OPTICAL SCANNER CHECKOUT STATION

Abstract: An optical scanner checkout station includes a portable, stand-alone desk-top, optical scanner unit (24) positioned on the top surface (22) of a checkout counter (20) which unit includes scanning means for projecting light through an aperture (28) in said scanning unit (24) on to bar code data on a merchandise item moved thereover, and detector means for receiving light reflected from said bar code data for reading the code. A power unit (34) remotely positioned from said scanning unit (24) contains a power supply (50) for operating the scanning apparatus and a laser (68) for generating light beams. A cable (36) transmits the electrical power and the light beams to the scanning unit (24) from the power unit (34).

Description: - 1 OPTICAL SCANNER CHECKOUT STATION Technical Field The present invention relates to optical scanner checkout station and more particularly to a checkout station in which a scanning unit can be removably positioned on a checkout counter for use in a checkout operation. Background Art In present-day merchandising point-of-sale operations, data pertaining to the purchase of a merchandise item is obtained by reading data encoded indicia such as a bar code printed on the merchandise item. In order to standardize the bar codes used in various point-of-sale readout systems, the grocery industry has adopted a uniform product code (UPC) which is in the form of a bar code. Reading systems which have been constructed to read this bar code include hand-held wands which are moved across the bar code and stationary optical reader systems normally located within the cabinet structure of a checkout counter and in which the bar code is read when a purchased merchandise item is moved across a window constituting the scanning area of the counter, which movement is part of the process of loading the item in a baggage cart. There has arisen a need for a scanning system to be installed in a checkout counter in which the operator is required to be in a sitting position at a checkout counter having a table-like construction. It is an object of- this invention to provide an optical scanner checkout station including a portable, low-profile, low-cost, optical scanning unit which can be placed on a supporting structure for processing merchandise items which are moved past the scanning unit by an operator who is sitting ' at the supporting structure. Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided an optical scanner checkout station for reading bar code data on merchandise items passed over a scanning unit, including support means arranged to carry said scanning unit which includes scanning means for projecting light through an aperture in said scanning unit onto bar code data o -a merchandise item moved thereover, and detector means for receiving light reflected from said bar code data for reading the code, characterized by a power unit off-set horizontally with respect to said aperture of said scanning unit and including a power supply and a source of light and cable means connected between the two units for transmitting electric power and light from said power unit to said scanning unit. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a checkout station according to the present invention-showing the location of a low-profile scanning unit and a power unit within a recessed checkout counter together with an associated terminal device which is attached to the power unit; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the power unit with a front wall panel removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the scanning unit with a cover removed; Fig. 4 is a top view of a scanning unit cover member; Fig. 5 is a top view of the scanning unit with the cover member removed showing a schematic representation of a beam scanning pattern generated by twisted mirrors; Fig. 6 is a side view of the scanning unit of Fig. 5 including the cover member showing a schematic representation of the beam scanning pattern; Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of the path of reflected laser beams from the bar code label; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a checkout counter in which the scanning unit is mounted flush with the top surface of the counter. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a perspective view of the optical scanner checkout station of the present invention which includes a box¬ like checkout counter 20. The counter includes a top supporting member 22 on which is positioned a portable, low-profile, scanning unit 24 having a cover member 26 which includes a scanning window portion 28 through which scanning light beams are projected. The unit 24 includes a pair of sloping end portions 30 enabling a merchandise item to be moved along the surface to a position adjacent the window portion 28 wherein the scanning light beams will scan bar code data earned on the merchandise item. Mounted to the inside surface of a sidewall panel 32 of the counter 20 is a power unit 34 in which is located a source of scanning light beams, a power supply and logic circuit means for processing signals generated in response to the scanning of the bar code label. A cable 36 including an optical light pipe- and electrical wires connect the scanning unit 24 with the power unit 34. A second cable 38 connects the power unit 34 with a data terminal device 40 mounted on a table member 42, leaving the counter 20 free to be used only for checking out the purchased merchandise items. While the scanning unit 24 is shown mounted on the supporting surface 22 of the counter 20, it is obvious that the unit can be mounted within the supporting surface 22 of the counter 20 (Fig. 7) with the window portion 28 mounted flush with the surface 22. This latter construction will still allow the operator to sit at the counter 20 while performing a checkout operation. Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the power unit 34 which includes a hanger panel 44 for hanging the unit to the sidewall panel 32 of the counter 20. Mounted adjacent a top, wall panel 46 of the unit 34 which includes a plurality of air vents 48 is a power supply 50 for supplying the power to the scanning unit 24 over electrical wires 52 which are connected to an electrical connector 54 mounted in the top wall panel 46 of the unit 34. The cable 36 (Fig. 1) is secured to the connector 54 for transmitting power to the unit 24. Also mounted in the unit 34 is a printed circuit board 56 on which are mounted logic circuit elements such as I.C. chips. (not shown) for processing electrical signals received from the scanning unit 24 over wires 58 by means of the cable 36 and the connector 54. Power is supplied to the printed circuit board 56 over wires 60 from the power supply 50. Signals generated by the electrical circuits on the circuit board 56 are transmitted over a cable 62 to a second electrical connector 64 mounted on a side wall panel 66 of the unit 34. The cable (Fig. 1) 38 is connected to the connector 64 for transmitting signals to the terminal device 40 (Fig. 1). Mounted adjacent the side wall panel 66 is a 50-80 milliwatt helium-neon laser 68 having an optical light tube 70 connected to the connector 54 for transmitting the light beams from the laser over the cable 36 (Fig. 1) to the scanning unit 24. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 7, there are disclosed details of the scanning unit 24. As shown in Fig. 3, the unit comprises a boxed-type structure having a pair of sloping side portions 30 (Fig. 1) which facilitates the movement of a merchandise item across the top of the unit. Included in the unit is a light emitting element 72 mounted in a support member 74 secured to a wall 75 of the unit. The element 72 is connected by the cable 36 to connector 54 (Fig. 2) . The element 72 has an optical portion through which a light beam 78 (Fig. 7) received from the laser 68 (Fig. 2) is projected into the unit 24. Mounted adjacent the element 72 is an upstanding transparent member 76 having one side 82 silver coated. The member 76 is secured to the floor member 80 of the unit 24. As best seen in Fig. 7, the member 76 is mounted at a 45 degree angle to the line of direction of the light beam 78. Mounted adjacent the member 76 and secured to the floor member 80 is a focusing lens 84 which, as will be described more fully hereinafter, will focus reflected light beams received from the silvered side 82 of the member 76 on a photodetector 86 mounted on the floor member 80 adjacent the lens 84. The photodetector 86 is connected to a printed circuit board 88 (Fig. 3) , mounted on the floor member 80 of the unit 24, which includes an A/D converter (not shown) for digitizing the analog signals received from the photodetector 86 in a manner that is well known in the art. Mounted adjacent the member 76 and in line with the path of the light beam 78 (Fig. 7) projected from the element 72 is a rotatably mounted multifaceted mirror 90 mounted on the floor member 80 by means of a driven gear member 92. Located adjacent the mirror 90 is a miniature motor 94 mounted on the floor member 80 which rotates a driving gear member 96. The gear member 96 engages the gear member 92 for rotating the mirror 90 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7. Associated with the mirror 90 are a plurality of mirrors 98, 100 and 102 mounted on the floor member 80 at one side of the unit 24. The mirrors 98 and 102 are twisted along their length providing a variable angle with respect to the floor member 80 while the mirror 100 is oriented at a constant angle. The cover member 26 (Fig. 4) which includes the window portion 28 is secured to the top of the unit 24. In the operation of the scanning system of the present invention, the light beam 78 (Fig. 7) outputted from the element 72 pass through the transparent member 76 to engage one of the facets 103 of the rotating mirror 90 which reflects the light beam across the mirrors 98, 100 and 102. The mirrors 98 and 102 will reflect light beams through the window portion 28 to provide the scan lines 106 and 108 respectively (Fig. 5) of a scanning pattern projected adjacent the top surface of the cover member 26 while the mirror 100 will provide the horizontal scan line 112 of the pattern. The light beams 114 (Fig. 7) reflected from the bar code data on the merchandise item are directed back through the window portion 28, the mirrors 98, 100 and 102 and one of the facets 