Abstract: A handcart includes a cart frame, a caster, and a code reader. The cart frame includes a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a lateral portion extending in a width direction of the cart frame. The caster is disposed at a bottom region of the cart frame. The code reader is attached to the lateral portion of the cart frame so as to be rotatable around the lateral portion. The code reader may be rotated around the lateral portion of the cart frame to a first position at which a reading window of the code reader faces an inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the cart frame, and to a second position at which the reading window of the code reader faces a front of the cart frame.

Abstract: A reading apparatus according to an embodiment includes a captured-image reading section, an article detecting section, an object recognizing section, and a code reading section. The captured-image reading section reads, from an imaging apparatus that captures a captured image associated with distance information indicating distances to articles, the captured image associated with the distance information. The article detecting section detects images of articles in a preset predetermined imaging region in the captured image. The object recognizing section performs, based on the distance information, object recognition processing of an object, the object being an article closest from the imaging apparatus among the articles.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a first conveyor belt with a first surface along which an article is conveyed in a conveyance direction from an upstream end to a downstream end, The first surface has an upstream end and a downstream end along the conveyance direction. A second conveyor belt is directly downstream of the first conveyor belt in the conveyance direction and has a second surface along which the article is conveyed in the conveyance direction from an upstream end to a downstream end. The downstream end of the first surface is at a height greater than the upstream end of the second surface. A first reading unit is positioned to read a symbol on the article through a gap left between the first and second conveyor belts.

Abstract: A symbol reading device includes a plurality of reading units and a processor. The reading units read symbols on articles conveyed along a conveyance path. The processor is configured to acquire symbol information from a plurality of articles and store the symbol information in association with each of the reading units that read the symbols on respective articles, then identify a reading unit that can be substituted by another reading unit based on the symbol information associated with the reading units. The identified reading unit in then placed into a power saving state.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a symbol reading device comprises a plurality of imaging units and a processor. The plurality of imaging units are disposed at a plurality of positions to image an article, and each imaging unit comprises a light emitter configured to emit light towards the article. An interfering subset of the plurality of imaging units are at mutually interfering positions at which light emission from imaging units of the subset degrades imaging performance of the other imaging units in the subset. The processor configured to control the interfering subset such that a timing for image capture by at least one of the interfering subset differs from timings of light emission by the rest of the interfering subset.

Abstract: A handcart includes a cart frame, a caster, and a code reader. The cart frame includes a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a lateral portion extending in a width direction of the cart frame. The caster is disposed at a bottom region of the cart frame. The code reader is attached to the lateral portion of the cart frame so as to be rotatable around the lateral portion. The code reader may be rotated around the lateral portion of the cart frame to a first position at which a reading window of the code reader faces an inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the cart frame, and to a second position at which the reading window of the code reader faces a front of the cart frame.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a reading device comprises a housing having a height. A first reading window is on a first surface side of the housing at a first height position. A first reading unit is inside the housing and configured to direct light out the first reading window for imaging an item. A second reading window is on a second surface side of the housing at a second height position that is less than the first height position in height. A second reading unit is inside the housing and configured to direct light out the second reading window for imaging an item.

Abstract: A handcart includes a cart frame having a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a handle portion, a caster disposed at a bottom region of the cart frame, a display mounting arm adjacent to the handle portion and extending upward from the cart frame, and a display device attached to an upper end of the display mounting arm. The display mounting arm is movable to position the display device at a location that is shifted to a left or a right side with respect to a center of the cart frame in a width direction thereof.

Abstract: A code-symbol reading section (reading section) reads a code symbol attached to a commodity (an article) using an image captured by a camera. A customer detecting section (detecting section) detects a change in brightness using the image captured by the camera to thereby detect approach of a customer to a self-POS terminal. A reading control section (reading control section) causes the code-symbol reading section to start operation on condition that the customer detecting section detects the change in brightness.

Abstract: A sales-data processing apparatus comprises a main body section of a columnar shape. A reader is in the main body section and configured to read information for identifying a commodity in a sales transaction. An operator display is directed to an operator side of the main body section. A customer display, adjacent the operator display section, is directed to a customer side of the main body section. An input device is provided for receiving input operations related settlement processing from a customer on the customer side of the main body section. The input device is positioned adjacent to the customer display. A supporting section is attached to the main body section to support the input device at the position substantially adjacent to the customer display.

