Mobile point-of-sale supermarket checkout system

• US 5,412,193 A
• Filed: 05/24/1993
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Sanders, Robert, Swartz, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/065,304
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 186/27, 186/40, 186/42, 186/45, 186/47, 186/57, 186/59, 186/56, 186/61
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10534 Scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10633 by oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10871 randomly oriented data-fields, code-marks therefore, e.g. concentric circles-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A method for operating a point-of-transaction system carried by a fixture to efficiently use areas of a store during periods of differing intensity of usage, by placing the fixture at a prescribed area of the store and configuring the point-of-transaction system with point-of-transaction terminal components for processing items to be purchased by customers during a period of relatively intense usage. During a period of relatively less intense usage, the fixture is reconfigured as a display stand by relocating at least some of said point-of-transaction components from the fixture, and overlying remaining point-of-transaction components of the fixture with a display surface. During intense usage periods the components are located on a shelf overlying the fixture. The reconfiguration includes repositioning the shelf together with the remaining components to a location beneath the display surface within the fixture. The shelf is mounted on a slidable column above the fixture, so that reconfiguring includes detaching the shelf from the column, followed by lowering the slidable column into the fixture.

Claims

1. A mobile, point-of-transaction system for processing items, comprising:

(a) a wheeled carriage for transporting the system from location to location;

(b) a scanning terminal mounted on the carriage for joint movement therewith, and operative for electro-optically reading coded indicia on items presented to the terminal, and for determining transaction data for the items;

(c) transaction means responsive to the terminal and also mounted on the carriage for joint movement therewith, and operative for processing the transaction data for the items to complete the transaction; and

(d) means for reconfiguring the mobile, point-of-transaction system as a display stand having a display surface during a period of relatively less intense usage;

wherein (i) said transactional means are located on a shelf overlying said carriage and mounted on a slidable column above said carriage and (ii) said configuring means includes means for detaching said shelf from said column, means for supporting said detached shelf together with said transactional means at a location beneath said display surface within said carriage and a passage for lowering said slidable column into said carriage.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the carriage has a countertop and a window mounted on the countertop, and wherein the terminal includes means for scanning a light beam in a scan pattern through the window.

3. The system according to claim 1;

and further comprising means, on-board the carriage, for manually entering data relating to an item being processed.

4. The system according to claim 1;

and further comprising means, on-board the carriage, for displaying data relating to the item being processed.

5. The system according to claim 1;

and further comprising means, on-board the carriage, for weighing the item to obtain a weight for an item being weighed.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transaction means, on-board the carriage, includes means for printing a receipt of the transaction.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transaction means, on-board the carriage, includes means for processing electronic payment for the items.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transaction means, on-board the carriage, includes means for processing cash payment for the items.

9. The system according to claim 1;

and further comprising means, on-board the carriage, for holding a bag in an upright orientation.

10. The system according to claim 1;

and further comprising a handle for enabling a person to push the carriage.

11. The system according to claim 1;

and further comprising a keyboard for manually entering data relating to an item being processed, a display for displaying data relating to the item being processed, means for mounting the keyboard and the display for movement to a stored position, and means for storing the keyboard and the display in the stored position.

12. A method for operating a point-of-transaction system to efficiently use areas of a store during periods of differing intensity of usage, wherein said system is carried by a fixture, the method comprising the steps of:

during a period of relatively intense usage, placing the fixture at a prescribed area of the store and configuring the point-of-transaction system with point-of-transaction terminal components for processing items to be purchased by customers; and

during a period of relatively less intense usage, reconfiguring the fixture as a display stand by relocating at least some of said point-of-transaction components from the fixture, and overlying remaining point-of-transaction components of said fixture with a display surface;

wherein (i) said components are located on a shelf overlying said fixture, and said reconfiguration includes repositioning said shelf together with said remaining components to a location beneath said display surface within said fixture and (ii) said shelf is mounted on a slidable column above said fixture, and said step of reconfiguring includes detaching the shelf from said column, followed by lowering said slidable column into said fixture.

13. The method of claim 12, further including moving the system to another area of the store during a period of relatively less intense usage.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said fixture is wheeled and located or relocated by wheeling between prescribed areas of the store.

15. The method of claim 12, including linking said point of transaction terminal to a central terminal having a data base.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of configuring includes exposing said components to use by a human operator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of reconfiguring includes covering said components to present said overlying display surface.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of reconfiguring includes covering said components to present said overlying display surface.