Conveyor line and space arrangement

Abstract

 A conveyor line (6), which interconnects a cashier counter (2) and a bagging counter (3) and which comprises a driven conveyor (5) linked to the cashier counter (2) and a driven conveyor (4) linked to the bagging counter (3), either one of said conveyors (4, 5) being a folding conveyor (9) and said conveyors (4, 5) defining jointly a substantially continuous plane for the conveyor line (6), which plane extends from the cashier counter (2) to the bagging counter (3). The folding conveyor (9) includes a pivoting end (9a) of the frame, which is capable of being turned to an angle relative to the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) about a hinge point (9; 9c) of the folding conveyor's (9) frame, thereby establishing a gateway (7) between the driven conveyor (5) linked to the cashier counter (2) and the driven conveyor (4) linked to the bagging counter (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conveyor line according to the preamble of claim 1 for connecting a cashier counter and a bagging counter.

[0002] The invention relates also to a space arrangement according to the preamble of claim 12, which includes a cashier counter and a bagging counter, as well as a conveyor line between said cashier counter and bagging counter.

[0003] When dealing with large merchandise for example at a hardware store's checkout station, the reading of bar codes presents a problem when the merchandise is too large to fit on the conveyor belt. The problem has often been addressed by customers bringing large articles through on the other side of the conveyor line, i.e. on the cashier side, but this results in the cashier's working range increasing to 180 degrees as he/she will be forced to read bar codes from both sides of his/her workstation. Such work is ergonomically stressful. In addition, since customers have access to the cashier's area, there is always a higher risk of theft compared to the situation in which the reading of all bar codes can be conducted from the cashier counter side facing the cashier. Another way of addressing the problem has been to provide the cashier counter with a non-driven conveyor, such as a roller conveyor, which has then been lifted up for opening a passage for the cashier to what from the cashier station perspective is an opposite side of the conveyor line. A problem here is, however, that working with a non-driven roller conveyor is ergonomically stressful when dealing with fairly sizable merchandise, which is often the case in hardware stores.

[0004] The invention is intended for eliminating the drawbacks existing in the presented prior art.

[0005] A principal object of the invention is to provide a conveyor line for a cashier counter, which enables reading bar codes on merchandise and receiving a payment only from a conveyor line side of the cashier station regardless of the size of merchandise being dealt with.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor line, which enables a space solution denying the customer any access to the cashier station.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor line, wherein the cashier counter conveyor and the bagging counter conveyor are both driven conveyors.

[0008] The above objects are achieved with a conveyor line of claim 1 and with a space arrangement of claim 13.

[0009] The conveyor line according to the invention interconnects a cashier counter and a bagging counter. The conveyor line comprises a conveyor linked to a cashier counter and equipped with a motor driving the cashier counter's conveyor belt, and a conveyor linked to a bagging counter and equipped with a motor driving the bagging counter's conveyor belt. Either one of said conveyors is a folding conveyor and the conveyors define jointly a substantially continuous plane for the conveyor line, extending from the cashier counter to the bagging counter. The folding conveyor includes a pivoting end of the folding conveyor's frame, which is capable of being turned to an angle of about 45-140 degrees relative to the conveyor line's plane about a hinge point of the folding conveyor's frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's conveyor belt is in operation. Thus, between the conveyor linked to the cashier counter and the conveyor linked to the bagging counter is established a gateway.

[0010] Preferably, the pivoting end of the folding conveyor's frame adjacent to the gateway is foldable to an angle of about 70-110 degrees, preferably to an angle of about 90 degrees, upward from the conveyor line's plane, by pivoting the folding conveyor's frame about the hinge point while both motors driving the conveyor belts (43, 53) are in operation.

[0011] US patent publications 4 182 433 and 4 265 336 disclose a slightly similar type conveyor line, in which, however, the entire section of the conveyor line leading to a bagging counter folds downward about its pivot point present at the rear end. Drive for the conveyor line section (conveyor) is stopped as the latter is turned downward. It is not the intention in these publications to establish a conveyor line, in which all products and commodities could be dealt with from the same side of the conveyor line from the cashier station perspective, but, instead, the purpose there is to provide two separate lines, in which is only employed either a conveyor present on the cashier counter or a conveyor both present on the cashier counter and leading to the bagging counter. Therefore, the conveyor leading to the bagging counter is stopped entirely as a line change is conducted. This type of conveyor line cannot be very lengthy, nor is it therefore applicable in connection with lengthy bagging counters, since it is necessary to pivot the entire conveyor line downward at its rear end adjacent to the bagging counter. As opposed to this, a folding conveyor according to the invention is easy to pivot, since the hinge point divides the folding conveyor in two segments, such that it is only the folding part (end) of the frame which is pivoted, nor does it limit the length of the frame's stationary segment leading to the cashier counter or the bagging counter.

