Product storage and retrieval system

• US 8,700,204 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxor National Pharmacy Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Maxor National Pharmacy Services Corporation
• Inventors: Delaney, Kevin C., Guillermo, Robert G., Lim, Kendrick S., Ponferrada, Roy G., Lee, Richard M., Criss, William S., Valencia, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMBESS, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US13/712,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20130103186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/213
• 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 method for storing and retrieving items in containers comprising:

providing a storage and retrieval system having a computer coupled to memory for storing a database that contains hanger addresses associated with at least one specific item, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the computer for transmitting radio frequency packets that include the hanger addresses, a storage rail and a plurality of hangers that each include a container for holding at least one specific item, a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio frequencies sent by the transmitter, a microprocessor identified by a hanger address, a rechargeable power supply and an indicator light;

placing a plurality of items into the plurality of containers coupled to the hangers;

storing the hangers on the storage rail;

using at least one input device coupled to the computer, inputting identification information for the items and the corresponding addresses of the hangers coupled to the containers that contain the items in the database;

transmitting a radio frequency packet that includes a first hanger address from the computer through the radio frequency transmitter to the plurality of hangers;

at the microprocessor in each hanger, comparing the first address contained in the transmitted radio frequency packet with the address of the hanger;

illuminating the indicator light on the hanger in a first color if the hanger address matches the hanger address contained in the radio frequency packet with electrical power provided by the rechargeable power supply;

removing the hanger having an illuminated indicator light from the storage rail; and

delivering the item in the container to a recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a card reader that is coupled to the computer for verifying an identity of a recipient; and

verifying the identity of the recipient by reading data on an identification card with the card reader before delivering the item in the container to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a bar code reader that is coupled to the computer, and a bar code on each hanger; and

scanning the bar code on the hanger having the illuminated light to verify the identity of the hanger before delivering the item in the container to the recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an RFID reader that is coupled to the computer and an RFID tag on each hanger; and

scanning the RFID tag to verify the identity of the hanger before delivering the item in the container to the recipient.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a return to storage item;

transmitting the radio frequency packet that includes the address of the return to storage item to the plurality of hangers;

at the microprocessor in each hanger, comparing the address of the return to storage item contained in the transmitted radio frequency packet with the address of the hanger;

illuminating the indicator light on the hanger if the hanger address matches the hanger address of the return to storage item contained in the radio frequency packet with electrical power provided by the rechargeable power supply;

removing the hanger coupled to the return to storage item from the storage rail; and

returning the return to storage item to a storage area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a radio frequency packet that includes a second hanger address from the computer radio frequency transmitter to the plurality of hangers;

at the microprocessor on each hanger, comparing the second hanger address contained in the transmitted radio frequency packet with the address of the hanger; and

illuminating the indicator light on a second hanger in a second color if the hanger address matches the second hanger address contained in the radio frequency packet.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a biometric scanner that is coupled to the computer; and

scanning a portion of the recipient to verify the identity of the recipient before delivering the item to the recipient.

8. A method for storing and retrieving items in containers comprising:

providing a storage and retrieval system having a computer coupled to memory for storing a database that contains hanger addresses associated with at least one specific item, a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the computer for transmitting radio frequency packets that include the hanger addresses, a storage rail, a first hanger and a second hanger, each hanger include a container for containing an item, a radio frequency receiver, a microprocessor identified by a hanger address and an indicator light, and a power supply that is coupled to the storage rail to supply electrical power to the first hanger and the second hanger;

providing a first prescription comprising a first medication for a first patient and a second prescription comprising a second medication for a second patient;

placing the first medication into the first container coupled to the first hanger and the second medication into a second container coupled to the second hanger;

storing the first hanger and the second hanger on the storage rail;

from the computer radio frequency transmitter, transmitting a first radio frequency packet that includes a hanger address and an illumination color to the first hanger and the second hanger; and

illuminating the indicator light on the first hanger in the first illumination color when the hanger address in the first radio frequency packet matches the address of the first hanger, or illuminating the indicator light of the second hanger in the first illumination color when the hanger address in the first radio frequency packet matches the address of the second hanger.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting a second radio frequency packet that includes a hanger address and an illumination color from the computer radio frequency transmitter to the first hanger and the second hanger; and

illuminating the indicator light on the first hanger in the illumination color if the hanger address in the second radio frequency packet matches the address of the first hanger or illuminating the indicator light on the second hanger in the illumination color if the hanger address in the second radio frequency packet matches the address of the second hanger.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first radio frequency packet further includes a first illumination pattern such that the indicator light of the first hanger is illuminated in the first illumination pattern if the hanger address in the first radio frequency packet matches the address of the first hanger or the indicator light of the second hanger is illuminated in the first illumination pattern if the hanger address in the first radio frequency packet matches the address of the second hanger.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second radio frequency packet includes a second illumination pattern and the indicator light of the first hanger is illuminated in the second illumination pattern if the hanger address in the second radio frequency packet matches the address of the first hanger or the indicator light of the second hanger is illuminated in the second illumination pattern if the hanger address in the second radio frequency packet matches the address of the second hanger.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

identifying a return to storage item;

transmitting the radio frequency packet that includes the address of the return to storage item to the plurality of hangers;

at the microprocessor in each hanger, comparing the address of the return to storage item contained in the transmitted radio frequency packet with the address of the hanger;

illuminating the indicator light on the hanger if the hanger address matches the hanger address of the return to storage item contained in the radio frequency packet with electrical power provided by the rechargeable power supply;

removing the hanger coupled to the return to storage item from the storage rail; and

returning the return to storage item to a storage area.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing an card reader that is coupled to the computer for verifying an identity of a recipient; and

verifying the identity of the recipient by reading data on an identification card with the card reader before delivering the item in the container to the recipient.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing a bar code reader that is coupled to the computer and a bar code on each hanger; and

scanning the bar code on the first hanger or the second hanger having the illuminated light to verify an identity of the first hanger or the second hanger before delivering the contents of the container to the recipient.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing an RFID reader that is coupled to the computer and an RFID tag on each hanger; and

scanning the RFID tag on the first hanger or the second hanger to verify the identity of the hanger before delivering the item in the container to the recipient.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing a biometric scanner that is coupled to the computer; and

scanning a portion of the recipient to verify the identity of the recipient before delivering the item to the recipient.

17. 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;

the plurality of hangers, each hanger comprising;

a hook for storing the hanger on a bar;

a power supply;

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.

18. The product storage apparatus of claim 17, 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.

19. The product storage apparatus of claim 17, 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.

20. The product storage apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

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

21. The product storage apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

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

22. The product storage apparatus of claim 17, wherein the container is a clear plastic bag.

23. The product storage apparatus of claim 17, wherein the goods are prescription medications.

24. The product storage apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

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