EP3363745A1 - Bagging apparatus - Google Patents
Bagging apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3363745A1 EP3363745A1 EP16855104.2A EP16855104A EP3363745A1 EP 3363745 A1 EP3363745 A1 EP 3363745A1 EP 16855104 A EP16855104 A EP 16855104A EP 3363745 A1 EP3363745 A1 EP 3363745A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- guide
- disposition
- bagging apparatus
- support
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- A47F9/043—Shopping bags or carton-dispensing systems therefor with mechanical action
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
- B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
- B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
- B65B5/067—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles in bags
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B67/00—Apparatus or devices facilitating manual packaging operations; Sack holders
- B65B67/02—Packaging of articles or materials in containers
- B65B67/04—Devices facilitating the insertion of articles or materials into bags, e.g. guides or chutes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
- B65B2220/14—Adding more than one type of material or article to the same package
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/46—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using grippers
- B65B43/465—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using grippers for bags
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- G07G1/00—Cash registers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to bagging apparatuses, and particularly to a bagging apparatus for putting a merchandise into a bag.
- a conventionally known automatic checkout system is used to sell a merchandise without cashier (as is disclosed in PTL 1).
- a scanner reads a merchandise that is put on a plate through an input port. After that, the merchandise on the plate drops into a container basket from a discharge port.
- an object of the present disclosure is to provide a bagging apparatus that can lessen impact exerted on a merchandise.
- a bagging apparatus includes a main mechanical unit and a drive unit.
- the main mechanical unit includes: a support having a loading surface that is formed for placement of a merchandise; and a guide disposed around the support and along an outer circumference of the loading surface.
- the drive unit moves at least one of the support and the guide so as to change a disposition of the main mechanical unit from a first disposition to a second disposition.
- a level of the support relative to the guide in the second disposition is lower than the level of the support relative to the guide in the first disposition.
- the main mechanical unit in the first disposition supports a bottom of a bag with the loading surface, while the bag with a bag mouth facing downward is put on the support and the guide from above.
- the main mechanical unit puts the merchandise into the bag by allowing a side periphery of the bag contiguous to the bottom of the bag to stand upward from the bottom of the bag via the guide by changing the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- a bagging apparatus of a second aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the first aspect, wherein the drive unit is preferably configured to move only the support downward in the main mechanical unit so as to change the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- a bagging apparatus of a third aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the first or second aspect, wherein the main mechanical unit preferably further includes a holding mechanism to hold the bottom of the bag in place on the loading surface.
- a bagging apparatus of a fourth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the main mechanical unit in the second disposition is preferably configured such that a level difference between the loading surface and an upper end face of the guide is greater than or equal to a total length of the bag in a vertical direction.
- a bagging apparatus of a fifth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the loading surface is preferably quadrangular.
- a bagging apparatus of a sixth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the guide is preferably shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, and the support is preferably configured to move relative to the guide in a space enclosed with the guide.
- a bagging apparatus of a seventh aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the sixth aspect, wherein an inner circumference of an upper end face of the guide is preferably similar in shape to the outer circumference of the loading surface.
- a bagging apparatus of an eighth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the upper end face of the guide preferably forms a bend projecting upward.
- a bagging apparatus of a ninth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the upper end face of the guide preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the loading surface.
- a bagging apparatus of a tenth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to ninth aspects and preferably further includes a bag supply mechanism to put the bag with the bag mouth facing downward on the main mechanical unit in the first disposition,
- the support moves downward relative to the guide such that the bag put on the support and the guide is drawn inside the guide.
- the side periphery of the bag stands up owing to the guide around the support and thus the merchandise placed on the loading surface is put into the bag.
- a bagging apparatus is an apparatus that is installed at a store of a retailer, such as a convenience store, a supermarket, a department store, a drugstore, a volume home electronics retailer, or a do-it-yourself store, and that is designed to bag a merchandise purchased by a customer.
- the "bagging” herein represents the work of putting (inserting) a merchandise or commodities into a bag.
- the "bag” may be any container that measures a size in which a merchandise can be stored and that has a mouth through which a merchandise can be put in and taken out.
- the bag may be a shopping bag (what is called a plastic shopping bag) that is made from polyethylene or polypropylene, for example.
- bagging apparatus 1 includes main mechanical unit 4 and drive unit 5.
- Main mechanical unit 4 includes support 2 and guide 3.
- Support 2 has loading surface 21 that is formed for placement of merchandise 6.
- Guide 3 is disposed around support 2 and along an outer circumference of loading surface 21.
- Drive unit 5 changes a disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from a first disposition to a second disposition.
- the "disposition of main mechanical unit 4" herein represents a relative positional relationship between support 2 and guide 3.
- the level of support 2 relative to guide 3 in the second disposition is lower than the level of support 2 relative to guide 3 in the first disposition.
- bagging apparatus 1 starts bagging merchandise 6 when shopping basket 61 containing merchandise 6 is placed in a bagging space on loading surface 21.
- Shopping basket 61 has a slidable bottom plate, for example. With the bottom plate slid to an open position, merchandise 6 is transferred from shopping basket 61 to loading surface 21. Merchandise 6 is, properly speaking, placed on bottom 72 of bag 7 because bottom 72 is on loading surface 21.
- main mechanical unit 4 in the first disposition supports bottom 72 of bag 7 with loading surface 21, while bag 7 with bag mouth 71 facing downward is put on support 2 and guide 3 from above.
- the "supporting" herein means supporting a thing from below.
- main mechanical unit 4 changes from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- main mechanical unit 4 puts merchandise 6 into bag 7 by allowing side periphery 73 of bag 7 contiguous to bottom 72 of bag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 via guide 3.
- Bagging apparatus 1 is installed in a cashier counter, a bagging table, or a similar platform at a store, for example and is used to bag merchandise 6 placed in a predetermined bagging space defined on loading surface 21.
- any customer can receive merchandise 6 put in bag 7 only by placing merchandise 6 he or she wants to purchase in the bagging space.
- This configuration enables workers (salesclerks) or customers at the store to save time and effort needed for bagging by use of bagging apparatus 1.
- Bagging apparatus 1 is combined with a settlement device or other similar devices to form a shopping support system for supporting customer's shopping.
- a customer can complete purchase of merchandise 6 by going through a series of processes of checking out merchandise 6 by the settlement device and bagging merchandise 6 by bagging apparatus 1. Consequently, involvement of salesclerks is not necessary in the processes that the customer goes through in purchasing merchandise 6 at the store. Details of the shopping support system will be described in the section of "(2.1) shopping support system".
- bagging apparatus 1 is installed at a convenience store taken as an example store.
- a shopping bag (what is called a plastic shopping bag) that is made from polyethylene is taken as an example of bag 7.
- a subject that places merchandise 6 in a bagging space may be a salesclerk other than a customer. For example, if merchandise 6 is a packet of cigarettes or any other merchandise stored in a cashier counter, a salesclerk rather than a customer places merchandise 6 in the bagging space.
- shopping support system 8 includes bagging apparatus 1 and settlement device 81.
- Settlement device 81 performs a checkout procedure for merchandise 6 in accordance with merchandise information on merchandise 6.
- the "merchandise information" herein represents information about each merchandise, and this information includes a name and a price for the merchandise.
- Settlement device 81 acquires the merchandise information using a bar-code reader, an image sensor, a load cell (a weight sensor), a reader for reading two-dimensional bar codes, or a reader for reading merchandise information contactless from radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, for example.
- RFID radio frequency identification
- Bagging apparatus 1 and settlement device 81 are installed on one counter table 82 provided in a cashier counter at a store (a convenience store in this exemplary embodiment), for example.
- Bagging apparatus 1 and settlement device 81 described herein are disposed such that settlement device 81 is positioned on the right-hand side of bagging apparatus 1 when viewed from a front of counter table 82.
- a plurality of bagging apparatuses 1 and settlement devices 81 may be installed at a single store.
- Bagging apparatus 1 and settlement device 81 may be enabled to communicate with a device such as a shop server installed at a store.
- Settlement device 81 includes main unit 811 provided on counter table 82 and display panel (display unit) 812 electrically connected to main unit 811.
- Main unit 811 is primarily made up of a computer and performs a procedure for a checkout in accordance with merchandise information by executing a program stored in a memory.
- Main unit 811 includes a cash unit for handing and receiving cash, a card reader for reading various cards, a printer (a printing unit) for printing receipts, and an audio output unit for emitting sound.
- Display panel 812 is made up of a touch panel display. In addition to displaying various data, display panel 812 acts as a user interface to accept input operation from a customer. The customer selects a payment method by operating display panel 812, for example, and settles his or her bill by paying a sum (an adjusted amount) displayed on display panel 812.
- settlement device 81 Since settlement device 81 is equipped with display panel 812, settlement device 81 may display various kinds of information to the customer other than the adjusted amount described above. Specifically, settlement device 81 may display an operating procedure for self-checkout system 8 to the customer, for example. This configuration can support the customer in using shopping support system 8 without involvement of salesclerks.
- Bagging apparatus 1 is built in counter table 82.
- a top surface of support 2 i.e. loading surface 21, is substantially flush with a top surface of counter table 82, for example.
- Bagging apparatus 1 may work together with settlement device 81. If bagging apparatus 1 works together with settlement device 81, bagging apparatus 1 can start bagging merchandise 6 in response to the completion of a checkout by settlement device 81, for example.
- Bagging apparatus 1 can bag merchandise 6 put in shopping basket 61 (see FIG. 1A ).
- the customer can get bagging apparatus 1 to bag merchandise 6 by putting merchandise 6 that he or she has picked up at a store in shopping basket 61 and placing shopping basket 61 inclusive of merchandise 6 in the bagging space on counter table 82.
- the customer can have merchandise 6 bagged without taking merchandise 6 out of shopping basket 61.
- This configuration enables the customer to readily bag merchandise 6 using bagging apparatus 1.
- Bagging apparatus 1 can bag merchandise 6 that is not put in shopping basket 61 other than merchandise 6 that is put in shopping basket 61. In this case, the customer can get bagging apparatus 1 to bag merchandise 6 by directly placing merchandise 6 on the bagging space.
- bagging apparatus 1 A configuration of bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will now be described in more detail. Unless otherwise particularly specified, the description below is given on the assumption that bagging apparatus 1 is installed such that loading surface 21 is parallel to a horizontal surface. In other words, a direction orthogonal to loading surface 21 is a vertical direction (a perpendicular direction). These directions, however, should not be construed to limit the direction of any component of bagging apparatus 1 installed for use. Bagging apparatus 1 may be used with loading surface 21 tilted somewhat relative to a horizontal surface, for example.