[0012] In addition, such a conveyor line of the prior art, hinged at the rear end, is considerably slower to stop and start than a conveyor line implemented with one preferred embodiment of the invention, in which each driven segment of the conveyor line is a belt conveyor and the driven motion of a second belt conveyor, configured as a folding conveyor, is stoppable by pivoting one end of its frame about a hinge point. Such a belt-driven folding conveyor provides the advantage over conveyor arrangements known e.g. from the above-cited US patent publications 4 182 433 and 4 265 336 that the folding conveyor need not be separately stopped and restarted when it is desirable to establish a gateway across the conveyor line. Drive for the conveyor line stops automatically as the folding conveyor's end is pivoted about the hinge point, because the endless belt slackens and the slackened belt is no longer driven by the motor. When the pivoting end of the folding conveyor is pressed back to its lower position, to flushness with the rest of the conveyor line, the drive returns to the belt extending by way of a motor and a second end roll, because the belt tightens.

[0013] In still another preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame of a conveyor line's folding conveyor has the motion of its pivoting end lightened with a spring-loaded relief element, such as a gas spring. In addition, a lifting moment applied by the gas spring to an end of the folding conveyor is adjustable, such that the lifting moment is at its maximum as the pivoting end of the folding conveyor's frame is flush with the conveyor line, and the lifting moment decreases linearly as the folding conveyor's end is pivoted upwards from the plane of the conveyor line. A benefit gained thereby is that both turning the folding conveyor's end upward and lowering the same downward are effortless operations, because the lifting moment applied by a relief element to the conveyor line is at its minimum when the folding conveyor's end is in its top position.

[0014] On the other hand, the space arrangement according to the invention includes a cashier counter and a bagging counter, as well as a conveyor line between said cashier counter and bagging counter, said line including a conveyor linked to the cashier counter and equipped with a motor driving a conveyor belt, and a conveyor linked to the bagging counter and equipped with a motor driving the bagging counter's conveyor belt, either one of said conveyors being a folding conveyor and said conveyors defining jointly a substantially continuous plane (T) for the conveyor line, extending from the cashier counter to the bagging counter. The space arrangement is capable of being provided with a gateway leading to the cashier counter by folding a pivoting end of the conveyor line's folding conveyor adjacent to the gateway to an angle of about 45-140 degrees relative to the plane of the conveyor line about a hinge point of the folding conveyor's frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's conveyor belt is in operation.

[0015] Preferably in the above-mentioned space arrangement, the pivoting end of the folding conveyor's frame is capable of being turned to an angle (N) while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's conveyor belt is in operation.

[0016] In still another preferred embodiment, the pivoting end of the folding conveyor's frame is capable of being turned to an angle (N) relative to the conveyor line's plane while both motors driving the conveyor belts are in operation.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gateway is capable of being closed by turning the pivoting end of the folding conveyor's frame from an angle (N), preferably from an angle (N) of about 70-110 degrees, to a parallel relationship with the conveyor line's plane (T) about the hinge point of the folding conveyor's frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's conveyor belt is in operation.

[0018] In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the gateway established by means of the space arrangement's folding conveyor leads to a cashier's workstation, which is on the one hand defined by a wall(s) interconnecting the cashier counter and the bagging counter and on the other hand by said conveyor line. Preferably, into such a workstation extends just one gateway, which is established by turning a pivoting end of the frame of the conveyor line's folding conveyor to an angle from the conveyor line's plane.

[0019] The term wall is here used in reference to a temporary or stationary wall element, but also to movable sturdy space dividers.

[0020] The workstation in such a space arrangement is safe from the standpoint of a cashier, since customers have no access from anywhere else except from the conveyor line side. As an additional benefit, such a space arrangement provides a cashier counter-conveyor belt solution considerably more compact than before in a direction transverse to the conveyor line's longitudinal direction, wherein the cashier counter and the bagging counter can be brought, if desired, to attachment with the wall/walls.

