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Description  |
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RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
07/718,487 filed Jun. 24, 1991.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically
dispensing material without human intervention, particularly garments worn
or used in controlled environments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are a variety of industries and care facilities including hospitals
and manufacturers of pharmaceutical and computer chips which require
automatic garment or material dispensing systems. Specifically, they
require an automatic dispensing system which permits an authorized user to
obtain clean garments, as well as monitoring the dissemination of such
garments, and which exchange soiled garments therefor.
To illustrate, hospitals generally require that doctors, nurses and
assistants wear garments and scrub suits meeting specific cleanliness
requirements. These requirements may dictate that the garments be changed
and/or washed a number of times in the course of a 24 hour period. In
addition, certain manufacturing industries also require garment
specifications, particularly in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and
computer chips. A particular clean room, for example, may require garments
be cleaned to remove particles of 50, 100 or even 200 microns. These
requirements present inventory control concerns in that first, specific
garments must be issued to specific users and second, that a user can only
enter a clean room once he has checked out the appropriate garment.
Traditionally, garments were simply folded and placed on laundry carts
accessible to various users; or the carts were transported to an area, for
example an operating room, locker room or scrub room, where the user could
readily acquire a clean (or new) garment and discard the old garment. Such
inventory control systems relied on an honor system which has proven
unreliable in that some users often take multiple clean garments and fail
to return the used or soiled garment; this results in economic hardships
for the facility. Experience has shown that, on the average for every 100
sets of issued scrub wear, only 95 are returned constituting an
approximate 5% daily loss in scrub wear garments or an annual loss for
some institutions exceeding $100,000.00.
Since many facilities must have an inventory system but cannot justify the
costs associated with honor systems, there is a need for a more
controllable system. The system must be capable of issuing a specific
garment to a specific user, monitoring if that particular user returns the
garment either prior to picking up a clean garment or by a specific time
designated by the system and, where different garments are required for
different areas, that the user has checked out the appropriate garment
prior to entering a controlled area.
Complicating the situation even further is that many hospitals (or other
facilities) have often encountered growth rates ahead of their anticipated
growth at the time of construction. It therefore becomes exceedingly
difficult to designate appropriate and sufficient space to maintain a
garment distribution system or center at a convenient location. Hence, it
becomes important to have garment inventory control systems compact,
convenient, easy to operate and inexpensive to maintain, load and
relocate.
Automated inventory control systems are available in the industry. These
systems dispense clean garments to authorized users who have been issued
magnetic cards, or tokens, identifying these users to a dispensing machine
as being authorized to receive one or more garments. These systems are
most applicable in hospitals, wherein large quantities of scrub wear are
routinely used and returned by hospital personnel for an exchange of clean
scrub wear. However, such systems have generally been large, expensive and
difficult to relocate.
Inventory control of scrub wear is further complicated by the fact that
often garments cannot be marked to personalize them to individual users
or, in some cases, the same hospital. Frequently, a hospital's central
laundry vendor merely returns similar but not the same scrub wear.
Thus, any improvement in automatic inventory control systems which
automatically dispense reusable garments, must necessarily efficiently
process and credit the user for garments dispensed and returned without
complete reliance on indicia-indicating tags or optically-read information
on garments which deteriorates over the useful life of the garment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an inventory control system
with automatic garment dispensing and depositing machines. These and other
objects of the invention are provided by an apparatus and method which
dispenses garments to specific users issuing a debit or credit to a valid
user depending on whether the particular machine is for dispensing new or
clean garments or for depositing used or soiled garments.
