US20190180550A1 - Money depositing apparatus and checkout system - Google Patents

Abstract

A speedy and efficient checkout process at a checkout counter in a store is realized by a deposit machine that receives deposited money from a customer and issues a pre-deposit receipt with which a pre-deposit amount is associated, and a POS register that scans a barcode of a commodity to calculate a checkout amount and reads a pre-deposit receipt to specify a pre-deposit amount. The POS register performs a checkout process for the checkout amount by using the pre-deposit amount, calculates, as change, a difference between the pre-deposit amount and the checkout amount, and causes a change machine to dispense money corresponding to the change.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention
• The present invention relates to a money depositing apparatus and a checkout system which realize speedy and efficient checkout at a checkout counter in a store.
Description of the Background Art
• Conventionally, a cash register having a POS (Point Of Sales) function (hereinafter referred to as “POS register”) and a money handling apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “change machine”) communicably connected to the POS register, are often installed at checkout counters of various stores such as supermarkets. For example, a cashier scans a barcode attached to a commodity with a barcode reader of the POS register to specify the price of the commodity. When the cashier inserts money received from a customer in the change machine, change is dispensed from the change machine.
• For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-49751 discloses a technique as follows. That is, when a cashier receives additional money from a customer after a change machine has dispensed change, the cashier inputs, through keys, the amount of the additional money as an additional monetary amount. Thus, an amount of change, which is the sum of the additional monetary amount and the amount of the already dispensed change, is newly calculated, and money corresponding to the newly calculated amount of change is dispensed in a minimum number of pieces of money from the change machine. According to this system, for example, even after change of 450 yen has been dispensed from the change machine, if the customer finds 50 yen in his/her wallet and additionally pays the 50 yen, the cashier, who receives the 50 yen, can return a newly calculated change of 500 yen (e.g., one 500-yen coin) to the customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• However, the system according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-49751 has a problem that the process performed by the cashier takes time, which may cause a queue of customers waiting for checkout for commodities. Even when a customer does not perform additional payment, the cashier has to scan barcodes attached to commodities to specify a checkout amount, insert money received from the customer in the change machine, confirm change dispensed from the change machine, and return the change to the customer. In addition, when the cashier receives a point card from the customer, the cashier has to handle the point card and return the point card to the customer. Since the cashier is required to perform many processes in order, a queue of waiting customers is formed at the checkout counter during a time period when the store is crowded with many customers.
• Therefore, one problem is how to realize a speedy and efficient checkout process when checkout for commodities purchased by a customer is performed with a POS register and a change machine installed in a store. This problem may also occur in: a semi-self-checkout system in which a cashier only performs monetary registration of commodities and a customer is caused to perform checkout for the commodities; and a self-checkout system in which a customer is caused to perform both monetary registration of commodities and checkout for the commodities. The monetary registration of commodities is performed to register information and prices of commodities in a POS system, for the purpose of managing transaction information in the POS system.
• The present invention is made to solve the aforementioned problems in the conventional art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a money depositing apparatus and a checkout system which realize a speedy and efficient checkout process at a checkout counter in a store.
• In order to solve the aforementioned problem and achieve the object, the present invention is provided with: a money receiving unit configured to receive money; a money storing unit configured to store therein the money received by the money receiving unit; and an association unit configured to associate a negotiable value corresponding to an amount of the money received by the money receiving unit, with a predetermined medium used for checkout for purchasing a commodity.
• Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a checkout system in which a POS device and a money handling apparatus are communicably connected, the money handling apparatus being configured to recognize and count money, store the money in a storing unit, and dispense change. The checkout system includes a money depositing apparatus including: a money receiving unit configured to receive money; a money storing unit configured to store therein the money received by the money receiving unit; and an association unit configured to associate a negotiable value corresponding to an amount of the money received by the money receiving unit, with a predetermined medium used for checkout performed by using the money handling apparatus for purchasing a commodity. The POS device is configured to, when an amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium is more than an amount of money to be paid for the checkout, instruct the money handling apparatus to dispense, as change, money corresponding to a difference between the amount of money associated with the predetermined medium and the amount of money to be paid for the checkout.
• The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows an outline of a checkout system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a specific example of a layout of a store;
• FIG. 3 shows an external configuration of a deposit machine;
• FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an internal configuration of the deposit machine shown inFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a banknote handling unit;
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process procedure performed by the deposit machine;
• FIG. 7 shows external configurations of a POS register and a change machine;
• FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing functional configurations of the POS register and the change machine;
• FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a banknote handling unit;
• FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a coin handling unit;
• FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process procedure performed by the POS register;
• FIG. 12 shows a case where a pre-deposit amount is associated with a medium carried by a customer;
• FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a management device shown inFIG. 12;
• FIG. 14 shows a pre-deposit table shown inFIG. 13;
• FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process procedure performed by the management device;
• FIG. 16 shows a configuration in which a medium with which a pre-deposit amount is associated is made available in a plurality of stores;
• FIG. 17 shows a specific example of a layout in which a semi-self-checkout system is adopted;
• FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of a POS register shown inFIG. 17;
• FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a process procedure performed by the POS register shown inFIG. 17;
• FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing an internal configuration of a checkout device shown inFIG. 17;
• FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a process procedure performed by the checkout device shown inFIG. 17;
• FIG. 22 shows an external configuration of a checkout device used for a self-checkout system; and
• FIG. 23 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the checkout device shown inFIG. 22.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Hereinafter, an embodiment of a money depositing apparatus and a checkout system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1
• <Outline of Checkout System>
• An outline of a checkout system according to the present embodiment will be described.FIG. 1 shows the outline of the checkout system according to the present embodiment. The checkout system according to the present embodiment includes a manned checkout counter R1 and adeposit machine10 in a store such as a supermarket.
• On the manned checkout counter R1, aPOS register20 which is a cash register having a POS function, and achange machine30 which is a money handling apparatus communicably connected to thePOS register20, are installed. A cashier B is assigned to the manned checkout counter R1.
• Thedeposit machine10 is a money depositing apparatus installed near an entrance of the store, for example. Upon receiving deposited money from a customer, thedeposit machine10 issues a medium with which a negotiable value corresponding to the amount of the deposited money is associated. Specifically, thedeposit machine10 issues a pre-deposit receipt RC on which a barcode indicating the amount of the deposited money is printed. This pre-deposit receipt RC is available for checkout at the manned checkout counter R1.
• In the example ofFIG. 1, a customer A deposits money worth 10,000 yen in the deposit machine10 (S11), and thedeposit machine10 issues a pre-deposit receipt RC associated with a negotiable value corresponding to 10,000 yen (S12).
• The customer A finds a desired commodity S in the store, and hands the commodity S and the pre-deposit receipt RC to the cashier B at the manned checkout counter R1. The cashier B operates a barcode reader of thePOS register20, thereby causing thePOS register20 to read a barcode attached to the commodity S and the pre-deposit receipt RC.
• The POS register20 scans the barcode of the commodity S (S13), and calculates a checkout amount (S14). The POS register20 reads the pre-deposit receipt RC (S15), and specifies, as a pre-deposit amount, the amount of money deposited in thedeposit machine10 by the customer A (S16).
• The POS register20 performs a checkout process for the checkout amount by using the pre-deposit amount (S17), and calculates a difference between the pre-deposit amount and the checkout amount, as an amount of change (S18). The POS register20 causes thechange machine30 to dispense money corresponding to the change (S19).
• As described above, in the checkout system according to the present embodiment, thedeposit machine10 receives deposited money, and issues a pre-deposit receipt RC with which a negotiable value corresponding to the amount of the deposited money is associated as a pre-deposit amount. The POS register20 reads the pre-deposit amount from the pre-deposit receipt RC and performs a checkout process, and dispenses change according to need. In this configuration, the cashier B at the manned checkout counter R1 does not have to receive money from the customer A and insert the money in thechange machine30. Thus, a speedy and efficient checkout process is realized.
• Next, a specific example of a layout of a store will be described.FIG. 2 shows the specific example of the layout of the store. Thestore1 shown inFIG. 2 has two entrances. Near each entrance, adeposit machine10 is installed. In thestore1, a plurality of display shelves, three manned checkout counters R1 to R3, and tables for bagging of commodities after checkout, are arranged.
• In thestore1 shown inFIG. 2, a customer flow line is formed such that a customer, who has entered the store, first performs pre-deposit with thedeposit machine10, picks up desired commodities from the display shelves, performs checkout at any of the manned checkout counters R1 to R3, bags the commodities at the bagging table, and leaves the store. Causing each customer to perform pre-deposit first can effectively avoid occurrence of waiting queues at the manned checkout counters R1 to R3.
