Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user operating an automated checkstand
AssigneeDatalogic ADC, Inc.
InventorsMichael P. Svetal, Craig D. Cherry, Jeffrey J. Hoskinson, WenLiang Gao
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user of an automated checkstand are disclosed. In some embodiments, the automated checkstand has a data reader including a read zone through which items to be read are passed, and a loading zone on which a user places items for conveyor transport through the read zone. The automated checkstand also has a notification system including an illumination source that is configured to selectively illuminate a portion of the automated checkstand in response to positional information associated with items previously placed on a conveyor system.
Claims24
An automated checkstand comprising:
- a data reader defining a read zone through which items to be read are conveyed;
- a conveyor system configured to transport items through the read zone;
- a loading zone configured to receive items for conveyor transport through the read zone;
- and
- a notification system including an illumination source configured to selectively illuminate a portion of the automated checkstand at least partly outside the read zone in response to positional information associated with items placed on the conveyor system.
An automated checkstand comprising:
- a data reader defining a read zone through which items to be read are conveyed;
- a conveyor system configured to transport items through the read zone;
- a loading zone configured to receive items for conveyor transport through the read zone;
- a bagging area;
- and
- a notification system including running lights on opposing sides of the automated checkstand and extending from the loading zone to the bagging area, the running lights configured to selectively indicate one of the opposing sides that corresponds to a location of the bagging area that contains items transported through the read zone.
An automated checkstand comprising:
- a data reader defining a read zone through which items to be read are conveyed;
- a conveyor system configured to transport items through the read zone;
- a loading zone configured to receive items for conveyor transport through the read zone;
- and
- a moveable indicator that is positionable on multiple different locations of the automated checkstand and is communicatively coupled to the data reader, the moveable indicator including an illumination source configured to selectively illuminate a portion of the automated checkstand at least partly outside the read zone in response to positional information associated with items placed on the conveyor system.
A method of operation for an automated checkout system comprising the steps of:
- receiving items within a loading zone of the automated checkout system;
- transporting the items via a conveyor system from the loading zone to a read zone of a data reader;
- determining positional information associated with items previously placed within the loading zone;
- and
- activating a notification system including an illumination source that selectively illuminates a portion of the automated checkout system at least partly outside the read zone in response to the positional information associated with the items previously placed within the loading zone.
A method of indicating a desired inter-item separation distance between successive items placed onto a conveyor system of automated checkout system comprising the steps of:
- detecting an item within a loading zone of the automated checkout system;
- transporting the item via the conveyor system from the loading zone to a read zone of a data reader;
- determining when the item has been transported a desired inter-item separation distance away from the loading zone;
- and
- activating a notification system including an illumination source that selectively illuminates a portion of the loading zone in response to the determining step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.