Method and apparatus for reforming grouped items
First Claim
1. A system for assisting in manually regrouping associated articles from a plurality of groups of articles, said articles being cleaning articles, the system comprising:
- a label generator operable to print labels for the articles, the labels including an identification of the group;
means for recording a total number of articles contained in the group, the total number being recorded at least one of on said labels and in a data memory;
data input means coupled to a data processor, for entering from the labels the identification of the group, wherein the recorded total number of articles for each of the groups is accessible to the data processor, and wherein the data processor is operable for each article to count the articles assembled for a respective group and to compare a count of the assembled articles to the total number for the group, a first indicator coupled to the data processor for at least one of visually and audibly signalling a user when the count reaches the total number.
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Abstract
Articles such as garments to be cleaned are associated in a group (e.g., one customer'"'"'s order). After processing together with articles from other groups, the articles are to be reassembled in their original group units. Coded labels are attached to each of the articles and identify or are cross referenced to its group, e.g., with barcodes. If articles with permanent labels are processed, group codes are assigned and stored for such articles, indexed to the permanent label information. Other articles are each labelled as to their groups. The total count or number of articles in each group is recorded, preferably on the article labels but also possibly in a data memory accessible to a data processor coupled to a scanner. For manually regrouping the articles, a scanner is used and the group identification is determined as articles are encountered. The data processor assigns and indicates visually one of a number of assembly locations to be used temporarily to store the articles for each group. As the articles are scanned and manually placed, they are counted. The data processor compares the current count with the total for that group, and signals when the group is complete, whereupon the location can assemble another group. The device can be coupled to an inventory control system or operated as a stand alone unit, particularly if the number of articles in each group is recorded on the label.
110 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for assisting in manually regrouping associated articles from a plurality of groups of articles, said articles being cleaning articles, the system comprising:
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a label generator operable to print labels for the articles, the labels including an identification of the group; means for recording a total number of articles contained in the group, the total number being recorded at least one of on said labels and in a data memory; data input means coupled to a data processor, for entering from the labels the identification of the group, wherein the recorded total number of articles for each of the groups is accessible to the data processor, and wherein the data processor is operable for each article to count the articles assembled for a respective group and to compare a count of the assembled articles to the total number for the group, a first indicator coupled to the data processor for at least one of visually and audibly signalling a user when the count reaches the total number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for computer assisted manual handling of articles associated with one another in groups, said articles being cleaning articles, comprising the steps of:
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labelling each of the articles with a code identifying the group to which the article belongs; counting and recording on at least one of an article label and a data memory, a total number of articles in each group; entering for each article the code identifying the group; processing the articles and then regrouping the articles according to the code on the articles, by automatically providing at least one of a visual and audible indication of an available temporary storage location from a plurality of storage locations when encountering a first article in each group, manually placing subsequent articles in respective storage locations for their respective groups, concurrently counting assembled articles for each group when each article for that group is placed; and
,comparing the count for each group to the total number and providing at least one of a visual and audible indication when the count has reached the total number for each respective group. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for computer assisted manual handling of garments to be processed in groups, comprising:
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assigning a substantially unique group code to garments in each of the groups; labelling each of the garments with a scannable indicia representing the unique group code to distinguish its group from other groups; counting and recording in at least one of the scannable indicia and a data memory, the total number of garments in each of the groups; processing the garments including commingling the groups; scanning the indicia of individual garments for each garment in turn to determine its respective group; automatically assigning and at least one of visually and audibly indicating one of a plurality of garment assembly locations upon encountering a first garment belonging to a respective group, and placing said garment at said assembly location; proceeding to scan, indicate and manually place the garments while concurrently counting the garments assembled for each group at the respective locations, and comparing a count of the garments to the recorded total number of garments for each group; and
, automatically providing at least one of a visual and audible indication when the assembled garments for each group are equal to the total number of garments for that group.
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14. A system for assisting in manually regrouping associated articles from a plurality of groups of articles, said articles being cleaning articles, the system comprising:
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labels for each of the articles, the labels including indicia representing at least one of an identification of the group and an identification of an associated article; means for recording a total number of articles contained in each of the groups, the total number being recorded at least one of on said labels and in a data memory; data input means coupled to a data processor, for entering the indicia from the labels identifying the group, wherein the recorded total number of articles for each of the groups is accessible to the data processor, and wherein the data processor is operable for each article to count the articles assembled for a respective group and to compare a count of the assembled articles to the total number for the group, a first indicator coupled to the data processor for at least one of visually and audibly signalling to a user when the count reaches the total number. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for assisting in manually regrouping associated articles from a plurality of groups of articles, said articles being cleaning articles, the system comprising:
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a label generator operable to print labels for the articles, the labels including an identification of the group; means for recording a total number of articles contained in the group, the total number being recorded in a data memory; data input means coupled to a data processor, for entering from the labels the identification of the group, wherein the recorded total number of articles for each of the groups is accessible to the data processor, and wherein the data processor is operable for each article to count the articles assembled for a respective group and to compare a count of the assembled articles to the total number for the group, the data processor having an output for visually or audibly signalling a user when the count reaches the total number.
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22. A method for computer assisted manual handling of garments to be processed in groups, comprising:
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assigning a substantially unique group code to garments in each of the groups; labelling each of the garments with a scannable indicia representing the unique group code to distinguish its group from other groups; labelling each of the garments with a scannable indicia representing the number of articles in the group; processing the garments including commingling the groups; scanning the indicia of individual garments for each garment in turn to determine its respective group; scanning the indicia of the number of individual garments in the group; automatically assigning and at least one of visually and audibly indicating one of a plurality of garment assembly locations upon encountering a first garment belonging to a respective group, and placing said garment at said assembly location; proceeding to scan, automatically indicate and manually place the garments while concurrently automatically counting the garments assembled for each group at the respective locations, and automatically comparing a count of the garments to the scanned total number of garments for each group; and
,automatically providing at least one of a visual and audible indication for signalling to a user when the assembled garments for each group are equal to the total number of garments for that group.
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Specification