AU2018102215A4 - Dual function checkout station - Google Patents

Abstract

A dual-function checkout module defining a customer side and a cashier side opposite the customer side, comprising: a checkout counter supported on a body of the checkout module and incorporating a scale; and a gantry configured to carry at least one display screen and extending over the checkout counter, wherein the gantry is moveable between the customer side of the checkout counter in a cashier operative mode and the cashier side of the checkout counter in a customer operative mode.

Description

Dual Function Checkout Station

This application is associated with Australian provisional application number 2017901280, filed on 7 April 2017, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field of the invention

The invention relates to dual function checkout stations, and in particular to dual function checkout modules for use in such stations.

Background of the invention

In the retail industry, sales to customers are usually made at checkout stations located within a store. Checkout stations comprise a checkout module that comprises one or more of a scanner, scales and point-of-sale POS system to facilitate the sale of goods to customers. In some stores, checkout stations further comprise an area for a customer to place the goods they wish to purchase before they are processed in the checkout module, as well as an area to store and/or bag the goods after they have been processed at the checkout module.

Some checkout modules are configured as assisted checkouts that facilitate sales by a cashier processing the goods to be purchased. More recently, other checkout modules are configured as self-service checkouts that facilitate sales by the customer processing the goods to be purchased themselves. There are a number of limitations and trade-offs involved with both types of checkouts. For example, whilst a cashier can usually process sales faster than a customer, cashier assisted checkouts incur additional staff costs.

Convertible or dual function checkouts have been identified as a way to combine the advantages of both assisted and self-service checkouts.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the invention

In one embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a dual-function checkout module defining a customer side and a cashier side opposite the customer side, the checkout module comprising a checkout counter supported on a body of the checkout module and incorporating a scale; and a gantry configured to carry at least one display screen and extending over the checkout counter, wherein the gantry is moveable between the customer side of the checkout counter in a cashier operative mode and the cashier side of the checkout counter in a customer operative mode.

As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is top front right perspective view of a checkout module in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the checkout module depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the checkout module depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top front left perspective view of a checkout station in accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a side view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a rear view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a top front left perspective view of a checkout station in accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a front view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a side view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a rear view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 10.

Figure 15 is top front right perspective view of a checkout module in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 16 is a plan view of the checkout module depicted in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a front view of the checkout module depicted in Figure 15.

Figure 18 is a cross-section taken along the line T-T in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a top front left perspective view of a checkout station in accordance with a fifth aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 20 is a top rear right perspective view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a top front left perspective view of a checkout station in accordance with a sixth aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 22 is a top front left perspective view of a checkout station in accordance with a seventh aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 23 is a top front left perspective view of a checkout station in accordance with an eighth aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 24 is a plan view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 23.

Figure 25 is a front view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 23.

Figure 26 is a side view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 23.

Figure 27 is a side view of the checkout station depicted in Figure 23.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Figures 1 to 4 depict an embodiment of a checkout module 1 in accordance with the present disclosure.

The checkout module 1 defines a customer side 2A and a cashier side 2B opposite the customer side 2A and comprises a checkout counter 3 supported on a body 5 of the checkout module 1. The checkout counter 3 incorporates a scale 7. The checkout module 1 further comprises a gantry 9 extending over the checkout counter 3, and a cash recycler 11 provided below the checkout counter 3 and within the body 5 of the checkout module 1 to face the customer side 2A of the checkout module 1.

The body 5 of the checkout module 1 comprises right and left side walls 19, 21 provided on right and left hand sides of the checkout module 1 when viewed from a customer side 2A, a rear wall 23 at a cashier side and a base 25. A rear door 24 is formed in the rear wall 23 of the body 5. As shown in Figure 4, the base 25 extends only partway from the rear wall towards the customer side 2A of the body 5.

The checkout counter 3 spans the distance between the top edges of the right and left side walls 19, 21 so as to be supported thereon. The checkout counter 3 may be formed integrally with or separately from the right and left side walls 19, 21 and the rear wall 23 of the body 5. The cash recycler 11 provided below the checkout counter 3 fills an opening formed by the checkout counter 3 and the right and left side walls 19, 21 at the customer side 2A of the checkout module 1. A cavity 27 is formed within the checkout module 1 surrounded by the checkout counter 3, the right and left side walls 19, 21, the rear wall 23, the base 25 and the cash recycler 11. The cavity 27 is used to store the electrical and computing equipment (not shown) associated with the checkout module 1. In an alternative embodiment, the cash recycler 11 may be replaced by a front wall at the customer side 2A of the checkout module 1, and the base 25 may extend the entire distance from the cashier side to the customer side 2A.

The checkout counter 3 comprises a right channel 29 defining an overhang facing the right hand side of the checkout module 1 when viewed from the customer side 2A, extending along the right hand edge of the checkout counter 3 supported by the right side wall 19 of the body 5. Similarly, extending along its left hand edge supported by the left side wall 21 of the body 5, the checkout counter 3 is provided with a left channel 31 defining an overhang facing the left hand side of the checkout module 1 when viewed by a customer side 2A. The upper surface 33 is formed as a planar surface provided with a cavity into which the scale 7 is incorporated so that the upper planar surface of the scale is flush with the upper surface 33 of the counter. A portion of the upper surface 33 is recessed from the customer side 2A of the checkout counter 3 to facilitate customer access to a top surface of the cash recycler 11.

The gantry 9 comprises right and left support members 13, 14, provided on right and left sides of the gantry 9 when viewed from a customer side 2A, and a beam 15 extending between the right and left support members 13, 14 over the checkout counter 3. A socket 17 is provided in the beam 15 for receiving a display screen support post for example as shown in Figure 22, such that the gantry 9 is configured to carry at least one and preferably two display screens of a point-of-sale system. As depicted in Figures 1 to 4, the gantry 9 is positioned at a cashier side of the checkout counter 3 to facilitate a customer self-service mode of the checkout module 1, which will be described in ?0 greater detail below. The gantry 9 may be moved from the cashier side of the checkout counter 3 to the customer side 2A of the checkout counter 3 to facilitate a cashier assisted mode, which will also be described in greater detail below.

As depicted in Figure 3, left support member 14 is formed so as to have a substantially L-shape when viewed from the customer side 2A of the checkout module 1 to engage with the complementary left channel 31 of the checkout counter 3. Similarly, the right support member 13 is formed to have a reverse L-shape when viewed from the customer side 2A of the checkout module 1, so as to engage with the complementary right channel 29 of the checkout counter 3. The right and left support members 13, 14 may be provided with rollers (not shown) at their lower ends to facilitate movement of the right and left support members support members 13, 14 within the right and left channels 29, 31, respectively. Stops (not shown) may be provided at each end of the right and left channels 29, 31 to prevent movement of the right and left support members 13, 14 beyond the extent of the right and left channels 29, 31. Additionally, at least one of the right and left support members 13, 14 and the right and left channels 29, 31 may be provided with a releasable securing or fastening device (not shown) to releasably secure or fasten the gantry at the cashier side of the checkout counter 3 when operating in the customer self-service mode, and to releasably secure or fasten the gantry at the customer side 2A of the checkout counter 3 when operating in the cashier assisted mode.

An embodiment of a checkout station comprising the checkout module 1 depicted within Figures 1 to 4 will now be described with reference to Figures 5 to 9.

In addition to the checkout module 1, the checkout station further comprises a shelf transfer module 35 provided directly adjacent the right side of the checkout module 1 when viewed from the customer side 2A, and a bagging module 37 provided directly adjacent a left hand side of the checkout module 1 when viewed from the customer side 2A.

The shelf transfer module 35 comprises a split level shelf on which a customer may place the goods that they intend to purchase prior to the goods being processed in the checkout module. The split level shelf 39 is supported by a cabinet body 41, which has a front door 43 provided on a customer side of the cabinet body 41, and a rear door 45 provided on a cashier side of the cabinet body 41. An upper shelf 39A of the split ?0 level shelf 39 is provided at approximately the same height as the upper surface 33 of the checkout counter 3 to facilitate easy transfer of the goods from the shelf transfer module 35 to the checkout module 1. A lower shelf 39B of the split level shelf 39 is provided at a customer side of the upper shelf 39A. A customer may place a shopping basket, shopping bag or the like on the lower shelf 39B, before either transferring the goods they wish to purchase to the upper shelf 39A or processing them directly in the checkout module 1.

