Shopping cart or shopping basket for transporting goods in a supermarket or DIY store and in the surrounding area of ​​the supermarket or DIY store, as well as a supermarket or DIY store building equipped for such a shopping cart or shopping basket

Abstract

Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket for transporting goods (12) in a supermarket or DIY store (14) and in the vicinity of the supermarket or DIY store (14), comprising - a receiving basket (20) in which goods (12) offered in the supermarket or DIY store (14) can be placed, - a detection unit (22) with which the goods (12) to be placed in the receiving basket (20) can be detected, and - a display unit (28) with which information regarding the goods (12) detected by the detection unit (22) can be displayed, wherein the receiving basket (20) - a first receiving section (32) for receiving the detected goods (12) and - a second receiving section (34) for receiving the non-detectable goods (12) which - are separated from one another by means of a separating section (35), characterized in that the display unit (28) has an alarm unit (38) which emits an alarm signal only in the event that an undetectable item is placed in the first receiving section (32).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a shopping cart or shopping basket for transporting goods in a supermarket or hardware store and in the vicinity of the supermarket or hardware store. Furthermore, the invention relates to a supermarket or hardware store building equipped for such a shopping cart or shopping basket.

[0002] The typical shopping process in a supermarket or hardware store essentially proceeds as follows: Upon entering, a customer takes a shopping cart or basket provided by the supermarket or hardware store. The customer then walks through the supermarket or hardware store, taking the items they wish to purchase from a shelf and placing them in the shopping cart or basket. Once the customer has placed all of the items they wish to purchase in the shopping cart or basket, they proceed to the checkout, where they remove the items from the shopping cart or basket and place them on a checkout belt. The items are recorded and billed by a supermarket or hardware store employee. The customer receives a receipt and can pay the amount due either in cash or electronically, for example using an EC card, credit card, or smartphone.During or after the checkout process, the customer removes the items from the checkout belt and places them back in the shopping cart or basket. The customer then transports the items to their vehicle and places them in the trunk. Finally, the customer returns the shopping cart or basket to the location where they left it at the beginning of the shopping process.

[0003] Based on the above description, it's immediately apparent that items are placed in and removed from the shopping cart or basket several times during the shopping process. This results in significant time losses. Furthermore, the supermarket or hardware store must assign at least one employee to operate the checkout, which incurs corresponding costs.

[0004] To reduce the number of employees, self-service checkouts are increasingly being installed, where customers can take items from their shopping cart or basket and register them. The self-service checkout automatically generates a receipt after the customer has signaled that all the items they wish to purchase have been registered. They can then pay the amount due using the method described above.

[0005] Self-service checkouts allow supermarket or hardware store operators to reduce the number of employees required to operate the checkouts, thereby saving costs. However, self-service checkouts offer only limited benefits for customers, as they still have to remove items from their shopping cart or basket to register them, and then return them to the basket after registering. DE 10 2011 009 382 B4 and WO 2018 / 002864 A2 disclose that customers can register the items they wish to purchase as they remove them from the shelf and then place them in their shopping cart or basket. Because the items are registered or recorded directly upon removal from the shelf, this step no longer needs to be performed at the checkout.Instead, a receipt can be generated after completing the purchase, and the amount due can be paid. Consequently, it is no longer necessary to remove the items from the shopping basket or cart, place them on the checkout belt, register or record them, and then return them to the shopping cart or basket. This allows the supermarket or hardware store in question to do away with cash registers entirely. It is also unnecessary to provide self-service checkouts. The shopping process is made significantly easier for the customer. In particular, the shopping process can be completed in a shorter time.

[0006] However, in order for the shopping process to be carried out in this way, the goods taken by the customer from the shelf can actually be recorded using the recording unit. Typically, goods are provided with a code, such as a barcode or RFID code, which is read using the recording unit, thereby registering the goods in question. However, it is not uncommon for the barcode or RFID code to be damaged, meaning that the goods in question cannot be recorded. According to the recording of goods proposed in DE 10 2011 009 382 B4, an alarm signal is generated if the customer attempts to leave the supermarket or hardware store without the goods being recorded. However, this approach does not necessarily contribute to the acceptance of a supermarket or hardware store that has been set up accordingly.In particular, the customer is suspected of wanting to steal goods without paying for them, even though he only wanted to buy goods that cannot be identified.

[0007] Further shopping carts are disclosed in DE 199 44 153 A1, DE 202 07 599 U1, DE 196 43 122 A1, DE 10 2006 043 523 B3, CN 107 792 128 A, WO 2013 / 155 538 A1, DE 20 2004 020 790 U1 and DE 20 2006 000 074 U1.

[0008] The object of one embodiment of the present invention is therefore to provide a shopping cart or shopping basket with which a shopping process can be continued without further complications even if at least some of the items taken from the shelf by the customer cannot be detected. Furthermore, the object of one embodiment of the invention is to provide a supermarket or DIY store building in which such a shopping cart or shopping basket can be used.