- bagging apparatus 1 includes main mechanical unit 4 and drive unit 5.
- Bagging apparatus 1 further includes housing 9 and bag supply mechanism 13.
- FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 3A .
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y of FIG. 3A .
- Housing 9 is shaped like a boxy rectangular parallelepiped extending longitudinally along the vertical direction.
- Main mechanical unit 4, a part of drive unit 5, and bag supply mechanism 13 are contained in housing 9.
- Top plate 91 that constitutes a top surface of housing 9 includes quadrilateral window hole 911 formed to expose support 2 and guide 3 to the outside of the housing.
- bagging apparatus 1 is built in counter table 82 (see FIG. 2 )
- the top surface of housing 9 (an upper side of top plate 91) constitutes a part of the top surface of counter table 82.
- Bag supply mechanism 13 is a mechanism designed to supply bag 7 to main mechanical unit 4. Bag supply mechanism 13 operates so as to put bag 7 with bag mouth 71 facing downward on main mechanical unit 4 in the first disposition.
- bag supply mechanism 13 includes container 131 and suction unit 132.
- Container 131 holds bag group 70 made up of a bunch of a plurality of bags 7. Bags 7 that constitute bag group 70 are each held by container 131 and suspended from container 131 with bag mouth 71 facing downward.
- Suction unit 132 faces container 131 through main mechanical unit 4.
- Suction unit 132 is a vacuum suction pad, for example.
- a surface of suction unit 132 opposed to container 131 is a surface designed to adhere to bag 7 by suction.
- Suction unit 132 is movable rectilinearly toward or away from container 131. Suction unit 132 operates so as to take one bag 7 at a time out of bag group 70 held in container 131.
- Bag supply mechanism 13 has a vacuum suction pad at a location facing suction unit 132 through main mechanical unit 4.
- the vacuum suction pad is used to open bag 7 taken out with suction unit 132.
- This configuration enables bag 7 taken out with suction unit 132 to be pulled at both sides by suction unit 132 and the vacuum suction pad such that bag 7 is held with bag mouth 71 opened.
- bag 7 is supplied one at a time by bag supply mechanism 13 to main mechanical unit 4 with bag mouth 71 facing downward, bottom 72 facing upward, and bag mouth 71 being opened.
- bag 7 supplied by bag supply mechanism 13 is shown, whereas illustration of bag supply mechanism 13 is omitted.
- Bag 7 supplied by bag supply mechanism 13 has side periphery 73 contiguous to bottom 72. An end of side periphery 73 near bag mouth 71 is provided with a pair of handles 74 contiguous to side periphery 73. Bag 7 put on the main mechanical unit is turned inside out when merchandise 6 is put into bag 7. Thus, if bag 7 for use has a letter or character printed, the letter or the character is preferably inversed.
- Main mechanical unit 4 further has holding mechanism 14 in addition to support 2 and guide 3. Details of support 2 and guide 3 will be described in the section of "(2.2.2) Support and guide”.
- Holding mechanism 14 is a mechanism for holding bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21. Holding mechanism 14 is capable of switching between holding bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21 and releasing bottom 72.
- the "holding” herein means that loading surface 21 keeps supporting bottom 72. In other words, holding mechanism 14 maintains a state in which bottom 72 is in contact with loading surface 21 and is supported by loading surface 21 from below. In this exemplary embodiment, holding mechanism 14 holds bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21 by suction.
- holding mechanism 14 constitutes a vacuum suction pad having a suction surface on the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21).
- holding mechanism 14 sucks out air from an internal space of support 2 through a hose connected to support 2 and thereby applies suction force to bottom 72 via a plurality of small holes that open at the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21).
- drive unit 5 includes elevating mechanism 51, lock mechanism 52, first arm 53, second arm 54, first slider 55, second slider 56, and rail 57.
- Rail 57 is shaped like a round bar extending along the vertical direction. Both ends of rail 57 in the vertical direction are fixed to housing 9. In this exemplary embodiment, a pair of rails 57 is provided in housing 9. First and second sliders 55 and 56 are attached to rails 57 such that each of the sliders is freely movable along rails 57 in the vertical direction. First slider 55 is disposed below second slider 56. First slider 55 is mechanically linked to support 2 via first arm 53. Second slider 56 is mechanically linked to guide 3 via second arm 54.
- Elevating mechanism 51 is a mechanism for moving up and down first slider 55. In other words, elevating mechanism 51 indirectly moves up and down support 2 via first arm 53 by moving first slider 55 in the vertical direction. In this exemplary embodiment, elevating mechanism 51 is disposed beside housing 9. Elevating mechanism 51 includes an electric motor (a motor) and implements a pantograph linkage, rack-and-pinion gearing, or any other suitable mechanism to enable linear movement of first slider 55 in the vertical direction by driving force generated from the electric motor.
- a motor an electric motor
- Lock mechanism 52 is a mechanism that regulates movement of second slider 56 along rails 57. Lock mechanism 52 is attached to rails 57. Lock mechanism 52 is disposed between first and second sliders 55 and 56. Lock mechanism 52 includes an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid. Lock mechanism 52 is capable of switching between two states, namely a lock state in which lock mechanism 52 is locked in place relative to rails 57 and a release state in which lock mechanism 52 is freely movable along rails 57 in the vertical direction.
- Drive unit 5 having the configuration described above can move up and down support 2 and guide 3 together or move up and down support 2 alone by combining the action of elevating mechanism 51 with the action of lock mechanism 52. Consequently, drive unit 5 can move support 2 and guide 3 to respective desired positions.
- FIG. 4 shows a state in which guide 3 is at a lower limit level within a motion range in the vertical direction.
- FIGS. 5A , 5B , and 6 specific configurations of support 2 and guide 3 will now be described.
- FIGS. 5A and 5B omit illustration of components except support 2, guide 3, first arm 53, and second arm 54.
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of region "XI" in FIG. 5B .
- Support 2 is shaped like a rectangular plate.
- the top surface of support 2 constitutes loading surface 21 on which merchandise 6 is to be placed.
- loading surface 21 is quadrangular.
- loading surface 21 is rectangular with round corners.
- Support 2 is made of a synthetic resin, for example.
- the "quadrangular" herein encompasses precise quadrangles and quadrangles having round corners, for example.
- Guide 3 is shaped like a tube having a top face and an undersurface of which at least the top face forms an opening.
- guide 3 is shaped like a square tube having an opening at each of a top face and an undersurface.
- Guide 3 is made of a synthetic resin, for example.
- the opening faces of guide 3 are each a size larger than loading surface 21.
- Guide 3 is disposed around support 2 and along the outer circumference of loading surface 21.
- An inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21. In other words, in common with loading surface 21, the inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is rectangular with round corners. In common with loading surface 21, an outer circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 as well is rectangular with round corners.
- Support 2 and guide 3 are driven by drive unit 5 and thereby move in the vertical direction.
- guide 3 is at an upper limit level within the motion range in the vertical direction (see FIG. 8 )
- an upper end of guide 3 is inserted in window hole 911 of housing 9.
- the upper end of guide 3 is a size smaller than window hole 911.
- the outer circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is similar in shape to an opening face of window hole 911.
- guide 3 is inserted in window hole 911, and support 2 is put inside guide 3.
- a gap between an inner circumferential face of window hole 911 and guide 3 and a gap between guide 3 and support 2 each have a specified size that disallows insertion of a human finger.
- Support 2 is configured to move relative to guide 3 in a space enclosed with guide 3.
- drive unit 5 moves only support 2 downward in main mechanical unit 4 and thereby changes the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition shown in FIG. 5A to the second disposition shown in FIG. 5B .
- support 2 is configured to move in the vertical direction inside tubular guide 3 that is anchored at a fixed position.
- a state in which support 2 is disposed at the upper end of guide 3 as shown in FIG. 5A is defined as the first disposition.
- the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21) is substantially flush with upper end face 321 of guide 3.
- a state in which support 2 is disposed at a lower end of guide 3 as shown in FIG. 5B is defined as the second disposition.
- an undersurface of support 2 is substantially flush with a lower end face of guide 3.
- support 2 is movable across a total length of guide 3 in the vertical direction. If main mechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition, support 2 is disposed so as to cover the opening at the top face of guide 3. If main mechanical unit 4 is in the second disposition, support 2 is disposed so as to cover the opening at the undersurface of guide 3.
- support 2 is fixed to one end of first arm 53 and moves in the vertical direction along with movement of first arm 53.
- the one end of first arm 53 is inserted inside guide 3 through the undersurface opening of guide 3 and is mechanically linked to the undersurface of support 2.
- Guide 3 is fixed to one end of second arm 54 and moves in the vertical direction along with movement of second arm 54.
- the one end of second arm 54 is mechanically linked to an outer circumferential surface of guide 3.
- a pair of second arms 54 is provided.
- the pair of second arms 54 are each a plate-shaped part.
- First arm 53 is disposed between the pair of second arms 54. Hence, first arm 53 can move up and down support 2 while avoiding interference with guide 3 and second arms 54.
- Guide 3 includes tubular wall 31 made of a plate-shaped part and cover 32 having a frame shape.
- cover 32 is put on an upper end of wall 31 so as to cover an area from an outer circumferential surface to an inner circumferential surface of wall 31 through the upper end of wall 31.
- an upper end face of cover 32 is equivalent to upper end face 321 of guide 3.
- Upper end face 321 of guide 3 i.e. the upper end face of cover 32, forms a bend projecting upward.
- at least a part of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is a round surface. More specifically, an edge where upper end face 321 and an inner circumferential surface of guide 3 join and an edge where upper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface of guide 3 join are round-chamfered.
- Upper end face 321 has such a curved surface to prevent bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3.
- Upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of loading surface 21.
- upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a low coefficient of friction. This allows bag 7 to slide smoothly over upper end face 321 of guide 3.
- bagging apparatus 1 further includes controller 11 and input unit 12.
- Controller 11 is electrically connected with each of input unit 12, bag supply mechanism 13, elevating mechanism 51, lock mechanism 52, and holding mechanism 14. In response to an input signal from input unit 12, controller 11 sends a control signal to any of bag supply mechanism 13, drive unit 5 (elevating mechanism 51, lock mechanism 52), and holding mechanism 14. This configuration allows controller 11 to control bag supply mechanism 13, drive unit 5, and holding mechanism 14 individually.
- controller 11 is primarily made up of a computer such as a microcomputer. Controller 11 executes a program stored in a memory on the computer through a processor of the computer and thereby performs a suitable procedure.
- the program may be stored in the memory in advance, may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be saved on a storage medium such as a memory card and provided via the storage medium.
- Controller 11 is installed inside counter table 82, for example. However, all functions of controller 11 are not necessarily converged in one housing. At least a part of the functions of controller 11 may be decentrally provided in drive unit 5, bag supply mechanism 13, or holding mechanism 14, for example.
- Input unit 12 sends an input signal to controller 11 to at least let bagging apparatus 1 start bagging operation.
- Input unit 12 is electrically connected to a switch or any other device for accepting a customer's operation, for example and generates an input signal in response to the customer's operation. If bagging apparatus 1 works together with settlement device 81, input unit 12 may receive a trigger signal from settlement device 81 and send an input signal for starting bagging operation, for example.
- bagging apparatus 1 puts bag 7 in place by putting bag 7 with bag mouth 71 facing downward on support 2 and guide 3 that constitute main mechanical unit 4.
- bagging apparatus 1 moves support 2 and guide 3 upward to put bag 7 in place.
- main mechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition, and support 2 is disposed at the upper end of guide 3.
- bagging apparatus 1 inserts main mechanical unit 4 that is in the first disposition into bag 7 from below.
- drive unit 5 puts lock mechanism 52 into the release state and moves support 2 and guide 3 upward by moving first slider 55 together with second slider 56 upward using elevating mechanism 51.
- drive unit 5 moves guide 3 from the lower limit level (see FIG. 4 ) to the upper limit level (see FIG. 8 ) in the motion range of guide 3, and thereby puts bag 7 on support 2 and guide 3.
- guide 3 is at the upper limit level within the motion range in the vertical direction.
- the upper end of guide 3 is inserted in window hole 911 of housing 9.
- upper end face 321 of guide 3 is substantially flush with the top surface of housing 9.
- main mechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition, the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21) is substantially flush with upper end face 321 of guide 3 and the top surface of housing 9.
- bagging apparatus 1 lets bottom 72 of bag 7 adhere to loading surface 21 by suction using holding mechanism 14 and thereby holds bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21.
- the state shown in FIG. 8 is defined as a standby state. Bagging apparatus 1 is kept in the standby state until merchandise 6 contained in is placed in the bagging space on loading surface 21.
- bagging apparatus 1 When shopping basket 61 containing merchandise 6 is placed in the bagging space on loading surface 21, bagging apparatus 1 starts bagging merchandise 6.
- Shopping basket 61 has a slidable bottom plate, for example. With the bottom plate slid to an open position, merchandise 6 is transferred from shopping basket 61 to loading surface 21. Merchandise 6 is, properly speaking, placed on bottom 72 of bag 7 because bottom 72 is on loading surface 21.
- bagging apparatus 1 gets drive unit 5 to drive main mechanical unit 4 and puts merchandise 6 into bag 7 by changing the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- drive unit 5 puts lock mechanism 52 into the lock state and moves only support 2 downward in main mechanical unit 4 that is in the first disposition as shown in FIG. 9A by moving first slider 55 downward using elevating mechanism 51.
- FIG. 9B support 2 alone moves downward while guide 3 is kept at the upper limit level within the motion range and thus main mechanical unit 4 shifts from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- FIGS. 9A and 9B illustration of merchandise 6 and bag 7 is omitted.
- FIGS. 1A to 1C show how merchandise 6 is put in bag 7 during transition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. While the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition, bagging apparatus 1 lets bottom 72 of bag 7 adhere to loading surface 21 by suction using holding mechanism 14 and thereby keeps holding bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21.
- FIGS. 1A to 1C each exemplify a plurality of commodities 6, i.e. a beverage in a PET plastic bottle, a box of sweets, and a can of juice, just one merchandise 6 may be placed.
- shopping basket 61 is removed from housing 9 in the process of FIG. 1B , for example.
- shopping basket 61 may be removed in the process of FIG. 1C or another subsequent process.
- main mechanical unit 4 in the second disposition as shown in FIG. 1C is configured such that level difference L1 between loading surface 21 and upper end face 321 of guide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 of bag 7 in the vertical direction.
- Total length L1 of bag 7 in the vertical direction herein is a total length of bag 7 including a pair of handles 74, i.e. a distance from bottom 72 of bag 7 to ends of handles 74.
- bag 7 including the ends of handles 74 is put inside the space enclosed with guide 3.
- handles 74 as well as side periphery 73 of bag 7 stand upright.
- bagging apparatus 1 gets drive unit 5 to drive main mechanical unit 4 and discharges bag 7 from the space enclosed with guide 3 by changing the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the second disposition to the first disposition.
- drive unit 5 puts lock mechanism 52 into the lock state and moves only support 2 upward in main mechanical unit 4 that is in the second disposition by moving first slider 55 upward using elevating mechanism 51.
- support 2 alone moves upward while guide 3 is kept at the upper limit level within the motion range and thus main mechanical unit 4 shifts from the second disposition to the first disposition.
- bag 7 on loading surface 21 projects upward above the opening at the top face of guide 3 along with an upward movement of support 2.
- bag 7, as shown in FIG. 10B is completely discharged from the space enclosed with guide 3.
- bag 7 including handles 74 remains freestanding.
- bagging apparatus 1 can put commodities 6 that are placed in the bagging space on loading surface 21 into bag 7 and pass commodities 6 put in bag 7 with handles 74 standing to the customer.
- bagging apparatus 1 puts new bag 7 in place and gets into the standby state.
- bagging apparatus 1 puts commodities 6 into bag 7 by allowing side periphery 73 of bag 7 contiguous to bottom 72 of bag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 via guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- support 2 moves downward relative to guide 3 such that bag 7 put on support 2 and guide 3 is drawn inside guide 3.
- side periphery 73 of bag 7 stands up owing to guide 3 around support 2 and thus commodities 6 placed on loading surface 21 are put into bag 7.
- This configuration is advantageous in that bagging apparatus 1 can lessen impact exerted on commodities 6.
- this bagging apparatus 1 can transform bag 7 containing commodities 6 (turn the bag inside out) and thereby put commodities 6 into bag 7 without shifting commodities 6 from loading surface 21.
- This configuration enables the bagging apparatus to lessen impact exerted on commodities 6 at the time of putting commodities 6 into bag 7.
- drive unit 5 is configured to move only support 2 downward in main mechanical unit 4 as shown in this exemplary embodiment and thereby change the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- This configuration enables bagging work inside housing 9 while preventing guide 3 from projecting above the top surface of housing 9.
- main mechanical unit 4 further includes holding mechanism 14 to hold bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21 as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- holding mechanism 14 to hold bottom 72 in place on loading surface 21 as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration, even if commodities 6 are relatively small or light, prevents bottom 72 from being separated from loading surface 21 and helps bag 7 to be drawn inside guide 3 while support 2 is moving downward relative to guide 3.
- holding mechanism 14 is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1, and holding mechanism 14 may be omitted as appropriate.
- main mechanical unit 4 in the second disposition is configured as shown in this exemplary embodiment such that level difference L1 between loading surface 21 and upper end face 321 of guide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 of bag 7 in the vertical direction.
- This configuration enables handles 74 and other constituents of bag 7 containing commodities 6 to stand upright. This, in turn, provides an advantage in that the customer can readily grip handles 74 at the time of receiving commodities 6 from the bagging apparatus.
- This configuration in which level difference L1 between loading surface 21 and upper end face 321 of guide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 of bag 7 in the vertical direction, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1.
- Level difference L1 may be less than total length L2 of bag 7.
- loading surface 21 is quadrangular as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- This configuration enables the bagging apparatus to transfer commodities 6 put in shopping basket 61 with a quadrangular bottom to loading surface 21 while the disposition of these components remains as is.
- quadrangular loading surface 21 is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1.
- Loading surface 21 may be elliptic, for example, other than quadrangular.
- guide 3 is shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, and support 2 is configured to move relative to guide 3 in a space enclosed with guide 3, as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- guide 3 forms a wall around support 2.
- guide 3 supports commodities 6 and prevents commodities 6 from falling off loading surface 21.
- the inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21, as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- This configuration can keep a gap between guide 3 and support 2 to a relatively small.
- This configuration in which the inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1.
- the inner circumference of upper end face 321 of guide 3 may not be similar in shape to the outer circumference of loading surface 21.
- upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- This configuration prevents bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- This configuration in which upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1.
- Upper end face 321 of guide 3 may form a flat surface, for example.
- upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of loading surface 21, as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- This configuration prevents bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- This configuration in which upper end face 321 of guide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1.
- the coefficient of friction of upper end face 321 of guide 3 may be on a par with the coefficient of friction of loading surface 21.
- bagging apparatus 1 further includes bag supply mechanism 13 to put bag 7 with bag mouth 71 facing downward on main mechanical unit 4 in the first disposition, as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- bag supply mechanism 13 is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1. Bag supply mechanism 13 may be omitted as appropriate.
- Bag 7 into which bagging apparatus 1 puts (bags) merchandise 6 may be an ecological shopping bag and a mesh shopping bag, for example, other than the shopping bag described above, with proviso that bagging apparatus 1 is configured to put merchandise 6 into bag 7.
- the shopping bag may be made from polypropylene, for example, other than polyethylene.
- Bag supply mechanism 13 may be configured to turn bag 7 inside out and supply bag 7 to main mechanical unit 4.
- the bagging apparatus puts bag 7 that is turned inside out on main mechanical unit 4, and again turns bag 7 inside out before putting merchandise 6 into bag 7.
- the original outer surface of bag 7 constitutes an outer surface of bag 7 containing merchandise 6.
- bag 7 for use has a letter or character printed, no inversion of the letter or the character is required.
- Bagging apparatus 1 may be installed and used at any stores other than convenience stores.
- bagging apparatus 1 may be installed at facilities such as offices and plants other than stores.
- Drive unit 5 may be configured to move support 2 and guide 3 individually. In this case, drive unit 5 may move only guide 3 upward in main mechanical unit 4 and thereby change the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. Alternatively, drive unit 5 may move both support 2 and guide 3 and thereby change the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- Drive unit 5 may not include any power source such as an electric motor for generating driving force but drive main mechanical unit 4 using force applied by a person to a handle or any operation part, for example.
- bagging apparatus 1 bags merchandise 6 by letting drive unit 5 drive manually operated main mechanical unit 4. Accordingly, the range of application of bagging apparatus 1 is not limited to automatic bagging but includes manual bagging by persons.
- Holding mechanism 14 may have any device other than the vacuum suction pad and may hold bottom 72 in place by suction through means other than vacuum suction. Alternatively, holding mechanism 14 may hold bottom 72 in place by adhesion other than suction or may hold bottom 72 of bag 7 in place by pinching, for example. If bottom 72 is held in place by adhesion, holding mechanism 14 includes an adhesive sheet that is pasted on the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21) to display proper adhesive strength, for example.
