MEANS FOR THE STORING OF CARTS SUCH AS SHOPPING CARTS

Abstract: Means for the storing of carts such as shopping carts including at least one storing area for the carts, which are intended to be collected and removed from the storing area and brought back to the same by users. The means comprises for each storing area at least one gate arrangement (41, 46) provided with first control means (45) in an outlet passage way (46) provided to only let a cart through if a deposit is received by said means and second control means (42) in an inlet passage way (41) provided with control means connected to a control means provided only to let a cart through if identified by sensing means (53) as belonging to the set of carts intended to be stored in the storing area. In connection with the passing of the cart a pay-back is made of at least a part of the deposit and effected by the means.

Description: Title : Means for the storing of carts such as shopping carts Technical field : The present invention relates to means for the storing and administration of carts such as shopping carts . In self service markets shopping carts are available to the customers . The cart is fetched in a storing place by the customer and brought to the store for collection of the articles the customer wants to purchase . The cart is then brought to a place where the customer empties the same for the further transport of the goods for example by means of the customer's own car. The intention is that the customer after the emptying of the cart shall return the same to the storing place . However, many customers will not return the cart but leave the same far from the storing place in another place where it is more convenient to leave the cart . Some carts are also stolen for private use or left in a public area where they are collected by the public cleaning department . The mentioned circumstances means that there will be a con¬ siderable loss of shopping carts in most super markets . There will also be considerable costs for the staff needed for the collection of the carts left in for example the parking area outside the storing places . The further inconvenience in this connection is that arriving customers will have difficulties to find a cart if the carts not in use are spread over a huge area. Background: In order to reduce said disadvantages special storing means have been designed. According to one system the carts in the storing place are locked and are only available to the customers after paying a deposit in the form of a coin or a token . The deposit is then paid back at least partly when the cart is returned to the storing place and locked again . Technical problem : This system , however, has many disadvantages . The placing of the cart in the locking means and locking the same is inconvenient as well as the unlocking and removal of the cart from the locking means . The locking means are easily damaged and a lock which is not functioning can block an entire row of carts in the storing place. The great number of locking means , one for each cart will give considerable risk for breakdown and also considerable initial and maintenance costs . The solution: The solution according to the invention is relating to a system according to which the carts are stored in areas without any con¬ nection to locking means or similar. The transport of the carts out from and into the area is directed through gates provided to control the paying of deposits, the payback of deposits and the Identity of the carts . Advantages : By means of the present invention a system is provided for the storing and the administration of carts as shopping carts which is more convenient for the customers than prior known systems . This system is also more reliable and easier to maintain than prior known systems . The system will give a control over the distribution of the carts over a large area which includs several storing places for the carts . Brief description of drawings : In the accompanying drawings three embodiments of the inven¬ tion are shown together with some details of the storing means . In Figs . 1-4 the three embodiments of the invention are shown in the form of block diagrams with Fig. 4 relating to a detail of the means of the embodiment according to Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a shopping cart adapted for use together with the storing means and shown in a perspective view; Fig. 6 shows a detail of the storing means in a perspective view r and Fig. 7 shows the same detail in a plan view . OMPI * Best mode of carrying out the invention : In Fig . 1 a schematic plan of the entrance to a super market is shown . The line 1 is representing the outer wall of the building containing the super market. At the front of the building a number of entrances 2 are provided . The entrances 2 are intended for cus¬ tomers which are not bringing a cart along but there are also con¬ trolled entrances 3 for customers bringing in return emptied carts (in the plans according to Figs . 