Produce weigh station and method of use

US10438186B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Walmart Apollo, LLC · US

Inventors

• Jimmie R. Clark · Fayetteville, US
• Christopher Soames Johnson · Pea Ridge, US
• Ricky L. Lewis · Rogers, US
• Richard Andrew White · Canteen Creek, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2019
• Expiry date: Aug 19, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07G1/0054
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system for communicating the status of a produce product in a retail store is described. The system includes a produce weigh station and a produce status station. The produce weigh station includes a produce scale and a camera. The produce weigh station uses a captured digital image of the produce product to determine a product type of the produce product being weighed, as well as a product status of the produce product. The produce status can include, for example, whether the produce product is ripe, over-ripe, or under-ripe. The produce weigh station communicates the type of the produce product, the digital image, and the produce status to the produce status station. An employee of the retail store can use the produce status station to receive the produce status information without the employee having to be present in the produce sales department.