Patent Description:
In recent years, for stores such as a supermarket, there has been introduced a self-checkout device which a customer operates by himself/herself to register and checkout commodities and so called a semi-self-checkout device at which a customer makes payment for commodities that have been registered by a store clerk. Such checkout devices have a payment insertion port permitting the depositing or inserting of bills and coins and a discharge port permitting the discharging of bills and coins as change or the like.

However, since conventional checkout devices have the insertion port and the discharge port at different positions, it may take time for a customer to find the locations, and there is also a possibility that coins and/or bills may be left behind. As such, there is room for further improvement in operability of these devices.

Document <CIT> discloses a cash dispensing/receiving apparatus that comprises a coin payment opening, a coin discharging port, a receiving tray, the banknote payment opening and a banknote dischaging port provided in the front surface of the near side of the housing.

According to the present invention according to claim <NUM>, it is provided a money storage device including a change machine configured to store bills and coins and a housing that houses the change machine. The housing includes a bill insertion port through which a bill can be inserted and a coin insertion port through which a coin can be inserted. The coin insertion port is adjacent to the bill insertion port in a width direction of the housing. A bill discharge port through which a bill stored in the change machine can be discharged is below the bill insertion port and the coin insertion port. A coin discharge port through which a coin stored in the change machine can be discharged is below the bill discharge port.

According to the invention, the housing includes a first area in which the bill insertion port and the coin insertion port are arranged and a second area located below the first area and in which the bill discharge port and the coin discharge port are arranged.

Preferably, the first area is separated from the second area in a vertical direction of the housing with a determined distance.

The money storage device may further comprise a speaker in the second area and configured to output a sound when a bill or a coin is discharged.

Preferably, the bill insertion port includes an opening that is open upward and through which a bill can be inserted.

Preferably, the coin insertion port includes an opening that is open upward and through which a coin can be inserted.

According to the invention, the bill discharge port includes an opening that opens in a horizontal direction and through which a bill can be discharged.

Preferably, the coin discharge port includes an opening through which a coin can be discharged and a coin discharge tray on a front side of the opening by which the discharged coin is received.

The money storage device comprises a printer configured to print a receipt, wherein the housing further incudes a receipt discharge port through which the receipt is discharged.

According to the invention, the receipt discharge can be above the bill discharge port.

Preferably, the bill discharge port includes a lamp configured to emit light when a bill is discharged.

The money storage device may further comprise a controller configured to control a protrusion amount of a bill discharged from the bill discharge port towards outside.

The present invention further relates to a checkout device to be operated by a customer in a store, the checkout device comprising a display configured to display information about a transaction performed by a customer; and the above-cited money storage device.

The checkout device may further comprise a second housing that houses the controller. The display may be above the first housing and the first housing may be on the second housing.

Hereinafter, certain example embodiments of a checkout device will be described with reference to the drawings. In one example embodiment, a semi-self-checkout device at which a customer performs checkout of commodities that have been registered by a store clerk will be described. It is assumed that such a checkout device is connected, via a network, to a registration device operated by a store clerk, and can acquire transaction information indicating details (such a commodity name, a price, a purchase reward point amount, a total amount due, and the like) of each commodity from the registration device, a store server, or the like.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating a checkout device <NUM> according to an example not according to the invention. In the drawings described below, the X direction means a width direction of the checkout device <NUM> when viewed from the operator facing side. The Y direction means a depth direction of the checkout device <NUM>. The Z direction means a height direction or vertical direction of the checkout device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the checkout device <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and a display operation unit <NUM>. The main body <NUM> includes a first housing <NUM> and a second housing <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> houses a money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> (see <FIG>, hereinafter also referred to as "change machine") for the operator to deposit and withdraw money, particularly in this example, bills and coins. The first housing <NUM> includes a bill insertion port <NUM>, a coin insertion port <NUM>, a bill discharge port <NUM>, and a coin discharge port <NUM> on the front surface of the checkout device <NUM> facing the operator.

The first housing <NUM> includes a reading unit <NUM>. The reading unit <NUM> reads information from a medium such as a credit card. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the reading unit <NUM> is installed on the upper surface of the first housing <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> includes a printer <NUM> that prints a receipt or the like. The printer <NUM> discharges a receipt on which details of a transaction are printed from a receipt discharge port <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> is installed on the upper surface of the first housing <NUM>.

The second housing <NUM> supports the first housing <NUM> from below. The second housing <NUM> houses, for example, a controller <NUM> (see <FIG>) that controls the operation of the checkout device <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> is supported at a height at which the operator can easily insert or take money via the bill insertion port <NUM>, the coin insertion port <NUM>, the bill discharge port <NUM>, and the coin discharge port <NUM>.

The display operation unit <NUM> stands on the upper surface of the main body <NUM> (or the first housing <NUM>) via a support member such as a stand. The display operation unit <NUM> includes a monitor <NUM>, a touch panel <NUM>, and a monitor speaker <NUM>.

The monitor <NUM> displays a screen or the like under the control of the controller <NUM> described later. The touch panel <NUM> is provided on the surface of the monitor <NUM>, and outputs information based on a position touched by the operator to the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>). Under the control of the controller <NUM>, the monitor speaker <NUM> outputs a sound for explaining how to operate the checkout device <NUM>.

