Inventory Dispenser Counting With Stopper Position Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Convenience stores face challenges in timely and accurate inventory management due to unpredictable demand fluctuations and limited resources, leading to potential stockouts or overstocking, especially for products like cigarettes, which are prone to theft and require manual counting that is time-consuming and error-prone.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous inventory counting and tracking (AICT) system using a dispenser with a body, ledges, and a stopper mechanism that measures container unit distances to determine inventory counts, coupled with sensors and processors for automated data collection and display, enabling real-time tracking and remote monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual inventory counting is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and productivity deteriorate due to counting errors and time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory counting accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical counting with an automated optical measurement system. Sensors (optical, capacitive, or other non-contact types) detect container unit positions and trigger the stopper to move, eliminating the need for manual intervention while improving counting accuracy and consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-measurement of inventory levels through automated sensors and processing circuits. The stopper mechanism automatically responds to container unit presence, and the system independently calculates inventory counts without requiring human operators, thereby improving precision while managing complexity through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual inventory counting is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory counting speedVSAvoidautomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous or near-continuous inventory monitoring through automated sensors that detect container units as they are placed in or removed from the dispenser. This eliminates the periodic manual counting process and allows for real-time inventory tracking, significantly improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical counting is replaced with automated electronic sensing and processing systems. Sensors continuously monitor container unit positions and trigger the stopper mechanism, enabling rapid automated inventory assessment without the time constraints of manual counting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If manual inventory tracking is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to human error

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory tracking accuracyVSAvoidautomated tracking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces human-based inventory tracking with an automated system using sensors, processing circuits, and mechanical stopper mechanisms. This substitution eliminates human errors such as miscounting or recording mistakes, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through systematic automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor container unit positions and trigger the stopper to move accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system ensures accurate real-time inventory tracking by constantly verifying and updating inventory levels, improving reliability through continuous automated verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If real-time inventory tracking is implemented, then productivity and reliability improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory management reliabilityVSAvoidsystem component complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into functional segments: sensor units for detection, a stopper mechanism for physical response, processing circuits for calculation, and display/output components. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, managing overall system complexity while enabling reliable real-time inventory tracking through coordinated operation of these modular components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260024047A1Systems and methods for autonomous inventory counting and tracking

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 SIDDIQUI HASHIM MUHAMMAD

AI summary

A method of tracking inventory comprises providing a dispenser. The dispenser includes a body laterally extending between a first end and a second end. The dispenser also includes a stopper slidably coupled to the body to move between the first end and the second end and a biasing member coupled to the stopper to bias the stopper towards the second end. A plurality of identifiers are displayed on the biasing member. The method includes securing a plurality of units within the dispenser between the stopper and the second end, and displaying at least one of the plurality of identifiers to a user of the dispenser, the at least one of the plurality of identifiers corresponding to a total number of units in the dispenser.