Patent CA-1160977-A (CA)
Inventor: FREDERICK RODERICK J
IPC: A47F9/04
Filed: 1981-07-08
Granted: 1984-01-24
Abstract: Roderick J. Frederick A CONVEYOR TO INTERFIT WITH A LOADED SHOPPING CART AND TO MOVE PORTIONS OF THE LOAD, ON DEMAND OF A CHECKER, TO THE FRONT OF THE CART, FOR REMOVAL, PRICE SCANNING, AND BAGGING  BY THE CHECKER AT A CHECKOUT STAND                 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In grocery stores, other markets, and warehouses a customer's loaded shopping cart is directed by the customer into an inter-related sloping position with a conveyor.  Upon demand, the checker runs the conveyor to move portions of the load to the just opened front of the shopping cart.  The checker then easily reaches the respective items being purchased, moving the across a scanner and into bags, or beyond for bagging.    In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor slopes slightly downwardly to its entry, and the bottom of the shopping cart slopes slightly upwardly to its front, the angle of slope for both of them being the same.  Also the length of the conveyor and the length of the bottom of the cart are essentially the same, so all items purchased will be moved to the front of the cart.  The conveyor has a belt which is continuously wrapped about cylindrical rollers at each end of its travel, and, throughout its width, the belt is continuous with alternate, parallel ribs and spaces to interfit with longitudinal members of the basket of the cart.  At least at one crosswise location the ribs are formed with partial round recesses to receive and move forward round items in the cart to be conveyed to the front of the basket.  An electric motor drive, either internal or external of one of the cylindrical rollers, powers the conveyor, when a checker moves a knee and/or front switch,  The conveyor is cleared of a withdrawing cart by rotating its entry end, further into the checkout stand, the clearing occurring when less than one-half the length of the conveyor is uncovered by the Roderick J. Frederick oppositely swinging and departing empty cart.  The conveyor automatically returns for the next approaching loaded cart, with its spaced roller guides aligned to receive the roller end of the carts centerline alignment member.     The checkout stand has a scanner located at the exit of the conveyor, so items removed from the cart are immediately passed over the scanner.  When the checker is working, without an assistant he or she utilizes a bagging shelf located just beyond the scanner. When an assistant is available, a countertop portion is pivoted upwardly into place, so the checker moves the items, just scanned, directly on to the assistant utilizing an end bagging shelf.  The shopping cart, when being loaded, has its front covered by a locked in place pivotal gate.  Once the shopping cart is ready for unloading, the checker unlocks this front gate and pivots it upwardly to gain access to the items at the front of the cart. Once these front items are removed, the conveyor is operated to bring other items to the front of the cart for their convenient handling by the checker.  After a series of conveyor movements the cart will be unloaded of all items.  The rear of the cart has a sloping back to insure all items will slide forwardly and down-wardly to the conveyor.  This sloping back is pivotally moved over center, when necessary, to serve as a back rest, when a baby is seated on the cart.  The cart basket portion is pivoted upwardly and locked for nesting with other like carts, as other tapered portions of all the carts, interfit to complete the nesting of a group of carts.