EP1090570B1 - Check-out counter for products - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a transport arrangement (1), e.g. a conveyor belt, a price/quantity detector (2) at the end of the transport arrangement, and a cash register (3). The transport arrangement moves the goods (W) from the left with respect to the operator (P). The price/quantity detector is offset to the left towards the delivered goods by a defined extent (M) with respect to a central operator body plane (Z).

Description

The invention relates to a checkout system for goods, in particular Retail goods, with a conveyor, z. B. conveyor belt, and with one end of the conveyor arranged price / quantity recording device and a cash register, the conveyor being the too goods compared to an operator of coming from left or right, and where the Price / quantity recording device compared to a central body level the operator left or right in Direction towards the incoming goods by a certain amount is offset.

The price / quantity recording device can be in the the simplest case is a scanner a laser scanner, which is on goods packaging affixed barcodes regarding quantity and / or price recorded and the determined data to the cash register for the purpose Further processing passes on. Details of this Price / quantity recording device are in the EP 0 015 376 A1, which describes a cashier system of the initially disclosed structure.

One usually works on such checkout systems Operator, a cashier on a regular basis Cashier. This person must not only usually fed to the conveyor belt Goods, in particular retail goods, of the price / quantity recording device feed, but at the same time operate the cash register, count, collect and if necessary change and finally the goods usually into one Invite shopping cart. This range of activities will by a right-handed person mostly only with mastered the right hand, while the left hand Hand is more or less idle. Conversely, comes with a left-hander, of course, usually the left Hand used while the right hand is active is neglected. In any case, the state of the art a balanced load on both arms and / or hands far away.

This generally results in being ergonomic unfavorable arrangement of individual components of the checkout system and a resulting non-liquid Flow of goods that an operator additional Trunk movements must be carried out, which for health reasons View are to be avoided.

Incidentally, the content of the prior art hardly inspect a shopping cart. Because on this EP 0 015 376 A1 uses a packing cradle back from where the purchased goods from the respective Customers must be removed and packed. That is enough for them However, today's comfort requirements and customer wishes are not more. That’s why there’s no such packing troughs, then, however, with the relevant issues faced.

This also applies taking into account that by DE 299 10 640 U1 known cash register. This one likes a good insight into moving shopping carts enable, but still requires a goods cell, which essentially the above-described goods trough equivalent.

CH 530 195 is a handling facility became known in which the end of a Handling station to the dimensions of a Transport container is adapted. This is supposed to Transfer of those treated in the check-in station Objects in the employed transport container be relieved.

In the context of DE 26 51 178 A1, a cash register is included describe a table conveyor. Here is the seat for a cashier right across the table conveyor whose direction of conveyance with below the conveyor belt Leg insert located. At the end of one Conveyor belt is approximately at the same level Casserole plate with a window behind which a Data reader for scanning goods located reading labels is arranged.

CH 646 859 also has a cash desk for Self-service shops, where the one of a Cashier to be operated or monitored devices and elements on the cashier workplace side are located.

At a checkout counter for self-service shops, like the one in As described in DE 93 06 928 U1, the billed Goods transported into a receiving box, which itself at the end of a conveyor belt. insofar there are the same problems as outlined above.

Furthermore, one knows a cash desk job from DE 92 11 226 U1 with self-operated goods data readers, the has two parallel goods transport counters and one in the middle of the associated goods data readers cash register assigned to both goods transport counters a seat for an operator is arranged.

Finally, GB 1 372069 discloses a till conventional design with ergonomically unsatisfactory Flow of goods.

The invention is based on the technical problem Cashier system of this type for goods, in particular retail goods, to train so that an ergonomic Favorable flow of goods from the price / quantity recording device to the problem-free filling of the Shopping cart is realized.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes generic checkout system before that to the conveyor an essentially coplanar goods registration / distribution counter with the price / quantity recording device connects, with the goods flow / distribution counter at the goods flow end at least one L-shaped Parking facility for a shopping cart is provided.

In this way, the flow of goods can be started optimize from an ergonomic point of view, because in particular no harmful movements of the Operator must be performed and beyond arms and hands are evenly loaded. In the vast majority of cases, work is done that the price / quantity recording device compared to the Body central plane of the person to the left towards the supplied goods are offset by a certain amount, the goods to be collected from the conveyor Coming from the left compared to the operator be fed. This can be done simply and simply attributed to that cashiers work mainly right-handed and consequently the till or operate a keyboard with your right hand while the left hand the goods to be recorded in the price / quantity recording device feeds and then follows advanced. This creates an even load both arms and hands reached without additional Trunk movements of those usually sitting on a chair Operator are required.

