PRITCHETT HEATH A (US)
NORMAN JUSTIN G (US)
SIMMONS DEAN G (US)
US20210055152A1 | 2021-02-25 | |||
US20100187022A1 | 2010-07-29 | |||
CN108645562B | 2020-09-22 | |||
US195562632611P |
CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for monitoring a magnitude of a load on a pallet, comprising: at least one housing carrying at least one force sensor configured and positioned to provide output signals corresponding to magnitudes of the load relative to a number of articles resting on the pallet; the at least one housing configured for placement under a single side of the pallet, under substantially a center point of a single side of the pallet, or within the pallet under substantially a center point of the load. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a Bluetooth transceiver carried by the at least one housing for communicating signals corresponding to the output signals from the at least one force sensor to a remote location. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one force sensor is in communication with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the Bluetooth transceiver, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the at least one force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the housing carries a rechargeable power supply for the at least one force sensor, the analog amplifier, the microprocessor and the Bluetooth transceiver. 5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 3, further comprising a pressure plate extending over at least a portion of the housing in contact with the at least one force sensor and a non-slip material under and bonded to the housing. 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one housing comprise a single, substantially linear housing, the at least one force sensor comprises two or more substantially evenly longitudinally spaced force sensors carried by the single housing in communication through a summing circuit with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the Bluetooth transceiver, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the at least one force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one housing comprises two separate housings, each carrying a force sensor and positionable under and proximate to an opposing end of a single side of the pallet, wherein each force sensor is in communication with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the Bluetooth transceiver of its respective housing, the microprocessor carried by each housing programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a Bluetooth signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one housing comprises two separate housings, each carrying a force sensor and positionable under and proximate an opposing end of a single side of the pallet, wherein each force sensor is in communication with a summing circuit, an analog amplifier, a microprocessor and a Bluetooth transceiver carried by one of the two separate housings, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to each force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the housing carrying the summing circuit, analog amplifier, microprocessor and Bluetooth transceiver is in communication with the force sensor of the other housing through a cable or a wireless bridge. 10. A system for monitoring a magnitude of loads on multiple pallets, comprising: two or more load sensors, each carrying: at least one force sensor configured and positioned to provide output signals corresponding to magnitudes of the load relative to a number of articles resting on one pallet of the multiple pallets; and a self-contained power supply; at least one Bluetooth transceiver operably coupled to a load sensor associated with a pallet thereon; each of the two or more load sensors configured for placement under a single side of a pallet or under substantially a center point of a single side of a pallet. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one force sensor carried by each of the two or more load sensors is in communication with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the at least one Bluetooth transceiver, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the at least one force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a base Bluetooth transceiver for communication with each of the at least one Bluetooth transceiver of each of the two or more load sensors. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the base Bluetooth transceiver is in communication with an Ethernet to Bluetooth bridge for communication to a client server through a LAN. 14. A method of monitoring pallet loads, the method comprising: sensing a load on a pallet with a load sensor comprising one or more force sensors located under a single side of the pallet. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising locating the load sensor under and along a single side of the pallet. 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising locating the load sensor is located at a midpoint of a single side of the pallet. 17. The method of any of claims 14 through 16, further comprising the one or more force sensors sending output signals corresponding to changes in the load on the pallet, and the load sensor transmitting Bluetooth signals corresponding to changed pallet loads. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling transmission of the Bluetooth signals with a microprocessor of the load sensor. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the load sensor comprises two or more spaced force sensors, and further comprising summing the output signals of the two or more spaced force sensors prior to transmission of the Bluetooth signals. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating Bluetooth output signals corresponding to predetermined output signal magnitudes, rate of change of signal magnitude, or a lower threshold signal magnitude. 21. An apparatus for monitoring a magnitude of a load on a pallet, comprising: a longitudinally extending pressure bar carrying two or more longitudinally spaced and mutually connected force sensors; a longitudinally extending bar member on top of the longitudinally extending pressure bar and comprising a vertically upstanding, longitudinally extending body; and at least one back stop adjacent the longitudinally extending bar member positioned for locating a side of a pallet over the longitudinally extending bar member when contacted by the pallet. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one back stop is one back stop, the one back stop located proximate an end of the longitudinally extending pressure bar and facing the longitudinally extending bar member. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one back stop comprises at least two back stops, the at least two back stops longitudinally separated along the longitudinally extending pressure bar between ends thereof, the at least two back stops facing and behind the longitudinally extending bar member. 24. The apparatus of any of claims 21 through 23, wherein the longitudinally extending bar member comprises a T-bar, and the vertically upstanding, longitudinally extending body comprises a body of the “T” of the T-bar. 25. The apparatus of any of claims 21 through 23, wherein the longitudinally spaced and mutually connected force sensors are connected to a sensor control board including an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with a Bluetooth transceiver including a Bluetooth antenna. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a battery pack of rechargeable cells operably coupled to power the two or more longitudinally spaced and mutually connected force sensors and the sensor control board. 27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a remote Bluetooth to Ethernet Bridge Controller including a base Bluetooth transceiver including a Bluetooth antenna, a microprocessor, an Ethernet port for communication to a client server via a wired connection, or a WiFi transceiver for communication to a client server via a wireless connection. 28. A storage cell for a pallet bearing a load of articles; the storage cell comprising: a floor of a facility; a rectangular, visible boundary for the storage cell on the floor; and a longitudinally extending pressure bar including two or more force sensors located along and proximate to a single side of the storage cell. 29. The storage cell of claim 28, wherein: the longitudinally extending pressure bar is located along and proximate a side of the storage cell opposite a side identified for entry of a pallet into the storage cell; and the longitudinally extending pressure bar includes two or more back stops facing the side identified for entry, the two or more back stops positioned to permit a side substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending pressure bar of a pallet entering the storage cell to move over the two or more force sensors before contacting the back stops. 30. The storage cell of claim 28, wherein: the longitudinally extending pressure bar is located along and proximate a side of the storage cell adjacent a side identified for entry of a pallet into a storage cell; and the longitudinally extending pressure bar includes a single back stop proximate an end thereof and facing an opposite end of the longitudinally extending pressure bar along a length thereof, the single back stop positioned to permit a side of a pallet entering the storage cell and moving substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending pressure bar to move over the two or more force sensors before contacting the single back stop. 31. The storage cell of any of claims 28 through 30, further including a sensor control board operatively coupled to the two or more force sensors and including an analog amplifier, a microprocessor, a Bluetooth transceiver with antenna, and a power supply comprising rechargeable battery cells for providing power to components of the longitudinally extending pressure bar. 32. A method of monitoring depletion of articles from a pallet located in a storage cell, the method comprising: moving the pallet into the storage cell until a side of the pallet contacts at least one back stop of a pressure bar including two or more force sensors along and adjacent one side of the storage cell; lowering the pallet to a floor of the storage cell and over the two or more force sensors of the pressure bar; and outputting signals from the two or more force sensors indicative of removal of articles from the pallet from a Bluetooth transceiver to a base Bluetooth transceiver. 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising moving the pallet into the storage cell over and parallel to the pressure bar to contact a single back stop at an end of the pressure bar and lowering the pallet after the contact. 34. The method of claim 32, further comprising moving the pallet into the storage cell from a side of the storage cell opposite a location of the pressure bar and perpendicular to the pressure bar to contact two or more back stops in a position over the two or more force sensors, and lowering the pallet after the contact. |
AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 23 January 2023 (23.01 .2023) CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for monitoring a magnitude of a load on a separate pallet to be placed thereon, comprising: at least one housing having an upper surface for supporting the separate pallet and carrying at least one force sensor configured and positioned to provide output signals corresponding to magnitudes of the load relative to a number of articles resting on the separate pallet; the at least one force sensor configured to monitor a magnitude of the load when the at least one housing is positioned on a facility surface for placement thereon of a single side of the separate pallet or substantially a center point of a single side of the separate pallet . 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a Bluetooth transceiver carried by the at least one housing for communicating signals corresponding to the output signals from the at least one force sensor to a remote location. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one force sensor is in communication with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the Bluetooth transceiver, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the at least one force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the housing carries a rechargeable power supply for the at least one force sensor, the analog amplifier, the microprocessor and the Bluetooth transceiver. 5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 through 3, further comprising a pressure plate extending over at least a portion of the housing in contact with the at least one force sensor and a non-slip material under and bonded to the housing. 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one housing comprise a single, substantially linear housing, the at least one force sensor comprises two or more substantially evenly longitudinally spaced force sensors carried by the single housing in communication through a summing circuit with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the Bluetooth transceiver, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the at least one force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one housing comprises two separate housings, each carrying a force sensor and positionable under and proximate to an opposing end of a single side of the pallet, wherein each force sensor is in communication with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the Bluetooth transceiver of its respective housing, the microprocessor carried by each housing programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a Bluetooth signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one housing comprises two separate housings, each carrying a force sensor and positionable under and proximate an opposing end of a single side of the pallet, wherein each force sensor is in communication with a summing circuit, an analog amplifier, a microprocessor and a Bluetooth transceiver carried by one of the two separate housings, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to each force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the housing carrying the summing circuit, analog amplifier, microprocessor and Bluetooth transceiver is in communication with the force sensor of the other housing through a cable or a wireless bridge. 10. A system for monitoring a magnitude of individual pallet loads on multiple pallets, the system comprising: two or more load sensors, each load sensor configured to support one pallet removably placed thereon and comprising at least one housing carrying: APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) at least one force sensor configured and positioned to provide output signals corresponding to magnitudes of the load relative to a number of articles resting on the one pallet of the multiple pallets; and a self-contained power supply; a Bluetooth transceiver operably coupled to each load sensor; each of the two or more load sensors configured and positioned for placement thereon of a single side of a pallet or substantially a center point of a single side of a pallet. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one force sensor carried by each of the two or more load sensors is in communication with an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with the at least one Bluetooth transceiver, the microprocessor programmable to one or more of: send an inquiry to the at least one force sensor to initiate an output signal at predetermined intervals; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor either substantially continuously or at predetermined intervals and initiate transmission of a signal by the Bluetooth transceiver corresponding to one or more of a predetermined change in magnitude, a rate of change of magnitude or a lower threshold magnitude; or monitor magnitudes of the output signal of the at least one force sensor responsive to a command received by the Bluetooth transceiver from the remote location. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a base Bluetooth transceiver for communication with each Bluetooth transceiver operably coupled to one of the two or more load sensors. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the base Bluetooth transceiver is in communication with an Ethernet to Bluetooth bridge for communication to a client server through a LAN. 14. A method of monitoring pallet loads, the method comprising: sensing a load on a pallet with a load sensor supported on a floor of a facility and comprising one or more force sensors carried by at least one housing separate from and unsecured to the pallet and located under a single side of the pallet. APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising locating the load sensor under and along a single side of the pallet. 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising locating the load sensor at a midpoint of a single side of the pallet. 17. The method of any of claims 14 through 16, further comprising the one or more force sensors sensing changes in the load on the pallet and transmitting Bluetooth output signals corresponding to changed pallet loads. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling transmission of the Bluetooth signals with a microprocessor of the load sensor. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the load sensor comprises two or more spaced force sensors, and further comprising summing the output signals of the two or more spaced force sensors prior to transmission of the Bluetooth signals. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating Bluetooth output signals corresponding to predetermined output signal magnitudes, rate of change of signal magnitude, or a lower threshold signal magnitude. 