JP7557199B2 - Self-checkout machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a self-checkout device used in various stores such as restaurants.

For example, self-checkout machines that allow customers to settle their own bills at restaurants and other establishments have become common. In recent years, to improve convenience, self-checkout machines that have various functions in addition to the conventional payment and ticket sales functions have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a ticket vending machine that is equipped with an optional information input means for inputting optional information using an input method different from the selection input of the menu to be ordered. With this ticket vending machine, it becomes possible to communicate more detailed requests about the selected menu to the store, improving convenience.

JP 2017-134707 A

However, conventional self-checkout machines were designed to allow customers to purchase prepaid tickets such as meal tickets and make prepayments, and were not able to accommodate postpayment systems where customers pay after using the store. As a result, it was not possible to use a single self-checkout machine to switch between prepayment and postpayment systems, which created a problem of lack of convenience.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and its main objective is to provide a self-checkout device that can solve the above problems.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a self-checkout device that allows customers at a store to settle their own bills, and is characterized by having a ticket issuing unit that issues a prepaid ticket in response to payment before using the store, a reading unit that reads the payment information recorded on a deferred payment ticket issued for payment after using the store, and a receiving unit that accepts payment of the bill related to the prepaid ticket and the deferred payment ticket.

In the above aspect, the device may further include an output unit that outputs to the outside payment information regarding the payment accepted by the acceptance unit in such a manner that it is possible to distinguish between prepayment and postpayment.

In the above embodiment, the postpaid ticket may be used by a customer who has been issued the prepaid ticket to make an additional payment.

In addition, in the above embodiment, when a customer who has been issued an advance payment ticket pays with a deferred payment ticket, a linking unit that links the advance payment ticket with the deferred payment ticket may be further provided, and the output unit may output sales information regarding the linked advance payment ticket and deferred payment ticket to the outside.

In the above aspect, the system may further include an imaging unit that images a customer, and the linking unit may link the prepaid ticket and the deferred payment ticket based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

In addition, in the above-mentioned aspect, when a customer who has been issued an advance payment ticket pays with a deferred payment ticket, the deferred payment ticket is provided with identification information for the advance payment ticket, the identification information is read by the reading unit, and the linking unit may link the advance payment ticket and the deferred payment ticket based on the read identification information.

In the above aspect, the system may further include a receipt issuing unit that issues a receipt that combines the prices of the prepaid ticket and the deferred payment ticket linked by the linking unit.

The present invention makes it possible for customers to pay both in advance and after the fact.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a POS system including a self-checkout device according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic front view showing the external configuration of a self-checkout device. A block diagram showing the configuration of a self-checkout device. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a prepayment acceptance process. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a post-payment acceptance process.

The following describes preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of methods and devices for embodying the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to those described below. The technical concept of the present invention may be modified in various ways within the technical scope described in the claims.

The self-checkout device of this embodiment is a device used by customers in various stores to settle their own bills. Below, the configuration and operation of the self-checkout device of this embodiment will be explained using the example of a self-checkout device installed in a restaurant.

[POS System Configuration]
The self-checkout apparatus of this embodiment, together with other external devices, constitutes a POS (Point Of Sales) system. The configuration of this POS system will be described below.
Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a POS system including a self-checkout device of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, self-checkout device 1 is installed in a store S, which is a restaurant, and is communicatively connected to a kitchen terminal 2 provided in the kitchen of store S. Self-checkout device 1 is also communicatively connected to an external management server 3 via the Internet 4. The POS system of this embodiment is made up of self-checkout device 1, kitchen terminal 2, and management server 3.

The kitchen terminal 2 is equipped with a printer 2a that prints on thermal paper, and a display unit 2b that is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. As described below, when a customer places an additional order, the kitchen terminal 2 uses the printer 2a to create a post-payment ticket in response to input instructions from a store staff member. The kitchen terminal 2 also displays information received from the self-checkout device 1 on the display unit 2b.

The management server 3 has a database that stores sales information received from the self-checkout device 1, and performs sales management and sales analysis for each store based on the database. The management status and analysis results are provided to the store's information terminal, which may be a personal computer, smartphone, etc.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the self-checkout device 1 is communicatively connected to various systems for electronic payment via the Internet 4. Electronic payment here includes payment by credit card or debit card, and payment by various types of electronic money.

[Self-checkout device configuration]
Next, the detailed configuration of the self-checkout device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a schematic front view showing the external configuration of the self-checkout device 1, and Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2, the self-checkout device 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 10 in which each component is housed. A change slot 11 for dispensing change is provided at the bottom of the housing 10.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the self-checkout device 1 includes a control unit 100, and a display unit 101, an operation unit 102, a banknote processing unit 103, a coin processing unit 104, a card processing unit 105, a ticket issuing unit 106, a communication unit 107, a camera 108, and a reading unit 109, all of which are connected to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and controls the operation of each of the components 101 to 109, as well as executing each process described below.

