Shopping cart

Abstract

To provide a shopping cart making it possible to achieve upgrading of security at a low cost.SOLUTION: A shopping cart 100 includes a body frame 1, a placement frame 2, plural basket placement parts that are vertically juxtaposed and connected to the placement frame 2, and a measurement unit 5 that measures a load on the plural basket placement parts. The measurement unit 5 is located between the plural basket placement parts, and bears the placement frame 2 so as to incur a load on the placement frame 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shopping cart.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a shopping cart with improved security by weighing the items put in (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the shopping cart described in Patent Document 1, a weighing unit is provided below the upper placement part, and it monitors whether the items acquired as item data match the items actually stored. However, as the number of purchased items increases, it is not uncommon for users of the shopping cart to place a basket on the lower placement part and continue purchasing items, but the shopping cart described in Cited Document 1 cannot handle such a situation. As a countermeasure, it may be considered to provide a plurality of weighing units for the upper and lower placement parts of the conventional shopping cart and link the weighing operations, but this would be costly.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a shopping cart capable of realizing an improvement in security at low cost.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A shopping cart according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a main body frame, a mounting frame, a plurality of basket mounting portions connected vertically to the mounting frame, and a weighing portion for weighing the loads of the plurality of basket mounting portions. The weighing portion is located between the plurality of basket mounting portions and supports the mounting frame so as to receive the load of the mounting frame.

[0007] The plurality of basket mounting portions include an upper-stage basket mounting portion and a lower-stage basket mounting portion, and the weighing portion may weigh the load applied to the lower-stage basket mounting portion in a state of being fixed to the main body frame.

[0008] The plurality of basket mounting portions include an upper-stage basket mounting portion and a lower-stage basket mounting portion. The mounting frame is rotatable in a direction in which the tip of the lower-stage basket mounting portion rises or in a direction in which the tip of the lower-stage basket mounting portion descends when the shopping cart is viewed from the side. The main body frame may have a stopper portion that abuts against a part of the mounting frame when the mounting frame rotates by a predetermined amount to limit the movement of the mounting frame.

[0009] The main body frame has a lower cross beam provided at a lower position in the main body frame, the stopper portion is the lower cross beam, and the movable range of the mounting frame with respect to the main body frame may be limited by a part of the mounting frame abutting against the lower cross beam.

[0010] The mounting frame connects the plurality of basket mounting portions in a vertically arranged state by a columnar mounting vertical frame that supports the plurality of basket mounting portions in a cantilever state. The mounting vertical frame has a mounting upper frame that supports the upper-stage basket mounting portion, a mounting lower frame that supports the lower-stage basket mounting portion, and a mounting middle frame that connects the mounting upper frame and the mounting lower frame. The mounting upper frame, the mounting lower frame, and the mounting middle frame may each have a different inclination.

[0011] The main body frame may further include an insulator rotatably supported and abutting against the placement frame.

[0012] The plurality of basket placement parts include an upper basket placement part and a lower basket placement part. The weighing part is provided at a position between the upper basket placement part and the lower basket placement part in the vertical direction of the shopping cart. It has a load cell member that supports the placement frame in a cantilever beam shape. The load cell member may be arranged along the center line of the upper basket placement part extending in the front-rear direction of the shopping cart when the shopping cart is viewed from the upper surface side.

[0013] The plurality of basket placement parts include an upper basket placement part and a lower basket placement part. The weighing part is provided at a position between the upper basket placement part and the lower basket placement part in the vertical direction of the shopping cart. It has a load cell member that supports the placement frame in a cantilever beam shape. When the shopping cart is viewed from the side surface, the length in the vertical direction from the fulcrum where the load cell member of the weighing part supports the placement frame to the area where the shopping basket is placed in the upper basket placement part may be shorter than 1 / 3 of the length from the fulcrum to the area where the shopping basket is placed in the lower basket placement part.

[0014] When the foremost part of the area where the shopping basket is placed in the upper basket placement part is defined as the first foremost part and the foremost part of the area where the shopping basket is placed in the lower basket placement part is defined as the second foremost part, the upper basket placement part and the lower basket placement part may be arranged such that the second foremost part is behind the first foremost part.

[0015] The plurality of basket placement parts include an upper basket placement part and a lower basket placement part, and the weighing part is provided at a position between the upper basket placement part and the lower basket placement part in the vertical direction of the shopping cart. It may have a load cell member that supports the placement frame in a cantilever beam shape. The shopping cart may further include a deformation limiting member that restricts the load cell member from deflecting beyond the predetermined amount by contacting another member when the load cell member deflects by a predetermined amount.

Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a shopping cart that can realize an improvement in security at low cost.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a shopping cart according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the following drawings are created for the purpose of explanation, and in some cases, members unnecessary for explanation may not be intentionally shown for clarity. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different figures indicate parts having the same function, and duplicate explanations in each figure are omitted as appropriate. Hereinafter, the forward direction of the shopping cart will be described as the front direction, the backward direction as the rear direction, the right side with respect to the forward direction as the right direction, the left side with respect to the forward direction as the left direction, the vertically upward direction as the upward direction, and the vertically downward direction as the downward direction.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a shopping cart according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the shopping cart according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the shopping cart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] (Overall Configuration) The shopping cart 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention generally includes a main body frame 1, a placement frame 2, an upper basket placement part 3, a lower basket placement part 4, a weighing part 5, wheels 6, and an insulator 7.

[0021] The main body frame 1 and the mounting frame 2 are formed of materials such as pipe materials and profile materials that can constitute the frame. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body frame 1 includes a main body vertical frame 10 and a main body horizontal frame 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the two main body vertical frames 10 are connected by a horizontal handle 15. The main body vertical frame 10 extends in the vertical up-and-down direction.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body vertical frame 10 includes a main body upper frame 11, a main body middle frame 12, and a main body lower frame 13 as its elements. The main body vertical frame 10 composed of the main body upper frame 11, the main body middle frame 12, and the main body lower frame 13 has a substantially S-shaped configuration in a side view as shown in FIG. 2. As an example, the main body upper frame 11, the main body middle frame 12, and the main body lower frame 13 each have a different inclination with respect to the vertical direction. The main body upper frame 11 is inclined in a direction such that it becomes more forward as it goes downward. The main body middle frame 12 is inclined in a direction such that it becomes more backward as it goes downward. In this example, the main body lower frame 13 extends in a substantially vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the two main body middle frames 12 are connected by a middle cross beam 16.

[0023] The mounting frame 2 is neither rigidly joined nor pin-joined to the main body frame 1, and its edge is cut off from the main body frame 1. That is, the mounting frame 2 is not fixedly connected to the main body frame 1. As will be described later, the shopping cart 100 of this embodiment is configured to measure the weight of the mounting frame 2 by the weighing unit 5. The mounting frame 2 is connected to the main body frame 1 via a load cell member (details will be described later) of the weighing unit 5 so that the weight can be measured by the weighing unit 5. The load cell member deforms under the weight of the mounting frame 2. In response to such deformation of the load cell member, the mounting frame 2 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction and the rotational direction shown by the arrow M in FIG. 2 with respect to the main body frame 1.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the placement frame 2 has a horizontal portion 25 and a placement vertical frame 20. The placement vertical frames 20 are connected by the upper horizontal portion 25.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the placement vertical frame 20 includes a placement upper frame 21, a placement middle frame 22, and a placement lower frame 23 as its elements. As shown in FIG. 3, the two placement middle frames 22 are connected by a placement cross beam 24.

[0026] The placement vertical frame 20 composed of the placement upper frame 21, the placement middle frame 22, and the placement lower frame 23 has a substantially S-shaped configuration in a side view as shown in FIG. 2. The placement upper frame 21, the placement middle frame 22, and the placement lower frame 23 each have a different inclination with respect to the vertical direction as an example. The placement upper frame 21 is inclined in a direction such that it becomes more forward as it goes downward. The placement middle frame 22 is inclined in a direction such that it becomes more backward as it goes downward. In this example, the placement lower frame 23 extends in a substantially vertical direction.

[0027] Although it is also possible to form the placement vertical frame 20 with a straight member extending in the vertical direction, for example, in this case, it is necessary to arrange the upper basket placement portion 3 and the lower basket placement portion 4 on the front side of the cart compared to the configuration of FIG. 2, and the entire cart becomes larger. On the other hand, when the placement vertical frame 20 is formed in a substantially S shape along the shape of the main body vertical frame 10 as in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the shopping cart 100 from becoming larger while ensuring sufficient space for the upper basket placement portion 3 and the lower basket placement portion 4.

[0028] (Anti-bounce structure) In the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment, the handle 15, which is the point of application of the force when operating the shopping cart 100, is located substantially directly above the rear wheels 62. This prevents the front wheels of the shopping cart 100 from lifting up into a wheelie state. The closer the handle 15 is to the front of the rear wheels 62, the more effectively the wheelie state can be suppressed. However, if the handle 15 is arranged to be in front and away from the rear wheels 62, the distance between the position where the customer stands and the rear wheels 62 becomes short. Therefore, the operability when moving the shopping cart 100 is impaired. Thus, in one form, it is preferable that the handle 15 is located substantially directly above or near the rear wheels 62 rather than being provided at a position too far in front of the rear wheels 62. In particular, in the present embodiment, the main body vertical frame 10 is formed in a substantially S shape. Specifically, the handle 15 is located above the main body lower frame 13, and in the portions of the main body upper frame 11 and the main body middle frame 12, the two frames are bent in a "く" shape toward the front of the cart, forming an S shape. With such a configuration, both prevention of the front wheels from lifting up and the operability of the cart are achieved.

[0029] The entire main body frame 1 and the placement frame 2 of the shopping cart 100 are configured such that the center of gravity of the shopping cart 100 is positioned forward. As a result, for example, even if a child puts their foot on a part of the shopping cart 100 (such as the lower cross beam 17 in FIG. 3), it is unlikely that the front of the shopping cart 100 will accidentally bounce up.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 1, the handle 15 is provided with two grips 151 on the left and right. The grips 151 are formed of a material made of a polymer material such as resin or rubber, and are subjected to antifouling treatment and antistatic treatment. The customer holds the two grips 151 and moves the shopping cart 100. Near the center of the handle 15, a terminal holder 153 is provided via a holder arm 152. In the example of Fig. 1, the holder arm 152 is provided at the center of the handle 15, but the handle 15 may be provided not near the center but on the right or left side.

[0031] An information terminal (not shown) is loaded into the terminal holder 153. The information terminal (not shown) loaded into the terminal holder 153 has a display with a touch panel and an optical reading device (camera). The display with a touch panel displays information about products and the like and receives input from the customer. The optical reading device reads the barcode attached to the product. The information terminal performs monitoring by image recognition on the area within the upper basket placement section in a state where it is set in the terminal holder 153. The information terminal performs wireless communication with the shopping cart 100.

[0032] The shopping cart 100 has four wheels 6. Two front wheels 61 are provided below the main body horizontal frame 14. Two rear wheels 62 are provided at the lower ends of the main body lower frame 13. The wheels 6 have brackets that can rotate freely around a vertical axis, for example. The wheels 6 rotate freely with respect to the brackets. By the rotation of the wheels 6, the shopping cart 100 can be moved.

[0033] The upper basket placement section 3 is a part where the shopping basket is placed. The upper basket placement section 3 is supported by the placement upper frame 21. The upper basket placement section 3 is arranged at the upper part of the shopping cart 100.

