Self-checkout device

Abstract

A self-checkout device comprises a bag filling station, a pair of column members, a beam member, a user interface terminal, and one or more brackets. The bag filling station is configured to include a stand and a weighing device for weighing the load loaded on the stand. At least one outer surface of the pair of column members is formed by a plurality of divided exterior members that are divided in the longitudinal direction, and is installed on the bag filling station with the longitudinal direction facing up and down. The beam member connects the upper end of the column members. The user interface terminal is installed on the beam member. The one or more brackets are capable of receiving the installation of an external attachment device, and their position can be swapped with a part of the divided exterior member.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a self-checkout device. Background Technology

[0002] Conventionally, a self-checkout device is known for customers to register products or make payments themselves (e.g., Patent Document 1). In conventional self-checkout devices, a camera or scanner for reading product information or a printer for issuing receipts is fixedly installed at a specific location on the device, so adjustments such as changing the installation height cannot be made.

[0003] Customers who operate self-checkout devices vary in height, and the height range at which they feel convenience is best differs for each. The reality is that general self-checkout devices are equipped with cameras or printers at a height where it is presumed that the majority of people will find convenience best, and only that one type is sold as a product. Prior art literature

[0004] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-164762 The problem to be solved

[0005] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a self-checkout device that enables a user-friendly layout without limiting the operator. means of solving the problem

[0006] The self-checkout device of the embodiment comprises a bag filling station, a pair of column members, a beam member, a user interface terminal, and one or more brackets. The bag filling station is composed of a stand and a weighing device for weighing the load loaded on the stand. At least one outer surface of the pair of column members is formed by a plurality of divided exterior members that are divided in the longitudinal direction, and is installed on the bag filling station with the longitudinal direction facing up and down. The beam member connects the upper end of the column members. The user interface terminal is installed on the beam member. The one or more brackets can replace the position of a part of the divided exterior member by receiving the installation of an external attachment device. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a self-checkout device in an embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a self-checkout device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the self-checkout device seen from the right rear, and is a drawing showing the installation structure of the printer support. Figure 4 is a drawing showing the printer support in the highest position. Figure 5 is a drawing showing the state where the printer support is in the second highest position. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the left rear of the self-checkout device and is a drawing showing the installation structure of the scanner support. FIG. 7 is a front view of a self-checkout device with the left and right interchangeable configurations replaced. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a self-checkout device with a left and right interchangeable configuration replaced. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0008] An embodiment is described using drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a self-checkout device (1) in an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a self-checkout device (1). The self-checkout device (1) is equipped with an envelope filling station (2), an auxiliary station (3), a basket holder (4), a door frame (5), a UI (User Interface) terminal (6), a temporary stand (7), a reader (8), a payment terminal (9), a printer (10), a caster (11), a warning light (12), etc. The reader (8) and the printer (10) are examples of external attachment devices.

[0009] The envelope filling stand (2) has a built-in meter for weighing the load loaded on the stand (21). The stand (21) constitutes most of the upper surface of the envelope filling stand (2), excluding a portion of the inside (non-weighing area (22)). The envelope filling stand (2) supports the gate-type frame (5) in the non-weighing area (22).

[0010] The gate frame (5) is equipped with a pair of column sections (51) and a beam section (50) connecting the upper ends of both column sections (51). The pair of column sections (51) are installed (i.e., erected) in the non-measuring area (22) with the longitudinal direction facing up and down. Each column section (51) is located near the left and right edges of the non-measuring area (22), so the distance between the two column sections (51) is wide. This makes it easier to obtain stability for the gate frame (5), and also allows the upper space of the non-measuring area (22) to be open and provide good visibility.

[0011] The auxiliary stand (3) is positioned next to the envelope filling stand (2). The height of the auxiliary stand (3) is slightly lower than the height of the stand (21). On the upper surface of the auxiliary stand (3), an oval-shaped concave place (31) for a handy type cord reader is provided.

