Self-service checkout apparatus

• US 5,992,570 A
• Filed: 09/09/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Hutcheon, Alfred J., Madigan, Edward F. Jr., Walter, Joanne S., Lin, Horng-Jaan
• Primary Examiner(s): BARTUSKA, FRANCIS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/925,698
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 186/36, 186/37, 186/52, 186/59, 186/60, 186/61, 186/62, 186/68, 235/383
• US Class Current: 186/36
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/048 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

A self-service checkout apparatus for processing items selected by a customer for purchase includes a customer operated device, such as a scanner/scale, for identifying each item selected for purchase. The apparatus also includes a self-service terminal which includes a card or cash payment accepting device, a cash dispensing device for providing a customer with cash by way of change or cashback, and an electronic controller connected to the customer operated device and arranged to determine the price of each item identified by the customer operated device. The terminal displays the total amount payable on a screen. A customer exit is normally closed by a security gate which is arranged to be opened in response to the customer making payment for the total amount. The terminal can be used to provide ATM services independently of a checkout transaction.

Claims

1. A checkout apparatus for processing items selected by a customer for purchase, the checkout apparatus comprising:

customer operated means for identifying each item selected for purchase;

an integrated self-service terminal including payment accepting means for enabling the customer to make payment for the purchased items, cash dispensing means for providing the customer with cash by way of change, and electronic control means connected to the customer operated means and for determining the price of each item identified by the customer operated means;

the self-service terminal employing a display screen being arranged both to guide the customer through a merchandising transaction and to provide to the customer an indication of the total amount to be paid by the customer for the purchased items; and

the self-service terminal providing at least one of a number of automated teller machine (ATM) services independently of the processing of items selected for purchase, the number of ATM services including (i) allowing a customer to withdraw cash from a bank account, (ii) allowing a customer to shift money between bank accounts, and (iii) allowing a customer to check the amount of money in a bank account.

2. A checkout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the payment accepting means includes card reading means for enabling a customer to make payment of the total price by means of a debit card or credit card, the card reading means also being arranged to read a customer identifying card used by a customer when carrying out an ATM transaction before the processing of items selected for purchase.

3. A checkout apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a signature pad for providing a digitized representation of a customer'"'"'s signature, the digitized representation being stored by the electronic control means.

4. A checkout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the payment accepting means also includes a currency note acceptor means for enabling a customer to make payment of the total price by cash.

5. A checkout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the self-service terminal includes a coin dispenser arranged to dispense change due to a customer who has made payment.

6. A checkout apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a security gate which normally closes a customer exit from the checkout apparatus, the electronic control means being arranged to open the security gate in response to payment by a customer, means being provided for bringing about closure to the security gate after the customer has passed through the exit away from the checkout apparatus.

7. A checkout apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the card reading means is arranged to read a further customer identifying card used by a customer at the commencement of a checkout transaction.

8. A self-checkout apparatus for processing items selected by a customer for purchase, and a customer operated bar code scanner for identifying each item selected for purchase, the self-checkout apparatus comprising:

a self-service terminal providing integrated automated teller machine and point of sale functionality which includes a payment accepting mechanism for enabling the customer to make payment for the purchased items, a cash dispenser arranged to provide the customer with cash by way of change or as part of an automated teller machine transaction, and an electronic controller which is connected to said customer operated bar code scanner and which is arranged to determine the price of each item identified by said customer operated barcode scanner, said self-service terminal being arranged to provide to the customer an indication of the total amount to be paid by the customer for the purchased items; and

a common display screen arranged to display messages for guiding a customer through both checkout transactions, and automated teller machine transactions.

9. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, wherein said customer bar code scanner comprises a laser scanner arranged to scan a bar code carried by an item to be purchased and arranged to send a signal identifying the scanned item to said electronic controller, said electronic controller being further operable to cause said common display screen to display an identification of the scanned item together with its price as items are scanned.

10. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a scale for weighing an item to be purchased, said scale being operative to send to said electronic controller a signal indicative of the weight of the weighed item;

and

a customer operated data entry mechanism for enabling the customer to key in data identifying the weighed item, said electronic controller being further operable to cause said common display screen to display an identification of the weighed item together with its price as the customer keys in data identifying weighed items.

11. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 10, wherein said electronic controller is further operable to cause said common display screen to display to a customer information enabling the customer to determine a code identifying the weighed item.

12. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, wherein said self-service terminal provides automated teller machine (ATM) services independently of the processing of items selected for purchase.

13. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, wherein said self-service terminal includes a printer arranged to print a receipt listing all items purchased by a customer together with the prices of the items purchased and the total price payable by the customer, said self-service terminal being arranged to issue said receipt to the customer in response to the payment by the customer of said total price using a payment acceptor.

14. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 13 wherein said printer is also operable to printout a receipt for an automated teller machine transaction.

15. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a payment acceptor which includes a card reader for enabling a customer to make payment by means of a debit card or credit card, said card reader also being arranged to read a customer identifying card used by a customer when carrying out an ATM transaction independently of the processing of items selected for purchase.

16. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a signature pad for providing a digitized representation of a customer'"'"'s signature, said digitized representation being stored by said electronic controller in a memory.

17. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 15, wherein said payment acceptor also includes a currency note acceptor for enabling a customer to make payment of said total price by cash.

18. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, wherein said terminal further comprises a coin dispenser arranged to dispense change due to a customer.

19. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a security gate which normally closes a customer exit from said self-checkout apparatus, said electronic controller being operable to open said security gate in response to payment by a customer.

20. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 15, wherein said card reader is further operable to read a further customer identifying card used by a customer at the commencement of a checkout transaction, and said electronic controller is operable so that a checkout transaction will only be enabled if the further customer identifying card is successfully read.

21. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, wherein said self-service terminal further comprises a coupon acceptor which is connected to said electronic controller and which is operable to read information carried on a predetermined type of coupon inserted in said coupon acceptor by a customer, said electronic controller being arranged to adjust the total amount payable by the customer in response to information read by said coupon acceptor.

22. The self-checkout apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a video surveillance camera connected to a remote monitoring station and arranged to survey a checkout transaction carried out by a customer using said self-checkout apparatus.

23. A method of completing both banking and sales transactions in a retail establishment utilizing an integrated self-service checkout terminal comprising the steps of:

displaying a first set of instructions on a common display of the integrated self-checkout terminal while the integrated self-service checkout terminal is in an idle state;

recording an indication by the customer to start the transaction by an input device in the integrated self-service checkout terminal;

displaying on the common display a second set of instructions for the customer to indicate whether the customer wishes to make the transaction a banking transaction or a shopping transaction;

recording a response by the customer by the input device; and

completing the transaction by the integrated self-checkout terminal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, if the response is a shopping transaction, the step of completing the transaction comprises the steps of:

displaying a third set of instructions on the common display for instructing the customer how to enter items including a last item into the transaction by scanning them with a bar code reader, weighing them with a scale, or using the input device;

recording the entry of items including the last item into the transaction in response to scanning, weighing, or using the input device;

displaying a fourth set of instructions on the common display in response to the last item being recorded for instructing the customer to choose one of a number of methods of paying for the items, the methods of paying including cash and credit;

recording the entry of a payment choice of the customer; and

receiving payment from the customer using the chosen method of payment by the integrated self-checkout terminal.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein, if the response is a banking transaction, the step of completing comprises the steps of:

displaying a third set of instructions on the common display for instructing the customer how to complete the banking transaction;

displaying a fourth set of instructions on the display to choose one of a number of types of banking transactions, including cash deposit and cash withdrawal transactions;

recording a customer choice of type of banking transaction by the integrated self-checkout terminal;

completing the chosen type of banking transaction by the integrated self-checkout terminal;

displaying a fifth set of instructions for the customer to indicate whether the customer wishes to conduct a shopping transaction; and

recording a response by the customer entered utilizing the input device.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

opening a security gate after the transaction is completed; and

displaying the first set of instructions on the common display of the integrated self-checkout terminal to return to an idle state.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

printing both banking and shopping transaction receipts utilizing a single printer in the integrated self-service checkout tenninal.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

entering transaction data for both banking and shopping transaction utilizing a single data entry device in the integrated self-service checkout terminal.