Storage-cabinet and method for selling frozen and/or refrigerated goods from such a locked storage-cabinet

• US 8,468,059 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anders Enqvist
• Original Assignee: Anders Enqvist
• Inventors: Enqvist, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARE, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US11/920,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/20, 705/23, 705/24, 177/4, 177/5, 235/381, 235/382
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0071 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A storage cabinet for at least one of refrigerated and frozen goods for sale through that the cabinet door opens via entering of a door opening code in a payment terminal with scanning equipment for reading of codes which identify said goods. The goods which are purchased by lifting them out of the cabinet are scanned with the scanning equipment and are debited to a purchasing account associated with the door opening code. The cabinet is locked when the cabinet door closes. Further the cabinet rests on a weighing device. If a predetermined difference between the scanned goods'"'"' weight and the cabinet'"'"'s weight occurs, the weight difference is registered in a transaction data file associated with the door opening code, wherein loss of goods is registered on a known purchasing account.

Claims

1. A storage cabinet for at least one of refrigerated and frozen goods for sale through that a door of the cabinet opens via entering of a door opening code in a payment terminal, the payment terminal including scanning equipment comprised in the payment terminal, the scanning equipment for reading of codes which identify said goods, wherein the goods which are purchased by lifting them out of the cabinet are scanned with the scanning equipment and are debited to a purchasing account associated with the door opening code, and wherein the cabinet is locked after the cabinet door has closed, comprising:

an insert for holding goods in the cabinet and arranged resting on a weighing device;

goods data files in the payment terminal with information on each good'"'"'s weight;

the weighing device when a purchase is completed is arranged to calibrate, wherein the scanned goods'"'"' weight is compared with the weight difference between the weight of the insert in the cabinet before the purchase and the weight of the insert in the cabinet after the purchase; and

a transactions data file associated with the door opening code for registering of a weight difference if a predetermined difference between the scanned goods'"'"' weight and the weight difference between the weight of the insert before the purchase and the weight of the insert after the purchase occurs, wherein loss of goods is registered on a known purchasing account;

wherein the payment terminal is one of;

(1) configured to print a receipt when a predetermined weight difference occurs, the receipt including an indication of a reminder to a purchaser that they have possibly forgotten to scan one of the goods removed from the cabinet;

or

(2) connected to at least one of a sound alarm and a display alarm, wherein the at least one of a sound alarm and a display alarm is operable to make a noise when a predetermined weight difference occurs such that a purchaser is reminded by the at least one of the sound alarm or the display alarm that they have possibly forgotten to scan one of the goods removed from the cabinet.

2. A storage cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the weighing device comprises three weight sensors arranged in symmetry on an adaptor support with its plate, which produces a more precise weighing, wherein the weight is better divided over the sensors.

3. A process for selling of goods out of a locked storage cabinet for at least one of refrigerated and frozen goods through that a door of the cabinet opens via entering of a door opening code in a payment terminal, the payment terminal including scanning equipment comprised in the payment terminal, the scanning equipment for reading of codes which identify said goods, wherein the goods which are purchased by lifting them out of the cabinet are scanned with the scanning equipment and are debited to a purchasing account associated with the door opening code, and wherein the cabinet is locked after the cabinet door has closed, comprising:

weighing of an insert holding goods in the cabinet;

providing information in the payment terminal with information on each goods'"'"' weight via goods data files;

calibrating of a weighing device when a purchase is completed, wherein the scanned goods'"'"' weight is compared with the weight difference between the weight of the insert in the cabinet before the purchase and the weight of the insert in the cabinet after the purchase; and

registering a weight difference, if a predetermined difference between the scanned goods'"'"' weight and the weight difference between the weight of the insert before the purchase and the weight of the insert after the purchase occurs, in a transaction data file associated with the door opening code, wherein loss of goods is registered on a known purchasing account; and

said process including following

(1) printing of a receipt by the payment terminal when a predetermined weight difference occurs, the receipt including an indication of a reminder to a purchaser that they have possibly forgotten to scan one of the goods removed from the cabinet;

or

(2) including connection of the payment terminal to at least one of a sound alarm and a display alarm, and operating at least one of the sound alarm or the display alarm to make a notice when a predetermined weight difference occurs, thereby reminding a purchaser by at least one of the sound alarm or the display alarm that they have possibly forgotten to scan one of the goods removed from the cabinet.

4. A process according to claim 3, characterised by the lowest said determined weight difference is comprised of the good in the cabinet which weighs the least of all goods.

5. A process according to claim 3, wherein the weight difference tolerances are calibrated for each individual good offered for sale and registered in the good data file.

6. A process according to claim 3, wherein arrangement of the weighing device comprises three weight sensors arranged in symmetry on an adaptor support with its plate, which produces a more precise weighing, wherein the weight is better divided over the sensors.

7. A process according to claim 3, comprising printing of a receipt by the payment terminal where a possible weight difference is noted.

8. A process according to claim 7, comprising making an alarm when a predetermined weight difference occurs to remind a purchaser that they have possibly forgotten to scan one of the goods removed from the cabinet.

9. A process according to claim 8, comprising calibrating the weight difference tolerances for each individual good offered for sale, and registering the calibrated weight difference in the goods data file.

10. A process according to claim 3, comprising weighing with at least three weight sensors to produce a precise weighing.

11. A process according to claim 3, comprising making an alarm when a predetermined weight difference occurs to remind a purchaser that they have possibly forgotten to scan one of the goods removed from the cabinet.

12. A process according to claim 11, comprising calibrating the weight difference tolerances for each individual good offered for sale, and registering the calibrated weight difference in the goods data file.

13. A process according to claim 12, comprising weighing with at least three weight sensors to produce a precise weighing.