Container-based system for generation and dispersal of printed materials

• US 6,704,618 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Moritz, Elan, Portmann, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/134,847
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 700/213, 700/231, 700/233, 700/235, 700/241, 700/244, 244/136, 244/137.1, 244/118.2
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12

Abstract

An unmanned, real-time, printed material generation and dispersal system includes a standardized shipping container houses at least one printing module capable of generating printed materials, a controller module for controlling the generation of the printed materials and monitoring status of the printing module, a communications module for communicating with the printing module and transmitting the status to a remote location, and a dispenser for receiving the printed materials so-generated and expelling them from the shipping container.

Claims

1. An unmanned system for the generation and dispersement of printed materials, comprising:

a standardized shipping container;

at least one printing module mounted in said shipping container for generating printed materials;

a controller module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said printing module for controlling the generation of said printed materials and for monitoring status of said printing module;

a communications module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said controller module for communicating with said printing module via said controller module and for transmitting said status to a remote location; and

dispensing means coupled to said printing module for receiving said printed materials so-geherated and for expelling said printed materials from said shipping container.

2. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said shipping container is an ISO shipping container.

3. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising armor coupled to at least a portion of said shipping container for protecting said shipping container from strikes by projectiles.

4. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said controller module is pre-programmed.

5. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said controller module is programmable in real time by remotely-sent instructions received by said communications module.

6. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said communications module includes a wireless transceiver.

7. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means, mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said controller module, for autonomously establishing a global position of said shipping container.

8. An unmanned system as in claim 7 wherein said means is selected from the group consisting of a GPS system and an inertial navigation system.

9. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising propulsion means coupled to said shipping container and said controller module, wherein said shipping container can be maneuvered under control of said controller module.

10. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means coupled to said shipping container for placing said shipping container in a preferred orientation when said shipping container is released into a fluid environment.

11. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means mounted on the outside of said shipping container for facilitating handling thereof.

12. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means mounted on the outside of said shipping container for facilitating connection with an adjacent shipping container.

13. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said shipping container is waterproof.

14. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said shipping container incorporates EMI shielding.

15. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means coupled to said shipping container for mitigating shock forces experienced by said shipping container.

16. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means coupled to said shipping container for controlling climatic conditions within said shipping container.

17. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said shipping container includes a mechanized door coupled to said controller module for the controlled opening and closing of said door, and wherein said dispensing means includes guide means coupled to said door for guiding said printed materials to be expelled from said shipping container to a position outside of said shipping container when said door is open wherein said printed materials are released into the ambient environment at said position.

18. An unmanned system as in claim 17 wherein said guide means comprises at least one enclosed channel formed in said door.

19. An unmanned system as in claim 18 further comprising means coupled to said door for extending said enclosed channel.

20. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said printing module comprises:

a supply of paper; and

at least one printer coupled to said supply of paper, said controller module and said dispensing means, said printer printing on said paper as dictated by said controller module to generate said printed materials received by said dispensing module.

21. An unmanned system for the generation and dispersement of printed materials, comprising:

a standardized shipping container;

conveying means mounted in said shipping container for transporting items within said shipping container;

a plurality of printing modules mounted in said shipping container and distributed along said conveying means for generating printed materials and for transferring said printed materials to said conveying means;

a controller module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to each of said plurality of printing modules for controlling the generating of said printed materials and for monitoring status of each of said plurality of printing modules;

a communications module mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said controller module for communicating with each of said plurality of printing modules via said controller module and for transmitting said status to a remote location; and

dispensing means coupled to said controller module and said conveying means for receiving said printed materials and for expelling said printed materials from said shipping container in accordance with instructions received from said controller module.

22. An unmanned system as in claim 21 wherein said shipping container is an ISO shipping container.

23. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising armor coupled to at least a portion of said shipping container for protecting said shipping container from strikes by projectiles.

24. An unmanned system as in claim 21 wherein said controller module is pre-programmed.

25. An unmanned system as in claim 21 wherein said controller module is programmable in real time by remotely-sent instructions received by said communications module.

26. An unmanned system as in claim 21 wherein said communications module includes a wireless transceiver.

27. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising means, mounted in said shipping container and coupled to said controller module, for autonomously establishing a global position of said shipping container.

28. An unmanned system as in claim 27 wherein said means is selected from the group consisting of a GPS system and an inertial navigation system.

29. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising propulsion means coupled to said shipping container and said controller module, wherein said shipping container can be maneuvered under control of said controller module.

30. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising means coupled to said shipping container for placing said shipping container in a preferred orientation when said shipping container is released into a fluid environment.

31. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising means mounted on the outside of said shipping container for facilitating handling thereof.

32. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising means mounted on the outside of said shipping container for facilitating connection with an adjacent shipping container.

33. An unmanned system as in claim 21 wherein said shipping container is waterproof.

34. An unmanned system as in claim 21 wherein said shipping container incorporates EMI shielding.

35. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising means coupled to said shipping container for mitigating shock forces experienced by said shipping container.

36. An unmanned system as in claim 21 further comprising means coupled to said shipping container for controlling climatic conditions within said shipping container.

37. An unmanned system as in claim 21 wherein said shipping container includes a mechanized door coupled to said controller module for the controlled opening and closing of said door, and wherein said dispensing means includes guide means coupled to said door for guiding said printed materials to be expelled from said shipping container to a position outside of said shipping container when said door is open wherein said printed materials are released into the ambient environment at said position.

38. An unmanned system as in claim 37 wherein said guide means comprises at least one enclosed channel formed in said door.

39. An unmanned system as in claim 38 further comprising means coupled to said door for extending said enclosed channel.

40. An unmanned system s in claim 21 wherein said dispensing means includes means for staging said printed materials prior to expulsion from said shipping container.