Self-service system

• US 4,779,706 A
• Filed: 12/17/1986
• Issued: 10/25/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Mergenthaler, Barry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/943,116
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 186/56, 186/61, 235/383, 235/462, 177/50
• US Class Current: 186/61
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0072 with means for detecting the weight of the article of which the code is read, for the verification of the registration weighing combined with recording means, e.g. in weighing scale, G01G19/415

Abstract

A self-service checkout station allows a purchaser to scan coded labels on each merchandise item purchased and to generate the weight of the items at a first checkout counter. The weight of each merchandise item is compared with corresponding data stored in a remote memory member. If the weight of the item is found to be valid, the combined weight of the purchased merchandise items is then determined. The purchaser takes the purchased merchandise items to a second checkout counter where the combined weight of the merchandise items is again generated and compared with the previous generated combined weight. If the combined weights are found to be valid, the checkout operation is completed. A display member at the first checkout counter informs the purchaser of the price of each merchandise item being processed while a second display member at the second checkout counter displays the total amount due for the purchased merchandise items.

Claims

1. A method for processing a plurality of purchased merchandise items each having a coded label identifying the merchandise item comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory apparatus first data signals identifying each merchandise item and its weight;

scanning the coded label on each merchandise item to generate second data identifying the merchandise item;

placing each merchandise item on a first weighing apparatus to generate third data signals representing the weight of the item;

comparing the first and third data signals representing the weight of the item;

generating a first indication signal when the compared weights are within a first predetermined value;

placing each item in a container positioned on a second weighing apparatus in response to the generation of said first indication signal;

generating fourth data signals representing the combined weight of the merchandise items in the container;

positioning the container on a third weighing apparatus;

generating fifth data signals representing the combined weight of the merchandise items in the container positioned on the third weighing apparatus;

comparing the fourth and fifth data signals; and

generating a second indication signal indicating the end of the processing of the merchandise item when the compared fourth and fifth data signals are within a second predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1 which further includes the steps of printing a record listing the merchandise items purchased and an identification number and checking the items purchased with the items listed on the record when the combined fourth and fifth data signals are not within the second predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the first predetermined value is 0.02 lbs.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the second predetermined value is 0.02 lbs.

5. In a self-service checkout system in which each purchased merchandise item has a coded label identifying the item, a checkout system comprising:

a first stationary support member;

optical scanning means mounted in said first support member for scanning the coded label of a merchandise item and generating first electrical signals identifying the merchandise item;

a first weighing means mounted on said first support member and operated by the purchaser of the merchandise items for generating second electrical signals representing the weight of the merchandise item being scanned;

a storage member for storing first identifying signals identifying the merchandise item and second identifying signals identifying the weight of the merchandise item;

processing means coupled to said storage member and said first weighing means for comparing the second electrical signals with the second identifying signals stored in said storage member, said processing means enabling said scanning means for operation when the compared signals are within a first predetermined value;

second weighing means mounted on said first stationary support member operated by the purchaser of the merchandise items and coupled to said processing means for outputting to said processing means third electrical signals representing the combined weight of the purchased merchandise items;

a second stationary support member located away from said first stationary support member;

third weighing means mounted on said second stationary support member and coupled to said processing means for outputting fourth electrical signals to said processing means representing the combined weight of the purchased merchandise items, said processing means comparing said third and fourth electrical signals;

first indicating means coupled to said processing means and positioned adjacent said second support member, said first indicating means being enabled by said processing means to indicate the completion of the checkout operation of the purchased merchandise items when the compared third and fourth electrical signals are within a second predeteremined value; and

second indicating means positioned adjacent the first stationary support member for indicating when the second electrical and identifying signals are within said first predetermined value, and printing means positioned adjacent the first stationary support member for printing a list of the items purchased and an identification number, said printing means operated by the purchaser of the merchandise items at the completion of the scanning of all of the merchandise items.

6. The checkout station of claim 5 in which said first support member further includes a storage area for storing containers used to store the purchased merchandise items, said container being positioned on said second weighing means for receiving each merchandise item scanned by said scanning means.

7. The checkout station of claim 6 in which said first indication means comprises a data terminal device which includes a keyboard for entering the identification number for identifying the purchaser of the purchased merchandise items.

8. The checkout station of claim 7 in which said first predetermined value is 0.02 lbs.

9. A checkout station of claim 7 in which said second predetermined value is 0.02 lbs.

10. In a self-service checkout system in which each purchased merchandise item has a coded label identifying the merchandise item, a checkout station comprising:

a first checkout support member having a first supporting surface;

a first scale member mounted on said first supporting surface generating first weight signals representing the weight of a merchandise item positioned on said scale member;

an optical scanning member mounted in said first checkout support member adjacent said first scale member for generating first identification signals identifying the merchandise item positioned on said scale member as a result of scanning the coded label on the merchandise item;

memory means for storing second identification signals identifying the purchased merchandise items, and for storing second weight signals representing the weight of the merchandise item and price signals representing the price of the merchandise item;

processing means coupled to said first scale member, said scanning member and said memory means for comparing the first and second weight signals, and processing means enabling said scanning member for operation when the compared weight signals are within a first predetermined value;

a second scale member mounted on said first supporting surface and coupled to said processing means for outputting third weight signals to said processing means representing the total weight of all the purchased merchandise items;

first display means positioned adjacent the first supporting surface and coupled to said processing means for displaying instructions to the purchaser of the merchandise item concerning the weighing and scanning of the merchandise item together with the price of the merchandise item;

a second checkout support member having a second supporting surface;

a third scale member mounted on said second supporting surface and coupled to said processing means for outputting fourth weight signals to said processing means representing the combined weight of the purchased merchandise items, said processing means comparing the third and fourth weight signals; and

a data terminal device positioned adjacent the second supporting surface and coupled to said processing means, said data terminal device including second display means for displaying the total price of the merchandise items purchased when the compared third and fourth weight signals are within a second predetermined value enabling the checkout operation of the purchased merchandise items to be completed.

11. The checkout system of claim 10 in which said first display means further includes printing means operated by the purchaser to print a record listing all of the merchandise items purchased and an identification number identifying the purchaser at the completion of scanning of all of the purchased merchandise items.

12. The checkout system of claim 11 in which first supporting surface further includes a storage area for storing containers used to store the purchased merchandise items, said container being positioned on said second scale member for receiving each merchandise item scanned by said scanning member.

13. The checkout station of claim 12 in which said first predetermined value is 0.02 lbs.

14. The checkout station of claim 12 in which said second predetermined value is 0.02 lbs.