[0009] This object is achieved by the features specified in claims 1 and 9. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0010] One embodiment of the invention relates to a shopping cart or a shopping basket for transporting goods in a supermarket or DIY store and in the surroundings of the supermarket or DIY store, comprising - a basket in which goods offered in the supermarket or hardware store can be placed, - a registration unit with which the goods to be placed in the receiving basket can be registered, and - a display unit with which information regarding the goods recorded by the recording unit can be displayed, wherein the receiving basket - a first receiving section for receiving the detected goods and - have a second receiving section for receiving the non-detectable goods which are separated from one another by means of a separating section.

[0011] The detection unit can be designed like a scanner, so that a code applied to the product, in particular a barcode or an RFID code, can be read. The display unit can be a display permanently mounted on the shopping basket or shopping cart, which is ideally, but not necessarily, touch-sensitive, so that the display unit can also be designed as an input unit. Alternatively, the display unit can also be a customer's smartphone, which can be connected to a correspondingly designed connector for connection to the shopping cart or shopping basket.A wireless interaction between the smartphone and the shopping cart or shopping basket and in particular the detection unit and / or the display unit is also conceivable, whereby the smartphone can also be used as a detection unit, in particular by means of the camera usually integrated into the smartphone.

[0012] The proposed shopping cart or shopping basket comprises a first receiving section and a second receiving section, which are separated from each other by a partition, in particular a partition wall or a partition grid. The first receiving section serves to receive the detectable goods, while the second receiving section serves to receive the non-detectable goods. In the event that one or more items are not detectable, for example, due to an incorrect or damaged barcode or due to the fact that the item is very bulky, the customer can still purchase these items without further ado. They place these items in the second receiving section.When they leave the supermarket or hardware store after completing their shopping, they pay for the unregistered items in the traditional way, for example, at a self-service checkout or at a checkout with a cash register operated by a supermarket or hardware store employee. The customer can pay for the registered items electronically, requiring very little effort. The additional structural effort compared to conventional shopping carts is essentially limited to the divider and a registration unit and is therefore very minimal. Existing shopping carts or shopping baskets can be retrofitted accordingly.

[0013] Even if operating the proposed shopping cart or shopping basket requires at least a self-service checkout or a checkout with a checkout belt, this still creates added value for both the customer and the operator of the supermarket or hardware store in question. Those items that can be scanned can be easily and quickly scanned by the customer themselves and then largely automatically billed, without having to remove the items from the shopping cart or shopping basket for scanning.

[0014] As expected, the number of non-recordable items should be small, ideally zero. Therefore, the need to register non-recordable items at the checkout with a checkout belt or at a self-service checkout may be the exception rather than the rule. In any case, the number of items to be registered at the self-service checkout or checkout with a checkout belt is reduced, significantly reducing the time and effort a customer spends at the checkout or self-service checkout compared to conventional shopping carts or baskets.

[0015] In addition, redundancy is created in the event that the registration unit fails for whatever reason. In this case, shopping can be carried out entirely in the conventional way. Furthermore, customers can still shop in the conventional way if they wish, even if the registration unit is functioning properly. In this respect, the customer is given the choice of how they wish to shop. In addition, automated payment may require the customer to register once with the operator of the supermarket or hardware store in question. However, if a customer has not completed this registration or does not wish to do so, they can still use the shopping cart or shopping basket. Different versions of the shopping cart or shopping basket for registered and unregistered customers are not necessary, but are conceivable.

[0016] According to the invention, the display unit has an alarm unit which emits an alarm signal, in particular in the event that an item of goods which cannot be detected is placed in the first receiving section. The alarm unit can emit an alarm signal, in particular in optical and / or acoustic form. This alerts the customer that they have placed the item which cannot be detected in the first receiving section, although it should have been placed in the second receiving section. In the event that the item can be detected after all, the customer can attempt to detect the item again and, if the detection was successful, place the item in question in the first receiving section. The alarm unit therefore ensures that the shopping cart or shopping basket is used as intended.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, at least one scale for weighing the goods received in the first receiving section is arranged in the first receiving section. For example, information about the goods taken by the customer from the shelf is stored in the recording unit. In order to be able to carry out automatic billing, at least the price of the goods in question must be stored. However, further information about the goods in question can also be stored, for example the name of the goods in question, in order to create a better correlation between the goods in question and the displayed price. The recording unit can also be configured so that it can provide information about the weight of the goods in question.Therefore, when the registration unit registers the goods in question, which are then placed on the scales in the first receiving section, the weight determined by the scales must increase by the value of the weight of the goods in question. This allows a plausibility check to be carried out to determine whether the goods in question are actually the ones that were registered. If, for whatever reason, there is a discrepancy between the weight determined by the scales and the stored weight, the registration process can be aborted and a corresponding notification sent to the customer. Furthermore, this prevents the customer from intentionally or inadvertently placing goods in the first receiving section without having registered them.

[0018] The scales can also be used in the following ways: There are goods that are relatively irregular and / or are mass-produced items. Examples of irregular goods are fruit and vegetables. Mass-produced items can be screws or nails, but also fruit and vegetables. With such goods, it is not reasonably possible to determine the weight of each individual item and / or assign the weight to the corresponding item and label it with a barcode. For such goods, the customer must place the item they wish to purchase on a scale and select the type of item from a display. A corresponding sticker is then generated, which the customer sticks either directly on the item or on a bag. The sticker contains information about the type and weight as well as the price of the item. This information can be read at the checkout and charged accordingly.The scale arranged in the shopping cart or shopping basket according to the invention can be used in the same way, but it is not necessary to generate a sticker. Instead, the corresponding information can be processed directly. For weighing the fruit, vegetables, and / or hardware, an additional scale can also be arranged in the first receiving section. This makes it possible to place these goods directly on the scale, which is not possible if goods already picked up have been placed in the first receiving section, thus blocking direct access to the scale. Although the weight of the scale can still be determined in this case, the goods would have to be placed on the already picked up goods. The additional scale provides a free storage area, which can be specially designed for weighing these goods, for example by means of a wire mesh enclosure.

[0019] In a further developed embodiment, a first cooling and / or warming device for cooling or warming the goods received in the first receiving section can be arranged in the first receiving section. Due to the fact that the proposed shopping cart or the proposed shopping basket has an electrically operated detection unit, a source for providing electrical energy must be provided. This source can also be used to operate the first cooling and / or warming device. In particular, if the customer intends to purchase frozen goods, these can be protected from premature thawing in the first cooling and / or warming device. The customer can therefore remain in the supermarket for an extended period of time after removing the frozen or fresh goods without having to worry that the frozen goods will thaw and possibly be adversely affected.If the customer wants to purchase hot goods from the hot counter, they can store them in the first cooling and / or warming unit. The cooling and / or warming unit can be designed so that the customer can choose whether they want a cooling or warming function. It is also conceivable to divide the first cooling and / or warming unit into a cooling section and a warming section, so that both functions can be combined in a single unit.

[0020] In a further developed embodiment, the first cooling and / or warming device can be permanently connected to the receiving basket. Due to the fact that in this embodiment the first cooling and / or warming device is permanently connected to the receiving basket, it is ensured that the first cooling and / or warming device cannot be easily separated from the shopping cart or shopping basket by the customer. The association between the respective shopping cart or shopping basket and the first cooling and / or warming device is maintained.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the first cooling and / or warming device can be detachably connected to the receiving basket. In this embodiment, the customer can bring the first cooling and / or warming device themselves, which is offered for purchase by the respective supermarket or, for example, issued against a deposit. The shopping cart or shopping basket can have plug connections so that the detachable cooling and / or warming device can be connected to the remaining wiring of the shopping cart or shopping basket and supplied with electrical power simply by inserting it into the first receiving section. In particular, this embodiment enables the customer to take the first cooling and / or warming device home with them, thus eliminating the need to reload the heated or frozen goods.

[0022] In a further embodiment, a second cooling and / or warming device can be arranged in the second receiving section for cooling the goods received in the second receiving section. In this embodiment, the customer can purchase frozen goods or hot goods, in particular, even if these cannot be detected or if the customer prefers to shop in the conventional manner. The second cooling and / or warming device can be constructed essentially the same way as the first cooling and / or warming device.

[0023] A further developed embodiment is characterized in that the second cooling and / or warming device is detachably connectable to the receiving basket. Due to the detachable attachment of the second cooling and / or warming device, the customer can place the second cooling and / or warming device, for example, directly next to the self-service checkout, so that the goods stored in the second cooling and / or warming device are more easily accessible to the customer than if the second cooling and / or warming device were arranged in the shopping cart. In particular, the time the customer has to touch the goods is reduced, thereby minimizing heat transfer from the customer's hands to the goods. This slows down the thawing process of frozen goods.In order to make it more difficult for the second cooling and / or warming device to be deliberately stolen from the shopping cart or shopping basket and to maintain the association of the second cooling and / or warming device with the shopping cart or shopping basket, the second cooling and / or warming device can be attached to the shopping cart or shopping basket with a chain or a wire rope or the like.

[0024] An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a shopping cart or a shopping basket for transporting goods in a supermarket or DIY store and in the surroundings of the supermarket or DIY store, comprising - a basket in which goods offered in the supermarket or hardware store can be placed, - a registration unit with which the goods to be placed in the receiving basket can be registered, and - a display unit with which the goods recorded by the recording unit can be displayed, whereby - the receiving basket has a first receiving section for receiving the detected goods and a second receiving section for receiving the non-detectable goods, wherein - at least one scale for weighing the goods received in the first receiving section is arranged in the first receiving section and - the second receiving section is formed by a cooling and / or warming device.

