System and method for monitored delivery of products
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- at least one storage device which includesa unitary housing having a substantially planar structure that bounds an interior region, at least in part, with the interior region divided into a plurality of fixedly arranged, non-separable product containers;
wherein each product container defines a smaller interior region for product storage and each product container is closeable by a separate securable cover and has a separate electronically actuatable cover latch and when closed, each cover has an interior surface adjacent to the respective interior region;
sensors, associated with at least some of the containers for responding to access to the respective containers and for emitting a signal indicative thereof;
control circuitry coupled to the cover latches, the circuitry unlocking various cover latches in accordance with a predetermined, pre-stored schedule where when the latch associated with a respective cover is unlocked, the cover is rotatable to an open position which exposes the interior surface and supplemental indicia carried on the interior surface of the respective cover; and
an interface for communicating representations of the signals to a displaced site.
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Abstract
A device for dispensing products senses when the respective products are accessed. A signal indicative of day and time of access can be transmitted to a remote monitoring station. Received signals can be compared to a pre-established schedule.
55 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one storage device which includes a unitary housing having a substantially planar structure that bounds an interior region, at least in part, with the interior region divided into a plurality of fixedly arranged, non-separable product containers; wherein each product container defines a smaller interior region for product storage and each product container is closeable by a separate securable cover and has a separate electronically actuatable cover latch and when closed, each cover has an interior surface adjacent to the respective interior region; sensors, associated with at least some of the containers for responding to access to the respective containers and for emitting a signal indicative thereof; control circuitry coupled to the cover latches, the circuitry unlocking various cover latches in accordance with a predetermined, pre-stored schedule where when the latch associated with a respective cover is unlocked, the cover is rotatable to an open position which exposes the interior surface and supplemental indicia carried on the interior surface of the respective cover; and an interface for communicating representations of the signals to a displaced site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A product dispenser comprising:
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an elongated housing having a generally rectangular cross-section, the housing being subdivided into a plurality of separate integrally formed product containers with each of the containers bonded by a plurality of non-movable side walls, non-movable end walls and a movable cover with the walls and cover defining an empty product receiving region where the cover has an indicia carrying surface adjacent to the product receiving region when closed; a plurality of electrically activated latches, a latch is associated with respective cover and retains the cover in a closed position, locked against the sidewalls until activated which unlocks the cover for movement from the closed position to an open position with the product receiving region being accessible and where the surface and the indicia carried on the surface are visible only when the cover is in the open position; a plurality of sensors, each sensor has an output port, a sensor is associated with each of the latches to generate a signal at the port, indicative of the respective cover moving to the open position; and control circuits coupled to the latches and sensor output ports, the control circuits including storage for at least one product dispensing schedule, the latches being activated in accordance with the at least one product dispensing schedule, and responsive to signals from the sensors, initiating a communication with a displaced control console indicative of product having been dispensed and that a refill is needed of at least some of the containers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for dispensing a product comprising:
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inputting a dispensing schedule into or selecting a pre-stored dispensing schedule of a dispenser having an elongated housing having a generally rectangular cross-section, the housing being subdivided into a plurality of separate integrally formed product containers with each of the containers bonded by a plurality of non-movable side walls, non-movable end walls and a movable cover with the walls and cover defining an empty product receiving region; a plurality of electrically activated latches, a latch is associated with respective cover and retains the cover in a closed position, locked against the sidewalls until activated which unlocks the cover for movement from the closed position to an open position with the product receiving region being accessible; a plurality of sensors, each sensor has an output port, a sensor is associated with each of the latches to generate a signal at the port, indicative of the respective cover moving to the open position; and control circuits coupled to the latches and sensor output ports, the control circuits including storage for at least one product dispensing schedule, the latches being activated in accordance with the at least one product dispensing schedule, and responsive to signals from the sensors, initiating a communication with a displaced control console indicative of product having been dispensed and that a refill is needed of at least some of the containers; placing a predetermined amount of product into at least one product container; moving the cover of the product container from the open position to the closed position wherein the latch associated with the cover retains the cover in the closed position; pursuant to the dispensing schedule, the control circuit sending a signal to the appropriate latch which causes the latch to unlock the cover; moving the unlocked cover from the closed position to the open position thereby exposing the product in the container for removal; and removing all of the product from the open product container at the same time.
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Specification