- Only any one of an edge where upper end face 321 and the inner circumferential surface of guide 3 join and an edge where upper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface of guide 3 join may be round-chamfered.
- at least one of an edge where upper end face 321 and the inner circumferential surface of guide 3 join and an edge where upper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface of guide 3 join may be chamfered.
- Corners at the inner and outer circumferences of upper end face 321 of guide 3 may not be rounded off.
- the corners of upper end face 321 of guide 3 are preferably formed at a level below the other sections (sides) of guide 3. This configuration means that bag 7 is less apt to get caught on the corners of upper end face 321 of guide 3.
- upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward as shown in this exemplary embodiment.
- This configuration prevents bag 7 from getting caught on upper end face 321 of guide 3 while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- This configuration in which upper end face 321 of guide 3 forms a bend projecting upward, is not always necessary for bagging apparatus 1.
- Upper end face 321 of guide 3 may form a flat surface, for example.
- bagging apparatus 1A differs from bagging apparatus 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment in that guide 3A is not tubular.
- Structural elements similar to those of bagging apparatus 1 of the first exemplary embodiment are assigned with the same reference numerals, and their redundant descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
- guide 3A is formed along two opposing sides of loading surface 21.
- guide 3A includes a pair of walls 31A that are each shaped like a plate and a pair of covers 32A attached to respective upper ends of walls 31A.
- Upper end faces of the pair of covers 32A are equivalent to upper end faces 321A of guide 3A.
- Bagging apparatus 1A puts merchandise 6 (not illustrated) into bag 7 by allowing side periphery 73 of bag 7 (not illustrated) to stand upward from bottom 72 via guide 3A while a disposition of main mechanical unit 4A is changing from a first disposition shown in FIG. 11A to a second disposition shown in FIG. 11B .
- guide 3A which is not a guide surrounding an entire circumference of loading surface 21, helps side periphery 73 of bag 7 stand upright as in the first exemplary embodiment, with proviso that the guide is disposed around support 2 and along an outer circumference of loading surface 21.
- a modification of the second exemplary embodiment may have guide 3A that includes pole-shaped components installed at four corners of loading surface 21, for example. This configuration as well can put merchandise 6 into bag 7 by allowing side periphery 73 of bag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 via guide 3A while the disposition of main mechanical unit 4A is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- An exemplary embodiment can be implemented by suitably combining some elements described in the second exemplary embodiment (including the modification) with some elements described in the first exemplary embodiment (including the modifications).
- the present invention is applicable to a bagging apparatus for putting a merchandise into a bag.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
- Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
- Auxiliary Apparatuses For Manual Packaging Operations (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to bagging apparatuses, and particularly to a bagging apparatus for putting a merchandise into a bag.
- A conventionally known automatic checkout system is used to sell a merchandise without cashier (as is disclosed in PTL 1). In the system described in
PTL 1, a scanner reads a merchandise that is put on a plate through an input port. After that, the merchandise on the plate drops into a container basket from a discharge port. - PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No.
H06-266958 - In the system described in
PTL 1, every merchandise drops into the container basket from the discharge port. This configuration can disadvantageously increase impact exerted on the merchandise compared to cases in which a person puts the merchandise into a bag such as a shopping bag, i.e. a person bags the merchandise. - In view of the problem described above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a bagging apparatus that can lessen impact exerted on a merchandise.
- A bagging apparatus according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a main mechanical unit and a drive unit. The main mechanical unit includes: a support having a loading surface that is formed for placement of a merchandise; and a guide disposed around the support and along an outer circumference of the loading surface. The drive unit moves at least one of the support and the guide so as to change a disposition of the main mechanical unit from a first disposition to a second disposition. A level of the support relative to the guide in the second disposition is lower than the level of the support relative to the guide in the first disposition. The main mechanical unit in the first disposition supports a bottom of a bag with the loading surface, while the bag with a bag mouth facing downward is put on the support and the guide from above. The main mechanical unit puts the merchandise into the bag by allowing a side periphery of the bag contiguous to the bottom of the bag to stand upward from the bottom of the bag via the guide by changing the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- A bagging apparatus of a second aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the first aspect, wherein the drive unit is preferably configured to move only the support downward in the main mechanical unit so as to change the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- A bagging apparatus of a third aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the first or second aspect, wherein the main mechanical unit preferably further includes a holding mechanism to hold the bottom of the bag in place on the loading surface.
- A bagging apparatus of a fourth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the main mechanical unit in the second disposition is preferably configured such that a level difference between the loading surface and an upper end face of the guide is greater than or equal to a total length of the bag in a vertical direction.
- A bagging apparatus of a fifth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the loading surface is preferably quadrangular.
- A bagging apparatus of a sixth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the guide is preferably shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, and the support is preferably configured to move relative to the guide in a space enclosed with the guide.
- A bagging apparatus of a seventh aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of the sixth aspect, wherein an inner circumference of an upper end face of the guide is preferably similar in shape to the outer circumference of the loading surface.
- A bagging apparatus of an eighth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the upper end face of the guide preferably forms a bend projecting upward.
- A bagging apparatus of a ninth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the upper end face of the guide preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the loading surface.
- A bagging apparatus of a tenth aspect is based on the bagging apparatus of any one of the first to ninth aspects and preferably further includes a bag supply mechanism to put the bag with the bag mouth facing downward on the main mechanical unit in the first disposition,
- According to the present disclosure, the support moves downward relative to the guide such that the bag put on the support and the guide is drawn inside the guide. At the same time, the side periphery of the bag stands up owing to the guide around the support and thus the merchandise placed on the loading surface is put into the bag. This configuration is advantageous in that the bagging apparatus can lessen impact exerted on the merchandise.
-
-
FIG. 1A is a drawing illustrating a bagging movement performed by a bagging apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 1B is a drawing illustrating a movement following the movement ofFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 1C is a drawing illustrating a movement following the movement ofFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a self-checkout system including the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 3A is a plan view of the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X ofFIG. 3A . -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y ofFIG. 3A . -
FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a first disposition of a main mechanical unit in the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 5B is a schematic perspective view illustrating a second disposition of the main mechanical unit in the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of region X1 inFIG. 5B . -
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bagging apparatus in a standby state according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the first disposition of the main mechanical unit in the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the second disposition of the main mechanical unit in the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 10A is a drawing illustrating a discharging movement performed by the bagging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 10B is a drawing illustrating a movement following the movement ofFIG. 10A . -
FIG. 11A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a first disposition of a main mechanical unit in a bagging apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 11B is a schematic perspective view illustrating a second disposition of the main mechanical unit in the bagging apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment. - A bagging apparatus according to this exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that is installed at a store of a retailer, such as a convenience store, a supermarket, a department store, a drugstore, a volume home electronics retailer, or a do-it-yourself store, and that is designed to bag a merchandise purchased by a customer. The "bagging" herein represents the work of putting (inserting) a merchandise or commodities into a bag. The "bag" may be any container that measures a size in which a merchandise can be stored and that has a mouth through which a merchandise can be put in and taken out. The bag may be a shopping bag (what is called a plastic shopping bag) that is made from polyethylene or polypropylene, for example.
- With reference to
FIGS. 1A to 1C , baggingapparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment includes mainmechanical unit 4 and driveunit 5. Mainmechanical unit 4 includessupport 2 andguide 3. -
Support 2 hasloading surface 21 that is formed for placement ofmerchandise 6.Guide 3 is disposed aroundsupport 2 and along an outer circumference ofloading surface 21.Drive unit 5 changes a disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 from a first disposition to a second disposition. The "disposition of mainmechanical unit 4" herein represents a relative positional relationship betweensupport 2 andguide 3. The level ofsupport 2 relative to guide 3 in the second disposition is lower than the level ofsupport 2 relative to guide 3 in the first disposition. - With reference to
FIG. 1A , baggingapparatus 1starts bagging merchandise 6 whenshopping basket 61 containingmerchandise 6 is placed in a bagging space on loadingsurface 21. Shoppingbasket 61 has a slidable bottom plate, for example. With the bottom plate slid to an open position,merchandise 6 is transferred fromshopping basket 61 to loadingsurface 21.Merchandise 6 is, properly speaking, placed onbottom 72 ofbag 7 becausebottom 72 is on loadingsurface 21. As shown inFIG. 1A , mainmechanical unit 4 in the first disposition supports bottom 72 ofbag 7 withloading surface 21, whilebag 7 withbag mouth 71 facing downward is put onsupport 2 and guide 3 from above. The "supporting" herein means supporting a thing from below. Specifically, whilemerchandise 6 is placed overloading surface 21 viabottom 72, a weight ofmerchandise 6 presses bottom 72 againstloading surface 21. Thus, bottom 72 is supported by loadingsurface 21. Shoppingbasket 61 is removed and the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 changes from the first disposition to the second disposition. Through this process, mainmechanical unit 4, as shown inFIGS. 1B and1C , putsmerchandise 6 intobag 7 by allowingside periphery 73 ofbag 7 contiguous tobottom 72 ofbag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 viaguide 3. - More specifically, with reference to
FIG. 1A , when mainmechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition,bag 7 withbag mouth 71 facing downward is put onsupport 2 andguide 3, and bottom 72 ofbag 7 is supported by loadingsurface 21. At this time,merchandise 6 is placed overloading surface 21 viabag 7. Thus, bottom 72 ofbag 7 is put betweensupport 2 andmerchandise 6. Ifdrive unit 5 movessupport 2 downward relative to guide 3 from this disposition (the first disposition),bag 7 is, as shown inFIG. 1B , gradually drawn insideguide 3. At the same time,side periphery 73 ofbag 7 gradually stands up owing to guide 3 aroundsupport 2. As a result, with reference toFIG. 1C , when mainmechanical unit 4 is in the second disposition,bag 7 in the state ofFIG. 1A is turned inside out such thatmerchandise 6 is put intobag 7. In other words, the main mechanical unit movessupport 2 relative to guide 3 and thereby putsmerchandise 6 placed overloading surface 21 intobag 7. -
