GB2330680A

GB2330680A - Retail checkout divider

Info

Publication number: GB2330680A
Application number: GB9903772A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Kessler
Original assignee: KESSLERS INT Ltd
Current assignee: KESSLERS INT Ltd
Priority date: 1998-07-13
Filing date: 1999-02-18
Publication date: 1999-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-18
Also published as: DE19918677A1; GB2330680B; GB9903772D0

Abstract

A divider 10 for separating items on a retail checkout conveyor belt produces a display and/or a sound in response to acceleration of the belt, ie on stepwise movement of the belt. In one embodiment, the entire divider rocks about a convex base 15 to draw attention to a display 19 inserted within the transparent cover 16 of the divider, weight 20 adding momentum to the rocking action, Fig 12 (not shown). In alternative embodiments, only part of the divider rocks, for example by arranging for a panel suspended within the divider to swing with a pendulum motion; there could additionally or alternatively be a light or a sound generator operated by a motion sensor.

Description

DIVIDER This invention relates to a divider for separating items placed on a checkout conveyor belt in supermarkets and other retail premises.

It has been known for many years to provide supermarket checkouts with conveyor belts onto which customers load their purchases for registration by an operator, most commonly these days by scanning barcodes, followed by payment. Commonly, the operator registers a batch of purchases by taking them from the end region of the conveyor belt within reach, before advancing the conveyor belt to bring a new batch of purchases into the end region and so in turn within reach. Hence, the conveyor belt moves in stepwise fashion, forcing customers when the belt is full of purchases to wait until a space appears on the belt and then, when a space appears, to load their purchases onto the belt in batches appropriate to the space available.

Advantageously, a checkout conveyor belt is long enough to receive the purchases of more than one customer at any one time. As the operator and customers could be confused by one customer's purchases on the belt mixing with those of another customer, the need has arisen for dividers to separate purchases belonging to successive customers.

A typical divider is an elongate low partition that can be picked up with one hand and placed across the conveyor belt to prevent intermixing of successive customers' purchases. It clearly tells the operator and the customers where one customer's purchases end and the next customer's purchases begin. The divider can even interact with sensors, such as optical sensors, that control the movement of the conveyor belt as purchases are taken off the belt to be scanned or otherwise registered.

At the most basic level, a divider needs to do no more than stay approximately where it is placed in order to do its job by dividing one set of purchases from another until the divider reaches the end of the conveyor belt. The main technical challenge is to make sure that the position of the divider does not change to any appreciable extent as the belt jerks when its movement starts and stops. Also, if the orientation of the divider matters, it is desirable to ensure that the divider stays the right way up and, in particular, that it does not topple onto its side if the belt jerks. These objectives are achieved simply by providing a reasonably broad flat base which, in conjunction with the minimal height and weight of the divider, ensures its stability.

As is also well known, there is great pressure in retail premises to advertise products and services. Such advertisements may be used to advertise promotional offers currently running in a supermarket, or subsidiary services such as banking.

Naturally, it is best to place advertisements at locations within retail premises where customers will spend extended periods of time, particularly if the customer has little else to do at that location other than read the advertisement. A checkout is an excellent location in this respect, particularly as loading a checkout conveyor belt is a menial task that is punctuated by frequent periods of inactivity when the conveyor belt is stationary and no further purchases can be placed thereon. It did not take marketeers long to realise that dividers are ideal vehicles for advertisements; now, it seems that every divider permanently bears at least the name of the store and may also include removable display material such as a card insert bearing news of a current promotion.

An example of a known divider of this type is shown in Figures 1 and 2. As can be seen, the divider 1 is elongate with a length selected to extend across a substantial part of the width of the conveyor belt on which it is to be used. The divider 1 comprises an aluminium extruded body 2, a clear plastics cover 3 and plastics end-caps 4. The flat sides 5 of the body 2 may bear information such as the name of the store on stickers or overlays 6, whereas a removable card insert (not shown) can be placed within the divider 1 to be seen through the clear cover 3. The end-caps 4 are secured in position by screws 7 that engage with a tubular extruded profile 8 within the body 2 and are further secured by formations 9 on their inner sides shaped to co-operate with the assembly of body 2 and cover 3.

