EP0239447A1 - Invoicing equipment for loose goods - Google Patents

Invoicing equipment for loose goods Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0239447A1
EP0239447A1 EP87400411A EP87400411A EP0239447A1 EP 0239447 A1 EP0239447 A1 EP 0239447A1 EP 87400411 A EP87400411 A EP 87400411A EP 87400411 A EP87400411 A EP 87400411A EP 0239447 A1 EP0239447 A1 EP 0239447A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
installation according
containers
billing
station
billing station
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP87400411A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Pierre Bloquel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dite Alser SA Ste
Original Assignee
Dite Alser SA Ste
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FR8602551A external-priority patent/FR2594669B1/en
Application filed by Dite Alser SA Ste filed Critical Dite Alser SA Ste
Publication of EP0239447A1 publication Critical patent/EP0239447A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F9/00—Shop, bar, bank or like counters
    • A47F9/02—Paying counters
    • A47F9/04—Check-out counters, e.g. for self-service stores
    • A47F9/042—Shopping bags or carton-dispensing systems therefor

Definitions

  • the invention relates to billing operations and unloading of bulk items, such as purchases made in a big box store. These operations are carried out on a cash counter which is provided with a billing device and which includes an evacuation area for the items invoiced, said evacuation area being arranged at the level of the billing device; customers pass along the cash counter with a trolley for transporting items which they can unload from the trolley and place on the cash counter, a cashier performs the invoicing operation and places the items on the disposal where they are picked up by the customer who loads them into the aforementioned cart.
  • This sorting operation of purchases during loading increases the duration of the loading operation and this constitutes an important factor limiting the flow of the box.
  • customers must, even when all of their merchandise is unloaded on the front carpet, reload these items at the end of the back carpet of the counter, then return to the cashier to pay.
  • customers want to check the entry of the items they have purchased so that they remain next to the cashier during the entire entry operation and only load the items when all of these have been entered.
  • Trolleys which support several containers constituted by rigid bags, which allows customers to sort their purchases when they choose them on the shelves so that the aforementioned sorting operation is already carried out before the customer does not access the checkout. In this case, the problem arises of reloading bags exactly as the bags which were presented for seizure were loaded.
  • the subject of the present invention is therefore an installation for invoicing and loading bulk articles which makes it possible to avoid the customer's comings and goings between the end of the cash register and the billing station, the loading taking place near the latter so that the client can verify the entry during the loading operation; moreover, the sorting of purchased items can be more easily carried out or controlled by the customer.
  • the installation according to the invention is particularly remarkable in that it comprises, downstream of the billing station, a longitudinal transfer device in the open position of receptacles for the items invoiced. Thanks to this arrangement, the items billed in the containers are loaded from the billing station, which allows the customer to simultaneously verify the entry made by the cashier; this loading can also be carried out by the latter directly since the containers such as rigid bags are located next to it. In addition, whether the loading of invoiced items is done by the customer or by the cashier, the customer can control the sorting that he has done before by unloading his cart or the aforementioned rigid bags.
  • the unloading operation is carried out by the box which takes the articles directly from the container, seizes them and can either put on a loading station, or put them directly in another container arranged downstream of the billing station next to it.
  • the invention can be implemented by replacing the existing cash counters with cash counters which include transfer devices upstream and downstream from the billing station, but it can also be implemented by modifying existing cash counters , in which case the rear part of the cash counter is simply modified to install a downstream device for transferring the receptacles, this device being able to be placed next to the existing rear carpet, which allows the cash counter to be used.
  • conventionally or using containers such as the aforementioned rigid bags in fact, these being the property of customers, there may still be customers coming to present themselves at the cash counter with trolleys of the conventional type.
  • Such a solution allows in particular the gradual transition to a system in which all customers are provided with rigid bags of this type.
  • the invention makes it possible to unload, bill and reload containers containing purchases made by a customer, for example in a big box store, ensuring that the sorting carried out by the customer before arriving at the crate, when picking up items from a shelf, will be held, items unloaded from a container being returned to the same container.
  • the invention essentially consists in mechanically and automatically advancing the containers of the same customer in order to send them one by one to a billing station where these containers are unloaded by the cashier who proceeds to the billing operation and places articles on the evacuation area. When the container is empty, it is automatically brought to a loading station where the customer reloads the container with the articles therein. were contained.
  • the billing device is arranged on the cash counter, the cashier facing the latter.
  • Another possibility consists in using containers provided with closure in their bottom, which are presented above the cash counter at least at the level of the billing station and which are emptied at this station by opening their bottom. This process can be implemented in different ways.
  • FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of an installation allowing the implementation of the method which has just been described; this installation is intended for the case where the containers consist of bags 2 made of flexible and resistant material such as a synthetic material and provided with two lateral handles 3 and 4.
  • the cash counter 1 essentially comprises a device for transferring the bags 2 which is made up in this first example by two endless chains 5 and 6 arranged on either side of the longitudinal sides of the cash counter and which comprise links 7 which are shaped to receive the handles 3 or 4 of the bags 2; advantageously, to facilitate the basket removal operation, each handle is supported at each of its ends by neighboring links 7 and 7 ⁇ .
  • This transfer device extends over the entire length of the cash counter 1 and it brings the bags 2 to a billing station 8 where the bags are stopped so that the cashier who is seated opposite the cash counter can extract the articles, bill them and drop them on the evacuation area 9.
  • the billing device is constituted by a device for exploring the bar codes carried by the articles and known by the name of "scanner"; there is shown in 11 such a bar code reading device which is in the form of an opening in the cash counter 1 and in front of which the items to be billed are scrolled.
  • This device can be supplemented by a conventional billing device such as a cash register for items which cannot be read by the scanner 11.
  • a device making it possible to lift the container or bag; this device has been shown diagrammatically at 12 in the form of a plate 13 which is placed below the bottom of the bag and which can be actuated by a jack 14.
  • a mechanical device can be provided to keep the container open during the unloading operation.
  • this device consists of a suction cup 15 mounted on a rod 16, the end of which is articulated around a horizontal axis 17; a device of this kind is provided on both sides of the cash counter 1.
  • this zone can for example be constituted by a series of crazy rollers 19 on which the bags come rest when they are automatically detached from the two links 7 and 7 ⁇ which support them, each bag arriving at the end of the cash counter and being unloaded from the transfer device pushing the bags which are already on the storage area 8, this movement being carried out by the idle rollers 19.
  • the container When a bag or container has been emptied and its contents have been billed and placed on the evacuation area 9, the container is returned to the normal position at the billing station and the transfer device is restarted to pass a new bag at the transfer station and bring the bag which has just been emptied into the storage area 18.
  • the stopping of the transfer device when a bag has reached the billing station 8 can be obtained by a detection of the presence of a bag placed in this billing station; it is possible, for example, to provide a photoelectric cell 21.
  • the restarting operation of the transfer device is controlled by the cashier; the order provided by this latter command firstly deactivating the bag opening suction cups, then lowering the bag lifting device and finally starting the transfer device.
  • separation elements can be provided on the evacuation area 9 which make it possible to separate the articles coming from a container from the articles coming from the next container, taking into account that while the customer is reloading a basket, the cashier invoices the content of the following basket.
  • These devices can be constituted by bars which are placed between the articles of a basket and those of the following basket. Elsewhere, we can equip the evacuation area 9 of a conveyor belt controlled by the cashier or operating automatically which makes it possible to carry the items invoiced to the bottom of said evacuation area.
  • FIGS 2 to 4 show a second embodiment of an installation according to the present invention.
  • a cash counter 31 which is provided with a billing station 32, a billing device 33 such as a scanner, an evacuation area 34 and a storage area 35.
  • the container transfer device consists of two conveyor belts 36 and 37 arranged on either side of the billing station 32 which is also provided with a device for lifting the bags 40 and with devices for keeping bags open (not shown).
  • a device for guiding the lateral edges of the containers, the handles 3 and 4 in the case of bags; in the example shown, this guide device consists of a rectangular section tube 38 which has a slot 39 at its lower part for the passage of the bands 41 connecting the handles 3 and 4 to the body of the bag 2.
  • this guide device can be divergent in the direction of progression of the bags, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4 where shows an angle ⁇ of the opening of the two guide tubes 38 so that the width L at the outlet of the cash counter is slightly greater than the width 1 at the entrance of the cash counter.
  • This arrangement can also be provided in the embodiment of Figure 1 with the two endless chains which can be arranged slightly divergent in order to open the top of the bag at the billing station.
  • FIG. 5 represents a third alternative embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in which the cash counter 51 is equipped with a transfer device 52 "of the cable car type", the bags being transported suspended from the entrance to the cash counter to billing station 53; the transfer device 52 then carries at this billing station 53 a raised path 54 which makes it possible to present the bag or container filled above the cash counter at the billing station.
  • the containers are provided with an opening device in their bottom, which makes it possible to empty them instantly at the billing station, which obviously facilitates the unloading operation. The containers are then closed before being brought to the loading station where they are refilled.
  • the device can for example consist of a zipper arranged in the bottom of the bag.
  • Figures 6 to 9 show two embodiments in which only one transfer device has been provided, namely the downstream device; these achievements allow in particular to adapt existing cash counters without having to change them entirely.
  • FIG. 6 shows a billing installation for a large surface area of the conventional type; it is a known type of cash counter 61 which comprises a carrier belt or front belt 62 and a conveyor belt or rear belt 63.
  • a billing station constituted for example by a code recognition device station at bars carried by the articles and known under the name of "scanner" 64 to which is possibly added a cash register of known type 65 for the entry of articles not carrying a bar code.
  • the cashier is in space 66 facing the front mat 62.
  • the installation comprises at least one device for the longitudinal transfer of the containers relating to the articles.
  • This longitudinal transfer device 67 is arranged behind the billing station 66, that is to say to the left of the cashier and parallel to the cash counter 61; consequently, in the case where the rear belt 3 is kept, this container transfer device 67 is placed along the rear belt 3.
  • the longitudinal transfer device 67 of the containers containing the articles can for example be constituted by a conveyor belt 68 which is arranged below relative to the rear belt 3 and which comprises devices 79 intended to guide the handles of the bags.
  • the rear belt can be used for the transfer at the end of the box of bulky articles which cannot penetrate into the containers, such as cases of bottles of mineral water.
  • Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the rear belt 63 has been removed and replaced by a device for transferring bulky objects also arranged below behind the longitudinal transfer device 67.
  • This device for transferring bulky objects which is not visible in FIG. 7 because it is also arranged below and behind the longitudinal transfer device 67, can for example be constituted by idle rollers on which bulky objects are rolled.
  • FIG. 7 there is shown in more detail the device 67 for longitudinal transfer of containers or bags, one of which is shown at 69.
  • This longitudinal transfer device 67 essentially consists of a conveyor belt or conveyor 71 arranged below to the carpet 62 and provided with a device 72 intended for guiding the handles of the baskets 69.
  • FIG. 8 shows in partial cross-section the guide device 72 which essentially consists of a tube 73 having an opening 74 directed downwards and in which the tubular handles 75 of the baskets 69 slide.
  • FIG. 9 shows the end 76 of the tube 73 arranged on the side of the cashier and into which the tubular handle 15 is introduced.
  • This shelf can be located above the rear carpet or the bulky packet transfer device which is in its place; provision can also be made for this shelf to be located above the longitudinal transfer device 67.
  • the invention makes it possible to avoid replacing an existing installation of conventional type while making it possible to reduce the time spent at the checkout, the distribution of the articles in the containers or bags. taken by the customer to his home being made according to his desire.
  • the installation according to the invention can be used in many operating cases.
  • trolleys of the conventional type comprising no container or bag and trolleys of the new type carrying bags; we can then use the front and rear mats in a normal way, but we can also for customers without a container, reload their purchases in a bag which they can then buy or supplied free of charge so as to allow the gradual passage of the old system of a classic cart to the new system for a given store.
  • the size of the installation according to the present invention is reduced enough for it to be installed in existing stores without significant modification and without significant disturbance of operation.

