GB2406083A - Check out station - Google Patents

Abstract

A checkout station comprising; an input module 11, an operator/scanner module 6, and a discharge module 13, the three modules being connected together by quick release couplings. At least one of the input module 11 and the discharge module 13 incorporates an endless belt 15 having a planar upper, load-receiving surface which is arcuate in plan view.

Description

1 2406083

CHECK OUT STATION

The present invention relates to improvements in checkout stations for self service retail outlets such as supermarkets.

In modern supermarkets, it is normal practice to have a row or bank of checkout stations providing a large number of checkouts arranged in parallel so that a large number of customers can have their purchases weighed and charged simultaneously to speed the throughput of customers. Conventional checkout stations consist of a unitary machine having arranged linearly in series, an input conveyor belt section on which the customer places their purchases, a central operator station where an operator scans, or weighs and prices individual items, which are then placed on a discharge zone, which may include a conveyor belt, for collection by the customer.

Although such rows of checkout stations do facilitate a large throughput of customers, they do have a number of disadvantages. First of all, they take up a lot of floorspace and floorspace is a very expensive commodity in most supermarkets, where the objective is to maximise the amount of shelf space for displaying product. The known checkout stations are of unitary, integral construction and therefore an operational failure in one part means that the whole checkout station is put out of action until maintenance staff can repair it. The known checkout stations are also inflexible in design and cannot be readily adapted to suit the requirements of, for example, wheelchair users.

The present invention seeks to provide a checkout station which minimises the disadvantages of the known stations.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a checkout station comprising: an input module, an operator/scanning module, and a discharge module, at least one of said modules including an endless belt having a planar upper, load- receiving surface which is arcuate in plan view.

Preferably, both the input and discharge modules are arcuate in plan view, although the radii of the arcs may be different. The belts are preferably supported and driven by taper rollers at least one of which is driven by an electric motor. The electric motor may be located within the roller itself.

In a preferred embodiment, the or each belt has a chain attached to its outer peripheral edge, the chain being located and guided in an arcuate groove aligned with the outer arcuate edge of the belt and extending a predetermined distance along said outer arcuate edge. In this way, the belt is constrained, so that it cannot work its way down the taper of the rollers and thus become disengaged.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a checkout station comprising; an input module, an operator/scanner module, a discharge module, the three model modules being connected together by quick release couplings. In this way, should a fault develop in one part of the apparatus, the module containing the faulty part can simply be replaced on site without removing the other modules.

In a preferred embodiment, connections to a power supply and a computer system and a telecoms system are located in the operator/scanner module, the supply of power to the or each drive belt on the input and/or output modules being derived from the operator/scanner module.

Preferably, the quick release fastenings comprise downwardly extending tongues which are engageable in associated slots in adjacent modules, the tongues having a profile surface, such as a taper, engageable with a corresponding surface in the slots to draw the two modules together to provide a secure location. The or each module may further incorporate means to raise the module so that the tongues are released from the slots and the means preferably comprise a member having a rotatable wheel or roller on its lower end, the member being movable between a raised position in which the wheel is raised within the module so that the module rests on the ground and a lower position in which the module is lifted above the ground so that the module may be wheeled along. A plurality of said members may be provided and they may be movable between the raised and lowered positions and held in the raised position by means of an over-centre mechanism.

One or both of the input and discharge modules may include an endless load-carrying belt, which may be arcuate.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a checkout station comprising: an input module, an operator/scanner module and a discharge module, the input and discharge modules having loading/unloading services at a first height, the operator scanning module having a weighing/scanning station at a second height, means being provided to transfer goods between the first and second heights and vice versa.

The means preferably comprises endless belts, which may be arcuate.

In a preferred embodiment, the endless belts are arranged to provide a circular path with a loading/unloading surface at a first height and a scanning/weighing surface(s) at a second height at a point on the circular path approximately 180 degrees from the loading/unloading surface(s).