Bagging apparatus 1 is installed in a cashier counter, a bagging table, or a similar platform at a store, for example and is used tobag merchandise 6 placed in a predetermined bagging space defined on loadingsurface 21. As a result, any customer can receivemerchandise 6 put inbag 7 only by placingmerchandise 6 he or she wants to purchase in the bagging space. This configuration enables workers (salesclerks) or customers at the store to save time and effort needed for bagging by use of baggingapparatus 1. -
Bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment is combined with a settlement device or other similar devices to form a shopping support system for supporting customer's shopping. At a store where the shopping support system is installed, a customer can complete purchase ofmerchandise 6 by going through a series of processes of checking outmerchandise 6 by the settlement device and baggingmerchandise 6 by baggingapparatus 1. Consequently, involvement of salesclerks is not necessary in the processes that the customer goes through in purchasingmerchandise 6 at the store. Details of the shopping support system will be described in the section of "(2.1) shopping support system". -
Bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will now be described in detail. In this regard, the configuration described below is only an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments, and besides the exemplary embodiments, various modifications are possible depending on design or the like without departing form the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. - In this exemplary embodiment, bagging
apparatus 1 is installed at a convenience store taken as an example store. In this exemplary embodiment, a shopping bag (what is called a plastic shopping bag) that is made from polyethylene is taken as an example ofbag 7. A subject that placesmerchandise 6 in a bagging space may be a salesclerk other than a customer. For example, ifmerchandise 6 is a packet of cigarettes or any other merchandise stored in a cashier counter, a salesclerk rather than a customer placesmerchandise 6 in the bagging space. - First of all, a configuration of entire
shopping support system 8 that includes baggingapparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will be described below. - With reference to
FIG. 2 ,shopping support system 8 includes baggingapparatus 1 andsettlement device 81. -
Settlement device 81 performs a checkout procedure formerchandise 6 in accordance with merchandise information onmerchandise 6. The "merchandise information" herein represents information about each merchandise, and this information includes a name and a price for the merchandise.Settlement device 81 acquires the merchandise information using a bar-code reader, an image sensor, a load cell (a weight sensor), a reader for reading two-dimensional bar codes, or a reader for reading merchandise information contactless from radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, for example. -
Bagging apparatus 1 andsettlement device 81 are installed on one counter table 82 provided in a cashier counter at a store (a convenience store in this exemplary embodiment), for example.Bagging apparatus 1 andsettlement device 81 described herein are disposed such thatsettlement device 81 is positioned on the right-hand side of baggingapparatus 1 when viewed from a front of counter table 82. A plurality of baggingapparatuses 1 andsettlement devices 81 may be installed at a single store.Bagging apparatus 1 andsettlement device 81 may be enabled to communicate with a device such as a shop server installed at a store. -
Settlement device 81 includesmain unit 811 provided on counter table 82 and display panel (display unit) 812 electrically connected tomain unit 811.Main unit 811 is primarily made up of a computer and performs a procedure for a checkout in accordance with merchandise information by executing a program stored in a memory.Main unit 811 includes a cash unit for handing and receiving cash, a card reader for reading various cards, a printer (a printing unit) for printing receipts, and an audio output unit for emitting sound. -
Display panel 812 is made up of a touch panel display. In addition to displaying various data,display panel 812 acts as a user interface to accept input operation from a customer. The customer selects a payment method by operatingdisplay panel 812, for example, and settles his or her bill by paying a sum (an adjusted amount) displayed ondisplay panel 812. - Since
settlement device 81 is equipped withdisplay panel 812,settlement device 81 may display various kinds of information to the customer other than the adjusted amount described above. Specifically,settlement device 81 may display an operating procedure for self-checkout system 8 to the customer, for example. This configuration can support the customer in usingshopping support system 8 without involvement of salesclerks. -
Bagging apparatus 1 is built in counter table 82. InFIG. 2 , a top surface ofsupport 2, i.e.loading surface 21, is substantially flush with a top surface of counter table 82, for example. Thus, the customer can get baggingapparatus 1 tobag merchandise 6 by placingmerchandise 6 in the bagging space on loadingsurface 21 on a level with counter table 82.Bagging apparatus 1 may work together withsettlement device 81. If baggingapparatus 1 works together withsettlement device 81, baggingapparatus 1 can start baggingmerchandise 6 in response to the completion of a checkout bysettlement device 81, for example. -
Bagging apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment can bagmerchandise 6 put in shopping basket 61 (seeFIG. 1A ). In other words, the customer can get baggingapparatus 1 tobag merchandise 6 by puttingmerchandise 6 that he or she has picked up at a store inshopping basket 61 and placingshopping basket 61 inclusive ofmerchandise 6 in the bagging space on counter table 82. As a result, the customer can havemerchandise 6 bagged without takingmerchandise 6 out ofshopping basket 61. This configuration enables the customer to readily bagmerchandise 6 usingbagging apparatus 1. -
Bagging apparatus 1 can bagmerchandise 6 that is not put inshopping basket 61 other thanmerchandise 6 that is put inshopping basket 61. In this case, the customer can get baggingapparatus 1 tobag merchandise 6 by directly placingmerchandise 6 on the bagging space. - A configuration of bagging
apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will now be described in more detail. Unless otherwise particularly specified, the description below is given on the assumption that baggingapparatus 1 is installed such thatloading surface 21 is parallel to a horizontal surface. In other words, a direction orthogonal to loadingsurface 21 is a vertical direction (a perpendicular direction). These directions, however, should not be construed to limit the direction of any component of baggingapparatus 1 installed for use.Bagging apparatus 1 may be used withloading surface 21 tilted somewhat relative to a horizontal surface, for example. - With reference to
FIGS. 3A ,3B , and4 , baggingapparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment includes mainmechanical unit 4 and driveunit 5.Bagging apparatus 1 further includeshousing 9 andbag supply mechanism 13.FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X ofFIG. 3A .FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y ofFIG. 3A . -
Housing 9 is shaped like a boxy rectangular parallelepiped extending longitudinally along the vertical direction. Mainmechanical unit 4, a part ofdrive unit 5, andbag supply mechanism 13 are contained inhousing 9.Top plate 91 that constitutes a top surface ofhousing 9 includesquadrilateral window hole 911 formed to exposesupport 2 and guide 3 to the outside of the housing. While baggingapparatus 1 is built in counter table 82 (seeFIG. 2 ), the top surface of housing 9 (an upper side of top plate 91) constitutes a part of the top surface of counter table 82. -
Bag supply mechanism 13 is a mechanism designed to supplybag 7 to mainmechanical unit 4.Bag supply mechanism 13 operates so as to putbag 7 withbag mouth 71 facing downward on mainmechanical unit 4 in the first disposition. - With reference to
FIGS. 3A and3B ,bag supply mechanism 13 according to this exemplary embodiment includescontainer 131 andsuction unit 132.Container 131 holdsbag group 70 made up of a bunch of a plurality ofbags 7.Bags 7 that constitutebag group 70 are each held bycontainer 131 and suspended fromcontainer 131 withbag mouth 71 facing downward. -
Suction unit 132 facescontainer 131 through mainmechanical unit 4.Suction unit 132 is a vacuum suction pad, for example. A surface ofsuction unit 132 opposed tocontainer 131 is a surface designed to adhere tobag 7 by suction.Suction unit 132 is movable rectilinearly toward or away fromcontainer 131.Suction unit 132 operates so as to take onebag 7 at a time out ofbag group 70 held incontainer 131. -
Bag supply mechanism 13 has a vacuum suction pad at a location facingsuction unit 132 through mainmechanical unit 4. The vacuum suction pad is used to openbag 7 taken out withsuction unit 132. This configuration enablesbag 7 taken out withsuction unit 132 to be pulled at both sides bysuction unit 132 and the vacuum suction pad such thatbag 7 is held withbag mouth 71 opened. Thus, as shown inFIG. 4 ,bag 7 is supplied one at a time bybag supply mechanism 13 to mainmechanical unit 4 withbag mouth 71 facing downward, bottom 72 facing upward, andbag mouth 71 being opened. InFIG. 4 ,bag 7 supplied bybag supply mechanism 13 is shown, whereas illustration ofbag supply mechanism 13 is omitted. -
Bag 7 supplied bybag supply mechanism 13 hasside periphery 73 contiguous to bottom 72. An end ofside periphery 73 nearbag mouth 71 is provided with a pair ofhandles 74 contiguous toside periphery 73.Bag 7 put on the main mechanical unit is turned inside out whenmerchandise 6 is put intobag 7. Thus, ifbag 7 for use has a letter or character printed, the letter or the character is preferably inversed. - Main
mechanical unit 4 further has holdingmechanism 14 in addition tosupport 2 andguide 3. Details ofsupport 2 and guide 3 will be described in the section of "(2.2.2) Support and guide". -
Holding mechanism 14 is a mechanism for holding bottom 72 in place on loadingsurface 21.Holding mechanism 14 is capable of switching between holding bottom 72 in place on loadingsurface 21 and releasingbottom 72. The "holding" herein means that loadingsurface 21 keeps supportingbottom 72. In other words, holdingmechanism 14 maintains a state in which bottom 72 is in contact withloading surface 21 and is supported by loadingsurface 21 from below. In this exemplary embodiment, holdingmechanism 14 holds bottom 72 in place on loadingsurface 21 by suction. Specifically, holdingmechanism 14 constitutes a vacuum suction pad having a suction surface on the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21). For example, withsupport 2 having a hollow structure, holdingmechanism 14 sucks out air from an internal space ofsupport 2 through a hose connected to support 2 and thereby applies suction force to bottom 72 via a plurality of small holes that open at the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21). - With reference to
FIG. 4 , driveunit 5 includes elevatingmechanism 51,lock mechanism 52,first arm 53,second arm 54,first slider 55,second slider 56, andrail 57. -
Rail 57 is shaped like a round bar extending along the vertical direction. Both ends ofrail 57 in the vertical direction are fixed tohousing 9. In this exemplary embodiment, a pair ofrails 57 is provided inhousing 9. First andsecond sliders rails 57 such that each of the sliders is freely movable alongrails 57 in the vertical direction.First slider 55 is disposed belowsecond slider 56.First slider 55 is mechanically linked tosupport 2 viafirst arm 53.Second slider 56 is mechanically linked to guide 3 viasecond arm 54. - Elevating
mechanism 51 is a mechanism for moving up and downfirst slider 55. In other words, elevatingmechanism 51 indirectly moves up and downsupport 2 viafirst arm 53 by movingfirst slider 55 in the vertical direction. In this exemplary embodiment, elevatingmechanism 51 is disposed besidehousing 9. Elevatingmechanism 51 includes an electric motor (a motor) and implements a pantograph linkage, rack-and-pinion gearing, or any other suitable mechanism to enable linear movement offirst slider 55 in the vertical direction by driving force generated from the electric motor. -
Lock mechanism 52 is a mechanism that regulates movement ofsecond slider 56 along rails 57.Lock mechanism 52 is attached to rails 57.Lock mechanism 52 is disposed between first andsecond sliders Lock mechanism 52 includes an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid.Lock mechanism 52 is capable of switching between two states, namely a lock state in which lockmechanism 52 is locked in place relative torails 57 and a release state in which lockmechanism 52 is freely movable alongrails 57 in the vertical direction. - Owing to weight of
second arm 54 andguide 3, a load is applied tosecond slider 56. Thus, iflock mechanism 52 is in the release state, ascent or descent offirst slider 55 by elevatingmechanism 51 causessecond slider 56 to move up or down together withfirst slider 55. Iflock mechanism 52 is in the lock state,second slider 56 is held in place abovelock mechanism 52 and thus elevatingmechanism 51 moves up and downfirst slider 55 in isolation. -
