Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVEN~ION
2 For the many years, supermarket shopping has been available,
3 there have been continuing efforts to speed up the customers' check-
4 ing out process In so doing, there have been continuing efforts
to reduce the overall costs of such speed up processes and related
6 equipment, and also to reduce the physical effort and tlme consumed
7 by both the customer and the checker. With the availability of the
8 code scanners, in turn quickly establishing the current prices
9 and totalling the same, there are needs for processes and apparatus
to gain greater benefits from the utilization of the scanners.
11 Some of the developments of the past which have been directed
12 to these objectives, before the arrival of the scanner, and which
13 certainly would work well with scanners, are the patents which
14 concern grocery carts, which each individually have their own
conveyors, and which unload oftentimes on additional conveyors
16 located at the checkout locales. In 1964, in U S. Patent 3,145,
17 856 Messrs. Lachance and Ciborowski illustrated and described
18 their grocery cart with its own self contained conveyor for
1~ unloading the cart as the conveyor was in effect the bottom of the
ao cart. An adjacent conveyor was available at the checkout locale.
21 In 1966, in U S. Patent 3,270,837, Mr. Armand A. Lachance,
22 illustrated and described his automatic grocery cart which had
23 conveyor unit t without his own drive, as the bottom of a cart. At
24 the checkout locale an adjacent conveyor when powered to receive
25~ the customers' items leaving the cart, also with an extending drive
26: unit, powered the conveyor of this automatic g~ocery cart. In
27 1969, Garth Close, in his U S. Patent 3,446,315, disclosed his gro-
28 cery cart with a front opening gate and a conveyor bottom, which was
29
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l ¦ driven, upon contacting the moving conveyor positioned at the
2 ¦ checkout locale, to thereby unload the items from the cart conveyor
3 ¦ on to checkout conveyor. In 1969, Messrs Lachance and Howard, in
4 ¦ their U. S. Patent 3,454,139, descri~ed and illustràted their
5 ¦ automatic grocery cart, which had a conveyor bottom, Upon its
6 ¦ abutment to a conveyor at a checkout locale the checkout conveyor
7 ¦ powered the cart bottom conveyor to unload the items from the cart.
8 ¦ In 1972, in U. S. Patent 3,700,074, Mr. Shoffner, shows and tells
9 ¦ about his adjustable carts, not having their own conveyor components
lO ¦ but being adjustable to be unloaded on different height conveyors
ll ¦ located at checkout locales. He also disclosed how purchased items
12 ¦ could be removed from one cart, tallied, and then placed into an
13 ¦ adjacent cart thereby eliminating most of the counter areas pro-
14 ¦ vided by many checkout stands. In 197~ in U. S. Patent 3,678,660,
15 ¦ and in 1974 in U. S. Patent 3,792,757, Malcolm E. Musser illustrated
16 ¦ and described his basket cart unloading apparatus, wherein in ref-
17 I erence to about seventy percent of the bottom of his grocery cart,
1~ ¦ bottom cantilevered longitudinals, were guided between spaced belts
l9 ¦ and pulleys of an unloading conveyor located at a checkout stand,
20 ¦ to unload most items from the grocery cart, with some items at the
21 ¦ back thirty percent; often requiring the long reach of the checker.
22 ¦ Following the unloading of the cart, its direct reversing for
23 seventy percent of its bottom length was required to clear the
¦ conveyor belts and pulleys. Subsequently, the cart was not nestable
25 1 with other like carts. Although the unloading of carts by using
26 ¦ conveyors is well presented in these prior patents, there remained
27 ¦ needs, as yet unfilled, to increase the overall efficiency of all
28 the checkout functions, reduce costs, lessen human effort, and
29 enhance the overall capabilities of the scanners.
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1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTI~N
2 In a supermarket, a checker-unload oYerall assembly includes
3 a new conveyor, a new cart, and a new checkout stand. During
4 operation, a customer after shopping in the usual manner directs her
or his loaded cart into a guided complete interfit with a pedestal
6 and pivotal mounted conveyor. Then the checker completes the
7 lifting and securing of the front gate of the basket of the cart,
8 previously locked down in place until final interfitting with the
~ conveyor. After removing the immediately available items, the
checker via a demand knee or foot operated control, selectively
11 advances the conveyor to bring more items and eventually all items
12 within his or her easy, no stoop, reach, for an immediate pass
13 over an adjacent scanner and into a bag, or bagging beyond, if an
14 assistant is available..
