Apparatus and method for operating convertible checkout system which has a customer side and a personnel side

• US 6,390,363 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Hutcheon, Alfred J., Morrison, James, Addy, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/432,640
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/047 for recording self-service articles without cashier or assistant
• 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 checkout terminal includes a terminal base having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite the customer side. The checkout terminal also includes a code entry device secured to the terminal base. The code entry device is operable in (a) an assisted mode of operation in which a first item for purchase is entered with the code entry device by retail personnel, and (b) a self-service mode of operation in which a second item for purchase is entered with the code entry device by a customer. During operation of the code entry device in the personnel mode of operation (a) the retail personnel is positioned on the personnel side of the terminal base, and (b) the customer is positioned on the customer side of the terminal base. During operation of the code entry device in the self-service mode of operation the customer is positioned on the customer side of the terminal base. A method of operating a checkout terminal is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a checkout terminal, having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite said customer side, and further having a terminal base and a plurality of reconfigurable system components supported by said terminal base, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating said checkout terminal so as to perform an assisted checkout transaction in which retail personnel enters a first item for purchase of a first customer into said checkout terminal during a first time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said assisted checkout transaction (i) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (ii) said first customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a first orientation relative to each other during step (a);

(b) manipulating said plurality of reconfigurable system components so that said plurality of reconfigurable system components move from said first orientation relative to each other to a second orientation relative to each other, wherein said first orientation is different from said second orientation; and

(c) operating said checkout terminal after step (b) so as to perform a self-service checkout transaction in which a second customer enters a second item for purchase of said second customer into said checkout terminal during a second time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said self-service checkout transaction said second customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in said second orientation relative to each other during step (c),

wherein said checkout terminal further includes an input belt mechanism for transporting said first item for purchase and said second item for purchase,

wherein said input belt mechanism is interposed between said personnel side of said checkout terminal and said customer side of said checkout terminal,

wherein said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said assisted checkout transaction includes the step of operating said input belt mechanism so as to advance said first item for purchase substantially toward said retail personnel with said input belt mechanism, wherein during said step of operating said input belt mechanism so as to advance said first item for purchase (i) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (ii) said first customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, and

wherein said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said self-service checkout transaction includes the step of operating said input belt mechanism so as to advance said second item for purchase substantially toward said customer with said input belt mechanism, wherein during said step of operating said input belt mechanism so as to advance said second item for purchase said second customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said checkout terminal further has a scanner interposed between said customer side of said checkout terminal and said personnel side of said checkout terminal,

said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said assisted checkout transaction includes the step of operating said scanner so as to allow said retail personnel to scan said first item for purchase of said first customer with said scanner, wherein during said step of operating said scanner so as to allow said retail personnel to scan said first item for purchase (i) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (ii) said first customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, and

said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said self-service checkout transaction includes the step of operating said scanner so as to allow said customer to scan said second item for purchase of said second customer with said scanner, wherein during said step of operating said scanner so as to allow said customer to scan said second item for purchase said second customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

said checkout terminal further includes a terminal base having a substantially horizontal upper surface, and

said scanner is disposed in a relatively flush mount orientation with said horizontal upper surface, whereby said scanner is accessible to (i) said retail personnel during said first time period, and (ii) said customer during said second time period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said scanner is slidably secured to said terminal base so as to be positionable between an assisted position and a self-service position, further comprising the steps of:

positioning said scanner in said assisted position prior to said step of operating said scanner so as to allow said retail personnel to scan said first item for purchase; and

sliding said scanner from said assisted position to said self-service position prior to said step of operating said scanner so as to allow said customer to scan said second item for purchase.

5. A checkout terminal, comprising:

a terminal base having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite said customer side; and

a plurality of reconfigurable system components which are supported by said terminal base, said plurality of reconfigurable system components including a code entry device, wherein;

(i) said code entry device is operable in (a) an assisted mode of operation in which a first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by retail personnel, and (b) a self-service mode of operation in which a second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by a customer,

(ii) during operation of said code entry device in said personnel mode of operation (a) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said terminal base, and (b) said customer is positioned on said customer side of said terminal base,

(iii) during operation of said code entry device in said self-service mode of operation said customer is positioned on said customer side of said terminal base,

(iv) said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a first orientation relative to each other when said code entry device is operated in said assisted mode of operation in which said first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said retail personnel,

(v) said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a second orientation relative to each other when said code entry device is operated in said self-service mode of operation in which said second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said customer,

(vi) said first orientation is different from said second orientation,

further comprising an input belt mechanism for transporting said first item for purchase and said second item for purchase, wherein said input belt mechanism is interposed between said personnel side of said checkout terminal and said customer side of said checkout terminal.

6. The checkout terminal of claim 5, wherein said code entry device is interposed between said personnel side of said terminal base and said customer side of said terminal base.

7. The checkout terminal of claim 5, wherein said code entry device includes a scanner for scanning a first product identification code associated with said first item for purchase and a second product identification code associated with said second item for purchase.

