Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/02—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by keys or other credit registering devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F9/00—Shop, bar, bank or like counters
  • A47F9/02—Paying counters
  • A47F9/04—Check-out counters, e.g. for self-service stores
  • A47F9/046—Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters
  • A47F9/047—Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
  • A47F9/048—Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant automatically
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01G—WEIGHING
  • G01G19/00—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups
  • G01G19/40—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight
  • G01G19/413—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means
  • G01G19/414—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means using electronic computing means only
  • G01G19/4144—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means using electronic computing means only for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01G—WEIGHING
  • G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
  • G01G23/18—Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
  • G01G23/36—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
  • G01G23/37—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting
  • G01G23/3728—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means
  • G01G23/3735—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means using a digital network
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
  • G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
  • G06Q20/343—Cards including a counter
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
  • G07F7/0618—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by carts
  • G07F7/0636—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by carts in which the trolleys or carts are kept in a restricted zone such as a coral-like enclosure, or are passing a gate before use is possible
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G1/00—Cash registers
  • G07G1/0036—Checkout procedures
  • G07G1/0045—Checkout procedures with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
  • G07G1/0054—Checkout procedures with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B2203/00—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects
  • B62B2203/50—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects comprising weighing means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/0096—Identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency identification [RFID]

Definitions

• the invention relates in general to a mobile purchases collecting device, suitable for being used by a customer in a self-service shop .
• This device is preferably provided with wheels , and can have the commonly known appearance of a shopping cart . Therefore, the invention will hereinafter be explained by way of a discussion of a shopping cart , but it is noted that this is to be understood only by way of example and not to limit the invention .
• the present invention aims to improve the introduction and acceptance of self-service on settlement by providing a system which requires only a relatively small investment from the shop owner, offers much user-comfort to the customer, can easily be combined with staffed checkouts , if desired, and is fraud-proof to a good extent .
• a shopping cart is provided with a scanner and weighing means .
• the barcode of each article is scanned, and the article is weighed in order to compare the measured weight with the expected weight .
• the customer places the article into the shopping cart .
• the customer is ready, he goes with the full shopping cart to a location of settlement , which communicates with the shopping cart in order to be informed of the total of the scanned articles by the shopping cart .
• the settlement location is further provided with a weighing platform for weighing the entire shopping cart with content : this measured weight must correspond to the shopping cart ' s own weight plus the weight of the articles , and thus forms a check for the presence of non-scanned articles .
• the customer can pay, for instance with a PIN-card, and he can leave the shop .
• An important advantage offered by the present invention is that the articles do not have to be taken out of the shopping cart by the customer .
• Swiss patent 684.445 describes a system wherein first a shopping cart is weighed empty, and wherein after shopping the full shopping cart including the articles present therein is weighed again . The weight difference is then the total weight of the articles present in the shopping cart, and must correspond to the sum of the individual weights of the detected articles .
• the sum of the individual weights of the detected articles is always determined as the sum of the weight data from the database, i . e . the sum of the nominal weights .
• the actual weight of each detected article will be almost equal to the corresponding nominal weight, there can always be a small deviation (tolerance) .
• the larger the number of articles the larger the possible deviation between the sum of the weight data from the database used in the calculation and the actual sum of the individual weights of the detected articles then is .
• the known system is inaccurate .
• the actually measured weights are added, in a memory associated with the shopping cart .
• the actual total weight of the detected articles is known much more accurately, and the comparison with the measured net weight of the full shopping cart can take place with larger accuracy.
• the figures IA-C schematically show a side view of a shopping cart
• figure 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the functional parts of a shop system according to the present invention
• figure 3A schematically shows a side view of a shopping cart
• figure 3B is a block diagram schematically illustrating article recognition means
• figure 4 schematically shows a side view of a shopping cart at a settlement location
• figure 5 schematically shows a top view (plan) of a shop system
• figure 6 schematically shows a shopping cart
• figure 7 schematically illustrates a row of shopping carts in a storage
• the figures 8A and 8B are block diagrams illustrating details of a storage and a shopping cart according to the present invention
• figure 9 schematically shows a side view of a shopping cart with integrated weighing cells
• figure 10 schematically shows details of a preferred embodiment of a weighing
• a shop system 1 for a self-service shop (not shown) according to the present invention comprises a number of shopping carts 10 , one of which being shown in figure IA.