Abstract

1. Invoicing and loading equipment for loose articles such as purchases made in a hypermarket store, consisting of a check-out counter (1, 31, 51, 61) comprising an invoicing station (8, 32, 53, 56), customers passing along the said check-out counter with a trolley containing the said articles. 2. The equipment comprises, downstream of the invoicing station (8, 32, 53, 66) a device (37, 52, 67) for longitudinal transfer in the open position of containers (2, 69) of invoiced articles; it may also comprise, upstream of the invoicing station (8, 32, 53, 66), a device (5-6, 36, 52) for transfer in the open position of containers (2, 69) of the articles to be invoiced. 3. The invention makes it possible to facilitate operations for loading the articles after invoicing. <IMAGE>

Description

L'invention concerne les opérations de factu­ration et de déchargement d'articles en vrac, tels que les achats effectués dans un magasin à grande surface. Ces opérations sont réalisées sur un comptoir-caisse qui est muni d'un appareil de facturation et qui comporte une aire d'évacuation des articles facturés, ladite aire d'évacuation étant disposée au niveau de l'appareil de facturation; les clients passent le long du comptoir-­caisse avec un chariot de transport des articles qu'ils peuvent décharger du chariot et placer sur le comptoir-­caisse, une caissière procède à l'opération de factura­tion et place les articles sur l'aire d'évacuation où ils sont repris par le client qui les charge dans le chariot précité.The invention relates to billing operations and unloading of bulk items, such as purchases made in a big box store. These operations are carried out on a cash counter which is provided with a billing device and which includes an evacuation area for the items invoiced, said evacuation area being arranged at the level of the billing device; customers pass along the cash counter with a trolley for transporting items which they can unload from the trolley and place on the cash counter, a cashier performs the invoicing operation and places the items on the disposal where they are picked up by the customer who loads them into the aforementioned cart.