Sadly, existing dividers do little to alleviate the tedium of checkout life. Even if a customer is driven by boredom to look at the divider, it will not take very long to absorb any information displayed thereby. This leads to a rapid loss of interest in the advertisement. Naturally, this is to the detriment of the marketing message, as only a cursory glance at the divider is unlikely to lead to the customer permanently remembering what the advertiser wishes to impart.

Furthermore, whilst it is unlikely that the divider of Figures 1 and 2 would ever topple when used on an ordinary supermarket conveyor belt, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that a customer in a hurry could place the divider on its side, and thereby obscure whatever message the divider is intended to display.

Against this background, the Applicant has had the insight to provide a divider for separating items on a checkout conveyor belt by being placed on the conveyor belt at a separating position, the divider being adapted to produce a display and/or sound in response to acceleration of the conveyor belt, when so positioned.

In accordance with this broad aspect, the divider of the invention creates an intriguing diversion in the checkout queue, effectively bringing the divider and any advertising message it may convey to the attention of customers.

As a simple way of producing an eve-catching display, at least a portion of the divider may move in relation to the conveyor belt in response to acceleration of the conveyor belt, while the divider remains substantially in, or moves to a limited extent about, the separating positiOn. Preferably, in an even simpler arrangement, the entire divider moves in relation to the conveyor belt.

Motion of all or part of the divider is intended to have an eye-catching appeal and to attract and hold the attention of a customer. It is particularly advantageous if the motion continues after the movement of the conveyor belt has ceased. By prolonging the motion of the movable means in this manner, the attention of the customer is held on the divider for longer. This increases the exposure of the advertisement carried by the divider, and improves the probability of the customer remembering the advertisement.

In a preferred embodiment, the movement of the divider, or a portion thereof, in relation to the conveyor belt or about the separating position is oscillatory, more particularly either rocking or pivoting. This oscillatory motion may be substantially backwards and forwards with reference to the acceleration of the belt when the divider is oriented for use on the conveyor belt. Commonly. the divider will be elongate with an elongate axis that lies across the conveyor belt in use, the divider adapted such that the oscillatory motion takes place transverse to the elongate axis. In this way, the positive and negative accelerations experienced by the divider as the belt starts and stops are converted directly into oscillatory movement of the divider or a portion thereof.

Where the oscillatory motion is either rocking or pivoting, the motion preferably takes place about a rocker means or pivot means at or adjacent to a base of the divider adapted to lie on the conveyor belt. In a contemplated embodiment, one or more rocker means are disposed to support the divider on the conveyor belt, wherein the or each rocker means is a part-cylindrical rocker surface. Most advantageously, the divider has a single rocker surface which defines the base; this lends itself to simple manufacture of a divider with minimal separate parts, for example by extrusion of a rocker-shaped base or of a body having an integral rocker-shaped base.

Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are self-righting when displaced from a stable upright position. It is further preferred that there is only one stable upright position as will be defined. Accordingly, a hurried customer cannot place the divider on its side, and so cannot thereby obscure any message the divider is intended to display.

The facility for self-righting further adds to the visual intrigue of the divider of the invention, and thus to its effectiveness as a marketing tool.

To achieve reliable self-righting, the cross-section of the divider is preferably substantially devoid of flats or shapes equivalent to flats upon which the divider can balance when not in the stable upright position. More preferably, the cross-section of the divider has only convex curves or edges and still more preferably has an ovate or teardrop cross-section. Such a cross-section has a basal part defining the rocker surface and an apical part associated with display means, the display means thus being somewhat enlarged to the benefit of the advertising message.

