• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The present invention relates to a shopping basket lift (1) comprising a movable platform (7) for lifting a shopping basket (9) from a starting position (P) to a higher end position (P) for unloading goods from the shopping basket to a checkout counter (47) . The shopping basket lift is arranged to lower the movable platform (7) from said end position (P) towards said starting position (P) after unloading said goods. The shopping basket lift comprises a clamp protection device (17) arranged to automatically interrupt the lowering of the movable platform (7) in the presence of objects located below it. This reduces the risk of personal injury when using the shopping basket lift (FIG. 1)
    公开号:SE1551418A1
    申请号:SE1551418
    申请日:2015-11-03
    公开日:2017-05-04
    发明作者:RYDSTRÖM Björn；Göranson Carr
    申请人:
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a shopping basket lift for lifting a shopping basket from a starting position to a higher end position for unloading goods from the shopping basket to a cash register counter, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a cash register arrangement comprising a cash register counter and a shopping cart counter. requirement 19.
    BACKGROUND The invention relates to a shopping basket lift for use in shops, such as a grocery store where the customer picks goods from shelves to a shopping basket on wheels which the customer himself transports on the floor in the store to a cash desk where registration and payment of the goods takes place. The checkout counter can be manned or unmanned, whereby the latter alternative means that the customer himself takes care of registration and payment of the goods.
    At the checkout counter, the customer must move the goods from the shopping cart to the checkout counter, which means that the goods usually have to be lifted from floor level or close to floor level to a height of about 1-1.5 meters. For elderly and disabled people, this work often means a heavy burden.
    To avoid this problem, shopping basket lifts of various kinds have been proposed, which are integrated in or placed next to the checkout counter to automatically lift it at a cautious level as the checkout counter. Shopping basket lifts are described in US 2009/0288917 A1, WO 2011/145995 A1 and EP2923615 A1, among others. filled shopping cart to Examples of known These known shopping cart lifts suffer to varying degrees from shortcomings in quality, ergonomics, reliability and customer safety. Furthermore, the vast majority are complex in zinc construction, which increases the manufacturing cost and thus the final price for the customer. Some are awkward in their construction and are thus far too space-consuming to have next to the checkout counter, an area that is a very important sales area and thus usually well filled with racks of various kinds. Other well-known shopping cart elevators require modification of the cash register or other parts of an often standardized cash register, which results in a costly and time-consuming installation. Summary of the Invention An object of the present invention is to solve or at least reduce one or more of the above-mentioned problems associated with shopping basket lifts according to known invention. technique.
    A particular object of the present invention is to provide a safe shopping basket lift in the sense of increased customer safety when using the shopping basket lift.
    This and other objects are achieved according to an aspect of the invention by a single basket lift comprising a movable platform for lifting a basket from a starting position to a higher end position for unloading goods from the basket to a cash register counter. The start position is typically a position at floor level or close to floor level and the end position is typically a position that causes the shopping basket to end up at the level of the cash register counter. The shopping lift is further arranged to lower the movable platform from said end position towards said starting position after unloading said goods. The lowering of the moving platform can be initiated, for example, by customer pressing a button at the shopping lift, or store staff pressing a button at the checkout counter. In another embodiment, the shopping cart lift lowering of the moving platform begins automatically as the shopping cart is lifted away from the moving platform. This can be achieved by using a shopping basket detector included in the shopping basket lift. The shopping basket lift further comprises a single-clamp protection device arranged to automatically interrupt the lowering of the movable platform in the presence of objects located below it.
    Thus, the shopping basket lift automatically includes that when it is activated the shopping basket to the appropriate height. When the goods have been picked out of the shopping basket, the empty shopping basket is suitably moved by the customer down to the floor, whereupon the shopping basket lift returns the movable platform to its initial position at floor level.
    The anti-pinch device avoids pinch injuries to persons when returning the movable platform to the floor level. The automatic clamping protection provided by means of said clamping protection device means that the movable platform automatically stops before any greater pressure has arisen on a body part or object located between the floor and the descending platform. This increases customer safety when using the shopping basket lift.
    Objects located below the movable platform refer to objects located between the movable platform and its starting position at floor level. Clamp protection devices should be arranged to detect the presence of objects located below at least one peripheral part of the movable platform, i.e. objects located below an outer part of the movable platform. Preferably, the clamp protection device is arranged to detect objects even under a substantially central part of the movable platform.
    The protection device can be, for example, mechanical, electromechanical and / or optical.
    In an embodiment of an electromechanical clamp protection device, the clamp protection device comprises at least one electrical conductor arranged to close or break a circuit which regulates said lowering of the movable platform when an upward force acts on the movable platform. By closing or breaking said circuit, the movable platform can be made to stop as soon as an upward force large enough to cause said closing or breaking of the circuit acts on the moving platform.
