System and method for automatically logging article use and an article adapted for such

A method for automatically logging a particular use of an article, comprising the steps of:

• identifying a unique code associated with an article from the article;
• automatically reading the identified unique code at a reading station in response to the article being passed adjacent a first reader at the reading station;
• locating reading stations at one or more treatment or storage locations for the article within an area, with second readers disposed at each treatment or storage location for hygienically treating the article, and automatically reading the unique code of any article passing from or to said treatment or storage location;
• sanitising said article at prescribed intervals at the treatment or storage location and logging the unique code and data associated with the hygienic treatment of said articles being sanitised.

An article use monitoring system for hygiene purposes, comprising:

• an identifier for incorporation within an article, the use of the article to be monitored and controlled, said identifier identifying a unique code for said article;
• a reader of said identifier disposed at a treatment location for hygienically treating the article, said reader being adapted to automatically read said unique code in response to the article being passed adjacent said reader on entering or exiting the treatment location;
• and
• a data logger associated with said reader to log said unique code and data associated with the hygienic treatment of an article treated at the treatment location;
• wherein one of said treatment locations includes a sanitiser for sanitising said article at prescribed intervals and said reader is prompted to read and log said unique code and said data associated with the hygienic treatment of articles whilst at said sanitiser.

An article use monitoring system for hygiene purposes, comprising:

• means for incorporation within an article for identifying a unique code for said article, the use of the article to be monitored and controlled;
• means for automatically reading said unique code in response to the article being passed adjacent thereby on entering or exiting a treatment location for hygienically treating the article;
• and
• means for logging said unique code and data associated with the hygienic treatment of an article treated at the treatment location;
• wherein one of said treatment locations includes means for sanitising said article at prescribed intervals and prompting the unique code and said data associated with the hygienic treatment of articles to be read and logged.

A system for automatically logging data pertaining to a particular use of an article, comprising:

• an article having means for identifying a unique code for said article incorporated therein;
• means for reading said unique code disposed at a reading station to automatically read said unique code in response to the article being passed adjacent thereby, located in an area where the article is to be used;
• said area having one or more treatment or storage locations for the article;
• means for logging said unique code and the time at which said unique code was read;
• wherein the unique code is automatically read on any passage of a said article from or to a said treatment or storage location;
• and
• wherein one of said treatment or storage locations includes means for sanitising said article at prescribed intervals and prompting said unique code and said time to be read and logged in connection with articles being sanitised thereby.