DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISPENSING
COLLECTABLES
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a dispensing device for automatically dispensing collectables , such as stamps . Furthermore , the invention relates to a method for automatically dispensing collectables , such as stamps .
Such a dispensing device is known, for example , from the international patent publication WO 2016/ 099278 . WO 2016/ 099278 relates to an apparatus and a method for automatically dispensing stamps . The apparatus comprises : a housing for containing a plurality of stamps ; a dispensing device for dispensing at least one stamp from the plurality of stamps ; and a control device for receiving information from a point-of-sale terminal which is adapted to communicate with the apparatus , wherein the dispensing device is characterized in that said control device is adapted to control said dispensing device so as to dispense a certain number of stamps according to the information received .
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The known dispensing device, during use , receives sales information from the point-of-sale terminal , for example, of a supermarket . The received sales information indicates the amount of stamps to be dispensed to the customer of which the sales information has been received by the known dispensing device . In order to enable the known dispensing device to receive sales information from the point-of-sale terminal , the dispensing device must be operatively connected to the payment system of the supermarket . Since a large variety of di fferent payment systems is available to be used with point-of-sale terminals , a disadvantage of the known dispensing device is that the dispensing device must be able to be integrated into or has to be integrated into each of the large variety of di fferent payment systems in order to be enabled to receive sales information from the respective payment system .
It is an obj ect of the present invention to ameliorate or to eliminate one or more disadvantages of the known dispensing device, to provide an improved dispensing device , or to at least provide an alternative dispensing device .
According to a first aspect , the invention provides a dispensing device for automatically dispensing collectables , such as stamps , comprising : a holder configured for holding a plurality of collectables ; a collectable dispenser configured for dispensing one or more collectables from the holder holding the plurality of collectables , and a controller operatively connected to the collectable dispenser and configured for controlling the collectable dispenser to dispense one or more collectables , wherein the dispensing device further comprises a receipt reader operatively connected to the controller and configured for reading a receipt , and wherein the controller is configured for determining an amount of collectables to dispense on basis of the read receipt and for controlling the collectable dispenser so as to dispense the determined amount of collectables in accordance with the read receipt .
During use of the dispensing device, a customer, for example, of a supermarket may pay collected groceries at a cash register of the supermarket . After paying the groceries , the customer usually receives a receipt as prove of payment of the groceries and in order to enable the customer, for example, to check whether the prices of the paid groceries are correct . Subsequently, the customer may go to the dispensing device according to the invention, and may present the receipt of the supermarket to the dispensing device , in particular the receipt reader thereof . The receipt reader reads the presented receipt, and provides the read receipt to the controller of the dispensing device . After receiving the read receipt, the controller determines the number of collectables to be dispensed and controls the collectable dispenser to dispense the determined number of collectables to the customer . The dispensing device according to the invention, thus , has to be provided with a receipt only in order to dispense collectables to a customer . There is no need for the dispensing device to be operatively connected to or to be integrated into the payment system of the supermarket and, therefore , the dispensing device according to the invention is a true standalone dispensing device . This is advantageous , as the dispensing device according to the invention may be used easily in combination with substantially every payment system.
Additionally, since the dispensing device according to the invention does not have to be operatively connected to or does not have to be integrated, for example, into the payment system of the supermarket , the dispensing device may be put into use relatively quickly, and/or may be located at any position within the supermarket .
In an embodiment , the controller is configured for extracting information from the read receipt and for controlling the collectable dispenser so as to dispense a predetermined number of collectables in accordance with the extracted information . Preferably the extracted information relates to a paid amount of money . In an embodiment thereof , the receipt reader is configured for converting a physical receipt into a digital receipt . During use, a receipt is presented to the receipt reader of the dispensing device , which receipt reader converts the physical receipt into a digital receipt . Subsequently, the controller is provided with the digital receipt, which controller extracts information from the digital receipt . The extracted information, for example , may relate to the amount of money spent, for example , at the supermarket . On basis of the amount of money spent at the supermarket , the controller determines the amount of collectables to be dispensed to the customer . Advantageously, the determination of the amount of collectables to be dispensed is based on the receipt .