A rear wall 47 of the bagging module 37 is formed at a cashier side and has a height approximately the same as that of the upper surface 33 of the checkout counter 3. A bag hanger 49, for hanging bags into which goods that have been processed in the checkout module 1 can be placed, is provided on the rear wall 47 supported by a bagging shelf 51. Left and right side walls of the bagging module 37 are cut away so as to facilitate easier access for a customer to a bag hung from the bag hanger 49, or to goods placed directly on the bagging shelf 51. As depicted in Figure 9, the bagging module 37 is provided with a rear door 53 in the cashier side rear wall 47 to facilitate access to a cavity formed under the bagging shelf 51.

An alternative embodiment of a checkout station comprising the checkout module 1 depicted in Figures 1 to 4 will now be described with reference to Figures 10 to 14.

Similar to the checkout station described above with reference to Figures 5 to 9, the checkout station depicted in Figures 10 to 14 comprises the checkout module 1 and the bagging module 37 provided directly adjacent a left hand side of the checkout module 1 when viewed from the customer side. Instead of the shelf transfer module 35, the checkout station further comprises a conveyor transfer module 55 provided directly adjacent the right side of the checkout module 1 when viewed from the customer side.

The conveyor transfer module 55 comprises a conveyor belt assembly 57 supported on a cabinet body 59, which is identical to the cabinet body 41 of the shelf transfer module 35 depicted in Figures 5 to 9. As shown in Figures 11 and 13, the cashier side of the conveyor belt assembly 57 is aligned with the cashier sides of the checkout module 1 and the bagging module 37, and the customer side of the conveyor belt assembly 57 protrudes beyond the customer sides of the checkout module 1 and the bagging module 37. The conveyor belt assembly 57 is configured such that a top ?0 surface of a conveyor belt 61 has a height approximately the same as that of the upper surface 33 of the checkout counter 3 and is capable of moving from a customer side to a cashier side. It will be appreciated that the conveyor belt assembly 57 may assume alternative configurations in which an upper surface of the conveyor belt is capable of moving from a right hand side to a left hand side when view from a customer side of the checkout station.

As shown in Figures 10 and 13, a hook 63 protrudes from a lower side of the conveyor belt assembly 57, at its customer side. A customer may hang their shopping basket, shopping bag or the like whilst they are transferring the goods they wish to purchase onto the conveyor belt 61.

An alternative embodiment of a checkout module 101 will now be described with reference to Figures 15 to 18.

Similar to the checkout module 1 described above, the checkout module 101 defines a customer side and a cashier side opposite the customer side and comprises a checkout counter 103 supported on a body 105 of the checkout module 101. A gantry 109 extends over the checkout counter 103, and a cash recycler 111 is provided below the checkout counter 103 and within the body 105 of the checkout module 101 to face the customer side of the checkout module 101. A combination scanner/scale 107 is incorporated in the checkout counter 103.

The body 105 of the checkout module 101 is identical to the body 5 of the checkout module 1, and comprises right and left side walls 119, 121 provided on right and left hand sides of the checkout module 101 when viewed from a customer side, a rear wall 123 at a cashier side and a base 125. A rear door 124 is formed in the rear wall 123 of the body 5. As shown in Figure 4, the base 25 extends only partway from the rear wall towards the customer side of the body 5.

As was the case with checkout counter 3, the checkout counter 103 spans the distance between the top edges of the right and left side walls 119, 121 so as to be supported thereon. The checkout counter 103 may be formed integrally with or separately from the right and left side walls 119, 121 and the rear wall 123 of the body ?0 105. The cash recycler 111 provided below the checkout counter 103 fills an opening formed by the checkout counter 103 and the right and left side walls 119, 121 at the customer side of the checkout module 101. A cavity 127 is formed within the checkout module 101 surrounded by the checkout counter 103, the right and left side walls 119, 121, the rear wall 123, the base 125 and the cash recycler 111. In an alternative embodiment, the cash recycler 111 may be replaced by a front wall at the customer side of the checkout module 101, and the base 125 may extend the entire distance from the cashier side to the customer side.

The checkout counter 103 comprises right and left channels 129, 131 that are identical to the right and left channels 29, 31 of checkout counter 3. The upper surface 133 is also formed as a planar surface provided with a cavity into which the combination scanner/scale 107 is incorporated, and a portion of the upper surface 133 is recessed from the customer side of the checkout counter 103 to facilitate customer access to a top surface of the cash recycler 111.