[0021] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, which also disclose other benefits gained by the invention and preferred embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view a cashier counter and a bagging counter, as well as a conveyor line therebetween, as viewed from an opposite, customer side of the conveyor line.

Fig. 2A shows in a perspective view the cashier counter and bagging counter of fig. 1, as well as the conveyor line therebetween, as viewed from an opposite, customer side of the conveyor line while one end of the conveyor line's folding conveyor is in an upturned position.

Fig. 2B shows in a perspective view the cashier counter of fig. 2A as viewed from a cashier's workstation side of the conveyor line.

Fig. 3 visualizes a cashier counter and a bagging counter, as well as a conveyor line therebetween, in a view from above.

Figs. 4A and 4B show schematically, in side views, a reversing roll and a relief element used for pivoting the same.

Fig. 5 shows schematically, in a plan view, one space arrangement made possible by a conveyor line of the invention.

[0022] The following description relates first to specific features of the invention visualized by the figures and to structural aspects visible in the figures.

[0023] Figs. 1, 2A-2B, and 3 serve to visualize from various perspectives a conveyor line 6 interconnecting a cashier counter 2 and a bagging counter 3, while a folding conveyor 9 is either in flushness with a plane T of the conveyor line 6 (fig. 1 and fig. 3) or a pivoting end 9a of the folding conveyor is in an uplifted position (figs. 2A and 2B). As visible from figs. 1-3, the conveyor line 6 comprises a driven conveyor 5 linked to the cashier counter 2 as well as a driven conveyor 4 linked to the bagging counter 3. Either one of these conveyors 4, 5 is a folding conveyor. Hence, the conveyors 4, 5 define jointly a substantially continuous plane T for the conveyor line 6, extending from the cashier counter 2 to the bagging counter 3. Between forward edges of the cashier counter 2 and the bagging counter 3 is left a specific gap 70, having a width V in the direction of the conveyor line 6. The folding conveyor 9 includes a pivoting end 9a (of the frame), which is foldable to an angle N (upward) from the conveyor line's 6 plane T about a hinge point 9; 9c of the folding conveyor's 9 frame, such that between the driven conveyor 5 linked to the cahier counter 2 and the driven conveyor 4 linked to the bagging counter 3 is established a gateway 7, having a width V in the conveyor line direction. In this case, the distance between forward edges of the cashier counter 2 and the bagging counter 3 refers to a distance between mutually closest frame elements or frame support elements (pedestal) of these particular counters 2, 3.

[0024] Consequently, the angle N is an angle formed between a plane defined by the surface of the folding conveyor's 9 pivoting end 9a and the surface of a stationary segment 9b of the folding conveyor's frame when the surface of the folding conveyor's stationary segment is in flushness with the conveyor line 6 (fig. 4).

[0025] The angle N is usually about 90 degrees, but can be for example within the range of 70-110 degrees or even 45-140 degrees. The deflection angle N depends also on whether the folding conveyor is made up by the cashier counter's conveyor 5 or the bagging counter's conveyor 4. If the folding conveyor is made up by the bagging counter's conveyor, the deflection angle will be restricted by merchandise on the bagging counter, because then a deflection angle between the folding conveyor's end and the rest of the frame must not be so small that the folding conveyor's pivoting end collides with merchandise present on the bagging counter.

[0026] As visible from figs. 1-3, the folding conveyor in this case is the conveyor 4 linked to the bagging counter 3, but just as well the folding conveyor could also be the conveyor 5 linked to the cashier counter 2.

[0027] Both the driven conveyor 5 linked to the cashier counter 2 and the driven conveyor 4 linked to the bagging counter 3 are each belt conveyors. They comprise a conveyor frame 51 partly integrated with the cashier counter 2 and a conveyor frame 41 partly integrated with the bagging counter 3, respectively. The structure of the cashier counter 2 and the belt conveyor 5 linked thereto is as such conventional, and so is that of the bagging counter 3 and, regarding modifications of these elements, reference is indeed made to prior art engineering, which discloses a variety of options for implementing a cashier counter, a bagging counter, and a belt conveyor linked to a cashier counter or a bagging counter. The belt conveyor 4 linked to the bagging counter 3 is configured as a folding conveyor 9, including an end 9a pivoting around a hinge point 9; 9c present in the frame. The pivoting end 9a of the folding conveyor's frame is lightened with a relief element 8, which in this case is a gas spring. Turning the pivoting end 9a of the folding conveyor's frame around the hinge point enables establishing a gateway 7 as described later. Figs. 4A and 4B serve to visualize operation of the gas spring 8 as the pivoting end 9a of the folding conveyor's 9 frame is being turned upward from the conveyor line's plane and, in addition, fig. 4A visualizes how the hinge point of the folding conveyor's 9 frame lies above a straight line L extending between the axle mounting points of a drum motor 41; 41 b of the conveyor 9 and a folding roll 41, 41 a present at the end to facilitate locking of the folding conveyor in its lower position.