[0025] In this alternative embodiment of the shopping cart or shopping basket, two receiving sections are also provided, so that the grasped goods can be placed in the first receiving section and the non-graspable goods in the second receiving section. In this embodiment, the second receiving section is formed by a cooling and / or warming device, so that frozen goods, whether graspable or not, can be placed there and the customer has the option of slowing down the thawing process. However, it is then necessary to pay for the frozen goods in the conventional way using checkouts with checkout belts or using self-service checkouts. In this alternative embodiment, even the non-graspable goods, even if they are not frozen goods, must be placed in the cooling and / or warming device, although this does not result in any apparent disadvantage for the goods in question.It may be provided that the cooling and / or warming function can be switched off in this embodiment.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the cooling and / or warming device can be detachably connected to the receiving basket. As already mentioned, the detachable attachment allows the cooling and / or warming device to be positioned in such a way that the goods contained therein, in particular frozen goods, are easily accessible to the customer and the customer only needs to touch the goods for a short period of time.

[0027] A further embodiment is characterized in that the display unit has an alarm unit which emits an alarm signal, in particular in the event that an unregistered item is placed in the first receiving section. The alarm unit can emit an alarm signal, in particular in optical and / or acoustic form. This alerts the customer that they have placed the unregistered item in the first receiving section, although it should have been placed in the second receiving section. In the event that the item can be registered after all, the customer can attempt to register the item again and, if registration was successful, place the item in question in the first receiving section. The alarm unit therefore ensures that the shopping cart or shopping basket is used as intended.

[0028] In another embodiment, the shopping cart or shopping basket can be stackable. This stackability allows for a large number of shopping carts or shopping baskets to be stored within a small footprint. While shopping baskets are usually stacked vertically, shopping carts are typically stacked horizontally.

[0029] A further developed embodiment is characterized in that the shopping cart or shopping basket has a locking device with which the shopping cart or shopping basket can be locked to an adjacent and stacked shopping cart or shopping basket, wherein the locking device can be unlocked electronically. Typically, the locking device is used to ensure that the stacked shopping carts or shopping baskets can only be removed against a deposit, for example, a 1-euro coin. However, the commonly used locking devices can also be opened with a virtually worthless chip. This undermines the idea of ​​encouraging the customer to return the shopping cart or shopping basket to the stack based on the deposit left behind.In this embodiment, however, the locking device is not unlocked with a chip or coin, and thus mechanically, but electronically, requiring a mobile electronic component. This electronic component can be a smartphone or a credit card. Unlocking can be performed in such a way that the customer who performed the unlocking can be identified. If the customer in question does not return the shopping cart or shopping basket to the stack after a certain period of time, this customer can be identified accordingly and notified via a message.

[0030] According to a further embodiment, the recorded goods are payable using a payment information carrier. Depending on the design of the shopping cart or shopping basket, payment can be made automatically by the customer bringing the shopping cart or shopping basket into the access area of ​​the supermarket or hardware store, which can be defined, for example, using geofencing. However, this requires that the supermarket or hardware store be set up in such a way that the position of the shopping cart or shopping basket can be recorded. In this embodiment, the customer can make payments regardless of the position of the shopping cart or shopping basket within the supermarket or hardware store by activating the display unit and the payment information carrier accordingly. The payment information carrier can be a smartphone or a credit card, for example.

[0031] An embodiment of the invention relates to a supermarket or DIY store building of a supermarket or DIY store, comprising - a wall enclosing an interior space, - an access area through which a shopping trolley or a shopping basket according to one of the preceding claims can be introduced into and removed from the interior, - a data processing facility in which information regarding the goods offered in the supermarket or DIY store is stored, and - a communication device with which the data processor can exchange information regarding the goods offered in the supermarket or DIY store with the shopping cart or shopping basket.

[0032] For the purposes of this description, the term "supermarket or hardware store" should also be understood to include areas beyond the building itself, in particular parking lots, external storage areas, and outdoor areas. The term "supermarket or hardware store" should also be understood to include the service of offering goods. A wall can be a traditional house wall, but also a fence, a wall, or the like. The interior does not have to be enclosed in all directions, as is often the case with the outdoor areas of hardware stores, where goods are offered in the open air but surrounded by a fence.

