Patent ID: 8822848

Claim:
A POS-based checkout/scale system operably connected to a host computer system comprising: a system housing having a vertical housing section with a vertical scanning window and a horizontal housing section with a horizontal scanning window adjacent said vertical scanning window; a bar code symbol reading subsystem disposed in said system housing, for projecting and collecting light through said vertical scanning window, so as to read bar code symbols on one or more objects within a scanning volume defined before said vertical scanning window, and producing symbol character data representative of each said read bar code symbol; an electronic weigh scale subsystem including a weigh platter supported above said horizontal housing section by a pair of cantilever weigh scale arms operably connected to an electronic load cell module configured to weigh items placed on said weigh platter during a weigh mode of operation, and generating weigh data associated with the weight of said items; a powered support mechanism for automatically supporting at least one of said pair of cantilever weigh scale arms and said weigh platter, so that a minimal load is experienced by said electronic load cell module during non-weighing operations including bar code symbol reading operations, supported at said POS-based checkout/scale system; a plurality of pressure sensing devices mounted between said weigh platter and said cantilever weigh scale arms, for generating electrical signals indicative of pressure applied to said pressure sensing devices by items placed on or dragged over said weigh platter; interface circuitry for receiving said electrical signals and generating digital signals corresponding to said electrical signals; and a programmed processor for processing said digital signals and automatically detecting: (i) non-weighing events; and (ii) weighing events supported on said weigh platter of said POS-based checkout/scale system; wherein during a first state of operation, said powered support mechanism automatically allows the cantilever weigh scale arms to bear the full weight of said weigh platter and any items supported thereon so that said electronic load cell module can accurately measure the weight of items on said weigh platter, and generate weigh data for transmission to said host computer system; and wherein during a second state of operation, said powered support mechanism automatically prevents said electronic load cell module from experiencing the weight of items placed on said weigh platter during non-weighing operations including bar code symbol reading operations.