WO1996023689A2 - Apparatus and method for the handling and identification of items - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described apparatus and a method for the handling and identification of items having particular application in supermarket shopping. In one aspect the system comprises containers in the form of boxes removably carried by a shopping trolley adapted to receive the boxes. In a second aspect the boxes are such to facilitate automatic identification of the items contained in the boxes.

Description

Apparatus and Method for the Handling and Identification of Items

The present invention relates to apparatus and to a method for the handling and identification of items and especially, but not exclusively, to the handling of items selected by customers in shops and the identification of the items selected in order to determine the total cost of the selected items.

The introduction of products bearing bar codes and the provision, particularly in supermarkets, of computerised check-outs incorporating laser scanning units able to read bar codes and thus identify products, has greatly reduced the time needed to identify the items selected by a customer and accurately determine the total cost of the selected items. Such a system, as well as reducing the time needed to 'check out' of a supermarket, has benefits including increased customer satisfaction, reduced employment costs to the retailer (because each check- out operator can operate more effectively) and also facilitates enhanced stock control.

The current, widely used, system of handling and identifying items comprises selection of items by a customer and placing the items, loose, into a trolley, taking the trolley to a check-out, removing the items individually and placing them, normally upon a conveyor belt, ready for scanning, individual scanning of each item by a till operator, normally performed by moving the item across a projected laser beam, packing the individual items into carrier bags and placing the carrier bags back into the trolley for, eg, transport to the customer's vehicle.

This present system has many characteristics which are not ideal, including: the necessity of unpacking a trolley-load of items; individual scanning of the items; repacking of items into bags; the vulnerability of fragile items placed inadvertently at the bottom of the trolley; the unsuitability of carrier bags for transport in, for example, the boot of a car; and the fragility and cost of carrier bags which may break during use and are generally discarded after being used only once.

In order to overcome some of these problems it has been proposed that instead of utilising bar codes each product should be provided with a smart identification chip which, when interrogated at the checkout by an identification device, will respond with a signal identifying the product. It has been proposed that such a smart identification chip system would enable the identification of items without necessitating their removal from the trolley, and that all the items in the trolley may therefore be identified in a single step. Despite the fact that operational smart identification chips have been made, such systems have their own disadvantages as well as failing to overcome some of the disadvantages of the previously used system. The accuracy and reliability with which such a system must identify each item is clearly of paramount importance, but the accuracy and reliability may suffer from the shielding effect of the metal trolley frame or of other items in the trolley. Furthermore, even if such a system can be made to operate suitably at reasonable cost, a customer, having checked out, is left with a shopping trolley full of loose items and space must be provided by the retailer for packing these items into bags. Also, the interrogation stations have been found to require a sensor at each side of the trolley and one directly above the trolley forming a bay or tunnel into which the trolley must be fully pushed. It would therefore be necessary to remove from the trolley any toddlers or babies which may have been placed in the trolley and this may cause considerable inconvenience.

In order to overcome the problem of accurate and reliable scanning it has been proposed to make the trolley narrower and, in order to maintain its capacity, taller. This, however, may lead to further problems such as reduced stability of the trolley, impaired access to the bottom of the trolley, increased pressure upon items at the bottom of the trolley and the problem of how to accommodate babies or toddlers on the trolley. Furthermore, the problems of removing items individually from the trolley and packing them into carrier bags, which may break in use or spill in the boot of a car, are not addressed.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for the handling of items, said apparatus being in the form of a main chassis comprising: at least one base member, said base member having ground engaging wheel means mounted thereon; at least one frame member attached to said base member, said at least one frame member providing a plurality of container locating means, each adapted to receive and stably locate a box-like or basket-like container.

Preferably, each said container locating means comprises a container locating aperture defined by a number of container engaging members, said aperture being adapted to receive a container such that a part of the container may extend through said aperture whilst the remainder of said container is prevented from extending through said aperture, a wall of said container engaging at least one of said container engaging members.

Preferably, the remainder of said container is prevented from extending through said aperture by the abutment of at least one wall of said container on at least one of said container engaging members.

