Master-Slave Scale Queuing System for Retail Self-Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supermarket and grocery store scale systems require manual staff assistance for customer queuing, which can lead to inefficiencies and the need for separate queuing systems, limiting self-service capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A scale-based customer queuing system that utilizes a kiosk to dispense tickets and configures scales as either master or slave queuing modes, allowing for load balancing and efficient customer queuing across multiple scales in a department, with a controller managing queue numbers and displaying information to both operators and customers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual staff assistance is used for customer queuing, then customer service can be provided, but operational efficiency decreases and separate queuing systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the weighing scale functionality with customer queuing management into a single integrated system. The scale now performs both its traditional weighing/pricing function and additionally manages customer queues by displaying queue numbers and coordinating with ticket dispensing machines, eliminating the need for separate queuing systems and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighing scale is transformed into a multi-functional device that simultaneously handles weighing, pricing, customer identification, queue number display, and coordination with ticket dispensing machines. This universal approach allows one device to perform multiple functions that previously required separate systems, thereby improving operational efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate systems are used for weighing and queuing, then specific functions can be performed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the weighing scale with queuing management capabilities, creating a unified system that handles both weighing operations and customer queue management. This integration reduces the number of separate systems customers must interact with, thereby simplifying the overall system while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated scale system enables customers to independently manage their own queuing process through self-service. The scale automatically displays queue numbers, coordinates with ticket dispensing machines, and manages customer flow without requiring staff intervention, thereby enhancing self-service capabilities.
3Productivity
If staff assistance is required for queuing management, then customer service is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic queuing management where the scale independently displays queue numbers, coordinates with ticket dispensing machines, and manages customer flow without staff intervention. This automation of queuing operations increases customer service throughput while maintaining service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated scale system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring queue status, coordinating with ticket dispensing machines, and automatically updating queue number displays. This automated feedback loop enables the system to self-regulate customer flow and improve productivity without requiring manual staff management.
Data Source
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AI summary
A scale-based customer queueing system includes a ticket dispense machine with an associated controller, and a plurality of scales within a store department. Each of the scales includes a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed, an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations, a customer facing interface for displaying information to customers and a controller operatively coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon and to the customer interface to effect display of information thereon. The controller of a first scale of the plurality of scales is configured to operate the first scale as a master queuing scale that communicates with both the ticket dispense machine and the remaining scales of the plurality of scales to carry out a customer queueing system.