In the same way, the aforementioned advantages reached when the cashier for Goods, especially retail goods, fit on one Left-handed is set up. Because then the conveyor leads the goods to be recorded compared to a Operator coming from the right, with the Price / quantity recording device compared to a central body level the operator to the right towards the supplied goods are offset by a certain amount.

In any case, the aforementioned dimension corresponds to the left or Legal transfer compared to the central body level approx. 5-30 cm, preferably about 10-20 cm.

This procedure always ensures that the previously practically idle hand now for feeding the Goods from the conveyor to the price / quantity recording device is used. The other hand The keyboard of the cash register, however, remains unchanged to use and if necessary to take money and / or to switch. In doing so, there is a constant flow of goods - starting from the conveyor to a shopping cart - achieved in which the movements of the operator are harmoniously integrated.

With the L-shaped parking facility for the shopping trolley is preferably from the goods registration / distribution counter L-leg and another L-leg from the counter educated. This corresponds to that of the goods registration / distribution counter realized an L-leg in Essentially half the length of the shopping cart. The other L-leg, on the other hand, is wide customized.

This ensures that the shopping cart is in the parking facility easily loaded and also from the associated operator can be inspected. simultaneously is a safe and reproducible intake of Parking position of the shopping trolley guaranteed. injury through the shopping cart are practically excluded, because this is always reliable and in the parking facility is recorded consistently. To inspect the It is also planned to further improve the shopping trolley that the counter is preferable to the counter Goods entry / distribution level by one from the design of the shopping cart dependent dimension is lowered.

The storage counter thus forms the other L-leg of the Parking facility and is opposite the normal goods flow level - according to the level of the goods registration / distribution counter or the level of the conveyor or the conveyor belt - lowered so that the cashier or the cashier easily from here the shopping cart can examine. Because this usually beats with its front side at exactly this counter.

Of particular ergonomic importance is also that according to a preferred embodiment, the conveyor and the central body level or the goods registration / distribution counter an acute angle of about 5 ° -30 °, preferably between 10 ° and 15 °. Because now it hits Flow of goods from the conveyor or the conveyor belt as it were at an oblique angle to the goods registration / distribution counter or reaches the operator.

The goods registration / distribution counter is more preferred after Embodiment executed in the form of a segment of a circle, so that the first of all a practically oblique flow of goods into one curved conveying direction is transferred, the radius this direction of conveyance and thus the goods registration / distribution counter to one covered by an arm or hand Circular arc is the arm length for a natural circular movement is adjusted. This will make a more gentle and ergonomically favorable transition from the conveyor on the goods registration / distribution counter to the shopping cart reached at the end of the swept circular arc.

Furthermore, an obligatory computer unit is the Cash register generally in the end area of the conveyor arranged below the same, so it does not take up any space and is also protected and parked. The Storage counter is usually used to hold a waste collector and / or a money store, so this hereby available storage volume is used optimally, in addition to the function of the counter as it were head stop for the shopping cart.

Furthermore, the goods registration / distribution counter is on the top Deflectors are provided in which a light barrier device is integrated for the conveyor. In addition, the top deflector is used for protection and Integration of the price / quantity recording device as well the cash register on or in the goods registration / distribution counter. at the price / quantity recording device can finally around a scanner with two angled to each other arranged scanning planes act.

The result is an ergonomically particularly favorable Cashier for goods provided, in particular prevents one-sided loading of an operator. Rather, it ensures that both the left Arm with the left hand as well as the right arm with the right Hand be evenly loaded, without the additional excessive or unnatural trunk movements from one Sitting position must be performed.

Loading the shopping cart is also easier because this is a defined and, as it were, fixed position in comparison to the flow of goods. For the rest is his Inspection and inspection are not difficult because the lowered Storage counter a clear view of the counter upcoming shopping trolley. Here are the to see essential advantages of the invention.

Fig. 1

eine Gesamtaufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Kassieranlage,

Fig. 2

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus der Fig. 1 im Bereich der Kasse und

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht auf den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 aus Richtung X.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment; show it:

Fig. 1

an overall view of the cashier system according to the invention,

Fig. 2

an enlarged section of FIG. 1 in the area of the cash register and

Fig. 3

a view of the object of FIG. 1 from the direction X.

