Pipe storage and inventory control chest

• US 7,149,600 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Waterfall Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Waterfall Incorporated
• Inventors: Rippolone, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/681,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 414/22.51, 414/22.62, 211/60.1, 211/70.4, 211/83, 211/163, 211/170, 211/162, 221/12, 221/13, 221/123, 221/208, 221/231, 221/222, 221/277, 700/231, 700/236, 700/241, 700/244, 700/237
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A materials storage chest system stores and selectively dispenses pipe in response to a controller which selectively limits access thereto. A material dispensing opening prevents access to the chest other than through the controller. A communication system provides for communication between the controller and a remote location to simplify inventory management and alert re-supply operators such that the system will provide adequate material supply.

Claims

1. A materials storage chest system comprising:

a lockable storage chest for storing a plurality of construction articles;

a door defined at least partially along a longitudinal length of said storage chest that selectively moves a desired quantity of construction articles from said plurality of construction articles;

a temporary storage portion adjacent to said door that receives said desired quantity of construction articles from said lockable storage chest; and

a controller that selectively actuates the door in response to an employee identification.

2. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller receives a numerical value to actuate the door to dispense a quantity of material equivalent to said numerical value.

3. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 2, wherein said numerical value is limited to a predetermined quantity.

4. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a communication system which communicates data from said controller to a remote location.

5. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lockable storage chest is water resistant.

6. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said temporary storage portion comprises a materials receiving basket.

7. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said temporary storage portion is accessible to an operator for retrieving said desired quantity of construction articles.

8. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said temporary storage portion holds said desired quantity of construction articles before said desired quantity of construction articles are removed from said temporary storage portion.

9. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lockable storage chest includes a top-loading door.

10. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lockable storage chest includes a side-loading door.

11. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second lockable storage chest for storing a plurality of second construction articles that are different from said plurality of construction articles.

12. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 11, wherein said second lockable storage chest includes a side-loading door.

13. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said desired quantity of construction articles includes multiple construction articles.

14. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller that selectively actuates said door to dispense said desired quantity of construction articles.

15. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said employee identification comprises an employee number.

16. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said employee identification comprises a number associated with a task of an employee.

17. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of construction articles comprise articles having a first size and said second plurality of construction articles comprise articles having a second size that is different from said first size.

18. The materials storage chest system as recited in claim 1, wherein said lockable storage chest includes a first side and a second side different from said first side, said first side including a lockable loading door and said second side including said door to move said desired quantity of construction articles.