US4386679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transfer device especially for product checkout systems in stores
Assignee: ALSER
•
Filing: 1980-09-04
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2000-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A checkout counter associated with the exit till of a store has a registering conveyor belt adjacent the till and a discharge conveyor belt located downstream of the registering belt for distributing checked out products onto an inclined collection surface. The belts are driven by motors with intermittent control. A loading conveyor belt upstream of the registering belt has an independent motor drive. The loading belt frame is connected to the registering belt frame to provide, on the static plane, two separate product reception areas, and, on the dynamic plane, a single transfer track.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Mary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:39
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F9/00; A47F9/02; A47F9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
Checkout counter apparatus associated with an exit till for registering prices and reference information on articles bought by customers, comprising a registering conveyor belt extending from a first position upstream of said till to a second position within reach of a till operator, a discharge area disposed downstream of said second position for receiving articles from the till operator after they are registered, and at least one loading conveyor belt, said loading conveyor belt having a downstream end aligned with and juxtaposed to the upstream end of said registering belt and said loading belt extending further upstream to receive articles from a customer lining up for checkout, separately actuable electrical drive means for said registering belt and loading belt, and selectively operable actuating means for actuating said registering and loading belts simultaneously to transfer articles from said loading belt to said registering belt, and for actuating said registering belt without actuating said loading belt to move articles along said registering belt without moving articles on said loading belt, wherein said discharge area includes a discharge conveyor belt for receiving registered articles from the till operator and for transfering said articles to an inclined collection surface, further electrical drive means for driving said discharge belt, and timing means responsive to said actuating means for actuating said further drive means during and after operation of said actuating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
Checkout counter apparatus associated with an exit till for registering prices and reference information on articles bought by customers, comprising a registering conveyor belt extending from a first position upstream of said till to a second position within reach of a till operator, a discharge area disposed downstream of said second position for receiving articles from the till operator after they are registered, and at least one loading conveyor belt, said loading conveyor belt having a downstream end aligned with and juxtaposed to the upstream end of said registering belt and said loading belt extending further upstream to receive articles from a customer lining up for checkout, separately actuable electrical drive means for said registering belt and loading belt, and selectively operable actuating means for actuating said registering and loading belts simultaneously to transfer articles from said loading belt to said registering belt, and for actuating said registering belt without actuating said loading belt to move articles along said registering belt without moving articles on said loading belt, wherein said discharge area includes a discharge conveyor belt for receiving registered articles from the till operator and for transfering said articles to an inclined collection surface, further electrical drive means for driving said discharge belt, and timing means responsive to said actuating means for actuating said further drive means during and after operation of said actuating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is provided connecting means formed by a T-shaped member which is suspended in a parallel plane between two adjoining rollers of the loading and registering belts, the two limb portions of the horizontal arm of the T-shaped member resting respectively on each of said belts while the vertical arm thereof is disposed in a gap between said rollers, the roller of the loading belt being identical in diameter to the adjoining roller of the registering belt in order to reduce the width of said gap to a minimum, said vertical arm of the T-shaped member being connected to at least one right-angle bracket which bears against a shaft of the adjoining roller to provide for auto-stability of said T-shaped member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first frame assembly which supports the registering belt, wherein the loading belt is supported by an independent and removable frame assembly which is mechanically coupled to said first frame assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first frame assembly and the removable frame assembly are of the same sectional dimensions so that they can be assembled in an endwise manner, mechanical coupling means for coupling said frame assemblies comprising removable fixing members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the removable frame assembly comprises a housing which is open at its upper portion to expose the upper strand of the loading belt, said removable frame assembly being supported by a base arrangement and enclosing the electric drive means for said loading belt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |