Automatic ordering method and apparatus

• US 5,178,417 A
• Filed: 12/31/1990
• Issued: 01/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fredrick Eshoo
• Original Assignee: Fredrick Eshoo
• Inventors: Eshoo, Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US07/636,401
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 283/67, 283/81, 283/117
• US Class Current: 283/67
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0201 Label sheets intended to be introduced in a printer, e.g. laser printer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0208 Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0214 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/022 Shipment
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0225 Carrier web
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/023 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0257 Multilayer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0264 Shapes or borders
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0267 die cut
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0272 Labels for containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer

Abstract

A method and device for reordering items stored as groups in an inventory of items which includes an order sheet and a group of labels deposited with each group of items. Each label has a part number corresponding to the item and an index mark printed on one side and a second side treated with a peelable adhesive. When an item is withdrawn from a group of items, a label is attached to a sheet which thus becomes an order sheet. Index marks are printed on the order sheet which are aligned with index marks printed on each label. When the customer desires to order items to replenish depleted stock, he mails or "faxes" the order sheet to the supplier. The supplier may then (either manually or with character reading equipment) identify the item to be ordered and the quantity to be ordered from the number of labels on the order sheet. He may then compute price, taxes, etc., and print out an order form using this information. The index marks may simply be lines. The labels may be stored prior to use by peelable attachment to a sheet of labels or from a roll of labels.

Claims

1. A system for producing an order form having purchase information for at least one item to be purchased, comprising:

an index sheet having a first surface carrying a first index mark;

a supply of item labels for at least one item to be purchased, each label carrying on a first surface alpha-numeric indicia corresponding to the item to be purchased, each said item label further carrying a second index mark for alignment with said first index mark on said index sheet;

adhesive means on a second surface of each of said item labels, whereby each label may be secured to said index sheet with said second index mark in alignment with said first index mark to form an order sheet carrying at least one label identifying said at least one item and representing a quantity of items to be purchased;

means for transmitting at least an image of said order sheet with secured labels to a remote location;

receiving means at said remote location for receiving said transmitted order sheet image and producing an output corresponding to said order sheet;

computer means responsive to said receiving means for determining from said order sheet image output item purchase data, including the quantity and identification of at least one item to be purchased; and

means responsive to said computer for converting said purchase data to an order form having corresponding alpha-numeric purchase information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting means includes first facsimile means.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said receiving means includes second facsimile means producing a copy of said order sheet image.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said receiving means further includes reader means responsive to said copy of said order sheet image to produce said output.

5. A system for producing at a remote supplier location an order form carrying user purchase information for a plurality of items to be purchased by the user from the supplier, comprising

a user index sheet having a first surface carrying a plurality of first index marks;

a plurality of groups of inventory items at the user location;

a supply of item labels for each of said groups, each supply of labels including at least one item label for each item in its corresponding group, each item label having a first surface carrying alphanumeric indicia printed at a first location, the indicia on each label corresponding to an item in the corresponding group;

a second index mark on said first surface of each of said item labels, said second index mark being printed at a second location on said first surface;

adhesive means on a second surface of each of said item labels to enable each label to be secured to said user index sheet with said second index mark in alignment with one of said first index marks to thereby provide on said user index sheet an indication of the identity and number of inventory items to be provided by a supplier;

means for transmitting to a remote supplier location an image of said user index sheet with secured labels;

receiver means at the remote supplier location for receiving a transmitted image of said user index sheet, the receiver means including means responsive to the transmitted image to determine from the labels secured to the user index sheet information concerning the identification and quantity of items to be supplied; and

means for converting said information to alphanumeric form and for printing an order form carrying the alphanumeric information at said supplier location.

6. A system for producing an order form having alphanumeric purchase information concerning a quantity of at least one item to be purchased by a user who submits from a remote location an indication of said quantity and identification of said at least one item, which comprises:

an index sheet having an area with a first index mark;

a supply of item labels for each said at least one item, each label in each said supply having a first surface with alphanumeric indicia printed at a first location on said first surface, said alphanumeric indicia in each said supply corresponding to said respective item;

said first surface of each said item being imprinted at a second location on said first surface with a second index mark;

adhesive means on a second surface of each one of said item labels, providing that said quantity from each said supply of each label be secured to said index sheet with said second index mark of each label in alignment with said first index mark thereby submitting an indication to said apparatus on said index sheet said identification and quantity of said items to be purchased;

facsimile means for inputting from said remote location an image of said index sheet with secured labels to a computer means;

computer means in operable combination with said index sheet and labels and facsimile means for operating on said inputted image representing said quantity and identification of said at least one item to compute said purchase information when said first index marks are in said alignment with said second index mark;

means for converting said purchase information to alphanumeric form and printing an order form having said alphanumeric purchase information.