RETAIL TROLLEY WITH ENHANCED SECURE AUTOMATIC RECORDING FUNCTIONS

Abstract

A secure, large-scale distribution trolley comprising a loading basket (4) fixed to a rolling base (8) by means of a weighing device, and a removable box (20) held on the trolley in a support (14), comprising a device for reading a code marked on the items, a vision system equipped with a camera (36) for viewing the basket (4), having means for performing, by analyzing images using shape recognition of the items, automatic tracking of the movement of the items from the reading of the code until their placement in the basket (4). [Fig 1]

Description

Title of the invention: LARGE-SCALE DISTRIBUTION TROLLEY WITH ENHANCED SECURE AUTOMATIC RECORDING FUNCTIONS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a large distribution trolley comprising enhanced secure automatic registration functions preventing customers from unloading each of their items at the checkout, thus eliminating waiting at the exit. Technological background

[0002] For most customers of large retail outlets, their visit to hypermarkets is spoiled by the unavoidable trip to the checkout. Indeed, the wait is often interminable, and it is tedious to unload their entire shopping cart only to refill it immediately afterwards.

[0003] Supermarkets are well aware of the situation and are trying to respond to it with self-checkouts where customers scan their own purchases.

[0004] We are also starting to see the appearance of certain connected trolleys allowing customers to scan their items when dropping them off, thus avoiding waiting at the checkout.

[0005] However, these trolleys present almost all major drawbacks, such as complicated integration into the retail ecosystem, because these expensive and fragile trolleys must remain inside the store to prevent vandalism and theft, and above all, to be able to recharge, considerably impacting the store's usable space. This also requires customers to leave the store with their shopping bags to leave the trolley inside.

[0006] Another important problem is protection against fraud involving items being placed in the cart without being scanned. To prevent this, a known type of cart, described in particular by document FR-A1-3004688, includes a cage that closes the basket receiving the items. This cage has an entrance equipped with a scanner and a weighing system to confirm the identification of the incoming product. A conveyor belt then transports the items placed in the entrance to two separate storage areas within the cart, according to the type of item. In this way, it is not possible to add items to the cart's cage without going through the identification process, which results in their being invoiced, or to take back an item to exchange it for another of the same weight but at a lower price.

[0007] However, this type of trolley, comprising a cage, a secure entrance, and a conveyor belt for distribution within the trolley, is not very aesthetically pleasing with its cage, and is not very ergonomic, and is complex to achieve with the cage and the treadmill, resulting in significant mass and high costs. General description of the invention

[0008] The present invention is specifically designed to avoid these drawbacks of the prior art.

[0009] For this purpose, it proposes a secure large distribution trolley comprising a basket for loading items fixed on a rolling base by means of a weighing device, and a removable box held on the trolley, comprising a device for reading a code marked on the items, this trolley being remarkable in that the box includes a vision system equipped with a vision camera of the basket, which, by analyzing the images using shape recognition of the items, automatically tracks the movement of the items from the reading of the code until it is placed in the basket.

[0010] One advantage of this trolley is that by retaining a usual architecture of trolleys with an open basket on top, with its reading device which can be fixed on the bar intended to push the trolley, by adding the vision system with its function of tracking the movement of items towards the basket, it is automatically ensured that all scanned items correspond with all items placed in the basket of the trolley and a monitoring system is in place to prevent an exchange, which avoids any possibility of fraud.

[0011] The large distribution trolley according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0012] Advantageously, the housing includes a database of items containing their references and their mass.

[0013] Advantageously, the vision system has means which, by analyzing images, automatically track the movement of the customer's hands between reading the item code and placing it in the basket.

[0014] Advantageously, the cart includes signaling means in the event of a lack of tracking of the movement of the item or of the hands between the reading of the item code and its placement in the basket.

[0015] In this case, advantageously the signaling means include an indicator light that illuminates in several colours.

[0016] Moreover, advantageously the indicator is located on the top of the housing in its fixed position on the carriage.

[0017] Advantageously, the housing has a flat shape fitted into a channel of the support which is inclined at an angle between 30 and 60°.

[0018] Advantageously, the housing includes an electrical connector located on its underside, which automatically connects to a corresponding connector located at the bottom of a housing in the support when it is placed inside.

[0019] In this case, advantageously the electrical connector transmits measurements from the weighing device when the housing is held on the trolley, and a charging current when it is stored in a charging station.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method of using a trolley comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that it includes a step of tracking the movement of the items by the vision system between the reading of its code and its placement in the basket.

