APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COORDINATING AUTOMATED PACKAGE AND BULK DISPENSING

• US 20100017021A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG (China National Chemical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG (China National Chemical Corporation)
• Inventors: Wietgrefe, Gary W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/30 specially adapted to facilitate transportation from one utilisation site to another collapsible hoppers B65D88/52
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/32 in multiple arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/64 preventing bridge formation
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/70 using fluid jets B65D88/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/587 having a linear motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/66 Operating devices therefor

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for coordinating automated package and bulk dispensing at a remote site. A hopper apparatus includes a series of storage compartments and access doors. The compartments and doors are linked to a PLC that is further linked to an inventory provider. The inventory provider takes product orders from an end-user. The end-user is provided an end-user access code. The inventory provider communicates with the PLC and reserves for the ordered product(s) a vacant storage compartment(s). The inventory provider delivers the product(s) ordered by the end-user to the hopper apparatus. Upon delivery, the inventory provider enters the appropriate end-user access code(s), causing the PLC to open the storage compartment(s) previously reserved by the inventory provider for the products ordered by the end-user. The inventory provider loads the appropriate storage compartment(s) with the end-user product(s). The end-user subsequently picks up product(s) previously ordered by entering in his or her access code(s).

Claims

1. A dispensing system, comprising:

a hopper storage receptacle;

a conveyor mechanism; and

a hopper door associated with the hopper storage receptacle to controllably release product from the hopper storage receptacle to the conveyor mechanism based on a unique access code associated with an end product user and assigned to the hopper storage receptacle in advance of providing product to the hopper storage receptacle.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a programmable logic control (PLC) device having a user interface to receive the unique access code from an inventory provider, and wherein the PLC device is capable of sending to and receiving data from an inventory provider.

3. The dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the PLC device is capable of receiving data from and sending data to the end product user via the user interface.

4. The dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the system includes a printer linked to the PLC device to provide a receipt to the end product user.

5. The dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the PLC is configured to accept reservation of the hopper storage receptacle based on the access code for future delivery of the product by the inventory provider.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the user interface of the PLC is configured to receive the access code from the inventory provider to gain access to the hopper storage receptacle for delivery of the product to the hopper storage receptacle.

7. The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the user interface of the PLC is configured to receive the access code from the product end user to open the hopper door for release of the product from the hopper storage receptacle after delivery of the product to the hopper storage receptacle has occurred.

8. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the hopper storage receptacle includes a removable floor supported by a package support base such that when the removable floor is present the hopper storage receptacle is configured to support packaged products and when the removable floor is not present loose product can be gravity fed proximate to the hopper door.

9. The dispensing system of claim 8, wherein the package support base includes a crossbar rail structure.

10. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the hopper storage receptacle is configured to accept a gravity fed container having an access sliding door associated with an actuator and controllable by the PLC device to release product proximate to the hopper door.

11. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the hopper storage receptacle is configured to attach a product slide to attenuate a descent rate of product loaded through a top portion of the hopper storage receptacle.

12. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the system includes an air compressor and air hose attachment for use by a product purchaser.

13. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the hopper storage receptacle is configured to have the access code entered by an inventory provider that delivers the product to gain access to the hopper storage receptacle to place the product in the hopper storage receptacle.

14. A method for bulk dispensing, comprising:

assigning a unique access code associated with an end product user to a dispensing apparatus in advance of loading a product into the dispensing apparatus;

receiving the access code by the dispensing apparatus to control access to the dispensing apparatus; and

facilitating delivery of the product at a selected time based on the receiving the access code by the dispensing apparatus.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein facilitating delivery includes facilitating delivery of the product at a site remote from an inventory provider.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein facilitating delivery includes facilitating delivery of the product from the end product user to the dispensing apparatus.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the access code includes receiving the access code by a programmable logic control (PLC) device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving the product order from the end product user;

remotely communicating with the PLC device to determine a vacant storage area within the dispensing apparatus;

reserving the vacant storage area and generating the access code; and

delivering the product to the dispensing apparatus.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein facilitating delivery of the product includes releasing the product from an assigned storage compartment of the dispensing apparatus to a storage container of an end product user.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the access code includes receiving the access code to the dispensing apparatus before the product can be loaded to the dispensing apparatus.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising remotely accessing a programmable logic control (PLC) device associated with the dispensing apparatus such that the end product user can confirm whether the product has been loaded.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering title to the end product user at the dispensing apparatus.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein assigning the access code includes assigning an access code unique to a particular hopper storage receptacle.

24. A dispensing system, comprising:

a hopper storage receptacle;

a conveyor mechanism; and

a hopper door associated with the hopper storage receptacle to controllably release product from the hopper storage receptacle to the conveyor mechanism based on a unique access code associated with an end product user and assigned to a product order in advance of providing product to the hopper storage receptacle, the door being configured to automatically dislodge stored material that has become compacted and lodged at a bottom opening of the hopper storage receptacle.

25. A dispensing system, comprising:

a hopper apparatus for receiving and dispensing products, the hopper apparatus having one or more container units;

a door associated with each container unit to provide access to the respective container unit; and

a processing device in communication with the a door of each container unit for receiving a unique access code associated with an end product user and assigned to the container unit in advance of providing product to the container unit.

26. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein the one or more container units comprise at least one of a receptacle, a locker, or a pallet locker.

27. The dispensing system of claim 26, wherein the one or more container units comprises a receptacle that includes a hopper cone above the door of the receptacle and a package support base above the hopper cone.

28. The dispensing system of claim 27, wherein the receptacle includes a removable floor supported by the package support base such that when the removable floor is present the receptacle is configured to support packaged products and when the removable floor is not present loose product can be gravity fed proximate to the door.

29. The dispensing system of claim 28, wherein the package support base includes a crossbar rail structure.

30. The dispensing system of claim 27, wherein the receptacle is configured to accept a gravity fed container having an access sliding door associated with an actuator and controllable by the processing device to release product proximate to the door of the receptacle.

31. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein the processing device comprises a programmable logic control (PLC) device having a user interface to receive the unique access code from an inventory provider, and wherein the PLC device is capable of sending to and receiving data from an inventory provider.

32. The dispensing system of claim 31, wherein the PLC device is capable of receiving data from and sending data to the end product user via the user interface.

33. The dispensing system of claim 32, wherein the system includes a printer linked to the PLC device to provide a receipt to the end product user.

34. The dispensing system of claim 31, wherein the PLC is configured to accept reservation of individual container units of the one or more container units based on the access code for future delivery of the product by the inventory provider.

35. The dispensing system of claim 34, wherein the user interface of the PLC is configured to receive the access code from the inventory provider to open the door of the respective container unit that is reserved for delivery of the product to that container unit.

36. The dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the user interface of the PLC is configured to receive the access code from the product end user to open the door for access to the product in the respective container unit after delivery of the product to the container unit has occurred.

37. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is configured to have the access code entered by an inventory provider that delivers the product to gain access to each container unit of the one or more container units to place the product in the respective container unit.