HK1077651B - System and method for detecting and rewarding the return of a supermarket trolley or a luggage trolley taken from a trolley park - Google Patents

Description

System and method for detecting and rewarding the return of shopping or luggage carts removed from a collection

Technical Field

The invention relates to a system for detecting and rewarding the return of a shopping or luggage cart removed from a store, and to a corresponding method.

Background

Accordingly, the system includes a plurality of shopping carts, each of which is equipped with a non-contact sensible, individual tag; comprising at least one store for shopping carts and a verification device for shopping cart markings arranged on the store, wherein the verification device is designed in such a way that it generates a signal for sending a reward when recognizing a returned shopping cart.

The term "shopping cart" in the following does not only refer to a narrow shopping cart, but also to a luggage cart or a conveyor cart, etc.

Self-service malls are often willing to use one cart for each customer. For this purpose, shopping carts are usually stored in a store, from which the customer takes one cart and can bring it to the shopping mall. However, as a rule of thumb, the customer has a low level of motivation to return the used shopping cart to the store after it has been used up. Instead, the cart is often left where the customer is unloading-that is, generally in the middle of a mall parking lot. This results in an increase in the outlay in the store, since the person who has to return the randomly deposited shopping cart must be allocated. Furthermore, there is often a risk of damage to parked vehicles or the like due to the random placement of shopping carts.

In order to encourage customers to return used shopping carts to a depository, it is popular to equip shopping carts with a deposit lock. Thus, the customer can only take the shopping cart from the repository after placing deposit coins and the like in the deposit lock. The deposit coins can only be removed again if the shopping cart is properly returned to the repository. In addition to the negative mood of customers for shopping, the deposit lock system is also perceived as an unpleasant tie in some customer circles and perceived as too humanized if the customer does not have coins deposited on hand.

In order to avoid the disadvantages of the deposit lock system, an electronic system for returning the identification and compensation of shopping carts is proposed in WO98/51197, wherein each shopping cart is equipped with an electronic transmitting and receiving device. By means of which the path of each shopping cart is known and stored by means of a verification device in the store, in particular the checkout counter and the store of shopping carts. If the cart passes the checkout counter and arrives at the repository, the central data processing device can then know that a payment in the form of a shopping book or lottery membership card has been issued. However, the electronic transmitter-receiver devices that must be installed on each shopping cart cause considerable additional costs in the initial installation and considerable maintenance costs due to the necessary mobile energy supply. Furthermore, the operation of shopping carts is often not gentle, and it must therefore be taken into account that such transmitting-receiving devices often fail.

It is therefore proposed in WO01/82241 that instead of an electronic transmitting/receiving device, the shopping cart is provided with individual optically identifiable markings, by means of which both shopping carts in the store and in the store can be optically identified. Such a separate shopping cart sign can be designed as a purely passive reflector, so that it is neither necessary to provide a signal generator nor a detector.

Unlike conventional deposit systems, the problem with this contactless return system is that if the customer places the shopping cart at will in the depository, the return of the shopping cart is not appropriate. Instead, it should be ensured that the customer places the shopping cart in the store on demand, which usually means that the shopping cart is pushed into a shopping cart stack formed in the store. This problem has been recognized in WO 01/82241; it is proposed that a digital camera be programmed in such a way that it recognizes the arcuate grip of the shopping cart and informs the checking device whether the shopping cart which is to be compensated is parked with its arcuate grip within the arcuate grip array in which the respective shopping cart is stacked with a defined tolerance.

The individual steps, conditions and preconditions for the return of the shopping cart to a mortgage-free system are known in particular from the above-mentioned information belonging to the prior art and from WO01/82239 and WO 01/82240.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to further develop a shopping cart retrieval system and a corresponding method of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular to measure the fact that a shopping cart is correctly retrieved to a repository provided for this purpose as economically as possible and yet reliably.

To this end, the invention provides a system for detecting and rewarding the return of shopping carts or luggage carts taken out of a collection, having a plurality of shopping carts, each of which is provided with a contactless identifiable, unique identifier; having at least one shopping cart inventory; and having a verification device for the labeling of the shopping cart arranged in the region of the store, wherein the verification device is designed in such a way that it generates a reward signal when a returned shopping cart is recognized, characterized in that: the tag of the shopping cart may be transitionable from an active state, in which the tag is identifiable by the detection device, to an inactive state, in which the tag is not identifiable by the detection device, or vice versa.

Accordingly, the invention provides a method for detecting and rewarding the return of shopping carts or luggage carts removed from a store, wherein each shopping cart is identified contactlessly by a detection device in the area of the store by means of a unique identifier and a reward is issued when returning the shopping carts to the store, characterized in that: the tag of the shopping cart is changed in connection with the return to the store from an active state, in which the tag is recognizable by the detection device, into a deactivated state, in which the tag is not recognizable by the detection device, or vice versa.