It is preferred that the self-righting divider further includes an eccentric weight located at a base part of the divider and positioned to be substantially at its lowest level when the divider is in the stable upright position.

The weight may be separate from and attached to the base part, in which case the base part suitably includes attachment formations adapted to receive at least a portion of the weight. Alternatively, the weight may be integral with the base part, for example being extruded integrally with the base part.

In preferred embodiments having a separate weight, the weight is an elongate bar or rod and the attachment formations extend along opposed sides of the weight, for example being extruded integrally with the base part. The attachment formations and the weight may be arranged to snap-fit together.

In order that the invention can be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled prior art divider 1; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the divider 1 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an assembled divider 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the divider 10 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective transverse sectional view along line V-V of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a perspective longitudinal sectional view along line VI-VI of Figure 3 but omitting details of the end-caps therein; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an assembled divider 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention (but with an end-cap removed); Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the divider 10 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective transverse sectional view along line IX-IX of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a perspective longitudinal sectional view along line X-X of Figure 7 but omitting details of the end-caps therein; Figure 11 is a perspective transverse sectional view corresponding to Figures 5 and 9 but showing a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view through line V-V of Figure 3 showing the divider 10 on a supporting checkout conveyor belt 11 in three positions within its range of rocking movement upon the belt 11; and Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view showing a plurality of dividers 10 of the invention in use at respective separating positions upon a checkout conveyor belt 11.

Referring firstly to Figures 3 to 6 of the drawings which illustrate a first embodiment of the invention, a divider 10 is an elongate cylinder of teardrop cross-section and is of a length selected to fit transversely across a typical checkout conveyor belt 11. When the divider 10 is oriented as shown for use upon such a belt 11, a straight apical ridge 12 is disposed above a broad basal portion defining a base surface 13. The ends 14 of the cylinder are generally planar, and orthogonal to the base surface 13 and the apical ridge 12.

As can best be appreciated from the exploded view of Figure 4 and the sectional views of Figures 5 and 6, the divider 10 includes a base 15 of approximately semi-circular section that defines the base surface 13, a cover 16 of generally vee-section that defines the apical ridge 12 as the junction between opposed slightly convex-curved slopes 17, two teardrop-shaped, chamfered end-caps 18 that define the ends of the cylinder, a veesection insert 19 shaped to fit within the cover 16, and an elongate cuboidal weight 20 disposed centrally within the base 15. The weight 20 is about one third of the length of the divider 10, although that dimension is not critical.

Whilst the insert 19 is shown above the cover 16 in the exploded view of Figure 4, it is envisaged that the insert 19 will be disposed under the cover 16 when the divider 10 is assembled for use. The insert 19 is intended to bear an advertising message; to this end, the cover 16 is sufficiently transparent that the message on the insert 19 within can be seen through the cover 16, and the insert 19 is removable so that the message can be changed at will.

It will also be seen from Figures 4 to 6 that the divider 10 is hollow and that each external part of the divider 10 has an intemal surface that largely corresponds to its external surface, save that attachment formations are provided for the attachment of parts to each other. These attachment formations include male profiles in the form of inwardly-facing beads 21 at opposed free edges of the slopes of the cover, which fit within outwardly-facing female profiles of C-section 22 defining grooves 23 at opposed side edges of the base 15. Other attachment formations are parallel partitions 24 that extend internally along the length of the base 15, equally and symmetrically spaced about its central longitudinal axis. The partitions 24 are spaced to receive the weight 20 snugly between them, which can be glued to the partitions 24 and/or held by an interference fit between the partitions 24.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the shapes of the cover 16 and base 15 lend themselves to manufacture by extrusion. The cover 16 can be of transparent plastics or even a suitably-treated glass and the base can be of plastics, preferably opaque plastics, or metal such as aluminium alloy. The weight 20 is preferably of metal, such as stainless steel or mild steel bar.

