US2641400A - Counter construction - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1953 l.. A. sxMMoNs COUNTER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1948 F1-'qu June 9, 1953 L. A. slMMoNs COUNTER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1948 Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT CFP'ICEl COUNTER CONSTRUCTION Lewis A. Simmons, Maywood, Ill. Application May 21, 1948, Serial No. 28,362

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for checking and loading merchandise in containers. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in the design and functional location of counter equipment whereby a new, more eicient method of checking and packing merchandise is made possible.

At the present time retail stores, such as large grocery markets, make use of a check-out system wherein one person checks'the articles and records the price in a cash register and then, either pushes the articles over to another person who packs them in boxes or bags, or permits the articles to accumulate on the counter and periodically stops checking to 4do the packing.

The cash register in these cases is usually mounted near the end of the counter on a platform extending at right angle to the counter. Thus, the operator cannot face the cash register and Lthe articles on the counter at the same time. This arrangement Vcauses the operator to constantly pivot back and forth in a tiring, energyexpending fashion. Further, this arrangement precludes the use of a chair by the operator since he must periodically move from the checking station to the packing station when working alone.

According to the principal features of the present invention, the checking station and the packing station are arranged adjacent each other and are aligned in an oblique position relative to the counter. The packing station comprises a support member which is arranged to hold a container, either a bag or a box, with its open end substantially at the level of the counter top and with the closed bottom of the container supported at a lower level. The checking station comprises a cash register mounted at a convenient level on a table. With this arrangement the loperator can, with his left hand, slide an article along the counter into the container while he is recording the sale on the cash register with vhis right hand. The checking and packing stations are so arranged relative to the counter that the operator is facing substantially directly to-v ward the packing station, the loading station and the articles on the counter, and the cash register.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide apparatus for checking and packing articles which will permit the operator to perform the checking operation with one hand and the packing operation with the other without being required to change positions during the operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support member adjustable for holding either a rpaper box or a paper bag in position with the upper open end of the box or bag substantially at the level of the counter top.

A furthe-r object of this .invention is to provide 2 apparatus for packing containers having arms for holding the upper end of the bag in an open position'to facilitate packing of articles therein.

A still fur-ther object of this invention is to provide apparatus for holding a bag in a positio inclined toward the operator.

`Another and still further object is to provide packing and checking apparatus which will permit the operator to be seated while carrying on the various operations.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a bag storage compartment in the bottom portion of the counter having novel means for opening the bag as it is withdrawn therefrom.

yOther and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be appa-rent to one skilled in the art from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the counter, checking and packing apparatus of the presentl invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line III-III of Figure 1 showing the packing apparatus in position *for supporting a bag.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View similar to Figure 3 showing the packing apparatus in a revolved position for accommodating 'a cardboard box.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line VI--VI of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2 the reference numeral I0 indicates generally a counter comprising a counter top l! sup-ported on a frame struc-` ture including vertical uprights I2 and horizon# tal connecting members I3 suitably secured thereto. The counter top Il may advantageously be made of a plywood construction or other suitable counter top material. The frame structure is preferably made of Wood.

At one end of the counter there is provided a cut out portion Hl dened by the marginal edges I5, i6 and l?. It will be noted that this opening has a partial rectangular coniiguration with the edges I5, I6 and Il oblique to the longitudinalA side edges of the counter l).

Spaced below the counter top l I and substantially underlying the cut out portion I4' of the counter is a pivot platform 20, supported on upright leg members 2l, 22 and 23 and obliquelyV disposed horizontal frame members 24 and( 25.1

The platform has on@ marginal edge overlying the edge of the member and is dened on its other marginal edges by dotted lines 21, 28, 2S, 3% and 3|.

A third platform 33, hereinafter vreferred to as a discharge platform, is positioned at the end of the platform l0 and supported on vertical posts 34 and horizontal frame members 35. At the end of the platform 33 adjacent the platform lil, there is provided a cut-out portion defined by the marginal edges 3l, 33, 39 and 4).

Thus, as seen in Figure 1, there is provided in this invention a main counter member 150 and a discharge counter 33 disposed at the end of the counter IG at a lower level. Cut-out portions in the counters lil and 33 define an opening .disf posed obliquely to the direction of the counter members. A pivot platform 23 underlies the opening denned in the counters lll and 33, being spaced below both of said counters for pivotally mounting a container sup-port member .4e which is disposed in the opening and which is arranged to support a paper bag, 43, in an inclined posif tion, as shown in Figure 3, or a cardboard box, M, in an upright position as shown in Figure 4.

The container support member 65 of this invention comprises a iiat plate Mi having depending marginal flanges il on either side thereof. The plate i6 is mounted for pivoting on the platform 2t on rigid Vshaped strap members de, Figure 3, which are secured at their outer ends as by welding to the lower side of the plate d'5 and are :pivotally mounted at their apex around a pivot rod 5G iournaled at either end in bearing blocks 5I which are secured, as by bolts 52, to the pivot platform 2B.

A bracket assembly 511 is pvotally mounted near one end of the plate l5 and has arm members 55, Figure 5, journaled in the depending flanges 4l of lthe plate assembly. The bracket ,5

assembly 56 comprises a short Urshaped arm. 5l and a longer U-shaped arm 5B disposed at right angles to each other and having an arm member 5@ of the U-shaped member 151 secured as by Welding to each leg of the U-shaped member 58. The U-shaped configuration of these arms 5l alla 58 can best be seen in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 it is seen that in the position Where the support member is holding a paper bag t3 in position, Figure `3, the longer lJ-shaped member 53 is held in an 11pright position with its lower end abutting a cross cleat 6G, secured to the pivot plate 20. By the action of a spring clip member Gi, also secured to the plate 2li, the U-shaped member 58 is releasably held against said cleat $0. lin Figure 4, when the support member has been pivoted to assume a position for supporting a box M the shorter U -shaped leg 5l is :pivoted into a support1 ing position at substantially right angle tothe plate 45 and abuts a cross cleat 62 secured to the pivot .platform 20.

If the operator has been packing paper bags, using the position indicated in Figure 3, and he desires to pack a box, he merely pivots the platform 4G counterclockwise about the pivot rod 5G and pivots the longer support arm 58 upwardly against the bottom of the plate dii. The support member will then assume the position indicated in Figure 4.

At one end of the pivot platform 20 there is provided a slidable guide assembly S5 comp-rising two upright guide plates t6 secured through flange :portions 61 in spaced lateral relation to the platform 23. Near the upper edges of .these l plates there are vprovided lined longitudinal slots 68 arranged to receive in sliding relation a pair of cross bars 69, which are connected at their ends to depending flange portions lil, Figure 6, of an elongated sliding plate ll which extends across the top of the guide member and pro- -vides a platform for initially receiving the box or bag after it has been packed.

It will be seen in Figures 1 and 3 that the plate ll ,is disposed at the same level as the discharge platform 33 on which the loaded containers may he placed.

A plate l2 extends across the loa-ding station between the plate it and the plate ll, being pivotally connected to both of these members. As seen in Figure 3, the cross plate l2 supports the bottom of the 'bag in anginclined position. as the support plate 45 is moved from bag supporting position to box supporting position the plate l2 first -moves to the Vright causing plate li to slide to .the right. Continued pivoting oi the plate` di@ however draws plate l2 to the left vas seen in Figures 3 and Il. 1t will be understood that the sup-port plate :le andthe attached support inembers may be made yof a length suitable to handle any size bag. 'ln the illustration of Figure 3, bag resting on the plate 'i2 is a typical .E0-pound bag suoli .as is most often used in grocery stores. A. typical a5-pound bag is shown in Figure 3 in dot-dash lines 'I3 in a position in which it supported at its lower end on a pivoting door l5, which is best seen in Figure l. Thus, the ap paratus :disclosed in Figure 3 is suitable selectively for supporting {mpound ybags or 25-pound bags.

The upper kend of the bag is held in open por sition by means ef a plate TIG which is secured, as by screws, ign ,a recess l@ `of the ycounter top Ill and by a pair of upwardly extending arms tu, Figure v2, disposed substantially at right angle to the plane of the support plate fit .and adjustably secured in bracketimembers 8l which are mounted on extensions 82 of the counter top id. yihe arms Si) have projections 8l which are arranged to fit under the lip of the bag and hold it in an open position While the plate i6 has a plurality of tabs ,85 inclined downwardlyT at the same angle as the ,Support plate ll and so arranged that a lip of the bag may be engaged between .the plate le and the tabs 85. After a bag is .packed With artt cles it may be .easily slid downwardly from under the bag opening members.

From the foregoing description it is seen that there is provided in this invention a novel arrangement of .counter members providing an opening into which is arranged a pivoting packing support member. The support member is arranged to position a paper bag in an inclined open position at the end .of the counter member o1' to hold a box in an upright position, but in either case the upper open end of the container is disposed substantially at the level of the counter top.

As it is readily seen .in Figure 1, a cash register 8l may be disposed on a table 83 in line with the bag supporting member so that the operator will be able to face both the cash register and the support member at the same time. It is centersF plated in this invention that the operator will be seated on a stool at a convenient height for eiciently moving the articles from the counter topl into the container supported at the lower level. Therefore, the cash register 8l' will be supported at a level in conformance with the height ef the counter top s0 that the operator While loading with his left hand may operate the cash register with his right hand.

