Automated checkout unit and method of use thereof
AssigneePan-Oston Co.
InventorJames R. Vance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a checkout module for use in a retail checkout lane and methods of using the checkout module. The module needs only a power source and a network source. In another embodiment, the checkout module is designed to be used in a self-checkout mode or an assisted checkout mode and is further designed to be easily rotated to convert the checkout lane into a fully attended lane. The present invention may be used to quickly convert a conventional, attended checkout into an automated checkout, which may use one or more employees to assist with bagging the purchased items.
Claims15
A checkout module for use in a checkout lane in a retail store, wherein said checkout lane has a queuing area for customers waiting to checkout, a scanner that a customer uses to scan items being purchased, and a bagging area, comprising:
- a cabinet, the cabinet having a first side, a second side, and a third side;
- a video display mounted on the first side of the cabinet;
- a plurality of casters located on the bottom of the cabinet;
- a hinge attached to the cabinet;
- a latch attached to the side of the cabinet opposite of the side to which the hinge is attached;
- a payment accepting device attached to the cabinet;
- a currency dispensing device attached to the cabinet.
A method of converting a conventional checkout lane that includes a scanner and a bagging area to a checkout lane that can be operated in a self-checkout mode or an employee assisted mode comprising:
- installing a receptacle on the checkout lane, the receptacle comprising an output from the scanner;
- installing one or more latch points on the checkout lane;
- operably connecting a checkout module including self-checkout and employee assisted checkout capabilities to said receptacle;
- removably connecting the checkout module to the checkout lane by latching the checkout module to the latch points, so that the checkout module rotates relative to the checkout lane.
A method of converting a checkout lane from a conventional attended configuration to a self checkout configuration, comprising moving a checkout module from a first position to a second position, wherein the checkout module is both rotated and moved along a linear path.
A checkout module for use in a checkout lane in a retail store, wherein said checkout lane has a queuing area for customers waiting to checkout, a scanner that a customer uses to scan items being purchased, and a bagging area, comprising:
- a cabinet, the cabinet having a first side oriented toward the customer's location when the customer is scanning items to be purchased, a second side oriented toward the queuing area, and a third side oriented toward the bagging area, when the cabinet is in a first position;
- a plurality of casters located on the bottom of the cabinet;
- a hinge attached to the cabinet so that the cabinet may be rotatably and slidably attached to the checkout lane;
- a video display mounted on the first side of the cabinet, the video display having a touch screen the customer can use to interact with the checkout module;
- a payment accepting device attached to the cabinet;
- a currency dispensing device attached to the cabinet;
- a handheld mobile terminal operably connected to the scanner;
- a remote security database, the database being accessed through VPN technology by the handheld mobile terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.