Self-Checkout Bag Rack Scale With Automatic Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retail bag racks and scanning scales at self-checkout kiosks are bulky, costly, and inefficient, requiring additional space and operator interaction, especially for items without standard identifiers.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a built-in display and electronic scale into a bag rack that switches between security and produce weighing modes, using processing circuitry to automate measurement information processing and reduce the need for separate scales.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a scanning scale is used for weighing and pricing items, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the scanning scale and bag rack into a single integrated device. The bag rack is positioned on top of the scanning scale, merging two previously separate functions (scanning/weighing and bag storage) into one unified system. This eliminates the need for separate scanning scales and bag racks, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through the integrated scale.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated bag rack system performs multiple functions: it serves as both a bag storage rack and a weighing platform. The processing circuitry automatically determines whether to perform security checks or produce weighing based on detected objects, making the system universally applicable to different operational modes without requiring separate dedicated devices for each function.
2Measurement precision
If a scanning scale is used for weighing items, then measurement capability is improved, but space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the bag rack structure with the scanning scale, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated weighing space. The bag rack itself becomes the weighing platform, consolidating the space required for both bag storage and item weighing into a single footprint area, thereby reducing the total space requirement while maintaining full measurement capability.
3Reliability
If a separate security scale and scanning scale are used, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated system performs both security checks and produce weighing through a single scanning scale and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry automatically switches between operational modes based on object detection, eliminating the need for separate security scale and scanning scale while maintaining measurement reliability through consistent use of the same integrated weighing mechanism for both functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of automatically switching measurement information processing modes related to a self-checkout kiosk. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by an electronic device that includes processing circuitry. The method may include detecting, using object recognition, at least one object present in real-time captured imagery. The method may further include, responsive to detecting the at least one object present in the real-time captured imagery, switching measurement information processing modes from a first measurement information processing mode to a second measurement information processing mode.