1-4 are persons who are not bring¬ ing a cart along indicated with a circle and persons pushing a cart are indicated with a square) . There are also a number of exits 4 intended to let the customers out without or together with a cart. In the entrance hall 5 an area 6 is reserved for the storing of empty carts in rows 7. This area is accessible through a " gate 8 in the entrance hall for the collection and return of the carts . The storing area 6 is not accessible from the outside of the building . The entrance hall 5 is divided from the hall 9 where the ar¬ ticles to be sold are exposed by means of a number of check out counters 10 and a serie of inlet gates 11. As indicated in Fig. 1 the intention is that the customers are bringing a cart along through the gates 11 and that the goods are brought out through the check out counters 10 by means of the carts . The gates 3 and 4 are automatically controlled gates w^hich means that the gates 4 are outlet gates which are provided to mechanically stop a cart when it is brought to the gate until a de¬ posit for the cart has been paid . The gates 3 are inlet gates and are also provided to stop a cart when it is brought to the gate . After identifying the cart if it belongs to the market in question , the gate will give free way for the cart if it is approved and will also pay back the deposit or a part of it when the cart is passing through the gate. Preferably both types of gates are provided to leave free passage way for a person who is not bringing a cart along. In another type of market according to Fig . 2 an entrance hall 14 is divided from the hall 15 where the wares are exposed by means of a number of check out counters 16 and two inlet gates 17. An area 18 is reserved for the storing of rows 19 of carts . The area 18 is accessible from the entrance hall 14 through a controDed f OMPI gate 21 . From a purchase hall 15 the area 18 is accessible for the fetching of carts by customers entering the hall 15 through the gates 17. There is free accessibility to the carts from the purchase hall 15. The entrance 22 to the entrance hall 14 has no control means and leave a free passage way . In this case the check out counters 16 are provided as control gates with indicating means registering each cart passing through the check out counter. For each registration of a cart the count for the articles in the cart passing is added with a deposit sum for the cart. The indication that a cart is brought to the check out counter will consequently actuate the cash register to add a deposite sum to the bill of costs for the purchase. In other words , for every cart brought through one of the check out counters a deposit has to be paid. The control gate 21 is of the kind described before, i.e. when a cart is presented in this gate, the identity of the cart is regis¬ tered and if the cart is approved, the stopping means in the gate will let the cart through and the deposit is paid back. If a person has entered the area 18 in order to return a cart he must also be let out. The outlet can be through the control gate 21 if the same is provided to let a person but not a cart out, but not if the area 18 is accessible for persons in the purchase hall 15 as it w ? ould make it possible to carry goods out through the control gate. The area 18 can however be divided from the purchase hall 15 by means of a fence 20 in the form of a bar under which the carts can be drawn out from the area 18 into the purchase hall 15 but which make it difficult for persons to pass in the reverse direction espe¬ cially if rows of carts are stored behind the fence. Another possi¬ bility is to refer persons entering through the control gate 21 to leave the area 18 through a check out counter or a gate with per¬ sonnel controlling. In this case the fence can be spared. Of course the storing area can be placed at one of the side walls or in a cor¬ ner instead of in the center of the building. In Fig. 3 a huge super market is shown . A building 25 con¬ tains the market proper and the building has an entrance and exit arrangement 26 for the customers . Outside the building is a parking area 27 which is divided in part areas 28 and provided with a net- _OMPI work of drives 29. To each part area belongs a storing area 30 for a number of shopping carts . The part areas 28 for the parking and the belonging storing areas 30 for the shopping carts are indicated A-Y with A , B . . . indicating the areas nearest the entrance 26 and . . . V , Y indicating the areas with the greatest distance to the en¬ trance . The storing areas 30 for the carts are adapted to contain a number of carts adapted to the number of motor cars which will find room in the belonging parking area 28. In practice , the num¬ ber of carts will be the same as the number of parking places added with a small number of carts as a reserve for damaged carts and for customers who are arriving together in the same car. The parking area 27 is accessible from a feeder road 31 pro¬ vided with information displays 32. In Fig. 4 one of the storing areas 30 for the carts is shown in an enlarged scale . The 'area contains space for a number of rows 35 for the shopping carts . To the area a . double control gate 36 is leading comprising a gate 37 for the outlet of the carts . This gate, as has been described before , is provided to stop the passing of a cart out from the area until a deposit is paid . A second gate 38 is provided to identify a cart brought to the gate and to let the same through and out of the area if it is approved and to pay back the deposit when the cart has passed the gate . Also this kind of gate is described before. In Fig. 5 a shopping cart is shown , every kind of cart can be used in the system but each cart is according to Fig . 