GB2138985A - An indicator system for mechanical cabinets - Google Patents

Abstract

An indicator system for a mechanical cabinet 1 having shelves 3 which can be moved to a delivery station 2 and are divided transversely into a number of compartments or slide - in trays 4, wherein there is a single numeric display 11 provided for each tray or compartment 4 and which indicates the position number within the tray or compartment (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An indicator system for mechanical cabinets The invention relates to an indicator system for mechanical cabinets, having shelves which can be moved to a delivery station and are divided transversely relative to the direction of rotation into compartments or slide-in trays, more particularly for storage, the shelf for the article ordered being brought to the delivery position by way of an external data medium ora connected dataprocessing installation, and the position of the compartmentor tray being indicated optically, in which system a numeric display is provided near the delivery window parallel to the shelves for each of the compartments or trays to be provided.

In an indicator system of this type disclosed in German Patent 30 48 394, the shelves divided transversely relative to the direction of rotation into compartments or slide-in trays are characterised either by lamps provided for each shelf or by a continuous numeric strip covering all the compartments or trays. Further rows or lines in the numeric strip then represent the subdivisions in the various compartments or trays, being arranged in the same raster or pattern as the compartments or trays.

An object of the invention is to provide a simpler arrangement. To this end, a single numeric display is provided for each tray or compartment and indicates the position number within the tray or compartment.

A solution in accordance with the invention saves a large number of numeric displays in an unexpected manner.

The invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic arrangement of the system.

In the drawing, on the right as viewed there is shown a cabinet 1 connected to an electronic data processing installation orto an external data medium, and shelves which can be moved to a delivery window 2 are designated 3. Reference 4 designates the compartments on a shelf 3, and 5 a manual selection system. On a table surface 10 near the delivery window 2 there is a numeric strip 11 parallel to the shelves 3 and provided with a numeric display for each compartment 4.

Operation is as follows: A process computer receives the order data either via an external data medium or by way of a connected electronic data processing installation, in accordance with the block diagram. On the basis of the article numbers given in the order the computer determines in which compartment 4 and under which compartment number the article is housed and feeds this information to a microprocessor.

When the shelf 3 required stops at the table surface 10, the numeric display 11 indicates the position of the compartment 4 required and at the same time the position (represented by a number) within that compartment 4.

1. An indicator system for mechanical cabinets, having shelves which can be moved to a delivery station and are divided transversely relative to the direction of rotation into compartments or slide-in trays, more particularly for storage, the sh elf for the article ordered being brought to the delivery position by way of an external data medium or a connected dataprocessing installation, and the position of the compartment or tray being indicated optically, in which system a numeric display is provided near the delivery window parallel to the shelves for each of the compartments or trays to be provided, wherein there is a single numeric display provided for each tray or compartment and indicates the position number within the tray or compartment.

2. An indicator system for mechanical cabinets, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An indicator system for mechanical cabinets The invention relates to an indicator system for mechanical cabinets, having shelves which can be moved to a delivery station and are divided transversely relative to the direction of rotation into compartments or slide-in trays, more particularly for storage, the shelf for the article ordered being brought to the delivery position by way of an external data medium ora connected dataprocessing installation, and the position of the compartmentor tray being indicated optically, in which system a numeric display is provided near the delivery window parallel to the shelves for each of the compartments or trays to be provided. In an indicator system of this type disclosed in German Patent 30 48 394, the shelves divided transversely relative to the direction of rotation into compartments or slide-in trays are characterised either by lamps provided for each shelf or by a continuous numeric strip covering all the compartments or trays. Further rows or lines in the numeric strip then represent the subdivisions in the various compartments or trays, being arranged in the same raster or pattern as the compartments or trays. An object of the invention is to provide a simpler arrangement. To this end, a single numeric display is provided for each tray or compartment and indicates the position number within the tray or compartment. A solution in accordance with the invention saves a large number of numeric displays in an unexpected manner. The invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic arrangement of the system. In the drawing, on the right as viewed there is shown a cabinet 1 connected to an electronic data processing installation orto an external data medium, and shelves which can be moved to a delivery window 2 are designated 3. Reference 4 designates the compartments on a shelf 3, and 5 a manual selection system. On a table surface 10 near the delivery window 2 there is a numeric strip 11 parallel to the shelves 3 and provided with a numeric display for each compartment 4. Operation is as follows: A process computer receives the order data either via an external data medium or by way of a connected electronic data processing installation, in accordance with the block diagram. On the basis of the article numbers given in the order the computer determines in which compartment 4 and under which compartment number the article is housed and feeds this information to a microprocessor. When the shelf 3 required stops at the table surface 10, the numeric display 11 indicates the position of the compartment 4 required and at the same time the position (represented by a number) within that compartment 4. CLAIMS

1. An indicator system for mechanical cabinets, having shelves which can be moved to a delivery station and are divided transversely relative to the direction of rotation into compartments or slide-in trays, more particularly for storage, the sh elf for the article ordered being brought to the delivery position by way of an external data medium or a connected dataprocessing installation, and the position of the compartment or tray being indicated optically, in which system a numeric display is provided near the delivery window parallel to the shelves for each of the compartments or trays to be provided, wherein there is a single numeric display provided for each tray or compartment and indicates the position number within the tray or compartment.

2. An indicator system for mechanical cabinets, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.