Abstract:
A short depth cash drawer including, a cash drawer and an opening device. The cash drawer includes an open top side, a till holding portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and an opening device interface region. The opening device opens the cash drawer when an input is received. The rear portion of the opening device does not extend beyond the rear portion of the cash drawer when the cash drawer is closed, and is located to one side of the cash drawer.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/348,577, filed Jan. 14, 2002, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Cash drawers are commonly found in consumer retail outlets and are used to complete the consumer&#39;s purchase at a checkout point. Cash drawers typically hold a till or other feature that helps a cashier organize and sort currency used to pay for the consumer&#39;s purchase. Currency typically includes both paper currency (bills, checks, food stamps, etc.) and coin money. Depending on the country and culture where the cash drawer is used this paper currency is stored either on end or laying flat in the cash drawer.  
           [0003]    Cash drawers are typically part of a larger cash register system. When the cash drawer is part of a cash register system, the drawer is typically kept below a register area. The register area generally includes a keypad having multiple keys which can indicate to a processor in the cash register the amount of an item a customer wishes to purchase, the specific item the customer wishes to purchase, or the price of the item. These keys can include a numeric keypad, an alpha numeric keypad, a listing of items typically purchased by customers at the establishment, a method of payment, or specialized keys for special or common transactions used by the establishment. In other arrangements the cash register system can be connected to a scanner, which can scan a universal product code (UPC) label or other product identifiers that are located on the product. This scanned UPC code is converted to a machine readable code that allows the processor to determine the price of the scanned item based upon a value stored for that product.  
           [0004]    Cash drawers can also be used as part of a check stand or checkout lane. In the checkout lane configuration the cash drawer is typically part of the cash register system discussed above. In this arrangement the cashier often receives the products the customer wishes to purchase along a product path running from an unloading area, past the cashier, to a bagging area. Commonly, products are advanced along the product path from the unloading area to the cashier with a conveyer-type belt that moves the products from the unloading end of the check stand to the cashier. Once the products reach the cashier, the cashier scans the UPC codes for each product using a scanner that is installed on the check stand, or manually enters the price of the product on the keypad. The movement of the product across the scanner is also part of the product path. In some arrangements of the cash stand, the cashier may use a handheld scanner to scan items that are not on the belt, or are too bulky to pass by the scanning window of the installed scanner. The scanned UPC code is converted into a machine-readable code that allows the cash register to determine the price for the scanned item. After scanning, the cashier passes the product along the product path to a bagging station or loading area where the customer can pick up the purchased products.  
           [0005]    Once the cashier has scanned all of the products which the customer purchased, the cash register calculates the price of all of the products the customer purchased, and presents the total to both the customer and the cashier. The cashier then requests payment from the customer. The customer either pays for the products with cash currency, with a check, or by electronic means, such as an ATM/debit card. If the consumer pays for the products with cash currency, the cashier must open the cash drawer to complete the sales transaction. In a typical arrangement of the cash stand the cash drawer is located in a position that requires the cashier to break eye contact with the customer in order to access and manipulate the contents of the cash drawer.  
           [0006]    In one arrangement the cash drawer is located outside the product path, and requires the cashier to turn to the left or to the right of the customer to access the contents of the cash drawer. This arrangement prevents the cashier from keeping an eye on both the contents of the cash drawer and the customer. Often the cashier is in communication with the customer while the cash drawer is still open. In-store video surveillance has shown that when the cash drawer is open, and the cashier is looking at the customer, there is an increased likelihood that a person in another checkout lane, who may be working with the customer, can reach into the cash drawer and remove the contents without the cashier&#39;s knowledge. This is because the cashier is not looking at the contents of the drawer, and is distracted by the customer. To combat this problem several solutions have been proposed. However, none of these solutions provides an optimum position of the cash drawer in relationship to both the cashier and the customer.  
           [0007]    One proposed solution is to place the cash drawer around the scanner. In this solution the cash drawer has a “U” shape with the base of the “U” facing the cashier. When the cash drawer is opened the top portion that covers the cash drawer pops up to allow access to the contents of the cash drawer. However, this drawer arrangement arranges the currency in locations that are uncommon to that normally encountered by the cashier. This arrangement results in cashier confusion, and increased checkout times, and as such is not often used.  