[0028] Fig. 5 serves to visualize how the conveyor line provided with a folding conveyor of the invention enables placing a cashier counter and a bagging counter in the attachment with or in the intimate vicinity of a wall/walls 13.

[0029] The invention will now be given more detailed look with reference to the description of figs. 1-5 presented above in general sense.

[0030] The cashier counter 2 comprises a countertop 21 in an assembly with a part of or the whole frame 51 of the belt conveyor 5. The countertop 21 is propped on a foundation, such as a shop floor, by means of a pedestal 25. In a plan view, the cashier counter's countertop 21 has a generally more or less rectangular shape and is topped by a fence 22 extending around the countertop 21 on three sides. The bagging counter 3, on the other hand, comprises a countertop 31 of the bagging counter, having integrated therewith a part of the belt conveyor's 4 frame. The bagging counter's countertop 31 is propped on the foundation by way of a pedestal 35. In a plan view, the bagging counter 3 is more or less square-shaped, and it is wider than the cashier counter in lateral direction, i.e. in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor line 6. The countertop 31 of the bagging counter 3 is topped by a fence 32 circling around it on three sides. In addition, figs. 1, 2A and 2B depict a few conventional cashier counter and bagging counter accessories, such as flat shelves 23 under the cashier counter, a bagging counter extension ledge 34, and a countertop divider 33 for the bagging counter. The belt conveyor 5 integrated with the cashier counter's countertop 21 is conventional as such. The belt conveyor features an endless belt 53 and a frame 51, the latter being partly integrated with structural elements of the cashier counter's countertop 21. To the frame 51 are coupled a drum motor (not shown in the figures) concealed under a rear section 21 b of the cashier counter's countertop 21, and a reversing roll 51; 51 a located in a forward section 21 a of the cashier counter. The drum motor drives the endless belt 53, which is running around the reversing roll 51; 51 a operating in the countertop's forward section 21a. In this case, the rear section 21b of the cashier counter's countertop 21 refers to a far end of the cashier counter's countertop as viewed from the bagging counter, and the forward section 21 a of the cashier counter 21 in turn refers to a near end of the cashier counter's countertop as viewed from the bagging counter 3. Running and stopping of the belt 53 can be controlled by means of per se conventional control means, which have not been shown in order to simplify the figures. Such control means include e.g. optical and mechanical relays.

[0031] The belt conveyor 4, which is partly integrated with the countertop 31 of the bagging counter 3, also comprises an endless belt 43 and a frame 41, the latter being partly integrated with structural elements of the countertop 31. To the belt conveyor's 4 frame 41 is coupled a drum motor 41; 41 b (shown in figure 4A) concealed under a rear section 31 b of the bagging counter's countertop 31. A reversing roll 41 a of the belt conveyor 4 has been taken to the proximity of the belt conveyor's 5 reversing roll 51 a located in the forward section of the cashier counter's countertop (cf. fig. 4A). With the drum motor 41; 41 b driving the endless belt 43, which is running around the reversing roll 41; 41 b located close to a forward edge of the cashier counter and back to the drum motor 41 b, the surface of the endless belt 43 establishes a first segment of the conveyor line 6. This segment 43 of the conveyor line extends from the bagging counter 3 to the vicinity of the cashier counter 2, crossing at the same time an opening 70, which is present between the forward edges of the bagging counter and the cashier counter and which has a width V in the direction of the conveyor line. On the other hand, a second segment of the conveyor line 6 is established by the surface of the belt conveyor 53 running on top of the cashier counter. When both segments of the conveyor line are in operation, in other words the respective endless belt 53, 43 of each belt conveyor 5, 4 is driven by a motor, the surfaces of the endless belts 43 and 53 essentially establish a plane T for the conveyor line 6, said plane coinciding with the surface level of the endless belts 53 and 43.

[0032] As for its segment closer to the cashier counter, the frame 41 of the bagging counter's 3 belt conveyor 4 has now been made foldable upwards by providing said frame 41 with a hinge 41; 41 c (9; 9c). The hinge 41 is positioned slightly beyond a forward edge of the bagging counter 3, in other words slightly away from the bagging counter's forward edge towards the cashier counter in the direction of the conveyor line. Consequently, the belt conveyor 4, which is configured as a folding conveyor, has its frame 41 consisting of a stationary segment 411 of said frame 41, which is integrated with the bagging counter 4, as well as a pivoting segment 412 of the frame 41, which lies on top of the opening 70 between the bagging counter 3 and the cashier counter. Turning the pivoting segment 412 of the conveyor's frame 41 to an angle of about 90 degrees upward from the conveyor line's plane T enables establishing a gateway 7, whose width V in the direction of the conveyor line depends on how far the hinge 41 c is located from the forward edge of the bagging counter 3 towards the cashier counter 2.

[0033] The pivoting segment 41 of the conveyor's frame is not necessarily deflected to an angle of exactly 90 degrees relative to the conveyor line's plane T as the gateway 7 is established across the conveyor line between the cashier counter and the bagging counter, but this deflection angle can be for example 45-140 degrees, preferably 70-110 degrees.

[0034] Since the cashier counter's belt conveyor 5 can also be configured in a respective manner as a folding conveyor, it is subsequently intended that the folding conveyor 9 refers to a driven conveyor, which is similar to the bagging counter's belt conveyor 4 and which has its frame consisting of a stationary segment 9b located on the bagging or cashier counter and of a pivoting end 9a located at least partially in the opening 70 between the bagging counter and the cashier counter, as well as of a hinge 9c present between the pivoting end 9a and the stationary segment 9b. As visible in fig. 2B, the opening between the bagging counter 3 and the cashier counter 2 is fitted with a door 70, which is co-directional with the conveyor line 6 and which opens into the cashier's station.

[0035] More specific operation of the folding conveyor 9, as well as a more detailed construction of the folding conveyor, is best depicted in figs. 2A-2B as well as 4A-4B. As visible e.g. in fig. 2B, the belt conveyor 4 used as the folding conveyor 9 has the pivoting segment 412 of its frame fitted with a grip handle 11. In addition, said pivoting segment 412 is provided with a relief element 8, which is shown more specifically in figs. 4A and 4B. The relief element 8 has its rear end located below the conveyor line 6 bearing on a forward edge of the bagging counter (in other words, on the bagging counter's structural elements or pedestal, not shown in the figures) and its forward end coupled with the pivoting segment 412 of the belt conveyor's 4 frame. In this case, the relief element is a gas spring, but equally usable is some other device with the same features. Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate a hinge point 41 c (9c) for the frame of the belt conveyor 4 used as the folding conveyor 9, said hinge point being between the stationary frame segment 41 b (9b) and the pivoting frame segment 41 a (9a). As visible in fig. 4A, the hinge point 41 c (9c) of the belt conveyor's frame 41 is located above a straight line L interconnecting the axles of the motor 41 b and the reversing roll 41 a. A benefit gained this way is that the relative position of the folding conveyor's 4 frame's 41 stationary segment 411 and pivoting segment 412 can be locked more securely in a lower position of the segments, when the hinge 41 c therebetween is positioned above the straight line L. Fig. 4B depicts operation of the relief element 8 as turning the pivoting segment 412 of the folding conveyor's 4 frame is started from the plane T of the conveyor line 6 to an angle (upward). In the figure is sketched a moment of force M; M1, M; M2 and M; M3 applied by the relief element 8 to the pivoting segment 412 of the belt conveyor's 4 frame while said pivoting segment 412 is turning from the conveyor line's plane (moment of force is M; M1) to an angle of about 45 degrees from the conveyor line (M=M2) and to an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the conveyor line's plane (M=M3). The moment of force M depends on a distance between a straight line co-directional with the relief element's longitudinal axis and the hinge point 9c and, as depicted in fig. 4B, the distance (A, B or C) is at its maximum at the start of the motion when the direction of the gas spring's longitudinal axis deviates most from the direction of the belt conveyor's pivoting segment 412, diminishing as the direction of the relief element's 8 longitudinal axis approaches the direction of the pivoting frame segment 412, whereby the frame has been turned 90 degrees relative to the conveyor line's plane T. Another benefit gained thereby is that the resistance of a gas spring in the process of pushing the pivoting frame segment downward is at its minimum as the pivoting frame segment 412 is at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the plane T of the conveyor line 6. Now, when it is desirable to provide the conveyor line 6 with a gateway 7, the pivoting segment 412 of the frame 41 of the folding conveyor 4, which lies on top of the opening 70 between the cashier counter 2 and the bagging counter 3 of the conveyor line 6, will be turned. Said frame segment 412 is turned by means of the grip handle 11 and the relief element 8 from the hinge point 41 c upwards. When the pivoting segment 412 of the folding conveyor's 4 frame starts to turn, the endless belt 43 of the folding conveyor 4 slackens at the same time, nor does the driving power of the drum motor 41 b transmit any longer to the belt 43. Once the pivoting segment 412 of the frame 41 is at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the conveyor line's plane T, the opening has become the gateway 7 whose width in the direction of the conveyor line 6 is approximately equal to the distance of the folding belt's hinge 41 c from the forward edge of the cashier counter 2. The conveyor line 6 is activated in a reverse order by pressing the pivoting segment 41 a of the frame 41 to flushness with the conveyor line's plane T, whereby the endless belt 43 tightens and the driving power of the motor 41 b is again transmitted to the belt 43. It should be noted here that at least the drum motor 41 b of the folding conveyor is running all the time while making the opening 7 in the conveyor line by folding the pivoting segment 412 of the folding conveyor's 4 frame upward from the conveyor line's plane T. The conveyor line motor is also running all the time while closing the opening 7 in the conveyor line by folding the pivoting segment 412 of the folding conveyor's 4 frame back to a parallel relationship with the conveyor line's plane T.

