Patents Assigned to SmartBins Inc.
  • Patent number: 11593758
    Abstract: Systems are disclosed for dispensing, weighing, identifying, processing, and/or printing tag identifiers for items (e.g., bulk food items). In one embodiment, a storage system includes a scoop bin configured to store a product, wherein the scoop bin has a lid configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the product is configured to be scooped out of the scoop bin by a customer when the lid is in the open position. The system further includes a sensor configured to monitor a movement of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the scoop bin. A printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the scoop bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTBINS INC.
    Inventor: David Conway
  • Patent number: 11341802
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for a bulk bin dispenser. In one embodiment, the system includes a bulk bin dispenser configured to store a product with a distinct weight. The system further includes a digital scale configured to measure a change in weight of the bulk bin dispenser when a portion of the product is dispensed into a portable container, wherein the change in the weight is a dispensed weight of the portion of the product dispensed into the portable container. The system further includes a processor configured to transmit an associated cost for the portion of the product dispensed into the portable container to a store check-out system without printing a label for the dispensed weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SMARTBINS INC.
    Inventor: David Conway
  • Patent number: 11288626
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to integrated systems for dispensing, weighing, identifying, processing, and/or printing tag identifiers for items (e.g., bulk food items). In one embodiment, a storage system includes one or more storage bins configured to store one or more bulk foods. The storage system further includes a kiosk. The storage system further includes a sensor attached to or positioned adjacent to each storage bin of the one or more storage bins. Each sensor is configured to monitor a movement of a respective storage bin. Additionally, each sensor is configured to transmit a notification or signal to the kiosk identifying the movement of the respective storage bin. Further, the kiosk is configured to receive the notification or signal from the sensor and automatically print a label identifying a bulk food stored in the respective storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SMARTBINS INC.
    Inventor: David Conway
  • Patent number: 10665051
    Abstract: A bulk food weighing and processing system wherein a digital scale is uniquely configured and positioned to weigh and process individual portions of bulk food, uniquely designed and positioned to fit into a bulk food dispensing system. The system then prints a uniquely shaped and treated sticky, digitally-coded thermal-paper receipt which is used to seal a customer's portable container. The sticky receipt then aids customer checkout by providing digitally coded data about the food portion. In most embodiments, the digital scale is a strain gauge scale positioned between a gravity bin's hopper and its mounting bracket, such that it can detect and process a customer's individual food portion once dispensed. The food portion's weight measurement is then transmitted through a controller to a thermal printer which prints a digitally-coded “sticky bag tag” receipt, which both seals the customer's portable food container and which can be read at checkout to facilitate payment and inventory processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SmartBins Inc.
    Inventor: David Conway