Article storage and retrieval system
First Claim
1. A system for the repetitive storage and retrieval of articles, comprising:
- an indicia bearing label affixed to each article to be repeatedly stored and retrieved, said indicia being representative of information uniquely identifying its associated article;
means for receiving articles to be stored from a user;
means for delivering articles retrieved from storage to a user;
means responsive to the delivery of an article to said receiving means for automatically moving said article to a scanning location which is inaccessible to the user;
means for automatically reading the identifying information contained by the indicia on the label affixed to said article positioned in the inaccessible scanning location;
means for storing articles having a plurality of individual storage locations, each of said locations being identified by a unique address;
memory means;
central processing means including;
means for receiving information from said indicia reading means and assigning and storing in said memory a unique storage location address within said storing means for each article delivered to said receiving means; and
means responsive to the reading of indicia information on an article label for comparing said information to data stored in said memory;
means responsive to said comparing means locating a match for automatically moving the associated article from said scanning location to the assigned storage location within said storing means; and
means responsive to said comparing means not locating a match for first assigning an available storage location to said article and then automatically moving said article from said scanning location to the assigned available storage location within said storage means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the storage and retrieval of motor vehicle keys wherein the keys are mounted in a container to which is affixed a printed bar code label identifying the vehicle stock number, its color and model. The system includes a bar code reader and a plurality of vertically rotatable circular plates having a plurality of key storage locations around the periphery of each. A pick and place arm is driven by a central processing unit in response to either the bar code read upon insertion of a key to be stored or upon entry of data from a key pad by a user to either store a key in an assigned location or to retrieve a key from that storage location and deliver it to the user. The system also includes routines whereby reports may be prepared for management indicating the individuals who currently have keys outstanding and the number of times each individual has removed the keys for each particular vehicle over a period of time. The system optionally includes a feature for providing a permanent printed record for each transaction of either storage or retrieval in the event of power outage and memory loss.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for the repetitive storage and retrieval of articles, comprising:
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an indicia bearing label affixed to each article to be repeatedly stored and retrieved, said indicia being representative of information uniquely identifying its associated article; means for receiving articles to be stored from a user; means for delivering articles retrieved from storage to a user; means responsive to the delivery of an article to said receiving means for automatically moving said article to a scanning location which is inaccessible to the user; means for automatically reading the identifying information contained by the indicia on the label affixed to said article positioned in the inaccessible scanning location; means for storing articles having a plurality of individual storage locations, each of said locations being identified by a unique address; memory means; central processing means including; means for receiving information from said indicia reading means and assigning and storing in said memory a unique storage location address within said storing means for each article delivered to said receiving means; and means responsive to the reading of indicia information on an article label for comparing said information to data stored in said memory; means responsive to said comparing means locating a match for automatically moving the associated article from said scanning location to the assigned storage location within said storing means; and means responsive to said comparing means not locating a match for first assigning an available storage location to said article and then automatically moving said article from said scanning location to the assigned available storage location within said storage means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for the repetitive storage and retrieval of automobile keys comprising:
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a plurality of horizontally disposed circular storage disks all rigidly fixed to a vertical shaft mounted for rotation about its axis; means for rotating said vertical shaft; means for receiving a key container having coded indicia affixed to said container identifying the keys contained therein said means for receiving including a container receiving slot; means responsive to insertion of a key container into aid receiving slot for automatically moving the container to a scanning location which is inaccessible to the user inserting the container into the slot; an indicia reader spaced from said receiving means at said inaccessible scanning location for reading the indicia on said container; manipulation means for moving said key container from said scanning location into a particular location on one of said horizontal storage disks determined by the indicia on the container, said manipulation means comprising an arm mounted for horizontal movement within a carriage, said carriage being mounted for vertical movement along a shaft located a spaced distance from both said receiving slot and said storage disks; a key container delivery slot positioned adjacent said key container receiving slot; a data entry key pad; means responsive to the indicia read by said reader for actuating said arm to move said key container from said scanning location to a particular location on one of said disks; and means responsive to the entry of data into said key pad identifying a requested key for causing said manipulation arm to retrieve a corresponding requested key container from its particular location on said disk and deliver said requested key container to said delivery slot for access by the requesting user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for the repetitive storage and retrieval of articles each having an indicia bearing label affixed to each article to be stored, said indicia being representative of information uniquely identifying its associated article, said method comprising:
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receiving in a receiving means an article to be stored from a user; moving said article to a scanning location which is inaccessible to the user in response to the receipt of said article; a reading the identifying information contained by the indicia on the label affixed to said article positioned in the scanning locating; storing articles in a storage means having a plurality of individual storage locations, each of said locations being identified by a unique address; receiving information form said indicia reading step into a memory of a central processor and storing in said memory a unique storage location address within said storage means for each article delivered to said receiving means; and comprising the read information to data stored in said memory; moving an associated article from the scanning location to an assigned storage location within said storing means in response to said comparing means location a match; and assigning an available storage location to said article and then moving said article from the scanning location to the assigned available storage location within said storage means in response to said comparing means not locating a match. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification