US4796209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Random inventory system
Assignee: Allegheny Ludlum Corp
•
Filing: 1986-06-26
•
Granted: 1989-01-03
•
Expires: 2006-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A method for locating and retrieving a randomly placed object, such as a steel coil, in a warehouse, such as a crane bay of a steel mill storage warehouse. The method comprises the steps of attaching an indicia identification to the object, recording the indicia of identification, determining the coordinates of the object, indexing the indicia to the coordinates, and retrieving the object with a transporting means.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Burk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/137; B65G1/1371; B66; B66C; B66C13/00; B66C13/18; B66C13/46; B66C13/48; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
The method for identifying the location of a randomly placed object, said method including the steps of: applying visual indicia of identification to the object which is to be randomly placed; generating and recording electrical signals corresponding to X, Y and Z coordinates of a random storage location of the object by transport means for the object; indexing the recorded electrical signals of the visual indicia with the electrical signals of the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the random storage location thereby creating an index; and accessing said index to identify, locate and retrieve the object from the random storage location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
The method for identifying the location of a randomly placed object, said method including the steps of: applying visual indicia of identification to the object which is to be randomly placed; generating and recording electrical signals corresponding to X, Y and Z coordinates of a random storage location of the object by transport means for the object; indexing the recorded electrical signals of the visual indicia with the electrical signals of the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the random storage location thereby creating an index; and accessing said index to identify, locate and retrieve the object from the random storage location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the recording of said indicia of identification is by a camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the camera includes a video camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the recording of said indicia of identification by the camera is inputted to a computer data base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transporting means includes an overhead crane, bridge trolley, and object fastener.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said overhead crane allows transporting of the objects in the X direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said bridge trolley allows transporting of the object for random placement in the Y direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein vertical translation of the object fasteners allows transporting of the object for random placement in the Z direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said overhead crane allows transporting of the object for random placement in the X direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said bridge trolley allows transporting of the object for random placement in the Y direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 wherein vertical translation of said object fastener allows positioning of the object for random placement in the Z direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transporting means being movable to a position proximate to the position of the randomly placed object by reading the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the object from said index.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the indicia of identification includes a visual indicia.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the recording of said indicia of identification is by a camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the camera is mounted on the transporting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 including the further step of attaching a position-indicator to said transporting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the coordinates of the randomly placed object are determined by recording the coordinates of the transporting means as determined by said position-indicator at the point in time that the transporting means places the object at a storage location therefore.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the transporting means is moved to a position to allow moving of the object by determining the coordinates of the object from said index, and moving the transporting means to the coordinates of the object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the recording of said indicia of identification is by a camera.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the recording of said indicia of identification by the camera is inputted to a computer data base.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the camera is mounted on the transporting means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of locating transporting means proximate to a randomly stored object to be moved by said transporting means said method comprising the steps of: applying visual indicia of identification on the object; recording electrical signals corresponding to said visual indicia of identification; determining a coordinate in the x direction for a random storage location of the object by determining the coordinate in the x direction for the location of the transporting means; determining a coordinate in the y direction for a random storage location of the object by determining the coordinate in the y direction for the location of the transporting means; determining a coodinate in the z direction for a random storage location of the object by determining the coordinate in the z direction for the location of the transporting means; indexing said coordinates in the x, y, and z directions, respectively, to the recorded electrical signals corresponding to visual indicia of identification, thereby creating an index; and using the index to locate and retrieve the object from the randomly selected storage location.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of locating transporting means proximate to a randomly stored object to be moved by said transporting means said method comprising the steps of: applying visual indicia of identification on the object; recording electrical signals corresponding to said visual indicia of identification; determining a coordinate in the x direction for a random storage location of the object by determining the coordinate in the x direction for the location of the transporting means; determining a coordinate in the y direction for a random storage location of the object by determining the coordinate in the y direction for the location of the transporting means; determining a coodinate in the z direction for a random storage location of the object by determining the coordinate in the z direction for the location of the transporting means; indexing said coordinates in the x, y, and z directions, respectively, to the recorded electrical signals corresponding to visual indicia of identification, thereby creating an index; and using the index to locate and retrieve the object from the randomly selected storage location.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said transporting means includes an overhead crane, bridge trolley, and object fastener.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 which includes the further step of attaching a position-indicator to said transporting means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said determining coordinates for a random storage location includes recording the coordinates of the transporting means at a point in time when the transporting means places the object at the random storage location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3719287A
Cited
US3786944A
Cited
US3958102A
Cited
US4385028A
Cited
US4415975A
Cited
US4519522A
Cited
US4642017A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-03 | 1992-07-04 | 1993-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-03 | 1996-07-04 | 1997-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-03 | 2000-07-04 | 2001-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |