Load montitoring and inventory management system for use with a load conveyor
First Claim
1. An inventory management system using a mobile load handler, comprising a plurality of loads each labelled with load identification data, a plurality of storage zones each labelled with location identification data, an incoming load zone labelled with location identification data, an outgoing load zone labelled with location identification data, the mobile load handler having a data reader mounted thereon and a data storage device for storing the identification data read by the data reader, and means for cross-referencing the location identification data to the load identification data so as to provide a log of the movement of a given load by the mobile load handler.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load monitoring system for use with a load conveyor such as a lifting assembly of a forklift truck or other mobile load handler. The conveyor has a load support for supporting a load to be conveyed and a load-bearing chain or cable. A load transducer is attached to the load conveyor and generates an output signal representative of the load applied to the chain at any particular point in time. From the output signal the time during which the element has been used in a particular load range is determined as well as the remaining service life of the element. The load data may be collected and processed locally or may be transmitted to a remote computer or hand-held device for analysis. The mobile load handler may also have a data reader so that that it may be used in inventory management in which a plurality of loads each labelled with load identification data are moved between a plurality of storage zones each labelled with location identification data by the handler. A data storage device stores and processes the data so as to provide a log of the movement of a given load by the mobile load handler.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. An inventory management system using a mobile load handler, comprising a plurality of loads each labelled with load identification data, a plurality of storage zones each labelled with location identification data, an incoming load zone labelled with location identification data, an outgoing load zone labelled with location identification data, the mobile load handler having a data reader mounted thereon and a data storage device for storing the identification data read by the data reader, and means for cross-referencing the location identification data to the load identification data so as to provide a log of the movement of a given load by the mobile load handler.
- 17. Apparatus for determining the relative loads on a plurality load-bearing elongate flexible elements of a mobile load handler, comprising a plurality of elongate flexible elements and anchors therefor for attaching the elements to the handler, a transducer attached to each element or anchor and for generating an output representative of the load applied to a respective element, means for comparing the loads and means for generating an output signal indicative of unequal loading between the elements.
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30. A method for determining the relative loads on a plurality of load-bearing elongate flexible elements of a mobile load handler, the elements having anchors for attaching them to the load handler and a transducer attached to each element or anchor for generating a signal representative of the load applied to a respective element, comprising the steps of comparing the load value represented by said signals and generating an output signal indicative of the unequal loading between the chains.
Specification