Controlled dispensing system with modular carousel
AssigneeNexiant
InventorPeter Godlewski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing device and method including a housing defining an opening. A door is movable relative to the housing from a closed position to a maximum open position. The door and the housing defining an access portion of the opening. A tray is disposed within the housing and is supported for movement relative to the housing. The tray is configured to support dispensable items within a plurality of segments of the tray. An access control mechanism is configured to locate the tray relative to the housing to generally align a selected one of the plurality of segments with the opening and also to limit opening movement of the door to limit a size of the access portion to a size of the selected segment if a corresponding position of the door is less than the maximum open position of the door.
Claims19
A method of controlled dispensing of items from a dispensing system, comprising:
- providing a tray containing a plurality of items within a housing, said housing including an opening permitting access to one or more of said items;
- providing a door closing said opening;
- moving said tray until a segment of said tray containing a desired one of said plurality of items is generally aligned with said opening;
- permitting said door to move in an opening direction;
- and
- limiting movement of said door to a selected distance in a first direction approximately equal to a dimension of said segment in said first direction if said selected distance is less than a maximum opening distance of said door.
A method of replenishing a dispensing system, comprising:
- communicating to a supply station a need for replenishment of an existing carousel of said dispensing unit;
- preparing a replacement carousel having a plurality of segments of said replacement carousel;
- communicating from said supply station to said dispensing unit an expected segment pattern of said replacement carousel;
- replacing said existing carousel with said replacement carousel;
- rotating said replacement carousel through at least one full revolution;
- sensing each of a plurality of dividers to determine a segment pattern of said replacement carousel;
- comparing said segment pattern of said replacement carousel to said expected segment pattern;
- and
- accepting said replacement carousel if said segment pattern of said replacement carousel matches said expected segment pattern.
A method of reconfiguring a dispensing system, comprising:
- providing a dispensing machine, including a first carousel, with an expected segment pattern of a second carousel;
- determining when said first carousel has been replaced with said second carousel;
- determining a zero position of said second carousel with respect to a housing of said dispensing machine;
- rotating said second carousel through a complete revolution and sensing a location of each of a plurality of dividers of said second carousel relative to said zero position.
- determining a pattern of a plurality of segments of said second carousel defined by said plurality of dividers;
- and
- comparing said pattern of said segments of said second carousel with an expected pattern.
A method of controlled dispensing of items from a dispensing system, comprising:
- providing a tray containing a plurality of items within a housing, said housing including an opening permitting access to one or more of said items;
- providing a door driven by a motor, said door normally closing said opening;
- moving said tray until a segment of said tray containing a desired one of said plurality of items is generally aligned with said opening;
- allowing said door to move in an opening direction;
- and
- limiting movement of said door to a selected distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.