Handcart

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handcart comprising:
 a cart frame including a receiving portion on which a shopping basket is placeable and a lateral portion extending in a width direction of the cart frame;   a caster disposed at a bottom region of the cart frame; and   a code reader attached to the lateral portion of the cart frame so as to be rotatable around the lateral portion.   
     
     
         2 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , wherein the code reader is rotatable 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. 
     
     
         3 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , wherein the lateral portion of the cart frame is a handle portion disposed at a rear region of the cart frame. 
     
     
         4 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , wherein the code reader is configured to operate in a first mode during which the code reader carries out code reading in response to an operation of a scanner trigger, and in a second mode during which the code reader carries out code reading without the operation of the scanner trigger. 
     
     
         5 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the code reader is configured to obtain a scanned image including a code symbol on a product, and   the handcart further comprises a processing device configured to:
 perform image processing on the scanned image to obtain a product code represented by the product code symbol; and 
 determine the obtained product code to be valid when an image region of the product code symbol in the scanned image is greater than a predetermined size. 
   
     
     
         6 . The handcart according to  claim 5 , wherein the processing device is configured to:
 determine the obtained product code to be invalid when the image region of the product code symbol in the scanned image is less than the predetermined size.   
     
     
         7 . The handcart according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a gyro sensor configured to detect an orientation of the code scanner, wherein   the processing device is enabled to perform the image processing when the code scanner is detected by the gyro sensor to be oriented so that a reading window of the code scanner faces an inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the cart frame.   
     
     
         8 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the code reader is configured to obtain a scanned image including a code symbol on a product, and   the handcart further comprises a processing device configured to:
 perform image processing on the scanned image to determine an image region of the product code symbol in the scanned image; and 
 convert the product code symbol to a product code represented thereby, upon determining that the image region of the product code symbol in the scanned image is greater than a predetermined size. 
   
     
     
         9 . The handcart according to  claim 8 , wherein the processing device does not perform conversion of the product code symbol to the product code represented thereby when determining that the image region of the product code symbol in the scanned image is less than the predetermined size. 
     
     
         10 . The handcart according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a gyro sensor configured to detect an orientation of the code scanner, wherein   the processing device is enabled to perform the image processing when the code scanner is detected by the gyro sensor to be oriented so that a reading widow of the code scanner faces an inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the cart frame.   
     
     
         11 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the code reader is configured to obtain a scanned image including a code symbol on a product, and   the handcart further comprises a display device configured to display information corresponding to the obtained scanned image.   
     
     
         12 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a camera positioned to capture an image of a region including an inner space of the shopping basket.   
     
     
         13 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a battery coupled to a portion of the cart frame below the lateral portion, the battery being electrically connected to the code scanner to supply power thereto.   
     
     
         14 . The handcart according to  claim 1 , wherein the code reader is attached to a center of the lateral portion in a width direction of the cart frame. 
     
     
         15 . A method for registering a product code during shopping:
 placing a shopping basket on a receiving portion of a cart frame of a handcart; and   placing a product in the shopping basket; and   rotating a code reader attached to a lateral portion of the cart frame of the handcart around the lateral portion so that a reading window of the code reader faces an inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion;   performing a code reading operation with the code reader, after the code reader has been rotated to position the reading window of the code reader to face the inner space of the shopping basket; and   obtaining a product code of the product based on the code reading operation.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said performing the code reading operation comprises:
 operating, by a user, a scanner trigger of the code reader; and   in response to operation of the scanner trigger, starting the code reading operation.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said obtaining the product code of the product comprises:
 performing image processing on a scanned image obtained by the code reading operation to determine an image region of a product code symbol in the scanned image; and   converting the product code symbol to a product code represented thereby, upon determining that the image region of the product code symbol in the scanned image is greater than a predetermined size.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting an orientation of the code scanner with a gyro sensor; and   enabling the image processing when the code scanner is detected by the gyro sensor to be oriented so that the reading window of the code scanner faces the inner space of the shopping basket on the receiving portion of the cart frame.