Scales comprising a camera

• US 7,375,294 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bizerba SE & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Bizerba GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Kraft, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US11/126,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20060213695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 177/25.15, 705/16, 186/61
• US Class Current: 177/25.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/35 Indicating the weight by photographic recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems

Abstract

In order to provide scales, comprising a weighed-product receiving region and a terminal positioned at a vertical spacing from the weighed-product receiving region, that are easy to operate, it is proposed that at least one camera with a field of view towards the weighed-product receiving region is disposed on the terminal.

Claims

1. Scales, comprising:

a weighing scale or a load plate with a weighed-product receiving region for providing weight signals; and

a terminal positioned at a vertical spacing from the weighed-product receiving region;

wherein at least one camera with a viewing direction towards the weighed-product receiving region is integrated into a housing of the terminal, said at least one camera not projecting beyond the housing; and

a weighed product identifying device which is supplied by image data of the at least one camera, said weighed product identifying device carrying out weighed-product identification with image processing; and

means for combining weighed-product identification signals and weight signals.

2. Scales according to claim 1, wherein an optical imaging device of the at least one camera is disposed on a side of the terminal facing the weighed-product receiving region.

3. Scales according to claim 1, wherein an optical imaging device of the at least one camera is set back relative to an outer side of the terminal.

4. Scales according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is disposed and designed in such a way that its field of view covers the entire weighed-product receiving region.

5. Scales according to claim 4, wherein the field of view of the at least one camera is permanently set.

6. Scales according to claim 1, wherein the weighed-product receiving region is designed in such a way that luminous reflectance is suppressed.

7. Scales according to claim 6, wherein a reflection-suppressing foil is disposed on the weighed-product receiving region.

8. Scales according to claim 7, wherein the foil is monochrome.

9. Scales according to claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises at least one printer.

10. Scales according to claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises at least one display device.

11. Scales according to claim 10, wherein an optical imaging device of the at least one camera is disposed below the display device.

12. Scales according to claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises at least one operating device.

13. Scales according to claim 12, wherein an optical imaging device of the at least one camera is disposed below the operating device.

14. Scales according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is mounted on at least one pillar.

15. Scales according to claim 14, wherein the at least one pillar is mounted on a support base.

16. Scales according to claim 1, wherein an interface is provided for transmitting image data.

17. Scales according to claim 1, wherein a memory is provided for storing reference data.

18. Scales according to claim 1, wherein a teach-in function is provided for reading in reference data.