US 4,676,343 A · Self-service distribution system

Abstract

The check-out counters for use in a supermarket, or the like, are provided with a laser scanner for reading the UPC labels on the individual products presented to it by each customer. The counters are also provided with transport belts or conveyors controlled by a central processor which, in turn, is supplied with information from a weigh scale under the input conveyor and from optical curtain devics at strategic locations along the belts and in a bagging area. The outfeed conveyor operates through a tunnel such that a customer cannot reach a product being conveyed therethrough. An opticl curtain disposed at the entry to the tunnel is broken by passage of an article into the tunnel and also by a customer reaching into the tunnel. Products are conveyed to the bagging area if (1) the actual weight of the product as determined by the scale corresponds to the anticipated weight obtained from a memory bank based upon the product UPC label identification and (2) none of various other events have occurred. A display screen prompts the customer with questions and instructions. Improper use of system causes interruption or reversal of conveyor operation with requirement that product be removed and re-scanned. When scanning is complete, customer activates an input signal and is furnished with a printed itemized list which is taken along with subsequently bagged products to a cashier for payment and issuance of a final receipt. An article surveillance sysem may be included to detect any tagged products transported along the pedestrian path rather than around the path through the tunnel.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A system for processing an article selected for purchase comprising:

(a) conveyor means for receipt and transport of such article;
(b) means providing a security zone extending along at least a portion of said conveyor means;
(c) sensing means at an inlet to said security zone, said sensing means comprising a first article characteristic sensing means and a second article prescence sensing means, said first sensing means being positioned upstream of said second article sensing means with respect to the conveyor means, said sensing means generating output signals, each indicative of an entry through said inlet into said security zone;
and
(d) control means for selective movement of said conveyor means in article acceptance and article rejection senses, said control means being operable for continuance of movement of said conveyor means in article acceptance sense upon occurrence of a first sensing means output signal and for moving said conveyor means in article rejection sense in response to occurrence of another of said first sensing means output signals.

2 more elements

A system for processing an article selected for purchase and bearing an identification code, said system comprising:

(a) code reader means for generating an output signal indicative of such article identification code;
(b) conveyor means for receipt and transport of such article;
(c) means providing a security zone extending along at least a portion of said conveyor means;
(d) first sensing means for generating an output signal indicative of a measurable characteristic of said article;
(e) second sensing means located at a location within said security zone for generating an output signal indicative of the conveyance of such article to said location;
and
(f) control means for selective movement of said conveyor means in respective article acceptance and article rejection senses, said control means being operable
I. for storage, for each of a plurality of such articles, of a signal indicative of such measurable characteristic thereof correlated with such article identification code;
II. for response to said code reader means output signal for comparison of such stored signal with said output signal of said first sensing means;
III. for operation of said conveyor means in article rejection sense in response to failure of such comparison and also in response to occurrence of said second sensing means output signal generated without preceding occurrence of said comparison;
and
IV. for continance of movement of said conveyor means in article acceptance sense upon occurrence of said second sensing means output signal generated after occurrence of said comparison.

9 more elements

A system for processing an article selected for purchase and bearing an identification code, said system comprising:

(a) code reader means for generating an output signal indicative of such article identification code;
(b) conveyor means for receipt and transport of such article to a security zone;
(c) sensing means for generating an output signal indicative of a measurable characteristic of said article;
and
(d) control means for selective movement of said conveyor means in respective article acceptance and article rejection senses, said control means being operable
I. for storage, for each of a plurality of such articles, of a signal indicative of such measurable characteristic thereof correlated with such article identification code;
II. for response to said code reader means output signal for comparison of such stored signal with said output signal of said sensing means;
III. for response to said code reader means output signal to establish a predetermined time period successive to said code reader means output signal;
and
IV. for operation of said conveyor means in article rejection sense in response to failure of such comparison and also in response to the elapse of such time period without occurrence of said comparison.

7 more elements

A system for processing an article selected for purchase and bearing an identification code, said system comprising:

(a) code reader means for generating an output signal indicative of such article identification code;
(b) conveyor means for receipt and transport of such article;
(c) means providing a security zone extending along at least a portion of said conveyor means;
(d) first sensing means at an inlet to said security zone for generating output signals, each indicative of an entry through said inlet into said security zone;
(e) second sensing means for generating an output signal indicative of a measurable characteristic of said article;
and
(f) control means for selective movement of said conveyor means in respective article acceptance and article rejection senses, said control means being operable
I. for storage, for each of a plurality of such articles, of a signal indicative of such measurable characteristic thereof correlated with such article identification code;
II. for response to said code reader means output signal for comparison of such stored signal with said output signal of said second sensing means;
III. for operation of said conveyor means in article rejection sense in response to failure of such comparison;
and
IV. for continuance of movement of said conveyor means in article acceptance sense upon occurrence of a first sensing means output signal and for moving said conveyor means in article rejection sense in response to occurrence of another of said first sensing means output signals.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-service distribution system

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Self-service distribution system

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Abstract

Claims32