8. The checkout terminal of claim 7 wherein:

said terminal base has a substantially horizontal upper surface, and

said scanner is disposed in a relatively flush mount orientation with said horizontal upper surface, whereby said scanner is accessible to (i) said retail personnel when said scanner is operated in said assisted mode of operation, and (ii) said customer when said scanner is operated in said self-service mode of operation.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said scanner is slidably secured to said terminal base so as to be positionable between an assisted position and a self-service position,

said scanner is positioned in said assisted position when said scanner is operated in said assisted mode of operation, and

said scanner is positioned in said self-service position when said scanner is operated in said self-service mode of operation.

10. The checkout terminal of claim 5, wherein:

said input belt mechanism is configured to advance said first item for purchase substantially toward said retail personnel when said code entry device is operated in said assisted mode of operation, and

said input belt mechanism is further configured to advance said second item for purchase substantially toward said customer when said code entry device is operated in said self-service mode of operation.

11. A method of operating a checkout terminal, having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite said customer side, and further having a terminal base and a plurality of reconfigurable system components supported by said terminal base, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating said checkout terminal so as to perform an assisted checkout transaction in which retail personnel enters a first item for purchase of a first customer into said checkout terminal during a first time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said assisted checkout transaction (i) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said checkout terminal, and (ii) said first customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a first orientation relative to each other during step (a);

(b) manipulating said plurality of reconfigurable system components so that said plurality of reconfigurable system components move from said first orientation relative to each other to a second orientation relative to each other, wherein said first orientation is different from said second orientation; and

(c) operating said checkout terminal after step (b) so as to perform a self-service checkout transaction in which a second customer enters a second item for purchase of said second customer into said checkout terminal during a second time period, wherein during said step of operating said checkout terminal so as to perform said self-service checkout transaction said second customer is positioned on said customer side of said checkout terminal, wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in said second orientation relative to each other during step (c),

wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are selected from the group consisting of;

a scanner which is movable relative to said terminal base,

an item shelf which is movable relative to said terminal base, and

a takeaway belt mechanism which is movable relative to said terminal base.

12. A checkout terminal, comprising:

a terminal base having (i) a customer side, and (ii) a personnel side which is opposite said customer side; and

a plurality of reconfigurable system components which are supported by said terminal base, said plurality of reconfigurable system components including a code entry device, wherein;

(i) said code entry device is operable in (a) an assisted mode of operation in which a first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by retail personnel, and (b) a self-service mode of operation in which a second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by a customer,

(ii) during operation of said code entry device in said personnel mode of operation (a) said retail personnel is positioned on said personnel side of said terminal base, and (b) said customer is positioned on said customer side of said terminal base,

(iii) during operation of said code entry device in said self-service mode of operation said customer is positioned on said customer side of said terminal base,

(iv) said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a first orientation relative to each other when said code entry device is operated in said assisted mode of operation in which said first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said retail personnel,

(v) said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a second orientation relative to each other when said code entry device is operated in said self-service mode of operation in which said second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said customer, and

(vi) said first orientation is different from said second orientation,

wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are selected from the group consisting of;

a scanner which is movable relative to said terminal base,

an item shelf which is movable relative to said terminal base, and

a takeaway belt mechanism which is movable relative to said terminal base.

13. A method of operating a checkout terminal having a terminal base and a plurality of reconfigurable system components supported by said terminal base, comprising the steps of:

(a) operating said checkout terminal so as to perform an assisted checkout transaction in which retail personnel enters a first item for purchase of a first customer into said checkout terminal during a first time period, wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a first orientation relative to each other during step (a);

(b) manipulating said plurality of reconfigurable system components so that said plurality of reconfigurable system components move from said first orientation relative to each other to a second orientation relative to each other, wherein said first orientation is different from said second orientation; and

(c) operating said checkout terminal after step (b) so as to perform a self-service checkout transaction in which a second customer enters a second item for purchase of said second customer into said checkout terminal during a second time period, wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in said second orientation relative to each other during step (c),

wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are selected from the group consisting of;

a scanner which is movable relative to said terminal base,

an item shelf which is movable relative to said terminal base, and

a takeaway belt mechanism which is movable relative to said terminal base.

14. A checkout terminal, comprising:

a terminal base; and

a plurality of reconfigurable system components which are supported by said terminal base, said plurality of reconfigurable system components include a code entry device, wherein;

(i) said code entry device is operable in (a) an assisted mode of operation in which a first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by retail personnel, and (b) a self-service mode of operation in which a second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by a customer,

(ii) said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a first orientation relative to each other when said code entry device is operated in said assisted mode of operation in which said first item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said retail personnel,

(iii) said plurality of reconfigurable system components are mounted to said terminal base in a second orientation relative to each other when said code entry device is operated in said self-service mode of operation in which said second item for purchase is entered with said code entry device by said customer, and

(iv) said first orientation is different from said second orientation,

wherein said plurality of reconfigurable system components are selected from the group consisting of;

a scanner which is movable relative to said terminal base,

an item shelf which is movable relative to said terminal base, and

a takeaway belt mechanism which is movable relative to said terminal base.