5 provided with an identifying means 40 at the side of the cart. This identi¬ fying means can be of optic type e . g. E . A .N . code or magnetic type or in the form of a hybride circuit or any other means for contact free identi ication . In Fig. 6 a double gate of the type indicated with a reference number 36 in Fig. 4 is shown . It comprises an inlet gate 40 inclu¬ ding a barrier in the form of a retractable bar 42 which will stop the passing of a cart as long as it is not retracted from the pas¬ sage way 43 through the gate . The bar is carried by a housing 44 for the gate mechanism . This housing is also carrying on the opposite side to the bar 42, a second bar 45 , provided as a barrier in the second gate, the outlet OMPI , /- V IPO gate 46 with a belonging passage way 47. The housing is also pro¬ vided with an inlet 48 for a coin or a token representing the de¬ posit for the cart and a cup 49 for the paying back of the deposit. Each passage way is provided with sensors for the identification means of the carts entered into the gate provided for the governing of the mechanism of the gate according to the desired function which will be described later. The housing 44 can also be used for the carrying of an information display 50. Opposite the side walls of the housing 44 the passage ways 41 and 46 are determined by means of fences 51 and 52. Fig. 7 is showing the double gate from above. In this view, it is shown that the bars 42 and 45 are provided with photocells 54 at the outer end of the bar. The side walls of the housing 44 are provided with the sensors 53 in the inlet of both passage ways 43 and 47. The width of the passage way is indicated in the way 43. Thereby a indicates the full width of the passage way ; b the length of the bar 42 respectively 45 and c the free width of the passage way between the end of the bar and the fence 51 or 52 respective¬ ly . The intention is that the measure c will be chosen so that the opening between the bar and the fence will let a person through but not a cart. The measure a will be chosen to let a cart through which means that a person can pass the gate without any maneu¬ vering of the bar but a cart can not pass the gate before the bar has been retracted . As the width of the cart will be about 50 cm it is suitable if the measure a is 70 cm and the length of the bar b_ is 30 cm which leaves 40 cm free w r ay , c. In Fig. 7 is shown in the w r ay of an example a mechanism for the retraction of the bar. The broken upper side of the housing 44 shows that the bar is guided in a sleeve 56 and is pressed between a driving roller 57 and two supporting rollers 58. The driving roller 57 is rotatable by means of an electric motor so that the bar can be drawn i and out between the outer position shown and an inner position in whic the bar is retracted into the housing. The outwards movement of the bar is controlled by the respective photo¬ cell 54 which will stop the pushing out of the bar if any object is in the way for the movement. The photocell can be replaced by a sensing means as electric capacity means provided to stop the move¬ ment if the end of the bar is hitting any object. The passage ways of the gates are provided with step contact mats , mats 60, 62 in the respective inlet ends of the passage ways 43 and 47 and of a first type and mats 61 and 63 respectively of a second type in the outlet end of the passage ways . The first type of the step contact mats at the inlet ends are comprising sensing means provided to be activated by a pressure on the mat indicating that anybody stepping on the same or that a cart is rolled up on the same. This sensing means can be of known electric contact type in which electric contacts are pressed together to close a circuit when a flexible surface layer as a web of rubber will be pressed downwards by the wheight of the person or the cart respectively passing . Preferably a row of sensing means are positioned one after the other in the traffic direction . By connecting the electric contacts of the sensing means to a device registering the period of time bet¬ ween . , the impulses in sequence from the contact means when an ob¬ ject is passing the mat, the velocity of the object can be deter¬ mined . This - velocity will in turn determine the suitable period bet¬ ween the first impuls when the person or the cart is reaching the mat and the opening of the retractable bar as well as closing of the same . In this way it can be obtained that the bar is not open longer periods than necessary which wall give a good control of the pass¬ ing but in spite of this the bar will not be an obstacle to a "floating" passing. The mats 60 and 62 are also provided with magnetic sensing means provided to react on the mass of metal