A CHECKOUT DESK WITH A REAR DESK STRUCTURE

Abstract

 The present invention relates to furniture and fittings for enterprises and markets, such as consumer stores, and especially to a checkout desk with a rear desk structure. A checkout desk according to the present invention has a rear desk structure (1) comprising a rear dividing wall (7), said rear dividing wall (7) dividing the rear part of said rear desk structure (1) to a first customer goods compartment (8) and to a second customer goods compartment (9); a conveyor belt arrangement (5), (6) comprising two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6); at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12), said at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12) arranged movable above said two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6) for dividing the front part of said rear desk structure (1) to form a third customer goods compartment (13); and a fixed support structure (10) arranged between said two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6) for supporting one or more of said rear dividing wall (7) and said at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12), which fixed support structure (10) is fixed to the frame structure of said rear desk structure (1), wherein said two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6) are driven and operated on same pulley drums and/or rollers, and wherein said rear dividing wall (7) is arranged as a movable rear dividing wall (7).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to furniture and fittings for enterprises and markets, such as consumer stores, and especially to a checkout desk with a rear desk structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Checkout desks are commonly used in used in consumer stores of today for convenient handling of different articles, such as hygiene articles, food products, etc. The different articles purchased by the customer may all have different sizes and shapes. Usually, a checkout operator handles each article manually and makes sure that the article is associated with the correct pricing at checkout for purchase and payment by the customer.

[0003] The checkout operator handling is typically done either by scanning a barcode attached to the purchased article, by manually inputting the price, by scanning a barcode attached to the purchased article, or a by carrying out combination of those actions.

[0004] Checkout desks are commonly equipped with a feed conveyor system, which is used for transporting the incoming articles from the article feeding area to the handling area of the checkout operator. A conveyor system normally includes a feed conveyor belt which is driven by a pair of rollers. When a customer places an article on the feed conveyor belt it is automatically transported to the handling area of the checkout operator.

[0005] Checkout desks are also commonly equipped with an outlet conveyor system and a rear desk structure. The outlet conveyor system is used for transporting the purchased articles from the handling area of the checkout operator into a customer goods area in the rear desk structure.

[0006] Some conventional checkout desks have a rear desk structure with only one customer goods area in the rear desk structure. In this case after having completed the serving of a first customer, the checkout operator has to wait before the first customer has finished packing of the purchased articles before he can serve the following second customer.

[0007] In other conventional checkout desks this problem has been overcome by having arranged two separate portions in the rear desk structure having customer goods area. This requires space for two customers that can handle packing alongside each other.

[0008] In some consumer stores there still comes another further problem in serving customers quite frequently. This problem arises as there are a first customer and a second customer packing the purchased articles and there is a third customer waiting to be served. Normally, in this case after having completed the serving of the first customer and the second customer, the checkout operator has to wait before the first customer or the second customer has finished packing of the purchased articles before he can serve the following third customer.

[0009] In some consumer stores this constitutes a real and serious problem. The problem therefore is to find a design and configuration for a checkout desk having a rear desk structure which checkout desk enables a comfortable serving of three customers at one time.

[0010] There is a demand in the market for a for a checkout desk a rear desk structure which checkout desk enables a comfortable serving of three customers at one time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An object of the present invention is thus to provide an apparatus for implementing the method so as to overcome the above problems and to alleviate the above disadvantages.

[0012] The objects of the invention are achieved by a checkout desk with a rear desk structure comprising a rear dividing wall, said rear dividing wall dividing the rear part of said rear desk structure to a first customer goods compartment and to a second customer goods compartment, wherein said rear desk structure of the checkout desk comprises a conveyor belt arrangement comprising two parallel conveyor belts, which said rear desk structure of the checkout desk comprises:

• at least one movable front dividing wall, said at least one movable front dividing wall arranged movable above said two parallel conveyor belts for dividing the front part of said rear desk structure to form a third customer goods compartment, and
• a fixed support structure arranged between said two parallel conveyor belts for supporting one or more of said rear dividing wall and said at least one movable front dividing wall, which fixed support structure is fixed to the frame structure of said rear desk structure,
• wherein said two parallel conveyor belts are driven and operated on same pulley drums and/or rollers, and
• wherein said rear dividing wall is arranged as a movable rear dividing wall.