Next, the bill insertion port <NUM>, the coin insertion port <NUM>, the bill discharge port <NUM>, and the coin discharge port <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> is an external view of the checkout device <NUM> (or the first housing <NUM>) not according to the invention as viewed from above. <FIG> is a view showing the periphery of the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a view showing the periphery of the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> taken along line L-L shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the first housing <NUM> as viewed from the operator standing in front of the checkout device <NUM>. Here, the eye-level height of the operator is assumed to be around the height of the display operation unit <NUM>, and the view of the first housing <NUM> from that operator is shown in <FIG>.

As described above, the checkout device <NUM> includes the bill insertion port <NUM>, the coin insertion port <NUM>, the bill discharge port <NUM>, and the coin discharge port <NUM> on the front surface side of the first housing <NUM>.

The bill insertion port <NUM> is provided in a step portion formed above the first housing <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the bill insertion port <NUM> includes a bill insertion opening <NUM> and a light emission unit <NUM>.

The bill insertion opening <NUM> is a substantially rectangular opening that opens upward. The bill insertion opening <NUM> is formed horizontally along the width direction of the checkout device <NUM>. The longitudinal dimension of the bill insertion opening <NUM> is greater than the long side of the largest size bill. The dimension of the bill insertion opening <NUM> in the lateral direction is larger than the thickness of one bill <NUM> having the largest thickness, and it is preferable that the plurality of bills <NUM> can pass therethrough in an overlapping manner. The depth of the bill insertion opening <NUM> is formed to be larger than the short side of the largest size bill.

That is, as shown in <FIG>, the plurality of bills <NUM> can be inserted into the bill insertion opening <NUM> at one time in a state where the long side of the bill <NUM> is horizontal and the short side is vertical. The bill <NUM> inserted into the bill insertion opening <NUM> is transported to the money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> (or a bill change machine <NUM>) in the first housing <NUM> by a transport mechanism.

The light emission unit <NUM> is provided around the bill insertion opening <NUM>. For example, the light emission unit <NUM> is provided along the edge on the front surface side of the bill insertion opening <NUM> facing the operator. The light emission unit <NUM> is formed of a light emission member such as a LED (light emitting diode), a light transmissive light guide member, and the like, and light emission is controlled by the controller <NUM> described later.

In addition, the bill insertion port <NUM> includes a sensor device that detects the bill <NUM> inserted into the bill insertion opening <NUM>, a shutter mechanism that opens and closes the bill insertion opening <NUM>, and the like (none of them is shown). The sensor device is provided, for example, in the bill insertion opening <NUM> and detects the presence or absence of the bill <NUM>. The detection result of the sensor device is output to the controller <NUM>. The shutter mechanism opens and closes the bill insertion opening <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>.

The coin insertion port <NUM> is provided in the same step as the bill insertion port <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the coin insertion port <NUM> includes a funnel-shaped inclined surface <NUM> descending from the outside to the inside, a hole or opening <NUM> provided at the lowermost portion of the inclined surface <NUM>, and a light emission unit <NUM>. Here, the inclined surface <NUM> and the hole <NUM> make up the coin insertion port <NUM>. The coin insertion port <NUM> has an opening that opens upward.

The hole <NUM> has a size through which coins <NUM> can pass. Specifically, the longitudinal dimension of the hole <NUM> is greater than the diameter of the coin <NUM> having the largest diameter, and is greater than the thickness of the thickest coin <NUM> in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The size of the hole <NUM> is preferably such that a plurality of coins <NUM> can pass therethrough even when the coins are in an overlapping manner. That is, the dimension of the hole <NUM> in the width direction is preferably larger than two times the thickness of the thickest coin <NUM> expected to be tendered for payment.

By arranging the inclined surface <NUM> and the hole <NUM> in this manner, the coin insertion port <NUM> can efficiently receive the coins <NUM> inserted from above. A coin <NUM> inserted into the hole <NUM> is transported to the money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> (or a coin change machine <NUM>) in the first housing <NUM> by a transport mechanism.

The light emission unit <NUM> is provided around the inclined surface <NUM>. For example, the light emission unit <NUM> is provided along the upper edge of the inclined surface <NUM>. The light emission unit <NUM> is formed of a light emission member such as an LED, a light transmissive light guide member, and the like, and light emission is controlled by the controller <NUM> to be described later.

In addition, the coin insertion port <NUM> includes a sensor device that detects a coin <NUM> inserted into the hole <NUM>, a shutter mechanism that opens and closes the hole <NUM>, and the like. The sensor device is provided, for example, in the inclined surface <NUM> or the hole <NUM>, and detects the presence or absence of the coins <NUM>. The detection result of the sensor device is output to the controller <NUM>. The shutter mechanism opens and closes the hole <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> described above are arranged side by side in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM> (or more particularly in the first housing <NUM>). Specifically, the coin insertion port <NUM> is disposed close to one end side (e.g., the right side when viewed from the operator) in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM>. The bill insertion port <NUM> is disposed on the other end side (e.g., the left side ) in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM> and adjacent to the coin insertion port <NUM>. In addition, the bill insertion port <NUM> is disposed to be horizontally long so as to straddle the center of the checkout device <NUM> in the width direction.