Preferably, said main chassis is adapted to receive and stably locate a plurality of containers such that, in use, a first container is located above, and spaced vertically away from, at least one other container.

Preferably, said container locating apertures are defined by at least one sub-chassis mounted upon said main chassis.

Preferably, said main chassis is adapted to receive any of a number of different sub-chassis.

Preferably, at least one sub-chassis provides support for seating means for locating a toddler or baby upon said main chassis. Preferably, one said base member and one said frame member together constitute a substantially S-shaped frame.

Preferably, said main chassis comprises two of said substantially S-shaped frames spaced apart and adapted to received at least one said sub-chassis between said S-shaped frames.

Preferably, said S-shaped frames are coupled together orientated relative to one another in an angled relation such that, in use, said main chassis has a front end and a rear end and such that said two S-shaped frames are closer together and said front end than at said rear end.

Preferably, said main chassis may nest with at least one other similar chassis.

Preferably, said main chassis is adapted to support a number of containers conforming to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for the handling of items comprising a container, adapted for use with an identification system in which each of a number of different items is provided with identification signal emission means, adapted to emit an identification signal in response to an interrogation signal, wherein said container is made primarily from a material which is substantially transparent to said identification signal.

Preferably, said container is made from a plastics material. Preferably, said identification signal is an electromagnetic signal.

Preferably, said electromagnetic signal is in the infra-red part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Preferably, said container is in the form of a box

Preferably, said box is generally rectangular in shape.

Preferably, said box is nestable or stackable with at least one similar box.

Preferably, said apparatus includes support means, said support means including ground engaging wheel means, adapted to support and facilitate the transportation of at least one said container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for identifying items comprising: a number of identification signal emission means each coupled to an item to be identified and each adapted to emit an identification signal characteristic of the type of invention to which it is coupled, in response to an interrogation signal; an interrogation station adapted to provide said interrogation signal and receive said identification signal; and item containment means adapted to receive a plurality of different types of items to be identified, wherein said item containment means comprises a container made from a material substantially transparent to said identification signal.

Preferably, said identification signal is an electromagnetic signal. Preferably, said electromagnetic signal is in the infra-red part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Preferably, said apparatus includes transport means having ground engaging wheel means, said transport means being adapted to support and facilitate the transportation of at least one container.

Preferably, the container conforms to the apparatus defined as the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, the transport means conforms to the apparatus defined as the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the handling and identification of items when each of said items to be handled and identified is provided with an identification signal emission means adapted to emit an identification signal in response to an interrogation signal, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of different items, each provided with identification signal emission means; placing said selected items in a container, said container being supported by support means having ground engaging wheel means; transporting said support means, along with said container and said selected items towards apparatus which provides said interrogation signal; removing said container, and said selected items contained therein from said support means; exposing said container and said items contained therein to said interrogation signal; detecting said identification signal and identifying the items selected therefrom. Preferably, said method includes the step of replacing said container on said support means subsequent to identification of said items.

Preferably, said method includes the placing a plurality of selected items in a first container, and a plurality of items in each of at least one further container, each of said containers being supported by said support means, and the removing of each of said containers and the selected items contained therein from said support means prior to the identification of said items.

Preferably, said method includes the step of placing said container, or said containers, onto said support means prior to the selection of the selected items.

Preferably, in said method said selected items are not removed from the container into which they are placed until after identification of said items.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a piece of apparatus for handling items, being a container in the form of a box, in accordance with the present invention;

Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are perspective views of alternative embodiments to the box of Fig. 1;

Figs 2d, 2e and 2f are, respectively, an isometric skeletal view, a perspective view from below and a perspective view from above of further alternative embodiments;

Fig. 2g is a side elevation showing two boxes, each being an alternative embodiment of the box of Fig. 1, one stacked upon the other;

Fig. 2h is a perspective views of further alternative embodiment of the box of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a piece of apparatus for handling items, in the form of a chassis, in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing four chassis, as shown in Fig. 3, nested together.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the chassis of Fig. 3 supporting six boxes (of which four boxes are shown); and

Figs. 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e are schematic perspective views illustrating the configurations of chassis supporting respectively, five boxes plus one baby seat, six boxes plus one toddler seat, five boxes plus two baby seats, six boxes plus two toddler seats and five boxes plus one baby seat plus one toddler seat.

