Patent GB-894202-A (GB)
Title: System for keeping a permanent stock inventory
IPC: G06Q10/00
Filed: 1958-04-11
Abstract: 894,202. Stock-keeping systems. SCHICKEDANZ, G. April 11, 1958 [May 8, 1957], No. 11654/58. Class 106 (1). In a system for keeping a permanent stock inventory, recording changing stock balances and producing stock requisitions, invoices, &c., a magnetic drum serves as the stock register 5, and there is a central control system having keyboards 7, 8 to indicate the code number of goods ordered and the quantity to ascertain the unit price of the goods by reference to a price register 9, to form the invoice value by multiplying quantity and unit price in a computing machine 10, to list the invoice values in an adding lister 11, to record the values of several types of goods comprised in an order, and simultaneously in unit 12 to produce a special stock requisition in respect of each item giving the goods code numbers, the quantity ordered and the invoice value. The apparatus shown is divided into the incoming stock section with keyboard unit 1 and outgoing stock section with keyboards 7, 8. As goods pass into stock the quantities are entered on keyboard 2 and the code number by which the goods are identified is entered on keyboard 3. The stock register comprises a magnetic drum 5 with a hundred reading/recording heads and a hundred addresses in each track. More than one drum is provided if necessary. To record the entry of incoming goods, the value in the appropriate address on the register is read-out and transferred to an adder (not shown) with the quantity of goods received. The sum is recorded in place of the old balance. In the goods outwards section the quantity of goods ordered and the code numbers of each item are entered on keyboards 7 and 8. The code number causes read-out from the corresponding addresses on drum 5 and on the price register 9. The unit price passes to the computing device 10 which multiplies it with the quantity (from keyboard 7) and enters the result in the listing adding unit 11. The printing mechanism of this unit is set by keyboards 7, 8 to print an item list, with the value of each item as determined by computor 10 and the same information is also passed to a printing machine 12 which prints the requisition notes which are sent to stores as a request that the goods should be supplied. The quantities of outward goods entered on keyboard 7 are subtracted from the corresponding stock values in a subtracting unit (not shown) and the new values recorded at the appropriate address. If a supplementary charge is to be made, e.g. for postage and packing this is determined in accordance with the total value on the invoice by reference to a table of sundry charges contained in register 14, e.g. a magnetic core store. This extra charge is recorded in machine 11 as a last item and added to form a grand total. Instead of a printing machine 12, a punching machine may be provided to produce record cards which are used to prepare for sorting or other operations on the requisition notes. If a quantity of any goods is called for by keyboard 7, which exceed the balance recorded in the register 5 the subtracting unit reaches a zero value and is arranged not to carry out the subtraction and to leave unchanged the stock balance on the register drum. The machines 11 and 12 print " not-available " marks on the invoice and requisition note. Means may be provided which give a warning when the stock of any item is running low, the quantity in stock as recorded on the drum being continuously, or at intervals, compared with minimum levels recorded in a reference register. A similar arrangement may give warning of too much stock. Means may also be provided for printing out a list of the stock quantities of all items at predetermined intervals. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 827,582.