Checkout device

Abstract

To provide a checkout device with which it is possible to obtain good ease of use in correspondence to increased capacity of a collection bag that is used for collecting coins which are stored by a coin receipt / payment device that the checkout device includes.SOLUTION: A checkout device has a coin receipt / payment device built-in, and comprises a drawer unit, a collection bag, a frame, and a support part. The drawer unit is a container which is supported so as to be movable between an installation portion which is provided downward of a shelf board that supports the coin receipt / payment device and a draw position which is drawn from the installation position to a near side of the checkout device, and which has at least an upward opening. The collection bag is a bag-like container which has an opening and is used for collecting coins. The frame maintains an open state of the opening. The support part is provided on both sides of the drawer unit and supports the frame while holding the opening of the collection bag upward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a checkout device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a checkout device incorporating a coin depositing and dispensing device has been used. As an example of such a checkout device for handling cash, there is an accounting device (for example, Patent Document 1) for a customer to perform settlement by himself / herself. Since such a checkout device receives operations by a customer, a bill depositing and dispensing device and a coin depositing and dispensing device are housed in a casing so that the customer does not directly touch them. In addition, the coin depositing and dispensing device has been increased in capacity in order to reduce the maintenance frequency of the storage amount.

[0003] The cash inside such a checkout device is collected, for example, after closing the store. The coins in the coin depositing and dispensing device are collected in a dedicated collection bag attached to a predetermined position inside the device. Here, with the increase in the capacity of the coin depositing and dispensing device, the collection bag has also become larger, and the weight in the state where the coins are packed has increased compared with the conventional case. Therefore, it is necessary to devise again the method of providing the collection bag and the method of attachment and detachment.

[0004] In the above description, the accounting device has been described as an example, but the same can be said for the collection bag provided in, for example, a self-checkout device. Further, even for a depositing and dispensing device operated by a store clerk, if the structures are similar, there are the same problems with the collection bag.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a checkout device that can cope with the increase in the capacity of the collection bag used for collecting coins stored in the coin depositing and dispensing device incorporated in the checkout device and can obtain good operability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The checkout device according to the embodiment incorporates a coin depositing and withdrawing device, and includes a withdrawal unit, a collection bag, a frame, and a support part. A handle, a connecting portion, The withdrawal unit is a container that is movably supported between an installation position provided below a shelf board that supports the coin depositing and withdrawing device and a withdrawal position where it is withdrawn from the installation position to the front side of the checkout device, and has at least an upward opening. The collection bag is a bag-shaped container having an opening and is used for collecting coins. The frame keeps the opening in an expanded state. The support part is provided on both side parts of the withdrawal unit and supports the frame with the opening of the collection bag facing upward. The handle is a portion that an operator who attaches and detaches the collection bag to and from the support portion grasps, and is positioned to face the collection bag that hangs down from the frame in a state supported by the support portion in the front-rear direction. The connecting portion is provided with a height difference that allows the hand of the operator to pass between the handle and the frame to connect the handle and the frame.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the checkout device 1 in the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, a three-dimensional coordinate system is also shown. The width direction (left-right direction) of the checkout device 1 is defined as the X-axis direction, the depth direction (front-back direction) as the Y-axis direction, and the height direction (up-down direction) as the Z-axis direction. Further, the positive direction of the Y-axis is the direction from the front side to the back side, and the state seen in the positive direction of the Y-axis is the front view. Also, the positive direction of the Z-axis is the direction from the bottom to the top, and the state seen in the negative direction of the Z-axis is the plan view. Note that the left and right sides of the device or member when viewed from the front (positive direction of the Y-axis) may be referred to as both sides.

[0009] The checkout device 1 includes a main body 2, a UI (User Interface) terminal 3, a bill deposit / withdrawal device 4, a coin deposit / withdrawal device 5, a printer 6, a coin collection unit 7, a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) 8, and the like.

[0010] The main body 2 is a vertically long box-shaped housing having an opening 20 on the front surface and a door 21 for opening and closing the opening 20. The main body 2 further includes a lock 22 and a strike 221, an opening / closing detection unit 23 and a detected unit 231, and a shelf board 25.

