accounting system

Abstract

To provide a payment system that saves space and is easy to handle.SOLUTION: A payment system includes a cart for carrying articles to be purchased by customers, a settlement device for settling the purchase price of the articles, and connection means for connecting the cart to the payment device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an accounting system for registering and settling products. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, supermarkets and convenience stores have begun to introduce self-checkout systems that allow customers to register and pay for their purchases. For example, a customer using a supermarket's self-checkout system places a shopping cart (hereinafter simply referred to as a cart) containing products near the self-checkout system, and has the product barcodes scanned by a scanner to complete the registration and payment process.

[0003] Supermarkets typically have a dedicated area for self-checkouts with multiple self-checkouts, and staff assist customers in operating them. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-194604 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When customers bring carts into an area with multiple self-checkout registers, the carts may collide with each other or obstruct the flow of other customers. Also, when customers try to place their carts as close as possible to the self-checkout registers so as not to obstruct the flow of other customers, the carts may collide with the self-checkout registers.

[0006] For this reason, supermarkets that have designated areas for self-checkouts must make the area sufficiently large, which reduces the operational efficiency of the store.

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an accounting system that is space-saving and easy to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The checkout system of the embodiment includes a cart for carrying products purchased by a customer, a payment device for settling the purchase price of the products, and a connection means for connecting the cart to the payment device. The system includes a payment device that includes a basket stand that supports a shopping basket or products placed on the cart, and a connection device that is arranged in a space formed below the basket stand. The cart includes a storage basket that stores products, a plurality of casters that are arranged below the storage basket, and a cart-side connection device that is arranged near the casters and connects the cart toward the connection device. The connection means includes a terminal-side connection device that faces the cart-side connection device that is arranged on the connection device, a positioning unit that positions the cart to the payment device, a power supply unit that supplies power from the payment device to the cart, and a power supply unit that supplies power from the payment device to each of the carts to the payment device. and a communication unit that transmits the data. The positioning unit includes a pair of guide members that guide the casters of the cart toward the bottom plate of the connection device, a pair of recesses that accommodate the casters, a magnet provided in the cart-side connecting device, and an electromagnet provided in the terminal-side connecting device. When the cart is positioned on the payment device by the positioning unit, the products stored in the storage basket are located above the basket stand, the casters are accommodated in the recesses in the space below the basket stand, and the magnet and electromagnet are magnetically attracted to each other, fixing the cart with a strength that prevents it from being easily detached from the payment device. . [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a transaction system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the self-service POS terminal of the system of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cart of the system of FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view showing a connection device of the self-service POS terminal of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a coupling mechanism for coupling the cart of FIG. 1 to the self-service POS terminal of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the system of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a payment process in the system of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a remaining object monitoring process in the system of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the checkout system 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as the system 100) includes multiple self-service point-of-sale (POS) terminals 10, an attendant terminal 20, and a store server 30. The multiple self-service POS terminals 10, the attendant terminal 20, and the store server 30 are connected via a communication network 40 such as a local area network (LAN). The self-service POS terminal 10 functions as a payment device. The system 100 also includes multiple carts 50 used by customers.

[0011] The system 100 has multiple self-service POS terminals 10 and attendant terminals 20 in a self-service area 101 surrounded by a dashed line in Fig. 1. Multiple carts 50 enter the self-service area 101 through an entrance 102 and exit through an exit 103. The carts 50 used in the system 100 include both those equipped with electronic devices 52 and hand scanners 53 (Fig. 3), which will be described later, and those not equipped with these. The store server 30 is located in a location separate from the self-service area 101.

[0012] A customer places the products they wish to purchase in a cart 50, brings it into the self-service area 101, and operates the self-service POS terminal 10 to register the products and perform payment processing. Alternatively, a customer may register the products to be placed in the cart 50 in the electronic device 52 when shopping around, and transmit information about the purchased products (hereinafter referred to as registration data) to the self-service POS terminal 10 at the time of payment to perform only payment processing.

[0013] The attendant terminal 20 is operated by a store attendant. The attendant supports the customer in operating the self-service POS terminal 10. The attendant terminal 20 is located in a position where the exit 103 of the self-service area 101 can be seen. The attendant terminal 20 is equipped with a display device (not shown) that displays a list of products registered in each self-service POS terminal 10 for each terminal. If an error occurs in the self-service POS terminal 10, the attendant terminal 20 notifies the customer of the error information.

[0014] The store server 30 can provide various services to multiple self-service POS terminals 10 and attendant terminals 20 via the communication network 40. The store server 30 also has a product database that manages data related to products sold in the store.

