Modular Self-Checkout Bagging Station for In-Store Reconfiguration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial operators face challenges in reorganizing existing self-checkout lanes to optimize floor space utilization and customer throughput without needing to purchase new parts or replace existing configurations, as current designs often require additional components for ergonomic adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A modular self-checkout bagging system with a wedge-shaped bagging station module that can be reconfigured from a left-oriented to a right-oriented oblique configuration by rotating or flipping the module, allowing it to couple with adjacent modules without introducing new parts, preserving ergonomic angles and extending the system's functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed configuration bagging station is used, then the system structure is simple, but the adaptability to different layouts is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconfiguration capabilityVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging station is divided into modular components including a wedge-shaped module, a bagging module, and a display module that can be independently assembled and reconfigured. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different store layouts while maintaining manageable structural complexity through standardized interfaces between modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wedge-shaped bagging station module is designed with universal coupling interfaces that allow it to function in multiple configurations and orientations. The same module can be assembled with different adjacent modules (bagging modules, display modules) to create various functional arrangements, providing multi-functionality without requiring multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If ergonomic adjustments are made to optimize customer experience, then customer throughput improves, but additional parts and components are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomic efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging station modules are designed to be dynamically reconfigurable through standardized coupling interfaces, allowing ergonomic adjustments to be made by repositioning existing modules rather than adding new components. The wedge-shaped module can be oriented differently and coupled to various adjacent modules to optimize ergonomics for different customer needs while maintaining the same set of parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If the bagging station is reconfigured to optimize floor space, then space utilization improves, but the existing configuration must be replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor space utilizationVSAvoidreplacement requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging station is segmented into modular units with standardized interfaces, enabling reconfiguration for optimized floor space utilization by repositioning and reorienting existing modules rather than replacing the entire system. This modular approach maintains ease of manufacture by using the same modular components in different arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If a modular design is implemented to improve flexibility, then reconfiguration is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidmodular assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The modular design uses universal standardized interfaces and coupling mechanisms that work across all bagging station modules. This universality provides high reconfiguration flexibility while controlling device complexity by using the same interface standards and component types throughout the system, reducing the variety of parts needed despite the modular nature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11369217B2In-store reconfigurable self-checkout bagging apparatus and related structures

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 TOSHIBA GLOBAL COMMERCE SOLUTIONS HLDG

AI summary

A self-checkout system can include a re-configurable self-checkout bagging station that further includes a bagging station module that can be configured to mate with a stand-alone bagging station module, where the stand-alone bagging station module configured to couple to first and second interfaces of a self-checkout system terminal, respectively. A wedge shaped bagging station extension module surface can be configured to couple to the bagging station module in a left-oriented oblique self-checkout system configuration in a first position of the wedge shaped bagging station extension module surface and can be re-configurable from the first position to a second position of the wedge shaped bagging station extension module surface to couple to the bagging station module in a right-oriented oblique self-checkout system configuration.