The display unit 101 is a display device configured with a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. This display unit 101 displays various information such as menu information including the names, images and prices of various menu items provided at the store S, payment method information indicating available payment methods, and amount information including the purchase amount, the amount deposited, and the amount of change.

The operation unit 102 is an input device that is configured with a capacitive touch panel or the like. By operating this operation unit 102, the customer can select a menu and a payment method, and give instructions for settlement.

The banknote processing unit 103 is a device for accepting banknotes inserted by customers, and is equipped with a banknote insertion slot and a discrimination device for discriminating the type of inserted banknote. The coin processing unit 104 is a device for accepting coins inserted by customers, and is equipped with a coin insertion slot and a discrimination device for discriminating the type of inserted coin.

The card processing unit 105 is a device for making payments using various cards such as credit cards, and is equipped with an input device for inputting a PIN number and the like, and a reader for reading information recorded on the card.

The ticket issuing unit 106 is a device for issuing food tickets, which are prepaid tickets. This ticket issuing unit 106 is equipped with a printer that prints various information such as the date, time, product name, price, and food ticket identification information (hereinafter referred to as the "prepaid ticket ID") on thermal paper.

The ticket issuing unit 106 is also used to issue receipts in addition to prepaid tickets. When a customer instructs the issuing of a receipt, the ticket issuing unit 106 issues the receipt by printing on thermal paper using a printer.

The communication unit 107 is composed of a communication module for communicating with the kitchen terminal 2 and the management server 3. The camera 108 is an imaging device equipped with an image sensor such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), and is used to capture an image of an area including the face of a customer.

The reading unit 109 is a reader for reading various images including one-dimensional codes such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes such as QR codes (registered trademark). For example, when a customer pays with electronic money, the reading unit 109 reads the image displayed on the customer's smartphone. Also, as described below, when a deferred payment ticket is issued at store S, the reading unit 109 reads the image recorded on the deferred payment ticket.

[Self-checkout device operation]
Next, the operation of the self-checkout device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart. The self-checkout device 1 executes (1) a prepayment acceptance process that is executed when a customer of store S purchases a meal ticket after entering the store, and (2) a postpayment acceptance process that is executed when the customer places an additional order while eating and drinking. The details of these processes will be described below.

(1) Advance payment reception process Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the steps of the advance payment reception process executed by the self-checkout device 1. The self-checkout device 1 displays a menu screen including menu information related to the menus provided at the store S on the display unit 101 (S101). A customer selects a menu item to order from the menu screen and selects that menu item by operating the operation unit 102 of the self-checkout device 1.

When the self-checkout device 1 accepts a menu selection by a customer (S102), it displays a payment method screen on the display unit 101, which includes payment method information related to available payment methods (S103). The customer selects the desired payment method from the payment method screen, and operates the operation unit 102 to select that payment method.

When the self-checkout machine 1 accepts the customer's selection of a payment method (S104), it executes a payment acceptance process to accept the payment based on the amount of the ordered menu and the selected payment method (S105). In this payment acceptance process, the payment is accepted by at least one of the banknote processing unit 103, coin processing unit 104, card processing unit 105, and reading unit 109 depending on the selected payment method, and then amount information including the purchase amount, deposit amount, and change amount is displayed on the display unit 101. If there is change, it is dispensed from the change slot 11.

Next, the self-checkout device 1 captures an image of the customer using the camera 108 (S106). At this time, the camera 108 captures an image of at least the area including the customer's face. The captured image thus obtained is stored in a memory area of the control unit 100.

Next, the self-checkout device 1 issues a meal ticket using the ticket issuing unit 106 (S107). At this time, the ticket issuing unit 106 creates a meal ticket by printing the date, time, product name (menu name), price, and the meal ticket's prepaid ticket ID (called a prepaid ticket ID) on thermal paper, and then ejects the meal ticket to the outside.

Then, the self-checkout device 1 sends order information to the kitchen terminal 2 indicating that the customer's menu order has been confirmed (S108). This order information includes the details of the ordered menu. When the kitchen terminal 2 receives the order information from the self-checkout device 1, it displays the details of the ordered menu on the display unit 2b. The staff at store S starts cooking based on the information displayed on the display unit 2b.

The self-checkout device 1 also transmits sales information related to the issued meal ticket to the management server 3 (S109). This sales information includes the information printed on the meal ticket and information related to the payment method used. This sales information also includes identification information (hereinafter referred to as the "payment method type") to identify whether the current sale is with a prepaid ticket (meal ticket) or a postpaid ticket (described below). The sales information transmitted in step S109 will include a payment method type indicating that the current sale is with a prepaid ticket.