[0015] A product database is a collection of product records created for each product sold in a store. A product record includes data such as product code, product name, and price. A product code is a unique code assigned to each product to identify it individually. Each product is affixed with a barcode that represents the product code of that product. The product name and price are the unique name of the product identified by the product code and the sales price per item.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, the self-service POS terminal 10 comprises a main body 60, a basket stand 12 arranged on the right side of the main body 60 in the figure, a product stand 14 arranged on the left side of the main body 60 in the figure, and a temporary stand 16 arranged above the product stand 14. The self-service POS terminal 10 also comprises a terminal-side coupling device 120 (Fig. 4) of a coupling mechanism 110 (Fig. 1) described below that functions as coupling means for coupling the cart 50. The basket stand 12, product stand 14, and temporary stand 16 can be attached to the main body 60 in reverse left-right positions, allowing the attachment positions to be changed to suit the flow of customers.

[0017] The basket stand 12 is a stand on which a customer places a shopping basket containing products to be purchased but not yet registered. A customer who does not use a cart 50 places the products to be purchased in the shopping basket while holding it by hand, and places the shopping basket on the basket stand 12. The customer then removes the products from the shopping basket and has the self-service POS terminal 10 read the product codes to register the products in the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0018] A customer using the cart 50 positions the loaded cart 50 on the self-service POS terminal 10 using a positioning unit 140 (FIG. 5) included in the connecting mechanism 110 and described below. With the cart 50 positioned on the self-service POS terminal 10, the products placed in the storage basket 56 (FIG. 3) of the cart 50 are placed above the basket stand 12. In other words, the basket stand 12 of the self-service POS terminal 10 has a height that does not allow the bottom surface of the storage basket 56 of the cart 50 to come into contact with the basket stand 12. A customer who has not registered products when shopping around can register the products they take out of the storage basket 56 on the basket stand 12 in the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0019] Below the basket stand 12, there is a space for accommodating the casters 57 of the cart 50. In other words, when the cart 50 is positioned on the self-service POS terminal 10, the basket stand 12 of the self-service POS terminal 10 is placed between the storage basket 56 and the casters 57 of the cart 50.

[0020] To inform customers of the cart placement location relative to the self-service POS terminal 10, a guide sign such as "Please insert cart" may be provided on the upper surface of the basket stand 12. In this case, a sticker with the guide sign printed on it may be attached to the upper surface of the basket stand 12. Furthermore, the basket stand 12 may be made of a transparent material so that customers can see the state of connection of the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10 by the connection mechanism 110.

[0021] The product placement table 14 is a table for placing products that have been registered in the self-service POS terminal 10. The customer places the registered products in a takeaway shopping basket, a plastic shopping bag, a personal bag, or the like, placed on the product placement table 14. The customer can also place the registered products directly on the product placement table 14.

[0022] The temporary placement stand 16 is a stand on which products are temporarily placed before being placed into a plastic bag or the like. The temporary placement stand 16 has two holding arms 17 that protrude forward and are spaced apart on the left and right. Customers can use these holding arms 17 to attach plastic bags, reusable bags, etc., in an open state above the product placement stand 14.

[0023] The main body 60 of the self-service POS terminal 10 includes a touch panel 61 as an input / output device, a card reader 62, a printer 63, a scanner 64, a hand scanner 65, a cash processing machine 66, a patrol lamp 67, a light-emitting unit 68, and a speaker 69. The main body 60 registers products and processes payment for purchases.

[0024] The touch panel 61 includes a display as a display device and a touch sensor as an input device. The display displays various screen information such as a checkout start screen, a product registration screen, a payment method selection screen, and a checkout completion screen.

[0025] The checkout start screen is a screen that accepts the start of payment. The checkout start screen has a "start key" that commands the start of payment. When a customer touches the "start key," the touch sensor detects that the customer has touched the "start key," and the controller of the self-service POS terminal 10 switches the display screen from the checkout start screen to the product registration screen.

[0026] The product registration screen displays detailed information such as the product name, price, and total amount of registered products. Information about registered products is added to the screen display each time. The product registration screen has a "payment key" that commands the customer to proceed to payment for the products for which registration has been completed. When a customer has completed registering all of their products, they touch the "payment key." When the touch sensor detects that the "payment key" has been touched, the controller of the self-service POS terminal 10 switches the display screen from the product registration screen to the payment method selection screen.

[0027] The payment method selection screen is a screen that accepts the selection input of a payment method such as cash payment, credit card payment, electronic money payment, code payment payment, etc. The payment method selection screen has a "cash key" for instructing cash payment, a "credit key" for instructing credit card payment, an "electronic money key" for instructing electronic money payment, a "code payment key" for instructing code payment, etc. The customer touches the "key" of the desired payment method.

[0028] For example, when the touch sensor detects that the "cash key" has been touched, the controller of the self-service POS terminal 10 executes the cash payment process and switches the display screen from the payment method selection screen to the cash transaction completion screen.

[0029] When the touch sensor detects that the "credit key" has been touched, the controller of the self-service POS terminal 10 executes the credit card payment process and switches the display screen from the payment method selection screen to the credit card transaction completion screen.

[0030] When the touch sensor detects that the "electronic money key" has been touched, the controller of the self-service POS terminal 10 executes the payment process using the electronic money card and switches the display screen from the payment method selection screen to the electronic money card transaction completion screen.

