing is preferably adopted to the bag 10. Thus, a customer can receive the items 8 stored in the bag 10.
In the bagging system 1 according to the present embodiment, retrieval (removal) of the basket device 2 from the bagging space 700 is basically performed a customer himself/herself. Specifically, when the discharging of the items 8 from the basket device 2 is completed, the bagging system 1 closes the bottom panel 22 of the basket device 2. Thereafter, for example, the user interface 42 performs notification to prompt the retrieval of the basket device 2. When receiving the notification, the customer moves the basket device 2 which is empty and which is placed in the bagging space 700 to the basket area.
In this embodiment, a basket area for retrieved baskets is preferably defined near the checkout counter separately from the basket area near the entrance of the store. In this way, the customer only have to move the basket device 2 which is empty and which is placed in the bagging space 700 of the checkout counter to the basket area for retrieved baskets defined near the checkout counter, and the customer does not have to move the basket device 2 which is empty to the basket area near the entrance of the store.
Thus, since the customer retrieves the basket device 2 by himself/herself, a device configured to retrieve the basket device 2 is no longer necessary, which simplifies the configuration of the bagging system 1. Moreover, the customer can retrieve the basket device 2 during a series of actions for receiving the items 8, and therefore, even though the retrieval of the basket device 2 is performed by the customer himself/herself, an increase of the labor of the customer is suppressed to a relatively low degree.