The end-caps 18, too, have attachment formations in the form of a wall 25 that is shaped to fit within an open end 14 of the base/cover assembly. The wall 25 is therefore of generally teardrop shape save for opposed lateral indents 26 that accommodate the Csection 22 profiles of the base 15 and parallel straight slots 27 at the base of the endcap 18 that extend inwardly to fit around the exposed ends of the partitions 24. The wall 25 is dimensioned to be a tight press fit when an end-cap 18 is inserted within an open end 14 of the base/cover assembly, thereby obviating fixing means such as screws while allowing easy removal of the end-cap 18 for replacement of the insert 19 when desired. It will also be noted that the wall 25 is inset slightly from the teardrop-shaped edge of the end-cap 18. This inset defines a shoulder 28 that bears against the edge of the base/cover assembly to limit insertion of the end-cap 18.

The end-caps 18 are injection mouldings of plastics material, preferably with the resilience necessary to combine a reliable press-fit with low insertion and removal efforts.

The beads 21 and the grooves 23 are shaped and dimensioned to interlock in a manner requiring the cover 16 to be slid on to the base 15 or snap-fitted thereto, although it would be possible to rely instead upon the overall resilience of the cover 16 or the base 15 to hold the parts together with suitably co-operating formations.

The insert 19 is in the form of an oblong piece of resilient printed card about as long as, but no longer than, the cover 16. Preferably, the insert 19 is shorter than the cover 16 by twice the depth of the wall 25 of an end-cap 18, so that the walls 25 of the respective end-caps 18 when inserted into the base/cover assembly abut the opposed ends of the insert 19 and hold it centrally with respect to the cover 16.

The insert 19 is folded centrally along its length to form a vee-section with a crease 29 dividing two equal outer faces 30. To place the insert 19 inside the divider 10, an endcap 18 is removed and the insert slid in to the divider 10 with the crease 29 bearing against the inside surface of the cover 16 beneath the ridge 12 and the long edges of the insert 19 bearing against the beads 21. The outer faces 30 of the insert 19 and the slopes 17 of the cover 16 thereby define opposed display areas separated by the ridge 12 of the divider 10.

The resilience of the card 19 ensures that its outer faces 30 press against the inner surface of the cover 16 and adopt the slight convex curvature of its slopes 17 but, if necessary, the insert 19 may be rolled to curve the outer faces 30 so that they press against substantially all the inner surface of the cover 16.

Figures 7 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment which broadly corresponds to the first embodiment; so, like numerals are used for like parts. The major difference is that the weight 31 is of circular cross-section and the partitions 32 are curved closely to match that cross-section, defining a channel 33 whose cross-section is an arc that extends through slightly greater than 1800. It follows that that the gap between the free ends of the partitions 32 is slightly narrower than the cross-sectional diameter of the weight 31.

The slots 34 in the walls of the end-caps 18 are matchingly curved.

The weight 31 can be slid along the channel 33 from one end into its central position with respect to the base 15, and if necessary held there by adhesives as mentioned above. However, it is preferred that the weight 31 is held in the channel 33 by a snap-fit with and between the partitions 32, the weight 31 being placed centrally with respect to the base 15 and then being forced between the opposed free edges of the partitions 32 into the channel 33 within. This eases assembly while ensuring reliable location of the weight 31.

The third embodiment, illustrated in Figure 11, shows another way of adding weight to the base 15 of the divider 10, namely by integrating that weight with the base 15. In this instance, the weight is integrated by thickening the central longitudinal region of the base section to make it heavier. Where the base 15 is extruded as shown in Figure 11, the weight is simply a thickened wall portion 35 of the extrusion. In this instance, the thickened wall 35 is defined between an outer wall surface 36 of semi-circular crosssection as before, and an inner wall surface 37 that, though elliptical, generally has a substantially larger radius of curvature than that of the outer wall surface 36.

Otherwise, the features of the third embodiment are much the same as the corresponding features of the first and second embodiments and so, again, like numerals are used for like parts. As no partitions need to be provided in the base 15 to locate a separate weight, the wall 25 of an end-cap 18 (not shown) need not have matching slots and so instead can have a smoothly uninterrupted base portion.

