Patent GB-1000850-A (GB)
Title: Inventory interrogating control and read-out system
IPC: G06Q10/08
Filed: 1963-04-08
Abstract: 1,000,850. Inventory interrogating control system. S. R. KRAUSE. April 8, 1963 [April 9, 1962], No. 13813/63. Heading A4T. In an inventory interrogating control system for use with a plurality of stores containing plural items the number and characteristics of which, e.g. size, colour, style, manufacturer and price of clothing items, is to be ascertained at a remote point, the store section number and characteristics number are sequentially dialled on dial switches A1-4, Fig. 3, the electric pulses moving step-up switches where the numbers are stored until a cross-bar switch, Fig. 4, is available for use from the remote point as indicated by light signals and the numbers are also shown on read-out devices B1-4, Fig. 3 as a safety device. On closing switch GS8, Fig. 5, motor M drives cams CM1-5 sequentially actuating switches energizing certain of coils VS1-10 and HS1-20, Fig. 4 of the cross-bar switch. Thus in dialling for store section 25, coil VS2 moves bar 20, then coil HS5 moves bar 5 to contact bar 20 at point SE25 whereby store 25 is put into electrical connection with the system. In order to count the number of size 5 suits in the section, the dialled number 0, via the stepping switches and cams, energizes coil VS10 and the number 5, coil HS15 whereby bars 100 and 5 are moved into contact at UCO5 the extinguished read out devices relighting as a check. The section 25 suits are then scanned and the number of size 5 are indicated on the read out devices B1-4, Fig. 3, via an analog-to-digital converter. Should certain colours of size 5 suits be required, each UC05 cross-bar point may connect with a further circuit whereby one of five colours represented by 1-5 may be counted by a further dial. Switch GS6, Fig. 5 releases all cross-bar contacts while switch GS7 releases only the size or colour contacts for further dialling. To facilitate scanning, the articles may each depress a button, lower a hanger, Fig. 1 then hang thereon or move a button laterally when they are placed on a shelf whereby a resistance is put into circuit to give an electrical valve indicated on the read-out devices, the spring loading of each button being adjustable at E2. Where different articles are intermixed on one rack a contact unit PU, Fig. 21 runs along tracks RU and scans the articles by contacting metal (For Figures 5, 21, and 11c see next page.) prongs Fig. 18 on a hanger which enter slots on the rack, and signals the impulses via slip rings T1-T17. The articles on hangers may pass along a conveyer in front of a keyboard punch cutter whereby the scanning tags are cut at the same time as the usual manufacturers tag is printed and affixed to the article. Various methods of forming, fixing and arranging resistance scanning tags are described. The system may be used night and morning to take a complete inventory and thus act as a theft detection device giving the exact location of the theft. The read-out devices may be replaced by an electric typewriter and the scanning performed automatically and continuously, the current inventory being compared with a previous inventory stored on a drum so that discrepancies will sound an alarm.