Packing bay system for a goods checkout system
View Patent ↗A packing bay system for a goods checkout system has several packing bays for taking up goods, a conveying device which includes at least one conveyor belt section for conveying goods in a conveying direction, and a goods switch which is adjustably arranged on the conveying device and includes a diverting wall longitudinally extending along a direction of longitudinal extension. In a first position, the goods switch with the diverting wall extends at an angle to the conveying direction across the at least one conveyor section, in order to guide goods which on conveyance in the conveying direction get in contact with the diverting wall in a diverting direction directed parallel to the direction of longitudinal extension from the at least one conveyor section towards a first packing bay. The goods switch is adjustable from the first position into a second position.
1. A packing bay system for a goods checkout system, comprising:
a conveying device that includes at least one conveyor belt section for conveying goods in a conveying direction from an upstream location to a downstream location, the conveyor belt section having opposite first and second sides aligned along the conveyor belt section;
first and second packing bays for taking up the goods, the first packing bay being in proximity to the downstream end of the conveyor belt section, the second packing bay being branched from a location on the first side of the conveyor belt section at a position between the upstream and downstream locations and extending to a location transverse of the conveyor belt section; and
a goods switch that includes a diverting wall with opposite first and second ends linearly spaced from one another by a specified length, the first end being mounted pivotally to a location adjacent the first side of the conveyor belt section downstream of and adjacent to the location where the second packing bay branches from the conveyor belt section, wherein the diverting wall is pivotable about the first end between a first position where the diverting wall extends at a specified acute angle to the conveying direction across the at least one conveyor belt section with the second end being at the second side of the conveyor belt section and upstream of the first end in order to guide goods in a diverting direction from the at least one conveyor section towards the second packing bay, and a second position where the second end of the diverting wall is at the first side of the conveyor belt section upstream of said location where the second packing bay branches from the conveyor belt section to block the second packing bay and to convey goods towards the first packing bay,
wherein the diverting wall of the goods switch includes opposite first and second sides extending from the first end to the second end, the first side of the diverting wall extending along the first side of the conveyor belt section when the diverting wall is in the second position and being substantially linear so as not to impede movement of the goods to the first packing bay, the second side of the diverting wall including at least one discontinuity to prevent a movement of goods along the diverting wall against the diverting direction when the diverting wall is in the first position.
2. The packing bay system according to claim 1 , wherein the discontinuity is formed as depression molded into the diverting wall or as protrusion protruding from the diverting wall.
3. The packing bay system according to claim 1 , wherein the discontinuity forms at least one transverse flank extending transversely to the diverting direction.
4. The packing bay system according to claim 1 , wherein the discontinuity is formed to not prevent a movement of goods in the diverting direction along the diverting wall.
5. The packing bay system according to claim 1 , wherein in the second position the goods switch extends parallel to the conveying direction.
6. The packing bay system according to claim 1 , wherein several discontinuities are formed on the diverting wall.
7. The packing bay system according to claim 6 , wherein the several discontinuities have a sawtooth shape.
8. The packing bay system according to claim 1 , further comprising a driving device for electromotively adjusting the goods switch.
9. The packing bay system according to claim 8 , further comprising a control device for controlling the driving device for adjusting the goods switch in dependence on a goods checkout operation carried out at the packing bay system.