Arrangement in a goods checkout terminal

Abstract

 The present invention relates to an arrangement in a commercial goods checkout terminal. This comprises a roller conveyor arrangement (3) positioned between an inlet conveyor belt (1) for goods and an outlet conveyor belt (2) therefor, a keyboard (7) intended for the manual input of goods data, visible to the eye, into a computer unit, and a scanner (8) connected to the said computer unit for the automatic input into the computer unit of optically readable goods data. The keyboard (7) and/or the scanner (8) is/are positioned in the area of the roller conveyor arrangement (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement according to the pre-characterising part of claim 1.

[0002] Working at such a goods checkout terminal is very strenuous, not least due to the large quantities of goods that are handled in the course of a working shift and the fact that the movements performed at the terminal are repeated with monotonous regularity and give rise to repetitive strains injuries on the part of customer checkout staff.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a goods checkout terminal of the aforementioned type, which has improved ergonomics and thereby reduces the risk of strain injuries.

[0004] This object is achieved by the characteristic features disclosed in the characterising part of claim 1.

[0005] The invention reduces the working reach of the customer checkout assistant, which means fewer strenuous stretching movements.

[0006] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing attached, which in a perspective view shows one example of a goods checkout terminal according to the invention.

[0007] In the drawing, 1 denotes an inlet conveyor belt for goods, which are loaded on to this by a customer to the right of the figure. 2 denotes an outlet conveyor belt from which the customer takes the goods to the left of the figure. Between the belts 1 and 2 is a roller conveyor arrangement 3 over which the goods are conveyed either manually or automatically from the inlet conveyor 1 to the outlet conveyor 2. The roller conveyor arrangement 3 is operatively connected in a conventional manner to a weighing machine, not shown, which is in turn connected to a computer unit, likewise not shown. In the figure, the checkout terminal operator is stationed on the near side of the roller conveyor arrangement. Also discernible in the figure are a receipt printer 4 connected to the computer unit and a cash till 5. A wrist support 6 also serves to improve ergonomics for the operator.

[0008] According to the invention a keyboard 7 and/or a scanner 8 protected by a glass cover are also situated in the area of the roller conveyor arrangement 3. By means of the keyboard 7, which like the scanner 8 is coupled to the aforementioned computer unit, registerable goods data such as the short number code for the type of goods, totalling command etc. can be entered manually into the said unit by the operator. The scanner 8 permits automatic readout and input into the computer unit of goods data in the form of bar codes on the goods. Viewed from the checkout terminal operator's station, the keyboard 7 is located in the right-hand half of the said area for the roller conveyor arrangement 3 and closer to the operator's work station than the scanner 8, which means that the operator has good access, since the operator's working reach is reduced. The fact that the scanner 8 is located in the area of the roller conveyor arrangement 3 means that the space normally occupied by the scanner is now freed for other effective operating aids such as receipt printer 4 and cash till 5.

Claims

1. Arrangement in a goods checkout terminal comprising a roller conveyor arrangement (3) positioned between an inlet conveyor belt (1) for goods and an outlet conveyor belt (2) therefor, a keyboard (7) intended for the manual input of goods data, visible to the eye, into a computer unit, and a scanner (8) connected to the said computer unit for the automatic input into the computer unit of optically readable goods data, characterised in that the keyboard (7) and/or the scanner (8) is/are positioned in the area of the roller conveyor arrangement (3).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the keyboard, viewed from the checkout terminal operator's station, is located in the right-hand half of the area of the roller conveyor arrangement (3) and closer to the operator's work station than is the scanner (8).

3. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the roller conveyor arrangement (7) is operatively connected in a manner known in the art to a checkout weighing machine connected to the said computer unit.

4. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the said computer unit is connected to a receipt printer (4).

Drawing