INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20070043600A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthwhile Products
• Original Assignee: Worthwhile Products
• Inventors: Solomon, Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 63/067 with a noria lift
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/127 the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
• 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

An inventory control system includes a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows. Each storage unit is engaged with the track for selective movement along the track. An inventory control unit is associated with the storage module and has a user interface, a processor, a memory, and a mechanism for inputting object information, including storage unit placement. The processor receives the object information from the inputting mechanism, and stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface.

Claims

1. An inventory control system, comprising:

a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track; and

an inventory control unit associated with the storage module, having a user interface, a processor, a memory, and means for inputting object information, including storage unit placement, wherein the processor receives the object information from the inputting means, and stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface.

2. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the inputting means comprises a data reader.

3. The inventory control system of claim 2, wherein the data reader is adapted to read machine readable codes associated with the objects.

4. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the processor coordinates movement of the storage units and the objects associated therewith.

5. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is adapted to access object information and locate a particular object within the storage module.

6. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a keypad.

7. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a sensor associated with the processor for determining storage module conditions.

10. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a second storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track;

wherein the inventory control unit receives and stores object information from the second storage module.

11. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a printer associated with the inventory control unit for printing object information on a label attachable to the objects.

14. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to review object information to determine if an object expiration date has been exceeded.

15. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a first vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a bottom storage unit of a first end column, and adapted to lift the first end column of storage units;

a first horizontal actuator for moving a storage unit from a top position in the first end column to a top position in an adjacent column;

a second vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a storage unit, and adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units; and

a second horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column.

16. The invention control system of claim 15, wherein the continuous track comprises first and second generally parallel tracks, the first track being engaged with wheels extending from one end of the storage units, and the second track being engaged with wheels extending from opposite ends of the storage units, and wherein the first and second tracks each include a pair of rails spaced from one another and opposite end outer rails of the tracks, and extending from a top outer rail to a bottom outer rail of the first and second tracks, the rails being configured to engage wheels of the storage units.

17. The inventory control system of claim 15, wherein the continuous track comprises a dual track, including a first set of tracks and a second set of tracks positioned generally parallel to one another and spaced apart so as to engage wheels extending from each storage unit, wherein the first and second sets of tracks each comprise a first rail in a first plane and a second rail in a second plane in overlapping arrangement, and wherein each storage unit includes a first set of wheels extending therefrom a first distance for engagement with the first rail, and a second set of wheels extending therefrom a second distance for engagement with the second rail.

8. The inventory control system of claim 8, wherein upon detection by the sensor of unauthorized entry of the storage module, the processor performs at least one security function comprising at least one of sounding an alarm, displaying an alarm, and preventing movement of storage units within the storage module.

9. The inventory control system of claim 8, wherein the processor monitors and controls temperature within a number of the storage units.

12. The inventory control system of claim 12, wherein the printed object information comprises machine readable indicia.

13. The inventory control system of claim 12, wherein the processor is adapted to provide, via the printer, an inventory of the objects in the storage module.

18. An inventory control system, comprising:

a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track; and

an inventory control unit associated with the storage module, having a user interface, a processor, a memory, and a data reader adapted to read machine readable codes associated with the objects for inputting object information, including storage unit placement, wherein the processor receives the object information from the data reader, stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface, and coordinates movement of the storage units and the objects associated therewith.

19. The inventory control system of claim 18, wherein the user interface is adapted to input object information in the memory, access object information, and locate a particular object within the storage module.

20. The inventory control system of claim 18, wherein the user interface includes a keypad.

21. The inventory control system of claim 18, including a sensor associated with the processor for determining storage module conditions, the processor monitoring and controlling temperature within a number of the storage units, wherein upon detection by the sensor of unauthorized entry of the storage module, the processor performs at least one security function comprising at least one of sounding an alarm, displaying an alarm, and preventing movement of storage units within the storage module.

22. The inventory control system of claim 18, including a second storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track;

wherein the inventory control unit receives and stores object information from the second storage module.

23. The inventory control system of claim 18, including a printer associated with the inventory control unit for printing object information on a label attachable to the objects, wherein the printed object information comprises machine readable indicia.

24. The inventory control system of claim 18, wherein the processor is adapted to provide an inventory of the objects in the storage module.

25. The inventory control system of claim 18, wherein the processor is adapted to review object information to determine if an object expiration date has been exceeded.

26. The inventory control system of claim 18, including a first vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a bottom storage unit of a first end column, and adapted to lift the first end column of storage units;

a first horizontal actuator for moving a storage unit from a top position in the first end column to a top position in an adjacent column;

a second vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a storage unit, and adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units; and

a second horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column.

27. The invention control system of claim 26, wherein the continuous track comprises a first and second generally parallel tracks, the first track being engaged with wheels extending from one end of the storage units, and the second track being engaged with wheels extending from opposite ends of the storage units, and wherein the first and second tracks each include a pair of rails spaced from one another and opposite end outer rails of the tracks, and extending from a top outer rail to a bottom outer rail of the first and second tracks, the rails being configured to engage wheels of the storage units.

28. The inventory control system of claim 26, wherein the continuous track comprises a dual track, including a first set of tracks and a second set of tracks positioned generally parallel to one another and spaced apart so as to engage wheels extending from each storage unit, wherein the first and second sets of tracks each comprise a first rail in a first plane and a second rail in a second plane in overlapping arrangement, and wherein each storage unit includes a first set of wheels extending therefrom a first distance for engagement with the first rail, and a second set of wheels extending therefrom a second distance for engagement with the second rail.

29. An inventory control system, comprising:

a storage module comprising;

a continuous track comprising;

and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track;

a first vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a bottom storage unit of a first end column, and adapted to lift the first end column of storage units;

a first horizontal actuator for moving a storage unit from a top position in the first end column to a top position in an adjacent column;

a second vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a storage unit, and adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units; and

a second horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column;

an inventory control unit associated with the storage module, having a processor, a memory, a data reader adapted to read machine readable codes associated with the objects for inputting object information, including storage unit placement, and a user interface adapted to input object information in the memory, access object information, and locate a particular object within the storage module, wherein the processor receives the object information from the data reader, stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface, and coordinates movement of the storage units and

the objects associated therewith.

30. The inventory control system of claim 29, including a second storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track;

and the inventory control unit receives and stores object information from the second storage module.

31. The inventory control system of claim 29, including a sensor associated with the processor for determining storage module conditions, the processor monitoring and controlling temperature within a number of the storage units, wherein upon detection by the sensor of unauthorized entry of the storage module, the processor performs at least one security function comprising at least one of sounding an alarm, displaying an alarm, and preventing movement of storage units within the storage module.

32. The inventory control system of claim 29, including a printer associated with the inventory control unit for printing object information on a label attachable to the objects, wherein the printed object information comprises machine readable indicia and the processor is adapted to provide, via the printer, an inventory of the objects in the storage module.

33. The inventory control system of claim 29, wherein the processor is adapted to provide an inventory of the objects in the storage module and review object information to determine if an object expiration date has been exceeded.