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 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 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: An article reading device according to an embodiment includes a display device and an image capturing device that generates an image of an article. A processor extracts, from the image, first feature data for recognizing the article and second feature data for determining whether to recognize the article based on the first feature data. The processor determines whether to recognize the article. If it is determined to recognize the article, the processor recognizes the article based on the extracted first feature data, and controls the display device to display a recognition result. If it is determined to not recognize the article, extract a barcode from the image, the processor identifies the article based on the extracted barcode, and control the display device to display an identification result. The processor performs a transaction settlement with respect to the recognition result, if any, and the identification result, if any.

Abstract: An article reading device according to an embodiment includes a display device and an image capturing device that generates an image of an article. A processor extracts, from the image, first feature data for recognizing the article and second feature data for determining whether to recognize the article based on the first feature data. The processor determines whether to recognize the article. If it is determined to recognize the article, the processor recognizes the article based on the extracted first feature data, and controls the display device to display a recognition result. If it is determined to not recognize the article, extract a barcode from the image, the processor identifies the article based on the extracted barcode, and control the display device to display an identification result. The processor performs a transaction settlement with respect to the recognition result, if any, and the identification result, if any.

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 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: According to one embodiment, a code symbol reading unit (first reading unit) reads a barcode (code symbol) attached to a commodity from images of the commodity captured by an image control unit (imaging unit) using a first camera, a second camera, and a third camera. An electronic watermark reading unit (second reading unit) reads an electronic watermark attached to the commodity from the images. An object recognition unit (commodity recognition unit) recognizes the commodity from the images. Further, a commodity identification unit (commodity identification unit) identifies the commodity appearing in the images based on at least one of a reading result of the code symbol reading unit, a reading result of the electronic watermark reading unit, and a recognition result of the object recognition unit.

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: 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 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: According to one embodiment, a code symbol reading unit (first reading unit) reads a barcode (code symbol) attached to a commodity from images of the commodity captured by an image control unit (imaging unit) using a first camera, a second camera, and a third camera. An electronic watermark reading unit (second reading unit) reads an electronic watermark attached to the commodity from the images. An object recognition unit (commodity recognition unit) recognizes the commodity from the images. Further, a commodity identification unit (commodity identification unit) identifies the commodity appearing in the images based on at least one of a reading result of the code symbol reading unit, a reading result of the electronic watermark reading unit, and a recognition result of the object recognition unit.

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 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: A product scanner apparatus includes an image capturing device to image an object using visible light. A first reading module is configured to attempt to read a barcode symbol in a captured image from the image capturing device. The barcode symbol provides an identification of the object when read. A second reading module is configured to attempt to read digital watermark information on a product tag affixed to the object. A controller is configured to control the image capturing device to capture an image of the object, control the first reading module to read the barcode symbol, and then control the second reading module to read digital watermark information only if the barcode symbol is successfully read. The product tag includes visible text printed on a surface thereof and the digital water information encodes discount information corresponding to the visible text.

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: According to one embodiment, a code symbol reading unit (first reading unit) reads a barcode (code symbol) attached to a commodity from images of the commodity captured by an image control unit (imaging unit) using a first camera, a second camera, and a third camera. An electronic watermark reading unit (second reading unit) reads an electronic watermark attached to the commodity from the images. An object recognition unit (commodity recognition unit) recognizes the commodity from the images. Further, a commodity identification unit (commodity identification unit) identifies the commodity appearing in the images based on at least one of a reading result of the code symbol reading unit, a reading result of the electronic watermark reading unit, and a recognition result of the object recognition unit.