Figure 12 shows the divider 10 of the first embodiment as shown in Figures 3 to 6 in cross-section in use on a checkout conveyor belt 11. The central position shown is the stable upright position that the divider 10 adopts when the belt 11 is stationary or otherwise not accelerating. The weight 20 is then at its lowest position. When the belt 11 starts to move under the divider 10, its acceleration is usually quite sudden and this causes the divider 10 to rock initially backwards upon its base surface 13 to a rearward position shown to the left in Figure 12, assuming that the belt 11 moves from left to right as illustrated. The weight 20 is thereby raised, storing energy.

The energy stored in the raised weight 20 is expended when the belt 11 gets up to speed and its acceleration ends, driving the divider 10 into a forward rocking stroke.

Momentum causes the divider 10 to rock beyond the stable upright position so that at the end of its forward stroke, the divider 10 approaches the opposite, forward position shown to the right in Figure 12. The weight 20 is raised again, storing energy for a rearward rocking stroke and so on. This rocking motion of the divider 10 is similar to that of a rocking chair where potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and back to potential energy until, in the absence of further accelerative inputs, friction finally brings the divider 10 to rest at or around the stable upright position.

Conversely, when the belt 11 slows (this deceleration being negative acceleration, and again usually quite sudden), the divider 10 rocks initially forwardly and reaches the forward position shown to the right in Figure 12 before undergoing a rearward rocking stroke and so on.

In use, a plurality of dividers 10 in accordance with the invention may be placed upon a checkout conveyor belt 11 at respective separating positions as shown, somewhat closer together than in reality, in Figure 13. Whenever the conveyor belt 11 starts and stops, typically in short, sudden and frequent bursts of acceleration as described above, the dividers 10 will rock forwards and backwards to create an eye-catching diversion for customers queuing at the checkout. This rocking motion will continue during the short bursts of motion of the belt 11 and indeed for a short while after the conveyor belt 11 has stopped.

Aside from the appeal of movement, a useful benefit of all of the preferred embodiments is that the dividers 10 described herein simply cannot be placed other than the right way up. However far the divider 10 may be displaced from its stable upright position, the divider 10 will always right itself upon release by rolling about its rounded outer surface back to the stable upright position. It is therefore impossible to topple the divider 10. This holds true even when the divider 10 is inverted: there is only one stable upright position. In practice, the stable upright position means a narrow range of angular displacement either side of truly vertical: friction between the belt 11 and the divider 10 increased by deformation of the belt 11 means that the divider 10 can rest substantially upright even if it is not geometrically vertical. Rest positions within a narrow substantially upright range are considered to be consistent with, and within the meaning of, a single stable upright position. Of course, the divider 10 would not be stable or upright within this definition if stood on one of its ends.

The self-righting facility of the preferred embodiments is a further factor calculated to intrigue the customer, to ensure that the message bome by the insert 19 will always be presented correctly, and thereby to emphasise the advertising message that the divider 10 displays.

Many variations are possible within the inventive concept. For instance, it will be plain to those skilled in the art that variations of material, construction and shape are entirely possible. Some variations of materials have already been mentioned. Conceming construction, it is not essential that the divider contains any extruded components: conversely, the base/cover assembly of the divider could be replaced by a single component that is, ideally, extruded but that could be made by any other practical means such as injection moulding or die casting. Also, advertisement messages can be displayed in different ways without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, an insert could be supplemented or replaced by a sticker applied to an external surface of the divider, or the message could be applied directly onto the divider by painting, lithography and so on.

So far as shape is concerned, almost any shape will suffice provided that, if the divider moves on a rocking principle as described above, the shape includes a rocker means, preferably a rocker surface, on which the rocking motion can take place. In such dividers it would be possible, at one extreme, to have a divider of wholly circular crosssection or even an ellipse lying on its side that is wider than it is tall; at the other extreme, it would be possible for a divider to have a weighted curved base with a flat lightweight panel extending upwardly to bear advertising messages on both sides.

