Method, apparatus and system for scanning an optical code

A method, apparatus and system are presented for improving a point of sale terminal by reducing the number of items a cashier must pick up and move for scanning during a purchase transaction. The point of sale terminal includes an optical code scanner that identifies an item by reading an optical code (barcode) affixed to or printed on the item. The scanner further includes a weigh scale that weighs items being scanned and a conveyor belt that moves the items across the scanner during the weighing and scanning operations. Moving the items using the conveyor belt reduces the number of items the cashier must pick up and move.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to improvements to optical code scanning. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to improvements to an optical code scanner, system and method.

BACKGROUND

Any discussion of prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

An assisted point of sale (POS) terminal is a POS terminal operated by a cashier. Customers present items for purchase and the cashier identifies each item by moving the item across an optical code scanner which reads an optical code in the form of a barcode attached to or printed on the item. The cashier is required to pick up and scan most of the items in the customer's purchase transaction.

Recent statistical data shows that a cashier picks up and scans an average of 550 items per hour and moves each item across a one foot wide optical code scanner. Over a one year period, a cashier will, on average, move a total of 77 tons of merchandise through a total distance of 292 miles. This is one factor that leads to job dissatisfaction and high turnover rates for cashiers. Thus, among its several aspects, the present invention recognizes there is a need to change how items are scanned so that a cashier does not have to pickup and scan most of the items comprising a purchase transaction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among its several aspects, the present invention seeks to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Among its several aspects, one embodiment of the present invention recognizes a condition where a cashier of a point of sale terminal must pick up and move a large number of items over a period of time that in aggregate weigh many tons. This physical requirement lowers the cashier's job satisfaction and is one factor in the high turn over rate for cashiers. One aspect of the present invention provides a conveyor belt integrated into an optical code scanner that moves items across or through the field of view of the optical code scanner. This reduces the number of items that a cashier must pickup and move for scanning.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an optical code scanner for use in a point of sale terminal to read barcodes and weigh items presented for purchase. To this end, a scanner may suitably comprise: a base housing including a top surface wherein the top surface includes a first aperture; a weigh scale located within the base housing; and a conveyor belt disposed within the first aperture and configured to move items from the receiving side of the base housing to the opposite side of the base housing and wherein the conveyor belt is attached to the weigh scale in a configuration that allows the weigh scale to determine the weight of any item on the conveyor belt.

The scanner may further suitably comprise: an upper housing mounted to the rear and side of the top surface and extending vertically above the top surface; an imaging optical code scanner including a first plurality of image capture devices disposed within the upper housing and configured to have fields of view directed across the top surface of the base housing; and wherein the conveyor belt is operable to receive an item from one side of the base housing and move the item through the field of view of at least one of the plurality of image capture devices and wherein the imaging optical code scanner is operable to capture an image of a bar code on the item and decode the bar code and wherein the weigh scale is operable to determine the weight of the item on the conveyor belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the claimed invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the claimed invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments are possible and envisioned.

As used herein, the term optical code includes machine-readable indicia that includes, but are not limited to, one-dimensional (1D) barcodes and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes.

Referring now toFIG. 1, there is provided a high-level drawing illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a point of sale terminal system100(“POS terminal”). The POS terminal100includes a main housing150, a computer housing160and a bag well108. The main housing150includes an input conveyor belt104, an optical code scanner/weigh scale110(“scanner”) and a take away conveyor belt106. A magnetic stripe card reader130and a customer display140are attached to the main housing150. The scanner110fits in a standard 12″ wide by 20″ long opening in the main housing150. Also shown as part of the scanner110is an upper housing230and a second aperture245which are discussed in more detail below. The computer housing160is attached to the main housing150and houses a computer unit (FIG. 3,300) and further supports a cashier display and keyboard120on its top surface.

A foot pedal device165is attached to the main housing150. In some embodiments, the foot pedal device165can be moved by a cashier to provide the best ease of use. The pedals on the foot pedal device165provide a user interface that allows the cashier to start, stop and reverse the direction of each conveyor belt controlled by the foot pedal device165. In some embodiments, the foot pedal device165is replaced by cashier operated switches and sensors that determine the presence of an item on a conveyor belt.

The POS terminal100is designed to operate as an assisted terminal. A trained cashier operates the terminal100and stands on the near side of the POS terminal100next to foot pedal device165. A customer wishing to purchase one or more items approaches the POS terminal100on the far side of the POS terminal100next to the input conveyor belt104. The customer places the one or more items for purchase on the input conveyor belt104which transports each item to the scanner110. As described in more detail below, the scanner110: receives items from the input conveyor belt104; scans each item by moving the item across the top of the scanner using a conveyor beltFIG. 2A,225; and delivers each item to the take away belt106. As an item moves across the scanner110, the scanner110identifies the item using a barcode on the item and determines the weigh of the item if necessary. The take away conveyor belt106receives items from the scanner110and transports them to the bag well108for bagging.