It is a specific object of this invention to provide a system which is
compact and mobile and capable of dispensing a specific garment to an
identified user, and in a second embodiment of the invention, of crediting
a user for the return of used garments preferably prior to dispensing
clean garments. This invention also provides for the centralizing of a
data processing center wherein individual dispensing and depositing
machines in different locations of a facility can be monitored to trace an
individual user's access to materials contained in the machines. Various
embodiments of the invention can also combine debits and credits to the
same machine, or through the use of a central processing center, debits
and credits at different machines in the same and different areas of a
given facility. In other words, these debits and credits can be balancing
through a variety of machines located in different areas of the same
facility thereby monitoring an individual user's garment usage.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a system for
inventorying dispensed and deposited garments is provided wherein an
enclosure containing the clean, new or soiled garment is accessible to a
user upon the user inserting a proper ID card and the card being
validated. A processor reads the magnetic card (or other indicia-bearing
media issued to the user) and thereby validates the same. In some
applications the ID card will record credits and debits or, alternatively,
the microprocessor will insure that the user does not exceed a limited
number of debits. Once validated, the user is then provided with various
menu screens and/or selection buttons. He enters the requested information
and is then permitted to obtain a new or clean garment or return a soiled
garment. A transaction record is made each time a user removes or returns
a garment and the record is stored in memory. This memory can be checked
periodically at an individual machine or connected to a central processing
center via a modem for maintaining an up-to-date inventory status of
downloaded recorded transactions.
According to the preferred embodiment, the user, once a transaction has
been validated, is directed to a particular user access door to remove a
garment. Accordingly, a locking mechanism releases a user access door(s)
wherein the user can pull open one of a plurality of user access doors and
remove a garment. In operation, the pulling open of the user access door,
in a non-motorized embodiment of the invention, rotates the individual
shelf to position the next garment compartment in a series, hence, a user
actually replaces or removes a garment from the compartment that is next
in series to the compartment visible through a transparent user access
door. A locking mechanism subsequently limits rotation of the cassette
shelf exposing only one garment compartment to a single user.
Each record is identified not only by the user ID but also by identifying
each debit and credit by a specific time and date. Thus, any dispensing or
returning of garments is documented and identified by the appropriate
transaction indicia.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the inventory control
apparatus is motorized and contains a series of sensors identifying a
particular shelf and compartment to a microprocessor. Accordingly, when a
user wishes to access a particular garment, he engages in an interface
routine with the machine whereby the machine determines on which shelf and
compartment of the cassette the garment of his choice is located. Using
the sensors, an electric motor and a clutch means, the microprocessor,
sending the appropriate signals, enables the electric motor to rotate the
cassette and shelves and releases the proper user access door thereby
allowing the user to retrieve or deposit a specific garment. This
embodiment would require electronic sensors, motor and clutch and a
monitoring system to insure that the microprocessor recognizes which
compartments contain garments which are clean or new and which
compartments contain garments which are soiled, and further which
compartments contain no garments whatsoever. These and other objects of
the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description
below in combination with other embodiments that may be apparent to those
skilled in the art having a use for such an inventory control apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for inventory dispensing and
receiving of garments to and from authorized users.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 showing that portion of the apparatus
designed for user-interface and removal of material.
FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1 partially in section showing the main access
door both in the open and closed positions.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one level of the inventory control cassette
showing the user access door open and the microswitch closed.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one level of the inventory control cassette
showing the user access door closed and the microswitch open.
FIG. 6 is a plan view partially in section showing a second embodiment of
the present invention for dispensing and receiving materials to and from
authorized users.
FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6 showing that portion of the apparatus
designed for user-interface and removal or replacement of materials.
FIG. 8 is a top view of FIG. 6 showing the contours of the invention and
the main access door both in the open and closed positions.
FIG. 9 is a plan view partially in section of a third embodiment of the
present invention showing an inventory control system for returning and
dispensing garments to authorized users with increased capacity for
dispensing and/or receiving materials.
FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 9 showing that portion of the apparatus
designed for user-interface and replacement or removal of materials.
FIG. 11 is a front view of FIG. 9 with the main access doors removed
showing both upper and lower cassette guides.
FIG. 12 is a top view of FIGS. 9 and 10 showing the main access doors in
their open and closed positions.
FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 9 showing two cassettes in place, divided by
a central partition, for an inventory control apparatus.
FIG. 14 is a top view of FIG. 9 showing two cassettes in place, sharing a
common chamber, for an inventory control apparatus.
FIG. 15 is a top view of FIG. 6 with the cassette locking mechanisms in
place.
FIG. 16 is a top view of FIG. 1 with the cassette locking mechanisms in
place.
FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of the steps to an individual apparatus shown in
FIGS. 1-8, 15 and 16.
