Self-checkout machine

Abstract

In self-checkouts, purchasers scan the barcodes of products themselves to settle the bill, which can easily lead to so-called shoplifting, where customers take home products without having the barcodes scanned.To provide a self-checkout device that can prevent this. The system includes a first weighing scale (22) that measures the weight of products before checkout and a second weighing scale (32) that measures the weight of products after checkout, as well as an input confirmation unit (101) that confirms that the barcode has been read. This makes it possible to determine that fraud has occurred if a confirmation signal (L1) is not issued when the weight is transferred from the pre-checkout product counter (20) to the post-checkout product counter (30), thereby preventing shoplifting.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a self-checkout machine that allows customers to check out themselves and is equipped with an alarm device that sounds an alarm if a fraudulent transaction is made. [Background technology]

[0002] Self-checkouts allow customers to pay for their own purchases, saving the store clerk time. However, this makes it easy for customers to commit fraud, such as shoplifting, by not scanning product information correctly or intentionally not scanning it properly when scanning barcodes or other items.

[0003] Stores often install security cameras to monitor customers' payment procedures and station store staff nearby to monitor for fraudulent activity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-091182 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] With previous self-checkout systems, customers would remove the items they wanted to purchase from a basket, scan the product's barcode, pay for the items, and then place the items in a basket or bag to take home.

[0006] In this case, shoplifting easily occurs, where customers put the products in a basket or bag without scanning the product's barcode, and then take the products home without paying for them. It is difficult for store staff or security cameras to monitor whether all payments have been made properly, and this has led to the frequent occurrence of shoplifting.

[0007] The present invention provides a self-checkout system that can prevent shoplifting by providing a simple and inexpensive device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is a self-checkout device having a first placement section for placing a first container containing the items to be purchased, a settlement section for inputting item information and settling the payment, and a second placement section for placing a second container containing items to be taken home, wherein the first placement section is provided with a first measuring section for measuring the weight of the first container, the second placement section is provided with a second measuring section for measuring the weight of the second container, and the settlement section is provided with an input confirmation section for issuing a confirmation signal when the item information is input, a judgment section for determining whether the payment has been made successfully, and an alarm section for issuing an alarm if the payment has not been made successfully, and the judgment section determines that the payment has been made successfully only if the weight deducted from the first measuring section at the time of payment is approximately equal to the weight increased in the second measuring section and the confirmation signal is issued, and the alarm section solves the above problem by issuing an alarm if the judgment section does not determine that the payment has been made successfully. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] With the self-checkout device of this invention, when a customer removes an item from a shopping basket containing unpaid items, the weight on the counter decreases, and when the item is placed in a takeaway basket or bag, the weight of the item on the counter increases. If the product information is not entered, the checkout unit can easily determine that the checkout has not been completed correctly. Furthermore, if the weight of the unpaid item that has been removed differs significantly from the weight of the unpaid item that has been added, it can be determined that the checkout has not been completed correctly.

[0010] When a take-out basket or bag is lifted, the weight on the counter drops significantly, indicating that the customer is trying to take the product home without paying properly. At this time, an alarm sounds, allowing the store staff to prevent unauthorized payment (shoplifting). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a self-checkout device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system in the self-checkout device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Example]

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the self-checkout device 1 has a central checkout unit 10 where information about the pre-payment product S1 is input and the payment is settled. The checkout unit 10 has a barcode reader 11 where product information about the pre-payment product S1 is input, and a touch panel 12 where the purchaser manually inputs information. The touch panel 12 also serves as a display screen that displays product information such as the payment amount. The device also has a card reader 13, a bill insertion unit 14, and a coin insertion slot 15 for payment.

[0013] One side (left side in FIG. 1) of the checkout section 10 has a pre-checkout product counter (first placement section) 20 on which in-store baskets (first containers) 21 containing pre-checkout products S1 are placed. The other side (right side in FIG. 1) of the checkout section 10 has a post-checkout product counter (second placement section) 30 on which take-out baskets (second containers) 31 containing post-checkout products S2 are placed.

[0014] A first weighing scale (first measuring unit) 22 for measuring the weight of an in-store basket 21 is provided on the top surface of the pre-checkout product counter 20, and the measured weight is transmitted to the checkout unit 10. The first weighing scale 22 may be built into the pre-checkout product counter 20, or may be attached to the top surface of an existing pre-checkout product counter 20.