In an embodiment , the receipt reader comprises a receipt scanner and/or a barcode scanner . By providing a receipt scanner and a barcode scanner as the receipt reader, the dispensing device may be enabled advantageously to read a large variety of dif ferent receipt formats .
In an embodiment, the receipt reader comprises an imaging module configured for recording one or more images of a receipt . In an embodiment thereof , the controller is configured for stitching together images of a receipt when multiple images are recorded of a receipt so as to form a single image from the recorded receipt . The length of receipts issued by a point-of-sale terminal may vary greatly, as the length of a receipt depends among others on the amount of groceries listed on the receipt . By recording multiple images of a receipt, followed by stitching together the multiple images of the receipt, the dispensing device may be enabled to create a digital receipt of a physical receipt , independent of the length of the receipt . An advantage of this embodiment, therefore, may be that the dispensing device is capable of reading substantially every receipt .
Additionally, since the receipt reader is configured for recording one or more images of a receipt, the dimensions of the receipt reader may be kept to a minimum or may be limited, such that the dimensions of the dispensing device may be kept to a minimum or may be limited . This is advantageous , since the space required for installing the dispensing device may be kept to a minimum.
In an embodiment , the controller is configured for performing a check on the read receipt for inconsistencies , irregularities and/or fraud . In an embodiment thereof , the controller is configured for determining a confidence level as an outcome of the check on the read receipt , wherein the controller further is configured for switching to an outcome of a parallel check when the determined confidence level is below a predetermined threshold .
In an embodiment, the dispensing device comprises a memory operatively connected to the controller and/or being in data communication with a remote server, wherein the controller is configured for saving a read receipt at the memory and/or the remote server . In an embodiment thereof , the controller is configured for creating an unique identifier for each read receipt . In an embodiment thereof , the controller is configured for saving the created unique identifier in association with the read receipt for which the unique identifier has been created . During use, each read receipt is saved at the memory and/or the remote server in combination with the unique identifier of the respective read receipt . The dispensing device may therewith be enabled to check for each read receipt whether the receipt has been read before . When it is determined that the receipt has been read before , the dispensing device is prevented advantageously from dispensing collectables in relation to the respective receipt . Abuse of the dispensing device , therefore , may be prevented .
In an embodiment, the holder configured for holding the plurality of collectables is configured for holding the plurality of collectables digitally and/or physically, preferably wherein the collectables are stamps .
In an embodiment , the collectable dispenser comprises a connector configured for connecting to an external device and/or for dispensing collectables digitally to the external device . In an embodiment thereof , the connecter is a wireless connector . Preferably the connector is a Wi-Fi connector and/or a Bluetooth® connector . During use , a customer may connect a mobile phone to the dispensing device , whereafter the dispensing device may dispense the collectables digitally to the mobile phone of the customer . This advantageously enables customers , for example , of the supermarket to collect the collectables digitally .
In an embodiment , the dispensing device is contained in a housing, preferably is contained in a single housing . An advantage of this embodiment is that the dispensing device may be installed completely at once, such that installation of the dispensing device may be completed relatively fast and may be relatively simple .
In an embodiment , the dispensing device does not receive information from a point-of-sale terminal so as to dispense a predetermined number of collectables in accordance with information from the point-of-sale terminal .
In an embodiment, the dispensing device comprises a display operatively connected to the controller and configured for displaying the read receipt and/or the number of collectables to be dispensed . The display, during use , may be used, for example, may be used advantageously to display to the user the read receipt, such that the user may check whether the receipt has been read correctly, or to display that number of collectables that will be dispensed to the user, such that the user is provided with an indication of the number of collectables to expect .