With reference to Fig. 1 an embodiment of apparatus for the handling of items comprises a container in the form of a box, generally designated 1, made from a plastics material so as to be substantially transparent to interrogating and identification signals used to identify items in a smart identification chip system.

The box 1 of Fig. 1 comprises first and second end walls 11, 12, first and second side walls 13, 14 and a base (not shown), is open topped and is generally rectangular in shape. The cross-sectional area of the box 1 is smaller at the base than at the top, so that the box is tapered, thus facilitating nesting of two or more similar boxes. The taper is continuous except where a horizontal ridge 15 is formed by a substantially horizontal ridge portion 15a of each of the walls 11, 12, 13 and 14. The ridge 15 is continuous about the circumference of the box 1 and is located approximately one third of the way up the box walls separating a lower narrower portion of the box from an upper wider portion.

The box 1 is provided with first and second recessed portions 16, 17 which are spaced apart along the length of the box and each of which extends from the ridge 15 on the first side wall 13 down to the base of the box 1, across the base of the box 1 and up to the ridge 15 on the second side wall 14.

The base of the box 1 and the lower portions of the walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 are shaped so as to provide shaped foot portions 18a, 18b, 18c. At the upper extreme of the walls 11, 12, 13, 14 is a rim 19 bounding the open top of the box 1. Moulded from the material of the rim 19, at the upper extremes of the first and second end walls 11, 12 of the box 1, are, respectively, a first handle member (not shown) and a second handle member 20.

Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c show alternative embodiments of apparatus, in the form of boxes, according to the present invention. The embodiments of Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are generally similar to that of Fig. 1 and will not be described in detail, although the embodiments of Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are provided, respectively, with a longitudinal handle 21, a transverse handle 22 and a double transverse handle 23, 24. The handles are hingeably attached to the rims 19 of the boxes and are adapted to fold down into recesses (not shown) provided in the rims 19 for the purpose. A further difference between the embodiments of Figs 2a, 2b and 2c is that the recesses 16a and 17a in Figs 2a, 2b and 2c (corresponding generally to the recesses 16, 17 of the box 1 of Fig. 1) extend up past the ridges 15 to the upper portions of the sides of the boxes.

Figs 2d shows a skeletal view, and Figs 2e and 2f show perspective views, of further embodiments of apparatus in the form of boxes.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2h there is included an identification tag in the form of an insert 210. The insert 210 serves to indicate the "status" of the box. For example, it may indicate that the box has been purchased by the user and can therefore be removed from the store. Alternatively, it may indicate the identity of the user in an automatic billing system.

The configuration of the walls 11, 12, 13, 14 and base of each of the boxes including the rim 19, ridge 15, recesses 16, 17, 16a and 17a and foot portions 18a, 18b, 18c serves to strengthen the boxes.

The boxes, being formed from material substantially transparent to the interrogation and, more importantly, the identification signals of the smart identification chip system, may be used in such a system without interfering with the accuracy or reliability of the identification of items packed into the boxes. In such a system, preferably infra-red (IR) interrogation and identification signals are used.

In order for such a system to be viable it must have the capability of determining not only the types of item which are present (by receiving and interpreting the characteristic identification signal transmitted by the smart identification chip on each item) but also the number of items of each type. A primitive system might interrogate the box of items and merely identify one item for each type of identification signal received. This would, however, be unacceptable for a system for commercial use. Thus either the smart identification chip or the interrogation unit must have characteristics enabling the number of items of a given type to determined. For example the identification signals emitted by the chips might be arranged to last only for a short predetermined time and/or be of a predetermined intensity and each smart identification chip designed so that it becomes inactive after emitting its characteristic signal once. The box could then be progressively scanned by an interrogation signal beam and the number of identification signals from an unknown number of identical items, and hence the number of items could be determined. Such a system would have provision for reactivating the chips (in the event that an identified item is returned to the shelves) and could double as a security system since interrogation units could be located near the doors of the premises and used to detect items which had not been previously interrogated (and which, therefore, had not been paid for) .