In one form of this embodiment of the invention, the loading/unloading surfaces are at a height convenient for a wheelchair user. In another embodiment of the invention, the operator/scanner module is adapted for use by a wheelchair-bound operator, the loading/unloading surfaces being at a height suitable for standing people.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a row of checkout stations in a supermarket, Figure 2 shows an operator/scanning module for a checkout station, Figure 3 shows a checkout station having a straight input module and a curved discharge module, Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a checkout station having an input module with a curved endless conveyor belt and a curved discharge module, Figure 5 shows a plan view of the checkout station of Figure 4, Figure 6 shows a side view of the checkout station of Figure 4, Figures 7A and 7B showed details of an arcuate conveyor belt, Figure 8 shows a cross-section of a taper roller for driving the belt shown in the Figures 7Aand7B, Figure 9 shows a schematic sectional view of a supporting column of a module which incorporates a lifting mechanism.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a schematic plan view of a row of checkout stations in a supermarket. As is typical in supermarkets, the floor space of the supermarket consists of a series of aisles 2 flanked by shelf space 3 on which product is displayed for self-selection by the customer. In the drawing, a row of conventional straight checkout stations is shown as reference 4 on which is superimposed the plan of a curved checkout stations 5 in accordance with the present invention, as will be described hereinafter with particular reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6.

It can be seen that there is a significant saving in floor space which in this particular embodiment amounts to 600 mm extending across the full width of the store, giving an increase in effective floor area of 4.32 sq m, which enables a significant increase in shelf space. The total amount of shelf space in a supermarket is critical since the amount of product which can be displayed and sold is dependent solely on the amount of shelf space available.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a module 6 comprising a weighing/scanning station for a checkout station. In the majority of cases, the scanning of a customers product or weighing loose produce is carried out by an operator seated at the station but it is known, and is becoming increasingly popular, for the customers to carry out their own scanning at this station. Typically, the station includes electronic scales 7 for weighing the loose product and a laser scanner for reading barcodes or other unique identifiers on the product. A cash till is also provided to effect payments. Adjacent to the centre section containing the laser scanner there is on one side an input surface 8 to which an input module is attached, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and on the other side an output surface 9 to which a discharge module is attached, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Typical input and discharge modules are illustrated in Figures 3-6. As shown, each module has an overlapping section 10 which is designed to rest on the associated input or output surface 8, 9 of the operator/scanning station. Although not shown, each overlapping section 10 has a pair of downwardly extending tongues which engage in corresponding slots, recesses or similar female engaging member in the associated input or output surface 8, 9. The tongues have a profile, such as a taper which co-operates with a corresponding surface in the slots to draw the module into a secure position where it is firmly attached to the operator/scanner module. Other forms of easily made and released latching systems may be used.

Figure 3 shows an input module 11 incorporating an endless belt 12 providing a straight load carrying surface on which a customer places product for it to be conveyed up to the operator seated at the centre operator module 6. The operator picks up each item in turn, scans it or inputs its data to calculate a price and then passes the product to the discharge module 13 which, in this embodiment, is essentially straight so that the customer's purchases follow a substantially linear path from where the product is placed on the endless belt through to where it is picked up and packed by the customer in the discharge zone.

Referring now to Figures 4-6, there is shown a checkout station incorporating an input module 14 having an arcuate endless conveyor belt 15 and a curved discharge module 16. The arcuate endless belt 15 on the input module 14 will be described in greater detail later with reference to Figures 7A, 7B and 8. As shown in Figure 5 in particular, it can be seen that the checkout station has a particularly compact layout yet there is still an adequate surface area for the customer to unload and pack their purchases.

Figure 6 clearly shows the overlapping sections 8 and 9 of the input module 15 and discharge module 16 overlying the operator/scanning module 6 by which the three modules are secured together.