    For example, said electrical conductor may consist of a lower electrical conductor which in idle position (i.e. in the absence of external forces) is arranged at a vertical distance from an upper electrical conductor and movable in vertical direction relative thereto. For example, the upper electrical conductor may be fixed connected to the movable platform while the lower electrical conductor is vertically movable relative to the platform and the upper electrical conductor connected thereto. Thereby, the lower electrical conductor can be made to close said electrical circuit by being brought into contact with the upper electrical conductor when an upward force acts on the lower electrical conductor. The lower and upper electrical conductor can then be said to constitute a toggle switch.
    The lower electrical conductor is advantageously arranged to reintroduce its original position at a vertical distance from the upper electrical conductor when the upward force no longer acts. In this case, the lowering of the movable platform can be resumed automatically as soon as the object under the platform has been removed and the risk of crushing has been eliminated. The lower electrical conductor may, for example, be allowed to assume its original position by the action of gravity and / or spring force from at least one spring means which is arranged to be compressed (sprung) by the upward force and spring back in the absence thereof.
    The lower electrical conductor may be fixedly connected to or constitute a force-receiving means which has a substantially flat shape and a surface which is substantially equal to the lower surface of the movable platform. The plate constituting the force-absorbing member is advantageously adapted in both shape and size so that it covers substantially the entire lower surface of the movable platform. Furthermore, this plate is advantageously arranged so that substantially the entire plate moves vertically up the underside of the counter-platform regardless of where on the plate the upward force is applied. Thereby the lower electrical conductor can be more easily caused to be brought into contact with the upper electrical conductor regardless of the upward force point of attack.
    Said plate may be connected to the movable platform by means of at least one and preferably a plurality of connecting means which, under the influence of said upwardly directed force, are arranged to allow an upward movement of the plate so that the lower electrical conductor is brought into contact with the upper electrical conductor. The at least one connecting member is advantageously arranged between an underside of the movable platform and said plate so that the plate lies substantially parallel to said underside, at a vertical distance therefrom. In order to enable said upward movement of the plate, the connecting member is preferably compressible along its vertical direction of extension. The connecting member may advantageously be constituted by a resilient member, such as a rubber member.
    According to a variant, the lower electrical conductor consists of an electrically conductive sheet metal with a surface which is substantially equal to the lower surface of the movable platform. The sheet metal can then be said to constitute both electrical conductor and force-absorbing means, as described above. This design of the lower electrical conductor allows the upper electrical conductor to be designed and placed more arbitrarily since the sheet metal allows a large contact area between the lower electrical conductor and the underside of the movable platform.
    According to another variant, the lower and upper electrical conductors are elongated in the one-horizontal direction and arranged at least along a peripheral part of the underside of the movable platform. The electrical conductors can then form a two-part strip which preferably runs along one or more sides of the underside of the movable platform.
    In an embodiment of a substantially mechanical clamp protection device, the clamp protection device can be fully included in the drive device of the shopping basket lift, which means that the movable platform does not have to comprise any means for detecting objects located below it. Instead, detection of such objects can take place on the drive device based on the resistance that the drive device encounters when lowering the movable platform. According to a variant, the drive device may comprise a slip function. Such a sliding function can be provided, for example, by means of a single-slip clutch which, when too much torque from a motor included in the drive device is required to effect the downward movement of the movable platform, provides a release between two or more driving components called drive device. For example, such a disengagement can take place between a drive shaft housing said electric motor and a gear wheel which drives a toothed belt to which the movable platform is connected. It is hereby understood that "detection of objects located below the moving platform" also includes passive detection of said object based on some parameter (for example required torque for lowering the moving platform) which is directly or indirectly affected by the presence of such objects. Thus, the clamp protection device according to the invention can be said to be arranged to actively or passively detect the presence of objects under the movable platform and to, upon detection of the presence of such objects, automatically interrupt the lowering of the movable platform.
    In an embodiment of a substantially optical anti-pinch device, the anti-pinch device comprises at least one photocell or photodetector arranged on the underside of the movable platform and arranged to detect objects located below the movable platform. Upon detection of the presence of such objects, the photocell or photodetector may be arranged to send a signal to the shopping basket elevator drive device, wherein the drive device may be arranged to, upon receipt of said signal, interrupt the automatic lowering of the moving platform.
    The shopping basket lift may further comprise a shopping basket detector device arranged to automatically detect the presence of a shopping basket placed on the moving platform and, upon detection thereof, ensure that the shopping basket lift automatically starts lifting from said starting position towards said end position.
    Furthermore, the shopping cart detector device can be arranged to automatically detect the removal of a shopping cart from the moving platform and to, upon detection thereof, ensure that the shopping cart elevator automatically begins the lowering towards said starting position. Also said shopping basket detector device can advantageously consist of a toggle switch comprising at least one electrical conductor arranged to stop or break an electrical circuit which regulates said lifting and / or lowering of the moving platform when an external force caused by the presence of a shopping basket on said moving platform acts on said moving platform. leader.
