Check-out and bagging station and method

• US 5,584,362 A
• Filed: 04/10/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dumont, Charles
• Original Assignee: Dumont, Charles
• Inventors: Dumont, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): BARTUSKA, FRANCIS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/419,430
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 186/61, 186/66, 235/383, 340/572
• US Class Current: 186/61
• 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 20/343 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A customer checkout apparatus for recording the prices of purchase items where the purchase items each have an item information display mechanism for storing purchase item data including purchase item price in machine readable form includes an item check-out vessel for receiving each of the purchase items, and for checking each purchase item, the vessel including a vessel wall and an item receiving door for opening to admit a given purchase item into the vessel and for closing to secure the item against tampering during item check-out, a purchase item display mechanism scanning device for reading item data from the information display mechanism on each item upon closing of the item receiving door, and a microprocessor for receiving and processing and storing data scanned by the display mechanism scanning device. A method of using the apparatus is also provided, and includes the steps of placing the purchase item and the attached information display mechanism into the check-out vessel, closing the item receiving door, scanning the information display mechanism, and releasing the item from the vessel.

Claims

1. A customer check-out apparatus for recording the prices of purchase items where said purchase items each have an item information display means for storing purchase item data including purchase item price in machine readable form, comprising:

an item check-out vessel for receiving each of said purchase items, and for checking each said purchase item, said vessel comprising a vessel wall and an item receiving door for opening to admit a given said purchase item into said vessel and for closing to secure said item against tampering during item check-out,

a purchase item display means scanning device for reading item data from said information display means on each said item upon closing of said item receiving door,

a microprocessor for receiving and processing and storing data scanned by said display means scanning device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said purchase item comprises exit alarm triggering means for activating a store exit alarm if not checked, and wherein said display means scanning device comprises means for deactivating said exit alarm triggering means upon reading said item data.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said display means scanning device comprises means for replacing item data deleted from said information display means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vessel additionally comprises means for removing said display means from each said item during check-out.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vessel comprises locking means for locking said item receiving door for preventing a customer from switching purchase items during check-out.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising vessel alarm means for detecting the introduction of more than one said purchase item into said vessel at a time.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising an item releasing door for releasing a purchase item from said vessel after scanning of said display means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, additionally comprising a shopping bag and shopping bag retaining means beneath said vessel for receiving items released from said vessel through said item releasing door.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information display means comprises a data tag having a tag body and including a data retaining means, an elongate item engaging member for securing said tag to one of said purchase items, and wherein said display means scanning device comprises a tag receiving slot in said vessel wall for receiving and retaining said tag during scanning of said data retaining means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising means for detaching said tag from said item.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising a check-out table, said check-out table comprising a table top surface area having table top edges, onto which said vessel is secured, table top area adjacent to said vessel on which said purchase items are placed while awaiting check-out.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vessel retains a plurality of said purchase items simultaneously, said apparatus comprising a plurality of said purchase item display means scanning devices for reading item data from said information display means of several said purchase items substantially simultaneously upon closing of said item receiving door.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, additionally comprising means for receiving and recording customer payments prior to release of checked purchase items.

14. A method of checking purchase items using a customer checkout apparatus for recording the prices of purchase items where said purchase items each have an item information display means for storing purchase item data including purchase item price in machine readable form comprising an item check-out vessel for receiving each of said purchase items, and for checking each said purchase item, said vessel comprising a vessel wall and an item receiving door for opening to admit a given said purchase item into said vessel and for closing to secure said item against tampering during item check-out, a purchase item display means scanning device for reading item data from said information display means on each said item upon closing of said item receiving door, and microprocessing means for receiving and processing and storing data scanned by said display means scanning device, comprising the steps of:

placing said purchase item and the attached information display means into said check-out vessel,

closing said item receiving door,

scanning said information display means,

and releasing said item from said vessel.

15. A portable customer check-out apparatus for recording the prices of purchase items where said purchase items each have an item information display means for storing purchase item data including purchase item price in machine readable form, comprising:

a portable item check-out assembly for checking each of said purchase items, said assembly comprising an assembly wall,

a purchase item display means scanning device for reading item data from said information display means on each said item,

wherein said information display means comprises a data tag having a tag body and including a data retaining means, an elongate item engaging member for securing said tag to one of said purchase items, and wherein said display means scanning device comprises a tag receiving slot in said assembly wall for receiving and retaining said tag, wherein said tag receiving slot comprises tag removal means.