In an embodiment the receipt reader has a receipt input for enabling a user to enter a receipt into the receipt reader in an insert direction, wherein the receipt input is provided with a receipt corrector configured for checking the alignment of the entered receipt and/or for correcting the alignment of the entered receipt when it is determined that the entered receipt is misaligned . In an embodiment thereof , the receipt corrector has a receipt guiding channel with two longitudinal sides substantially parallel to the insert direction, wherein a receipt detector, such as an IR photocell , is provided at or near each of the two longitudinal sides for detecting the presence of at least a part of the entered receipt . During use , each receipt detector, which receipt detectors are located at opposite sides of the guiding channel , detects a part of the entered receipt . When the receipt detectors detect simultaneously or within a predetermined time period of each other a part of the entered receipt , it is determined that the entered receipt is correctly aligned within the guiding channel . When the time period between a first one of the receipt detectors detecting a part of the entered receipt and a second one of the receipt detectors detecting a part of the entered receipt exceeds a predetermined value , it is determined that the entered receipt is misaligned within the guiding channel . A misaligned receipt , for example, may get stuck in the receipt reader or may result in wrongly read data . This embodiment, therefore , advantageously prevents a misaligned receipt from entering the receipt reader .
In a further embodiment, the receipt input is provided with indicators at a side visible to a user and configured for indicating whether the entered receipt is misaligned . A user is provided with an indication whether the entered receipt is aligned properly within the receipt input .
In an embodiment , the receipt reader is provided with a scanner module for scanning a receipt entered by a user, wherein the scanner module has a camera, such as a high-speed camera, for recording one or more images of the entered receipt . In an embodiment thereof , the scanner module has a receipt guiding wheel configured for receiving the entered receipt and for guiding the entered receipt through the scanner module , wherein the receipt guiding wheel has a cylindrical wheel body arranged rotatably within the scanner module , the cylindrical wheel body having one or more guiding ribs provided at the outer circumference thereof , the scanner module further comprising a tensioning mechanism arranged at the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body and configured for tensioning the entered receipt with respect to the outer circumference of the receipt guiding wheel . During use , the receipt is received, for example, from the receipt input and placed between the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body and the tensioning mechanism . Subsequently, the receipt is turned by rotating the cylindrical wheel body, such that the receipt passes along the camera of the scanner module . When the receipt passes along the camera, the camera records one or more images of the passing receipt in order to digiti ze the receipt . The recorded receipt may be removed from the scanner module and handed back to the user . The inventors have surprisingly found that the described scanner module results in a fast and reliable scanning of receipts .
In an embodiment , the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body is at least partially covered by means of a strip made of slip-resistant material , such as rubber . The strip of slip-resistant material prevents the entered receipt advantageously from slipping with respect to the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body while rotating the cylindrical wheel body together with the receipt .
In an embodiment , the scanner module is provided with a camera trigger configured for triggering the camera to record one or more images of the entered receipt . In an embodiment thereof , the camera trigger has a trigger disc arranged coaxially at an end of the cylindrical wheel body and provided with a plurality of trigger points , such as trigger openings in the trigger disc, arranged along the outer edge of the trigger disc, and a trigger detector configured for detecting movement of the plurality of trigger points . It is advantageous when the trigger detector is operatively connected to the camera, wherein the camera is configured to record one or more images of the entered receipt when the trigger detector detects movement of the trigger points . The camera, during use , records an image of a predetermined part of the cylindrical wheel body, such that multiple images of the receipt are recorded . The trigger points are chosen, such that a nonrecorded part of the receipt is placed in front of the camera when a next tripper point is detected by the trigger detector . Due to the use of the trigger points , the multiple images each cover a part of the receipt , wherein the images may be placed below each other in order to obtain a single image of the recorded receipt . Recording of the di fferent parts of the receipt is done so accurate , that stitching of the images only involves placing the images below each other, preferably without the need of partially overlapping the images .
In an embodiment , the scanner module comprises a lighting unit configured for lighting the entered receipt to be scanned . In an embodiment thereof , the lighting unit has a number of light sources , such as LEDs , wherein the light sources are controllable independently of each other . The light sources , in particular the LEDS , are so controlled that the receipt on the cylindrical wheel body is illuminated evenly, without, for example, having dark spots on the edge of the receipt . This advantageously results in one or more evenly illuminated images of the receipt, reducing the risk of information on the receipt being misinterpreted by the dispensing device .