(3.3) Switching Operation

Next, an operation relating to switching between performing and not performing the bagging and switching between the bags 10 for the bagging of operations by the bagging system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail.
In the present embodiment, the controller 12 includes at least a no-bagging-priority mode and a bagging-priority mode as operation modes. In other words, the operation modes of the controller 12 include a plurality of operation modes including the no-bagging-priority mode and the bagging-priority mode. The no-bagging-priority mode is an operation mode in which the bagging is not performed when the operation section 422 does not receive a first operation by a user during an operation standby period, and the bagging is performed when the operation section 422 receives the first operation by a user during an operation standby period. On the other hand, the bagging-priority mode is an operation mode in which the bagging is performed when the operation section 422 does not receive a second operation by a user during the operation standby period, and the bagging is not performed when the operation section 422 receives the second operation by a user during the operation standby period.
In sum, the no-bagging-priority mode is an operation mode in which “not performing the bagging” is the default, whereas the bagging-priority mode is an operation mode in which “performing the bagging” is the default. Thus, if the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode, the switching unit 11 selects “not performing the bagging” as the default, and if the first operation is performed on the operation section 422 during the operation standby period, the switching unit 11 switches between performing and not performing the bagging to select “performing the bagging”. On the other hand, if the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode, the switching unit 11 selects “performing the bagging” as the default, and if the second operation is performed on the operation section 422 during the operation standby period, the switching unit 11 switches between performing and not performing the bagging to select “not performing the bagging”. In the present embodiment, as an example, the first operation corresponds to pushing (tapping) of a bagging button B2 (see FIG. 8B), and the second operation corresponds to pushing (tapping) of a skip-bagging button B1 (see FIG. 8A), which will be described in detail later. Note that the first operation and the second operation may be the same operations.
Thus, the controller 12 is configured to switch between selecting “not performing the bagging” with priority and selecting “performing the bagging” with priority based on the operation mode. When the controller 12 operates in the no-bagging-priority mode, “not performing the bagging” is selected with priority, and when the controller 12 operates in the bagging-priority mode, “performing the bagging” is selected with priority.
The controller 12 includes at least the no-bagging-priority mode and the bagging-priority mode as the operation modes and may include three or more types of operation modes. Note that in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the operation mode of the controller 12 includes only the no-bagging-priority mode and the bagging-priority mode.
In this embodiment, the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode when a determination condition which is prescribed is satisfied. The determination condition includes that in the bagging space 700 or in a reading space 701 adjacent to the bagging space 700, item information is read by the special reading device 44 configured to read the respective item information from one or more items 8. That is, depending on whether or not the determination condition is satisfied, the operation mode of the controller 12 is switched, and when the determination condition is satisfied, the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode. On the other hand, if the determination condition is not satisfied, the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode. Thus, in the present embodiment, the operation mode of the controller 12 is switched automatically depending on whether or not the determination condition is satisfied.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the determination condition includes that the special reading device 44 reads item information. Therefore, if the special reading device 44 reads no item information, the determination condition is not satisfied, and the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode. As described above, basically, the special reading device 44 is used to read respective item information, for example, in a case where a customer purchases one or more items 8 without using the basket device 2 and in a case where a customer additionally purchases one or more items 8 after transmission of the respective item information from the basket device 2 to the management device 41. That is, when reading of item information is completed by only the basket device 2, reading of item information by the special reading device 44 is not performed in general, and the determination condition is not satisfied. Thus, the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode.
Moreover, as described above, in the present embodiment, when the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 having been put is placed in the bagging space 700, the bagging mechanism 3 transfers the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2 to the bag 10, thereby performing “bagging”. In this embodiment, the determination condition further includes that the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 have been put is not placed in the bagging space 700.
In sum, in the present embodiment, the determination condition based on which the operation mode of the controller 12 is switched includes that the basket device 2 in which the items 8 having been put is not placed in the bagging space 700. In this embodiment, in general, the respective item information on the one or more items 8 in the basket device 2 is read by the reading device 201 of the basket device 2 and transmitted from the basket device 2 to the management device 41 when the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 have been put is placed in the bagging space 700. Thus, whether or not the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 have been put is placed in the bagging space 700 can be inferred from whether or not the respective item information is read by the reading device 201 of the basket device 2. That is, when reading of the respective item information is performed by the basket device 2, it is inferred that the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 have been put is placed in the bagging space 700, and when reading of the respective item information is not performed by the basket device 2, it is inferred that the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 have been put is not placed in the bagging space 700.
Consequently, in the present embodiment, in a case where the special reading device 44 reads the item information and the reading device 201 of the basket device 2 reads no item information, the determination condition is satisfied, and the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode. On the other hand, in a case where the special reading device 44 reads the item information and the reading device 201 of the basket device 2 reads the item information, the determination condition is not satisfied, and the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode. Thus, in a case where a customer additionally purchases one or more items 8 after transmission of the respective item information from the basket device 2 to the management device 41, the determination condition is not satisfied even when the special reading device 44 is used to read respective item information, and therefore the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode.
With reference to FIGS. 6 to 9B, a specific operation example relating to switching between performing and not performing the bagging and switching between the bags 10 for the bagging of the bagging system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described below.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a series of steps performed by the controller 12 relating to the bagging.
The controller 12 first determines whether or not reading of one or more pieces of item information is performed (S1). Specifically, since one or more pieces of item information are transmitted from the special reading device 44 and the basket device 2 to the management device 41, the controller 12 determines that the reading of the one or more pieces of item information is performed when the management device 41 receives the one or more pieces of item information from the special reading device 44 or the basket device 2. If the reading of the one or more pieces of item information is not performed (S1: No), the controller 12 repeatedly performs the step S1.
If the reading of the reading of the one or more pieces of item information is performed (S1: Yes), the controller 12 determines whether or not the reading of the one or more pieces of item information is performed by the special reading device 44 (S2) in order to determine the determination condition. If the reading of the one or more pieces of item information is performed by the special reading device 44 (S2: Yes), the controller 12 determines whether or not reading of one or more pieces of item information by (the reading device 201 of) the basket device 2 (S3) is performed. If the reading of the one or more pieces of item information by (the reading device 201 of) the basket device 2 is performed (S3: Yes), it is inferred that the basket device 2 in which one or more items 8 having been put is placed in the bagging space 700. Thus, the determination condition is not satisfied, and the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode (S4). Alternatively, if the reading of the one or more pieces of item information is not performed by the special reading device 44 (S2: No), it is clear, without performing the process in S3, that the determination condition is not satisfied. Thus, the controller 12 skips step S3, so that the operation mode is the bagging-priority mode (S4).
When the operation mode becomes the bagging-priority mode, the controller 12 displays the skip-bagging button B1 (see FIG. 8A) in the display 421 of the user interface 42 (S5). Then, the controller 12 determines whether or not the skip-bagging button B1 in the operation section 422 of the user interface 42 is pushed (tapped) during the operation standby period (S6). If the skip-bagging button B1 is not pushed (tapped) during the operation standby period (S6: No), that is, if the operation section 422 does not receive the second operation by the user, the controller 12 causes the switching unit 11 to select “performing the bagging” which is the default in the bagging-priority mode. In this case, after the automatic bag determining process (S10) which will be described later, the bagging mechanism 3 performs the bagging (S11), and the series of steps relating to the bagging by the controller 12 are terminated.
On the other hand, if the reading of the one or more pieces of item information is performed by the special reading device 44 (S2: Yes) and the reading of the one or more pieces of item information by (the reading device 201 of) the basket device 2 is not performed (S3: No), the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode (S7). That is, if the reading of the one or more pieces of item information by (the reading device 201 of) the basket device 2 is not performed (S3: No), it is inferred that the basket device 2 in which the one or more items 8 have been put in is not placed in the bagging space 700. Thus, the determination condition is satisfied, and the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode (S7).
When the operation mode becomes the no-bagging-priority mode, the controller 12 displays the bagging button B2 (see FIG. 8B) in the display 421 of the user interface 42 (S8). Then, the controller 12 determines whether or not the bagging button B2 is pushed (tapped) in the operation section 422 of the user interface 42 during the operation standby period (S9). If the bagging button B2 is not pushed (tapped) during the operation standby period (S9: No), that is, if the operation section 422 does not receive the first operation by a user, the controller 12 causes the switching unit 11 to select “not performing the bagging” which is the default in the no-bagging-priority mode. In this case, the bagging mechanism 3 does not perform bagging (S12), and the series of steps relating to the bagging by the controller 12 are terminated.
Moreover, if, when the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode, the skip-bagging button B1 is pushed (tapped) during the operation standby period (S6: Yes), the controller 12 causes the switching unit 11 to select “not performing the bagging” and proceeds with step S12. That is, when the operation section 422 receives a second operation by a user, the controller 12 controls, as to whether or not the bagging is performed, the switching unit 11 such that “performing the bagging” which is the default in the bagging-priority mode is switched to “not performing the bagging”. On the other hand, if, when the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode, the bagging button B2 is pushed (tapped) during the operation standby period (S9: Yes), the controller 12 causes the switching unit 11 to select “performing the bagging” and proceeds with step S10. That is, when the operation section 422 receives the first operation by a user, the controller 12 controls, as to whether or not the bagging is performed, the switching unit 11 such that “not performing the bagging” which is the default in the no-bagging-priority mode is switched to “performing the bagging”.
In this embodiment, “operation standby period” is a time period from a start time point at which the skip-bagging button B1 (or bagging button B2) is started to be displayed to an end time point at which displaying of the skip-bagging button B1 (or bagging button B2) is terminated. For example, the displaying of the skip-bagging button B1 (or bagging button B2) is terminated in synchrony with starting of the checkout process by the checkout system 5, and in this case, at a time point at which a user (customer) starts the checkout process by the checkout system 5, the operation standby period is terminated. Note that this example should not be construed as limiting. For example, “operation standby period” may be a time of a fixed length (e.g., 10 seconds).
Moreover, in the present embodiment, as described above, when the detection device 43 senses that the basket device 2 is placed in the bagging space 700, the sales system 4 starts communicating with the basket device 2 to acquire the one or more pieces of item information from the basket device 2. Thus, in step S3, it may be determined that the reading of the one or more pieces of item information can be performed by the basket device 2 (S3: Yes) when the detection device 43 senses that the basket device 2 is placed in the bagging space 700.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a series of steps performed by the controller 12 relating to the automatic bag determining process (S10 in FIG. 6).
When the automatic bag determining process is started, the controller 12 first acquires the one or more pieces of item information and master data (S21). The controller 12 acquires the one or more pieces of item information from the management device 41. In the present disclosure, “master data” refers to price data associated with corresponding item information, and data including a size, a weight, and the like of a corresponding item 8 and is stored in the checkout system 5 in the present embodiment. Thus, when acquiring the one or more pieces of item information, the controller 12 acquires respective pieces of master data corresponding to the one or more pieces of item information from the checkout system 5.
The controller 12 further acquires actually measured data (image data and weight data) from the detection device 43 (S22). The image data is data of an image obtained by photographing the bagging space 700 by the camera 431. The weight data is data obtained by measuring the weight of each of one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700 by the weight sensor 432.
Then, the controller 12 computes an evaluation value from the checkout amount, the size, and the weight for each of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged, that is, the one or more items 8 placed in the bagging space 700 (S23). The checkout amount of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged is a value computed from price data acquired in step S21, and respective sizes and weights of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged are values computed from the actually measured data acquired in the step S22. When the size and the weight of each of the one or more items 8 are included in corresponding master data, the respective sizes and weights of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged can be computed from only the one or more pieces of item information and respective master data corresponding thereto without adopting the actually measured data. When the actually measured data is not adopted, the detection device 43 may be omitted. The controller 12 appropriately weights the checkout amount, the sizes, and the weights and computes the evaluation value. That is, “evaluation value” is a numerical value for evaluation reflecting the checkout amount, respective sizes, and the weights of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged. It is assumed that as each of the checkout amount, the size, and the weight increases (becomes larger), the evaluation value becomes larger.
The controller 12 determines, based on the evaluation value computed, whether or not bagging is possible (S24). Specifically, the controller 12 compares the evaluation value computed with a first threshold (S24). The first threshold is a value that defines an upper limit of the volume of the bag 10 and is arbitrarily set. If the evaluation value is larger than or equal to the first threshold (S24: No), the controller 12 determines that it is not possible to put the one or more items 8 in the bag 10. That is, if the number of items 8 is too large or the respective sizes of the one or more items 8 are too large, and thus, the evaluation value reflecting the checkout amount, the respective sizes, and the respective weights of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged is larger than or equal to the first threshold defining the upper limit of the volume of the bag 10, the controller 12 determines that it is not possible to put the one or more items 8 in the bag 10.