The checker works adjacent a thirty six inch high scanner,
16 counter top location, and conveyor exit. ~ther components such
17 as the keyboard, scale and bag dispenser are all within his or her
easy, no-stoop, reach. Double personnel operations are likewise
19 easily undertaken, as a bag well top is raised, so items are con-
veniently passed to a follow on bagging locale.
21 Guiding partitions partially surrounding the conveyor and
22 checkout stand, control the spacing of follow on customers and
23 their carts, and guide all customers and their carts by the checkout
24 stand. The carts-are especially guided into preliminary alignment
with the unloading conveyor.
26 The conveyor slopes slightly downwardly to its entry, and the
27 bottom of the shopping cart slopes slightly upwardly to its front,
a8 with the angle of slope for both of them being the same, as their
29 lengths are substantially interfitted during the conveyor operations.
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1 The conveyor has a belt, which is continuously wrapped about spaced
a cylindrical rollers one at each end of its travel, and the width of
3 the belt is continuous with alternate longitudinal ribs and spaces
4 to interfit with longitudinal members of the basket of the cart.
At a crosswise location, the ribs of the conveyor have partial
6 round recesses to receive and to move forward round items in the
7 cart conveying them to the front of the basket. The longitudinal
8 members of the basket are transversely supported across both the
~ front and rear of the cart, but they are not transversely supported
at any other location to avoid interference with the moving ribs
11 of the conveyor.
12 The conveyor, preferably driven by an electric motor drive
13 assembly, located either internally of a roller or externally of a
14 roller, is cleared of a withdrawing cart by rotating its entry end,
further into the checkout stand, as the cart is rotated in the
16 opposite direction. The clearing occurs when less than one-half
17 the length of-the conveyor is uncovered, so the reversing of the
18 cart during the checking out process is very minimal. These
19 pivotal movements of both the conveyor and the cart are conveniently
undertaken by the checker, and the conveyor has a self return mechan-
21 ism to realign it for the next approaching loaded cart.
22 The cart is equipped with a child's seat. When no child is
being carried the back of the child's seat is pivoted to a reverse
24 sloping position to insure all items loaded above the seat will
now slide down to be conveyed out of the cart. When not in use,
26 the cart basket portion is pivoted upwardly and locked for nesting
a7 of the cart with other like carts which all have other like tapered
as portions. Each cart has a centerline alignment member with a
29 roller equipped leading end to enter converging guides equipped with
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1 rollers on the conveyor, which all interfit to complete the align-
2 ment of a cart with the conveyor pivotally mounted on a pedestal
3 adjacent the checkout stand by the scanner.
4 In use in a supermarket, this checker-unload overall assembly
permits the customer to shop in usual accustomed ways, yet frees
6 the customer of any basket unloading efforts, while minimizing the
7 unloading efforts of the checker. The checker in a no stoop posture
8 and environment operates all components with quick eye-hand coordin-
9 ation movements, all undertaken within an easy reaching distance.
The conveyor is selectively and controllably operated by the checker
11 so there is no possibi}ity of any crushing of eggs, breaking of
12 bottles, or other deformations of the items being checked via the
13 scanner and then lowered into bags. Throughout the checking out
14 transactions the checker and the customer may communicate in their
face to face positions. All the conveyor mechanisms are within a
16 protective overall assembly, so neither the customer nor the checker
17 can be injured in any way by the operating conveyor. After the
18 customer conveniently directs the loaded cart into position follow-
1~ ing the guides, the checker thereafter staying at his or her location
essentially handles all the remaining cart movements, backing the
21 carts only about twelve inches, and then moving the cart alongside
22 the checkout stand for others to take the cart for immediate
reuse or for close together nesting with other like carts.
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1 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2 The preferred embodiment of the supermarket checker-unload
3 overall asse~bly is illustrated in conjunction with the preferred
4 embodiments of the new conveyor, new cart, and new checkout stand in
the drawings, wherein:
6 Figure 1 is a perspective view, in respect to a supermarket,
7 of a checker-unload overall assembly of an approaching cart, a
8 conveyor, and a checkout stand with a scanner and related equipment;
9 Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a loaded cart
approaching the conveyor indicating the alignment components;
11 Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the loaded cart
12 fully engaged with the conveyor, with its forward end gate raised
13 clear of the items to be conveyed to the front of the cart for
14 their same level scanning, with only a scanning poTtion of a
checkout counter being shown;
16 Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the
17 relative positions of the longitudinal members of the bottom of
18 the basket, the ribs, and spaces of the conveyor belt, and one of
1~ the end rollers rotatably supporting the conveyor belt;
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are partial side views of the cam portions
21 of both a side of t`he basket and a side of the basket and a side of
the front gate of the basket indicating, respectively, the locked
23 down position, the locked position of the front gate when the basket
2~ ~is tilted up for nesting, and the locked up position of the front
gate when the basket is being unloaded;
26 Figure 8 is a full perspective view of the cart ready for load-
27 ing by a customer, indicating how the front gate is locked in place
28 and how the alignment structure is ready for its subsequent entry
29 into the ali~nment structures of the conveyor;
Figures 9 and l0 are side views, illustrating in figure 9, with
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1 ¦ some portions removed, the sloping pivotal back of the basket of
2 ¦ the cart in the ready to load position, and in figure 10 showing ho~
3 ¦ the basket is pivoted upwardly with the front gate continuing to
4 ¦ lock itself in place, as the cart is arranged for nesting with an
5 ¦ adjacent cart, indicated in phantom lines;
6 ¦ Figures 11 and 12 are partial views, ~de and perspective,
7 ¦ illustrating the baby seat;
8 ¦ Figure 13 is a perspective view of the overall unloading
9 ¦ conveyor with selected portions not shown to clarify others;
10 ¦ Figure 14 is a partial view of the automatic return assembly
11 ¦ which returns the conveyor back to its aligned position to receive
12 ¦ another cart, after being previously deflected away while clearing
13 ¦ an unloaded cart;
14 ¦ Figure 15 is a partial cross sectional view of the non powered
15 ¦ roller of the unloading conveyor, its rolling support of the
16 ¦ conveyor belt, and its own shaft and bearing mounting supports;
17 ¦ Figure 16 is a partial cross sectional view of the powered
: 18 ¦ roller of the unloading conveyor, its powered rolling support of
1 19 ¦ the conveyor belt, and its own shaft and bearing mounting supports,
ao ¦ and also shown are the components of the pedestal mounting of the
21 ¦ overall unloading conveyor;
~ ~ a2 I Figure 17 is a partial perspective view of the rotary travel
I a3 ¦ stops, between which the unloading conveyor is moved to clear a
a4 ¦ departing grocery cart, and thereafter is returned by the automatic
2~5 ¦ return assembly to be in line for the next oncoming grocery cart;
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1 Figures 18, 19,20 and 21, are schematic partial top views
2 illustrating in figure 18the approaching loaded cart commencing
3 its overlay of the conveyor; in figure 19 , the loaded cart being
4 aligned with the conveyor, as the alignment structures on both the
cart and conveyor are engaging; in figure 20, the loaded cart
6 being fully positioned over the conveyor and ready for the unloading
7 of the basket of the cart upon the demand movement of the conveyor
8 by the checker; and in figure 21, the unloaded cart being pivoted
8 clear of the conveyor, which is also being pivoted in the opposite
direction to clear the cart, the cart~ first having been moved
11 directly backward about twelve inches to create the clearance
12 necessary to permit such opposite direction pivoting of the cart
13 and conveyor, the unloaded items being shown transferred to the
14 checkout stand, shown in part;
Figure 22is a top view of two side by side chec~out stand
16 areas indicating the interrelationship of thé adjacent checkout
17 stands, their guiding partitions, and carts waiting beyond the
18 guiding partitions, a cart about to commence its engagement with
1~ the conveyor, a cart engaged with the conveyor, and the respective
positions of the checkers and the customers.
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1 ¦ DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREPERRED EMBODIMENTS
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a I General A~r~ ent of Grocery Cart, Unloadin~ Conveyor
l and Check Out Stand
3 1 - _
4 ¦ In the drawings, respective preferred embodiments are illus-
5 ¦ trated of an unloadin~ conveyor, a grocery cart, and a check ~ut
6 ¦ stand, with all of them also combined in a preferred embodiment.