Ces opérations constituent un problème impor­tant du fait que les opérations de déchargement des articles sur le comptoir-caisse et de chargement après facturation limitent le débit des clients pour les caisses. En général, les clients chargent les articles facturés dans des sachets généralement en matière synthétique fournis par le magasin, et, lors de cette opération, les clients effectuent un certain tri de leurs achats qui sont regroupés dans plusieurs sachets.These operations constitute a significant problem because the operations of unloading of the articles on the cash counter and loading after invoicing limit the flow of customers for the cash registers. In general, customers load the items invoiced in sachets generally made of synthetic material supplied by the store, and, during this operation, the customers make a certain sorting of their purchases which are grouped in several sachets.

Cette opération de tri des achats lors du chargement augmente la durée de l'opération de chargement et ceci constitue un facteur important limitant le débit de la caisse.This sorting operation of purchases during loading increases the duration of the loading operation and this constitutes an important factor limiting the flow of the box.

Par ailleurs, les clients doivent, même lorsque toutes leurs marchandises sont déchargées sur le tapis avant, recharger ces articles à l'extrémité du tapis arrière du comptoir, puis revenir vers la caissière pour payer. De plus de nombreux clients veulent vérifier la saisie des articles qu'ils ont achetés si bien qu'ils restent à côté de la caissière pendant toute l'opération de saisie et ne procèdent au chargement des articles que lorsque tous ceux-ci ont été saisis.In addition, customers must, even when all of their merchandise is unloaded on the front carpet, reload these items at the end of the back carpet of the counter, then return to the cashier to pay. In addition, many customers want to check the entry of the items they have purchased so that they remain next to the cashier during the entire entry operation and only load the items when all of these have been entered.

On connaît des chariots qui supportent plu­sieurs récipients constitués par des sacs rigides, ce qui permet aux clients d'effectuer le tri de leurs achats au moment où ils les choisissent dans les rayons si bien que l'opération de tri précitée est déjà réalisée avant que le client n'accède à la caisse. Dans ce cas il se pose le problème de recharger des sacs exactement comme étaient chargés les sacs qui ont été présentés à la saisie.Trolleys are known which support several containers constituted by rigid bags, which allows customers to sort their purchases when they choose them on the shelves so that the aforementioned sorting operation is already carried out before the customer does not access the checkout. In this case, the problem arises of reloading bags exactly as the bags which were presented for seizure were loaded.

La présente invention a donc pour objet une installation de facturation et de chargement d'articles en vrac qui permet d'éviter les allées et venues du client entre l'extrémité de la caisse et le poste de facturation, le chargement s'effectuant près de ce dernier de sorte que le client peut vérifier la saisie pendant l'opération de chargement; par ailleurs, le tri des articles achetés peut être plus facilement réalisé ou contrôlé par le client.The subject of the present invention is therefore an installation for invoicing and loading bulk articles which makes it possible to avoid the customer's comings and goings between the end of the cash register and the billing station, the loading taking place near the latter so that the client can verify the entry during the loading operation; moreover, the sorting of purchased items can be more easily carried out or controlled by the customer.

L'installation selon l'invention est notamment remarquable en ce qu'elle comporte, en aval du poste de facturation, un dispositif de transfert longitudinal en position ouverte de récipients des articles facturés. Grâce à cette disposition, le chargement des articles facturés dans les récipients se fait auprès du poste de facturation ce qui permet au client de vérifier simulta­nément la saisie effectuée par la caissière; ce chargement peut être d'ailleurs effectué par cette dernière directe­ment puisque les récipients tels que des sacs rigides se trouvent à côté d'elle. De plus, que le chargement des articles facturés se fasse par le client ou par la caissière, le client peut contrôler le tri qu'il aura effectué au préalable soit en déchargeant son chariot ou les sacs rigides précités.The installation according to the invention is particularly remarkable in that it comprises, downstream of the billing station, a longitudinal transfer device in the open position of receptacles for the items invoiced. Thanks to this arrangement, the items billed in the containers are loaded from the billing station, which allows the customer to simultaneously verify the entry made by the cashier; this loading can also be carried out by the latter directly since the containers such as rigid bags are located next to it. In addition, whether the loading of invoiced items is done by the customer or by the cashier, the customer can control the sorting that he has done before by unloading his cart or the aforementioned rigid bags.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, on prévoit également, en amont du poste de facturation un dispositif de tranfert en position ouverte des réci­pients des articles à facturer. Dans ce cas, qui s'appli­que évidemment au cas où le client dispose d'un chariot muni de plusieurs sacs rigides, l'opération de décharge­ment s'effectue par la cassière qui prélève directement les articles du récipient, les saisie et peut soit les mettre sur un poste de chargement, soit les mettre directement dans un autre récipient disposé en aval du poste de facturation à côté d'elle.According to another characteristic of the invention, provision is also made, upstream of the billing station a transfer device in the open position of the containers of the items to be billed. In this case, which obviously applies to the case where the customer has a trolley provided with several rigid bags, the unloading operation is carried out by the box which takes the articles directly from the container, seizes them and can either put on a loading station, or put them directly in another container arranged downstream of the billing station next to it.

L'invention peut être mise en oeuvre en remplaçant les comptoirs-caisses existants par des comptoirs-caisses qui comportent des dispositifs de transfert en amont et en aval du poste de facturation mais elle peut également être mise en oeuvre par modifi­cation de comptoirs-caisses existants, auquel cas on modifie simplement la partie arrière du comptoir-caisse pour y installer un dispositif aval de transfert des récipients, ce dispositif pouvant d'ailleurs être dispo­sé à côté du tapis arrière existant, ce qui permet d'utiliser le comptoir-caisse de manière classique ou en utilisant des récipients tels que des sacs rigides précités; en effet, ceux-ci étant la propriété des clients, il pourra encore exister des clients venant se présenter au comptoir-caisse avec des chariots de type classique. Une telle solution permet en particulier le passage progressif à un système dans lequel tous les clients sont munis de sacs rigides de ce type.The invention can be implemented by replacing the existing cash counters with cash counters which include transfer devices upstream and downstream from the billing station, but it can also be implemented by modifying existing cash counters , in which case the rear part of the cash counter is simply modified to install a downstream device for transferring the receptacles, this device being able to be placed next to the existing rear carpet, which allows the cash counter to be used. conventionally or using containers such as the aforementioned rigid bags; in fact, these being the property of customers, there may still be customers coming to present themselves at the cash counter with trolleys of the conventional type. Such a solution allows in particular the gradual transition to a system in which all customers are provided with rigid bags of this type.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront de la description qui suit ainsi que des dessins ci-annexés sur lesquels :

