EP3245909A1 - Checkout area - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a checkout area (100) having a loading section (104), a checkout section (106) and a removal section (102). According to the invention, it is provided that at least one hook (114) for receiving a carrying loop (138, 144) of a pocket (140, 142) is arranged on the removal section (102). In this way, the filling of the bag with goods registered for purchase, as well as the subsequent payment process for a customer can be simplified.

Description

The invention relates to a checkout area according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a method for using such a checkout area according to claim 15.

Cash register areas are known in the most varied designs in the prior art. Usually, such checkout areas, which are used, for example, in supermarkets, are divided into a loading section, a checkout section, and a removal section. On the Auflegeeabschnitt, which is often carried out in the form of a treadmill, a customer places his desired goods, whereupon they are transported to the cashier section, or sitting there cashier. There, the goods are registered by the cashier and then placed on the picking section after successful registration. From there, the customer then packs the goods into a means of transport, for example a shopping cart or a shopping bag.

The packing of the goods turns out to be particularly difficult when using a shopping bag or grocery bag, since shopping bags have no rigid loading area, as is the case for example with a shopping cart. Instead, the customer has to keep the bag open at the same time and fill it with the purchased goods. Especially for larger purchases or for the elderly, however, this often turns out to be very cumbersome and thus unpleasant for the customer. Furthermore, the bag must be held during the payment process with one hand, while the other hand, the payment process is performed.

The object of the present application is accordingly to overcome the described disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an improved cash register area.

Main features of the invention are specified in the characterizing part of claim 1 and in claim 15. Embodiments are the subject of claims 2 to 14.

In a checkout area with a loading section, a checkout section and a removal section, it is provided according to the invention that at least one hook for receiving a carrying loop of a pocket is arranged on the removal section. Under a "bag" can be understood both a shopping bag with one or two straps, as well as, for example, a backpack. Thus, the "bag" is a non-rigid transport container having at least one carrying loop. The at least one hook is preferably attached laterally to the removal section, so that a pocket can be hung laterally on the removal section. In this case, a "hook" is generally understood to mean a holding device which is designed to receive the carrying loop of a bag and thus to carry the bag. Thus, the term "hook" and all those holding devices are subsumed, which are adapted to carry a carrying loop of a bag, but in itself have no hook shape.

The provision of a hook on the removal section of a checkout area has the advantage that during the filling of the bag, the bag can be hung with a strap on the hook and held open with one hand. The other hand can be used to carry goods from the removal section into the bag. Once the goods have been packed in the bag, the second carrying loop of the bag, if present, can be hooked into the hook so that a customer can carry both hands of the payment transaction. Then the bag can be easily removed from the hook.

In this case, according to embodiments, a twisting of the hooked with a strap in the hook bag can be prevented if the hook is 5cm to 15cm, preferably 10cm wide. In this way, the outer support points of the hooked into the hook strap are so far apart that twisting the strap is avoided. In this way, the inclusion of goods in the hooked into the hook bag is further simplified.

In order to ensure a high durability of the at least one hook is provided according to a further embodiment that the hook is made of metal, preferably made of a stainless steel. In this case, stainless steel is characterized by a sufficient thickness, in particular by a high rigidity, so that even heavy shopping bags can be worn through the hook without a permanent deformation of the hook would be feared.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hook has at least one mounting plate and a front plate connected to the mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate with the front plate forms an acute angle between 10 ° and 80 °, so that the hook has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile. Preferably, the angle between the mounting plate and the front panel is about 30 ° to 50 °. In this way, a hook can be provided with simple means, which ensures a secure storage of the hinged carrying loops of a bag. Alternatively, an intermediate piece may be inserted between the mounting plate and the front panel, so that the mounting plate is not directly adjacent to the front panel. The transitions between the plates are preferably executed rounded.

The production of the hook can be further simplified according to a further embodiment by the hook is made in one piece. In this case, according to a further preferred embodiment, the hook is designed as a shaped sheet. By a one-piece design of the hook as a shaped sheet a very robust and easy-to-produce hook is created especially when using a sufficiently thick sheet. To produce the hook, it is sufficient in this case, auszustanzen a corresponding fitting from a metal plate and bring with one or two bending operations in the appropriate form. To prevent customers from injuring the hook when hanging a bag thereby preferably provided that the edges and corners of the hook are rounded. This can already be ensured by an appropriate design of the fitting and by a subsequent, material-removing processing.