in a cart brought up¬ on the mat. The magnetic sensing means are provided to bring the identifying sensing means 53 into an active state if it is indicated that the metal mass corresponding to about the mass of one single cart of the intended type or types . It is not possible to make the magnetic sensing means so selective that all different types of cars or similar metal objects as baby carriages can be fully selected from each other. The main part of the "strange objects" can be selected from the carts of the store in question and it can also be indicated if anyone tries to bring a couple of carts together through the gate . OMPI Consequently , the magnetic sensing means are provided to bring the identifying sensing means 53 to identify the identity of each object identified as a shopping cart by the magnetic sensing means . If this cart is identified by the sensing means 53 as belong¬ ing to the storing area in question the cart is approved and the bar 42 and 45 respectively will be retracted so that the cart can pass . If the magnetic sensing means is identifying the object as more than one cart the bar will not be retracted but the dispaly 50 activated to show an information that only one cart at the time will be brought through the gate . If the magnetic sensing means is identifying the object as not being a shopping cart or carts , the object does not belong to the market and has to be let through the gate and no identifying of the sensing means 53 is necessary. In the same way as the bars 42, 45 are activated by the mag¬ netic and identifying sensing means is also the mechanism for re¬ ceiving and paying back the deposit activated. As has been descri¬ bed before a deposit has to be paid in the deposit receiving means 48 before a cart identified as a shopping cart belonging to the market can pass through the gate. Thereby said step control con¬ tacts are provided to adapt the opening of the bar to the sequence obtained when - the cart is passing over the mat. If the object is identified as of another kind than a shopping cart paying of a de¬ posit is not necessary for activating the bar to open . In the same way the paying back of the deposit will only occur w r hen an object identified as a shopping cart belonging to the mar¬ ket in question is indicated as passing. The step control mats 60 , 63 at the outlet end of the passage way are provided to bring a termination of the passing operation. When these mats have been passed the respective bar has to be closed. The mat 61 is also provided to activate the paying back of the deposit so that the same will be available in the means 49 when the person bringing the cart reaches the outlet end of the passage way 41. The mats 61 and 63 are also provided to indicate if anybody tries to pass the gate in the wrong direction . For this purpose the mats can be provided with more step control contact which , when activated in an order indicating that anyone has been passing over the mat in the unintended direction , will close the bar and activate the display . The bar 42, 45 can , in order to stop also persons not bringing a cart, be provided to be pushed outwards in order to entirely close the passage way, i . e . the bar is not only stretching out in the passage way the distance b but the entire distance a. Identifying means have been mentioned . The identifying means 40 on the carts 39 are of the passive type mentioned . Such identi¬ fying means are provided to be read by an active identifying means , the sensors 53. The reading can be made by means of a light beam or by means of magnetic or electromagnetic impulses according to the system choosen . Such technic is well known and will not be described closer in this connection . However, the inten¬ tion of the identifying of the cart is that only carts identifyed as belonging to the storing area proper will be approved to pass an inlet gate . Consequently the storing areas A-Y in Fig. 3 are pro¬ vided, with carts with an identification which is exclusive for the specific storing area. Thus , a cart belonging to the area B cannot be introduced into the area A or any other area than B . The iden¬ tifying can further be used to register different types of carts , for example small and large basket carts and plattform carts . By the most extensive use of the identifying each cart has an individual identification making it possible to control the entire stock of carts according to age, period since last service and similar conditions . The function of the double gate is the following: When a cart is removed from one of the rows of carts in the storing area and pushed into the passage way 47 of the outlet gate, the contacts of the mat 60 activates the magnetic sensing means . If the magnetic sensing means indicates that a cart belonging to the mar¬ ket is going to pass the passage way the identifying sensing means 53 will identify the identity of the cart. At the same time the dis¬ play 50 is informing the customer that he has to pay the deposit in the receiving means 48 and when the deposit is paid the bar 45 will be retracted so that the cart can pass . As mentioned before the bar preferably is retracted as long