[0012] The basket holder (4) is a stand for holding shopping baskets, which are placed in supermarkets, etc. The basket holder (4) is positioned with an auxiliary stand (3) in between it and the bag filling stand (2), and is installed on the upper side of the auxiliary stand (3). In addition, a wire-type pressing part (41) is provided on the edge of the basket holder (4) on the side of the auxiliary stand (3) to prevent the loaded shopping baskets from shifting.

[0013] In addition, by the arrangement described above, the auxiliary member (3) functions to create a predetermined gap between the envelope filling member (2) and the basket holder (4).

[0014] A temporary stand (7) is provided on the stand (21). The temporary stand (7) is equipped with a cut section (71), a pair of leg sections (72), an envelope hanger section (73, 74), and a beam section (75).

[0015] The temporary stand (7) has a shape in which the inner corners of the square tray are concave to form a pair of cutouts (71), and the portion between the two cutouts (71) is inserted between a pair of pillars (51) of the door frame (5).

[0016] Each leg portion (72) is composed of a plurality of wire-shaped pillars. Each leg portion (72) is erected near the left and right edges on the inside of the upper surface of the stand (21), making it difficult to obstruct the loading of cargo onto the stand (21). Both leg portions (72) support the area near the left and right ends of the bottom surface, which is located further forward than the cut-out portion (71) of the temporary stand (7). As a result, the width dimension of the temporary stand (7) is approximately the same as the width dimension of the envelope filling unit (2), and it is wider and has a larger area than conventional ones.

[0017] In addition, the beam section (75) reinforces the leg section (72) by connecting each wire constituting the two leg sections (72) to the side.

[0018] The envelope hanger (73, 74) is installed on the bottom surface of the temporary stand (7) and protrudes from the inside of the temporary stand (7) toward the front. The envelope hanger (73) and the envelope hanger (74) have different protruding lengths. The envelope hanger (73) is the relatively longer one, having two parts for hanging and supporting the handle of a bag for carrying goods. The envelope hanger (74) is the relatively shorter one, having one part for hanging and supporting. The shorter envelope hanger (74) is installed on the side closer to the basket stand (4). By doing so, it is difficult to obstruct the movement of goods from the shopping basket through the reader (8) into the bag on the stand (21).

[0019] The UI terminal (6) is installed on the front of the beam unit (50) so as to be tiltable. The UI terminal (6) is a device responsible for user interface functions and is equipped with a display unit (61), an operation unit (62), a control unit (63), etc. In addition, the UI terminal (6) may be equipped with a communication interface for communicating with external devices such as a speaker, a buzzer, or a store server.

[0020] The display unit (61) is a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor and displays information for an operator (shopping customer or clerk). Additionally, the display unit (61) performs screen transitions, etc., by reflecting the operation received by the operation unit (62). The operation unit (62) is an operation device such as a touch panel and is stacked and arranged on the surface of the display unit (61), and receives operations based on the information displayed by the display unit (61).

[0021] The control unit (63) is built into the housing of the UI terminal (6). The control unit (63) is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory), and comprehensively controls the reader (8) connected to the UI terminal (6), the payment terminal (9), the printer (10), the meter (2) built into the envelope filling unit (2), in addition to the display unit (61) and the operation unit (62).

[0022] The reading unit (8) is equipped with a camera (81) and a scanner (82). Both the camera (81) and the scanner (82) read code symbols such as barcodes or 2D codes. The camera (81) has an image sensor (imaging element) built inside the front window of the housing, acquires an image of a product by imaging, and cuts out code symbols from the captured image. Additionally, the camera (81) may be capable of object recognition that identifies a product by extracting product features from the captured image.

[0023] Additionally, the reading unit (8) is positioned above the auxiliary stand (3). As a result, the reading unit (8) is located on (or near) the movement trajectory of the product moving from the basket stand (4) to the envelope filling stand (2). Thus, it contributes to improving the efficiency of the operator's product registration.

[0024] The scanner (82) is an auxiliary component of the camera (81) and is positioned above the camera (81). The scanner (82) is, for example, a conventional barcode reader and reads the barcode on the upper surface of the product from above.

