Inventory management system and method of use

Abstract

A system for monitoring inventory items, with each inventory item being associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The system comprises a check-in station for checking in inventory items. The check-in station comprises a first reader antenna for receiving information from RFID tags of inventory items being checked in, and a first indicator for providing an indication of the inventory items being checked in. The system additionally comprises a check-out station for checking out inventory items. The check-out station comprises a second reader antenna for receiving information from RFID tags of inventory items being checked out, and a second indicator for providing an indication of the inventory items being checked out.

1 . A system for monitoring inventory, said system comprising:
 a bulk package containing a plurality of inventory items, wherein the inventory items comprise consumable parts usable in a manufacturing process;   a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with said bulk package, wherein said RFID tag stores data comprising an inventory identification (ID) number, with such inventory ID number representative of the inventory items contained within said bulk package;   a check-in station for checking in the inventory items of said bulk package, wherein said check-in station comprises a first reader antenna for receiving said inventory ID number from said RFID tag of said bulk package;   a check-out station for checking out the inventory items of said bulk package, wherein said check-out station comprises a second reader antenna for receiving said inventory ID number from said RFID tag of said bulk package; and   a computing device configured to provide an inventory database, wherein the inventory database stores information related to the inventory items within said bulk package, with such information comprising: said inventory ID number of said RFID tag of said bulk package, a type of the consumable parts within said bulk package, and a total number of consumable parts within said bulk package.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said check-in station and said check-out station comprises a table including a table top and one or more supporting elements for supporting said table top above the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said table tops are formed from a material that does not interfere with electromagnetic signals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said table tops are formed from a wood-based material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said tables each includes at least one container positioned below said table top, wherein said container of said check-in station table is configured to house said first reader antenna, and wherein said container of said check-out station table is configured to house said second reader antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said containers are formed from a material that at least partially blocks electromagnetic signals. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said containers are formed from metal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of said containers has an open top portion positioned adjacent to a bottom surface of said table top when said container is in a closed position, wherein such open top portion of said container of said check-in station table is configured to permit electromagnetic signals generated by said first reader antenna to exit from said container upward through said table top to a scanning zone located above said table top. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein to check in the inventory items of said bulk package via said check-in station, said bulk package is configured to be passed through said scanning zone of said check-in station. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said check-in station comprises an indicator configured to provide an indication of the inventory items being checked in when said bulk package is passed through said scanning zone of said check-in station. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said indicator of said check-in station comprises a light-emitting diode.