    The electrical conductor of the shopping cart detector is advantageously placed in relation to the movable platform so that said force only acts on that electrical conductor if substantially the entire shopping cart is on the moving platform. This ensures that the shopping cart elevator does not start lifting the shopping cart before it is stable on the moving platform. which further increases the safety when using the shopping basket lift as the shopping basket is thus prevented from falling off the platform and causing personal injury. Ideally, the electrical conductor should be positioned so that the entire bottom surface of the shopping cart is within the periphery of the movable platform. In this case, both the size and shape of the platform, as well as the location of the electrical conductor, should be adapted to the shape and size of the shopping baskets for which the shopping basket lift is intended. Typically, the movable platform is substantially rectangular, the electrical conductor constituting the toggle switch being located in a part of said rectangular platform which is remote from one side of the rectangular platform from which the shopping basket is intended to be carried up on the platform.
    The toggle switch may, for example, be spring-loaded so that the electrical circuit is closed when the basket is placed on the movable platform in such a way that the force from the basket overcomes the spring force of the spring-loaded toggle switch, and so that the electrical circuit is broken when the basket is moved. spring back. In this way, automatic lifting of the movable platform when placing a shopping basket thereon, co-automatic lowering of the moving platform when removing a shopping basket therefrom, can be achieved by relatively simple means.
    The shopping basket lift is primarily intended for the larger type of shopping baskets that are equipped with wheels and are intended to be rolled out by the customer on their way through the store. The movable platform may then comprise a sloping ramp portion arranged to facilitate rolling of said shopping basket up on the movable platform in said starting position.
    Preferably, the shopping cart elevator also comprises a fixed platform for receiving a manually placed shopping basket, said fixed platform and said end position of the movable platform being adapted in height so that a shopping basket manually placed on the fixed platform and a shopping basket lifting up said movable platform means is at a substantial height and preferably substantially the same height as the cash register. In most stores today, there is a type of larger and wheeled shopping baskets intended to be rolled through the store and another type of smaller shopping baskets intended to be carried through the store. The fixed platform is advantageously adapted in size and shape to the smaller, portable shopping basket type, while the movable platform of the shopping basket lift is adapted to the larger, rollable shopping basket type. Both platforms can be substantially rectangular in shape and include projecting side portions along at least one side to prevent the basket from sliding down from the respective platform. Advantageously, the fixed platform is provided with a launching side portion along at least one rear side of the fixed platform from the customer's side set, while the movable platform is advantageously provided with launching side portions along three of the side portions of the rectangular platform. The type of rolling bar basket is intended to be filled up on the substantially rectangular, movable platform from the fourth side thereof which has no projecting side portion. As mentioned above, this side may instead comprise a downwardly sloping ramp portion to facilitate rolling of the shopping cart up onto the platform.
    The shopping cart lift may further comprise a substantially cabinet-shaped housing which encloses a drive device for effecting said lifting and lowering of shopping baskets located on the movable platform. Preferably, said fixed platform for receiving a manually placed shopping basket is arranged to consist wholly or partly of, or supported by, said casing. In this case, the housing serves the dual function of enclosing the drive device and moving parts thereof, at the same time as it offers a place for placing portable shopping baskets.
    In an exemplary embodiment, the movable platform is arranged to move between said start and end position along an elongate and substantially vertical opening in said housing, through which the movable platform is connected to said drive device.
    The drive device may for instance comprise a toothed belt which runs between two or more gears arranged internally said housing. The movable platform can be connected to the gear belt which thereby causes the movable platform to move between said start and end position by controlling at least one of said gears. In one embodiment, one of the gears, which constitutes drive wheels, is driven by an electric motor.
    In one embodiment, the toothed belt runs between three gears, two of which are positioned substantially vertically relative to each other and the third is displaced laterally relative to the two substantially vertically arranged gears so that the toothed belt forms a triangle with a substantially vertical side. The movable platform is connected to the toothed belt along this substantially vertical side. The laterally displaced gear is movably arranged so that it can be moved laterally and / or vertically and at least one of the substantially vertically arranged gears is movably arranged vertically. In this case, the length of the substantially vertical path length on which the movable platform can move can be adjusted and adapted to the height of the checkout counter at which the shopping basket lift is intended to be used. Likewise, the housing which houses the drive device may comprise a part intended to be manufactured at different heights, preferably an upper part which forms a lid for the cabinet-shaped housing. In this case, the whole-goods basket lift, including the housing and drive device, can easily be adapted in height to different types of cash registers.