The cashier uses the foot pedal device165to control all the conveyor belts on the POS terminal100. In some embodiments, a processor using sensors tracks the movement of items on the conveyor belts and controls the movement of each conveyor belt relieving the cashier of most of the responsibility for controlling the conveyor belts. The customer display140displays details of the purchase transaction to the customer and the cashier display120displays details of the purchase transaction to the cashier. The magnetic stripe card reader130is used by the customer to read a credit or a debit card as one form of payment.

FIG. 2Ais a high-level drawing illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the optical code scanner/weigh scale110. The scanner110includes a base housing200and an upper housing230. The base housing200has six sides.FIG. 2Adepicts a front side215, a left side220and a top side205. The other sides are depicted inFIG. 2BandFIG. 2C. The top side or surface205includes first aperture210and the second aperture245. The second aperture245is long and narrow and is located proximate to the right edge of the top side205. The second aperture245is filled with an optically clear material to create a window through the top side205. Tempered float glass and sapphire on glass are examples of materials that can be used to fabricate the window.

The first aperture210encompasses a significant portion of the top side205. The conveyor belt225is located within and substantially fills the first aperture210. The top of the conveyor belt225is flush with the top side205. The conveyor belt225is designed to move items from one side of the scanner110to the other side of the scanner110. In this example, items are received on the right side and moved to the left side as depicted by an arrow240. The movement of the conveyor belt225can be reversed or stopped and the conveyor belt225has variable speeds. The left edge of the first aperture210is located proximate to the left edge of the top left side220to minimize the distance between the left edge of the first aperture210and the left edge of the top left side220.

The upper housing230is attached to the top side205near the rear of the right edge of the top side205. The height of the upper housing230above the top side205is generally less than two (2) feet. The actual height can vary depending on the size of items the system is designed to scan. In this embodiment, the upper housing230includes a first portion232that extends vertically from the top side205to a second portion233. The second portion233extends upward at an angle from the vertical and generally out above a rear section of the second aperture245. The first portion232includes a first image capture device235A and a second image capture device235B. The second portion233includes a third image capture device235C. The image capture devices235A-C are operable to capture images from their respective fields of view. Each image capture device comprises a CMOS image sensor to capture images. Other embodiments include additional or fewer image capture devices in different configurations.

The viewing areas of the image capture devices235A-C are generally directed toward the second aperture245or to an area above the second aperture245. The arrows extending from each image capture device represent the general viewing direction of each image capture device235A-C. In some embodiments, illumination devices (not shown) are included in the upper housing230and the main housing200. In some embodiments, additional image capture devices are located below the second aperture245and designed to capture images through the second aperture245. Their viewing areas are depicted by the arrows extending up through the second aperture245.

FIG. 2Bis a cross sectional view of the scanner110from the right side illustrating selected internal components. Located below the second aperture245are five image capture devices265A-E. They are configured to capture images through the second aperture245as depicted. The front most image capture device265A, is aimed upward and toward the rear of the scanner110to receive and capture images of the sides of items passing through the scanner110. The other image capture devices265B-E are aimed upward to receive and capture images of the bottom sides of items passing through the scanner110. The arrows extending from each image capture device and depicts the general direction of the viewing area for each device.

In addition to image capture devices265A-E, light sources (not shown) are located below the second aperture245and configured to direct light through the second aperture245to illuminate items passing across the scanner110. The main housing200further includes a bottom side250, a rear side260and a computer unit285that controls the scanner110.

FIG. 2Cis another cross sectional view of the scanner110from the front side215illustrating selected internal components. A weigh scale270is located within the main housing200and mounted to the bottom side250. Two of the mounting attachments274A-B are shown. Also, within the main housing200is the conveyer belt225which fills most of the first aperture210. The conveyer belt225wraps around a drive pulley276A and a tail pulley276B. The pulleys276A-B extend from the front of the main housing200to the rear of the main housing200. Both the drive pulley276A and tail pulley276B are mounted to the weigh scale270. The front end of the drive pulley276A is fixed to an attachment272A that is fixed to the weigh scale270. The rear end of the drive pulley276A is mounted to the weight scale270using a similar attachment (not shown). An electric motor280is mounted to the attachment272A. The motor280drives the conveyor belt225using a drive belt278that connects the motor280to the drive pulley276A. The motor280has variable speeds and can reverse directions. The front end of the tail pulley276B is fixed to a second attachment272B that is fixed to the weigh scale270. The rear end of the tail pulley276B is mounted to the weigh scale270using a similar attachment (not shown).