When it is determined that it is not possible to put the one or more items 8 in the bag 10, that is, if it is determined that it is not possible to successfully perform the bagging (S24: No), the controller 12 causes the switching unit 11 to select “not performing the bagging” so as to interrupt the bagging by the bagging mechanism 3 and proceeds with step S25. In this case, the controller 12 notifies that the bagging cannot successfully be performed, that is, the bagging is interrupted (S26), and the automatic bag determining process is terminated. The notification at this time is given to at least one of the customer or the clerk and is realized, for example, by the user interface 42 of the sales system 4, the portable terminal 6, or the like. A customer or clerk who receives the notification may perform the bagging by himself/herself or may take a measure such as reducing the number of items 8 and then may resume the bagging by the bagging mechanism 3. On the other hand, if the evaluation value is smaller than the first threshold (S24: Yes), the process proceeds to step S27.
In step S27, the controller 12 compares the evaluation value computed with a second threshold. The second threshold is a value smaller than the first threshold and is arbitrarily set. If the evaluation value is larger than or equal to the second threshold (S27: Yes), the controller 12 determines the type of the bag 10 adopted for the bagging such that the “large” size bag 10A is used (S28), and then the automatic bag determining process is terminated. On the other hand, if the evaluation value is smaller than the second threshold (S27: No), the controller 12 determines the type of the bag 10 adopted for the bagging so that the “small” size bag 10B is used, (S29), and the automatic bag determining processes is terminated.
In sum, the automatic bag determining process is a process of automatically determining the type (here, the size) of the bag 10 adopted for the bagging. The controller 12 performs such an automatic bag determining process, thereby enabling the switching unit 11 to automatically switch between the types of bag 10 for the bagging. If the evaluation value reflecting the checkout amount, respective sizes, respective weights, and the like of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged is a relatively large value (i.e., larger than the second threshold), a relatively large bag 10A is selected, and therefore, it becomes possible to adopt a bag 10 of a suitable type for the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged for the bagging. Moreover, if it is not possible to put the one or more items 8 into neither the bag 10A nor the bag 10B, it may be determined that the bagging is impossible, and the bagging is interrupted, that is, it is possible to determine that the bagging is not performed. An evaluation value (an evaluation value compared with the first threshold) based on which whether or not the bagging is possible is determined may be different from an evaluation value (an evaluation value compared with the second threshold) based on which the type (here, the size) of the bag 10 is determined.
Moreover, the flowcharts in FIGS. 6 and 7 are mere examples of the operation of the bagging system 1, and the order of the processes may be accordingly changed or any of the processes may be omitted accordingly.
A specific example of the operation of the bagging system 1 including switching between performing and not performing the bagging and switching the bags 10 for the bagging will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 9B below.
FIG. 8A shows a state where the basket device 2 in which one or more items 8 (in FIG. 8A, three items 8) have been put is placed in the bagging space 700 in a case where a customer purchases the one or more items 8 by using the basket device 2. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, it is assumed that after transmission of the pieces of item information from the basket device 2 to the management device 41, the customer additionally purchases no item 8, that is, reading of item information is not performed by the special reading device 44.
In the example shown in FIG. 8A, the determination condition is not satisfied, and thus, the operation mode of the controller 12 is bagging-priority mode. Thus, “performing the bagging” is the default, and the skip-bagging button B1 is displayed in the display 421 of the user interface 42. The skip-bagging button B1 is displayed in the on-screen checkout confirmation including, for example, a purchase list. In this state, when a user (customer) expresses his/her intention not to require the bag 10, the user is to tap the skip-bagging button B1 within the operation standby period. On the other hand, if the user does not tap the skip-bagging button B1 within the operation standby period, the switching unit 11 selects “performing the bagging” of performing and not performing the bagging.
If the skip-bagging button B1 is not tapped and “performing the bagging” is selected, the type of the bag 10 to be adopted for the bagging is automatically determined in the automatic bag determining process based on the checkout amount, respective sizes, respective weights, and the like of the one or more items 8 as targets to be bagged. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, there are items 8 (three items 8) as targets to be bagged, and their sizes are relatively large, and therefore, the bag 10A having a “large” size is adopted. Thus, the switching unit 11 causes a bag 10A to be supplied from the bag feeding device 13 to the bagging mechanism 3 (see arrow A1 in FIG. 3), thereby performing the bagging by adopting the bag 10A by the bagging mechanism 3 as illustrated in FIG. 9A. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, the items 8 are released in a state where they are put in the bag 10A having a “large” size.
In contrast, FIG. 8B shows a state where one or more items 8 (in FIG. 8B, one item 8) are directly placed in the bagging space 700 when a customer purchases the one or more items 8 without using the basket device 2. In the example shown in FIG. 8B, it is assumed that the item information of the item 8 has already been read by the special reading device 44.
In the example shown in FIG. 8B, the determination condition is satisfied, and thus, the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode. Thus, “not performing the bagging” is the default, and the bagging button B2 is displayed in the display 421 of the user interface 42. The bagging button B2 is displayed, for example, in an on-screen checkout confirmation including a purchase list. In this state, when a user (customer) expresses his/her intention to require a bag 10, the user is to tap the bagging button B2 within the operation standby period. On the other hand, when the user do not tap the bagging button B2 within the operation standby period, the switching unit 11 selects “not performing the bagging” from performing and not performing the bagging.
When the bagging button B2 is tapped, and “performing the bagging” is selected, the type of the bag 10 to be adopted for the bagging is automatically determined in the automatic bag determining process based on the checkout amount, the size, the weight, and the like of the item 8 as a target to be bagged. In the example shown in FIG. 8B, there is one item 8 as a target to be bagged, and the size of the item 8 is small, and therefore, a bag 10B having a small size is adopted. Thus, the switching unit 11 causes the bag 10B to be supplied from the bag feeding device 13 to the bagging mechanism 3 (see arrow A2 in FIG. 3), thereby performing the bagging by the bagging mechanism 3 by adopting the bag 10B as illustrated in FIG. 9B. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, the item 8 is released in a state in which it is stored in the bag 10B having a small size.
Moreover, in the case of “not performing the bagging”, the bagging system 1 may, but does not have to, perform a process of lowering the item 8 in the bagging space 700 into the counter desk 7. That is, when the bagging system 1 does not perform the bagging, the bagging by the bagging mechanism 3 is not performed, and thus, it is not essential to move the item 8 into the counter desk 7. Note that similarly to the case of “performing the bagging”, also in the case of “not performing the bagging”, the bagging system 1 may perform an up-down process which does not involve bagging and in which the item 8 is once moved into the counter desk 7 and then released again onto the counter desk 7 (bagging space 700) without performing the bagging. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, when the basket device 2 in which the items 8 have been put is placed in the bagging space 700, the up-down process without involving the bagging is performed, so that a customer can easily perform retrieval (removal) of the basket device 2 from the bagging space 700. The up-down process without involving the bagging is realizable, for example, by moving the guide 32 downward together with the support 31 when the support 31 is moved downward (downward movement), and by maintaining the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 in the first state.
As to switching between performing and not performing the bagging, in the case of “not performing the bagging”, the bag 10 is naturally not needed. Thus, any incentive reward (incentive) may be set. Specifically, in the case of “not performing the bagging” in which the bagging is not performed (S12), for example, a price corresponding to the bag 10 may be deducted or a point may be issued to treat a user (customer) with favoritism as compared to the case of “performing the bagging” in which the bagging is executed (S11). In this case, the bagging system 1 is interlocked with the checkout system 5 so that the price deduction or issuance of a point is performed by the checkout system 5 in accordance with performing or not performing the bagging.

