Patent Application
20250108952
Not Applicable
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The disclosure relates to automatic bagging machines and more particularly pertains to a new automatic bagging machine for quickly and efficiently bagging merchandise at a checkout stand.
The prior art relates to systems and methods for bagging merchandise at a checkout counter. At most checkout counters, bagging is done manually by either an employee or a customer. The bagging process can be time and labor intensive, particularly for large orders or when stores are busy. The prior art does have some disclosures of machines designed to automatically bag merchandise, but those prior devices are typically very complicated and expensive. The disadvantages of these prior machines have prevented them from being successfully integrated into the marketplace. Thus, there is a need in the art for a straightforward, easy to use automated bagging assembly that will quickly and efficiently bag merchandise, thereby streamlining the checkout process for both employees and customers.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing with an aperture extending through one side for receiving merchandise. A motion-actuated closure assembly opens and closes a door covering the aperture. A bagging mechanism is positioned within the housing. The bagging mechanism opens a bag to receive merchandise and releases the opened bag when the merchandise within the opened bag reaches a threshold weight. A suction cup may be used to open the bag. A plurality of bags is hung from a hook that pivots downward to release the opened bag. The hook retains the rest of the bags while the opened bag is released. A conveyor belt is positioned within the housing to direct merchandise from the aperture to an opening extending through the housing where bagged merchandise can be removed from the housing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter, and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A central processing unit 22 is affixed to the housing 12. A power source 24 is coupled to the housing 12 and is electronically coupled to the central processing unit 22. The power source 24 may be any appropriate type. For example, the power source 24 may be a battery mounted to the housing 12 and electronically coupled to the central processing unit 22 and a power cord. Alternatively, the power source 24 may be a rechargeable battery or a long-lasting lithium battery. If the power source 24 is a rechargeable battery, there may be a charging port positioned in the housing that is electronically coupled with the rechargeable battery. The power source 24 should provide sufficient power to operate the central processing unit 22 for extended periods of time, such as weeks or months. That way, the automated bagging assembly 10 can be used continuously alongside a checkout counter 84, as shown in
In embodiments such as those shown in
In the embodiments depicted by
A closure assembly 34 is mounted on the top panel 16 and is configured to alternately open and close the aperture 28. Embodiments of the closure assembly 34 can be motion actuated to open and close the aperture 28. Alternative embodiments of the closure assembly 34 may also be manually actuated to open and close the aperture 28 or could be electronically actuated to open and close the aperture 28.
The closure assembly includes a retractable cover 36 that is positioned in the top panel 16. The retractable cover 36 is configured to extend and retract across the aperture 28. A handle 38 may be affixed to the retractable cover 36. As shown in
In embodiments using a motion-actuated closure assembly 34, a motion sensor 44 is coupled to the housing 12. For example, the motion sensor 44 may be positioned on the top panel 16, adjacent to the retractable cover 36. The motion sensor 44 may be placed where a user can conveniently activate the motion sensor 44 while continuing to scan merchandise or while waiting for merchandise to be scanned. The motion sensor 44 is in communication with the central processing unit 22. A cover motor 52 is mechanically engaged with the retractable cover 36. The cover motor 52 is in communication with the motion sensor 44. The central processing unit 22 actuates the cover motor 52 in response to a motion being detected by the motion sensor 44. The cover motor 52 extends or retracts the retractable cover 36 when the cover motor 46 is actuated.
An angled conveyor belt 54 is positioned in the interior area 20. The angled conveyor belt 54 is angled downwardly from the aperture 28 toward the opening 26.
A bagging mechanism 56 is positioned within the interior area 20 proximate the aperture 28. The bagging mechanism 56 is configured to open one of a plurality of bags 58 and to release an opened one of the plurality of bags 60 when the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 reaches a threshold weight. The threshold weight may be determined based on the type of bags or the type of merchandise being used with the automated bagging assembly 10. For example, the threshold weight may be between 3.0 pounds and 15.0 pounds. However, alternative embodiments may use a different threshold weight. Additionally, embodiments may include an alternative means for releasing the opened one of the plurality of bags 60, for example because a customer 82 has not purchased merchandise amounting to the minimum threshold weight. For example, the bagging mechanism 56 may be in communication with the cashier system 86 and configured to release the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 when the cashier system 86 totals the value of the merchandise for payment. In another example, the bagging mechanism 56 may be configured to release the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 when a release button is actuated. The bagging mechanism 56 may also be configured for a user to manually release the opened one of the plurality of bags 60.
The bagging mechanism 56 includes a bag hook 62 that is attached to the peripheral wall 18 below the aperture 28. The bag hook 62 holds the plurality of bags 58 below the aperture 28 so that the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 can receive the merchandise through the aperture 28. The bag hook 62 has a first portion 64 and a second portion 66. The first portion 64 is pivotably coupled to the second portion 66, wherein the first portion 64 is movable between an upwardly angled position and a downwardly angled position. The plurality of bags 58 are hung from the bag hook 62, wherein the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 is released from the bag hook 62 when the bag hook 62 is in the downwardly angled position. Some embodiments may include multiple bag hooks 62, such as the examples provided in
A suction cup 68 is attached to the housing 12 and is configured to open the one of the plurality of bags 58 to define the opened one of the plurality of bags 60. In the examples provided in
In the examples shown in
A weight sensor 72 is coupled to the bag hook 62. The weight sensor 72 is in communication with the central processing unit 22. The weight sensor 72 measures the weight of the merchandise within the opened one of the plurality of bags 60.
A bag release motor 74 is coupled to the bag hook 62. The bag release motor 74 is in communication with the weight sensor 72. The bag release motor 74 pivots the first portion 64 between the upwardly angled position and the downwardly angled position.
The central processing unit 22 actuates the bag release motor 74 in response to the threshold weight being detected by the weight sensor 72. The bag release motor 74 pivots the first portion 64 downward to release the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 and pivots the first portion 64 upward to hold a next one of the plurality of bags 78.
A stopper 76 may be mounted to the bag hook 62, for example between the first portion 64 and the second portion 66. The stopper 76 is positioned thereon to retain the next one of the plurality of bags 78 on the bag hook 62 as the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 is released.
Once released, the opened one of the plurality of bags 60 slides down the angled conveyor belt 54 toward the opening 26.
In use, a clerk 80 can scan and check out merchandise with the cashier system 86. The clerk 80 can then place the merchandise directly into the opened one of the plurality of bags 60, as shown in
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