In the figures is a checkout system for goods W, in particular Retail goods W such. B. food, Paper goods, small electrical items, etc. shown. This The checkout system has a basic structure Conveyor 1, in the present case a conveyor belt, and a arranged at the end of the conveyor 1 Price / quantity recording device 2 and a cash register 3 on. In the price / quantity recording device 2 acts it is a so-called scanner 2, which bar codes affixed to the goods W to be detected reads without errors. In the present case it is a so-called dual scanner 2, ie a scanning device, which defines two scan planes arranged at an angle to each other, for a reliable and trouble-free recording of the With the help of the conveyor belt 1, goods W supplied. These are only indicated in Fig. 1, wherein the goods W from the left of an operator P in the conveying direction F are supplied. This is the normal case, i.e. H. The operator P is right-handed, that is, he serves the cash register 3 mostly with the right hand.

Of course, it is also conceivable that in the figures to set up the checkout system shown, if the operator P is a left-hander is. In any case, according to the embodiment the goods to be recorded W compared to the Operator P by means of the conveyor 1 from the left coming here fed. According to the invention Price / quantity recording device 2 or scanner 2 with respect to a central body plane Z of the operator P to the left in the direction of the goods supplied W by certain dimension M offset. This dimension M is according to the embodiment in the range between 10-20 cm, however also take values between 5-30 cm. This depends on Mainly from the topological conditions, in particular the size of the operator P or the available standing space. - For a left-handed version is of course the price / quantity recording device 2 compared to the central body plane Z of the Operator P to the right towards then from Goods W fed to the right offset by a certain amount M.

On the basis of Figures 1 and 2 and in particular 3 can be seen in addition that the conveyor device 1 or the conveyor belt 1 is an essentially coplanar goods detection / distribution counter 4 connects. In this goods registration / distribution counter 4 is the price / quantity entry device 2 or the scanner 2 integrated. After this The exemplary embodiment is the goods registration / distribution counter 4 executed as a segment of a circle and has a radius R, which is essentially at an average arm length A is adapted to the operator P or to one natural, circular arm movement, which the Operator P performed when transporting the goods. This is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 2. Based on this The flow of goods can be traced particularly well, namely from the conveyor 1 on the Goods registration / distribution counter 4 to the price / quantity recording device 2 and finally ending in one Shopping cart 5. Because the conveyor 1 and the goods registration / distribution counter 4 arranged coplanar to one another are, the flow of goods practically takes place on one Level instead of the associated retail goods W pushing forward.

The goods flow / distribution counter 4 is at the end of the goods flow at least one L-shaped parking facility 6 for the already addressed shopping cart 5 provided. This parking facility 6 owns one of the goods registration / distribution counter 4 formed an L-leg 6a and another formed by a storage counter 7 L-leg 6b. Recognizes on the basis of the exemplary embodiment one that the length of the L-leg 6b - formed by the Parking counter 7 - to the front width B of the shopping cart 5 is adjusted. In contrast, the length corresponds of the other L-leg 6a essentially half Total length or length L of the shopping cart 5 in question. These aspect ratios have been chosen to be a Customer K in the position sketched in Fig. 2 there Convey goods W transported into shopping cart 5 without any problems can. Because this customer K is practically in Extension of the L-leg 6a of the L-shaped parking facility 6th

For the operator P a problem-free look into the shopping cart 5 is to be guaranteed for inspection purposes the counter 7 opposite the goods registration / distribution counter 4 by a design of the shopping cart 5 dependent dimension T lowered, as in particular FIG. 3 makes it clear. Here, the invention is based on the Realizing that a typical (standard) shopping cart 5 a sloping forward and from one Has wire surface described, so that as an L-leg 6b serving counter 7 with your reduced height as a stop for this lowered area of the shopping cart 5 can serve. Nevertheless, the captured goods can be left by the customer K easily from the goods registration / distribution counter 4 in the Transfer shopping trolley 5 by sliding because of their height as it were to the average or maximum height of the Wire mesh described surface of the shopping cart 5 is adjusted.

Around the cash register 3 or the price / quantity recording device Protect 2 is on the top of the goods collection / distribution counter 4 a deflector 8 is provided, which otherwise a mandatory end of the conveyor 1 Covers the light barrier. This light barrier holds them Conveyor 1 when there is no flow of goods.