• <Configuration and Operation ofDeposit Machine10>
• The external configuration of thedeposit machine10 will be described.FIG. 3 shows the external configuration of thedeposit machine10. As shown inFIG. 3, thedeposit machine10 includes adisplay operation unit11, anaudio output unit12, acard reader13, areceipt printer14, abanknote inlet18a, and abanknote outlet18b. While thedeposit machine10 of the present embodiment handles banknotes, thedeposit machine10 can be configured to handle both banknotes and coins.
• Thedisplay operation unit11 is an input/output unit such as a touch panel display. Thedisplay operation unit11 performs output display of a screen. In addition, thedisplay operation unit11 receives an input operation through buttons and the like displayed on the screen. Theaudio output unit12 is an output unit which outputs an operation guidance, a caution message, etc., by voice.
• Thecard reader13 reads various kinds of information from a point card, etc. Thereceipt printer14 is used for, for example, issuing a pre-deposit receipt RC. Thebanknote inlet18ais used for inserting banknotes for pre-deposit. Thebanknote outlet18bis used for dispensing of banknotes. For example, when only part of the amount of inserted banknotes is received as a pre-deposit amount, banknotes corresponding to a difference between the inserted amount and the received amount are dispensed for returning to a customer. Likewise, banknotes are dispensed also when inserted banknotes are returned due to cancellation of pre-deposit or when inserted banknotes are inappropriate banknotes, such as banknotes whose denominations cannot be recognized.
• A description will be given of the case where only part of the amount of inserted banknotes is a pre-deposit amount. For example, when a customer only has a large-denomination banknote such as a 10,000-yen note, it is conceivable that the customer may want to pre-deposit not all the amount of an inserted banknote but only part of the amount. Therefore, thedeposit machine10 causes thedisplay operation unit11 to display monetary amount selection buttons such as “all”, “10,000 yen”, “5,000 yen”, “3,000 yen”, “1,000 yen”, etc. When the amount of the inserted banknote exceeds the monetary amount selected through the monetary amount selection buttons, thedeposit machine10 returns banknotes corresponding to a difference between the amounts. Thus, the customer can pre-deposit a desired amount of money.
• Next, the internal configuration of thedeposit machine10 shown inFIG. 3 will be described.FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the internal configuration of thedeposit machine10 shown inFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 4, thedeposit machine10 includes thedisplay operation unit11, theaudio output unit12, thecard reader13, thereceipt printer14, acommunication unit15, amemory unit16, acontrol unit17, and abanknote handling unit18. Thedisplay operation unit11, theaudio output unit12, thecard reader13, and thereceipt printer14, which have already been described, will not be repeatedly described. Thebanknote handling unit18 in which banknotes are stored for each denomination will be described later in detail.
• Thecommunication unit15 is an interface for communication with a management device, etc., installed in the store, via a predetermined communication network. Thememory unit16 is a storage device implemented by, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, or a secondary storage such as a hard disk drive. Thememory unit16 stores therein deposithistory data16a.
• Thedeposit history data16ais data indicating the history of deposit of money into thedeposit machine10. Thedeposit history data16aincludes, for example, date and time of deposit, an amount of deposit, and identification number of issued pre-deposit receipt RC. If reading of a point card has been performed, identification information (ID) of the point card and the like is stored in association with the above data.
• Thecontrol unit17 controls the entirety of thedeposit machine10. Thecontrol unit17 includes adisplay control unit17a, amoney receiving unit17b, a pre-depositamount specifying unit17c, a pointcard processing unit17d, and anassociation unit17e.
• Thedisplay control unit17acontrols the content to be displayed on thedisplay operation unit11. For example, thedisplay control unit17acontrols thedisplay operation unit11 to display monetary amount selection buttons such as “all”, “10,000 yen”, “5,000 yen”, “3,000 yen”, “1,000 yen”, etc. When money has been received by themoney receiving unit17band a pre-deposit amount has been specified by the pre-depositamount specifying unit17c, thedisplay control unit17acontrols thedisplay operation unit11 to display the result of the pre-deposit.
• Themoney receiving unit17breceives money inserted in thebanknote inlet18a. Specifically, themoney receiving unit17bis notified of the denominations and the number of pieces of the inserted money from thebanknote handling unit18, and specifies the total amount of money, as an amount of inserted money.
• The pre-depositamount specifying unit17cspecifies a pre-deposit amount. Specifically, when the amount of inserted money is equal to or more than a monetary amount designated through an operation of pressing the monetary amount selection button, the pre-depositamount specifying unit17cspecifies, as a pre-deposit amount, the monetary amount corresponding to the monetary amount selection button. When the amount of inserted money exceeds the pre-deposit amount, banknotes corresponding to a difference between the amounts are dispensed from thebanknote handling unit18.
• When a point card is inserted in thecard reader13, the pointcard processing unit17dreads an ID (identification information), a point balance, etc., from the inserted point card.
• Theassociation unit17eassociates a negotiable value corresponding to the pre-deposit amount with a predetermined medium used for checkout for commodities. Theassociation unit17eincludes acode generation unit17fand a pre-depositreceipt issuing unit17g.
• Thecode generation unit17fgenerates a code of the negotiable value corresponding to the pre-deposit amount. The POS register20 is provided with a barcode reader for reading barcodes attached to commodities. Therefore, the code generated by thecode generation unit17fis preferably a barcode. However, the code may be a code of another form, such as a two-dimensional barcode. When the pointcard processing unit17dhas read an ID and a point balance from a point card, thecode generation unit17falso generates codes of the ID and the point balance of the point card.
• The pre-depositreceipt issuing unit17gfunctions as a printing unit which causes thereceipt printer14 to print the codes generated by thecode generation unit17f. In addition, the pre-depositreceipt issuing unit17gfunctions as a receipt issuing unit which issues a pre-deposit receipt RC on which the codes are printed. The codes indicating the pre-deposit amount, the ID of the point card, etc., are printed on the pre-deposit receipt RC. Additionally, a character string indicating a pre-deposit amount, date of issuance, expiration date, identification information of the pre-deposit receipt RC itself, an ID of a point card, etc., may be printed on the pre-deposit receipt RC.
• When issuing the pre-deposit receipt RC, the pre-depositreceipt issuing unit17gupdates thedeposit history data16a. Specifically, the pre-depositreceipt issuing unit17gregisters, on thedeposit history data16a, date and time of deposit, an amount of deposit, and an identification number of the issued pre-deposit receipt RC, etc. When reading of a point card has been performed, information such as the ID of the point card is also registered in association with the above registered information.
• Next, thebanknote handling unit18 will be described in detail.FIG. 5 illustrates the configuration of thebanknote handling unit18. As shown inFIG. 5, thebanknote handling unit18 includes abanknote receiving unit18c, abanknote dispensing unit18d, acassette mounting unit18e, a dispensingreject unit18f, arotary transport unit18g, abanknote recognition unit18h, and a plurality ofbanknote storing units18ifor storing therein banknotes by denomination.
• Thebanknote receiving unit18creceives banknotes inserted through thebanknote inlet18a. Thebanknote receiving unit18cfeeds the received banknotes one by one to therotary transport unit18g. Thebanknote dispensing unit18dtemporarily stores therein when the banknotes are transported one by one from therotary transport unit18g. Thebanknote dispensing unit18d, when all banknotes to be dispensed are stored therein, discharges the stored banknotes from thebanknote outlet18bto dispense these banknotes.
• Thecassette mounting unit18eis configured such that astorage cassette19, which is used for collection of proceeds and replenishment of change, is detachably mounted thereto. The dispensing rejectunit18fstores therein a banknote which is not appropriate to be dispensed, such as a banknote whose denomination cannot be recognized. For example, when there is a banknote, which cannot be recognized by thebanknote recognition unit18hdue to abnormal transport such as overlapping or skew, among banknotes fed out from thebanknote storing unit18iin a dispensing process, this banknote is transported to the dispensing rejectunit18f. Meanwhile, when there is a banknote, which cannot be recognized by thebanknote recognition unit18hdue to stain or the like, among banknotes fed from thebanknote receiving unit18cin a depositing process, this banknote is returned to thebanknote dispensing unit18das a rejected banknote in the depositing process.
• The plurality ofbanknote storing units18iare assigned corresponding denominations, respectively. Eachbanknote storing unit18istores therein banknotes of the assigned denomination, and is able to feed the stored banknotes one by one.
• Therotary transport unit18gincludes an annular rotary transport path. A connection transport path is disposed between the rotary transport path and each of thebanknote receiving unit18c, thebanknote dispensing unit18d, thecassette mounting unit18e, the dispensingreject unit18f, and the plurality ofbanknote storing units18i. The rotary transport path is provided with thebanknote recognition unit18hwhich performs recognition of a denomination, authentication, fitness, face/back orientation, transport state, and the like for each banknote.
• Therotary transport unit18gdrives the rotary transport path to rotate in both the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 5, thereby transporting banknotes one by one. When storing banknotes in thebanknote storing units18i, the rotary transport path is driven to rotate clockwise inFIG. 5. When feeding banknotes from thebanknote storing units18i, the rotary transport path is driven to rotate counterclockwise inFIG. 5. In addition to the rotation drive control, therotary transport unit18gcontrols the destination of banknotes by switching the banknote transport path between the rotary transport path and each connection transport path.
• Next, a process procedure performed by thedeposit machine10 will be described.FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process procedure performed by thedeposit machine10. When thedeposit machine10 receives an operation of pressing the monetary amount selection buttons displayed on the display operation unit11 (step S101) and receives insertion of banknotes (step S102), the pre-depositamount specifying unit17cspecifies a pre-deposit amount (step S103). When a point card is inserted in thecard reader13, the pointcard processing unit17dobtains an ID from the point card (step S104). The timing to obtain the ID from the point card is an example, and is not limited to the timing after step S103. For example, the ID may be obtained from the point card in a stage prior to step S101.
