Expandable Bagging Station Frames for Cleaning Access and Surface Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Self-checkout systems face challenges in maintaining cleanliness under the bagging area due to reduced space, necessitating manual cleaning and increased maintenance costs, while also lacking flexibility in adjusting the bagging area size.

Innovation Solution

A bagging station device with expandable frames and panels that can slide or expand, allowing access for cleaning and adjustable surface area, equipped with load sensors and actuators for controlled movement and leveling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the bagging station device uses a fixed compact design to reduce space requirements, then shipping space and floor space are optimized, but cleaning access under the bagging area becomes difficult and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor space occupied by bagging stationVSAvoidcleaning accessibility under bagging area

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging station device incorporates a movable bagging area that can transition between a retracted position (for compact storage and reduced floor space) and an extended position (for improved cleaning access). The movable platform is driven by actuators that enable it to slide along rails, dynamically changing the configuration of the bagging station to resolve the contradiction between compactness and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bagging station is divided into separable components including a movable platform, fixed frame, and removable panels. This segmentation allows the bagging area to be moved independently from the base structure, enabling cleaning equipment to access the area underneath while maintaining a compact overall footprint when the platform is retracted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the bagging station device uses a fixed size design, then structural simplicity is maintained, but flexibility in adjusting bagging surface area is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural complexity of bagging stationVSAvoidadjustability of bagging surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging platform is designed as a movable component that can be positioned at multiple locations along the rails, allowing the bagging surface area to be dynamically adjusted based on operational needs. This dynamic configuration capability provides versatility without requiring multiple different device models.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable platform serves multiple functions: it provides the bagging surface, acts as a barrier when extended, and can be repositioned to create different working configurations. This multi-functionality allows a single structural design to adapt to various bagging requirements while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of moving object

If the bagging station device uses an extended design to provide larger bagging surface area, then user capacity is improved, but shipping space requirements and maintenance accessibility worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebagging surface areaVSAvoidshipping volume of bagging station

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging platform transitions from a static to a dynamic configuration, extending to provide larger bagging surface area during operation and retracting to a compact form for shipping and storage. This dynamic transformation allows the device to achieve both large operational footprint and small shipping volume using the same physical structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable platform nests within the fixed frame structure when retracted, similar to a nested doll configuration. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall volume occupied by the device during shipping while allowing the platform to extend outward during operation to provide the required bagging surface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12373812B2Expandable bagging system

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 TOSHIBA GLOBAL COMMERCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Systems and methods of expanding a bagging system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is performed by a bagging station device configured to couple to a terminal station device. The bagging station device includes an outer expandable frame, an inner expandable frame having an inner movable mechanism coupled between first and second inner frame portions, first and second panels disposed on the corresponding first and second inner frame portions, and a set of load sensors coupled between the inner and outer expandable frames. The method includes sending, by each load sensor, to the terminal station device, a measurement of a load associated with one or more objects placed on a surface of the first or second panel. The inner moveable mechanism is configured to enable the first or second panel to move along a longitudinal plane of the inner expandable frame.