[0031] When the touch sensor detects that the "code payment key" has been touched, the controller of the self-service POS terminal 10 executes the payment process using the code for code payment, and switches the display screen from the payment method selection screen to the code payment transaction completion screen.

[0032] For example, a cash transaction completion screen is a screen that displays the total transaction amount, the amount of cash received, the amount of change, etc. For example, a cash settlement process is a process in which the total transaction amount is subtracted from the amount received to calculate the change amount, and a receipt is issued to complete the transaction. Since this type of cash settlement process is well known, a detailed description will be omitted. Furthermore, since payment processes using credit cards, electronic money cards, or code payments are also well known, a description will be omitted here.

[0033] The card reader 62 reads data recorded on a card medium such as a credit card, electronic money card, or point card. If the card medium is a magnetic card, the card reader 62 is a magnetic card reader. If the card medium is an IC card, the card reader 62 is an IC card reader. The self-service POS terminal 10 may be equipped with either a magnetic card reader or an IC card reader as the card reader 62, or may be equipped with both. The card reader 62 may also be a card reader / writer with a function for writing data to a card.

[0034] The printer 63 prints data related to purchase receipts, credit card slips, etc. onto receipt paper. The printer 63 prints various data onto receipt paper, cuts the receipt paper with a cutter, and issues it from the receipt issuing slot. The printer 63 is, for example, a thermal printer or a dot impact printer.

[0035] The scanner 64 and the hand scanner 65 are used to read information identifying a product. In this embodiment, the scanner 64 and the hand scanner 65 read barcodes attached to products as information identifying the products. The scanner 64 optically reads the barcode of a product held up to a reading window (glass window) so that the barcode attached to the product faces the scanner 64. The hand scanner 65 is handheld and operated by a customer, and optically reads the barcode when brought close to the barcode attached to the product. Note that the scanner 64 and the hand scanner 65 may be used to read information identifying a product, and may also be used to read information other than a barcode, such as a two-dimensional code.

[0036] The cash processing machine 66 processes cash. The cash processing machine 66 has a banknote input port 71, a banknote discharge port 72, a coin input port 73, and a coin discharge port 74. The cash processing machine 66 processes banknotes inserted into the banknote input port 71. The cash processing machine 66 discharges banknotes as change from the banknote discharge port 72. The cash processing machine 66 accepts and processes coins inserted into the coin input port 73. The cash processing machine 66 discharges coins as change from the coin discharge port 74.

[0037] The patrol lamp 67 is attached to the top end of a pole that extends vertically upward so that it can be seen from a distance. The patrol lamp 67 includes a light-emitting member and a cylindrical member. The light-emitting member is attached inside the cylindrical member. The patrol lamp 67 is used to display an alert. For example, when there is an operational problem, the light-emitting member of the patrol lamp 67 lights up in a warning color such as red, allowing customers and staff at the attendant terminal 20 to visually confirm that an error has occurred. The light-emitting member of the patrol lamp 67 may be rotatably attached inside the cylindrical member coaxially with the cylindrical member, and may be rotated while emitting light.

[0038] The light-emitting unit 68 is disposed below the patrol lamp 67 on the pole. Like the patrol lamp 67, the light-emitting unit 68 also includes a light-emitting member and a cylindrical member. The light-emitting member can selectively emit light in multiple colors. Alternatively, the light-emitting unit 68 is provided with multiple light-emitting members with different light colors. Like the patrol lamp 67, the light-emitting unit 68 is also intended to display alerts. The light-emitting unit 68 can display alerts such as when an error occurs or when fraudulent customer behavior has been detected, by the light-emitting color of the light-emitting member or by the light-emitting color and its flashing state.

[0039] The speaker 69 outputs a warning sound as an alert or a voice message.

[0040] The self-service POS terminal 10 has a camera 80 above the main body 60. The camera 80 photographs the self-service POS terminal 10 and the customer operating it. The range in which the camera 80 photographs the self-service POS terminal 10 includes the basket stand 12, the product stand 14, and the temporary stand 16. The camera 80 photographs almost the entire body of the customer from above. Therefore, the camera 80 photographs the customer's head, face, shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, etc.

[0041] The main body 60 also has a human presence sensor 90 on its front side. While a customer is present within the detection range on the front side of the self-service POS terminal 10, the human presence sensor 90 transmits a detection signal indicating the presence of a customer to the controller of the self-service POS terminal 10. Based on this detection signal, the controller puts the self-service POS terminal 10 into an idle state while no customer is present. The idle state is a standby state in which power is saved by, for example, turning off the display of the touch panel 61. Furthermore, when the self-service POS terminal 10 recognizes the presence of a customer based on the detection signal from the human presence sensor 90, it can play audio guidance through the speaker 69 to prompt the customer to perform the first operation.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the cart 50 includes a cart body 51, an electronic device 52, a hand scanner 53, a battery 54, and a cart-side connecting device 130. The electronic device 52 and the hand scanner 53 are registration devices that register products. The cart 50 can store products and be moved. Multiple carts 50 can be stacked one behind the other when not carrying products. In addition to the hand scanner 53, the cart 50 may also be equipped with a fixed scanner.

