Automated retail facility
AssigneeSmartMart Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Rivalto, Jason Fisher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims28
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, and
- an 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.