System for storage shelving and methods of use thereof

• US 20090243797A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Chan, Mau-Wah, Kwok, King-Lun, Sze, So-Lam, Leung, Wallace Woon-Fong
• Granted Patent: US 9,311,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.730
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for product storage and methods of categorizing, storing, and delivering products to end users via the system, the system'"'"'s components including a processor, a “smart shelving” device, boxes for insertion into and utilization by the “smart shelving” device, and ID readers. Through the present invention, products are able to be securely and more certainly delivered to the proper recipient of the products.

Claims

1. An interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products, comprising:

i. a shelving device made of at least one shelf, with each shelf having at least one slot;

ii. at least one processor;

iii. one or more storage boxes sized to fit in said slot, wherein each storage box has a unique ID;

iv. at least one ID reader; and

v. at least one lock.

4. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein each of said slot or slots has an ID reader stored therein

5. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein at least one of said processor is connected to at least one of said shelf, said ID reader, and said lock.

6. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said processor contains algorithms for controlling system electronics and said lock of the system.

7. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, further comprising audio or visual indicators associated with each slot.

8. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said unique ID can be selected from the group consisting of bar code, RFID, mechanical ID, and combination thereof.

9. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said ID reader can be selected from the group consisting of bar code reader, RFID reader, and mechanical ID reader.

10. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 7, wherein said ID reader further comprises an antenna.

11. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said product can be selected from the group consisting of drugs, corpses, food stuffs, jewels, samples, plants, traditional Chinese products, herbs, and animals.

13. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 10, further comprising the step, following removing product from said storage box, of delivering said product.

14. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 11, wherein delivery is made to a patient.

15. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 10, further comprising the step, following locking said storage box in said slot, turning on a visual or audio indicator.

16. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 10, wherein making storage box available comprises emptying the storage box of products or partially emptying the storage box of products.

17. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 10, wherein engaging said storage box comprises scanning the unique ID of said storage box or manually entering the unique ID of said storage box into a processor.

18. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 10, wherein locking said storage box is automatically controlled by a processor.

19. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 10, wherein unlocking said storage box is automatically controlled by a processor.

2. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products, wherein each slot has a lock stored therein.

3. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products, wherein each storage box has a lock stored therein.

12. A method for storing, securing, and retrieving products, comprising the steps of:

making a storage box available;

engaging said storage box;

placing said storage box in a slot of a shelving device;

locking said storage box in said slot;

unlocking said storage box in said slot; and

removing product from said storage box.