Systems and methods for merchandise display, sale and inventory control
US9640015B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F11/62
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An automated retail system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a front and/or rear product rack, each rack having a plurality of bins, each of which has a product door, the system further including a basket moveable along an x-y plane on a rail system to selectively open a product door of a product bin to permit the product within the bin to fall into the basket, the basket movable to a product delivery position to release the product from the basket. Such a system may include sensors and/or scanners to determine contents of each bin, such that any product may be placed in any bin, and inventory of each bin or all bins may be determined at any time. The basket may be configured to move in x and y but not z directions, and may also serve as the sole actuation mechanism for opening the doors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.