[0025] The warning light (12) is provided on the top of a pole-shaped member that is approximately vertically positioned so that multiple colored lights can be seen with the naked eye from a distance, and, for example, when some defects occur in the self-checkout device (1), a light of a color corresponding to the situation is lit.

[0026] The payment terminal (9) is a terminal device for making payments using credit cards or electronic money, and is equipped with a display unit (91), an operation unit (92), and a reader / writer (93). The payment terminal (9) is supported by a rack (94) fixed to the upper surface of the housing of the printer (10).

[0027] The printer (10) issues a receipt, etc., for a payment made by the self-checkout device (1) according to instructions output by the control unit (63).

[0028] The caster (11) is installed on the bottom surface of the envelope filling stand (2) to help move on the bottom surface of the envelope filling stand (2).

[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the right rear of the self-checkout device (1) and is a drawing showing the installation structure of the printer support (511). The printer support (511) supports the printer (10) by receiving the installation of an external attachment device.

[0030] First, the column portion (51) is composed of a rod-shaped hollow member (510), a box-shaped printer support portion (511), and plate-shaped members (512 to 514). The hollow member (510) has a shape in which two sides are open: one side facing the other column portion (51) and the other side opposite that side.

[0031] The printer support member (511) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514) constitute at least one outer surface of the column member (51). The plate-shaped members (512 to 514) are examples of divided exterior members that are divided into multiple parts in the longitudinal direction. The printer support member (511) is an example of a bracket and can be swapped with the position of any of the plate-shaped members (512 to 514).

[0032] The printer support (511) and the plate-shaped members (512, 513) are fitted into the two open sides of the hollow member (510). That is, the opening of the hollow member (510) is blocked by the printer support (511) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514). The difference between each plate-shaped member (512, 513, 514) is a length dimension in a direction corresponding to the length direction of the hollow member (510).

[0033] The printer support member (511) is combined with plate-shaped members (512 to 514) to form the outer surface of the column member (51). The printer support member (511) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514) are fixed to the hollow member (510) by means of screws, etc. With this structure, the column member (51) supports the printer (10) so that the installation height of the printer (10) can be changed arbitrarily.

[0034] Here, FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the state where the printer support (511) is in the highest position. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the state where the printer support (511) is in the second highest position. As illustrated in these figures, the installation height of the printer support (511) can be changed along the longitudinal direction of the column (51) (up and down direction of the self-checkout device (1)) by changing the arrangement order of the printer support (511) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514).

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the left rear of the self-checkout device (1) and is a drawing showing the installation structure of the scanner support (83). The scanner support (83) supports the camera (81), the scanner (82), and the warning light (12).

[0036] The scanner support (83) is configured to include a lower cover (831), an upper cover (832), and a bracket (833). The lower cover (831) and the upper cover (832) cover the bracket (833) from above and below. One end of the bracket (833) is installed on the hollow member (510), and the other end is installed on the rear side of the lower part of the warning light (12). A camera (81) is installed on the front side of the lower part of the warning light (12). Additionally, a scanner (82) is installed above the location where the camera (81) of the warning light (12) is installed.

[0037] The scanner support (83), like the printer support (511), is combined with plate-shaped members (512 to 514) to form a part of the outer surface of the other column (51). By doing so, the column (51) supports the reader (8) and the warning light (12), allowing the installation height of the reader (8) to be changed arbitrarily.

[0038] However, for the sake of workability when reading product information, it is preferable that the reading unit (8) be installed at a position higher than the edge of the shopping basket loaded on the basket holder (4), and also preferable that the product passing through the front of the camera (81) be at a position higher than the bag hanger (73, 74). For this reason, it is thought that the reading unit (8) is almost impossible to install at a position near the bottom of the column (51). Therefore, the structure receiving the bracket (833) on the inner side of the hollow member (510) may be omitted at a position near the bottom.

[0039] In the above structure of the self-checkout device (1), the shopper hangs a bag handle for carrying a product on, for example, the bag hanger (73, 74) on the bag filling station (2). Next, the shopper takes a product out of a shopping basket placed on the basket stand (4), reads the barcode on the surface of the product with the reader (8), and places it in a bag on the bag filling station (2) while checking the UI terminal (6).