By installing the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> at the same height, the operator can easily insert money, and thus the operability can be improved. In addition, in the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>, since the bill(s) <NUM> and the coin(s) <NUM> are inserted from above, it is possible to improve the visibility of the inserted money. Also, by adopting the same insertion method in which money are inserted from above at the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>, money can be easily inserted even when the operator is unfamiliar with the operation, and thus the usability can be improved. Further, by arranging the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> side by side in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM>, the required space in the depth direction of the checkout device <NUM> can be made compact, and therefore, the size of the checkout device <NUM> can be reduced.

On the other hand, as shown in <FIG>, the bill discharge port <NUM> includes a bill discharge opening <NUM> and a light emission unit <NUM>. The bill discharge opening <NUM> is a substantially rectangular opening that opens towards the operator, that is, the horizontal direction. The bill discharge opening <NUM> is disposed horizontally long in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM>. The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the bill insertion opening <NUM> is larger than the long side of the bill <NUM> of the largest size. The dimension of the bill discharge opening <NUM> in the lateral direction is larger than the thickness of one bill <NUM> having the largest thickness, and it is preferable that a plurality of bills <NUM> can pass therethrough in an overlapping manner.

The bill discharge opening <NUM> discharges the bill <NUM> transported from the money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> (or the bill change machine <NUM>) to the outside of the first housing <NUM> by a transport mechanism. Specifically, the bill discharge opening <NUM> discharges the bill <NUM>, which is transported such that the short side of the bill <NUM> is parallel to the transport direction (the direction of arrow C in <FIG>), to the outside of the checkout device <NUM>. Thus, as shown in <FIG>, the bill discharge opening <NUM> discharges the bill <NUM> horizontally with the long side of the bill <NUM> facing the operator. In addition, when there are multiple bills <NUM> to be discharged, the bill discharge port <NUM> discharges the bills <NUM> from the bill discharge opening <NUM> in a stacked state. A known technology can be used for the mechanism for discharging the bills <NUM> in a stacked state.

In addition, the bill discharge port <NUM> retains a part of the bill <NUM> in the bill discharge opening <NUM> by holding the rear end portion of the bill <NUM> with a roller or the like so that the bill <NUM> does not jump out from the bill discharge opening <NUM>. In addition, the bill discharge port <NUM> exposes a part of the bill <NUM> from the bill discharge opening <NUM> to the outside of the first housing <NUM> so as not to cover the entire opening of a coin discharge tray <NUM>. The length of the bill <NUM> exposed from the bill discharge opening <NUM> is also referred to as a protruding amount.

The light emission unit <NUM> is provided around the bill discharge opening <NUM>. For example, the light emission unit <NUM> is provided along the edge of the bill discharge opening <NUM>. The light emission unit <NUM> is a lamp such as an LED, a light transmissive light guide member, and the like, and light emission is controlled by the controller <NUM> to be described later.

In addition, the bill discharge port <NUM> includes a sensor device that detects the bill <NUM> discharged from the bill discharge opening <NUM>, a shutter mechanism that opens and closes the bill discharge opening <NUM>, and the like (none of them are shown). The sensor device is provided, for example, in the bill discharge opening <NUM> and detects the presence or absence of the bill <NUM>. The detection result of the sensor device is output to the controller <NUM>. The shutter mechanism opens and closes the bill discharge opening <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the coin discharge port <NUM> includes a coin discharge opening <NUM>, the coin discharge tray <NUM> that receives the coin <NUM> discharged from the coin discharge opening <NUM> outside the first housing <NUM>, and a light emission unit <NUM>.

The coin discharge opening <NUM> is connected to a transport mechanism that transports the coins <NUM> dispensed from the money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> (or the coin change machine <NUM>), and discharges the coins <NUM> transported by the transport mechanism to the coin discharge tray <NUM>.

The coin discharge tray <NUM> is formed by a bottom surface <NUM> and a side wall <NUM> formed at an edge portion of the bottom surface <NUM>, and has an upward opening. As illustrated in <FIG>, the bottom surface <NUM> is formed as an inclined surface descending from the back side to the front side of the checkout device <NUM>, and holds the coin <NUM> discharged from the coin discharge opening <NUM>. With such a shape, the coin <NUM> discharged from the coin discharge opening <NUM> can be moved to the front side of the coin discharge tray <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> may be a horizontal surface according to an unclaimed embodiment.

The side wall <NUM> is formed, as an inclined surface descending toward the bottom surface <NUM>. A corner portion connecting the bottom surface <NUM> and the side wall <NUM> is formed in a curved surface shape smoothly connecting the bottom surface <NUM> and the side wall <NUM>. With this curved surface shape, the coin <NUM> can be smoothly slid from the bottom surface <NUM> along the side wall <NUM>, so that the coin <NUM> can be easily taken out from the coin discharge tray <NUM> by the operator.

The light emission unit <NUM> is provided around the coin discharge tray <NUM>. For example, the light emission unit <NUM> is provided along the edge on the front surface side of the light emission unit <NUM>. The light emission unit <NUM> is a lamp such as an LED, a light transmissive light guide member, and the like, and light emission is controlled by the controller <NUM> to be described later.