[0013] Preferably, said fixed support structure is located in an intersection of the first customer goods compartment and the second customer goods compartment and the third customer goods compartment.

[0014] Preferably, said fixed support structure supports the front end of said rear dividing wall, whereas the rear end of said rear dividing wall is supported to said rear end wall of said rear desk structure. Further preferably, the said rear dividing wall is pivotally connected to said fixed support structure.

[0015] Preferably, said at least one movable front dividing wall comprises at least one movable front straight dividing wall. Alternatively, said at least one movable front dividing wall comprises at least one movable front bended dividing wall or at least one movable front curved dividing wall.

[0016] Preferably, said at least one movable front dividing wall consists two movable front dividing walls. Further preferably, said two movable front dividing walls are arranged as front dividing wall lifting arms.

[0017] Further preferably, when said front dividing wall lifting arms are moved above said two parallel conveyor belts, said front dividing wall lifting arms are supported to said fixed support structure. Further preferably, the lifting arm end of each of said front dividing wall lifting arms is supported to said fixed support structure.

[0018] Preferably, said front dividing wall lifting arms are supported with the help of lifting arm support members. Further preferably, said lifting arm support members are fixed to the front part of said rear desk structure.

[0019] Preferably, said front dividing wall lifting arms comprise an actuator arrangement for lifting said front dividing wall lifting arm up and down. Further preferably, said actuator arrangement includes an actuator or a motor, such as e.g. a servomotor or a stepper motor.

[0020] Preferably, said front dividing wall lifting arms are operated to release goods form a third customer goods compartment to the first customer goods compartment or to a second customer goods compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] 

Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a top view of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a side view of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a bottom view of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a front view of one embodiment of the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a side view of operation of one embodiment of the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention.

[0022] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail by means of some preferred embodiments, with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention. The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention comprises a rear end wall 2 and side walls 3, 4. The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 also comprises a conveyor belt arrangement 5, 6 for transferring goods articles. The said conveyor belt arrangement 5, 6 comprises two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6. The said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 may be driven and operated on same pulley drums and/or rollers.

[0024] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises a rear dividing wall 7. The said rear dividing wall 7 divides the rear part of the said rear desk structure 1 to a first customer goods compartment 8 and to a second customer goods compartment 9.

[0025] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises a fixed support structure 10 arranged between the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6. The said fixed support structure 10 according to the presented embodiment is fixed to the frame structure of the said rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk. The said fixed support structure 10 supports the front end of the said rear dividing wall 7, whereas the rear end of the said rear dividing wall 7 is supported to the said rear end wall 2 of the said rear desk structure 1. The said rear dividing wall 7 may be arranged as a movable rear dividing wall 7. The said rear dividing wall 7 may be pivotally connected to the said fixed support structure 10.

[0026] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises at least one movable front dividing wall 11, 12, preferably two movable front dividing walls 11, 12. In the presented embodiment the said two movable front dividing walls 11, 12 are arranged as front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12. In the presented embodiment the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 may be moved above the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 so that the lifting arm ends of each of the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 are supported to the said fixed support structure 10 arranged between the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6. As the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 are moved above the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 this divides the front part of the said rear desk structure 1 to form a third customer goods compartment 13. The said fixed support structure 10 may be located in an intersection of the first customer goods compartment 8 and the second customer goods compartment 9 and the third customer goods compartment 13. The said two movable front dividing walls 11, 12 may be straight dividing walls 11, 12 as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the said two movable front dividing walls may be bended dividing walls or curved dividing walls.

[0027] Figure 2 shows a top view of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention. The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention comprises a rear end wall 2 and side walls 3 and a conveyor belt arrangement 5, 6 having two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 for transferring goods articles. The said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 may be driven and operated on same pulley drums and/or rollers. The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises a rear dividing wall 7, which divides the rear part of the said rear desk structure 1 to a first customer goods compartment 8 and to a second customer goods compartment 9.

[0028] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises a fixed support structure 10 arranged between the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6, which fixed support structure 10 is fixed to the frame structure of the said rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk. The said fixed support structure 10 supports the front end of the said rear dividing wall 7, whereas the rear end of the said rear dividing wall 7 is supported to the said rear end wall 2 of the said rear desk structure 1. The said rear dividing wall 7 may be arranged as a compartment 13. The said fixed support structure 10 may be located in an intersection of the first customer goods compartment 8 and the second customer goods compartment 9 and the third customer goods compartment 13..