Referring now to Figures 7A and 7B, there is shown detail of the arcuate conveyor belt module 15. The module has in plan view an arcuate frame 17 formed of pressed sheet metal with inner and outer arcuate side walls 18, 19 having mounted adjacent each end a taper roller 22, 23 rotatably mounted in bearings on the arcuate walls 18, 19 of the frame 17. In order to maintain the correct tension in the arcuate endless belt is, the position of the supporting bearings of at least one of the rollers is adjustable in the framel7. Although not shown, a further guide is mounted underneath the endless conveyor belt 15 to guide the lower run of the belt and is biased upwardly into the belt to provide a degree of tensioning to prevent the belt flapping. This further guide may be in the form of a series of rollers, a taper roller or even just a resiliently sprung bar or rod extending across the belt.

The outer peripheral edge of the endless belt 15 has an endless chain secured to and extending below the top surface of the belt. The top run of the chain runs in an arcuate guide channel 21 parallel to the peripheral edge of the belt to thereby constrain the belt against lateral movement down the taper of the taper rollers. Figure 8 shows an end view in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 7 B of the arcuate belt illustrating the disposition of a taper roller 22. The top run of the endless belt runs on a smooth steel sheet 24 which provides support for the belt and which is covered with a hard-wearing, low-friction plastics material to reduce friction and hence wear on the belt.

Referring now to Figure 9, there is shown a part-sectional side view of a module support as illustrated, for example, in Figure 3. In order to facilitate movement and transport of the modules, the module supports are provided with a wheel arrangement 26, movable between a raised and a lowered position. When in the raised position, the module will sit firmly on the floor. However, when it is necessary to move the module 4, for example, servicing, repair or to insert another type of module, it is possible for one person to lower the wheel or wheels so lifting the support body off the ground so that the module is movable by a single person.

In this embodiment, a pair of axially aligned and spaced wheels or castors, are located within the casing and are secured to a vertically disposed straight shaft 28 which is slidably mounted in a bracket 29 secured to the support housing 30. A pivotally mounted operating lever 31 is connected to the shaft 28 so that when the lever is raised the wheel or wheels is/are retracted into the housing 30 so that the support stands on the ground under its own weight. In order to lower the wheels, the lever 31 is pressed downwardly which lowers the wheels 27 relative to the housing 30 thus lifting the support off the ground as illustrated. The connection between the lever 31 and the shaft 28 incorporates an over-centre mechanism to securely lock the wheels 27 in the lowered position. Thus, it is possible for one person to wheel the module away. In one form, the end of the module which is secured to the adjacent model, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the operator would simply hold the other end, lift it so that the tongues disengage from the locating slots and wheel the module away.

In another form, the module is automatically released from the adjacent module when the wheels are lowered to lift the housing off the ground. Different modules will incorporate a different wheel arrangement with a differing number of wheels, depending on the size and shape of the module. Each wheel could be operated by the mechanism described with reference to Figure 9 but alternative methods, such as a hydraulic lift system connected to each wheel but operated by one lever, may be used.

Thus, the apparatus has much greater flexibility than the known systems. If a fault develops in a particular module it is a relatively simple and quick operation to remove that module and insert a spare with a minimum of downtime for the station, in contrast to the known systems in which the whole checkout station is put out of service until the service engineers can come to it and repair it in situ.

The present arrangement also has the advantage that it is extremely flexible. It easy to modify a particular checkout station to convert it to, say, a station adapted for the needs of wheelchair-bound customers who require a lower loading and unloading surface than standing people. It would also be possible relatively easily to have especial operator module for wheelchair-bound operators. When such an operator comes on duty, it would be a simple task to change the normal operator's module to a module specifically designed for wheelchair-bound operators, and to change its back again at the end of that operator's shift. It would also be possible to incorporate other modules for other disabilities, such as a Braille unit. It will also be readily changeable to incorporate a self checkout system instead of an operator's module, which would be advantageous in the event of unexpected staff shortages.

