Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR BAGGING APPARATUS FOR WEIGHT SCALE
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Design Patent Application No.
29/567,968,
filed June 14, 2016 and entitled "Bagging Apparatus", U.S. Provisional Patent
Application
No. 62/349,933, filed June 14, 2016 and entitled "Modular Bagging Stations",
and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/349,940, filed June 14, 2016 and
entitled "Self-
Checkout Register Configurations" the contents of which are incorporated
herein in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.. Technical Field
The present inventive concepts relate to a mobile bagging apparatus, and more
specifically to weigh stations configured a bagging apparatus.
State of the Art
A bagging station is a station in a retail store where purchases are placed
into bags so that
the bags, with the purchases, may be carried out of the store by the customer.
Bagging
stations are often designed to hold a plurality of bags, and have a ledge or
shelf where a
customer or bagger can set the bag while it is being filled.
Accordingly, what is needed is a modular, ergonomically friendly bagging
station that
allows for bagging options when used in connection with a checkout register
scale platform
in a retail establishment, or other weigh station where items are temporarily
placed and
weighed, for example, a self-checkout bagging station, an airport terminal,
and so on.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, provided is a mobile, modular bagging station comprising: a
rotatable
carousel base constructed and arranged for positioning on a self-checkout
scale platform; a
center piece coupled to a top surface of the carousel base; and a plurality of
holding elements
extending from the top portion, wherein a weight of a plurality of store items
in shopping
bags positioned on the holding elements is determined by the scale platform on
which the
carousel base is positioned.
In another aspect, provided is a system for self-checkout of store items,
comprising: self-
checkout scale platform; a bagging station on the self-checkout scale platform
and rotates
about an axis perpendicular to the scale platform, wherein the self-checkout
scale platform
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weighs a plurality of store items in shopping bags hanging from the bagging
station; and a
weight calculator that compares a weight of the store items in the shopping
bags hanging
from the bagging station, and a weight of the items upstream from the bagging
station.
In another aspect, provided is a method for security at a weigh station,
comprising:
positioning a modular bagging station on a scale platform; positioning a
plurality of shopping
bags on the bagging station; inserting store items purchased upstream from the
scale platform
into the shopping bags; weighing by the scale platform the items in the
shopping bags on the
bagging station; and comparing a weight result with a weight of the items
determined
upstream from the bagging station.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular bagging station for a self-checkout
system, in
accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the modular bagging station of FIG. 1 and an
exploded
view of the base of the bagging station, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the modular bagging station of FIGs. 1 and 2
assembled
in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 3B is a front view of the modular bagging station of FIGs. 1-3A.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular bagging station in communication
with a self-
checkout register scale platform, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the modular bagging station of FIG. 4 removed
from the
self-checkout register scale platform.
FIG. 5 illustrates a method of operating a bagging station at a self-checkout
counter, in
accordance with some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments include a self-checkout system where a customer purchases store
items
prior to leaving the store. A typical self-checkout system requires a customer
to scan item
barcodes or other identifiers, input the types of items such as fruit and
vegetable, for example,
using a touchscreen display, weigh the items, if applicable, and place all
scanned items into a
bagging area. The weight observed in the bagging area is verified against
previously stored
information to ensure that the correct item is bagged, allowing the customer
to proceed only
if the observed and expected weights match. The self-checkout station includes
processors or
the likes for communicating with the store computers, tallying the items and
feeding the
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purchase information into accounting and inventory databases just as if it
were a regular
checkout lane with a cashier.
Aspects of the present inventive concepts include a mobile bagging station
that can be
part of a scale in the bagging area of a self-checkout counter, so that items
purchased at the
self-checkout system can be placed in bags which in turn are positioned on the
mobile
bagging station, and verified to determine whether the items in the bags are
correct.
FIGs. 1-4 illustrate various views of a modular bagging station 100 for a self-
checkout
system, in accordance with some embodiments. In particular, FIG. 1 is a
perspective view of
a modular bagging station 100 for a self-checkout system, in accordance with
some
embodiments, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the modular bagging station of
FIG. 1 and an
exploded view of the base 130 of the bagging station 100, in accordance with
some
embodiments, FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the modular bagging station 100
of FIGs. 1
and 2 assembled in accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 3B is a front view
of the
modular bagging station 100 of FIGs. 1-3A, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of
a modular
bagging station 100 in communication with a self-checkout register scale
platform, in
accordance with some embodiments. Although embodiments refer to an application
of a self-
checkout station, other embodiments may equally apply to a store checkout
counter occupied
by a store clerk or other employee, for example, a store representative who
scans the items,
collects payment, confirms authenticity of purchase, and so on.