[0029] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12. The said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 according to the presented embodiment may be supported with the help of lifting arm support members 14, 15. In the presented embodiment two lifting arm support members 14, 15 of the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 are fixed to the front part of the said rear desk structure 1.

[0030] In the presented embodiment the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 may be moved above the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 so that the lifting arm ends of each of the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 are supported to the said fixed support structure 10 arranged between the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6. As the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 are moved above the said two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 this divides the front part of the said rear desk structure 1 to form a third customer goods compartment 13. The said fixed support structure 10 may be located in an intersection of the first customer goods compartment 8 and the second customer goods compartment 9 and the third customer goods compartment 13.

[0031] Figure 3 shows a side view of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention. The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention comprises a rear end wall 2 and side walls 4 and a conveyor belt arrangement for transferring goods articles. The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises a rear dividing wall 7, which divides the rear part of the said rear desk structure 1 to a first customer goods compartment and to a second customer goods compartment.

[0032] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises a fixed support structure 10 arranged between the said two parallel conveyor belts and fixed to the frame structure of the said rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk. The said fixed support structure 10 supports the front end of the said rear dividing wall 7, whereas the rear end of the said rear dividing wall 7 is supported to the said rear end wall 2 of the said rear desk structure 1. The said rear dividing wall 7 may be arranged as a compartment 13. The said fixed support structure 10 may be located in an intersection of the first customer goods compartment 8 and the second customer goods compartment 9 and the third customer goods compartment 13..

[0033] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises two front dividing wall lifting arms 12 supported to two lifting arm support members 15. In the presented embodiment each one of the said two lifting arm support members 15 of the said two front dividing wall lifting arms 12 are fixed to the front part of the said rear desk structure 1 with the help of a fixing member 16.

[0034] Figure 4 shows a bottom view of one embodiment of a rear desk structure of a checkout desk structure according to the present invention. The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention comprises a rear end wall 2 and side walls 3 and a conveyor belt arrangement 5, 6 having two parallel conveyor belts 5, 6 for transferring goods articles.

[0035] The presented embodiment of a rear desk structure 1 of a checkout desk according to the present invention also comprises two front dividing wall lifting arms supported to two lifting arm support members. In the presented embodiment each one of the said two lifting arm support members are fixed to the front part of the said rear desk structure 1 with the help of a fixing member 16, 17.

[0036] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention. In the presented embodiment the said movable front dividing wall 11 is arranged as front dividing wall lifting arm 11. In the presented embodiment the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 may be moved above one conveyor belt of the two parallel conveyor belts so that the lifting arm end 18 of the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 is supported to the fixed support structure arranged between the two parallel conveyor belts. The said movable front dividing wall 11 may be a straight dividing wall 11 as shown in Figure 5. Alternatively, the said movable front dividing wall may be a bended dividing wall or a curved dividing wall.

[0037] In the presented embodiment the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 is supported to a lifting arm support member 14. The lifting arm support member 14 according to the presented embodiment may be fixed to the front part of the said rear desk structure with the help of a fixing member 17.

[0038] In the presented embodiment the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention also comprises an actuator arrangement 19 for lifting the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 up and down. The said actuator arrangement 19 may include an actuator 19 or a motor 19, such as e.g. a servomotor or a stepper motor.

[0039] Figure 6 shows a front view of one embodiment of the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention. In the presented embodiment the said movable front dividing wall 11 is arranged as front dividing wall lifting arm 11, which is supported to a lifting arm support member 14. The lifting arm support member 14 according to the presented embodiment may be fixed to the front part of the said rear desk structure with the help of a fixing member 17.

[0040] In the presented embodiment the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention also comprises an actuator arrangement 19 for lifting the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 up and down. The said actuator arrangement 19 may include an actuator 19 or a motor 19, such as e.g. a servomotor or a stepper motor.

[0041] Figure 7 shows a side view of operation of one embodiment of the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention. In the presented embodiment the said movable front dividing wall 11 is arranged as front dividing wall lifting arm 11. The said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 may be moved above one conveyor belt of the two parallel conveyor belts so that the lifting arm end 18 of the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 is supported to the fixed support structure arranged between the two parallel conveyor belts.