[0034] The lower basket placement part 4 is a part where a shopping basket can be placed, similar to the upper basket placement part 3. The lower basket placement part 4 is supported by the placement lower frame 23. The lower basket placement part 4 is arranged at the lower part of the shopping cart 100.

[0035] Both the upper basket placement part 3 and the lower basket placement part 4 are rigidly joined or pin - joined to the placement frame 2.

[0036] The main body horizontal frame 14 is a frame arranged at the lower part of the shopping cart 100. The main body horizontal frame 14 is continuous with the main body vertical frame 10 and extends in the front - rear direction. The main body horizontal frame 14 has a collision part 141 and a collided part 142. The collision part 141 is a part located on the front side of the shopping cart 100. The collided part 142 is provided on the rear side of the collision part 141 and extends in the left - right direction.

[0037] (Nesting) Figure 4 is a side view showing a state where the shopping carts in the embodiment of the present invention are nested. The shopping cart 100 has a shape that can connect carts to each other in the front - rear direction. In the so - called nested state where the carts are connected to each other in the front - rear direction, each component (excluding the collision part 141) of one shopping cart 100 - 1 is arranged at an interval without colliding with the other shopping cart 100 - 2.

[0038] In the state where the shopping carts are connected to each other in the front - rear direction, an interval g (see Figure 4) is formed between the weighing part 5 of one shopping cart 100 - 1 and the weighing part 5 of the other shopping cart 100 - 2. Also, the members supporting the weighing part 5 and the members arranged in the vicinity of the weighing part 5 do not contact the other shopping cart. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the weighing parts 5 of the front - rear carts from colliding with each other.

[0039] In addition, in Fig. 4, since the collided part 142 is hidden by the main body horizontal frame 14 and cannot be seen, it is depicted as a perspective view with a dashed line in the illustration. Even when the collision part 141 and the collided part 142 are in contact, the front and rear positions of the collided part 142 are set to such dimensions that the respective weighing parts 5 of the front and rear shopping carts 100 can maintain an interval g.

[0040] In order to realize such nesting, it is a requirement that the weighing part 5 is arranged on the side of the main body frame 1. If the position of the weighing part 5 is arranged on the leading side of the upper basket placement part 3 rather than shown in Fig. 2, the weighing part 5 can become an obstacle when nesting.

[0041] It can also be considered to arrange the weighing part 5 below the lower basket placement part 4, but it becomes difficult for the following reasons. That is, when the weighing part 5 is provided below the lower basket placement part 4, if it is installed closer to the main body frame side, there will be no space for passing the tip of the lower basket placement part 4 that is inserted from the rear during nesting, and nesting cannot be realized. In order to realize nesting, it is necessary to arrange the weighing part 5 on the leading side of the lower basket placement part 4. Although nesting can be realized with the above arrangement, in such a configuration where the weighing part 5 is arranged in the leading side area at the lower stage of the cart, the distance from the weighing part 5 to the upper basket placement part 3 becomes longer. In this case, the amplitude of the upper basket placement part 3 during vibration becomes larger.

[0042] The position of the weighing part 5 is arranged, for example, at a certain distance from both the leading end of the upper basket placement part 3 and the leading end of the lower basket placement part 4. Therefore, it also has the effect that the amplitude during vibration can be made smaller than the above.

[0043] An explanation will be added regarding the advantage of the configuration of the present embodiment for nesting. In the configuration of the present embodiment, since the weighing unit 5 is provided with a structure for preventing overload in the vertical direction, for example, even when a relatively heavy product is thrown into the product basket, breakage of the load cell member is prevented. In the design of the shopping cart 100, with the above idea, it is also conceivable to adopt a structure for preventing overload in the front-rear direction of the weighing unit 5 to avoid collision between the weighing units 5 of the front and rear carts during nesting. However, if a structure for preventing overload is adopted in the front-rear direction of the weighing unit 5, it is assumed that the overlapping amount of the front and rear carts during nesting will be small, resulting in inefficient nesting. Since the space for the shopping cart storage area in the supermarket is limited, there is an advantage that a large number of shopping carts can be parked even in a small space by ensuring a large nesting amount.

[0044] (Configuration of weighing unit) The weighing unit 5 is fixed to a cross beam disposed near the boundary between the upper main body frame 11 and the middle main body frame 12. The weighing unit 5 is indirectly fixed to the main body vertical frame of the main body frame 1. Note that the weighing unit 5 may be directly fixed to the main body vertical frame.

[0045] Inside the housing of the weighing unit 5, a weighing portion including a pressure-sensitive sensor (load cell) as an element is housed. The specific configuration inside the housing will be described later with reference to other drawings. Inside the housing, there are also provided a communication unit (wired, wireless) for communicating with an information terminal not shown, a power supply unit, a battery unit, a power receiving unit for battery charging, and an A / D converter for amplifying and digitizing the analog information output from the load cell.

[0046] When a weighing unit is arranged at the lower part of the cart, as one embodiment, it is assumed that a battery or the like is also arranged at the lower part. In this case, the wiring routing and various connectors will also be arranged below. In such a configuration, there is a risk that the wiring may become disconnected due to unforeseen circumstances or pranks. On the contrary, in this embodiment, since various elements are arranged in the same housing, such a risk is reduced.

[0047] In order to weigh the goods put into the lower placement part, if a weighing unit is also provided in the lower part and a rubber damper mechanism is also provided, the cost will naturally increase. By being able to be used for both upper and lower parts, a configuration can be considered in which the weighing unit in the upper part is moved to the lower part and a column is erected towards the upper part to weigh the goods put into both the upper and lower parts. However, if there is a weighing unit in the lower part, it will block the cart that enters from the rear, so the structure for nesting becomes somewhat more complicated compared to the configuration of this embodiment. In order to be able to nest, it is necessary to arrange the weighing unit in the front of the lower part so as not to block the rear, but in this case, the position where the goods are placed tends to be biased with respect to the weighing part, and in some cases, the measurement error becomes non-negligible.

[0048] In this embodiment, the mounting frame 2 is supported by the rubber damper mechanism at a substantially balanced position of the upper and lower mounting parts. The configuration of this embodiment enables weighing with less error even if the goods input position is biased, and can also nest well.

[0049] The weighing unit 5 is firmly connected to the main body frame 1. The mounting frame 2 is connected in a floating form from the housing by the weighing part of the weighing unit 5. With such a support structure, the edges of the main body frame 1 and the mounting frame 2 are cut off.

[0050] Details will be described later with reference to other drawings. In the configuration of the present embodiment, the mounting frame 2 on which the upper basket mounting portion 3 and the lower basket mounting portion 4 are fixed is configured to move around the connection portion between the mounting frame 2 and the weighing portion 5. By this, the following effects can be obtained.

[0051] That is, during the movement of the shopping cart 100, the shopping cart 100 may collide with other carts, pillars or obstacles in the store, etc. In such a case, a strong impact will also be applied to the goods in the basket. If the upper basket mounting portion 3 and the lower basket mounting portion 4 are fixedly attached to the main body frame 1, the impact force when the shopping cart 100 collides is likely to be transmitted to the upper basket mounting portion 3 and the lower basket mounting portion 4.

[0052] On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the upper and lower mounting portions are separated from the main body frame 1. Therefore, the impact transmitted to the goods can be reduced.

[0053] On the other hand, in the structure of the weighing portion 5 and the mounting frame 2, depending on the member that supports the mounting frame 2, it is assumed that the movable range (deformation range) of the mounting frame 2 with respect to the main body frame 1 will be large. As shown in FIG. 2, when an article is placed on the portion of the mounting frame that protrudes from the weighing portion 5, a rotational moment is generated with the load portion as the force point and the weighing portion 5 as the fulcrum. In the side view of FIG. 2, the entire mounting frame 2 will tilt in the counterclockwise direction (arrow M).

[0054] (Configuration for restricting the movable range) When the mounting frame 2 tilts in the direction of arrow M as described above, in the present embodiment, as an example, a stopper portion is provided on the main body frame 1 so that the range in which the mounting frame 2 moves does not become too large. The stopper portion is a portion that abuts against a part of the mounting frame 2 when the mounting frame 2 rotates by a predetermined amount and restricts the movement of the mounting frame. Specifically, when the mounting frame 2 rotates by a predetermined amount in the direction of arrow M, a part of the mounting frame 2 collides with a part of the main body frame 1.

[0055] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the shopping cart 100 is configured such that the lower mounting frame 23 of the mounting frame 2 collides with the lower cross beam 17 of the main body frame 1. The lower cross beam 17 is a member that connects the two main body lower frames 13. Even if the mounting frame 2 sways or is tried to be moved by pushing with a hand or the like, the lower mounting frame 23 abuts against the lower cross beam 17, and thus it cannot move any further.

[0056] According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained. The load cell included in the weighing unit 5 has a limited measurable range, and may malfunction when a load exceeding this range is applied. Therefore, a mechanism for preventing overload is essential for the load cell. In the present embodiment, due to the above-described configuration, the movable range (deformation range) of the mounting frame 2 is limited. As a result, it is possible to prevent a load exceeding this movable range from being applied to the load cell. Also, large vibrations are limited. Therefore, for example, when the shopping cart 100 collides, it is possible to prevent the goods in the product basket from falling or collapsing.

[0057] (Vibration damping) In the case of a configuration in which the weighing unit 5 supports the mounting frame 2 as in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the mounting frame 2 has a soft movement and the shaking does not easily decay. In this case, it takes time until the weighing value is determined. Therefore, the present embodiment includes an insulator 7 for damping the vibration of the mounting frame 2.

[0058] (Configuration of the insulator) FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the insulator. FIG. 5(a) is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 3 and is a perspective view showing the insulator. FIG. 5(b) is a side view of the insulator. The insulator 7 is disposed between the middle cross beam 16 and the placement cross beam 24. The insulator 7 has a round hole 71 which is the first hole and a long hole 72 which is the second hole. The middle cross beam 16 passes through the round hole 71, and the placement cross beam 24 passes through the long hole 72.

[0059] When an article is loaded onto the placement frame 2 at any position, deformation occurs in the placement frame 2 with the metering unit 5 as the fulcrum according to the loading. Then, the relative positional relationship between the main body frame 1 and the placement frame 2 will be different between the no-load case and the loaded case. During the vibration of the placement frame 2 during product loading, this relative positional relationship always fluctuates.

[0060] As a result of the vibration of the placement frame 2 in this way, in the insulator 7, the middle cross beam 16 and the placement cross beam 24 will repeatedly approach and separate from each other. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the placement cross beam 24 will move up and down within the long hole 72.

[0061] When the insulator 7 receives the fluctuating movement of the placement cross beam 24, a rotational movement about the middle cross beam 16 occurs. Specifically, when the placement frame 2 receives a load and moves in the counterclockwise direction (see FIG. 2), the placement cross beam 24 also moves in the same direction. The insulator 7 rotates and moves in the counterclockwise direction about the middle cross beam 16.

[0062] When the placement frame 2 and the insulator 7 move in the counterclockwise direction, the placement cross beam 24 in the long hole 72 appears to move downward within the long hole 72. While vibration is occurring, due to the reaction of the above-mentioned movement in the counterclockwise direction, movement in the clockwise direction also occurs, resulting in a vibrating state due to the repetition of this movement. When moving in the clockwise direction, the placement cross beam 24 appears to move upward within the long hole 72.

[0063] The mounting cross beam 24 and the long hole 72 are always in contact (friction) not only in the no-load state but also during the up-and-down movement during vibration generation. Therefore, the energy of the vibration motion is consumed by the friction. Accordingly, the time from the start to the convergence of the vibration of the mounting frame 2 can be shortened as compared with the case where the insulator 7 is not provided.