The bagging station 100 is preferably constructed and arranged for positioning
on a self-
checkout register scale platform 160, for example, shown in FIG. 4, but is not
limited thereto.
For example, the bagging station 100 may be positioned at other locations of a
self-checkout
system, preferably a designated bagging area. As described herein, the bagging
stations 110 is
preferably modular, for holding shopping bags configured to receive store
items to be
weighed. In another example, the bagging station 100 is constructed and
arranged for
positioning on a weight scale at an airport or other security-sensitive area.
The bagging station 100 may include a carousel top 113, a center piece 116,
and a
plurality of bag holding elements 120A-120F extending from the center piece
116. The
carousel top 113 may be part of a base 130, for example, shown in FIGs. 2-3B.
Alternatively,
the carousel top 113 may be integrated with a region of a self-checkout
system, for example,
part of a scale. In some embodiments, the carousel top 113 rotates, and the
center piece 116
sets on the carousel top 113. As shown in FIGs. 4 and 4A, the bagging station
100 may be
coupled to a metal base 162, which is inserted into and positioned on a scale
platform 160.
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Base 130, or more specifically, carousel top 113, acts as a table to hold
center piece 116,
and is a means to support one or more paper bags while a paper bag is being
filled with store
items for purchase.
As shown in FIG. 2, the base 130 can include the carousel top 113, a bearing
plate 112,
and an adapter plate 114, whereby the carousel top 113 can rotate about its
axis relative to the
stationary adapter plate 114 for ease of access to multiple shopping bags
hanging from the
top portion 118, or lid, of the center piece 116.
In some embodiments, the bearing plate 112 includes a plurality of ball
bearings or the
like, permitting a region of separation between the carousel top 113 and the
adapter plate 114.
The carousel top 113 can rotate relative to the adapter plate 114 due to the
ball bearings or the
like of the bearing plate 112.
Center piece 116 in this embodiment rests on, and is coupled to, a top surface
of carousel
top 113. In some embodiments, center piece 116 has three sides, or a
triangular
configuration. In some embodiments, center piece 116 has more than three
sides, and top
surface 118 is a shape other than triangular, such as rectangular, round,
oval, or other shape.
In some embodiments, a coupling mechanism 119 is provided, for example, a pin
or the like,
to maintain a stationary position of the rotatable top portion 118, for
example, when not in
use.
The bag holding elements 120A-120F (generally, 120) may include hooks, rods,
clamps,
spring clips or other extensions for holding a shopping bag and its contents.
A shopping bag
may be paper, plastic, recyclable material, and/or other well-known material.
The elements
120 may include bag upper edge holders 121 that grasp the upper edge of an
open bag in
order to hold the bag open and in place while items are placed in the bag so
the bag can be
filled. In some embodiments, bagging station 100 does not include shopping bag
edge holders
121. In the embodiment shown, bagging station 100 includes six paper bag
holding elements
120A-F extending from triangular corners of the top portion 118 of the center
piece 116.
Additional bag edge holders 121A-C may be attached to the sides of center
piece 116, each
between two bag holding elements 120A-120F. Bag edge holders 121A-C may be
constructed and arranged to include hooks, rods, clamps, spring clips or other
extensions for
holding a shopping bag and its contents. The bag holding elements 120A-120F
and/or bag
edge holders 121A-C may be of various sizes and shapes for supporting the
weight of a
shopping bag filled with store items. The bag edge holders 121A-C may have a
different
configuration than holding elements 120A-F, or a similar or same
configuration. In some
embodiments, the bag holding elements 120A-120F and/or bag edge holders 121A-C
may be
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removable, for example, removed from the top portion 118 of the center piece
116 and
replaced with different the bag holding elements 120A-120F and/or bag edge
holders 121A-
C.
As described with respect to some embodiments, the modular bagging station 100
is
.. constructed and arranged to communicate with a self-checkout register scale
platform 160,
for example, rest on the scale platform 160. The scale platform 160 may
function as an
antitheft scale. In another example, the scale platform may be a weight scale
at a security-
sensitive area such as an airport, where baggage is first weighed during a
check in procedure,
then weighed again prior to loading onto the airplane to determine whether a
weight
difference is present between the two weigh-ins, and determine whether items
were added to
or removed from the baggage after the initial check in. A central database
(not shown) in
electrical communication with a processor of the scale platform 160 may store
the standard
weight of each grocery item, which may be predetermined, or by another scale
as part of the
checkout process, for example, during the scanning and payment portions of a
scanning
process. An alarm or other notification may be sounded if the added weight
does not match
the item that was scanned.