7 ¦ In figure 1, a loaded grocery cart 30 is shown approaching the
8 ¦ unloading conveyor 32, which is mounted immediately adjacent the
~ check out stand 34, where the merchandise code scanner 36 is
10 ¦ installed. Below the scanner 36 on the side of the check out stand
11 ¦ 34, is a knee actuated conveyor start and stop control 38, operated
12 ¦ by a person designated as a checker, who removes groceries from
13 ¦ the basket of the cart, as the groceries are moved via the conveyor
14 ¦ to the front of the cart. As the groceries, one at a time are moved
15 ¦ over the scanner, the compilation of the customer's charges are
16 ¦ being illustrated in the computer type cash register 40. Those
17 ¦ items not coded such as fruits which generally must be weighed and
18 ¦ priced, are weighed on scale 42, and the price thereof is entered
19 I by finger touches on the keyboard 44 of the register 40. All the
20 ¦ pricing is observed by a customer on the display unit 46. The
21 ¦ groceries may be bagged by the checker using shelf 48, or moved on
22 ¦ to the sloping receiver 50 for subsequent bagging by an assistant.
23 ¦ A cash drawer 52 is also located conveniently with all this
24 ¦ equipment being operated by thé person, designated as the checker,
25 ¦ as the customer waits opposite the checker, as illustrated also
26 ¦ in figure 22.
27 l
28 ¦ Aligning the Grocery Cart and Unloading Conveyor
29 ¦ In figure 2, the grocery- cart 30 is illustrated with its
30 ¦ approaching alignment assembly 54, equipped with a rounded end-55 on
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I a centerline bar 58~ being positioned, as a customer, moving the
2 cart 30, approaches the check out stand 34, A receiving alignment
3 assembly 60 of the unloading conveyor 32, is equipped with low
4 friction wheels 56 mounted on a bottom horizontal plate 68.
There are front guides 62, 64, leading to the wheels 56. From the
6 wheels 56, there are continuing spaced, straight, alignment guides
7 6S, 66. The customer ably aligns the a~proaching alignment assembly
8 54 within the tolerance entry of the spaced low friction wheels 56,
9 followed by the spaced alignment guides 65, 66, and thereafter the
receiving alignment assembly 60 directs the cart 30 into full
Il alignment with the unloading conveyor 32.
12
13 Access to the Basket of the Cart
14 In figure 3, only a receiving counter portion 70 of a stand is
shown, to indicate, how this unloading conveyor 32, and this collect-
16 ing cart 30 might be used with other types of stands and possibly in
17 other businesses. Also in figure 3, the end wrap around pivotal
18 gate 72 of the cart 30 is illustrated in its upwardly tilted and
19 locked position, clearing the movement paths of the checker's` final
unloading hand movements, which are always made only to this dis-
21 charging locale 74, as the conveyor 32, on the checker's demand,
22 moves the purchased items toward the checker;
~23
24 Interfittin~ of Basket of the Cart and the Unloading Conveyor
2S In figure 4, the relative cross sectional positioning is shown
26 of the continuous unloading conveyor belt 80, with its integral
27 raised longitudinal item contacting and carrying ribs 82, and the
28 bottom spaced longitudinal rods 84 of the basket 86 of the cart 30,
2~ when the cart 30 is positioned for unloading. As illustrated in
figures 1, 2, 3, and 8, the bottom spaced longitudinal wires or
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1 ¦ rods 84 and the balance of the basket 86 components are always
a positioned sloping upwardly. This basket slope or incline is com-
3 ¦ plementary matched by the slope of incline of the unloading
4 conveyor belt 80. This complementary sloping design improves the
initial alignment capabilities in preparing to unload the cart 30
6 with the conveyor 32. Then following unloading, the sloping design
8 permits the disengagement of the cart 30 and the unloading conveyor
32 sooner by allowing the cart 30 to be pivoted or swung, and/or
~ the unloading conveyor 32 to be pivoted or swung in ~he opposite
direction, to clear them one from another, without their otherwise
ll complete end to end in line clearance from one another, as
12 illustrated in figures 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.
