SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MEASURE FORCE OR LOCATION ON AN L-BEAM

• US 20160187186A1
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Long, Nate J. Coleman
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Long
• Inventors: LONG, Michael A., Coleman, Nate J.
• Application Number:
  US14/588,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/30 Belts or like endless load-carriers co-operating with rails or the like B65G21/22; co-operating with rollers B65G39/20
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/60 Arrangements for supporting or guiding belts, e.g. by fluid jets
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/08 the surface being formed by the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/0258 Weight of the article
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/044 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale

Abstract

Force and location sensing systems and methods are disclosed. A method comprises bending a L-beam at an initially unknown location on a force-supporting portion of the L-beam, the L-beam substantially having a tension side and a compression side, measuring a first local stress at a first location on the tension side, measuring a second local stress at a second location on the tension side, measuring a third local stress at a third location on the compression side, and measuring a fourth local stress at a fourth location on the compression side. A weight-sensing storage system capable of tracking removed items is disclosed with a product image captured via a camera, a plurality of sensors on an L-beam, a first signal from the plurality of sensors indicating a first state prior to change of the product image, and a second signal indicating lower strain on the L-beam than the first signal.

Claims

1. A method for verifying delivery, comprising:

an L-beam comprising a force-receiving portion and a leg portion;

receiving onto the force-receiving portion an object capable of being dispensed from a vending machine;

receiving a weight input via the leg portion;

receiving a location input via the leg portion;

dropping an object onto the force-receiving portion;

verifying a known weight against the weight input; and

receiving an absence of weight input resulting from the object when the object is lifted from the force-receiving portion.

2. The method of claim 1, where the object comprises:

a pharmaceutical drug.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a recorded time electronically generated upon dropping the object onto the force-receiving portion.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying a chain of custody.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying retrieval of a property from a locked container.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying retrieval of a property from a workplace.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying retrieval of a gown from a semiconductor facility.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying return of a property to a patient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying return of a property to an inmate.

10. A tracking device, comprising:

a conveyor belt; and

an L-beam supporting the conveyor belt.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of L-beams supporting the conveyor belt.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

an at least one L-beam in the plurality of L-beams comprises;

a force-receiving portion and a leg portion.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one L-beam in the plurality of L-beams further comprises:

an at least one sensor attached to the leg portion.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

an at least two overlapping surfaces near the force-receiving portion.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a camera system capable of storing an image of an unknown object upon the force-receiving portion.