BI-OPTIC BARCODE READERS WITH SPECIALLY DESIGNED PLATTERS
At least some embodiments of the present invention are directed to barcode readers having weigh platters. In an example, a barcode reader includes a weigh platter having a central region, a proximal edge region, a first lateral edge region, a second lateral edge region, and a distal edge region, where a the first lateral edge of the first lateral edge region and a second lateral edge of the second lateral edge region extends above a transverse plane defined by the central region.
Bi-optic barcode readers are commonly used in retail and grocery store venues to help facilitate various transaction. Whether used by cashiers or by purchasers during a checkout process, these readers are typically configured to read barcodes that are attached to products and, in some instances, obtain weight data associated with items being purchased. In latter instances, an item is normally placed on a weigh platter that is further connected to a scale, allowing the weight of the item to be obtained for further processing. It is desirable to provide these weigh platters with varying configurations for appropriate applications.
SUMMARYIn an embodiment the present invention is a barcode reader comprising: a housing having a lower housing portion with an upper surface facing a product scanning region and an upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion; and a weigh platter configured to support an object placed on the weigh platter for obtaining a weight of the object. The weigh platter has: a central region extending in a transverse plane, the central region including a window configured to permit light to pass therethrough, the window having a transparent medium having a top surface extending parallel to the transverse plane; a proximal edge region adjacent the upper housing portion and having a proximal edge; a first lateral edge region extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a first lateral edge, the first lateral edge region being positioned along one side of the window; a second lateral edge region, opposite the first lateral edge region, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a second lateral edge, the second lateral edge region being positioned along another side of the window; and a distal edge region, opposite the proximal edge region, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges and having a distal edge, wherein each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends at least 1 mm above the transverse plane. In other implementations, each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends at least 2 mm above the transverse plane.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader for use in a workstation having a workstation surface. The barcode reader includes: a housing having an upper surface facing a product scanning region where a product is expected to be presented to the barcode reader in a swiping motion along a swiping direction; and a weigh platter configured to support an object placed on the weigh platter for obtaining a weight of the object. The weigh platter has: a central region extending in a transverse plane, the central region including a window configured to permit light to pass therethrough, the window having a transparent medium having a top surface extending parallel to the transverse plane; a proximal edge region having a proximal edge extending substantially along the swiping direction; a first lateral edge region extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a first lateral edge, the first lateral edge region being positioned along one side of the window; a second lateral edge region, opposite the first lateral edge region, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a second lateral edge, the second lateral edge region being positioned along another side of the window; and a distal edge region, opposite the proximal edge region, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges and having a distal edge, wherein each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends above the transverse plane.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed examples, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the disclosed examples so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIn the illustrated example, also shown in
In operation, a user 108 generally passes an item 122 across a product scanning region of the barcode reader 106 in a swiping motion in the general direction 107, which in the illustrated example is right-to-left. It should be appreciated that while items may be swiped past the barcode reader 106 in either direction, items may also be presented into the product scanning region by means other than swiping past the window(s). When the item 122 comes into the any of the fields of view of the reader, the barcode 124 on the item 122 is read and decoded by the barcode reader 106 and corresponding data is transmitted to a communicatively coupled host 130. In other instances, items may need to be weighed in order to be added to the ledger of the transaction. In this case, an item is placed on the top surface 116 of the platter 111 for the barcode reader 106 to sense the weight of said item and transmit information associated with this weight to the host 130.
Referring now to
In the example shown in
Surrounding the central region 144 are a proximal edge region 148, a first lateral edge region 150, a second lateral edge region 152, and a distal edge region 154. As is visible in
The first lateral edge region 150 extends non-parallel to the proximal edge 156 and has a first lateral edge 158. In a preferred embodiment, the first lateral edge region 150 is positioned along one side of the window 118, and therefore the central region 144. The second lateral edge region 152 is provided opposite the first lateral edge region 150 and, like the first lateral edge region 150, extends non-parallel to the proximal edge 156 and has its own, second lateral edge 160. Also, the second lateral edge region 152 is positioned along another (opposite) side of the window 118. The remaining region is referred to as the distal edge region 154. It is positioned opposite the proximal edge region 148, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges 158, 160, and includes a distal edge 162.
