Kiosk for recycling electronic devices

• US 9,818,160 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2017
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Bowles, Mark Vincent, Tullie, Thomas L., Beane, John Andrew, Ploetner, Jeff, Miller, John, Vesco, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US15/641,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20170301035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 134 Days
• Field of Search: 705306
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0287 being disposable or recyclable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with an upper chamber, a lower chamber, a transparent plate and at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.

Claims

1. A kiosk for evaluating and purchasing a used electronic device, the kiosk comprising:

a housing;

a door movable to control access to an interior of the housing;

an upper dome within the housing;

a lower dome within the housing;

a transparent plate within the housing, wherein the transparent plate is movable between—

a first position at which the transparent plate receives the electronic device via the door, and

a second position at which the transparent plate supports the electronic device within an inspection area between the upper and lower domes; and

a camera configured to image the electronic device while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the camera is movable to image the electronic device from different angles while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the camera is carried by the upper dome.

4. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:

the upper dome has an apex; and

the camera is connected to the upper dome via the apex.

5. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:

the door is a first door;

the kiosk further comprises a second door within the housing; and

the second door is configured to displace the electronic device from the transparent plate.

6. The kiosk of claim 5 wherein the second door is configured to displace the electronic device from the transparent plate by obstructing movement of the electronic device while the transparent plate carries the electronic device toward the inspection area.

7. The kiosk of claim 5 wherein the second door has:

a raised state in which the second door is positioned to allow the transparent plate to carry the electronic device as the transparent plate moves from its first position to its second position; and

a lowered state in which the second door is positioned to displace the electronic device from the transparent plate as the transparent plate moves from its first position toward its second position.

8. The kiosk of claim 5 wherein:

the plate is a first plate;

the kiosk further comprises—

a storage receptacle below the first plate, and

a second plate between the storage receptacle and the first plate; and

the second plate is configured to lower the electronic device toward the storage receptacle after the second door displaces the electronic device from the first plate.

9. The kiosk of claim 8 wherein the second plate is configured to hingedly swing downward to lower the electronic device toward the storage receptacle.

10. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower domes include white walls at least partially defining the inspection area.

11. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a scale operably connected to the transparent plate, wherein the scale is configured to measure a weight of the electronic device while the electronic device is carried by the transparent plate.

12. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a cash dispenser configured to dispense cash in exchange for the electronic device.

13. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to illuminate the inspection area.

14. The kiosk of claim 13 wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source.

15. A method of operating a kiosk for evaluating and purchasing a used electronic device, the method comprising:

positioning a transparent plate at a first position within a housing of the kiosk;

receiving the electronic device on the transparent plate while the transparent plate is in the first position;

moving the transparent plate from the first position to a second position within the housing after receiving the electronic device on the transparent plate, wherein moving the transparent plate moves the electronic device into a domed inspection area within the housing; and

imaging the electronic device while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area, wherein imaging the electronic device includes imaging the electronic device from two or more different angles.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the kiosk includes an upper dome and a lower dome at least partially defining the inspection area; and

moving the transparent plate moves the electronic device between the upper and lower domes.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

imaging the electronic device includes imaging the electronic device via a camera operably associated with the inspection area; and

the method further comprises moving the camera to change an angle at which the camera images the electronic device from one of the two or more different angles to another of the two or more different angles.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the kiosk includes a dome at least partially defining the inspection area; and

imaging the electronic device includes imaging the electronic device via a camera carried by the dome.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the kiosk includes a dome at least partially defining the inspection area; and

imaging the electronic device includes imaging the electronic device via a camera at an apex of the dome.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

presenting, via a user interface of the kiosk, an offer to purchase the electronic device after imaging the electronic device; and

receiving, via the user interface, an acceptance of the offer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein:

the kiosk includes a storage receptacle operably associated with the inspection area; and

the method further comprises moving the electronic device into the storage receptacle after receiving the acceptance.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising dispensing cash from a cash dispenser of the kiosk after receiving the acceptance.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising displacing the electronic device from the transparent plate after receiving the acceptance, wherein displacing the electronic device includes moving the transparent plate from its first position toward its second position while movement of the electronic device into the inspection area is obstructed.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising lowering a door within the kiosk from a raised state to a lowered state, wherein displacing the electronic device includes moving the transparent plate from its first position toward its second position while the door in its lowered state obstructs movement of the electronic device into the inspection area.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising gradually lowering the electronic device toward a storage receptacle within the housing after displacing the electronic device.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein:

the transparent plate is a first plate;

the kiosk further comprises a second plate between the storage receptacle and the first plate; and

displacing the electronic device includes displacing the electronic device onto the second plate.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein lowering the electronic device includes lowering the second plate while the second plate carries the electronic device.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising weighing the electronic device via a scale operably connected to the transparent plate.

29. The method of claim 15, further comprising illuminating the inspection area while imaging the electronic device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein illuminating the inspection area includes illuminating the inspection area with ultraviolet light.