[0064] In the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment, the main body frame 1 and the mounting frame 2 are always in contact with each other via the insulator 7. An appropriate cushioning material is disposed around the mounting cross beam 24. The cushioning material is configured to effectively attenuate the vibration of the mounting frame 2.

[0065] Note that a configuration for restricting the movable range of the mounting frame may be provided by providing a protruding portion facing forward on the middle cross beam 16, using the middle cross beam 16 or the protruding portion instead of, or in addition to, the lower cross beam 17. Further, the shape of the insulator 7 is not limited to this, and it may be not only in contact with two sides of the outer periphery of the mounting cross beam 24 like the long hole 72, but also in contact with only one side with only one sliding contact side provided. Further, although the round hole 71 of the insulator 7 is axially attached to the middle cross beam 16 and the long hole 72 is slidably installed on the mounting cross beam 24, the round hole 71 may be axially attached to the mounting cross beam 24 and the long hole 72 may be slidably installed on the middle cross beam 16. A resin part with high slidability may be provided at the portion where the mounting cross beam 24 and the insulator 7 are in contact. The resin part may have a shape along the inner peripheral surface of the long hole 72, for example.

[0066] (Detection of the weight of the product) The monitoring of the match / mismatch between the product acquired as product data and the product actually contained is based on the mechanism of action that, without being scanned, if the weight value changes when the product is put into the basket, it can be presumed that there is a possibility of fraud. However, an innocent customer may occasionally forget to scan, put the product into the basket, notice it immediately, and rescan. In such a case, it is extremely effective that the vibration of the mounting frame and the basket mounting portion is quickly attenuated and the measurement value is quickly determined.

[0067] (Regarding the support mode of the weighing unit) In the shopping cart according to the embodiment of the present invention, the weighing unit 5 provided is supported by one load cell at a single point for the placement frame 2, so there was the problem of vibration as described above. As a method to solve this, instead of supporting the placement frame at a single point, for example, a method of uniformly supporting four points at the lower end of the lower basket placement part 4 with four load cells can also be adopted. With such four-point support, the vibration problem can be solved, but the insertion space for other shopping carts for nesting becomes insufficient, and only nesting with a shallow overlap can be realized. As a result, the exclusive area of the cart storage area when nesting a plurality of shopping carts increases, causing a problem that the shopping cart becomes inconvenient for the store. Furthermore, since electrical wiring must be provided at the four points, the risk of disconnection (failure) is significantly increased. This increase in risk is not allowed in a shopping cart that must assume an unspecified number of users. As described above, the weighing unit 5 is installed at a position where it measures the weight of the items placed in the upper basket placement part 3 above it and the weight of the items placed in the lower basket placement part 4 below it, thereby solving both the vibration problem and the nesting problem.

[0068] The purpose is to obtain the weight information of the products put into each placement unit. By using this weight information, it is possible to determine whether there is a match or mismatch by comparing the product weight information linked to the product information obtained by imaging the product with the terminal installed in the terminal holder and the weight information obtained by the weighing unit, and to identify whether the product put in is correct. In the case of a mismatch, by notifying or warning the customer and store staff through the terminal screen, unauthorized product input can be suppressed and the profit of the store can be protected. Also, it is not limited to the case of comparing the weight information with the product weight information as described above, and it can also be used simply to monitor the usage status of each placement unit. For example, if the placement unit detects an increase in weight despite no product registration, it can be identified that there has been unauthorized product input or product input forgotten to be registered. The same applies to the reverse case. If the placement unit detects a decrease in weight despite no product deletion operation, it can be identified that the operation of deleting the product from the registration details has been forgotten even though the product has been taken out and returned to the shelf in the sales floor. Thus, since the possibility of fraud can be identified without strictly determining a match or mismatch with the product weight information, the weight information obtained from the weighing unit does not necessarily have to be precise.

[0069] (Regarding the terminal) In the case of the operation of placing the terminal on the terminal holder, there are cases of installing a customer-owned smartphone etc. and cases of installing a dedicated terminal lent out by the store. Since the same application is installed in these, it is possible to walk around the sales floor using the shopping cart and the terminal and proceed with product registration at the sales floor. Also, the terminal is not limited to the detachable type, and it may be an electronic device etc. fixedly attached to the terminal holder part in a non-detachable manner. The electronic device may be a smartphone, tablet terminal, PC, etc., regardless of its machine type.

[0070] <Detailed configuration of the weighing unit> FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining the movement of the mounting frame and the configuration of the load cell member. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shopping cart in a state where the mounting frame is separated from the main body frame. In FIG. 7, the illustration of the housing of the weighing unit 5 and the battery etc. disposed inside the housing is omitted. FIG. 8 is a view showing an enlarged load cell member and its peripheral portion.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 6, first, the main body frame 1 and the mounting frame will be briefly described again. The upper basket mounting portion 3 has a region 3a, and the lower basket mounting portion 4 has a region 4a. The region 3a is a region in the upper basket mounting portion 3 where the shopping basket is mounted. The first foremost portion 3a-1 is the foremost portion in the region 3a. The region 4a is a region in the lower basket mounting portion 4 where the shopping basket is mounted. The second foremost portion 4a-1 is the foremost portion in the region 4a.

[0072] The main body frame 1 is provided with a support portion 12a. The support portion 12a extends forward from the main body frame 1. The mounting frame 2 is provided with a supported portion 22a. The supported portion 22a also extends forward from the mounting frame 2. The supported portion 22a is fixed to the load cell member 50 via a bracket 28.