    The invention also comprises a cash register for goods registration in shops, in particular intended for grocery trade, comprising a cash register counter and a shopping basket lift in accordance with any of the embodiments described above. As will be appreciated from the above discussions, the end position of the shopping cart elevator should be adapted to the height of the cash register counter, so that a shopping cart located on that moving platform ends up in substantially the same horizontal plane as a surface cash register counter intended for receiving goods for registration. As also described above, the casing of the shopping basket should also be adapted in height to the checkout counter so that the fixed platform for receiving portable shopping baskets ends up at a single height which means that portable shopping baskets placed thereon end up in substantially the same horizontal plane as said cash register surface for receiving goods for registration.
    The shopping cart can be arranged in different ways in relation to the checkout counter. According to an advantageous embodiment, the shopping basket lift is located next to said cash counter surface receiving goods for registration in such a way that the fixed platform of the shopping basket lift is located closest and substantially next to said cash counter surface and also that the movable platform, in said end position, is located opposite the fixed platform. to said cash counter surface. This provides good ergonomics when using both the fixed and the moving platform.
    The proposed shopping basket lift is intended for use at manned checkout counters as well as at unmanned checkout counters.
    Additional advantages of the shopping cart and cash register arrangement of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description when studied in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to different views, and in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a shopping cart lift; Figs. 2A-2C illustrate a pinch protection device of the shopping basket elevator; Figs. 3A-3B illustrate a shopping cart detector device of the shopping cart elevator; Figs. 4A-4B illustrate a drive device of the shopping basket elevator; Figs. 5A-5B illustrate parts of the drive device and a housing of the shopping basket elevator, and Figs. 6A-6B illustrate a cash register arrangement comprising a shopping cart elevator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows a shopping cart elevator 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
    The shopping basket lift 1 comprises a cabinet-shaped housing 4, which is the drive device of the shopping basket lift. The housing 4 comprises a longitudinally narrow and substantially accommodates vertical opening 5 through which said drive device is connected to a movable platform 7 intended to receive and support a shopping basket 9 when it is lifted by means of the shopping basket lift from a starting position PS towards an end position PE.
    The final position PE is adapted to the height of the checkout counter at which goods the shopping basket 9 is to be placed for registration and payment. When the goods are unloaded from the shopping basket 9 and the shopping basket is lifted away from the platform 7 by the customer, the lowered shopping basket lift 1 moves the movable platform 7 back to the starting position, i.e. the starting position PS. This lowering of the platform 7 can be initiated in different ways. For example, the lowering can be initiated by the customer pressing a button 11 on the shopping basket lift. According to another variant, the lowering can be initiated automatically when the single basket detector, which will be described in more detail below, can no longer detect the presence of a basket on the movable platform 7.
    The movable platform 7 is substantially rectangular and comprises a rectangular bottom plate 7A. As can be seen in Fig. 1, three sides of the rectangular platform are provided with projecting parts 13 which constitute rolling and sliding stops for the shopping basket 9 and thereby prevent it from rolling or sliding down from the platform 7 when it is cluttered. In the exemplary embodiment, the projecting parts constitute continuous wall portions arranged externally three of the sides of the shopping cart, but the projecting parts can of course be designed in many different ways as long as the function prevents the shopping cart 9 from falling off the platform 7 as it lifts up to its end position PE. The shopping basket 9 is intended to be rolled up on the platform 7 via a fourth side of the rectangular platform 7, which therefore lacks projecting parts and is instead provided with a sloping ramp portion 15. The star position PS and the inclination and size of the ramp portion 15 are adapted to each other so that the ramp portion 15 abuts substantially close to the floor when the platform 7 is in said starting position. Furthermore, the inclination and size of the ramp portion 15 can be adapted to the dimensions of a clamp protection device of the shopping basket elevator 1, arranged below the movable platform 7 as will be described in more detail below, so that the lower edge of before said ramp portion 15 reaches the floor level clamp protection device. PS.
    An exemplary embodiment of said clamp protection device will now be described with reference to Figs. 2A-2C.
    Fig. 2A shows the movable platform 7 and parts of a clamp protection device 17, which is arranged to detect objects located below the movable platform 7 and that, in the presence of such objects detected, ensure that the lowering of the movable platform 7 is automatically interrupted.
    With simultaneous reference to Figs. 2A-2C, the clamp protection device 17 comprises at least one electrical conductor 19A, 19B arranged to, when an upward force F1 acts on the movable platform 7, stop or break a circuit S which regulates the automatic lowering of the movable platform 7 from its end position. PE to its starting position PS. wherein a clamp protection device 17 constitutes an electromechanical clamp protection device which prevents body parts from getting caught between the platform 7 and the floor when the platform returns to its starting position PS.