13
14 Multiple Positions of the Gate, of the Basket~ of the Cart
In figures 5, 6, and 7, somewhat schematically, only the cooper-
16 ating parts of the basket 86 of the cart 30 are illustrated to show
17 how the end wrap around pivotal gate 72 is pivotally mounted to the
18 respecti~e sides 88 of the basket 86. An elongated but restrictive
l~ wire loop 90 is formed in the respective wrap around gate sides 92.
This loop 90 on gate 72 is slidably and pivotally held captive
2l within an elongated but restrictive wire loop 94 attached to the
22 basket sides 88, by using a bracket 96, secured in turn to the
23 basket sides 88. A lower cross wire 98 of the wrap around gate 72,
upon the closure of the gate 72 and somewhat prior to the closure
of the gate 72, contacts the downward sloping wires 100 of the
basket sides 88. This cooperating arrangement of interrelated
27 elongated but restrictive wire loops 90, 94, arranged in geometric
28 planes perpendicular to one another, and the other wire portions,
29 such as lower cross wire 98 and the sloping wires 1~0, insures: as
illustrated in figure 5, the end wrap around gate 72 will remain in
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1 place to retain the grocery items within the basket 86; as illus-
2 trated in figure 6, the gate 72 will not flop off to one side
3 when the entire basket 86 is tilted Yertically for nesting of carts
4 30, as illustrated in figure 10; and as illustrated in figure 7,
the end wrap around gate 72 when intentionally cleared by pivoting
6 it upwardly, will thereafter remain locked in its vertical cleared
8 away position during unloading of the cart 30 by the conveyor 32
and checker. Also, the detents 102 in the sloping wires 100 first
~ receive the lower cross wire 98 during any pi~oting of the entire
basket 86, such as shown in figure 10. If the lower cross wire 98
ll should leave the detents 102, the interrelated elongated but
12 restrictive wire loops 90, 94 keep the gate 72 from continuing on in
13 a rotative motion beyond the overall profile of the basket 86, as it
14 appears in figure;8, 9, and 10.
16 The Grocery Cart
17 In figure-8, in a perspective view, the pTeferred embodiment of
18 the cart 30 is illustrated, with the numerals designating those
components already described, and the following described components:
the upright frame members 106 and 108 arranged in opposite side
21 pairs to create the basket height at a convenient reaching height
22 for a checker; a lower tapered nesting frame member 110 integrally
23 ¦ connected to the upright frame members 106 and 108, to support an
24 item receiving lower wire shelf 112, and to receive front rotatable
casters 118 secured by bracket 138, and rear non rotatable casters
26 116; a horizontal bracing supporting frame 120 secured to the rear
a7 pair of upright frame members 106, and to a cross bar frame
28 member 122, secured between the other pair of upright frame members
29 108, and used also to position and to hold the approaching alignment
assembly 54, with its bar 58 and rounded end 55; a cross handle 124
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1 formed as the pair of upright frame members 106 are continued and
2 tilted to the rear; rotatable support assemblies 126 at the
3 respective top ends of the other upright frame members 108, to
4 receive the basket 86, the forward cross rod or wire 128 to positio
the longitudinal rods 84; and the collapsible child's seat
6 assembly 130.
8 The Nesting of the C~rts
9 In figure 9, the cart 30 is shown with portions cut away to
illustrate the non use collapsible position of the child's seat
11 assembly 130, when the seat back 132 forms a sloping back of the
12 basket 86, which insures items in the cart will be directed down-
13 wardly to the unloading conveyor 3Z. From this loading position
14 of the cart 30 shown in figure 9, the empty basket 86 is ro~ated
upwardly to a nestable position with an adjacent car~ 30, shown in
16 phantom lines in figure 10.
17
l8 Children's Seating
1~ In figures 11 and 12, the collapsible child's seat assembly
130 is shown occupied in figure 11, and unoccupied in figure 12. A
21 seat 134 and back braces 13~ are movably secured, so the assembly
22 130 is easily converted to the sloping back 132 of the basket 86,
23 as shown in figure 9.
:: 24
as The Unloading Conveyor
26 Figures 13 through 17 illustrate the unloading conveyor 32,
27 preferably swingably mounted on a sole pedestal assembly 138, by
28 using handle 139, between assemblies of rotative travel abutments
29 140, ànd having an automatic return assembly 142. The unloading
conveyor belt 80 has integral spaced ribs 82, which are partially
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1 serrated 81 with the cuts being referred to as sipes 81, transver-
2 sely at sufficiently close longitudinal spacing, so the overall
3 continuous unloading conveyor belt 80, readily makes the reverse
4 directional changes about the respective end drums or rollers 144,
146. Preferably, an electric motor drive assembly 148 is fitted
6 within the driven roller or drum 146, and drum or roller 144 is
7 not powered. Although the interroll powered assembly 148 is illus-
8 trated, a separated outside drive assembly is sometimes used.
9 Adjustments of the spacing between these rollers 144, 146 to match
the overall longitudinal length of the unloading conveyor belt 80
11 is undertaken by using the adjustment assemblies 150, located at
12 each respective end mounting locale of the powered roller or drum
13 146.
14
Convenient Removal of Entire Unloading Conveyor Belt Assembly
16 As illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3 and 14 an assembly 151 of
17 decorative and safety end, side and bottom panels 152, 154, 68 cover
18 the unloading conveyor belt assembly and they are conveniently
19 removed as an assembly 151. Then after removing fasteners 153 the
slider fairing 155 is transversely removed from in between the belt
21 82. Thereafter for servicing, the powered roller or drum 146 is
22 cleared of its mounting, after increasing the transverse spacing of
23 the upright supports 156, 158, such as by loosening the fasteners
24 160 at one end. This occurs as tho fixed non rotatable centered rod
support or shaft 162 of the powered roller or drum 146, is also
26 cleared from the elongated bearing slot 164, and consequently
27 the powered roller 146 and its internally mounted electric
28 motor drive assembly 148, and this end of the unloading conveyor
29 belt 80 are all cleared to be moved toward the locale of the
non powered roller or drum 144. At this time of disassembly,
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1 t.hen a transverse framework 166 supporting the shaft 168 of the non
a powered roller or drum 144 and the then respective end of the
3 unloading conveyor belt 80, is first released by withdrawing threaded
4 bolts 165 from threaded upstanding welded tabs 167 on the transverse
framework 166. Thereafter this framework 166 and all it supports
6 are readily moved down and then in a horizontal direction, clearing
7 the respective side located slide engagement paired angle supports
8 170, 172. Support 170 is secured to the transverse framework 166,
~ and support 172 is secured to horizontal surrounding structural bar
frame 174 supported by the upright supports 156, 158 and held by
11 fasteners 175. The complete powered unloading conveyor belt 80,
12 while still installed about the rollers 144, 146, is removed in
13 this sequence, for its complete interchange with another like
14 subassembly 180, or for its on the spot convenient inspection,
service, and possible repair. At least at one transverse location
16 the ribs 82 of the conveyor belt 80 are each formed with a depres-
17 sion 83. When these collectively meet a round container they
18 cooperate together to move the round container on to the discharge
1~ locale.
: ~ Pigure 15 is a partial side view of the transverse side by
; 21 side components illustrated in reference to loading end of the
: ~ aa powered unloading conveyor 32 to indicate their arrangement,
a3 especially in reference to rotatably supporting the non powered
: roller or drum 144. From outsidc to inside are: the decorative and
; 25 safety side panel 154, the transverse framework 166, the horizontal
26: surrounding structural frame 174, the non rotatable shaft 168,
a7 washer 176, bearing 178, non powered roller or drum 144, and the
28 unloading conveyor belt 80.
29 Figure 16 is a partial side view showing the transverse side by
side components illustrated in reference to the unloading end of
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1 ¦ the powered unloading conveyor 32 to indicate their arrangement,
2 ¦ especially in reference to rotatably supporting the powered roller
3 ¦ or drum 146. Prom outside to inside are the handle 1 , cover 181,
4 ¦ belt length adjustment assembly 150, upright support 156, the
5 ¦ horizontal surrounding structural frame 174, bearing
6 ¦ 182 for powered roller 146.