(4) Variation

The embodiment is a mere example of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Various modifications are possible depending on design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. Moreover, functions similar to those of the bagging system 1 according to the embodiment may be embodied by a control method, a computer program, a non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program, or the like of the bagging system.
A control method of a bagging system according to one aspect is a control method of a bagging system including a bagging mechanism 3. The bagging mechanism 3 is configured to perform bagging to put one or more items 8 placed in a bagging space 700 into a bag 10. The control method includes switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between the types of bag 10 for the bagging. Moreover, a program according to one aspect is a program which causes a computer system to execute the control method of the bagging system.
Variations of the embodiment will be described below. The variations described below are applicable accordingly in combination.
In the shopping assistance system 100 in the present disclosure, the sales system 4, and the like include respective computer systems. Each computer system includes a processor and memory as hardware as main components. The processor executes a program stored in the memory of each computer system, thereby realizing the function as the shopping assistance system 100 of the present disclosure. The program may be stored in the memory of each computer system in advance, provided via telecommunications network, or provided via a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer system-readable memory card, an optical disc, or a hard disk drive storing the program. The processor of each computer system includes one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). The plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated into a single chip or may be distributed on a plurality of chips. The plurality of chips may be collected in one device or may be distributed in a plurality of devices.
Collecting the plurality of functions in the shopping assistance system 100 in one housing is not an essential configuration for the shopping assistance system 100. The components of the shopping assistance system 100 may be distributed in a plurality of housings. Moreover, at least some functions of the shopping assistance system 100 may be realized by, for example, cloud (cloud computing) or the like. In contrast, in the above-described embodiment, at least some of functions of the shopping assistance system 100 distributed in a plurality of device may be collected in one housing.
Moreover, in the embodiment, the operation mode of the controller 12 is automatically switched depending on whether or not the determination condition is satisfied, but this configuration should not be construed as limiting. The operation mode of the controller 12 may be manually switched in response to, for example, an operation performed by a user. Moreover, it is not an essential configuration for the bagging system 1 that the determination condition includes both that each of one or more pieces of item information is read by the special reading device 44 and that the basket device 2 in which one or more items 8 have been put is not placed in the bagging space 700 as described in the embodiment. For example, the determination condition may include only that each of the one or more pieces of item information is read by the special reading device 44 or may include conditions regarding respective sizes, respective weights, and the like of the one or more items 8.
Similarly, in the embodiment, the controller 12 performs the automatic bag determining process of automatically determining, based on the evaluation value, the type of the bag 10 adopted for the bagging, but this configuration is not an essential configuration for the bagging system 1. For example, the controller 12 may automatically determine the type of the bag 10 adopted for the bagging without referring to the evaluation value, or the types of bag 10 adopted for the bagging may be manually switched by an operation by a user.
Moreover, in the embodiment, if the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode, the skip-bagging button B1 is displayed in the display 421 of the user interface 42, but this configuration is not an essential configuration for the bagging system 1. For example, when the operation mode of the controller 12 is the bagging-priority mode, both the skip-bagging button B1 and the bagging button B2 may be displayed in the display 421. Similarly, when the operation mode of the controller 12 is the no-bagging-priority mode, both the skip-bagging button B1 and the bagging button B2 may be displayed in the display 421.
Switching between the types of bag 10 for the bagging is not limited to the switching between the two types of bags 10A and 10B different from each other in size as in the embodiment. For example, a bag 10 to be adopted for the bagging may be selected from two types of bags 10 which are different from each other, for example, in shape, color, material, indication, or a combination thereof with the size. For example, when a bag 10 made of a heat-resistant material and a bag 10 made of a material which is not heat-resistant are available, and if an item 8 as targets to be bagged is an item 8 such as a packed lunch that requires heating (microwaving), the bag 10 which is heat resistant is selected as a bag 10 for the bagging. Moreover, the number of types of bags 10 is not limited to two, and a bag 10 for the bagging may be selected from three or more types of bags 10.
Moreover, the basket device 2 is not limited to the configuration held by a hand of a customer but may include a basket body 21 integrated with, for example, a cart.
For example, the items 8 are not limited to including food and drinks such as PET-bottled beverage, canned beverage, paper-packed beverage, boxed confectionery, and bagged confectionery but may include articles of daily use such as ball-point pens and other products. Switching between performing and not performing the bagging and switching between the types of bag 10 for the bagging may be performed in accordance with the attribute (food and drinks, articles of daily use, or the like) of the items 8.
Moreover, the application of the bagging system 1 is not limited to application in convenience stores, but the bagging system 1 may be installed in stores other than convenience stores. Moreover, the bagging system 1 may be installed in facilities, such as factories, offices, and delivery centers, other than stores.
Moreover, in the sales system 4, if a contract for the sales process is not concluded, the bagging system 1 does not have to deliver the one or more items 8 to the customer. For example, in a case where an item 8 such as alcohol which is not allowed to be sold to an underage customer, or in a case where a customer cancels the purchase of one or more items 8, the sales system 4 performs a purchase cancellation process. In this case, the one or more items 8 are not delivered to the customer but are returned to the store.
Moreover, the bagging mechanism 3 is at least configured to put the one or more items 8 into the bag 10 and may be configured to put (bag) the one or more items 8 into a bag 10 which is not limited to the shopping bag as described above but which is, for example, a reusable shopping bag, or a net bag.
Moreover, the shopping assistance system 100 does not have to be used together with the sales system 4 which enables purchase of one or more items 8 without operation by a clerk as illustrated in the case of the embodiment. However, the shopping assistance system 100 may be used in a situation in which a clerk is at a checkout counter as in the case of a so-called manned checkout counter.
Moreover, the bag feeding device 13 may be configured to turn inside out the bag 10 and then supply the bag 10 to the bagging mechanism 3. In this case, the bag 10 is turned inside out, is put on the bagging mechanism 3, and is then turned inside out again to store the one or more items 8. Therefore, the initial outer surface of the bag 10 is the outer surface of the bag 10 in which the one or more items 8 are stored. Thus, when characters and like are printed on the bag 10, it is not necessary to adopt bags 10 on which mirror printing has been performed.
Moreover, in the embodiment, the holder 312 of the bagging mechanism 3 clips the bottom 102 of the bag 10 to hold the bottom 102, but this configuration should not be construed as limiting. The holder 312 may be configured to hold the bottom 102 on the placement surface 311 through suction by, for example, a vacuum suction pad.
Moreover, in the embodiment, the driver 14 moves downward only the support 31 of the support 31 and the guide 32 to change the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 from the first state to the second state, but this configuration should not be construed as limiting. That is, the bagging mechanism 3 has to at least change the relative positional relationship between the support 31 and the guide 32 from the first state to the second state, and the bagging mechanism 3 may move both the support 31 and the guide 32 or only the guide 32.

