Bulk food integrated scale system
US10665051B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 2017 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47B51/00
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A bulk food weighing and processing system wherein a digital scale is uniquely configured and positioned to weigh and process individual portions of bulk food, uniquely designed and positioned to fit into a bulk food dispensing system. The system then prints a uniquely shaped and treated sticky, digitally-coded thermal-paper receipt which is used to seal a customer's portable container. The sticky receipt then aids customer checkout by providing digitally coded data about the food portion.In most embodiments, the digital scale is a strain gauge scale positioned between a gravity bin's hopper and its mounting bracket, such that it can detect and process a customer's individual food portion once dispensed. The food portion's weight measurement is then transmitted through a controller to a thermal printer which prints a digitally-coded “sticky bag tag” receipt, which both seals the customer's portable food container and which can be read at checkout to facilitate payment and inventory processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.