In an embodiment , the collectable dispenser is configured for dispensing stamps , wherein the collectable dispenser has a holding frame for holding rotatably a roll of stamps , a dispensing unit for dispensing one or more stamps to a user, and a dispensing channel extending between the holding frame and the dispensing unit, wherein the collectable dispenser is provided with a dispensing mechanism for unwinding stamps from the roll of stamps . In an embodiment thereof , the collectable dispenser is provided with a stamp counter, such as an IR sensor, arranged at the dispensing channel and configured for counting the number a stamps passing the stamp counter, and with a stamp separator, such as a cutting blade, arranged downstream of the stamp counter and arranged for separating stamps from each other .
In an embodiment , the collectable dispenser is provided with a roll detector, such as an IR led and a phototransistor, configured for determining the state of the roll of stamps held by the holding frame . During use , the roll detector may detect when the roll of stamps is almost run out of stamps , such that the dispensing device may be enabled advantageously to indicate to staff of the supermarket that the roll of stamps is almost empty . The staff , therefore , for example may already prepare a new roll of stamps to be inserted into the dispensing device .
According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method for automatically dispensing collectables , such as stamps , preferably by means of a dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of : by means of a receipt reader, reading a receipt which is of fered to the receipt reader ; on basis of the read receipt and by means of the controller, determining an amount of collectables to dispense ; and by means of a controller, controlling a collectable dispenser so as to dispense the determined amount of collectables in accordance with the read receipt .
The method according to the second aspect of the invention has at least the same technical advantages as described in relation to the dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention .
In an embodiment, the step of determining how many collectables to dispend comprises the step of extracting information from the read receipt, wherein the collectable dispenser is controlled in accordance with the extracted information . In an embodiment thereof , the step of reading the receipt comprises converting a physical receipt into a digital receipt .
In an embodiment , the step of reading the receipt comprises the steps or scanning the receipt , preferably by means of a receipt scanner, and/or of scanning a barcode on the receipt , preferably by means of a barcode scanner .
In an embodiment , the step of reading the receipt comprises the step of recording one or more images of a receipt . In an embodiment thereof , the method comprises the step of stitching together images of a receipt when multiple images are recorded of a receipt so as to form a single image from the recorded receipt .
In an embodiment, the method comprises the step of performing a check on the read receipt for inconsistencies , irregularities and/or fraud . In an embodiment thereof , the method comprises the steps of determining a confidence level as an outcome of the check on the read receipt, and of switching to an outcome of a parallel check when the determined confidence level is below a predetermined threshold .
In an embodiment , the method comprises the steps of creating an unique identifier for each read receipt and, optionally, of saving the created unique identifier in association with the read receipt for which the unique identi fier has been created . In an embodiment thereof , the method comprises the steps of comparing a created unique identi fier with saved unique identifiers in order to determine whether the read receipt has been read before , and when it is determined that the read receipt has been read before, of controlling the collectable dispenser not to dispense any collectable on basis of the respective read receipt .
According to a third aspect, the invention provides a computer readable medium having computer instructions saved thereon causing a dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention to perform the method according to the second aspect of the invention .
The various aspects and features described and shown in the speci fication can be applied, individually, wherever possible . These individual aspects , in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims , can be made subj ect of divisional patent applications .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings , in which :
Figures 1A-1B show a schematic front view of a dispensing device with a receipt input and a scanner module according to an embodiment of the invention; and a schematic cross-sectional view of the dispensing device of figure 1A, respectively;
Figures 2A-2B show an isometric view of the scanner module of the dispensing device of figure 1A; and an isometric view of the receipt input of the dispensing device of figure 1A; and
Figure 3 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for dispensing collectables according to an embodiment of the invention .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A dispensing device 1 for dispensing collectables , such as stamps , to a customer of a shop according to an embodiment is schematically shown in figures 1A-1B . The dispensing device 1 is intended to be placed, for example, in a supermarket . Usually, a supermarket has one or more loyalty programs in order to reward the loyal customers for their loyalty with respect to the supermarket . Such a loyalty program often involves collecting a number of stamps , wherein rewards may be obtained when a predetermined number of stamps has been collected . The dispensing device 1 may be used for dispensing stamps to customers of the supermarket, after the customers did some shopping in the supermarket .