All the components of the conveyor system are mounted to the weigh scale270. To provide accurate weights for items on the conveyor belt225, the components of the conveyor system is isolated from the main housing200. The weight of the conveyor system is known and subtracted from any weight measured by the weigh scale270. The remaining weight is the weight of whatever is resting on the conveyor belt225.

In this embodiment, items moved from right to left across the scanner110. However, in other embodiments, items moved from left to right by moving the upper housing230and second aperture245from the right side to the left side and shifting the first aperture210proximate to the right side255.

Turning toFIG. 3, there is provided a high-level block diagram illustrating selected components of the point of sale terminal100. The computer unit300is located in the computer housing160of the POS terminal100. The computer unit300includes a processor350, a memory355, control circuitry360, a communications controller370and a video controller375. The memory355includes both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may include flash memory or other types of solid state electronic memory. Software stored in the memory355is executed by the processor350and causes the processor350to control the devices attached to the POS terminal100and to create the features and functions performed by the POS terminal100. The control circuitry360provides an interface between the processor350and the memory355and between the processor350and a computer bus365used to control the communications controller370and the video controller375.

The communications controller370includes hardware and software required to communicate with external devices and peripherals over a computer peripheral network380. In some embodiments, the computer peripheral network380is implemented using the industry standard Universal Serial Bus (USB). In other embodiments, the computer peripheral network380may include wired or wireless communications links or both. The scanner110, the magnetic card reader130and the foot pedal device165are connected to the computer peripheral network380. The video controller375controls the information displayed on the cashier display120and the customer display140.

The foot pedal device165has a number of pedals that are used by the cashier to control the three conveyor belts on the POS terminal100. The cashier can start, stop and reverse the conveyor belts using the pedals. When the cashier activates a pedal that controls the conveyor belt225on the scanner110, the processor350of the POS terminal100receives the request from the foot pedal device165and sends a command to the scanner110over the computer peripheral network380. The command causes the processor310to implement the request from the foot pedal. The request can be to start, stop or reverse the conveyor belt225. In some embodiments, the input conveyor belt104and the take away conveyor belt106are controlled by switches on the main housing150and sensors are used to start and stop the conveyor belts when items are detected on the belts. In these embodiments, the foot pedal device165only controls the conveyor belt225in the scanner110so the foot pedal device165is connected to and controlled by the scanner110instead of the processor350of the POS terminal100.

The scanner110includes the computer unit285. The computer unit285includes a processor310, a memory315, control circuitry320and a communications controller325. The memory315includes both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may include flash memory or other types of solid state electronic memory. Software stored in the memory315is executed by the processor310and causes the processor310to control the devices attached to the scanner110and to create the features and functions performed by the scanner110. The control circuitry320provides an interface between the processor310and the memory315and between the processor310and the communications controller325.

The communications controller325includes hardware and software required to communicate with external devices and peripherals over the first computer peripheral network380and a second computer peripheral network330. In some embodiments, the two computer peripheral networks380,330are implemented using the industry standard Universal Serial Bus (USB). In other embodiments, the computer peripheral networks380,330may include wired or wireless communications links or both.

The scanner110uses the second computer peripheral network330to control the conveyor belt motor280, the imaging scanner305and the weigh scale270. The conveyer belt motor280is controlled by the processor310and can be operated at different speeds and in a forward and a reverse direction. The forward direction moves items from the right side to the left side of the scanner100. Unless otherwise stated, when the conveyor belt225is started, it is moving in the forward direction. The imaging scanner305includes all the image capture devices265A-E,225A-C and any illumination devices. The imaging scanner305captures images using the image capture devices265A-E,225A-C and processes the images to identify and decode optical codes. The imaging scanner305is controlled by the processor310. In some embodiment, the processor310processes the captured images and decodes the optical code. In other embodiments, the imaging scanner305includes a separate processor that processes the captured images and decodes the optical code. The weigh scale270is controlled by the processor310and is used to determine the weight of an item on the conveyor belt225.

When an item is received by the scanner110and identified as an item that is sold by weight, the scanner110moves the item to the middle of the scanner110and stops the conveyor belt225. The weight of the item is determined by the weigh scale270. The scanner110sends the weight to the POS terminal100and starts the conveyor belt225to move the item to the take away belt106. An item sold by weight can be automatically identified by a barcode attached to the item and scanned by the scanner110or by using a manual process where the cashier identifies the item and instruct the POS terminal100to have the scanner110weigh it.

