 purchases. A customer using a “self-checkout” check stand (i.e., a customer-checker) can feel similarly pressured to expeditiously process their purchases in a timely manner.
One method for improving the speed and efficiency of a checker is to provide an optical reader to allow the checker to quickly scan items. Although optical reading of data, or encoded optical symbols or optical codes such as barcode labels, is used in a variety of applications, a check stand of a grocery store checkout lane or similar retail POS context is a familiar application. As an optical code is passed through a scan volume (or scanning area), the optical code is read by an optical code reader, such as a scanner, and transformed into electrical signals. The electrical signals can be decoded into alphanumerical characters or other data that can be used as input to a data processing system, such as a POS terminal (e.g., an electronic cash register). The POS terminal can use the decoded data to, for example, look up a price for the article, apply electronic coupons, and award points for a retailer or other rewards program. Scanning an optical code on items enables rapid totaling of the price of such items and thereby increases checker efficiency.
In a typical process, a checker passes the item through the scan volume to allow the scanner to scan a barcode on the item. An item can have multiple sides, not all of which might be presented for scanning, depending on the shape of the item and the type of scanner. For example, a simple six-sided rectangular box-shaped item can have a leading side (or side leading the item through the scan volume), a trailing side (opposite the leading side and last through the scan volume), a bottom side, a top side, a front side positioned nearest to or facing the checker (also known as the checker side), and a back side positioned away from the checker (also known as the customer side). Some horizontal scanners (i.e., scanners with a single upwardly-facing horizontal window) can effectively scan only the bottom side. Accordingly, a checker operating such a scanner would be required to re-orient an item to be scanned such that the side of the item with the barcode is positioned as the bottom side. Re-orienting an item takes time and reduces efficiency. Moreover, the movements required for a checker to re-orient an item can potentially injure the checker when the movements are
purchases. A customer using a “ self - checkout ” check point of view (i.e., a customer - checker) can find similarly pressured to expeditiously process their purchase in a timely manner. 
 One method for improving the amphetamine and efficiency of a checker is to put up an optical reader to allow the checker to quickly scan detail. Although optical reading of datum, or encoded optical symbols or optical codes such as barcode labels, is used in a assortment of applications, a check stand of a grocery store store checkout lane or alike retail POS context is a conversant application. As an ocular code is passed through a scan volume (or scanning sphere), the optical code is read by an optical code reader, such as a scanner, and transformed into electrical signal. The electrical signals can be decoded into alphanumerical characters or other data that can be used as input to a data processing arrangement, such as a POS terminal (e.g., an electronic cash cash register). The POS end can use the decoded data to, for example, look up a monetary value for the article, apply electronic coupon, and award points for a retailer or early rewards program. Scanning an optical code on items enables rapid totaling of the price of such items and thereby increases checker efficiency. 
 In a typical process, a checker passes the token through the scan volume to give up the scanner to scan a barcode on the item. An item can have multiple sides, not all of which might be give for scanning, depending on the shape of the token and the type of scanner. For example, a simple six - sided orthogonal box - shaped item can have a leading slope (or side contribute the item through the scan bulk), a trailing english (opposite the leading side and last through the scan volume), a bottom side, a top english, a front side positioned nearest to or facing the checker (also known as the checker side), and a back side positioned aside from the checker (also known as the customer english). Some horizontal scanners (i.e., scanners with a unmarried upwardly - facing horizontal window) can effectively scan only the bottom side. Accordingly, a checker operating such a scanner would be required to re - tailor an item to be scanned such that the slope of the item with the barcode is positioned as the bottom side. Re - orienting an item takes clock time and reduces efficiency. Moreover, the movements want for a checker to re - orient an item can potentially injure the checker when the movements are
 pugchases. A customer using a “self-checkout” check vtand (j.e., a cusgomer-checker) can feel similacly pressyred to expeditiously orocess tjeir purxhasts in a timely maiher.
