JP6828207B2 - Cart and holder - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to carts.

A shopping cart is a type of cart used by customers in stores such as supermarkets and shopping malls. There is known a shopping cart in which a scanner is attached to the shopping cart so that the customer can read the product code attached to the product. A display device is provided in such a shopping cart. The product name, unit price, etc. of the product whose product code has been read are displayed on this display device. A scanner attached to such a shopping cart has a direction in which the store sets a reading unit for a product code at a specific position of the shopping cart (for example, a position from above the customer's waist to the chest such as a horizontal frame) (for example, It is installed toward the customer side).

For this reason, it is necessary to lift the heavy product close to the scanner and scan the product code, which puts a burden on the customer. Further, even for a product such as a prepared food, which is not preferable to be tilted by a certain angle or more, there is a problem that the product must be tilted in order to scan the product code.

Therefore, there is a demand for a shopping cart in which customers can easily read the product code.

Japanese Patent No. 5711773

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cart in which the direction of the scanner can be changed so that the customer can easily read the product code.

The cart of the embodiment includes a frame and a holder. The cart has a placement section for placing the goods that the customer wants to purchase. The frame includes handlebars. When the holder is provided on the handle bar and the product imaging device for capturing information on the product can be arranged at an angle with respect to the pre-described placement portion, and the product imaging device is arranged on the pre-described placement portion, the holder is provided. The image pickup unit that captures the information of the product of the product image pickup device can be arranged so as to face the previously described placement unit side, and the arranged product image pickup device can be taken.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a shopping cart according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a scanner attached to a shopping cart. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control unit incorporated in the shopping cart. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the tilting operation of the scanner attached to the shopping cart. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of an image captured by a scanner attached to a shopping cart. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating image processing of a scanner attached to a shopping cart. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating image processing of a scanner attached to a shopping cart.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a shopping cart (cart) 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a scanner attached to the shopping cart 10, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control unit 200 incorporated in the shopping cart 10, and FIG. 4 is a tilt of the scanner attached to the shopping cart 10. It is a side view which shows operation schematically. In the present embodiment, the handle frame portion 40 side is the rear side, and the protrusion direction of the basket receiving portion 50 protruding from the handle frame portion is the front side.

Although not shown, the shopping cart 10 functions as a registration machine for reading the product code of the product that the customer wants to purchase. The read list of products is transferred to another device, the checkout machine. The customer shall make the payment by using the payment machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shopping cart 10 according to the present embodiment includes a cart unit 20 for carrying a shopping cart P for accommodating products, and an electrical component unit 100 attached to the cart unit 20. The cart portion 20 is intermediate between the caster portion 30 for smoothly moving on the floor surface, the handle frame portion 40 erected on the rear wheel side of the caster portion 30, and the handle frame portion 40 in the height direction. At the position, a basket receiving portion 50 attached to the front is provided. The caster portion 30 and the basket receiving portion 50 are configured so that the shopping cart P can be appropriately placed. The shopping cart P has a swinging handle Pa.

The caster portion 30 includes a square frame-shaped frame 31 having an open rear side and casters 32 provided at the four corners of the frame 31. The caster 32 includes a bracket 32a that freely rotates around an axis in the vertical direction, and a rubber or resin wheel 32b that freely rotates in the horizontal direction on the bracket 32a. The frame 31 is provided with a receiving portion 33. The receiving portion 33 is formed so as to fit the lower portion of the shopping cart P.

The handle frame portion 40 includes vertical frames 41 and 41 attached to the left and right rear wheel sides of the caster portion 30, and a horizontal handle bar (horizontal frame) 42 connecting the upper ends of the vertical frames 41 and 41, respectively. There is. An extension arm 43 is attached to the vertical frame 41 on the left side. A reinforcing material 44 is attached to the handle frame portion 40.

The basket receiving portion 50 has a square frame-shaped frame 51 and a receiving portion 52 provided on the lower side of the frame 51. The receiving portion 52 is formed so as to fit the lower part of the shopping cart P.

