System for monitoring flexible container usage
An apparatus is provided for packaging items within a container. The container is supported adjacent an indicator which determines the addition of an individual item into the container. The number of items added to a container is accumulated and the accumulated data for each container during a given cycle is stored. The stored data is then communicated to a processing unit for analyzing and use as a management tool within the packaging operation.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/773,869, filed Feb. 16, 2006, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Bagging Retail Items.”
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method and apparatus for packaging retail items, such as food in a grocery store. The invention contemplates the accumulation of bag or container loading information for purposes of staff training and overall operational economics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe use of plastic or paper bags to load and carry retail items, such as groceries, has become commonplace. The retail store or shop supplies the bags and wraps the purchased items therein for ease of the customer in transporting the goods away from the store.
Various improvements have been created in the use of plastic bags to increase efficiency in the checkout operation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,788 describes a self-opening polyethylene bag stack which is placed upon a rack and wherein the removal of the outer bag from the stack automatically opens the adjacent bag in a sufficient manner to permit the placement of additional items in the adjacent bag. The removal of this adjacent bag, which is now the outside bag in the stack, opens the next adjacent bag, and so on. Various bag racks and bag formations have also been proposed which further add to the operational efficiency of the checkout operation and the economy of using plastic bags in a retail environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,894,232 discloses the combination of a bag stack in conjunction with a scale to measure the weight of the items within the bag. A plurality of indicators are provided in order to indicate the relative weight of the retails items in the bag against a target weight. The indicator identifies when the loading within the bag has exceeded the desired weight capacity.
Other patents and products have been defined for security purposes in a self check-out operation within a retail environment. Examples of such an operation are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,888 to Schneider and U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,389 B2 to Dickover et al.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is defined for packaging items within a container, such as a plastic bag. The container is movably secured adjacent a scale or other means for indicating the loading of items into the container. An accumulator records the number of items added to the container in a given cycle. The accumulated information is then stored during the given cycle. The information is then communicated to a processing unit or the like for purposes of analyzation. The analyzed information may be used to train the retail staff in the placement of a correct number and/or volume of items in a container and to allow management to effectively monitor the average number of items in a container for efficient use of the container inventory.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for packaging items within a container. The method includes the provision of a container, such as a plastic bag or the like, adjacent a means for indicating the addition of items into the container, such as a scale or item counter. The number of items placed into the container is calculated for each container within a given cycle. The calculated data per container is then stored and accumulated for further processing. The stored data may be transferred to a processing unit, such as a computer, for analyzation with respect to usage of the containers and bagging operation.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a rack for holding containers such as plastic bags. The rack includes at least one vertical member extending upward from a base, and a pair of arms extending outward from the vertical member. Each of the arms includes a substantially horizontal bag storage portion adjacent to the vertical member, and a substantially horizontal bag loading portion near its free end. A bag transfer section is disposed therebetween, and is angled with respect to the storage portion and loading portion. A bag is moved forward and downward along the transfer section prior to loading, thereby facilitating separation of the bag to be loaded from the remaining bags.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a processing unit for receiving information about, for example, the number of items per bag or the weight per bag from at least one apparatus for packaging items in a container, and for controlling the various settings of the apparatus. The processing unit may communicate with each apparatus using radio frequency communication.
Other aspects and features of the invention may be incorporated therein and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the present specification.
Without restricting the full scope of the present invention, various preferred forms of the invention are illustrated in the following drawings:
In the drawings, where like numerals indicate like elements and like letters indicate connections that have been broken for clarity within the drawings, there is illustrated in the various figures a rack for supporting a plurality of plastic bags, or other type containers. In
In the present invention, the container for receiving items may take any form as desired. As illustrated, a plurality of bags 12 are provided in a stack with each adjacent bag being separately openable. The bags may be assembled in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,788, which is herein incorporated by reference. However, the use of any particular type bag is not being restricted by the scope of the present invention. The plurality of bags 12 are positioned on the rack 10 by providing openings 18 within the handles of the bag. The bags as illustrated are T-shirt type bags having handles 20 on opposite sides and a central tab 22 which is further secured to the rack 10. The central tab 22 may in some examples be a tab as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,779, which is herein incorporated by reference. The handle arms 24 support the bag handles 20 when the various layers of the bag are slid along the arms 24. Each handle arm 24 includes a substantially horizontal bag storage portion 25 at the end portion closest to the vertical members 28, a substantially horizontal bag loading portion 27, at the free end portion, and a bag transfer portion 29 between the storage portion 25 and loading portion 27. The bag transfer portion 29 is angled with respect to the storage portion 25 and loading portion 27, with the illustrated example having an obtuse angle between the storage portion 25 and loading portion 27. The end 31 of each arm 24 may be angled upward to retain a bag 12 on the arms 24 until removal of the bag 12 is desired. The central tab 22 may be fixably secured within the bag stack or otherwise supported on a central projection 26 formed on the bag rack 10. In this manner, a single bag 12 or container is pulled outward and downward over the transfer portion 29, thereby separating the bag 12 from the other bags 12 while opening the bag 12 over the support surface 16 of the scale 14. The rack 10 thereby provides a means for holding the bag 12 open during placement of various items into the bag prior to removal of the bag from the rack.