(5) Summary

As described above, a bagging system (1) according to a first aspect includes a bagging mechanism (3), a switching unit (11), and a controller (12). The bagging mechanism (3) is configured to perform bagging to put one or more items (8) placed in a bagging space (700) into a bag (10). The switching unit (11) is configured to switch between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switch between types of bag (10) for the bagging. The controller (12) is configured to control the switching unit (11).
According to this aspect, the controller (12) controls the switching unit (11) to enable switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging. The bagging system (1) switches between performing and not performing the bagging in accordance with, for example, items (8), and it is thus possible to bag only one or more items (8) that have to be bagged, and it is thus possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Moreover, the bagging system (1) switches between the types of bag (10) for the bagging in accordance with, for example, the items (8), and thereby, it is possible to perform the bagging by adopting a bag (10) having a size suitable to the size of the one or more items (8), and it is thus possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Thus, with the bagging system (1), the bagging is automated by the bagging mechanism (3), while it is possible to adopt flexible processing concerning the bagging as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person.
In a bagging system (1) according to a second aspect referring to the first aspect, the controller (12) is configured to control the switching unit (11) based on actually measured data acquired from a detection device (43). The detection device (43) is configured to output at least one of an image or respective weights of the one or more items (8) located in the bagging space (700) as the actually measured data.
According to this aspect, switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging are/is performed based on at least one of the image or the respective weights of the one or more items (8) located in the bagging space (700). Thus, it is possible to suitably switch between performing and not performing the bagging, switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging, and the like in accordance with the one or more items (8) as target to be bagged.
In a bagging system (1) according to a third aspect referring to the first or second aspect, the controller (12) is configured to control the switching unit (11) based on respective item information on the one or more items (8), the respective item information being acquired from an information reading device (201 or 44) configured to read the respective item information from the one or more items (8).
According to this aspect, switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between the types of bag (10) are/is performed based on the respective item information on the one or more items (8). Thus, switching between performing and not performing the bagging, switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging, or the like is appropriately performed in accordance with the one or more items (8) as targets to be bagged.
In the bagging system (1) according to a fourth aspect referring to the third aspect, the controller (12) is configured to control the switching unit (11) based on respective one or more sizes and weights of the one or more items (8) obtained from the respective item information and respective master data corresponding to the one or more items (8). Each of the respective master data contains a size and a weight of a corresponding item (8).
According to this aspect, it is possible to switch between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switch between the types of bag (10) based on the respective sizes and the respective weights of the one or more items (8) without actually measuring the respective sizes and the respective weights of the one or more items (8).
In a bagging system (1) according to a fifth aspect referring to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the switching unit (11) is configured to at least switch between performing and not performing the bagging. The controller (12) has a no-bagging-priority mode as an operation mode. The no-bagging-priority mode is an operation mode in which the bagging is not performed when an operation section (422) does not receive a first operation by a user during an operation standby period, and the bagging is performed when the operation section (422) receives the first operation by the user during the operation standby period.
According to this aspect, in the no-bagging-priority mode, not performing the bagging is the default while it is possible to leave a possibility of performing the bagging by the first operation by a user.
In a bagging system (1) according to a sixth aspect referring to the fifth aspect, the controller (12) further includes a bagging-priority mode as an operation mode. The bagging-priority mode is an operation mode in which the bagging is performed when the operation section (422) does not receive a second operation by the user during the operation standby period, and the bagging is not performed when the operation section (422) receives the second operation by the user during the operation standby period.
According to this aspect, in the bagging-priority mode, performing the bagging is the default, while it is possible to leave a possibility of not performing the bagging by the second operation by a user.
In a bagging system (1) according to a seventh aspect referring to the sixth aspect, the controller (12) is configured to perform control such that the operation mode is the no-bagging-priority mode when a determination condition which is predetermined is satisfied. The determination condition includes that a special reading device (44) configured to read respective item information on the one or more items (8) reads the respective item information from the one or more items (8) in the bagging space (700) or a reading space (701) adjacent to the bagging space (700).
According to this aspect, the operation mode of the controller (12) is automatically switched based on the determination condition. Here, the determination condition includes that the special reading device (44) reads the item information. Therefore, when the special reading device (44) does not read the item information, the determination condition is not satisfied, and the operation mode of the controller (12) does not become the no-bagging-priority mode.
In a bagging system (1) according to an eighth aspect referring to the seventh aspect, the bagging mechanism (3) is configured to, when a basket device (2) in which the one or more items (8) have been put in is placed in the bagging space (700), transfer the one or more items (8) in the basket device (2) into the bag (10) to perform the bagging. The basket device (2) allows the one or more items (8) to be put in. The determination condition further includes that the basket device (2) in which the one or more items (8) have been put is not placed in the bagging space (700).
According to this aspect, the determination condition includes that the basket device (2) in which the one or more items (8) have been put is not placed in the bagging space (700). Thus, when the basket device (2) in which the one or more items (8) have been put is placed in the bagging space (700), the determination condition is not satisfied, and the no-bagging-priority mode is not achieved. Thus, even when the special reading device (44) reads the respective item information, if the basket device (2) in which the one or more items (8) have been put is placed in the bagging space (700), the operation mode of the controller (12) does not become the no-bagging-priority mode.
