Product storage and retrieval system

• US 8,355,962 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxor National Pharmacy Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Pickpoint Corporation
• Inventors: Delaney, Kevin C., Guillermo, Robert G., Lim, Kendrick S., Ponferrada, Roy G., Cras, William S., Lee, Richard M., Victoria, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thein, M.
• Application Number:
  US12/196,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

A system for easily locating goods stored in a storage area including a computer coupled with a radio frequency transmitter or transceivers and goods placed in containers that are coupled to hangers that each has distinct electronic addresses. The hangers each have a hook that allows the hangers to be stored on rails coupled to racks in a storage area. The identifications of the goods and the electronic addresses for the corresponding hangers are associated with each other and stored on a computer database. When a user wants to pick up goods stored in the containers, the user inputs the identification for the goods and the computer will cause the radio frequency transmitter to emit a data packet that includes a search address and illumination data. The hangers each compare the search address to the electronic address and if there is a match, the hanger illuminates the light according to the illumination data. The system notifies the user of the color and flash pattern and the goods can then be easily found by locating the hanger having the corresponding illumination.

Claims

1. A product storage apparatus comprising:

a computer coupled to memory for storing a database that contains hanger addresses associated with a plurality of hangers, the computer having a user interface for the user to enter a request for goods needed by the user and contained on one of the hangers;

a transmitter coupled to the computer and responsive to the user request for transmitting radio frequency packets that include the hanger addresses associated with requested goods;

a rail having a first conductor and a second conductor that extends along the length of the rail;

a power supply coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor; and

the plurality of hangers, each hanger comprising;

a hook having a power receiver;

a rechargeable power supply coupled to the power receiver;

a microprocessor powered by the rechargeable power supply identified by a hanger address;

a receiver coupled to the microprocessor for receiving the radio frequency packets sent by the transmitter containing hanger addresses;

an indicator light that is actuated by the microprocessor when the radio frequency packets containing the hanger address corresponding to the hanger are received; and

a container for storing goods;

wherein the indicator light on the hanger containing the goods requested by the user is actuated in response to the hanger receiving the radio frequency packet having the hanger address associated with the request for goods entered by the user at the computer user interface.

2. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency transmitters for transmitting radio frequency packets, wherein each of the transmitters is coupled to one of the hangers; and

a receiver coupled to the computer for receiving the radio frequency packets from the plurality of hangers.

3. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a verification receiver that is coupled to the computer for receiving the radio frequency packets from the transmitter coupled to the computer.

4. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein each indicator light can display a plurality of different colors, depending upon the content of the illumination signals in the radio frequency packets sent by the transmitter coupled to the computer.

5. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein each indicator light can be illuminated in a plurality of different flash patterns depending upon the content of the illumination signals in the radio frequency packets sent by the transmitter coupled to the computer.

6. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a bar code reader coupled to the computer for reading bar codes marked on each of the hangers.

7. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an RFID reader coupled to the computer for reading RFID tags coupled to the hangers.

8. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a biometric reader coupled to the computer for verifying an identity of a recipient.

9. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein for the plurality of hangers, each hanger further comprises a transceiver which includes the receiver.

10. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power receiver includes a first contact for connection to the first conductor of the rail and a second contact for connection to the second conductor of the rail.

11. The product storage apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first conductor is a first conductive strip and the second conductor is a second conductive strip.

12. The product storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power receiver includes a charging inductive coil.

13. The product storage apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rail includes primary inductive coils coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor and a mechanism to align the charging inductive coil with one of the primary inductive coils.

14. The product storage apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rail includes a primary inductive coil that extends along the length of the rail and is coupled to the first conductor and the second conductor.