# US 2010/0169189 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Inventory > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169189 A1 - Document ID: US20100169189A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/347,075 - Filed: 2008-12-31 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc. - Inventors: Chris ALLISON; Kuntesh R. CHOKSHI; Allen FOSHA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169189A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - A47F 5/0823: {Article supports for peg-boards} - G06Q 10/08772: {Inventory counting methods} - G07F 9/026: {for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty} - A47F 2010/025: {using stock management systems} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A method for monitoring inventory on a self-adjusting shelf and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes a method for determining the number of packages on a shelf or hanger of a self-adjusting shelf. The number of packages on a shelf or hanger are determined by measuring the distance from the back end of a shelf to the package closest to the shelf with a sensor, ascertaining the thickness of the product, and by calculating the amount of space occupied on a shelf or hanger and consequently the number of packages on a shelf. In another embodiment, the product is identified by a product identifying means such as an SKU reader. Thus, the quantity and type of product located on a shelf or hanger is known. Such information allows a store to know the type and quantity of packages needed to restock a specific hanger. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring inventory on a self-adjusting shelf, said shelf comprising at least one product support comprising capacity for a plurality of packages and comprising at least one package, said method comprising: measuring the distance from a sensor and a package closest to a back end of said shelf; ascertaining the thickness of said package; and calculating the number of packages on said shelf. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said ascertaining comprises imputing the thickness into a computer in communication with said sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said ascertaining comprises identifying the product type. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said identifying comprises reading a package Stock Keeping Unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein a single device measures said distance and identifies the product type. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said Stock Keeping Unit comprises a bar code. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising relaying data collected by said measuring and ascertaining to a harvesting device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein said harvesting device is a Programmable Logic Controller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein said harvesting device is a personal computer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein said harvesting device is in communication with a network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein both of said sensor and said harvesting device are in communication via a wireless network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said ascertaining is accomplished by utilizing Optical Character Recognition software and hardware. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein said hardware comprises a camera. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said packages are pillow pouch bags. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said self-adjusting shelf is a gravity feed system. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for storing and monitoring inventory comprising: a self-adjusting shelf comprising at least one product support, wherein said product support is capable of supporting a plurality of packages; and at least one sensor located on said shelf, wherein said sensor is capable of measuring distances. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said self-adjusting shelf comprises a plurality of product supports. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said self-adjusting shelf comprises a gravity feed hanger system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said gravity feed hanger system comprises at least one hanger, said hanger being sloped at an angle less than 90°. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said gravity feed hanger system comprises a plurality of hangers and wherein each of said plurality of hangers comprises a sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said apparatus comprise a tracking ability. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sensor is in communication with a harvesting device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said sensor and said harvesting device are in communication via a wireless network. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said harvesting device harvests data relating to shelf location. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sensor has an adjustable pitch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sensor is adjustable laterally relative to said shelf. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said shelf comprises at least two product supports, and further wherein at least one of said at least one sensor is capable of moving laterally relative to said shelf such that one sensor is capable of measuring distances associated with two or more product supports. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means of identifying a product type. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means of identifying a package type comprises at least one Stock Keeper Unit reader. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said shelf comprises at least two product supports, and further wherein at least one of said at least one Stock Keeper Unit reader is capable of moving laterally relative to said shelf such that one Stock Keeper Unit reader is capable of reading a Stock Keeper Unit associated with packages located on two or more product supports. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means of identifying a package comprises Optical Character Recognition software and hardware. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28 wherein a single device is capable of measuring distances and identifying a package. ### Claim 33 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a remote power source.