• a customer enters the shop, he takes an empty shopping cart 10 standing ready ( figure IA) .
• the system according to the present invention allows that the customer places one or more bags 11 , crates 12 , etc . into the empty shopping cart 10 , as illustrated in figure IB .
• the customer, with the shopping cart 10 and the bags, crates , etc . placed therein goes to a weighing platform 20 ( figure 1C) , where the weight of the shopping cart 10 and the bags , crates etc . placed therein is determined .
• the weight measured here will be indicated as zero-weight GO , and can also be indicated as empty-weight .
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the functional parts of the shopping system 1 according to the present invention .
• a central processor 2 acts as heart of the system 1.
• the system 1 has a cart weight memory, which memorizes the empty-weight GO of the shopping cart 10, in association with an identification of the individual shopping cart concerned .
• the cart weight memory is attached to the shopping cart 10 , and communicates with the weighing platform 20 while weighing, so that the empty weight GO of an individual shopping cart is stored in the cart weight memory of this particular shopping cart .
• there is a central cart memory 3 which is associated with the processor 2 or is integrated therewith .
• the weighing platform 20 communicates with the central processor 2 (or directly with the central cart memory 3 ) , through a signal path 21 which may be wired or wireless .
• the system 1 is provided with cart identification means 30 for identifying individual shopping carts .
• the cart identification means 30 comprise a cart identification member 31, which is arranged on a shopping cart , and a cart identification reader 32 positioned in the vicinity of the weighing platform 20 , designed for receiving identification information from the cart identification member 31.
• the cart identification member 31 is a barcode
• the cart identification reader 32 comprises a barcode reader, for instance a laser scanner, as known per se .
• the cart identification member 31 is an RF-ID transceiver chip, as known per se
• the cart identification reader 32 comprises an RF-ID receiver, as known per se .
• the cart identification means 30 are implemented in such a way that the cart identification member 31 is wirelessly, remotely readable .
• the cart identification reader 32 arranged in the vicinity of the weighing platform 20, communicates with the central memory 3 , through a signal path 33 which may be wired or wireless .
• the central processor is always capable of determining what the empty-weight GO of a certain shopping cart 10 is by consulting the cart weight memory 3.
• the shopping cart 10 is further provided with article recognition means 40 for recognizing individual articles , such as in figure 3A.
• the article recognition means 40 comprise an article weighing platform 41, an article identification reader 42 , and a database memory 46.
• an article 13 can be provided with a barcode 14
• the article identification reader 42 can be a barcode scanner .
• the articles can also be provided with other identification means, for instance RFID-members , in which case the article identification reader 42 is a reader adapted thereto, such as for instance an RFID-reader .
• articles are recognized by means of a camera, for instance a digital colour video camera, which is provided with image recognition software .
• the article identification reader 42 is preferably suitable for reading all kinds of codes occurring in the shop concerned, for instance a barcode scanner with built-in RFID-reader .
• the article identification reader 42 may be a hand-held unit , which is held by the customer .
• the article identification reader 42 can also be a reader fixedly connected to the shopping cart 10. Then, in the case of a barcode reader, the customer will hold the barcode in front of the reader; in the case of an RFID-reader, the customer does not need to perform additional acts , because the RFID-code can be read remotely by the reader .
• the article weighing platform 41 can be fixedly attached to the shopping cart 10. However, it is also possible that the article weighing platform 41 , together with the article identification reader 42 and possibly the memory 43 , is implemented as a separate module . A customer entering the shop can then choose to take a "bare" shopping cart and shop in the conventional way, i . e . pay at a checkout in a conventional manner, but the customer can also choose to take a module and attach it to the cart in order to thus utilize the advantages offered by the present invention .
• Figure 3B illustrates that the article recognition means 40 further comprise a processor 44 , which is coupled to the memory 46 on the one hand, and to the article weighing platform 41 and to the article identification reader 42 on the other hand.
• the article identification reader 42 may be connected to the processor 44 through a fixed connection, but preferably the article identification reader 42 is coupled to the processor 44 through a wireless connection, for instance a BlueTooth-connection .
• the memory 46 is a central memory, but it is preferred that the memory 46 is a memory connected to the shopping cart 10.
• the memory 46 comprises a database DB with article data, as known per se .
• article data comprise the code 14 of an article 13 , the price of this article, and the expected or nominal weight of this article, possibly with a tolerance limit .
• the database can further comprise a text describing the article, for instance "bottle of milk 1 litre" .
