An automated checkout system for reading encoded data from a bottom surface of an item, the automated checkout stand comprising: a housing structure; a conveyor system comprising: a leading conveyor section supported on the housing structure and operable to receive and transport the item bearing encoded data along a direction of motion, and a trailing conveyor section supported on the housing structure and operable to receive and transport the item along the direction of motion, wherein the trailing conveyor section is spaced apart from the leading conveyor section by a gap, the gap being elongated in one direction and extending generally transverse to the direction of motion; a first reading device positioned beneath the conveyor system and configured for repeatedly reading through the gap, the first reading device having a first field of view oriented at a first angle (α) relative to the direction of motion, the first reading device configured to acquire a first set of scan data; and a second reading device positioned beneath the conveyor system and configured for repeatedly reading through the gap, the second reading device having a second field of view oriented at a second angle (β) relative to the direction of motion, the second reading device configured to acquire a second set of scan data different from the first set of scan data; characterized in that the first angle (α) and the second angle (β) differ in orientation relative to the direction of motion such that the second reading device acquires a leading view of the item as the item is transported across the gap, and wherein the first reading device acquires a trailing view of the item as the item is transported onto the trailing conveyor section. a housing structure; a conveyor system comprising: a leading conveyor section supported on the housing structure and operable to receive and transport the item bearing encoded data along a direction of motion, and a trailing conveyor section supported on the housing structure and operable to receive and transport the item along the direction of motion, wherein the trailing conveyor section is spaced apart from the leading conveyor section by a gap, the gap being elongated in one direction and extending generally transverse to the direction of motion; a first reading device positioned beneath the conveyor system and configured for repeatedly reading through the gap, the first reading device having a first field of view oriented at a first angle (α) relative to the direction of motion, the first reading device configured to acquire a first set of scan data; and a second reading device positioned beneath the conveyor system and configured for repeatedly reading through the gap, the second reading device having a second field of view oriented at a second angle (β) relative to the direction of motion, the second reading device configured to acquire a second set of scan data different from the first set of scan data; a leading conveyor section supported on the housing structure and operable to receive and transport the item bearing encoded data along a direction of motion, and a trailing conveyor section supported on the housing structure and operable to receive and transport the item along the direction of motion, wherein the trailing conveyor section is spaced apart from the leading conveyor section by a gap, the gap being elongated in one direction and extending generally transverse to the direction of motion; a first reading device positioned beneath the conveyor system and configured for repeatedly reading through the gap, the first reading device having a first field of view oriented at a first angle (α) relative to the direction of motion, the first reading device configured to acquire a first set of scan data; and a second reading device positioned beneath the conveyor system and configured for repeatedly reading through the gap, the second reading device having a second field of view oriented at a second angle (β) relative to the direction of motion, the second reading device configured to acquire a second set of scan data different from the first set of scan data; characterized in that the first angle (α) and the second angle (β) differ in orientation relative to the direction of motion such that the second reading device acquires a leading view of the item as the item is transported across the gap, and wherein the first reading device acquires a trailing view of the item as the item is transported onto the trailing conveyor section.