  • - la figure 1 représente en perspective un exemple de réalisation d'une installation conforme à l'invention et comportant un dispositif de transfert de récipient à chaîne sans fin;
  • - la figure 2 représente en perspective un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une installation conforme à la présente invention et dans laquelle le dispositif de transfert est constitué par des bandes transporteuses;
  • - la figure 3 est une vue de profil de l'instal­lation de la figure 2;
  • - la figure 4 est une vue de dessus de l'instal­lation de la figure 2;
  • - la figure 5 représente en vue de profil un troisième mode de réalisation d'une installation confor­me à l'invention;
  • - la figure 6 représente encore un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention en vue en plan, dans lequel on ne prévoit qu'un dispositif aval de transfert des récipients;
  • - la figure 7 représente en perspective un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention dans lequel on ne prévoit qu'un dispositif aval de transfert, et
  • - les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues de détail de la figure 7.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows as well as from the appended drawings in which:
  • - Figure 1 shows in perspective an embodiment of an installation according to the invention and comprising an endless chain container transfer device;
  • - Figure 2 shows in perspective a second embodiment of a compliant installation to the present invention and in which the transfer device consists of conveyor belts;
  • - Figure 3 is a side view of the installation of Figure 2;
  • - Figure 4 is a top view of the installation of Figure 2;
  • - Figure 5 shows a side view of a third embodiment of an installation according to the invention;
  • - Figure 6 shows yet another embodiment of the invention in plan view, in which only a downstream device for transferring the containers is provided;
  • FIG. 7 shows in perspective a second embodiment of the invention in which only a downstream transfer device is provided, and
  • - Figures 8 and 9 are detail views of Figure 7.

Comme indiqué ci-dessus, l'invention per­met de décharger, de facturer et de recharger des ré­cipients contenant des achats effectués par un client par exemple dans un magasin à grande surface en assu­rant que le tri effectué par le client avant d'arriver à la caisse, lorsqu'il prend les articles sur un rayon, sera maintenu, les articles déchargés d'un récipient étant remis dans le même récipient. L'invention con­siste essentiellement à faire progresser de manière mécanique et automatique les récipients d'un même client pour les faire parvenir un par un à un poste de facturation où ces récipients sont déchargés par la caissière qui procède à l'opération de facturation et place les articles sur l'aire d'évacuation. Lorsque le récipient est vide, il est amené automatiquement à un poste de chargement où le client procède au re­chargement du récipient avec les articles qui y étaient contenus. Avantageusement, l'appareil de fac­turation est disposé sur le comptoir-caisse, la cais­sière faisant face à ce dernier.As indicated above, the invention makes it possible to unload, bill and reload containers containing purchases made by a customer, for example in a big box store, ensuring that the sorting carried out by the customer before arriving at the crate, when picking up items from a shelf, will be held, items unloaded from a container being returned to the same container. The invention essentially consists in mechanically and automatically advancing the containers of the same customer in order to send them one by one to a billing station where these containers are unloaded by the cashier who proceeds to the billing operation and places articles on the evacuation area. When the container is empty, it is automatically brought to a loading station where the customer reloads the container with the articles therein. were contained. Advantageously, the billing device is arranged on the cash counter, the cashier facing the latter.

Pour faciliter l'opération de déchargement du récipient par la caissière, on peut prévoir que le sac soit soulevé lorsqu'il se trouve au poste de fac­turation; on peut prévoir également que le récipient soit maintenu ouvert de manière mécanique dans le cas où il s'agit de récipients souples tels que des sacs.To facilitate the operation of unloading the container by the cashier, provision can be made for the bag to be lifted when it is at the billing station; provision may also be made for the container to be kept open mechanically in the case of flexible containers such as bags.

Une autre possibilité consiste à utiliser des récipients munis de fermeture dans leur fond, qui sont présentés au-dessus du comptoir-caisse au moins au niveau du poste de facturation et qui sont vidés à ce poste par ouverture de leur fond. Ce procédé peut être mis en oeuvre de différentes manières.Another possibility consists in using containers provided with closure in their bottom, which are presented above the cash counter at least at the level of the billing station and which are emptied at this station by opening their bottom. This process can be implemented in different ways.

La figure 1 représente un premier mode de réalisation d'une installation permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé qui vient d'être décrit; cette instal­lation est destinée au cas où les récipients sont cons­titués par des sacs 2 en matière souple et résistante telle qu'une matière synthétique et munis de deux anses latérales 3 et 4. Le comptoir-caisse 1 comporte essen­tiellement un dispositif de transfert des sacs 2 qui est contitué dans ce premier exemple par deux chaînes sans fin 5 et 6 disposées de part et d'autre des côtés longitudinaux du comptoir-caisse et qui comportent des maillons 7 qui sont conformés pour recevoir les anses 3 ou 4 des sacs 2; avantageusement, pour faciliter l'opération de décrochage des paniers, chaque anse est supportée à chacune de ses extrémités par des maillons voisins 7 et 7ʹ. Ce dispositif de transfert s'étend sur toute la longueur du comptoir-caisse 1 et il amène les sacs 2 jusqu'à un poste de facturation 8 où les sacs sont arrêtés pour que la caissière qui est assise face au comptoir-caisse puisse extraire les articles , les facturer et les déposer sur l'aire d'évacuation 9.FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of an installation allowing the implementation of the method which has just been described; this installation is intended for the case where the containers consist of bags 2 made of flexible and resistant material such as a synthetic material and provided with two lateral handles 3 and 4. The cash counter 1 essentially comprises a device for transferring the bags 2 which is made up in this first example by two endless chains 5 and 6 arranged on either side of the longitudinal sides of the cash counter and which comprise links 7 which are shaped to receive the handles 3 or 4 of the bags 2; advantageously, to facilitate the basket removal operation, each handle is supported at each of its ends by neighboring links 7 and 7ʹ. This transfer device extends over the entire length of the cash counter 1 and it brings the bags 2 to a billing station 8 where the bags are stopped so that the cashier who is seated opposite the cash counter can extract the articles, bill them and drop them on the evacuation area 9.

