Inventory control system

• US 7,689,480 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthwhile Products
• Original Assignee: Worthwhile Products
• Inventors: Solomon, Stan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart; Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): AN, IG TAI
• Application Number:
  US11/308,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 414/236, 414/237, 414/249, 209/583, 331/2, 331/3, 331/4, 198/347.1, 198/347.2, 198/347.3, 312/91, 312/134, 312/266, 312/267, 312/268, 214/16.1 B, 214/16.1 C, 214/16.1 D
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 63/067 with a noria lift
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/127 the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

An inventory control system includes a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows. Each storage unit is engaged with the track for selective movement along the track. An inventory control unit is associated with the storage module and has a user interface, a processor, a memory, and a mechanism for inputting object information, including storage unit placement. The processor receives the object information from the inputting mechanism, and stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface.

Claims

1. An inventory control system, comprising:

a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track; and

an inventory control unit associated with the storage module, having a user interface, a processor, a memory, and means for inputting object information for each object placed within a storage unit, including inputting and tracking the storage unit and location of the storage unit into which each object is placed, wherein the processor receives the object information from the inputting means, and stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface;

wherein the continuous track comprises first and second tracks spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, the first and second tracks each comprising upper and lower horizontal rails spaced apart and generally parallel with one another, a first vertical end rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails at a first end thereof, and a second vertical end rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails at a second end thereof, a first inner vertical rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails intermediate the ends thereof, and a second inner vertical rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails intermediate the ends thereof and in spaced relation to the first inner vertical rail; and

wherein the upper and lower horizontal rails and the vertical end rails, and the inner rails of the of the first track engage with wheels extending from one end of the storage units, and the upper and lower horizontal rails and the vertical end rails, and the inner rails of the second track engage with wheels extending from an opposite end of the storage units;

wherein the processor coordinates movement of the storage units and objects associated therewith; and

wherein the user interface accesses object information and locates a particular object within the storage module.

2. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the inputting means comprises a data reader.

3. The inventory control system of claim 2, wherein the data reader reads machine readable codes associated with each object placed in the storage units.

4. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a keypad.

5. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a sensor associated with the processor for determining storage module conditions.

6. The inventory control system of claim 5, wherein

upon detection by the sensor of unauthorized entry of the storage module, the processor performs at least one security function comprising at least one of sounding an alarm, displaying an alarm, and preventing movement of storage units within the storage module.

7. The inventory control system of claim 6, wherein the processor monitors and controls temperature within a number of the storage units.

8. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a second storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track;

wherein the inventory control unit receives and stores object information from the second storage module.

9. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a printer associated with the inventory control unit for printing object information on a label attachable to the objects.

10. The inventory control system of claim 9, wherein the printed object information comprises machine readable indicia.

11. The inventory control system of claim 10, wherein the processor is adapted to provide, via the printer, an inventory of objects placed in the storage module.

12. The inventory control system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to review object information to determine if an object expiration date has been exceeded.

13. The inventory control system of claim 1, including a first vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a bottom storage unit of a first end column, and adapted to lift the first end column of storage units;

a first horizontal actuator for moving a storage unit from a top position in the first end column to a top position in an adjacent column;

a second vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a storage unit, and adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units; and

a second horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column.

14. An inventory control system, comprising:

a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track; and

an inventory control unit associated with the storage module, having a user interface, a processor, a memory, and means for inputting object information, including storage unit placement, wherein the processor receives the object information from the inputting means, and stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface;

wherein the continuous track comprises spaced apart and generally parallel first and second tracks, the first and second tracks each having a first continuous rail in a first plane, and a continuous second rail in a second plane and in overlapping arrangement with the first rail; and

wherein the storage unit includes a first set of wheels extending from the storage unit a first distance to engage the first rails of the first and second tracks, and a second set of wheels extending from the storage unit a second distance to engage the second rails of the first and second tracks;

wherein the processor coordinates movement of the storage units and the objects associated therewith; and

wherein the user interface accesses object information and locates a particular object within the storage module.

15. The inventory control system of claim 14, wherein the inputting means comprises a data reader.

16. The inventory control system of claim 15, wherein the data reader reads machine readable codes associated with the objects.

17. The inventory control system of claim 14, wherein the user interface includes a keypad.

18. The inventory control system of claim 14, including a sensor associated with the processor for determining storage module conditions.

19. The inventory control system of claim 18, wherein upon detection by the sensor of unauthorized entry of the storage module, the processor performs at least one security function comprising at least one of sounding an alarm, displaying an alarm, and preventing movement of storage units within the storage module.

20. The inventory control system of claim 18, wherein the processor monitors and controls temperature within a number of the storage units.

21. The inventory control system of claim 14, including a second storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track;

wherein the inventory control unit receives and stores object information from the second storage module.

22. The inventory control system of claim 14, including a printer associated with the inventory control unit for printing object information on a label attachable to the objects.

23. The inventory control system of claim 22, wherein the printed object information comprises machine readable indicia.

24. The inventory control system of claim 22, wherein the processor is adapted to provide, via the printer, an inventory of the objects in the storage module.

25. The inventory control system of claim 14, wherein the processor is adapted to review object information to determine if an object expiration date has been exceeded.

26. The inventory control system of claim 14, including a first vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a bottom storage unit of a first end column, and adapted to lift the first end column of storage units;

a first horizontal actuator for moving a storage unit from a top position in the first end column to a top position in an adjacent column;

a second vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a storage unit, and adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units; and

a second horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column.