When an item passes through the scanning area of the scanner110and is not identified, the scanner110will cause the conveyor belt225to reverse direction until the item is moved back into the scanning area to attempt to rescan the item for identification. If the second attempt to identify the item fails, a message will be displayed on the cashier display120requesting that the cashier identify the item. In some embodiments, the scanner110also sends the POS terminal100a command to stop the input conveyor belt104when the scanner110attempts to rescan an item. When the item is identified, the scanner110sends a command to the POS terminal100to start the input conveyor belt104. In some embodiments, the number of rescans is a software parameter and can be set to a plurality of the different values by an administrator of the POS terminal100.

FIG. 4is a high-level flow chart illustrating an exemplary method400of operating the scanner110. At step402, an item is received for identification by the scanner110. In the POS terminal system100, the item is delivered to the scanner110by the input conveyor belt104. At step405, the item is moved through the scan area using the conveyor belt225in the scanner110. As the item moves off the input conveyor belt104, it moves onto the scanner's110conveyor belt225. The scan area comprises the general area between the two conveyor belts225,104and an area over the right end of the conveyor belt225. The second aperture245is located on the top side205of the scanner110in the area between the two conveyor belts225,104. The area between the input conveyor belt104and the conveyor belt225on the scanner110is relatively small. Thus, the input conveyor belt104pushes average sized items across the area and partially onto the scanner's110conveyor belt225. The partial contact with the conveyor belt225is sufficient in most cases for the item to be captured by the conveyor belt225and moved across the scanner110. In some cases, the cashier may have to nudge the item onto the conveyor belt225but this is still an improvement of over picking up each item.

At step410, images of the item are captured by image capture devices235A-C located in the upper housing230and by image capture devices265A-E located under the second aperture245. At step415, the captured images are processed to decode data for any barcode that was captured.

Step420determines if a barcode was found and the data decoded. If a barcode was decoded, the method continues to step423. If a barcode was not decoded, the method continues to step435. At step423, the decoded barcode data is transmitted to the POS terminal100over the computer peripheral network380. At step425, it is determined if a command has been received to weigh the item. The POS terminal100determines if the identified item is sold by weight and must be weighed. Therefore, the POS terminal must send a command that causes the scanner110to weigh the item if it is sold by weight. If a weigh command has been received, control is transferred to step460. If no command has been received, the method continues at step430. At step430, the item moved off the scanner110using the conveyor belt225. In some embodiments, the item is moved onto the take away belt106which delivers the item to the bag well108.

The following section of the method400weighs the item on the conveyor belt225. At step460, the conveyor belt225is stopped. This removes any vibrations that might prevent an accurate weight reading. At step465, the weight of the item is determined by the weigh scale270. The weight of the item is determined by taking the weight of the item and all the elements mounted on the weigh scale270and subtracting the known weight of all the elements mounted on the weigh scale270. At step470, the weight of the item is transmitted to the POS terminal100over the computer peripheral network380. At step475, the conveyor belt225is started and control is transferred to step430.

The following section of the method400is used to rescan an item that was not scanned on the first try. The method400allows an item to be rescanned once. However, other embodiments permit additional rescans as a software selectable option. At step435, it is determined if the item has been rescanned and the rescanned failed. If it has, control passes to step480. If the item has not been rescanned, control passes to step440. At step440, the direction of the conveyor belt225is reversed which moves the item back into the scan area. At step445, the direction of the conveyor belt225is changed back to the forward direction. In some embodiments, sensors are used to determine when an item is in the scan area. In other embodiments, one or more of the image capture devices are used to capture images that are processed to determine the location of the item and when it is the scan area. Control then passes to step405where more images are captured in an attempt to read a barcode on the item.

The following section of the method400is used when a rescan of the item failed to read a barcode. At step480, the conveyor belt225is stopped with the item still on it. At step485, a message is sent for display on the cashier display120. The message requests that the cashier identify the item on the conveyor belt225. The message is transmitted on the computer peripheral network380to the POS terminal100. At step490, it is determined if a command to continue has been received. The cashier enters the identification for the item using the cashier keyboard120which it connected to the POS terminal's100processor350. Before the scanner110can continue scanning items, the POS terminal's100processor350must send a continue command to the scanner110. If the command has not been received, control passes back to step490. If the command has been received, control passes to step495. At step495, the conveyor belt495is started in the forward direction and control passes to step425.

Although particular reference has been made to an embodiment that includes an assisted service point of sale terminal that includes an optical code scanner with an integrated conveyor belt and weigh scale and examples have been provided illustrating the invention, certain other embodiments, variations and modifications are also envisioned within the spirit and scope of the following claims. For example, there are embodiments where the point of sale terminal is a self-service terminal and the operation of the scanner is fully automated.