The field of the present disclosure relates generally to optical code reading systems, such as for example barcode scanners. More particularly, this disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatus relating to an integrated scale and optical code reading system.
A checkout lane at a grocery store or other retail point of sale (POS) can be a demanding, high-pressure environment. A store employee manning and/or operating a check stand (i.e., a checker) can be expected to provide exceptional customer service, which may include quickly totaling each customer's purchase and collecting payment. Rapidly processing customer purchases reduces the time other customers must wait to make their purchases. When a store is busy and checkout lines are long, checkers can experience increased pressure to rapidly process customer purchases. A customer using a “self-checkout” check stand (i.e., a customer-checker) can feel similarly pressured to expeditiously process their purchases in a timely manner.
One method for improving the speed and efficiency of a checker is to provide an optical reader to allow the checker to quickly scan items. Although optical reading of data, or encoded optical symbols or optical codes such as barcode labels, is used in a variety of applications, a check stand of a grocery store checkout lane or similar retail POS context is a familiar application. As an optical code is passed through a scan volume (or scanning area), the optical code is read by an optical code reader, such as a scanner, and transformed into electrical signals. The electrical signals can be decoded into alphanumerical characters or other data that can be used as input to a data processing system, such as a POS terminal (e.g., an electronic cash register). The POS terminal can use the decoded data to, for example, look up a price for the article, apply electronic coupons, and award points for a retailer or other rewards program. Scanning an optical code on items enables rapid totaling of the price of such items and thereby increases checker efficiency.
In a typical process, a checker passes the item through the scan volume to allow the scanner to scan a barcode on the item. An item can have multiple sides, not all of which might be presented for scanning, depending on the shape of the item and the type of scanner. For example, a simple six-sided rectangular box-shaped item can have a leading side (or side leading the item through the scan volume), a trailing side (opposite the leading side and last through the scan volume), a bottom side, a top side, a front side positioned nearest to or facing the checker (also known as the checker side), and a back side positioned away from the checker (also known as the customer side). Some horizontal scanners (i.e., scanners with a single upwardly-facing horizontal window) can effectively scan only the bottom side. Accordingly, a checker operating such a scanner would be required to re-orient an item to be scanned such that the side of the item with the barcode is positioned as the bottom side. Re-orienting an item takes time and reduces efficiency. Moreover, the movements required for a checker to re-orient an item can potentially injure the checker when the movements are repeated many times during the course of a shift. A scanner that can scan multiple sides of an item is desirable to reduce or even eliminate the need to re-orient items to be scanned.
Some scanners are capable of scanning multiple sides of an item by utilizing a bioptic configuration. A bioptic configuration includes two scanner windows for reading an optical code. Examples of scanners utilizing a bioptic configuration are the Magellan® 8300, 8400, and 8500 scanners available from Datalogic Scanning, Inc. of Eugene, Oreg. Further description of bioptic scanners may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,195, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In an “L” shaped bioptic scanner, in addition to a horizontal bottom scanner window that is generally positioned at counter level, a vertical scanner window is positioned to scan one or more sides of an item.
By scanning the bottom of an item and one or more other sides of the item, the bioptic configuration can increase the probability of a successful first scan (i.e. improve the first pass read rate) and reduce time consuming product manipulations and repeat scans. However, the present inventors have recognized that the “L” shaped bioptic configuration has its own limitations. For example, the vertical scanner window is positioned in a vertical section of the scanner, which can occupy significant space at the check stand and/or in the checkout lane. Furthermore, if the check stand includes a conveyor belt, the positioning of the vertical section can necessitate a diverter to divert items on the conveyor belt away from the vertical section. Finally, positioning of the vertical section may limit where a POS terminal keyboard, display, and check-writing stand can be located. Accordingly, the present inventors have recognized the desirability of a scanner that can scan multiple sides of an item, without utilizing a vertical scanner window.
In addition to a scanner, a POS system such as a grocery store check stand often includes a scale for conveniently and efficiently weighing items such as produce. The weight information can be used as input to the POS system, similar to the decoded optical code. The POS system can use the weight information to determine a price for the article weighed, for example. The scale can be integrated with the scanner to provide a single unit that can be referred to as a scanner-scale.
Existing scanner-scales are bulky and extend from a depth of four inches to nearly seven inches below the counter. The size, and in particular the depth, of scanner-scales is largely due to the optical elements utilized to provide a bottom scanner component that can effectively read an optical code. Many existing scanner-scales comprise laser diode scanning technology, which typically employs a spinning facet wheel or mirror and one or more pattern mirrors to break the laser beam into various scan lines forming the scan pattern. These components occupy significant space, thereby contributing to the bulkiness of existing scanner-scales. The depth of existing scanner-scales prevents ergonomic placement of a cash drawer directly below the scanner-scale at a check stand.
The present inventors have determined that it would be desirable to provide a scanner-scale having a low vertical profile under which a cash drawer could be placed at a check stand. In addition, the inventors have determined it would be desirable to provide a scanner that, without a vertical scanner window, can scan multiple sides of an item.