Automated inventory management for a paint color chip display assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US11710096B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Automated inventory management for a paint color chip display assembly",
  "abstract": "A system includes a shelving unit, a sensor and a processor. The shelving unit includes a pocket. The sensor is associated with the pocket and is configured to obtain a parameter indicative of a weight of the pocket. The processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium. The instructions include obtaining the parameter indicative of the weight of the pocket from the sensor, determining the weight of the pocket based on the parameter, comparing the weight of the pocket to a predetermined value, generating a paint chip order that includes a request in response to the weight of the pocket being below the predetermined value, and transmitting the paint chip order to a computing system.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: a shelving unit having a plurality of adjacent pairs of retaining panels arranged along and coupled to a shelving mechanism with each adjacent pair of retaining panels defining a pocket configured to receive a plurality of paint color chips; a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors being mounted on a retaining panel of one of the plurality of adjacent pairs of retaining panels such that each pocket has a corresponding sensor from the plurality of sensors, the sensor being configured to obtain a parameter indicative of a weight of any paint color chips located within the corresponding pocket; and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions include: obtaining, from each sensor of the plurality of sensors, the parameter indicative of the weight of any paint color chips located within the corresponding pocket for each sensor; determining the weight of any paint color chips located within each pocket corresponding to each sensor based on the parameter received from each sensor; comparing the weight of any paint color chips located within each pocket with a predetermined value; generating a paint chip order for additional paint color chips corresponding to any pocket for which the weight is below the predetermined value; and transmitting the paint chip order to a computing system.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein transmitting the paint chip order to the computing system causes the computing system to order the additional paint color chips.",
    "3. A method comprising: obtaining, from each sensor of a plurality of sensors, a parameter indicative of a weight of any paint color chips located within a corresponding pocket of a plurality of pockets, each pocket of the plurality of pockets being configured to receive a plurality of paint color chips and being defined by an adjacent pair of retaining panels from a plurality of adjacent pairs of retaining panels arranged along and coupled to a shelving mechanism of a shelving unit, each sensor of the plurality of sensors being mounted on a retaining panel of one of the plurality of adjacent pairs of retaining panels such that each pocket of the plurality of pockets has a corresponding sensor from the plurality of sensors; determining, using a processor, the weight of any paint color chips located within each pocket corresponding to each sensor based on the parameter received from each sensor; comparing, using the processor, the weight of any paint color chips located within each pocket with a predetermined value; generating, using the processor, a paint chip order for additional paint color chips corresponding to any pocket for which the weight is below the predetermined value; and transmitting, using the processor, the paint chip order to a computing system.",
    "4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the paint chip order to the computing system causes the computing system to order the additional paint color chips.",
    "5. A system comprising: a shelving unit including a plurality of pockets, each pocket configured to hold associated paint chips and being defined by an adjacent pair of retaining panels from a plurality of adjacent pairs of retaining panels arranged along and coupled to a shelving mechanism of the shelving unit; a plurality of weight sensors, each weight sensor being installed in a corresponding pocket of the plurality of pockets, mounted on a retaining panel of the adjacent pair of retaining panels that define the corresponding pocket, and configured to determine a weight of any associated paint chips held in the corresponding pocket; a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium, the instructions including: receiving the weight sensed by each of the plurality of weight sensors; comparing the weight sensed by each of the plurality of weight sensors with a predetermined weight threshold; generating a paint chip order in response to a weight from a particular weight sensor of the plurality of weight sensors being less than the predetermined weight threshold, the paint chip order indicating the associated paint chips for the corresponding pocket within which the particular weight sensor is installed; and transmitting the paint chip order to a computing system.",
    "6. The system of claim 5, wherein transmitting the paint chip order to the computing system causes the computing system to generate an order for the associated paint chips."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to automated inventory management systems and methods for a paint color chip display assembly, including systems and methods for ordering paint color chips for a display assembly.\n\nThis section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art. Consumers may visit a retail store where paint colors are selected and/or purchased. The stores may include display assemblies that include paint color chips, which are often displayed at a point-of-sale to display various paint colors that are offered by the hardware store and are each associated with a particular paint color. The paint color chips of the display assemblies may run out of stock overtime. It is time consuming to manually determine the paint color chips that have run out of stock, and to order such paint color chips. The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining which paint color chips have run out of stock. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for ordering paint color chips for the display assemblies.\n\nThis section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. In one form, the present disclosure provides a system that includes a shelving unit, a first sensor and a processor. The shelving unit includes a first pocket. The first sensor is associated with the first pocket and is configured to obtain a first parameter indicative of a weight of the first pocket. The processor is configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06Q 10/0875",
    "B65G 1/1371",
    "B65G 1/1373",
    "G01G 19/414",
    "G01G 19/42"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 1/137",
    "G01G 19/414",
    "G06Q 10/0875"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BEHR PROCESS CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "GOLDSTEIN LINDSEY",
    "GERMAIN MARK"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-05-15",
  "publication_date": "2023-07-25",
  "grant_date": "2023-07-25",
  "priority_date": "2019-05-31",
  "application_number": "US-202016875089-A",
  "family_id": "73551300",
  "citations": [
    "US11270546B1",
    "US2011266337A1",
    "US2012310570A1",
    "US5671362A"
  ]
}