Apparatus, system, and method for facilitating product weight identification in a checkout lane
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsScott Wesley Dickover, Wesley D. Dickover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for facilitating product weight identification in a checkout lane. The apparatus includes an open-frame back, a pair of opposing support arms to support an open plastic bag, a pair of opposing open-frame sides, and a gate. The opposing sides are connected to the back and are positioned to define a receiving area for the plastic bag. The gate may be connected to a side or the back and retains an item placed in an open bag within the receiving area. Furthermore, guards may be mounted near the top of each side to retain handles of the bag supply within a predefined area. The apparatus may be attached to a scale associated with a self checkout lane.
Claims21
An apparatus for facilitating product weight identification in a checkout lane, the apparatus comprising:
- an open-frame back sized to support a plastic bag and a plastic bag supply;
- a pair of opposing support arms connected to the back, the support arms configured to support an open bag;
- a pair of opposing open-frame sides each having a top and a bottom, the sides connected substantially perpendicular to the back and positioned to define a receiving area for the plastic bag;
- a pair of guards connected to the back, the guards mounted outside the opposing support arms, parallel to the opposing support arms, and at substantially the same vertical height as the opposing support arms, wherein the guards are configured to retain handles of the bags in the bag supply within a predefined area;
- and
- a gate opposite the back and connected to at least one side, the gate configured to retain an item within the receiving area.
An apparatus for supporting a plastic bag, the apparatus comprising:
- an open-frame back sized to support a plastic bag and a plastic bag supply;
- a pair of opposing support arms connected to the back, the support arms configured to support an open bag;
- a pair of opposing open-frame sides each having a top and a bottom, the sides connected substantially perpendicular to the back and positioned to define a receiving area for the plastic bag;
- a pair of guards mounted outside each opposing arm and connected to the back, the guard positioned parallel to each opposing arm and at the same vertical height as each opposing arm, wherein the guards are configured to retain handles of the bags in the bag supply within a predefined area;
- and
- a gate opposite the back and connected to the back, the gate configured to retain an item within the receiving area.
A system for facilitating product weight identification in a checkout lane, the system comprising:
- an item scanning station configured to identify an item for purchase;
- an item verification station configured to verify physical properties of an item for purchase, the item verification station including a scale;
- a bagging station coupled with the item verification station and configured to facilitate product weight identification by way of a bagging apparatus comprising;
- an open-frame back sized to support a plastic bag supply;
- a pair of opposing support arms connected to the back, the support arms configured to support an open bag;
- a pair of opposing open-frame sides each having a top and a bottom connected substantially perpendicular to the back, the sides positioned to define a receiving area for the bag;
- a pair of guards connected to the back, the guards mounted outside the opposing support arms, parallel to the opposing support arms, and at the same vertical height as the opposing support arms, wherein the guards are configured to retain handles of the bags in the bag supply within a predefined area and wherein each guard comprises a fastener configured to adjust the horizontal distance that the guard extends from a side;
- and
- a gate opposite the back and connected to at least one side near the bottom of the side, the gate configured to retain at least one item for purchase within the receiving area;
- and
- a payment station configured to exchange payment for the at least one item.
A method for facilitating product weight identification in a checkout lane, the method comprising:
- providing an apparatus for supporting a plastic bag, the apparatus comprising;
- an open-frame back sized to support a plastic bag supply;
- a pair of opposing support arms connected to the back, the support arms configured to support an open bag;
- a pair of opposing open-frame sides each having a top and a bottom connected substantially perpendicular to the back, the sides positioned to define a receiving area for the bag;
- a pair of guards connected to the back, the guards mounted outside the opposing support arms, parallel to the opposing support arms, and at the same vertical height as the opposing support arms, wherein the guards are configured to retain handles of the bags in the bag supply within a predefined area;
- and
- a gate opposite the back and connected to at least one side near the bottom of the side, the gate configured to retain an item within the receiving area;
- mounting the apparatus for supporting a plastic bag to a scale associated with a checkout lane;
- suspending a plastic bag from the support arms in an open position to receive an item;
- and
- placing items in the bag and weighing the items to verify item identity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.