           [0008]    Another proposed solution is to place the cash drawer below the scanner. When the cashier finishes a transaction, the cash drawer opens below the scanner, and moves towards the cashier. The cashier is required to move away from the scanner, and the customer in order to avoid being injured or hit by the cash drawer as it opens. The contact point in this arrangement commonly occurs between the knee and hip of the cashier. Further, this arrangement forces the cashier to bend down in order to access the contents of the cash drawer resulting in poor ergonomics, and increased risk of injury.  
           [0009]    Another variation of placing the cash drawer below the scanner is to place the cash drawer either to the left or to the right of the cashier such that when the drawer opens, the drawer opens below the top surface of the scanner. However, this arrangement also has drawbacks. For example, when the cash drawer is placed to the right of the cashier, the drawer opens towards the cashier, and enters into the space of the cashier station. The cashier, again, must step back away from the path of the cash drawer, or move to the left, in order to avoid being hit by the cash drawer. The cashier also must bend down to access the contents of the cash drawer, once again resulting in poor ergonomics, and increased risk of injury.  
           [0010]    Yet, another proposed solution places the cash drawer above the product path that the goods take as they are passed over the scanner during the scanning process. The cash drawer is raised significantly above the top surface of the scanner. In systems that feature this design, the check stand is wider than the scanning portion in the area where the cash drawer opens. This extra width is required to accommodate components of the cash drawer necessary to open the cash drawer. Further, these designs typically require the cashier to move from a scanning position to a second position away from the scanner, as the cash drawer is not located in line with the scanner. This arrangement of the cash drawer and scanner is required because the dimensions of the cash drawer components are not functionally compatible with the dimensions of the scanner. Since the cashier must move to access the contents of the cash drawer additional time is added to complete the transaction.  
           [0011]    It is estimated that the time required for the cashier to move to access the contents of the cash drawer and complete the transaction ranges between three and ten seconds per transaction in these prior art cash drawer arrangements. This additional time can add up to minutes a day, reducing the overall efficiency of the retail establishment, as more time is required to check out each customer. Further, as the width of the check stand is greater than the scanner, additional valuable floor space is required for the check stand, which could be used for selling high profit items. Therefore, it is desirable for a cash drawer and check stand arrangement that minimizes both size and cashier movement.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The present invention is directed to a short depth cash drawer including a cash drawer and an opening device. The cash drawer includes an open top side, a till holding portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and an opening device interface region. The opening device interface region is located to one side of the cash drawer. The opening device opens the cash drawer when an input is received. Further, the rear portion of the opening device does not extend beyond the rear portion of the cash drawer when the cash drawer is closed.  
           [0013]    In one embodiment the cash drawer includes a till that is configured to store paper currency in a flat configuration. In an alternative embodiment the till is configured to store paper currency in an end on configuration. In some embodiments the cash drawer includes a housing which holds the cash drawer in place in a cash register and includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a back section, and two side sections. The back and two side sections are each connected to an edge of the top surface and connected to an edge of the bottom surface.  
           [0014]    Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of checking out a customer. The method includes providing a cash drawer generally above the work surface of the cash stand and generally inline with, but not over, the scanner and occupying a scanning position that is inline with the scanner and the cash drawer. The method further includes scanning a product with the scanner while remaining in the scanning position. Further the method includes opening the cash drawer over the scanner, and accessing the contents of the cash drawer while remaining generally in the scanning position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a cash drawer assembly.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an open cash drawer in cash drawer assembly.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a podium configured to hold the cash drawer assembly.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the podium of FIG. 2 with the cash drawer assembly of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a cash stand incorporating the podium and cash drawer assembly of FIG. 3.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the cash stand in FIG. 4A.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4C is an enlarged view of the scanning and transaction areas of the cash stand in FIGS. 4A and 4B.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a cash drawer assembly  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention with a top portion  78  (shown in FIG. 1B) of housing  12  removed for clarity. Cash drawer assembly  10  includes a housing  12 , a cash drawer  14 , a latch mechanism  16  and a key locking mechanism  18 . Drawer  14  is slidably mounted within housing  12  by a pair of slides  20  mounted on opposite sides of housing  12 . Drawer  14  is slidable within housing  12  and slides on slides  20  in the direction indicated by arrow  22 . While a pair of slides  20  are illustrated in FIG. lA, those skilled in the art will realize that other support arrangements and/or number of slides  20  can also be used.  