In addition, the coin discharge port <NUM> includes a sensor device that detects the coin <NUM> discharged from the coin discharge opening <NUM>, a shutter mechanism that opens and closes the coin discharge opening <NUM>, and the like (none of them are shown). The sensor device is provided on, for example, the bottom surface <NUM> or the side wall <NUM> of the coin discharge tray <NUM>, and detects the presence or absence of the coin <NUM>. The detection result of the sensor device is output to the controller <NUM>. The shutter mechanism opens and closes the coin discharge opening <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>.

A withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> is provided around the bill discharge port <NUM> or the coin discharge port <NUM>. For example, the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> is disposed to the right of the coin discharge port <NUM>. The withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> outputs a sound for notifying the operator of the presence of change in conjunction with the discharging operation of the bill discharge port <NUM> or the coin discharge port <NUM> under the control of the controller <NUM>.

As described above, in the checkout device <NUM>, since the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> is provided around the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> from which change is actually discharged, it is possible to direct the operator's attention to the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> by outputting sound from the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> described above are arranged side by side in the height direction of the checkout device <NUM> (or the first housing <NUM>). Specifically, the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> are disposed substantially at the center in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM>. The coin discharge port <NUM> is disposed below (or directly below) the bill discharge port <NUM> in the height direction of the checkout device <NUM>. The coin discharge tray <NUM> of the coin discharge port <NUM> is disposed closer to the front side of the checkout device <NUM> than the bill discharge port <NUM> (or the bill discharge opening <NUM>) in the depth direction of the checkout device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the protruding amount D of the bill <NUM> discharged from the bill discharge opening <NUM> of the bill discharge port <NUM> is limited so as not to cover the entire area of the opening of the coin discharge tray <NUM>. That is, the coin <NUM> discharged from the bill insertion port <NUM> is held on the coin discharge tray <NUM> in a visible state without being covered by the bill <NUM> discharged from the bill discharge opening <NUM>.

The protruding amount D may be adjusted according to the actual dimension of the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM>.

For example, the protruding amount D may be a value that covers one third of the opening of the coin discharge tray <NUM>. The protruding amount D may be mechanically controlled by a transport mechanism of the bill <NUM> or a mechanism included in the bill discharge opening <NUM>, or may be controlled by software by controlling the transport amount of the bills <NUM>.

In this way, by arranging the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> side by side in the height direction and arranging the coin discharge tray <NUM> of the coin discharge port <NUM> on the front side of the bill discharge opening <NUM> of the bill discharge port <NUM>, the operator can easily check the discharged change. Therefore, in the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible to improve the visibility of the change, and it is possible to reduce the number of cases where the change is left behind or forgotten to be taken by the operator.

In addition, since the protruding amount D of the bill <NUM> discharged from the bill discharge opening <NUM> is limited so as not to cover the entire area of the opening of the coin discharge tray <NUM>, the operator can easily check the coin <NUM> discharged to the coin discharge tray <NUM>. Therefore, in the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible to reduce the number of cases where the coin <NUM> discharged as change is left behind or forgotten to be taken by the operator.

In addition, by arranging the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> side by side in the height direction of the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible to secure a large size of the coin discharge tray <NUM> in the width direction. Thus, the checkout device <NUM> can increase the retention amount of the coins <NUM> discharged as change. In addition, in the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible to improve the visibility of the discharged coin <NUM> and make it easy for the operator to take out the coin <NUM>.

Further, focusing on the overall arrangement of the bill insertion port <NUM>, the coin insertion port <NUM>, the bill discharge port <NUM>, and the coin discharge port <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> are provided in a region A (corresponding to a first region), and the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> are provided in a region B. Here, the region A is located above the region B (corresponding to a second region). The region A and the region B are separated by a predetermined length. For example, the distance between an upper edge of the bill discharge port <NUM> and a lower edge of the bill insertion port <NUM> may be <NUM> to <NUM>.

In this manner, the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> related to the insertion of the money are arranged in the region A, and the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> related to the discharge of the change are arranged in the region B. Thus, it is possible to make it easy for the operator to recognize the location of each port. Accordingly, in the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible for the operator to intuitively grasp the location of the port to which the money is to be inserted or from which the change is to be taken, and thus improve the operability.

Further, in the checkout device <NUM>, the bill insertion port <NUM> (or the bill insertion opening <NUM>) and the coin insertion port <NUM> are open upward, and the money discharged from the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> is discharged in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, when viewing the front surface of the checkout device <NUM> from above, the operator can easily see the bill insertion port <NUM> (or the bill insertion opening <NUM>), the coin insertion port <NUM>, the bill discharge port <NUM> (or the bill discharge opening <NUM>), and the coin discharge port <NUM> (or the coin discharge tray <NUM>) as shown in <FIG>. In addition, the operator can easily confirm the change by moving the line of sight to the region B after inserting the money in the region A. Therefore, in the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible to improve operability and to reduce the number of cases where the change is left behind or forgotten to be taken by the operator.

Next, a hardware configuration of the checkout device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the checkout device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the checkout device <NUM> includes a controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM stores various programs executed by the CPU and various data. The RAM temporarily stores data and programs when the CPU executes the programs. The controller <NUM> controls each unit of the checkout device <NUM> by the CPU executing one or more programs read from the ROM and loaded into the RAM.