A bagging system (1) according to a ninth aspect referring to any one of the first to eighth aspects further includes a bag feeding device (13) configured to feed the bag (10) to the bagging mechanism (3). The switching unit (11) is configured to change the bag (10) to be fed from the bag feeding device (13) to the bagging mechanism (3) to switch between the types of bag (10).
This aspect enables switching between the types of bag (10) to be performed by a relatively simple mechanism configured to switch the bag (10) to be fed from the bag feeding device (13) to the bagging mechanism (3).
In a bagging system (1) according to a tenth aspect referring to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the switching unit (11) is configured to at least switch between performing and not performing the bagging. The controller (12) is configured to control the switching unit (11) such that the bagging is not performed when the one or more items (8) are not fit in the bag (10).
According to this aspect, for example, in a case where the number of items (8) is too large or in a case where the respective sizes of the one or more items (8) are too large, and the one or more items (8) are not fit in the bag (10), it is possible to automatically stop the bagging.
In a bagging system (1) according to an eleventh aspect referring to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the bagging mechanism (3) includes a support (31) and a guide (32). The support (31) has a placement surface (311). The guide (32) is disposed around the support (31) along an outer periphery of the placement surface (311). The bagging mechanism (3) changes a relative positional relationship between the support (31) and the guide (32) from a first state to a second state in a state where the one or more items (8) are supported on a bottom (102) of the bag (10) on the placement surface (311) to put the one or more items (8) into the bag (10). The location of the support (31) relative to the guide (32) in the second state is at a lower level than in the first state.
According to this aspect, the bagging mechanism (3) is realizable as a relatively simple mechanism.
In a bagging system (1) according to a twelfth referring to the first to eleventh aspects, the controller (12) is configured to output instruction information to the switching unit (11) to control the switching unit (11).
According to this aspect, the controller (12) is capable of controlling the switching unit (11) even when the controller (12) is apart from the switching unit (11).
In a bagging system (1) according to a thirteenth aspect referring to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the bagging space (700) may allow the items (8) to be placed in. The bagging mechanism (3) is configured to collectively put the items (8) placed in the bagging space (700) into the bag (10).
According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce a time required to put the items (8) individually into the bag (10), as compared to a case where the items (8) are put in the bag (10) one by one.
A shopping assistance system (100) according to a fourteenth aspect includes the bagging system (1) according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects and a sales system (4) configured to perform a checkout process of the one or more items (8).
According to this aspect, it is possible to switch between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switch between types of bag (10) for the bagging. The bagging system (1) switches between performing and not performing the bagging in accordance with, for example, items (8), and thereby, it is possible to bag only one or more items (8) that have to be bagged, and it is thus possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Moreover, the bagging system (1) switches the types of bag (10) for the bagging in accordance with, for example, items (8), and it is thus possible to perform the bagging by adopting a bag (10) having a size suitable to the size of the one or more items (8). Therefore, it is possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Thus, according to shopping assistance system (100), the bagging is automated by the bagging mechanism (3), while it is possible to adopt flexible processing concerning the bagging as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person.
A control method of a bagging system according to a fifteenth aspect is a control method of a bagging system including a bagging mechanism (3). The bagging mechanism (3) is configured to perform bagging to put one or more items (8) placed in a bagging space (700) into a bag (10). The control method includes switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between types of bag (10) for the bagging.
According to this aspect, the switching process enables switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging. Switching between performing and not performing the bagging is performed in accordance with, for example, items (8), and thereby, it is possible to bag only one or more items (8) that have to be bagged, and it is thus possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Moreover, switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging is performed, in accordance with, for example, items (8), and it is thus possible to perform the bagging by adopting a bag (10) having a size suitable to the size of the items (8). Therefore, it is possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Thus, according to the control method of the bagging system, the bagging is automated by the bagging mechanism (3), while it is possible to adopt flexible processing concerning the bagging as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person.
A non-transitory storage medium according to a sixteenth aspect is a non-transitory storage medium in which a program is stored. The program causes a computer system to execute the control method of the bagging system according to the fifteenth aspect.
With this aspect, the switching process enables switching between performing and not performing the bagging and/or switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging. Switching between performing and not performing the bagging is performed in accordance with, for example, items (8), and it is thus possible to bag only one or more items (8) that have to be bagged. Therefore, it is possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Moreover, switching between the types of bag (10) for the bagging is performed, in accordance with, for example, items (8), and it is thus possible to perform the bagging by adopting a bag (10) having a size suitable to the size of the one or more items (8). Therefore, it is possible to adopt flexible processing as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person. Thus, according to the program, the bagging is automated by the bagging mechanism (3) while it is possible to adopt flexible processing concerning the bagging as in a case where the bagging is performed by a person.
The aspect should not be construed as limiting, but various aspects (including variations) of the bagging system (1) according to a first embodiment may be embodied in a control method and a program of the bagging system.
The configurations according to the second to thirteenth aspects are not configurations essential for the bagging system (1) and may accordingly be omitted.

