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US 5,211,263 AGranted
Store check-out station
AssigneeIn-Store Products Limited
InventorsMichael B. Davidson, Joseph P. Jackman, Cameron G. Whitworth, Harold Braul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A store check-out station comprises a working table, an input conveyor, and an offset output conveyor. The top surface of the working table is preferably shaped in the form of a truncated sector of a circle, having its input edge orthogonal to its output edge. The input and output conveyors are elongated transfer beds, preferably gravity roller beds. The longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from that of the input transfer bed. In a preferred embodiment, adapted for use with grocery cart and container systems, the difference in height between the top surface of the working table and that of the transfer beds is approximately equal to the height of a merchandise container.
Claims27
A check-out station for determining the value of a customer's order merchandise, comprising:
- a) a working table having a flat, generally horizontal top surface of pre-selected shape having an input edge and an output edge, wherein the top surface of the working table is generally arcuate shaped;
- b) input conveying means for conveying merchandise towards the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal, elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end adjacent to the input edge of the working table;
- and
- c) output conveying means for conveying the merchandise away from the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal, elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the output edge of the working table and a second end spaced therefrom, wherein the longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the input transfer bed.
1 more element
A check-out station of ruse with a plurality of merchandise containers of pre-selected height releasably securable to a shopping cart adapted for transporting the containers within or to and from a store, comprising:
- a) a working table having flat, horizontal top surface of pre-selected shape having an input edge and an output edge, wherein the top surface of the working table is generally arcuate shaped;
- b) input conveying means for conveying the containers from a cart unloading area towards the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the cart unloading area, and a second end adjacent the input edge of the working table;
- and
- c) output conveying means for conveying the containers away from the working table to a cart reloading area, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the output edge of the working table, and a second end adjacent a customer reloading area, wherein the longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the input transfer bed;
- d) wherein the difference in height between the top surface of the working table and the transfer beds is selected to be approximately equal to the height of a container, whereby merchandise removed by a cushion from a container located adjacent the input edge of the working table can be processed by moving the merchandise across the top surface of the working table in a generally arcuate arm motion, and placing the merchandise in a container located adjacent the output edge of the working table.
2 more elements
A check-out station for determining the value of a customer's order merchandise, comprising:
- a) a working table having a flat, generally horizontal top surface of pre-selected shape having an input edge and an output edge, wherein the top surface of the working table is shaped in the form of a truncated sector of a circle;
- b) input conveying means for conveying merchandise towards the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal, elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end adjacent to the input edge of the working table;
- and
- c) output conveying means for conveying the merchandise away from the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal, elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent to output edge of the working table and a second end spaced therefrom, wherein the longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the input transfer bed.
1 more element
A check-out station for determining the value of a customer's order merchandise, comprising:
- a) a working table having a flat, generally horizontal top surface of pre-selected shape having an input edge and an output edge, wherein the input edge of the top surface of the working table is generally orthogonal to the output edge of the top surface;
- b) input conveying means for conveying merchandise towards the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal, elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end adjacent to the input edge of the working table;
- and
- c) output conveying means for conveying the merchandise away from the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal, elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent to output edge of the working table and a second end spaced therefrom, wherein the longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the input transfer bed.
1 more element
A check-out station for use with a plurality of merchandise containers of pre-selected height releasably securable to a shopping cart adapted for transporting the containers within or to and from a store, comprising:
- a) a working table having flat, horizontal top surface of pre-selected shape having an input edge and an output edge, wherein the top surface of the working table is shaped in the form of a truncated sector of a circle;
- b) input conveying means for conveying the containers from a cart unloading area towards the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the cart unloading area, and a second end adjacent the input edge of the working table;
- and
- c) output conveying means for conveying the containers away from the working table to a cart reloading area, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the output edge of the working table, and a second end adjacent a customer reloading area, wherein the longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the input transfer bed;
- d) wherein the difference in height between the top surface of the working table and the transfer beds is selected to b approximately equal to the height of a container, whereby merchandise removed by a cashier from a container located adjacent the input edge of the working table can be processed by moving the merchandise across the top surface of the working table in a generally arcuate arm motion, and placing the merchandise in a container located adjacent the output edge of the working table.
2 more elements
A check-out station for use with a plurality of merchandise containers of pre-selected height releasably securable to a shopping cart adapted for transporting the containers within or to and from a store, comprising:
- a) a working table having flat, horizontal top surface of pre-selected shape having an input edge and an output edge, wherein the input edge of the top surface of the working table is generally orthogonal to the output edge of the top surface;
- b) input conveying means for conveying the containers from a cart unloading area towards the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a a first end adjacent the cart unloading area, and a second end adjacent the input edge of the working table;
- and
- c) output conveying means for conveying the containers away from the working table to a cart reloading area, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the output edge of the working table, and a second end adjacent a customer reloading area, wherein the longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the input transfer bed;
- d) wherein the difference in height between the top surface of the working table and the transfer beds is selected to be approximately equal to the height of a container, whereby merchandise removed by a cashier from a container located adjacent the input edge of the working table can be processed by moving the merchandise across the top surface of the working table in a generally arcuate arm motion, and placing the merchandise in a container located adjacent the output edge of the working table.
2 more elements
A check-out station for use with a plurality of merchandise containers of pre-selected height releasably securable to a shopping cart adapted for transporting the containers within or to and from a store, comprising:
- a) a working table having flat, horizontal top surface of pre-selected shape having an input edge and an output edge, and a straight edge between the input and output edges;
- b) input conveying means for conveying the containers from a cart unloading area towards the working table, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the cart unloading area, and a second end adjacent the input edge of the working table and
- c) output conveying means for conveying the containers away from the working table to a cart reloading area, comprising an elongated, generally horizontal elevated transfer bed having a longitudinal axis, a first end adjacent the output edge of the working table, and a second end adjacent a customer reloading area, wherein the longitudinal axis of the output transfer bed is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the input transfer bed;
- d) wherein the difference in height between the top surface of the working table and the transfer beds is selected to be approximately equal to the height of a container, whereby merchandise removed by a cashier from a container located adjacent the input edge of the working table can be processed by moving the merchandise across the top surface of the working table in a generally arcuate arm motion, and placing the merchandise in a container located adjacent the output edge of the working table;
- and
- e) wherein the straight edge of the working table defines an angular portion of the working table intersecting with the input and output conveying means.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.