         [0023]    Commonly, a cash tray or till  60  is inserted into drawer  14 . The cash tray  60  typically has a number of dividers  61  and  62  for storing currency, coupons and other items required in a cash register system. Depending on the country or the specific culture where the cash tray  60  is used, paper currency is stored in different positions or arrangmenets. Commonly, in the United States, paper currency is stored in dividers  61  in a flat position as illustrated in FIG. lA, and is sorted by value. Metal or coin currency is commonly stored in dividers  62  and is also sorted by value. However, in Europe it is common to store paper currency in dividers  61  in an end on configuration (not illustrated).  
         [0024]    When cash tray  60  is configured to store paper currency in a flat position, the cash tray is commonly equipped with currency holder arms  75 . Currency holder arms  75  are in one embodiment a flip-up arm that rotates about a pivot  76 . When cash drawer  14  is opened, a cashier can access the currency in the cash tray  60  by lifting up currency holder arms  75 , as illustrated in FIG. 1B. When the cash drawer  14  is closed, currency holder arms  75  are pushed down as they come into contact with a top portion  78  of housing  12 . This causes the currency holder arm  75  to pivot about pivot  76  and press down on the currency contained in the respective currency divider  61 , thus holding the paper currency in place.  
         [0025]    Cash drawer  14  has a front face or panel  24 , a rear panel  26 , and an intermediate panel  27  recessed from rear panel  26 . A locking plate  28  is attached to panel  27 . Locking plate  28  extends downwardly towards the bottom of panel  27 , and has a locking tab portion  30  which is substantially collinear with, and coplanar with, the remainder of plate  28 .  
         [0026]    Latch mechanism  16  includes a pivotable rotary latch member  32  (rotary latch  32 ), and an electrically operated solenoid  34 . Rotary latch  32  and solenoid  34  are mounted on a mounting plate  36  which is in turn mounted on a base plate  39  of housing  12 . Rotary latch  32  has a forward portion  38 , an intermediate portion  40  and a rearward portion  42 . Rotary latch  32  pivots about pivot point  44  which is disposed generally at the intermediate portion of rotary latch  32 .  
         [0027]    Solenoid  34  is pivotably coupled to the rear portion  42  at pivot point  46 . Solenoid  34  has a compression spring  48  disposed thereon which biases rotary latch  32  into the locking or latching position shown in FIG. 1. When in the locking position, a tab engaging surface  50  on the forward portion  38  of rotary latch  32  engages tab  30  of locking plate  28  thereby holding drawer  14  in the closed position shown in FIG. 1. Rotary latch  32  thus inhibits the movement of drawer  14  forwardly out of housing  12  into an open position illustrated in FIG. 1B. To open drawer  14 , solenoid  34  is energized by receiving an input signal from an external control component (not illustrated). This input signal causes actuation of the solenoid  34 .  
         [0028]    Upon actuation of the solenoid, compression spring  48  is compressed by the solenoid and the rear portion  42  of rotary latch  32  is moved in a direction indicated by arrow  52 . This causes the forward portion  38  of rotary latch  32  to pivot about an arc, as generally indicated by arrow  54 . As forward portion  38  of rotary latch  32  pivots about arc  54 , tab-engaging surface  50  disengages from tab portion  30  of plate  28 , thus allowing drawer  14  to slide within housing  12 .  
         [0029]    Cash drawer assembly  10  is conventionally provided with a spring  90 , which is coupled to base plate  39  of housing  12  and which biases drawer  14  to an open position. In the past such springs have taken the form of steel, resilient wire loops (e.g. made of piano wires) coupled to an upstanding post fastened to base plate  39 . The wire loops are positioned to engage the second rear panel  27  of drawer  14  thus biasing drawer  14  to an open position. However, any other spring configuration can be used as well.  
         [0030]    Forward portion  38  of rotary latch  32  is provided with a surface  56 , which is disposed at an angle relative to arrow  22 . Thus, when drawer  14  is moved from the open position to the closed position tab portion  30  engages surface  56  causing latch member  32  to rotate along arch  54  until tab portion  30  reaches tab engaging surface  50 , at which time rotary latch  32  pivots back to the locking position shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    In contrast to the configuration of other cash drawers, latch mechanism  16  and spring  90  are located to a side of the cash drawer assembly  10 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, latch mechanism  16  is placed to the left-hand side of the rear portion of cash drawer  14 . However, other locations of mechanism  16  can be used, such as to the right-hand side of cash drawer  14 . Furthermore, in other embodiments the latch mechanism  16  and spring  90  can be placed either above cash drawer  14  or below cash drawer  14 .  