• the processor 44 is further provided with a second memory 47 , which will be indicated as purchase memory, and of which the purpose will be explained later .
• the article identification reader 42 is a barcode scanner .
• the customer takes an article 13 , and scans the code 14 with the scanner 42.
• the scanner 42 gives a code signal Sc to the processor 44.
• the weighing platform 41 gives a weight signal Sg to the processor 44 , representing the measured weight G of the article 13.
• the processor 44 receives the read code 14 , and looks up the corresponding article data in the database memory 46, among which the expected weight Ge and an associated tolerance Gt .
• the processor 44 checks whether the measured weight G is in the range between Ge-Gt and Ge+Gt, and if this is the case, the processor 44 approves the article 13.
• this approval is communicated to the customer .
• the individual weight of each article is measured, and checked on the basis of the data in the database, which check takes place on the basis of the identification data .
• the customer takes the article 13 from the weighing platform 41 , and places the article 13 into the shopping cart 10 , it being possible that the customer places the article directly into a bag or crate, as shown .
• the processor 44 writes some article data of the approved article 13 into the purchase memory 47 , particularly the measured weight G .
• FIG 4 illustrates the situation at a location of settlement .
• the system 1 comprises a second weighing platform 50 , suitable for weighing a shopping cart 10 , and a second cart identification reader 35 positioned in the vicinity of the second weighing platform 50 , being part of the cart identification means 30 , and adapted to receive identification information from the cart identification member 31.
• the system 1 further comprises a data receiver 54 positioned in the vicinity of the second weighing platform 50 , adapted to wirelessly receive data from the processor 44 , preferably via Bluetooth .
• the second weighing platform 50 , the second cart identification reader 35 , and the data receiver 54 are coupled to the processor 2 via signal paths 51 , 36, and 55, respectively. These signal paths may be wired, but may also be wireless , which is preferred because then it is easier to arrange the processor 2 at a larger distance .
• Figure 4 illustrates that the customer has driven a shopping cart 10 filled with articles to the location of settlement, where the processor 44 of the shopping cart 10 can transfer data to the central processor 2 via the data receiver 54. These data concern the articles in the cart 10 , in order to make the payment of the articles possible, and in order to print a receipt for the customer with a list of the articles paid and their price . To that end, the shopping cart processor 44 has kept in the purchase memory 47 a purchase list AL of articles purchased by the customer .
• the purchase list exclusively contains the codes 14 of the purchased articles 13.
• the central processor 2 is coupled to a database, and the central processor 2 reads the article data from the database, such as description and price, on the basis of the article codes 14 from the purchase list AL .
• the purchase list AL in the purchase memory 47 already contains , for each article, a textual description and the corresponding individual price, and that these data are transferred to the central processor 2.
• the central processor 2 is now capable to print a receipt by means of a printer 61 arranged at the location of settlement .
• the central processor 2 sends the control signals required for this purpose to the printer 61 through a signal path 62 , which may be wired but which is preferably wireless , for instance a BlueTooth-connection .
• the central processor 2 also has at its disposal the total amount to be paid by the customer, since this is a sum of the individual article prices . It is possible that the central processor 2 calculates this total price on the basis of the article data received from the shopping cart processor 44 , but it is also possible that the shopping cart processor 44 has kept this total price during the scanning of the articles 13 and has stored this total price in the purchase list AL in the purchase memory 47 , in which case the central processor 2 can copy this total price from the shopping cart processor 44.
• the shopping cart processor 44 has , for each article, performed a weight check by comparing the measured weight to the individual article weight from the database .
• the central processor 2 now performs a second check on the basis of the total weight .
• the customer has placed the shopping cart 10 on the second weighing platform 50 , which determines the total weight GT of the shopping cart 10 with the articles 13 and the possible bags 11 and crates 12 , and transfers this total weight GT to the central processor 2.
• the second cart identification reader 35 receives identification information from the cart identification member 31 , and passes on this information to the central processor 2 , which, on the basis of this information, reads the empty-weight GO of this shopping cart 10 from the cart weight memory 3 ( in case the cart weight memory is mounted on the shopping cart 10 itself, the central processor 2 receives this information from the shopping cart ) .
• the sum is made of the actually measured weights of the individual articles .
• the shopping cart processor 44 has stored the individually measured weights G in the purchase memory 47 , and transfers these data to the central processor 2 , so that the central processor 2 performs the summation operation .