The described embodiments of the box are provided with recessed portions 16, 17, 16a and 17a which help provide rigidity to the box. The recessed portions 16, 17, 16a and 17a serve a further purpose in that they are spaced apart, along the length of the box, by a distance approximately equivalent to the width of the top of the box, that is, equivalent to the distance between the rim 19 portions at the tops of the side walls 13, 14. This enables one of two similar boxes to be stacked on top of the other, avoiding significant intrusion of one box into the other, which might damage items contained, but allowing secure location of the boxes relative to each other. This stacked configuration is illustrated in Fig. 2g, and requires one box to be orientated at right angles to the other. It is an important characteristic of the boxes that they can both stack securely and nest, and various other designs which achieve this dual characteristic may be envisaged. Each of the described embodiments could be manufactured in almost any given size, but for practicality a full box should be relatively easy to lift when full of typical items. A typical box of this type might be about 520mm long by 300mm wide by 220mm deep. The width of such a box is considerably smaller than the width of a typical shopping trolley, thus overcoming the problems of smart identification chip systems associated with the width of standard trolleys. Use of such a box would thus allow smart identification chip systems to be commercially viable, and less difficult to produce than systems which are required to identify entire trolley loads full of items. Furthermore, if a shopper were to own his own box and take it to a supermarket utilising such a smart identification chip system, he could select items, place them in the box and then have the box scanned without removing any of the items, and could then take the items away from the shop, still contained in the box. This avoids the time consuming unpacking and repacking of individual items, and also avoids the described problems associated with carrier bags, since the box is robust, reusable and will sit stably in the boot of a car.

A box as described, preferably with one or more handles, could thus replace a standard shopping basket. To facilitate handling of a greater amount of shopping, whilst maintaining the described benefits of the box and smart identification chip system, a chassis, adopted to support several such boxes, could be provided. Such a chassis is shown, in side elevation, in Fig. 3.

A chassis, generally designated 300, consists of a pair of generally S-shaped frames each comprising a base member 310 having a first, front, end upon which is mounted a front wheel 311, and an upwardly extending, generally C-shaped, curved frame member 320, which is coupled at its first end to the second, rear, end of the base member 310 and upon which is mounted, adjacent said first end, a rear wheel 312. The chassis has a front end, being the end nearer which the front wheel 311 is mounted, and a rear end. Said two S-shaped frames are almost parallel but are arranged so that the chassis is slightly narrower at its front end than at its rear end. Each of the curved frame members 320 includes an inclined lower portion 330 ascending from the rear end of the base member at the rear of the chassis, towards the front of the chassis. Each of the curved frame members 320 also includes an inclined upper portion 331, above the inclined lower portion 330, ascending from the front of the main chassis towards the rear and a vertical portion 332, at the front end of the chassis, connecting the lower end of the upper portion 330 to the upper end of the lower portion 331. The two S-shaped frames are connected together by connecting members (not shown) which extend between them. Each S-shaped frame also includes a lower support member 312 extending between the base member 310 and the lower portion 330 of the curved frame member 320, and an upper support member 322 extending between the lower portion 330 and the upper portion 331 of the curved frame member 320. The support members 312, 322 serve to enhance the rigidity of said S-shaped frames. At the upper end of the upper portion 331 of the frame member 320 is a handle location member 325, and a generally cylindrical handle 326 extends between the two handle location members 325 of a given pair of S-shaped frames. As shown in Fig 3 there is provided, adjacent the handle location member 325, a metal frame adapted to provide a toddler seat 328. Alternatively, a baby seat 329 could be provided in this position.