         [0032]    Rear portion  26  of cash drawer  14  is notched or recessed at point  80  creating a recessed area in cash drawer  14  where latch mechanism  16  and spring  90  can be inserted. Extending from point  80  towards the front  24  of cash drawer  14  is a side plate  82 . Side plate  82  defines an inner edge surface of the recessed area between point  80  and second rear panel  27 . The depth of the recess is determined by the depth of latch mechanism  16  and spring  90 . The larger, hence deeper, the spring  90  and latch mechanism  16  are, the greater the depth of the recessed area. Of particular note, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the rear portion  17  of latch mechanism  16  does not extend beyond the rear portion  26  of cash drawer  14  when cash drawer  14  is in the closed position. This arrangement of latch mechanism  16  relative to the housing  12  allows the housing  12  to exhibit a significantly shorter depth than is present in traditional prior art cash drawers.  
         [0033]    In one embodiment, cash drawer  14  has a depth of approximately  11  inches in contrast to the prior art&#39;s depth of 14½ inches. This decreased depth of the cash drawer  14  and the associated housing  12  allows an operator of multiple cash drawers  14  to increase the available salable floor space in the store when cash drawer  14  is used in a checkout lane without reducing the number of checkout lanes available. As the cash drawer  14  in the present embodiment has a depth that is approximately 3 inches shorter than the prior art cash drawer, an operator using four of these cash drawers would experience an increase in salable floor space equivalent to one, foot, without having to reduce the number of checkout lanes or change other configurations of the retail establishment. The integration of cash drawer  14  into a podium and a checkout lane will be discussed in further detail below.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a podium  200  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Podium  200  is configured to accept the cash drawer  14  and housing  12  described in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Podium  200  includes a first side plate  220 , a second side plate  240 , a back plate  260 , and a top plate  280 . Podium  200  has a base portion  202  where the podium  200  can be connected to or attached to a check stand surface. The depth of the first and second side plates  220  and  240  is marginally deeper then the depth of the cash drawer  14 .  
         [0035]    First side plate  220  is attached to one side of back plate  260 , and has a generally “dog leg” type shape. However, other shapes can be used. First side plate  220  has a first side portion  224 , a second side portion  228  and a garage bottom support  226 . On a portion of a top portion  230  of the first side portion  220  is a flange  232 . Flange  232  is provided to assist in the attachment of top plate  280 .  
         [0036]    The first side portion  224  extends from the top portion  230  to a first bend point  234 . In one embodiment the first side portion has a height of approximately 3 inches, this height corresponding to the height of cash drawer assembly  10 . However, depending on the height of the cash drawer assembly  10  other heights can be used. At first bend point  234  first side plate  220  bends at approximately 90° to form garage bottom support  226 . Garage bottom support  226  extends from first bend point  234  to a second bend point  236 .  
         [0037]    Garage bottom support  226  has at least one hole  238  machined into the support  226 . This hole  238  is sized such that a thumbscrew or other fastener can be fastened to the housing  12  of cash drawer assembly  10  in order to attach the cash drawer assembly  10  to the podium  200 . At second bend point  236  the first side plate  220  bends again at approximately 90° and extends towards podium base  202 , thus forming second side portion  228 . On the back  225  of garage portion  226  and on the back  227  of side portion  228  are connection points  223  and  229  respectively. Connection points  223  and  229  allow for the attachment of first side plate  220  to the back plate  260 . However, instead of connection points, other attachment methods can be used.  
         [0038]    Second side plate  240  is attached to the side of base plate  260  that is opposite first side plate  220 , and also has a generally “dog leg” type shape. Once again, other shapes can be used for side plate  240 . Second side plate  240  has a first side portion  244 , a second side portion  248  and a garage bottom support  246 . On a portion of a top portion  250  of first side portion  244  is a flange  252 . The flange  252  is provided to assist in the attachment of top plate  280 .  
         [0039]    First side portion  224  extends from top portion  250  to a first bend point  254 . In one embodiment first side portion  244  has a height of 3 inches. This height corresponds to the height of cash drawer assembly  10 . However, depending on the height of the cash drawer assembly  10  other heights can be used. At first bend point  254  second side plate  240  bends at approximately 90° to form a garage bottom support  246 .  
