IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0682905
(2007-03-07)
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등록번호 |
US-8457785
(2013-06-04)
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우선권정보 |
IL-164091 (2004-09-14) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Tam, Doron
- Bichler, Ari
- Bichler, Yossi
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
15 |
초록
▼
The present invention relates to a system for dispensing bags, particularly plastic bags, one at a time, particularly for use in stores and shopping areas. The system has an actuator for actuating a bag dispenser to dispense a single bag at a time. The actuator is coupled to a controller, which may
The present invention relates to a system for dispensing bags, particularly plastic bags, one at a time, particularly for use in stores and shopping areas. The system has an actuator for actuating a bag dispenser to dispense a single bag at a time. The actuator is coupled to a controller, which may be the controller of an electronic cash register or a store controller, for two-way communication, permitting control of the total number of bags dispensed to each customer. If desired, the rate at which the bags are dispensed can also be set and controlled. According to one embodiment, the system can also hold advertising material or other informational or aesthetic displays, and may include a media player for displaying advertising material aimed at the specific customer.
대표청구항
▼
1. An Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) system, comprising: at least one bag dispenser configured to dispense a single empty bag at a time from a stack of empty bags;an actuator configured to activate said bag dispenser to dispense the single bag;an electronic cash register at a checkout station, said
1. An Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) system, comprising: at least one bag dispenser configured to dispense a single empty bag at a time from a stack of empty bags;an actuator configured to activate said bag dispenser to dispense the single bag;an electronic cash register at a checkout station, said cash register having a controller coupled to said actuator of said bag dispenser, said controller being arranged to send an enable or disable signal to said actuator, to permit or prevent the activation of the bag dispenser and, thus, permit or prevent dispensing of a bag;said controller being programmed to calculate a number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer;said controller configured to send said enable signal to said actuator, to permit said bag dispenser to dispense said calculated number of empty bags,said actuator being configured to send a signal to said controller when a bag is dispensed to count a number of bags that have been dispensed; andsaid controller being configured to send said disable signal to said actuator to prevent said bag dispenser from dispensing bags, when said calculated number of bags has been dispensed. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to calculate said number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer based on at least one pre-selected variable relating to said purchased goods, said variable selected from data characterizing goods purchased by said customer, biographical data of said customer, a number of purchased bags, data collected from a membership card, and bag entitlement of said customer. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to calculate said number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer based on at least one variable relating to said purchased goods and selected from the group including: total cost of purchased goods; physical volume or weight of purchased goods; categories of goods and a number of units purchased in each category and their physical size, said variable being calculated from information from a stock information database coupled to said cash register. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said cash register is programmed to calculate said number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer also using pre-selected criteria relating to said customer. 5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a central controller coupled to said electronic cash register; anda store stock database coupled to said central controller;said central controller and said store database coupled to each other and to said electronic cash register by a two-way communication network. 6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising at least one display on said bag dispenser coupled to said central controller for display of media information from said central controller on said display. 7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a central content management center connected to said central controller, whereby said central controller receives media information from said central content management center for display on the display. 8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a converter coupled to said central content management center for conversion of received advertising information to an appropriate CODEC. 9. The system according to claim 5, wherein said central controller further includes a client database including biographical and purchasing data of a plurality of clients, accessible by said central controller. 10. The system according to claim 5, wherein said electronic cash register comprises a plurality of electronic cash registers each at a checkout station, each said cash register having a controller coupled to an actuator of a single bag dispenser for controlling said actuator so as to control bag dispensing; said central controller being coupled by said two-way communication network to each of said plurality of electronic cash registers to control the actuators of the plurality of bag dispensers and to receive data of customer purchases collected by each of said electronic cash registers. 11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one display disposed adjacent said cash register coupled to said controller for display of media information from said central controller on said display. 12. A method for dispensing empty bags from a stack of empty bags, the method comprising: enabling an actuator of an empty bag dispenser by a controller of an electronic cash register or a checkout station, so as to permit said actuator to activate said bag dispenser to dispense a single empty bag at a time from a stack of empty bags;calculating, by said controller, a number of empty bags to be dispensed for a customer, for packing goods purchased by said customer;dispensing, one at a time, said calculated number of empty bags;said actuator sending a signal to said controller when each said empty bag is dispensed by said bag dispenser; anddetermining whether said calculated number of dispensed bags has been dispensed; anddisabling said actuator by said cash register controller when said calculated number of empty bags has been dispensed. 13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising coupling said electronic cash register to a central controller by means of a two-way communication network; and coupling a display to said central controller for display of media information from said central controller on said display. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said media information is selected in accordance with a set of pre-programmed rules regarding selection of advertising content to be displayed to that customer. 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: scanning a customer's loyalty card into an EPOS system coupled to a store controller;passing information about the customer from said EPOS system to the store controller;comparing the information about the customer against said set of pre-programmed rules regarding selection of advertising information to be displayed to that customer; andtriggering a media player associated with said display to play information selected in accordance with said pre-programmed rules. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said pre-programmed rules determine information to be displayed, based on data selected from: said details of goods purchased by the customer; purchasing or biographical data of a customer; data stored on a membership card of a customer; and pre-selected advertising information. 17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: inputting details of purchased goods into an EPOS system coupled to a store controller;passing information about said purchased goods from said EPOS system to the store controller;comparing said information about said purchased goods against a set of pre-programmed rules regarding selection of advertising information to be displayed to a purchaser of said goods; andtriggering a media player associated with said display to play information selected in accordance with said pre-programmed rules. 18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: coupling said electronic cash register to a central controller by means of a two-way communication network;inputting details of purchased goods into the central controller; andwherein step of calculating includes calculating said number of bags based also on said input details. 19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: coupling, by a two way communication network, said electronic cash register to a central controller in an electronic point of sale (EPOS) system in a store; andcoupling at least one stock database of said store to said central controller and to said electronic cash register via said communication network. 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: building a client database in said central controller, said client database including biographical and purchasing data of a plurality of clients, accessible by said central controller. 21. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of calculating includes calculating said number of empty bags to be dispensed to a customer based on at least one pre-selected variable relating to said purchased goods, said variable calculated from information from a stock information database coupled to said cash register. 22. The method according to claim 12, further comprising counting, by said controller, a number of unused bags for purposes of stock control.
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