Bulk food storage and dispensing system with automatic label creation
Systems are disclosed for dispensing, weighing, identifying, processing, and/or printing tag identifiers for items (e.g., bulk food items). In one embodiment, a storage system includes a scoop bin configured to store a product, wherein the scoop bin has a lid configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the product is configured to be scooped out of the scoop bin by a customer when the lid is in the open position. The system further includes a sensor configured to monitor a movement of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the scoop bin. A printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the scoop bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement.
1. A storage system comprising:
a scoop bin configured to store a product, wherein the scoop bin has a lid configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the product is configured to be scooped out of the scoop bin by a customer when the lid is in the open position;
a computing device; and
a sensor positioned on the lid of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a movement of the scoop bin, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the scoop bin, and wherein the movement is an opening of the scoop bin, a closing of the scoop bin, or an opening and subsequent closing of the scoop bin,
wherein a printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the scoop bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement of the scoop bin.
2. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a scale configured to monitor a change in a weight of the scoop bin.
3. The storage system of claim 2 , wherein the scale comprises a load cell.
4. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an accelerometer sensor.
5. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is fully positioned on an inner surface of the lid.
6. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the product is a food item.
7. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display configured to provide information about the product within the scoop bin upon identification by the sensor of the movement of the scoop bin.
8. The storage system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a scale,
wherein the display is further configured to provide a weight, a cost, or both the weight and the cost of a dispensed amount of the product from the scoop bin when the dispensed amount of the product is placed on the scale.
9. The storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a scale; and
a display configured to provide a weight, a cost, or both the weight and the cost of a dispensed amount of the product from the scoop bin when the dispensed amount of the product is placed on the scale.
10. The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the label is a barcode or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.
11. A storage system comprising:
a gravity-fed storage bin configured to store a product, wherein the gravity-fed storage bin has a dispensing handle configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position, wherein the product is configured to flow out of the gravity-fed storage bin by gravity when the dispensing handle is in the open position;
a computing device; and
an accelerometer sensor positioned on the dispensing handle of the gravity-fed storage bin, wherein the accelerometer sensor is configured to monitor a movement of the gravity-fed storage bin, wherein the accelerometer sensor is configured to transmit a notification to the computing device identifying the movement of the gravity-fed storage bin, and wherein the movement is an opening of the gravity-fed storage bin, a closing of the gravity-fed storage bin, or an opening and subsequent closing of the gravity-fed storage bin,
wherein a printer is configured to receive an instruction from the computing device to automatically print a label identifying the product stored in the gravity-fed storage bin following the computing device receiving the notification of the movement of the gravity-fed storage bin.
12. The storage system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a scale configured to monitor a change in a weight of the gravity-fed storage bin.
13. The storage system of claim 12 , wherein the scale comprises a load cell.
14. The storage system of claim 11 , wherein the product is a food item.
15. The storage system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a display configured to provide information about the product within the gravity-fed storage bin upon identification by the accelerometer sensor of the movement of the gravity-fed storage bin.
16. The storage system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a scale,
wherein the display is further configured to provide a weight, a cost, or both the weight and the cost of a dispensed amount of the product from the gravity-fed storage bin when the dispensed amount of the product is placed on the scale.
17. The storage system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a scale; and
a display configured to provide a weight, a cost, or both the weight and the cost of a dispensed amount of the product from the gravity-fed storage bin when the dispensed amount of the product is placed on the scale.
18. The storage system of claim 11 , wherein the label is a barcode or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.