The program executed by the checkout device <NUM> is provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in an installable format or an executable format.

The program executed by the checkout device <NUM> may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided via the network. Further, the program executed by the checkout device <NUM> may be stored in the ROM or the like in advance.

A communication I/F <NUM> is a network interface circuit connected to the controller <NUM>. The communication I/F <NUM> can be connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The communication I/F <NUM> controls communication with an external device connected to the network. For example, the communication I/F <NUM> receives transaction information indicating a total amount of commodities to be checked-out.

In addition to the above-described bill insertion port <NUM>, the coin insertion port <NUM>, the bill discharge port <NUM>, the coin discharge port <NUM>, the reading unit <NUM>, the printer <NUM>, the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM>, the monitor <NUM>, the touch panel <NUM>, the monitor speaker <NUM>, and the like, the money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> is connected to the controller <NUM> via an I/O device controller <NUM> and the like. The controller <NUM> controls each device connected to the I/O device controller <NUM> to cooperate with each other, thereby controlling the operation of the checkout device <NUM>.

Although <FIG> shows the bill insertion port <NUM>, the coin insertion port <NUM>, the bill discharge port <NUM>, and the coin discharge port <NUM> directly connected to the I/O device controller <NUM>, the components actually connected are electrically controllable components such as light emission units (the light emission unit <NUM>, the light emission unit <NUM>, the light emission unit <NUM>, and the light emission unit <NUM>), sensor devices, and shutter mechanisms.

The money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> stores money paid for checkout or to be dispensed as change. The money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> performs depositing and dispensing processes. Specifically, the money deposit and withdrawal unit <NUM> includes a bill change machine <NUM> that accepts and dispenses bills <NUM> and a coin change machine <NUM> that accepts and dispenses coins <NUM>.

The bill change machine <NUM> is connected to the bill insertion port <NUM> via a transport mechanism, determines whether the bills <NUM> inserted via the bill insertion port <NUM> are genuine, and stores the genuine bills. The bill change machine <NUM> is connected to the bill discharge port <NUM> via a transport mechanism, and dispenses bills <NUM> as change from the bill discharge port <NUM>. When the bill change machine <NUM> determines that the bill is a non-genuine bill (e.g., a foreign bill, a counterfeit bill, or the like), the bill change machine <NUM> causes the bill discharge port <NUM> to dispense the non-genuine bill without storing the non-genuine bill.

The coin change machine <NUM> is connected to the coin insertion port <NUM> via a transport mechanism, and determines whether the coins <NUM> inserted via the coin insertion port <NUM> are genuine and stores the genuine coins. The coin change machine <NUM> is connected to the coin discharge port <NUM> via a transport mechanism, and dispenses the coins <NUM> as change from the coin discharge port <NUM>. When the coin change machine <NUM> determines that an inserted coin is a non-genuine or invalid coin type (e.g., a foreign coin, a counterfeit coin, or the like), the coin change machine <NUM> causes the coin discharge port <NUM> to reject the non-genuine coin without storing the non-genuine coin.

A reject unit different from the coin discharge port <NUM> may be provided. The reject unit receives the coins determined as a non-genuine coin by the coin change machine <NUM>. The reject unit includes, for example, a discharge port for discharging the non-genuine coin, and a reject tray for receiving the non-genuine coin discharged from the discharge port outside the first housing <NUM>. The reject unit may include a light emission unit in the reject tray or the like, similarly to the coin discharge port <NUM>.

The reject unit may be provided side by side with the coin discharge port <NUM> in the width direction at the same height as the coin discharge port <NUM>. In such a case, the reject unit is disposed in the same region B as the coin discharge port <NUM> that discharges the genuine coins, and the operator can easily recognize the location where bills or coins are returned. Accordingly, in the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible for the operator to easily and visually recognize a part of the checkout device <NUM> where genuine and non-genuine money are returned and a part of the checkout device <NUM> where money is inserted. In other words, it is possible to allow the operator to intuitively grasp a part of the checkout device <NUM> to be operated. As a result, the operability of the checkout device <NUM> is improved.

The bill change machine <NUM> and the coin change machine <NUM> notify the controller <NUM> of the amount of the stored money. The bill change machine <NUM> and the coin change machine <NUM> receive a notification of the amount to be dispensed as change from the controller <NUM>.

Next, the functions of the checkout device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is a functional diagram of the checkout device <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the checkout device <NUM> includes a checkout process unit <NUM> and a notification unit <NUM>.

A part or all of the checkout process unit <NUM> and the notification unit <NUM> may be implemented as one or more programs stored in the ROM of the checkout device <NUM> and carried out by the processor. A part or all of the checkout process unit <NUM> and the notification unit <NUM> may be implemented by a dedicated circuit.

The checkout process unit <NUM> executes checkout process of a commodity to be purchased by the operator. For example, the checkout process unit <NUM> acquires transaction information of each commodity registered by the registration device, and executes the checkout process based on the total amount of the commodities included in the transaction information.

Specifically, the checkout process unit <NUM> receives information about the amount of money inserted via the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> (hereinafter, also referred to as the paid amount) from the bill change machine <NUM> and the coin change machine <NUM>. The checkout process unit <NUM> executes a checkout process of paying the total amount of the commodity based on the paid amount indicated by the acquired information.