In other words, the invention differs from the known return system in that the marking of the shopping cart is changed from an active state, in which the marking is recognizable by the detection device, into a deactivated state, in which the marking is not recognizable by the detection device, and/or conversely the marking of the shopping cart is changed from the deactivated state into the active state, wherein the change from the active state into the deactivated state or the change from the deactivated state into the active state is adapted to take place in connection with the return of the shopping cart into the location.

This inventive shopping cart marking solution makes it possible for the detection device, which can detect the individual marking of each individual shopping cart, to detect not only the presence of each shopping cart, but also to obtain additional information by "switching" the marking (or also an adjacent marking) from active to inactive or vice versa. If the switch from active to deactivated or from deactivated to active is triggered by a process which can be detected by the device, it can detect, transmit and continue the progress of this process, as well as the presence of the shopping cart.

The process of generating the additional information can be, in particular, the correct return of the shopping cart into the repository. If the verification device identifies that the cart is present in the area of the hub, it is not sufficient to issue a reward, and only if the verification device identification flag is switched from active to deactivated or vice versa, does the reward be issued or a signal to issue a reward is generated, indicating that the cart has entered the hub correctly. In particular, the switching of the flag is only carried out if a confirmed shopping cart enters a shopping cart stack arranged in the collection point within a defined tolerance range. However, it is also conceivable that the switching of the marking can also be triggered by another action that can be recognized by the device by the customer.

The invention can be implemented most simply if the markings of the shopping cart are optically identifiable and the verification device is an optical verification device. The encoded symbol string is considered first as an optical marker, but other optical markers are also conceivable, as already described in WO 01/82241.

In the present invention, the flag switches from active to deactivated state or vice versa to send an additional message to the verification device indicating that the relevant shopping cart is correctly entered into the shopping cart stack arranged in the store, so that there are different ways of activation or deactivation in such a scenario:

the solution of the system is that the marking of the individual shopping carts not in the row of shopping carts is essentially in its activated state, which provides the additional advantage that the shopping carts can be identified by their marking even outside the store, i.e. in particular in the store or at the checkout counter.

Once a second shopping cart, which is located behind the first shopping cart, is pushed into the first shopping cart, forming or continuing a stack, the flag transitions from its active (basic) state to a deactivated state in the first shopping cart.

Alternatively, if a second shopping cart is pushed into the first shopping cart in front of it to form or continue a row of shopping carts, the flag transitions from its active (basic) state to a deactivated state in the second shopping cart. The transition is made immediately, in particular if the shopping cart concerned is correctly entered into the stacking column.

In both cases, the switching of the flag results in only the last shopping cart in a shopping cart stack having the flag in the active state. All other signs of the shopping cart placed in a stack before it are switched to a suppressed state.

This makes it possible to implement the invention very economically, for example by using a pivotable plate as a marking for shopping carts. Thus, for example, each of the stack-to-certification devices may include a camera which is disposed at the end of the stack and which identifies the marker of the respective last cart relative to the stack. As soon as a further shopping cart has been pushed into the last shopping cart so far, the respective marking plate of the now last second shopping cart is turned over, so that the marking plate of the shopping cart just entered is now recognized and confirmed by the camera, i.e. the shopping cart just returned is not confirmed if the returned shopping cart is pushed into the stack correctly until the marking of the preceding shopping cart has changed into its inactive state.

Such plates can be mounted on the floor of the shopping cart or on the usually reversible rear wall of the shopping cart, wherein the marking plate of the shopping cart is pivoted from a substantially vertical position into a substantially horizontal position when another shopping cart is pushed in.

The invention can also be implemented such that the marking of the shopping cart is essentially in its suppressed state if it is separate, i.e. not in the shopping cart row. Here, if a second shopping cart is pushed into a first shopping cart located in front of it, the tag of the second shopping cart is changed to its active state. The effect achieved thereby is that: the checking device can always only check the last shopping cart in a shopping cart stack, since only with the marking in the active state, only correct identification of the relevant shopping cart can be carried out if it is correctly placed in the stack.

It may be advantageous if, for example, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the marking of a shopping cart which is not empty is always kept in its state, i.e. in the suppressed state. This prevents a customer from attempting to push a shopping cart that has not been unloaded into the repository, receive payment, and only then empty the cart, after which he can comfort himself.