The electrical component 100 is provided above the caster section 30. A battery unit 110 attached over the vertical frames 41 and 41 and a scanner device 120 for reading the product code are provided on the lower end side of the handle frame unit 40. Further, it includes a display 150 that displays various information such as a product name and a unit price of a product read by a scanner 140, which will be described later, and a camera 160 that captures the inside of a shopping cart P and the like. The battery unit 110 supplies electric power to the scanner device 120, the display 150, and the camera 160 via a power line built in the handle frame unit 40. Further, the scanner device 120, the display 150, and the camera 160 are connected to each other by a cable built in the handle frame portion 40 and the extension arm 43. The display 150 is attached to the upper end of the extension arm 43. Further, the camera 160 is attached to the middle part of the extension arm 43. With these configurations, a shopping cart as a registration machine that reads the product code of the product that the customer wants to purchase is configured.

As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner device 120 is attached to the scanner holder 130 attached to the handlebar 42 and detachably attached to the scanner holder 130 to read a product code that identifies a product (product code reader). It is equipped with 140.

The scanner holder 130 has a lower holder base 131 fastened to the handlebar 42 and a holder housing 132 provided on the upper part of the holder base 131. The holder base 131 has a tilt function for tilting the holder housing 132 in the front-rear direction of the cart portion 20 to a maximum of 90 ° with respect to the vertical direction, as shown by arrows Q in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively. As shown by an arrow R in FIG. 4, it has a rotation function of rotating a vertical axis around a rotation center. In each case, the scanner 140 includes a scanner body 141 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The front surface of the scanner body 141 is provided with an opening 141a and is closed by a glass plate 141b. A reading unit 141c is provided in the opening 141a.

A scanner trigger 142 for starting the scanner operation by the reading unit 141c is provided on the upper surface of the scanner main body 141. A handle 143 is provided on the back surface of the scanner body 141. Further, the scanner main body 141 is provided with a gyro sensor 144 for detecting the orientation of the reading unit 141c inside. The gyro sensor 144 can detect its own inclination and rotation direction.

The scanner 140 has a function of cutting out an area corresponding to a barcode from an image captured by a camera and recognizing the barcode by image processing. The scanner 140 reads the product code attached to the product displayed in the store. The product code is associated with the product.

The display 150 has a display panel 152 having a touch panel function. A display panel 152 is provided on the front surface of the terminal housing 151. Inside the terminal housing 151, a control unit 200 that controls the battery unit 110, the scanner device 120, the display 150, and the camera 160 in cooperation with each other is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 200 fixedly stores fixed data in a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 that centrally controls each unit via a bus line 220, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 that rewritably stores variable data and functions as a work area of the CPU 201 and a non-volatile memory 204 are connected to each other. The RAM 203 is provided with a storage area for storing a product master downloaded from a higher-level server and a shopping list created based on the product code read by the customer and the product master. Further, the non-volatile memory 204 stores a program executed by the CPU 201. Further, the CPU 201 includes an interface 205 with the display panel 152, an interface 206 with the scanner 140, an interface 207 with the battery unit 110, an interface 208 with the camera 160, and an interface 209 with the gyro sensor 144 via the bus line 220. It is connected. Further, the CPU 201 is connected to the communication interface 210 via the bus line 220. It communicates with a payment machine, a higher-level server, etc. via the communication interface 210.

The CPU 201 has a function (function as a discriminating unit) of extracting a barcode area from the image of the product code and validating the read product code only when the barcode area is larger than a predetermined size. I have. The CPU 201 may extract a barcode area from the image of the product code before reading the product code, and read the product code only when the barcode area is larger than a predetermined size.

The shopping cart 10 configured in this way is used as follows. That is, the shopping cart 10 is initially placed at the entrance of the store or the like. At this time, the scanner 140 is oriented in any direction with respect to the scanner holder 130.

Next, the customer pulls out the shopping cart 10 to be used, puts his / her hand on the scanner 140, performs a tilt operation or a rotation operation, and directs the scanner 140 in the desired direction. Further, the customer takes the shopping cart P and places the shopping cart P on the caster section 30 or the basket receiving section 50. Then, while pushing the handlebar 42, the customer moves the shopping cart 10 toward the product shelf on which the product is displayed.

Here, as a method of reading the product code, there are a manual recognition method of reading by pressing the scanner trigger 142 and an automatic recognition method of reading without pressing the scanner trigger 142.
The manual recognition method will be described first. The manual recognition method and the automatic recognition method may be set by the store or may be set by the customer according to his / her preference.

The customer takes out the desired product from the product shelf, brings the product code of the product closer to the opening 141a of the scanner 140 while inserting the scanner 140 into the scanner holder 130, and presses the scanner trigger 142. As a result, the product code is read by the scanner 140, and the read information is sent to the control unit 200, stored in the RAM 203, and displayed on the display panel 152 as the product name and the amount of money. The customer puts the product in the shopping cart P placed in either the caster section 30 or the basket receiving section 50.

On the other hand, for heavy products (for example, beverages, rice, etc.), as shown in the solid line in FIG. 4, the scanner 140 is tilted downward so that the customer takes out the product from the product shelf and brings it closer to the reading unit 141c. Then, the customer presses the scanner trigger 142 to read the product code of the product. In this case, it is not necessary to lift the product to the height of the handlebar 42. Then, it is put in the shopping cart P on the basket receiving part 50.

Similarly, for products that are not preferable to be tilted by a certain angle or more (for example, prepared foods, sashimi, etc.), as shown in FIG. 4, the scanner 140 is tilted downward, and the customer takes out the products from the product shelves. Press the scanner trigger 142 without tilting the product. As a result, the product code reading operation is performed. The read product code is processed by the control unit 200 in the same manner as in the case described above.

On the other hand, in the case of the automatic recognition method, the customer brings the product closer to the reading unit 141c of the scanner 140 without tilting the scanner 140 downward. As a result, the scanner 140 automatically reads the product code.

If the product is heavy or you do not want to tilt it, tilt the scanner 140. At this time, the reading unit 141c may be directed to the basket receiving unit 50 side. Since the tilt operation and the rotation operation of the reading unit 141c are detected by the gyro sensor 144, the control unit 200 recognizes that the image pickup direction of the reading unit 141c is facing the cage receiving unit 50 side.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the image obtained by the reading unit 141c at this time. Further, FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of image processing. In FIG. 5, K is the customer's left hand, T is the product held by the customer's left hand K, Ta is the barcode representing the product code of the product T, B is the product in the shopping cart P, and Ba is attached to the product B. The bar code that represents the product code is shown.

As shown in FIG. 5, two product codes Ta and Ba are imaged on the reading unit 141c. The barcode area on which the product code is copied is cut out from the image captured when the control unit 200 performs the reading operation.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the CPU 201 measures the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the barcode area, that is, the dimensions t1 and t2 in the case of the product code Ta, and the dimensions b1 and b2 in the case of the product code Ba. To do. For this dimension, a threshold value is set in advance, and the product code read only when the size is larger than the predetermined size is determined to be valid. In the case of FIGS. 6 and 7, the product code Ta is considered to be valid because it is larger than the predetermined size, and is displayed on the display 150. Further, since the product code Ba is smaller than the predetermined size, it is invalid and is not displayed on the display 150.

In the above description, the control unit 200 determines whether the product code is valid or invalid after reading the product code, but the barcode area is large or small before the product code is read, and the barcode area is larger than the predetermined size. The image of the above may be converted (decoded) into a product code.

In this way, the customer can determine the inclination and orientation of the scanner 140 according to his / her preference, which improves usability. In particular, for a heavy product or a product for which tilting is not desirable, the product code can be appropriately read by tilting the scanner 140 itself. In this case, when the scanner 140 is tilted toward the shopping cart P, the size of the product code is used as a reference in order to distinguish between the product B already stored in the shopping cart P and the product T whose product code is to be read from now on. Since the reading operation is performed as, erroneous recognition can be prevented.

When all the shopping is done, the customer goes to the checkout machine. Then, the shopping list stored in the RAM is transmitted to the checkout machine by operating the touch panel of the display 150. The customer uses the checkout machine to make the payment. The customer who has completed the payment returns the shopping cart 10 to a predetermined position in the store.

In the above-described embodiment, the scanner 140 has been described as being tiltable and rotatable while being installed on the handlebar 42, but the rotation mechanism may be omitted. In addition, the scanner 140 may be removed from the scanner holder 130 so that the customer can bring the scanner closer to the product for reading. In this case as well, the sensor determines whether or not the customer has pointed the reading unit 141c of the scanner 140 toward the shopping cart P, and the product being read by the customer and the product contained in the shopping cart P. May be made to distinguish.

Further, in the above embodiment, the size of the barcode area is determined only when the reading unit 141c is directed to the shopping cart P of the mounting unit. For example, automatic recognition of an image at all times is performed. In the case of the recognition type, there is a possibility that the product barcode of the product on the product shelf may be recognized even when the shopping cart 10 is pushed and walking, so even if the reading unit 141c is determined regardless of the angle or orientation. Good.

Further, although a gyro sensor is used as a means for detecting the tilt and rotation position of the scanner 140, a sensor that mechanically and electrically detects the tilt and orientation by a micro switch or the like provided on the scanner 140 or the holder base 131. May be used.

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 can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
The following is a description equivalent to the invention described in the claims of the original application of the present application.
[1] Casters provided so that they can run freely on the floor
A frame provided upward from the rear end of the caster portion and
A mounting portion provided on the caster portion or on the front side of the frame on which the product is placed, and a mounting portion.
A horizontal frame provided on the frame and provided with a horizontal axial direction, and
A cart including a product code reader that is tiltably attached around the axis of the horizontal frame and that captures a product code that identifies a product and reads the product code.
[2] The product code reading device extracts a barcode area from the image of the product code, and determines that the product code read only when the barcode area is larger than a predetermined size is valid. The cart according to [1], which is further equipped.
[3] The product code reader further includes a discriminator that extracts a barcode area from the image of the product code and converts the barcode into a product code only when the barcode area is larger than a predetermined size. The cart according to [1] provided.
[4] The product code reading device further includes a sensor for detecting that the imaging direction is toward the previously described placement portion side.
The cart according to [2] or [3], wherein the product code reading device operates the discriminating unit only when the imaging direction is on the side of the previously described mounting unit by the sensor.

10 ... Shopping cart (cart), 20 ... Cart part, 30 ... Caster part, 31 ... Frame, 32 ... Caster, 40 ... Handle frame part, 41 ... Vertical frame, 42 ... Handlebar (horizontal frame), 43 ... Extension arm , 50 ... Basket receiving part, 100 ... Electrical parts, 110 ... Battery part, 120 ... Scanner device, 130 ... Scanner holder, 131 ... Holder base, 132 ... Holder housing, 140 ... Scanner (product code reader), 141 ... Scanner body, 141a ... Opening, 141b ... Glass plate, 141c ... Reading unit, 142 ... Scanner trigger, 143 ... Handle, 144 ... Gyro sensor, 150 ... Display, 160 ... Camera, 200 ... Control unit, P ... Shopping cart , T ... product, B ... product.

Claims (10)

A cart that has a mounting section on which the product that the customer wants to purchase is placed.
With the frame including the handlebar,
And Holder,
Equipped with a,
When the holder is provided on the handle bar and the product imaging device for capturing information on the product can be arranged at an angle with respect to the pre-described placement portion, and the product imaging device is arranged on the pre-described placement portion. , A cart in which an imaging unit that captures information on the product of the product imaging device can be arranged so as to face the above-mentioned placement unit side, and the arranged product imaging device can be taken . The product imaging device is a scanner that has an opening provided in the main body, a glass plate that closes the opening, and the imaging unit provided in the opening, and reads a product code that identifies the product. The cart according to claim 1 . The cart according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a battery unit arranged below the holder. The cart according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the handlebar connects the upper ends of two vertical frames of the frame. The cart according to claim 4 , wherein the holder is provided at the center of the handlebar. The cart according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the holder is attached to the handlebar so as to be tiltable around the axis of the handlebar. A holder provided on a cart provided with a mounting portion for placing products that the customer wants to purchase and a frame including a handlebar.
When the product imaging device provided on the handle bar and image-imaging the information of the product can be arranged at an angle with respect to the pre-described placement portion and the product imaging device is arranged in the pre-described placement portion, the product imaging is performed. A holder that can be arranged so that the imaging unit that captures the information of the product of the device faces the above-mentioned placement unit side, and can take the arranged product imaging device . The product imaging device is a scanner that has an opening provided in the main body, a glass plate that closes the opening, and the imaging unit provided in the opening, and reads a product code that identifies the product. The holder according to claim 7. The handlebar connects the upper ends of the two vertical frames of the frame.
The holder according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the holder is provided at the center of the handlebar. The cart according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the holder is attached to the handlebar so as to be tiltable around the axis of the handlebar.