An automated retail facility and system with accompanying methods comprising customer interfacing modules, payment receiving modules, product storage and distribution modules, and computer components in communication with device actors that automate connected components of the facility and system in
An automated retail facility and system with accompanying methods comprising customer interfacing modules, payment receiving modules, product storage and distribution modules, and computer components in communication with device actors that automate connected components of the facility and system in an Internet of Things configuration. The configuration advantageously allows for remote operation of that facility, while maintaining required levels of customer service and supervisory actions within the facility, as needed. To service the system remotely or on location, a handheld inventory management device and inventory management vehicle are provided. To enhance available services, an automatic package receiver/distributor service module is integrated in some embodiments.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for stocking a store with products for delivery and sale of products to purchasers, comprising: a facility unit body providing a secured internal storage and dispensing area, the facility unit body having insulation and a cooling system for maintaining products at controlled temperatures
1. A system for stocking a store with products for delivery and sale of products to purchasers, comprising: a facility unit body providing a secured internal storage and dispensing area, the facility unit body having insulation and a cooling system for maintaining products at controlled temperatures, and one or more dispensing locations for delivering products to said purchasers, a plurality of inventory dispensing units arranged within the facility unit body, the inventory dispensing units comprising trays configured to store and selectively dispense products, each inventory dispensing unit having a stocking end and a dispensing end,a product delivery apparatus in the facility unit body, the product delivery apparatus operatively connected between the inventory dispensing units and the one or more dispensing locations,a plurality of lockable inventory access ports, each lockable inventory access port providing selective access to one or more associated inventory dispensing units,the inventory dispensing units configured to selectively slide substantially out of the facility unit body through an associated inventory access port in a suspended relationship with the facility unit body for ease of inspection and stocking of products prior to reinsertion of the inventory dispensing unit back into the facility unit body for dispensing of products, andan inventory management vehicle configured for positioning adjacent to a side of the facility unit body, the inventory management vehicle configured for use in selectively accessing the inventory access ports for secure inspection and stocking of the inventory dispensing units with products. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inventory management vehicle is a truck comprising a driving cab portion and an inventory supply and restocking portion. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the inventory supply and restocking portion is climate controlled. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the driving cab portion communicates with the inventory supply and restocking portion such that an inventory manager can safely enter the inventory supply and restock portion without leaving the inventory management vehicle. 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the inventory supply and restocking portion further comprises side inventory doors for selective access to access ports containing products, and a first and a second side shield, the first and second side shields on opposing sides of the inventory side doors, the side shields extendable between the inventory supply and restocking portion and the facility unit body to provide security and privacy during transfer of products from the inventory supply and restocking portion to the inventory dispensing units of the facility unit body. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the inventory management vehicle further comprises a raised platform that allows convenient access to both high and low positioned inventory dispensing units of the facility unit body. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inventory dispensing modules includes goods dispensing trays configured to store and dispense small products. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the goods dispensing trays are configured to slide out of the facility unit body such that the stocking end is suspended at an angle of suspension below the dispensing end, the angle of suspension facilitating ease of inspection and stocking of products prior to reinsertion of the inventory dispensing unit back into the facility unit body for dispensing of products. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the angle of suspension is between about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the angle of suspension is between about 40 to about 50 degrees. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein a plurality of the goods dispensing trays include a pair of support rails on opposing sides thereof, each support rail having a rail wheel rotatably mounted adjacent a dispensing end thereof, the support rails and rail wheels mounted in an associated front support hanger track of the facility unit body for use in sliding the goods dispensing tray from the facility unit body in the suspended relationship, and each of the front support hanger tracks having a first and a second stopper on opposing ends thereof, to thereby retain the support rail in the front support hanger track during stocking and dispensing of products. 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of inventory dispensing modules includes rolling rack dispensing units configured to store and selectively dispense heavy or fragile products to the product delivery apparatus via gravity. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the rolling rack dispensing units are positioned below the goods dispensing trays, and dispensing ends of the rolling rack dispensing units are adjacent to the product delivery apparatus to facilitate safe delivery of heavy or fragile products. 14. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the rolling rack dispensing units comprises a conveyor platform formed by a plurality of transversely mounted freely spinning rollers substantially along a length thereof, the conveyor platform fixedly declined at a dispensing angle from a stocking end toward the dispensing end for dispensing a stock of products to the product delivery apparatus via gravity, and a roller gate mechanism adjacent the dispensing end configured for selectively releasing one of the stock of products to the product delivery apparatus upon selection by a purchaser while retaining the stock of products, the roller gate release being actuated by an electric or pneumatic mechanism. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the dispensing angle is between about 20 to about 40 degrees. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the dispensing angle is between about 25 to about 30 degrees. 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the roller gate mechanism comprises a pair of rotating brackets rotabably positioned on opposing sides of the dispensing end of the rolling rack dispensing unit, the roller gate mounted between the brackets so as to retain the stock of products when roller gate is in a storage position. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the roller gate mechanism further comprises a stopping gate mounted between the pair of rotating brackets for retaining the stock of products when the roller gate is in a dispensing position. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the roller gate comprises a freely spinning roller and the stopping gate comprises a freely spinning roller, the stopping gate configured to provide one of the plurality of freely spinning rollers when the roller gate is in a storage position, and the roller gate configured to provide one of the plurality of freely spinning rollers when the roller gate is in a dispensing position. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the roller gate mechanism is air actuated to the dispensing position and is normally retained in the storage position by a spring mechanism, the spring mechanism preventing the inadvertent delivery of the stock of products in the event of loss of air. 21. The system of claim 12, wherein the product delivery apparatus comprises a conveyor belt apparatus having a a dual cantilevered conveyor belt bed configured to create a V-track space between opposing cantilevered bed portions, anda belt component having a V-belt member on a lower side thereof, wherein the V-belt member is configured to run in the V-track space between the opposing cantilevered bed portions. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the V-belt member and corresponding V-track space maintain the belt member in alignment in the conveyor belt apparatus. 23. The system of claim 21, wherein the cantilevered bed portions have a spring-like resilience for cushioning products dropped onto the belt component. 24. The system of claim 21, wherein the V-belt member is comprised of a single tooth having a wide end positioned at the lower belt member surface and a narrow end positioned to enter the V-track space. 25. The system of claim 21, wherein the V-belt member is configured to be engaged by a motor for operating the belt member in either direction. 26. The system of claim 21, further comprising at least one automated payment module for use by said purchasers in paying for products selected from the inventory dispensing units. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein when an inventory dispensing unit is slid out of the facility unit body for stocking the inventory dispensing unit with products, the system automatically takes the inventory dispensing unit out of inventory, such that said purchasers cannot select or purchase products from the inventory dispensing unit during stocking. 28. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one user interface module for use by said purchasers in selecting products from the inventory dispensing units.
Harper James G. (Dallas TX) Bailey Louis G. (Dallas TX), Apparatus with intelligent bins indicating the presence and identity of stored coded articles.
Lohrey David W. (339 Golden Gate Ave. Belvedere CA 94920) Danel Alexander R. (660 Berkeley Ave. Menlo Park CA 94025), Automated customer interface for services involving drop-off and pickup.
Lindqvist Per-Erik (Easton PA) Wetherell Jeffry H. (Nazareth PA), Automatic order selection system capable of responding to simultaneous order requests.
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Horne Arthur H. (Salt Lake City UT) Henderson Ralph J. (Salt Lake City UT) Anderson David C. (Deer Valley UT), Inventory, cash, security, and maintenance control apparatus and method for a plurality of remote vending machines.
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