In a development of the system just described, it is conceivable that the marking of the second shopping cart is changed from its deactivated (basic) state into its activated state when the second shopping cart is pushed into the first shopping cart located in front of it, but is changed back into its deactivated state if a third shopping cart located behind the second shopping cart is pushed into the second vehicle. The possibility is thus likewise obtained that, as in the first variant described, a camera is provided at the end of the shopping-cart stack, which always only recognizes the marking of the last shopping cart that has just been inserted, whereas the markings of all shopping carts located in front of it in the stack are no longer recognizable because they are in their deactivated state.

In all the embodiments described, in order to ensure the functionality of the individual first shopping cart systems for each stack, an activation device is advantageously provided at the store, which changes the state of the label of the first shopping cart as if it were pushed into the shopping cart in front of it.

Several markers may also be provided on each shopping cart to allow measurements to be taken from different directions. So that shopping carts operating in different orientations can be measured by the verification device.

In addition to the particularly preferred optical marking, it is also conceivable in all of the embodiments described to provide a contactless electronic marking, in particular a transponder, on the shopping cart. It is only important that the transponder can be changed from the active state to the deactivated state and vice versa. This can be achieved in addition to the electronic method by a purely mechanical approach, i.e. in which the transponder is pivoted when the shopping cart is pushed into the stacking column, for example, in such a way that it is located in a shielded metal housing, or simply merely changes its orientation, so that the verification device can no longer recognize it, or recognizes it as "wrong" orientation.

Further particular advantages result if the verification device is designed such that it can be identified when the repository is full and/or when the repository is empty. Since it is generally observed that a customer who parks a car in a parking lot far from a mall takes the car at a repository near the mall, but does not replace it after shopping, but rather utilizes the repository near the car. This results in the fact that the entire row of shopping cart stacks must be transported from a store located far away from the store to a store located close to the store at regular intervals with corresponding expenditure of manpower.

If the verification device can now ascertain that a shopping cart has entered a repository identified as full or additionally entered the columns present there, the return can be rejected accordingly.

However, according to a preferred development of the solution according to the invention, it is possible to prevent this behavior of the customer at the front edge and to achieve a uniform occupancy of the repository:

if each repository is equipped with a display element which is connected to the certification device for data exchange and is visually displayed to the outside, the repository being empty and/or full, then in some cases customers may know at a distance that they must use another repository in order to be able to receive a reward. If the verification devices of the various stores are connected to one another for data exchange, it is even possible to implement a guidance system in which the display element informs the customer that a store has not been filled up recently.

The camera mentioned above as an integral part of the inventive assay device may be provided with a microprocessor and one or several image recognition sensors, for example designed as a CCD or CMOS camera, and the objective lens may have an electrically adjustable focal length. However, it is also possible to use a plurality of image sensors, each of which is designed with its own objective lens having a different, but fixed focal length. The observation area can thus be divided into a number of measurement areas, in particular far apart areas. This has the advantage that an objective lens with a less high-grade projection performance and an image sensor with a lower light sensitivity can be used. Furthermore, no control and movement mechanisms for the focal point of the objective need be present, which can be problematic especially at low temperatures.

To compensate for poor lighting conditions, the assay device may be equipped with a lighting device. This can be done, for example, with light emitting diodes, in some cases in the infrared region. In order to save energy, the lighting device or the camera can be triggered by a motion sensor, so that the lighting device and/or the camera are only activated when the shopping cart is actually moved into the existing position. The lighting device can then also be operated in a flashlight mode, which further reduces power consumption.

The certification equipment may be made modular and in particular with a central module, camera modules and, in some cases, lighting modules. The central module monitors all connected modules, can control them and exchange information. The central module, using the data measured by the camera module, furthermore controls a read-write device, in particular for the customer data carrier, in order to register a reward into the customer account. Alternatively, the central module may control a printer which then issues a printed reward voucher. The central module is preferably placed near the entrance of the repository. There may also be a motion sensor by means of which the central module controls the camera module and in some cases the lighting module. In this way, if no one remains near the repository, the corresponding module can be switched off or put into a quiescent mode to save energy.

The central module can furthermore operate an acoustic and/or optical unit for displaying information to the customer, whether it concerns the possibility of a reward for the shopping cart just returned, the successful allocation of the reward or the amount thereof. Other information may also be displayed, such as the number of shopping carts present at the repository, the fact that the repository is free or it can no longer receive other shopping carts, and therefore no longer be remunerated for them. Furthermore, the information can be displayed in a particularly visible manner, for example by means of a display device on the roof of the storage.

Furthermore, a power module can be present, which is embodied as a line section in a storage unit connectable to the power grid, and which in other cases consists of a solar module, for example.

Drawings

Some embodiments of the system according to the invention will be described and explained in more detail below with the aid of the drawing, in which further advantageous configurations of the invention are described.