as no cart is introduced in the passage way but will be pushed out to the position shown in Fig. 7, consequently the distance b when a cart is introduced . The bar then will be retracted after that the deposit is paid and the cart is identified. This registration gives an impulse to the driving motor for the bar 42 to push out the bar, which when not activated is open, consequently retracted into the housing 44. In the outer position of the bar carts can not pass the gate. Simultaneously with the closing of the gate it is indicated on the display 50 that the customer has to pay the deposit by inserting a coin or a token in the slot shown at 48 on the front of the housing 44. When the de¬ posit is paid, the bar 45 is retracted and the cart can pass . At the same time it is registered, as will be described later, that a cart is taken away from the storing area. When the person pushing the cart is passing the mat 63 the bar 45 is brought to its resting position, i. e . it is retracted but ready to be pushed out when another cart is introduced in the passage w τ ay . When a customer wants to return an empty cart, it is pushed into the passage way 43 of the inlet gate 41. The sensors of the mat 60 register that a cart is introduced in the gate. By means of the identification of the cart by means of the sensor 53 it is con¬ trolled if the same belongs to the specific storing area. If the iden¬ tification is correct the cart is approved and can pass through the gate, which normally is open as the bar 42 normally is retraced into the housing 44. If however, the cart does not belong to the storing area in question , the bar 42 is pushed outwards so that the cart cannot pass. At the same time it is indicated in the display 50 that the cart has to be stored in another area or that it does not belong to the super market at all. If the cart is approved and is pushed through the gate the mat 61 registers the passing of the cart and the deposit or a part of the same is paid back in the means 49. It is necessary that the passing through the double gate is so directed that it follows the intended traffic direction (see the arrows in Fig. 7) . This is as mentioned made by means of the step contact mats 60, 62 in the inlet end of each passage way which will indicate if anybody tries to pass the gate in the wrong direction. If so is indicated, the bar in the gate can be provided to be pushed out over the entire wάdth of the gate so that it is not even possible for a person without a cart to pass the gate . When a person in¬ tends to pass one of the gates in the right direction not bringing a OMPI cart along, the bar normally is open . If a cart has just passed or is entering the passage way and the bar is closed , it is possible for a person to pass between the end of the bar and the fence . The measure c indicates the minimum width of the free way adapted to let a person through the gate also when the bar is in closed posi¬ tion . That means that passing of persons will not be stopped even if the mechanism will break down with the bar in its outer position . The described function relates to a gate such as the double gate 36 for the- storing area 30. In the plan according to Fig. 1 each one of the outlet gates 4 is equal to the outlet gate 46 de¬ scribed and belonging to the double gate in Fig. 7. The inlet gate 3 is equal to the inlet gate 41 in Fig. 7 and has the same function . Also the inlet gate 21 of the plant in Fig. 2 has the same function as the gate 41 of the double gate . However, the gates at the check out counters 16 do not have the same function but the automatic debiting of the deposit in the check out counter is described be¬ fore. As the check out counters are manned, any automatic stopp¬ ing means are not necessary . As the carts can be identified and registered w r hen leaving the storing area and when returning to the same, a number of functions can be provided. As mentioned before the carts can by means of their identifications be distributed if several storing areas are pro¬ vided so that the customers are prevented to return the cart to another area than the same it belongs to . In this way, the right number of carts can always be available in different parking areas so. that one of the storing areas is not empty when some parking places in the corresponding parking area still are free and, at the same time another storing area is overloaded . It is also possible to calculate from the number of outpassing and inpassing carts , the carts available in each specific storing area. This possibility can be used to alarm the staff, if a specific storing area is empty . Furthermore, as the number of carts in a specific storing area can be used to estimate the number of free parking places in a nearby area it is possible to direct the incoming cars to the areas where parking places are available . This possibility is hinted in Fig. 3 by means of the display unit 32 at the ends of the feeder drives . Most of the customers want to park as near as possible to OMPI the entrance and in rush hours a lot of cars usually are driving around searching for parking places near the entrance . By means of the control system