Unload, check, and bag apparatus for supermarkets

Claim 2

In combination, stationary support structure for articles and movable support structure for articles, the stationary support structure having a receiver portion which includes a plurality of elongate annular flexible rotatable members, the elongate annular flexible rotatable members being substantially parallel and in spaced-apart relationship, each of the elongate annular flexible rotatable members having a given width dimension, the movable article support structure including a plurality of spaced-apart elongate rigid members which are adapted to support articles, the elongate rigid members being in substantially parallel relationship, the elongate rigid members being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the width dimension of the annular flexible rotatable members, each of the elongate rigid members having a width dimension less than the spacing between adjacent elongate annular flexible rotatable members so that the movable support structure can be moved to a position in which the elongate rigid members are alternately disposed between adjacent elongate annular flexible rotatable members and substantially parallel therewith, the elongate annular flexible rotatable members having portions at a higher elevation than the elongate rigid members so that as the elongate flexible annular members rotatively move, articles supported by the rigid members are moved therefrom by the elongate flexible members, stationary article support structure having a discharge portion, conveyor belt means rotatively supported at the discharge portion, a bag holder positioned adjacent the conveyor belt means so that an article falls from the conveyor belt means into a bag supported by the bag holder.

Claim 3

In combination, stationary support structure for articles and movable support structure for articles , the stationary support structure having a receiver portion which includes a plurality of elongate annular flexible rotatable members, the elongate annular flexible rotatable members being substantially parallel aNd in spaced-apart relationship, each of the elongate annular flexible rotatable members having a given width dimension, the movable article support structure including a plurality of spaced-apart elongate rigid members which are adapted to support articles, the elongate rigid members being in substantially parallel relationship, the elongate rigid members being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the width dimension of the annular flexible rotatable members, each of the elongate rigid members having a width dimension less than the spacing between adjacent elongate annular flexible rotatable members so that the movable support structure can be moved to a position in which the elongate rigid members are alternately disposed between adjacent elongate annular flexible rotatable members and substantially parallel therewith, the elongate annular flexible rotatable members having portions at a higher elevation than the elongate rigid members so that as the elongate flexible annular members rotatively move, articles supported by the rigid members are moved therefrom by the elongate flexible members, the stationary support structure having a discharge portion, a chute carried by the discharge portion of the stationary support structure so that articles move from the stationary support structure to the chute, a bag holder positioned adjacent the chute to support a bag so that articles move from the chute into a bag supported by the bag holder.

Claim 4

In combination, stationary support structure for articles and movable support structure for articles , the stationary support structure having a receiver portion which includes a plurality of elongate annular flexible rotatable members, the elongate annular flexible rotatable members being substantially parallel aNd in spaced-apart relationship, each of the elongate annular flexible rotatable members having a given width dimension, the movable article support structure including a plurality of spaced-apart elongate rigid members which are adapted to support articles, the elongate rigid members being in substantially parallel relationship, the elongate rigid members being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the width dimension of the annular flexible rotatable members, each of the elongate rigid members having a width dimension less than the spacing between adjacent elongate annular flexible rotatable members so that the movable support structure can be moved to a position in which the elongate rigid members are alternately disposed between adjacent elongate annular flexible rotatable members and substantially parallel therewith, the elongate annular flexible rotatable members having portions at a higher elevation than the elongate rigid members so that as the elongate flexible annular members rotatively move, articles supported by the rigid members are moved therefrom by the elongate flexible members, the stationary support structure having a discharge portion, a chute carried by the discharge portion of the stationary support structure so that articles move from the stationary support structure to the chute, a bag holder positioned adjacent the chute to support a bag so that articles move from the chute into a bag supported by the bag holder.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 in which the bag holder is pivotally supported by the discharge portion of the stationary support structure.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 which includes resilient bias means engaging each bag holder and determining the pivotal position thereof, so that the bag holder pivotally moves as the weight of articles carried by a bag supported thereby increases.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 in which the chute is pivotally movable to an inclined position between the discharge portion of the stationary support structure and the bag holder to direct articles from the stationary support structure into a bag supported by the bag holder, the chute also being pivotally movable to a generally upward position with respect to the discharge portion of the stationary support structure to prevent movement of articles from the stationary support structure.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 in which the chute includes a pair of side flanges over which a part of a bag may be disposed to maintain the bag in an open condition as the bag is supported by the bag holder.