Abstract: A reading apparatus according to an embodiment includes a captured-image reading section, an article detecting section, an object recognizing section, and a code reading section. The captured-image reading section reads, from an imaging apparatus that captures a captured image associated with distance information indicating distances to articles, the captured image associated with the distance information. The article detecting section detects images of articles in a preset predetermined imaging region in the captured image. The object recognizing section performs, based on the distance information, object recognition processing of an object, the object being an article closest from the imaging apparatus among the articles.

Abstract: An information processing device on a shopping basket or cart includes a communication interface configured to communicate with an imaging device installed on the shopping basket or cart and beacons installed on a product display area displaying a commodity, and a processor configured to, identify a commodity by either reading a commodity code in the image or performing object recognition on the image, and, according to a signal received from at least one beacon, switch between a first mode, in which the commodity can be identified by reading the commodity code, and a second mode, in which the commodity can be identified by either reading the commodity code or object recognition.

Abstract: An object recognition system includes a storage device, a reading unit, an output device, and a processor. The storage device stores a dictionary containing attributes of a plurality of registered objects. The attributes includes at least a category and feature values. The reading unit includes an image capturing device. The processor registers a new object by (i) extracting a feature value of the new object from an image of the new object captured by the image capturing device, (ii) comparing the extracted feature value with feature values of registered objects that are registered in the dictionary to calculate a similarity degree therebetween, (iii) registering the extracted feature value in the dictionary as a determination criteria for an object recognition, and (iv) outputting a notification through the output device prior to the registering, upon a result of the comparing meets a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes an imaging unit and a control unit. The imaging unit is configured to image a code symbol to facilitate capturing image data. The control unit is configured to receive the image data captured by the imaging unit, decode data encoded in the code symbol based on the image data, operate the imaging unit under a first imaging condition for imaging the code symbol, operate the imaging unit under a second imaging condition for imaging the code symbol, and switch between the first imaging condition and the second imaging condition in response to at least one of (i) the control unit failing to decode the data encoded in the code symbol or (ii) receiving a switch command from an operator. The second imaging condition includes switching among a plurality of the mutually different imaging conditions according to a switching procedure.

Abstract: A registration apparatus comprises a first control module configured to switch an operation mode from a store clerk operation mode in which registration processing of a purchased commodity is performed by an operation of a store clerk to a customer operation mode in which the registration processing is performed by an operation of a customer, and vice versa. A settlement apparatus comprises a second control module configured to switch an operation mode from a store clerk operation mode in which settlement processing is performed by an operation of the store clerk to a customer operation mode in which the settlement processing is performed by an operation of the customer, and vice versa. The first and second control modules switch the operation mode from the store clerk operation mode to the customer operation mode if a sign-off is performed, and vice versa if a sign-on is performed.

Abstract: A sales data processing apparatus includes an imaging unit and a control unit. The control unit is configured to cause the imaging unit to capture an image of an item, identify a candidate item corresponding to the item by object recognition processing on the image, transmit identification information for the candidate item and the image of the item to an external device; and then receive a confirmation result from the external device indicating whether or not the item included in the image matches the candidate article according to the transmitted identification information.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a reading device comprises a housing having a height. A first reading window is on a first surface side of the housing at a first height position. A first reading unit is inside the housing and configured to direct light out the first reading window for imaging an item. A second reading window is on a second surface side of the housing at a second height position that is less than the first height position in height. A second reading unit is inside the housing and configured to direct light out the second reading window for imaging an item.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a reading device includes a communication interface for communication with a commodity registration device. A commodity reader of the reading device reads commodity information from a commodity and the commodity information can be used for identifying the commodity. An output device signals that the commodity reader has read commodity information. A controller causes the communication interface to transmit the commodity information read by commodity reader, initialize the communication interface when it is determined that transmission of the commodity information has failed, and signal a communication failure when transmission of the commodity information has failed.

Abstract: A stackable handcart includes a cart frame, a display, and a restriction member. The cart frame includes a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a front end portion that abuts a first stackable handcart when the stackable handcart is stacked with the first stackable handcart from behind the first stackable handcart. The display is attached to the cart frame. The restriction member is attached to the cart frame at a position to abut a front end portion of a second stackable handcart when the second stackable handcart is stacked with the stackable handcart from behind the stackable handcart. The restriction member is positioned such that a display of the second stackable handcart does not abut the display of the stackable handcart when the front end portion of the second stackable handcart abuts the restriction member.

Abstract: A handcart includes a cart frame, a code reader holder, and a code reader. The cart frame includes a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable. The code reader holder is attached to the cart frame and including an insertion opening that is movable to a position at which the insertion opening faces upward. The code reader includes an insertion portion, and detachably attached to the code reader holder when the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion opening of the code reader.