US 5,631,536 A · Rechargeable battery vending apparatus

Abstract

A battery recharging apparatus is specifically configured to enable a customer to exchange a discharged or partially discharged battery for a fully charged replacement. Operator-assisted and entirely automatic vending versions are disclosed. In all embodiments, a controller causes a multiple port charger to recharge one or more batteries electrically connected thereto, preferably using a time multiplexing scheme. In the operator-assisted embodiment, an attendant inputs information concerning the customer, the vehicle, or the battery, and accounting-related functions are carried out through an interface to an electric cash register or some other payment-related facility. In the automated alternative of the invention, the apparatus is entirely self-contained within an enclosure including an access panel or window through which a user may deposit a battery in turn for a fully charged unit. Alternatively, the user may simply purchase a new, fully charged battery or battery pack. In this automated version a control panel accepts customer related information such as vehicle number, battery number or license plate number, the control panel further including means to accept a payment, whether in cash or through a reader of a standard credit card or card dedicated to the use of the invention. The vending machine is preferably constructed in modular form such that additional customer access areas may be disposed around the carousel so as to service more than one individual at a time.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus for recharging and dispensing batteries, comprising:

means for physically receiving one or more rechargeable batteries from one or more customers in electrically unconnected form;
a plurality of battery recharging ports, each including means for making electrical contact to the terminals of one of the batteries received;
an input to receive electrical power;
a multiple port charger operative to route power from the input to at least one of the batteries through an associated charging port;
means to receive customer information and battery-related information;
a memory to store the customer information and battery-related information;
a controller connected to the multiple port charger, the memory, and the means to receive customer and battery-identification information, the controller being operative to perform the following functions:
cause the multiple port charger to charge one or more of the batteries through its associated charging port,
store information in the memory relating to batteries received by, and provided, to the customers, and
output information relating to an amount due from a customer receiving a recharged battery.

7 more elements

A rechargeable battery vending machine, comprising:

an enclosure;
a plurality of battery storage locations within the enclosure;
an access area on the enclosure including a window through which a user of the machine may deposit a discharged battery or receive a charged battery;
a battery handling mechanism within the enclosure operative to move a battery between the access area and a storage location;
an input to receive electrical power;
electrical battery contacting means to make electrical contact with a battery in a storage location;
a multiple port charger operative to route power from the input to at least one battery in storage through its associated electrical battery contacting means for the purpose of recharging the battery;
an operator input supported on the enclosure including payment receiving means;
a controller connected to the battery handling mechanism, the multiple port charger, and the operator input, the controller being operative to perform the following functions:
keep track of batteries in storage,
cause a battery in a storage position to be recharged, and
deliver a charged battery to a customer, including a battery different than that received from the customer, through the access area in accordance with a payment received.

9 more elements

A rechargeable battery vending apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with batteries encoding identification information, the apparatus being connectable to a source of electrical energy and further connectable to a remote monitoring facility through a communications path, the rechargeable battery vending apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including an access area through which a customer may deposit a discharged battery and receive a charged battery;
a customer control panel disposed on the enclosure, the panel including a display and means to receive a payment;
an input to receive power from the source of electrical energy;
a port for connection to the remote monitoring facility through the communications path;
a battery movement mechanism within the enclosure including a plurality of battery holding positions, each battery holding position including means for contacting to the electrical terminals of a battery held therein, the battery movement mechanism being operative to a bring a holding position into alignment with the access panel so that a customer may deposit a battery into a particular holding position or remove a battery therefrom;
a multiple-port charger adapted to receive power from the electrical input and selectively route the power to a battery in a holding position through the battery contacting means associated with that position;
a battery security encoder including an interface operative to receive battery-related information from a battery contained within a battery holding position;
and
an operations controller connected to the customer control panel, the battery movement mechanism, the multiple-port charger and the battery security encoder, the controller being operative to perform the following functions:
(a) receive customer-related information through the customer control panel,
(b) receive battery chargeability information through battery contacting means associated with the multiple-port charger,
(c) receive the battery-identification information from the battery security encoder,
(d) cause the acceptance of a customer-supplied battery conditioned upon:
information relating to a customer,
battery chargeability, or
battery identification information,
(e) cause movement of the battery movement mechanism in order to align a battery holding position with the access area,
(f) cause the multiple-port charger to charge a battery in a holding position in accordance with a charging algorithm, and
(g) communicate with the remote monitoring facility through the communications path.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rechargeable battery vending apparatus

Life of this patent

Rechargeable battery vending apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25