For mounting the hook on the removal area is further provided according to a further embodiment that the mounting plate has at least two holes, wherein the hook is screwed to the boreholes with the removal area. The boreholes are preferably arranged as far as possible outside of the mounting plate to ensure the greatest possible stability of the hook. Further, the bore holes are preferably arranged to have the same distance to an upper edge of the mounting plate as to one of the side edges of the mounting plate. In this way, a uniform load distribution is ensured on the breakpoints of the hook.

In order to screw the hook with the removal area, countersunk screws are preferably used, the boreholes are designed accordingly with a conical profile for receiving the heads of the screws. In this way, a smooth surface of the mounting plate can be maintained even when used mounting screws, so that a strap when hooking in or removal from the hook can not get caught in the mounting screws.

In order to simplify the assembly of the hook is provided according to a further embodiment, that the front plate is designed so that the holes are fully accessible from a direction perpendicular to the mounting plate and are not covered by the front panel. This can be ensured, for example, by making the front plate angled sufficiently short or sufficiently strong angled from the mounting plate. In this way, the heads of screws used for mounting are accessible with a commercially available screwdriver. A special tool is not necessary for mounting the hook.

According to a further embodiment it is further provided that the removal section has at least one wooden plate, wherein the hook is screwed to the boreholes with the wooden plate. The wood panel is preferably a pressboard. The attachment of such a wooden plate to the removal area has the advantage that the hook be attached by means of self-tapping screw to the wood panel at any point can. The mounting position is not determined by any holes in the usually made of metal panels a checkout area.

As an alternative to using a wooden panel, according to a further embodiment it can be provided that the removal section has a counter-holding plate, wherein the hook is fastened to the counter-holding plate by means of screws and nuts.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the removal section has a horizontally projecting from the removal portion by a distance, circumferential edge, wherein the hook is disposed above the edge. Such an edge is often provided at checkout areas to prevent damage to the usually made of metal lining the cashier area by shopping carts. If such an edge is arranged on the checkout area and in particular laterally on the removal section, it is advantageous if the at least one hook is arranged above the edge. In fact, in this case, the hanging of the carrying loop of a bag into the hook is not hindered by the edge.

In order to avoid that the at least one hook is damaged, in particular bent, by a shopping trolley which pushes against the hook, according to a further embodiment it is provided that the hook does not extend further than the distance from the removal section in the horizontal direction. In this way, shopping carts can not hit against the hook or hooks attached to the picking area, so that damage to the hook by shopping carts can be avoided.

According to a preferred embodiment it is further provided that exactly two hooks are arranged horizontally next to each other at the removal section. Preferably, the hooks are arranged side by side with a horizontal distance of 20cm to 50cm at the removal section. The attachment of two hooks has the advantage that both pockets with short straps, as well as pockets with long straps can be hung so that their respective openings are located just below the hooks. For this purpose, only a single hook can be used to hang a short strap, while both hooks are used to hang a long strap. Also, wide or elongated pockets can be safely hung using both hooks.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of using a checkout area as described above in purchasing a plurality of goods with a bag having at least two carrying straps. The method comprises placing the plurality of goods on the lay-up section, hooking a first one of the carrying loops of the bag into the hook, and conveying the plurality of goods from the removal section into the bag with one hand, the bag being attached to the second of the carrying loops held open with the other hand. Once the plurality of goods have been delivered to the bag, the method further includes suspending the second of the carrying loops into the hooks, and paying for the plurality of goods and removing the carrying loops of the bag from the hook.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Entnahmeabschnitts eines Kassenbereichs,

Fig. 2

verschiedene Ansichten eines Hakens,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Entnahmeabschnitts mit einer eingehängten Einkaufstasche, und

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Entnahmeabschnitts mit einer weiteren eingehängte Einkaufstasche.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the removal portion of a cash register area,

Fig. 2

different views of a hook,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the removal section with a hinged shopping bag, and

Fig. 4

a perspective view of the removal section with another hinged shopping bag.

Hereinafter, similar or identical features will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

The FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the removal portion 102 of a checkout area 100. In addition to the removal portion 102 of the support section 104, and the cashier section 106 are further recognizable. Usually, a treadmill (not shown) is arranged in the region of the laying section 104, which conveys goods placed on the laying section to the cash register section 106. At the checkout section 106 usually sits a cashier who registers the goods by means of a scanner 108 and then deposits the registered goods on the removal area 106. Often, customers use for transportation of purchased goods while a shopping cart (not shown), which they place on the front side 110 of the removal region 102. The shopping cart can then be conveniently loaded with the purchased goods. Once all goods have been scanned, the customer pays the purchased goods, for example by means of a card terminal 112 or by cash. Then the customer can remove the paid goods with the shopping cart.