Because each chassis is narrower at the front than at the rear several similar chassis can be nested together. This is necessary because a single supermarket may require a large number of chassis and it would be impracticable to accommodate them if they did not nest. Fig 4 illustrates four such chassis in nested configuration. As can be seen from Fig 4 the front wheels 311 of each chassis fit between the base members 310 of the chassis in front, and the fronts of the curved frame members 320 each fit between the upper support members of the chassis in front.

In order to support one or more boxes each chassis is provided with a lower sub-chassis which fits between the lower portions 330 of the curved members 320 and an upper sub-chassis which fits between the upper portions 331 of the curved members 320. Each sub-chassis is adapted to securely locate one or more boxes respecting relative to the chassis 300 and, in the embodiment illustrated in Fig 5, this is achieved by providing support members which locate against either a ridge 15 or a rim 19 of a box. The embodiment illustrated in Fig 5 shows a chassis having an upper sub-chassis side- by-side which is adapted to support three boxes, two boxes aligned longitudinally, side-by-side, relative to the chassis, 300 and one transverse by the sub-chassis supporting each of the three boxes by the respective ridges provided on each of said boxes. The embodiment of Fig 5 is also provided with a lower sub-chassis which is also adapted to locate three boxes, two longitudinally and one transversely. However, whilst the longitudinally aligned boxes are supported via their ridges 15, the transversely aligned box supported by the lower sub-chassis is supported by its rim 19 in order to utilise the space between the upper end of the lower portion 330 of the curved frame 320 and the base member 310. Supporting the transversely aligned box by the rim 19 rather than the ridge 15 also provides a sufficient distance between the top of the box and the underside of upper portion 331 of the curved member, to allow easy access to the box. Each of the six boxes may be removed from or placed onto the main chassis independently of the other boxes. The main chassis itself is of approximately the same dimensions as known and widely used shopping trolleys.

Various configurations of sub-chassis may be provided in order to allow different configurations of boxes and or toddler/baby seats 328, 329 to be accommodated. Figs 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e are schematic perspective views showing different configurations of boxes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and baby/toddler seats 328, 329 which require a variety of upper sub-chassis configurations. The upper sub-chassis may comprise several rods individually attached, for example by welding, to the upper portions 331 of the curved frame members 320, or may comprise a modular sub-chassis which may be attached as a unit between said upper portions 331 of the curved frame members. In each of Figs 6a to 6e the configuration of the lower sub-chassis is identical, but it will be appreciated that the lower sub-chassis configuration may be varied in order to accommodate different configurations of boxes or other loads.

The described embodiments thus provide a system allowing a smart identification chip system to be used in which the problems encountered in previous smart identification chip systems due to the shielding effect of trolleys or of large volumes of items are mitigated or overcome. The described embodiments also overcome many of the problems of bar-code systems by alleviating the need to move items individually past a scanning devise. Furthermore, problems associated with conventional trolleys, such as the damage that may be caused to items at the bottom of a trolley are mitigated, and the use of carrier bags is rendered unnecessary since a shopper would bring his own boxes to the shop and transport his goods away from the shop in those same boxes.

The boxes as described have no openings other than the top opening and are therefore leakproof. They may be translucent or transparent so that the items contained may be visually identified by the shopper. They are stackable, and each additional box increases the stack height by about 25mm. The box bodies may be injection moulded from a single, preferably recyclable, material. The boxes may include handles, preferably twin handles which are identical to each other for ease of manufacture and assembly, and the handles fold flat so as to avoid increasing the stacking height. The twin handles provide stability and the handles may be designed so as to be able to stay in an upright position so that the boxes may be put down and picked up with ease. A thermally insulated box may be provided in order to help maintain the temperature of refrigerated or frozen goods and such a box might be provided with a lid. A typical box, as described, might have a capacity of about 25 litres. Boxes may be made in various colours in order to aid differentiation and the outer surface may be printed or otherwise marked with identifying features.

The chassis described are formed of metal but chassis made from a suitable robust plastics material could be provided.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 Apparatus for the handling of items, said apparatus being in the form of a main chassis comprising: at least one base member, said base member having ground engaging wheel means mounted thereon; at least one frame member attached to said base member, said at least one frame member providing a plurality of container locating means, each adapted to receive and stably locate a box-like or basket-like container.

