WO2006063420A1

WO2006063420A1 - A constructive arrangement in an automatic self-checkout system for transactions of goods purchase

Info

Publication number: WO2006063420A1
Application number: PCT/BR2005/000034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Antonio Scarmeloto De Faria
Original assignee: Itautec Philco S.A. - Grupo Itautec Philco
Priority date: 2004-12-16
Filing date: 2005-03-17
Publication date: 2006-06-22
Also published as: BRPI0405598A

Abstract

The present invention refers to au automated point-of-sale checkout system (10) intended for transactions involving purchase of goods in points of sale such as supermarkets, drugstores and similar commercial establishments, wherein the automated point-of-sale checkout counter comprises at least two self-service stations (20, 30) interconnected with and concurrently served by one single CPU (39) and one single assembly of currency control devices (36, 37). Each self-service station comprises a display monitor (21), goods information readout devices (22, 23, 40), currency collection ports (26, 29) and currency dispensing ports (27, 28) and at least one card reader device (24, 25).

Description

"A CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT IN AN AUTOMATIC SELF- CHECKOUT SYSTEM FOR TRANSACTIONS OF GOODS PURCHASE"

Field of the invention The present invention refers to an automatic point-of-sale checkout system intended for performance of transactions involving purchase of goods, which system may be particularly used in supermarkets, drugstores and similar establishments, where the said type of point-of-sale checkout system is also known by the designation of "self-checkout" in English, that is, an equipment that allows the customer himself or herself to check out his or her purchases and make the respective payment, without requiring the attendance of an employee of the store (cashier) to receive the payment and/or to wrap up/pack the goods having been purchased.

Description of the prior art

In an attempt to cut labor costs, or simply in order to adopt new technologies to meet the requirements of an increasingly demanding clientele, several supermarkets, drugstores and similar commercial establishments have made an option to use point-of-sale systems (checkout counters) where the customer checks out the goods intended to be purchased, is informed of the amount to be paid for the goods, and pays the same without requiring the presence of an employee of the establishment. Such point-of-sale systems are usually known by the designation of self-checkout counters.

The self-checkout counters usually known in the art include a single self-service station comprising means for bar code scanning, weighing means (scales), a video monitor, credit or debit card reading means, a currency- collecting device and a currency dispensing device, where the said elements are operationally connected to a CPU installed in the housing of the said station. The collector/dispenser normally used is a coin or bill collection device comprising in the same equipment a coin or bill dispensing device in order to give the user the change due thereto.

The CPU and its associated elements account for a considerable portion of the cost of these automatic point-of-sale systems, and this cost is a deterrent to a wider acceptance thereof by commercial establishments.

Another restriction to a wider use of the automatic point-of-sale systems resides in the perception of possible frauds by the clients, which would be encouraged by the absence of the store employee at that location.

Objects of the invention

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a lower-cost arrangement allowing a wider acceptance in supermarket and similar commercial establishments.

A second object is to provide an arrangement allowing to substantially saving the space available for the point-of-sale system.

A third object consists in the provision of an automatic checkout counter system that may allow a more effective supervision of the operation of this equipment.

A fourth object is to provide an automatic checkout counter system that indicates any irregular operation of this equipment. Brief description of the invention

The above and other objects are achieved by the invention by means of the provision of an arrangement whereby a structure is comprised by at least two self-service stations sharing one single currency storage/dispensing device and one single data processing unit (CPU) which controls the operation of the said at least two self-service stations in a simultaneous manner.

According to another feature of the invention, the said arrangement, in a preferred non-limiting embodiment, comprises a housing provided with two self-service stations oriented in opposite directions.

According to another feature of the invention, each station comprises an image display monitor, goods information reading devices, currency collection and dispensing ports, and at least one card reader device.

According to another feature of the invention, the said goods information reading devices comprise a bar code scanner and scales.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each station is provided with a conveyor belt to convey the goods to a wrapping/packing counter.

According to another feature of the present invention, each station is provided with a condition indicator intended to indicate the need of an intervention by an employee of the establishment.

According to another feature of the invention, each station comprises magnetic credit or debit card readers as well as intelligent card readers.

According to another feature of the invention, each station comprises a keypad to be used to enter a password or other data when so required.

According to another feature of the invention, each currency collection port is associated with means to ascertain the value and to authenticate the currency.

According to another feature of the invention, one single currency storage device collects and stores the currency inserted in the collection ports of the at least two self-service stations provided in one single housing.

According to another feature of the invention, the said storage device separates the bills according to the denomination/face value thereof and places the bills of each denomination/value in individual partitions.