As shown in figures 1A and IB, the dispensing device 1 is provided with a housing 2 in which a controller 3 has been provided . The dispensing device 1 further comprises a scanner module 4 with a receipt input 5 and a receipt output 6 which are arranged at the front side of the housing 2 and are accessible from the outside of the housing, wherein the scanner module 4 is operatively connected to the controller 3 as schematically indicated in figure IB . The scanner module 4 is configured for scanning a receipt entered into the scanner module 4 via the receipt input by the customer and providing the scanned receipt to the controller 3 . A display 7 is arranged at the front side of the housing 2 and operatively connected to the controller 3 , wherein the display 7 is configured for displaying to a customer, for example, the scanned receipt . Furthermore , a collectable dispenser 8 is arranged within the housing 2 , wherein the collectable dispenser 8 has a dispensing unit 9 arranged at the front side of the housing 2 . The collectable dispenser 8 is configured for dispensing stamps to the customer on basis of the scanned receipt . A connector 10 , such as a wireless transceiver, is arranged within the housing 2 and operatively connected to the controller 3 . The connector 10 is configured for communicating with a remote server, for example , in order to save scanned receipts . The dispensing device 1 is further provided with a power distribution module 11 arranged within the housing 2 and configured for powering the dispensing device 1 .
An isometric view of the scanner module 4 is shown in figure 2A. The scanner module 4 comprises a first module wall 20 and a second module wall 21 substantially parallel to the first module wall 20 . The receipt input 5 is provided between and at or near the top end of the first and second module walls 20 , 21 , and the receipt output 6 is provided between and at or near the bottom end of the first and second module walls 20 , 21 . The scanner module 4 further comprises a receipt guiding wheel 23 arranged between the first and second module walls 20 , 21 . The receipt guiding wheel 23 is configured for receiving a receipt from the receipt input 5 and for guiding the receipt from the receipt input 5 to the receipt output 22 .
The receipt guiding wheel 23 has a cylindrical wheel body 24 with two guiding ribs 25 at the outer circumference thereof . The cylindrical wheel body 24 is further provided with three strips 26 of slip-resistant material , such as rubber, arranged around the cylindrical wheel body 24 . Furthermore , a non-shown driving axle extends through the center of the cylindrical wheel body 24 and through the first module wall 20 . At the end of the non-shown driving axle located at the side of the first module wall 20 facing away from the receipt guiding wheel 23 , a driving pulley 27 is provided for driving the receipt guiding wheel 23 rotatably . The driving pulley 27 is connected to a non-shown driving unit by means of a nonshown driving element spanned between the driving pulley 27 and the non-shown driving unit .
The scanner module 4 is further provided with a tensioning mechanism 28 for applying a tension to the receipt at the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body 24 . The tensioning mechanism 28 has a tensioning wheel 29 arranged at the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body 24 and in the middle thereof when seen in the longitudinal direction thereof . The tensioning wheel 29 is arranged in proximity of or in contact with the cylindrical wheel body 24 , such that the receipt may pass between the tensioning wheel 29 and the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body 24 .