• the central processor 2 has information at its disposal indicating how large the weight of the articles in the shopping cart should be, namely ⁇ GS, and information indicating how large the weight of the articles in the shopping cart actually is , namely GN .
• the central processor 2 compares these data with each other, possibly taking a predetermined tolerance into account .
• the central processor 2 blocks the transaction, and gives a message, for instance in the form of a text on a display 63 , a sound signal , a call for a shop assistant, etc .
• the central processor 2 approves the transaction .
• the central processor 2 After approval of the transaction, the central processor 2 shows the total amount to be paid on a display 63 or the like, and allows the customer to pay the total amount, for instance by means of a payment apparatus 64.
• the payment apparatus is preferably suitable for receiving cash money and for processing payment cards, credit cards, etc .
• the payment apparatus is suitable for issuing money, so that the payment apparatus can give change from large notes , or with his payment card, the customer can input a larger amount than the amount to be paid.
• the customer After completing the payment transaction, the customer can leave the location of settlement with his shopping cart 10. It is noted that the customer was not required to take the articles out of the shopping cart, which is an important aspect of the present invention from the point of view of customer-friendliness and user-comfort .
• the customer can now leave the shop with the filled shopping cart, and drive for example to his car, which is parked at a car park situated near the shop . Then, the customer places the bags 11, crates 12 , and possible loose articles 13 from the shopping cart 10 into his car, returns the shopping cart 10 to the shop or to a shopping cart collection location, and can subsequently drive away.
• the weighing and scanning apparatus as well as the processor and memory members , are detachably mounted to the shopping cart , preferably in the form of a module, and that the customer, when he wants to leave the shop with the shopping cart, must hand in those parts (module) .
• Disadvantage hereof is , however, that this requires extra actions , which devalues the user-friendliness , and that it requires special personnel in the shop, which is cost-increasing .
• Figure 5 schematically shows a top view (plan) of a shop system 1001 for a shop 101 with a pavement 102 , a car park 103 and a road 104. With a dotted line 105 , a zone border is indicated, which surrounds a permitted zone 106, which permitted zone 106 comprises the shop 101 and the car park
• the permitted zone 106 is a zone inside which shopping carts may be displaced freely; it is not permitted that customers leave de zone 106 with a shopping cart .
• FIG. 6 schematically shows that a shopping cart 10 is provided with communication apparatus 110.
• This communication apparatus 110 may be accommodated in the module discussed in the preceding, which comprises the weighing platform 41 , but the communication apparatus 110 may also be fixedly connected to the shopping cart 10 , completely independent of such a module . It is even possible that a shopping cart 10 is provided with communication apparatus 110 but not with article recognition means 40 as discussed in the preceding .
• the communication apparatus 110 of the shopping cart 10 can communicate with central communication apparatus 120 which, in the example shown, is positioned inside the shop 101 , but which may also be arranged at another location, if desired .
• the communication apparatus 110 of the shopping cart 10 comprises a transmission part 111
• the central communication apparatus 120 in the shop 101 comprises a central receiving part 122 , which is able to receive signals from the transmission part 111 of the communication apparatus 110 of the shopping cart 10.
• the central receiving part is adapted to monitor the positions of the shopping carts 10. As soon as it is established that a shopping cart 10 leaves the permitted zone 106, the central receiving part 122 initiates an action .
• the zone border 105 is defined by a wire antenna arranged in the ground, and the shopping cart 10 is provided with a detector which detects the passing of the wire antenna/zone border 105, in which case the transmission part 111 of the communication apparatus 110 of the shopping cart 10 generates a transmission signal that is received by the central receiving part 122.
• the cart transmission part 111 does not generate a signal as long as the shopping cart 10 is located inside the permitted zone 106, and only generates a signal on passing the zone border 105. However, in that case, one can not distinguish between a shopping cart which is located inside the zone 106 and a shopping cart of which the communication apparatus 110 is defective .
• the cart transmission part 111 therefore transmits continuously, or with regular intervals , a signal indicating that the communication apparatus 110 still functions and that the shopping cart is inside the zone 106, while an alarming signal differing therefrom is transmitted on crossing the zone border 105.
