U.S. patent application number 16/268750 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-05 for handcart.
The applicant listed for this patent is TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Noriyoshi HARA, Hitoshi IIZAKA, Masachika KURATA, Hidehiro NAITO, Takahiro SAITOU, Yukiko YOKOYAMA.
Application Number | 20190272399 16/268750 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65598510 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190272399 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IIZAKA; Hitoshi ; et
al. |
September 5, 2019 |
HANDCART
Abstract
A handcart includes a cart frame, a caster, and a code reader.
The cart frame includes a receiving portion on which a shopping
basket is placeable and a lateral portion extending in a width
direction of the cart frame. The caster is disposed at a bottom
region of the cart frame. The code reader is attached to the
lateral portion of the cart frame so as to be rotatable around the
lateral portion. The code reader may be rotated around the lateral
portion of the cart frame to a first position at which a reading
window of the code reader faces an inner space of the shopping
basket on the receiving portion of the cart frame, and to a second
position at which the reading window of the code reader faces a
front of the cart frame.
Inventors: |
IIZAKA; Hitoshi; (Fuji
Shizuoka, JP) ; NAITO; Hidehiro; (Mishima Shizuoka,
JP) ; SAITOU; Takahiro; (Izunokuni Shizuoka, JP)
; YOKOYAMA; Yukiko; (Sunto Shizuoka, JP) ; KURATA;
Masachika; (Fujinomiya Shizuoka, JP) ; HARA;
Noriyoshi; (Mishima Shizuoka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
65598510 |
Appl. No.: |
16/268750 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 3/1424 20130101;
G06K 7/1413 20130101; B62B 3/14 20130101; G06K 7/10722 20130101;
B62B 3/1412 20130101; B62B 3/1428 20130101; B62B 5/0096 20130101;
B62B 3/1416 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/10 20060101
G06K007/10; G06K 7/14 20060101 G06K007/14; B62B 3/14 20060101
B62B003/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 2, 2018 |
JP |
2018-038012 |
Claims
1. A handcart comprising: a cart frame including a receiving
portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a lateral
portion extending in a width direction of the cart frame; a caster
disposed at a bottom region of the cart frame; and a code reader
attached to the lateral portion of the cart frame so as to be
rotatable around the lateral portion.
2. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the code reader is
rotatable around the lateral portion of the cart frame to a first
position at which a reading window of the code reader faces an
inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the
cart frame, and to a second position at which the reading window of
the code reader faces a front of the cart frame.
3. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the lateral portion
of the cart frame is a handle portion disposed at a rear region of
the cart frame.
4. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the code reader is
configured to operate in a first mode during which the code reader
carries out code reading in response to an operation of a scanner
trigger, and in a second mode during which the code reader carries
out code reading without the operation of the scanner trigger.
5. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the code reader is
configured to obtain a scanned image including a code symbol on a
product, and the handcart further comprises a processing device
configured to: perform image processing on the scanned image to
obtain a product code represented by the product code symbol; and
determine the obtained product code to be valid when an image
region of the product code symbol in the scanned image is greater
than a predetermined size.
6. The handcart according to claim 5, wherein the processing device
is configured to: determine the obtained product code to be invalid
when the image region of the product code symbol in the scanned
image is less than the predetermined size.
7. The handcart according to claim 5, further comprising: a gyro
sensor configured to detect an orientation of the code scanner,
wherein the processing device is enabled to perform the image
processing when the code scanner is detected by the gyro sensor to
be oriented so that a reading window of the code scanner faces an
inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the
cart frame.
8. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the code reader is
configured to obtain a scanned image including a code symbol on a
product, and the handcart further comprises a processing device
configured to: perform image processing on the scanned image to
determine an image region of the product code symbol in the scanned
image; and convert the product code symbol to a product code
represented thereby, upon determining that the image region of the
product code symbol in the scanned image is greater than a
predetermined size.
9. The handcart according to claim 8, wherein the processing device
does not perform conversion of the product code symbol to the
product code represented thereby when determining that the image
region of the product code symbol in the scanned image is less than
the predetermined size.
10. The handcart according to claim 8, further comprising: a gyro
sensor configured to detect an orientation of the code scanner,
wherein the processing device is enabled to perform the image
processing when the code scanner is detected by the gyro sensor to
be oriented so that a reading widow of the code scanner faces an
inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the
cart frame.
11. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the code reader is
configured to obtain a scanned image including a code symbol on a
product, and the handcart further comprises a display device
configured to display information corresponding to the obtained
scanned image.
12. The handcart according to claim 1, further comprising: a camera
positioned to capture an image of a region including an inner space
of the shopping basket.
13. The handcart according to claim 1, further comprising: a
battery coupled to a portion of the cart frame below the lateral
portion, the battery being electrically connected to the code
scanner to supply power thereto.
14. The handcart according to claim 1, wherein the code reader is
attached to a center of the lateral portion in a width direction of
the cart frame.
15. A method for registering a product code during shopping:
placing a shopping basket on a receiving portion of a cart frame of
a handcart; and placing a product in the shopping basket; and
rotating a code reader attached to a lateral portion of the cart
frame of the handcart around the lateral portion so that a reading
window of the code reader faces an inner space of the shopping
basket on the receiving portion; performing a code reading
operation with the code reader, after the code reader has been
rotated to position the reading window of the code reader to face
the inner space of the shopping basket; and obtaining a product
code of the product based on the code reading operation.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said performing the
code reading operation comprises: operating, by a user, a scanner
trigger of the code reader; and in response to operation of the
scanner trigger, starting the code reading operation.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said obtaining the
product code of the product comprises: performing image processing
on a scanned image obtained by the code reading operation to
determine an image region of a product code symbol in the scanned
image; and converting the product code symbol to a product code
represented thereby, upon determining that the image region of the
product code symbol in the scanned image is greater than a
predetermined size.
18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: detecting
an orientation of the code scanner with a gyro sensor; and enabling
the image processing when the code scanner is detected by the gyro
sensor to be oriented so that the reading window of the code
scanner faces the inner space of the shopping basket on the
receiving portion of the cart frame.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-038012, filed on
Mar. 2, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD
[0002] An embodiment described herein relates generally to a
handcart.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A shopping cart such as a handcart is used by a customer in
a store such as a supermarket or a shopping mall. There is a
shopping cart of one type having a code scanner for the customer to
read commodity codes attached to commodities. The shopping cart may
also have a display device that displays commodity names, unit
prices, and the like of the commodities of which commodity codes
are read by the code scanner.
[0004] A conventional code scanner is attached to a specific
position of a shopping cart, e.g., a position in a level of the
waist to the chest of the customer for such a conventional code
scanner attached to a shopping cart, the customer may need to lift
a heavy commodity to near the scanner and scan a commodity code.
Also, the customer may need to tilt a commodity that is undesirable
to tilt, such as food products.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior perspective view of a
shopping cart according to an embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a scanner attached
to the shopping cart.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functional units of a
control section of the shopping cart.
[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of a scanner to
explain a tilt operation of the scanner.
[0009] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an image captured by the
scanner.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a diagram to explain image processing of the
scanner.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a diagram to explain the image processing of the
scanner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] An embodiment is directed to providing a handcart in which a
reading direction of a scanner attached to the handcart can be
changed to allow a customer to easily read a commodity code.
[0013] In general, according to an embodiment, a handcart includes
a cart frame, a caster, and a code reader. The cart frame includes
a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a
lateral portion extending in a width direction of the cart frame.
The caster is disposed at a bottom region of the cart frame. The
code reader is attached to the lateral portion of the cart frame so
as to be rotatable around the lateral portion.
[0014] An embodiment is described below with reference to the
drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior perspective view of a
shopping cart (e.g., a handcart) 10. FIG. 2 illustrates a
perspective view of a scanner attached to the shopping cart 10.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control section 200 of the
shopping cart 10. FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of the
scanner to explain a tilt operation of the scanner. In this
embodiment, a handle frame section 40 side is referred to as the
rear, and a projecting direction of a basket receiving section 50
projecting from the handle frame section 40 is referred to as the
front.
[0015] Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the shopping cart 10
functions as a register that reads a commodity code of a commodity
that a customer desires to purchase. A list of read commodities is
transferred to a checkout machine, which is a separate apparatus.
The customer performs payment using the checkout machine.
[0016] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shopping cart 10 according to
this embodiment includes a cart section 20 that carries a shopping
basket P that stores commodities and an electrical section 100
attached to the cart section 20. The cart section 20 includes a
caster section 30 for smoothly moving the shopping cart 10 on the
floor surface, a handle frame section 40 vertically provided on a
rear wheel side of the caster section 30, and a basket receiving
section 50 attached to an intermediate position in the height
direction of the handle frame section 40 to be directed forward.