Description of the figures

The characteristics, limitations and advantages of the invention will be better understood by means of a description of an exemplary non- limiting embodiment of the invention and the figures associated thereto, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a checkout counter comprising two self-service stations, according to the principles of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the electrical interconnection between the self-service stations and the CPU, according to the principles of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a self- service station, according to the principles of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the self-checkout counter according to the present invention comprises a housing 10 including a first self-checkout station 20 and a second self-checkout station 30 provided back to back. Each of the said stations comprises a video monitor 21, a bidirectional bar code scanner 22 associated to scales 23, which may also be provided with an additional bar code scanner, in order to simultaneously perform the weighing and the said scan, forming an assembly known in the art as "biotic scales" 40, a magnetic credit/debit card reader 24, an intelligent card reader 25 associated with a keypad, a bill collection port 26, a bill dispensing port 27, a coin dispensing port 28, a coin collection port 29, a wrapping/packing counter 31 associated to the bag holders 32, a goods outlet counter 33 and a light signal device 34 which indicates a need of attendance by an employee of the store in some cases.

As mentioned hereinabove, the device 25 comprises a keypad associated to a card reader device, wherein the card may be of the magnetic band type, or may be of the type that has a chip embedded within the same, or providing RFID communication, and the keypad may be used to input data such as, for example, the user password, and eventually the numbers of the bar code used to identify a particular item of goods.

In addition to the above mentioned outer elements, which are depicted in Fig. 1, each station is provided with a device to verify the denomination and the authenticity of currency bills and coins that are inserted in the collection ports 26-26' and 29-29', where the outputs of these verification devices are channeled to an assembly of currency control devices, already known in the art, that are shared by both stations. The first (36) of these devices is intended for controlling and storing coins and comprises, in addition to the authenticity verification device, a mechanism that separates and stores the coins in magazines according to the denominations thereof, making the same available to be used to render change in transactions by means of the ports 28-28', whenever necessary. The second device 37, also shared by the two stations, comprises a device to control the denominations and the authenticity of the currency bills 37 as well as an assembly of magazines for storage of the currency bills according to the denomination/value thereof, thus allowing, as in the case of the coins, the supply of change in transactions, using for such purpose the ports 27-27'.

Still according to the principles of the invention, all the devices that integrate both the said stations are monitored and controlled by one single

CPU 39, which is connected to those devices by means of a data bus 38. The said Fig. 2 further shows a schematic depiction of an optional conveyor belt 35 intended to move the good to the wrapping/packing counter 31.

Therefore, the automatic checkout counter according to the present invention becomes more compact, allowing substantial savings in terms of space at the point of sale, since one single checkout counter, containing two self-service stations served by a single CPU and a single bidirectional currency collection/dispensing device, takes up less space than would be required to have two independent counters as known in the art.

Furthermore, the present invention discloses an additional relevant advantage over the prior art, consisting in a reduction of the equipment cost, since the cost involving the CPU and associated software is shared by at least two self-service stations. The light signals 34 may be driven automatically by the system CPU, or in an alternative embodiment, by the user, where for such purpose the user presses a button (not shown) provided on the panel of each self-service station.

The said self-service stations may be provided on the panel thereof with several buttons or keys corresponding to alternative functions, the first of these intended to be pressed by the user upon having checked out all the goods, in order to initiate the bill collection mode. A second key may be actuated by the user, should the same wish to exclude one or more items of goods having already been summed up in the user's bill; such exclusion may require the attendance of an employee of the establishment or, in an alternative procedure, may be performed by the very user by selecting the item to be excluded using control means associated to the display means, such as a mouse or a TrackBall type device, or yet using a touch-sensitive screen (Touch Screen) in which case the user will select the item to be excluded by means of a touch on the display screen. That same touch-sensitive screen (Touch Screen) may be used to input data relative to the bar code if the latter fails to be read by the scanner 22. A third key may be actuated by the user to request the attendance of an employee of the establishment by lighting the light signal 34, which may also be activated automatically by the system itself. One further key may be attributed to activate the price check mode to enable the user to check the price of the good items without adding the same to the total items being summed up for purchase. In this case, the self-service stations may be provided with an additional tray stand or receptacle to place the good which the user might decline to finally purchase.

Additional embodiments of the sales counter may be provided with a presence sensor to detect the arrival of a user at the self-service station, and/or a sensor associated to the goods discharge counter 33, which upon detecting the presence of any good, proceeds to initiate the process, such detection being performed by means known in the art, such as weight sensing, interruption of an IR beam, ultrasonic detection or RF radiation detection or other equivalent means.

In order to allow the supervision of the various sales counters installed in a commercial establishment, the said CPUs may be interconnected, by data transfer pathways, to a central control and supervision unit, not shown, and the operator thereof may select which self-service station should be monitored. Furthermore, the supervising system may include individual video cameras for each sales counter, both operator-selected and operating by automatic selection and transmission of images when the alarm of a given station is activated.

Fig. 3 is a simplified flow diagram intended to illustrate the operation of the self-service station, given by way of non-limiting example.

