US2650678A - Check-out device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1953 P. L. NEWBOLD CHECK OUT DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 14, 1950 \v Q.\ MN E a E L M @N I mm mm \N I N VEN TOR.

Sept. 1, 1953 P. NEWBOLD CHECK OUT DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1950 ZNVENTOR.

Sept. 1, 1953 P. 1.. NEWBOLD CHECK OUT DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

P 3 P. L. NEWBOLD 2,650,678

CHECK OUT DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES eATENT OFFICE CHECK-OUT DEVICE Park L. Newbold, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,135

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to a device for use in speeding up the checking out of orders in a selfserve market or other purposes to which it may be adapted.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device of simple construction so that the order to be checked out is moved into position by the action of a bar pulled by the operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device designed in a manner that the energy required for moving the articles is greatly lessened by reducing friction and side thrust.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device having a movable arm pivotally attached to a pull bar and adapted to semi-automatically raise and lower as desired.

I am aware pull bar devices are Well known and have been in general use for several years, however, need has been shown for ease of operation and methods of returning the bar when articles have been placed behind. These objections have been overcome in the novel features of my device as shown in the following specifications and drawings.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifications, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view with cover removed from the pivoted arm operating mechanism and shows the operational bars in general.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the positions of the handle and pivotally attached arm in foreward and rearward positions.

Figure 3 is a front view and shows in particular the design of the lever arm and safety guard.

Figure 4 is a close up View of the operating mechanism and shows the lever arm in down position.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the arm in up position and shows the latchin member in place.

Figure 6 is a top view of the latching and release members and their relation to the arm assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of my invention includes a checkout device indicated generally at In, supported on a counter H.

The frame is composed primarily of a main left side member 12, right side It, bottom l4, rear 2 guard l5 and legs l6. Attached to member l2 are angle brackets ll supporting round bars iii and I9.

Movable longitudinally upon bars la and I9 is an assembly composed primarily of a main bar 20, handle 2|, and supporting grooved rollers 22. Extensions for holding the rollers 22 in exact position are shown at 23 and are spaced to permit the rollers to roll freely upon the bars It and I9. Attached to member 26 are a pair of extensions 24 adapted to p-ivotally support an L-shaped arm 25. To the long part of 25 is attached mem-- bers 26 with cross bars 21 and roller 23. Placed parallel to the short section of 25 is a roller 23 and a member 30 which in cooperation with a spring 3| anchored at 32 and a torque member 33 secured to I2 at 34 causes the outer end of the L lever 25 to rise upon application of a forward pressure upon the handle 2!. As the member 25 rises a latch 35 controlled by a spring 36 moves under and holds it in up position as shown at 31. Unlatching action is produced by contact of the outer end of lever 35 shown at 38 with a stud 3S. Attached to the rearward part of 29 is a member ts to which is connected a flexible belt 4| extending over a pulley 42 and continuing downward within one of the legs it to anchor to a movable weight 43. The function of this weight being to return the entire assembly to its rearward position.

The legs it are attached to a sub-frame assembly shown at 44 and assists in supporting the overhanging weight of the device. A guard i5 comprising the outward end frame member is so constructed that the L-shaped arm 25 may enter when either in an up or down position and its function is primarily to shield the downward movement of the arm 25. A cover 45 held in place by bolts 46 encloses the rear rollers and actuating mechanism.

Due to the design of this unit rolling on shaft members i8 and I9 and grooved pulleys 22 taking any side thrust the pulling effort is extremely light. The roller 28 moves on the bottom 14 and its function is merely secondary as the tension spring 3! counteracts the weight of 25 except enough to lower it by gravity.

In use the main bar to which is attached the handle 2| is in rearward position and the L- shaped arm 25 in down position. Articles are placed upon the bottom 14 as shown in Figure 1 by the customer and when unloading has been completed the checker grasps handle 2| and pulls forward causing articles to be pushed by the arm 25 to a position for checking. As the roller 29 contacts torque member 33 the arm 25 automatically rises, assisted by spring 3|, and the latch 35 moves into position holding it in upright position. The operator then lets go of the handle 2| and the assembly returns by action of the weight 43. Upon contact of the latch 35 with trip 39, the arm 25 returns to down position by gravity action. This downward movement is eifected within the guard I5 and thereby cannot cause any injury during this action.

Another customer is presumed to have been unloading her order in the space previously cleared while the checker completed the checking transaction and the process is again repeated.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a checkout device the combination of a pair of side members, a pair of parallel spaced bars supported on one of said side members, a bottom, a pair of supporting legs, a main pull bar, a handle attached thereto, a series of rollers so disposed that they support the main pull bar and roll upon the said parallel spaced bars, an L-shaped lever arm pivotally attached to the main pull bar, said L lever arm having downward extensions with cross bars and a roller attached thereto, an actuating roller anchored to the L arm and adapted to contact a stationary torque member to effect a turning motion upon application of pressure, a gravity counteracting tension spring attached to the said L lever assembly and anchored to a pull bar member, a latching mechanism pivotally attached to the pull bar and controlled by the movement of same, a flexible means with a weight attached thereto and so disposed that a downward movement of the weight effects a longitudinal movement of the pull bar, and a guard member placed at the rearward end and in line with the L arm lever to enclose the downward movement of same.

2. In a checkout device designed to be placed on top of a counter, the combination of a pair of side members, a pair of parallel spaced round bars supported on one of said side members, a main pull bar with handle attached thereto, a series of grooved rollers so disposed that they support the main pull bar and roll upon the said parallel spaced bars, an L-shaped lever arm assembly pivotally attached and extending laterally from the said pull bar for moving articles along the counter, means for controlling same, a supporting roller attached to the outward end of the L lever assembly, a bottom section attached to the side members, and adapted to form an extension to the counter top, a pair of legs to support said extension, a weight connected to the pull bar by a flexible means and adapted to move perpendicularly within one of the supporting legs to effect a longitudinal movement of said bar, and a guard member placed at the rearward end and adapted to receive the L lever on its return movement.

PARK L. NEW'BOLD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,011,321 Clark Dec. 12, 1911 2,136,156 Sturtevant Nov. 8, 1938 2,242,408 Turnham May 20, 1941 2,564,642 Edwards Aug, 14, 1951

Images