• Thecode generation unit17fof theassociation unit17egenerates codes based on the pre-deposit amount and the ID (step S105). The pre-depositreceipt issuing unit17gcauses thereceipt printer14 to print the generated codes, thereby issuing a pre-deposit receipt (step S106). If the amount of the inserted banknotes exceeds the pre-deposit amount, thedeposit machine10 dispenses, as change, money corresponding to a difference between the amounts (step S107) to end the process.
• <Configurations and Operations ofPOS Register20 andChange Machine30>
• The configurations of thePOS register20 and thechange machine30 installed on a manned checkout counter will be described.FIG. 7 illustrates the external configurations of thePOS register20 and thechange machine30. As shown inFIG. 7, thePOS register20 includes anoperator display21a, acustomer display21b, anoperation unit21csuch as an operation key, and abarcode reader22.
• Thechange machine30 includes abanknote handling unit40, and acoin handling unit50 disposed adjacent to thebanknote handling unit40. The POS register20 can be disposed on thebanknote handling unit40 and thecoin handling unit50.
• Thebanknote handling unit40 performs depositing and dispensing of banknotes. Thebanknote handling unit40 includes abanknote inlet41aand abanknote outlet42a. Thebanknote handling unit40 includes a dispensingreject unit43 and acassette mounting unit44 which are described later.
• Thecoin handling unit50 performs depositing and dispensing of coins. Thecoin handling unit50 includes acoin inlet51 and acoin outlet55. Thecoin handling unit50 is provided with adisplay operation unit56 of thechange machine30.
• FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing functional configurations of thePOS register20 and thechange machine30. As shown inFIG. 8, thePOS register20 includes adisplay operation unit21, thebarcode reader22, acard reader23, areceipt printer24, acommunication unit25, and aPOS control unit26.
• Thedisplay operation unit21 outputs information to an operator and a customer, and receives an input performed by the operator, through thedisplay21a, thedisplay21b, and theoperation unit21c. Thebarcode reader22 is used for reading barcodes attached to commodities. Information such as the names, prices, etc., of the commodities can be obtained by thebarcode reader22. Thebarcode reader22 is also used for reading codes from pre-deposit receipts. Thecard reader23 is used for checkout with a payment card such as a credit card, a debit card, a prepaid card, etc.
• Thereceipt printer24 is used for issuing a checkout receipt on which the content of transaction is printed. The content of transaction printed on the checkout receipt includes, for example, date and time, names and prices of registered commodities, an amount of inserted money, a pre-deposit amount, an amount of change, and a point balance. Thecommunication unit25 is a communication interface for communication with thechange machine30 and an external server.
• ThePOS control unit26 controls the entirety of thePOS register20. ThePOS control unit26 includes a purchasedcommodity registration unit26a, a pre-depositamount acquisition unit26b, a checkoutamount calculation unit26c, acheckout processing unit26d, and a checkoutreceipt issuing unit26e.
• The purchasedcommodity registration unit26aperforms registration of commodities to be purchased. Specifically, when thebarcode reader22 reads a barcode attached to a commodity to acquire the name, price, etc., of the commodity, the purchasedcommodity registration unit26aperforms registration of the commodity by using the acquired information, and displays information on the registered commodity on thedisplay21aor the like.
• The pre-depositamount acquisition unit26breads a code printed on the pre-deposit receipt, through thebarcode reader22, and acquires a pre-deposit amount. When an ID of a point card is included in the code printed on the pre-deposit receipt, the pre-depositamount acquisition unit26bfurther acquires the ID of the point card.
• The checkoutamount calculation unit26csums up the prices of all the commodities registered by the purchasedcommodity registration unit26ato calculate a checkout amount, and displays the checkout amount on thedisplay21aor the like.
• Thecheckout processing unit26dperforms a checkout process in which settlement for the checkout amount calculated by the checkoutamount calculation unit26cis performed to complete the transaction. The settlement of the checkout amount can be made using the pre-deposit amount. In the checkout process using the pre-deposit amount, if the pre-deposit amount is insufficient, thecheckout processing unit26dreceives additional deposit of money to thechange machine30 from the customer, adds the amount of the additional deposit to the pre-deposit amount, and continues the checkout process. If the pre-deposit amount exceeds the checkout amount in the checkout process using the pre-deposit amount, thecheckout processing unit26dcauses thechange machine30 to dispense, as change, money corresponding to a difference between the pre-deposit amount and the checkout amount.
• The checkout process may be performed by using a payment card or cash. When settlement using a payment card is selected, thecheckout processing unit26dacquires information such as a card ID from the payment card inserted in thecard reader23, and transmits the information together with the checkout amount to an external server, thereby performing the settlement. When settlement by cash is selected, thecheckout processing unit26dtransmits the checkout amount to thechange machine30, thereby performing the settlement, and completes the settlement upon receiving checkout completion notification from thechange machine30.
• Upon completion of the checkout process, the checkoutreceipt issuing unit26eissues a checkout receipt by using thereceipt printer24. On the checkout receipt, as described above, date and time, names and prices of registered commodities, an amount of inserted money, a pre-deposit amount, an amount of change, a point balance, etc., are printed.
• Thechange machine30 is composed of thebanknote handling unit40 and thecoin handling unit50. Thebanknote handling unit40 stores therein banknotes by denomination. Thecoin handling unit50 stores therein coins by denomination.
• Thebanknote handling unit40 includes acommunication unit49a, abanknote receiving unit41, arotary transport unit45, abanknote recognition unit46, abanknote storing unit47, the dispensingreject unit43, abanknote dispensing unit42, acassette mounting unit44, abanknote memory unit48, and a banknotechange control unit49. Thecommunication unit49ais an interface for data communication with thecoin handling unit50 via a communication line. Thebanknote handling unit40 is not connected to thePOS register20 directly by a communication line, but is able to communicate with thePOS register20 via thecoin handling unit50.
• Thebanknote memory unit48 is a storage device implemented by, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, or a secondary storage such as a hard disk drive. Thebanknote memory unit48 stores therein banknoteinventory amount data48a, etc. The banknoteinventory amount data48aindicates the inventory amounts, for each denomination, of the banknotes stored in thebanknote handling unit40.
• The banknotechange control unit49 controls thebanknote handling unit40. The banknotechange control unit49 includes adeposit processing unit49band a dispensingprocessing unit49c.
• Thedeposit processing unit49bperforms depositing of banknotes. Thedeposit processing unit49ballows insertion of banknotes to thebanknote handling unit40 when receiving a checkout amount from thePOS register20 or when receiving an instruction to receive additional deposit.
• Thereafter, thedeposit processing unit49bacquires the number of banknotes, for each denomination, inserted in thebanknote handling unit40. Thedeposit processing unit49bcalculates the total amount of the inserted banknotes, and transmits the total amount to thePOS register20 via thecommunication unit59aof thecoin handling unit50.
• The dispensingprocessing unit49cperforms dispensing of banknotes. The dispensingprocessing unit49creceives a dispensing instruction for dispensing change banknotes, from thePOS register20 via thecommunication unit59aof thecoin handling unit50. Upon receiving the dispensing instruction, the dispensingprocessing unit49cdetermines the number and denominations of banknotes to be dispensed, in accordance with the amount of change, and performs dispensing of banknotes based on the determination. When dispensing of the change is successfully completed, the dispensingprocessing unit49cnotifies the POS register20 of the completion via thecommunication unit59aof thecoin handling unit50.
• Thecoin handling unit50 includes thecommunication unit59a, thecoin inlet51, a depositedcoin transport unit52, acoin recognition unit52a, acoin storing unit53, a dispensedcoin transport unit54, thecoin outlet55, thedisplay operation unit56, acoin memory unit58, and a coinchange control unit59. Thecommunication unit59ais an interface for data communication with thePOS register20 and thebanknote handling unit40 via a communication line.
• Thecoin memory unit58 is a storage device implemented by, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, or a secondary storage such as a hard disk drive. Thecoin memory unit58 stores therein coininventory amount data58a, etc. The coininventory amount data58aindicates the inventory amounts, for each denomination, of the coins stored in thecoin handling unit50.
• The coinchange control unit59 controls thecoin handling unit50. The coinchange control unit59 includes adeposit processing unit59band a dispensingprocessing unit59c.
• Thedeposit processing unit59bperforms depositing of coins. Thedeposit processing unit59ballows insertion of coins to thecoin handling unit50 when receiving a checkout amount from thePOS register20 or when receiving an instruction to receive additional deposit.
• Thereafter, thedeposit processing unit59bacquires the number of coins, for each denomination, inserted in thecoin handling unit50. Thedeposit processing unit59bcalculates the total amount of the inserted coins, and transmits the total amount to thePOS register20.
• The dispensingprocessing unit59cperforms dispensing of coins. The dispensingprocessing unit59creceives a dispensing instruction for dispensing change coins, from thePOS register20. Upon receiving the dispensing instruction, the dispensingprocessing unit59cdetermines the number and denominations of coins to be dispensed, in accordance with the amount of change, and performs dispensing of coins based on the determination. When dispensing of the change is successfully completed, the dispensingprocessing unit59cnotifies the POS register20 of the completion.
• Next, thebanknote handling unit40 and thecoin handling unit50 will be described in detail.FIG. 9 illustrates the configuration of thebanknote handling unit40. As shown inFIG. 9, thebanknote handling unit40 includes thebanknote receiving unit41, thebanknote dispensing unit42, the dispensingreject unit43, thecassette mounting unit44, therotary transport unit45, thebanknote recognition unit46, and thebanknote storing units47 for each denomination.
• Thebanknote receiving unit41 receives banknotes inserted through thebanknote inlet41a. Thebanknote receiving unit41 feeds the received banknotes one by one to therotary transport unit45. Thebanknote dispensing unit42 temporarily stores therein when the banknotes are transported one by one from therotary transport unit45. Thebanknote dispensing unit42, when all banknotes to be dispensed are stored therein, discharges the stored banknotes from thebanknote outlet42ato dispense these banknotes.
• The dispensing rejectunit43 stores therein a banknote which is not appropriate to be dispensed, such as a banknote whose denomination cannot be recognized. For example, when there is a banknote, which cannot be recognized by thebanknote recognition unit46 due to abnormal transport such as overlapping or skew, among the banknotes fed from thebanknote storing unit47 in a dispensing process, this banknote is transported to the dispensing rejectunit43. Meanwhile, when there is a banknote, which cannot be recognized by thebanknote recognition unit46 due to stain or the like, among banknotes fed from thebanknote receiving unit41 in a depositing process, this banknote is returned to thebanknote dispensing unit42 as a rejected banknote in the depositing process.