Claims

1. A bagging system, comprising:

a bagging mechanism configured to perform bagging to put one or more items placed in a bagging space into a bag;

a switching unit configured to

switch between performing and not performing the bagging, and/or

switch between types of bag for the bagging; and

a controller configured to control the switching unit.

2. The bagging system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control the switching unit based on actually measured data acquired from a detection device configured to output at least one of an image or respective weights of the one or more items located in the bagging space as the actually measured data.

3. The bagging system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control the switching unit based on respective item information on the one or more items, the respective item information being acquired from an information reading device configured to read the respective item information from the one or more items.

4. The bagging system according to claim 3, wherein

the controller is configured to control the switching unit based on respective one or more sizes and weights of the one or more items obtained from the respective item information and respective master data corresponding to the one or more items, each of the respective master data containing a size and a weight of a corresponding item.

5. The bagging system according to claim 1, wherein

the switching unit is configured to at least switch between performing and not performing the bagging, and

the controller has a no-bagging-priority mode as an operation mode, and in the no-bagging-priority mode, the bagging is not performed when an operation section does not receive a first operation by a user during an operation standby period, and the bagging is performed when the operation section receives the first operation by the user during the operation standby period.

6. The bagging system according to claim 5, wherein

the controller further includes a bagging-priority mode as the operation mode, and in the bagging-priority mode, the bagging is performed when the operation section does not receive a second operation by the user during the operation standby period, and the bagging is not performed when the operation section receives the second operation by the user during the operation standby period.

7. The bagging system according to claim 6, wherein

the controller is configured to perform control such that the operation mode is the no-bagging-priority mode when a determination condition which is predetermined is satisfied, and

the determination condition includes that a specific reading device configured to read respective item information on the one or more items reads the respective item information from the one or more items in the bagging space or a reading space adjacent to the bagging space.

8. The bagging system according to claim 7, wherein

the bagging mechanism is configured to, when a basket device in which the one or more items have been put is placed in the bagging space, transfer the one or more items in the basket device into the bag to perform the bagging, and

the determination condition further includes that the basket device in which the one or more items have been put is not placed in the bagging space.

9. The bagging system according to claim 1, further comprising a bag feeding device configured to feed the bag to the bagging mechanism, wherein

the switching unit is configured to change the bag to be fed from the bag feeding device to the bagging mechanism to switch between the types of bag.

10. A bagging system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control the switching unit such that the bagging is not performed when the one or more items are not fit in the bag.

11. The bagging system according to claim 1, wherein

the bagging mechanism includes

a support having a placement surface and

a guide disposed around the support along an outer periphery of the placement surface, and

the bagging mechanism changes a relative positional relationship between the support and the guide from a first state to a second state in a state where the one or more items are supported on a bottom of the bag on the placement surface to put the one or more items into the bag, a location of the support relative to the guide in the second state being at a lower level than in the first state.

12. The bagging system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to output instruction information to the switching unit to control the switching unit.

13. The bagging system according to claim 1, wherein

the bagging space allows the items to be placed in, and

the bagging mechanism is configured to collectively put the items placed in the bagging space into the bag.

14. A shopping assistance system, comprising:

the bagging system according to claim 1; and

a sales system configured to perform a checkout process of the one or more items.

15. A control method of a bagging system including a bagging mechanism configured to perform bagging to put one or more items placed in a bagging space into a bag, the control method comprising:

switching between performing and not performing the bagging; and/or

switching between types of bag for the bagging.

16. A non-transitory storage medium in which a program is stored, the program causing a computer system to execute the control method of the bagging system according to claim 15.

17. The bagging system according to claim 2 wherein

the controller is configured to control the switching unit based on respective item information on the one or more items acquired from an information reading device configured to read the respective item information from the one or more items.

18. The bagging system according to claim 2 wherein

the switching unit is configured to at least switch between performing and not performing the bagging,

19. The bagging system according to claim 3 wherein

20. The bagging system according to claim 2, further comprising a bag feeding device configured to feed the bag to the bagging mechanism, wherein