The combination scanner/scale 107 comprises a bonnet 108 that protrudes above the upper surface 133 of the checkout counter 103. A first, horizontal scanner window 110 is formed in the horizontal surface of the combination scanner/scale 107, and a second, vertical scanner window 112 is provided on a customer side of the bonnet 108. The first and second windows 110, 112 allow a laser scanner not shown incorporated in the combination scanner/scale 107 to scan barcodes of goods passed over the first window 110 orinfrontof thesecondwindow 112.

Similar to the gantry 9 described above, the gantry 109 comprises a left support member 114 formed so as to have a substantially L-shape when viewed from the customer side of the checkout module 101 to engage with the complementary left channel 131 of the checkout counter 103, and a right support member 113 formed to have a reverse L-shape when viewed from the customer side of the checkout module 101 to engage with the complementary right channel 129 of the checkout counter 103. The gantry 9 further comprises a beam 115 extending between the right and left support members 113, 114 over the checkout counter 103. A socket 117 is provided in the beam 115 for receiving a display screen support post for example as shown in Figure 22, such that the gantry 109 is configured to carry at least one display screen of a point ?0 of-sale system. The gantry 109 depicted in Figures 15 to 18 is positioned at a cashier side of the checkout counter 103 and is moveable from the cashier side of the checkout counter 3 to the customer side of the checkout counter 3.

As shown in Figures 15, 17 and 18, the right and left support members 113, 114 are formed with a greater height than right and left support members 13, 14 of gantry 9, in order to allow the beam 115 to pass over the bonnet 108 when moving from the cashier side of the checkout counter 103 to the customer side, and vice versa. It will be appreciated that an alternative embodiment of a combination scanner/scale may be provided without a bonnet, flush with the upper surface of the checkout counter thereby allowing the use of the gantry 9 depicted in Figures 1 to 4.

Figures 19 and 20 are top front left and top rear right perspective views of a checkout station comprising a checkout module 101 as depicted in Figures 15 to 18, a shelf transfer module 35 and a bagging module 37 as discussed above with respect to Figures 5 to 9.

Similarly, Figure 21 depicts a top front left perspective view of a checkout station comprising a checkout module 101 as depicted in Figures 15 to 18, a conveyor transfer module 55 and a bagging module 37 as discussed above with respect to Figures 10 to 14.

Figure 22 depicts a checkout station similar to that as depicted in Figure 21 further comprising a customer display screen 65, a cashier display screen 67 and an EFTPOS terminal 69 mounted to a support post 71 received in the socket 117 in the beam 115. Together with the cash recycler 111, the customer and cashier display screens 65, 67 and the EFTPOS terminal 69 facilitate transactions in a cashier assisted mode when the gantry 109 is positioned at the customer side of the checkout counter 103, and transactions in a customer self-service mode when the gantry 109 is positioned at the cashier side of the checkout counter 103 as depicted in Figure 22. Power and communication cables (not shown) connect the customer and cashier display screens 65, 67 and the EFTPOS terminal 69 to the electrical and computing equipment (not shown) stored in the cavity 27. These cables may extend from the customer and cashier display screens 65, 67 and the EFTPOS terminal 69, down along the support port 71 while being held in place by a cable management tool (not shown), ?0 and then enter the cavity 27 through a slot (see slot 133A in the upper surface 133 of the checkout counter 103 in Figures 15 and 16).

The customer display screen 65 is a touch screen that, in a customer self-service mode, may display a list of transacted items and their prices, as well as actionable elements through which a customer may make selections during a transaction. Such actionable elements may include the display of buttons indicating cash, credit card or debit card to allow the customer to select a particular method for payment. Cash payments are then processed by the cash recycler 111, and credit and debit card payments are processed by the EFTPOS terminal 69. In the cashier assisted mode when the gantry 109 is positioned at the customer side of the checkout counter 103, the customer display screen 65 may have reduced functionality, such as only displaying the weight of a transacted item currently being weighed by the combination scanner/scale

107, Alternatively, in the cashier assisted mode, the customer display screen 65 may be switched off entirely.

The cashier display screen 67 is also a touch screen and, in the cashier assisted mode when the gantry 109 is positioned at the customer side of the checkout counter 103, may display a list of transacted items and their prices, as well as actionable elements through which a cashier may make selections during a transaction. In the customer self-service mode, the cashier display screen 67 may be switched off.