The invention is explained in detail below with the aid of a number of figures.

The attached drawings show that:

figure 1 shows in side view a store with a number of shopping carts,

figure 2 shows a shopping cart in a side view,

figure 3 shows the shopping cart of figure 2 in a front view,

figure 4 shows the shopping cart in figure 2 in a top view from above,

figure 5 the sump seen in the direction of the inlet,

figure 6 shows a collection of shopping carts according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the shopping cart according to FIG. 6,

figure 8 shows a collection of shopping carts according to a third embodiment,

FIG. 9 is a partial view of the shopping cart according to FIG. 8,

figure 10 shows a collection of shopping carts according to a fourth embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a store 10 for shopping carts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 of the same type for a mall. The sump 10 is formed in a known manner as a weather shed with a roof 40 supported by struts 42. The hub has a rectangular profile. The sump 10 is enclosed on three sides by elements not shown, so that the sump 10 can only be accessed through one inlet.

Within the store shopping carts 12, 13, 15 are regularly placed. The cart 11 has just been returned to the store 10, but has not yet been properly positioned. Shopping cart 14 is located outside of the collection 10. On the opposite side of the repository 10 to the entrance, a camera module 62 is mounted, the viewing direction of which is directed towards the entrance.

Shopping carts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are identically constructed. The different graphic markings for the individual shopping carts are used primarily to be able to specify their position within a plurality of shopping carts.

The direction of movement of the cart when the user grasps the handle of the cart and pushes it forward defines the direction of travel of the cart.

The travel direction of the shopping cart is thus from left to right in fig. 1, 2 and 4 and from right to left in fig. 6 to 10. The view in FIG. 3 shows the shopping cart coming to the viewer.

The shopping cart in fig. 2 has a frame 18 that can be wheeled by rollers 16. A push handle 20 and a basket 24 are mounted on the frame 18. The basket 24 defines a carrying cavity by pushing on the handle 20 to define the rear end of the cart 14 and is formed of two side walls 28, a front end wall 27, a floor 30 and a back arm 29. The rear wall 29 is formed in a known manner as a flap which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis S, so that the shopping carts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 can be pushed into one another in a known manner. The high parking density of the correctly positioned shopping carts 12, 13, 15 in the store 10 is achieved by pushing them into one another.

A plate 32 is provided as an identification mark on the shopping cart, which in the illustrated embodiment is pivotably secured to the bottom of the basket 24. A unique mark 36 is provided on the plate 32. The plate 32 can be moved from a first state in which the activation of the marker 36 is clearly visible, to a second state in which the marker 36 is suppressed, in which state the marker 36 is not visible.

In the illustrated example, the plate 32 is pivotally mounted on the bottom surface of the basket 24 and hangs substantially vertically downwardly in the activated state. In the deactivated state, the plate 32 is approximately horizontally attached to the bottom 30 of the basket 24, and in the activated state, the plate 32 projects beyond the side image of the basket 24. When there are other shopping carts in front of them whose board 32 occupies the deactivated state, then the indicia 36 provided on the board 32 can be seen from the front, straight or slightly inclined, when in the activated state.

Fig. 3 shows the shopping cart already described above, viewed from the front. The plate 32 is in an activated state.

The indicia 36 are implemented in the illustrated example as a four digit bar code. The bar code can represent any alphanumeric symbol by means of which the shopping cart can be identified exactly. However, other markings, such as symbols or two-dimensional point codes or bar codes, are also conceivable, as is well known for graphic recognition methods.

It is also contemplated that other types of indicia may be used to identify a single cart, such as a transponder or resonator, that may transition from an active state in which a signal is transmitted or returned to a deactivated state in which no signal is transmitted or returned.

The indicia of each shopping cart is preferably unique so that each cart is positively identifiable.

Reference is again made to the situation in fig. 1. The plates 32 and 32a have different positions. Plate 32 is in the deactivated state and plate 32a is in the activated state. The last shopping cart in a column is cart number 11.

In the example shown, if the shopping cart is pushed completely into another shopping cart, the plate 32 on the shopping cart is pivoted away. The shopping carts 12, 13, 15 have been completely inserted into one another and the plates 32 arranged thereon have been pivoted away and can no longer be recognized by the camera. The plate 32a mounted on the cart 11 is visible as the plate 32 is pivoted away.

The camera module 62 no longer obstructs the view of the markings 36 of the shopping cart 11 arranged on the plate 32a by any other part of the shopping cart arranged in front of it.

With the shopping cart 11 in place, the plate 32a secured thereto is pivoted away and the markings on the plate are no longer visible to the camera 62.