         [0040]    Garage bottom support  246  extends from first bend point  254  to a second bend point  256 . Garage bottom support  246  has at least one hole  258  machined into the support  246 . This hole  258  is sized such that a thumbscrew or other fastener can be fastened to housing  12  of cash drawer assembly  10  in order to attach the cash drawer assembly  10  to the podium  200 . Garage bottom support  246  has a length  251  that is greater than the length  231  of garage support  226 . At second bend point  256 , the second side plate  240  bends again approximately 90°, and extends towards podium base  202  thus forming a second side portion  248 . On the back  245  of garage bottom support  246 , and on the back  242  of side portion  248  are connection points  243  and  249 , respectively. Connection points  243  and  249  allows for the attachment of second slide plate  240  to back plate  260 .  
         [0041]    Back plate  260  is located on the side of the podium  200  that faces away from the cashier during normal operation of the cash drawer system. Back plate  260  has a customer facing side  262  and a cashier facing side  264 . At a top portion  266  of back plate  260  flanges  268  and  269  are provided such that top plate  280  can be attached to podium  200 . Holes  270 ,  271 ,  272 ,  273  are machined into back plate  260  such that first side plate  220  and second side plate  240  can be attached to the back plate  260 . Generally, this attachment between the plates is accomplished through the use of screws, nuts and bolts, or other removable fasteners. However, other fasteners can be used. Holes  270 ,  271 ,  272  and  273  are machined into back plate  260  such that the holes  270 ,  271 ,  272 ,  273  line up with the connection point  223  on first side plate  220  and with connection point  243  on second side plate  240 . The placement of holes  270 ,  271 ,  272 ,  273  is such that regardless of which side of back plate  260  the first and second side plates  220  and  240  are placed two of the holes  270 ,  271 ,  272 ,  273  will line up with the connection points  223 ,  243 . For example, when the plates an assembled into podium  200  holes  270  and  272  are used for attaching first side plate  220  and second side plate  240  to back plate  260 , if the product path is from left to right. The distance between holes  270  and  272  is approximately 10½ inches, which is the width of the current generation optical scanner. However, other widths can be used. However, if the product path is from right to left then holes  271  and  273  are used. This arrangement of holes  270 ,  271 ,  272 ,  273  reduces the cost of manufacturing the podium  200  as separate back plate  260 , first side plate  220  and second side plate  240  are not required for cash stands where the product path moves from right to left or from left to right.  
         [0042]    In a typical arrangement of podium  200  second side plate  240  is located on the side of the product path that is after or downstream of the scanner. Once the first side plate  220  and second side plate  240  are attached to back plate  260 , top plate  280  can be attached to flanges  232 ,  252 ,  268  and  269 . This attachment can be through the use of screws, nuts and bolts, or other removable fasteners. Once again other types of fasteners can be used. Top plate  280  can have a variety of surfaces depending on the end user&#39;s cash stand configuration. One example of top plate  280  is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2 a printer cutout  282  is shown in surface  284 . However, depending on the needs of the end user surface  284  may be smooth, or it may have additional cutouts to accommodate other components. Top plate  280  provides a surface for the installation of common cash register equipment typically found on cash stands.  
         [0043]    An optional check writing stand  290  can be attached to podium  200  to provide a stable writing environment for the customer to write a check, or sign a credit/debit card sales receipt. Check writing stand  290  is generally attached to the side of podium  200  that is downstream of the product path. In one embodiment, check writing stand  290  is attached to second side plate  240  through optional holes  292 ,  293 , which are machined into the second side plate  240 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3 illustrates an assembled podium  200  according to the embodiment described in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 also shows cash drawer assembly  10 , such as the cash drawer assembly described in FIG. 1, installed into podium  200 . Cash drawer assembly  10  is placed into the garage portion (FIG. 2) of podium  200 . The base  211  of cash drawer assembly  10  rests on garage supports  228  and  248 . Thumbscrews  212  or other removable fasteners are inserted through holes  238  and  258  and are tightened by hand. The benefit of using thumbscrews over other removable fasteners is that the user can remove the cash drawer assembly  10  from the garage without having to use tools. However, other fasteners can be used to secure cash drawer assembly  10  into the garage.  
         [0045]    FIGS.  4 A-C are diagrammatic illustrations of a check stand  400  incorporating a cash drawer  14  and a podium  200  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Check stand  400  includes a product unloading area  410 , a scanning area  440 , a transaction area  460 , and a bagging area  480 .  