To help retain the item placed on the platter within the confines thereof, the patter 111 is designed in a way where each of the first lateral edge 158 and the second lateral edge 160 extends at least 1 mm above the transverse plane. In a preferred embodiment, both of the edges 158, 160 extend at least 1 mm but no more than 7 mm above the transverse plane.
In some embodiments it is desirable to install the barcode reader 106 into the workstation 102 such that the lateral edges 158, 160 are substantially on the same plane as the workstation counter/surface 104. In this instance, it should be appreciated that the transverse plane, as defined by the central region 144, will be below the counter/surface 104. In other instances, the lateral edges 158, 160 may extend above the workstation counter/surface 104. However, in this configuration items being dragged between the counter and the platter may bump, scrape, or otherwise impact the edges 158, 160 in an undesirable way.
Referring to the embodiment of
In some embodiments, at least some portions of the lateral-edge-region surfaces 164, 166 may slopes toward the central region 144 at an angle α of at least 2.5 degrees relative to the transverse plane. In some instances, α may be selected between 2.5 degrees and 10 degrees. In other instances α may be selected between 2.5 degrees and 15 degrees.
In some embodiments, at least some portions of the lateral-edge-region surfaces 164, 166 may have a width W that ranges between 10 mm and 100 mm. This width should be measured along the transverse plane. While it would be preferred to have the width W of each of the surfaces 164, 166 be equal, this is not necessary and the respective widths may differ. Additionally, these widths are generally measured with respect to edges of the respective surfaces 164, 166 where an edge may be defined as a change in a surface characteristic, such as, for example, the relative angle along which the surface extends or a nature of the slope changing from a static slope to a variable slope or vice-versa.
Referring now to
For clarity, the following discussion is made with reference to only one side of the platter 111 and only one set of surfaces. However, it should be appreciated that these configurations may be matched or mixed on both sides of the platter 111 as desired and all such configurations are within the scope of the embodiment(s) described herein.
Having at least some portion of the lateral-edge-region region 150 be comprised of multiple distinct surfaces 168, 170 can allow for various configurations exemplarily disclosed in
In an alternate arrangement shown in
In yet alternate arrangements shown in
In some embodiments, the combined width W2, when measured along the transverse plane, between the first edge 172 of the first surface 168 and the second edge 178 of the second surface 170 is between 10 mm and 100 mm.
While the above examples have been provided with flat surfaces, it should be appreciated that surfaces with changing slopes are also within the scope of the invention(s) recited herein. As such, surfaces having changing slopes may replace flat surfaces so long as edges of the various surfaces can be joined together.
Additionally, as shown in
The embodiments described herein may be particularly useful for instances where liquids find their way onto the platter of barcode readers. It has been recognized that liquids, when spilled on existing platters have a tendency to transition to regions below the platter, causing structural and electrical issues with barcode readers like those described herein. Similarly, matter which may come off produce can similarly pose issues when it finds its way below the platter. Providing the configurations disclosed herein may reduce those instances as these configurations may help retain foreign matter on a top surface of the platter, allowing a user to remove said matter without causing harm to the reader.
