System and method for optimizing utilization of inventory space for dispensable articles

• US 9,390,577 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas Franklin, Martinka, William, Polubinski, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US14/310,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20140367399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/22, 705/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.

Claims

1. A method of utilization of an inventory space of an article dispensing machine for a plurality of articles in the article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine comprising:

a controller,

a memory,

a selector arm,

a motor associated with the selector arm,

a non-removable storage unit, the non-removable storage unit comprising one or more storage racks for holding the plurality of articles in a plurality of receiving slots in the article dispensing machine, and

a set of instructions for execution by the controller installed within the memory for controlling the operation of the article dispensing machine, the method comprising the steps of;

installing an article removal bin in the article dispensing machine, wherein the article removal bin is for holding a first subset of the plurality of articles, the first subset targeted for removal from the article dispensing machine based on predetermined article removal criteria;

updating the set of instructions installed in the memory of the article dispensing machine to create an updated set of instructions, the updated set of instructions for allowing the first subset of the plurality of articles to be placed in the article removal bin for subsequent removal from the article dispensing machine; and

controlling the selector arm with the motor to;

(a) retrieve at least one article of the first subset of the plurality of articles;

(b) deposit the at least one article of the first subset in the article removal bin.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding an additional storage rack to the non-removable storage unit, wherein the additional storage rack is for holding a second subset of the plurality of articles, the second subset being targeted for commercial sale or rental;

and

the first subset and the second subset are different groups of articles, and the groups do not overlap.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing targeted space in the article dispensing machine for one or more of the additional storage racks to be added or the article removal bin to be installed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the targeted space comprises one or more of removing an existing apparatus in the article dispensing machine.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more additional storage racks rotates together with the one or more storage racks.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising adding the additional storage rack at an optimal height within the storage unit, the optimal height being based on making adding and removing articles from the article dispensing machine easier for service personnel.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising rotating the additional storage rack between an optimal height within the storage unit and a bottom portion of the article dispensing machine, the optimal height being based on making adding and removing articles from the article dispensing machine easier for service personnel.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, rotating the additional storage rack along with the other storage racks by a shaft driven by a second motor.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a merchandising zone indicator on the one or more storage racks, wherein the merchandising zone indicator is for visually identifying a merchandising zone of the non-removable storage unit, the merchandising zone for holding one or more of a second subset of the plurality of articles or a new article which include articles designated for subsequent removal from the article dispensing machine and no longer available for dispensing to a customer, and/or which have been added to the article dispensing machine for dispensing to a customer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the article removal bin in a bottom portion of the article dispensing machine.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the article dispensing machine includes an additional motor coupled to the non-removable storage unit;

and both the motor associated with the selector arm and the additional motor are stepper motors.

12. A method of retrofitting an article dispensing machine for utilization of inventory space for a plurality of articles in the article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine comprising:

a controller,

a memory,

a selector arm,

a motor associated with the selector arm,

a non-removable storage unit, the non-removable storage unit comprising one or more storage racks for holding the plurality of articles in a plurality of receiving slots in the article dispensing machine, and

a set of instructions for execution by the controller installed within the memory for controlling the operation of the article dispensing machine, the method comprising the steps of;

installing an article removal bin in the article dispensing machine, wherein the article removal bin is for holding a first subset of the plurality of articles, the first subset of the plurality of articles targeted for removal from the article dispensing machine based on predetermined article removal criteria;

identifying the first subset of the plurality of articles, the first subset of the plurality of articles targeted for removal from the article dispensing machine, wherein the first subset of the plurality of articles targeted for removal comprises one or more of a thinned article, a damaged article, a fraudulent article, a wrong title article, and/or a do not rent (DNR) article;

updating the set of instructions of the article dispensing machine to create an updated set of instructions, the updated set of instructions for allowing the first subset of the plurality of articles to be placed in the article removal bin; and

controlling the selector arm with the motor to;

(a) retrieve at least one article of the subset of the plurality of articles;

(b) deposit the at least one article of the subset of the plurality of articles in the article removal bin.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of adding an additional storage rack to the non-removable storage unit, wherein the additional storage rack is for holding a second subset of the plurality of articles, the second subset being targeted for commercial sale or rental;

and

the first subset and the second subset are different groups of articles, and the groups do not overlap.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing targeted space in the article dispensing machine for one or more of the additional storage racks to be added or the article removal bin to be installed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the targeted space comprises removing an existing apparatus in the article dispensing machine.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional storage rack is configured to rotate together with the one or more storage racks.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising adding the additional storage rack at an optimal height within the storage unit, the optimal height being based on making adding and removing articles from the article dispensing machine easier for service personnel.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising installing a merchandising zone indicator on the one or more storage racks, wherein the merchandising zone indicator is for visually identifying a merchandising zone of the non-removable storage unit, the merchandising zone for holding one or more of a second subset of the plurality of articles or a new article, which include articles designated for subsequent removal from the article dispensing machine and no longer available for dispensing to a customer, and/or which have been added to the article dispensing machine for dispensing to a customer.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the selector arm includes a U-shaped picker device.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising adding the article removal bin in a bottom portion of the article dispensing machine.