Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a remotely controllable service cart system, and methods of operating the same. Such systems and methods may include a remotely controllable service cart, a microcontroller located on the service cart, a transmitter configured to transmit a command from a user, a receiver located on the service cart for receiving the transmitted command, the microcontroller configured to produce a control signal from the transmitted command, and a drive system located on the service cart and operatively connected to the microcontroller, the drive system configured to move the service cart in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A self service cart system is provided to speed throughput at a check out counter and thus reduce space devoted to check out counters. The cart comprises a bar code scanner for acquiring a price and a description of a product, a security scanner for converting a tag from an unsecured state to a secured state, a magnetic card reader for activating the cart and a controller. The controller stores the price and description of all products in a store and keeps a running total of the price of the products scanned and placed in the cart and coordinates the various activities of the various parts of the cart system. An inventory control computer is connected to the cart's controller at the check out counter to down load the price and description of the products scanned. The products then pass through a security sensor which determines if the products are in the secured state and raises an alarm if the products are in the unsecured state.

Abstract: A transportation system in which cars having cargo containers are driven along tracks. Access to a car's cargo container is provided via a door on the car which is moved by a door drive system carried on the car. In the exemplary case of a remote bank teller transportation system, a car moves between two terminals in which the car and the car door are orientated vertically "right side up" in one terminal and "upside down" in the other terminal. The door drive system serves to move the door downwardly for both orientations of the car.

Abstract: Heavy-duty railway transport equipment for carrying out banking services between a teller terminal inside a bank and a customer terminal at a remote drive-up station visible to the teller, which transport equipment can accommodate heavy and bulky banking material loads for commercial banking transactions. The transport system includes a track-traveling car-cradle-container assembly which moves as a unit along a track connected with the terminals. The terminals each have doors normally latched closed but automatically opened upon arrival of the assembly at the terminal. The terminal doors are latched closed when moved to closed position. The container is moved to differently oriented positions at the two terminals when the terminal doors are opened for convenient access by a teller of customer. The container has a multi-pivot mounting on the car to enable such different orientation, and has a large generally rectangular top opening for easy access.