[0033] The technical effects and advantages that can be achieved with the proposed supermarket or DIY store building correspond to those discussed for the present shopping carts or baskets. In summary, it should be noted that the shopping process can be largely automated, thereby shortening the shopping process and reducing the personnel costs for the operator of the supermarket or DIY store in question. In particular, it is no longer necessary for the customer to remove and replace the goods once they have registered and placed in the shopping cart or basket to pay. In many cases, DIY stores or supermarkets provide a Wi-Fi network that can be used as a communication device for exchanging information. Consequently, no significant additional investment is required for the operator of the supermarket or DIY store.The structural changes required on the shopping cart or basket are essentially limited to the registration unit and the divider, so existing shopping carts or baskets can be retrofitted without significant expense. The associated investments are limited, particularly considering the achievable savings in personnel costs, the added value for the customer, and the associated expected increase in sales.

[0034] According to the invention, the supermarket or hardware store has at least one additional scale in the access area for determining the weight of the shopping cart or shopping basket. The additional scale arranged in the access area can be used both when entering and leaving the supermarket or hardware store. When entering the supermarket or hardware store, the additional scale can be used to determine the weight of the shopping cart or shopping basket before the customer places any goods in the shopping cart or shopping basket. This is particularly important if the customer brings a basket or other container with them into the shopping cart or shopping basket. When leaving the supermarket or hardware store, it is possible to check whether or not there are any undetectable goods in the second receiving section.If there are items in the second receiving section that cannot be recorded and settled, and these have not yet been recorded and settled at a checkout with a checkout belt or at a self-service checkout, a corresponding message can be generated to the customer that the recording and settlement still need to be completed. Designing the additional scale as a floor scale is particularly useful for determining the weight of the shopping cart.

[0035] A more advanced design requires that the communication device and / or the shopping cart or shopping basket be designed in such a way that the position of the shopping cart or shopping basket can be determined in the supermarket or hardware store. Hardware stores, in particular, sometimes also have outdoor areas. Determining the position of the shopping cart or shopping basket may also be possible there.

[0036] The ability to determine the location of the shopping cart or shopping basket in a supermarket or hardware store enables many functions that provide added value for the customer. For example, billing for the recorded goods can be initiated automatically when the shopping cart or shopping basket is brought into the access area after being moved within the interior. Furthermore, based on the customer's shopping list, which may relate to a meal or a DIY project and is stored on the display unit or their smartphone, a route through the supermarket or hardware store can be shown to them, directing them to the location where the goods they wish to purchase are located. Time-consuming searches for items can thus be avoided.

[0037] In addition, geofencing can be used to define an area that the shopping basket or shopping cart should not leave. This area could roughly correspond to the property boundary of the supermarket or hardware store. If a customer leaves this area with a shopping cart or shopping basket, an alarm signal can be triggered to alert the customer.

[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shopping cart according to the invention based on a basic side view, Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a shopping cart according to the invention in a basic side view, Fig. 3 a third embodiment of a shopping cart according to the invention based on a basic side view, and Fig. 4 a basic plan view of a supermarket or hardware store in which a shopping cart according to the invention can be used.

[0039] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a shopping cart 101 according to the invention in a schematic side view. The invention will be explained in more detail below using a shopping cart 101, although the invention is equally applicable to a shopping basket, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0040] The shopping cart 101 is used to transport goods 12 in a supermarket or hardware store 14 (see Fig. 4) and comprises a chassis 16, to which, for example, three or four wheels 18 are attached, of which at least one wheel 18 is rotatable. A receiving basket 20 is attached to the chassis 16, in which a number of goods 12 offered in the supermarket or DIY store 14 can be placed. Furthermore, the shopping cart 101 comprises a detection unit 22, with which the goods 12, which the customer has taken from a shelf 24 of the supermarket or DIY store (see also Fig. 4). The detection unit 22 operates like a scanner, with the detection of the goods 12 being carried out by reading a code 26 attached to the respective goods 12, in particular a barcode or an RFID code.

[0041] Furthermore, the shopping cart 101 is equipped with a display unit 28, which can be used to display information about the recorded goods 12 to the customer. Such information includes, in particular, information about the type, quantity, and price of the goods 12. For this purpose, the display unit 28 has a display 30, which can be touch-sensitive, so that the display unit 28 can also serve as an input unit.

[0042] The information about the goods 12 offered in the supermarket is stored, for example, in the registration unit 22 or the display unit 28. When the goods 12 are registered, only the type of goods 12 is initially recorded. The goods 12 are then assigned to the stored information.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiments of the shopping cart 101 according to the invention, the detection unit 22 and the display unit 28 are combined into a single assembly that is firmly attached to the chassis 16 of the shopping cart 101. However, it is also possible to use a smartphone belonging to the customer in question as the display unit 28, which can be connected to the detection unit 22 either via a correspondingly designed plug connection arranged on the shopping cart 101 or wirelessly to enable corresponding communication (not shown). Since smartphones typically have a camera, they can also be used as the detection unit 22.

