Self scanning method for use in supermarket, compares actual weight of items in trolley with theoretical weight of items scanned in as they are placed in trolley

摘要

The method comprises the following steps: (A) weighing the empty trolley (10); (B) scanning and measuring the weight of each item (13) placed in the trolley; (C) calculating the theoretical weight of all the items in the trolley; (D) measuring the total weight of the trolley and items in it; (E) subtracting the weight of the empty trolley from this net weight value to provide the actual weight of the items in the trolley; (F) comparing the actual weight with the theoretical weight; and (G) presenting a bill for the items if the actual weight and theoretical weight are the same, allowing for small variations. An independent claim is also included for a shopping system utilising this method, including a first weighing device for the empty trolley, a second weighing device for the trolley with the items in it, a memory for storing data from the first weighing device, a central processor for receiving information from the second weighing device and database and a trolley with a scanner (40), a weighing device (41) for the items to be placed in it, a memory for storing the item weight data, a processor (44) for receiving data from the scanner and weighing device and for entering item weight data into the database. The central processor retrieves information from the item weight data database.