The management server 3 stores the sales information received from the self-checkout device 1 in a database. This sales information is used by the management server 3 when performing sales management and sales analysis.

If a customer instructs the self-checkout device 1 to issue a receipt, the self-checkout device 1 issues a receipt using the ticket issuing unit 106. In addition to when a meal ticket is purchased, instructions to issue a receipt can also be given when a customer finishes eating and drinking and leaves the store. For example, a customer can instruct the self-checkout device 1 to issue a receipt by holding the meal ticket over the reading unit 109 when leaving the store. When the self-checkout device 1 issues a receipt in accordance with a customer's instructions, it stores issued information indicating that a receipt has already been issued for the meal ticket related to that receipt. Using this issued information prevents duplicate receipts from being issued.

This completes the prepayment reception process. After purchasing the meal ticket in this way, the customer presents the meal ticket to a staff member at store S and waits for the ordered menu item. If the customer then makes an additional order while eating or drinking (for example, a customer who used a meal ticket to order ramen wants to order an additional bowl of noodles while eating the ramen), the following postpayment reception process is executed.

(2) Post-payment reception process When a customer communicates an additional menu order to a staff member at store S, the staff member operates the kitchen terminal 2 to create a post-payment ticket on the printer 2a. On this post-payment ticket, the date, time, the name of the additional ordered item (menu item), the price, and the identification information of the post-payment ticket (hereinafter referred to as the "post-payment ticket ID") are printed. Furthermore, at least the information including the price is represented by a two-dimensional code and printed on the post-payment ticket. The post-payment ticket created in this manner is handed over by the staff member to the customer. The additional menu item is then provided to the customer.

After finishing eating and drinking at store S, the customer pays for the additional menu items at the self-checkout device 1 before leaving the store. In this case, the customer holds the deferred payment ticket over the reading unit 109 of the self-checkout device 1. This starts the following deferred payment acceptance process.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the post-payment acceptance process executed by the self-checkout device 1. The self-checkout device 1 first reads the recorded information on the post-payment ticket using the reading unit 109 (S201). This recorded information includes the price of the additional menu item.

Next, the self-checkout device 1 displays a payment method screen on the display unit 101, which includes payment method information related to the available payment methods (S202). The customer selects the desired payment method from the payment method screen, and operates the operation unit 102 to select that payment method.

When the self-checkout device 1 accepts the customer's selection of a payment method (S203), it executes a payment acceptance process to accept the payment for the additional order based on the menu price and the selected payment method contained in the recorded information read in step S201 (S204). This payment acceptance process is the same as the payment acceptance process in step S105 described above.

Next, the self-checkout device 1 captures an image of the customer using the camera 108 (S205). At this time, the camera 108 captures an image of at least an area including the customer's face. The captured image thus obtained is stored in a memory area of the control unit 100.

Next, the self-checkout device 1 links the customer's meal ticket and deferred payment ticket (S206). This linking is performed based on the captured images stored in the control unit 100. More specifically, the self-checkout device 1 identifies a face of the customer contained in the captured images obtained by the prepayment reception process that matches the face of the customer contained in the captured image obtained in step S205, and links the meal ticket issued when the identified captured image was obtained with the current deferred payment ticket. Note that while the focus here is on the customer's face, captured images may instead or additionally be compared based on the customer's clothing, hairstyle, etc.

Then, the self-checkout device 1 transmits sales information related to the deferred payment ticket to the management server 3 (S207). This sales information includes record information of the deferred payment ticket, including the deferred payment ticket ID, information on the payment method used, as well as payment method identification information indicating that the current sale was made with a deferred payment ticket, and the advance payment ticket ID of the meal ticket linked to the deferred payment ticket in step S206.

The management server 3 stores the sales information received from the self-checkout device 1 in a database. This sales information is used by the management server 3 when performing sales management and sales analysis.

If a customer instructs the self-checkout device 1 to issue a receipt, the self-checkout device 1 issues a receipt using the ticket issuing unit 106. At this time, the customer can instruct the self-checkout device 1 to issue a combined receipt for the advance and deferred payment tickets by operating the operation unit 102. If the self-checkout device 1 receives this combined receipt instruction, the ticket issuing unit 106 issues a receipt that combines the amount paid using the deferred payment ticket processed in this deferred payment reception process with the amount already paid using the advance payment ticket linked to that deferred payment ticket. However, if issued information related to the advance payment ticket is stored, the self-checkout device 1 displays on the display unit 101 that a receipt has already been issued for the advance payment ticket, and issues using the ticket issuing unit 106 only a receipt for the amount paid using the deferred payment ticket.

