Transparent Rolling Scan Platform for Automated Item Scanning Tunnel

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current manual scanning process at checkout points in retail environments is tedious and time-consuming, often requiring customers or clerks to visually locate and scan barcodes, which can become frustrating when the barcode is not easily found or correctly scanned.

Innovation Solution

An item scanning system featuring a transparent rolling scan platform within a scanning tunnel, equipped with conveyor belts and a sweeper device, allows for automated scanning of items from all sides without human intervention, using scanner devices embedded within the platform to generate scan data and a sweeper to guide items through the tunnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual scanning process is used, then customers can visually inspect items, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual item inspectionVSAvoidscanning speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows items to scan themselves automatically as they pass through the transparent platform. The automated scanning eliminates the need for customers or clerks to manually locate and scan barcodes, with sensors detecting items and generating scan data without human intervention, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and scanning speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical scanning process with an automated optical sensing system. Sensors and scanners detect items and read barcodes automatically as they pass through the tunnel, substituting human manual inspection and scanning actions with automated detection mechanisms, thus improving productivity while maintaining ease of use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual scanning is used, then customers can locate barcodes, but it becomes a frustrating trial-and-error procedure when barcodes are not easily found

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebarcode locationVSAvoidscanning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The automated scanning system performs the barcode location task itself without requiring customer intervention. Sensors automatically detect items and locate barcodes as they pass through the scanning tunnel, eliminating the frustrating trial-and-error process while ensuring reliable scanning accuracy through automated detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs multiple sensors positioned at different locations and angles within the scanning tunnel to detect items from multiple dimensions. This multi-dimensional sensing approach ensures that barcodes are reliably located and scanned regardless of item orientation or position, resolving the contradiction between ease of locating barcodes and scanning accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Extent of automation

If transparent rolling scan platform is used, then automated scanning from all sides is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated item scanningVSAvoidscanning system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a transparent rolling platform made of flexible transparent material that can rotate to present items to scanners from multiple sides. This flexible transparent structure enables automated multi-angle scanning while maintaining a relatively simple and elegant device design, resolving the contradiction between automation extent and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Productivity

If automated scanning system is implemented, then scanning time is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scanning system is divided into modular components including the transparent rolling platform, multiple sensors positioned at different locations, conveyor belts, and a control system. This segmentation allows for efficient automated scanning while making the overall system manageable and maintainable, resolving the contradiction between scanning efficiency and system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10593162B2Transparent rolling platform for item scanning tunnel

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

Examples provide a transparent scan platform within an item scanning tunnel on the same plane as a set of conveyor belts. The transparent scan platform includes a plurality of interconnected transparent segments or a transparent band forming a continuous transparent platform rotating about a set of rollers. The transparent scan platform includes a scan device embedded within the platform or positioned under the transparent scan platform. The scan device scans an item identifier, such as a barcode, located on an item sitting on a top surface of the transparent scan platform. The transparent scan platform rolls the item out of the scanning tunnel. If the item becomes wedged between an end of the scan platform and an end of a conveyor belt, a sweeper device extends downward behind the item and sweeps the item out of the scanning tunnel. The sweeper device then retracts back upward.