In
In
In
Other embodiments of the rack 10″, 10′″ are illustrated in
The arms 24″, 24′″ of
The base 34″, 34′″ of the rack 10″, 10′″ includes a scale 14″, 14′″, structured to monitor the weight of items contained within bags 12 that are being loaded on the rack 10″, 10′″. The scale 14″, 14′″ is operatively connected with an accumulator for keeping track of the number of items placed in the bag 12. As before, the accumulator keeps a running total of the number of items in the bag 12, increasing or decreasing the total number of items based on increases and decreases in the weight sensed by the scale. The accumulator may be disposed within the base 34″, 34′″, within a remote location, or within a display 42″, 42′″ secured to the rack 10″, 10′″. The connection between the scale 14″, 14′″ and the display 42″, 42′″ may be in the form of electrical wiring, or a wireless connection. In the illustrated example, the display 42″, 42′″ is located at the top of the upright back member 11″, 11′″. The illustrated display 42″, 42′″ includes a display screen 44″, 44′″ that may be an illuminated screen or a liquid crystal display, and various controls, for example, the illustrated buttons, including the menu button 66″, 66′″, which may be colored red, and the select button 68″, 68′″, which may be colored green. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The operation of the circuit 48 is controlled by a control portion 74, best illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
One procedure for utilizing the invention during a bagging cycle is illustrated in
In the event that a weight change was due to an item being placed in (or removed from) the bag 12, the weight of the item will be added to (or subtracted from) the total weight presently registered by the scale 14 of step 116. The number of items in the bag 12 will also be increased (or decreased) at step 116. With the new total weight calculated, the system will compare the new total weight to the desired weight limit for the bag 12 at step 118. If the weight limit for the bag 12 has not been reached, the system will again check to see if the menu button 66 has been pressed at step 114, and then proceed to wait for the next increase in weight at step 108. If the weight limit has been reached, the system will signal the user that the weight limit has been reached at step 120. Once the weight limit has been reached and/or once the bag has been removed (which may occur prior to the weight limit being reached if the bag is filled with lightweight, bulky items), the system will recalculate the average number of items per bag 12 at step 122, and then check to see if a new bag 12 is to be packed at step 124. If a new bag 12 is being packed, the number of items and total weight of the bag 12 are reset to zero at step 106. If no new bag 12 is to be packaged, the cycle may end.
Each press of the menu button 66 may cause the system to cycle through the various menus that are offered. In the illustrated example, each push of the menu button 66 increments the menu count at step 126. Depending on the current menu count, which cycles from 1 thru 3 and then returns back to 1, the appropriate menu is selected at step 128.
Referring to
In the event that the menu count equals 2 at step 128, the clear average option will be selected. The system will first indicate to the user that the clear average menu has been selected at step 138. With the menu button 66 held down, and upon each press of selector button 68 at step 140, the average number of items per bag 12 will be cleared at step 142, so that subsequent total calculations of the average number of items per bag 12 will include only subsequent bags 12. Depression of the menu button 66 is queried at step 144. Releasing the menu button 66 will again return the system to step 114, wherein the system will determine if the menu button 66 has been pressed a second time. If not, the system will proceed to wait for the next increase in weight in the bag at step 108 (
If the menu count equals 3 at step 128, the maximum weight per bag may be changed. The system will initially indicate the menu option selected at step 146. As long as the menu button 66 is depressed, each press of selector button 68 at step 148 will incrementally change the maximum weight per bag at step 150. Depression of the menu button 66 is queried at step 152. Releasing the menu button 66 at step 152 returns the system to step 114, where an additional actuation of the menu button 66 will increment the menu count at step 126, or the absence of another actuation of the menu button 66 will bring the system to step 108 (
An alternative sequence of operation is illustrated in
In the event that a weight change was due to an item being placed in (or removed from) the bag 12, the weight of the item will be added to (or subtracted from) the total weight presently registered by the scale 14 of step 166. The number of items in the bag 12 will also be increased (or decreased) at step 166. With the new total weight calculated, the system will compare the new total weight to the desired weight limit for the bag 12 at step 168. If the weight limit for the bag 12 has not been reached, the system will again check to see if the menu button 66 or select button 68 has been pressed at steps 164 and 167, and then proceed to wait for the next increase in weight at step 158. If the weight limit has been reached, the system will signal the user that the weight limit has been reached at step 170. Once the weight limit has been reached and the bag has been removed, the system will recalculate the average number of items per bag 12 at step 172, and then check to see if a new bag 12 is to be packed at step 174. If a new bag 12 is being packed, the number of items and total weight of the bag 12 are reset to zero at step 156. If no new bag 12 is to be packaged, the cycle may end.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the first menu selection is the target number of items, although the order of menu selections is not critical to the invention. Pressing the select button at step 186 will toggle through the various selection options for the target number of items at step 188. An example range of options is from 1 to 15 items. The user may then either stop pressing the select button for the system to return to waiting for a weight increase at step 158 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the second menu selection is the target weight per bag. Pressing the select button at step 194 will toggle through the various selection options for the target weight at step 196. An example of a range of options for the target weight setting includes five pounds to twenty pounds. The user may then either stop pressing the select button for the system to return to waiting for a weight increase at step 158 (
