Automated apparatus and method for object recognition at checkout counters

A method for the automated check-out registering and inventory of objects sold to customers at a sales outlet which method provides for recognition, identification, differentiation and comparison of individual unknown objects at multiple check-out stations within the outlet without human intervention, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing multiple object identification signals in a central data base, each identification signal pertaining to a physical characteristic of one of the individual objects offered for sale within the sales outlet, the characteristics including the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of each object;
• providing at each check-out station an object identification station;
• moving each object to be recognized and identified into the object identification station;
• capturing an image of each object regardless of its orientation within the object identification station;
• moving the object out of the identification station once the image is captured;
• converting the captured image into an electronic signal that represents the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of the object;
• communicating the electronic signal to the central data base;
• comparing the electronic signal with the object identification signals stored in the data base until a match is made and the recognition and identification of the object determined;
• communicating the known identification of the object to a processor where it is stored and price information assigned to the identified object;
• and
• continuing the identification of all objects to be identified for a particular customer.

A retail store check-out registration and inventory identification system for recognizing and identifying unknown objects sold to customers of the store, said system comprising:

• a central processing unit including memory means for the storage of preestablished object identification data including data sets for all the objects of the store, each object data set providing identification data corresponding to a separate object for sale within the store being serviced by the automated check-out system and including object data sets representing the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of each object from different orientations by which each object can be recognized and identified;
• a plurality of customer check-out stations, each station having:
• a display screen providing for the display of operative instructions to the customer utilizing the check-out station;
• an object identification station;
• digital video imaging means combined with the identification station for capturing an optical image of an object in the station regardless of the orientation of the object within the identification station;
• transport means to move an object into the object identification station for purposes of imaging;
• a first sensor combined with the object transport means to stop said transport means when an object enters the identification station and to activate the video imaging means;
• means for digitizing of the electronic signal produced by the video imaging means and which represents the size, shape and pictorial characteristics of an object in the identification station;
• means for communicating the digitized signal to the central processing unit;
• means for comparing the digitized signal representing the object data received from each check-out station with the object identification data sets stored within said central processing unit to recognize and identify the object and register its identity in the memory;
• and
• means for correlating the multiple electronic object identification signals received from a check-out station for a particular customer.