The flexibility is also increased by providing all connections to, for example, an electric power supply, a stock control computer system and a telecoms system are located in the operator/scanner module. Setting up the module would then be a simple job of having a plug-in connector carrying all necessary connections which is plugged into a connection unit located in the floor or in an overhead power supply. Power necessary for the input and discharge modules is preferably supplied automatically to the modules when they are connected to the operator's module, although they could have separate power leads for connection to power sockets in the floor.

In a further development of the invention it is envisaged that the conveyor belts may describe a spiral path, which may be substantially circular in plan. In this way, a low loading/unloading surface may be provided in one place with the products being transported round to a higher operator's station before being returned to the lower unloading surface. The apparatus is also readily adapted to provide other variations in layout, number of conveyor modules connected together and special modules for particular applications, such as for wheel chair users.

Claims (21)

1. A checkout station comprising: an input module, an operator/scanning module, and a discharge module, at least one of said modules including an endless belt having a planar upper, load-receiving surface which is arcuate in plan view.

2. A checkout station according to claim 1, wherein both the input and discharge modules are arcuate in plan view.

3. A checkout station according to claim 2, wherein the radii of the arcs are different.

4. A checkout station according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the belts are supported and driven by taper rollers, at least one of which is driven by an electric motor.

5. A checkout station according to claim 4, wherein the electric motor is located within the driven roller itself.

6. A checkout station according to any one of claims I to 5, wherein the or each belt is an endless belt having a chain attached to its outer peripheral edge, the chain being located and guided in an arcuate groove aligned with the outer arcuate edge of the belt the groove extending along a predetermined part of said outer arcuate edge.

7. A checkout station comprising; an input module, an operator/scanner module, a discharge module, the three modules being connected together by quick release couplings.

8. A checkout station according to claim 7, wherein connections to an electric power supply and to a computer system and a telecoms system are located in the operator/scanner module, the supply of electric power to the or each drive belt on the input and/or output modules being derived from the operator/scanner module.

9. A checkout station according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the quick release couplings comprise at least one downwardly extending tongue engageable in an associated slot or recess in an adjacent module.

10. A check out station according to claim 9, wherein the tongues having a profiled surface engageable with an associated surface in the slots or recesses to draw the two modules together to provide a secure location.

11. A checkout according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the or each module incorporates means to raise the module so that the tongues are released from the slots or recesses.

12. A checkout station according to claim 11, wherein the means comprises a member having a rotatable wheel or roller on its lower end, the member being movable between a raised position in which the wheel is raised within the module so that the module rests on the ground and a lowered position in which the module is lifted above the ground so that the module may be wheeled along.

13. A checkout station according to claiml2, wherein a plurality of said members is provided, the members being movable between the raised and lowered positions and held in the raised position by means of an overcentre mechanism.

14. A checkout station in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 13, in combination with a station as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.

15. A checkout station comprising: an input module, an operator/scanner module and a discharge module, the input and discharge modules having loading and unloading surfaces at a first height, the operator scanning module having a weighing/scanning station at a second height, means being provided to transfer goods between the first and second heights and vice versa.

16. A checkout station according to claim 15, wherein the means to transfer goods between the first and second heights and vice versa comprises endless belts.

17. A checkout station according to claim 16, wherein the endless belts are arranged to provide a circular path with a loading/unloading surface at a first height and a scanning/weighing surface at a second height at a point on the circular path approximately 180 degrees from the loading/unloading surface.

18. A checkout station according to claim 17, wherein the loading/unloading surface or surfaces is/are at a height convenient for a wheelchair-bound user.

19. A checkout station according to claim 17, wherein the operator/scanner module is adapted for use by a wheelchair-bound operator, the loading/unloading surface or surfaces being at a height suitable for standing people.

20. A checkout station according to any one of claims 15 to 19, in combination with any one of claims 7 to 13, and/or in combination with a station as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.

21. A checkout station substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one or more of the accompanying drawings.