Provided that the weight distribution is correct - which is within the compass of any skilled artisan given the inventive concept and the teaching herein-almost any crosssectional shape with a curved base will rock successfully. However, only a few cross sections - generally those such as ovate cross-sections that only have convex curves or edges and are devoid of flats or shapes equivalent to flats - will invariably self-right.

Relatively tall dividers are preferred for the greater display area they define, and relatively flat display areas are preferred for clarity of presentation.

Whilst the rocking divider of the preferred embodiments is very much preferred for its simplicity, effectiveness and self-righting qualities, the inventive concept is wide enough, in its broadest expression, to encompass dividers that do not rock. For example, another type of divider could be arranged such that only part and not all of the divider moves in relation to the conveyor belt, the remainder of the divider remaining essentially stationary in the separating position with respect to the belt.

An example of such a divider comprises a display panel suspended from a support member attached to a heavy base, the panel thereby being free to swing to and fro in response to the motion of the belt. The panel could be weighted at its lower portion, as if by a pendulum, to promote this swinging movement. In another example, a display panel can be attached at its lower edge to a heavy base by means that bias the panel into an upright rest position but permit movement to and fro either side of that position in response to the motion of the belt. The display panel itself could be resiliently flexible to achieve the desired biasing and movement while being simply and immovably anchored to the base.

It is even conceivable within the broadest inventive concept that the divider could include motion-responsive visual display means other than movement itself. In its simplest expression, the display means could include a light switched on and off by a motion sensor such as a tilt switch. Further or in the alternative, sounder means such as a sound generator and speaker could be switched on and off by a motion sensor. It is also possible for a motion sensor to cause a motor to move movable display means.

Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims and other general statements herein rather than to the foregoing specific description as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A divider for separating items on a checkout conveyor belt by being placed on the conveyor belt at a separating position, the divider being adapted to produce a display and/or sound in response to acceleration of the conveyor belt, when so positioned.
2. The divider of Claim 1, and being adapted so that at least a portion thereof moves in relation to the conveyor belt in response to acceleration of the conveyor belt, while the divider remains substantially in, or moves to a limited extent about, the separating position.
3. The divider of Claim 2, wherein the entire divider moves in relation to the conveyor belt.
4. The divider of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said movement in relation to the conveyor belt or about the separating position is oscillatory.
5. The divider of Claim 4, wherein when the divider is oriented for use on the conveyor belt, said oscillatory motion is substantially backwards and fonvards with reference to said acceleration of the belt.
6. The divider of Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the divider is elongate and has an elongate axis that lies across the conveyor belt when the divider is oriented for use, and is adapted such that said oscillatory motion takes place transverse to the elongate axis.
7. The divider of any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein said oscillatory motion is rocking or pivoting.
8. The divider of Claim 7, wherein said rocking or pivoting takes place about a rocker means or pivot means at or adjacent to a base of the divider adapted to lie on the conveyor belt.
9. The divider of Claim 8, wherein one or more rocker means are disposed to support the divider on the conveyor belt.
10. The divider of Claim 9, wherein the or each rocker means is a part-cylindrical rocker surface.
11. The divider of Claim 10 when appendant to Claim 8, wherein the rocker surface defines the base.
12. The divider of any preceding claim and being self-righting when displaced from a stable upright position.
13. The divider of Claim 12, wherein there is only one stable upright position as herein defined.
14. The divider of Claim 13, wherein the cross-section of the divider is substantially devoid of flats or shapes equivalent to flats upon which the divider can balance when not in the stable upright position.
15. The divider of Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the cross-section of the divider has only convex curves or edges.
16. The divider of any of Claims 12 to 15, wherein the divider has an ovate or teardrop cross-section.
17. The divider of any of Claims 12 to 16, wherein the cross-section has a basal part defining the rocker surface and an apical part associated with display means.
18. The divider of any of Claims 12 to 17, further including an eccentric weight located at a base part of the divider and positioned to be substantially at its lowest level when the divider is in the stable upright position.
19. The divider of Claim 18, wherein the weight is separate from and attached to the base part.
20. The divider of Claim 19, wherein the base part includes attachment formations adapted to receive at least a portion of the weight.
21. The divider of Claim 20, wherein the attachment formations and the weight are arranged to snap-fit together.
22. The divider of Claim 20 or Claim 21, wherein the weight is an elongate bar or rod and the attachment formations extend along opposed sides of the weight.
23. The divider of any of Claims 20 to 22, wherein the attachment formations are extruded integrally with the base part.
24. The divider of Claim 18, wherein the weight is integral with the base part.
25. The divider of Claim 24, wherein the weight is extruded integrally with the base part.
26. A divider, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in any of Figures 3 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A divider, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in any of Figures 3 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A checkout divider for separating items on a checkout conveyor belt by being placed on the conveyor belt at a separating position, the divider being adapted to produce a display and/or sound in response to acceleration of the conveyor belt, when so positioned.

