Patent · US Expired

Quantity checking system and method

US4639875A · kind A · utility

94Cited by
15References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 1984
Grant dateJan 27, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F9/001
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A checking system is provided to check the condition of a plurality of storage racks, e.g., the quantity and types of articles in racks in a machine, with the articles being stored along the length of the racks. Rack indicating means is provided in the form of indicia adjacent each of the plurality of racks to identify a plurality of different types or brands of articles. Each of these rack indicating means is subdivided along the length of the respective rack into individual indicating means or indicia, and, as an example, may correspond to the numerical sequence of the respective adjacent article stored in the rack. Interrogation means is cooperable with the indicating means, and this may be a bar code reader to cooperate with bar code indicia to determine data from the rack and individual indicating means. As an example, this may be identifying the particular rack and the sequential number of the articles in the particular track at that instant. A computer is connectable to memory means and to the interrogation means with the memory having an input from the interrogation means to remember data from each indicating means and from the prior history of interrogation. The computer c…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.