Dispensing system for handling consumable tooling and supplies

In a machine for separately dispensing a plurality of consumable items, a fluid matrix switching system for controlling the selection dispensing of a selected item comprising:

• a plurality of fluid cylinders corresponding to the types of items being dispensed, with each cylinder arranged to provide a dispensing stroke for each type of item and further each having a selected column address and a row address;
• each cylinder further providing each magazine with security against unauthorized and inadvertent dispensing by being maintained under an initial fluid pressure;
• first actuator means comprising a fluid valve for each column address and connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same column address and operative to condition each cylinder at said column address for actuation;
• second actuator means comprising a fluid valve for each row address and connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same row address and operative to condition each cylinder at said row address for actuation;
• and
• means to selectively activate one each of said first and second actuator means to condition the cylinders having one column address and one row address for actuating and to activate the cylinder having in common said one column and said one row address to provide a dispensing stroke which dispenses the associated items.

A system for dispensing and tracking the use of consumable items comprising:

• a dispensing machine having a plurality of magazines each provided with a plurality of consumable items;
• a computer system including program means and memory means for a selected number and type of item to be dispensed:
• input keyboard means for the system user to enter data in the program to initially select the type and number of the item to be dispensed;
• video display means to display to the user the status of the selected item in the system and integrated with the program means to allow the user to vary the initial selection to a final selection;
• means for transmitting data identifying the final item selection to the machine memory;
• means for generating a dispensing signal;
• means operatively connected to each magazine to dispense the selected items in response to a dispensing signal, said dispensing means comprising a fluid cylinder positioned at each magazine to provide each magazine with a dispensing stroke and further having a selected column and row address;
• each cylinder further providing each magazine with security against unauthorized and inadvertent dispensing by being maintained under an initial fluid pressure;
• first actuator means comprising a fluid valve for each column address connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same column address and operative to condition each cylinder having said column address for actuation;
• second actuator means comprising a fluid valve for each row address connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same row address and operative to condition each cylinder having said row address for actuation;
• means to selectively activate one each of said first and second actuator means to condition the cylinders having one column address and one row address for actuation and to actuate only the cylinder having in common said one column address and said one row address to provide a dispensing stroke which dispenses the item at the associated magazine;
• and
• means for outputting the data from the machine memory to control the ordering, inventorying and tracking of the use of the consumable items dispensed from the machine.

A system for dispensing and tracking the use of consumable items comprising:

• a machine having a supply of consumable items stored in a plurality of dispensing magazines;
• memory means and program means provided for the machine for ordering a selected type and number of the items to be dispensed;
• means for the system user to enter data in the program to initially select the type and number of an item to be dispensed;
• means to provide the user with data relating the status of the selected item in the system and to allow the user to vary the initial item selection to a final selection;
• means for transmitting data identifying the final item selection to the machine memory;
• means for dispensing the selected type and number of the item from the machine comprising a plurality of fluid cylinders corresponding to the number of dispensing magazines, with each cylinder arranged to provide a magazine with a dispensing stroke and having a selected column and row address;
• each cylinder further providing each magazine with security against unauthorized and inadvertent dispensing by being maintained under an initial fluid pressure;
• first actuator means comprising a fluid valve for each column address connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same column address and operative to condition each cylinder having said column address for actuation.
• second actuator means comprising a fluid valve for each row address connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same row address and operative to condition each cylinder having said row address for actuation;
• means to selectively actuate one each of said first and second actuator means to condition the cylinders having one column address and one row address for actuation and to activate only the cylinder having in common said one column address and said one row address to provide a dispensing stroke which dispenses the item at the associated dispensing magazine;
• and
• means for outputting the data from the machine memory to control the ordering, inventorying and tracking of the use of the dispensed consumable items.