In a case where the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> are provided with shutter mechanisms, the checkout process unit <NUM> causes the shutter mechanisms of the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> to be in an open state when money is inserted.

When receiving the information about the paid amount, the checkout process unit <NUM> calculates a change amount by subtracting the total amount of the registered commodities from the paid amount. The checkout process unit <NUM> notifies the bill change machine <NUM> and the coin change machine <NUM> of the calculated change amount to discharge the change from the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM>. For example, the checkout process unit <NUM> notifies the bill change machine <NUM> of the denomination and the number of bills <NUM> to be discharged, and notifies the coin change machine <NUM> of the denomination and the number of coins <NUM> to be discharged.

In a case where a shutter mechanism is provided in the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM>, the checkout process unit <NUM> brings the shutter mechanisms of the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> to be in an open state at the time of discharging the change.

In addition, in a case where the protruding amount of the bill <NUM> is controlled by software, the checkout process unit <NUM> limits the protruding amount of the bill <NUM> exposed from the coin discharge opening <NUM> to a predetermined value by controlling a transport mechanism that transports the bill <NUM> from the bill change machine <NUM> to the bill discharge port <NUM>.

Then, when the discharge of the change is completed, the checkout process unit <NUM> causes the printer <NUM> to print a receipt indicating details of the transaction such as the amount of each commodity, the total amount, the paid amount, and the change amount, and discharges the receipt from the receipt discharge port <NUM>.

Further, the checkout process unit <NUM> causes the monitor <NUM> to display a screen showing information related to the above-described checkout process, and causes the monitor speaker <NUM> to output a sound for guidance on how to operate the checkout device <NUM> or the like.

When the read uniting <NUM> reads information related to electronic payment from a medium such as a credit card, the checkout process unit <NUM> executes a payment process of paying the total amount of the commodities based on the user ID assigned to the operator and the information related to electronic payment read from the medium.

The notification unit <NUM> cooperates with the checkout process unit <NUM> to notify the operator of the ports to which money is to be inserted and from which change is discharged.

Specifically, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the operator of the insertion port of money by causing the light emission unit <NUM> of the bill insertion port <NUM> and the light emission unit <NUM> of the coin insertion port <NUM> to emit light when the money is to be paid. Accordingly, in the checkout device <NUM>, the operator of the checkout device <NUM> can recognize the port where the money is inserted, and thus it is possible to improve operability related to the payment of the money.

When the change is discharged, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the operator of the discharge port of the change by causing the light emission unit <NUM> of the bill discharge port <NUM> and the light emission unit <NUM> of the coin discharge port <NUM> to emit light. For example, when the bill <NUM> is discharged as change, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the operator that change is discharged from the bill discharge port <NUM> by causing the light emission unit <NUM> provided in the bill discharge port <NUM> to emit light. In addition, for example, when the coin <NUM> is discharged as change, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the operator that change is discharged from the coin discharge port <NUM> by causing the light emission unit <NUM> provided in the coin discharge port <NUM> to emit light.

As described above, in the checkout device <NUM>, when the discharge operation of the change occurs in one or both of the bill <NUM> and the coin <NUM> during the checkout process, the notification is performed using the light emission unit of the discharge port from which the change is discharged. Accordingly, since the notification unit <NUM> can cause the operator of the checkout device <NUM> to recognize the port where the change is discharged, it is possible to reduce the number of cases where the change is left behind or forgotten to be taken.

The notification unit <NUM> may cause one or both of the light emission unit <NUM> and <NUM> to continuously emit light or blink to intermittently emit light.

In addition, when the change is discharged, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the operator of the presence of the change by outputting a sound indicating the presence of the change, the denomination (bill or coin) of the discharged change, or the like from the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM>. For example, when the bill <NUM> is discharged as change, the notification unit <NUM> notifies that the bill <NUM> is discharged as change by a predetermined sound. In addition, for example, when the coin <NUM> is discharged as change, the notification unit <NUM> notifies that the coin <NUM> is discharged as change by a predetermined sound.

In this way, in a case where one or both of the bill <NUM> and the coin <NUM> is returned as the change during the checkout process, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the presence and/or the denomination of the change by using the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> present in the region B in which the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> are provided. Thus, in the checkout device <NUM>, the operator of the checkout device <NUM> can recognize the presence of the change and the port where the change is discharged, it is possible to reduce the number of cases where the change is left behind or forgotten to be taken.

In addition, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the operator of the presence of change and the denomination using the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> provided in the region B. Thus, in the checkout device <NUM>, it is possible to further reduce the number of cases where the change is left behind or forgotten to be taken by the operator.

The timing at which the notification unit <NUM> causes the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> to output a sound may be the same as the light emission timing at which the light emission unit <NUM> or the light emission unit <NUM> emits light, or may be after the light emission timing. In the latter case, for example, when the presence of change has been detected by the sensor devices provided in the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM> for a predetermined time (for example, <NUM> seconds or the like), a predetermined sound may be output from the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the operation of the checkout device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating process executed by the checkout device <NUM>. Here, it is assumed that registration of a commodity to be purchased by the operator of the checkout device <NUM> has been completed.

First, the checkout process unit <NUM> acquires transaction information for an operator or customer who is performing the checkout process from the registration device, the store server, or the like (Step S11).