[0011] The lock 22 is attached inside the door 21 and creates a locked state in which the door 21 is fixed in a state of closing the opening 20 by being hooked on a strike 221 provided inside the opening 20.

[0012] Also, the main body 2 supports the UI terminal 3 and the printer 6 on the upper surface and houses the bill deposit / withdrawal device 4, the coin deposit / withdrawal device 5, the coin collection unit 7, and the UPS 8 inside. The coin deposit / withdrawal device 5 is placed on the shelf board 25.

[0013] The UI terminal 3 is a device responsible for user interface functions, equipped with a display unit 31 and an operation unit 32 on the front of the housing, and also has a built-in control unit. Additionally, the UI terminal 3 may be equipped with a communication interface or the like for communicating with external devices such as speakers, buzzers, and store servers.

[0014] The display unit 31 is a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor, which displays information for the operator (shopper or store clerk). Also, the display unit 31 reflects the operations received by the operation unit 32 and performs screen transitions and the like. The operation unit 32 is an operation device such as a touch panel, which is laminated and arranged on the surface of the display unit 31 and receives operations according to the information displayed by the display unit 31.

[0015] The control unit is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The control unit comprehensively controls the operations of each part of the checkout device 1, such as the display unit 31, the operation unit 32, the bill depositing and dispensing device 4, the coin depositing and dispensing device 5, and the printer 6, which are connected to the UI terminal 3.

[0016] The bill depositing and dispensing device 4 is equipped with an insertion slot 41 and a payout slot 42, and has a built-in bill storage section. The bill depositing and dispensing device 4, following the support of the control unit, takes in the bills inserted into the insertion slot 41 and stores them in the storage section, and transports the bills as change from the storage section to the payout slot 42.

[0017] The coin depositing and dispensing device 5 is equipped with an insertion port 51 and a payout port 52, and has a built-in coin storage section. The coin depositing and dispensing device 5, following the support of the control unit, takes in the coins thrown into the insertion port 51 and stores them in the storage section, and transports the coins as change from the storage section to the payout port 52.

[0018] In the checkout device 1 of this embodiment, the insertion port 51 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 2. Also, on the back side of the insertion port 51, a tray 53 for inspecting the inserted coins is continuously provided.

[0019] In addition, in the checkout device 1 of the present embodiment, an opening 211 for exposing the payout port 42 of the bill deposit and withdrawal device 4 and an opening 212 for exposing the payout port 52 of the coin deposit and withdrawal device 5 are provided in the door 21.

[0020] In the checkout device 1 of the present embodiment, the bill insertion port 41 and the coin insertion port 51 are collectively arranged on the front side of the upper surface of the main body 2, and further, the bill payout port 42 and the coin payout port 52 are collectively arranged in a partial area of the front surface (door 21) of the main body 2, thereby improving usability. More specifically, the arrangement is made with particular consideration for preventing the omission of bills and coins as the change paid out.

[0021] The printer 6 issues a receipt or the like related to the settlement performed by the checkout device 1 according to an instruction output by the control unit.

[0022] The UPS 8 is a device that supplies the power stored in the built-in secondary battery to the devices (each part included in the checkout device 1 in the present embodiment) for a certain period of time in order to protect the devices and data when an abnormality occurs in the power supply, such as a power outage, momentary power failure, or voltage fluctuation.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the coin collection unit 7 is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the state of FIG. 2 is viewed from diagonally below. The coin collection unit 7 is an example of a collection bag support structure. The coin collection unit 7 includes a collection bag 71, a frame 72, a drawer 73, a support portion 74, a rail 75, a mounting plate 76, etc. The checkout device 1 also includes a detection unit 9 (see FIG. 3). Details of the detection unit 9 will be described later.

[0024] Furthermore, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coin collection unit 7 after the frame 72 and the collection bag 71 are removed. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the collection bag 71.

[0025] The collection bag 71 is a bag-shaped container having an opening, and is used for collecting coins stored in the coin depositing and withdrawing device 5. The collection bag 71 also has a first part 711 and a second part 712.

[0026] Here, FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view of the coin collection part 7 showing an example of the structure of the collection bag 71. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal front view of the coin collection part 7 showing an example of the structure of the collection bag 71.