The tensioning mechanism 28 further has two tensioning arms 30 , wherein each of the tensioning arms 30 is arranged at a side of the tensioning wheel 29. The tensioning arms 30 are configured for straightening the receipt when necessary . Each of the tensioning arms 30 has a first arm wheel 31 arranged next to the tensioning wheel 29 and a second arm wheel 32 arranged at a distance from the first arm wheel 31 . A flexible tensioning strip 33 is spanned by the first arm wheel 31 and the second arm wheel 32 , wherein the first and second arm wheels 31 , 32 are located such that the flexible tensioning strip 33 is pushed against the outer circumference of the cylindrical wheel body 24 thereby applying a force to the receipt arranged at the outer circumference of the wheel body 24 . As shown in figure 2A, the first arm wheels 31 and the tensioning wheel 29 are arranged at a tensioning driving axis 34 . The tensioning driving axis 34 is arranged rotatably between the first and second module walls 20 , 21 , and is connected to the non-shown driving axle by means of a non-shown tensioning driving element . The second arm wheels 32 are arranged at an idle tensioning axis 35 that is arranged between the first and second module walls 20 , 21 in a freely rotatable manner .
The scanner module further comprises a camera unit 40 for recording one or more images of a receipt passing along . The camera unit 40 has a high-speed camera 41 directed towards the receipt guiding wheel 23 in order to image the part of the receipt guiding wheel 23 and thus the receipt located on the receipt guiding wheel 23 currently placed in front of the high-speed camera 41 . The camera unit 40 further has a camera trigger 42 configured for triggering the camera to record an image of the part of the receipt currently placed in front of the high-speed camera . The camera trigger 42 comprises a trigger disc 43 arranged coaxially at an end of the cylindrical wheel body 24 in such a manner, that the trigger disc 43 rotates together with the cylindrical wheel body 24 . The trigger disc 43 has a plurality of trigger points , in this case trigger openings 44 along the outer edge thereof the trigger disc, and a non-shown trigger detector configured for detecting movement of the plurality of trigger openings 44 . The non-shown trigger detector detects when another trigger opening 44 is placed in front thereof , and subsequently triggers the high-speed camera 41 to record an image of the part of the receipt in front of the high-speed camera 41 . The trigger openings 44 are chosen, such that every next trigger opening 44 triggers the high-speed camera 41 to record an image of a part of the receipt, which part has not been recorded before . Furthermore , images of the recorded parts of the receipt, for example, can be placed below each other in order to obtain a substantially seamless single image of the receipt .
The camera unit 40 comprises a lighting unit 45 configured for lighting the entered receipt to be scanned . The lighting unit 45 comprises multiple non-shown light sources , in this case LEDs ( Light Emitting Diodes ) , for illuminating at least a part of the receipt on the receipt guide wheel 23 . The LEDs are controllable independently of each other, such that, for example , one led might emit light with a higher intensity than the neighboring led . The lighting unit 45 is therewith enabled to illuminate at least a part of the receipt uniformly, which contributes to better scanning results of the scanner module 4 .
The receipt input 5 of the scanner module 4 is shown in more detail in figure 2B . The receipt input 5 has an input body 50 with an input channel 51 extending therethrough in an input direction E . The entrance of the input channel 51 is located in front of the front side of the housing and the exit of the input channel 51 is aligned with the outer circumference of the wheel body 24 , such that an entered receipt is smoothly transferred to the receipt guide wheel 23 . The input channel 51 has a first longitudinal side 52 and a second longitudinal side 53 , wherein the first and second longitudinal side 52 , 53 are substantially parallel to the insert direction E . An infrared ( IR) photocell 54 , forming a receipt detector or at least a part thereof , is located at or near each of the first and second longitudinal sides 52 , 53 . The IR photocells 54 are configured for detecting the presence of a part of a receipt within the input channel 51 directly below the respective IR photocell 54 and for determining whether the entered receipt is properly aligned . When the IR photocells 54 detect the presence of a receipt simultaneously or within a predetermined time period from each, it is determined that the receipt is properly aligned and the receipt guiding wheel 23 is controlled to start rotating . When the time period between one of the IR photocells 54 detecting the presence of the receipt and the other one of the IR photocells 54 detecting the presence of the same receipt exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the receipt is misaligned . This is indicated to the customer by means of indicators 55 visible at the front side of the housing 2 .
Although the scanner module 4 is now described in relation to a dispensing device 1 , the scanner module 4 may be used in a variety of applications , such as scanning receipts at an administration department, scanning entrance tickets at concerts , scanning pictures , etc . The scanner module as such may become the subj ect of a separate application .