Claim 9

A checkout counter comprising: support structure, a conveyor belt rotatably carried by the support structure, a plurality of partition members carried by the support structure and disposed above the conveyor belt in relatively close relationship thereto, the partition members being in spaced-apart relationship, the partition members thus dividing the conveyor belt into sections. a plurality of bag holders, there being a bag holder pivotally carried by the support structure at the end of each section of the conveyor belt, the bag holder being adapted to support a bag as articles move from the conveyor belt into a bag supported by the bag holder, means determining the pivotal position of the bag holder in accordance with the weight and position of articles within a bag supported by the bag holder.

Claim 10

A checkout counter comprising: support structure, a conveyor belt rotatably carried by the support structure, a plurality of partition members carried by the support structure and disposed above the conveyor belt in relatively close relationship thereto, the partition members being in spaced-apart relationship, the partition members thus dividing the conveyor belt into sections. a plurality of bag holders, there being a bag holder pivotally carried by the support structure at the end of each section of the conveyor belt, the bag holder being adapted to support a bag as articles move from the conveyor belt into a bag supported by the bag holder, means determining the pivotal position of the bag holder in accordance with the weight and position of articles within a bag supported by the bag holder.

Claim 11

The checkout counter of claim 7 which includes a chute pivotally carried by the support structure between the conveyor belt and the bag holder, the chute being pivotally movable from a downwardly extending position to direct articles in movement from the conveyor belt to a bag supported by the bag holder, the chute being pivotally movable to an upwardly extending position to prevent articles from moving from the conveyor belt.

Claim 12

The checkout counter of claim 8 in which the chute has side flanges which are movable into a bag supported by the bag holder, the flanges serving to hold the bag open and to direct articles Thereinto.

Claim 13

Bagging apparatus for articles comprising: support structure, conveyor belt means having a discharge portion, bag holder means for holding a foldable paper-like bag, the bag holder means being pivotally attached to the support structure adjacent the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means and supporting a bag for receipt of articles moving from the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means, means resiliently biasing the bag holder means and determining the pivotal position thereof so that the bag holder means pivotally moves as the weight of articles within a bag supported by the bag holder means changes.

Claim 14

Bagging apparatus for articles comprising: support structure, conveyor belt means having a discharge portion, bag holder means for holding a foldable paper-like bag, the bag holder means being pivotally attached to the support structure adjacent the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means and supporting a bag for receipt of articles moving from the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means, means resiliently biasing the bag holder means and determining the pivotal position thereof so that the bag holder means pivotally moves as the weight of articles within a bag supported by the bag holder means changes.

Claim 15

Bagging apparatus for articles comprising: support structure, conveyor belt means having a discharge portion, bag holder means for holding a foldable paper-like bag, the bag holder means being attached to the support structure adjacent the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means and supporting a bag for receipt of articles moving from the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means, a chute pivotally attached to the support structure adjacent the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means, the chute being pivotally movable to a downwardly inclined position toward the bag holder means to direct articles in movement from the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means into a bag which is supported by the bag holder means, the chute also being pivotally movable to a generally upward abutment position to prevent movement of articles from moving from discharge portion of the conveyor belt means. from the

Claim 16

Bagging apparatus for articles comprising: support structure, conveyor belt means having a discharge portion, bag holder means for holding a foldable paper-like bag, the bag holder means being attached to the support structure adjacent the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means and supporting a bag for receipt of articles moving from the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means, a chute pivotally attached to the support structure adjacent the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means, the chute being pivotally movable to a downwardly inclined position toward the bag holder means to direct articles in movement from the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means into a bag which is supported by the bag holder means, the chute also being pivotally movable to a generally upward abutment position to prevent movement of articles from moving from discharge portion of the conveyor belt means. from the

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 which includes a shelf rigidly supported by the support structure adjacent the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means and inclined downwardly from the discharge portion of the conveyor belt means toward the bag holder means, an arm pivotally attaching the chute to the support structure, the chute including a portion movable to a position generally aligned with the shelf when the chute is in a downwardly inclined position, said portion of the chute being movable to a generally vertical position adjacent the lower end of the shelf when the chute is in an abutment position.