GB1282192A - Improved inventory control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1282192 Digital inventory systems J D HOWARD 19 Feb 1970 [14 July 1969] 8135/70 Heading G4H A system for use, for example, in a shop for maintaining a continuous inventory of a variety of items, the items bearing visible code marks which are the same for similar items, comprises a magnetic core memory unit 31 capable of storing data in three sections corresponding to each item, means for registering the codes of items sold, means 38 for scannning the memory and means for producing an agreement signal when the code scanned is the same as the code registered, the corresponding price and inventory values, means for subtracting one from the inventory value and replacing it in the memory and passing it to a printer. The scanner 38 scans the memory at high speed, e.g. 60 times a second. As the items sold move past the operator he reads the code numbers and registers them on a keyboard 42. The code is converted to binary form at 41 and applied to the write portion 36a of the memory. When the corresponding code is scanned, each digit is applied to a group of gates 61-63 to which is also applied the output from the corresponding read head. If the digits agree a signal is passed to And gates 73, 74, 76 having other inputs responsive to other digit comparisons. When all the digits agree an output 78 is produced from gate 77. The signal 78 via gate 82 operates flip-flop 83 to give a signal 84 to gate the price and inventory values from read heads 37b and 37c to flip-flops 86, 93 which in turn apply to printer 88, 96. The inventory value flip-flops 93 are connected to a buffer counter 97 to enter the inventory number into the counter. At the end of the scanning cycle an output pulse 101 from the scanner is applied to the counter 97 to reduce the value by one. This reduced value is re-entered into the store in the next cycle. When it is necessary to insert data in the memory the item code matrix 69 is directly connected to the write circuits via switch 116, and entry keyboard 118 is operated transmitting signals through price input matrix to write circuits 36b. Entry is under the control of a signal on line 119. The inventory input matrix 121 is connected to write circuits 36c through switch 122 in " write " position. Empty locations in the memory are identified by the fact that they are filled with " 1's." New items are added to the inventory by entering a code on keyboard 71, the price on keyboard 118 and quantity on keyboard. Flip-flop 131 is set to open gate 63 so that when a storage location is scanned which is filled with " 1's " all gates 63 give an output and a signal appears on line 78, passes through gate 81 and switch 91, to step counter 136 which thereby records the first vacant position of the store. On the next cycle the counter gives an enabling pulse at this count so that the valves registered on the input keyboard are written into this position of the memory.