Electronic Device Material Storage Management with Barcode Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual management of materials in storage systems leads to inefficiencies, including material mixing and waste due to lack of smart systems, resulting in unused materials being scrapped.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a processor, storage device, scanning device, display, and transmission track that automates the storage and retrieval of materials by scanning codes, recording storage times, and prioritizing the removal of materials based on earliest storage times, ensuring timely use and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual management of materials is used, then device complexity is reduced, but material mixing and waste increase due to lack of tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses barcode labels as information copies of materials. Instead of physically tracking each material, the system creates and scans barcode copies to record material information, storage location, and retrieval history. This copying approach simplifies the physical management while enabling comprehensive tracking to prevent material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking with an automated scanning system. Barcode scanners and a processing system automatically record material storage and retrieval operations, eliminating the need for manual records and reducing human error in material tracking, thereby preventing material mixing and waste.
2Device complexity
If manual tracking of storage time is used, then system complexity is low, but materials with long storage time are not used in time and may be wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the scanning device continuously records material storage and retrieval operations, and the processing system automatically updates material status based on storage time. This feedback loop ensures that materials are prioritized for use based on their storage duration, preventing time-related waste without requiring complex manual tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically recording storage time at the moment of material placement. The system pre-establishes a timeline for each material and continuously monitors it, enabling timely retrieval decisions before materials expire or become obsolete, thus preventing time-related waste.
3Device complexity
If materials are not easily distinguishable in appearance, then storage simplicity is maintained, but material mixing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses barcode labels as unique information copies for each material. Even if materials look similar, their barcode copies contain distinct identification information. The scanning device reads these unique codes to differentiate between materials, preventing mixing errors while maintaining simple physical storage arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces barcode labels as intermediary elements between the physical materials and the tracking system. These labels serve as mediators that carry identification information, allowing the system to distinguish between materials without requiring complex physical separation or labeling of the materials themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing storage of materials implemented in an electronic device to ensure that earliest-stored materials are removed from storage positions, first controls a scanning device to scan batch code and obtains batch information of the material when an inlet of the electronic device is required to receive the batch of material. A serial number of a storage position is associated with the batch information and a storage time of the batch of material in the storage position is recorded. The serial number of the storage position storing the batch of material according to the batch information is determined when a material-request is received and a transmission track is controlled to transfer the batches of material which having earliest recorded storage times one by one to the outlet, so as to release the batches of material from the storage position.