WIRELESS TRACKING AND INVENTORY MONITORING FOR WELDING-TYPE DEVICES
First Claim
1. A welding-type consumable inventory system comprising:
- at least one wireless monitoring device;
at least one welding-type consumable container having a consumable amount sensor and a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to emit wireless signals having data encoded thereon indicative of a type and an amount of consumable in the container; and
wherein the at least one wireless monitoring device is arranged to find the at least one welding-type consumable container by receiving the wireless signals thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A welding-type device has a wireless communication unit to transmit wireless signals comprising at least identification information or location information. The information may be transmitted either automatically or in response to request signals. Such a welding-type device may be configured to communicate with other welding-type devices, a monitoring device, or both. A wireless communication system has at least one welding-type device, at least one wireless communication assembly, and at least one monitoring device and is capable of assisting a user in locating particular welding-type devices, monitoring inventory, preventing theft of welding-type devices, and scheduling preventive maintenance.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A welding-type consumable inventory system comprising:
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at least one wireless monitoring device;
at least one welding-type consumable container having a consumable amount sensor and a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to emit wireless signals having data encoded thereon indicative of a type and an amount of consumable in the container; and
wherein the at least one wireless monitoring device is arranged to find the at least one welding-type consumable container by receiving the wireless signals thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for implementing a consumable inventory system comprising:
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configuring a number of welding-type consumable containers to emit locatable data signals;
arranging a wireless detection network in a facility to receive the locatable data signals;
associating a computer readable storage medium with a processing unit of the wireless detection network; and
storing a computer program on the computer readable storage medium which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to;
determine a remaining amount of welding-type consumables within the facility; and
automatically generate a re-supply order when the remaining amount of welding-type consumables reaches a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A welding-type consumable inventory unit comprising:
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a shipment unit having a transceiver attached thereto;
a plurality of welding-type consumable containers stored with the shipment unit, each of the plurality of welding-type consumable containers having a low power transmitter which is constructed to emit a signal indicating consumable type data; and
wherein the transceiver is positioned to receive signals of the low power transmitters and emit a locatable signal of relatively higher transmission strength representing the consumable type data of the plurality of welding-type consumable containers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A consumable monitoring network comprising:
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at least one wireless transceiver having a processing unit and positioned within a facility to receive wireless signals of welding-type devices in the facility and process location and characteristic data therefrom;
a memory unit having welding-type compatibility data stored thereon and connected to communicate with the at least one wireless transceiver; and
wherein the at least one wireless transceiver is configured to generate an incompatibility signal by comparing location and characteristic data of at least one welding-type device with compatibility data stored on the memory unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification