Dual-Feed Checkout Scanning for Shared Goods Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-service checkout systems face inefficiencies in detecting and recording goods, particularly with weighed and bulky items, leading to increased costs and customer inconvenience due to the need for multiple detection devices and manual post-detection processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual-feed path system with separate collection points and decentralized transport units, allowing a central scanning device to serve multiple customers simultaneously, and integrating sensor units for automatic detection and sorting, enabling both automated and manual recording options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single central scanning device is used for automated goods detection, then device complexity and investment costs are reduced, but productivity decreases due to inability to serve multiple customers simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the service flow into multiple parallel paths (first feed path and second feed path) that converge at a single central scanning device. Each path has its own transport unit and collection point, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple customers' goods while using one shared detection resource.
Solution Approach 2:
The central scanning device is designed to serve multiple functions by processing goods from different feed paths and serving different customers sequentially or simultaneously. The device acts as a universal detection resource that can handle various types of goods and serve multiple users without requiring separate dedicated devices for each customer.
2Productivity
If multiple separate detection devices are provided for different customers, then productivity increases, but device complexity and investment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple feed paths and their associated transport systems are merged to converge at a single central scanning device. The system combines the functionality of what would otherwise require separate detection devices into one shared resource, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to serve multiple customers in parallel through the multiple paths.
3Measurement precision
If manual post-detection is required for weighed and bulky items, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to separate recording processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated optical scanning of all goods as a preliminary detection step before they reach the collection point. This preliminary action captures detectable markings and prepares the data, so that when manual intervention is needed for weighed or bulky items, the work is already partially complete, reducing the time customers need to spend at manual recording stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated scanning operates continuously as goods move along the transport paths, without interruption or pause. The detection process runs in parallel with the transport and sorting operations, ensuring that the useful action of detection continues uninterrupted through the entire goods flow, eliminating idle time between detection stages.
4Ease of operation
If customers queue at separate recording devices, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time increases due to multiple queuing events
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple detection functions into a single integrated process where customers can place goods on transport units and have them automatically processed through scanning and sorting. This consolidation eliminates the need for customers to queue at separate recording devices, as the automated system handles detection, sorting, and preparation for collection in one continuous flow.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration increases the utilization of detection devices, reduces investment costs, and streamlines the recording process by allowing simultaneous use of central and decentralized recording devices, eliminating the need for separate manual recording stations and reducing customer wait times.
Implementation Method 1
a scanning device arranged stationary on the transport device for contactless optical scanning of the goods during transport
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Device for detecting goods (1, 2), in particular for detecting a marking identifying the goods, on a self-service checkout system with a transport device (3) for transporting the goods and with a scanning device (4) fixedly arranged on the transport device for contactless optical scanning of the goods during transport, wherein the transport device has means for feeding goods (1, 2) to the scanning device (4) via a first feed path (14) and via a second feed path (16), for feeding goods (1) fed via the first feed path (14) after detection via a first discharge path (15) to a first goods collection point (10) and for feeding goods (2) fed via the second feed path (16) after detection via a second discharge path (17) to a second goods collection point (11).