• Thecassette mounting unit44 is configured such that abanknote cassette60 which is used for collection of proceeds and replenishment of change, is detachably mounted thereto.
• The plurality ofbanknote storing units47 are assigned corresponding denominations, respectively. Eachbanknote storing unit47 stores therein banknotes of the assigned denomination, and is able to feed the stored banknotes one by one.
• Therotary transport unit45 includes a rotary transport path in the center thereof. A connection transport path is disposed between the rotary transport path and each of thebanknote receiving unit41, thebanknote dispensing unit42, the dispensingreject unit43, thecassette mounting unit44, and the plurality ofbanknote storing units47. The rotary transport path is provided with thebanknote recognition unit46 which preforms recognition of a denomination, authentication, fitness, face/back orientation, transport state, and the like for each banknote.
• Therotary transport unit45 drives the rotary transport path to rotate in both the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 9, thereby transporting banknotes one by one. When storing banknotes in thebanknote storing units47, the rotary transport path is driven to rotate clockwise inFIG. 9. When feeding banknotes from thebanknote storing units47, the rotary transport path is driven to rotate counterclockwise inFIG. 9. In addition to the rotation drive control, therotary transport unit45 controls the destination of banknotes by switching the banknote transport path between the rotary transport path and each of the connection transport paths.
• FIG. 10 illustrates the configuration of thecoin handling unit50. As shown inFIG. 10, thecoin handling unit50 includes thecoin inlet51, the depositedcoin transport unit52, thecoin storing units53 for each denomination, the dispensedcoin transport unit54, and thecoin outlet55. The depositedcoin transport unit52 is provided with thecoin recognition unit52a.
• The depositedcoin transport unit52 takes coins inserted through thecoin inlet51, one by one, into a housing such that the coins are arranged in one layer in one line. The depositedcoin transport unit52 includes a coin feeding mechanism implemented by a feed belt or the like. When insertion of coins through thecoin inlet51 is detected, the coin feeding mechanism is driven and the coins are fed one by one.
• Thecoin recognition unit52aperforms recognition of a denomination, authentication, fitness, face/back orientation, transport state, and the like for each coin fed to the depositedcoin transport unit52. The depositedcoin transport unit52 determines a destination of each coin, based on the recognition result of thecoin recognition unit52a. A coin not suitable to be stored in thecoin storing unit53, such as a stained coin or a coin not recognized as a genuine coin, is transported to thecoin outlet55 as a rejected coin. A coin suitable to be stored in thecoin storing unit53 is transported to thecoin storing unit53 corresponding to the recognition result of the denomination.
• The plurality ofcoin storing units53 are assigned corresponding denominations, respectively. Eachcoin storing unit53 stores therein coins of the assigned denomination, and is able to feed the stored coins one by one to the dispensedcoin transport unit54. The dispensedcoin transport unit54 transports the coins fed from thecoin storing unit53 and dispenses the coins to thecoin outlet55.
• Next, a process procedure performed by thePOS register20 will be described.FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process procedure performed by thePOS register20. First, the purchasedcommodity registration unit26areads a barcode attached to a commodity, through the barcode reader22 (step S201). When there are more commodities (step S202; Yes), the purchasedcommodity registration unit26agoes to step S201 and reads a barcode attached to a next commodity.
• When the barcodes of all the commodities have been read (step S202; No), the checkoutamount calculation unit26csums up the prices of all the commodities to calculate a checkout amount (step S203). The pre-depositamount acquisition unit26breads a code printed on a pre-deposit receipt, through the barcode reader22 (step S204), and acquires a pre-deposit amount (step S205).
• When the pre-deposit amount is less than the checkout amount (step S206; Yes), thecheckout processing unit26dreceives additional deposit of money (step S207). When the deposit amount including the pre-deposit amount and the amount of the additional deposit becomes equal to or more than the checkout amount (step S206; No), thecheckout processing unit26dperforms settlement of the checkout amount to execute a checkout process (step S208). Thecheckout processing unit26dcalculates an amount of change (step S209), and causes thechange machine30 to dispense the change (step S210). Thereafter, the checkoutreceipt issuing unit26eissues a checkout receipt by using the receipt printer24 (step S211) to end the process.
• The checkout system may be configured such that, when the checkout process is performed using a pre-deposit receipt, information that specifies the pre-deposit receipt (e.g., identification information of the pre-deposit receipt itself) is managed as information of an already-used pre-deposit receipt to prevent one pre-deposit receipt from being used multiple times. In this configuration, when the pre-deposit receipt is read in step S204, whether or not the pre-deposit receipt is valid, i.e., whether or not the pre-deposit receipt is managed as an already-used pre-deposit receipt, is determined. When the pre-deposit receipt is determined to be valid, step S205 and subsequent steps are performed. When there are a plurality of checkout counters at which the pre-deposit receipt is available, information on already-used pre-deposit receipts is managed to be shared among the checkout counters.
• <Modifications>
• In the above description, a pre-deposit receipt on which a pre-deposit amount is printed is issued. However, a pre-deposit amount can be associated with a medium carried by a customer. For example, as a medium with which a pre-deposit amount is associated, a medium by which an individual can be identified, such as a license or an insurance card, may be used. If identification information that can uniquely identify a mobile device is available, the mobile device can be used as such a medium.
• FIG. 12 shows a case where a pre-deposit amount is associated with a medium carried by a customer. In the configuration shown inFIG. 12, adeposit machine10 and aPOS register20 are communicable with amanagement device70.
• Thedeposit machine10 receives deposited money and specifies a pre-deposit amount. Thedeposit machine10 acquires identification information from a medium with which the pre-deposit amount is to be associated, and transmits association information to themanagement device70. The association information includes the acquired identification information of the medium, the pre-deposit amount, and a device ID for identifying thedeposit machine10. Themanagement device70 registers the association information received from thedeposit machine10 in a pre-deposit table and holds the registered information.
• The POS register20 acquires the identification information from the medium presented by the customer. When thePOS register20 transmits the acquired identification information of the medium to themanagement device70, themanagement device70 refers to the pre-deposit table, reads out the pre-deposit amount associated with the identification information, and transmits the pre-deposit amount to thePOS register20. The POS register20 performs a checkout process by using the pre-deposit amount received from themanagement device70. When the pre-deposit amount exceeds a checkout amount, thechange machine30 dispenses money as change.
• As described above, when the pre-deposit amount is associated with the medium carried by the customer so as to be managed by themanagement device70, checkout using the pre-deposit money can be performed without using a pre-deposit receipt, thereby realizing a speedy and efficient checkout process.
• FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of themanagement device70 ofFIG. 12. As shown inFIG. 13, themanagement device70 includes adisplay71, anoperation unit72, acommunication unit73, amemory unit74, and acontrol unit75.
• Thedisplay71 is composed of a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and is used for output display to a clerk as an operator. Theoperation unit72 is composed of an operation device such as a keyboard or buttons, and is used for receiving operation from the clerk as an operator. Thedisplay71 and theoperation unit72 may be integrated with each other by using a touch panel display or the like. Thecommunication unit73 is a communication interface for communication with thedeposit machine10 and thePOS register20.
• Thememory unit74 is a storage device composed of a hard disk drive or a nonvolatile memory. Thememory unit74 stores therein a pre-deposit table74a. As already described above, association information received from thedeposit machine10 is registered on the pre-deposit table74a.
• Thecontrol unit75 controls the entirety of themanagement device70. Thecontrol unit75 includes an associationinformation receiving unit75aand a pre-depositamount notification unit75b. Programs corresponding to these functional units are stored in a ROM or a nonvolatile memory which are not shown, and these programs are loaded to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executed, thereby causing the CPU to execute processes corresponding to the associationinformation receiving unit75aand the pre-depositamount notification unit75b.
• The associationinformation receiving unit75areceives the association information from thedeposit machine10, and registers the received association information on the pre-deposit table74a. When receiving the identification information of the medium from thePOS register20, the pre-depositamount notification unit75brefers to the pre-deposit table74a, reads out the pre-deposit amount associated with the identification information, and notifies the POS register20 of the pre-deposit amount.
• FIG. 14 shows the pre-deposit table74ashown inFIG. 13. In the pre-deposit table74ashown inFIG. 14, a pre-deposit amount, date and time, type, device ID, etc., are associated with identification information of each medium. As for identification information of a medium, a license number, insurance card number, mobile IDm (identification information of a mobile device), or the like may be used. The device ID is information that identifies thedeposit machine10. Besides the above data, any data, such as a flag indicating whether or not a pre-deposit amount has already been used for checkout, point card ID, point balance, etc., can be associated with the identification information of each medium.
• FIG. 14 shows a state where a pre-deposit amount of “5,000-yen”, date and time of “2017/7/27, 09:03”, a type of “cash”, and a device ID of “T0322”, etc., are associated with identification information of “A0001”. Meanwhile, a pre-deposit amount of “10,000-yen”, date and time of “2017/7/27, 13:27”, a type of “cash”, and a device ID of “T0055”, etc., are associated with identification information of “B1234”.
• Next, a process procedure performed by themanagement device70 will be described.FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the process procedure performed by themanagement device70. The associationinformation receiving unit75aof themanagement device70 determines whether or not association information has been received from the deposit machine10 (step S301). When association information has been received from the deposit machine10 (step S301; Yes), the association information is registered on the pre-deposit table74a(step S302), and the process goes to step S301.