[0027] The first part 711 is the part including the bottom 713. The bottom 713 is wider than the frame 72 at least in the depth direction in a plan view. Thereby, the first part 711 protrudes to the back side of the frame 72, contributing to increasing the capacity of the collection bag 71.

[0028] The second part 712 is the part connecting the first part 711 and the frame 72, and is located directly below the frame 72. The second part 712 has a cylindrical shape with a dimension equal to or less than the inner dimension of the frame 72. In addition, the collection bag 71 further has a string passing hole 715 for passing a string in the second part 712. Thereby, the opening of the collection bag 71 can be easily constricted by a string or the like. By constricting the opening with a string or the like, dissipation of the stored coins can be prevented during transportation of the collection bag 71.

[0029] Also, at least the dimension in the width direction orthogonal to the depth direction of the first part 711 is set to be smaller than the inner dimension in the width direction of the drawer 73.

[0030] Furthermore, the front part 714 of the collection bag 71 does not protrude to the front side and is formed flat. This is to prevent the front side of the collection bag 71 filled with coins from being caught inside the drawer 73 when the collection bag 71 is moved in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 5) which will be described later.

[0031] The frame 72 is a member having a substantially square shape, and the edge of the opening of the collection bag 71 is fixed to the inner surface by a rivet 716. Thereby, the frame 72 keeps the opening of the collection bag 71 in an expanded state.

[0032] The support part 74 is a pair of arm-shaped members that are movably provided in the direction of entering and exiting from the opening 20 of the main body part 2 by a pair of slide rails 251 attached to the bottom surface of the shelf board 25. The support part 74 supports the frame 72 from both of its side parts. Further, the support part 74 supports the frame 72 with the opening of the collection bag 71 facing upward.

[0033] Hereinafter, the position inside the main body part 2 of the support part 74 is defined as the storage position (see FIG. 1), and the position where it is fully pulled out of the main body part 2 is defined as the pull-out position (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Also, the storage position is a position where the opening of the collection bag 71 is directly below the coin collection hole 252 (see FIG. 3) formed in the shelf board 25. The coin collection hole 252 is provided at a position corresponding to the collection port provided on the bottom surface of the coin depositing and withdrawing device 5.

[0034] The drawer 73 is, for example, made of sheet metal, has a box-like shape, and is a container having an upward opening. The upper parts of both side walls of the drawer 73 (both side parts of the edge of the opening) are attached to the support part 74. Thereby, the drawer 73 is supported by the support part 74. Thereby, the drawer 73 moves between the storage position and the pull-out position along the slide rail 251 together with the support part 74. Note that the drawer 73 is an example of a pull-out unit.

[0035] The front wall (front side wall) 731 of the drawer 73 is formed lower than the others. That is, the front side edge 732 of the opening of the drawer 73 is lower than the others. This is also to make it easier to take out the collection bag 71 from the drawer 73, and also to make it easier to grip the edge 732 and utilize it as a handle when moving the drawer 73 back and forth as shown in FIG. 4 when there is no frame 72.

[0036] Further, the frame 72 is provided with handles 721, 722, and a pair of shafts 723 and convex parts 724 provided on both side parts of the frame 72.

[0037] The handles 721 and 722 are for gripping when taking out the collection bag 71 from the drawer 73 and carrying it. The handle 721 is provided at a position on the front side of the frame 72 while being supported by the support portion 74, and the handle 722 is provided at a position on the back side. Also, the handle 721 is a part that the operator grips during the operation of supporting the collection bag 71 and the frame 72 by the support portion 74.

[0038] Here, the back handle 722 is provided at the same height as the edge of the frame 72, but the front handle 721 is provided lower than the edge of the frame 72 by the connecting portion 725. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8, a gap is formed between the handle 721 and the shelf board 25 in the state of being stored in the main body portion 2, and the handle 721 is provided in a state where it is easy to grip. FIG. 8 is a view showing the coin collection portion 7 located at the storage position.