This transition from a state in which the indicia is visible to a state in which the indicia is no longer visible is interpreted as an indicator that the shopping cart 11 is properly positioned. Reward can be issued based on the correct placement of the shopping cart.

The first shopping cart 13 inserted into the store 10 has no previous cart that can be pushed in. In order to be able to switch the plate 32 of the shopping cart 11 into the inhibiting position, a triggering device 56 is provided.

Fig. 5 shows a view of the depository 10 in the direction of the entrance of the depository 10. The store 10 is used to store two rows of shopping carts. In the example shown there are only shopping carts in the left column 50. There is no shopping cart in the right column. The two rows are separated from each other by rails 54, rails 54 simultaneously ensuring a straight line of shopping carts in row 50.

At the end of the column a cross bar 44 is provided, and in the region of the right column a camera module 62 can be seen. At the end of the left column there is also another camera module, but in this view is blocked by flap 32.

Each camera module 62 is equipped with at least one image sensor 64 and one illumination module 66. The camera module 62 is arranged such that it can be passed along the train of shopping carts arranged to it under the baskets 30 of shopping carts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, measuring the markings 36 on the suspended plate 32. For this purpose, the camera module 62 is preferably mounted such that it is aligned horizontally and vertically with the panels 32 depending from the shopping carts in the respective row. The image sensor 64 can thus measure the image of the marks 36 with as little distortion as possible.

In order to be able to measure shopping carts over the entire length of a train, three image sensors 64a, 64b and 64c are provided in the illustrated camera module 62, which are each equipped with a different objective lens, so that each image sensor 64 covers a different viewing angle and a different radius of action.

For a given size of the indicia 36 on the plate 32, the viewing angle of the first image sensor 64a is preferably selected so that it also completely measures the indicia 36 on the plate 32 that is activated by a shopping cart if the cart is located at the closest distance from the first image sensor 64a as determined by the configuration of the store 10. The maximum effective radius of the first image sensor 64a is thus determined by the maximum distance at which the image of the marking 36 is still large enough to be resolved by the image sensor 64 a. This maximum allowable distance is limited by the resolution of the image sensor 64a, but also by the focus range and quality of the optics.

The viewing angle of the second image sensor 64b is likewise selected such that it is possible, taking into account the tolerances already mentioned, to completely measure the marking 36 at the maximum permissible distance for the first image sensor. The maximum allowable distance for the marker 36 of the second image sensor 64b is limited by the same conditions as in the case of the first image sensor 64 a. From this distance the marker 36 is measured by the third image sensor 64 c.

In this way, the distance ranges of the three image sensors 64a, 64b, 64c are connected to one another without gaps, so that a certain number of image sensors can be used to measure each plate 32 on any shopping cart over the entire length of a row.

The distance ranges are preferably coordinated in such a way that they slightly overlap one another in order to ensure a reliable measurement.

The image sensor providing the best image is selected for the measurement. For this purpose, a control unit, for example a microcontroller, which is contained in the camera module, can read out the images of the three image sensors in sequence and test the available image content.

In particular, the microcontroller can start the operation of the camera module which provides the last available image. Since it is assumed that the next image is also from this image sensor: if no change has occurred in the train, or if a new shopping cart is added or removed, it is estimated that the board to be newly identified is now located in the vicinity of the last identified board, and therefore there is a high probability that it is still within the radius of action of the same image sensor.

The camera module 62 is also equipped with an illumination module 66 for illuminating the plate 32, for example in the form of one or more infrared led arrays, which can be switched on, in particular, immediately before the plate 32 is measured, if required.

Optionally, an additional lighting module is provided along the row 50, which may be mounted, for example, on a side rail, to sufficiently illuminate the panel 32 of the shopping cart located at the front.

Mounted on the post 42 at the entrance 48 is a central module 68, which is connected to the camera module 62. The central module 68 furthermore has a read-write device 70 for customer data carriers and one or several output units 72, for example a display, a signal light, a loudspeaker or a document printer.

A display module 74 is mounted above each train of carts and displays occupancy information for each train to the customer. The display module 74 is connected to and controlled by the central module 68. The central module 68 has all information about the vehicles entering and exiting and may display, for example, "empty" via the display module 74 when no more vehicles can be provided in each column, or "stop" when each column is full, so that no more consideration is given to the vehicles that are re-entering.

If the customer returns the cart to the repository 10, he pushes the cart 11 through the portal 48 into the measurement range of the image sensor 64. Indicia 36 on the plate 32a are measured and identify the number of the shopping cart. The central module 68 stores the list of numbers of the shopping carts 12, 13, 15 currently stored in its repository 10. By means of this table it can be recognized whether a shopping cart has been returned or removed. To this end, the central module 68 compares the currently identified number with the numbers stored on the table. If the number currently identified is already present on the list, this means that the shopping cart with this number is removed from the column and the number is removed from the list. If the number is not present in the list, the cart is newly entered into the column. The number of the newly entered shopping cart is recorded on the table and a reward can be issued.