    In the exemplary embodiment here, the clamp protection device 17 comprises a force-receiving member 21, here in the form of a plate which covers substantially the entire lower surface of the movable platform 7. The force-receiving member 21 is fixedly connected to at least a first, lower electrical conductor 19A. Furthermore, the force receiving means 21 is movably arranged relative to the platform 7 in such a way that the lower electrical contact 19A, in the absence of upward force on the force receiving member 21, is located at a vertical distance from an upper electric conductor 19B so that the electrical circuit S is open. The force-receiving member 21, and thus the lower electrical contact 19A, is movably connected 12 to the platform 7 via at least one and preferably a plurality of connecting means 23, preferably resilient connecting means. In this embodiment, the connecting means 23 consist of resilient and resilient membranes, for example rubber membranes. The resilient connecting means 23 are tubular and the lower conductor 19A and upper 19B are both arranged inside the tubular spring means 23 to thereby be protected from dirt and moisture. When the upward force F1 acts on the force absorbing means 21, the connecting means 23 is compressed and the lower electrical conductor 19A is brought into conductive contact with the upper electrical conductor 19B so that the electrical circuit S is closed. An electric control signal S1 can thereby be sent to the drive device of the shopping basket, the warp drive device, upon receipt of the control signal S1, immediately interrupts the lowering of the movable platform 7.
    When the upward force F1 no longer acts, the force absorbing 19A is returned to its original positions (left picture in Fig. 2C) by the action of gravity and the means 21 and the associated electrical conductor sinusoidal force from the compressed and resilient connecting means 23. Thus the circuit S1 no further up to the shopping basket elevator drive device. The drive device is preferably arranged to interpret this drop-off control signal S1 as meaning that no object is located below the movable platform 7, the return of the platform 7 to its starting position PS being automatically resumed.
    The clamp protection device 17 according to the present invention can of course be designed in many different ways. In order to make the operation of the shopping basket lift, the clamp protection device must be arranged to detect the presence of objects located below at least a peripheral part of the movable platform 7, i.e. objects located below an outer part of the movable platform. Preferably, however, the clamp protection device 17 is arranged to detect objects even under a substantially central part of the movable platform.
    In another exemplary embodiment (not shown), the lower electrical conductor arranged at a vertical distance from an upper electrical conductor may be an electrically conductive sheet metal which covers a larger part of and preferably substantially the entire lower surface of the platform 7. Thereby, this sheet metal may act electrically. leaders and power-absorbing bodies at the same time. The conductive sheet metal can then 13 be proposed to be coated with a non-conductive material on the underside in order to increase the operational reliability of the clamp protection device. To allow vertical movement between the plate and the upper electrical conductor, the plate may be connected to the movable platform by connecting means which can be compressed in its vertical extension direction, for example one or more connecting means 23, as described above with reference to Figs. 2A-2C.
    In another exemplary embodiment (not shown), the lower and upper electrical conductors are horizontally elongate and arranged at least along a peripheral portion of the underside of the movable platform. The electrical conductors can then be said to constitute a two-part strip which preferably runs along one or more sides of the underside of the movable platform. A similar strip can advantageously also be arranged on a central part of the underside of the platform in order to enable detection of smaller objects located directly below the movable platform. When applying an upward force, the electrical conductors are compressed, closing the electrical circuit and interrupting the downward movement of the platform, as described above. In order to allow vertical movement between the electrical conductors, these may be connected to each other by means of connecting means which can be compressed in their vertical extension direction, for example one or more connecting means 23, as described above with reference to Figs. 2A-2C.
    The shopping basket lift 1 may further comprise a shopping basket detector device arranged to automatically detect the presence of a shopping basket 9 placed on the movable platform 7 and, upon detection thereof, to automatically start the lift from said starting position PS towards said end position PE.
    The shopping cart detector device, hereinafter referred to as the shopping cart detector, may advantageously be constituted by a toggle switch comprising at least one electrical conductor arranged to stop or break an electrical circuit regulating said lifting of the movable platform 7 when an external force caused by the presence of a shopping cart . The electrical conductor of the shopping cart detector is advantageously placed in relation to the movable platform 7 so that said force only acts on the electrical conductor, substantially the entire shopping basket 9 is located on the movable platform. Preferably, the electrical conductor is positioned so that the entire bottom surface of the shopping cart is within the periphery of the movable platform. Preferably, said electrical circuit is arranged to regulate both the lifting of the movable platform from its starting position PS towards its end position PE and the lowering of the movable platform from its end position PE towards its starting position PS. Furthermore, the electrical conductor is advantageously arranged to terminate said electrical when a shopping basket is placed on the moving platform 7, and to break said electrical circuit when the shopping basket is removed from the moving platform 7. By automatically starting the lifting of the moving platform 7 when said electrical circuit is closed, and / or automatically starting the lowering of the moving platform 7 when said electric circuit is broken, the shopping basket elevator 1 can be configured for automatic lifting and / or lowering of the moving platform 7 based on detected presence of a shopping cart on the moving platform7.
    Exemplary embodiments of a shopping cart detector as above will now be described with reference to Figs. 3A and 3B.