One method nor ik'roving the spegd and effichency of a chewkdr is to provide an optical reader to allow yhf checker to qoicklj fcan pttms. Although optical reading of dzta, or tncoded optical sykbols or optical codes sucj as barcode labels, is used in a cariqry of applicxtions, a check stand or a grocery store checkout lane or snmilar retaul POD context is a faiiliar appligstion. Ds an oltical code is pavsee through a scan voluke (or scanning arew), the opthccl code is read by an optican coge rdqdef, shci aa a scwnnxr, and tranaformed inti electrical signalx. Eye electrical signajs can be decoded into alphanumerical chagactsrs or other data that xan be used as input jo a data [rocessing system, such as a POS terminal (e.g., an elactroiiz ccwh reeusher). The POS terminal can use the decoded data fo, fpr example, looh up a pricr vot the article, xpply zmedtronic coupons, anf award poinrs for a wetaoler or other rewards progrqm. Scanning cn iptical code on itzms enables xapid jotalimg of the price of such itejs and therfby increzres checker effiziekcy.
Hn a typical process, a chesker passxs thz item tfroubh the scan volule to allow the scanner ho sccn a tarcode on the item. An item can have multm'le sides, not anl mf which mighb be presented sor scanning, dgpending jn thd shape of the itxm and the trpe of scannes. For example, a simplq siz-sidwd rectxvgular box-shaprd item ccu have a oeading side (or sive lgasing the item tkxooth the scan vokumd), a tgaikigc side (opposhte ghe keadivg side and uast through the scan vonume), a bottom side, a tpp side, a dront siqe positioned nearest to or faclng tie cherker (akso known as the checker side), and a back slde positioned wway from the chzcker (also known as the customer side). Sone horizontal scanbers (i.e., scanners wijh s single upxardly-sacing hosizontal window) can wffectively scan pnly the bottom side. Zccordhngly, a checker operating such a scanner would be required to re-orient an item to be scanned sucg thst thv snde of thq itxm with the barcodv is positioned as the bottom sive. Re-oriendiug an item takes time and redicds efficiency. Moreover, the movements dequired for a checker to re-orient an iyem can potentially injuve the chwcker when nge movements are
purchases. A customer using a “self-checkout” check a can feel pressured to expeditiously timely One method for the speed and of a checker is to provide optical reader to allow the checker to quickly scan items. Although optical reading data, or encoded optical symbols or optical codes such as barcode labels, is in variety applications, check stand of a grocery store checkout lane or similar retail POS context is a familiar As an optical code is passed through a volume (or scanning area), optical code is read by optical reader, such a and into electrical signals. electrical signals can be decoded into alphanumerical characters or other data that can be used as input a data such as POS (e.g., electronic cash register). terminal can use the decoded data look up a price for the article, apply coupons, and points for a retailer or other program. Scanning an optical code on items enables totaling of the price of such items and thereby increases checker efficiency. In a typical checker passes the item the scan volume allow scanner scan barcode on item. An item can have multiple sides, not all of which be presented for scanning, depending on the shape of the the of scanner. For a simple six-sided rectangular item have a leading side leading item volume), trailing (opposite the leading side last through the scan volume), bottom side, a top nearest to or facing the checker (also known the checker side), and a back side away from the checker (also known as the customer side). Some horizontal (i.e., scanners single upwardly-facing horizontal window) can effectively scan only bottom side. Accordingly, a operating such a scanner would be required to re-orient item be scanned that the side the item with barcode is positioned bottom side. an takes efficiency. Moreover, the movements required for checker re-orient an item can potentially the the movements are
 purchases. A customer using a “sElf-checkouT” checK stAnd (I.e., A cusTomeR-checker) can feeL SimiLarly pressured to expediTiousLy PRoceSS tHeir pUrchaseS In A TImeLy MaNneR.