In particular, in experienced cashiers, however, the frequency with which the cashier registers goods and on the removal section 102 often deposits the speed with which a customer can load the goods in the shopping cart. When using a shopping cart, a customer may at worst proceed to simply push the goods from the picking section 102 into the shopping cart. Frequently, however, customers do not use shopping carts but flexible shopping bags to transport the purchased goods. This is often the case, especially in the inner-city branches, due to the generally limited space available. When using flexible shopping bags, however, the problem arises that the shopping bag must be carried with one hand and at the same time kept open, while purchased goods are placed with the other hand in the bag. Especially with bulky goods, this often turns out to be difficult, since the bag can twist, so that the opening of the bag is no longer large enough to store the goods in the bag. Also, a "pushing" of goods in the shopping bag as described above is generally not possible.

However, according to the present invention, this problem is solved as in FIG. 1 shown solved by 110 hooks 114 are arranged for receiving the carrying straps of a shopping bag at the removal region 102 in the region of an upper edge of the front. Such a hook 114 is in FIG. 2 shown in different perspective views.

The FIG. 2 a) shows a hook 114 in a perspective view obliquely from above. The illustrated hook 114 is designed as a one-piece molded sheet and can be divided substantially into three areas. A first area is formed by a mounting plate 116 which has boreholes 118 for mounting the hook 114 on the removal area 102. The mounting plate 116 merges by means of a curved transition region 120 into a support plate 122, which is arranged perpendicular to the mounting plate 116. The support plate 122 in turn passes over a curved transition region 124 in a front plate 126, which forms an angle of about 30 ° with the mounting plate 116.

The illustrated hook 114 is preferably made of a 3mm thick stainless steel sheet. To produce the hook, a corresponding rectangular fitting can be punched out of a stainless steel plate and brought into the desired shape by means of two bending operations along the transition regions 120 and 124. As in FIG. 2 a) is further illustrated, the corners 128 of the punched fitting are rounded to avoid injury to the possibly sharp corners. In addition to rounding off the corners 128, it is also possible to round off the edges of the fitting as well so that the hook 114 has no sharp edges or corners whatsoever.
For attaching the hook 114 to the removal area 102, as in FIG FIG. 2 a) shown, according to one embodiment, screws 130 and provided on the screws nuts 132 provided. The heads of the screws 130 are preferably designed as countersunk heads, so that the hook 114 has a smooth surface in the region of the mounting plate 116 even when the screws 130 are inserted. In this way, it can be avoided that the carrying loop of a bag hooked into the hook 114 hooks in the heads of the mounting screws 130.

In order to simplify the mounting of the hook 114 by means of the screws 130, it is provided according to the invention that the heads of the screws 130 are not covered by the front plate 126 from a viewing direction perpendicular to the mounting plate 116. This is in FIG. 2 b) shown. As in FIG. 2 b) is clearly recognizable, is determined by a suitably chosen combination of length L (see FIG. 2c) ) of the front plate 126 on the one hand, and the angle α between the front plate 126 and mounting plate 116 on the other hand ensures that the screws 130 and their heads are not covered by the front plate 126. In this way, an assembly of the hook 114 with commercially available tools, for example. Screwdrivers done. The use of special tools is not necessary.

The FIGS. 2 c) and d) show a side view of the hook 114, and a view of the hook 114 from below, wherein the hook 114 is shown in each case in a bolted to a counter-plate 134 position. In each case, a screw 130 is inserted into the holes 118 of the hook, wherein the screws 130 are guided through corresponding holes in the counter plate 134. On the back of the counter plate 134 nuts 132 are in turn screwed onto the screws 130, whereby a firm grip of the hook 114 is ensured on the counter plate 134.

As in FIG. 1 2, two of the previously described hooks 114 are located just below the top of the front. In this case, the hooks 114 are fastened or preferably screwed to the front side 110 of the removal region 102 at a horizontal distance of approximately 30 cm. As in FIG. 1 can be seen further, below the hook 114, an edge 136 is arranged, which is intended to prevent damage to the panel of the cash register area 100 by shopping carts. For this purpose, the edge 136 is made of rubber or hard plastic, for example, and extends circumferentially around the checkout area 100 by a defined distance from the checkout area 100. According to the invention, the depth of the hooks 114 is the distance to which the edge 136 of the checkout area 100 and in particular protrudes from the removal region 102 does not exceed. In this way it can be avoided that shopping carts hit against the hooks 114 and damage them.

