POS-based code symbol reading system with integrated scale base and system housing having an improved produce weight capturing surface design

A method of weighing produce items in a retail environment, comprising the steps of:

• (a) installing a bi-optical point of sale (POS) based system in a countertop surface of a POS station at said retail environment, for reading symbols on objects and weighing produce items in a retail store environment, wherein said POS-based system includes (i) a system housing having a horizontal housing portion and a vertical housing portion, wherein said vertical housing portion is configured substantially orthogonal with respect to said horizontal housing portion, (ii) at least one symbol reading window formed in said vertical housing portion of said system housing, (iii) a support frame having a plurality of spaced apart support surfaces, for supporting said system housing when said system housing is positioned over said support surfaces, (iv) a weigh surface integrated with said vertical housing portion, for supporting the weight of produce items supported thereon during weighing operations, (v) a symbol reading subsystem, disposed in said system housing, for optically reading symbols on objects being transported through a 3D reading volume definable relative to said at least one symbol reading window, and producing symbol character data representative of said read symbols, and (vi) an electronic weigh scale subsystem including a base portion having a plurality of load cells below the horizontal housing portion for measuring the weight supported thereupon;
• (b) supporting said support frame and said system housing supported thereon;
• (c) supporting one or more produce items anywhere on the surfaces of said system housing including said at least one symbol reading window and/or said weigh surface;
• (d) measuring the weight of said produce items while supported on said support surfaces;
• (e) producing produce weight data representative of said weight measurement of said produce items measured during step (d);
• and
• (f) displaying said produce weight data to said cashier and said customer;
• wherein said load cells support the entirety of said system housing.

A bi-optical point of sale (POS) based system installed in a countertop surface at a POS station, for reading symbols on objects and weighing produce items in retail store environments, said bi-optical POS-based system comprising:

• a system housing having a horizontal housing portion and a vertical housing portion, wherein said vertical housing portion is configured substantially orthogonal with respect to said horizontal housing portion;
• at least one reading window formed in said vertical housing portion of said system housing;
• a support frame having area dimensions and supported beneath an aperture formed in a said countertop surface at a the POS station, and also having a plurality of spaced apart support surfaces, for supporting said system housing when said system housing is positioned over said support surfaces;
• a weigh surface integrated with said vertical housing portion;
• wherein said aperture has area dimensions slightly greater than the area dimensions of said support frame so as to provide a small gap formed about the perimeter of said system housing and the aperture formed in the countertop surface when said system housing is positioned over said support surfaces;
• a symbol reading subsystem, disposed in said system housing, for optically reading symbols on objects being transported through a 3D reading volume definable relative to said at least one reading window, and producing symbol character data representative of said read symbols;
• and
• an electronic weigh scale subsystem including a base portion having a plurality of load cells below the horizontal housing portion for (i) supporting said support frame and said system housing supported thereon, (ii) measuring the weight of produce items supported on said system housing, including produce items supported on or against said at least one reading window and on said weigh surface, and (iii) producing data representative of said weight measurement of said produce items;
• wherein debris is allowed to fall through said gap formed about the perimeter of said system housing and said aperture formed in said countertop surface, and collected on a debris platter supported beneath said support frame, at said POS station;
• and
• wherein said load cells support the entirety of said system housing.