2 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said container locating means comprises a container locating aperture defined by a number of container engaging members, said aperture being adapted to receive a container such that a part of the container extends through said aperture whilst the remainder of said container is prevented from extending through said aperture, a wall of said container engaging at least one of said container engaging members.

3 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the remainder of said container is prevented from extending through said aperture by the abutment of at least one wall of said container on at least one of said container engaging members.

4 Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein said main chassis is adapted to receive and stably locate a plurality of containers such that, in use, a first container is located above, and spaced vertically away from, at least one other container.

5 Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein said container locating apertures are defined by at least one sub-chassis mounted upon said main chassis .

6 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said main chassis is adapted to receive any of a number of different sub-chassis.

7 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein at least one sub-chassis provides support for seating means for locating a toddler or baby upon said main chassis.

8 Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein one said base member and one said frame member together constitute a substantially S-shaped frame.

9 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said main chassis comprises two of said substantially S-shaped frames spaced apart and adapted to received at least one said sub-chassis between said S-shaped frames.

10 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said S-shaped frames are coupled together orientated relative to one another in an angled relation such that, in use, said main chassis has a front end and a rear end and such that said two S-shaped frames are closer together and said front end than at said rear end.

11 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said main chassis may nest with at least one other similar chassis.

12 Apparatus for the handling of items comprising a container, adapted for use with an identification system in which each of a number of different items is provided with identification signal emission means. adapted to emit an identification signal in response to an interrogation signal, wherein said container is made primarily from a material which is substantially transparent to said identification signal.

13 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said container is made from a plastics material.

14 Apparatus as claimed in either Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein said identification signal is an electromagnetic signal.

15 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 wherein said electromagnetic signal is in the infra-red part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

16 Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 15 wherein said container is in the form of a box

17 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said box is generally rectangular in shape.

18 Apparatus as claimed in either Claim 16 or 17 wherein said box is nestable or stackable with at least one similar box.

19 Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 18 wherein said apparatus includes support means, said support means including ground engaging wheel means, adapted to support and facilitate the transportation of at least one said container.

20 Apparatus for identifying items comprising: a number of identification signal emission means each coupled to an item to be identified and each adapted to emit an identification signal characteristic of the type of item to which it is coupled, in response to an interrogation signal; an interrogation station adapted to provide said interrogation signal and receive said identification signal; and item containment means adapted to receive a plurality of different types of items to be identified, wherein said item containment means comprises a container made from a material substantially transparent to said identification signal.

21 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 20 wherein said identification signal is an electromagnetic signal.

22 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 wherein said electromagnetic signal is in the infra-red part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

23 Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to 22 wherein said apparatus includes transport means having ground engaging wheel means, said transport means being adapted to support and facilitate the transportation of at least one container.

24 Apparatus as claimed in Claim 23 wherein the container conforms to the apparatus defined as the first aspect of the present invention.

25 A method for the handling and identification of items when each of said items to be handled and identified is provided with an identification signal emission means adapted to emit an identification signal in response to an interrogation signal, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of different items, each provided with identification signal emission means; placing said selected items in a container, said container being supported by support means having ground engaging wheel means; transporting said support means, along with said container and said selected items towards apparatus which provides said interrogation signal; removing said container, and said selected items contained therein from said support means; exposing said container and said items contained therein to said interrogation signal; detecting said identification signal and identifying the items selected therefrom.

26 A method as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said method includes the step of replacing said container on said support means subsequent to identification of said items.

27 A method as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said method includes the placing a plurality of selected items in a first container, and a plurality of items in each of at least one further container, each of said containers being supported by said support means, and the removing of each of said containers and the selected items contained therein from said support means prior to the identification of said items.

28 A method as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said method includes the step of placing said container, or said containers, onto said support means prior to the selection of the selected items.

29 A method as claimed in Claim 25 wherein in said method said selected items are not removed from the container into which they are placed until after identification of said items.