This completes the post-payment acceptance process. As described above, in this embodiment, a single self-checkout device 1 can be used for both pre-payment and post-payment, improving convenience. In addition, in this embodiment, information that can distinguish between pre-payment and post-payment is provided to the management server 3, making it possible for the management server 3 to perform useful sales analysis.

In addition, with conventional self-checkout devices, if a customer purchases a prepaid ticket such as a meal ticket and pays in advance for the food, and then places an additional order, the customer would have to purchase another prepaid ticket at the self-checkout device, which can be problematic. However, with the self-checkout device 1 of this embodiment, such a cumbersome process is not necessary.

In addition, in this embodiment, prepaid tickets and deferred payment tickets are linked, making it possible to analyze which customers have paid with only prepaid tickets, and which customers have paid with both prepaid and deferred payment tickets.

In addition, in this embodiment, a combined receipt for linked prepaid and postpaid tickets can be issued, further improving convenience.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the prepaid ticket and the deferred payment ticket are linked based on the captured image, but this is not limited to this and it is possible to link the prepaid ticket and the deferred payment ticket based on various information that can identify the prepaid ticket and the deferred payment ticket. For example, the prepaid ticket ID of the meal ticket (prepaid ticket) is printed on the deferred payment ticket by the printer 2a of the kitchen terminal 2, and when the self-checkout apparatus 1 reads the recorded information of the deferred payment ticket, the prepaid ticket and the deferred payment ticket are linked by matching the deferred payment ticket ID of the deferred payment ticket with the prepaid ticket ID included in the recorded information.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a restaurant is given as an example of the store S, but the self-checkout device 1 is of course useful in other stores as well. One example is a beauty salon or a barber's salon. Customers at these stores may pay additional fees for shampoo, coloring, hair manicure, etc., in addition to the basic fee for haircuts, etc. In this case, it is expected that the basic fee will be paid with a prepaid ticket, and shampoo fees, etc. will be paid with a postpaid ticket. The self-checkout device 1 can also handle such payment methods.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the self-checkout device 1 sends the sales information directly to the management server 3, but the sales information may be provided to the management server 3 via another device. For example, if a separate POS terminal is provided in the store S, the self-checkout device 1 may output the sales information to this POS terminal, and the POS terminal that receives the information may send it to the management server 3.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Self-checkout device 10 Housing 11 Change slot 100 Control unit 101 Display unit 102 Operation unit 103 Bill processing unit 104 Coin processing unit 105 Card processing unit 106 Ticket issuing unit 107 Communication unit 108 Camera 109 Reading unit 2 Kitchen terminal 2a Printer 2b Printer 3 Management server 4 Internet

Claims (5)

A self-checkout device that allows customers at a store to settle their own bills,
a ticket issuing section for issuing a prepaid ticket in response to payment of the price before using the store;
A reading unit that reads price information recorded on a post-paid ticket issued for payment after use at a store;
a reception unit that receives payment for the advance payment ticket and the postpaid payment ticket ;
An imaging unit that images a customer;
a linking unit that links the advance payment ticket and the deferred payment ticket based on an image captured by the imaging unit when a user who has received an advance payment ticket pays for the fare using a deferred payment ticket;
an output unit that outputs sales information regarding the linked prepaid tickets and postpaid tickets to the outside;
A self-checkout device comprising: A self-checkout device that allows customers at a store to settle their own bills,
a ticket issuing section for issuing a prepaid ticket in response to payment of the price before using the store;
A reading unit that reads price information recorded on a post-paid ticket issued for payment after use at a store;
a reception unit that receives payment for the advance payment ticket and the postpaid payment ticket ;
a linking unit for linking the advance payment ticket with the deferred payment ticket when a user who has received an advance payment ticket pays for a fare using a deferred payment ticket;
an output unit that outputs sales information regarding the linked prepaid tickets and postpaid tickets to the outside;
Equipped with
When a customer who has been issued a prepaid ticket pays with a postpaid ticket, the postpaid ticket is provided with identification information for the prepaid ticket, and the identification information is read by the reading unit,
The linking unit links the advance payment ticket and the deferred payment ticket based on the read identification information.
Self-checkout machine. The output unit outputs to an external device payment information regarding the payment accepted by the acceptance unit in such a manner that the payment information can be distinguished as being prepaid or postpaid.
3. The self-checkout device according to claim 1 or 2. The postpaid ticket is used by a customer who has been issued the prepaid ticket to pay an additional amount.
A self-checkout device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. a receipt issuing unit that issues a receipt including the total amount of the advance payment ticket and the deferred payment ticket linked by the linking unit,
A self-checkout device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images