La facturation des articles s'effectue au moyen de dispositifs connus qui sont alors disposés sur le comptoir-caisse face à la caissière. Avantageu­sement l'appareil de facturation est constitué par un dispositif d'exploration des codes à barres portés par les articles et connu sous le nom de "scanner"; on a re­présenté en 11 un tel dispositif de lecture de code à barres qui se présente sous la forme d'une ouverture aménagée dans le comptoir-caisse 1 et devant laquelle on fait défiler les articles à facturer. Ce disposi­tif peut être complété par un dispositif de facturation classique telle qu'une caisse enregistreuse pour les articles qui ne peuvent pas être lus par le scanner 11.The invoicing of the articles is carried out by means of known devices which are then placed on the cash counter facing the cashier. Advantageously, the billing device is constituted by a device for exploring the bar codes carried by the articles and known by the name of "scanner"; there is shown in 11 such a bar code reading device which is in the form of an opening in the cash counter 1 and in front of which the items to be billed are scrolled. This device can be supplemented by a conventional billing device such as a cash register for items which cannot be read by the scanner 11.

Pour faciliter l'opération de déchargement du sac par la caissière, on prévoit avantageusement au poste de facturation 8 un dispositif permettant de soulever le récipient ou sac; ce dispositif a été schématisé en 12 sous la forme d'une plaque 13 qui vient se placer en dessous du fond du sac et qui peut être actionné par un vérin 14. Pour faciliter encore cette opération de déchargement, en particulier dans le cas où les récipients sont constitués par des sacs souples, on peut prévoir un dispositif mécanique permettant de maintenir ouvert le récipient pendant l'opération de déchargement. Dans l'exemple représenté ce dispositif est constitué par une ventouse 15 montée sur une tige 16 dont l'extrémité est articulée autour d'un axe horizontal 17; un dispositif de ce genre est prévu des deux côtés du comptoir-caisse 1.To facilitate the operation of unloading the bag by the cashier, there is advantageously provided at billing station 8 a device making it possible to lift the container or bag; this device has been shown diagrammatically at 12 in the form of a plate 13 which is placed below the bottom of the bag and which can be actuated by a jack 14. To further facilitate this unloading operation, in particular in the case where the containers consist of flexible bags, a mechanical device can be provided to keep the container open during the unloading operation. In the example shown, this device consists of a suction cup 15 mounted on a rod 16, the end of which is articulated around a horizontal axis 17; a device of this kind is provided on both sides of the cash counter 1.

A l'extrémité du dispositif de transfert constitué par les chaînes sans fin 5 et 6, on peut prévoir une zone de stockage 18 des récipients remplis; cette zone peut par exemple être constituée par une série de rouleaux fous 19 sur lesquels les sacs vien­ nent reposer lorsqu'ils se décrochent automatiquement des deux maillons 7 et 7ʹ qui les supportent, chaque sac arrivant à l'extrémité du comptoir-caisse et étant déchargé du dispositif de transfert poussant les sacs qui se trouvent déjà sur la zone de stockage 8, ce dé­placement étant réalisé par les rouleaux fous 19.At the end of the transfer device constituted by the endless chains 5 and 6, one can provide a storage area 18 for filled containers; this zone can for example be constituted by a series of crazy rollers 19 on which the bags come rest when they are automatically detached from the two links 7 and 7ʹ which support them, each bag arriving at the end of the cash counter and being unloaded from the transfer device pushing the bags which are already on the storage area 8, this movement being carried out by the idle rollers 19.

Lorsqu'un sac ou récipient a été vidé et que son contenu a été facturé et mis sur l'aire d'é­vacuation 9, le récipient est remis en position nor­male au poste de facturation et le dispositif de trans­fert est remis en route pour faire passer un nouveau sac au poste de transfert et amener le sac qui vient d'être vidé dans la zone de stockage 18. L'arrêt du dispositif de transfert lorsqu'un sac est parvenu dans le poste de facturation 8 peut être obtenu par un dispositif de détection de présence d'un sac disposé dans ce poste de facturation; on peut par exemple prévoir une cellule photoélectrique 21. Lorsque la totalité des articles d'un récipient a été facturée, l'opération de remise en route du dispositif de trans­fert est commandée par la caissière; l'ordre fourni par cette dernière commande tout d'abord la désactivation des ventouses d'ouverture du sac puis la descente du dispositif de soulèvement du sac et enfin la mise en route du dispositif de transfert.When a bag or container has been emptied and its contents have been billed and placed on the evacuation area 9, the container is returned to the normal position at the billing station and the transfer device is restarted to pass a new bag at the transfer station and bring the bag which has just been emptied into the storage area 18. The stopping of the transfer device when a bag has reached the billing station 8 can be obtained by a detection of the presence of a bag placed in this billing station; it is possible, for example, to provide a photoelectric cell 21. When all of the articles in a container have been invoiced, the restarting operation of the transfer device is controlled by the cashier; the order provided by this latter command firstly deactivating the bag opening suction cups, then lowering the bag lifting device and finally starting the transfer device.

Avantageusement, on peut prévoir sur l'aire d'évacuation 9 des éléments de séparation qui permettent de séparer les articles venant d'un réci­pient des articles venant du récipient suivant, compte-­tenu du fait que pendant que le client procède au re­chargement d'un panier, la caissière procède à la fac­turation du contenu du panier suivant. Ces dispositifs peuvent être constitués par des barres que l'on place entre les articles d'un panier et ceux du panier sui­vant. Par aillieurs, on peut munir l'aire d'évacuation 9 d'un tapis roulant commandé par la caissière ou fonc­tionnant de manière automatique qui permet d'entraîner les articles facturés jusqu'au fond de ladite aire d'évacuation.Advantageously, separation elements can be provided on the evacuation area 9 which make it possible to separate the articles coming from a container from the articles coming from the next container, taking into account that while the customer is reloading a basket, the cashier invoices the content of the following basket. These devices can be constituted by bars which are placed between the articles of a basket and those of the following basket. Elsewhere, we can equip the evacuation area 9 of a conveyor belt controlled by the cashier or operating automatically which makes it possible to carry the items invoiced to the bottom of said evacuation area.

Les figures 2 à 4 représentent un deu­xième mode de réalisation d'une installation conforme à la présente invention. On y retrouve un comptoir-cais­se 31 qui est muni d'un poste de facturation 32, d'un appareil de facturation 33 tel qu'un scanner, d'une aire d'évacuation 34 et d'une zone de stockage 35.Figures 2 to 4 show a second embodiment of an installation according to the present invention. There is a cash counter 31 which is provided with a billing station 32, a billing device 33 such as a scanner, an evacuation area 34 and a storage area 35.

Dans ce mode de réalisation, le dispositif de transfert des récipients est constitué par deux bandes transporteuses 36 et 37 disposées de part et d'autre du poste de facturation 32 qui est également muni d'un dispositif de soulèvement des sacs 40 et de dispositifs de maintien des sacs ouverts (non représentés).In this embodiment, the container transfer device consists of two conveyor belts 36 and 37 arranged on either side of the billing station 32 which is also provided with a device for lifting the bags 40 and with devices for keeping bags open (not shown).

