Inventory control system

Abstract

Method and apparatus for central inventory control as particularly adapted for retail vending wherein all merchandise is made to carry a coded identifier ticket characteristic of the product. Upon sale of the product the identifier ticket may be removed and at periodic times all accrued identifier tickets can be processed through a label sorter and reader to compile data for input to a central computer which then provides various forms of inventory readout to the user entity. More particularly, the invention utilizes a form of identifier ticket adapted for gummed adhesion and tear-off from the product, and the removed identifier ticket is then processed in a sorting and reading apparatus to provide recorded as well as instantaneous output for input to an associated computer or other peripheral equipment. The ticket sorting apparatus consists of a hopper portion to receive tickets in bulk for subsequent mechanical feeding into a separating track after which the individual identifier tickets bearing binary coded digital marking are optically read with output data provided for computer usage. The separating track consists of an elongated belt conveyor, of critical width to accommodate identifier tickets, which includes a serially arranged plurality of separating flanges arrayed therealong to control passage of single identifier tickets therealong. Finally, after optical reading of the identifier tickets they are dropped into a common depository for collection, storage, etc.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.