The checkout station may be configured to switch between the cashier assisted mode and the customer self-service mode based on software control. For example, the cashier may manually switch between the modes by identifying themselves as a cashier, e.g. by entering a PIN or scanning an identification pass, and keying in an appropriate control code. Alternatively, the checkout station may be configured to automatically switch between the modes based on a hardware switch, e.g. a contact switch in the channels.

It will be appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment, the point-of-sale system may comprise a single display screen that is configured to face the customer side in a customer self-service mode, and face the cashier side in a cashier assisted mode. In addition, the support post 71 may be rotatably mounted in the socket 117 of the beam 115 to allow the screen to rotate 180 degrees, from facing the customer side in a ?0 customer self-service mode to facing the cashier side in a cashier assisted mode. Furthermore, the EFTPOS terminal 69 may be mounted directly to the beam 115 so as to maintain its orientation towards the customer side in both the cashier assisted mode and the customer self-service mode. It will also be appreciated that this rotatable configuration of the support post 71 may also be applied to a point-of-sale system having the two display screens as described above.

Referring now to Figures 23 to 27, a checkout station is depicted in which the gantry 209 of the checkout module 201 is positioned for the cashier assisted mode. The shelf transfer module 35 and the bagging module 37 of this checkout station are identical to those shelf transfer modules 35 and bagging modules 37 discussed above with respect to Figures 5 to 9. The checkout module 201 is also similar to the checkout module 101, as depicted in Figures 15 to 18, in that the checkout counter 203 incorporates a combination scanner/scale 207. However, whereas the bonnet 108 of the checkout module 101 was oriented such that the second vertical scanner window 112 faced the customer side of the checkout module 101, the bonnet 208 of the checkout module 201 is configured such that the second vertical scanner window 212 faces the cashier side.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. A dual-function checkout module defining a customer side and a cashier side opposite the customer side, comprising:

a checkout counter supported on a body of the checkout module and incorporating a scale; and

a gantry configured to carry at least one point-of-sale display screen and extending over the checkout counter,

wherein the gantry is moveable between the customer side of the checkout counter in a cashier operative mode and the cashier side of the checkout counter in a customer operative mode.

2. A dual-function checkout module according to claim 1, wherein the checkout counter further incorporates a scanner.

3. A dual-function checkout module according to claim 2, wherein the scanner is integrated with the scale.

4. A dual-function checkout module according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the scanner comprises a bonnet protruding above an upper surface of the checkout counter, and the gantry is configured so as to be able to pass over the bonnet when moving between the customer side of the checkout counter and the cashier side of the checkout counter .

5. A dual-function checkout module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one point-of-sale display screen carried on the gantry.

6. A dual-function checkout module according to claim 5, wherein the at least one point-of-sale display screen is rotatably mounted on the gantry such that the at least one point-of-sale display screen is moveable between a position facing the customer side and a position facing the cashier side.

7. A dual-function checkout module according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the at least one point-of-sale display screen comprises a cashier display screen carried on the gantry and configured to face the cashier side, and a customer display screen carried on the gantry and configured to face the customer side.

8. A dual-function checkout module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an EFTPOS terminal mounted on the gantry and configured to face the customer side.

9. A dual-function checkout module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a cash recycler disposed below the checkout counter and configured to face the customer side.

10. A dual-function checkout module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gantry is slidingly supported on opposite sides of the checkout counter.

11. A dual-function checkout module according to claim 10, wherein the gantry is configured to slide within tracks provided on opposite sides of the checkout counter.

12. A dual-function checkout module according to claim 10, wherein the tracks are formed by right and left overhangs provided at right and left sides of the checkout counter when viewed from the customer side, and the gantry comprises complementary re-entrant portions that slidingly engage with the right and left overhangs, respectively.

13. A checkout station comprising:

a dual-function checkout module according to any one of claims 1 to 12;

a transfer module on which goods intended for processing in the checkout module can be placed before processing; and

a bagging module on which goods that have been processed in the checkout module can be placed.

14. A checkout station according to claim 13, wherein the transfer module is a shelf transfer module comprising a split-level shelf assembly.

15. A checkout station according to claim 13, wherein the transfer module is a conveyor transfer module comprising a conveyor belt assembly.