Systems, Methods and Devices for Donation of Unsaleable Inventory

• US 20200134544A1
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Waste Repurposing International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Waste Repurposing International, Inc.
• Inventors: Ripley, Christopher B., Vallely, Charles Bartol
• Application Number:
  US16/176,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20200134544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/24317 Piecewise classification, i.e. whereby each classification requires several discriminant rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system may include an sorter device including at least one optical device configured to capture optical data associated with an unsaleable item, a display, and a processor coupled to the at least one optical device and to the display. The processor may be configured to automatically identify the unsaleable item, to provide a graphical interface to the display including selectable options accessible by a user to assign the identified unsaleable item to a selected donation site of a plurality of donation sites. In response to selection of the selected donation site, the processor may be configured to guide an operator through a process of packaging the unsaleable item into a shipping container for transport. The sorter device may track the process to confirm acceptance of the donation and confirmation of receipt of the donation by a receiver at the donation site.

Claims

1. A sorter device comprising:

at least one optical device configured to capture optical data associated with an unsaleable item;

a display; and

a processor coupled to the at least one optical device and to the display, the processor configured to;

automatically identify the unsaleable item from the optical data;

determine a recommended donation site from a plurality of donation sites for the unsaleable item based on the identification; and

provide a graphical interface to the display indicating the recommended donation site.

2. The sorter device of claim 1, wherein the sorter device further comprises a scale coupled to the processor and configured to determine a weight of the unsaleable item.

3. The sorter device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a value of the unsaleable item based on a retail price and a weight of the unsaleable item.

4. The sorter device of claim 1, further comprising a printer coupled to the processor and configured to print a manifest and a shipping label for a shipping container including the unsaleable item.

5. The sorter device of claim 1, wherein processor is configured to determine the donation site based on identification of the unsaleable item and based on a type item that can be accepted by the donation site.

6. The sorter device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

automatically send an alert to a computing device of the donation site through a network to determine whether the donation site will accept a donation of the unsaleable item; and

provide the graphical interface including instructions to package the unsaleable item in a shipping container in response to receiving an indication of acceptance; and

provide the graphical interface including a prompt to select a different donation site of the plurality of donation sites in response to receiving an indication of rejection.

7. The sorter device of claim 6, wherein, when a response to the alert is not received within a period of time, the processor provides the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site.

8. The sorter device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide the graphical interface including a delivery date and including data related to confirmation of receipt of the donation when the confirmation of receipt is received; and

when the confirmation of receipt is not received, provide the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site to acquire the confirmation of receipt.

9. A sorter device comprising:

at least one optical device configured to capture optical data associated with an unsaleable item;

a display; and

a processor coupled to the at least one optical device and to the display, the processor configured to;

automatically identify the unsaleable item from the optical data;

determine whether the identified unsaleable item can be donated based on a set of product handling rules;

automatically determine a recommended donation site from a plurality of donation sites for the identified unsaleable item based on the identification when the identified unsaleable item can be donated; and

provide a graphical interface to the display indicating the recommended donation site.

10. The sorter device of claim 9, wherein, when the identified unsaleable item cannot be donated based on the product handling rules, the processor is configured to:

select a disposal bin from a plurality of disposal bins based on information associated with the identified unsaleable item; and

provide the graphical interface including data corresponding to the selected disposal bin to the display.

11. The sorter device of claim 9, wherein the sorter device further comprises a scale coupled to the processor and configured to determine a weight of the unsaleable item.

12. The sorter device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a value of the unsaleable item based on a retail price and the weight of the unsaleable item.

13. The sorter device of claim 9, further comprising a printer coupled to the processor and configured to print a manifest and a shipping label for a shipping container including the unsaleable item.

14. The sorter device of claim 9, wherein processor is configured to determine the donation site based on identification of the unsaleable item and based on a type item that can be accepted by the donation site.

15. The sorter device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to:

automatically send an alert to a computing device of the donation site through a network to determine whether the donation site will accept a donation of the unsaleable item; and

provide the graphical interface including instructions to package the unsaleable item in a shipping container in response to receiving an indication of acceptance; and

provide the graphical interface including a prompt to select a different donation site of the plurality of donation sites in response to receiving an indication of rejection.

17. The sorter device of claim 15, wherein, when a response to the alert is not received within a period of time, the processor provides the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site.

18. The sorter device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide the graphical interface including a delivery date and including data related to confirmation of receipt of the donation when the confirmation of receipt is received; and

when the confirmation of receipt is not received, provide the graphical interface including instructions to contact the donation site to acquire the confirmation of receipt.

19. A method comprising:

scanning an unsaleable item using an optical sensor of a sorter device to capture optical data;

automatically identifying the unsaleable item based on the optical data using a processor of the sorter device;

automatically selecting a donation site of a plurality of donation sites based on information corresponding to the identified unsaleable item; and

providing a graphical interface to a display of the sorter device, the graphical interface including the selected donation site.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining a weight of the unsaleable item using a scale of the sorter device; and

determining a value of the unsaleable item based on a retail price of the unsaleable item and based on the weight.