Patent ID: 9536236
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: A47F,G06Q,G07F,G07G

Claim:
1. A method for distributing items from a computer-controlled, automated store outlet, comprising the steps of: providing a computer-controlled, automated store outlet machine having a plurality of bays under one computerized system which contain items removable from each bay for purchase by a customer in a purchase transaction, the automated store outlet machine further including at least one tray on at least one shelf disposed within each bay of the plurality of bays for holding the items, at least one sensor arranged within each tray for detecting removal of individual items from each bay, a bay door for each bay providing access for the customer to selectively and manually remove items contained in the at least one tray on the at least one shelf within the bay prior to purchase by the customer, an electronic door access unit associated with each bay door and including a display screen, and an activity monitoring panel included with each bay and having a display; receiving customer identification from the customer into the door access unit associated with a particular bay of the plurality of bays of the automated store outlet; unlocking the bay door of the particular bay associated with the door access unit after receiving the customer identification from the customer to provide the customer with physical access to the items contained within the particular bay prior to purchase by the customer; detecting using the at least one sensor the manual removal by the customer of items from each tray within the particular bay, and identifying the removed items based on a database of information for each item in each tray within the particular bay; adding each removed item to an electronic shopping cart for the customer in response to the detecting and identifying of each removed item using the at least one sensor; displaying the electronic shopping cart to the customer, including an identification of each removed item and a purchase price for each removed item, on at least one of the display of the activity monitoring panel of the particular bay and the display screen of the door access unit associated with the bay door of the particular bay, prior to purchase of the removed items by the customer; locking the bay door of the particular bay after the customer has completed removing items from the particular bay; and closing the purchase transaction of the customer after the last bay door of the plurality of bays opened by the customer are closed and locked and after the customer closes the transaction manually or after a predetermined period of inactivity by the customer by charging the customer for the items removed from the plurality of bays by the customer.