[0039] Furthermore, since the handle 721 is not at the same height as the frame 72, the space between the handle 721 and the frame 72 becomes wider, making it easier to grip the handle 721. Also, the back side of the handle 721 is the collection bag 71, which is made of a soft material such as cloth instead of a board or the like. When gripping the handle 721, the hand is not blocked by the member on the back side, making it easier to grip the handle 721.

[0040] The pair of shafts 723 are provided protruding from the outer peripheral surface at positions near the back ends on the side portions of the frame 72 and serve as the pivoting fulcrums of the frame 72. The frame 72 pivots about the shafts 723 such that one end (the back end) of each side portion remains on the support portion 74 and the other end (the front end) moves away from and approaches the support portion 74. The pivoting of the front end of the frame 72 away from the support portion 74 is shown by arrow A in FIG. 5.

[0041] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the frame 72 is rotated with respect to the support portion 74 about the axis 723. In the actual checkout device 1, if the support portion 74 is not in the pulled-out position pulled out from the slide rail 251, when the frame 72 is rotated, it will hit the shelf board 25. Here, for the convenience of illustration, the rotational state of the frame 72 with respect to the support portion 74 is shown in a state where the shelf board 25 is absent.

[0042] Next, prior to the description of the convex portion 724, the detection unit 9 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the detection unit 9 includes a case 91, a protrusion 92, and a biasing member. The case 91 houses one end of the protrusion 92 and the biasing member, and is fixedly attached to the position of the frame 72 supported by the support portion 74 located at the storage position. The other end of the protrusion 92 protrudes from the case 91.

[0043] The protrusion 92 can freely enter and exit between a non-detection position where the protruding length with respect to the case 91 is long and a detection position where the protruding length is short. The biasing member is built into the case 91 and biases the protrusion 92 toward the non-detection position. Such a detection unit 9 outputs information indicating that the frame 72 has been detected to the control unit by emitting a predetermined signal when the protrusion 92 is in the detection position.

[0044] Note that as such a detection unit 9, a commercially available push-type sensor (switch) can be used.

[0045] The detection unit 9 as described above is provided at a position where the protrusion 92 is pushed by the handle 722 on the back side of the frame 72 located at the storage position. Thereby, the detection unit 9 detects the presence or absence of the frame 72 at the storage position, and further detects that the collection bag 71 is set at a predetermined position.

[0046] In addition, the biasing member built in the detection unit 9 positions the frame 72 at a predetermined position by pressing the handle 722 via the protrusion 92. The structure for this will be described next. First, the convex portion 724 is provided at the end of the side portion of the frame 72 that is farther from the shaft 723 (the front end portion), and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the frame 72.

[0047] The rails 75 are attached to each of the support portions 74, rotatably support each shaft 723, and guide each shaft 723 so as to be movable at least in the depth direction.

[0048] More specifically, the rail 75 is a member that is long in the depth direction and attached to the upper surface of the support portion 74, and has a guiding portion 750 and holding grooves 751 and 752 (see FIG. 4). The guiding portion 750 is a flat surface provided on the upper surface of the rail 75, and guides (guides) the shaft 723 in the direction in which the shaft 723 should move by sliding (sliding) the shaft 723.

[0049] The holding groove 751 is a groove that is lower than the guiding portion 750 and extends inward, prevents the shaft 723 from coming out upward and inward, and holds the shaft 723. The holding groove 752 is located on the opposite side of the holding groove 751 with the guiding portion 750 interposed therebetween, and holds the convex portion 724.

[0050] The mounting plate 76 is located inside the upper parts of both side walls of the drawer 73. The mounting plate 76 is screwed together with the support portion 74 located outside the drawer 73, sandwiching the side wall of the drawer 73.

[0051] In the configuration as described above, when attaching the collection bag 71 and the frame 72 to the support portion 74, the operator places the frame 72 on the rail 75 from the handle 722 side with the support portion 74 in the pull-out position (see FIG. 4). The shaft 723 of the frame 72 slides on the guiding portion 750 of the rail 75 in the pull-out position and moves inward, and enters the holding groove 751. In the state where the operator grasps the handle 721, since the front end portion of the frame 72 floats from the rail 75, the convex portion 724 does not touch the rail 75.