[0073] In the weighing unit 5, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a load cell member 50, a pedestal 55, and a deformation restricting member 57 are arranged. The load cell member 50 has a load cell member main body 51 and a strain gauge (not shown). The load cell member main body 51 is a columnar member. The load cell member main body 51 is made of metal as an example. The strain gauge is a sensor component whose resistance value changes according to the deformation of the load cell member main body 51. The strain gauge is fixed to a part of the outer surface of the load cell member main body 51.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 6, the load cell member 50 is provided at a position between the upper basket mounting portion 3 and the lower basket mounting portion 4 in the vertical direction of the shopping cart 100. The load cell member 50 is disposed on the support portion 12a. A pedestal 55 is attached to the support portion 12a. The load cell member 50 extends forward of the shopping cart 100 with the rear portion of the load cell member 50 fixed to the pedestal 55. The load cell member 50 supports the supported portion 22a of the mounting frame 2 in a cantilever manner on the upper surface of its distal end side.

[0075] When goods are placed in the goods basket placed on the upper basket mounting portion 3 or the lower basket mounting portion 4, the load applied to the load cell member 50 increases by the weight of the goods. In the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment, the weight of the goods is measured based on the load applied to the load cell member 50.

[0076] In the case of the support structure as in the present embodiment, with the connection portion between the load cell member 50 and the bracket 28 as a fulcrum, the mounting frame 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6. When the position of this fulcrum is closer to the rear of the shopping cart 100, the distance from the fulcrum to the tip of the upper basket mounting portion 3 becomes longer, and the swing width of the tip of the upper basket mounting portion 3 becomes larger. Therefore, it is preferable that the position of the fulcrum (the position where the mounting frame 2 is connected via the bracket 28) is provided on the distal end side of the load cell member body 51 so that the swing width of the tip of the upper basket mounting portion 3 is minimized as much as possible. According to the configuration in which the distance from the fulcrum to the tip of the upper basket mounting portion 3 does not become too long, the load applied to the load cell member 50 is reduced, which is preferable in terms of the durability of the load cell member 50, and the swing width of the upper basket mounting portion 3 is reduced, so that the operability of the shopping cart 100 is also improved.

[0077] (Arrangement position of the load cell member 50) In this example, the load cell member 50 is disposed behind the center C1 in the front-rear direction of the shopping cart 100 (the center of the horizontal length d3 of the region 3a) in the region 3a of the upper basket placement portion 3. Since the load cell member 50 is disposed at such a position and there are no parts of the shopping cart 100 in the region A1 in front of the load cell member 50, the shopping carts 100 can be nested well. Specifically, the load cell member 50 may be provided behind the position of 1 / 3 from the rear in the horizontal length d3 of the region 3a.

[0078] In the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment, when the load cell member 50 deflects, the placement frame 2 rotates in the direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 accordingly. Specifically, the placement frame 2 rotates in the direction in which the tip portions of the upper basket placement portion 3 and the lower basket placement portion 4 rise or in the direction in which the tip portions of the upper basket placement portion 3 and the lower basket placement portion 4 descend.

[0079] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a model of the support structure of the placement frame, the upper basket placement portion, and the lower basket placement portion. As shown in FIG. 9, in the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment, the load cell member supports a part of the placement frame 2 at the fulcrum F. The upper basket placement portion 3 is located above the fulcrum F, and the lower basket placement portion 4 is located below the fulcrum F.

[0080] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example in which the position of the fulcrum is changed. When the fulcrum F is at a relatively low position as shown in FIG. 10(a), as shown in FIG. 10(b), the swing width of the upper basket placement portion 3 centered on the fulcrum F becomes large.

[0081] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment is set such that the length d1 from the fulcrum F to the lower surface of the upper basket placement portion 3 is sufficiently short. Specifically, the length d1 (which refers to the length of the shopping cart 100 in the vertical direction) is provided to be shorter than 1 / 3 of the vertical length d2 from the fulcrum F to the lower surface of the lower basket placement portion 4. Thereby, the sway of the upper basket placement portion 3 can be reduced. It is more preferable that the length d1 is shorter than 1 / 4 of the length d2, whereby the sway can be further reduced. Since the sway of the basket placement portion is small, it is difficult to give the user an impression of swaying visually, so the user can use the shopping cart 100 with confidence. Also, depending on the configuration of the shopping cart 100, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is also possible to prevent the upper basket placement portion 3 from swinging to the handle 15 side and pinching the hand holding the handle.

[0082] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a model in which the support structures of the upper basket placement portion and the lower basket placement portion are approximated according to the configuration of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, the fulcrum F is located below the area 3a of the upper basket placement portion 3 where the shopping basket can be placed. The upper basket placement portion 3 and the lower basket placement portion 4 are arranged such that the second foremost portion 4a-1 of the lower basket placement portion 4 is behind the first foremost portion of the placement frame 2.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 9, when the positions of the upper basket placement portion 3 and the lower basket placement portion 4 in the front-rear direction of the shopping cart are the same, a rotational moment in the counterclockwise direction (the direction in which the tip ends of the upper basket placement portion 3 and the lower basket placement portion 4 descend) is likely to occur around the fulcrum F. On the other hand, according to the configuration in which the lower basket placement portion 4 is relatively arranged rearward as shown in FIG. 11, the position of the load applied to the lower basket placement portion 4 is rearward. Therefore, the rotational moment around the fulcrum F does not become too large, and it is possible to support the goods well in balance at two positions, the upper and the lower.

[0084] FIG. 12 is a plan view for explaining the position of the load cell member when the shopping cart is viewed from the upper surface side. When supporting the mounting frame 2 with one load cell member 50 as in the configuration of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the configuration is such that a load biased with respect to the load cell member 50 is less likely to be applied.