In order to free up the measuring range of the image sensors 64a, 64b, 64c again for the next incoming shopping cart, the validation flag is again switched into the suppression state when the new incoming shopping cart is completely pushed in correctly. This is done by turning the plate 32 to a horizontal position. It is therefore conceivable that a reward is only issued if a transition from the active state to the suppressed state is identified.

It is also possible to optionally measure by means of a verification device in what size the marking 36 is reproduced on the respective image sensor 64a, 64b, 64c and to conclude therefrom what the distance between the shopping cart and the camera module is. So that on the one hand the number of shopping carts 12, 13, 15 in this column can be determined. This information can be used, for example, to limit the length of the column 50 by, in some cases, displaying to the customer by means of the display module 74 above the relevant column that shopping carts can no longer be placed in the column 50 and/or that consideration is no longer paid for the shopping carts in the column 50.

On the other hand, it can be determined from this whether, for example, the shopping cart 11 is actually correctly positioned, i.e., pushed completely into the shopping cart 15 located in front of it. For this purpose, the measured distance of the marking 36 of the shopping cart 15 can be stored, for example, in the central module 68. In this way, it can be checked whether the newly entered shopping cart 11 is close enough, i.e. within a tolerance range, within a desired distance.

The advantage of this embodiment is that the shopping cart 11 can be identified as soon as it is within the measuring range of the camera module in the respective column 50 and before it is pushed into the last shopping cart 15 in this column 50. Furthermore, the dynamic processing of the change in the size of the image of the marking 36 makes it possible to record whether the shopping cart 11 is moving in the row 50 or out of it, i.e. whether it is being moved in or out of it.

Fig. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the previous embodiments, the state of the marking of each shopping cart is not changed by pushing in the shopping cart located in front of it, but only by pushing in the next shopping cart.

In the example shown, the flag of the last shopping cart 15 in the row is always active and only changes to the deactivated state by pushing in the next shopping cart 11.

This can be achieved, as is described, for example, with reference to fig. 6, by a mechanical device pivoting the plate 32 of the shopping cart 15 away from the shopping cart 11 when it is pushed into the shopping cart 15 in such a way that the markings 36 on the plate 32 can no longer be recognized by the camera 62. While the camera 62 can see the panel 32a of the cart 11 newly entering the row as the panel 32 is rotated away. The tag of each last shopping cart is always activated as long as no other shopping cart is pushed in.

By corresponding mechanical measures, the next shopping cart 11 is only transferred to the other state when it is pushed completely into the shopping cart 15 located in front of it. Another shopping cart that has newly entered can only be identified at the beginning of this time.

If the returned cart 11 is not pushed correctly into the preceding cart 15, it cannot be identified and a reward cannot be issued. This advantageously encourages the person returning to the shopping cart 11 to notice that all shopping carts in a row are pushed into each other correctly. This always results in a high parking density of the shopping cart.

In one possible embodiment of the mechanical measure, which is shown in detail in fig. 7, a driving pin 82 is provided on the plate 32, which pin projects through the floor of the basket 24 into the loading space of the shopping cart 15. When the next shopping cart 11 is pushed in, the bottom of the next shopping cart 11 acts on the catch pin 82, as a result of which the plate 32 is pivoted into its inhibiting position. This inhibition position is indicated by a dashed line and marked with an "a".

The camera module 62 therefore always sees only the plate of the last shopping cart 15 in the row, and until a new shopping cart 11 arrives or the last shopping cart that has entered is removed again.

If the last shopping cart 11 in the row is removed again, the status of the flag 32 on the original second last, now last shopping cart 15 becomes active.

This embodiment has the advantage that the plate 32 is stationary during the measurement and can therefore be measured relatively easily. Furthermore, the time available for measuring the marking 36 is longer than in the first embodiment, since the plate 32 remains in the measuring range of the camera module 62 until the next shopping cart is pushed in. This makes it possible to carry out the measurement process only less frequently, as a result of which energy can be saved. This is particularly important when the repository is powered by batteries or solar cells.

Fig. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment. In this third embodiment, the plate 32 is arranged in such a way that the plate 32a is not activated when the shopping cart 11 is placed freely, but only by pushing in the preceding shopping cart 15. While the plate 32 of the first and now last second shopping cart 15 changes from the active state to the deactivated state.