Avantageusement, on prévoit un disposi­tif de guidage des bords latéraux des récipients, les anses 3 et 4 dans le cas de sacs; dans l'exemple repré­senté, ce dispositif de guidage est constitué par un tube de section rectangulaire 38 qui présente une fen­te 39 à sa partie inférieure pour le passage des bandes 41 reliant les anses 3 et 4 au corps du sac 2. Pour obtenir un meilleur accès à l'intérieur du sac en par­ticulier au niveau du poste de facturation, on peut prévoir que ce dispositif de guidage soit divergent dans le sens de la progression des sacs, comme cela peut se voir en particulier sur la figure 4 où l'on a représenté un angle α d'ouverture des deux tubes de guidage 38 de telle manière que la largeur L à la sor­tie du comptoir-caisse soit légèrement supérieure à la largeur 1 à l'entrée du comptoir-caisse. Cette dis­position peut être également prévue dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 1 avec les deux chaînes sans fin qui peuvent être disposées légèrement divergentes afin de réaliser une ouverture du haut du sac au ni­veau du poste de facturation.Advantageously, a device is provided for guiding the lateral edges of the containers, the handles 3 and 4 in the case of bags; in the example shown, this guide device consists of a rectangular section tube 38 which has a slot 39 at its lower part for the passage of the bands 41 connecting the handles 3 and 4 to the body of the bag 2. To obtain better access to the interior of the bag, in particular at the billing station, provision can be made for this guide device to be divergent in the direction of progression of the bags, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4 where shows an angle α of the opening of the two guide tubes 38 so that the width L at the outlet of the cash counter is slightly greater than the width 1 at the entrance of the cash counter. This arrangement can also be provided in the embodiment of Figure 1 with the two endless chains which can be arranged slightly divergent in order to open the top of the bag at the billing station.

La figure 5 représente une troisième variante de réalisation d'un appareil conforme à l'in­vention dans laquelle le comptoir-caisse 51 est équi­pé d'un dispositif de transfert 52 "du type téléphéri­que", les sacs étant transportés suspendus de l'entrée du comptoir-caisse jusqu'au poste de facturation 53; le dispositif de transfert 52 porte alors au niveau de ce poste de facturation 53 un trajet surélevé 54 qui permet de présenter le sac ou récipient rempli au-dessus du comptoir-caisse au niveau du poste de facturation. Dans ce cas, les récipients sont munis d'un dispositif d'ouverture dans leur fond, ce qui permet de les vider instantanément au niveau du poste de facturation, ce qui facilite bien évidemment l'opé­ration de déchargement. Les récipients sont alors re­fermés avant d'être amenés au poste de chargement où ils sont remplis de nouveau. Dans le cas de récipients constitués par des sacs en matière souple, le dispositif peut par exemple être constitué par une fermeture à glissière aménagée dans le fond du sac.FIG. 5 represents a third alternative embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in which the cash counter 51 is equipped with a transfer device 52 "of the cable car type", the bags being transported suspended from the entrance to the cash counter to billing station 53; the transfer device 52 then carries at this billing station 53 a raised path 54 which makes it possible to present the bag or container filled above the cash counter at the billing station. In this case, the containers are provided with an opening device in their bottom, which makes it possible to empty them instantly at the billing station, which obviously facilitates the unloading operation. The containers are then closed before being brought to the loading station where they are refilled. In the case of containers made up of bags made of flexible material, the device can for example consist of a zipper arranged in the bottom of the bag.

Les figures 6 à 9 représentent deux modes de réalisation dans lesquels on n'a prévu qu'un seul dispositif de transfert à savoir le dispositif aval; ces réalisations permettent en particulier d'adapter des comptoirs-caisses existants sans avoir à les changer entièrement.Figures 6 to 9 show two embodiments in which only one transfer device has been provided, namely the downstream device; these achievements allow in particular to adapt existing cash counters without having to change them entirely.

On voit sur la figure 6 une installation de facturation pour grande surface de type classique; il s'agit d'un comptoir-caisse de type connu 61 qui comporte une bande porteuse ou tapis avant 62 et une bande trans­porteuse ou tapis arrière 63. A l'extrémité du tapis avant 62 se trouve un poste de facturation constitué par exemple par un poste de dispositif de reconnaissance de code à barres porté par les articles et connu sous le nom de "scanner" 64 auquel est éventuellement adjoint une caisse enregistreuse de type connu 65 pour la saisie des arti­cles ne portant pas de code à barres. La caissière se trouve dans l'espace 66 en faisant face au tapis avant 62.FIG. 6 shows a billing installation for a large surface area of the conventional type; it is a known type of cash counter 61 which comprises a carrier belt or front belt 62 and a conveyor belt or rear belt 63. At the end of the front belt 62 is a billing station constituted for example by a code recognition device station at bars carried by the articles and known under the name of "scanner" 64 to which is possibly added a cash register of known type 65 for the entry of articles not carrying a bar code. The cashier is in space 66 facing the front mat 62.

Conformément à l'invention, l'installation comporte au moins un dispositif de transfert longitudinal des récipients concernant les articles. Ce dispositif de transfert longitudinal 67 est disposé derrière le poste de facturation 66, c'est-à-dire à gauche de la caissière et parallèlement au comptoir-caisse 61; par conséquent, dans le cas où l'on conserve le tapis arrière 3, ce dispo­sitif de transfert de récipient 67 se trouve disposé le long du tapis arrière 3.According to the invention, the installation comprises at least one device for the longitudinal transfer of the containers relating to the articles. This longitudinal transfer device 67 is arranged behind the billing station 66, that is to say to the left of the cashier and parallel to the cash counter 61; consequently, in the case where the rear belt 3 is kept, this container transfer device 67 is placed along the rear belt 3.

Grâce à cette disposition, on peut faciliter les opérations de chargement des articles qui viennent d'être saisis, ce chargement étant effectué directement par la caissière, dans un récipient se trouvant au début du dispositif de transfert 67; les articles à saisir sont amenés au poste de facturation 70 soit en vrac dé­chargés sur le tapis avant soit en restant dans les sacs que le client décroche de son chariot, ces sacs étant entraînés par le tapis avant 62. Dans ce dernier cas, l'opération de déchargement des sacs est également effec­tuée par la caissière.Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible to facilitate the operations of loading the articles which have just been seized, this loading being carried out directly by the cashier, in a container located at the start of the transfer device 67; the articles to be seized are brought to the billing station 70 either in bulk unloaded on the front carpet or by remaining in the bags that the customer unhooks from his cart, these bags being driven by the front carpet 62. In the latter case, the bag unloading operation is also carried out by the cashier.