mentioned, it is possible to register where carts are available and probably also where parking places are free so that each incoming car can be directed to a free parking place as near as possible to the entrance. Consequently, by indication of free parking places , in the information to the driver preference will be given to parking areas indicated wάth letters in the beginning of the alphabet (compare Fig. 3) . The system also makes it possible to register if carts are lost so that replacements can be made. As mentioned before, it is also possible to follow the "destiny" of each indiviual cart if desired. The main object of the described system and an object which is common to all the embodiments is the influence on the customers to return the carts to the storing areas w r here they belong after that the cart has been used and is emptied. This effect is , as by prior known systems , obtained by means of a suitable deposit paid when the cart is fetched . which deposit is paid back only if the cart is returned to its specific storing area. This effect is by the storing means according to the invention obtained in a way which is very convenient for the customers as the carts only have to be pushed through a gate when fetched and returned. There will be no lock¬ ing means to handle. The possibility to identify the carts when passing the gates make it, as described before, possible to control the handling of the carts as well as the parking activities . As the carts are provided with identification means it is also possible to register if any cart is passing the borders of the market area so that an alarm that a cart is going to be stolen can be activated. If the more extensive possibilities to control different activities are utilized, it is necessary to connect the control gates to a com¬ puter. This computer has to be provided to register the leaving and returning of the carts in the different storing areas and to calculate the remaining number of carts in the area. By means of this calculation said alarm that a storing area is emptied can be activated respectively directing of the traffic can be made. From time to time the computer can produce a balance for the stock of carts as carts lost, carts in service and carts under repair, also reliability of carts from different manufacturers can be estimated. There is a great number of computers available in the market which can be programmed for the function mentioned. It is , there¬ fore , not necessary to describe a specific computer or the pro¬ gramming of the same as a person skilled in the art can select a suitable computer and program the same . The control of the traffic of carts through the gates can also be used for still more sophisticated functions . For example the number of carts leaving the storing areas during a certain period can be used for an early alarm of the need of number of manned check out counters as well as when the number of incoming custo¬ mers is not so great so that some check out counters can be closed. The necessity for the customers to pass the gates also gives the possibilities to give the customers special information as information about articles of current interest, occasions and so on . This infor¬ mation can be specific and related to the type of cart the different customers have chosen , e . g. customers choosing big basket carts will probably have a specific interest in large packings while cus¬ tomers choosing a platform cart are intending to buy large articles as furniture or kitchen equipment.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 5 November 1984 (05.11.84); original claim 1 amended; claims 2 to 7 unchanged] 1. Means for the storing of carts (60 , 62) such as shopping carts including at least one storing area (6 , 18 , 28 , 30) for the carts , which are intended to be collected and removed from the storing area and brought back to the same by users , with at each storing area at least one gate arrangement (4, 21 , 36, 41 , 46) provided with first control means (42) in an outlet passage way (46) provided to only let a cart through if a deposit is received by said means and second control means (45) in an inlet passage way (41) provided to in con¬ nection with the passing of the cart make a pay-back of at least a part of the deposit c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y the inlet passage way being provided to only let a cart through if identified by sen- ~ sing means (53) as belonging to the set of carts intended to be sto¬ red in the storing area and approved by the sensing means and by the storing area being provided as an open space for free positio¬ ning of carts stored and the passage ways in to and out from the area being provided for rolling the carts through and letting the passage free for a person alone or together with respective cart with the sensing means for the activation of said first and second control means being provided for contact less sensing allowing an uninterrup¬ ted passage of the cart. 2. Means according to claim l c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y the gate arrangement (4, 21 , 36, 41 , 46) comprising a housing (44) , on each side of the housing