In a similar manner, pressing the select button at step 202 will toggle through the various selection options for the desired time with no actions before which the system goes into sleep mode at step 204. An example of a range of options includes one minute to ninety minutes. The user may then either stop pressing the select button for the system to return to waiting for a weight increase at step 158 (
Referring to
Referring to
Selection of the various menu options illustrated in
Although the illustrated examples are described using controls on the rack itself, all settings may be controlled remotely by either a wire or wireless connection to a separate computer or controller. The average number of items per bag and average weight per bag may also be monitored and studied remotely to assist store management in optimizing the performance of baggers.
The object of the present invention is to train staff to place more items in each bag or container while preventing overloading of the bag. The scale creates a signal which is received by the accumulator and which calculates the number of items which are placed within a bag prior to removal of the bag from the scale. The accumulated information may then be stored over a cycle, such as a shift for each staff member or otherwise. Management may then download the accumulated data and analyze same to determine the number of items placed within each bag, the average weight of the items in the bag and other useful information. Management may then train staff and monitor performance to meet the desired standards of the operation. Once the staff is properly trained, the packaging operation will make efficient use of the available bags, thus limiting expenses for the store or other user of the invention, while at the same time avoiding risk of damage to items (and its associated retail effect) when a bag is overloaded.
In operation, the bagging staff would pull a bag from the rack over the base platform and begin filling the bag. An electronic device in the base records each time something is placed in the bag. An item indicator may be provided, such as a light or pleasant sound to indicate that the bag has been added to appropriately. As the bagging staff continues to fill the bag, indicators may provide information on the total number of items and the relationship with the maximum weight goal for each bag. The device counts and records the number of items per bag and accumulates that data over a cycle. That accumulated information may then be downloaded to a processing unit, such as a computer, to be analyzed by management for training and other instructural purposes. Again, the intent of the operation is to train the support staff to maintain optimal standards for container use.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Various forms of containers and/or support racks for the containers may be utilized. Various forms of scales or other indicator devices may be provided, each having various forms of power supplies and means of communicating with various analyzation tools. Other features of the method of analyzation may be added without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the impending claims should not be limited by the description of the preferred versions as contained herein.
Claims
1. An apparatus for use while packaging items within a container, the apparatus comprising:
- means for substantially continuously determining a weight of the container and its contents;
- means for detecting the addition of an item into the container based on changes to the weight; and
- means for accumulating the number of items added to the container in a given cycle.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for indicating to a user when at least one predetermined condition selected from the following group of conditions has been met:
- the weight of the container and its contents exceeds a predetermined maximum weight, or
- the number of items within the container exceeds a preselected number of items.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for actuating a first visual output device, upon an item being placed within the container, and for actuating a second visual output device, upon the predetermined condition being reached.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing a plurality of containers adjacent to the weight determining means.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the containers are t-shirts bags, and the container storing means comprises a pair of arms structured to be received within a pair of apertures defined within an upper portion of the bags, the pair of arms extending over the weight determining means, to support at least one bag in a position for packaging items therein.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each arm comprises:
- a substantially horizontal storage portion disposed adjacent to the at least one vertical member,
- a substantially horizontal loading portion disposed at a free end portion of the arm, and a
- transfer portion disposed between the storage portion and loading portion,
- the transfer portion being angled with respect to the storage portion and the loading portion.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transfer portion of each arm defines an obtuse angle with respect to the storage portion and the loading portion.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a projection disposed between the arms, the projection being structured to fit within an aperture defined within a tab disposed at a top of a container.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weight determining means is selected from the group consisting of a scale and a strain gauge.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the item addition means comprises:
- means for determining when the weight of the container and its contents has stabilized, and
- means for comparing a previous weight of the container and its contents with the weight of the container and its contents.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein accumulating means comprises an accumulator.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- means for storing said accumulated item information; and
- means for communicating said stored information to a processing unit for analysis.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for calculating an average number of items packed within each container.
