Tool inventory control system and method

• US 5,608,193 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ali H. Almogaibil
• Original Assignee: Ali H. Almogaibil
• Inventors: Almogaibil, Ali H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/402,644
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.17, 177/25.19, 177/25.13, 177/25.14, 177/1, 177/50, 364/403, 364/567, 364/568, 235/385
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention uses the electronic scale and the computer to track tool inventories. Users weigh tools (including the tool box) before and after performing mechanical or other critical work. Discrepancies between the two weights are noted by a supervisor or optional computer software. To aid in the resolution of weight discrepancies, software can be used to search a database and suggest which tool may have been left behind. Any tool weight discrepancies, which could be a decrease or increase in weight for the second weighing, must be addressed and resolved before the maintenance work is safely completed. The invention has applications in areas where strict inventory of tools and equipment must be maintained such as the medical and dental fields, other safety-related mechanical work, and tracking of tools going into and out of penal institutions. Leaving tools behind or removing parts during maintenance work can result in unsafe operating conditions and/or operating failure.

Claims

1. A system for inventory control comprising:

a computing means for analyzing and storing data;

an electronic weighing scale which supplies weight data to said computing means;

an identification reading means for reading a user identification to obtain user data on a current user of said system and which supplies said user data to the computing means;

said computing means further comprising;

a software package which stores in the computing means previous weight data entered into said computing means by a user by placing a container on said scale and placing an identification into said reading means, and compares said previous weight data with current weight data entered by, and which determines which items are unaccounted for in the container by comparing any weight discrepancy between said previous weight data and said current weight data with a standard weight list of known items stored in the computing means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein a printer is connected to the computing means for printing out weight data.

3. A system according to claim 1, including a display means coupled to the computing means for displaying weight data.

4. A system according to claim 1, including an anti-tampering device.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the anti-tampering device is a light beam positioned between the user and the scale.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the identification reading means is a magnetic card reader.

7. A method for inventory control comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a container on a weighing scale;

(b) placing a user identification into a machine reader;

(c) storing weight data from said weighing scale and user data from said machine reader as previous data in a computer connected to the scale and the machine reader;

(d) obtaining current data by placing the container on the weighing scale and placing said user identification on the weighing scale a second time;

(e) comparing said previous data with current data to determine any discrepancy between said weight data of said previous data and said weight data of said current data;

(f) determining which items are unaccounted for in the container by the computer comparing said weight discrepancy with a standard weight list of known items stored in the computer.