Conveyor belt divider
A conveyor belt divider used to separate different customers' orders on a conveyor belt at a checkout register. The conveyor belt divider is configured to hold a plurality of items, such as small bottles, that may be removed by a customer at a checkout register. A gripping element may be associated with the holding channel in which the items are held to retain the items securely within the holding channel. A stabilizing element may be provided to stabilize the conveyor belt divider to maintain the items held by the conveyor belt divider in an upright position.
1 . A conveyor belt divider comprising:
a bottom wall and at least one side wall defining a holding channel configured to hold at least one consumer item therein;
wherein said bottom wall and said at least one side wall have a length selected to conform to the length of a standard conveyor belt at a checkout counter of a store.
2 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 1 , wherein said at least one side wall includes a front side wall and a back side wall spaced apart from each other by said bottom wall and defining said holding channel therebetween.
3 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 1 , further comprising a gripping element associated with said holding channel to hold consumer items within said holding channel.
4 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 3 , wherein said gripping element comprises a frictional element configured to hold a consumer item within said holding channel by frictional forces.
5 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 4 , further comprising a retaining channel within said at least one side wall, wherein:
said gripping element and said retaining channel are configured for removable insertion of said gripping element into said retaining channel and retention therein; and
said gripping element comprises a low-friction backing strip configured for slidable insertion into said retaining channel and frictional gripping elements extending from said low-friction backing strip and into said holding channel to engage and to hold a consumer item within said holding channel via frictional forces.
6 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 3 , wherein said gripping element is shaped to interfere with movement of a consumer item out of said holding channel.
7 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizing element configured to maintain said conveyor belt divider in a position maintaining consumer items within said holding channel in an upright position.
8 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 7 , wherein said stabilizing element is in the form of a stabilizing panel extending away from said at least one side wall and in a direction of said bottom wall.
9 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 7 , wherein said stabilizing element is in the form of an extension projecting from said at least one side wall.
10 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 7 , wherein said stabilizing element is configured to bear and to display information.
11 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 1 , further comprising dividers positioned within said holding channel to delineate compartments for individual consumer items to be held in said holding channel.
12 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 11 , wherein said dividers are movable.
13 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 11 , further comprising inserts shaped for insertion into said compartments and for retaining consumer items securely within said holding channel.
14 . A method of holding consumer items in a conveyor belt divider, said method comprising:
providing a conveyor belt divider, having a length selected to conform to the length of a standard conveyor belt at a checkout counter of a store, with a holding channel configured for holding consumer items therein;
placing consumer items within said holding channel for display by said conveyor belt divider.
15 . A method as in claim 14 , further comprising:
associating a gripping element with said holding channel to facilitate holding of the consumer items within said holding channel; and
placing said consumer items within said holding channel.
16 . A method as in claim 15 , further comprising:
associating said gripping element to permit interchangeability of gripping elements; and
changing said gripping element as needed to conform to different consumer items to hold such different consumer items securely within said holding channel.
17 . A conveyor belt divider comprising:
a bottom wall having a front edge and a back edge and a length selected to conform to the length of a standard conveyor belt at a checkout counter of a store;
a front side wall extending upwardly along and from said front edge of said bottom wall; and
a back side wall extending upwardly along and from said back edge of said bottom wall and spaced apart from said front side wall;
wherein:
sad bottom wall, said front side wall, and said back side wall define a holding channel therebetween configured to hold at least one consumer item therein; and
a gripping element is associated with said holding channel to retain said consumer item within said holding channel.
18 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 17 , wherein said gripping element comprises a frictional element configured to hold a consumer item within said holding channel by frictional forces.
19 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 18 , further comprising a retaining channel within said at least one side wall, wherein:
said gripping element and said retaining channel are configured for removable insertion of said gripping element into said retaining channel and retention therein; and
said gripping element comprises a low-friction backing strip configured for slidable insertion into said retaining channel and frictional gripping elements extending from said low-friction backing strip and into said holding channel to engage and to hold a consumer item within said holding channel via frictional forces.
20 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 17 , wherein said gripping element is shaped to interfere with movement of a consumer item out of said holding channel.
21 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 17 , further comprising a stabilizing element configured to maintain said conveyor belt divider in a position maintaining consumer items within said holding channel in an upright position.
22 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 21 , wherein said stabilizing element is in the form of a stabilizing panel extending away from said at least one side wall and in a direction of said bottom wall.
23 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 21 , wherein said stabilizing element is in the form of an extension projecting from said at least one side wall.
24 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 17 , further comprising dividers positioned within said holding channel to delineate compartments for individual consumer items to be held in said holding channel.
25 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 24 , wherein said dividers are movable.
26 . A conveyor belt divider as in claim 24 , further comprising inserts shaped for insertion into said compartments and for retaining consumer items securely within said holding channel.