The shopping basket P can be placed on the caster section 30 and
the basket receiving section 50 as appropriate. The shopping basket
P includes a handle Pa that swings.
[0017] The caster section 30 includes a frame 31 having a square
frame shape, the rear side of which is open, and casters 32
respectively provided at four corners of the frame 31. The casters
32 include brackets 32a that freely turn around axes in the
vertical direction and include, in the brackets 32a, wheels 32b
that are made of rubber or resin and freely turn in the horizontal
direction. A receiving section 33 is provided in the frame 31. The
receiving section 33 is formed in dimensions for allowing a lower
part of the shopping basket P to fit in the receiving section
33.
[0018] The handle frame section 40 includes vertical frames 41
respectively attached to left and right rear wheel sides of the
caster section 30 and a handlebar (a lateral frame) 42 in the
horizontal direction that connects the upper ends of the vertical
frames 41. An extended arm 43 is attached to the vertical frame 41
on the left side. A reinforcing material 44 is attached to the
handle frame section 40.
[0019] The basket receiving section 50 includes a frame 51 having a
square frame shape and a receiving section 52 provided on the lower
side of the frame 51. The receiving section 52 is formed in
dimensions for allowing the lower part of the shopping basket P to
fit in the receiving section 52.
[0020] The electrical section 100 is provided above the caster
section 30. A battery section 110 attached between the vertical
frames 41 on the lower end side of the handle frame section 40 and
a scanner device 120 for reading a commodity code are provided. The
electrical section 100 includes a display 150 that displays various
kinds of information such as a commodity name and a unit price of a
commodity read by a scanner 140 explained below and a camera 160
that images the inside of the shopping basket P and the like. The
battery section 110 supplies electric power to the scanner device
120, the display 150, and the camera 160 via a power line
incorporated in the handle frame section 40. The scanner device
120, the display 150, and the camera 160 are connected to one
another by cables incorporated in the handle frame section 40 and
the extended arm 43. The display 150 is attached to the upper end
of the extended arm 43. The camera 160 is attached to a halfway
part of the extended arm 43. The shopping cart 10 functioning as a
register that reads a commodity code of a commodity that a customer
desires to purchase is configured by these components.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the scanner device 120 includes a
scanner holder 130 attached to the handlebar 42 and a scanner (a
commodity-code reading device) 140 detachably attached to the
scanner holder 130 and configured to read a commodity code for
specifying a commodity.
[0022] The scanner holder 130 includes a holder base 131 in a lower
part fastened to the handlebar 42 and a holder housing 132 provided
in an upper part of the holder base 131. The holder base 131 has a
tilt function for tilting the holder housing 132 respectively in
front and rear directions of the cart section 20 with respect to
the vertical direction at a maximum angle of 90.degree. as
indicated by an arrow Q in FIGS. 2 and 4. The holder base 131 also
has a turning function for turning the holder housing 132 around an
axis in the vertical direction as indicated by an arrow R in FIGS.
2 and 4.
[0023] The scanner 140 includes a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped scanner body 141. An opening section 141a is
provided on the front surface of the scanner body 141. The opening
section 141a is closed by a glass plate 141b. A reading section
141c is provided in the opening section 141a.
[0024] A scanner trigger 142 for starting a scanner operation with
the reading section 141c is provided on the upper surface of the
scanner body 141. A handle 143 is provided on the rear surface of
the scanner body 141. The scanner body 141 includes, on the inside,
a gyro sensor 144 for detecting the direction (orientation) of the
reading section 141c. The gyro sensor 144 can detect a tilt and a
turning direction of the gyro sensor 144.
[0025] The scanner 140 has a function of segmenting a region
equivalent to a barcode out of an image photographed by the camera
160 and recognizing the barcode through image processing. The
scanner 140 reads commodity codes attached to commodities displayed
in a store. The commodity codes are associated with the
commodities.