14. A method of packaging items within a container, the method comprising:
- providing a container;
- substantially continuously determining a weight of the container and its contents;
- detecting the addition of an item into the container based on changes to the weight; and
- accumulating the number of items added to the container in a given cycle.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising signaling a user when the weight of the container and its contents exceeds a predetermined maximum weight.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing a first signal upon an item being placed within the container, and a second signal upon the maximum weight for the container and its contents being reached.
17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
- determining when the weight of the container and its contents has stabilized after the addition of an item; and
- comparing a previous weight of the container and its contents with the subsequent weight of the container and its contents.
18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:
- storing said accumulated information; and
- communicating said stored information to a processing unit for analysis.
19. An apparatus for use while packaging items within a container, the apparatus comprising:
- a rack, the rack comprising a base, and a pair of arms disposed above the base, each arm having a substantially horizontal storage portion disposed adjacent to the at least one vertical member, a substantially horizontal loading portion disposed at a free end portion of the arm, and a transfer portion disposed between the storage portion and loading portion, the transfer portion being angled with respect to the storage portion and the loading portion.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising at least one vertical member extending upward from the base, the pair of arms extending outward from the at least one vertical member.
21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the transfer portion of each arm defines an obtuse angle with respect to the storage portion and the loading portion.
22. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a projection disposed between the arms, the projection being structured to fit within an aperture defined within a tab disposed at a top of a container.
23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the base includes a scale.
24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising an accumulator operatively connected to the scale, the accumulator adapted to record the number of items placed in the container based upon an increase in a weight of the container with the addition of an item therein.
25. An apparatus for use while packaging items within a container, the apparatus comprising:
- a scale having a support surface for a container;
- a rack for supporting a container in an open position above the scale support surface; and
- an accumulator operatively connected to the scale, the scale and accumulator being structured to record a number of items placed in the container upon an increase in a weight of the container.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the rack further comprises a means for supporting a plurality of containers in a storage position.
27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the rack comprises:
- a base;
- at least one vertical member extending upward from the base: and
- a pair of arms extending outward from the at least one vertical member, each arm having a substantially horizontal storage portion disposed adjacent to the at least one vertical member, a substantially horizontal loading portion disposed at a free end portion of the arm, and a transfer portion disposed between the storage portion and loading portion, the transfer portion being angled with respect to the storage portion and the loading portion.
28. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the scale comprises a signal structured to signal a user upon a preselected maximum weight being reached.
29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the scale comprises a first signal structured to indicate successful registry of an item placed in a container, and a second signal structured to indicate a preselected maximum weight being reached.
30. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the scale and accumulator are structured to determine when a weight of a container and the container's contents have stabilized, and to compare a previous weight of the container and the container's contents with the weight of the container and its contents; whereby an item placed in the container will result in a change in the weight of the container, causing the accumulator to register an additional item within the container.
31. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a processing unit in communication with at least one scale and accumulator, the processing unit being structured to receive information about a number of items per container from the at least one scale and accumulator.
32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the accumulator or the processing unit is structured to calculate an average number of items per container.
33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the processing unit is structured to control a group of settings for the at least one scale and accumulator.
34. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the accumulator is structured to calculate an average number of items per container over a period of time.
35. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein:
- the processing unit includes a radio frequency transmitter/receiver; and
- the at least one scale and accumulator includes a radio frequency transmitter/receiver.
36. A processing unit for use with at least one scale and accumulator combination, the at least one scale and accumulator combination being structured to record a number of items placed in a container disposed on the scale upon an increase in a weight of the container, the processing unit comprising:
- means for receiving information about a number of items per container or about a weight per container from the at least one scale and accumulator combination; and
- means for controlling a group of settings for the at least one scale and accumulator combination.
37. The processing unit according to claim 36, further comprising means for calculating an average number of items per container or an average weight per container for the at least one scale and accumulator combination.
38. The processing unit according to claim 36, wherein the information receiving means and the setting control means include a radio frequency transmitter/receiver.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 5, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2007
Inventors: Roger M. Ruetten (Stillwater, MN), Kendall Busch (New Auburn, MN), Steve Tonkin (Eden Prairie, MN), David L. Booher (Columbia, SC), Leon Farahnik (Beverly Hills, CA)
Application Number: 11/543,646
International Classification: B65B 1/32 (20060101);