System and method for detecting and rewarding the return of a supermarket trolley or a luggage trolley taken from a trolley park
First Claim
1. System for detecting and rewarding the return of a shopping cart or luggage cart or the like taken from a cart stand, with a number of shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), the system comprising each of the carts being provided with a non-contact, individual marking (32, 32a) that can be identified, at least one cart stand (10) for the shopping carts, and detection means (62, 64) arranged in the region of the cart stand for the markings of the shopping carts, the detection means being equipped so that the detection means generate a signal for issuing a bonus when a returned shopping cart is identified, wherein the markings (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) are changeable from an active state, in which the marking can be identified by the detection means (62, 64), to a passive state, in which the marking cannot be identified by the detection means, or vice-versa.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method for detecting and rewarding the return of supermarket carts or luggage carts taken from a cart stand. Each cart is provided with a contactless, preferably optically identifiable, individual mark, by which the cart is identified when it is returned to a cart stand. In addition, the identifying mark on the cart changes when the cart is brought back to the cart stand, from an active state, in which the mark can be identified, to a passive state, in which the mark cannot be identified, or vice-versa. In addition to the presence of a returned cart, the invention enables the correct positioning of a cart in a row of nested carts to be identified in a contactless and automatic manner.
68 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. System for detecting and rewarding the return of a shopping cart or luggage cart or the like taken from a cart stand, with a number of shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), the system comprising each of the carts being provided with a non-contact, individual marking (32, 32a) that can be identified, at least one cart stand (10) for the shopping carts, and detection means (62, 64) arranged in the region of the cart stand for the markings of the shopping carts, the detection means being equipped so that the detection means generate a signal for issuing a bonus when a returned shopping cart is identified, wherein the markings (32, 32a) of the shopping carts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) are changeable from an active state, in which the marking can be identified by the detection means (62, 64), to a passive state, in which the marking cannot be identified by the detection means, or vice-versa.
-
25. Method for detecting and rewarding the return of a shopping cart or luggage cart or the like taken from a cart stand, with each shopping cart being identified using non-contact means with reference to an individual marking by detection means in the region of the cart stand, and with the issuing of a bonus being generated when a shopping cart is returned to a cart stand, comprising changing the markings of the shopping carts in connection with the return to a cart stand from an active state, in which the marking can be identified by the detection means, to a passive state, in which the marking cannot be identified by the detection means, or vice-versa.
Specification