The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 14, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 02, 2005
Richard Hunter Harris, Raleigh, NC (US);
Brian Hargrove Leonard, Durham, NC (US);
Robert Paul Tennant, Apex, NC (US);
Richard Hunter Harris, Raleigh, NC (US);
Brian Hargrove Leonard, Durham, NC (US);
Robert Paul Tennant, Apex, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a checkout system which comprises an item accumulation (bagging) area which is partitioned into two or more sections using a flexible divider. The flexible divider extends from the entry zone of the accumulation area to a point on the boundary of the accumulation zone, but is longer than required to achieve this. When items are introduced into one section of the bagging area, if the items push against the flexible divider, for example due to weight of numbers, the divider flexes into the other section thereby making more space available in the current section for the items. Optionally the flexible divider is movable between two positions in the entry zone such that it further acts as a diverter for diverting items into one or other of the two sections and preferably a motor is used to automatically perform the movement.