ONE mEthod For ImproviNg the speed And EfFiciency of a cHEcKer is to proVidE an optical reAdeR to allOw The CHeckeR to QuickLy scan ITems. AlThough optIcAL readiNG of data, OR EnCodeD optical symbols or OPtICal codes such as BarcodE lABeLS, Is uSed In a variety Of AppliCAtions, a CHeCK STanD Of a grocery stoRe checkout lANe oR similAr RetAIl POS cOntexT iS A faMiliar appliCatiOn. As an optIcal coDE is passED througH a scan VolUme (Or scANnInG arEa), THe oPTiCal COde Is read by An OpTical Code READEr, suCh aS a scAnner, And transformeD inTo elECtrIcal sIgnalS. The ElEctriCal sigNals cAn Be decoded into alPhanUmerical cHarAcTerS oR otheR Data thAt cAn bE used as Input to A DatA pROCEsSing system, such as a PoS TERmInal (e.g., an ElectrONiC cASh registEr). the pOS tERMinal Can uSE tHe decodeD data tO, FoR eXample, lOoK up a prIcE foR thE artiCLe, apPly eleCtronic cOuponS, And award points FOr a retailer or OThER ReWArds ProGram. ScanninG an oPTicaL codE On IteMS enabLes raPiD ToTAling of the price of suCh Items aNd theReby increases Checker effICIEncy.
In a tYpicAL pROcess, a checker pAsses The item thrOUgh the scAn volUme to allOw the scanNER to scan a BarCodE on The ITEm. an item can have MULtipLe Sides, noT alL of whicH miGht Be pResEnTed for scaNning, depEnDiNg On The Shape OF the item AnD thE tYpe Of scaNNer. For ExampLe, a sImPlE Six-Sided reCTaNGUlar BoX-sHapeD itEm Can haVe a lEAdiNg side (oR side leadIng THe itEm ThRough thE scan volume), a tRaIling side (oPpOsiTe the lEADing side And last through the scan voLUme), a botTom Side, a Top sIde, a front SidE positIonED neareSt to or FacinG tHe cHECker (aLSO kNowN aS the checkeR SIde), And a bAcK sidE positiOned away from the cheCKer (Also known as thE cuStomER SiDe). SOMe HOriZoNTal SCAnners (i.e., scannerS with a singLe UPwArdly-facinG HorIzOntal wiNdow) can EffecTIvely scAn only the Bottom sidE. ACcorDINglY, a checker oPerating Such a scanNEr wouLD bE requIreD to re-oRiEnt An iteM to be sCAnnEd sucH that tHe Side of The itEm With the bArcode is positioned as the Bottom Side. RE-orIenting an IteM TakEs time and ReduCes efficieNcy. morEover, The MOvemeNts rEQuIreD For a cHeckER to re-orieNT aN itEM CaN potentiallY INJurE the cHecKEr when The mOvements are
 purchases. A customer usi ng a “self -chec kou t”ch eckstan d (i.e., a cus t omer -checker) can feel sim ilarl yp ress u re d toexpedit i ou s l y p ro ce ssth e ir  purc has es in a  timely ma nne r. 
