WO1993000644A1

WO1993000644A1 - Inventory control system for automatic dispensing systems

Info

Publication number: WO1993000644A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/005272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clem Varley; John A. Varley; Richard P. Varley
Original assignee: Autovalet Systems International
Priority date: 1991-06-24
Filing date: 1992-06-24
Publication date: 1993-01-07

Abstract

The invention pertains to a system for inventorying returned garments, initiating credit to users returning garments, and automatically dispensing additional garments. The system includes a deposit bin (39) for receiving soiled garments and a video camera (47) for recording the event, as well as adding to the recorded event alphanumeric data for indicating the identity of the user returning the garments and the date and time thereof. The identity of the returned soiled garments are recorded in a transaction log (51). The system is controlled by a processor (19) which will validate users having an authorization card read by a card reader (25, 36) of the interface (23, 34). A validated user will then enter data identifying the nature of the garments being returned. Sensors (49) are provided to detect the transfer of the soiled garments. A record of the transaction is made in the processor which may be retrieved via a central computer (53).

Description

INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC DISPENSING SYSTEMS

The present invention relates to a system for automatically exchanging soiled garments for clean garments without vendor intervention. Specifically, an automatic dispensing system is provided which credits an authorized user for the return of soiled garments, permitting the credit to be used to obtain clean garments in exchange therefor.

Systems are available in the industry to automatically dispense clean garments to authorized users who have been issued magnetic cards, or tokens, identifying these users to a dispensing machine as being authorized to receive one or more garments within the dispensing machine. These systems are most applicable in hospitals, wherein large quantities of scrubwear are routinely used and returned by hospital personnel for an exchange of clean scrubwear. Experience has shown that, on average for every 100 sets of issued scrubwear, only 95 are returned, representing a 5% daily loss in scrubwear garments. This can translate into annual losses for the institution exceeding $100,000.

These garments are also susceptible to contamination and extensive prechecking of returned soiled garments add an additional risk and expense to the daily laundry requirements of these institutions.

Thus, only half the problem is addressed by having dispensing systems which may be accessed by personnel in need of an exchange of a particular garment, such as needed in hospitals. The problem remains to account for the issued garments to be certain they are returned without any excessive checking, and unnecessary exposure to contaminated garments.

Many industrial workwear garments are now frequently marked with bar coded labels ^"for inventory control within the laundry. These garments must be presented to a card reader such that the identity of the garment can be obtained, registering the user's deposit. It has unfortunately been experienced that washed-out labels, as a result of numerous cleanings, make it difficult to always reliably scan a bar- coded garment.

As another approach, intelligent tags have been added to garments, such as tags which produce either a magnetic or radio frequency signature when properly scanned. Experience has also found that the reliability of these techniques as well suffer after numerous- cleanings of the garments have occurred.

Thus, any improvement in automatic inventory control systems which automatically dispense reusable garments, must necessarily efficiently process and credit the users for returned garments, without complete reliance on indicia- indicating tags or optically-read information on garments which deteriorate over the useful life of the garment.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of this invention to provide an inventory control system with automatic garment dispensing machines.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide a system which credits a user for the return of used garments so that additional clean garments may be exchanged.

These and other objects of the invention are provided by a system which automatically inventories returned garments, and issues a credit to a valid user for the return of the garments. These credits may be used in connection with an associated dispensing system, permitting the user to obtain a clean garment in exchange for the returned soiled garments. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a system for inventorying returned garments is operated as part of a garment dispensing system. An enclosure is provided having a deposit bin for receiving soiled garments. The deposit bin is pivotal from a garment receiving position outside the enclosure to a delivery position, wherein the returned garments may be received and stored.

A processor within the enclosure reads a magnetic card or other indicia-bearing media issued to the user, and validates the same. A validated user then is provided with various menu screens, permitting him to return soiled garments by entering the foregoing information relating to the garments he is charged with receiving earlier. A transaction record is made each time the garments are returned and stored in memory. A system support processor connected via a modem to the inventory processor will download the recorded transactions.

In order to verify that garments have been returned before issuing any credit therefor to the user, several modes of verification are employed. In a first mode, a video camera is positioned within the enclosure to observe garments which are delivered by the deposit bin. A video recorder records the video camera signal, thus making an record of this event. The deposit bin is inhibited from delivering the returned garments until a user has successfully identified, by means of a keyboard outside the enclosure, the nature of the garment, the number of pieces, and any other indicia which will permit a comparison of what he purports to return with the garments he has been charged with obtaining from a dispensing unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the video camera image signal is also mixed with a signal identifying each transaction by user identify and the date of the transaction. Thus, return of garments is documented and identified by the appropriate transaction indicia.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, each of these transactions, when determined to be valid, results in a credit being given to the user. In an associated dispensing system, a user having received the credit is permitted upon request to receive equivalent clean garments under control of the inventory processor.

Description of the Figures

Figure 1 is a plan view of a system for inventorying returned garments and dispensing clean garments to authorized users.

Figure 2 illustrates that portion of Figure 1 for returning soiled garments, and permitting a user to obtain appropriate credit therefor.

Figure 3 is an overall system description of the entire system for inventorying returned garments, and dispensing clean garments to authorized users.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention for inventorying returned garments and dispensing clean garments in exchange therefor.

Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating how the processor main control unit is programmed to receive and credit soiled garments to a user's account, and permit selection of a new, cleaned garment in exchange therefor.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an enclosure which contains both a system for dispensing cleaned garments through a pair of doors 11, as well as a system for receiving soiled garments from an access bin 10. In order to control the use of the dispensing and returning of garments, a control interface 12 is provided for users of each of the systems. Each of the systems, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, work together such that valid users may obtain credit for returned soiled garments and obtain in exchange therefor new clean garments through the dispensing system.

Figure 2 is a front view of the user interface 12 and return bin 10. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a magnetic card reader 14 is shown for receiving magnetic cards issued to valid users of the system. Once a user has inserted his card in the card reader 14, and the system has validated this user's attempt to access either the dispensing portion or portion for receiving soiled garments, the bin 10 may be rotated outward, permitting returned garments to be inserted.

A display 13 is shown which, upon validation of a user's authorization card, will provide various menu selections to permit the user to either return soiled garments, or to receive clean garments by following various menu instructions. The preferred embodiment of the invention will include menus directing the user to select the type of garment he wishes to receive, the size of the garment, and store this permanently in association with his user identification number. Any subsequent requests for return or dispensing of garments may be more efficiently expedited by permitting operation of the dedicated keys 17 and 18, which will make automatic selections based on user criteria inputted by the keyboard 16 the first time the user attempts access to the machine.

The system for receiving and dispensing garments is described pictorially in Figure 3. The system of Figure 3 provides for receiving from a laundry clean uniforms 20 to be dispensed under control of the microprocessor 19. Further, the system proposes to receive in 34 soiled uniforms in exchange therefore, such transactions being controlled by the microprocessor 19 and logged in the transaction log 51. The system of Figure 3 will also permit a central personal computer to obtain the transaction log 51 for analysis.

In detail, the uniforms from the laundry 20 are provided through laundry access door 21 to the clean storage rails 22 of the dispensing unit. A user interface panel 23 which, in the present embodiment shown in Figure 1, is also the soiled return user interface 12, permits a user to obtain access to a clean garment. In obtaining access, a menu display 24 displays to the user the selectable options for receiving clean garments. A card reader 25 will accept the user's pre- issued magnetic card to identify the user as authorized to receive such clean garments.

A keyboard 26 permits the user to make selections in accordance with the menu display 24.

In operation, the user who has gained access to the device for obtaining a clean uniform or other type of garment, will enter the process designated generally as 28. The user access door 29 will open and a selected garment will be presented for removal at 30.

Once the uniform has been used and it is time to return it in exchange for another, the user at 32 will return the soiled uniform via the return portion of the device 31. The return portion of the device 31 receives the soiled garment by selecting first, via user interface panel 34, the garment return function. A menu display 35 which is the same as the menu display 24 for receiving clean garments, gives the user instructions on how to return a garment. The card reader 36, which is the same card reader 25 used to issue a clean uniform, is used to check the identity and validate the user's access. The keyboard 37, upon commands from the menu display 35, will issue to the processor 19 the required data for the transaction to be subsequently approved and logged.