[0026] The display 150 includes a display panel 152 having a touch
panel function. The display panel 152 is provided on the front
surface of a terminal housing 151. A control section 200 that
controls the battery section 110, the scanner device 120, the
display 150, and the camera 160 is provided on the inside of the
terminal housing 151.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the control section 200, a ROM
(Read Only Memory) 202 that stores data in a non-rewritable manner,
a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 that stores variable data in a
rewritable manner and functions as a work area or the like of a CPU
(Central processing Unit) 201, and a nonvolatile memory 204 are
connected to, via a bus line 220, the CPU 201 that controls these
functional units. In the RAM 203, a storage region for storing a
commodity master downloaded from a host server and a shopping list
created on the basis of a commodity code read by the customer and
the commodity master is provided. Computer programs executed by the
CPU 201 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 204. Further, the CPU
201 is connected to an interface 205 with the display panel 152, an
interface 206 with the scanner 140, an interface 207 with the
battery section 110, an interface 208 with the camera 160, and an
interface 209 with the gyro sensor 144 via the bus line 220. The
CPU 201 is connected to a communication interface 210 via the bus
line 220. The CPU 201 performs communication with the checkout
machine, the host server, and the like via the communication
interface 210.
[0028] The CPU 201 has a function (a function of a discriminating
section) of extracting a barcode region from an image of a read
commodity code and validating the read commodity code only if the
barcode region is larger than a predetermined size. Before reading
a commodity code, the CPU 201 may extract a barcode region from an
image of the commodity code and allow reading of the commodity code
only if the barcode region is larger than the predetermined
size.
[0029] The shopping cart 10 configured in this way can be used as
explained below. That is, in the beginning, the shopping cart 10 is
placed in an entrance or the like of the store. At this time, the
scanner 140 is directed to any direction with respect to the
scanner holder 130.
[0030] Subsequently, the customer pulls out the shopping cart 10
that the customer uses. The customer holds the scanner 140 and
performs a tilt operation or a turning operation to direct the
scanner 140 in a desired direction of the customer. The customer
takes the shopping basket P and places the shopping basket P on the
caster section 30 or the basket receiving section 50. The customer
moves the shopping cart 10 toward a commodity shelf on which
commodities are displayed while pushing the handlebar 42.
[0031] As a method of reading a commodity code, there is a manual
recognition method for pressing the scanner trigger 142 to read the
commodity code and an automatic recognition method for reading the
commodity code without pressing the scanner trigger 142. First, the
manual recognition method is explained. The store may set the
manual recognition method and the automatic recognition method, or
the customer may set the manual recognition method and the
automatic recognition method according to preference of the
customer.
[0032] The customer takes out a target commodity from the commodity
shelf, brings a commodity code of the commodity close to the
opening section 141a of the scanner 140 while keeping the scanner
140 inserted into the scanner holder 130, and presses the scanner
trigger 142. Consequently, the commodity code is read by the
scanner 140. Read information is sent to the control section 200,
saved in the RAM 203, and displayed on the display panel 152 as a
commodity name and an amount. The customer puts the commodity in
the shopping basket P placed on the caster section 30 or the basket
receiving section 50.
[0033] On the other hand, concerning a heavy commodity (e.g., a
beverage or rice), the customer tilts the scanner 140 to the
downward direction as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4, takes
out the commodity from the commodity shelf, and brings the
commodity close to the reading section 141c. The customer presses
the scanner trigger 142 to read a commodity code of the commodity.
In this case, it is unnecessary to lift the commodity to the height
of the handlebar 42. The customer puts the commodity in the
shopping basket P on the basket receiving section 50.
[0034] For a commodity (e.g., a daily dish or sashimi) undesirable
to be tilted at a certain angle or more, similarly, as illustrated
in FIG. 4, the customer tilts the scanner 140 to the downward
direction, takes out the commodity from the commodity shelf, and
presses the scanner trigger 142 without tilting the commodity.
Consequently, a commodity code reading operation is performed. A
read commodity code is processed by the control section 200 as
explained above.
[0035] On the other hand, in the case of the automatic recognition
method, the customer brings a commodity close to the front of the
reading section 141c of the scanner 140 without tilting the scanner
140 downward. Consequently, the scanner 140 automatically performs
a commodity code reading operation regardless of the operation of
the scanner trigger 142.
[0036] In the case of the heavy commodity and the commodity
undesirable to be tilted, the customer tilts the scanner 140. At
this time, the customer may direct the reading section 141c to the
basket receiving section 50 side. Since the tilt operation and the
turning operation of the reading section 141c are already detected
by the gyro sensor 144, the control section 200 recognizes that an
imaging direction of the reading section 141c is directed to the
basket receiving section 50 side. In an embodiment, the operation
of the scanner 140 and/or the operation of the CPU 201 may be
activated upon the gyro sensor 144 detecting that the reading
section 141c is directed to the basket receiving section 50
side.