• When association information has not been received (step S301; No), the pre-depositamount notification unit75bdetermines whether or not identification information of a medium has been received from the POS register20 (step S303). When identification information has not been received from the POS register20 (step S303; No), the process goes to step S301. When identification information has been received (step S303; Yes), the pre-depositamount notification unit75bdetermines whether or not the identification information has already been registered on the pre-deposit table74a(step S304).
• When the identification information has been registered on the pre-deposit table74a(step S304; Yes), the pre-depositamount notification unit75breads out a pre-deposit amount associated with the identification information, and notifies the POS register20 of the pre-deposit amount (step S305). When the identification information has not been registered on the pre-deposit table74a(step S304; No), the pre-depositamount notification unit75bnotifies the POS register20 of an error (step S306).
• After step S305 or step S306, the pre-depositamount notification unit75bdetermines whether or not to end the process (step S307), and goes to step S301 when determining not to end the process (step S307; No). The pre-depositamount notification unit75bends the series of processes when determining to end the process (step S307; Yes).
• When the checkout process has been performed, a flag indicating that the pre-deposit amount has already been used for checkout may be set on the pre-deposit table74ato avoid a situation that one pre-deposit amount is used multiple times. In this configuration, whether or not the identification information has been registered is determined in step S304, and whether or not the pre-deposit amount has already been used for checkout is also determined in step S304. The process goes to step S305 if the pre-deposit amount has not been used, and goes to step S306 when the pre-deposit amount has already been used.
• In the above description, manned checkout counters anddeposit machines10 are installed in thestore1. However, in a commercial complex or the like containing a plurality of stores as tenants, adeposit machine10 is not necessarily installed in each store. That is, a medium with which a pre-deposit amount is associated can be made available in a plurality of stores.
• FIG. 16 shows a configuration in which a medium with which a pre-deposit amount is associated is made available in a plurality of stores. InFIG. 16, a commercial complex containsstores1 to5 as tenants. Each store is provided with a manned checkout counter. Depositing/dispensing terminals are installed in common areas near entrances of the commercial complex.
• Each depositing/dispensing terminal is a device having a function as adeposit machine10. The depositing/dispensing terminal performs association of a pre-deposit amount to a medium, for example, issuance of a pre-deposit receipt. At the manned checkout counter in each store, a pre-deposit amount is obtained from the pre-deposit receipt and used for a checkout process.
• When dispensing of change is required during the checkout process, the change may be dispensed at the manned checkout counter where the checkout process has been performed. If a depositing process is performed by using a common device while a dispensing process is performed at each store, only dispensing processes are performed at each store without depositing of cash, which may complicate appropriate management of cash. Therefore, the depositing/dispensing terminal is configured to dispense the change for the checkout process.
• When dispensing of change is performed at the depositing/dispensing terminal, a change dispense receipt which designates the amount of change is issued at the manned checkout counter where the checkout process has been performed. The depositing/dispensing terminal reads the change dispense receipt and dispenses money corresponding to the amount of change.
• As described above, in the checkout system according toEmbodiment 1, thedeposit machine10 receives deposited money and stores the money therein, and then associates a negotiable value corresponding to the amount of the received money, as a pre-deposit amount, with a predetermined medium used for checkout for commodities. The POS register20 acquires the pre-deposit amount associated with the medium and performs a checkout process, and change is dispensed from thechange machine30 according to need. This configuration eliminates the necessity of depositing money received from a customer into thechange machine30, thereby realizing a speedy and efficient checkout process.
• As for a medium with which a pre-deposit amount is associated, for example, a pre-deposit receipt, on which a code indicating the pre-deposit amount is printed, is used. The pre-deposit amount being coded enables thePOS register20 to read the pre-deposit amount with the barcode reader for reading barcodes attached to commodities. Handling of a pre-deposit amount is not limited to a receipt on which a barcode is printed. For example, it is allowable to issue and use an IC card or the like, in which a pre-deposit amount is stored.
• As for a medium with which a pre-deposit amount is associated, a license or the like may be used. In this case, thedeposit machine10 reads identification information from a medium such as a license, and transmits the identification information together with a pre-deposit amount to themanagement device70. Themanagement device70 stores the identification information of the medium in association with the pre-deposit amount. When receiving the identification information of the medium from thePOS register20, themanagement device70 notifies the POS register20 of the pre-deposit amount associated with the identification information.
• An expiration date is desirably set on a pre-deposit amount. Specifically, for example, use of a pre-deposit amount is limited to the same day the money was deposited. In this case, the customer may use the pre-deposit amount or make a withdrawal before leaving the store. ThePOS register20 and thechange machine30 are configured to handle withdrawal of a pre-deposit amount of money. Preferably, thedeposit machine10 is also configured to handle withdrawals.
Embodiment 2
• InEmbodiment 1 described above, a cashier performs registration of commodities and operation regarding checkout. InEmbodiment 2, the present invention is applied to a semi-self-checkout system and a self-checkout system. In the semi-self-checkout system, a POS register performing registration of commodities and a checkout device performing checkout are installed away from each other. A cashier operates the POS register to perform registration of commodities, and a customer operates the checkout device to perform checkout. In the self-checkout system, a customer performs, by himself/herself, both the operation regarding registration of commodities and the operation regarding checkout.
• <Configuration and Operation of Semi-Self-Checkout System>
• FIG. 17 shows a specific example of a layout adopting the semi-self-checkout system. In the example shown inFIG. 17, adeposit machine10 is installed near an entrance of a store. The store has a checkout area and a bagging area, and an inter-area entrance is disposed between the checkout area and the bagging area.
• The checkout area includes a registration area where registration of commodities is performed, and a checkout area where checkout is performed. In the registration area, a plurality of POS registers120 are installed, and cashiers B who operate the POS registers120 are assigned to the respective POS registers120. In the checkout area, a plurality ofcheckout devices130 which are operable by customers are installed.
• In the configuration shown inFIG. 17, a customer, who has entered the store, first performs pre-deposit of money with thedeposit machine10 and receives a pre-deposit receipt. Then, the customer puts desired commodities in a shopping basket in the store, enters the registration area, and hands the shopping basket to the cashier B. The cashier B operates thePOS register120 to register the commodities in the shopping basket. After all the commodities have been registered, the POS register120 issues a purchased commodity receipt. On the purchased commodity receipt, information on the commodities purchased by the customer, and a code indicating a checkout amount, are printed. When the number of commodities is one, the checkout amount is the price of the commodity. When there are a plurality of commodities, the checkout amount is the total of the prices of the commodities.
• The customer goes to thecheckout device130, with the purchased commodity receipt and the shopping basket in which the registered commodities are present. The customer causes thecheckout device130 to read the purchased commodity receipt and the pre-deposit receipt. Then, thecheckout device130 obtains the checkout amount and the pre-deposit amount from the respective receipts, performs a checkout process, and dispenses change according to need. After the checkout process, the customer leaves the checkout area, and bags the commodities at a bagging table disposed in the bagging area.
• Next, a functional configuration of the POS register120 shown inFIG. 17 will be described.FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the POS register120 shown inFIG. 17. As shown inFIG. 18, thePOS register120 includes adisplay operation unit21, abarcode reader22, acard reader23, areceipt printer24, acommunication unit25, aPOS control unit126, and amemory unit127.
• Since thedisplay operation unit21, thebarcode reader22, thecard reader23, thereceipt printer24, and thecommunication unit25 are identical to those of thePOS register20 according toEmbodiment 1, repeated description is omitted.
• Thememory unit127 is a storage device implemented by, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, or a secondary storage such as a hard disk drive. Thememory unit127 stores therein purchasedcommodity log data127a. The purchasedcommodity log data127aincludes information on registered commodities (names, quantities, prices, etc., of the commodities), a checkout amount, date and time, identification information of thePOS register120, identification information of the cashier B, and the like.
• ThePOS control unit126 controls the entirety of thePOS register120. ThePOS control unit126 includes a purchasedcommodity registration unit26a, a checkoutamount calculation unit26c, and a purchased commodityreceipt issuing unit126a.
• The purchasedcommodity registration unit26aperforms registration of commodities to be purchased. Specifically, when thebarcode reader22 reads a barcode attached to a commodity and acquires information such as the name and price of the commodity, the purchasedcommodity registration unit26aperforms registration of the commodity by using the acquired information. The registered commodity is displayed on thedisplay operation unit21. The checkoutamount calculation unit26csums up the prices of all commodities registered by the purchasedcommodity registration unit26ato calculate a checkout amount. The calculated checkout amount is displayed on thedisplay operation unit21.
• The purchased commodityreceipt issuing unit126aissues a purchased commodity receipt. Specifically, the purchased commodityreceipt issuing unit126agenerates a code indicating the checkout amount calculated by the checkoutamount calculation unit26c, and causes thereceipt printer24 to print the generated code, thereby issuing a purchased commodity receipt. On the purchased commodity receipt, information on the registered commodities (names, quantities, prices, etc., of the commodities), a checkout amount, date and time, identification information of thePOS register120, identification information of the cashier B, etc., may be further printed. Part or all of these pieces of information may be coded and printed on the purchased commodity receipt.
• When performing issuance of the purchased commodity receipt, the purchased commodityreceipt issuing unit126aregisters, on the purchasedcommodity log data127a, the information on the registered commodities (names, quantities, prices, etc., of the commodities), the checkout amount, the date and time, the identification information of thePOS register120, the identification information of the cashier B, etc.