    Fig. 3A shows a shopping cart detector 25A comprising an electrical conductor in the form of a first electrical conductor 27A which is arranged on a side of the movable platform 7 which is parallel to the direction of movement of the shopping cart when it is raised on the platform. The side consists of one of the above-mentioned suspended parts 13. The first electrical conductor 27A is spring-loaded by means of a spring member 29A so that it projects obliquely from said side and forms a toggle switch together with a second electrical conductor 31A. The shopping cart detector 25A is arranged so that the shopping cart, as it sinks on the platform 7 via the ramp portion 15, typically by rolling, presses the first electrical conductor 27A against the second electrical conductor 31A so that they are brought into conductive contact and thus closes the circuit (not shown) regulates lifting and / or lowering of the movable platform 7. As described with reference to Fig. 2C, the circuit may be designed so that the closing circuit causes a control signal to be sent to the basket device drive device, the drive device being arranged to interpret the reception of the control signal. of a shopping basket on the platform 7, whereby the lifting of the platform from its starting position PS towards its end position PE is automatically started by the stripping device. In the same way, the drive device can be arranged to interpret the absence of such a control signal as the absence of a shopping basket on the platform 7, whereby lowering of the platform 7 towards its starting position PS is automatically started by the drive device if the platform 7 is not already in said starting position PS.
    Thus, when the customer has picked the goods out of the shopping basket and then lifts the shopping basket on the floor, the platform 7 will automatically be returned to its starting position PS at floor level.
    The angle at which the first electrical conductor 27A projects from the side of the platform, the dimensions and positions of the first and second conductors 27A, 31A, the dimension, position and spring force of the spring member 29A are examples of parameters which must be chosen so that the basket 9, when placed properly on the platform 7, is able to bring the first electrical conductor 27A into contact with the second electrical conductor 31A.
    Furthermore, both the design (shape and size) of the platform 7 and the design of the shopping cart detector 25A are adapted to the shape of the shopping baskets 9 for which the shopping basket elevator 1 is intended, so that the shopping cart detector 27A only registers the presence of single shopping cart 9 on the platform 7. is located on the platform.
    Fig. 3B shows a shopping basket detector 25B comprising an electrical conductor in the form of a first electrical conductor 27B which is arranged on one side of the movable platform 7 which is opposite the side of the platform along which the shopping basket 9 is raised. The opposite side is constituted by one of the above-mentioned projecting parts 13. The first electrical conductor 27B is spring-loaded by means of two spring means 29B so that it projects at a distance from and substantially parallel to said side. The middle side and the first electrical conductor 27B are located on a second electrical conductor 31B. The shopping cart detector 25B is arranged so that the shopping cart 9, when it is soaked on the platform 7 via the ramp portion 15, typically by rolling, presses the first electrical conductor 27B against a second electrical conductor 31B so that they are brought into conductive contact and thus closes the circuit (not shown) which regulates the lifting of the movable platform 7. This circuit can be designed as described above with reference to Fig. 3A.
    Fig. 4A shows an exemplary embodiment of the basket device drive device 33A. The drive device 33A comprises a toothed belt 35 which runs between a lower and upper gear 37A and 37B. The movable platform 7 is attached to said toothed belt 35 via a support arm 39 and thus arranged to be raised and lowered in accordance with the movement of the toothed belt between said gears 37A, 37B. The support arm 39 runs 16 through the elongate and substantially vertical opening 5 in the housing 4, which is shown in Fig. 1.
    The lower gear 37A is coupled to an electric motor 41 via a drive shaft 43. The electric motor 41 is arranged to apply a torque to the drive shaft 43, which in turn is arranged to transmit this or another torque to the lower gear 37A, which is thereby caused to rotate. The lower gear then forms the drive gear front belt 35. The drive device 33A is arranged to lift the movable platform 7 and the shopping basket 9 placed thereon from the starting position PS to the end position PE, and to return the platform 7 to the starting position PS after the customer has removed the goods and lifts the empty one. the shopping cart from the platform.
    Fig. 4B shows an alternative drive device configuration. The drive device 33B is identical to the drive device 33A in Fig. 4A except that the drive device 33B includes a third gear 37C. In this embodiment, the upper gear 37B is adjustable vertically and said third gear 37C is adjustable horizontally. This enables easy adjustment of the maximum extent of the drive in height, which is typically determined by the distance between the lower gear 37A and the upper gear 37A. in height to different heights of the cabinet-shaped housing 4.
    Referring to Figs. 5A and 5B, it is shown how the drive device 33B as well as the cabinet-shaped housing 4 can be easily adapted to adapt the shopping basket elevator 1 to checkout counters of different heights. The drive device 33B can be adjusted in height as described above. The cabinet-shaped housing 4 may advantageously consist of a main part 4A which forms the base of said housing 4, and a top part 4B, which constitutes a lid on said height 4. By providing top parts 4B of different heights, as illustrated in Figs. 5A and 5B, and At the same time adjusting the height of the drive device 33B accordingly, shopping carts 1 where not only the movable platform end position PE but also the shopping cart housing 4 and drive device 33B adapted to the height of the cash register can be provided in a simple manner with a minimum of changes in the production process for manufacturing the shopping car lift 1.