[0015] A second weighing scale (second measuring unit) 32 for measuring the weight of the take-out basket 31 is provided on the top surface of the post-checkout product counter 30, and the measured weight is transmitted to the checkout unit 10. The second weighing scale 32 may be built into the post-checkout product counter 30, or may be installed on the top surface of an existing post-checkout product counter 30 as a retrofit.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the settlement unit 10 is provided with an input confirmation unit 101, a judgment unit 102, and an alarm unit 103. The settlement unit 10 has a section for performing financial calculations and payments, but this section is the same as in the conventional case, so illustration and description of it will be omitted.

[0017] The input confirmation unit 101 is connected to the barcode reading unit 11 and the touch panel 12, and when product information is input, it issues a confirmation signal L1 to the determination unit 102 indicating that the information has been input.

[0018] The first weighing scale 22 is connected to the determination unit 102, and a signal W1 indicating the total weight of the pre-checkout products S1 is constantly sent to the determination unit 102. The second weighing scale 32 is also connected to the determination unit 102, and a signal W2 indicating the total weight of the post-checkout products S2 is constantly sent to the determination unit 102. This allows the determination unit 102 to detect the pre-checkout weight decrease on the first weighing scale 22 and the post-checkout weight increase on the second weighing scale 32.

[0019] The judgment unit 102 compares the decreased pre-checkout weight with the increased post-checkout weight, and if the two weights are approximately equal (not necessarily exactly equal), it judges that the pre-checkout product S1 on the pre-checkout product counter 20 has been moved to the post-checkout product counter 30. At this time, if a confirmation signal L1 is issued from the input confirmation unit 101, it is judged that the checkout was completed normally while the product S1 was being moved.

[0020] On the other hand, if the input confirmation unit 101 does not issue a confirmation signal L1, it means that no product information has been entered, and therefore it is determined that the product S1 has been moved to the post-payment product table 30 without the barcode being read or any input being made from the touch panel 12. Furthermore, if the decreased weight and the increased weight are clearly different, the determination unit 102 determines that the product S1 has not been moved normally to the post-payment product table 30.

[0021] When the purchaser subsequently lifts the take-out basket 31 from the product counter 30 after paying, the decrease in the measured value of the second weighing scale 32 determines that the purchaser is about to leave the store with the take-out basket 31. Therefore, if the payment has not been made properly, it is determined that the purchaser is about to leave the store with an incorrect payment, and the payment section 10 sends a signal to the alarm section 103, causing the alarm device 16 to issue an alarm.

[0022] This alarm lets the store clerk know that an unauthorized transaction has occurred, and he or she can warn the purchaser to make a proper transaction, thereby preventing shoplifting.

[0023] It should be noted that, during checkout, items other than merchandise may be placed on the pre-checkout counter 20 or post-checkout counter 30, but it is advisable to warn shoppers not to move these items during checkout. Even if items are moved, the checkout will simply be deemed abnormal and an alarm will be sounded, so the effectiveness of shoplifting prevention will not be diminished. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1 Self-checkout machine 10 Settlement Department 101 Input confirmation section 102 Judgment Department 103 Batons Club 20 Pre-checkout counter (first loading area) 21 In-store basket (first container) 22 1st weighing scale (1st measurement section) 30 Post-checkout counter (second loading area) 31 Take-out basket (second container) 32 Second weighing scale (second measuring section) S1 Products before payment S2 Products after payment L1 confirmation signal

Claims

1. a first placement section for placing a first container containing the product to be purchased; A checkout section where product information is entered and payment is made; a second placement section for placing a second container for storing products to be taken home; A self-checkout device having a first measuring unit that measures the weight of the first container is provided on the first placement unit; a second measuring unit for measuring the weight of the second container is provided on the second placement unit; The checkout unit is provided with an input confirmation unit that issues a confirmation signal when the product information is input, a determination unit that determines whether the checkout has been completed successfully, and an alarm unit that issues an alarm when the checkout has not been completed successfully, The determination unit determines that the payment has been made normally only when the weight subtracted from the first measuring unit at the time of payment and the weight increased in the second measuring unit are approximately equal and the confirmation signal is issued, and The self-checkout device is characterized in that the alarm unit issues an alarm when the judgment unit does not judge the payment to be normal.

2. the first measuring unit is provided on an upper surface of the existing first mounting unit by retrofitting, The self-checkout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second measuring unit is provided on an upper surface of the existing second placing unit as a retrofit.

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