• Next, a process procedure performed by the POS register120 will be described.FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the process procedure performed by thePOS register120. First, the purchasedcommodity registration unit26areads a barcode attached to a commodity with the barcode reader22 (step S401). When there are more commodities (step S402; Yes), the purchasedcommodity registration unit26agoes to step S401 and reads a barcode attached to a next commodity.
• When the barcodes of all the commodities have been read (step S402; No), the checkoutamount calculation unit26csums up the prices of all the commodities to calculate a checkout amount (step S403). Thereafter, the purchased commodityreceipt issuing unit126aperforms registration on the purchasedcommodity log data127a(step S404) and issuance of a purchased commodity receipt (step S405) to end the process.
• Next, a functional configuration of thecheckout device130 shown inFIG. 17 will be described.FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of thecheckout device130 shown inFIG. 17. As shown inFIG. 20, thecheckout device130 includes adisplay operation unit131, abarcode reader132, acard reader133, areceipt printer134, acommunication unit135, and acheckout control unit136. Further, thecheckout device130 contains achange machine30. Since the configuration and operation of thechange machine30 are identical to those ofEmbodiment 1, repeated description is omitted.
• Thedisplay operation unit131 performs output of information to a customer as an operator, and receives an input from the customer as an operator. Thebarcode reader132 is used for reading codes on a pre-deposit receipt, and codes on a purchased commodity receipt. Thecard reader133 is used for checkout with a payment card such as a credit card, a debit card, or a prepaid card.
• Thereceipt printer134 is used for issuing a checkout receipt on which the content of transaction is printed. For example, the content of transaction printed on the receipt includes date and time, names and prices of registered commodities, an amount of inserted money, a pre-deposit amount, an amount of change, and a point balance. Thecommunication unit135 is a communication interface for communication with thechange machine30 and an external server.
• Thecheckout control unit136 controls the entirety of thecheckout device130. Thecheckout control unit136 includes a purchased commoditydata acquisition unit136a, a pre-depositamount acquisition unit136b, acheckout processing unit136c, and a checkoutreceipt issuing unit136d.
• The purchased commoditydata acquisition unit136areads codes printed on a purchased commodity receipt, with thebarcode reader132, and acquires information on the checkout amount and the commodities.
• The pre-depositamount acquisition unit136breads codes printed on a pre-deposit receipt, with thebarcode reader132, and acquires a pre-deposit amount. When an ID of a point card is included in the codes printed on the pre-deposit receipt, the pre-depositamount acquisition unit136bfurther acquires the ID of the point card.
• Thecheckout processing unit136cperforms a checkout process in which settlement for the checkout amount acquired by the purchased commoditydata acquisition unit136ais performed to complete the transaction. The settlement of the checkout amount can be made using the pre-deposit amount. In the checkout process using the pre-deposit amount, if the pre-deposit amount is insufficient, thecheckout processing unit136creceives an additional deposit into thechange machine30, adds the amount of the additional deposit to the pre-deposit amount, and continues the checkout process. In the checkout process using the pre-deposit amount, if the pre-deposit amount exceeds the checkout amount, thecheckout processing unit136ccauses thechange machine30 to dispense change corresponding to a difference between the amounts.
• The checkout process may be performed using a payment card or cash. When settlement using a payment card is selected, thecheckout processing unit136cacquires information such as a card ID from a payment card inserted in thecard reader133, and transmits this information together with the checkout amount to the external server, thereby performing the settlement. When settlement by cash is selected, thecheckout processing unit136ctransmits the checkout amount to thechange machine30, thereby performing the settlement, and completes the settlement upon receiving checkout completion notification from thechange machine30.
• Upon completion of the checkout process, the checkoutreceipt issuing unit136dissues a checkout receipt by using thereceipt printer134. As already described above, on the checkout receipt, date and time, names and prices of registered commodities, an amount of inserted money, a pre-deposit amount, an amount of change, a point balance, etc., are printed.
• Next, a process procedure performed by thecheckout device130 will be described.FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the process procedure performed by thecheckout device130. First, the purchased commoditydata acquisition unit136areads a code printed on a purchased commodity receipt with the barcode reader132 (step S501) and acquires a checkout amount (step S502). Further, the pre-depositamount acquisition unit136breads a code printed on the pre-deposit receipt with the barcode reader132 (step S503) and acquires a pre-deposit amount (step S504).
• When the pre-deposit amount is less than the checkout amount (step S505; Yes), thecheckout processing unit136creceives additional deposit of money (step S506). When the deposit amount including the pre-deposit amount and the amount of the additional deposit becomes equal to or more than the checkout amount (step S505; No), thecheckout processing unit136cperforms settlement of the checkout amount to execute a checkout process (step S507). Thecheckout processing unit136ccalculates the amount of change (step S508), and causes thechange machine30 to dispense the change (step S509). Thereafter, the checkoutreceipt issuing unit136dissues a checkout receipt by using the receipt printer134 (step S510) to end the process.
• The checkout system may be configured such that, when the checkout process is performed using a pre-deposit receipt, information that specifies the pre-deposit receipt (e.g., identification information of the pre-deposit receipt itself) is managed as already-used pre-deposit receipt information to avoid a situation that one pre-deposit receipt is used multiple times. In this configuration, when the pre-deposit receipt is read in step S503, whether the pre-deposit receipt is valid, i.e., whether or not the pre-deposit receipt is stored as an already-used pre-deposit receipt, is determined. When the pre-deposit receipt is determined to be valid, step S504 and subsequent steps are performed. When there are a plurality of checkout counters at which the pre-deposit receipt is available, information on already-used pre-deposit receipts is managed to be shared among the checkout counters.
• <Configuration of Self-Checkout System>
• Next, a checkout device used for a self-checkout system will be described.FIG. 22 shows an external configuration of acheckout device200 used for a self-checkout system. Thecheckout device200 includes aPOS register220 and achange machine30. Thecheckout device200 includes: adisplay operation unit221, abarcode reader222, and acard reader223 of thePOS register220; and adisplay operation unit56, abanknote inlet41a, abanknote outlet42a, acoin inlet51, and acoin outlet55 of thechange machine30.
• Thecheckout device200 is provided with a commodity table211 and a commodity table212. One of the commodity tables211 and212 is a table on which unregistered commodities are placed while the other is a table on which registered commodities are placed. When the commodity table211 is used for placement of unregistered commodities while the commodity table212 is used for placement of registered commodities, for example, the commodity table211 is given an illustration of a shopping basket while the commodity table212 is given an illustration of a plastic bag.
• A customer places a shopping basket, in which commodities to be purchased are put, on the commodity table211. The customer takes out each commodity, holds the commodity over thebarcode reader222 to register the commodity, and puts the commodity on the commodity table212. The customer repeats this work. Thebarcode reader222 reads a barcode attached to each commodity to acquire information such as the name, price, etc., of the commodity. Thecheckout device200 performs registration of each commodity by using the information acquired from the barcode. Thebarcode reader222 is also used for reading a pre-deposit receipt.
• Thedisplay operation unit221 of thePOS register220 is composed of a liquid crystal touch panel display or the like. Thedisplay operation unit221 performs display of operation guidance, display of information of registered commodities, and reception of various operation inputs. Thecard reader223 is used for checkout with a payment card such as a credit card, a debit card, or a prepaid card.
• Thebanknote inlet41aand thecoin inlet51 are used for insertion of banknotes and coins, respectively. Thebanknote outlet42aand thecoin outlet55 are used for dispensing of banknotes and coins, respectively. For example, after registration of the commodities, the customer checks the price displayed on thedisplay operation unit21, and inserts money as compensation for the commodities through thebanknote inlet41aand/or thecoin inlet51. When dispensing of change is needed, thecheckout device200 executes dispensing of money, as the change, to thebanknote outlet42aand/or thecoin outlet55.
• Thedisplay operation unit56 of thechange machine30 is composed of a liquid crystal touch panel display or the like. Thedisplay operation unit56 performs display regarding thechange machine30, such as display of an inventory amount of money, for each denomination, stored in thechange machine30, and display regarding detected failure. Thedisplay operation unit56 also performs reception of operation regarding thechange machine30.
• FIG. 23 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of thecheckout device200. As shown inFIG. 23, thecheckout device200 includes aPOS register220 performing registration of commodities, and achange machine30 performing depositing/dispensing of money. Since the configuration and operation of thechange machine30 are identical to those ofEmbodiment 1, repeated description is omitted.
• ThePOS register220 includes areceipt printer224, acommunication unit225, and aPOS control unit226, in addition to thedisplay operation unit221, thebarcode reader222, and thecard reader223 described above. Thereceipt printer224 is used for issuing a checkout receipt on which the content of transaction is printed. For example, the content of transaction printed on the receipt includes date and time, names and prices of registered commodities, an amount of inserted money, a pre-deposit amount, an amount of change, and a point balance. Thecommunication unit225 is a communication interface for communication with thechange machine30 and an external server.
• ThePOS control unit226 controls the entirety of thePOS register220. ThePOS control unit226 includes a purchasedcommodity registration unit226a, a pre-depositamount acquisition unit226b, a checkoutamount calculation unit226c, acheckout processing unit226d, and a checkoutreceipt issuing unit226e. ThePOS control unit226 obtains weight measurement results from aweight sensor227adisposed at the commodity table211 and a weight sensor227bdisposed at the commodity table212. An exemplary case where theweight sensor227ais disposed at the commodity table211 used for placement of unregistered commodities while the weight sensor227bis disposed at the commodity table212 used for placement of registered commodities, will be described.