[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an image obtained by the
reading section 141c. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an example of image
processing. In FIG. 5, K represents the left hand of the customer,
T represents a commodity held by the left hand K of the customer,
Ta represents a barcode representing a commodity code of the
commodity T, B represents commodities in the shopping basket P, and
Ba represents a barcode representing a commodity code attached to
the commodity B.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 5, two commodity codes Ta and Ba are
imaged by the reading section 141c. A barcode region in which a
commodity code is photographed is segmented from an image captured
when a reading operation is performed in the control section
200.
[0039] Subsequently, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the CPU 201
determines longitudinal and lateral dimensions of the barcode
region. That is, in the case of the commodity code Ta, the CPU 201
determines dimensions t1 and t2. In the case of the commodity code
Ba, the CPU 201 determines dimensions b1 and b2. Thresholds are set
in advance for the dimensions. The CPU 201 determines that a read
commodity code is valid only if the dimensions are larger than
predetermined dimensions. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the commodity code Ta
is determined as valid because the commodity code Ta is larger than
the predetermined dimensions. In this case, the commodity code Ta
is displayed on the display 150. The commodity code Ba is
determined as invalid because the commodity code Ba is smaller than
the predetermined dimensions. In this case, the commodity code Ba
is not displayed on the display 150.
[0040] In the above explanation, the control section 200 determines
validity and invalidity after reading the commodity code. However,
before reading of the commodity code, according to the size of the
barcode region, the control section 200 may convert (decode) an
image of a barcode into a commodity code only if the barcode region
is larger than a predetermined size.
[0041] In this way, the customer can determine a tilt and a
direction of the scanner 140 according to preference of the
customer. Therefore, usability of the scanner 140 is improved. In
particular, for the heavy commodity and the commodity undesirable
to be tilted, the customer can cause the scanner 140 to
appropriately read the commodity code by, for example, tilting the
scanner 140 itself. In this case, if the scanner 140 is tilted to
the shopping basket P side, a reading operation is performed on the
basis of the size of the commodity code in order to distinguish the
commodity B already stored in the shopping basket P and the
commodity T, the commodity code of which is to be read. Therefore,
misrecognition can be prevented.
[0042] If the customer finishes purchasing all commodities that the
customer desires to purchase, the customer moves to the checkout
machine. For example, the customer operates the touch panel of the
display 150 to transmit the shopping list stored in the RAM 203 to
the checkout machine. The customer performs payment using the
checkout machine. After finishing the payment, the customer returns
the shopping cart 10 to a predetermined position of the store.
[0043] In the above explanation of the embodiment, the scanner 140
is capable of tilting and turning in a state in which the scanner
140 is set on the handlebar 42. However, the turning mechanism may
be omitted. Besides, the customer may detach the scanner 140 from
the scanner holder 130 and bring the scanner 140 close to a
commodity to perform reading of the commodity. In this case as
well, a sensor may determine whether or not the customer directs
the reading section 141c of the scanner 140 to the shopping basket
P side and distinguish a commodity that is read by the customer
from a commodity put in the shopping basket P.
[0044] In the embodiment, the size of the barcode region is
determined only if the reading section 141c is directed to the
shopping basket P in a placing section. However, for example, in
the case of an automatic recognition type for always recognizing an
image, it is likely that a commodity bar code of a commodity on a
commodity shelf is recognized even in a state in which the customer
is walking while pushing the shopping cart 10. Therefore, the size
of the barcode region may be determined irrespective of the angle
and the direction of the reading section 141c.
[0045] Further, in the embodiment, the gyro sensor is used as means
for detecting a tilt and a turning position of the scanner 140.
However, a sensor that mechanically or electrically detects a tilt
and a direction with a microswitch or the like provided in the
scanner 140 or the holder base 131 may be used.
[0046] While a certain embodiment has been explained above the
embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit
the scope of the invention. The new embodiment can be implemented
in other various forms. Various omissions, substitutions, and
changes can be performed without departing from the spirit of the
invention. The embodiment and modifications of the embodiment are
included in the scope and the gist of the invention and included in
the inventions described in claims and the scope of equivalents of
the inventions.
* * * * *