Patent ID: 7689480

Claim:
An inventory control system, comprising: a storage module having a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows, each storage unit engaged with the track for selective movement along the track; and an inventory control unit associated with the storage module, having a user interface, a processor, a memory, and means for inputting object information for each object placed within a storage unit, including inputting and tracking the storage unit and location of the storage unit into which each object is placed, wherein the processor receives the object information from the inputting means, and stores the object information in the memory for user access therefrom via the user interface; wherein the continuous track comprises first and second tracks spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, the first and second tracks each comprising upper and lower horizontal rails spaced apart and generally parallel with one another, a first vertical end rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails at a first end thereof, and a second vertical end rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails at a second end thereof, a first inner vertical rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails intermediate the ends thereof, and a second inner vertical rail extending between the upper and lower horizontal rails intermediate the ends thereof and in spaced relation to the first inner vertical rail; and wherein the upper and lower horizontal rails and the vertical end rails, and the inner rails of the of the first track engage with wheels extending from one end of the storage units, and the upper and lower horizontal rails and the vertical end rails, and the inner rails of the second track engage with wheels extending from an opposite end of the storage units; wherein the processor coordinates movement of the storage units and objects associated therewith; and wherein the user interface accesses object information and locates a particular object within the storage module.