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US 6,010,239 AGranted
Automatic item-driven system for deposit and pick-up
OwnerWilliam David Hardgrave, Lanna Kay Hardgraveinventors
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OwnerWilliam David Hardgrave, Lanna Kay Hardgraveinventors
Estimating the term…
The present invention provides apparatus and methodology for use of an automatic item-driven system for deposit and pick-up in a job-driven environment including access, instructions, item tracking, storage, billing, payment and delivery. The invention is also directed to an automatic deposit machine having logic which is item driven in a job-driven environment wherein automatic systems provide interface between job-driven services and user, as well as an operator's use of the automatic item-driven system to interface between the user either on site or remote locations. A continuous flow automatic deposit machine system provides for customer interface with the system, operator interface with the system and return of finished goods or job-related items to the customer; however, the flow provides various stops in the item, job-related environment due to insufficient information or inappropriate processing demands.
An automatic deposit and issue machine for depositing and issuing items wherein an actuator operated door means includes a cradle being pivotally connected to and mounted on an outer cabinet closely adjacent to the frontal first door so as to be movable between a closed position and covering relationship to a front door opening in the cabinet and a receiving position display from the closed position, the cradle defining a front section and a rear section, the front section and the rear section defining a chute surface extending generally therebetween, the front section forming a generally horizontal tray when the cradle is in the receiving position such that items to be deposited may be placed thereon where the items slide on the chute surface from the front section to a rear section across the rear edges as the cradle is pivoted to a closed position, a portion of the rear section is in contact with a portion of the outer cabinet when the cradle is in the receiving position to prevent the cradle from being pivoted forward or downward substantially beyond the receiving position, forming a horizontal tray or cradle, the rear section of the cradle having a rear edge in being oriented downwardly angled directed when the cradle is in the closed position.
A method for receiving items to be processed in a job-driven environment providing item processing, storage and reissuing to appropriate customers in response to container-supplied information using an automatic depositing and reissuing machine, comprising:
An automatic deposit machine having a inner secured volume defined by walls of a container assembly for the deposit of items including front and back walls, a top and a bottom and opposing side walls wherein an actuator operated door means mounted in a front door space in the front wall including a cradle pivotally connected to and mounted on the outer cabinet so as to be movable between a closed position in a covering relationship to said front door space and an open receiving position from the closed position, the cradle defining a front section and a rear section, the front section and the rear section defining a chute surface extending generally therebetween, the front section forming a generally horizontal tray when the cradle is in the receiving position such that items to be deposited may be placed thereon and where said items slide on the chute surface from the front section to the rear section and across the rear edges of the rear section as the cradle is pivoted to the closed position, a portion of the rear section being in contact with a portion of the outer cabinet when the cradle is in the receiving position to prevent the cradle from being pivoted forward or downward substantially beyond the receiving position, thereby forming a horizontal tray or cradle, the rear section of the cradle having a rear edge being oriented in a downwardly directed angle when the cradle is in the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.