Presses – Automatic or material triggered control – Of actuating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2001-12-18
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Presses
Automatic or material triggered control
Of actuating means
C100S102000, C100S22900A, C100S233000, C221S102000, C221S135000, C232S043300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330856
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a system for dispensing and retrieving garments, and particularly relates to dispensing garments in a controlled manner, receiving the garments in a secure enclosure while accounting for the garments returned, and compacting the returned garments, all with a single, stand-alone apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
Some employers must provide special clothing to their employees, then collect and launder the clothing when it becomes soiled. Hospital scrubsuits are an example of such clothing. A problem associated with the use of scrubsuits is loss of inventory as a result of negligence, misuse and theft. Another problem is extra laundering of unused scrubsuits as a result of mishandling.
To avoid the labor costs and other disadvantages of staffed dispensing stations within a hospital, vending machines have been developed, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,985. This apparatus effectively solves the problems involved in vending flexible cloth items one at a time. The dispenser includes a processor that tracks the inventory within the machine as scrubsuits are removed, and limits users to a maximum number of withdrawals with a magnetic card or “PIN” number access system.
The clothing collection apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,713,270 and 5,829,349 also reduces inventory loss. Scrubsuits are checked in by the user, and a processor sends a credit to the user's account via a communications network. Thus, the return of a scrubsuit increases the scrubsuits available to that user from a scrubsuit vending machine also linked to the network. The apparatus also compacts the garments that are returned.
In large hospitals, placing individual dispenser units and receiving units at key locations has proved effective in controlling an inventory of scrubsuits. However, a system of separate dispensers and receiving units connected by a communications network may be too expensive for small hospitals, clinics, or hospital departments that need to maintain an inventory of scrubsuits independent of a large hospital organization. Thus, there is a need for a compact unit that can dispense and retrieve garments such as hospital scrubsuits.
Adapting the garment receiving apparatus of the unit shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,713,270 and 5,829,349 into a compact unit presents difficulties, because the collection compartment into which the garments are compacted is located directly below the compacting mechanism. Thus, the volume of clothing that the collection area can hold is limited by the height and width of the unit. To increase the capacity of a garment collection compartment, a compaction system is needed that can move and compact garments into a laterally extending collection compartment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus that can receive and pack goods, such as garments or the like, laterally with respect to their intake location.
This object is accomplished by providing an apparatus for receiving and packing goods, comprising a storage chamber including an outer wall defining an inlet opening, and an inlet chamber positioned adjacent to the storage chamber and communicating with the inlet opening. An articulated paddle is mounted for rotation about a pivot axis, the paddle being positioned at least partly within the inlet chamber and defining a one-way folding joint at a location between the pivot axis and an outer end of the paddle. A drive mechanism is connected to rotate the paddle in both directions about the pivot axis from an initial position at least partly within the inlet chamber toward the storage chamber and back to the initial position. The joint holds the paddle in an extended configuration against resistance when the paddle is rotating toward the storage chamber, and allows the paddle to fold when the paddle is rotating back toward the initial position.
In one embodiment, the drive mechanism is capable of rotating the paddle into the storage chamber. The initial position of the paddle may lie in a plane adjacent to a wall of the inlet chamber, and the drive mechanism may be capable of rotating the paddle into the storage chamber and through an angle greater than 210° (preferably about 220-225° or more) from the initial position. The apparatus may include a resistance sensor operative to reverse rotation of the paddle toward the storage chamber responsive to the paddle encountering a preset level of resistance from goods in the storage chamber. A first position sensor may be located along the rotation of the paddle at an angle indicating the storage chamber is full; and a controller may be connected to the first position sensor and generate a full signal in response to the paddle being reversed by the resistance sensor prior to reaching the first position sensor.
Preferably, the drive mechanism includes a motor coupled to rotate the paddle, and the apparatus further includes a second position sensor located along the rotation of the paddle at a predetermined angle from the initial position of the paddle. In this case the controller is connected to the second position sensor and disconnects energy to the motor in response to the second position sensor indicating passing of the paddle during return motion of the paddle toward the initial position, allowing the paddle to coast into the initial position.
The storage chamber may include a bag and the inlet chamber may comprise a chute positioned above the inlet opening of the bag. The bag may extend horizontally from the inlet opening. The inlet chamber can be equipped with a lockable receiving door, an input device for acquiring user identification information, and a controller operatively connected to unlock the door and to operate the drive mechanism in response to information received from the input device. Preferably, a sensor is positioned to provide a confirmation signal to the controller indicating the presence of goods in the inlet chamber. The controller updates an inventory of goods and an account of a particular user associated with the information received from the input device in response to the confirmation signal.
The present invention also provides a method for receiving and packing goods, comprising the steps of accepting goods into an inlet chamber; operating a sweep arm from an initial position through an angle of up to about 220° or more to sweep the goods from the inlet chamber into a storage chamber having an inlet opening communicating with the inlet chamber; monitoring movement of the sweep arm past at least first and second locations distant from the initial position; returning the sweep arm toward the initial position responsive to resistance to continued movement thereof at any angle from the initial position; allowing the sweep arm to coast back to the initial position from the first location; and if the sweep arm returns without passing the second location, terminating acceptance of goods into the inlet chamber. The step of operating the sweep aim to pack the goods may optionally be initiated less than upon every acceptance of goods into the inlet chamber for a predetermined number of acceptance cycles, to reduce the average cycle time for users, and thereafter the sweep arm may be operated after every acceptance to assure that the inlet chamber is cleared and the goods are properly packed.
The present invention also seeks to provide a compact unit that both dispenses and receives cloth items.
This object is accomplished by providing an apparatus for dispensing and receiving goods, comprising: a cabinet; a dispensing device for cloth items positioned in an upper portion of the cabinet; a receiving chamber positioned adjacent to the dispensing device in the upper portion of the cabinet and including an opening through which cloth items may be inserted into the receiving chamber; a storage chamber positioned in a lower portion of the cabinet and extending beneath both the receiving chamber and the dispensing device, the storage chamber defining an opening communicating with the receiving chamber; and a sweeping arm operat
Broom Ward P.
Fitzgerald Robert M.
Gresens Eugene O.
Alston & Bird LLP
Gerrity Stephen F.
Innovative Product Achievements, Inc.
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