Fig. 9 shows the region of the plate 32 in fig. 8 in a partial view. The plate 32 is held in the first position "a" by a torsion spring 84. In position "A" the plate 32 is in the hold-down position, and when the cart is pushed into another cart the free end of the plate 32 hits the bottom of the previous cart and pivots the plate about its pivot axis to a vertical position "B". In position "B" the plate 32 is in an activated state. In position "B" the pin 82 is driven into the basket. The markings provided on the board can be recognized by the camera 62. If another shopping cart is now pushed in, it strikes the driver pin 82 and rotates the plate 32 into position "C". In position "C" the plate 32 is again in the inhibiting condition.

Figure 10 shows a fourth embodiment in which the plate 32 is mounted below the loading surface of the shopping cart 11, 15, 16 approximately at the level of the rollers. The camera 62 is located between the rollers just above the ground. The cart can thus be pushed arbitrarily forward, past the camera 62.

This has the advantage that the shopping cart can be removed not only from the end of the row, but also from the front of the row.

The embodiment shown in fig. 6 and 7 is very well suited for removing a shopping cart from the front end of a train, in which case the plate 32 of the shopping cart is in a deactivated state until another shopping cart is pushed in. If the shopping cart 16 is removed from the beginning of the train, the same effect is produced on the plate 32 as when the shopping cart pushed in is removed again from behind, causing the plate 32 to assume the activated state. The marking of the shopping cart 16 which is now removed forward is recognized by the camera 62.

In this embodiment, shopping carts can be removed from the front of a row and rejoined from the rear of a row. Thereby forming a column that migrates backward. The system can determine that several shopping carts have been removed from the front, and thus calculate which cart is at the front of the train. In this embodiment, it is now conceivable that the customer can be compensated or even compensated for if he moves the entire train forward when pushing in the shopping cart returned by him, thereby compensating for the "migration" of the train backwards.

To prevent customers from getting paid by getting full shopping carts to the collection after shopping, and then pushing the carts to their cars and throwing them there, the system is tricked into assuming as another criterion that only empty carts are returned, a reward is issued.

For example, the plate 32 may be designed such that once items are placed in the cart, the plate 32 of the cart is flipped over. If the cart is returned with the contents of the basket and pushed into the last cart, this causes the indicia on the last cart to be "suppressed", but because the plate 32 of the pushed cart is locked in the suppressed position, the return cannot be identified and no payment is made.

Another possibility for the customer to make a fraud is that he takes a shopping cart, then quickly pushes it back to the repository, and then gets a reward, while the cart is not being used for shopping. To prevent this type of fraud, the reward may be made dependent on the time interval between the removal and return of the cart. The reward can only be issued after a certain time interval has elapsed. It is also envisaged that the amount of compensation will vary with the length of this time interval, so that customers who are in the store for a longer period will be given more compensation.

In this embodiment, the return or removal of the shopping cart is detected by means of an optically measurable marking, which can be transferred from the active state into the deactivated state or vice versa in a purely mechanical manner. This optical recognition in combination with the mechanically triggered state transition offers a series of advantages:

the markings and panels provided on the shopping cart can be produced economically and are not replaced at great expense, nor are they equipped with their own energy source. The presence of the markings on the shopping cart and the mechanical function of the plate can be easily checked and therefore maintenance costs are low.

Within the scope of the invention, optical markers of shopping carts are also conceivable which can be changed from an active state to a deactivated state or vice versa without mechanical measures: in the simplest case, a marking that can be read from above or below can be provided on the bottom of the shopping cart, which marking can be covered by the shopping cart located behind or in front of the row when the two shopping carts concerned are pushed into each other correctly, so that the shopping cart becomes deactivated. This eliminates the need for any mechanical parts for changing the mark (state).

But labels containing electronic components may also be used as well.

It is suitable for using passive electronic tags that operate without their own power source, or active tags that operate with their own power source.

Passive electronic tags are, for example, so-called transponders, which can be used to advantage, for example, in such a way that they emit "response signals" of different intensity depending on the position.

It is also possible to take full advantage of the shielding properties of the shopping cart basket and to place the transponder inside or outside the basket, for example, depending on the situation.

The "activated" or "deactivated" state of the marking can be distinguished by means of response signals of different strengths of the transponder.

In the case of an active electronic marker, for example a small transmitter, it can be switched to the active or deactivated state by a switch mounted on the shopping cart.

An LCD display may for example be used as another conceivable marking with electronic elements. As an alternative to indicia on the reversible panel, a confirmation feature belonging to the shopping cart may be displayed on the LCD display. The LCD display can change its display state depending on whether the shopping cart is being dispensed, pushed into a previous shopping cart, or pushed in. The display may for example consist of a transparent LCD display, which is fixed to the bottom surface of the basket.

