Article checkout system with enhanced throughput

Abstract

A checkout station for checking out articles selected for purchase and bearing UPC codes includes an island for checkout including a first checkout module, having a first UPC scanner and a first conveyor leading from the first scanner to a first bagging area. A first customer passageway extends lengthwise along one side of the first conveyor. A cashier station is adjacent a second side of the first conveyor. A second checkout module, having a second UPC scanner and a second conveyor leading from the second scanner to a second bagging area and having one side adjacent the cashier station. A second customer passageway extends lengthwise along the other side of the second conveyor. Checkout is practiced by a customer scanning article UPC and an operator (cashier) processing payment, increasing throughput. Throughput improvement is further enhanced by providing a bagging area adjacent an exit of the conveyor and divider apparatus operable for placing a portion of the bagging area in communication with the conveyor exit correspondingly with the size of the customer order. The divider apparatus is further operable for isolating from the conveyor exit that bagging area which is not placed in communication with the conveyor exit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.