System and methods for modular inventory management
A modular inventory management system or device is included. A method of using a monitoring and managing inventory using a modular inventory management system or device is also included.
1 . A modular inventory monitoring system comprising:
a receiver;
a carrier;
buses coupled to the carrier; and
a plurality of load cells coupled to the carrier, wherein one or more of the plurality of load cells is configured to support a bin, wherein each load cell of the plurality of load cells are configured to continuously measure a weight of the bin and communicate the weight or a change in the weight to the receiver, wherein the carrier includes a support surface and a plurality of stanchions integrally coupled to the support surface, wherein each stanchion of the plurality of stanchions are arranged in a grid-like pattern, wherein each load cell of the plurality of load cells is configured to fit between more than one stanchion of the plurality of stanchions, and wherein each load cell of the plurality of load cells are coupled with more than one stanchion.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein channels extend between each stanchion of the plurality of stanchions, each of the channels configured to receive a respective one of the buses.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each load cell of the plurality of load cells are configured to analyze a type of force, wherein the type of force is based at least in part on a size of a respective bin coupled to each load cell of the plurality of load cells.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each load cell of the plurality of load cells each include a load icon indicating a type of force a respective load cell is configured to measure.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein two adjacent load cells of the plurality of load cells are configured to measure a same type of force, and a first bin is coupled to the two adjacent load cells.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein two spaced apart load cells of the plurality of load cells are configured to measure a same type of force, and a first bin is coupled to the two spaced apart load cells.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein two spaced apart load cells of the plurality of load cells are configured to measure a different type of force, and a first bin is coupled to the two spaced apart load cells.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a first set of spaced apart load cells of the plurality of load cells are configured to measure a first type of force, a second set of spaced apart load cells of the plurality of load cells are configured to measure a second same of force, the first type of force being different from the second type of force, and wherein a first bin is coupled to the first set of spaced apart load cells and the second set of spaced apart load cells.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising bins, each of the bins being configured to contain a component.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to collect and store data relating to an inventory condition of the respective bin.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to continuously display a current inventory quantity at a monitoring station.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cabinet comprising a drawer having a bottom and a back wall, wherein the plurality of load cells are positioned in the bottom of the drawer and the carrier is coupled to the back wall of the drawer.
13 . A retrofit cabinet comprising the system of claim 1 , wherein a cabinet is retrofit to be coupled to the carrier.
14 . A kit comprising:
the system of claim 1 ;
a first bin having a first size; and
a second bin having a second size, the first size being different from the second size, wherein the plurality of load cells are rearrangeable.
15 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of load cells comprise a first load cell configured to measure a first type of force, and a second load cell configured to measure a second type of force, the first type of force being different from the second type of force.
16 . A method of using the system of claim 1 , the method comprising:
determining a first configuration of the plurality of load cells based on a size of bins intended to be coupled to the plurality of load cells;
determining a type of force that a respective load cell of the plurality of load cells is configured to measure based at least in part on a size of the respective bin coupled to the respective load cell; and
arranging the plurality of load cells in the first configuration.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling bins to the plurality of load cells and continuously monitoring an inventory of the bins.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising rearranging the plurality of load cells to be in a second configuration.
19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each stanchion of the plurality of stanchions includes one or more apertures and wherein each load cell of the plurality of load cells includes one or more lugs.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more lugs of each load cell of the plurality of load cells are configured to couple with an aperture of the one or more apertures of each stanchion of the plurality of stanchions to configure each load cell of the plurality of load cells between more than one stanchion of the plurality of stanchions.