[0044] The receiving basket 20 has a first receiving section 32 and a second receiving section 32, which are separated from each other by a dividing section 35, for example, a partition wall or a dividing grid. The first receiving section 32 serves to receive graspable or grasped goods 12, while the second receiving section 32 serves to receive non-graspable goods 12.

[0045] Below the receiving basket 20, in the area where the wheels 18 are attached to the chassis 16, there are arranged a further first receiving section 32 and a further second receiving section 34, which are separated from each other by a further separating section 35. In addition to increasing the receiving volume, the further first receiving section 32 and the further second receiving section 34 serve to receive bulky, grasped goods 12 and bulky, non-graspable goods 12, respectively.

[0046] A customer pushing a shopping cart 101 through a supermarket or hardware store 14 and wishing to purchase an item 12 stored on a shelf 24 removes the item 12 from the shelf 24 and holds it in front of the detection unit 22 so that the latter can read the code 26 affixed to the item 12. Upon successful detection of this item 12, information about the item 12 is displayed on the display unit 28. The customer thus receives an indication of whether the item 12 has been detected or not. If the item 12 has been detected, the customer places the detected item 12 in the first receiving section 32.In the event that the product 12 cannot be detected, for example because the code 26 is damaged or no readable data about this product 12 is stored in the detection unit 22 or the display unit 28, a corresponding message is output via the display unit 28, informing the customer that the product 12 removed from the shelf 24 cannot be detected. In this case, the customer places the product 12 in the second receiving section 32.

[0047] As soon as the customer has placed all the goods 12 they wish to purchase in the first receiving section 32 or the second receiving section 32, they can, for example, by pressing a corresponding button on the registration unit 22 or the display unit 28, indicate that they now wish to pay for the goods 12 that can be registered or have been registered. Payment can be enabled, for example, by storing a profile of the respective customer in the registration unit 22 or the display unit 28, which profile also includes the customer's bank details. If the customer also wishes to purchase goods 12 that cannot be registered, they pay for them at a self-service checkout 72 or at a checkout 68 with a cash register belt 70 in the usual way.

[0048] Therefore, two separate payment transactions are performed, one for the recorded goods 12 and the other for the non-recordable goods 12. However, it is also possible to combine the two payment transactions into a single transaction. This can be achieved, for example, by transmitting a list of the recorded goods 12 to the cash register 68 with cash register tape 70 or to the self-service checkout 72, which takes this into account during the payment process for the non-recordable goods 12. At the end of the payment process, the recorded goods 12 and the non-recordable goods 12 are listed on a single receipt and paid for together.

[0049] The shopping cart 101 according to the first embodiment is designed to be stackable, so that a large part of it can be placed into another shopping cart 101.

[0050] In Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the shopping cart 102 according to the invention, also based on a schematic side view. The basic structure of the shopping cart 102 according to the second embodiment largely corresponds to the structure of the shopping cart 101 according to the first embodiment, so that only the essential differences will be discussed. A scale 36 is arranged in the first receiving section 32, with which the goods 12 placed in the first receiving section 32 can be weighed. As already mentioned, information regarding the goods 12 offered in the supermarket or hardware store 14 is stored in the receiving unit or the display unit 28. This information also includes an indication of the weight of the respective goods 12.Once the customer has picked up the goods 12 and subsequently placed them in the first receiving section 32, a comparison can be made between the stored weight information and the weight increase registered by the scale 36. This allows a plausibility check to be performed as to whether the picked up goods 12 have actually been placed in the first receiving section 32. If the expected weight of the goods 12 placed in the first receiving section 32 deviates from the measured value of the weight increase, an error message can be issued and the customer can be informed that some of the goods 12 placed in the first receiving section 32 have not been picked up. For this purpose, the shopping cart 102 according to the second embodiment has an alarm unit 38, which in this case emits a visual or acoustic alarm signal.

[0051] Furthermore, a first cooling and / or warming device 40 is arranged in the first receiving section 32, and a second cooling and / or warming device 42 is arranged in the second receiving section 32. Since the detection unit 22 and the display unit 28 require electrical energy to operate, the shopping cart 102 according to the second exemplary embodiment has a storage device 44 for electrical energy. The first cooling and / or warming device 40 and the second cooling and / or warming device 42 can be operated with the electrical energy stored there. The first cooling and / or warming device 40 and the second cooling and / or warming device 42 are used in particular for cooling frozen goods, which can be adversely affected by thawing during a stay in the supermarket or hardware store 14.Both the first cooling and / or warming device 40 and the second cooling and / or warming device 42 are designed so that the customer can choose whether they should cool or heat. A corresponding connection 46 is provided for withdrawing and, in particular, supplying electrical energy from or to the storage device 44. This connection can be standardized and, for example, is similar to the one used for cigarette lighters in vehicles.