a passage way (41 , 46) , in each passage way a stopping means (42, 45) provided to be brought between an open position, in which the stopping means leave free way in the respective passage way for a cart, and one closed position in which the passing of a cart is prevented , means (48) for the receiving of the deposit, means (49) provided to deliver objects as a, coin or a token representing the pay-back of the deposit, on the housing to¬ wards the intended inlet passage way active sensing means (53) pro¬ vided to register the identity of a cart presented in the passage way, the cart being provided with a passive sensing means (40) , and actuating means (57) provided to control the stopping means in the intended outlet passage way to be in its open position when a deposit is inserted in the receiving means and to control the stop¬ ping means in the intended inlet passage way to be in its open po- ... QΛΪPI sition when the sensing means is registering that the cart presented in the passage way has an identity corresponding to the storing area and to actuate said means to deliver the pay-back. ' 3. Means according to claim l c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y the outlet passage way being represented by a check-out counter pas¬ sage (10) including means provided to register when a cart is pre¬ sented in said counter and to actuate that a deposit for the cart is added on the count produced in the counter for the goods intended to be brought to the counter in the cart with the storing area (6) for the carts accessible for collecting carts from the area connecting to the inlet side of the check-out counters and accessible through a passage way from the area connected to the outlet side of the check¬ out counters, which passage way is provided with means for the iden¬ tifying of the carts presented in the same and to let carts approved through the gate and to deliver the pay-back. 4. Means according to claim 2 c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y at least the inlet passage way being provided with magnetic sensing means provided to identify the passing of a shopping cart by means of its metal mass and to actuate said sensing means to identify the object by said magnetic sensing means registered as a shopping cart and to bring the stopping means in the passage way from its open to its closed position, the stopping means being its open position until an object registered as a shopping cart is presented in the passage way. 5. Means according to claim 2 c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y the stopping means in at least one of the passage ways having the form of a bar (45) or similar provided with a mechanism (57) being provi¬ ded to move the stopping means between its said positions including at least one closed position in which the stopping means is extending out over the passage way such a distance, that a part of the passage way is free for a person to pass, said part being of such a width that a cart is prevented to pass. 6. Means according to claim 5 c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y the passage way being about 70 centemeters, the stopping means being extending about 30 centemeters out over the passage way in said closed position giving the part forming a free way a width of about 40 centemeters. 7. Means according to any of the preceding claims for the storing of carts such as shopping carts and including several storing areas (30) for the carts , which are intended to be collected and removed from the respective storing area and brought back to the same by users c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y for each storing area (27) at least one gate arrangement (30) provided with first control means in an outlet passage way (37) provided to only let a cart through if a deposit is received by said means and second control means in an inlet passage way (38) provided with control means connected to a control means provided only to let a cart through if identified by sensing means as belonging to the set of carts intended to be stored in the storing area and approved by the sensing means and to in connection with the passing of the cart make a pay-back of at least a part of the deposit, each storing area being connected to a parking area (27) for motor cars with the intended number of carts in the storing area adapted to the intended number of motor cars in the connected parking area, the gate arrangement ■ of each storing area being connected to a computing means (32) provided to register the number of carts as a reminder of the basic number of carts reduced with the number of carts in the gate arrangement registered as lea¬ ving the area and added with the number of carts in the gate ar¬ rangement registered as returned to the area with the computing means provided to produce an information indicating the number of carts available in the different storing areas probably corresponding to the number of free parking places in the corresponding parking area.

Inventors: THORSEN KJELD, THORSEN, KJELD
Applicants: CART O MATIC AB, CART-O-MATIC AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A47F10
IPC codes: A47F10, G07F7