US20020105425A1 - Walk-in crib - Google Patents

Abstract

A walk-in crib supply system. The system includes a room with an interior, an exterior, and a locked electric door. The system further includes an identity key reader, and a computing terminal. The networked computing terminal verifies a user identity based on the identity key, sends an unlock signal to the locked electric door and logs in the user identity and a login time. The system also includes a shelf in the interior, which has a monitoring device that monitors an item inventory of the shelf. The monitoring device reports the item inventory to the computing terminal, and the computing terminal reports the item inventory to a remote inventory data center.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to a provisional patent application serial No. 60/242,417, filed on Oct. 23, 2000.[0001]
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The invention relates to a dispensing cabinet. Specifically, the invention relates to the monitoring of an item dispensing cabinet.[0002]
• Conventional supply cabinets or stock rooms or tool cribs or dispensing cabinets include a locked cabinet or a locked room and supplies, which are typically manned. The locked supply cabinets either are inaccessible or cause unnecessary delay to employees needing supply. Furthermore, the inventory of the supply cabinets usually requires manual accounting and manual re-ordering, which result in errors leading to either under-stocking or over-stocking. It is also well known that some of the supplies in the supply cabinets are used very infrequently, and that theft and misuse are also common. A supply cabinet which more efficiently controls the supply inventory, and still provides adequate monitoring and refilling of the supply would therefore be welcomed by users of such cabinets.[0003]
• Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of automated monitoring of a walk-in crib supply system. The method includes scanning an identity key from a user, verifying a user identity based on comparing the identity key against a user-database, and automatically logging the user identity and a login time in a computing terminal. The method further includes sending an unlocking signal from the computing terminal to unlock a locked electric door of a supply room, opening the door and entering the supply room, and electronically logging in the computing station whether a take button or a return button is pushed based on whether an item is to be taken or returned. The method still further includes electronically logging in the item being taken or returned when the item is taken or returned, electronically monitoring a closing of the electric door when the user leaves the supply room, and sending a locking signal from the computing terminal to lock the unlocked electric door.[0004]
• Furthermore, the present invention also provides a walk-in crib supply system. The system includes a room with an interior, an exterior, and a locked electric door, the locked electric door being coupled to a computing terminal networked to a remote inventory data center. The system further includes an identity key reader on the exterior and coupled to the computing terminal, the identity key reader scanning in an identity key from a user and sending the identity key to the computing terminal, the networked computing terminal verifying a user identity based on the identity key, sending an unlock signal to the locked electric door and logging in the user identity and a login time. The system also includes a shelf in the interior, the shelf having a monitoring device which monitors an item inventory of the shelf, the monitoring device being coupled to the computing terminal and reporting the item inventory to the computing terminal, the computing terminal reporting the item inventory to the remote inventory data center.[0005]
• Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.[0006]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• In the drawings:[0007]
• FIG. 1 shows a walk-in crib supply system according to the present invention; and[0008]
• FIG. 2 shows flow diagram of walk-in crib control and monitoring procedures according to the present invention.[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.[0010]
• Referring to FIG. 1, a walk-in[0011]crib supply system100 according to the present invention is shown. The walk-incrib supply system100 includes aroom105, an interior110, anexterior115, and a lockeddoor120 with anelectric lock125. The lockeddoor120 with theelectric lock125 is coupled to acomputing terminal130, which is networked to a remote inventory data center (not shown) through anetwork connection135 and obtains its power through apower outlet137.
• When a user approaches the[0012]system100, the user swipes an identity key (not shown), such as an ID badge containing a bar code or a magnetic stripe, across an identitykey reader140 on theexterior115 of theroom105. Theidentity key reader140 is also coupled to thecomputing terminal130. Once the identity key reader scans in an identity key from a user, theidentity key reader140 sends the identity key to thecomputing terminal130. When thenetworked computing terminal130 verifies the user identity, thecomputing terminal130 logs in the user identity and a login time. Thecomputing terminal130 may show on adisplay145 an inventory question or survey. Once the user enters an answer to the inventory question, thecomputing terminal130 sends an unlock signal to the lockedelectric door120. Once thedoor120 is unlocked, and thedoor120 is opened (which is monitored by an electric door switch150), the user is allowed to enter theroom105. Theidentity key reader140 may also include a monitoring device that monitors the presence of an identity key in the proximity of theroom105. The identity key may include a lanyard with barcode or a smart chip attached. This arrangement provides hands-free access to the room. It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that thedisplay145 may include a touch screen and a keypad.
• Once in the[0013]interior110 of theroom105, the user will have access to ashelf155. The shelf includes amonitoring device160 which monitors an inventory of anitem165. The monitoring device further includes atake button170, areturn button175, and adisplay180. Themonitoring device160 is also coupled to thecomputing terminal130 through acommunication hub185. The user will have to push thetake button170 or thereturn button175 for taking or return an item. Once theitem165 is taken or returned, themonitoring device160 reports to thecomputing terminal130 through thecommunication hub185. The inventory information is then reported to a remote inventory data center. It should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that a communication hub may be unnecessary when the room is relatively small or there is a relatively small inventory to track.
• FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram[0014]200 of walk-in crib control and monitoring procedures according to the present invention. The procedure starts (step205) when a user approaches the system, the user swipes an identity key, such as an ID badge containing a bar code or a magnetic stripe, across an identity key reader instep210. A computing terminal (as shown in FIG. 1) verifies a user identity based on the identity key instep215, and then logs in the user identity and a login time instep220.
• At this point, the computing terminal may show on a display[0015]145 (FIG. 1) an inventory question or survey. Once the user answers the question in step225, the computing terminal sends an unlocking signal to a lockedelectric door120 of Figure1 to unlock the door (step230). The user may enter the crib or the room (step235), and have access to the supply. When the user decides to take an item from the shelf (determined in240), the user is required to push a take button170 (FIG. 1) on a monitoring device160 (FIG. 1) instep245, before the item is taken from the shelf in step250. Otherwise, when the user decides to return an item to the shelf (determined in255), the user is required to push a return button175 (FIG. 1) on the monitoring device160 (FIG. 1) instep260, before the item is returned to the shelf instep265. Thereafter, the user exits the room (step270), closes the door (step275), and hits “exit” on the display (step280). The computing terminal may be programmed to skip the question session and unlock the door to allow the user to enter the room. Furthermore, the computing terminal will also send a locking signal to the electric lock125 (FIG. 1) to lock the door when the door is closed.
• Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a walk-in crib supply system. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.[0016]

Claims (18)

what is claimed is:

1. A method of automated monitoring of a walk-in crib supply system, the method comprising:

scanning an identity key from a user;

verifying a user identity based on comparing the identity key against a user-database;

automatically logging the user identity and a login time in a computing terminal;

sending an unlocking signal from the computing terminal to unlock a locked electric door of a supply room;

opening the door and entering the supply room;

electronically logging in the computing station whether a take button or a return button is pushed based on whether an item is to be taken or returned;

electronically logging in the item being taken or returned when the item is taken or returned;

electronically monitoring a closing of the electric door when the user leaves the supply room; and

sending a locking signal from the computing terminal to lock the unlocked electric door.

2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

displaying an inventory question provided by the computing terminal on a display; and

receiving an inventory answer to the inventory question from the user.

3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising monitoring for the presence of an identity key in the proximity of the room.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the identity key comprises a bar code.

5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the identity key comprises a magnetic stripe.

6. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising reporting the user identity and the login time to a remote inventory data center.

7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising automatically reporting to the computing terminal and the remote inventory center whether an item is returned or taken.

8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising indicating “exit” on the display.

9. A walk-in crib supply system comprising:

a room with an interior, an exterior, and a locked electric door, the locked electric door being coupled to a computing terminal networked to a remote inventory data center;

identity key reader on the exterior and coupled to the computing terminal, the identity key reader scanning in an identity key from a user and sending the identity key to the computing terminal, the networked computing terminal verifying a user identity based on the identity key, sending an unlock signal to the locked electric door and logging in the user identity and a login time; and

a shelf in the interior, the shelf having a monitoring device which monitors an item inventory of the shelf, the monitoring device being coupled to the computing terminal and reporting the item inventory to the computing terminal, the computing terminal reporting the item inventory to the remote inventory data center.

10. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising a display on the exterior, adjacent to the locked door and coupled to the computing terminal.

11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the computing terminal further comprises a computer and a communication hub.

12. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a take button, a return button and a display.

13. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising an electrical door, adjacent to the locked door, and coupled to the computing station.

14. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising a refrigeration device in fluid communication with the interior.

15. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising a display operably coupled to the computing terminal.

16. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the display further comprises a touch screen.

17. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the display further comprises a keypad.

18. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising a network connection coupled to the computing terminal.

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