[0043] The cart body 51 has a storage basket 56. Products can be placed in the storage basket 56 as they are, or a shopping basket for storing products can be placed on the storage basket 56. The cart body 51 has four casters 57 at its bottom end. The cart body 51 has an opening / closing plate 58 that rotates when stacked. The cart body 51 has a frame 59 to which the storage basket 56, casters 57, and opening / closing plate 58 are attached.

[0044] Frame 59 has a handle 591 at its upper end that is held by the customer. Frame 59 has a support rod 592 that supports electronic device 52 and hand scanner 53, which are arranged above handle 591. Frame 59 rotatably supports the upper end of opening / closing plate 58 below handle 591. Frame 59 faces the front of opening / closing plate 58 and supports storage basket 56 in a cantilevered state with the basket protruding forward.

[0045] Therefore, by pushing the front end of the storage basket 56 of another cart 50 from the back side of the opening and closing plate portion 58 of that cart 50, the storage basket 56 of the other cart 50 can be placed on top of the storage basket 56 of that cart 50, accompanied by rotation of the opening and closing plate portion 58, and the two carts 50 can be stacked one behind the other.

[0046] The frame 59 supports the battery 54 below the opening / closing plate portion 58. The frame 59 also holds a cart-side coupling device 130 at the front end of the bottom. The cart-side coupling device 130, together with the terminal-side coupling device 120 of the self-service POS terminal 10, constitutes a coupling mechanism 110 that couples the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0047] The coupling mechanism 110 has the functions of positioning the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10, supplying power from the self-service POS terminal 10 to the cart 50, and transmitting various data from the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10. The coupling mechanism 110 will be described in detail later.

[0048] The electronic device 52 provides various information and services to the customer. The electronic device 52 is driven by power supplied from a battery 54. The electronic device 52 is, for example, an information terminal such as a tablet terminal for providing information to the customer. Alternatively, the electronic device 52 may be a charging device or the like for charging a mobile terminal carried by the customer using power from the battery 54. For example, mobile terminals carried by customers include mobile phones, smartphones, digital cameras, tablet terminals, etc.

[0049] In this embodiment, electronic device 52 is, for example, a tablet terminal. The tablet terminal has, for example, a display unit equipped with a touch panel. Support rod 592 supports the tablet terminal at an angle that allows a customer standing in a position to grasp handle 591 to easily view the display unit. For example, the tablet terminal displays product information read by hand scanner 53. The tablet terminal may also register information about the products read by hand scanner 53 and perform payment processing based on this registered data.

[0050] Hand scanner 53 is a device that reads product information. Hand scanner 53 may have a display unit that displays the read product information. Hand scanner 53 reads product identification information, such as a barcode attached to the product to be placed in storage basket 56, for example. Hand scanner 53 may also be an RFID tag reader that reads RFID tags attached to the product. Hand scanner 53 may also be, for example, a mobile terminal carried by a customer or a mobile terminal owned by the store. When a mobile terminal is used instead of hand scanner 53, for example, the product identification information, such as a barcode, can be read using a camera provided on the mobile terminal.

[0051] A customer uses hand scanner 53 to read the identification information of a product to be purchased and place it in storage basket 56. In other words, a customer using cart 50 equipped with electronic device 52 and hand scanner 53 can register the product when placing the product in storage basket 56 of cart 50. Therefore, when using cart 50 equipped with electronic device 52 and hand scanner 53, when paying at self-service POS terminal 10, it is only necessary to send an ID code linked to the registration information of the product to be purchased from cart 50 to self-service POS terminal 10. In this case, the customer does not need to perform product registration processing using scanner 64 or hand scanner 65 of self-service POS terminal 10.

[0052] The battery 54 is a power supply device for operating the electronic device 52. The battery 54 includes a secondary battery that stores power and a charging circuit that charges the secondary battery. The charging circuit stores power supplied from the self-service POS terminal 10 via a power supply unit 150 (FIG. 5) of the connecting mechanism 110, which will be described later, in the secondary battery. The battery 54 supplies the power stored in the secondary battery to the electronic device 52. Alternatively, power supplied from the self-service POS terminal 10 can be supplied to the electronic device 52 without going through the battery 54.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 4, the self-service POS terminal 10 includes a connection device 200 for docking the cart 50. In Fig. 4, the connection device 200 is shown by a solid line, and a part of the self-service POS terminal 10 other than the connection device 200 is shown by a dashed line. The connection device 200 is attached to the space below the basket stand 12 on the right side of the main body 60 of the self-service POS terminal 10. When the basket stand 12 is attached to the left side of the main body 60, the connection device 200 is located on the left side of the main body 60.