The stamp dispenser 8 is not shown in detail , but it is noted that the collectable dispenser has a holding frame for holding rotatably a roll of stamps , a dispensing unit for dispensing one or more stamps to a user, and a dispensing channel extending between the holding frame and the dispensing unit, wherein the collectable dispenser is provided with a dispensing mechanism for unwinding stamps from the roll of stamps . In an embodiment thereof , the collectable dispenser is provided with a stamp counter, such as an IR sensor, arranged at the dispensing channel and configured for counting the number a stamps passing the stamp counter, and with a stamp separator, such as a cutting blade , arranged downstream of the stamp counter and arranged for separating stamps from each other .
Figure 3 shows a schematic flow diagram of the method for automatically dispensing stamps by means of the dispensing device 1 . Step S I contains the operations of entering a receipt into the receipt input 5 of the scanner module 4 , wherein the receipt input 5 determines by means of the IR photocells 54 whether the receipt is properly aligned within the input channel 51 . When the receipt is properly aligned, this is displayed on the display 7 , the receipt guiding wheel 23 is started to rotate, and the dispensing device 1 continues to step S2 , otherwise it is indicated to the customer by means of the indicators 55 and the receipt has to be re-entered into the receipt input 4 .
In step S2 , multiple images are recorded of the entered receipt by means of the scanner module 4 and the camera unit 40 as described above . The multiple images 40 are stitched together by means on the controller 3 , wherein stitching together, for example , involves placing the multiple images 40 below each other in order to form a single digiti zed image of the entered receipt . After stitching together the multiple images , the controller 3 performs an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) operation to the digitized image of the receipt in order to be able to extract information from the scanned receipt .
In step S3 , by means of the controller 3 , a check is performed on the read receipt for inconsistencies , irregularities and/or fraud . The check comprises determining the confidence level of the scanned receipt in order to check whether the scanned receipt is legit . The confidence level may be determined among others by confirming the logo and shop address on the scanned receipt . When the confidence level is below a predetermined level , a parallel check may be performed . The parallel check, for example , contains performing a more accurate OCR operation to the digitized image and determining an additional confidence level . The parallel check is performed for preventing legit receipts from being refused, for example , due to inaccurate OCR . When the confidence level of the additional check is above the predetermined level , the dispensing device 1 continues to step S4 , otherwise the display 7 displays that the receipt is invalid .
In step S4 , by means of the controller 3 , a fraudulent check is performed . The fraudulent check comprises determining the number of stamps to be dispensed by using the total sum, VAT and item-lines on the receipt, and checking whether the total sum, VAT and item-lines are in line with each other . I f the scanned receipt passes the fraudulent check, the dispensing device 1 continues to step S5, otherwise it is displayed, by means of the display 7 , that the receipt is considered to be fraudulent .
In step S5, by means of the controller 3 , an unique fingerprint, also called identi fier, is created for the scanned receipt in order to prevent receipts from being offered to the dispensing device 1 multiple times . Creating the unique fingerprint comprises calculating the fingerprint on basis of specific text on the receipt, such as total sum, VAT, date and/or time , which is always present on the receipt and is very dif ficult to manipulate . Subsequently, the unique fingerprint is checked to see whether this unique fingerprint has been created before in order to validate the unique fingerprint . When the fingerprint is validated, this is displayed on the display 7 and the dispensing device continues to step S 6. When the fingerprint is not validated, this is also displayed on the display 7 .
In step S 6, by means of the collectable dispenser 8 , stamps are dispensed to the customer on basis of the scanned receipt . Optionally, in step S7 , the scanned receipt with the fingerprint and associated metadata is uploaded to an external device, such as a server, by means of the wireless transceiver 10 in order to save the data in the cloud . The saved data, for example , may be used for validating the fingerprint in step S5.
The method as described above is an obj ective and contactless manner of dispensing stamps , which does not require any private details of the customer .
It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention . From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention .