TILL SYSTEM

Abstract

A till system for goods has a counter having upstream and downstream end, an input device at a cashier station between the ends, a conveyor displacing the goods along the counter toward the downstream end, and a scanner between the ends for identifying characteristics of the goods moved past the scanner by the conveyor and feeding data representing the identified characteristics of the goods to the input device. First and second goods bays are provided at the downstream end adapted to hold the scanned goods and are transversely spaced with respect to the direction. Respective separate first and second payment devices are provided at the first and second good bays for processing payments for the goods in the respective bays such that, while payment is being processed for the goods in one of the bays, goods can be scanned and fed to the other of the bays.

Claims

1. A till system for goods, the system comprising: a counter having an upstream end and a downstream end; an input device at a cashier station between the ends; a conveyor for displacing the goods along the counter in a direction from the upstream end toward the downstream end; a scanner between the ends for identifying characteristics of the goods moved past the scanner by the conveyor and feeding data representing the identified characteristics of the goods to the input device; first and second goods bays at the downstream end adapted to hold the scanned goods and transversely spaced with respect to the direction; and respective separate first and second payment devices at the first and second good bays for processing payments for the goods in the respective bays such that, while payment is being processed for the goods in one of the bays, goods can be scanned and fed to the other of the bays.

2. The till system according to claim 1, further comprising: first and second support arms in the first and second goods bays for supporting the respective payment devices.

3. The till system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second payment devices laterally flank the first and second good bays.

4. The till system according to claim 1, wherein each payment devices comprises a respective card reader and printer.

5. The till system according to claim 1, further comprising: a separator at the goods bays movable between a first position guiding goods from the conveyor to the first goods bay and a second position guiding goods from the conveyor the second goods bay.

6. The till system according to claim 1, further comprising: means immediately downstream of the goods bays defining first and second parking stations for the first and second goods bay.

7. The till system according to claim 6, further comprising: first and second bumpers for shopping carts at the downstream end of the counter in the first and second parking stations.

8. The till system according to claim 6, wherein the means defining are indicia on a floor.

9. The till system according to claim 1, wherein the second goods bay is aligned in the direction with the conveyor belt.

10. A till system for goods, the system comprising: a counter having an upstream end and a downstream end; an input device at a cashier station to one side of the counter between the ends; a conveyor for displacing the goods along the counter in a direction from the upstream end toward the downstream end; a scanner between the ends for identifying and recording characteristics of the goods moved past the scanner by the conveyor and feeding data regarding the goods to the input device; first and second goods bays at the downstream end adapted to hold the scanned goods and transversely spaced with respect to the direction; a separating element at the goods bays movable between a first position guiding goods from the conveyor to the first goods bay and a second position guiding goods from the conveyor the second goods bay; and respective separate first and second payment devices at the first and second good bays for processing payments for the goods in the respective bays such that, while payment is being processed for the goods in one of the bays, goods can be scanned and fed to the other of the bays.

11. A method of operating a system having: a counter having an upstream end and a downstream end; an input device at a cashier station between the ends; a conveyor for displacing goods along the counter in a direction from the upstream end toward the downstream end; a scanner between the ends; first and second goods bays at the downstream end; and respective separate first and second payment devices at the first and second good bays for processing payments for the goods in the respective bays, the method comprising the steps of, for one customer: a) displacing the goods of a first customer past the scanner; b) identifying characteristics of the goods of the first customer moved past the scanner by the conveyor and feeding data representing the identified characteristics of the goods to the input device; c) guiding the scanned goods of the first customer downstream of the scanner to the first goods bay; d) when all of the goods of the first customer have been scanned, closing the sale; e) while the first customer is processing a payment for the sale at the payment device of the first goods bay, repeating steps a) and b) with the goods of a second customer and guiding the goods of the second customer downstream to the second goods bay.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first goods bay is aligned in the direction with the conveyor belt and guiding goods into second goods bay entails deflecting them transversely from the direction into the second goods bay.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein a cashier at the cashier station pre-selects the status of the goods bay to be shown on a display.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the payment transaction of the customer is documented by the display.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the customer either pays at the input device or at an electronic payment device allocated to the customer's goods bay.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein, when the first customer is paying at the input device, the goods of the second customer are not scanned until the payment transaction of the first customer has been completed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0023] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a till system according to the invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the till system according to FIG. 1 toward the two parking stations and the goods bays; and

[0026] FIG. 3 is a different perspective view of the inventive till system with the two goods bays.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] As seen in the drawing a till system according to the invention is intended for use with goods W. The goods W are not restricted to retail goods as shown in the schematic drawing in FIG. 1. To this end, the till system features a counter 1 built on a base 2 formed by several base elements. The drawing of FIG. 2 shows a base element 3 at the rear end that forms two goods bays 4 arranged at the downstream end as the goods flow from the front end of the counter 1. In principle, the design may include more than two goods bays 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2. The design as shown in the drawings does not depict the further option of providing one or more mirrors and one or more cameras that a cashier may use to inspect the contents of a shopping cart to verify that the customer has placed all goods W on the counter 1.

[0028] The general design of the till system also includes an electronic scanner 5 for the goods W and a payment or input device 6. A conveyor belt 7 transports the goods W along the counter. The electronic scanner 5 for the goods W according to this embodiment is a scanner, and in particular a barcode scanner used to scan the goods W in terms of quantity and price and to add up the total price in the input device 6. To this end, the electronic input device 6 has a digital display 19.

[0029] As explained above, two goods bays 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2 are provided at the downstream end relative to the goods-flow direction of the counter 1. As is evident in particular in the top view of FIG. 1, the second goods bay 4.sub.2 is in line with the conveyor belt 7, and the first goods bay 4.sub.1 immediately adjoins the second goods bay 4.sub.2 and is offset relative to the conveyor belt 7. Both goods bays 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2 are separated from one another by an arm or goods separator 8 that according to the embodiment can pivot about a vertical axis 9 between the illustrated solid line position allowing goods W to move straight back in the direction F into the goods bay 4.sub.2 and into the position shown in broken lines deflecting the goods into the bay 4.sub.1.

[0030] The two goods bays 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2 open downstream at an angle toward a downstream parking station 10 for shopping carts that are not explicitly shown. The shopping cart parking station 10 downstream of the goods bay 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2 has bumpers 111 and 112 for the shopping carts at the goods bays 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2 as well as indicia 12.sub.1 and 12.sub.2 to indicate the proper positions for the respective shopping carts. The indicia 12.sub.1 and 12.sub.2 are on the floor 13. They may be painted or otherwise applied. However, the indicia 12.sub.1 and 12.sub.2 may also be designed and implemented as a contactless projection. The drawing also shows additional indicia 141 and 142 for the customers in the form of stylized footprints oriented crosswise to the indicia or imprints 12.sub.1 and 12.sub.2 for the shopping carts on the floor 13.

[0031] As shown here and according to the invention, a separate electronic payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1; 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2 is allocated to each goods bay 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2. The two payment devices 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1; 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2 comprise respective card readers 15.sub.1 and 15.sub.2 and printers 16.sub.1 and 16.sub.2. The printers 16.sub.1 and 16.sub.2 can generate a receipt after completing the electronic payment transaction, which not only lists the amount paid, but also the goods purchased by the respective customer.

[0032] As shown in the drawing, both payment devices 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1; 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2 and/or their respective card readers 15.sub.1 and 15.sub.2 are carried on respective arms 17.sub.1 and 17.sub.2 that in this embodiment can pivot about respective vertical axes. This is depicted particularly clearly in FIG. 3. The design is such that the pivotal arm in question and accordingly, the two payment devices 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1; 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2 laterally flank the base element 3 at the upstream end of the counter 1. This makes the two payment devices 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1; 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2 easily accessible for the respective customers, who ideally stand to the side of base element 3 and are able to process the electronic payment transaction from this position.

[0033] The design according to the invention is such that a separate payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1 or 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2 is provided for each goods bay 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2. Namely, the first electronic payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1 is allocated to the first goods bay 4.sub.1 and the second goods bay 4.sub.2 features the second electronic payment device 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2.

[0034] In this manner, the checkout procedure may be such that, at least during a first customer's payment transaction at the first payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1 of the first goods bay 4.sub.1, the goods of a second customer may be scanned via the electronic scanner 5 and transferred to the second goods bay 4.sub.2. In the embodiment shown in the front view of FIG. 2, the first goods bay 4.sub.1 is on the left, while the second goods bay 4.sub.2 is adjacent on the right.

[0035] In this manner, it is feasible to significantly speed up customer processing, as the cashier may already utilize the electronic scanner 5 to scan the goods W of the second customer while the first customer independently completes the payment transaction using the first payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1. Since the payment transaction is effected independently for the first customer at the first payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1, the cashier occupying the cashier station 18 is typically not involved in, or responsible for the payment transaction. At most, the cashier makes sure that the payment process is initiated and verified as necessary.

[0036] The design is such that the cashier occupying the cashier station 18 initiates the payment transaction of the first customer at the first payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1 for the first goods bay 4.sub.1 and then scans the goods W of the second customer via the electronic scanner 5. The status of the respective goods bay 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2 may be shown on a digital display linked to the input device 6. This may be ensured by the controller of the input device 6 not explicitly shown and additionally by the display 19. This display 19 further indicates the corresponding status based on a color-coding scheme in the sense of “green,” “yellow,” and “red” for the corresponding goods bay 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2, as explained in detail above. The display 19 also documents the customer's payment transaction.

[0037] Moreover, the design offers the option for the customer to either pay at the input device 6 or at the electronic payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1; 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2 allocated to the corresponding goods bay 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2. In case of a payment transaction of the respective first customer at the input device 6, the second customer's goods will not be scanned until the payment transaction has been completed, as the payment transaction at the input device 6 typically involves cash, which means it must be initiated and processed by the cashier at the station 18. That means that the cashier, unlike with an electronic payment transaction, is not available for the simultaneous scanning of the second customer's goods W during the payment transaction.

[0038] However, customers typically pay for goods W electronically, namely via the payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1 or 15.sub.2, 16.sub.2. This enables a process in which the cashier occupying the cashier station 18 is able to scan the goods W of the second customer via the electronic scanner 5 and transfer them to the second goods bay 4.sub.2 while the payment transaction of the first customer is being processed at the first payment device 15.sub.1, 16.sub.1.

[0039] Once all the goods of, for instance, one customer have been scanned and fed to the second bay 4.sub.2, the cashier can pivot the separator 8 from the solid-line position of FIG. 1 in which the goods W travel directly into the second bay 4.sub.2 and the broken-line position in which they are deflected somewhat transversely of the direction F into the first bay 4.sub.1 ensuring the continuous processing described above.

[0040] From the bays 4.sub.1 and 4.sub.2 the goods can be moved by the cashier or, more likely, the customer into a cart in the respective cart position indicated by the indicia 12.sub.1 or 12.sub.2.