[0042] In the presented embodiment the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 is supported to a lifting arm support member 14. The lifting arm support member 14 according to the presented embodiment may be fixed to the front part of the said rear desk structure with the help of a fixing member 17.

[0043] In the presented embodiment the movable front dividing wall arrangement according to the present invention also comprises an actuator arrangement 19 for lifting the said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 up and down. The said actuator arrangement 19 may include an actuator 19 or a motor 19, such as e.g. a servomotor or a stepper motor. The said front dividing wall lifting arm 11 may be lifted up 20 with the help of said actuator arrangement 19 this is shown with a dashed line in Figure 7.

[0044] The front dividing wall lifting arms 11, 12 of a checkout desk according to the present invention may be operated to release goods form a third customer goods compartment (13) to the first customer goods compartment (8) or to a second customer goods compartment (9).

[0045] With the help of the solution according to the present invention the manufacturers of checkout desks are able to provide checkout desks having a rear desk structure which checkout desks enable a comfortable serving of three customers at one time.

[0046] The checkout desk solution according to the present invention provides for a better, more convenient and more expedited service to the customers of consumer stores.

[0047] The solution according to the present invention may be utilised in any kind of enterprises and markets, such as regular consumer stores.

[0048] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A checkout desk with a rear desk structure (1) comprising a rear dividing wall (7), said rear dividing wall (7) dividing the rear part of said rear desk structure (1) to a first customer goods compartment (8) and to a second customer goods compartment (9), wherein said rear desk structure (1) of the checkout desk comprises a conveyor belt arrangement (5), (6) comprising two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6), characterized in that said rear desk structure (1) of the checkout desk comprises:

- at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12), said at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12) arranged movable above said two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6) for dividing the front part of said rear desk structure (1) to form a third customer goods compartment (13), and

- a fixed support structure (10) arranged between said two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6) for supporting one or more of said rear dividing wall (7) and said at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12), which fixed support structure (10) is fixed to the frame structure of said rear desk structure (1),

- wherein said two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6) are driven and operated on same pulley drums and/or rollers, and

- wherein said rear dividing wall (7) is arranged as a movable rear dividing wall (7).

2. A checkout desk according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixed support structure (10) is located in an intersection of the first customer goods compartment (8) and the second customer goods compartment (9) and the third customer goods compartment (13).

3. A checkout desk according to claim 1 or to claim 2, characterized in that said fixed support structure (10) supports the front end of said rear dividing wall (7), whereas the rear end of said rear dividing wall (7) is supported to said rear end wall (2) of said rear desk structure (1).

4. A checkout desk according to claim 3, characterized in that said rear dividing wall (7) is pivotally connected to said fixed support structure (10).

5. A checkout desk according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12) comprises at least one movable front straight dividing wall (11), (12).

6. A checkout desk according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least one movable front dividing wall comprises at least one movable front bended dividing wall or at least one movable front curved dividing wall.

7. A checkout desk according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said at least one movable front dividing wall (11), (12) consists two movable front dividing walls (11), (12).

8. A checkout desk according to claim 7, characterized in that said two movable front dividing walls (11), (12) are arranged as front dividing wall lifting arms (11), (12).

9. A checkout desk according to claim 8, characterized in that when said front dividing wall lifting arms (11), (12) are moved above said two parallel conveyor belts (5), (6), said front dividing wall lifting arms (11), (12) are supported to said fixed support structure (10).

10. A checkout desk according to claim 9, characterized in that the lifting arm end (18) of each of said front dividing wall lifting arms (11), (12) is supported to said fixed support structure (10).

11. A checkout desk according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said front dividing wall lifting arms (11), (12) are supported with the help of lifting arm support members (14), (15).

12. A checkout desk according to claim 11, characterized in that said lifting arm support members (14), (15) are fixed to the front part of said rear desk structure (1).

13. A checkout desk according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that said front dividing wall lifting arms (11), (12) comprise an actuator arrangement (19) for lifting said front dividing wall lifting arm (11), (12) up (20) and down.

14. A checkout desk according to claim 13, characterized in that said actuator arrangement (19) includes an actuator (19) or a motor (19), such as e.g. a servomotor or a stepper motor.

15. A checkout desk according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that said front dividing wall lifting arms (11), (12) are operated to release goods form a third customer goods compartment (13) to the first customer goods compartment (8) or to a second customer goods compartment (9).

Drawing