• the shopping cart 10 is provided with a position determining device, for example a GPS receiver 113 coupled to the transmission part 111 of the communication apparatus 110 of the shopping cart 10. Since the GPS technology is known per se, it is not necessary to extensively describe this technology here . It suffices to note that GPS receivers are capable of calculating the coordinates of the current position of the receiver with a particularly high accuracy . Instead of the standard available GPS receivers , which function on the basis of the reception of time signals transmitted by satellites , it is also possible to use special receivers functioning on the basis of transmitters specially designed and arranged near the zone 106. In the end, it is not necessary to obtain a positioning relative to world coordinates , but a relative positioning relative to a fixed marking point, for example the entrance 101A of the shop 101 , suffices .
• a position determining device for example a GPS receiver 113 coupled to the transmission part 111 of the communication apparatus 110 of the shopping cart 10. Since the GPS technology is known per se, it is not necessary to extensively describe this technology here . It suffices to note
• the central communication apparatus 120 comprises multiple receivers , which are arranged along the zone border 105 , and which receive a signal transmitted by the cart transmission part 111 and send it on to a central processor, which is adapted to calculate the position of the shopping cart 10 on the basis of the timing differences in the various receiving signals .
• the cart transmission part 111 continuously, or with regular intervals , transmits a cart transmission signal to the shop receiver ( s ) 121.
• the central communication apparatus 120 thus continuously, or with regular intervals , has at its disposal information representing the position of the shopping cart 10.
• the central communication apparatus is adapted to calculate the position of the shopping cart 10 and to compare it with data defining the permitted zone 106.
• the central communication apparatus 120 is always capable to establish whether a shopping cart leaves the permitted zone 106.
• the central communication apparatus 120 initiates measures .
• Those measures can be various of character . It is possible that shop personnel of the shop concerned is going to fetch back the shopping cart concerned, or that a call is made to a security company and that personnel of that security company is going to fetch back the shopping cart concerned . In that case, it is advantageous , thanks to the position determining Io means, that it is always possible to indicate precisely where the shopping cart concerned is located.
• the central communication apparatus 120 sends a command to the shopping cart concerned.
• the central communication apparatus 120 comprises a transmission part 121 and the cart communication apparatus
• the shopping cart 110 comprises a receiving part 112. Further, the shopping cart
• the central communication apparatus 120 is provided with a unique identification number, which is announced to the central communication apparatus 120 by the cart communication apparatus 110 , so that the central communication apparatus 120 knows to which shopping cart the command should be sent .
• the shopping cart 10 may be provided with a display 114 , with possibly a flashing light
• the central transmission part 121 can then send a warning command to the shopping cart 10. That command can be received by multiple shopping carts , but the command comprises a code indicating the shopping cart concerned, and only the shopping cart concerned recognizes its own code .
• a message is shown on the display 114 , for example "You are leaving the car park now; this is not permitted, please return" .
• his attention may be drawn by energizing the flashing light 115 and/or the siren 116 or the like . It is also possible that driving further with the shopping cart is counteracted .
• the shopping cart 10 may be provided with a controllable wheel blocking system 117 , that can engage on a single wheel 15 of the shopping cart 10 , as shown, or on multiple wheels .
• the central transmission part 121 can then send a blocking command to the shopping cart 10.
• the wheel blocking system 17 starts to function, which blocks the wheel concerned, so that driving further with the shopping cart 10 is not possible anymore .
• the shopping cart 10 is provided with an input member 118 , for example a keyboard but, because of robustness , preferably a switch to be operated by a key, as illustrated, which input member is coupled to the wheel blocking system 117 in order to cancel the functioning thereof . Because of this , it is possible for personnel, when one arrives at the blocked shopping cart, to cancel the blocking of the wheels so that one can drive the shopping cart back to the permitted zone 106.
• an input member 118 for example a keyboard but, because of robustness , preferably a switch to be operated by a key, as illustrated, which input member is coupled to the wheel blocking system 117 in order to cancel the functioning thereof . Because of this , it is possible for personnel, when one arrives at the blocked shopping cart, to cancel the blocking of the wheels so that one can drive the shopping cart back to the permitted zone 106.
• the shopping cart 10 is then provided with a battery or the like .
• batteries can provide energy to the apparatus to be supplied for a longer or shorter time, but eventually a battery must be charged again . It is particularly unpractical if the individual batteries must be monitored by personnel , and must be individually charged if they run empty . Therefore, the present invention aims at providing a simple and practical system, with which it is possible to ensure that the batteries of shopping carts are always charged as good as possible without the necessity of monitoring personnel .
• the present invention profitably uses the fact that shopping carts are put in a storage after use, where they are pushed into each other and are fixed to each other by means of a locking pin on a chain, which locking pin for releasing a shopping cart for use can only be removed by inserting a deposit coin .
• a battery charging system is integrated in such a storage, an automatic charging is attained without the customers having to perform actions they are not used to . If a shopping cart is not returned to the storage by a customer, usually somebody else will take care of the unattended shopping cart and return it, possibly after use, to the storage, where the deposit coin can be collected by way of reward.
• FIG. 7 schematically shows a row of four shopping carts 1OB to 1OE in a storage 170 , and a new shopping cart 1OA approaching the row in order to be stored .
• Each shopping cart 10 has a locking box 140 attached to its handle as well as a locking pin 142 attached to a chain 141 or cable or the like .
• the locking pin 142B of the rear shopping cart 1OB in the row hangs loose .
• the locking pin 142C of the next shopping cart 1OC is locked in the locking box 140B of the rear shopping cart 1OB . Further, of each shopping cart 10D, 1OE, the corresponding locking pin 142D, 142E is always locked in the locking box 140C, 140D of the cart in front of it , so that all shopping carts are locked to each other .
• the locking pin 142B of the rear shopping cart 1OB is locked in the locking box 140A of the new shopping cart 1OA.
• Such a parking system is commonly known .
• the new shopping cart 1OA has a battery 130 to be charged; also the other shopping carts have such a battery, but that is not shown .
• Figure 8A shows a schematic top view of a storage 170 , no shopping carts being shown .
• the storage 170 has a longitudinal direction which is directed vertically in the figure, and the entry direction for shopping carts is from bottom to top in the figure .
• the storage 170 is provided with a fixed bracket 143 , to which a first chain 151 with a first locking pin 152 is attached, for locking with the locking box 140 of a first shopping cart in the row .
• the storage 170 is further provided with a voltage source 150 , as well as a contact rail 153 directed in the longitudinal direction, which rail is electrically connected to a first pole of the voltage source 150.
• the other pole of the voltage source 150 is electrically connected to the first chain 151 , which is electrically conducting, as is the first locking pin 152.
• Each shopping cart 10 has a slide contact 154 which, when this shopping cart 10 is driven into the storage 170 , makes contact to the contact rail 153.
• this slide contact 154 is only shown for the new shopping cart 1OA in figure 7.
• FIG 8B is a schematic block diagram illustrating that each locking box 140 is provided with an electrical contact bush 145 , which is electrically connected to the corresponding chain 141, which chain 141 is electrically conducting, as is the corresponding locking pin 142. All locking pins 142 , chains 141 , locking boxes 140 and contact bushes 145 thus form an electrically conducting circuit which is connected to the second pole of the voltage source 150.
• FIG 8B further illustrates that the battery 130 of a shopping cart 10 is provided with a charging controller 131 (known per se) , which is electrically connected to the contact bush 145 and to the slide contact 154.
• a charging controller could possibly be integrated into the voltage source 150.
• a dynamo is accommodated in one or more of the wheels of the shopping cart , which dynamo contributes to the charging of the battery while the cart is being driven .
• the invention of performing a check on the total weight of the articles in the collecting device 10 is explained for the example of a shopping cart, that is weighed on a weighing platform 20 or 50.
• the invention can also be implemented with shopping baskets , which are weighed on special weighing platforms .
• each shopping cart is provided with integrated weighing means suitable for weighing the total cart content .
• This aspect of the present invention is based on the insight that, in order to measure the total weight of the articles in a shopping cart, it is not necessary to weigh the entire shopping cart .
• each shopping cart has a lower frame and a basket carried by that lower frame . Between the lower frame and the basket, weight sensors are included . These weight sensors always measure the weight of the basket with the articles present in it; thus , the weight of the lower frame is then not included in the total weight .
• This aspect of the present invention is schematically illustrated in figure 9.
• Figure 9 shows a schematic side view of a shopping cart 200 , with a lower frame 210 and a basket 220 carried by that lower frame 210.
• the lower frame 210 carries the wheels 211 and a handle 212.
• weighing cells 230 are situated between the lower frame 210 and the basket 220 (i . e . : under the basket 220 ) .
• the lower frame 210 and the basket 220 have a rectangular or trapezoid contour in top view, and the weighing cells 230 are arranged at the corners of that contour, so that thus there are four weighing cells 230.
