Collapsible input shelf for checkout system

Abstract

A checkout system is disclosed. In one aspect, a checkout system includes a cabinet and an input shelf coupled with the cabinet. The checkout system also includes features for detecting a cart approaching the checkout system. The input shelf is arranged to collapse based at least in part on detection of a cart approaching the checkout system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A checkout system, comprising:
 a cabinet; and   an input shelf coupled with the cabinet and being arranged to collapse based at least in part on detection of a cart approaching the checkout system.   
     
     
         2 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the input shelf is rotatably coupled with the cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . The checkout system of  claim 2 , wherein the input shelf is rotatable between a horizontal position and a vertical position in which the input shelf is collapsed. 
     
     
         4 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the checkout system includes a hinge that rotatably couples the input shelf with the cabinet, and wherein the hinge is coupled with a top wall of the input shelf. 
     
     
         5 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the input shelf has a distal end, and wherein the input shelf is rotatable such that the distal end is rotated upward and toward the cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the input shelf has a distal end, and wherein the input shelf is rotatable such that the distal end is rotated downward and toward the cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light emitter arranged to emit light;   an optical sensor arranged to sense light reflected off of the cart; and   an electric motor arranged to collapse the input shelf in response to the optical sensor sensing light reflected off of the cart.   
     
     
         8 . The checkout system of  claim 7 , wherein the light emitter is arranged to emit light at a downward angle with respect to a horizontal reference plane. 
     
     
         9 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a locking pin slidable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and wherein, in the engaged position, the locking pin supports the input shelf relative to the cabinet when the input shelf is in a horizontal position, and in the disengaged position, the locking pin is slid to allow the input shelf to be moved to a collapsed position.   
     
     
         10 . The checkout system of  claim 9 , wherein the locking pin is slidable along a direction that is parallel with a direction in which the input shelf extends from the cabinet when the input shelf is in the horizontal position. 
     
     
         11 . The checkout system of  claim 9 , wherein the locking pin is slidable along a direction that is perpendicular with a direction in which the input shelf extends from the cabinet when the input shelf is in the horizontal position. 
     
     
         12 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the input shelf includes a permanent magnet and the cabinet includes an electromagnet, and
 wherein the electromagnet is magnetically coupled with the permanent magnet when the input shelf is in a horizontal position and is deactivated so that the electromagnet is magnetically decoupled from the permanent magnet in response to detection of the cart approaching the checkout system.   
     
     
         13 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the input shelf includes a permanent magnet and the cabinet includes an electromagnet, and
 wherein the electromagnet is magnetically coupled with the permanent magnet when the input shelf is in a vertical position and is deactivated so that the electromagnet is magnetically decoupled from the permanent magnet in response to the cart no longer being detected at the checkout system.   
     
     
         14 . The checkout system of  claim 1 , wherein the input shelf is slidable between an external position and an internal position in which the input shelf is collapsed within the cabinet. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 detecting a cart approaching a checkout system; and   collapsing an input shelf of the checkout system relative to a cabinet of the checkout system based at least in part on detecting the cart approaching the checkout system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 unlocking the input shelf based at least in part on detecting the cart approaching the checkout system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the input shelf is collapsed to a collapsed position, and wherein the method further comprises:
 locking the input shelf in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein collapsing the input shelf relative to the cabinet comprises rotating the input shelf from a horizontal position to a vertical position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein collapsing the input shelf relative to the cabinet comprises sliding the input shelf so that the input shelf is position, at least in part, within a recess defined by the cabinet. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for controlling movement of an input shelf coupled with a cabinet of a checkout system, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to:
 receive an input indicating that a cart is detected approaching the checkout system; and 
 cause an input shelf of the checkout system to collapse relative to a cabinet of the checkout system based at least in part on the input indicating that the cart is approaching the checkout system.