[0054] The connection device 200 has a bottom plate portion 201 placed on the floor, a back plate portion 202 standing upward from the back end of the bottom plate portion 201, two guide members 203 and 204 attached to the top surface of the bottom plate portion 201, and a terminal-side connection device 120 for connecting the cart-side connection device 130. The connection device 200 also has a fixing device 210 (fixing portion) that fixes the cart 50, which is connected to the self-service POS terminal 10, to the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0055] The two guide members 203, 204 are arranged spaced apart from each other on the left and right ends of the bottom plate 201 along the direction of movement of the cart 50 indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. The guide member 203, which is closer to the main body 60 of the self-service POS terminal 10 on the left side of the figure, is provided over substantially the entire length of the bottom plate 201 from front to back. The guide member 204 on the right side of the figure is shorter than the guide member 203 on the left side so as not to interfere with the cart 50 moving from the right side of the figure.

[0056] When the basket stand 12 is placed on the left side of the main body 60 for layout reasons of the self-service POS terminal 10, the connection device 200 is placed on the left side of the main body 60. In this case, the two guide members 203, 204 of the connection device 200 are attached to opposite sides. That is, in this case, the longer guide member is attached to the right side of the bottom plate portion 201, closer to the main body 60, and the shorter guide member is attached to the left side.

[0057] The two guide members 203, 204 guide the casters 57 at the front end of the cart 50 in the direction of movement so that they do not fall off the left and right ends of the bottom plate 201. The top surface of the bottom plate 201 has two recesses 205 at positions that accommodate the two casters 57 at the front end of the cart 50. Instead of the two recesses 205, an inclined portion that slopes downward toward the back plate 202 may be provided.

[0058] When connecting the cart 50 to the connection device 200, the customer places the two casters 57 at the front end of the cart 50 on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 201 via the inclined surface 2011 at the front end of the bottom plate portion 201 of the connection device 200. When the customer further pushes the cart 50, the two casters 57 at the front end fit into the recesses 205, restricting the movement of the cart 50. In this state, the cart 50 is positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10, and the cart-side coupling device 130 of the cart 50 is coupled to the terminal-side coupling device 120 of the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0059] As described above, the two guide members 203, 204 and two recesses 205 of the connection device 200 allow the cart 50 to be positioned at a predetermined position relative to the self-service POS terminal 10, thereby preventing the cart 50 from colliding forcefully with the self-service POS terminal 10 when docking the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0060] The fixing device 210 has an actuator 212 (FIG. 6) that operates the key rod 211 between an operating position shown by a dashed line in FIG. 4 and a retracted position shown by a solid line. The actuator 212 is, for example, a ball screw with the key rod 211 as a screw shaft or a rack and pinion with a rack attached to the key rod 211. With the cart 50 positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10, moving the key rod 211 from the retracted position shown by a solid line to the operating position shown by a dashed line prohibits movement of the casters 57, and the cart 50 can be fixed to the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0061] As described above, in this embodiment, the fixing device 210 is provided on the connection device 200 provided on the self-service POS terminal 10, but the fixing device 210 may be provided on the cart 50, or the fixing device 210 may be embedded in the floor of the self-service area 101. As an example of providing the fixing device 210 on the floor, for example, a device that raises the blade from the ground may be provided, as in a coin-operated parking lot.

[0062] 5 is a block diagram of a coupling mechanism 110 that couples the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10. The coupling mechanism 110 includes a terminal-side coupling device 120 provided in the connection device 200 of the self-service POS terminal 10, and a cart-side coupling device 130 attached to the frame 59 of the cart 50.

[0063] The cart-side coupling device 130 has a magnet 141. The terminal-side coupling device 120 has an electromagnet 142 at a position facing the magnet 141. The magnet 141 and the electromagnet 142 are positioned in a positional relationship such that they are magnetically attracted to each other when the cart 50 is docked to the self-service POS terminal 10 by the connection device 200.

[0064] The magnetic attractive force of the electromagnet 142 is changeable. The magnetic attractive force of the electromagnet 142 is set to a magnitude that causes an attractive force to act on the magnet 141 of the cart-side coupling device 130 just before the two casters 57 provided at the front end of the cart 50 fit into the two recesses 205 of the connection device 200. In addition, the magnetic attractive force of the electromagnet 142 can be set to a strength that prevents the cart 50 from being easily removed from the self-checkout POS terminal 10 after the cart 50 has been positioned on the self-checkout POS terminal 10 by the positioning unit 140. In other words, the magnet 141 and the electromagnet 142, together with the two guide members 203, 204 and the two recesses 205 described above, function as the positioning unit 140 for positioning the cart 50 on the self-checkout POS terminal 10.