• The purchasedcommodity registration unit226aperforms registration of commodities to be purchased. Specifically, when thebarcode reader222 reads a barcode attached to a commodity to acquire information such as the name, price, etc., of the commodity, the purchasedcommodity registration unit226aregisters the commodity by using the acquired information, and causes thedisplay operation unit221 to display information on the registered commodity.
• The purchasedcommodity registration unit226adetermines whether or not the registered commodity is placed on the commodity table212, based on the measurement results of theweight sensor227aand the weight sensor227b. When the registered commodity is placed on the commodity table212, registration of a next commodity is allowed.
• A reduction in the measurement result of theweight sensor227a, which occurs before registration of a commodity, corresponds to the weight of the commodity. When the measurement result of the weight sensor227bis increased by the weight of the commodity, it is determined that the registered commodity is placed on the commodity table212, and then registration of a next commodity is allowed.
• When the measurement result of theweight sensor227abecomes equal to the weight of the shopping basket and thus the purchasedcommodity registration unit226adetermines that a final registered commodity has been placed on the commodity table212, registration of the commodities is ended.
• The pre-depositamount acquisition unit226bcauses thebarcode reader222 to read a code printed on a pre-deposit receipt and acquires a pre-deposit amount. When an ID of a point card is included in the code printed on the pre-deposit receipt, the pre-depositamount acquisition unit226bfurther acquires the ID of the point card.
• The checkoutamount calculation unit226csums up the prices of all the commodities registered by the purchasedcommodity registration unit226ato calculate a checkout amount, and causes thedisplay operation unit221 to display the checkout amount.
• Thecheckout processing unit226dperforms a checkout process in which settlement of the checkout amount calculated by the checkoutamount calculation unit226cis performed to complete the transaction. The settlement of the checkout amount can be made using the pre-deposit amount. In the checkout process using the pre-deposit amount, if the pre-deposit amount is insufficient, thecheckout processing unit226dreceives additional deposit to thechange machine30, adds the amount of the additional deposit to the pre-deposit amount, and continues the checkout process. If the pre-deposit amount exceeds the checkout amount in the checkout process using the pre-deposit amount, thecheckout processing unit226dcauses thechange machine30 to dispense, as change, money corresponding to a difference between the amounts.
• The checkout process may be performed by using a payment card or cash. When settlement using a payment card is selected, thecheckout processing unit226dacquires information such as a card ID from the payment card inserted in thecard reader223, and transmits the information together with the checkout amount to the external server, thereby performing the settlement. When settlement by cash is selected, thecheckout processing unit226dtransmits the checkout amount to thechange machine30, thereby performing the settlement, and completes the settlement upon receiving checkout completion notification from thechange machine30.
• Upon completion of the checkout process, the checkoutreceipt issuing unit226eissues a checkout receipt by using thereceipt printer224. On the checkout receipt, date and time, names and prices of registered commodities, an amount of inserted money, a pre-deposit amount, an amount of change, a point balance, etc., are printed, as described above.
• As described above, even when the semi-self-checkout system or the self-checkout system is used, as inEmbodiment 1, a negotiable value corresponding to the amount of money received by thedeposit machine10 is associated with a predetermined medium, the checkout process is performed by using the pre-deposit amount, and change is dispensed from thechange machine30 according to need. This configuration eliminates the necessity of depositing money received from a customer into thechange machine30, thereby realizing a speedy and efficient checkout process.
• As inEmbodiment 1, a pre-deposit receipt, an IC card, a license, etc., can be used as a medium with which a pre-deposit amount is associated. Further, as inEmbodiment 1, an expiration date can be set on the pre-deposit amount.
• InEmbodiments 1 and 2 described above, thedeposit machine10 handles only banknotes. However, thedeposit machine10 may be configured to handle both banknotes and coins.
• InEmbodiments 1 and 2 described above, a pre-deposit receipt is issued with an identification number thereof being printed thereon. However, identification information of a pre-deposit receipt is not always necessary. For example, instead of using such identification information, a used pre-deposit receipt may be collected, or a used pre-deposit receipt may be subjected to printing indicating that the receipt has already been used.
• An identification number of a pre-deposit receipt itself may be managed to reconcile an already-used pre-deposit, although detailed description thereof has been omitted inEmbodiments 1 and 2. Likewise, whether or not a pre-deposit receipt has already been used may be managed with a flag on the pre-deposit table74ato perform reconciliation.
• A pre-deposit receipt is not limited to be used alone, but a plurality of pre-deposit receipts may be added up to be used. Likewise, when multiple times of pre-deposit have been performed in association with one identification information of a license or the like, a plurality of pre-deposit amounts associated with the same identification information on the pre-deposit table74amay be added up to be used.
• InEmbodiments 1 and 2 described above, the present invention is applied to a checkout system in a supermarket or the like. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is applicable to any checkout system.
• The constituent elements described in the above embodiments and modifications are conceptually functional constituent elements, and thus may not be necessarily configured as physical constituent elements, as illustrated in the drawings. That is, distributed or integrated forms of each device are not limited to the forms illustrated in the drawings, but all or some of the forms may be distributed or integrated functionally or physically in any unit depending on various loads, use statuses, or the like.
• As described above, the money depositing apparatus and the checkout system according to the present invention are useful for realizing a speedy and efficient checkout process at a checkout counter in a store.
• As described above, the present invention is directed to a money receiving unit configured to receive money; a money storing unit configured to store therein the money received by the money receiving unit; and an association unit configured to associate a negotiable value corresponding to an amount of the money received by the money receiving unit, with a predetermined medium used for checkout for purchasing a commodity.
• In the above configuration, the negotiable value is available for the checkout performed by using a predetermined money handling apparatus.
• In the above configuration, the negotiable value is available for the checkout performed by using a predetermined money handling apparatus in a day when the amount of money is associated with the predetermined medium.
• The above configuration further includes a reading unit configured to read information stored in a storage medium possessed by a customer. The association unit is configured to associate the negotiable value corresponding to the amount of the money received by the money receiving unit, and the information read by the reading unit, with the predetermined medium used for the checkout.
• In the above configuration, the association unit includes: a code generation unit configured to generate a code of the negotiable value corresponding to the amount of the money received by the money receiving unit; a printing unit configured to print the code generated by the code generation unit, on a predetermined receipt used for checkout for commodities; and a receipt issuing unit configured to issue the predetermined receipt on which the code is printed by the printing unit.
• In the above configuration, the association unit includes: a data generation unit configured to generate data of the negotiable value corresponding to the amount of the money received by the money receiving unit; and a control unit configured to perform control so as to store the data of the negotiable value generated by the data generation unit, in a predetermined storage medium used for the checkout.
• Furthermore, as described above, the present invention is directed to a checkout system in which a POS device and a money handling apparatus are communicably connected, the money handling apparatus being configured to recognize and count money, store the money in a storing unit, and dispense change. The checkout system includes a money depositing apparatus including: a money receiving unit configured to receive money; a money storing unit configured to store therein the money received by the money receiving unit; and an association unit configured to associate a negotiable value corresponding to an amount of the money received by the money receiving unit, with a predetermined medium used for checkout performed by using the money handling apparatus for purchasing a commodity. The POS device is configured to, when an amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium is more than an amount of money to be paid for the checkout, instruct the money handling apparatus to dispense, as change, money corresponding to a difference between the amount of money associated with the predetermined medium and the amount of money to be paid for the checkout.
• The above configuration further includes a management device communicably connected to the money depositing apparatus and the money handling apparatus. The management device includes a memory unit configured to store therein identification information that uniquely identifies the predetermined medium, in association with the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium.
• In the above configuration, the money depositing apparatus further includes a notification unit configured to, on condition that association by the association unit has been performed, notify the management device of association information which includes the identification information that uniquely identifies the predetermined medium, and the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium. The money handling apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire the identification information of the predetermined medium; a request unit configured to request the management device to notify a negotiable value corresponding to the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit; and a control unit configured to, when an amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value, which corresponds to the identification information of the predetermined medium and is notified from the management device, is more than an amount of money to be paid for the checkout, perform control so as to dispense, as change, money corresponding to a difference between the amount of money associated with the predetermined medium and the amount of money to be paid for the checkout.
• In the above configuration, the POS device is configured to, when an amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium is less than an amount of money to be paid for the checkout, instruct the money handling apparatus to receive additional money, and perform the checkout with a total of the amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value and an amount of the additional money received by the money handling apparatus.
• According to the present invention, a speedy and efficient checkout process at a checkout counter in a store is realized, whereby a queue of waiting customers at the checkout counter can be reduced.
• Although the invention has been explained with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching of the claims.

