Linear Actuators Facilitate Checkout Machine at Meijer's Grocery

Linear Actuators from PBC Linear’s UG Series and SIMO Linear Motion Platform power an NCR next-generation self-checkout at a Meijer grocery store in Georgetown, MI, enhancing customer experience by reducing checkout time and hassle.

The overall design moves items through an area where they can be scanned in whatever position they are placed. As the items move down the belt to the bagging area, they are put into one of three different bagging stations. Once all of the items have been conveyed into a specific bagging station, lift gates and diverter paddles are actuated by SIMO linear actuators to isolate the items in the occupied station as another station opens up for the next customer.

The system, also being tested at a Woodman’s grocery store in Rockford, IL, is equipped with UG Series belt and lead screw systems as a part of the end interaction, automatically moving lift gates and diverter paddles to open and close the three bagging stations. By integrating these three bagging stations per line, stores are able to have more people checkout in a shorter period of time, while also giving customers more time to bag their items—improving the overall experience.