The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The claimed invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
Claims
1. A barcode reader comprising:
- a housing having a lower housing portion with an upper surface facing a product scanning region and an upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion; and
- a weigh platter configured to support an object placed on the weigh platter for obtaining a weight of the object, the weigh platter having: a central region extending in a transverse plane, the central region including a window configured to permit light to pass therethrough, the window having a transparent medium having a top surface extending parallel to the transverse plane; a proximal edge region adjacent the upper housing portion and having a proximal edge; a first lateral edge region extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a first lateral edge, the first lateral edge region being positioned along one side of the window; a second lateral edge region, opposite the first lateral edge region, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a second lateral edge, the second lateral edge region being positioned along another side of the window; and a distal edge region, opposite the proximal edge region, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges and having a distal edge,
- wherein: each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends at least 2 mm above the transverse plane; the first lateral edge region includes a first-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the first lateral edge; the second lateral edge region includes a second-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the second lateral edge; at least some portion of each of the first-lateral-edge-region surface and the second-lateral-edge-region surface is non-parallel relative to the transverse plane; the at least some portion of the first-lateral-edge-region surface slopes toward the central region at a first angle of at least 2.5 degrees relative to the transverse plane; and the at least some portion of the second-lateral-edge-region surface slopes toward the central region at a second angle of at least 2.5 degrees relative to the transverse plane.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. A barcode reader comprising:
- a housing having a lower housing portion with an upper surface facing a product scanning region and an upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion; and
- a weigh platter configured to support an object placed on the weigh platter for obtaining a weight of the object, the weigh platter having: a central region extending in a transverse plane, the central region including a window configured to permit light to pass therethrough, the window having a transparent medium having a top surface extending parallel to the transverse plane; a proximal edge region adjacent the upper housing portion and having a proximal edge; a first lateral edge region extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a first lateral edge, the first lateral edge region being positioned along one side of the window; a second lateral edge region, opposite the first lateral edge region, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a second lateral edge, the second lateral edge region being positioned along another side of the window; and a distal edge region, opposite the proximal edge region, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges and having a distal edge,
- wherein: each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends at least 2 mm above the transverse plane; the first lateral edge region includes a first-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the first lateral edge; the second lateral edge region includes a second-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the second lateral edge; at least some portion of each of the first-lateral-edge-region surface and the second-lateral-edge-region surface is non-parallel relative to the transverse plane; and at least one of (i) the at least some portion of the first-lateral-edge-region surface and (ii) the at least some portion of the second-lateral-edge-region surface includes a curved surface.
7. A barcode reader comprising:
- a housing having a lower housing portion with an upper surface facing a product scanning region and an upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion; and
- a weigh platter configured to support an object placed on the weigh platter for obtaining a weight of the object, the weigh platter having: a central region extending in a transverse plane, the central region including a window configured to permit light to pass therethrough, the window having a transparent medium having a top surface extending parallel to the transverse plane; a proximal edge region adjacent the upper housing portion and having a proximal edge; a first lateral edge region extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a first lateral edge, the first lateral edge region being positioned along one side of the window; a second lateral edge region, opposite the first lateral edge region, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a second lateral edge, the second lateral edge region being positioned along another side of the window; and a distal edge region, opposite the proximal edge region, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges and having a distal edge,
- wherein: each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends at least 2 mm above the transverse plane; the first lateral edge region includes a first-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the first lateral edge; the second lateral edge region includes a second-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the second lateral edge; at least some portion of each of the first-lateral-edge-region surface and the second-lateral-edge-region surface is non-parallel relative to the transverse plane; at least one of (i) the at least some portion of the first-lateral-edge-region surface and (ii) the at least some portion of the second-lateral-edge-region surface includes a first surface having a first edge proximal the central region and a second edge distal to the central region, and the second edge is between 1 mm and 7 mm above the transverse plane when measured along a direction normal to the transverse plane.
8. The barcode reader of claim 7, wherein the second edge is one of the first lateral edge or the second lateral edge.
9. The barcode reader of claim 7, wherein, when measured along the transverse plane, the first edge is between 10 mm and 100 mm away from the second edge.
