A system for maintaining inventory of liquid containers, comprising:
- a first container storage device, physically located in an first inventory storage location, the first container storage device including a first weight measuring part which measures weights of multiple different containers and which includes an identification reader which reads unique identifiers from each of the multiple different containers;
- a second container storage device, physically located in a second, serving location different than the first location, the second container storage device including a second weight measuring part which measures weights of multiple different containers in the second location and which includes a second identification reader which reads unique identifiers from each of the multiple different containers in the second location;
- a computer having a database that stores information, that computer being in communication with said first weight measuring part and said second weight measuring part, said computer receiving identification information and weights from the first and second container weight measuring part and stores a first indication that containers from which identification information and weights were received from the first weight measuring part indicating that the containers from which identification information and weights were received from the first weight measuring part are stored in the first inventory storage location, and
- stores a second indication that containers from which identification information and weights were received from the second weight measuring part indicating that the containers from which identification information and weights were received from the second weight measuring part are stored in the second serving location;
- the computer operating to determine when a first container has been lifted from one of said container storage devices, by detecting a reduction in weight on the one container storage device;
- and starting a timer when a first container has been lifted from the one of said container storage devices,
- the computer establishing an incident when the first container is not replaced on a container storage device within a setting time of the timer;
- if the container is removed from the first container storage device and replaced on the second container storage device, then storing a first weight of the first container when the first container is removed from said first container storage device and storing a second weight of the first container when the first container is placed on said second container storage device;
- if the container is removed from the second container storage device and replaced on the first container storage device, then storing a first weight of the container when the second container is removed from said first container storage device and storing a second weight of the first container when the first container is placed on said first container storage device;
- the computer establishing an incident when the weight of the first container on said first container storage device differs from the weight of the first container on said first container storage device by a threshold amount, and not establishing the incident when the weight of the first container on said first container storage device does not differ from the weight of the first container on said second container storage device by the threshold amount,
- where the computer indicates the first container in the database as being in storage when the first container is on said first container storage device,
- and indicates the first container in the database as being in use when the when the first container is on said second storage device.