[0021] In this case, advantageously the process includes, in parallel with the step of tracking the movement of the articles, a step of tracking the movement of the customer's hands moving the article. Brief description of the figures

[0022] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] is a side view of a large distribution trolley according to the invention comprising a removable housing and a weighing basket;

[0024] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of this trolley showing the detached removable housing;

[0025] [Fig.3] is a top view of this cart;

[0026] [Fig.4] is a front view of this trolley showing the upper part;

[0027] [Fig.5] is a rear view of this trolley;

[0028] [Fig.6] is a view of the trolley showing the opening of the rear door of the basket;

[0029] [Fig.7] is a rear view of the trolley showing the basket weighing system contents in the cage of this cart;

[0030] [Fig.8] is a rear view of the removable housing fixed to the trolley;

[0031] [Fig.9] is a front view of the removable housing fixed to the trolley;

[0032] [Fig. 10] is a rear view of this housing detached from the carriage;

[0033] [Fig. 11] is a front view of the housing;

[0034] [Fig. 12] is a bottom view of the housing;

[0035] [Fig. 13] is a cross-sectional view along a vertical plane of this housing;

[0036] [Fig. 14] is a detailed cross-sectional view passing through the axis of the electrical connector of the case;

[0037] [Fig. 15] is a view of a battery charging station receiving the removable cases from the store;

[0038] [Fig. 16] is a functional diagram of a cart management algorithm.

[0039] Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0040] Figures 1 to 8 show a trolley having a front side AV turned towards the direction of travel, comprising a cage 2 receiving a weighing basket 4 fitted inside, which rests on a chassis 8 by means of weight sensors 6 in order to allow a permanent weighing of this basket with its contents.

[0041] The chassis 8, resting on casters 10, has at its upper part a transverse rear bar 12 allowing a customer to push the trolley. Above this bar is a support 14 having an upper opening 18 forming a trough descending towards the rear at an angle between 30 and 60°, in particular 45°, which receives a removable housing 20 that slides into it in a snug fit. Each side of the support 14 has a lateral reinforcement 16 extending from the top of the support to the end of the trolley's push bar 12.

[0042] The weighing basket 4 conforms to the inner shape of the cage of the trolley 2 with a sufficient recess of about ten millimeters to prevent contact between them during the movement of the basket. The weighing basket 4 rests solely on four sensors 6 fixed to the chassis 8, distributed at the corners to provide stability to the basket, which give the total weight of the loaded basket by adding the measurements from each sensor.

[0043] Alternatively, only three sensors 6 arranged in a triangle can be used, which ensures the stability of the weighing basket 4, or one or two sensors depending on their technology if they are capable of providing this stability while maintaining the necessary measurement accuracy.

[0044] The cage 2 and the weighing basket 4 have a complete rear opening, closed by a rear door 22 fixed by a top pivot so as to allow it to be tilted forward shown [Fig.6] when another trolley enters the basket to fit them together during their storage.

[0045] Figures 9 to 14 show the removable housing 20 comprising a top handle 30 allowing it to be removed from the channel of the support 18.

[0046] The removable housing includes the following main components: inside, a calculation board and a rechargeable battery; on its rear face, a touch screen 32 and an indicator 42 arranged above; in the middle of its front face in the median axis of the trolley, an item code reading scanner 34 which can be of the barcode or QR-code type and a camera 36; on the side, a fan 40 with its air passage grille arranged opposite a corresponding opening in the support 14 to dissipate the heat produced in the housing; and below, an electrical connector 38.

[0047] The flat-shaped housing 20 has a rear face in the support 14, which is inclined at approximately 45° and presents the screen 32 facing the user to facilitate its reading. The indicator 42, which changes from green to red depending on the state of the machine and the validation of the scanned item placed in basket 4, is located in the upper part of the housing 20 on a horizontal face visible regardless of the user's position around the cart in order to allow immediate understanding of whether the chosen item has been validated or not, even if the user is not behind the cart to check the display of their basket on the screen.

[0048] The camera 36 fixed on the inclined front face of the housing 20, has an inclination giving it a viewing angle V allowing it to cover the entire volume of the basket 4.

[0049] The lower electrical connector 38 automatically adjusts to a corresponding connector 44 located at the bottom of the chute 18 to form an automatic connection when the housing 20 is lowered inside, which allows data transfer from the sensors 6 of the weighing basket 4 to the housing.

[0050] The lower electrical connector 38 also allows the battery of the housing 20 to be recharged by placing it in a rack forming a charging station 50 shown [Fig. 15], comprising a set of descending slots, each receiving a housing to automatically connect this connector to a socket at the bottom of the slot. The handle 30 extending forward of the charging station facilitates the removal of the housing 20 for placement in the chute 18 of the trolley support 14.