Drive unit 5 having the configuration described above can move up and downsupport 2 and guide 3 together or move up and downsupport 2 alone by combining the action of elevatingmechanism 51 with the action oflock mechanism 52. Consequently, driveunit 5 can movesupport 2 and guide 3 to respective desired positions.FIG. 4 shows a state in which guide 3 is at a lower limit level within a motion range in the vertical direction. - With reference to
FIGS. 5A ,5B , and6 , specific configurations ofsupport 2 and guide 3 will now be described.FIGS. 5A and5B omit illustration of components exceptsupport 2,guide 3,first arm 53, andsecond arm 54.FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of region "XI" inFIG. 5B . -
Support 2 is shaped like a rectangular plate. The top surface ofsupport 2 constitutes loadingsurface 21 on whichmerchandise 6 is to be placed. In other words, loadingsurface 21 is quadrangular. In this example, loadingsurface 21 is rectangular with round corners.Support 2 is made of a synthetic resin, for example. The "quadrangular" herein encompasses precise quadrangles and quadrangles having round corners, for example. -
Guide 3 is shaped like a tube having a top face and an undersurface of which at least the top face forms an opening. In this exemplary embodiment,guide 3 is shaped like a square tube having an opening at each of a top face and an undersurface.Guide 3 is made of a synthetic resin, for example. The opening faces ofguide 3 are each a size larger than loadingsurface 21.Guide 3 is disposed aroundsupport 2 and along the outer circumference ofloading surface 21. An inner circumference ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference ofloading surface 21. In other words, in common withloading surface 21, the inner circumference ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is rectangular with round corners. In common withloading surface 21, an outer circumference ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 as well is rectangular with round corners. -
Support 2 and guide 3 are driven bydrive unit 5 and thereby move in the vertical direction. Whenguide 3 is at an upper limit level within the motion range in the vertical direction (seeFIG. 8 ), an upper end ofguide 3 is inserted inwindow hole 911 ofhousing 9. Thus, the upper end ofguide 3 is a size smaller thanwindow hole 911. In this example, the outer circumference ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is similar in shape to an opening face ofwindow hole 911. As a result,guide 3 is inserted inwindow hole 911, andsupport 2 is putinside guide 3. A gap between an inner circumferential face ofwindow hole 911 andguide 3 and a gap betweenguide 3 andsupport 2 each have a specified size that disallows insertion of a human finger. -
Support 2 is configured to move relative to guide 3 in a space enclosed withguide 3. In this exemplary embodiment, driveunit 5 moves onlysupport 2 downward in mainmechanical unit 4 and thereby changes the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 from the first disposition shown inFIG. 5A to the second disposition shown inFIG. 5B . In other words,support 2 is configured to move in the vertical direction insidetubular guide 3 that is anchored at a fixed position. - In this exemplary embodiment, a state in which
support 2 is disposed at the upper end ofguide 3 as shown inFIG. 5A is defined as the first disposition. When mainmechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition, the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21) is substantially flush withupper end face 321 ofguide 3. Meanwhile, a state in whichsupport 2 is disposed at a lower end ofguide 3 as shown inFIG. 5B is defined as the second disposition. When mainmechanical unit 4 is in the second disposition, an undersurface ofsupport 2 is substantially flush with a lower end face ofguide 3. As a consequence,support 2 is movable across a total length ofguide 3 in the vertical direction. If mainmechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition,support 2 is disposed so as to cover the opening at the top face ofguide 3. If mainmechanical unit 4 is in the second disposition,support 2 is disposed so as to cover the opening at the undersurface ofguide 3. - More specifically,
support 2 is fixed to one end offirst arm 53 and moves in the vertical direction along with movement offirst arm 53. The one end offirst arm 53 is inserted insideguide 3 through the undersurface opening ofguide 3 and is mechanically linked to the undersurface ofsupport 2.Guide 3 is fixed to one end ofsecond arm 54 and moves in the vertical direction along with movement ofsecond arm 54. The one end ofsecond arm 54 is mechanically linked to an outer circumferential surface ofguide 3. In this exemplary embodiment, a pair ofsecond arms 54 is provided. The pair ofsecond arms 54 are each a plate-shaped part.First arm 53 is disposed between the pair ofsecond arms 54. Hence,first arm 53 can move up and downsupport 2 while avoiding interference withguide 3 andsecond arms 54. -
Guide 3 includestubular wall 31 made of a plate-shaped part and cover 32 having a frame shape. With reference toFIG. 6 , cover 32 is put on an upper end ofwall 31 so as to cover an area from an outer circumferential surface to an inner circumferential surface ofwall 31 through the upper end ofwall 31. As a result, an upper end face ofcover 32 is equivalent toupper end face 321 ofguide 3. -
Upper end face 321 ofguide 3, i.e. the upper end face ofcover 32, forms a bend projecting upward. In other words, at least a part ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is a round surface. More specifically, an edge whereupper end face 321 and an inner circumferential surface ofguide 3 join and an edge whereupper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface ofguide 3 join are round-chamfered.Upper end face 321 has such a curved surface to preventbag 7 from getting caught onupper end face 321 ofguide 3.Upper end face 321 ofguide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction ofloading surface 21. Specifically, if a surface ofcover 32 is made up of a fluorocarbon polymer or any other material having low friction properties, for example,upper end face 321 ofguide 3 has a low coefficient of friction. This allowsbag 7 to slide smoothly overupper end face 321 ofguide 3. - With reference to
FIG. 7 , baggingapparatus 1 according to this present exemplary embodiment further includescontroller 11 andinput unit 12. -
Controller 11 is electrically connected with each ofinput unit 12,bag supply mechanism 13, elevatingmechanism 51,lock mechanism 52, and holdingmechanism 14. In response to an input signal frominput unit 12,controller 11 sends a control signal to any ofbag supply mechanism 13, drive unit 5 (elevatingmechanism 51, lock mechanism 52), and holdingmechanism 14. This configuration allowscontroller 11 to controlbag supply mechanism 13,drive unit 5, and holdingmechanism 14 individually. - In this example,
controller 11 is primarily made up of a computer such as a microcomputer.Controller 11 executes a program stored in a memory on the computer through a processor of the computer and thereby performs a suitable procedure. The program may be stored in the memory in advance, may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be saved on a storage medium such as a memory card and provided via the storage medium.Controller 11 is installed inside counter table 82, for example. However, all functions ofcontroller 11 are not necessarily converged in one housing. At least a part of the functions ofcontroller 11 may be decentrally provided indrive unit 5,bag supply mechanism 13, or holdingmechanism 14, for example. -
Input unit 12 sends an input signal tocontroller 11 to at least let baggingapparatus 1 start bagging operation.Input unit 12 is electrically connected to a switch or any other device for accepting a customer's operation, for example and generates an input signal in response to the customer's operation. If baggingapparatus 1 works together withsettlement device 81,input unit 12 may receive a trigger signal fromsettlement device 81 and send an input signal for starting bagging operation, for example. - Operation performed by bagging
apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment will now be described. - First of all, with reference to
FIG. 8 , baggingapparatus 1 putsbag 7 in place by puttingbag 7 withbag mouth 71 facing downward onsupport 2 and guide 3 that constitute mainmechanical unit 4. In this exemplary embodiment, baggingapparatus 1 movessupport 2 and guide 3 upward to putbag 7 in place. At this time, mainmechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition, andsupport 2 is disposed at the upper end ofguide 3. - Specifically, while
bag 7 is held in place bybag supply mechanism 13 withbag mouth 71 facing downward, bottom 72 facing upward, andbag mouth 71 being opened, baggingapparatus 1 inserts mainmechanical unit 4 that is in the first disposition intobag 7 from below. At this time,drive unit 5 putslock mechanism 52 into the release state and movessupport 2 and guide 3 upward by movingfirst slider 55 together withsecond slider 56 upward using elevatingmechanism 51. In this exemplary embodiment, driveunit 5 moves guide 3 from the lower limit level (seeFIG. 4 ) to the upper limit level (seeFIG. 8 ) in the motion range ofguide 3, and thereby putsbag 7 onsupport 2 andguide 3. - In
FIG. 8 ,guide 3 is at the upper limit level within the motion range in the vertical direction. Thus, the upper end ofguide 3 is inserted inwindow hole 911 ofhousing 9. At this time,upper end face 321 ofguide 3 is substantially flush with the top surface ofhousing 9. Since mainmechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition, the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21) is substantially flush withupper end face 321 ofguide 3 and the top surface ofhousing 9. In this state, baggingapparatus 1 lets bottom 72 ofbag 7 adhere to loadingsurface 21 by suction usingholding mechanism 14 and thereby holds bottom 72 in place on loadingsurface 21. The state shown inFIG. 8 is defined as a standby state.Bagging apparatus 1 is kept in the standby state untilmerchandise 6 contained in is placed in the bagging space on loadingsurface 21. - When shopping
basket 61 containingmerchandise 6 is placed in the bagging space on loadingsurface 21, baggingapparatus 1starts bagging merchandise 6. Shoppingbasket 61 has a slidable bottom plate, for example. With the bottom plate slid to an open position,merchandise 6 is transferred fromshopping basket 61 to loadingsurface 21.Merchandise 6 is, properly speaking, placed onbottom 72 ofbag 7 becausebottom 72 is on loadingsurface 21. - Next, bagging
apparatus 1 getsdrive unit 5 to drive mainmechanical unit 4 and putsmerchandise 6 intobag 7 by changing the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. In other words, driveunit 5 putslock mechanism 52 into the lock state and movesonly support 2 downward in mainmechanical unit 4 that is in the first disposition as shown inFIG. 9A by movingfirst slider 55 downward using elevatingmechanism 51. As a result, with reference toFIG. 9B ,support 2 alone moves downward whileguide 3 is kept at the upper limit level within the motion range and thus mainmechanical unit 4 shifts from the first disposition to the second disposition. InFIGS. 9A and9B , illustration ofmerchandise 6 andbag 7 is omitted. -
FIGS. 1A to 1C show howmerchandise 6 is put inbag 7 during transition of mainmechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. While the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition,bagging apparatus 1 lets bottom 72 ofbag 7 adhere to loadingsurface 21 by suction usingholding mechanism 14 and thereby keeps holding bottom 72 in place on loadingsurface 21. Although these drawings each exemplify a plurality ofcommodities 6, i.e. a beverage in a PET plastic bottle, a box of sweets, and a can of juice, just onemerchandise 6 may be placed. - Specifically, with reference to
FIG. 1A , when mainmechanical unit 4 is in the first disposition,commodities 6 are placed overloading surface 21 viabag 7. Thus, bottom 72 ofbag 7 is put betweensupport 2 andcommodities 6. At the same time, bottom 72 is held in place on loadingsurface 21 by suction force of holdingmechanism 14 as well as the weight ofcommodities 6.Drive unit 5 movessupport 2 downward relative to guide 3 from this disposition (the first disposition), and thusbag 7 is, as shown inFIG. 1B , gradually drawn insideguide 3. At this time,side periphery 73 ofbag 7 contiguous tobottom 72 ofbag 7 is drawn insideguide 3 while being pulled alongupper end face 321 ofguide 3. Thus,side periphery 73 ofbag 7 stands upward from an outer circumference of bottom 72 owing to guide 3 aroundsupport 2. As a result, with reference toFIG. 1C , when mainmechanical unit 4 is in the second disposition,bag 7 in the state ofFIG. 1A is turned inside out in a space enclosed withguide 3 such thatcommodities 6 are put intobag 7. At this time,side periphery 73 stands upright along the inner circumferential surface ofguide 3. - In this exemplary embodiment,
shopping basket 61 is removed fromhousing 9 in the process ofFIG. 1B , for example. However,shopping basket 61 may be removed in the process ofFIG. 1C or another subsequent process. - In this exemplary embodiment, main
