A registration apparatus includes a reader, an imaging device, and a processor. The reader is configured to read commodity identification information for identifying a commodity from a code symbol attached to the commodity and to read benefit information regarding a benefit of a commodity from a benefit symbol attached to the commodity. The imaging device is configured to image an imaging area including a readable area of the reader. The processor is configured to extract identification data corresponding to the commodity identification information, acquire image data obtained by the imaging device, determine whether a commodity in the acquired image data is the same as the commodity that is identified by the commodity identification information, and register transaction information regarding transaction of the commodity identified by the commodity identification information.

In accordance with various embodiments, a method (100) for the computer-aided recognition of a transport container (402) being empty can comprise: determining (101) one or more than one segment of image data of the transport container (402) using depth information assigned to the image data; assigning (103) the image data to one from a plurality of classes, of which a first class represents the transport container (402) being empty, and a second class represents the transport container (402) being non-empty, wherein the one or more than one segment is not taken into account in the assigning; outputting (105) a signal which represents the filtered image data being assigned to the second class.

A method apparatus are directed to identify items disposed on the bottom shelf of a shopping cart bottom of basket (BoB). Certain aspects envision a distance measurement sensor and computing system connected to the shopping cart. A first set of distance measurements of the bottom shelf when empty is obtained via the distance measurement sensor. Next, at a checkout stand, a second set of distance measurements of the shelf are taken, which can be used to compare with the first set of distance measurements to identify if there is an object on the BoB. An alert can be provided to a checkout attendant if there is an object on the BoB.

A method for computer-aided recognition of a transport container being empty is provided. The method includes capturing image data of a region of the transport container; determining a contour pattern, which represents the transport container, using the image data; determining a deviation variable, which represents a deviation of the contour pattern from at least one reference pattern, wherein the at least one reference pattern represents an empty transport container; and outputting a signal if the deviation variable satisfies a predefined criterion.

A method apparatus are directed to identify items disposed on the bottom shelf of a shopping cart bottom of basket (BoB). Certain aspects envision a distance measurement sensor and computing system connected to the shopping cart. A first set of distance measurements of the bottom shelf when empty is obtained via the distance measurement sensor. Next, at a checkout stand, a second set of distance measurements of the shelf are taken, which can be used to compare with the first set of distance measurements to identify if there is an object on the BoB. An alert can be provided to a checkout attendant if there is an object on the BoB.

A shopping bin which mounts crosswise on a shopping cart and is slidable onto the conveyor belt of a supermarket check stand. The bin mechanism holds the bottom of the bin in place and causes a door at the front of the bin to open as the conveyor belt moves the rest of the bin forward until the bottom of the bin has been mostly extracted, thus allowing the check stand conveyor to completely vacate the contents of the bin and send them to the checker and the item scanner.

A shopping bin which mounts crosswise on a shopping cart and is slidable onto the conveyor belt of a supermarket check stand. The bin mechanism holds the bottom of the bin in place and causes a door at the front of the bin to open as the conveyor belt moves the rest of the bin forward until the bottom of the bin has been mostly extracted, thus allowing the check stand conveyor to completely vacate the contents of the bin and send them to the checker and the item scanner.

A method for computer-aided recognition of a transport container being empty is provided. The method includes capturing image data of a region of the transport container; determining a contour pattern, which represents the transport container, using the image data; determining a deviation variable, which represents a deviation of the contour pattern from at least one reference pattern, wherein the at least one reference pattern represents an empty transport container; and outputting a signal if the deviation variable satisfies a predefined criterion.

A shopping assistance system includes a moving device (bagging device) and an information acquisition device. The moving device includes a support portion and a guide portion. The support portion is provided with a placement surface on which a product with an RF tag is placed. The guide portion includes a shielding space for shielding radio waves therein, and is disposed around the support portion along outer circumferential edges of the placement surface. The information acquisition device reads product information from the RF tag by performing wireless communication with the RF tag using an antenna when a relative positional relationship between a communication area of the antenna and the RF tag changes in the shielding space, the communication area being an area which is set around the antenna and in which wireless communication with the RF tag is performed.

The invention relates to a basket lifting-stacking machine, for lifting baskets by means of a rack-and-pinion lifting system driven by a single-phase self-braking motor so that the customer can lift the basket to the height that best suits their own height, with automatic movement of the basket towards the basket-stacking module, by means of conveyor belts and an electromagnet driven by a linear actuator, and automatic basket stacking with a platform that adapts its height to the number of baskets stacked by means of a scissor lift system driven by a linear actuator with a potentiometer.