[0065] Furthermore, the connecting mechanism 110 has a power supply unit 150 that supplies power from the self-POS terminal 10 to the cart 50 when the cart-side connecting device 130 is connected to the terminal-side connecting device 120, and a communication unit 160 that transmits various data from the cart 50 to the self-POS terminal 10. The power supply unit 150 is capable of contactless power supply, and the communication unit 160 is capable of wireless communication.

[0066] The power supply unit 150 has a power supply circuit 151 provided in the terminal-side connecting device 120 and a power receiving circuit 152 provided in the cart-side connecting device 130. The power supply circuit 151 passes an AC current through a power supply coil (not shown) to generate a magnetic field change in the power supply coil. The power receiving circuit 152 has a power receiving coil (not shown) that faces the power supply coil of the power supply circuit 15. When a magnetic field change is generated in the power supply coil, an induced voltage is generated in the power receiving coil. This induced voltage can charge, for example, a secondary cell of the battery 54.

[0067] The communication unit 160 has a transmitting circuit 161 provided in the cart-side coupling device 130 and a receiving circuit 162 provided in the terminal-side coupling device 120. The transmitting circuit 161 transmits information about products registered in the electronic device 52 of the cart 50 as registration data via a transmitting antenna (not shown). The receiving circuit 162 receives the registration data transmitted via the transmitting antenna.

[0068] In other words, the coupling mechanism 110 can couple the cart-side coupling device 130 to the terminal-side coupling device 120 in a non-contact manner. However, in this embodiment, the housing of the cart-side coupling device 130 is brought into contact with the housing of the terminal-side coupling device 120, allowing mechanical positioning. By coupling the cart-side coupling device 130 and the terminal-side coupling device 120 of the coupling mechanism 110, it becomes possible to position the cart 50 relative to the self-service POS terminal 10, supply power from the self-service POS terminal 10 to the cart 50, and transmit various data from the self-service POS terminal 10 to the cart 50. Charging of the battery 54 may always be started when the cart-side coupling device 130 is coupled to the terminal-side coupling device 120.

[0069] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control system of the system 100 described above. The system 100 has a control unit 300. The control unit 300 includes a processor and memory (not shown). The processor executes arithmetic processing. The processor performs various processes based on, for example, programs stored in the memory and data used in the programs. The memory stores the programs, data used in the programs, and the like. In this embodiment, the control unit 300 corresponds to a controller provided in each self-service POS terminal 10.

[0070] The system 100 has a detection unit 301, a camera 80, a human presence sensor 90, an actuator 212 of the fixing device 210, and an image processing unit 302, which are connected to a control unit 300. The detection unit 301 detects that the cart 50 has been docked to the connection device 200 of the self-service POS terminal 10 and that the cart 50 has been positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10 by the positioning unit 140. The detection unit 301 is a mechanical switch, an optical sensor, or the like.

[0071] The actuator 212 operates the key rod 211 of the fixing device 210 to fix and release the cart 50, which is positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10, to the self-service POS terminal 10. The actuator 212 is, for example, a motor that drives a ball screw or a rack and pinion.

[0072] The image processing unit 302 has an image memory (not shown) that stores images captured by the camera 80. The image processing unit 302 stores in advance in the image memory an idle image captured by the camera 80 when the customer is not operating the self-service POS terminal 10 as a reference image. The image processing unit 302 then compares the image of the self-service POS terminal 10 captured by the camera 80 with the reference image read from the image memory, and detects whether or not there is any "remaining matter" such as an item left behind by the customer remaining in the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0073] An example of the payment process in the above-described system 100 will now be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Each self-service POS terminal 10 in the system 100 is in an idle state to reduce power consumption while waiting to accept operational input from a customer. In this idle state, the control unit 300 of each self-service POS terminal 10 determines, in ACT1, via the detection unit 301, whether or not the cart 50 has been positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10. In parallel with ACT1, the control unit 300 also determines, in ACT2, via the human presence sensor 90, whether or not a customer has entered the detection range of the human presence sensor 90.

[0074] If it is determined in ACT2 that a customer has entered the detection range of the human sensor 90 (ACT1; NO, ACT2; YES) before it is determined in ACT1 that the cart 50 has been positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10, the control unit 300 determines that the transaction is being made by a customer using a shopping basket, and in ACT3, displays the above-mentioned checkout start screen via the display of the touch panel 61.

[0075] After displaying the checkout start screen, the control unit 300 waits for the customer to press the "Start key" on the checkout start screen in ACT4. If the customer presses the "Start key" after displaying the checkout start screen (ACT4; YES), the control unit 300 switches the display screen to the above-mentioned product registration screen in ACT5. In this state, the customer can view the product registration screen and register the products they wish to purchase in the self-service POS terminal 10.

[0076] After displaying the product registration screen, the control unit 300 waits for input of a "payment key" on the product registration screen in ACT6. When the "payment key" is input by the customer who has completed the product registration process (ACT6; YES), the control unit 300 moves on to payment processing in ACT7. In the payment processing in ACT7, the control unit 300 displays the payment method selection screen described above, and switches to the checkout completion screen according to the customer's input.