[0085] Therefore, in the configuration of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the load cell member 50 is arranged along the center line CL of the upper basket mounting portion 3 extending in the front-rear direction of the shopping cart 100. The upper basket mounting portion 3 has a bilaterally symmetric shape with the center line CL interposed therebetween. Further, the assembly (see FIG. 7) composed of the mounting frame 2, the upper basket mounting portion 3, and the lower basket mounting portion 4 is provided such that its center of gravity is located on the center line CL. In such a configuration, since the load cell member 50 is arranged on the center line CL, the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment is less likely to have a load biased with respect to the load cell member 50 compared to a configuration in which the load cell member 50 is arranged at a position deviated from the center line CL, and it is possible to accurately measure the weight of the goods even with one load cell member 50.

[0086] (Structure for preventing damage to the load cell member 50) In the present embodiment, as described above, the shopping cart 100 has a configuration in which the mounting frame 2 abuts against the main body frame 1 when the mounting frame 2 rotates so that an overload is not applied to the load cell member 50. In addition to this, in the present embodiment, a structure for preventing damage to the load cell member 50 is also provided in the weighing unit 5.

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), a deformation limiting member 57 is provided on the load cell member 50. The deformation limiting member 57 is attached to the tip of the load cell member main body 51. The deformation limiting member 57 is provided so that a gap Sa is formed between the lower part of the deformation limiting member 57 and the upper surface 12b of the mounting frame 2.

[0088] Goods are placed on the upper basket placement part 3 and the lower basket placement part 4 of the placement frame 2. When the load cell member 50 is deflected by a predetermined amount, the deformation limiting member 57 abuts against the upper surface 12b of the support part 12a. Thereby, the deflection of the load cell member 50 beyond the predetermined amount is restricted, and an overload is prevented from being applied to the load cell member 50.

[0089] The deformation limiting member 57 is configured to be detachable from the load cell member main body 51 as an example. With such a configuration, for example, the first deformation limiting member and the second deformation limiting member can be detachably attached to the load cell member main body 51. The first deformation limiting member is a member in which the gap Sa becomes the first length in a state of being attached to the load cell member main body 51. The second deformation limiting member is a member in which the length of the gap Sa becomes a second length different from the first length in a state of being attached to the load cell member main body 51.

[0090] According to such a configuration, by replacing the deformation limiting member 57, the maximum deflection amount of the load cell member 50 can be adjusted according to the specifications of the shopping cart 100 and the like. As a configuration for adjusting the deflection amount of the load cell member 50, for example, a configuration in which a part of the load cell member main body 51 protrudes downward and the protruding part abuts against the upper surface 12b is assumed. In such a configuration, in order to change the deflection amount of the load cell member 50, it is necessary to change the shape of the load cell member main body 51 itself. On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the deflection amount of the load cell member 50 can be adjusted by replacing the deformation limiting member 57, and the effect of suppressing the manufacturing cost of the shopping cart 100 can be obtained.

[0091] Regarding the timing when the deformation restricting member 57 contacts the upper surface 12b and the timing when the mounting frame 2 contacts the lower cross beam 17 of the main body frame 1, the shopping cart 100 of the present embodiment is configured as follows as an example. Specifically, when the load cell member 50 is greatly deflected, first, the deformation restricting member 57 contacts the upper surface 12b to prevent further deformation of the load cell member 50, and then, further, the mounting frame 2 rotates so that the mounting frame 2 contacts the lower cross beam 17 of the main body frame 1. As another aspect of the present invention, when the load cell member 50 is deflected by a predetermined amount, the deformation restricting member 57 may contact the upper surface 12b and the mounting frame 2 may also contact the lower cross beam 17 of the main body frame 1. Although the configuration in which the deformation restricting member 57 is provided on the load cell member 50 is exemplified, a member that contacts the load cell member 50 to prevent further deformation when the load cell member 50 is deflected by a predetermined amount may be provided on a member different from the load cell member 50.

[0092] Also, as still another aspect of the present invention, when the load cell member 50 is deflected by a predetermined amount, first, the mounting frame 2 may contact the main body frame 1, and then, the deformation restricting member 57 may contact the upper surface 12b.

[0093] Referring again to FIG. 8(a), the deformation restricting member 57 has a pair of horizontal receiving portions 57a extending in the left-right direction from the load cell member main body 51. The mounting frame 2 is fixed to the horizontal receiving portion 57a. According to the configuration in which the mounting frame 2 is fixed to the pair of horizontal receiving portions 57a in this way, the mounting frame 2 is supported more stably as compared with the configuration in which the mounting frame 2 is received by only one load cell member 50. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for the mounting frame 2 to sway in the left-right direction.

[0094] If the mounting frame 2 is configured to be difficult to sway in the left - right direction, the following effects can be expected. That is, since the user of the cart is paying attention forward to precisely measure the distance to the front which is the traveling direction, there is no particular problem with the mounting frame 2 swaying in the front - rear direction. On the other hand, when the mounting frame 2 sways in the left - right direction, depending on the specifications of the shopping cart 100 and the like, there is a possibility that the lower basket mounting portion 4 may protrude outside the area of the main body horizontal frame 14. In this case, there is a possibility of colliding with a person walking beside the cart or other carts, but according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the occurrence of such problems can be prevented.

[0095] (Modification example) As described above, the shopping cart according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. For example, the basket mounting portion may have not only two upper and lower stages but also three or more stages. By providing a weighing portion at the balance position of these multiple basket mounting portions, stable weighing can be performed.

[0096] Also, the configuration in which the edge between the main body frame and the mounting frame is cut by the weighing portion can be utilized with a different concept. That is, without providing a weighing portion, only a damper mechanism can be provided so that the main body frame and the mounting frame are connected and assembled together with an insulator. Even if a strong impact is applied to the main body frame, it is possible to sufficiently weaken the impact transmitted to the mounting frame, and the goods can be protected. This is effective when placed in a sales floor where delicate goods are arranged.

