US 2006/0217836 A1 · Interactive automated article dispensing system

Abstract

Disclosed is an interactive automated system for dispensing cloth articles, the principles of which may be readily adapted for use in systems for dispensing a wide variety of articles suitable for distribution by use of a vending style device, such as, but not limited to hospital scrub outfits, clean rooms suits, towels, blankets, sweat suits, t-shirts, socks, underwear, under shirts, ties, scarves, hats, and rain suits. Further, systems of the present invention will be of benefit to a variety of institutions and outlets, such as, but not limited to, hospitals, hotels, motels, resorts, health clubs, country clubs, swimming pools, college and university dormitories, shopping malls, tourist attractions, sport stadiums and arena, fair ground, sport shops, factories, laboratories and the like. The general principles of the present invention include: providing an article dispensing device; receiving a user order; ascertaining if the order may be fulfilled by the dispensing device at which such order was placed; if “yes”, then fulfilling the order; and if “no” providing an alternative ordering solution based on the user's requested order and information from a system wide database. The alternative ordering solutions may include an alternate article from the dispensing device at which the order is received, the location of an alternate dispensing device at which the desired article may be obtained, or a request that the user return a used article to an associated return device. The system may be configured for loaning articles with the intention that the articles be returned. Alternatively, the system may be configured for vending articles.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An automated article dispensing device for dispensing articles to a plurality of users, the device comprising:

(a) at least one storage compartment configured for storage of a vertical stack of cloth articles;
(b) a plurality of cloth articles deployed in said storage compartment in a vertical stack configuration;
(c) at least one dispensing outlet;
(d) at least one article delivery system configured to retrieve a top-most article from said stack and deliver said article to said dispensing outlet, said article delivery system primarily deployed behind said storage compartment;
(e) a user interface unit accessible to the users;
(f) an on-board processing unit configured to control said article delivery system, said on-board processing unit being in electrical communication with said article delivery system, and said user interface unit;
and
(g) a user credit tracking system for tracking a number of said articles a user is currently authorized to have dispensed, such that on receipt of a request to dispense an article request entered by a user via the user interface, and conditional at least upon the user having a current credit of at least one, the article delivery system is actuated to deliver a requested article to said dispensing outlet and the current credit of the user is decreased by one.

5 more elements

An interactive automated article dispensing system for dispensing articles to a plurality of users, the system comprising:

(a) at least one dispensing device including.
(i) at least one storage compartment configured for storage of a vertical stack of cloth articles.
(ii) a plurality of cloth articles deployed in said storage compartment in a vertical stack configuration;
(iii) at least one dispensing outlet;
(iv) at least one article delivery system configured to retrieve a top-most article from said stack and deliver said article to said dispensing outlet, said article delivery system primarily deployed behind said storage compartment;
(v) a user interface unit accessible to the users;
and
(vi) an on-board processing unit configured to control said dispensing mechanism, said on-board processing unit being in electrical communication with said dispensing mechanism, and said user interface unit;
(b) an article return device;
(c) a user credit tracking system for tracking a number of said articles a user is currently authorized to have dispensed, such that on receipt of a request to dispense an article entered by a user via the user interface, and conditional at least upon the user having a current credit of at least one, the article delivery system is actuated to deliver a requested article to said dispensing outlet and the current credit of the user is decreased by one, and on return of an article to the article return system, the current credit of the user is increased by one.

7 more elements

An interactive automated article dispensing method for dispensing articles to a plurality of users, the method comprising:

(a) providing at least one dispensing device including:
(i) at least one storage compartment configured for storage of a vertical stack of cloth articles;
(ii) a plurality of cloth articles deployed in said storage compartment in a vertical stack configuration;
(iii) at least one dispensing outlet;
(iv) at least one article delivery system configured to retrieve a top-most article from said stack and deliver said article to said dispensing outlet, said article delivery system primarily deployed behind said storage compartment;
(v) a user interface unit accessible to the users;
and
(vi) an on-board processing unit configured to control said dispensing mechanism, said on-board processing unit being in electrical communication with said dispensing mechanism, and said user interface unit,
(b) providing an article return device;
(c) tracking of user credit by a user credit tracking system for tracking a number of said articles a user is currently authorized to have dispensed;
(d) on receipt of a request to dispense an article entered by a user via the user interface, actuating said article delivery system is actuated to deliver a requested article to said dispensing outlet and the current credit of the user is decreased by one, conditional at least upon the user having a current credit of at least one;
and
(e) on return of an article to the article return system, the current credit of the user is increased by one.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive automated article dispensing system

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Interactive automated article dispensing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20