         [0046]    The product unloading area  410  includes a belt mechanism  420  configured to move products for purchase towards scanning area  440 , such that those items may be scanned by a cashier  401 . However, other mechanisms for moving products for purchase towards the scanning area  440  can be used. Furthermore, check stand  400  can be configured without product unloading area  410 .  
         [0047]    Product unloading area  410  also includes a first item sensor  422  and a second item sensor  424 . Item sensors  422  and  424  are in one embodiment photo detector devices which can detect the presence of an item or product at predetermined locations on belt  420 . The photo detector device of sensors  422  and  424  is configured to detect a product on belt  420  when a light beam generated by the sensors  422  and  424  is interrupted by the product. However, other devices that are capable of detecting the presence of items or products on belt  420  can be used. Item sensors  422  and  424  are provided to facilitate product movement from a first location on belt  420  to a second location on belt  420 . In particular, the customer places a product at an area near the proximate end of the product unloading area  410 . The product then flows in a direction towards scanning area  440  as illustrated by arrow  425 . Once the product is scanned or otherwise entered at scanning area  440 . The item moves from scanning area  440  towards bagging area  480 .  
         [0048]    First item sensor  422  is provided to determine when a customer placing a product on the proximate end  421  of belt  420 . Although only a single sensor  422  is shown it should realized that any number of item sensors  422  can be used to detect product placement at location near the proximate end  421  of belt  420 . As described in greater detail below, once this sensor  422  detects the presence of a product of on belt  420 , a motor (not illustrated separately) attached to belt  420  is activated to move belt  420 , and causes the product on belt  420  to move towards the scanning area  440  in the direction indicated by arrow  425 . Specifically, activation of the motor causes the product to move towards scanning area  440  until it reaches a predetermined location. This predetermined location is determined by the placement of second sensor  424 . In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, sensor  424  is located at a distal end  423  of belt  420 . This location of sensor  424  is just prior to the scanning area  440 . Once the product is advanced to the location of sensor  424 , belt  420  stops as the product interrupts the light beam generated by sensor  424 . Preferably, sensor  424  stops the movement of products on belt  420  such that the products on the belt can be easily scanned or otherwise handled by the cashier  401 .  
         [0049]    Referring now to FIG. 4C, scanning area  440  of check stand  400  includes a scanner  442 , and can also include a product scale  446 . Scanner  442  conventionally scans or reads a product identification code such as a universal product code (UPC), industrial symbols, alpha numeric characters, or other indicia associated with product to be purchased. Any commercially available scanner can be used in the present invention.  
         [0050]    Scanner  422  includes a first scanning window  443  and a second scanning window  444 . First scanning window  443  is positioned substantially parallel to a product path surface  441 . The second scanning window  444  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the product path surface  441 . As illustrated in FIG. 4A and 4C first scanning window  443  is positioned in a relatively flush mount arrangement with the product path surface  441 . Furthermore, product scale  446  can be integrated with scanner  442 . Specifically, product scale  446  is substantially parallel to the product path surface  441  and first scanning window  443 . Product scale  446  envelops or surrounds the first scanning window  443 . In operation, a product, such as produce, is placed upon the product scale  446  or upon the first scanning window  441  in order to determine the weight of the product, and thus the price to be charged.  
         [0051]    Scanner  442  also includes a light source (not illustrated separately) such as a laser, a rotating mirror (not illustrated separately) which is driven by a motor (not illustrated separately), and a mirror array (not illustrated separately). A laser beam reflects off the rotating mirror and the mirror a ray to produce a pattern of scanning light beam. As the product identification code on an item is passed over scanner  442  the scanning light beams scatter off the code and return the scanner  442  where they are collected and detected. The reflected light then is analyzed electronically in order to determine whether the reflective light contains a valid code pattern. When a valid code pattern is present, the product identification code may be utilized to retrieve product information such as the price of the product. Further, scanner  442  and product scale  446  are removably mounted to the check stand  400  and to scanning area  440 . This removability allows the replacement and repair of scanner  442  and product scale  446  without the need to disassemble check stand  400 .  
         [0052]    Scanning area  440  can also include a security deactivation device. The security deactivation device is provided to deactivate or otherwise disable security tags associated with electronic article surveillance systems.  