[0036] For a section of the conveyor line 6, which leads to the cashier counter 2, in other words for the conveyor 5 associated with the cashier counter, the drum motor driving the conveyor belt 53 is usually kept running while making the opening 7 in the conveyor line. Operation of the conveyor belt is monitored with a separate sensor (not shown in the figures); once the merchandise present on the conveyor belt has arrived in a suitable position on the conveyor belt, for example in an end section of the conveyor belt 53 adjacent to the opening 7, the conveyor belt will be stopped by switching off said drum motor.

[0037] There is still illustrated in fig. 5 how the invention enables the establishment of a compact space arrangement 1. The figure shows a cashier counter 2 and a bagging counter 3, as well as a conveyor line 6 interconnecting the cashier counter 2 and the bagging counter 3, wherein a belt conveyor on top of the cashier counter 2 or the bagging counter 3 is the above-described folding conveyor 9. Between the cashier counter 2 and the bagging counter 3 exists an opening 70, having a specific width in the direction of the conveyor line 6. The opening 70 is convertible into a gateway 7 by turning a pivoting end 9a of the frame of the folding conveyor 9, as described above. A cashier's station 12 has been defined by permanent and temporary walls 13; 13a, 13b and 13c, such that the customer has no access to the cashier's side of the conveyor line. The cashier's station is in this case defined on the one hand by the conveyor line 6 and on the other hand by the walls 13; 13a, 13b, 13c interconnecting the cashier counter 2 and the bagging counter 3 in an arc. Thus, the only access to the cashier's station 12 is provided by the gateway 7 to be established in the conveyor line 6. Such a space arrangement 1 also enables for example the permanent wall 13 to be brought to the intimate proximity of or even to the attachment with the cashier counter and the bagging counter, in which case the cashier's station 12 will be defined by said walls, the conveyor line, the cashier counter and the bagging counter.

[0038] Described above, by means of the figures, is just one preferred embodiment for a conveyor line and a space arrangement according to the invention, and it is obvious for a skilled artisan that there are a multitude of other possibilities of implementing the invention within the scope of the inventive concept presented in the claims.

[0039] Hence, for example a door 14, shown in the figures as opening into the cashier's station 12, is not necessarily present in all space arrangements.