7 l
8 ¦ Corner Located Swingable, Automatic Return Lift Off Pedestal
~ I Mountin~ of the ~nloading Conveyor ~~
10 ¦ Also in figures ~ ~ 17,parts are broken away to illustrate the
11 ¦ preferred arrangement of the components of the sole pedestal mounting
12 ¦ assembly 138, which movably supports the unloading conveyor 32.
13 ¦ A structural supporting tube or pipe 190 with horizontal perpendic-
14 ¦ ular arranged base angles 192, 194, premanently attached to it, is
15 ¦ ultimately, with fasteners 196, secured to the floor structure 198
16 ¦ of a market, utilizing also permanently attached diagonally
17 ¦ arranged bracing angles 200, 202. Adjustable abutment stops 204
18 ¦ are selectively spaced and secured to the supporting tube 190 to
1~ ¦ cooperate with other abutment stops 206 on a rotatable or
20 ¦ swingable telescoping sleeve tube, or pipe 208, which continues .
21 ¦ on the sole pedestal mounting assembly 138. A transverse supporting
¦ box beam 210 is permanently secured to the top of the telescoping
23 ¦ sleeve 208, and these two parts are rotatably supported on the end
24 ¦ of the supporting tube 190 by using thrust bearing 212. The top of
25 ¦ the supporting tube 190 is partially capped by the ring 211, which
26 I supports the thrust bearing 212.
27 ¦ The unloading conveyor 32 is swingable partially into the
28 ¦ check out stand during the disengaging of the grocery cart 30,
29 ¦ upon a movement initiated by the checker using handle 139. When
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1 ¦the handle 139 is released, the unloading conveyor 32 automatically
2 ¦returns to its position with its discharging end located immediately
3 ¦adjacent the abutment structure 220 of the check out stand 34,
4 ¦adjacent the code scanner 36, to await the oncoming cart 30 of
5 ¦the next customer coming to this check out stand 34. An automatic
6 ¦return assembly 142, preferably hydraulic, is removably secured to
71 a vertical bar 222, using fasteners 224, and the bar 222 in turn is
8 ¦permanently secured to the top of the supporting tube 190, via a
~ ¦ filler ring 226. Cutouts 228 in the box beam 210 provide the
10 ¦ clearance for the vertical position of the bar 222 for its in turn
11 ¦ support of the return assembly 142. The terminus 230 of the
12 ¦ linkage 232 of the automatic return assembly is secured to the box
13 ¦ beam by a bearing fastening assembly 234.
141
15 ¦ ~Adjustabilit~, of the An~le of the Unloading Conve or Belt to Match
l the AnQle of~~the Baskët of the G~rocery Cart ~
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17 As shown in figures 13, 14 and 16, the upright supports 156
18 and 158 for the powered roller 146 and the horizontal surrounding
19 structural frame 174, are adjustably mounted to the box beam 210,
by using vertical height adjustable fastener assemblies 160 secured
21 to the box beam 210. In respect to these assemblies 160, by turning
aa nuts 242 on bolts 240, located above and below positioning angles
23 244, secured to the upright supports 156 and 158, at two spaced
: locations on each end of the box beam 210, the angle of the
geometric plane of the unloading conveyor belt 80 is adjusted
26 relative to the horizontal geometric plane to match the slopes of
a7 the bottoms of the baskets 86 of the carts 30, to complete the excel-
28 lent positioning of the integral ribs 82 of the unloading conveyor
29 belt 80 with the longitudinal rods or wires 84 of the basket 86 of
the cart 30.
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1 ¦ Thl Overall Methoa of Checking Out a Customer Using This ~art,
2 n oa ing Conveyor, an C ec Out tan
3 As illustrated in figure 22, a customer arriving at a check
4 out stand 34 area may wait briefly on occasions at an entrance 250
through low vertical panels 252 designating a check out area
6 254, until a preceding customer is checked out, then she or he
7 will proceed on to engage her or his cart 30 with the unloading
8 conveyor 32, as illustrated in figures 2, 18, l9 and 20. The
9 alignment assembly 54 on the cart 30 and the alignment assembly
60 on the unloading conveyor 32, as shown in figure 2, make it
11 relatively easy for the customer to complete both the approach
12 and interengagement motions of the cart 30, illustrated in
13 figures 18, 19 and 20. Then as shown in figure 21, after the
14 grocery items 256, 258 and 260 are on the check out stand 34~
bagged, or otherwise removed from the cart 30, the cart 30, after
16 being withdrawn only a short distance, so the like sloping portions
17 o~ the cart 30 and unloading conveyor 32 are cleared of one
18 another, is swung in one direction, as the unloading conveyor 32
1~ is swung in the other direction, to fully clear one from the other,
without requiring the otherwise full in line reverse motion of
21 the cart to clear its entire basket length from the unloading
22 conveyor 32. These methods and motions minimize the floor areas
23 needed and eliminate the need for asking oncoming customers to
24 back up their carts 30 to clear an emptied cart 30 upon leaving
the check out stand 34.