[0051] The use of the augmented shopping cart according to the invention is shown [Fig. 16]. Upon arrival at the store, the customer retrieves a removable device 20 assigned to them by the charging station 50, and in a first step 60 places it on the support 14 of their cart. In a subsequent step 62, the device 20, which was in standby mode on the charging station 50, then automatically switches to active mode.

[0052] The store customer can then begin shopping by scanning each of their items presented by the customer in front of the code reader 34 of the box 20 in a subsequent step 64, before placing them in the basket 4. The calculation card of the box 20, linked to a database of referenced items 66, identifies them in a subsequent operation 68.

[0053] The computing card also contains an algorithm for processing real-time images delivered by the camera 36 monitoring the entire volume thanks to its tilt, which in a subsequent operation 70 detects the article by recognizing its shape, then in a subsequent operation 72 follows its movement, ensuring that it has been properly placed in the basket 4.

[0054] In an operation carried out in parallel 74 the algorithm performs an image recognition of one or both of the customer's hands to follow their movements accompanying the item going from the code reader 34 to the bottom of the basket 4, which is particularly useful when the hand hides the item in its movement.

[0055] In a subsequent operation 76 the weighing basket 4 immediately detects with its sensors 6 the variation in weight of the complete basket, and transmits this information to the box 20 which will compare it with the item previously identified by reading the code.

[0056] If in step 78 the weight variation matches the mass of the item recorded in the store database 66, then in the following step 80 the item is validated with indicator 42 turning green, and added to the customer's shopping list. The algorithm then returns to the preliminary step 62 with the active mode of waiting for an item to be processed.

[0057] Conversely, if in step 82 the updated weight of basket 4 does not correspond with the last item placed, then in a subsequent step 84 the system malfunctions, and in a subsequent step 86 indicates to the customer by the light 42 turning red and by a message on the screen 32 that he must remove his last item to regain the previously validated state.

[0058] At any time the customer can display on screen 32 the list of each of the items placed in his cart, and see in particular the price of each of his items as well as the total amount of purchases.

[0059] If in the operation of tracking the movement of the article and the hands 72, the algorithm in a subsequent step 88 loses tracking of this article or the hands, it continues to analyze the images to see if in a subsequent step 90 it eventually finds it again, which then leads to the operation 76 of detecting the variation in weight of the basket 4.

[0060] If, on the other hand, in a subsequent step 92, it does not find the lost item, for example if the item or the hands go out of the field of vision of the camera 36, ​​then there is a change of indicator 42 to red signaling the fault, and the display on the screen 32 of the item with its corresponding price for information purposes, without adding it to the customer's purchase list.

[0061] The algorithm does not allow multiple items to be processed at the same time. If the user presents two items simultaneously, the image processing algorithm detects multiple items and the machine malfunctions, with indicator light 42 turning red.

[0062] The detection of articles by reading the code and by recognizing the shape, the tracking of the movement of these articles and the hands accompanying them associated with weighing, makes it possible to prevent the user from placing a low-priced item, even of identical weight, in order to place a higher-priced item in its place.

Claims

Demands

1. A secure distribution trolley comprising a loading basket for items (4) fixed on a rolling base (8) by means of a weighing device (6), and a removable box (20) held on the trolley in a support (14), comprising a reading device (34) for a code marked on the items, characterized in that the box (20) comprises a vision system equipped with a camera (36) for viewing the basket (4), having means for performing, by means of an analysis of the images using shape recognition of the items, an automatic tracking of the movement of the items from the reading of the code until its placement in the basket (4).

2. Trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (20) comprises a database of items (66) containing their references and their mass.

3. Trolley according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vision system has means which, by analyzing images, automatically track the movement of the customer's hands between reading the item code and placing it in the basket (4).

4. Trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes means for signaling when there is no tracking of the movement of the article or of the hands between the reading of the code of the article and its placement in the basket (4).

5. Trolley according to claim 4, characterized in that the signaling means comprise a light (42) that lights up in several colours.

6. Trolley according to claim 5, characterized in that the indicator (42) is disposed on top of the housing (20) in its fixed position on the trolley.

7. Trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (20) has a flat shape fitted into a channel (18) of the support (14) which is inclined at an angle between 30 and 60°.

8. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (20) comprises an electrical connector (38) disposed on its underside, which plugs in automatically on a corresponding connector (44) located at the bottom of a housing in the support (14) when it is placed in it.

9. Trolley according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical connector (38) transmits measurements from the weighing device (6) when the housing (20) is held on the trolley, and a charging current when it is stored in a charging station (50).

10. A method of using a trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a step of tracking the movement of the articles (72) by the vision system between the reading of its code and its placement in the basket (4).

11. Method of using a trolley according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises, in parallel with the step of tracking the movement of the articles (72), a step of tracking the movement of the customer's hands (74) moving the article.

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