[0040] List of reference numerals

Space arrangement

1

Cashier counter

2

Cashier counter's countertop

21

Countertop's rear end

21b

Countertop's forward end

21a

Cashier counter's fence

22

Cashier counter's shelf

23

Cashier counter's pedestal

25

Bagging counter

3

Bagging counter's countertop

31

Countertop's rear section

31b

Bagging counter's fence

32

Bagging counter's divider

33

Bagging counter's extension ledge

34

Bagging counter's pedestal

35

Conveyor linked to bagging counter

4

Conveyor frame

41

Reversing roll for conveyor frame

41a

Drum motor

41b

Conveyor frame hinge

41c

Stationary segment of conveyor frame

411

Pivoting segment of conveyor frame

412

Conveyor belt (endless belt)

43

Conveyor linked to cashier counter

5

Conveyor frame

51

Reversing roll for conveyor frame

51a

Conveyor belt (endless belt)

53

Conveyor line

6

Gateway

7

Opening between cashier counter 2 and bagging counter

70

Relief element

8

Folding conveyor

9

Pivoting end of folding conveyor frame

9a

Stationary segment of folding conveyor frame

9b

Folding conveyor hinge, hinge point

9c

Grip handle

11

Cashier's station

12

Wall

13

Door

14

Straight line between center points of roll and drum motor

L

Lifting moment

M

Deflection angle for folding conveyor's pivoting end

N

Distance of cashier counter from bagging counter

V

Conveyor line's plane

T

Claims

1. A conveyor line (6) interconnecting a cashier counter (2) and a bagging counter (3), said conveyor line comprising a conveyor (5) linked to the cashier counter (2) and equipped with a motor driving the cashier counter's (2) conveyor belt (53), and a conveyor (4) linked to the bagging counter (3) and equipped with a motor (41 b) driving the bagging counter's (3) conveyor belt (43), either one of said conveyors (4, 5) being a folding conveyor (9) and said conveyors (4, 5) defining jointly a substantially continuous plane (T) for the conveyor line (6), which plane extends from the cashier counter (2) to the bagging counter (3), characterized in that the folding conveyor (9) includes a pivoting end (9a) of the folding conveyor's frame, which is capable of being turned to an angle (N) of about 45-140 degrees relative to the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) about a hinge point (9; 9c) of the folding conveyor's (9) frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's (9) conveyor belt is in operation, thereby establishing a gateway (7) between the conveyor (5) linked to the cashier counter (2) and the conveyor (4) linked to the bagging counter (3).

2. A conveyor line (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting end (9a) of the folding conveyor's (9) frame adjacent to the gateway (7) is foldable to an angle of about 70-110 degrees, preferably to an angle (N) of about 90 degrees, upward from the conveyor line's plane (T), by pivoting the folding conveyor's (9) frame about the hinge point (9; 9c) while the motors driving the conveyor belts (43, 53) are in operation.

3. A conveyor line according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivoting end (9a) of the folding conveyor's frame is foldable to an angle (N) of about 45-140 degrees, preferably to an angle (N) of about 70-110 degrees, relative to the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) about the hinge point (9; 9c) of the frame while both motors driving the conveyor belts (43, 53) are in operation.

4. A conveyor line according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the pivoting end (9a) of the folding conveyor's frame is foldable from an angle (N) of about 45-140 degrees, preferably from an angle (N) of about 70-110 degrees, to a parallel relationship with the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) about the hinge point (9; 9c) of the folding conveyor's (9) frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's conveyor belt is in operation.

5. A conveyor line (6) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that to the folding conveyor's (9) frame's end (9a) adjacent to the gateway (7) is coupled a relief element (8) for turning the folding conveyor's (9) frame's pivoting end (9a) to an angle relative to the conveyor line's plane (T).

6. A conveyor line (6) according to claim 5, characterized in that to the pivoting end (9a) of the conveyor line's (6) folding conveyor (9) is coupled a grip handle (11) for turning the folding conveyor's pivoting end (9a) around the hinge point (9; 9c).

7. A conveyor line (6) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the relief element (8) is a spring-loaded relief element, such as a gas spring, which has its lifting moment (M), applied to the folding conveyor's pivoting end (9a), at its maximum whenever the folding conveyor's (9) pivoting end (9a) is approximately co-directional with the conveyor line's plane (T), and diminishing as the conveyor line's (6) pivoting end (9a) is turned for an increasing angle relative to the conveyor line's plane (T).

