Two belted supermarket checkout system
US4618032A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 1984 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07G1/0045
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A supermarket-type checkout counter facilitates two-handed scanning of merchandise coded indicia by an operator to speed up and simplify supermarket checkout procedures. A scanner is mounted in a module which, with a side live conveyor, a rear live conveyor, and a side conveyance table, define a workplace for the operator. A flat plate portion of the scanner is angled toward the operator. On the opposite side of the scanner from the workplace a vertical wall defines an area for receipt of an elevated-basket shopping cart. A side of the shopping cart is pivoted out of the way and an operator standing in the workplace can easily reach over the scanner to access merchandise within the cart, and move it over the scanner. Four columns elevate the basket of the cart from a wheeled base, and cooperating cams on the front of the cart and the rear of another cart effect pivotal movement of the basket about a horizontal axis into a nesting configuration. The side live conveyor defining the workplace is mounted so that it will pivot about a horizontal axis to allow or prevent egress from or ingress to the workplace.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.