[0052] Furthermore, the shopping cart 102 according to the second embodiment is provided with a locking device 48, with which the shopping cart 101 can be connected to other shopping carts 10. The locking device 48 comprises a lock into which a closure element, attached to a chain, of an adjacent shopping cart 10 can be inserted. The locking device 48 is electronically unlockable; for this purpose, the customer must bring an electronic component 50, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a credit card, close to the locking device 48 or the detection unit 22. Alternatively, the customer's smartphone can be used as such an electronic component 50.As soon as communication is established between the locking device 48 and the electronic component 50 and the data stored there is evaluated as positive, the locking device 48 is unlocked.

[0053] In this exemplary embodiment, the credit card can be used not only to unlock the locking device 48, but also to pay the invoice amount due for the detectable or detected goods 12. In this case, the credit card serves as a payment information carrier 52. It is then not necessary to store the bank details in the customer's profile. Alternatively, payment can also be made via a smartphone, which, for example, generates a QR code that refers to the customer's bank details. The QR code can, for example, be read by the detection unit 22, which can initiate the payment (not shown).

[0054] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the shopping cart 103 according to the invention, which differs from the second embodiment only in that the second receiving section 32 is formed by a cooling and / or warming device 54, so that the shopping cart 103 according to this embodiment does not comprise a separating section 35 as such. The shopping cart 103 according to the third embodiment comprises a further second receiving section 34 below the receiving basket 20, where, in particular, bulky, non-graspable goods 12 can be deposited.

[0055] In Fig. 4, a supermarket or DIY store building 56 is shown in a schematic plan view, in which a shopping cart 10 according to one of the previously presented embodiments can be used. The supermarket comprises a wall 57, which encloses an interior space 59. In addition, the supermarket or DIY store 14 comprises an access area 58, in which a number of doors 63 are arranged, through which the shopping cart 10 can be brought into the interior space 59 and removed from the interior space 59. In the access area 58, two further scales 60 are arranged, which, as can be seen from the Fig. 1 to 3, are designed as floor scales 62, so that the weight of the shopping cart 10 can be easily determined both at the beginning and at the end of the shopping trip. Furthermore, the supermarket or DIY store building 56 comprises a data processing device 61 and a communication device 64 with a number of antennas 66. The data processing device 61 does not necessarily have to be arranged in the interior 59 of the supermarket or DIY store building 56; rather, it can also be arranged outside the wall 57 and, in particular, far away, so that several supermarkets or DIY stores 14 can communicate with the data processing device 61. The data processing device 61 serves, in particular, to enter the information relating to the goods 12 on offer and to transmit it to the recording unit 22 and / or to the display unit 28.The communication device 64 is configured to determine the position of a shopping cart 10 within the interior 59 of the supermarket or hardware store 14. The access area 58 can also be defined in a "geofencing" manner.

[0056] The customer entering the supermarket or hardware store 14 removes a shopping cart 10 from a stack by actuating the locking device 48 in the manner described above. After successfully unlocking, the customer brings the shopping cart 10 through the doors 63 into the interior 59 and the access area 58, where they determine the weight of the shopping cart 10, which is not yet loaded with goods 12 offered in the supermarket or hardware store 14. To do so, the customer places their shopping bags and / or the first cooling and / or warming device 40 and / or the second cooling and / or warming device 42 in the receiving basket 20 and then moves the shopping cart 10 onto the additional scale 60. The weight thus determined is assigned to the respective shopping cart 10 and stored in the recording unit 22, the display unit 28, or the data processing device 61.The customer then pushes the shopping cart 10 through the interior space 59 past the shelves 24, from which they take the goods 12 they wish to purchase, register them using the registration unit 22, and place them in the first receiving section 32 if the registration was successful. If the registration was not successful, they place the goods 12 in question in the second receiving section 32. After pushing the shopping cart 10, for example, along the path shown in . Fig.4 has been pushed through the interior space 59 along the path indicated by the dashed arrow P and has returned it to the access area 58, the weight is determined again. As mentioned, depending on the design of the shopping cart 10, it can be equipped with a scale 36 so that a comparison can be made as to whether or not there is any non-receivable goods 12 in the second receiving section 32. In the event that non-receivable goods 12 are placed in the second receiving section 32, the customer receives a notification to register and pay for them either at a checkout 68 with a checkout belt 70 or at a self-service checkout 72. As soon as the shopping cart 10 has been brought into the access area 58, payment for the registered goods 12 can be initiated automatically, so that the customer does not have to take any active action.Alternatively, a message may appear on the display unit 28, asking the customer whether they wish to initiate payment, as they are now back in the access area 58. If they confirm this, the payment is initiated. If the weight has been compared using the additional scale 60 and it has been determined that there is no product 12 in the second receiving section 32, the customer can receive a corresponding message via the display unit 28 that they can now leave the supermarket or hardware store 14. In the event that there are unrecorded products 12 in the second receiving section 32, but the customer nevertheless attempts to leave the supermarket without having recorded and paid for the unrecorded products 12 at the checkout 68 with the checkout belt 70 or the self-service checkout 72, a corresponding alarm signal can be sent out by the alarm unit 38.

