Patent Publication Number: US-2004050626-A1

Title: Bagging module

Description:
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/410,374, filed Sep. 13, 2003, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to a bagging module and, more particularly, to a bagging module that is suitable for use in a checkout system, such as a checkout system used at a grocery store or the like.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The bagging module of the present invention provides a continuous feed or throughput of at least partially filled bags to a customer by providing a system that allows a checkout clerk to fill one bag while another bag is delivered to the customer.  
       [0004] In one form of the invention, a checkout system of the present invention includes a front module, a rear module, and a bagging module positioned between the front and rear modules. The bagging module includes a rotatable support surface and an extendible support adapted for supporting at least one bag. The extendible support is mounted to the rotatable support surface and is movable between an operable position, wherein a bag supported by the extendible support is positioned for loading items into the supported bag, and a stowed position.  
       [0005] In one aspect, the bagging module further includes a base, with the rotatable support surface being supported by the base. For example, the extendible support may at least partially extend into the base when the extendible support is moved to its stowed position.  
       [0006] According to another aspect, the extendible support includes at least one bag support, which provides at least vertical support or lateral support for a bag. Preferably, the extendible support includes a plurality of bag supports. For example, the bag support or supports may comprise Y-shaped bag supports.  
       [0007] In yet another aspect, the extendible support is manually and/or mechanically extendible or retractable to thereby move the extendible support between its stowed and operative positions. In addition, the extendible support may be extended or retracted hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, or a combination thereof.  
       [0008] According to another form of the invention, a checkout system bagging module includes a base for positioning in a checkout system and a rotatable support surface for supporting one or more bags, which is supported by the base. The module further includes an extendible support adapted for supporting at least one bag, which is mounted to the rotatable support surface and which is extendible between an operable position and a stowed position.  
       [0009] In one aspect, the extendible support is extendible or retractable to thereby move the extendible support between its stowed and operative positions.  
       [0010] In yet another form of the invention, a checkout system includes a front module, which has a support surface for supporting items, a rear module with a support surface for supporting items, and a bagging module. The bagging module includes a rotatable table and an extendible support, which is adapted for supporting at least one bag. The extendible support is mounted to the rotatable table and is movable between an operable position wherein a bag supported by the extendible support is positioned for loading items supported on the support surface of the front module and a stowed position wherein the extendible support is lowered below the support surfaces of the front and rear modules.  
       [0011] In one aspect, the rear module includes a conveyor for conveying items across its support surface. In a further aspect, the conveyor includes a member that is extendible over the bagging module when the bagging module is move to its stowed position.  
       [0012] As would be appreciated from the foregoing, the present invention provides a bagging module that permits a substantially continuous feed of bags from a cashier to a customer with minimal handling of the bags. These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a checkout system incorporating a bagging module of the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 with the bagging module illustrated in a stowed position;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the checkout system of FIG. 2;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the checkout system of FIG. 1 illustrating the bagging module in a stowed position;  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the checkout system of FIG. 4;  
     [0018]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the bagging module of the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the bagging module;  
     [0020]FIG. 8 is a second side elevation view of the bagging module;  
     [0021]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a checkout system incorporating the bagging module of the present invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the checkout system of FIG. 9; and  
     [0023]FIG. 11 is a plan view of the checkout system illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 with the bagging module of the present invention in an operative position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0024] Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral  10  generally designates a checkout system, for example, a checkout system that is suitable for use in a grocery store or other retail store. Checkout system  10  includes a front module  110   a  with a conveyor, onto which a customer deposits or places their items to be purchased and where the cash register is typically located, and a rear module  10   b  to which the items are delivered for packing in a bag by a clerk or “bagger”. The numeral  12  generally designates a bagging module of the present invention, which is especially suitable for positioning between the front and rear modules of a checkout system, such as checkout system  10 . As will more fully described below, bagging module  12  is selectively positioned so that it can provide a substantially continuous feed of filled, or at least partially filled, bags to a customer that is standing adjacent the module. This may particularly helpful when the store is short handed on baggers.  
     [0025] As best understood from FIGS.  1 - 3 , bagging module  12  is movable between a stowed position (FIGS. 2 and 3) and an operative position (FIG. 1), where bags can be loaded by the cashier in a manner to provide a continuous feed or throughput of loaded bags to a customer standing adjacent the bagging module of the present invention. Though not limited to a particular type of bag, bagging module  12  is particularly suitable for use with plastic bags and provides a suspension or support system to hold one or more bags and, more preferably, at least two bags and, at least in the case of plastic bags, to hold them in an open position for receiving products therein. Should the cashier have a bagger available, the cashier can move or reconfigure the bagging module, for example manually, mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, or otherwise, to its stowed position (for example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) with the conveyor or gravity chute of rear module  10   b  moved to a fully extended position over the bagging module so that items may be delivered from the forward module to the rearward module to the rearward bagging area of checkout system  10 .  