21. An apparatus for monitoring a magnitude of a load on a pallet to be placed thereon, the apparatus comprising: a longitudinally extending pressure bar carrying two or more longitudinally spaced and mutually connected force sensors; a longitudinally extending bar member on top of the longitudinally extending pressure bar and comprising a vertically upstanding, longitudinally extending body for supporting a side of a pallet to be placed thereon; and at least one back stop adjacent the longitudinally extending bar member positioned for contacting and locating a side of a pallet over the longitudinally extending bar member when contacted by the pallet placed on the longitudinally extending bar member. APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 33 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one back stop is one back stop, the one back stop located proximate an end of the longitudinally extending pressure bar and perpendicular to and facing the longitudinally extending bar member. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one back stop comprises at least two back stops, the at least two back stops longitudinally separated along the longitudinally extending pressure bar between ends thereof, the at least two back stops facing, parallel to, proximate and laterally offset from the longitudinally extending bar member. 24. The apparatus of any of claims 21 through 23, wherein the longitudinally extending bar member comprises a T-bar, and the vertically upstanding, longitudinally extending body comprises a body of the “T” of the T-bar. 25. The apparatus of any of claims 21 through 23, wherein the longitudinally spaced and mutually connected force sensors are connected to a sensor control board including an analog amplifier and a microprocessor in communication with a Bluetooth transceiver including a Bluetooth antenna. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a battery pack of one or more rechargeable cells operably coupled to power the two or more longitudinally spaced and mutually connected force sensors and the sensor control board. 27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a remote Bluetooth to Ethernet Bridge Controller including a base Bluetooth transceiver including a Bluetooth antenna for receiving signals from the Bluetooth transceiver of the pressure bar, a microprocessor, an Ethernet port for communication to a client server via a wired connection, or a WiFi transceiver for communication to a client server via a wireless connection. APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 34 28. A storage cell for a pallet bearing a load of articles, the storage cell comprising: a floor of a facility; a rectangular, visible boundary for the storage cell on the floor; and a longitudinally extending pressure bar on the floor for receiving a side of a pallet to be place thereon and including two or more longitudinally spaced force sensors located along and proximate to a single side of the storage cell. 29. The storage cell of claim 28, wherein: the longitudinally extending pressure bar is located along and proximate a side of the storage cell opposite a side identified for entry of a pallet into the storage cell; and the longitudinally extending pressure bar includes two or more back stops facing the side identified for entry, the two or more back stops positioned to permit a side of the pallet substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending pressure bar entering the storage cell to move over the two or more force sensors before contacting the back stops. 30. The storage cell of claim 28, wherein: the longitudinally extending pressure bar is located along and proximate a side of the storage cell adjacent a side identified for entry of a pallet into a storage cell; and the longitudinally extending pressure bar includes a back stop proximate an end thereof and facing an opposite end of the longitudinally extending pressure bar along a length thereof, the back stop positioned to permit a side of a pallet entering the storage cell and moving substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending pressure bar to move over the two or more force sensors before contacting the single back stop. 31. The storage cell of any of claims 28 through 30, further including a sensor control board operatively coupled to the two or more force sensors and including an analog amplifier, a microprocessor, a Bluetooth transceiver with antenna, and a power supply comprising rechargeable battery cells for providing power to components of the longitudinally extending pressure bar. APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 35 32. A method of monitoring depletion of articles from a pallet located in a storage cell, the method comprising: moving the pallet into the storage cell until a side of the pallet contacts at least one back stop of a pressure bar extending longitudinally adjacent and along a side of the storage cell and including two or more longitudinally spaced force sensors; lowering the pallet to a floor of the storage cell with only a side of the pallet over the two or more force sensors of the pressure bar; and outputting signals from the two or more force sensors indicative of removal of articles from the pallet from a Bluetooth transceiver carried by the pressure bar to a base Bluetooth transceiver. 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising moving the pallet into the storage cell over and parallel to the pressure bar to contact a back stop at an end of the pressure bar and lowering the pallet after the contact. 34. The method of claim 32, further comprising moving the pallet into the storage cell from a side of the storage cell opposite a location of the pressure bar and perpendicular to the pressure bar to contact two or more back stops in a position over the two or more force sensors, and lowering the pallet after the contact. APPENDIX A AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) |