10. A barcode reader comprising:
- a housing having a lower housing portion with an upper surface facing a product scanning region and an upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion; and
- a weigh platter configured to support an object placed on the weigh platter for obtaining a weight of the object, the weigh platter having: a central region extending in a transverse plane, the central region including a window configured to permit light to pass therethrough, the window having a transparent medium having a top surface extending parallel to the transverse plane; a proximal edge region adjacent the upper housing portion and having a proximal edge; a first lateral edge region extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a first lateral edge, the first lateral edge region being positioned along one side of the window; a second lateral edge region, opposite the first lateral edge region, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a second lateral edge, the second lateral edge region being positioned along another side of the window; and a distal edge region, opposite the proximal edge region, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges and having a distal edge,
- wherein: each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends at least 2 mm above the transverse plane; the first lateral edge region includes a first-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the first lateral edge; the second lateral edge region includes a second-lateral-edge-region surface extending along at least a portion of the second lateral edge; at least some portion of each of the first-lateral-edge-region surface and the second-lateral-edge-region surface is non-parallel relative to the transverse plane; and at least one of (i) the at least some portion of the first-lateral-edge-region surface and (ii) the at least some portion of the second-lateral-edge-region surface includes: a first surface having a first edge proximal the central region and a second edge distal to the central region; and a second surface having a first edge proximal the second edge of the first surface and a second edge distal to the second edge of the first surface, the second surface being further away from the central region than the first surface.
11. The barcode reader of claim 10, wherein, when measured along a direction normal to the transverse plane:
- the first edge of the first surface is positioned at the transverse plane;
- the second edge of the first surface is positioned at a first height above the transverse plane; and
- the second edge of the second surface is positioned as a second height above the transverse plane, wherein the first height is one of equal to, greater than, or less than the second height.
12. The barcode reader of claim 11, wherein the second edge of the first surface overlaps the first edge of the second surface.
13. The barcode reader of claim 11, wherein, when measured along the transverse plane, the first edge of the first surface is between 10 mm and 100 mm away from the second edge of the second surface.
14. The barcode reader of claim 11, wherein a difference between the first height and the second height is less than the second height.
15. The barcode reader of claim 10, wherein the barcode reader is configured to be installed in a workstation having a workstation surface, and wherein each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge is substantially coplanar with the workstation surface.
16. The barcode reader of claim 7, wherein the barcode reader is configured to be installed in a workstation having a workstation surface, and wherein each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge is substantially coplanar with the workstation surface.
17. (canceled)
18. A barcode reader for use in a workstation having a workstation surface, the barcode reader comprising:
- a housing having an upper surface facing a product scanning region where a product is expected to be presented to the barcode reader in a swiping motion along a swiping direction; and
- a weigh platter configured to support an object placed on the weigh platter for obtaining a weight of the object, the weigh platter having: a central region extending in a transverse plane, the central region including a window configured to permit light to pass therethrough, the window having a transparent medium having a top surface extending parallel to the transverse plane; a proximal edge region having a proximal edge extending substantially along the swiping direction; a first lateral edge region extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a first lateral edge, the first lateral edge region being positioned along one side of the window; a second lateral edge region, opposite the first lateral edge region, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge and having a second lateral edge, the second lateral edge region being positioned along another side of the window; and a distal edge region, opposite the proximal edge region, extending non-parallel to the first and second lateral edges and having a distal edge,
- wherein each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge extends above the transverse plane, and
- wherein at least one of the first lateral edge region and the second lateral edge region includes a first surface that is non-parallel to the transverse plane, the first surface positioned between the central region and a respective lateral edge of the at least one of the first lateral edge region and the second lateral edge region, the first surface having one of a constant or a changing upward slope, relative to the transverse plane, away from the central region.
19. The barcode reader of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the first lateral edge region and the second lateral edge region further includes a second surface that is parallel to the transverse plane.
20. The barcode reader of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the first lateral edge region and the second lateral edge region further includes a second surface that is non-parallel to the transverse plane, the second surface positioned between the first surface and the respective lateral edge of the at least one of the first lateral edge region and the second lateral edge region, the second surface having one of a constant or a changing downward slope, relative to the transverse plane, away from the central region.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 21, 2022
Publication Date: Jan 25, 2024
Inventors: Edward Barkan (Miller Place, NY), Darran Michael Handshaw (New York, NY), Mark Drzymala (Saint James, NY)
Application Number: 17/870,186