26 In figure 22, a rush hour checking out period is illustrated,
27 indicating a waiting cart 30, a cart 30 aligned over the
28 unloading conveyor 32, as the checker is operating the unloading
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1 conveyor 32, passing the grocery items over the code scanner 36,
2 a bridge 266, and on to the sloping receiver 50 of the check
3 out stand 34 to a rear bagging locale, being attended by a
4 person designated as a bagger, using rear bagging shelf 268.
The scale 42 and the register 40 are within the convenient arm
6 and hand movement of the checker. The customer is able to
7 stand opposite the checker to observe the overall operations and
8 to attend to the payment for the purchased item~. At other
~ store hours, when the volume of business is less, as also
illustrated in figure 22, more of the check out stands 34 may be
11 operated by one person instead of two persons. As a customer
12 approaches with her baby seated in the basket seat 134 of the
13 cart 30, the unloading conveyor 32 has been automatically returned,
14 and the checke~ has slidably movedlthe bridge 266 out of the way
to clear the volume or well 270 above a bagging shelf 48, and
16 then has placed an opened bag 272 on the shelf 48 in preparing
17 to check out the items selected by this customer.
I8 These side by side check out stands 34, utilizing the carts 30
19 and unloading conveyors 32 arranged for either single or double
manning, in this overall embodiment, are preferably positioned
21 within a seven foot six inch wide modular space, which includes
22 the customer aisle 276, the checkstand 34, and cart passage 278
23 on the checker's side. The overall length of the modular space
from the entrance 250 through the vertical panels~252, to the
end of the check out stand 34 is eleven feet, with the overall
26 length of the check out stand being nine feet. The entrance or
27 opening 250 serves three purposes: to align the cart 30 for
28 entry onto the unloading conveyor 32; to prevent other customers
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1 from moving in front of a second or waiting customer; and to
eliminate any ripple effect, otherwise to be caused when a customer
3 or customers might have to back up their loaded carts 30, as an
4 empty cart 30 is moved clear of an unloading conveyor 32. Also
S a customer positioned opposite the checker, face to face, has a
6 private space in which to complete his or her transaction with
7 the checker.
8 As illustrated in figures 1 and 22, the checker is only
8 required to perform minimum movements during the checking operations
The code scanner 36 is located at a comfortable, non fatiguing
11 thirty six inch height creating an optimum no stoop environment.
12 Electronic components, i.e. the register 40, the scale 42, are
13 closely grouped providing quick eye-hand coordination of the
14 checker, for key entry of the costs of the purchased items. The
keyboard 44, i.e. the register 40, is mounted on an adjustable
16 pedestal 280, with respect to height, direction, and angle of
17 the keyboard 44. There is a nearby pop out bag dispenser 282,
18 which delivers bags 272 to the checkers' fingertips. Moreover,
19 at all times through the knee operated conveyor control 38, the
checker moves the purchased items to the front of the cart 30
21 for his or her very convenient handling immediately adjacent the
22 code scanner 36, for their quick passage over the code scanner
23 36 and subsequent convenient bagging.
24 By utilizing these preferred embodiments of the grocery cart
30, the unloading conveyor 32, and the check out stand 34, in
26 their preferred c~mbination, the oveTall check out speed advantage
27 potentials of installed code scanners 36 are fully realized,
28
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1 ¦ to the benefit of the store owners and their operating personnel,
a ¦ and also to the benefit of the customers, who, although helping
3 ¦ to align the cart 30 and to direct it over the unloading conveyor
4 ¦ 32, thereafter do not participate in the unloading of the items
6 ¦ purchased from the basket 86 of the grocery cart 30.
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