FIG. 18 is a flow chart for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-8, 15 and 16,
relating to the apparatus control system.
FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of the steps to an individual apparatus shown in
FIGS. 9-14.
FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of the steps to an individual apparatus shown in
FIGS. 9-14.
FIG. 21 is a flow chart for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 9-14 relating to
the apparatus control system.
FIG. 22 is a plan view partially in section showing a fourth embodiment of
the present invention for dispensing/receiving materials to and from
authorized users.
FIG. 22A is a clutch for positioning the shelves of FIG. 22.
FIG. 23 is a front view of FIG. 22 showing that portion of the apparatus
designed for user interface and removal and/or placement of materials.
FIG. 24 is a top view of FIG. 22 showing the contours of the invention's
main access door both in the open and closed positions.
FIG. 25A is a block diagram of the control circuit for the apparatus of
FIG. 24.
FIG. 25B is a flow chart for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 22-24 relating to
the apparatus control system.
FIG. 26 is a flow diagram of how cassettes may be relocated or interchanged
in a given facility.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 16, there is shown a single cassette
apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The
apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises a frame 21 supporting both an upper
enclosure 23 and a side enclosure 25. Enclosures 23,25 create a secured
compartment for housing a semipermanent cassette 39 in which individual
rotatable shelves 24a, b, c, d and e having garment compartments 27a, b,
c, d and e are contained. A user wishing to obtain a garment from a
specific garment compartment 27 could insert, preferably, a magnetic strip
card into card slot of card reader 33. Once the card has been validated
the user has access to one of a plurality of compartments 27a, b, c, d and
e. To practice this invention it is not necessary that the user be limited
to just one compartment, but for purposed of limiting garments issued to a
given user it is preferred.
Once a user has been validated a locking mechanism, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
acts to limit rotation of the individual shelves 24a, b, c, d and e of
cassette 39. Upon validation of a user's ID card and a menu selection,
locking solenoid 55 retracts solenoid locking pin 56 from cassette latch
pin 57 allowing an individual cassette shelf 24a, b, c, d, or e to rotate.
Once released, cassette shelf 24a, b, c, d or e can be rotated depending
on the users selection to the next compartment in series on cassette shelf
24a, b, c, d or e. Rotation occurs by the user pulling on handle 59
wherein user access door latch 61 rotates cassette shelf 27a, b, c, d or e
to expose the next compartment in series or the next compartment with
respect to the compartment immediately visible through the transparent
user access door 37a, b, c, d or e. Once the user has pulled the user
access door 37a, b, c, d or e open, a compartment 27a, b, c, d or e is
exposed and he is free to remove a specific garment (not shown) or replace
a garment depending on the use of the apparatus. In operation, when the
cassette latch pin 57 has passed locking solenoid 55 and solenoid locking
pin 56, locking solenoid releases solenoid locking pin 56 to catch on the
next cassette latch pin 57 in series around the periphery of the cassette.
This is accomplished with micro-switches 63. After the user has released
user access door 37, user access door returns to its original position and
user access door latch 61 locks behind the next cassette latch pin in
series around the periphery of the cassette 42. Hence, the shelf 37a, b,
c, d or e has been rotated part of a turn and is again secured between
locking solenoid pin 56 and user access door latch 61 and ready for the
next user.
In operation, there is provided a series of microswitches 63 which operate
in conjunction with the opening and closing of each user access door 37.
After a user has been validated and made his various selections through
user interface panel 41, and the solenoid locking pin 56 has been
retracted, the user will begin to open user access door 37. User access
door 37 and rotation of a cassette shelf 24a, b, c, or d via user access
door latch 61 are coordinated such that user access door 37 will close
microswitch 63 which, in turn, causes locking solenoid to release locking
solenoid pin 56. As user access door 37 is opened further, shelf 24a, b,
c, d, or e of cassette 39 will continue its rotation until the next
cassette latch pin 57 in series comes in contact with solenoid locking pin
56. Accordingly, the rotation of shelf 24a, b, c, or d is terminated and
the user has complete access to a garment compartment 27a, b, c, or d
wherein he can remove the garment of his choice. Once he has removed his
garment and released handle 59, user access door 37 is forced back into
its closed position with a spring means 60. The inventory control
apparatus is then ready for the next user.
A main access door 31 shown in FIG. 2 contains the individual user access
doors 37a, b, c, d, and e and the electronics necessary for interfacing
with the user. The main access door 31, as shown in FIG. 3, opens as a
unit with the user access doors 37a, b, c, d and e contained therein. This
exposes a larger portion of cassette 39. Door 31, in the open position,
allows for easy removal and installation of clean and/or soiled garments.
This door is preferably locked in position by a conventional lock and key
association (not shown) wherein only certain individuals, assumably those
in charge of reloading or exchanging the entire material content of the
cassette 39, will have access to the lock and key.
The electronics contained in the main access door 31 would include, but not
be limited to, electronic card reader 33 which accepts and validates the
chosen form of interface between the dispensing apparatus and the user;
preferably a magnetic strip card is inserted into the card slot of card
reader 33 and is validated. Also included in main access door 31 is a
microprocessor with a memory capacity for storing the identification
numbers of authorized users including, but again not limited to, the date,
time, ID number, and specific compartments accessed and information
relating to the contents of the various compartments 27a, b, c, d, and e.
The memory of the microprocessor can be updated to include new users, and
to remove users who are no longer authorized to obtain garments from the
apparatus. Access to the microprocessor memory can be through a R 232
connection and a modem from a central processor or via a keypad located in
a secure location in the machine which may be for example on the inside of
the main user access door 31 or through the keypad common to all users but
with a different password or ID number. In the preferred embodiment the
electronics are located in main access door 31 however, those skilled in
the art could readily place the electronics at other locations in or on
the dispensing apparatus or even locate them remotely from the unit. In
addition, to practice this invention, it is not necessary that the main
access door 31 be electrical in operation. It may be necessary to have a
substantially mechanically operated door when the apparatus is located in
an environment where electronics would not function properly, specifically
outdoors.
Once the user has been validated the user is then presented with a menu
selection on display 41. The user responds to the menu selection with a
keypad wherein once he has entered his selection, he can then access a
garment compartment 27a, b, c, d or e through slidable user access door
37a, b, c, d or e and remove the appropriate garment. The entire apparatus
as shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on rollers or swivel wheels 29 for moving
the cart to locations suitable for garment control. In a preferred
embodiment, the overall dimensions of the inventory control apparatus are
kept under (or within) 3-feet to permit the unit to easily pass through
doorways and to occupy a minimal amount of floor space when in use.
The display 41 which may be a CRT or alphanumeric display incorporated into
the main access door 31, provides menu selections permitting the user to
either return a soiled garment or receive a clean garment by following the
various menu instructions. These menus direct the user in selecting the
type and size of garment he wishes to receive thereby specifying the user
access door 37a, b, c, d or e and compartment 27a, b, c, d or e where the
garment is located. The information relating to this transaction is stored
in memory under the user's identification number. Subsequent requests are
monitored in the same way.
In FIGS. 3 and 16 there is shown the inventory control apparatus of FIG. 1
wherein the door 31 can be opened to remove or install fresh or soiled
garments in the cassette 39. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 16 this
particular apparatus is designed to allow ease of mobility customarily
found in conventional wire laundry carts, but with the security of a much
larger and more sophisticated machines.
Using two machines similar to that shown in FIG. 1, a user can deposit a
soiled garment into one machine and receive a credit on his magnetic card
and subsequently receive a new or fresh garment from a like or similar
machine and thereby receive a debit on the same card. The processor
associated with the inventory control apparatuses throughout the facility
can communicate with a central computer system thereby noting that a user
obtained or deposited a specific garment at a specific location within the
facility or each machine could be self-contained in that all transaction
data and memory updating is contained within a single machine. The
transaction would be automatically entered into a central computing system
(not shown).
Referring now to FIGS. 6-8 and 15 there is shown a second embodiment of the
present invention. This embodiment also comprises a frame 22, however
frame 22 is intended to provide a more rigid and permanent support for a
cassette 43 receiving station. Frame 22 has both an upper guide 45 and a
lower guide 47 for cooperating with upper cassette guide pin 51 and lower
cassette guide pin (not shown) of removable cassette 43. As in the
previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the frame 22 of FIG. 6 is provided
with enclosures (not shown) to secure the contents of the apparatus.