[0057] Due to the ability to determine the position of the shopping cart 10 within the supermarket or hardware store building 56, the customer can be shown a route through the supermarket or hardware store 14 based on their shopping list, which, for example, relates to a meal or a DIY project and which the customer can create on an app offered by the supermarket or hardware store 14 and transmit to the display unit 28 via their smartphone. The customer can be guided along the shortest route to the location where the goods 12 to be purchased are located, thus avoiding time-consuming searches for the goods 12. The app can be designed so that a recipe or project can be deduced from the listed goods 12. For example, if the items "wallpaper", "wall paint", and "brush" appear on the shopping list, the app can conclude that a room needs to be renovated.The app can then make further suggestions for products typically required for this purpose, such as wallpaper paste or masking film, which are displayed to the customer on the display unit or their smartphone. If the customer accepts these suggestions, they are then guided to the relevant products.

[0058] In addition, both the customer and the supermarket or hardware store can benefit in the same way from a recipe already stored on the display unit by the supermarket or hardware store or from a kit comprising, for example, the groups “material”, “tools” and “accessories” by directly selecting the product list to the greatest possible extent. List of reference symbols 10 shopping carts 101 - 103 Shopping Carts 12 goods 14 Supermarket or hardware store 16 chassis 18 wheels 20 receiving basket 22 Recording unit 24 shelves 26 Code 28 display unit 30 displays 32 first recording section 34 second recording section 35 Separation section 36 scales 38 Alarm unit 40 first cooling and / or warming device 42 second cooling and / or warming device 44 storage 46 connection 48 Locking device 50 electronic components 52 Payment information carriers 54 Cooling and / or warming device 56 supermarket or hardware store buildings 57 wall 58 Access area 59 Interior 60 additional scales 61 Data processing facility 62 floor scales 63 doors 64 Communication device 66 Antenna 68 Cashier 70 cash register belt 72 self-service checkout P Arrow

Claims

[1] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket for transporting goods (12) in a supermarket or DIY store (14) and in the vicinity of the supermarket or DIY store (14), comprising - a receiving basket (20) in which goods (12) offered in the supermarket or DIY store (14) can be placed, - a detection unit (22) with which the goods (12) to be placed in the receiving basket (20) can be detected, and - a display unit (28) with which information regarding the goods (12) detected by the detection unit (22) can be displayed, wherein the receiving basket (20) - a first receiving section (32) for receiving the detected goods (12) and - a second receiving section (34) for receiving the non-detectable goods (12) which - are separated from each other by a separating section (35), characterized bythat the display unit (28) has an alarm unit (38) which emits an alarm signal only in the event that an undetectable item is placed in the first receiving section (32). [2] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one scale (36) for weighing the goods (12) received in the first receiving section (32) is arranged in the first receiving section (32). [3] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that a first cooling and / or warming device (40) for cooling the goods (12) received in the first receiving section (32) is arranged in the first receiving section (32). [4] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket according to claim 3, characterized by that the first cooling and / or warming device (40) is non-detachably connected to the receiving basket (20). [5] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a second cooling and / or warming device (42) for cooling the goods (12) received in the second receiving section (34) is arranged in the second receiving section (34). [6] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket according to claim 5, characterized by that the second cooling and / or warming device (52) is detachably connectable to the receiving basket (20). [7] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the shopping cart (10) or shopping basket is stackable. [8] Shopping cart (10) or shopping basket according to claim 7, characterized by that the shopping trolley (10) or the shopping basket has a locking device (48) with which the shopping trolley (10) or the shopping basket can be locked to an adjacent and stacked shopping trolley (10) or shopping basket, wherein the locking device (48) can be unlocked electronically. [9] Supermarket or DIY store building (56) of a supermarket or DIY store (14), comprising - a shopping cart (10) or a shopping basket according to one of the preceding claims, - a wall (57) which encloses an interior space (59), - an access area (58) through which the shopping trolley (10) or the shopping basket can be inserted into and removed from the interior (59), - a data processing device (61) in which information regarding the goods (12) offered in the supermarket or DIY store (14) is stored, and - a communication device (64) with which the data processing unit can exchange information regarding the goods (12) offered in the supermarket or DIY store (14) with the shopping trolley (10) or the shopping basket, characterized bythat the supermarket or DIY store (14) has at least one further scale (60) in the access area (58) for determining the weight of the shopping trolley (10) or the shopping basket. [10] Supermarket or DIY store building (56) according to claim 9, characterized by that the communication device (64) and / or the shopping trolley (10) or the shopping basket are designed such that the position of the shopping trolley (10) or the shopping basket in the supermarket or DIY store (14) can be determined.

Images