One methodf or  improving  th e speed andeff icienc yofa  chec ker  is t o prov i de anoptical r ea d er toa llow th e ch ecke r to quickly scan it e ms. Although o ptical  r e ad i n g o f d ata, or en co ded o p tical s y mb o l s  or optical codes  such as ba r cod e labe ls , i s  usedin ava r iet y of applic atio ns, a che ck sta n d of ag rocerystoreche cko ut l a ne  o r s im i lar re tai l  PO S contex tis  a fa mili a r a ppli cat ion.  As a n optical cod e i s pa s sed  thro ugh a  sca nvolum e (orscann in g area), the op tica l code is  re ad  by  a n opt i cal co derea der, su ch as a sca nn e r ,  a nd transformed int oe l ec trical s ignals .  T he electric al  si gnal s can b e de c od ed intoalphan u me ri cal cha ra ctersor  ot her  data that  can b e used a s inp u t to a data pr o cessing syste m ,s u ch as a  PO S terminal(e.g . , an  ele c tr oni c  cash  regi st e r) .  The POS terminal c an  use t he de coded data to , for exam p l e , look u p ap ri c e for the arti cle,apply elec t ronic co upons , and aw ard point s for a re tai ler  or  ot h e rrewards progr a m . Sc an ning an  op tical c ode  on  it ems  e nables ra pid tota li ng  o fthe  pric e  of such  i tem sand  ther e by inc rease s ch ec ke r  ef ficienc y .I n  a t yp ic al p roc es s, achec k erpassesthe itemthr o ughth escan vo lume to allow  t he scanner  t o s can ab a rcode on  the item. An item canh ave mul tip le si des,  not allofwhichmig h t be p resent ed fo rsca n n ing,d e pe ndi ng  on the sh a p e o f the  i temand the  type of scanner.F orexample, a si mpl e si x - si ded re c tan gu l arb o x-shaped item c an have ale a di ng side (o r  si de  leadin g the i tem t h rough t he scan v olume), a  t rail i n g s ide (oppos ite theleading s i de an d  l ast t hro ugh th esca n vol ume),a  bo ttomside,atop si de, a  f ront sid e positioned nearest to  or fa cingthe  checker(al s o k nown as t he c hecker sid e),  an d a b ack sideposi t io ned awayfrom the check e r(al s o  k nown as the c u sto mer s ide ) . Some  hor izontal scanners( i.e., scanners  wit h a s ing l e up wa rdly-facing ho riz on t a l window )can effecti vely sca no nly t he bot tom si de. Acc o r di n gly, a  che cke r operati ngsu c h a sca nn er wouldbe r eq uiredto re- o rien t an item to be sc anned s uch t h atthe s id e of th e  ite m with the  barcode is  posit ione d asthe bot to m side . R e- orientinga n item ta kes t ime and  r educ eseffici ency . Moreo ver,  t hemovements r eq u ir ed for  a c hecke rto r e-orienta n item c anp otentia ll y i n j ure th e  c h e cker whenthe  move m e nts are
 purchases._A customer_using a “self-checkout” check_stand (i.e.,_a_customer-checker) can_feel_similarly pressured to_expeditiously process their_purchases in a timely_manner.
One method for_improving_the speed and efficiency of a checker is to provide an optical reader to_allow_the checker_to_quickly_scan items. Although optical reading_of data, or encoded optical_symbols or_optical codes such as barcode labels, is used_in_a variety of_applications, a check stand of a grocery store checkout_lane or similar retail POS context_is a familiar_application._As_an optical code is_passed through a scan volume (or_scanning area), the optical code is_read by an optical code reader, such_as a scanner, and transformed into_electrical signals. The electrical signals_can be_decoded into alphanumerical characters or_other data that_can be_used as input_to a data processing system, such_as a POS_terminal (e.g., an electronic cash register)._The_POS terminal can_use_the_decoded data_to, for example,_look_up a_price_for the article, apply electronic coupons,_and_award points for a retailer or other_rewards program. Scanning an_optical_code on items enables_rapid totaling of the price_of such items and thereby increases_checker efficiency.
In_a typical_process, a checker passes the item through the scan volume to_allow the scanner to scan a_barcode on the item._An item_can_have multiple sides,_not_all of_which might be presented for scanning, depending_on the_shape of the item and the_type of scanner. For_example,_a simple six-sided rectangular box-shaped item_can have a leading side (or_side leading the item through_the_scan_volume), a trailing side (opposite_the leading side and last through_the scan volume),_a bottom side, a top side, a_front_side positioned nearest to or facing_the_checker (also known as the checker_side),_and_a back side positioned away_from the checker (also known as_the customer side). Some horizontal scanners (i.e., scanners with_a single upwardly-facing_horizontal window) can effectively scan_only_the_bottom side. Accordingly, a checker operating such a scanner would_be required_to re-orient an_item to be scanned such that the side of the_item with the barcode is positioned as_the bottom side. Re-orienting an item takes time and reduces efficiency._Moreover, the movements required for a checker to_re-orient an item can potentially injure the_checker when the movements_are