As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the scale platform 160 includes a top
surface
on which a metal base 162 including a lip 163 may be positioned, in turn on
which items may
be placed and weighed. A portion of the top surface may be configured to mate
with the
metal base 162, for example, the top surface of the scale platform 160 may
include an
opening to receive the carousel top 113, bearing plate 112, and base 162,
which is coupled to,
integrated with, or otherwise positioned at the scale platform 160 whereby the
carousel top
113 may rotate about the base 162 due to the bearing plate 112. In some
embodiments, the
adapter plate 114 shown in FIG. 3A may be coupled to the surface 161 of the
base 162. In
other embodiments, the lip 163 may be provided with no corresponding metal
bottom. Here,
the lip 163 may be coupled directly to the sides of the scale platform 160,
while the carousel
top 113, bearing plate 112, and adapter plate 114, collectively referred to
above as module
carousel base 130, are positioned directly on the scale platform 160.
In other embodiments, the modular bagging station 100, including the carousel
top 113
and the bearing plate 112, and the adapter plate 114 may be positioned on or
integrated with
the scale platform 160. The weight of the bagging station 100 is predetermined
and
subtracted by a weight calculator when weighing a combination of store items
to determine
whether or not the purchase is correct. The weight data is calculated to be
within a
predetermined threshold of the scale 160. Shopping bags positioned on the bag
holding
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elements 120 and/or edge holders 121 may be at least partially filled with
store items
received from an upstream region of a self-checkout system, for example, from
a region of a
checkout counter where the items are previously scanned, weighed, and
purchased. Other
store items not placed in shopping bags may be weighed by a region 161 of the
top surface of
the scale platform not occupied by the modular bagging station 100.
FIG. 5 illustrates a method 300 of operating a bagging station at a self-
checkout counter,
in accordance with some embodiments. In describing the method 300, reference
may be made
to elements of FIGs. 1-4.
At block 310, modular bagging station 100 is positioned on scale platform 160.
As
described above, the bagging station 100 may be removably positioned on scale
platform 160
so that at times the bagging station 110 may be removed from the scale
platform 160 so that
the surface of the scale platform previously occupied may be used to weight
items positioned
directly on the scale platform 160. As also described above, in other
embodiments, the
bagging station 100 may be integrated with the scale platform 160.
At block 320, the scale platform 160 is calibrated to compensate for the
weight of the
bagging station 100. The scale platform 160 may communicate with a remote
processor that
compares the weight of the store items with a predetermined weight to ensure
that the items
purchased are the same as the items leaving the store, i.e., for security
reasons. The weight of
the bagging station 100 cannot be part of the weight calculation. The weight
of the carousel
and/or other elements of the bagging station 100 on the scale 160 can be set
to 0 so that these
elements are not accounted for in a weight determination of items loaded in
bags and hanging
from the bagging station 100 during a self-checkout operation.
At block 330, the bagging station 100 is rotated or otherwise positioned to
receive store
items for insertion into at least one shopping bag hanging from the bagging
station 100,
which are at least partially filled with store items. The bagging station 100
may rotate about
an axis that extends perpendicularly from the scale platform 160. The bagging
station 100, or
more specifically, the center piece 116 and carousel top portion 113, may be
rotated by a
shopper or other person so that at least one holding element 120, 121 is
directly downstream
of the store items in a path from a cash register of the self-checkout system.
At block 340, a combined weight of items inserted in shopping bags, which in
turn are
positioned on bag holding elements 120 and/or edge holders 121. Other store
items may be
placed on the top surface 161 of the scale platform 160. The store items may
have been
previously scanned, weighed, and purchased, i.e., payment made for the store
items. Here,
the scale platform 160 may be at a post-scan region of a self-checkout
counter, and may serve
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as a security device, to ensure that the items purchased are indeed the items
leaving the store
with the shopper. Other security devices such as cameras or other sensors may
be part of the
self-checkout system, and communicate with a processor of the scale platform
to collect data
and provide the data to a store computer, airport terminal, or other security
region where
weight-related information is important to security, and which stores item
data, tallies the
items, and provides the purchase information to accounting and inventory
databases.
The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best
explain
the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable
those of ordinary skill
in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in
the art will
recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for
the purposes
of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended
to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications
and variations are
possible in light of the teachings above.
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