• the full weight of the basket 220 with its content rests on the lower frame 210 via the weighing cells 230.
• figure 10 shows a schematic cross section of a preferred embodiment of a weighing cell 230.
• the lower frame 210 comprises a frame tube 213 with an opening 214 in an upper wall 215 thereof .
• a weighing bridge 231 is arranged in the frame tube 213 , in the form of a beam of which the one end 232 is fixedly attached to the frame tube 213 and of which the other end 233, which is not in contact with the frame tube 213, is situated below the opening 214 ; this end will be indicated as the sensitive end .
• an elastic member 242 is situated, in this example a helical spring, which carries a lay-up platform 240 at its top end, that is provided with an attachment member 241 , in this case a vertical bolt .
• a basket 220 (not shown) is placed on that lay- up platform 240 , and fixed by means of the bolt 241.
• the weighing bridge 231 is provided with bending detectors 234 , for example strain gauges . Since strain gauges are known per se, and the way in which the output signals of strain gauges can be processed are known as well, this needs no further explanation here . It suffices to note that the shopping cart 10 is provided with a processor that receives the measurement data of all weighing bridges , and that is capable to calculate from those measurement data the total weight of the load pressing on the weighing cells . As the weight increases, the helical spring 242 is further impressed, so that the lay-up platform 240 lowers relative to the frame tube 213.
• the weighing cell 230 is provided with a stop protecting the weighing bridge from a too large load.
• the stop may exist in the lay-up platform being provided with a downwardly directed edge which will come to lay against the frame tube .
• the lay- up platform 240 has a circumference wall 250 extending downward around the helical spring 242 , in order to protect the helical spring and the weighing bridge from penetrating of dirt and moist .
• an upwardly directed stop member 260 is attached with, in this example, a top end 261 which is bent over 90° in the direction of the circumference wall 250.
• the circumference wall 250 is provided with an inwardly bent part 251 , situated below the bent top end 261 of the stop member 260.
• the inwardly bent part 251 of the circumference wall 250 can abut the bottom side of the bent top end 261 of the stop member 260.
• an upwardly directed force is exerted on the basket 220 , and thus on the bolt 241 , this force is directly transferred to the frame tube 213 via the parts 251, 261 touching each other and the stop member 260 , so that the weighing bridge 231 is protected from an upwardly directed overload.
• stop member 260 is situated inside the space shielded by the circumference wall 250 , the chance that obj ects or body parts become stuck is largely reduced.
• the mobile article collecting device is formed by the combination of basket and lower frame of a shopping cart .
• the basket of the shopping cart can be considered as the mobile article collecting device which is weighed in the method of claim 1.
• the use of bags etc . in the shopping carts may depend on agreements which the customer makes with the shop owner concerned. It is even possible that the use of the user-friendly shopping carts with self-scan facility is only reserved for customers who have obtained special permission for this from the shop owner concerned, and have obtained a special key for this use . From the description given above, it must be clear that the present invention makes it possible that bags etc . are placed in the shopping cart , but does not make this a requirement .
• two weighing platforms 20 and 50 are mentioned, of which the first weighing platform 20 is used for weighing the shopping cart in "empty" state, and of which the second weighing platform 50 is used for weighing the shopping cart in "full” state . Then, it is the most efficient if the first weighing platform 20 is located at a storage location of empty shopping carts , or at the entrance of the shop concerned, while the second weighing platform 50 is located at a location of settlement . In principle, it is possible that only a single weighing platform is present , which performs both the function of first weighing platform 20 and the function of second weighing platform 50 ; this variation is particularly interesting for relatively small shops . On the other hand, especially in the case of large shops , it is possible that there are multiple weighing platforms with the function of first weighing platform 20 , and that there are multiple weighing platforms with the function of second weighing platform 50.

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• 2005
  • 2005-01-04 NL NL1027947A patent/NL1027947C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2006
  • 2006-01-04 WO PCT/NL2006/000004 patent/WO2006085745A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-01-04 IT IT000006A patent/ITRM20060006A1/it unknown
  • 2006-01-04 DE DE202006000074U patent/DE202006000074U1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2006-01-04 DK DK200600005U patent/DK200600005U3/da not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-01-04 SE SE0600024A patent/SE0600024L/xx unknown
  • 2006-01-04 BE BE2006/0005A patent/BE1016913A6/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-01-04 FR FR0600055A patent/FR2880423A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

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