Le dispositif de transfert longitudinal 67 des récipients contenant les articles peut par exemple être constitué par un tapis roulant 68 qui est disposé en contrebas par rapport au tapis arrière 3 et qui comporte des dispositifs 79 destinés à guider les poignées des sacs.The longitudinal transfer device 67 of the containers containing the articles can for example be constituted by a conveyor belt 68 which is arranged below relative to the rear belt 3 and which comprises devices 79 intended to guide the handles of the bags.

Dans la disposition qui vient d'être décrite, le tapis arrière peut servir au transfert en bout de caisse d'articles volumineux ne pouvant pénétrer dans les récipients, tels que des caisses de bouteilles d'eau minérale. La figure 7 représente une variante de réalisation dans laquelle le tapis arrière 63 a été supprimé et remplacé par un dispositif de transfert des objets encom­brants disposé lui aussi en contrebas derrière le dispo­sitif de transfert longitudinal 67. Ce dispositif de transfert d'objets encombrants qui n'est pas visible sur la figure 7 parce qu'il est disposé également en contrebas et derrière le dispositif de transfert longitudinal 67, peut par exemple être constitué par des rouleaux fous sur lesquels on fait rouler les objets encombrants.In the arrangement which has just been described, the rear belt can be used for the transfer at the end of the box of bulky articles which cannot penetrate into the containers, such as cases of bottles of mineral water. Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the rear belt 63 has been removed and replaced by a device for transferring bulky objects also arranged below behind the longitudinal transfer device 67. This device for transferring bulky objects which is not visible in FIG. 7 because it is also arranged below and behind the longitudinal transfer device 67, can for example be constituted by idle rollers on which bulky objects are rolled.

Sur la figure 7, on a représenté plus en détail le dispositif 67 de transfert longitudinal des récipients ou sacs dont un est représenté en 69. Ce dispo­sitif de transfert longitudinal 67 est essentiellement constitué d'un tapis ou bande transporteuse 71 disposé en contrebas par rapport au tapis 62 et muni d'un dispo­sitif 72 destiné au guidage des anses des paniers 69. La figure 8 représente en coupe transversale partielle le dispositif de guidage 72 qui est essentiellement constitué d'un tube 73 présentant une ouverture 74 diri­gée vers le bas et dans lequel coulissent les anses tubulaires 75 des paniers 69. On voit en particulier sur la figure 9 l'extrémité 76 du tube 73 disposée du côté de la caissière et dans laquelle on introduit l'anse tubulaire 15.In Figure 7, there is shown in more detail the device 67 for longitudinal transfer of containers or bags, one of which is shown at 69. This longitudinal transfer device 67 essentially consists of a conveyor belt or conveyor 71 arranged below to the carpet 62 and provided with a device 72 intended for guiding the handles of the baskets 69. FIG. 8 shows in partial cross-section the guide device 72 which essentially consists of a tube 73 having an opening 74 directed downwards and in which the tubular handles 75 of the baskets 69 slide. In particular, FIG. 9 shows the end 76 of the tube 73 arranged on the side of the cashier and into which the tubular handle 15 is introduced.

On peut également prévoir une tablette (non représentée) disposée à la gauche de la caissière, en aval du tapis avant 62 sur laquelle on peut procéder aux opérations de paiement et qui peut également recevoir des articles fragiles que le client ne désire pas voir mis dans les sacs. Cette tablette peut se trouver au-dessus du tapis arrière ou du dispositif de transfert des paquets encombrants qui se trouve à sa place; on peut également prévoir que cette tablette se trouve au-dessus du dispo­sitif de transfert longitudinal 67.It is also possible to provide a shelf (not shown) placed to the left of the cashier, downstream of the front belt 62 on which payment operations can be carried out and which can also receive fragile articles that the customer does not wish to see placed in the bags. This shelf can be located above the rear carpet or the bulky packet transfer device which is in its place; provision can also be made for this shelf to be located above the longitudinal transfer device 67.

Dans le cas des modes de réalisation des figures 6 à 9, l'invention permet d'éviter de remplacer une installation existante de type classique tout en permettant de réduire le temps de passage à la caisse, la répartition des articles dans les récipients ou sacs emmenés par le client à son domicile étant faite selon son désir.In the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 9, the invention makes it possible to avoid replacing an existing installation of conventional type while making it possible to reduce the time spent at the checkout, the distribution of the articles in the containers or bags. taken by the customer to his home being made according to his desire.

L'installation selon l'invention peut être utilisée dans de nombreux cas de fonctionnement. Ainsi par exemple dans le cas où il existe encore dans le maga­sin considéré des chariots de type classique ne comportant pas de récipient ou sac et des chariots de type nouveau portant des sacs; on peut alors utiliser les tapis avant et arrière de manière normale, mais on peut également pour des clients n'ayant pas de récipient, recharger leurs achats dans un sac qu'ils peuvent alors acheter ou four­ni gratuitement de manière à permettre le passage graduel de l'ancien système d'un chariot classique au nouveau système pour un magasin donné.The installation according to the invention can be used in many operating cases. Thus, for example, in the case where there are still in the store considered trolleys of the conventional type comprising no container or bag and trolleys of the new type carrying bags; we can then use the front and rear mats in a normal way, but we can also for customers without a container, reload their purchases in a bag which they can then buy or supplied free of charge so as to allow the gradual passage of the old system of a classic cart to the new system for a given store.

L'encombrement de l'installation selon la présente invention est suffisamment réduit pour qu'il puisse être installé dans des magasins existants sans modification importante et sans perturbation importante du fonctionnement.The size of the installation according to the present invention is reduced enough for it to be installed in existing stores without significant modification and without significant disturbance of operation.