The suppression state of the identification mark can be established here by the display being switched to transparent. And in the activated state it is opaque and displays the identifying characteristics of the corresponding shopping cart.

Of course, the system can be used for other types of transport carriages which are available for short-term use, in addition to the shopping cart system described.

Claims (27)

1. A system for detecting and rewarding the return of shopping or luggage carts taken from a store, comprising a plurality of shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), each of which is provided with a contactless identifiable, unique identifier (32, 32 a); having at least one shopping cart inventory (10); and having a verification device (62, 64) for the cart marking, which is arranged in the region of the store, wherein the verification device is designed in such a way that it generates a reward signal when a returned cart is detected, characterized in that: the marking (32, 32a) of the shopping cart (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) can be transferred from an active state, in which the marking is recognizable by the detection device (62, 64), to an inactive state, in which the marking is not recognizable by the detection device, or vice versa.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the markings (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) are optically identifiable, and the verification devices (62, 64) are optical verification devices.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the marking (32, 32a) of the shopping cart (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is designed in such a way that the change from the active state to the deactivated state or from the deactivated state to the active state takes place in connection with the return of the shopping cart to the store (10).

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein: the marking (32, 32a) of the shopping cart (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is designed in such a way that it changes from the active state into the deactivated state or from the deactivated state into the active state only when the returned shopping cart (11) is placed within a defined tolerance into a shopping cart stack (12, 13, 15) arranged in the store (10).

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by: the marking (32) of a single shopping cart (14) which is not in the shopping cart stack (12, 13, 15) is in its active state.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein: the marking (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is designed in such a way that the marking (32) of a first shopping cart (15) changes from its active state into the deactivated state when a second shopping cart (11) located behind it is pushed into the first shopping cart (15) to form or continue a stack.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein: the marking (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is designed in such a way that the marking of a second shopping cart (11) changes from its active state into the deactivated state when it is pushed into a first shopping cart (15) located in front of it to form or to follow a shopping cart stack.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by: the marking (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is designed in such a way that the marking (32a) of a second individual shopping cart (11) not in the shopping cart stack is in its deactivated state, and the marking (32a) of the second shopping cart (11) changes to its activated state when it is pushed into a first shopping cart (15) located in front of it.

9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by: the marking (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) is designed in such a way that the marking (32) of a second individual shopping cart (15) which is not located in the row of shopping carts is in its deactivated state, that the marking (32) of the second shopping cart (15) changes into its activated state when it is pushed into a first shopping cart (12) located in front of it, and that the marking (32) changes back into its deactivated state when a third shopping cart (11) located behind the second shopping cart (15) is pushed into the second shopping cart (15).

10. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by: the status of the flag (32) of a non-empty shopping cart (14) is always maintained.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the status of the flag (32) of a non-empty shopping cart (14) is always suppressed.

12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by: the markings (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) are each formed by a pivotable plate.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the plate is pivotably mounted on the underside (30) of the shopping cart (11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

14. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the plate is mounted on a reversible rear wall (29) of the shopping cart (11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

15. A system according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: the markers (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) each comprise a transponder.

16. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a separate certification device (62) is provided for each shopping cart stack (12, 13, 15) formed within the collection bay (10).

17. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the verification device (62) is designed in such a way that it can be recognized when a repository (10) is completely full.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the detection device (62) is designed in such a way that it can be identified when a store (10) is empty.

19. A system as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein: there are a plurality of storages (10), each storage (10) being equipped with a display unit (74) which is connected to the detection device (62) and is designed in such a way that it is visible to the outside when the storage (10) is empty and/or completely full.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein: the verification devices (62) of the various repositories (10) are interconnected to exchange data.

21. A system according to claim 2 or 16, wherein: the certification device (62) includes at least one camera (64).

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein: multiple cameras (64a, 64b, 64c) are present for different assay regions.

23. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein: for areas of different distances, there are multiple cameras.

24. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein: the verification device (62) is provided with an illumination device (66).

25. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein: the cameras (64a, 64b, 64c) are triggered by a motion sensor.

26. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein: the illumination device (66) is triggered by a motion sensor.

27. Method for verifying and rewarding the return of shopping carts or luggage carts removed from a repository, wherein each shopping cart is contactlessly identified by a verification device in the area of the repository by means of a unique identifier and a reward is issued when returning the shopping carts to the repository, characterized in that: the tag of the shopping cart is changed in connection with the return to the store from an active state, in which the tag is recognizable by the detection device, into a deactivated state, in which the tag is not recognizable by the detection device, or vice versa.