[0077] On the other hand, when it is detected in ACT1 via the detection unit 301 that the cart 50 has been positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10 (ACT1; YES), the control unit 300 proceeds to ACT8. In ACT8, the control unit 300 receives product registration data from the cart 50 via the communication unit 160 of the connecting mechanism 110.

[0078] Thereafter, in ACT 9, the control unit 300 determines whether or not the registration data was received in ACT 8. If it is determined that the registration data was received in ACT 9 (ACT 9; YES), the control unit 300 determines that the transaction is a transaction using a cart 50 that has a product registration function (having an electronic device 52 and a hand scanner 53), and proceeds to ACT 6 to wait for the input of a "payment key." If a "payment key" is not input (ACT 6; NO), the control unit 300 displays the product registration screen of ACT 5.

[0079] If registration data cannot be received in ACT9 (ACT9; NO), the control unit 300 determines that the transaction is a transaction using a cart 50 that does not have a product registration function (does not have an electronic device 52 or hand scanner 53), and proceeds to ACT3, displaying the checkout start screen on the display.

[0080] After the cart 50 is positioned on the self-service POS terminal 10 in ACT1 (ACT1; YES), the control unit 300 may operate the actuator 212 of the fixing device 210 to fix the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10. Alternatively, instead of fixing the cart 50 with the fixing device 210, the control unit 300 may strengthen the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnet 142 of the positioning unit 140 of the connecting mechanism 110 to restrain the cart 50 so that it cannot be easily moved. In either case, if the cart 50 has been fixed, the control unit 300 releases the fixation after the payment process in ACT7 is completed.

[0081] Furthermore, if it is determined in ACT9 that registration data has been received from the cart 50 (ACT9; YES), the control unit 300 may, for example, cause the light-emitting element of the light-emitting unit 68 to emit light in a predetermined color (e.g., blue) to inform the attendant that the transaction is a payment process only after the product has been registered in the cart 50.

[0082] As in the example of the payment process described above, according to this embodiment, payment for products can be performed using the self-service POS terminal 10 based on the detection unit 301 detecting that the cart 50 has been positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10. This requires the customer to position the cart 50 relative to the self-service POS terminal 10 in order to perform payment, which prevents the customer from working with the cart 50 left in an aisle or the like. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the customer will not operate the self-service POS terminal 10 while the cart 50 is left in an aisle or the like, which prevents problems that would obstruct the passage of other carts 50 and reduces collisions between carts 50.

[0083] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a customer who brings a cart 50 into the self-service area 101 always positions the cart 50 at the self-service POS terminal 10 for payment processing, so multiple self-service POS terminals 10 can be placed close to each other, making it possible to make the device configuration of the entire system 100 compact. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the operational efficiency of the store compared to conventional methods.

[0084] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, with the cart 50 positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10, product registration information can be sent from the cart 50 to the self-service POS terminal 10 via the communication unit 160 of the connecting mechanism 110. Therefore, when the cart 50, which has already registered products during shopping trips, is positioned at the self-service POS terminal 10, the screen display related to product registration at the self-service POS terminal 10 can be omitted. In this case, specifically, the display of the checkout start screen can be omitted. Therefore, according to this embodiment, an easy-to-use system 100 can be provided, improving convenience for customers.

[0085] Next, an example of a remaining object monitoring process in the system 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As described above, when the payment process at the self-service POS terminal 10 is completed and the customer presses the "End" button on the transaction completion screen, the control unit 300 of the self-service POS terminal 10 determines in ACT11 that the transaction processing for the transaction has been completed (ACT11; YES).

[0086] Thereafter, in ACT12, the control unit 300 determines via the human presence sensor 90 whether or not a customer is in front of the self-checkout POS terminal 10. At this time, in ACT13, the control unit 300 determines via the detection unit 301 whether or not the cart 50 has been detached from the connection device 200 of the self-checkout POS terminal 10.

[0087] Then, in ACT12, when it is detected that the customer has left the self-service POS terminal 10 (ACT12; YES), and in ACT13, when it is detected that the cart 50 has left the self-service POS terminal 10 (ACT13; YES), the control unit 300 photographs the self-service POS terminal 10 using the camera 80 in ACT14.

[0088] Furthermore, thereafter, in ACT 15, the control unit 300 compares the image captured in ACT 14 with a reference image previously stored in the image memory. Then, based on the comparison result in ACT 15, the control unit 300 determines whether or not there is any "remaining matter" in the self-service POS terminal 10 in ACT 16.

[0089] If it is determined in ACT16 that there is "remaining objects" (ACT16; YES), the control unit 300 issues a warning to the customer and the attendant at the attendant terminal 20 in ACT17. The warning to the customer may be, for example, an alert display using the patrol lamp 67, a warning display by displaying a message indicating that there is "remaining objects" on the display of the touch panel 61 or the display of the attendant terminal 20, or a warning sound or voice warning as an alert from the speaker 69. Alternatively, a warning may be displayed via the electronic device 52 mounted on the cart 50 to warn the customer. After issuing the warning in ACT17, the control unit 300 proceeds to ACT14.