     [0026] Referring to FIG. 6, bagging module  12  includes a rotatable table  20  and an extendable bag suspension system or support  22 . Table  20  may be made from metal, plastic, wood, or a combination of materials. Rotatable table  20  is rotatably supported by a base  24 , which is positioned below the extendable conveyor portion of checkout system  10  and positioned between front and rear modules  10   a ,  10   b . Base  24  may assume a number of different configurations, but is preferably sized to extend between the rearward end of the front module and the forward end of the rearward of checkout system  10 . Further details of base  24  are provided below.  
     [0027] In the illustrated embodiment, table  20  comprises a circular plate with a central opening  30  through which it receives extendable support  22 . In addition, table  20  includes a sleeve  32  mounted about central opening  30 , which includes a detent mechanism  33  or the like to releasably engage extendable support  22  so that extendable support  22  can be raised or lowered between its stowed and operative positions and, further, releasably fixed in at least its operative position. In the illustrated embodiment, sleeve  32  includes a mounting flange  32   a  that is mounted to table  20  by fasteners or the like. Sleeve  32  preferably comprises a low friction material, such as plastic, including nylon or the like, to reduce the friction between the sleeve and support  22 . Alternately, sleeve  32  may have a low friction insert. In the illustrated, detent mechanism  33  comprises a spring-loaded pin that is extended into a corresponding structure, such as recess or hole, to mechanically couple sleeve to the extendible support; however, it can be appreciated that other detent mechanisms or other releasable coupling devices, including non-mechanical coupling devices, may be used. For example, non-mechanical coupling devices may include electromagnets, which can be electrically actuated to selectively couple or decouple from the extendible support. Alternately, the coupling device may comprise a combination of non-mechanical and mechanical components, such as an electromagnetically or hydraulically or pneumatically driven pin, which mechanically engages the support.  
     [0028] Support  22  includes a central support member  34  that extends through sleeve  32  and opening  30 , and one or more bag support members  36 . Central support member  34  is preferably formed from a rigid material, such as metal, plastic, including reinforced plastic, or wood, or a combination of materials. The term “member” as used herein is not intended to be limited to a single unitary member and may comprise one or more assembled components, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, adjustable support  22  includes three bag support members  36 ; however, it can be appreciated that the number of bag support members may be increased or decreased, as illustrated in the second embodiment. Depending on the type of bags, bag support members  36  may provide vertical support and/or lateral support to the respective bags. For example, for paper bags, bag support members  36  provide lateral support. For plastic bags, bag support members  36  provide at least vertical support to the bags and, further, optionally assist in holding the bags open while the bag is loaded.  
     [0029] Referring again to FIG. 6, in the illustrated embodiment, bag support members  36  comprise Y-shaped arms  38  that are mounted at their respective distal ends  38   a  to central support member  34  by, for example, a hub assembly  40 . Arms  38  may be formed from metal wire or from other suitable rigid materials. Preferably, Y-shaped arms  38  are equally spaced around tubular member  34 . However, they may be unevenly spaced should a greater distance be desired between an adjacent pair of support members. For example, for a three-bag assembly, the bag support members may be spaced approximately 120° apart at their distal ends. Proximal portions  38   b  of Y-shaped arms  38  provide a mounting surface for the plastic bags or otherwise provide a lateral support for paper bags, should paper bags be used in conjunction with the bagging module of the present invention.  
     [0030] In the illustrated embodiment, central support member  34  comprises a rectangular tubular member and includes at least one indent or mounting opening that cooperates with detent mechanism  33  of collar  32  to vertically fix the position of adjustable support  22 , for example, in its operative or extended position (as shown in FIG. 1). To return the adjustable support  22  to its stowed or lowered position, detent mechanism  33  is disengaged from the indent or mounting opening so that extendable support  22  may be moved downward, for example manually moved downward, to its stowed or its retracted position. It should be understood, however, that central support member  34  may comprise a round tubular member or a solid rod or the like as well. However, in the interest of reducing the weight of the bag support member, it may be beneficial to provide a hollow structural member for central support member. In addition, central support member  34  may include a plurality of indents or mounting openings to thereby fix the position of the extendable support in its stowed position, for example, or in an intermediate position.  
     [0031] Again, referring to FIG. 6, table  20  is supported on base  24  by a bearing assembly  44  so that table  20  is rotatable about vertical axis  46 . In this manner, when a cashier has moved the extendable support  22  to its operative position, the cashier may load a bag suspended or supported by one of the Y-shaped arms and, thereafter, rotate table  20  so that the bag that is filled is moved to a second position so that the cashier may thereafter fill the adjacent bag with items. After the second bag is filled, the cashier can then rotate the table  20  to a third position to present the first loaded bag to a customer that may be standing on the opposed side of the module. In this manner, the customer may unload the bag from the table and place the loaded bag in their cart. This process may continue until all of the items have been loaded into bags. As a result, the baggage module of the present invention provides a continuous feed or throughput of loaded bags to the customer without the need of a separate bagger. In the illustrated embodiment, bearing assembly  44  includes a base  44   a , such as an annular base, that is mounted to base  24  and an upper member  44   b , such as an upper annular member, to which table  20  is secured, for example, by fasteners. Upper member  44   b  is supported on base  44   a  by bearings, as would be understood by those skilled in the art, to enable rotation of upper member  44   b  and in turn table  20 .  
     [0032] In the illustrated embodiment, base  24  includes a front side  24   a , which faces the customer side of checkout system  10 , and a back side  24   b , which faces the cashier side of checkout system  10 . Ends  24   c  and  24   d  of base  24 , respectively face the rearward end of front module  10   a  and rearward module  10   b . In the illustrated embodiment, front side  24   a  and ends  24   c  and  24   d  are closed by side frame members  50   a ,  50   b , and  50   c , respectively, which are supported on a platform  52 . Side frame members  50   a ,  50   b , and  50   c  may be conventional of materials in construction and may be made from sheet metal or pressed board or a combination or the like. Platform  52  comprises a box shaped platform, which is similarly formed form panels of sheet metal, pressed board, or a combination thereof, with a transverse passage formed therethrough  53  for allowing wiring, cables or the like, to pass through platform. In addition, base  24  includes an upper side  54  that extends and is supported by side frame members  50   a ,  50   b , and  50   c  to form a cabinet, which may be open on one or more sides (as shown in FIG. 1). Back side  24   b  includes a brace member  50   d , which is mounted between side frame members  50   b  and  50   c  to provide support to upper side  54  along the back side edge of upper side  54 . In addition, upper side  54  includes a central opening  56  for receiving extendable support  22 .  
     [0033] In the illustrated embodiment, bearing assembly  44  is supported by base and secured to a plurality of mounting bosses  58  that are provided on a respective pair of elongated support members  58   a , which are mounted to side frame member  50   a  and brace member  50   d . Mounting bosses  58  are positioned in opening  56  generally at or below the upper surface  54   a  of upper side  54  to lower bearing assembly  44  so that the space between lower surface  20   a  of table  20  and upper surface  54   a  of upper member  54  is minimized to thereby minimize the deflection of table  20 . Alternately, bearing assembly  44  may be supported by and secured to upper side  54 .  
     [0034] Referring to FIGS.  9 - 11 , the numeral  110  generally designates another embodiment of a checkout system, which may incorporate another embodiment of a bagging module  112  of the present invention. Similar to the previous embodiment, bagging module  112  is positioned between a forward module  110   a  and a rearward conveyor module  110   b  and is supported such that its adjustable support  122  can move between an operative position to permit a continual feed or throughput of loaded (or at least partially loaded) bags to the customer or a stowed position below a gravity feed ramp  111  that delivers product to the rear module for bagging by a clerk or bagger. In the illustrated embodiment, bagging module  112  includes four bag supports  136  and, further, incorporates a rectangular-shaped table  120 . Furthermore, central support member  122  comprises a larger diameter tubular member, which may provide increased stability of support  122 .  
     [0035] While several forms of the invention have been shown and described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the movement of extendable support  22  or  122  may be powered or power assisted, for example, by a cylinder, for example, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder, a motor, such as a servo motor, an inflatable bladder, or the like, which is controlled by a control system that is operable by the cashier so that the extendable support may be moved between its operative and stowed position mechanically, hydraulically, electrically, pneumatically, or a combination thereof. In addition, the movement of extendible support may be spring assisted so that the weight of the central support member and bag support members is reduced. Furthermore, as previously noted, the position of the extendible support is preferably releasably fixed in at least its operative position and may be fixed mechanically or magnetically or frictionally, for example, by a conventional lever with a cam surface or a band that is moved in and out of frictional engagement with the central member  34 , for example, by pivoting the lever. IN addition, though illustrated as wire members, bag supports  36  and  136  may comprise plate members that extend partially down central support member  22  or  122  or may extend to table  20  or  120 . Alternately, a net or another sheet of material may extend between the respective proximal portions  38   a  of the Y-shaped arms  38  and table  20  or  120  to provide additional lateral support to the bags, especially plastic bags. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims that follow as interpreted under the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.