Furthermore, a computer unit 9 of the cash register 3 is in the end area the conveying device 1 arranged below it, So take a protected, easily accessible and well ventilated room. - - The storage counter 7 is used Inclusion of a waste collector 10 and a money store 11. Such is possible because the operator's legs P usually only below the goods registration / distribution counter 4 are located so that the body of the Storage counter 7 for receiving the aforementioned components 10, 11 of the cashier shown.

Finally, the ergonomic operation is shown Cashier system of particular importance that the Conveying device 1 and the central body plane Z or Goods detection / distribution counter 4 an acute angle α in the Magnitude of 5 ° -30 °, according to the embodiment Include 10 ° -15 °. This acute angle α is in particular can be seen in Fig. 2 and ensures that the linearly fed from the left by means of the conveying device 1 W were as it were harmonious in a circular arc movement on the circular segment-shaped goods detection / distribution counter 4 are transferred. At the end of this circular goods movement or the flow of goods is dropped into shopping cart 5, which with Using the parking facility 6 exactly and immovably on the required position is positioned.

In any case, the goods W can be particularly energy-saving on the part of the operator P, mainly with the left hand, if it is one Right-handed. The right hand therefore predominantly serves to operate a keyboard 12 of the cash register 3 and Change, collect and deposit money. Accordingly both arms and hands are evenly loaded. All of this works without making excessive trunk movements the operator P are required, so that one under health-related aspects, particularly favorable checkout system is made available.

Claims (10)

1. A checkout installation for goods (W), particularly retail goods (W), comprising a feeder apparatus (1), e.g. a conveyor belt (1), and comprising a price/quantity recording device (2) disposed at the end of the feeder apparatus (1), as well as a till (3), wherein the feeder apparatus (1) feeds the goods (W) to be recorded so that they arrive from the left in relation to an operator (P), and wherein in relation to a central body plane (Z) of the operator (P) the price/quantity recording device (2) is offset to the left by a defined extent (M) towards the goods (W) which are fed, characterised in that a substantially coplanar goods recording/distributor counter (4), which comprises the price/quantity recording device (2), adjoins the feeder apparatus (1), wherein at least one L-shaped parking device (6) for a shopping trolley (5) is provided at the goods flow end face of the goods recording/distributor counter (4).
2. A checkout installation for goods (W), particularly retail goods (W), comprising a feeder apparatus (1), e.g. a conveyor belt (1), and comprising a price/quantity recording device (2) disposed at the end of the feeder apparatus (1), as well as a till (3), wherein the feeder apparatus (1) feeds the goods (W) to be recorded so that they arrive from the right in relation to an operator (P), and wherein in relation to a central body plane (Z) of the operator (P) the price/quantity recording device (2) is offset to the right by a defined extent (M) towards the goods (W) which are fed, characterised in that a substantially coplanar goods recording/distributor counter (4), which comprises the price/quantity recording device (2), adjoins the feeder apparatus (1), wherein at least one L-shaped parking device (6) for a shopping trolley (5) is provided at the goods flow end face of the goods recording/distributor counter (4).
3. A checkout installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the extent (M) of the offset to the left or to the right in relation to the central body plane (Z) is about 5-30 cm, preferably 10-20 cm.
4. A checkout installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the feeder apparatus (1) and the central body plane (Z) or the goods and recording/distributor counter (4) form an acute angle (α) of about 5°-30°, preferably between 10° and15°.
5. A checkout installation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that in the L-shaped parking device (6) one limb of the L (6a) is formed by the goods recording/distributor counter (4) and the other limb of the L (6b) is formed by a placement counter (7).
6. A checkout installation according to claim 5, characterised in that the placement counter (7) is lowered by a defined extent (T) in relation to the goods recording/distributor counter (4).
7. A checkout installation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the goods recording/distributor counter (4) is formed in the shape of a segment of a circle with a radius (R) which is matched to the average length of an arm (A).
8. A checkout installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the placement counter (7) is designed for receiving a waste collector (10) and/or a cash repository (11).
9. A checkout installation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a computer unit (9) of the till (3) is disposed in the end region of the feeder apparatus (1), underneath the same.
10. A checkout installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the price/quantity recording device (2) is in the form of a scanner (2) comprising two scanning planes disposed at an angle to each other.

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