mechanical unit 4 in the second disposition as shown inFIG. 1C is configured such that level difference L1 betweenloading surface 21 andupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 ofbag 7 in the vertical direction. "Total length L1 ofbag 7 in the vertical direction" herein is a total length ofbag 7 including a pair ofhandles 74, i.e. a distance frombottom 72 ofbag 7 to ends ofhandles 74. As a result,bag 7 including the ends ofhandles 74 is put inside the space enclosed withguide 3. Thus, handles 74 as well asside periphery 73 ofbag 7 stand upright. - Next, bagging
apparatus 1 getsdrive unit 5 to drive mainmechanical unit 4 and dischargesbag 7 from the space enclosed withguide 3 by changing the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 from the second disposition to the first disposition. At this time,drive unit 5 putslock mechanism 52 into the lock state and movesonly support 2 upward in mainmechanical unit 4 that is in the second disposition by movingfirst slider 55 upward using elevatingmechanism 51. As a result,support 2 alone moves upward whileguide 3 is kept at the upper limit level within the motion range and thus mainmechanical unit 4 shifts from the second disposition to the first disposition. - In other words, with reference to
FIG. 10A ,bag 7 onloading surface 21 projects upward above the opening at the top face ofguide 3 along with an upward movement ofsupport 2. With a further upward movement ofsupport 2,bag 7, as shown inFIG. 10B , is completely discharged from the space enclosed withguide 3. At this time,bag 7 includinghandles 74 remains freestanding. - According to the operation described above, bagging
apparatus 1 can putcommodities 6 that are placed in the bagging space on loadingsurface 21 intobag 7 and passcommodities 6 put inbag 7 withhandles 74 standing to the customer. Whencommodities 6 are gone from loadingsurface 21, baggingapparatus 1 putsnew bag 7 in place and gets into the standby state. - As described above, bagging
apparatus 1 according to this exemplary embodiment putscommodities 6 intobag 7 by allowingside periphery 73 ofbag 7 contiguous tobottom 72 ofbag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 viaguide 3 while the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. In other words,support 2 moves downward relative to guide 3 such thatbag 7 put onsupport 2 andguide 3 is drawn insideguide 3. At the same time,side periphery 73 ofbag 7 stands up owing to guide 3 aroundsupport 2 and thuscommodities 6 placed on loadingsurface 21 are put intobag 7. This configuration is advantageous in thatbagging apparatus 1 can lessen impact exerted oncommodities 6. As a consequence, thisbagging apparatus 1 can transformbag 7 containing commodities 6 (turn the bag inside out) and thereby putcommodities 6 intobag 7 without shiftingcommodities 6 from loadingsurface 21. This configuration enables the bagging apparatus to lessen impact exerted oncommodities 6 at the time of puttingcommodities 6 intobag 7. - Preferably, drive
unit 5 is configured to move onlysupport 2 downward in mainmechanical unit 4 as shown in this exemplary embodiment and thereby change the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration enables bagging work insidehousing 9 while preventingguide 3 from projecting above the top surface ofhousing 9. - Preferably, main
mechanical unit 4 further includes holdingmechanism 14 to hold bottom 72 in place on loadingsurface 21 as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration, even ifcommodities 6 are relatively small or light, prevents bottom 72 from being separated from loadingsurface 21 and helpsbag 7 to be drawn insideguide 3 whilesupport 2 is moving downward relative to guide 3. However, holdingmechanism 14 is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1, and holdingmechanism 14 may be omitted as appropriate. - Preferably, main
mechanical unit 4 in the second disposition is configured as shown in this exemplary embodiment such that level difference L1 betweenloading surface 21 andupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 ofbag 7 in the vertical direction. This configuration enableshandles 74 and other constituents ofbag 7 containingcommodities 6 to stand upright. This, in turn, provides an advantage in that the customer can readily grip handles 74 at the time of receivingcommodities 6 from the bagging apparatus. This configuration, in which level difference L1 betweenloading surface 21 andupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is greater than or equal to total length L2 ofbag 7 in the vertical direction, is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1. Level difference L1 may be less than total length L2 ofbag 7. - Preferably, loading
surface 21 is quadrangular as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration enables the bagging apparatus to transfercommodities 6 put inshopping basket 61 with a quadrangular bottom to loadingsurface 21 while the disposition of these components remains as is. However,quadrangular loading surface 21 is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1. Loadingsurface 21 may be elliptic, for example, other than quadrangular. - Preferably,
guide 3 is shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, andsupport 2 is configured to move relative to guide 3 in a space enclosed withguide 3, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. According to this configuration, guide 3 forms a wall aroundsupport 2. Thus, even if any ofcommodities 6 topple over or collapse whilesupport 2 is moving relative to guide 3,guide 3supports commodities 6 and preventscommodities 6 from falling offloading surface 21. - Preferably, the inner circumference of
upper end face 321 ofguide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference ofloading surface 21, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration can keep a gap betweenguide 3 andsupport 2 to a relatively small. This configuration, in which the inner circumference ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 is similar in shape to the outer circumference ofloading surface 21, is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1. The inner circumference ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 may not be similar in shape to the outer circumference ofloading surface 21. - Preferably,
upper end face 321 ofguide 3 forms a bend projecting upward as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration preventsbag 7 from getting caught onupper end face 321 ofguide 3 while the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration, in whichupper end face 321 ofguide 3 forms a bend projecting upward, is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1.Upper end face 321 ofguide 3 may form a flat surface, for example. - Preferably,
upper end face 321 ofguide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction ofloading surface 21, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration preventsbag 7 from getting caught onupper end face 321 ofguide 3 while the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration, in whichupper end face 321 ofguide 3 has a lower coefficient of friction, is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1. The coefficient of friction ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 may be on a par with the coefficient of friction ofloading surface 21. - Preferably, bagging
apparatus 1 further includesbag supply mechanism 13 to putbag 7 withbag mouth 71 facing downward on mainmechanical unit 4 in the first disposition, as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration advantageously saves time and effort required to putbag 7 on mainmechanical unit 4. However,bag supply mechanism 13 is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1.Bag supply mechanism 13 may be omitted as appropriate. - Modifications of the first exemplary embodiment will now be described.
-
Bag 7 into whichbagging apparatus 1 puts (bags)merchandise 6 may be an ecological shopping bag and a mesh shopping bag, for example, other than the shopping bag described above, with proviso that baggingapparatus 1 is configured to putmerchandise 6 intobag 7. The shopping bag may be made from polypropylene, for example, other than polyethylene. -
Bag supply mechanism 13 may be configured to turnbag 7 inside out andsupply bag 7 to mainmechanical unit 4. In this case, the bagging apparatus putsbag 7 that is turned inside out on mainmechanical unit 4, and again turnsbag 7 inside out before puttingmerchandise 6 intobag 7. Thus, the original outer surface ofbag 7 constitutes an outer surface ofbag 7 containingmerchandise 6. As a result, ifbag 7 for use has a letter or character printed, no inversion of the letter or the character is required. -
Bagging apparatus 1 may be installed and used at any stores other than convenience stores. In addition, baggingapparatus 1 may be installed at facilities such as offices and plants other than stores. -
Drive unit 5 may be configured to movesupport 2 and guide 3 individually. In this case, driveunit 5 may move only guide 3 upward in mainmechanical unit 4 and thereby change the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. Alternatively, driveunit 5 may move bothsupport 2 andguide 3 and thereby change the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 from the first disposition to the second disposition. -
Drive unit 5 may not include any power source such as an electric motor for generating driving force but drive mainmechanical unit 4 using force applied by a person to a handle or any operation part, for example. In this case, baggingapparatus 1bags merchandise 6 by lettingdrive unit 5 drive manually operated mainmechanical unit 4. Accordingly, the range of application of baggingapparatus 1 is not limited to automatic bagging but includes manual bagging by persons. -
Holding mechanism 14 may have any device other than the vacuum suction pad and may hold bottom 72 in place by suction through means other than vacuum suction. Alternatively, holdingmechanism 14 may hold bottom 72 in place by adhesion other than suction or may hold bottom 72 ofbag 7 in place by pinching, for example. If bottom 72 is held in place by adhesion, holdingmechanism 14 includes an adhesive sheet that is pasted on the top surface of support 2 (loading surface 21) to display proper adhesive strength, for example. - Only any one of an edge where
upper end face 321 and the inner circumferential surface ofguide 3 join and an edge whereupper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface ofguide 3 join may be round-chamfered. Alternatively, at least one of an edge whereupper end face 321 and the inner circumferential surface ofguide 3 join and an edge whereupper end face 321 and the outer circumferential surface ofguide 3 join may be chamfered. - Corners at the inner and outer circumferences of
upper end face 321 ofguide 3 may not be rounded off. In this case, the corners ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3 are preferably formed at a level below the other sections (sides) ofguide 3. This configuration means thatbag 7 is less apt to get caught on the corners ofupper end face 321 ofguide 3. - Preferably,
upper end face 321 ofguide 3 forms a bend projecting upward as shown in this exemplary embodiment. This configuration preventsbag 7 from getting caught onupper end face 321 ofguide 3 while the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4 is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. This configuration, in whichupper end face 321 ofguide 3 forms a bend projecting upward, is not always necessary for baggingapparatus 1.Upper end face 321 ofguide 3 may form a flat surface, for example. - With reference to
FIGS. 11A and11B , baggingapparatus 1A according to this exemplary embodiment differs from baggingapparatus 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment in thatguide 3A is not tubular. Structural elements similar to those of baggingapparatus 1 of the first exemplary embodiment are assigned with the same reference numerals, and their redundant descriptions are omitted as appropriate. - In this exemplary embodiment,
guide 3A is formed along two opposing sides of loadingsurface 21. Specifically,guide 3A includes a pair ofwalls 31A that are each shaped like a plate and a pair ofcovers 32A attached to respective upper ends ofwalls 31A. Upper end faces of the pair ofcovers 32A are equivalent to upper end faces 321A ofguide 3A. -
Bagging apparatus 1A puts merchandise 6 (not illustrated) intobag 7 by allowingside periphery 73 of bag 7 (not illustrated) to stand upward from bottom 72 viaguide 3A while a disposition of mainmechanical unit 4A is changing from a first disposition shown inFIG. 11A to a second disposition shown inFIG. 11B . In other words,guide 3A, which is not a guide surrounding an entire circumference ofloading surface 21, helpsside periphery 73 ofbag 7 stand upright as in the first exemplary embodiment, with proviso that the guide is disposed aroundsupport 2 and along an outer circumference ofloading surface 21. - A modification of the second exemplary embodiment may have
guide 3A that includes pole-shaped components installed at four corners of loadingsurface 21, for example. This configuration as well can putmerchandise 6 intobag 7 by allowingside periphery 73 ofbag 7 to stand upward from bottom 72 viaguide 3A while the disposition of mainmechanical unit 4A is changing from the first disposition to the second disposition. - An exemplary embodiment can be implemented by suitably combining some elements described in the second exemplary embodiment (including the modification) with some elements described in the first exemplary embodiment (including the modifications).