[0052] Next, the operator rotates the frame 72 about the axis 723 to lower the handle 721 and places the entire frame 72 on the rail 75. At this time, the convex portion 724 is held in the holding groove 752 (see FIG. 2). Then the operator pushes the drawer 73 into the storage position (see FIGS. 1 and 8).

[0053] Next, when removing the collection bag 71 and the frame 72 from the support portion 74, the operator first pulls the drawer 73 out from the storage position to the extraction position. Next, the operator grasps and lifts the handle 721 (in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 5) and pulls the handle 721 toward the front side. Then, the shaft 723 comes out of the holding groove 751 and slides and moves from the back side to the front side on the upper surface of the guide portion 750. Along with this movement, the frame 72 and the collection bag 71 move to the front side of the drawer 73. Then the operator grasps the handle 721 and the handle 722, lifts the frame 72 and the collection bag 71, and removes them from the drawer 73.

[0054] As described above, according to the checkout device 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to cope with the increase in the capacity of the collection bag 71 used for collecting the coins stored in the coin depositing and withdrawing device 5 incorporated in the checkout device 1, and good operability can be obtained.

[0055] That is, by moving the shaft 723 of the frame 72 along the upper surface of the rail 75, the frame 72 and the collection bag 71 can be correctly set at a predetermined position in two steps: setting the frame 72 and the collection bag 71 with respect to the support portion 74 and then pushing the support portion 74 into the storage position.

[0056] Also, when removing the collection bag 71, the collection bag 71 can be removed by pulling the support portion 74 out to the extraction position and lifting and pulling the handle 721, which is the reverse of the above steps.

[0057] As described above, several embodiments of the present invention have been explained. However, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0058] 1 … Checkout device, 2 … Main body, 20 … Opening, 21 … Door, 211, 212 … Openings, 22 … Lock, 221 … Strike, 23 … Opening / closing detection unit, 231 … Detected unit, 25 … Shelf board, 251 … Slide rail, 252 … Coin collection hole, 3 … UI terminal, 31 … Display unit, 32 … Operation unit, 4 … Banknote deposit / withdrawal device, 41 … Insertion port, 42 … Payout port, 5 … Coin deposit / withdrawal device, 51 … Insertion port, 52 … Payout port, 53 … Tray, 6 … Printer, 7 … Coin collection unit (an example of a collection bag support structure), 71 … Collection bag, 711 … First part, 712 … Second part, 713 … Bottom, 714 … Front part, 715 … String passage hole, 716 … Rivet, 72 … Frame, 721, 722 … Handles, 723 … Shaft, 724 … Protrusion, 73 … Drawer, 74 … Support part, 75 … Rail, 750 … Guide part, 751, 752 … Holding grooves, 8 … UPS, 9 … Detection unit, 91 … Case, 92 … Protrusion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0059] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-132992

Claims

1. A checkout device incorporating a coin depositing and dispensing device, a drawer unit which is movably supported between an installation position provided below a shelf board supporting the coin depositing and dispensing device and a pulled-out position pulled out from the installation position to the front side of the checkout device, and which is a container having at least an upward opening, a collection bag which is a bag-shaped container having an opening and is used for collecting coins, a frame for keeping the opening in an expanded state, support portions provided on both side portions of the drawer unit for supporting the frame with the opening of the collection bag facing upward, a handle which is a portion grasped by an operator for attaching and detaching the collection bag to and from the support portion, and which is positioned to face the collection bag hanging down from the frame supported by the support portion in the front-rear direction, a connecting portion provided between the handle and the frame to provide a height difference allowing the operator's hand to enter and connecting the handle and the frame, and a checkout device comprising the same.

2. The drawer unit has a box shape, and the support portions are provided at the upper parts of both side walls of the drawer unit. The checkout device according to Claim 1.

3. The collection bag has a first portion including a bottom and a second portion connecting the first portion and the frame. The second portion is positioned directly below the frame, the bottom is wider than the frame at least in the depth direction in plan view, and at least the dimension in the width direction orthogonal to the depth direction of the first portion is set smaller than the inner dimension in the width direction of the drawer unit. The checkout device according to Claim 2.

Images