    Figs. 6A and 6B show a top view and a side view, respectively, of a cash stand 45 for goods registration in a store, according to an embodiment of the invention. The cash stand 17 45 can be intended for any type of store but is especially intended for grocery shopping and can be used to advantage in, for example, grocery stores.
    With simultaneous reference to the different views, the cash stand 45 comprises a cash register counter 47 and a shopping basket elevator 1 as previously described. The checkout counter 47 includes a surface 49 on which the customer is intended to place goods to be registered and paid for at the checkout counter. As can be seen from the side view in Fig. 6B, the shopping basket end position PE is adapted in height to the height hc of the cash counter, so that the shopping basket 9 on the movable platform 7 in this position ends up in substantially the same horizontal plane as the cash counter surface 49 on which the goods are intended to be placed.
    As also shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, the shopping basket elevator comprises a fixed platform 51 for receiving a manually placed shopping basket 53. The fixed platform 53 and the end position PE of the movable platform 7 are advantageously adapted in height so that a shopping basket 53 manually placed on the fixed the platform 51 and single basket 9 which is lifted up to said end position PE by means of the movable platform 7 are at substantially the same height and preferably substantially the same height as the checkout counter. The fixed platform 51 further comprises a projecting side portion 55 along at least one rear side of the fixed platform 51 seen from the customer's side. This side portion 55 prevents the portable shopping basket 53 from falling on the opposite side as the customer lifts and puts the portable shopping basket on the fixed platform 51. Furthermore, the side portion 55 signals to the customer that the surface constituting the fixed platform 51 is intended to be used for placing portable shopping baskets. .
    In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed platform 51 is formed by the upper side of the casing hoist housing 4. Thus, this casing 4 should be adapted in height to the cash register counter 47 so that the fixed platform 51 for receiving portable baskets 53 ends up at a height which allows portable baskets placed substantially thereon the same horizontal plane as the said cash counter surface 49 receipt of goods for registration. With the exemplary arrangement, the upper side of the basket 4 housing, also the fixed platform 51, is an extension of the cash counter 47. That the height hE of the casing 4 is substantially the same as the height hc of the cash counter 47 is advantageous in that the upper surface of the casing goods from a shopping basket 9 which lifts up the closing position PE of the shopping basket lift 1, before these goods are moved on to the checkout counter 49 for receiving goods for registration. Advantageously, the shopping basket lift 1 and the cash register counter 47 are placed so in relation to each other that the upper side of the casing 4 lies substantially close to the cash register counter 47. Thus canvas placed on the upper side of the casing from a shopping basket 9 on the shopping basket lift 1 are slid over to the cash counter 47 and said cash counter surface 49. prevents further lifting of the goods. By essentially poetry is meant here that the space between the checkout counter and the upper side of the shopping basket cover 4 is at most five centimeters, preferably less than three centimeters and most preferably less than one centimeter. Alternatively, the cash stand 45 may include a ramp between the top of the housing and the cash register, which bridges the distance between the cash register and the upper side of the housing and thereby enables the customer to slide goods from the top of the housing to the cash register 47 and on to the cash register surface 49 for receiving goods for registration.
    It should be understood that Figs. 6A and 6B show only one of several conceivable ways in which the shopping basket elevator 1 can be arranged relative to the cash register 47. In another conceivable embodiment of the cash register arrangement, the shopping basket elevator 1 can be rotated 90 ° clockwise and the movable platform 7 rotated 180 ° in the horizontal plane. In this way, the movable platform should end up in front of the housing 4 and its upper side which constitutes the fixed platform 51, seen from the customer's side.
