System for storage shelving and methods of use thereof

• US 9,311,767 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Leung, Wallace Woon-Fong, Kwok, King-Lun, Chan, Mau-Wah, Sze, So-Lam
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US12/078,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,934 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/539.2, 340/5.9, 340/5.2, 340/5.22, 340/5.31, 70/85, 312/209, 312/128, 312/234.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for product storage and methods of categorizing, storing, and delivering products to end users via the system, the system'"'"'s components including a processor, a “smart shelving” device, boxes for insertion into and utilization by the “smart shelving” device, and ID readers. Through the present invention, products are able to be securely and more certainly delivered to the proper recipient of the products.

Claims

1. An interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products, comprising:

a shelving device having a plurality of slots;

one or more storage boxes adapted to be inserted into any of said slots, wherein each of the storage boxes has a unique ID, and each of the storage boxes contains a product associated with a unique product ID;

a processor configured to associate the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, to associate the unique ID of the storage box with a slot location after a sensor detected that the storage box is fully inserted in one of the slots, and to release the storage box from the interactive system for further use by disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, and disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the slot location after the product of the storage box is removed;

at least one ID reader configured to read the unique product ID and automatically unlock the storage box that contains the product associated with the unique product ID; and

at least one lock configured to lock the storage box when the storage box is fully inserted into one of the slots.

2. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said processor is connected to at least one of said slot, said ID reader, and said lock.

3. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said processor contains algorithms for controlling system electronics and said lock of the system.

4. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, further comprising audio or visual indicators associated with each slot, the audio or visual indicators are capable of indicating status of the storage boxes.

5. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said unique ID can be selected from the group consisting of bar code, RFID, mechanical ID, and combination thereof.

6. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said ID reader can be selected from the group consisting of bar code reader, RFID reader, and mechanical ID reader.

7. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 4, wherein said ID reader further comprises an antenna.

8. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein said product can be selected from the group consisting of drugs, corpses, food stuffs, jewels, samples, plants, traditional Chinese products, herbs, and animals.

17. The interactive system for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 1, wherein a customer is assigned with a unique customer ID, and

the ID of the said customer is associated with the ID of the product.

9. A method for storing, securing, and retrieving products, comprising the steps of:

making at least one storage box available;

engaging said at least one storage box, each of the storage boxes has a unique ID and each of the storage boxes contains a product associated with a unique product ID;

inserting said storage box in any of a plurality of slots of a shelving device;

locking said storage box in said slot when the storage box is fully inserted in the slot;

associating the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, and associating the unique ID of the storage box with a slot location after the sensor detected that the storage box is fully inserted in one of the slots, and releasing the storage box from the interactive system for further use by disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the unique product ID, and disassociating the unique ID of the storage box with the slot location after the product of the storage box is removed;

unlocking said storage box that contains the product associated with the unique product ID when the unique product ID is read by an ID reader; and

removing the product from one of said storage box.

10. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 9, further comprising the step, following removing product from said storage box, of delivering said product.

11. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 10, wherein delivery is made to a patient.

12. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 9, further comprising the step of, following locking said storage box in said slot, turning on a visual or audio indicator.

13. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 9, wherein making storage box available comprises emptying the storage box of products or partially emptying the storage box of products.

14. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 9, wherein engaging said storage box comprises scanning the unique ID of said storage box.

15. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 9, wherein locking said storage box is automatically controlled by a processor.

16. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 9, wherein unlocking said storage box is automatically controlled by a processor.

18. The method for storing, securing, and retrieving products of claim 9, further comprising:

assigning a customer with a unique customer ID, and

associating the unique customer ID with the unique product ID.