Container-based product dispensing system
First Claim
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1. An unmanned system for dispensing products, comprising:
- a standardized shipping container;
at least one product module mounted in said shipping container and providing products therefrom;
a controller module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said product module for controlling distribution of said products from said product module and for monitoring status of said product module;
a communications module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said controller module for communicating with said product module via said controller module and for transmitting said status to a remote location; and
dispensing means coupled to said product module for receiving said products so-distributed and for expelling said products from said shipping container.
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Abstract
An unmanned product dispensing system includes a standardized shipping container having at least one product module mounted therein, a controller module for controlling distribution of the products from the product module and monitoring status thereof, a communications module for communicating with the product module and transmitting the status to a remote location, and a dispenser for receiving and expelling the products so-distributed under the control of the controller module.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An unmanned system for dispensing products, comprising:
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a standardized shipping container;
at least one product module mounted in said shipping container and providing products therefrom;
a controller module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said product module for controlling distribution of said products from said product module and for monitoring status of said product module;
a communications module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said controller module for communicating with said product module via said controller module and for transmitting said status to a remote location; and
dispensing means coupled to said product module for receiving said products so-distributed and for expelling said products from said shipping container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
a supply of pre-packaged ones of said products; and
means for distributing said pre-packaged ones of said products to said dispensing means on a one-by-one basis.
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21. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising a flexible drag device coupled to each of said products and collapsed there against prior to expulsion of said products from said shipping, container by said dispensing module, said flexible drag device expanding when placed in a relatively moving air flow.
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22. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said product module comprises:
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a supply of raw materials used to make said products;
means for converting said raw materials into said products; and
means for distributing said products to said dispensing means on a one-by-one basis.
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23. An unmanned system as in claim 22 wherein said supply of raw materials comprises paper and said means for converting comprises at least one printer under the control of said controller module wherein said products are printed materials.
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24. An unmanned system for dispensing products, comprising:
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a standardized shipping container;
at least one product module mounted in said shipping container and dispensing products therefrom;
conveying means mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said product module for receiving said products and for transporting said products therealong in said shipping container;
a controller module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said conveying means and said product module for monitoring status thereof and for controlling the deposition of said products onto said conveying means;
a communications module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said controller module for communicating with said product module via said controller module and for transmitting said status to a remote location; and
dispensing means coupled to said controller module and said product module for receiving said products so-deposited onto said conveying means and for expelling said products from said shipping container in accordance with instructions received from said controller module. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
a supply of pre-packaged ones of said products; and
means for dispensing said pre-packaged ones of said products onto said conveying means on a one-by-one basis.
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44. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising a flexible drag device coupled to each of said products and collapsed thereagainst prior to expulsion of said products from said shipping container by said dispensing module, said flexible drag device expanding when placed in a relatively moving air flow.
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45. An unmanned system as in claim 24 wherein said product module comprises:
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a supply of raw materials used to make said products;
means for converting said raw materials into said products; and
means for dispensing said products onto said conveying means on a one-by-one basis.
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46. An unmanned system as in claim 45 wherein said supply of raw materials comprises paper and said means for converting comprises at least one printer under the control of said controller module wherein said products are printed materials.
Specification