[0040] The meter inside the envelope filling unit (2) measures the load received by the stand (21) and outputs the value to the control unit (63). The control unit (63) receives the output from the reading unit (8), registers the product information, and compares it with the output of the meter. Additionally, the control unit (63) receives payment for the product from the shopper via the UI terminal (6) and the payment terminal (9). Then, the control unit (63) prints a receipt containing the details of the transaction via the printer (10).

[0041] In adjusting the height of the printer (10), the printer support member (511) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514) are separated from the hollow member (510), and the printer support member (511) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514) are fixed to the hollow member (510) again by switching the order of the top and bottom so that the installation height of the printer support member (511) becomes the desired height.

[0042] Likewise, in adjusting the height of the reading unit (8), the scanner support (83) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514) are separated from the hollow member (510), and the scanner support (83) and the plate-shaped members (512 to 514) are fixed back to the hollow member (510) by switching the order of the upper and lower parts so that the installation height of the scanner support (83) becomes the desired height.

[0043] As such, according to the self-checkout device (1) of the present embodiment, the height of the device, which is convenient to use, varies depending on height and is not limited to a single configuration (e.g., the reader unit (8) or the printer (10)), and the installation height can be changed. Accordingly, for example, if multiple self-checkout devices (1) are installed in a store, it is possible to install a self-checkout device (1) with the reader unit (8) or the printer (10) positioned high and a self-checkout device (1) with the printer positioned low, in accordance with customer preferences.

[0044] As described above, according to the present embodiment, a self-checkout device that enables a user-friendly layout without limiting the number of operators can be provided.

[0045] Additionally, the self-checkout device (1) can switch the left and right sides of the configuration according to the direction of movement assumed, for example, for a customer acting as an operator. Here, FIGS. 7 and FIGS. 8 are a front view and a perspective view of the self-checkout device (1) with the left and right switchable configuration switched.

[0046] The configurations that are interchangeable on the left and right sides are, for example, the reader (8) and the printer (10). Additionally, for example, the envelope hanger (73) and the envelope hanger (74) are also interchangeable on the left and right sides. Furthermore, the auxiliary stand (3) can be loaded on the side opposite the envelope filling stand (2). Additionally, the basket holder (4) can be installed on the side opposite the auxiliary stand (3).

[0047] As described above, the configuration in which the layout with good usability changes according to the direction of customer movement is interchangeable on the left and right, so that the layout can be adjusted according to the direction of customer movement at the installation location of the self checkout device (1) and the usability can be improved.

[0048] Although some 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 may be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and essence of the invention and are also included within the scope equivalent to the invention described in the claims.

Claims

Claim 1 A self-checkout device comprising a bag filling unit comprising a stand and a weighing device for weighing a load loaded on the stand, a pair of column members installed on the bag filling unit facing up and down in the longitudinal direction, a beam member connecting the upper portions of the column members, a user interface terminal installed on the beam member, and one or more brackets for receiving installation of an external attachment device, wherein the pair of column members are installed at the left and right ends of a non-weighing area provided inside the upper surface of the bag filling unit, which is located inside the stand, and the first surface and the second surface opposite to the first surface of the pair of column members are configured such that a plurality of types of divided exterior members having different dimensions in the longitudinal direction and the brackets are combined vertically so as to change the arrangement order, and the brackets constitute a part of the second surface such that the external attachment device attached to the brackets becomes the outer side of the stand. Claim 2 A self-checkout device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is provided on each of a pair of column portions, and each of the brackets is configured to be interchangeable in position with each other. Claim 3 A self-checkout device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of bag hangers provided above the stand to support a handle for carrying a product, wherein one side is formed shorter than the other and configured to be interchangeable in position. Claim 4 A self-checkout device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a temporary stand installed on the stand and positioned such that at least a portion thereof is fitted into a pair of the column portions. Claim 5 A self-checkout device according to claim 1, further comprising a basket holder for loading shopping baskets and an auxiliary member that creates a predetermined gap between the bag filling unit and the basket holder, and having a bracket disposed above the auxiliary member on which a reading unit for reading product information is installed.

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