Another important feature of this invention is the provision of a built-in paper bag opening device which is disposed under the counter at the end opposite to the packing end. Referring to Figures 2 and 7, it will be seen that a platform 90 is disposed between the leg members of the counter and serves to support at one end the rear marginal edge of an inclined bag support platform 9| which is inclined upwardly toward the operators side of the counter. The platform 9| in co- -operation with the side and back walls of the counter denne a chamber 92 in which the bags 93 are stacked in a flat, closed position. The wall of the counter nearest the operator has an open construction. It will be particularly noted in Figure` 1 that there is provided a folded over portion 94 at the lower, rear end of the bags.

Near the upper portion of this bag chamber 92 and extending between a pair of wall members 98 there is provided an angle member 85 and a pair of bars 96 which extend substantially to the middle of the chamber but are arranged to provide an opening 91 through which the hand of the operator may pass when he brings a bag upwardly between the angle member 95 and the bars 96. A block S9 having a slanted face |00 is secured immediately in front of each bar 96 providing an opening IDI through which the bag must be pulled.

As best illustrated in Figure 7, when a 'bag is to be removed from the chamber, the operator grasps the end of the bag and moves his hand vertically up through the opening 91 provided between the bars and then pulls the bag over the top of the bars into the opening IBI. As the bag is guided outwardly over the bars, the folded over portion 94 of the bag will be contacted by one leg of the angle member to unfold the folded over portion as shown in Figure '7. As outward movement of the bag continues the folded over portion 94 will be completely opened and the fold will be reversed as it passes between the angle member and the bar. 'Ihe slanted face H00 imparts a squeezing force to the bag as it passes through the opening IUI. When the bag is then removed co-mpletely from under the counter the bag will be in a relaxed, substantially open position so that it may be quickly and efficiently placed under the guide members of the support platform.

This novel bag opening means will, of course, be built into the counter at a position adjacent the operator station within easy reach of the operators left hand.

From the foregoing description it is seen that there is provided in this invention a novel counter construction, the elements of which are so disposed relative to each other that the operator may face the loading station and the cash register at the same time and may efficiently load the articles in a container with one hand while recording the sale on the cash register with the other hand.

Further, there is provided a novel support niember adapted to support either boxes or bags in a convenient position with the open end at substantially the level of the top of the counter. Also, there is incorporated in this counter construction a novel bag-opening device that increases the efficiency of the operator.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications both in the elements employed and their cooperative structure may be 6. made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, of course,'contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a combination, a counter, a platform disposed at a lower level than said counter and extending past the end thereof, a support member pivotally mounted on said platform and having a panel portion movable from a substantially horizontal position to a position inclined toward said counter, and a brace pivotally secured to the bottom surface of said support member having'one arm engaging said platform for bracing said panel in an inclined position and a second arm movable into engagement with said platform for supporting said panel in a substantially horizontal position.

2. In combination in a device for packing a container, a counter, a first platform disposed below said counter having a portion extending beyond the end thereof, a container support member pivotally mounted on said platform, and a second platform slidable relative to said first platform and pivotally connected to said support member, said second platform providing a supporting surface for receiving the container after it has been packed.

3. In combination in a device for packing a container, a counter having a cut-out portion defining an opening, a first platform at a level lower than said counter and underlying said opening, a support member disposed in said opening and pivotally mounted on said platform, a bracket secured to said support member and engaging said platform to hold said member in a position inclined toward said counter, a second platform slidably disposed on said first platform and spaced thereabove affording a receiving platform for a packed container and a panel member mounted between said support member and said second platform providing a bottom platform for supporting the container during a packing operation.

4. In combination in a device for packing a container, a first platform, a support plate having a V-shaped mounting pivotally secured to said rst platform and being movable from an inclined position to a horizontal position, a second platform spaced above said first platform, a sliding plate mounting for reciprocating in the plane of said second platform and forming a complementary part thereof, a pivot plate between said sliding plate and said support plate effective to shift said sliding plate toward or away from said second platform.

LEW'IS A. SIMMONS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,356y Perkins Aug. 31, 1875 694,415 Phelan Mar. 4, 1902 1,010,262 Humphrey Nov. 28, 1911 1,194,531 Marston Aug. 15, 1916 1,382,950 Brand June 28, 1921 1,827,128 Wege Oct. 13, 1931 1,830,645 Dietsch Nov. 3, 1931 2,106,463 Long Jan. 25, 1938 2,183,081 McCallum Dec. 12, 1939 2,286,548 Jackson June 16, 1942-

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