Method for controlling access to and segregating dispensed items

• US 7,860,604 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qmeds Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quiq LLC
• Inventors: Frankel, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US11/894,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/242, 700/244, 221/97
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A method for controlling access to and segregating items dispensed from a vending machine having a stock of said items, said method comprising:

• vending an item only when a control procedure is satisfied; storing a record indicating said vended item has been dispensed;
• if said vended item is not distributable to an authorized recipient; quarantining said vended item including inserting said vended item into a port on an exterior of said vending machine that conveys said inserted vended item to a secure repository in the interior of said machine; and updating said record to indicate said vended item has been returned to said machine.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to and segregating items dispensed from a vending machine having a stock of said items, said method comprising:

vending an item only when a control procedure is satisfied;

storing a record indicating said vended item has been dispensed;

quarantining those vended items which are inserted into a port of said vending machine that conveys said inserted vended item to a secure repository;

updating said record to indicate said vended item has been returned to said secure repository; and

providing a sheet containing identifying information associated with said returned item and inserting said sheet through a slot on said machine for storage within said machine.

2. A method for controlling access to and segregating items dispensed from a vending machine having a stock of said items, said method comprising:

vending an item only when a control procedure is satisfied;

storing a record indicating said vended item has been dispensed;

quarantining those vended items which are inserted into a port of said vending machine that conveys said inserted vended item to a secure repository; and

updating said record to indicate said vended item has been returned to said secure repository,

wherein said items comprise prepackaged pharmaceuticals.

3. A method for controlling access to and segregating items dispensed from a vending machine having a stock of said items, said method comprising:

vending an item only when a control procedure is satisfied;

storing a record indicating said vended item has been dispensed;

quarantining those vended items which are inserted into a port of said vending machine that conveys said inserted vended item to a secure repository; and

updating said record to indicate said vended item has been returned to said secure repository.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sensing said vended item has been returned to said secure repository, wherein said updating of said record is responsive to said sensing.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising automatically generating an alert signal to a central processing facility for notifying of said returned vended item.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said secure repository is partitioned from said stock of items to be vended.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said control procedure includes identifying an item to be vended through a data-input terminal located remotely from said machine.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of deactivating the vending machine upon a determination that said item has failed to vend following satisfaction of said control procedure.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said items comprise controlled or regulated substances.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said items comprise machine tools.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein said items comprise hazardous materials.