Apparatus for inventory control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for controlling and monitoring the storage and dispensing of beverage products;
- the apparatus comprising;
a plurality of product registration devices for registering the presence of beverage products in one or more secure store rooms, each product registration device being associated with one beverage product or a group of linked beverage products;
a plurality of metering dispensers in a sales location from which one or more authorized users can dispense beverage products to customers;
a plurality of 1st instance locking devices for preventing dispensing of a beverage product, each 1st instance locking devices being operatively linked to a different one of said metering dispensers;
one or more 2nd instance locking devices for controlling access to the one or more secure store rooms, each 2nd instance locking device being associated with one of the one or more secure store rooms;
a plurality of user identifying devices for identifying authorized users, each user identifying device being operatively linked to a different one of said 1st instance and 2nd instance locking devices so that an authorized user can unlock the said 1st instance locking devices and thereby dispense a beverage product from an operatively linked metering dispenser or, by unlocking a 2nd instance locking device, can enter one of the one or more secure store rooms; and
a processor which receives and processes data from the said product registration devices, the user identifying devices and the metering dispensers and records the placing of beverage products in the one or more secure store rooms, the removal of beverage products from the one or more secure store rooms, the dispensing of beverage products from the metering dispensers by authorized users, and calculates the total value of each customer transaction made by each authorized user;
wherein each of the plurality of product registration devices comprises a tray in one of the one or more secure store rooms upon which the beverage product or group of linked beverage products is located, the tray having an associated weighing device which registers the weight of the beverage product or group of linked beverage products and detects removal of the beverage product or group of linked beverage products from the tray and transmits to the processor information enabling the processor to determine the quantity and type of beverage correlated with the addition of beverage products to one or more of the metering dispensers; and
wherein each of the beverage products or group of linked beverage products has its own tray.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus for controlling and monitoring the storage and dispensing of beverage products; the apparatus comprising: a plurality of product registration devices for registering the presence of beverage products in one or more storage locations, each product registration device being associated with one beverage product or group of beverage products; a plurality of metering dispensers in a sales location from which one or more authorized users can dispense beverage products to customers; a plurality of locking means for preventing dispensing of a beverage product, each locking means being operatively linked to a different one of said metering dispensers; a plurality of user identifying devices for identifying authorized users, each user identifying device being operatively linked to a different one of said locking means so that an authorized user can unlock the said locking means and thereby dispense a beverage product from an operatively linked ‘metering dispenser; and a processor which receives and processes data from the said product registration devices, the user identifying devices and the metering dispensers and records the placing of beverage products in the one or more storage locations, the transfer of beverage products from the one or more storage locations to the sales location; and the dispensing of beverage products from the metering dispensers by authorized users; and calculates the total value of each customer transaction made by each authorized user. Two locks or safeguards are provided to prevent unauthorized removal of an optic element. The locks are interlocked.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for controlling and monitoring the storage and dispensing of beverage products;
- the apparatus comprising;
a plurality of product registration devices for registering the presence of beverage products in one or more secure store rooms, each product registration device being associated with one beverage product or a group of linked beverage products; a plurality of metering dispensers in a sales location from which one or more authorized users can dispense beverage products to customers; a plurality of 1st instance locking devices for preventing dispensing of a beverage product, each 1st instance locking devices being operatively linked to a different one of said metering dispensers; one or more 2nd instance locking devices for controlling access to the one or more secure store rooms, each 2nd instance locking device being associated with one of the one or more secure store rooms; a plurality of user identifying devices for identifying authorized users, each user identifying device being operatively linked to a different one of said 1st instance and 2nd instance locking devices so that an authorized user can unlock the said 1st instance locking devices and thereby dispense a beverage product from an operatively linked metering dispenser or, by unlocking a 2nd instance locking device, can enter one of the one or more secure store rooms; and a processor which receives and processes data from the said product registration devices, the user identifying devices and the metering dispensers and records the placing of beverage products in the one or more secure store rooms, the removal of beverage products from the one or more secure store rooms, the dispensing of beverage products from the metering dispensers by authorized users, and calculates the total value of each customer transaction made by each authorized user; wherein each of the plurality of product registration devices comprises a tray in one of the one or more secure store rooms upon which the beverage product or group of linked beverage products is located, the tray having an associated weighing device which registers the weight of the beverage product or group of linked beverage products and detects removal of the beverage product or group of linked beverage products from the tray and transmits to the processor information enabling the processor to determine the quantity and type of beverage correlated with the addition of beverage products to one or more of the metering dispensers; and wherein each of the beverage products or group of linked beverage products has its own tray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- the apparatus comprising;
-
15. A beverage storing and dispensing system comprising:
-
an apparatus for controlling and monitoring the storage and dispensing of beverage products;
the apparatus comprising;a plurality of product registration devices for registering the presence of beverage products in one or more secure store rooms, each product registration device being associated with one beverage product or a group of linked beverage products; a plurality of metering dispensers in a sales location from which one or more authorized users can dispense beverage products to customers; a plurality of 1st instance locking device for preventing dispensing of a beverage product each 1st instance locking device being operatively linked to a different one of said metering dispensers; one or more 2nd instance locking device for controlling access to the one or more secure store rooms, each 2nd instance locking device being associated with one of the one or more secure store rooms; a plurality of user identifying devices for identifying authorized users, each user identifying device being operatively linked to a different one of said 1st instance and 2nd instance locking device so that an authorized user can unlock the said 1st instance locking device and thereby dispense a beverage product from an operatively linked metering dispenser or, by unlocking a 2nd instance locking device, can enter one of the one or more secure store rooms; and a processor which receives and processes data from the said product registration devices, the user identifying devices and the metering dispensers and records the placing of beverage products in the one or more secure store rooms, the removal of beverage products from the one or more secure store rooms; and
the dispensing of beverage products from the metering dispensers by authorized users; and
calculates the total value of each customer transaction made by each authorized user; anda stock of beverage products, the stock of beverage products being recorded in an inventory stored on an electronic storage device or medium associated with the processor, a proportion of the stock of beverage products being stored in the one or more secure store rooms and a proportion of the stock being connected to the plurality of dispensing devices; wherein each of the beverage products forming the proportion of the stock in the one or more secure store rooms is located on a tray having an associated weighing device which registers the weight of the beverage product and detects removal of the beverage product from the tray and transmits to the processor information enabling the processor to determine the quantity and type of beverage products removed from the tray correlated with the addition of beverage products to one or more of the metering dispensers; and wherein each of the beverage products or group of linked beverage products has its own tray.
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeBernard Edgar Anning
-
Original AssigneeBernard Edgar Anning
-
InventorsAnning, Bernard Edgar
-
Primary Examiner(s)Wilder, Hunter
-
Application NumberUS14/409,940Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,763 DaysField of Search705 28, 705414, 700231US Class CurrentCPC Class CodesA61J 7/0084 for multiple medicamentsG07F 13/02 by volumeG07F 13/04 by weightG07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for lockin...G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indica...G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and a...
