Systems and methods for optical reading and EAS tag sensing and deactivating at retail checkout
First Claim
1. A method of operating a system comprised of a security tag deactivation unit and a data reader, the method comprising the steps ofpassing an item through a read zone;
- simultaneously attempting to read an encoded tag on the item and attempting to sense an electronic security tag on the item whether or not an encoded tag has first been read;
obtaining a valid read of item identification data from the encoded tag with the data reader;
attempting to deactivate the electronic security tag that has been sensed;
preventing reporting of a subsequent reading of an encoded tag of the same item identification data while attempting to deactivate the electronic security tag.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of operation of a data reader and security tag deactivation system whereby a data reader such as a barcode scanner is equipped with EAS deactivation coils or modules disposed in the vicinity of the read volume or generally proximate thereto and the system is operable to permit reading of the ID tag (such as the barcode label) on an item, and upon a successful read, the deactivation unit is operable to (1) sense the presence of an EAS tag; (2) if presence of an EAS tag is sensed, energize the deactivation coil/module to deactivate the EAS tag; and (3) sense if the EAS tag is deactivated. If the EAS tag is sensed to have been deactivated, the system signals as such and a next item may be scanned. If the EAS tag is sensed to have not been deactivated, the system proceeds to alternate operational steps to handle the exception. In another function, the system is operable to urge the operator to return the item to the read volume to enhance EAS tag deactivation, one method being by delaying a good read acknowledgment until the system determines that the EAS tag which may have been previously detected has subsequently been deactivated.
106 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operating a system comprised of a security tag deactivation unit and a data reader, the method comprising the steps of
passing an item through a read zone; -
simultaneously attempting to read an encoded tag on the item and attempting to sense an electronic security tag on the item whether or not an encoded tag has first been read; obtaining a valid read of item identification data from the encoded tag with the data reader; attempting to deactivate the electronic security tag that has been sensed; preventing reporting of a subsequent reading of an encoded tag of the same item identification data while attempting to deactivate the electronic security tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of operating a system comprised of a security tag deactivation unit and a data reader, the method comprising the steps of
passing an item through a read zone; -
simultaneously attempting to read an encoded tag on the item and attempting to sense an electronic security tag on the item whether or not an encoded tag has first been read; obtaining a valid read of item identification data from the encoded tag with the data reader; after a valid read has been obtained, arming the security tag deactivation unit and attempting to deactivate the electronic security tag that was previously sensed; confirming deactivation by attempting to re-sense the electronic security tag that was previously sensed. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method for verifying successful deactivation of an EAS tag at a checkout station comprising:
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(a) attempting to read an encoded tag on an article in a read volume; (b) attempting to sense an EAS tag on an article in a detection volume; (c) upon a valid read of the encoded tag, arming an EAS deactivator; (d) upon being armed and upon having sensed an EAS tag, the EAS deactivator attempting to deactivate the EAS tag; (e) upon attempting to deactivate the EAS tag at step (d), determining whether the EAS tag has been deactivated by attempting to re-sense the EAS tag; (f) if at step (e) the EAS tag is re-sensed, preventing or delaying the indication of a valid read at step (c). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for verifying successful deactivation of an EAS tag at a checkout station comprising:
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(a) attempting to read, with a data reader, an encoded tag on an article; (b) attempting to sense an EAS tag on an article in a detection field; (c) upon a valid read of the encoded tag, arming an EAS deactivator; (d) upon being armed and upon having sensed an EAS tag, the EAS deactivator attempting to deactivate the EAS tag; (e) upon attempting to deactivate the EAS tag, determining whether the EAS tag has been deactivated, and if an EAS tag has been sensed but not deactivated, notifying the operator to take a desired action.
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Specification