Subsequently, the notification unit <NUM> causes the light emission unit <NUM> of the bill insertion port <NUM> and the light emission unit <NUM> of the coin insertion port <NUM> to emit light, thereby notifying the operator of the insertion port of money (Step S12). When the money is inserted into the bill insertion port <NUM> and/or the coin insertion port <NUM>, the checkout process unit <NUM> receives information indicating the amount of the inserted money (i.e., paid amount) through the bill change machine <NUM> and the coin change machine <NUM> (Step S13).

Subsequently, the checkout process unit <NUM> executes the checkout process based on the paid amount indicated by the information received in Step S13 (Step S14). Next, the checkout process unit <NUM> determines the presence or absence of change on the basis of the difference between the total amount of the commodities and the paid amount (Step S15). When it is determined that there is no change (No in Step S15), the process proceeds to Step S23.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a change (Yes in Step S15), the checkout process unit <NUM> proceeds to Step S16 and determines whether a bill <NUM> is included in the change (Step S16). When it is determined that the change includes a bill <NUM> (Yes in Step S16), the notification unit <NUM> causes the light emission unit <NUM> provided in the bill discharge port <NUM> to emit light, thereby notifying the operator that there is a bill <NUM> discharged as the change (Step S17). In addition, the checkout process unit <NUM> discharges the bill <NUM> from the bill discharge port <NUM> by cooperating with the bill change machine <NUM> (Step S18), and proceeds to Step S19.

When the checkout process unit <NUM> determines that the change does not include a bill <NUM> (No in Step S16), the process immediately proceeds to Step S19.

In Step S19, the checkout process unit <NUM> determines whether a coin <NUM> is included in the change (Step S19). When it is determined that a coin <NUM> is included in the change (Yes in Step S19), the notification unit <NUM> causes the light emission unit <NUM> provided in the coin discharge port <NUM> to emit light, thereby notifying the operator that a coin <NUM> is discharged as the change (Step S20). In addition, the checkout process unit <NUM> discharges the coin <NUM> from the coin discharge port <NUM> by cooperating with the coin change machine <NUM> (Step S21), and proceeds to Step S22.

In addition, in a case where it is determined that a coin <NUM> is not included in the change (No in Step S19), the process immediately proceeds to Step S22. The process order of Steps S16 to S18 and Steps S19 to S21 is not limited thereto, and may be modified.

Subsequently, the notification unit <NUM> notifies the operator of the presence of the change by outputting a sound for notifying the presence of the change, the denomination, and the like from the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> (Step S22). Then, the checkout process unit <NUM> causes the printer <NUM> to print a receipt indicating the details of the transaction, and discharge the receipt from the receipt discharge port <NUM> (Step S23).

In the above-described embodiments, the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> are disposed adjacent to each other. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and a gap may be provided between the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a planar region (hereinafter, also referred to as a placement portion <NUM>) may be provided between the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>, not according to the invention. As shown in <FIG>, the placement portion <NUM> is provided between the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>.

Here, the placement portion <NUM> can be used for the operator to temporarily place the coin <NUM>, for example. Specifically, before inserting a bill <NUM> or a coin <NUM> into the bill insertion port <NUM> or the coin insertion port <NUM>, the operator can place some coins <NUM> on the placement portion <NUM>, and then insert only the required amount of coins into the coin insertion port <NUM> or the hole <NUM>.

In particular, by smoothly connecting the placement portion <NUM> and the inclined surface <NUM> of the coin insertion port <NUM> adjacent to the placement portion <NUM>, it is possible for the operator to slide the coin <NUM> from the placement portion <NUM> toward the coin insertion port <NUM> to insert the coin <NUM> into the hole <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to improve operability related to insertion of the coin <NUM>.

In order to prevent the coin <NUM> placed on the placement portion <NUM> from entering the bill insertion opening <NUM>, a partition such as a side wall may be provided at an edge portion of the placement portion <NUM> other than a side adjacent to the coin insertion port <NUM> or an edge portion adjacent to the bill insertion opening <NUM>.

Further, the coin <NUM> placed on the placement portion <NUM> may be prevented from entering the bill insertion opening <NUM> by forming the placement portion <NUM> at a position lower than the plane of the step portion in which the bill insertion port <NUM> (or the bill insertion opening <NUM>) is provided and forming the shape of the placement portion <NUM> into a concave shape such as a dish shape recessed from the plane of the step portion. In such a case, the height of the inclined surface <NUM> of the coin insertion port <NUM> connected to the placement portion <NUM> is preferably the same as the height of the placement portion <NUM>.

In addition, the position where the placement portion <NUM> is provided is not limited to a position between the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>. For example, in the depth direction of the checkout device <NUM>, the placement portion <NUM> may be provided on the back side or the front side of the coin insertion port <NUM>. In addition, the placement portion <NUM> may be provided in a gap between the coin insertion port <NUM> and the other end side (i.e., the right end) in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM>, which is formed by disposing the bill insertion port <NUM> close to one end side (for example, the left end) in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM> while the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> are adjacent to each other.