[0097] In the above-described embodiment, an example was given of a configuration in which a part of the mounting frame 2 abuts on the lower cross beam 17 of the main body frame 1. However, the portion of the main body frame 1 where a part of the mounting frame 2 abuts may be any part. In one aspect of the present invention, a configuration without the lower cross beam 17 can also be adopted. In that case, a part of the mounting frame 2 will abut on, for example, the middle cross beam 16. As an example, the specific position of the mounting frame 2 that abuts on the middle cross beam 16 is below the supported portion 22a and above the mounting cross beam 24 in the mounting middle frame 22.

[0098] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the structure in which the load cell member supports the mounting frame. As shown in FIG. 13, the pedestal 55 for fixing the load cell member main body 51 to the support portion 12a may be arranged on the front side of the cart as compared with the configuration of the above-described embodiment. The load cell member main body 51 of the load cell member 50 extends toward the rear side of the cart while being supported by the pedestal 55 in a cantilever beam shape. The supported portion 22a of the mounting frame 2 is fixed near the rear end of the load cell member main body 51 via a bracket 28. Thus, in the shopping cart according to the present invention, it is sufficient that the mounting frame 2 is supported by the load cell member 50, and the manner in which the load cell member 50 supports the mounting frame 2 can be variously changed.

[0099] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically dispersing and integrating it in any unit. Also, new embodiments resulting from any combination of a plurality of embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0100] 1 Main body frame 2 Mounting frame 3 Upper basket mounting portion 3a Region 3a-1 First foremost part 4 Lower basket placement part 4a Area 4a-1 Second foremost part 5 Measuring part 6 Wheel 7 Insulator 10 Main body vertical frame 11 Main body upper frame 12 Main body middle frame 12a Support part 12b Upper surface 13 Main body lower frame 14 Main body horizontal frame 15 Handle 16 Middle crossbeam 17 Lower crossbeam 20 Placement vertical frame 21 Placement upper frame 22 Placement middle frame 22a Supported part 23 Placement lower frame 24 Placement crossbeam 25 Horizontal part 28 Bracket 50 Load cell member 51 Load cell member body 55 Pedestal 57 Deformation limiting member 57a Horizontal receiving part 61 Front wheel 62 Rear wheel 71 Round hole 72 Long hole 100 Shopping cart 141 Collision part 142 Collided part 151 Grip 152 Holder arm 153 Terminal holder A1 Area C1 Center part CL Center line F Fulcrum G Interval Sa Gap

Claims

1. A body frame, A mounting frame; A plurality of basket placement sections connected to the placement frame in a vertical line; A weighing unit that weighs the loads of the plurality of basket placement units; Equipped with The weighing unit is located between the plurality of basket placement units and supports the placement frame so as to receive the load of the placement frame. shopping cart.

2. The plurality of basket placement sections include an upper basket placement section and a lower basket placement section, The weighing unit measures the load applied to the lower basket placement unit while being fixed to the main body frame.

2. The shopping cart of claim 1.

3. The plurality of basket placement sections include an upper basket placement section and a lower basket placement section, The mounting frame is rotatable in a direction in which a tip end of the lower basket mounting portion rises or in a direction in which a tip end of the lower basket mounting portion falls when the shopping cart is viewed from the side, the main body frame has a stopper portion that abuts against a part of the mounting frame to limit the movement of the mounting frame when the mounting frame rotates by a predetermined amount; 2. The shopping cart of claim 1.

4. The main body frame has a lower cross beam provided at a lower position in the main body frame, The stopper portion is the lower cross beam, A portion of the mounting frame abuts against the lower cross beam, thereby limiting a movable range of the mounting frame relative to the main body frame.

4. The shopping cart of claim 3.

5. The loading frame connects the plurality of basket loading sections in a vertically aligned state by a columnar loading vertical frame that supports the plurality of basket loading sections in a cantilever state, The mounting vertical frame is an upper loading frame supporting the upper basket loading portion; A lower frame supporting the lower basket placement portion; and A middle frame for connecting the upper frame and the lower frame having The upper frame, the lower frame, and the middle frame each have a different inclination.

3. The shopping cart according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The apparatus further includes an insulator that is rotatably supported by the main body frame and abuts against the mounting frame.

3. The shopping cart according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The plurality of basket placement sections include an upper basket placement section and a lower basket placement section, the weighing unit is provided at a position between the upper basket mounting unit and the lower basket mounting unit in a vertical direction of the shopping cart, and has a load cell member that supports the mounting frame in a cantilever manner; The load cell member is When the shopping cart is viewed from above, the upper basket placement portion is disposed along a center line extending in a front-rear direction of the shopping cart.

3. A shopping cart according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The plurality of basket placement sections include an upper basket placement section and a lower basket placement section, the weighing unit is provided at a position between the upper basket mounting unit and the lower basket mounting unit in a vertical direction of the shopping cart, and has a load cell member that supports the mounting frame in a cantilever manner; When the shopping cart is viewed from the side, a vertical length from a fulcrum at which the load cell member of the weighing unit supports the mounting frame to an area in the upper basket mounting section where the shopping basket is placed is shorter than one-third of a length from the fulcrum to an area in the lower basket mounting section where the shopping basket is placed; 3. A shopping cart according to claim 1 or 2.

9. a first front part of the upper basket placement section, the first front part being a front part of the area in which the shopping basket is placed; When the frontmost part of the area in which the shopping basket is placed in the lower basket placement section is defined as a second frontmost part, The upper basket placement portion and the lower basket placement portion are arranged such that the second frontmost portion is located rearward of the first frontmost portion.

9. The shopping cart of claim 8.

10. The plurality of basket placement sections include an upper basket placement section and a lower basket placement section, the weighing unit is provided at a position between the upper basket mounting unit and the lower basket mounting unit in a vertical direction of the shopping cart, and has a load cell member that supports the mounting frame in a cantilever manner; The load cell member may further include a deformation limiting member that, when the load cell member is bent by a predetermined amount, comes into contact with another member to limit the load cell member from bending beyond the predetermined amount.

3. A shopping cart according to claim 1 or 2.

Images