103 of the rotating mirror 90 towards the silvered side 82 of the member 76. The side 82 of the member 76 (Fig. 7) will deflect the reflected light beams 114 towards the lens 84 which focuses the light beams at the photodetector 86. As is well-known in the art, the bar code data comprises a plurality of light and dark bars (not shown) printed on a label which, when scanned by the scanning apparatus, will generate a specific pulse wave-form. The light reflected from the bar code data is first scattered and then portions of the reflected light are directed back toward the photodetector 86. The photodetector 86 will, in response to receiving the changes in the light intensity of the reflected light beams 114, generate electrical signals which are transmitted to the printed circuit board 88 (Fig. 3) where the A/D converter (not shown) will digitize the analog signals. These signals are then transmitted over the cable 36 (Fig. 1) to the printed circuit board 56 (Fig. 2) located in the power unit 34. The logic circuits on the board 56 will process the digitized signals received from the scanning unit 24 and transmit the signals to the data terminal device 40 where the information is displayed.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS : 1. An optical scanner checkout station for reading bar code data on merchandise items passed over a scanning unit (24) , including support means (20) arranged to carry said scanning unit (24) which includes scanning means (76, 90, 98, 100, 102) for projecting light through an aperture (28) in said scanning unit (24) onto bar code data on a merchandise item moved thereover, and detector means (86) for receiving light reflected from said bar code data for reading the code, characterized by a power unit (34) off-set horizontally with respect to said aperture (28) of said scanning unit (24) and including a power supply (50) and a source of light (68) , and cable means (36) connected between the two units for transmitting electric power and light from said power unit (34) to said scanning unit (24) . 2. An optical scanner checkout station according to claim 1, characterized in that said scanning unit (24) is a stand alone unit adapted to be positioned on the top surface (22) of a counter (20) . 3. An optical scanner checkout station according to claim 2, characterized in that said scanning unit (24) is elongated and has a horizontally extending cover member (26) and a pair of sloping end . portions (30) to facilitate moving of said merchandise items thereover. 4. An optical scanner checkout station according to either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said cable means (36) include optical light pipe means and electrical wires. 5. An optical -scanner checkout station according to claim 1, characterized in that said scanning unit (24) further includes a printed circuit including circuit means (88) for processing electrical signals generated by said detector means (86), and that said power unit (34) further includes logic circuit means (56) for processing the electrical signals received from said circuit means (88). 6. An optical scanner checkout station according to claim 5, characterized in that said logic circuit means (56) is connected to a terminal device (40) remote from said scanning unit (24). 7. An optical scanner checkout station according to claim 1, characterized in that said source of light is a laser (68). 8. An optical scanner checkout station according to claim 7, characterized in that said scanning means (76, 90, 98, 100, 102) includes optical means (76) mounted on the floor (80) of said scanning unit (24) for transmitting a light beam (78) received from said source of light (68) along a first light path, a multifaceted mirror (90) rotatably mounted on said floor (80) in said first light path for cyclically sweeping said light beam (78) along a second light path parallel to said floor (80), and reflecting means (98, 100, 102) mounted on said floor (80) for reflecting said light beam (78) through said aperture (28) in said scanning unit (24) for scanning said bar code data. 9. An optical scanner checkout station according to claim 8, characterized in that said reflecting means (98, 100, 102) includes a first elongated mirror member (100) mounted at a first angle to said floor (80) in said second light path and a pair of second elongated mirror members (98, 102) mounted at a second angle different from said first angle to said floor (80) in said second light path for reflecting said light beam (78) in a generally upward direction at different angles through said aperture (28) to form a scanning pattern. 10. An optical scanner checkout station according to either claim 8 or 9, characterized in ' that said optical means (76) is mounted on said floor (80) at an angle to said first path of light and has a transparent surface for transmitting the light beam (78) received from said source of light (68), and a reflecting surface (82) for reflecting light beams (114) reflected from said bar code data to be focused on to said detector means (86).

Inventors: MEYERS THOMAS JEFFREY, MEYERS, THOMAS, JEFFREY
Applicants: NCR CO, NCR CORPORATION
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G06K7
IPC codes: G06K7