Inventory system with image display

• US 20040207512A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bastian Software Solutions LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Original Assignee: ASAP Automation LLC (A & O Hydraulic Repair LLC)
• Inventors: Bastian, William A. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A pick/put to display (PTD) device includes an image display that allows the PTD device to display images related to a product, such as a picture of the product or an instructional video. By having the capability to display images of the product, the PTD device is able to reduce the risk that the wrong product will be picked or placed in a storage location. The image display further allows the PTD device to display arrows that can point in a multitude of directions. With the capability of having arrows point in numerous directions, a single PTD device is able to service multiple storage locations, thereby reducing the number of PTD devices needed. The PTD device is further capable of downloading and playing sound files for a product so that audio instructions or alerts can be played.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a pick/put to display device with an image display and an indicator light;

illuminating the indicator light to alert an operator of a service to be performed on an item at a storage location;

displaying a service instruction for the item on the image display; and

displaying an image of the item on the image display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an arrow that points towards the storage location on the image display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said displaying the arrow, said displaying the service instruction and said displaying the image of the item occur at the same time.

4. The method claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a second arrow on the image display that points towards a second storage location for a second item; and

displaying an image of the second item at the second storage location on the image display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the image of the item occurs after said illuminating the indicator light.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the image of the item includes showing a moving image on the image display.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

wherein the pick/put to display device includes a speaker; and

playing sound from the speaker.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said playing sound occurs during said showing the moving image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the image of the item includes showing a three-dimensional image on the image display.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said illuminating the indicator light includes flashing the indicator light.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the image includes a static picture of the item.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the service instruction includes a pick instruction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the service instruction includes a quantity.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising

wherein the pick/put to display device is operatively coupled to a server through a network;

and

downloading onto the pick/put to display device a file containing the image for the item from the server.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

downloading onto the pick/put to display device a sound file from the server; and

playing the sound file on a speaker of the pick/put to display device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving operator input with the pick/put to display device; and

wherein said displaying on the image display the image of the item occurs in response to said receiving operator input.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising

wherein the pick/put to display device is operatively coupled to a server through a network;

and

receiving from the server a message concerning the item; and

wherein said displaying on the image display the image of the item occurs in response to said receiving from the server the message.

18. A method of reducing the number of pick/put to display devices needed for a storage area, comprising:

positioning a pick/put to display device with an image display between a first storage location and a second storage location;

displaying on the image display a first screen that includes a first arrow pointing toward the first storage location and a first instruction for servicing the first storage location; and

displaying on the image display a second screen that includes a second arrow pointing toward the second storage location and a second instruction for servicing the second storage location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said displaying on the image display the first screen includes displaying a first image concerning the first storage location in the first screen.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said displaying on the image display the second screen includes displaying a second image concerning the second storage location on the image display.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising clearing the image display of the first screen before said displaying on the image display the second screen.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising

receiving a message from a host over a network concerning the first storage location;

and

wherein displaying on the image display the first screen occurs in response to said receiving the message.

23. A method, comprising:

alerting an operator of a service to be performed on an item at a storage location with a pick/put to device that has an image display;

displaying instructions concerning the item at the storage location on the image display; and

displaying an image concerning the item at the storage location on the image display.

24. A system, comprising:

a pick/put to display device positioned proximal a storage location, the pick/put to display device including

a processor operable to download an instruction and an image that concern an item associated with the storage location,

memory operatively coupled to the processor,

an indicator light operatively coupled to the processor to alert an operator of a servicing task for the item at the storage location, and

an image display operatively coupled to the processor to display the instruction and the image concerning the item at the storage location.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a server operatively coupled to the processor, said server being configured to store the image and being operable to send the image to the pick/put to display device.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a network operatively coupling the server to the processor, said network including a wireless network.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the memory is configured to store the image.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a speaker operatively coupled to said processor; and

wherein said processor is operable to download on or more sounds concerning the item and play the sounds on the speaker.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

an input device operatively coupled to the processor to receive input from the operator.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the input device includes a microphone.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the input device includes one or more buttons.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein said image display includes an organic light emitting diode display.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein said image display is configured to display a location arrow that points to the storage location.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said image display is configured to display a cell indicator that identifies an individual cell within the storage location.

35. A system, comprising:

a first storage location configured to store a first item;

a second storage location configured to store a second item; and

a pick/put to display device positioned between the first storage location and the second storage location to handle service instructions for both the first storage location and the second storage location, the pick/put to display device having an image display configured to display a first arrow that points toward the first storage location and a second arrow that points to the second storage location.