Check-out counter systems and methods

• US 20060076406A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Blake M., Knoll, Mitchell W., Splain, William D., Ash, Robert W., Ulrich, Curtis J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,255,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/046 Arrangement of recording means in or on check-out counters record carriers or readers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing

Abstract

A bagging station within a check-out counter system and for use by a cashier positioned in a cashier location within the check-out counter system. The bagging station includes a lower bag rack and an upper bag rack. The lower bag rack is configured to hold at least one bag for loading with a first portion of merchandise and defines a first upper edge. The upper bag rack is configured to hold at least one bag for loading with a second portion of merchandise. The upper bag rack is positioned behind the lower bag rack relative to the cashier location, and the upper bag rack defines a second upper edge. The first upper edge and the second upper edge are arranged in a terraced configuration. Check-out counter systems and methods of processing merchandise provide additional advantages.

Claims

1. A bagging station within a check-out counter system and for use by a cashier positioned at a cashier location within the check-out counter system, the bagging station comprising:

a lower bag rack configured to hold at least one bag for loading with merchandise, the lower bag rack defining a first upper edge;

an upper bag rack configured to hold at least one bag for loading with merchandise, wherein the upper bag rack is positioned behind the lower bag rack relative to the cashier location during use, and wherein the upper bag rack defines a second upper edge, the first upper edge and the second upper edge being arranged in a terraced configuration.

2. The bagging station of claim 1, further comprising:

a lower support shelf positioned below the lower bag rack, wherein the lower support shelf is configured to provide additional support to the at least one bag held by the lower bag rack when the at least one bag is loaded with merchandise.

3. The bagging station of claim 2, further comprising:

an upper support shelf positioned below the upper bag rack, wherein the upper support shelf is configured to provide additional support to the at least one bag held by the upper bag rack when the at least one bag is loaded with merchandise.

4. The bagging station of claim 3, wherein a first distance is defined between the lower support shelf and the first upper edge of the lower bag rack, and a second distance is defined between the upper support shelf and the second upper edge of the upper bag rack, and further wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.

5. The bagging station of claim 3, wherein a first distance is defined between the lower support shelf and the first upper edge of the lower bag rack, and a second distance is defined between the upper support shelf and the second upper edge of the upper bag rack, and further wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

6. The bagging station of claim 1, wherein the upper bag rack includes a pair of laterally extending support rods, and further wherein the upper bag rack holds the at least one bag by hanging the at least one bag between the pair of laterally extending support rods.

7. The bagging station of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of first bags held by the lower bag rack;

a plurality of second bags held by the upper bag rack;

wherein each of the plurality of second bags is generally larger than each of the plurality of first bags.

8. The bagging station of claim 1, wherein the first upper edge and the second upper edge are angled toward the cashier location.

9. The bagging station of claim 1, wherein the lower bag rack defines a first edge and a second edge longitudinally spaced from the first edge, and the upper bag rack defines a third edge and a fourth edge longitudinally spaced from the third edge, and further wherein the first edge is longitudinally aligned with the third edge, and the second edge is longitudinally aligned with the fourth edge.

10. A check-out counter system for processing merchandise, comprising:

a scanner configured to collect merchandise information from the merchandise; and

a bagging station positioned adjacent to the scanner, the bagging station including;

a first bag rack configured to support a plurality of first bags for loading with a first portion of the merchandise,

a first support shelf positioned a first distance below the first bag rack and configured to support each of the plurality of first bags when each of the plurality of first bags is loaded with the first portion of the merchandise,

a second bag rack adjacent the first bag rack and configured to support a plurality of second bags for loading with a second portion of the merchandise, and

a second support shelf positioned a second distance below the second bag rack and configured to support each of the plurality of second bags when each of the plurality of second bags is loaded with a second portion of the merchandise,

wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

11. The check-out counter system of claim 10, wherein the bagging station additionally includes:

a third bag rack configured to support a plurality of third bags, and

a third support shelf positioned a third distance below the third bag rack and configured to support each of the plurality of third bags when each of the plurality of third bags is loaded with a third portion of the merchandise.

12. The check-out counter system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of third bags are sized similarly to the plurality of first bags.

13. The check-out counter system of claim 12, wherein the third distance is equal to the first distance.

14. The check-out counter system of claim 11, wherein the third bag rack is positioned behind the first bag rack relative to a cashier working at the check-out counter system.

15. The check-out counter system of claim 10, wherein the scanner defines a top surface, and the first bag rack defines an upper edge, and further wherein the top surface of the scanner and the upper edge of the first bag rack are generally coplanar.

16. The check-out counter system of claim 10, further comprising:

a deck area for supporting at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags after the at least one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags has been loaded with a respective portion of the merchandise, the deck area being adjacent the bagging station opposite the scanner.

17. The check-out counter system of claim 16, wherein the deck area defines a top surface, and the second support shelf defines a top surface, and further wherein the top surface of the deck area and the top surface of the second support shelf are generally coplanar.

18. The check-out counter system of claim 10, further comprising:

a cashier location at which a cashier is stationed while utilizing the check-out counter system, wherein a operating area is defined as an area accessible by the cashier when the cashier is positioned at the cashier location, and further wherein at least a portion of the scanner and a portion of the bagging station are each positioned within the operating area.

19. The check-out counter system of claim 10, further comprising:

a hanger hook spaced from the first bag rack and the second bag rack.

20. A check-out counter comprising:

means for hanging and supporting a plurality of bags while one of the plurality of bags is loaded with merchandise;

means for holding the one of the plurality of bags after the one of the plurality of bags is loaded with merchandise, wherein the means for hanging and supporting is separated from the means for holding; and

means for transferring the one of the plurality of bags loaded with merchandise from the means for hanging and supporting to the means for holding, wherein the means for transferring is characterized by an absence of lifting the one of the plurality of bags from the means for hanging and supporting.

21. The check-out counter of claim 20, wherein the plurality of bags is a first plurality of bags, the check-out counter further comprising:

means for hanging and supporting a second plurality of bags positioned in a terraced arrangement with the first plurality of bags;

wherein the first and second plurality of bags are accessible from a cashier location adjacent the check-out counter.

22. The check-out counter of claim 21, further including:

means for reading information about the merchandise;

means for sliding the merchandise between the means for reading and the means for hanging and supporting the second plurality of bags.

23. The check-out counter of claim 20, wherein the means for transferring includes means for sliding the one of the plurality of bags loaded with merchandise between the means for hanging and supporting to the means for holding.

24. A method of processing merchandise in a check-out counter system, the method comprising:

providing first bag holder adjacent a merchandise reader;

reading information from merchandise with the merchandise reader;

placing a first portion of the merchandise in a first bag held open by the first bag holder; and

placing a second portion of the merchandise in a second bag held open by a second bag holder positioned in front of and below the first bag holder relative to a cashier location within the check-out counter system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein placing a first portion of the merchandise in a first bag includes sliding the first portion of the merchandise over the merchandise reader and into the first bag.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein placing the first portion and placing the second portion includes sorting the merchandise into a first portion and a second portion based upon at least one of fragility, toxicity, size, and probable use of the merchandise.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

transferring a first bag containing the first portion of the merchandise from the first bag holder to a deck area for short term storage prior to transporting the first bag away from the check-out counter system.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a first support shelf is positioned below the first bag holder, the method further comprising:

supporting the first bag with the first support shelf when the first portion of merchandise is placed within the first bag.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein transferring a first bag from the first bag holder includes sliding the first bag from the first support shelf to the deck area.