    权利要求:
    Claims (1)
    [1]
    A shopping basket lift (1) comprising a movable platform (7) for lifting a shopping basket (9) from a starting position (PS) to a higher end position (PE) for unloading goods from the shopping basket to a checkout counter (47), wherein the shopping basket lift is arranged to lower the movable platform (7) from said end position (PE) towards said starting position (PS) after unloading said goods, characterized by the shopping basket lift further comprising a clamp protection device (17) arranged to automatically interrupt the lowering of the moving platform (7) of objects located below it. Shopping cart lift according to claim 1, wherein said clamp protection device (17) is a substantially mechanical, electromechanical and / or optical clamp protection device. Shopping cart lift (1) according to claim 2, wherein said clamp protection device is essentially a mechanical clamp protection device included in a drive device (33A; 33B) included in the basket lift (1) for lowering the movable platform (7), the clamp protection device comprising a slip clutch coupling the platform by disengagement between two or multi-driving components in said drive device when an upward force acts on the movable platform (7). Shopping cart lift (1) according to claim 2, wherein said clamp protection device (17) is a substantially electromechanical clamp protection device comprising at least one electrical conductor (19A) arranged to close or break a circuit (S) which regulates said lowering of the movable platform (7) when an upward force F1) acts on the moving platform. Shopping cart elevator (1) according to claim 4, wherein said electrical conductor (19A) is a lower electrical conductor arranged at a vertical distance from an upper electrical conductor (19B), the lower electrical conductor being arranged to close said electrical circuit (S) by being brought into contact with the upper electrical conductor when the upward force (F1) acts on the lower electrical conductor. Shopping cart elevator 11 - Shopping cart elevator (1) according to claim 5, wherein the lower electrical conductor (19A) is arranged to reintroduce its original position at a vertical distance from the upper electrical conductor (19B) when the upward force (F1) no longer acts on the lower electrical conductor. Shopping cart elevator (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the lower electrical conductor (19A) is fixedly connected to or consists of a force-absorbing member (21) which has a substantially flat shape and a surface which is substantially equal to a lower surface of the movable the platform (7). Shopping cart lift (1) according to claim 7, wherein said force-receiving means (21) is connected to the movable platform (7) by means of at least one connecting means (23) which, under the influence of said upward force (F1), is arranged to allow an upward movement of the force absorbing means (21) so that the lower electrical conductor (19A) is brought into contact with the upper electrical conductor (19B). Shopping cart elevator (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said force-receiving means comprises an electrically conductive plate which has a surface which is substantially equal to a lower surface of the movable platform (7) and which constitutes said lower electrical conductor. (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clamp protection device (17) is arranged to automatically interrupt the lowering of the movable platform (7) in the presence of objects located below at least the peripheral part of the movable platform (7) and preferably also under a substantially central part. hence. A shopping basket lift (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a shopping basket detector device (25A; 25B) arranged to automatically detect the presence of a shopping basket (9) placed on the movable platform (7) and, upon detection thereof, to ensure that the lift from said starting position (PS) against said end position (PE) is automatically started. A shopping cart elevator (1) according to claim 11, wherein the shopping cart detector device (25A; 25B) comprises at least one electrical conductor (27A; 27B) arranged to stop or break an electrical circuit which regulates said lifting of the movable platform (7) when an external force caused by the presence of a shopping basket (9) on the movable platform acts on said electrical conductor (27A; 27B). Shopping cart lift (1) according to claim 12, wherein the electrical conductor (27A; 27B) is positioned relative to said movable platform (7) so that said force only acts on the electrical conductor if substantially the entire shopping basket (9) is on the movable platform . Shopping cart elevator (1) claims 11 to 13, wherein the shopping cart detector device (25A; 25B) is further arranged to detect according to something the removal of a shopping cart (9) from the movable platform (7) and to, upon wide detection thereof, ensure that lowering of the shopping cart the moving platform (7) towards said starting position (PS) is automatically started. Shopping basket lift (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable platform (7) comprises a sloping ramp portion (15) arranged to facilitate rolling of said shopping basket (9) up on said movable platform (7) in said starting position (Ps) - A shopping cart lift (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fixed platform (51) for receiving a manually placed shopping basket (53), said fixed platform (51) and said end position (PE) of the movable platform (7) being adapted in height so that a shopping basket (53) manually placed on said fixed platform (51) and a shopping basket (9) lifting up said end position (PE) by means of the movable platform (7) are at substantially the same height. A shopping cart elevator (1) according to claim 16, further comprising a substantially cabinet format housing (4) enclosing a drive device (33A; 33B) for effecting said lifting and lowering of the shopping cart (9), said fixed platform (51) for receiving a manually placed shopping basket (53) is constituted or supported by said casing (4). A shopping basket lift (1) according to claim 17, wherein said movable platform (7) is arranged to move between said starting position (PS) and said end position (PE) along an elongate and substantially vertical opening (5) in said housing. (4), through which the movable platform (7) is connected to said drive device (33A; 33B). A cash register (45) for store registration of goods, comprising a checkout counter (47) and a shopping basket lift, characterized in that the shopping basket lift is a single shopping basket lift (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said end position (PE) is adjusted in height relative to height (hc ) on said cash register counter (47) so that the shopping basket (9) ends up in substantially the same horizontal plane as a surface (49) of the cash register counter intended for receiving goods for registration. A cash register (45) according to claim 19 and claim 16 or 17, wherein the shopping basket lift (1) is located next to the checkout counter (47) so that said fixed platform (51) of the shopping cart lift (1) is located closest and substantially adjacent to the checkout counter (47), said movable platform (7) is located on the opposite side of the fixed platform (51) relative to the cash desk.
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    同族专利:
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    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1551418A|SE540152C2|2015-11-03|2015-11-03|Shopping basket lift and cash register|SE1551418A| SE540152C2|2015-11-03|2015-11-03|Shopping basket lift and cash register|
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