The FIG. 3 shows the same cash register area 100 as FIG. 1 with two arranged on the removal portion 102 hook 114, wherein in the right of the two hooks 114, a carrying loop 138 of a shopping bag 140 is mounted. In order to ensure a sufficient opening of the bag 140 for loading goods into the pocket 140, only one hand is now necessary, since one of the carrying loops 138 is held by the hook 114. In this way, it is possible to conveniently transport the purchased goods from the removal area 102 into the pocket 140. It is also theoretically possible to stop the bag 140 with one hand on a carrying loop 138 and to push the goods from the removal region 102 with the other hand into the pocket 140, since the bag 140 is arranged directly on the edge of the removal region 102. Once all purchased goods have been carried into the bag 140, the second strap 138 can be hooked into the hook 114, so that both hands are available to a customer for the payment process. Subsequently, the bag 140 can be easily taken from the hook 114.

The FIG. 4 again shows the same cashier area 100, now a larger shopping bag 142 is hooked with longer straps 144 in the hook 114. By using both hooks 114, it is ensured that, despite its long carrying straps 144, the pocket 142 does not hang too low under the upper edge of the removal region 102, so that a comfortable filling of the pocket 142 remains possible. In addition to the illustrated shopping bags 140 and 142, it is of course also possible to mount backpacks or other carrying aids in the hook 114 with the corresponding carrying straps.

The invention is not limited to one of the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in many ways.

Thus, in addition to an attachment of the hooks 114 to the removal section 102 of a checkout area 100, an attachment of hooks 114 in the region of the attachment section 104 may also be provided. In this way, the placement of goods on the treadmill of the laying section 104 could be simplified in an analogous manner.

All of the claims, the description and the drawings resulting features and advantages, including design details, spatial arrangements and method steps may be essential to the invention both in itself and in various combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

cashier

102

removal section

104

superposing

106

cash section

108

scanner

110

front

112

card terminal

114

hook

116

mounting plate

118

well

120

Transition area

122

support plate

124

Transition area

126

front panel

128

corner

130

screw

132

mother

134

counterplate

136

edge

138

wrist strap

140

shopping bag

142

shopping bag

144

wrist strap

Claims (15)

A cash register area (100) having a loading section (104), a cash register section (106) and a removal section (102), characterized in that at the removal section (102) at least one hook (114) for receiving a carrying loop (138, 144) of a pocket (140, 142) is arranged. Cash box (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook (114) 5cm to 15cm, preferably 10cm wide. Cash box (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hook (114) consists of metal, preferably of a stainless steel. The checkout area (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hook (114) has at least one mounting plate (116) and a front plate (126) connected to the mounting plate (116), the mounting plate (116) being connected to the front plate (116). 126) includes an acute angle between 10 ° and 80 ° so that the hook (114) has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile. Cash box (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hook (114) is in one piece. Cash box (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hook (114) is a shaped sheet. The cash register area (100) according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the mounting plate (116) has at least two boreholes (118), wherein the hook (114) is screwed to the boreholes (118) with the removal section (102) , The cash register area (100) of claim 7, characterized in that the front panel (126) is configured so that the boreholes (118) are fully accessible from a direction perpendicular to the mounting panel (116) and are not obscured by the front panel (126) become. Cash box (100) according to one of the preceding claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the removal portion (102) has at least one wooden plate, wherein the hook (114) is screwed to the boreholes (118) with the wooden plate. The cash register area (100) according to one of the preceding claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the removal section (102) has a counter-holding plate (134), wherein the hook (114) is secured to the counter-holding plate (134) by means of screws (130) and nuts (132) ) is attached. The checkout area (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removal section (102) has a circumferential edge (136) projecting horizontally from the removal section (102) by a distance, the hook (114) being located above the edge (136 ) is arranged. A checkout area (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the hook (114) extends in the horizontal direction no further than the distance from the removal portion (102) away. Cash box (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the removal portion (102) exactly two hooks (114) are arranged horizontally next to each other. Cash box (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that the hooks (114) are arranged at a horizontal distance of 20cm to 50cm side by side on the removal portion (102). A method of using a checkout area (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in purchasing a plurality of goods with a bag (140, 142) having at least two carrying loops (138, 144), comprising the steps of: Placing the plurality of goods on the loading section (104), Suspending a first of the carrying loops (138, 144) of the pocket (140, 142) into the hook (114), Conveying the plurality of goods from the removal section (102) into the pocket (140, 142) with one hand, the pocket (140, 142) being held open on the second of the support loops (138, 144) with the other hand, • Once the majority of goods have been transported into the pocket (140, 142), hook the second of the carrying straps (138, 144) into the hook (114), • Paying for the plurality of goods and removing the carrying loops (138, 144) of the bag (140, 142) from the hook (114).

Images