Kiosk for recycling electronic devices

• US 10,157,427 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Bowles, Mark Vincent, Tullie, Thomas L., Beane, John Andrew, Ploetner, Jeff, Miller, John, Vesco, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US15/811,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20180130136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 705306
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0287 being disposable or recyclable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with an upper chamber, a lower chamber, a transparent plate and at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.

Claims

1. A kiosk for evaluating and purchasing a used electronic device, the kiosk comprising:

a housing;

a door movable to control access to an interior of the housing;

an inspection area within the housing;

a transparent plate within the housing, wherein the transparent plate is movable between

a first position at which the transparent plate receives the electronic device via the door, and

a second position at which the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area;

a mirror within the inspection area; and

a camera configured to image a reflection of the electronic device via the mirror while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the camera is configured to image a multi-angle view of the electronic device while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area.

3. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising white walls at least partially defining the inspection area.

4. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a cash dispenser configured to dispense cash in exchange for the electronic device.

5. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to illuminate the inspection area.

6. The kiosk of claim 5 wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source.

7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:

the door is a first door;

the kiosk further comprises a second door within the housing; and

the second door is configured to displace the electronic device from the transparent plate.

8. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein the second door is configured to displace the electronic device from the transparent plate by obstructing movement of the electronic device while the transparent plate moves under the second door.

9. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein the second door has:

a raised state in which the second door is positioned to allow the transparent plate to carry the electronic device into the inspection area; and

a lowered state in which the second door is positioned to displace the electronic device from the transparent plate as the transparent plate moves into the inspection area.

10. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein:

the transparent plate is a first plate;

the kiosk further comprises

a bin below the first plate, and

a second plate between the bin and the first plate; and

the second plate is configured to lower the electronic device toward the bin after the second door displaces the electronic device from the first plate.

11. The kiosk of claim 10 wherein the second plate is configured to hingedly swing downward to lower the electronic device toward the bin.

12. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper dome within the housing; and

a lower dome within the housing,

wherein the inspection area is between the upper and lower domes.

13. A method of operating a kiosk for evaluating and purchasing a used electronic device, the method comprising:

positioning a transparent plate at a first position within a housing of the kiosk;

receiving the electronic device on the transparent plate while the transparent plate is in the first position;

moving the transparent plate from the first position to a second position within the housing after receiving the electronic device on the transparent plate, wherein moving the transparent plate moves the electronic device into an inspection area within the housing; and

imaging the electronic device while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area, wherein imaging the electronic device includes imaging a reflection of the electronic device via a mirror within the inspection area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein imaging the electronic device includes imaging a multi-angle view of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising illuminating the inspection area while imaging the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein illuminating the inspection area includes illuminating the inspection area with ultraviolet light.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

presenting, via a user interface of the kiosk, an offer to purchase the electronic device after imaging the electronic device; and

receiving, via the user interface, an acceptance of the offer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displacing the electronic device from the transparent plate after receiving the acceptance, wherein displacing the electronic device includes obstructing movement of the electronic device while the transparent plate moves.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising moving a door within the kiosk from a raised state to a lowered state, wherein displacing the electronic device includes obstructing movement of the electronic device with the door in the lowered state while the transparent plate moves under the door.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the transparent plate is a first plate;

the kiosk further comprises a second plate below the first plate; and

displacing the electronic device includes displacing the electronic device onto the second plate.