- The present invention is applicable to a bagging apparatus for putting a merchandise into a bag.
-
- 1, 1A
- bagging apparatus
- 2
- support
- 3, 3A
- guide
- 4, 4A
- main mechanical unit
- 5
- drive unit
- 6
- merchandise
- 7
- bag
- 13
- bag supply mechanism
- 14
- holding mechanism
- 21
- loading surface
- 71
- bag mouth
- 72
- bottom
- 73
- side periphery
- 321, 321A
- upper end face
Claims (10)
- A bagging apparatus comprising:a main mechanical unit including:a support having a loading surface formed for placement of a merchandise; anda guide disposed around the support and along an outer circumference of the loading surface; anda drive unit to move at least one of the support and the guide so as to change a disposition of the main mechanical unit from a first disposition to a second disposition, a level of the support relative to the guide in the second disposition being lower than the level of the support relative to the guide in the first disposition,whereinthe main mechanical unit in the first disposition supports a bottom of a bag with the loading surface, while the bag with a bag mouth facing downward is put on the support and the guide from above, andthe main mechanical unit puts the merchandise into the bag by allowing a side periphery of the bag contiguous to the bottom of the bag to stand upward from the bottom of the bag via the guide by changing the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- The bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is configured to move only the support downward in the main mechanical unit so as to change the disposition of the main mechanical unit from the first disposition to the second disposition.
- The bagging apparatus according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the main mechanical unit further includes a holding mechanism to hold the bottom of the bag in place on the loading surface.
- The bagging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main mechanical unit in the second disposition is configured such that a level difference between the loading surface and an upper end face of the guide is greater than or equal to a total length of the bag in a vertical direction.
- The bagging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the loading surface is quadrangular.
- The bagging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the guide is shaped like a tube in which at least a top face forms an opening, and
the support is configured to move relative to the guide in a space enclosed with the guide. - The bagging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an inner circumference of an upper end face of the guide is similar in shape to the outer circumference of the loading surface.
- The bagging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the upper end face of the guide forms a bend projecting upward.
- The bagging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper end face of the guide has a lower coefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the loading surface.
- The bagging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a bag supply mechanism to put the bag with the bag mouth facing downward on the main mechanical unit in the first disposition.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2015203832A JP6528325B2 (en) | 2015-10-15 | 2015-10-15 | Packing device |
PCT/JP2016/004487 WO2017064850A1 (en) | 2015-10-15 | 2016-10-05 | Bagging apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3363745A1 true EP3363745A1 (en) | 2018-08-22 |
EP3363745A4 EP3363745A4 (en) | 2018-08-22 |
Family
ID=58517500
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16855104.2A Withdrawn EP3363745A4 (en) | 2015-10-15 | 2016-10-05 | Bagging apparatus |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20180279810A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3363745A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6528325B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN108137174A (en) |
TW (1) | TW201718340A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017064850A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6421956B2 (en) * | 2017-03-28 | 2018-11-14 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Peeling device, bag opening device including the same, bagging system including the same, and peeling method |
JPWO2019049953A1 (en) * | 2017-09-07 | 2020-11-26 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Shopping support system and shopping support method |
JP6953975B2 (en) * | 2017-10-05 | 2021-10-27 | 大日本印刷株式会社 | Register system using RF tags |
CN107767592A (en) * | 2017-10-18 | 2018-03-06 | 上海昭园电子科技有限公司 | The unmanned POS of multipurpose automatic bagging |
CN110811247B (en) * | 2019-11-20 | 2020-12-29 | 浙江奥年家居有限公司 | Can pack cashier's desk of commodity automatically |
KR102127607B1 (en) * | 2020-01-21 | 2020-06-26 | 김경립 | dressed meat feeding guide |
CN112842027B (en) * | 2021-01-20 | 2022-02-22 | 温州职业技术学院 | Based on computer thing networking is with laser scanning auxiliary device |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2615606A (en) * | 1946-07-23 | 1952-10-28 | American Viscose Corp | Device for wrapping hollow packages |
US2939259A (en) * | 1958-05-06 | 1960-06-07 | Us Rubber Co | Wrapping device |
US3860091A (en) * | 1973-03-12 | 1975-01-14 | William R Chesnut | Apparatus and methods for merchandise tallying and automatic bagging |
JPS5536537B2 (en) * | 1975-02-17 | 1980-09-22 | ||
SE410380B (en) * | 1978-02-24 | 1979-10-15 | Bjarne G M Busch | PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC PROCESSING IN A CASH DISCOUNT OF CASHS ALSO CASH DISCOUNT FOR PERFORMING THE PROCEDURE |
JPS55154202A (en) * | 1979-05-22 | 1980-12-01 | Kawatetsu Keiryoki Kk | Method and device for packing merchandise in bag |
US4912906A (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1990-04-03 | Toner Frank T | Automatic bag system for supermarket check-out counter |
JPH0699938A (en) * | 1992-09-24 | 1994-04-12 | Tokyo Electric Co Ltd | Automatic bagging device |
US5437346A (en) * | 1994-05-11 | 1995-08-01 | Dumont; Charles | Station for price scanning verifying and selectively bagging purchase items |
JP2006034765A (en) * | 2004-07-29 | 2006-02-09 | Japan Uniflow Co Ltd | Rotary sacker table |
DE102008023900A1 (en) * | 2008-05-16 | 2009-11-19 | Wincor Nixdorf International Gmbh | Device for stacking banknotes, in particular banknotes |
JP6459584B2 (en) * | 2015-02-09 | 2019-01-30 | 株式会社寺岡精工 | Bag support, stacking table and product sales device |
-
2015
- 2015-10-15 JP JP2015203832A patent/JP6528325B2/en active Active
-
2016
- 2016-09-26 TW TW105131042A patent/TW201718340A/en unknown
- 2016-10-05 CN CN201680057666.8A patent/CN108137174A/en active Pending
- 2016-10-05 WO PCT/JP2016/004487 patent/WO2017064850A1/en active Application Filing
- 2016-10-05 US US15/765,732 patent/US20180279810A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2016-10-05 EP EP16855104.2A patent/EP3363745A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3363745A4 (en) | 2018-08-22 |
TW201718340A (en) | 2017-06-01 |
JP6528325B2 (en) | 2019-06-12 |
CN108137174A (en) | 2018-06-08 |
JP2017074974A (en) | 2017-04-20 |
US20180279810A1 (en) | 2018-10-04 |
WO2017064850A1 (en) | 2017-04-20 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP3363745A1 (en) | Bagging apparatus | |
US7516820B1 (en) | Collapsible multiple arm bag holder for a retail checkout station | |
JP5591290B2 (en) | Money deposit device and self-checkout device | |
JPH04219892A (en) | Merchandise grasping apparatus for store | |
JP2019164539A (en) | Bagging system, purchase assisting system, and control method and program for bagging system | |
JP2019096139A (en) | Information reading device | |
CN210955343U (en) | Automatic medicine selling machine and automatic medicine selling machine system | |
JP5437330B2 (en) | Reader | |
WO2018180605A1 (en) | Bag opening device | |
WO2018180604A1 (en) | Separating device, bag opening device provided with separating device, and packing system provided with bag opening device | |
JP7519240B2 (en) | Checkout Device | |
JP5437329B2 (en) | Reader | |
JP5395134B2 (en) | Self-reading device | |
JP5860859B2 (en) | Product sales data processing apparatus and program | |
EP4210010A1 (en) | Self-checkout device | |
JP2014052721A (en) | Self-checkout device | |
JP2020071549A (en) | Shopping support system and shopping support method | |
JP2019204452A (en) | Shopping support system and shopping support method | |
JP7403795B2 (en) | Bag support device and product sales data processing device | |
IE990465A1 (en) | Check-Out Apparatus | |
JP5452008B2 (en) | Price settlement system and price settlement method | |
JP4877949B2 (en) | Checkout equipment | |
JP2005209089A (en) | Scanner base | |
JP2021051444A (en) | Bag support device and commodity sales data processor | |
JP2005208973A (en) | Scanner base |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20180410 |
|
A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20180620 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
DAV | Request for validation of the european patent (deleted) | ||
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: HIROSAKI, KAZUYA Inventor name: INUTSUKA, RYOJI Inventor name: KITADA, MASATOMO Inventor name: FUKUSHIMA, SHOZO Inventor name: HABA, NAOYA Inventor name: SHINOHARA, TSUYOSHI |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20190225 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20190709 |