Patent ID: 12229715

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1there is shown an apparatus10for item inventory management and storage for a layout of items11. The layout of items11may include, but are not limited to, tools or the like such as the tools12shown inFIGS.2to4. The apparatus10may be in form of a caddy14as shown inFIG.1with moveable draws or shelves16, also referred to as trays, or may be in other forms such as being wall or floor mounted open displays without draws or shelves16.

The apparatus10includes one or more storage areas18adapted to store the layout of items11. In this example, one of the storage areas18is provided in each of the draws or shelves16and includes storage material or insert20that has storage locations22shaped to located each of the tools12. The storage material or insert20may be formed of foam cut to include shapes or other suitable material. Each of the storage locations22has a shape, including depth and length, to fit with different types of tools12such as those shown inFIGS.3and4. As such, it may be appreciated that the position of the tools12may have, for example, varying depths within the storage locations22as well as varying lateral positions.

Each of the storage locations22includes a sensor board arrangement24, shown inFIG.5, that includes one or more preconfigured or standardised boards26that are fitted with a plurality of sensors28. The preconfigured boards26may be printed circuit boards and the plurality of sensors28may include proximity sensors such as eddy current or infrared type sensors. The arrangement of the sensors28is such that the presence or absence of the tool12is detectable. In some examples, between about 1 and 4, and preferable 2 or 3 preconfigured or standardised boards26may be required which are fitted adjacent one another and form a supporting base below the storage material or insert20.

The apparatus10may include a computer system30in operable communication with each of the sensor board arrangement24, and ultimately sensors28thereof, to provide an indication and log of item movements, more specifically tool movements, in and out of the storage area18. For example, the tool12shown removed inFIG.2may be detected as being removed by its associated sensor28and a log of that event recorded by the computer system30. In this example, the computer system30may include a screen32to provide a visual indication of the removal of the tool12, and may include other information such as a time stamp, user number and tool number.

Turning now to the sensor board arrangement24in more detail, and referring more specifically toFIGS.5to9h, the sensors28, best shown inFIG.6, are arranged to be electrically coupled to predefined sensor placement locations34of the boards26are best shown inFIGS.7ato8b. Each sensor28may include a sensor head36including a sensor element37, such as an infrared or eddy current sensing element, a base38adapted to electrically connect with the predefined sensor placement locations34of the boards26and one or more spacers40that may be included to adjust the vertical location of the sensor element37.

The sensor28may be formed as one part or may be provided as a multipart assembly as shown in this example, as this allows the height of the sensor28to be adjusted using a common set of parts. Further, the use of the base38allows the sensor head36to be remove or replaced, if need be, as the base38may remain connected to the board26and the head36may be removed or replaced. The legs41of the base38allow legs41of the base38to be secured in place prior to the sensor head36being fitted.

As is further described below, the sensors28are advantageously height adjustable and able to be fitted to any of the predefined sensor placement locations. This allows sensor28adjustment such as vertically to move the sensor head36closer to tools12such as small or thin tools that may be locate higher up or toward to top surface of the storage locations22.

Referring toFIGS.7aand8b, the one or more preconfigured boards26may include a first type of preconfigured board26ashown inFIGS.7aand7band a second type of preconfigured board26bas shown inFIGS.8aand8bthat each include predefined sensor placement locations34.

The first type of board26agenerally includes diagonal or zig-zag predefined sensor placement locations34aand the second type of preconfigured board26bincludes a grid of predefined sensor placement locations34b. Each of these boards26aand26bmay be used from either side or upside down, and are interchangeable. Each of the predefined sensor placement locations34are preconnected by circuits to a socket outlet42that in turn communicates with the computer system30. As such, once the sensor28is connected in position at one predefined sensor placement locations34it is electrically connected to the socket outlet42and a pin (not shown) thereof associated with the specific predefined sensor placement location34.

Each of the types of boards,26a,26b, include the predefined sensor placement locations34which as best shown inFIG.9ainclude a plurality of predetermined fit position indica or markings50and connection apertures52. The predetermined fit position indica50indicate a central position50aas shown inFIG.9band further lateral positions50bincluding, for example, north west, north, north east, south west, south and south west as shown inFIGS.9ctoFIG.9h, respectively. This allows the sensor28to be moved laterally to make adjustments, typically smaller adjustments, to better position the sensors28relative to the storage locations22and each of the tools12. Accordingly, the choice of boards26a,26band the predefined sensor placement locations34provide for macro adjustment of the sensors28and the predetermined fit position indica50at each of the predefined sensor placement locations34provides for micro or finer adjustment.

The connection apertures52may be configured, such as in this example, to have a square pin as part of a three-pin connection55, to allow the sensor28to be fitted in a preferred orientation only. As shown inFIGS.9bto9h, the three-pin connection55to be used varies in its location and orientation depending on which lateral position is selected for the sensors28.

The predetermined fit position indica50are shown as circles, however, other forms of indicia or marking may be provided such as lines, crosses or the like. In this example only two of the preconfigured standardised range of boards26have been shown and it has been found that most layouts can be accommodated with only two boards. However, it is noted that further boards, such as a third standardised board, could be included in some examples, and in other examples only a single standardised board may be required.

The preconfigured standardised range of boards26, the standard range of sensors28and the storage material20may be used as system60of stock or standardised parts for manufacturing the item inventory apparatus10, in particular, forming the storage areas18thereof, as is further described in the method below.

Turning now to a method100of manufacturing the item inventory apparatus10and referring toFIG.10, the method includes, typically for each storage area18, at step110, determining a layout of items for locating within the item storage area18. For example, the stowage area18may be configured to store items in the form of tools12as shown inFIG.2.

Once the layout of items is determined, at step120one or more the boards26may be selected from the stock or standardised range of boards such as boards26aand26bas shown inFIGS.7ato8b. The selection may be based on which of the boards26has the better or most suitable predefined sensor placement locations34for the layout of items. At step130, the item storage insert or material20may then be formed, such as but cutting or routing, with a plurality of storage locations22to locate the layout of items11. Accordingly, each specific tool may have a specifically shaped storage location22in which it is fittingly received when stowed.

Next, at step140the plurality of sensors28may be located and fitted to selected ones of the predefined sensor placement locations34that fit best the layout of items11. The plurality of sensors28are individually fitted to respective predefined sensor placement locations34and may be laterally adjusted in any of the directions as shown inFIGS.9cto9h. Further, the sensors28may be adjusted in height such as by fitting or removing spacers40to ensure the sensor head36is positioned to sense the corresponding ones of the plurality of items11storable at the plurality of storage locations22. The bases38of the sensors28may be secured, more specifically soldered in place, and the spacers40and sensor head36may be fitted thereto.

At step150, once the sensor board arrangements24are configured, the selected boards26and fitted sensors26may be located within the item storage area18, and the socket outlet42of each of boards26may be connected with corresponding connector (not shown) within the item storage area18to provide communication with the computer system30. The item storage material20is then place generally on top or around of the sensor board arrangements24and the items, such as tools12, may be located in the storage locations22. Of course, the complete manufacture of the item inventory apparatus10would also include, in this example, fabrication of the caddy14, its draws and other structural components. The computer system30would also need to be fitted, electrically connected and configured to function with the fitted sensor board arrangements24.

Advantageously, the standardised preconfigured boards and the standardised sensors, allow standardised parts to be premanufactured and kept in stock before it is known what the layout of items may be. These premanufactured boards and sensors can then be configured to a variety layouts using the adjustment of the positions of the sensors to allow tools at a consistent height in a foam tool material that are neatly and evenly spread out.

As such, bespoke boards or sensors do not need to be manufactured for each new layout which reduces both the time and cost of manufacturing because the premanufactured boards and sensors can be used. Further, the height adjustability of the sensor allows the sensors to be positioned for better sensing of the item, which is particularly advantageous for thin tools, and the plug-in base of the sensor allows ease of maintenance of the sensor head.

Furthermore still, the boards form the base of the shelves or trays on which the storage material or inserts are supported, are adaptive without needing wires or wiring changes, and allow the sensors to be moved at a later time such as updating the tool layout and/or for the sensors to be replaced.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.