Removable cassette 43 is attached to a base 48 and the base is further
mounted on swivel wheels 29. The removable cassette 43, similar to the
apparatus shown in FIG. 1 but without main access door 31, contains the
various compartments 27a, b, c, d and e and is housed in a separate frame
similar to frame 21 shown in FIG. 1. Removable cassette 43 is designed to
be readily removable from the interior of the receiving station and small
enough to be easily movable between the receiving station and the laundry
room.
In operation, removable cassette 43 can be one of several cassettes, part
of a continuous loop of: 1) loading the garments into the cassette 43 in
the laundry room, 2) transporting the cassette 43 to a dispensing machine
and/or 3) dispensing garments to the end users. In other words, the
cassette 43 can be efficiently taken to the laundry room or preparation
area and loaded with clean garments and returned or exchanged for an empty
or partially empty cassette 43 in the receiving station.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the main access door 31 containing the magnetic
card reader 33, user interface panel 41 and user access doors 37a, b, c, d
and 3. As with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the main access door 31
of this embodiment is similar (or identical) to the main access door shown
in FIG. 2, the difference being that the main access door 31 shown in FIG.
7 allows for the entire removal of cassette 43 whereas main access door 31
in FIG. 2 merely exposes the cassette shelves 24a, b, c, d and e
containing the individual compartments 27a, b, c, d and e.
FIGS. 8 and 15 are top views of FIG. 6 showing the removable cassette 43 in
position and the main access door 31 closed. As with both the first
embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 and the second embodiment of FIG. 6-8, the garment
dispensing and depositing apparatus can be readily located in easily
accessible areas occupying minimal space. The compartments 27a, b, c, d
and e are secured in that the only way garments can be removed is by use
of the card reader 33 and individual user access doors 37a, b, c, d and e.
Similarly, this embodiment could be connected to a central computer which
would allow access the microprocessors of the individual machines to
monitor and control user access.
Alternatively, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8 may house a permanent
cassette 43 wherein main user access door can be opened and the cassette
43 loaded (or unloaded) without removal and replacement of the cassette
43. Such an embodiment would not be mounted on swivel wheels 29 as shown
in FIG. 6. This may be advantageous to use in low use areas of a given
facility.
Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a third embodiment of the present
invention for increasing the capacity of a specific garment inventory
control unit. The inventory dispensing unit shown in FIG. 9 preferably
contains, but is not limited to, two cassettes. Similar to the second
embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8, there is a rigid frame 22 having both upper
and lower guide channels for accepting two or more removable cassettes 43
simultaneously. The cassettes can be similar to those described in the
second embodiment and shown in FIGS. 6-8.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-14, there are two main access doors 32
have individual access doors 37a, b, c, d and e on either side of a user
interface panel 41. As with the previous embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3
and 6-8, there is provided a single magnetic card reader 33 and a series
of menu selection displays 35. A user inserts his magnetic card, requests
a specific garment, and is instructed by the user interface panel 41 to
open a specific user access door 37a, b, c, d and e and obtain the desired
garment from a specific compartment 27a, b, c, d and e.
In one embodiment, the dual cassette inventory control machine allows for
twice the capacity of either of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and/or
FIG. 6. In addition, and as shown in FIG. 13, a partition 53 can be
inserted between the individual cassettes 43 providing two sanitarily
separate compartments. The inventory control machine can then receive a
soiled garment in one cassette 39 and dispense a clean garment machines
throughout the facility. If a particular facility operates more than one
machine, each machine could be connected by modem to a central
registration computer in the hotel lobby thereby monitoring the user's
access to various machines and tallying up the debits and credits to be
applied when the guest checks out. Or, alternatively, each machine could
be completely self-contained with no external communication means.
In the case of a hotel, the unit may be located close to the swimming pool
and/or guest quarters whereas in the case of some amusement parks, the
control apparatus, for dispensing and depositing uniforms for costumes
that are worn on a daily basis in compliance with a specific theme park or
theme park ride, could be located in a changing room accessible to
employees. Depending on the type of facility, several removable cassettes
could be acquired and rotated between the cleaning room, the pressing room
and the inventory control machines located throughout the facility.
Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, a user wishing to access the controlled
dispensing apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8 would follow a series
of steps as shown. FIG. 17 illustrates the control circuit for enabling
access and maintaining user account data of the inventory control
apparatus. FIG. 18 illustrates the operation of the circuit shown in FIG.
17 in response to the user or in other words software steps. Assuming,
that for purposes of the apparatus and FIG. 17, there is a clean issue
station 101 containing a cart again similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 or 6,
with clean garments and there is a soiled garment deposit station 103
containing an empty cart similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The two
carts could be side by side or in locations of a given facility remote
from one another. Through a user-interface panel 41, the user is presented
with a display menu 28 (which could be, for example, an LCD display), a
card reader 33 (or other indicia indicating mechanism for validating
access to the from the other cassette 39. Alternatively, the unit, with
(FIG. 13) or without (FIG. 14) a partition can be used to double the
capacity of a machine for either dispensing or receiving garments.
Depending on the use of the machine, the computer control circuitry of the
machine shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 would differ somewhat. In FIG. 12 or 13
an individual user would be directed to either of two cassettes 39
containing a specific garment of the user's choice to be received or,
alternatively, a specific compartment to deposit the garment.
Where the apparatus is to both receive and dispense garments, a user would
be directed to a specific compartment of a specific cassette 39 containing
the garment of the user's choice on one side of the apparatus and then be
directed to a specific compartment on a different cassette of the same
apparatus for depositing a soiled garment on the other side. Because of
the partition 53, the machine shown in FIG. 13 can contain both soiled and
clean garments.
Inventory dispensing apparatuses as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 9 can be used
in a variety of environments including, but not limited to, hotels or
other facilities which handle towels or other materials including robes
and uniforms used by guests or employees. A user would access the machine
through a magnetic card reader as described above, which could be for
example his credit card, and obtain the desired garment. This transaction
would be monitored either by the individual machine or by a central
processing center. If the user failed to redeposit the garment either in
the same or like apparatus, the user would be billed accordingly.
Alternatively, a card could be issued to the guest at check in and
subsequently used to access various inventory dispensing inventory control
system) and a key board 35 (or a series of buttons) in order that the user
may interface with a microprocessor 113. Microprocessor 113 is preferably
programmed with a read only memory (ROM) identifying the individual
compartments 27a, b, c, d and e on the individual shelves 24a, b, c, d and
e of cassette 39. In response to a user entering an identification number
through keyboard 111 the microprocessor 113 will determine from the
transaction memory 115 if there are credits sufficient to receive a new
garment. Upon validation of the user, a signal is sent from the
microprocessor to an appropriate solenoid of a specific shelf 24a,b,c,d,
or e allowing access to that compartment. In addition, microprocessor 113
will update the a transaction memory 115 such that once a user has been
validated and has been given access to a given compartment 27a, b, c, d
and e, the microprocessor will contain in its read and right (RAM) memory
115 the specific user transaction and debit his account accordingly. If,
as would be the case in most facilities, there are more than one inventory
control apparatus per facility, the microprocessor 113 must be programmed
for a certain apparatus in a certain area. Accordingly, the apparatuses
would be connected to a remote PC 117 via a modem 119 and/or data cable
(not shown) wherein all inventory control apparatuses could be controlled
by a central computer.
Via the modem, each users account can be updated on a periodic basis to
enable him to obtain additional garments. Further, users no longer
authorized can have their accounts frozen via a remote PC and modem.
Finally, microprocessor 113 would be connected to a series of
micro-switches 121a, b, c, d and e, each micro-switch sensor monitoring an
individual user access door 37a, b, c, d and e. Each micro-switch 63 would
correspond to a solenoid 55 on each of the shelves 24a, b, c, d and e in a
single cassette 39. Each micro-switch 63 would be positioned behind door
37 such that when a user pulling on handle 59 (after locking solenoid 55
has retracted solenoid pin 56), opens user access door 37, thereby
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