         [0053]    As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, check stand  400  has a customer facing side  402  and a cashier facing side  406 . Specifically, a base portion  408  divides the check stand  400  into the customer facing side  402  which is the side of the check stand  400  where the customer  403  is located during a check out transaction, and the cashier facing side  406  which is the side of check stand  400  where the cashier  401  is located during the check out transaction.  
         [0054]    Transaction area  460  of check stand  400  include components necessary to complete a retail purchase, such as receiving payment for purchase products, and printing of transaction receipts. Transaction area  460  is shown in more detail in FIG. 4C. In particular, the transaction area  460  of check stand  400  includes an electronic payment terminal  462  having a card reader and a keypad, a cash drawer  464 , a register console  465 , a receipt printer  466 , a check writing stand  468  and a display device  469 . These components are attached to podium  470 , which is similar to the podium described in FIGS. 2 and 3 above. Podium  470  is attached to check stand base  408  at connection area  472 . Podium  470  can be attached directly at the top portion of check stand  400  or may have a pole that extends down the side of the customer facing side  402  of check stand  400 .  
         [0055]    Register console  465  can include can include a numeric keypad, an alpha numeric keypad, a listing of items typically purchased by customers at the establishment, a method of payment, or specialized keys for special or common transactions used by the establishment. However, other components and keys can be provided in console  465 .  
         [0056]    Podium  470  is configured to place cash drawer  464  and register console  465  at a height that is most ergonomically correct for the general populous. This optimal height is generally between the height of the naval and the heart of the cashier. Podium  470  places cash drawer  464  at a height such that this height matches the fifth percentile female and the ninety-fifth percentile male.  
         [0057]    The components in transaction area  460  are arranged so as to enhance the efficiency and throughput associated with the operation of check stand  400  by the cashier. In particular, once the cashier has entered the last of the customer&#39;s products, the display device  469  displays a final price to the customer. The customer then tenders payment to the cashier, or swipes a credit/debit card through card reader  462 . If the customer pays using a credit/debit card a receipt is generated by printer  466 . The cashier then takes the receipt, and gives it to the customer to sign on check writing surface  468 . If the customer tenders cash for payment the cashier then enters the amount tendered on console  465  that is mounted on podium  470 . Once the amount tendered has been entered into the register console  465  by the cashier a signal is sent to cash drawer  464 . This signal causes cash drawer  464  to open, thereby exposing the contents of cash drawer  464  to the cashier. It should be noted, that cash drawer  464 , when opened, illustratively does not extend beyond the cashier facing side  406 , as illustrated in FIG. 4B. Cash drawer  464  opens into the space over scanner  442 . At the time cash drawer  464  is open no scanning can be performed by the cashier, as drawer  464  interferes with the scanning path. Once the cashier is finished placing the customer&#39;s tendered cash into the cash drawer  464 , and making any necessary change; the cashier shuts or closes cash drawer  464  and gives any change to the customer.  
         [0058]    After, the products have been scanned by scanner  442  or otherwise passed through scanning area  440 , the products are bagged at bagging area  480 . Bagging area  480  can take various forms depending on the needs of the retailer. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, bagging area  480  consists of a rotatable triangular shaped block having plastic bags attached along its three sides. As the products are moved from scanning area  440  to bagging area  480  the cashier places the products into the bags in bagging area  480 . In another embodiment, the products are placed on a second belt  482 , illustrated in FIG. 4B which then proceeds to move to the products to a remote bagging station (not illustrated in FIG. 4B) to be bagged by the customer or a bagger. However, other arrangements of bagging area  480  can be used depending on the needs of the retailer.  
         [0059]    The arrangement of the present invention presents numerous advantages over prior art cash stands. In particular, during the entire check out operation and process the cashier is able to maintain eye contact with the customer, because all of the components that the cashier needs during the transaction are located directly in front of the cashier. When the transaction is being finalized the cashier is not required to move or change position within the cashier work space  495 , as no components intrude into the cashier&#39;s work space  495 . In prior art cash stands when the cashier finalized the transaction the cash drawer would intrude into the cashier&#39;s work space  495 , as illustrated in phantom by arrows  490  and  492  and boxes  491  and  493 , thus requiring the cashier to move in order to avoid being hit or contacted by the cash drawer as it opened. These and other cash drawer arrangements also required the cashier to break eye contact with the customer to access the contents of the cash drawer. By breaking eye contact with the customer and the contents to complete the transaction there is an increased likelihood of unnoticed theft by the consumer or other person.  
         [0060]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.