Abstract: A bottle neck gripper includes first and second jaw components, each pivotally mounted for rotation about a respective pivot axis, the first jaw component including a first permanent magnet mounted thereon, the second jaw component including a second permanent magnet mounted thereon. The first permanent magnet and second permanent magnet are positioned to be attracted to each other. An attractive force of the magnets urges grip ends of the first and second jaw components toward each other. The pivot axis of the first jaw component is located between the first permanent magnet and the grip end, and the pivot axis of the second jaw component is located between the second permanent magnet and the grip end.

Abstract: A bottle neck gripper includes first and second jaw components, each pivotally mounted for rotation about a respective pivot axis, the first jaw component including a first permanent magnet mounted thereon, the second jaw component including a second permanent magnet mounted thereon. The first permanent magnet and second permanent magnet are positioned to be attracted to each other. An attractive force of the magnets urges grip ends of the first and second jaw components toward each other. The pivot axis of the first jaw component is located between the first permanent magnet and the grip end, and the pivot axis of the second jaw component is located between the second permanent magnet and the grip end.

Abstract: A scale system includes a weighing scales located within a store, each weighing scale configured for weighing and pricing fresh items. Each weighing scale incorporates a discard transaction function that is configured to enable an operator to enter data regarding fresh items being discarded. Each scale includes a transaction data tracking function stores a fresh item transaction record for fresh items that are priced and fresh items that are discarded. POS terminals are located in the store, at which items being purchased from the store are scanned and paid for, and purchase transaction records from the POS terminals are collected and stored by a POS server. A scale management computer includes a transaction data collection function that obtains fresh item transaction records from each weighing scale and purchase transaction records from the POS server, enabling identification of inconsistencies between fresh item transaction records and purchase transaction records.