8. A conveyor line (6) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driven conveyors (4, 5) are both belt conveyors, each having an endless belt (43, 53) which can be driven by a motor, such as a drum motor, present at one end of the belt conveyor, and that each conveyor (4, 5) has its lengthwise end, opposite relative to the motor, provided with a reversing roll (41 a, 51 a) around which said endless belt (43, 53) is capable of being extended.

9. A conveyor line (6) according to claim 7, characterized in that the belt conveyor (4) associated with the bagging counter (3) is configured as a folding conveyor (9) by having its end closer to the cashier counter provided with a hinge point (9; 9c) about which the pivoting end (9a) of said folding conveyor's frame can be folded to an angle (N) relative to the conveyor line's plane (T).

10. A conveyor line (6) according to claim 9, characterized in that to the folding conveyor's (9) frame's end (9a) adjacent to the gateway (7) is coupled a relief element (8) for turning the folding conveyor's (9) pivoting end (9a) around the hinge point (9; 9c).

11. A conveyor line (6) according to any of claims 8-10, characterized in that the motion of a belt conveyor (4 or 5) configured as the folding conveyor (9) is stoppable by turning the pivoting end (9a) of its frame around the frame's hinge point (9; 9c), whereby the slackened belt (43 or 53) is not driven by the motor.

12. A conveyor line (6) according to any of claims 8-11, characterized in that the hinge point (9; 9c) of the frame of a belt conveyor (4 or 5) configured as the folding conveyor (9) is located above a straight line (L) drawn between axle mounting points regarding the belt conveyor's motor (41; 41 b) and reversing roll (41; 41 a).

13. A space arrangement (1), which includes a cashier counter (2) and a bagging counter (3), as well as a conveyor line (6) between said cashier counter (2) and bagging counter (3), said line including a conveyor (5) linked to the cashier counter (2) and equipped with a motor driving a conveyor belt (53), and a conveyor (4) linked to the bagging counter (3) and equipped with a motor (41 b) driving the bagging counter's (3) conveyor belt (43), either one of said conveyors (4, 5) being a folding conveyor (9) and said conveyors (4, 5) defining jointly a substantially continuous plane (T) for the conveyor line (6), which plane extends from the cashier counter (2) to the bagging counter (3), characterized in that the space arrangement (1) is capable of being provided with a gateway (7) leading to the cashier counter by folding a pivoting end (9a) of the conveyor line's (6) folding conveyor (9) adjacent to the gateway (7) to an angle (N) of about 45-140 degrees relative to the plane (T) of the conveyor line (6) about a hinge point (9; 9c) of the folding conveyor's frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's (9) conveyor belt is in operation.

14. A space arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the pivoting end (9a) of the folding conveyor's frame is capable of being turned to an angle (N) of about 45-140 degrees, preferably to an angle (N) of about 70-110, relative to the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) about the hinge point (9; 9c) of the folding conveyor's (9) frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's (9) conveyor belt is in operation.

15. A space arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the pivoting end of the folding conveyor's frame is capable of being turned to an angle (N) of about 45-140 degrees, preferably to an angle (N) of about 70-110, relative to the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) while both motors driving the conveyor belts (43, 53) are in operation.

16. A space arrangement according to any of the claims 13-15, characterized in that the gateway (7) is capable of being closed by turning the pivoting end (9a) of the folding conveyor's frame from an angle (N) of about 45-140 degrees, preferably from an angle (N) of about 70-110 degrees, to a parallel relationship with the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) about the hinge point (9; 9c) of the folding conveyor's (9) frame while at least the motor driving the folding conveyor's conveyor belt is in operation.

17. A space arrangement (1) according to claim 13, which further includes on a cashier's station (8) side of the conveyor line (6) a wall (walls) 13 interconnecting the cashier counter (2) and the bagging counter (3), which wall/walls defines/define jointly by way of the cashier counter and the bagging counter, as well as the conveyor line interconnecting the cashier counter and the bagging counter, a workstation (12) with a passage thereto being provided by the gateway (7)

18. A space arrangement (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the only way to and from the workstation is through the gateway (7).

19. A space arrangement according to any of claims 13-18, characterized in that the pivoting end (9a) of the folding conveyor's frame is capable of being turned to an angle (N) of about 90 degrees relative to the conveyor line's (6) plane (T) for the purpose of providing the space arrangement with a gateway (7).

Drawing