Claims (15)

1° Installation de facturation et de charge­ment d'articles en vrac tels que les achats effectués dans un magasin à grande surface, constituée d'un comptoir-­caisse (1,31,51,61) comportant un poste de facturation (8,32,53,56), les clients passant le long dudit comptoir-­caisse avec un chariot de transport desdits articles, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en aval du poste de facturation (8,32,53,66) un dispositif (37,52,67) de transfert longitudinal en position ouverte de récipients (2,69) des articles facturés.1 ° Installation for invoicing and loading of bulk items such as purchases made in a big box store, consisting of a cash counter (1,31,51,61) including a billing station (8,32 , 53,56), customers passing along said cash counter with a trolley for transporting said articles, characterized in that it comprises downstream of the billing station (8,32,53,66) a device (37, 52.67) of longitudinal transfer in the open position of containers (2.69) of the invoiced items. 2° Installation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte également, en amont du poste de facturation (8,32,53,66), un dispositif (5-6, 36,52) de transfert en position ouverte de récipients (2,69) des articles à facturer.2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises, upstream of the billing station (8,32,53,66), a device (5-6, 36,52) for transfer in the open position of containers (2.69) of the items to be billed. 3° Installation selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte, en aval du poste de facturation, un dispositif de transfert des objets encom­brants.3 ° Installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of the billing station, a device for transferring bulky objects. 4° Installation selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que ledit dispositif de transfert des objets encombrants comporte des galets fous.4. Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that said device for transferring bulky objects comprises idle rollers. 5° Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le poste de facturation (8,32,58, 66) est équipé d'un dispositif de levage (12-14) des récipients (2,69).5. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the billing station (8,32,58, 66) is equipped with a lifting device (12-14) of the containers (2,69). 6° Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de transfert compor­te deux chaînes sans fin (5-6) disposées de part et d'autre du comptoir (1,31,51) et comportant des disposi­tifs de saisie (7,7ʹ) des bords latéraux (3,4) des réci­pients (2).6. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the transfer device comprises two endless chains (5-6) arranged on either side of the counter (1,31,51) and comprising gripping devices (7 , 7ʹ) of the side edges (3,4) of the containers (2). 7° Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de transfert compor­te deux bandes transporteuses (36,37) disposées de part et d'autre du poste facturation (32).7. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the transfer device comprises two conveyor belts (36, 37) arranged on the side and on the other side of the billing item (32). 8° Installation selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte un dispositif de guidage (38,39,41) des bords latéraux (3,4) du récipient (2).8 ° Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a guide device (38,39,41) of the side edges (3,4) of the container (2). 9° Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de transfert est constitué par un dispositif de type téléphérique (52) faisant circuler les récipients (2) au-dessus du comptoir-­caisse (51) au moins dans la zone de facturation (53).9. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the transfer device is constituted by a cable car type device (52) causing the containers (2) to circulate above the cash counter (51) at least in the area of invoicing (53). 10° Installation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le comptoir comporte en son extrémité aval une zone de stockage (18,35) des récipients remplis.10 ° Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the counter has at its downstream end a storage area (18,35) of the filled containers. 11° Installation selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que ladite zone de stockage comporte des rouleaux fous (19).11 ° Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that said storage area comprises idle rollers (19). 12° Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le poste de facturation est équipé d'un dispositif de maintien en position ouverte des récipients (15-17).12 ° Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the billing station is equipped with a device for holding the containers in the open position (15-17). 13° Installation selon la revendication 12, caractérisée en ce que ledit dispositif de maintien est constitué par des ventouses (16) disposées de part et d'autre du comptoir-caisse 1.13 ° Installation according to claim 12, characterized in that said holding device is constituted by suction cups (16) arranged on either side of the cash counter 1. 14° Installation selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de guidage est divergeant dans la direction de déplacement des récipients.14 ° Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide device is diverging in the direction of movement of the containers. 15° Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte un dispositif de détection (21) de l'arrivée d'un récipient dans le poste de facturation (8), ledit dispositif de détection comman­dant le dispositif de levage (12-14) et éventuellement le dispositif de maintien (15-17).15 ° Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a detection device (21) of the arrival of a container in the billing station (8), said detection device controlling the lifting device (12 -14) and possibly the holding device (15-17).
EP87400411A 1986-02-24 1987-02-24 Invoicing equipment for loose goods Withdrawn EP0239447A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8602551 1986-02-24
FR8602551A FR2594669B1 (en) 1986-02-24 1986-02-24 PROCESS FOR INVOICING AND LOADING BULK ITEMS AND INSTALLATION FOR IMPLEMENTING IT
FR8615314A FR2605869A2 (en) 1986-02-24 1986-11-03 METHOD FOR INVOICING AND LOADING BULK ARTICLES AND INSTALLATION FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SAME
FR8615314 1986-11-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0239447A1 true EP0239447A1 (en) 1987-09-30

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ID=26225044

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87400411A Withdrawn EP0239447A1 (en) 1986-02-24 1987-02-24 Invoicing equipment for loose goods

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Country Link
EP (1) EP0239447A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2605869A2 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0363335A1 (en) * 1988-10-07 1990-04-11 A.W.A.X. PROGETTAZIONE E RICERCA S.r.l. Check-out counter for supermarkets and similar
EP0396218A1 (en) * 1989-05-04 1990-11-07 Sonoco Products Company Ergonomically designed check-out counter system for supermarket and merchandising industries
FR2687818A1 (en) * 1992-01-21 1993-08-27 In Store Products Ltd STORAGE OUTPUT CONTROL STATION AS SUPERMARKET AND SIMILAR.

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1832547A (en) * 1930-07-22 1931-11-17 Frank E Hall Package conveyer for merchandise establishments
US2980212A (en) * 1959-10-14 1961-04-18 Almor Corp Self-unloading checkout counter
US3324973A (en) * 1966-03-29 1967-06-13 Martin J Grace Automatic grocery cart
US3628632A (en) * 1969-08-12 1971-12-21 Frank Lambert Automatic checkout counter
US4392553A (en) * 1981-01-30 1983-07-12 Almor Corporation Two hand scanning check-out counter

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3062324A (en) * 1958-08-18 1962-11-06 Tyler Refrigeration Corp Check-out arrangement for self-service stores
DE1654896A1 (en) * 1967-11-15 1972-03-02 Bouda Josef F Checkout counter for self-service shops
US3700074A (en) * 1970-08-11 1972-10-24 Willie M Shoffner Check out system
DE2260967A1 (en) * 1972-12-13 1974-06-27 Walter Breilmann CHECKOUT FOR SELF-SERVICE SHOPS

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1832547A (en) * 1930-07-22 1931-11-17 Frank E Hall Package conveyer for merchandise establishments
US2980212A (en) * 1959-10-14 1961-04-18 Almor Corp Self-unloading checkout counter
US3324973A (en) * 1966-03-29 1967-06-13 Martin J Grace Automatic grocery cart
US3628632A (en) * 1969-08-12 1971-12-21 Frank Lambert Automatic checkout counter
US4392553A (en) * 1981-01-30 1983-07-12 Almor Corporation Two hand scanning check-out counter

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0363335A1 (en) * 1988-10-07 1990-04-11 A.W.A.X. PROGETTAZIONE E RICERCA S.r.l. Check-out counter for supermarkets and similar
EP0396218A1 (en) * 1989-05-04 1990-11-07 Sonoco Products Company Ergonomically designed check-out counter system for supermarket and merchandising industries
FR2687818A1 (en) * 1992-01-21 1993-08-27 In Store Products Ltd STORAGE OUTPUT CONTROL STATION AS SUPERMARKET AND SIMILAR.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2605869A2 (en) 1988-05-06

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