Under-Counter Retractable Bagging Station for Checkout Space Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bagging stations at retail checkout stations are large and occupy valuable space, especially when not in use, as they are fixedly mounted and do not offer a way to be stored out of sight.

Innovation Solution

A retractable bagging station with a bag dispenser that can be extended out from and retracted into a frame using drawer slides, allowing it to be mounted underneath a counter and only extended when needed, thus saving space when not in use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a bagging station is fixedly mounted at a checkout station, then it is easily accessible and stable, but it occupies valuable space even when not in use

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of bagging stationVSAvoidSpace occupied by bagging station

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging station is designed with a retractable mechanism that allows it to transition between a deployed state (when needed for bagging) and a retracted state (when not in use). This dynamic configuration enables the station to occupy minimal space during storage while remaining fully accessible during operation, directly resolving the contradiction between accessibility and space occupation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bagging station components are nested within a compact housing structure when retracted, with the bag dispenser, bag holder, and other elements stored inside the housing. This nesting arrangement allows the entire bagging station to be concealed within a small footprint area, eliminating space occupation when not in use while maintaining full functionality when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If a bagging station is designed to be retractable, then space is saved when not in use, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSpace occupied by bagging stationVSAvoidComplexity of retractable mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bagging station is divided into modular segments including a housing, a retractable bag dispenser, a bag holder, and a support structure. Each segment can be independently manufactured and assembled, simplifying the overall complexity of the retractable mechanism while enabling the space-saving retraction functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A support structure acts as an intermediary element that connects the retractable bag dispenser to the housing and provides structural support during retraction and deployment. This intermediary component simplifies the mechanical complexity by providing a stable framework for the retractable mechanism to operate within

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10086967B2Retractable bagging station

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

Described is a retractable bagging station for use in a retail store. The bagging station includes a frame and a bag dispenser retractably coupled to the frame. The bag dispenser holds and dispenses shopping bags. The bag dispenser is retractably coupled to the frame such that the bag dispenser extends out of and retracts into the frame. The bagging station is retractable into the frame so that the bagging station can be stored in a retracted position under a counter, for example, when the bagging station is not needed. When the bagging station is needed, it can be extended out from the frame to be used. The bagging station can be mounted under a counter of a checkout station, for example, so the bagging station can be used at the checkout station when needed.