A device for dispensing and locking carts disposed in a stack, comprising: a dual-lever mechanism, comprising: a locking lever which is blocking movement of a first cart of a plurality of carts disposed in a stack when in open position; a base adjacent to said locking lever which is movable forward and backward with respect to the stack; and a dispensing lever mounted on the base which is blocking movement of a second cart of the plurality of carts when in open position; and a drive belt driving the plurality of carts in parallel to movement of said base by moving forward and backward in coordination with the base.

A device for dispensing and locking carts disposed in a stack, comprising: a dual-lever mechanism, comprising: a locking lever which is blocking movement of a first cart of a plurality of carts disposed in a stack when in open position; a base adjacent to said locking lever which is movable forward and backward with respect to the stack; and a dispensing lever mounted on the base which is blocking movement of a second cart of the plurality of carts when in open position; and a drive belt driving the plurality of carts in parallel to movement of said base by moving forward and backward in coordination with the base.

A method for hiring out transportation means for transporting goods, wherein, at a depot, at least one transportation means is provided for use and return. Each transportation means has a detection means. The user of a transportation means carries a mobile communication device. The method uses at least one motivator to motivate the user to return the transportation means. Before return of the transportation means to the depot, the mobile communication device and the transportation means are associated by using a detection means in a first detection process and identifiers of the mobile communication device and the transportation means, which are linked, are stored by at least one computer system. Upon return of the transportation means, a second detection process is done. Data obtained by the two detection processes are used by the at least one computer system to allow the use of the at least one motivator.

Technologies are shown for automatically registering items in an automated physical shopping cart involving receiving image data for items in the cart, detecting a change in a weight of items in the cart and, determining whether a correlated item was identified in the image data. If no correlated item was identified, a message is displayed indicating that no correlated item was detected and a user can be prompted. A user device may be used to scan items and display messages for the cart. Items may be scanned using image recognition to determine item information. An item weight may be determined based on the change in the weight of items in the cart and priced accordingly to weight. A notification for an item in the cart may be provided to an inventory or a shopping list application indicating that the correlated item was added to the cart.

According to an embodiment, a mobile body acquires product information given to a product to be purchased and transports the product to be purchased. The mobile body includes a cart body, an acquisition device, and a holder. The cart body is moved to transport the product. The acquisition device acquires the product information. The holder detachably holds the acquisition device.

According to an embodiment, a mobile body acquires product information given to a product to be purchased and transports the product to be purchased. The mobile body includes a cart body, an acquisition device, and a holder. The cart body is moved to transport the product. The acquisition device acquires the product information. The holder detachably holds the acquisition device.

An electronic trolley lock system and a method for providing trolley service based on a request of a registered user intending to use a trolley enabled with an electronic trolley lock device. The method and system can enable tracking of trolley use and locating abandoned trolleys. The system can also enable performing a transaction when a trolley is unlocked and performing a reverse transaction on return of the trolley by a registered user.

A monitoring device according to an embodiment determines whether an information terminal, which moves together with a purchaser and receives data input regarding commodities for purchase by the purchaser, is present in a second place different from a set first place. The monitoring device detects that the information terminal is left unattended in the second place. The monitoring device activates an alarm in response to the information terminal being left unattended in the second place for a threshold period of time.

A device for dispensing and locking carts disposed in a stack, comprising: a dual-lever mechanism, comprising: a locking lever which is blocking movement of a first cart of a plurality of carts disposed in a stack when in open position; a base adjacent to said locking lever which is movable forward and backward with respect to the stack; and a dispensing lever mounted on the base which is blocking movement of a second cart of the plurality of carts when in open position; and a drive belt driving the plurality of carts in parallel to movement of said base by moving forward and backward in coordination with the base.

A monitoring device according to an embodiment determines whether an information terminal, which moves together with a purchaser and receives data input regarding commodities for purchase by the purchaser, is present in a second place different from a set first place. The monitoring device detects that the information terminal is left unattended in the second place. The monitoring device activates an alarm in response to the information terminal being left unattended in the second place for a threshold period of time.