Checkout system convertible between assisted and non-assisted configurations

• US 6,588,549 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Wike, Charles K. Jr., Nugent, Jennifer I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matecki, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, SANG K
• Application Number:
  US09/900,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 186/61, 186/52, 235/383, 235/462.45, 235/472.01
• 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: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A checkout system and method is convertible between an assisted configuration or mode of operation and a non-assisted (self-assisted) configuration or mode of operation. The checkout system includes a checkout station having a movable scanner and a movable display each of which are selectively positionable to accommodate the assisted and non-assisted configurations. The checkout station also includes a customer bag well particularly for use by the customer when the checkout station is in a non-assisted mode of operation, a cashier bag well particularly for use by the cashier when the checkout station is in an assisted mode of operation, a merchandise placement or upload area, a payment module, and a walk through basket table, shelf or the like. A plurality of checkout stations is positioned or angled into a modified serial (staggered skew) configuration and are scalable.

Claims

1. A checkout system, comprising:

a single serial flow lane;

a plurality of checkout stations disposed adjacent to said single serial flow lane, wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations is (i) operative to perform purchase transactions, and (ii) convertible between a self-checkout configuration and an assisted checkout configuration, and further wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations defines a customer side and a store personnel side; and

a shelf interposed between each set of adjacent checkout stations of said plurality of checkout stations, said shelf being movable between (i) a first position in which said shelf creates a barrier between said store personnel side and said customer side, and (ii) a second position in which an access opening is created between said store personnel side and said customer side that allows passage from said store personnel side to said customer side,

wherein the single serial flow lane defines a flow lane axis,

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations defines a checkout station orientation axis, and

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations are skewed relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said checkout station orientation axis define an angle θ

,

wherein 10°

<

θ

<

60°

.

2. The checkout system of claim 1, wherein:

said shelf defines a shelf orientation axis, and

said shelf is positioned relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said shelf axis are parallel to each other.

3. The checkout system of claim 1, wherein 20°

<

θ

<

40°

.

4. The checkout system of claim 3, wherein θ

is equal to about 25°

.

5. The checkout system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of checkout stations including a rotatable scanner, a customer display, and a clerk display,

conversion of any one of the plurality of checkout stations between said self-checkout configuration and said assisted checkout configuration comprises rotating the rotatable scanner from a first location to a second location, and selective activation of said customer display and said clerk display.

6. The checkout system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations is operative to receive payment for purchases performed during said purchase transactions.

7. A checkout system, comprising:

a single serial flow lane; and

a plurality of checkout stations disposed adjacent to said single serial flow lane, each of said plurality of checkout stations being (i) operative to perform purchase transactions, and (ii) convertible between a self-checkout configuration and an assisted checkout configuration,

wherein the single serial flow lane defines a flow lane axis,

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations defines a checkout station orientation axis, and

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations are skewed relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said checkout station orientation axis define an angle θ

, and

wherein 10°

<

θ

<

60°

.

8. The checkout system of claim 7, wherein:

a shelf defines a shelf orientation axis, and

said shelf is positioned relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said shelf axis are parallel to each other.

9. The checkout system of claim 7, wherein 20°

<

θ

<

40°

.

10. The checkout system of claim 9, wherein θ

is equal to about 25°

.

11. The checkout system of claim 7, wherein:

each of the plurality of checkout stations including a rotatable scanner, a customer display, and a clerk display,

conversion of any one of the plurality of checkout stations between said self-checkout configuration and said assisted checkout configuration comprises rotating the rotatable scanner from a first location to a second location, and selective activation of said customer display and said clerk display.

12. The checkout system of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations is operative to receive payment for purchases performed during said purchase transactions.

13. The checkout system of claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations is operative to receive payment for purchases performed during said purchase transactions.

14. A checkout system, comprising:

a single serial flow lane that defines a flow lane axis;

a plurality of checkout stations disposed adjacent to said single serial flow lane, wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations is operative to perform purchase transactions, and further wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations defines a customer side and a store personnel side; and

a shelf interposed between each set of adjacent checkout stations of said plurality of checkout stations, wherein said shelf is movable between (i) a first position in which said shelf creates a barrier between said store personnel side and said customer side, and (ii) a second position in which an access opening is created between said store personnel side and said customer side that allows passage from said store personnel side to said customer side, and further wherein (i) said shelf defines a shelf orientation axis, and (ii) said shelf is positioned relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said shelf axis are parallel to each other,

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations defines a checkout station orientation axis, and

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations are skewed relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said checkout station orientation axis define an angle θ

,

wherein 10°

<

θ

<

60°

.

15. The checkout system of claim 14, wherein:

each of the plurality of checkout stations including a rotatable scanner, a customer display, and a clerk display,

conversion of any one of the plurality of checkout stations between a self-checkout configuration and an assisted checkout configuration comprises rotating the rotatable scanner from a first location to a second location, and selective activation of said customer display and said clerk display.

16. The checkout system of claim 14, wherein 20°

<

θ

<

40°

.

17. The checkout system of claim 16, wherein θ

is equal to about 25°

.

18. A checkout system, comprising:

a single serial flow lane that a flow lane axis;

a plurality of checkout stations disposed adjacent to said single serial flow lane, wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations is operative to perform purchase transactions, and further wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations defines a customer side and a store personnel side; and

a shelf interposed between each set of adjacent checkout stations of said plurality of checkout stations, wherein (i) said shelf defines a shelf orientation axis, and (ii) said shelf is positioned relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said shelf axis are parallel to each other,

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations defines a checkout station orientation axis, and

wherein each of the plurality of checkout stations are skewed relative to the single serial flow lane such that said flow lane axis and said checkout station orientation axis define an angle θ

,

wherein 10°

<

θ

<

60°

.

19. The checkout system of claim 18, wherein 20°

<

θ

<

40°

.

20. The checkout system of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of checkout stations is operative to receive payment for purchases performed during said purchase transactions.