Importance

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Abstract

An inventory tracking and management apparatus especially for drycleaning inventory control includes a flexible substrate such as a packet or sheet which houses an RF encoding device for automatic capture of an identifying code, and an optical encoding pattern or series of alphanumeric characters on an exposed surface. The RF encoding element can be captive within a flexible fabric packet that can survive repeated processing, or sewn into a hem of a single thickness sheet, etc. The optical pattern or characters preferably includes barcode for automatic or semiautomatic data capture as well as human readable characters, in each case cross referenced to the identifying code from the RF element and to inventory control records in a database. The packet has one or more openings, preferably defined by a grommet or open centered snap, which receive a fastener for temporary attachment to a trackable unit of inventory including one or more items, e.g., garments. The fastener can include a pin or plastic anchor, or the grommet can allow the packet to be placed over a coat hanger hook to reside in repeatable position on the hanger neck.

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First Claim