Claims (10)

What is claimed is:

1. A money depositing apparatus comprising:

a money receiving unit configured to receive money;

a money storing unit configured to store the money received by the money receiving unit; and

an association unit configured to associate a negotiable value corresponding to an amount of the money received by the money receiving unit with a predetermined medium used for checkout for purchasing a commodity.

2. The money depositing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the negotiable value is available for the checkout performed by using a predetermined money handling apparatus.

3. The money depositing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the negotiable value is available for the checkout performed by using a predetermined money handling apparatus in a day when the amount of money is associated with the predetermined medium.

4. The money depositing apparatus according toclaim 1 further comprising

a reading unit configured to read information stored in a storage medium possessed by a customer,

wherein the association unit is configured to associate the negotiable value and the information read by the reading unit with the predetermined medium.

5. The money depositing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein

the association unit comprises:

a code generation unit configured to generate a code of the negotiable value; and

a printing unit configured to print the code generated by the code generation unit, on a predetermined receipt used for the checkout.

6. The money depositing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein

the association unit comprises:

a data generation unit configured to generate data of the negotiable value; and

a control unit configured to perform control so as to store the data of the negotiable value generated by the data generation unit, in a predetermined storage medium used for the checkout.

7. A checkout system in which a POS device and a money handling apparatus are communicably connected, the money handling apparatus being configured to recognize and count money, store the money in a storing unit, and dispense change, the checkout system comprising

a money depositing apparatus comprising:

a money receiving unit configured to receive money;

a money storing unit configured to store the money received by the money receiving unit; and

an association unit configured to associate a negotiable value corresponding to an amount of the money received by the money receiving unit, with a predetermined medium used for checkout performed by using the money handling apparatus for purchasing a commodity,

wherein the POS device is configured to instruct the money handling apparatus to dispense money corresponding to a difference between the amount of money associated with the predetermined medium and the amount of money to be paid for the checkout when an amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium is more than an amount of money to be paid for the checkout.

8. The checkout system according toclaim 7 further comprising a management device communicably connected to the money depositing apparatus and the money handling apparatus,

the management device comprising a memory unit configured to store identification information that uniquely identifies the predetermined medium, in association with the negotiable value.

9. The checkout system according toclaim 8, wherein

the money depositing apparatus further comprises

a notification unit configured to notify the management device of association information which comprises the identification information that uniquely identifies the predetermined medium, and the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium on condition that association by the association unit has been performed, and

the money handling apparatus comprises:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire the identification information of the predetermined medium;

a request unit configured to request the management device to notify a negotiable value corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit; and

a control unit configured to, when an amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value, which corresponds to the identification information of the predetermined medium and is notified from the management device, is more than an amount of money to be paid for the checkout, perform control so as to dispense, as change, money corresponding to a difference between the amount of money associated with the predetermined medium and the amount of money to be paid for the checkout.

10. The checkout system according toclaim 7, wherein the POS device is configured to, when an amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value associated with the predetermined medium is less than an amount of money to be paid for the checkout, instruct the money handling apparatus to receive additional money, and perform the checkout with a total of the amount of money corresponding to the negotiable value and an amount of the additional money received by the money handling apparatus.

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