INVENTORY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THE CONTENTS OF FULL AND PARTIALLY-FILLED ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTAINERS

Abstract

A system and method for accurately measuring the volume of full or partially-filled containers via UPC-A standard barcode and weight. After initial connection to the wireless Internet, no input is required by the user. Bottles are placed on a load cell with the barcode label rotated to face an omni-directional barcode reader. The load cell ensures objective and reproducible inventory counts, and the barcode ensures accuracy and speed. The apparatus automatically shuts off after a period of idleness to preserve battery life.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring the volume of a full or a partially-filled container as well as identifying the contents of the container by scanning a universal product code (UPC) label on the container to form container data and communicating the container data to a remote database, said apparatus comprising: a load cell for detecting the weight of the container; a barcode scanner for scanning the UPC label on the container; and a processor coupled to said load cell and said barcode scanner for activating said load cell and said barcode scanner to generate the container data, said processor receiving the container data and configured for wirelessly transmitting the container data to the remote database over global computer networks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barcode scanner is an omnidirectional barcode scanner for reading the UPC label regardless of an orientation of the UPC label on the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a rechargeable battery for powering said load cell, barcode scanner and said processor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing for containing said load cell, said processor and associated electronics therein, said housing being waterproof.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said barcode scanner is positioned on a top portion of said housing, adjacent said load cell, such that said barcode scanner is configured to read the UPC label while said load cell is weighing the container.

6. A method for measuring the volume of a full or a partially-filled container as well as identifying the contents of the container by scanning a universal product code (UPC) label on the container to form container data and communicating the container data to a remote database while eliminating manual input of the container data, said method comprising: providing a load cell upon which the container is positioned for detecting the weight of the container; providing a barcode scanner for scanning the UPC label on the container when the UPC label is positioned opposite a scanning window of said barcode scanner; connecting a processor to said load cell and to said barcode scanner for activating said load cell and said barcode scanner to generate the container data; receiving the container data, by said processor, from said load cell and said barcode scanner; wirelessly transmitting, by said processor, the container data to the remote database over global computer networks.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said barcode scanner is an omni-directional barcode scanner for reading the UPC label regardless of an orientation of the UPC label on the container.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of providing a processor further comprises providing a rechargeable battery for powering said load cell, barcode scanner and said processor.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of providing a processor comprises providing a rechargeable battery for powering said load cell, barcode scanner and said processor.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of positioning said load cell, said processor and associated electronics within a waterproof housing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing said barcode scanner comprises positioning said barcode scanner on a top portion of said housing, adjacent said load cell, such that said barcode scanner is configured to read the UPC label while said load cell is weighing the container.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of providing a processor further comprises providing an on/off switch connected to said processor, said on/off switch being activated by an operator to command said processor to activate said load cell and said barcode scanner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a system diagram of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of the operation of the present invention; and

[0014] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a bottle positioned on the apparatus of the present invention depicting use of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Throughout this description, various components may be identified having specific values, these values are provided as exemplary embodiments and should not be limiting of various concepts of the present invention as many comparable sizes and/or values may be implemented.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus and method of the present invention 20 comprises a processor 22 (e.g., Raspberry Pi Zero W single-board computer having a single core processor with 512 MB of RAM with LAN and Bluetooth capability) with wireless connectivity which is coupled to an omni-directional barcode reader 26 (e.g., Honeywell MS7120-38-3 Barcode Scanner). In addition, a load cell 24 (e.g., a Sparkfun Electronics SEN-13329 10 kg load cell,) is coupled through a load cell amplifier 28 (e.g., Sparkfun Load Cell Amp HX711) to the processor 22. The output power source 30 (e.g., a 3.7V Lithium-Ion Battery Rechargeable (secondary) 500 mAh) is fed through a power boost charger 32 (e.g., MCP73831 Battery Charger Power Management Evaluation Board) to the processor 22. As also shown in FIG. 1, the processor 22 has wireless connectivity to communicate with a remote database or memory (e.g., server, etc.) in the cloud 27. An on/off switch 25 is coupled to the processor 22 to initiate the inventive process 20. The apparatus 20 comprises a housing 34 (FIG. 3) in which all of the electronics are housed. The housing 34 is waterproof to protect the processor 22, load cell 24, battery 30 and other related electrical components therein. The apparatus 20 automatically shuts off after a period of idleness to preserve battery 30 life. The barcode scanner 26 is positioned on a top portion of the housing 34 adjacent the load cell 24 so that the barcode scanner 26 can read the Universal Product Code (UPC) label while the load cell 24 is weighing the bottle 10. Furthermore, the omni-directional barcode scanner 26 can read the UPC regardless of the orientation of the UPC label, e.g., if the UPC label is affixed in horizontal position on the bottle 10 or in a vertical position on the bottle 10.

[0017] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, the apparatus 20 is turned on with the switch 25 and automatically connects to a preferred wireless Internet configured in advance by the establishment (e.g., dram shop, bar, restaurant, etc.). The apparatus 20 is carried to a convenient location behind the bar, and a partially filled container 10 is placed on the load cell 24 with its associated barcode label 12 facing a scanning window (not shown) of the barcode scanner 28. As such, the pertinent information of the partially-filled bottle 10 is obtained by barcode scanner 28 by reading the label 12; the weight is simultaneously captured by the load cell 24. This data is passed to the processor 22 and sent via wireless Internet to the cloud-based memory 27. The bottle 10 is removed and the next bottle 10 is placed on the load cell 24. In this manner, all partially-filled containers 10 are measured by weight. There is no display or user input required; thus reducing and/or eliminating the accidental or erroneous input of data.

[0018] The apparatus 20 aids in obtaining inventory and producing financial reports, but it improves upon the previous devices in several ways. First, there are no barcodes to affix. By using the UPC-A format (12 digit number) barcode already in use by retailers and printed on the label 12 by manufacturers, use of the apparatus 20 doesn't require additional administrative effort. In this manner, each bottle 10 is accounted for, rather than the average as found in the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,219 (Carroll, et al.). Technologically, the battery 30, omni-directional barcode reader 26, and wireless processor 22 all contribute to the ease of use. Furthermore, there is no input or output for the user to adulterate or manipulate, thus preventing inaccurate readings. Finally, the electronic format of the data allows data analysis of inventory trends and correlation.

[0019] While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.