Assuming that the said station is initialized by detecting the presence of items of goods on the checkout counter 33, the user initiates the operation by placing the first item on the biotic scales, step 41 of the flow diagram. The system scans the bar code irrespective of the orientation thereof, in order to identify the good, step 42, and determines the weight of the item by comparing it with the corresponding data kept in storage in the memory device associated to the CPU, step 43. If the weight exceeds the limits, the system goes on to perform the subroutine 44, which comprises activation of the light indicator intended to summon an employee of the establishment, simultaneously interrupting the operation of acceptance of the remaining items.

If the weight is within the previously established limits for said good, the system proceeds to step 45 and includes the item in the list of purchased items of good. Upon the last item having been checked by the system, in step 46, it proceeds to the collection mode, step 47, either in an automatic manner by means of the detection performed at the goods checkout counter, or by means of an action performed by the user, such as by pressing a button, or in an alternative embodiment, when the payment is initiated by passing a card through one of the readers 24 or 25, or yet by means of introduction of paper currency in the bill collection port 26. In this last case, the step 48 whereby is selected the form of payment, is performed automatically and the system proceeds to the payment routine, step 49, comprising the readout of the card, the information of the password (when required) or the counting of the collected money and return of any change due. If the collection mode was initiated by means of a button pressed by the user, the latter may indicate the form of payment by selecting the same from an onscreen menu, by touching the corresponding menu entry on the screen if the same is of the Touch Screen type.

Although the present invention was described based on a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and rather intends to comprehend any modifications and equivalent embodiments as may be introduced hereinto.

Thus, for example, although Fig. 2 shows the control of only two self-checkout stations by the CPU 39, a larger number of stations may be supervised by one sole CPU, providing an additional economy to the final cost of the assembly. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixed bar code scanner 22 may be complemented by a movable bar code scanner to be handled by the user, for each self-checkout station.

Therefore, the invention is defined and delimited by the contents of the set of claims that follows.

Claims

1. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions wherein a structure (10) comprises at least two self-service stations (20, 30), characterized in that the said at least two stations share one single data processing unit (39) which simultaneously controls the operation of the said at least two self-service stations.

2. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 1, characterized in that each said station (20, 30) comprises a display monitor (21), goods information readout devices (22, 23), currency collection (26, 29) and dispensing (27, 28) ports associated to an assembly of currency control devices concurrently serving the at least two self-service stations, as well as at least one card reader device (24, 25).

3. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that the said currency control devices comprise a first device intended to control and store coins (36) shared by at least two self-service stations, and a second device intended to control and store bank notes (37) shared by at least two self-service stations.

4. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said first device for control and storage of coins (36) is associated to at least two assemblies comprised individually of a coin collection port and a coin dispensing port, each of the said assemblies (29-28, 29'-28') being installed in each of the said self- service stations (20, 30).

5. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said second device for control and storage of bank notes (37) is associated to at least two assemblies comprising individually a bank note collection port and a bank note dispensing port, each of the said assemblies (26-27, 26'-27') being installed in each of the said self-service stations (20, 30).

6. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the goods information readout devices consists in a bar code scanner (22).

7. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 6, characterized in that the said bar code scanner (22) is a bidirectional scanner.

8. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2 or claim 7, characterized in that each self-service station additionally comprises a movable bar code scanner.

9. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the goods information readout devices consists in a set of scales (23).

10. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 9, characterized in that the said set of scales consists in biotic scales incorporating therein a bar code scanner (23).

11. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that each self-service station (20, 30) additionally comprises a goods discharge platform (33).

12. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that each self-service station (20, 30) additionally comprises a wrapping/packing platform (31).

13. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 11, characterized in that the goods discharge platform (33) is provided with means for detection of an item of goods placed upon the said platform.

14. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that the said at least one card readout device consists in a magnetic credit/debit card reader device (24).

15. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that the said at least one card readout device consists in an intelligent card reader device (25).

16. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 15, characterized in that the said at least one card readout device (25) consists in a device designed to read a card having a chip embedded therein.

17. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that the said at least one card readout device (25) consists in a device designed to read an RFID type card.

18. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 1, 2, 14, 15, 16 or 17, characterized by being provided with a keypad.

19. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 2, characterized in that each self-service station additionally comprises a light signal device (34).

20. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 19, characterized in that the said light signal device (34) is automatically activated by the said CPU (39) upon the detection of an irregular event during the operation of the self-service station.

21. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 19, characterized in that the said light signal device (34) is activated by the user pressing a button on the panel of the self-service station.

22. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 1, characterized in that the said CPU (39) of the establishment is interconnected with a central control and supervision unit.

23. A constructive arrangement in an automated point-of-sale checkout counter intended for performance of goods purchase transactions, according to claim 22, characterized in that the said central unit is provided with means for individual selection of the self-service station that will be subject to control and supervision.