In the above-described embodiments, the printer <NUM> is disposed above the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>. However, according to the invention, as illustrated in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> is disposed above the bill discharge port <NUM> and below the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the printer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> is provided above the bill discharge port <NUM>. In such a case, the printer <NUM> discharges the receipt <NUM> from the receipt discharge port <NUM> so that the receipt <NUM> is discharged above the bill <NUM> discharged as change.

With this arrangement, the bill discharge port <NUM>, the coin discharge port <NUM>, and the printer <NUM> that discharge the change and the receipt <NUM> can be arranged in the region B below the region A in which the bill insertion port <NUM> and the coin insertion port <NUM> are arranged. Accordingly, the operator can easily take out the discharged money and the receipt by moving the line of sight to the region B after inserting the money in the region A. In addition, since the operator can easily check the bill <NUM> and the coin <NUM> discharged as change and the receipt <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> by moving the line of sight from the region A to the region B, it is possible to reduce the case where the change or the receipt <NUM> are left behind.

The arrangement position of the printer <NUM> is not limited to the example of <FIG>. According to the invention, the printer <NUM> may be disposed below the coin discharge port <NUM> or not according to the invention the printer <NUM> may be disposed side by side with the coin discharge port <NUM> in the width direction of the checkout device <NUM>. In such a case, the operator can easily check the bill <NUM> and the coin <NUM> discharged as the change and the receipt <NUM> by moving the line of sight from the region A to the region B, and thus it is possible to reduce the case where the change or the receipt <NUM> are left behind.

In the above-described embodiments, in the depth direction of the checkout device <NUM>, the edge portions on the front side of the bill insertion port <NUM> (or the bill insertion opening <NUM>), the coin insertion port <NUM> (or the inclined surface <NUM>), and the bill discharge port <NUM> (or the bill discharge opening <NUM>) of are disposed at substantially the same position.

For example, in the depth direction of the checkout device <NUM>, the region A and the region B may be arranged in a stepwise manner or in an inclined manner so that the region B is on the front side of the region A. In this way, the operator can more easily view all the insertion ports, the discharge ports, and discharge trays, and thus it is possible to further improve operability.

In the above-described embodiments, when change is discharged from the bill discharge port <NUM> and the coin discharge port <NUM>, the notification is performed by using the light emission unit or the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM>. However, the notification may be performed in the same manner when the non-genuine coin is discharged. In such a case, it is preferable that the notification unit <NUM> causes the withdrawal unit speaker <NUM> to output a sound for notifying that a non-genuine coin has been inserted.

As a result, the operator of the checkout device <NUM> can recognize that the non-genuine coin has been inserted, and thus the number of cases where the non-genuine coin is left behind or forgotten to be taken can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiments, the semi-self-checkout device is described. However, those embodiments are appliable to a self-checkout apparatus.

In such a case, in addition to the above-described configuration, the checkout device <NUM> includes a scanner device that reads a commodity code for specifying a commodity name, a price, or the like of a commodity from a code symbol such as a barcode attached to the commodity. In addition, the checkout process unit <NUM> executes the checkout process by using the total amount of the commodities which are registered by the scanner device in one transaction.

In addition, the aforementioned embodiments and modifications are applicable to a money storage device for storing bills and coins, a ticket vending machine or a ticket issuing machine that issues a meal ticket or the like at a restaurant, a checkout machine installed at a parking lot, a station, or the like, an automatic vending machine, or the like.

Claim 1:
A money storage device, comprising:
a change machine (<NUM>) configured to store bills and coins; and
a housing (<NUM>) that houses the change machine and includes:
a printer (<NUM>) configured to discharge a receipt from a receipt discharging port (<NUM>),
a bill insertion port (<NUM>) through which a bill is inserted,
a coin insertion port (<NUM>) through which a coin is inserted, the coin insertion port being adjacent to the bill insertion port in a width direction of the housing,
a bill discharge port (<NUM>) including a bill discharge opening (<NUM>) that opens in a horizontal direction and through which a bill from the change machine is to be discharged, the bill discharge port being provided below the bill insertion port and the coin insertion port, and
a coin discharge port (<NUM>) including a coin discharge opening (<NUM>) through which a coin stored in the change machine is to be discharged, and a coin discharge tray (<NUM>) on a front side of the coin discharge opening by which the discharged coin is received, the coin discharge port being below the bill discharge port,
and wherein the bill discharge port is configured to retain a part of a bill in the bill discharge opening by holding a rear end portion of the bill so that the bill does not jump out from the bill discharge opening, and to expose a part of the bill from the bill discharge opening to the outside of the housing so as not to cover an entire opening of the coin discharge tray,
the coin discharge tray is formed by a bottom surface (<NUM>) and a side wall (<NUM>) formed at an edge portion of the bottom surface, and has an upward opening,
the bottom surface is formed as an inclined surface descending from a back side to a front side of the housing, the side wall is formed as an inclined surface descending toward the bottom surface, and a corner portion connecting the bottom surface and the side wall is formed in a curved surface shape smoothly connecting the bottom surface and the side wall, and wherein the housing includes a first area (A) in which the bill insertion port and the coin insertion port are arranged and a second area (B) located below the first area and in which the bill discharge port, the receipt discharging port (<NUM>) and the coin discharge port (<NUM>) are arranged, and wherein the receipt discharging port (<NUM>) is located above the bill discharge port (<NUM>) or below the coin discharge port (<NUM>).