[0090] On the other hand, if it is determined in ACT16 that there is no "remaining item" (ACT16; NO), the control unit 300 puts the self-checkout POS terminal 10 into an idle state in ACT18, and ends the process.

[0091] In addition, if the cart 50 is fixed to the self-service POS terminal 10 by the fixing device 210 when the transaction is started, or if the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnet 142 of the positioning unit 140 is strengthened, the control unit 300 may release the above-mentioned fixed state of the cart 50 after determining in ACT16 that there is no ``remaining item.''

[0092] As in the example of the remaining item monitoring process described above, according to this embodiment, the presence or absence of "remaining items" is detected based on the fact that the customer leaves the self-service POS terminal 10 after the payment process is completed and the cart 50 is removed from the self-service POS terminal 10. Therefore, the customer and the attendant can be notified of the presence or absence of "remaining items" when the customer is about to leave the self-service area 101, thereby improving convenience.

[0093] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the control unit 300 of the self-checkout POS terminal 10 determines that there is "something left behind," it can prohibit the cart 50 from being removed from the self-checkout POS terminal 10. This can more reliably prevent customers from leaving things behind at the self-checkout POS terminal 10.

[0094] In the present embodiment, a self-service POS terminal having a registration function for registering products and a payment function for processing payments based on registered product information has been described as an example of a payment device. However, the present invention can also be applied to a payment device that does not have the registration function for registering products and has a payment function.

[0095] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. The following is a summary of the scope of claims as originally filed in this application. [C1] a cart for carrying the products purchased by the customer; a payment device for paying for the purchase price of the product; a connecting means for connecting the cart to the payment device; An accounting system with: [C2] The connecting means has a positioning unit that positions the cart on the payment device. The accounting system described in C1. [C3] Further, the cart further includes a fixing unit for fixing the cart to the payment device. The accounting system described in C1. [C4] the cart includes a battery; The connecting means has a power supply unit that supplies power from the payment device to the battery. The accounting system described in C1. [C5] The cart has a registration device for registering the product. The accounting system described in C1. [C6] The linking means has a transmitting unit that transmits registration information of the product registered by the registration device to the payment device. Accounting system described in C5. [C7] a detection unit that detects that the cart has been positioned at the payment device by the positioning unit; a control unit that enables the payment device to perform a payment process based on the detection unit detecting that the cart has been positioned at the payment device; The accounting system of C2, further comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 10...self-POS terminal, 20...attendant terminal, 30...store server, 40...communication network, 50...cart, 52...electronic device, 53...hand scanner, 54...battery, 57...caster, 64...scanner, 65...hand scanner, 67...patrol lamp, 68...light-emitting unit, 69...speaker, 80...camera, 90...human presence sensor, 100...accounting system, 101...self-service area, 110...connecting mechanism, 120...terminal side connecting device, 130...cart side connecting device, 140...positioning unit, 142...electromagnet, 150...power supply unit, 160...communication unit, 200...connecting device, 203, 204...guide member, 205...recess, 210...fixing device, 300...control unit, 301...detection unit, 302...image processing unit.

Claims

1. a cart for carrying the products purchased by the customer; a payment device for paying for the purchase price of the product; a connecting means for connecting the cart to the payment device; An accounting system having: The payment device includes a basket stand that supports a shopping basket or a commodity placed on the cart, and a connection device that is disposed in a space formed below the basket stand, the cart includes a storage basket for storing products, a plurality of casters arranged below the storage basket, and a cart-side coupling device arranged near the casters and coupling the cart toward the connection device; the coupling means includes a terminal-side coupling device that faces the cart-side coupling device provided on the connection device, a positioning unit that positions the cart to the payment device, a power supply unit that supplies power from the payment device to the cart, and a communication unit that transmits various data from the cart to the payment device; the positioning unit includes a pair of guide members that guide the casters of the cart toward the bottom plate of the connection device, a pair of recesses that accommodate the casters, a magnet provided on the cart-side coupling device, and an electromagnet provided on the terminal-side coupling device; When the cart is positioned on the payment device by the positioning unit, The products contained in the storage basket are positioned above the basket stand, The casters are housed in the recesses in the space below the basket stand, The magnet and the electromagnet are magnetically attracted to each other, fixing the cart to the payment device with enough strength to prevent it from being easily detached from the payment device.

2. A detection unit that detects that the cart has been positioned on the payment device by the positioning unit; a control unit that enables the payment device to perform a payment process based on the detection unit detecting that the cart has been positioned at the payment device; The accounting system of claim 1 further comprising:

3. The cart has an electronic device and a hand scanner as a registration device for registering products, and a battery for powering the electronic device, The accounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit functions as a transmission unit that transmits registration information of the product registered by the registration device to the payment device.

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