Patents by Inventor Steven J. Sanchez

Steven J. Sanchez has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7204346
    Abstract: A system and method for transporting items along a conveyor for a checkout system may include starting a conveyor in a transporting direction upon an item being placed in proximity to a start sensor, transporting the item beyond the start sensor and stopping the conveyor prior to the item reaching an end of the conveyor if a checkout sensor positioned in a checkout area indicates that a user is absent at the checkout area. The system and method may further include transporting the item toward the end of the conveyor if the checkout sensor indicates a user is present at the checkout area, transporting the item toward the second end of the conveyor upon a second item being placed in proximity to the start sensor and stopping the conveyor upon the item being sensed by a stopping sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chuck Kurtz, Gary E. Desjardins, Steven J. Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20040220860
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for conducting purchasing transactions using radio-frequency identification (RFID) of items for purchase. Such systems may include a security scale integral with a security conveyor for weighing one or more items placed thereon, a bagging area, a second conveyor for transporting items from the security conveyor to the bagging area, a lane controller for carrying out a purchasing transaction, payment means for accepting payment for the transaction, an RFID reader for receiving data from RFID tagged items and a database having item information stored therein. The system may write new information onto the tag. The system may utilize tag data for item validation and amending an item profile in a security database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Persky, Steven J. Sanchez