US 12,229,715 B2
Item inventory management apparatus, and a system and method of manufacturing thereof
Alisdair John Chambers, Cardiff (AU)
Assigned to HENCHMAN GROUP PTY LTD, Cardiff (AU)
Filed by Henchman Group Pty Ltd, Cardiff (AU)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/719,520.
Claims priority of application No. 2021901515 (AU), filed on May 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0374825 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. G07C 9/00 (2020.01); B25H 3/02 (2006.01); G06K 9/00 (2022.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); H05K 3/30 (2006.01)
CPC G06Q 10/087 (2013.01) [B25H 3/028 (2013.01); H05K 3/301 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing an item inventory apparatus including an item storage area and a plurality of sensors located within the item storage area, the method comprising:
selecting one or more preconfigured printed circuit boards, each of the one or more preconfigured printed circuit boards having a plurality of predefined sensor placement locations allowing for selective movement of the plurality of sensors relative to the selected one or more preconfigured printed circuit boards, each of the plurality of predefined sensor placement locations including placement indicia to indicate alternative lateral placement positions and associated connection apertures to electrically connect a connected one of the plurality of sensors to the selected one or more preconfigured printed circuit boards;
providing at least one storage material having a plurality of storage locations for a plurality of items, each of the plurality of storage locations being shaped to store a specific one of the plurality of items;
locating the plurality of sensors at least at some of the plurality of predefined sensor placement locations and adjusting, using the placement indicia and associated connection apertures, at least the lateral positions of the plurality of sensors such that the plurality of sensors are arranged to sense the specific ones of the plurality of items storable at the plurality of storage locations; and
fitting the one or more preconfigured printed circuit boards with the located plurality of sensors and the storage material to the item storage area,
wherein the one or more preconfigured printed circuit boards extend below the storage material with the located plurality of sensors being aligned with respective ones of the plurality of storage locations of the storage material.