2. The divider of Claim 1, and being adapted so that at least a portion thereof moves in relation to the conveyor belt in response to acceleration of the conveyor belt, while the divider remains substantially in, or moves to a limited extent about, the separating position.

3. The divider of Claim 2, wherein the entire divider moves in relation to the conveyor belt.

4. The divider of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said movement in relation to the conveyor belt or about the separating position is oscillatory.

5. The divider of Claim 4, wherein when the divider is oriented for use on the conveyor belt, said oscillatory motion is substantially backwards and forwards with reference to said acceleration of the belt.

6. The divider of Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the divider is elongate and has an elongate axis that lies across the conveyor belt when the divider is oriented for use, and is adapted such that said oscillatory motion takes place transverse to the elongate axis.

7. The divider of any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein said oscillatory motion is rocking or pivoting.

8. The divider of Claim 7, wherein said rocking or pivoting takes place about a rocker means or pivot means at or adjacent to a base of the divider adapted to lie on the conveyor belt.

9. The divider of Claim 8, wherein one or more rocker means are disposed to support the divider on the conveyor belt.

10. The divider of Claim 9, wherein the or each rocker means is a part-cylindrical rocker surface.

11. The divider of Claim 10 when appendant to Claim 8, wherein the rocker surface defines the base.

12. The divider of any preceding claim and being self-righting when displaced from a stable upright position.

13. The divider of Claim 12, wherein there is only one stable upright position as herein defined.

14. The divider of Claim 13, wherein the cross-section of the divider is substantially devoid of flats or shapes equivalent to flats upon which the divider can balance when not in the stable upright position.

15. The divider of Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the cross-section of the divider has only convex curves or edges.

16. The divider of any of Claims 12 to 15, wherein the divider has an ovate or teardrop cross-section.

17. The divider of any of Claims 12 to 16, wherein the cross-section has a basal part defining the rocker surface and an apical part associated with display means.

18. The divider of any of Claims 12 to 17, further including an eccentric weight located at a base part of the divider and positioned to be substantially at its lowest level when the divider is in the stable upright position.

19. The divider of Claim 18, wherein the weight is separate from and attached to the base part.

20. The divider of Claim 19, wherein the base part includes attachment formations adapted to receive at least a portion of the weight.

21. The divider of Claim 20, wherein the attachment formations and the weight are arranged to snap-fit together.

22. The divider of Claim 20 or Claim 21, wherein the weight is an elongate bar or rod and the attachment formations extend along opposed sides of the weight.

23. The divider of any of Claims 20 to 22, wherein the attachment formations are extruded integrally with the base part.

24. The divider of Claim 18, wherein the weight is integral with the base part.

25. The divider of Claim 24, wherein the weight is extruded integrally with the base part.