Once a user has gained access through a valid user-authorized identification card, the return device 39 is unlocked, permitting the user to return the soiled garments through deposit bin 10. This return process is monitored via two different types of sensing techniques. The first is a video camera 47, which, during a return of soiled garments, records the transaction. The other includes sensors 49 which will optically sense a garment being delivered from the deposit bin to the internal storage bin within the enclosure 8. This transaction is noted by the microprocessor 19 and stored in connection with the user's identification and the date and time of the transfer in a transaction log. Additionally, the video camera 47 may record alphanumeric information, supplied via the microprocessor 19, so that in the event of a dispute between a user returning garments and the system operator, the correct video frames recorded in a video event recorder 42 can be identified to establish the particulars of the transaction.

The video event recorder 42 will record each of the image frames from the video camera 47 and a monitor 43 will permit viewing later on after the actual transaction. A card reader interface 40 is also shown, connected between the video event recorder 42 and keyboard 37. When the inserted card information and the keyboard information is validated, card reader interface 40 will transfer character data from the read card to the video event recorder so that a record is made of the transaction.

The transaction log 51 can be conveniently downloaded to a central personal computer 53. Personal computer 53 is connected via the modem to the microprocessor 19 printer memory 54. Printer 55 is shown which will provide a local printout of the transactions which may be downloaded via the modem 56 to the central personal computer 53.

Having thus outlined in general the system for dispensing clean uniforms, as well as receiving and inventorying soiled uniforms on an exchange basis, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with respect to Figure 4.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention which will provide for both the dispensing of clean garments 82, as well as the reception and inventorying of soiled garments. A processor main control unit 64 is connected to the user interface 12 via conventional bus structure. The user interface 12 comprises a card reader 58, keyboard 59 and display 60, interconnected via the common bus. Under control of the processor main control unit 64, a user may either receive a clean garment 82 or deposit and receive credit for the deposit of soiled garments, via the deposit bin 10. The card reader 58 validates the user when a user inserts his preissued magnetic card in the card reader 58. The processor main control unit 64, having identified the user as a valid current card holder, will display various menus to be described with respect to Figure 5 on the display 60.

In the deposit mode, when selected by the user, a release solenoid 68 is activated via the decoder 60 under the control of the processor main control unit 64. This will permit the deposit bin 10 to deposit any garments being returned on the storage bin 70 within the enclosure 8.

The deposited soiled garment is sensed by optical sensor 66 which may be a conventional light activated sensor whose viewing aperture is disrupted by the falling garments. In certain embodiments of the invention, the deposit bin 10 may be divided into various compartments with a plurality of sensors 66 for sensing whether or not each compartment contains a garment being deposited in storage bin 70.

The signals from sensor 66 are noted in the processor main control unit 64 via the encoder 62. The sensing of a garment being delivered to /the storage bin 70 can be noted with respect to the user's identity and the date and time of a real time clock associated with the processor main control unit 64. The deposit event is recorded by a video camera 69 connected to a video tape recorder 73. The camera 69 has an axis aligned to record the deposit of soiled garments in the storage bin 70.

Additionally, a character generator 71, under control of the processor main control unit 64, can provide alphanumeric information for recording along with the deposit event in the video tape recorder 73. The video monitor 74 will permit either real time or later review of the event containing the alphanumeric data. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the alphanumeric data may include the identity of the user and the date and time the deposit was made.

The dispensing portion of the apparatus of Figure 4 is generally identified as 75. The dispensing unit includes a transfer rail 83 supporting a plurality of clean garments 82 for selection by a user. The door 81 to the dispensing unit is maintained closed by a release solenoid 79.

When a user has been validated by the processor main control unit 64, and is found to have sufficient credit in the system to obtain a new garment 82, such credit being available when he has returned the soiled garment, and received credit therefor, the release solenoid 79 will permit access through the door 81. A positioner transporter 77 under control of the processor main control unit will position, made via keyboard 59 with the help of menus presented on display 60, a particularly selected garment for transfer to the transfer station 80 where it is made available to the user via door 81. The positioner and transporter is shown as including a slave processor 84 connected via a data bus to the processor main control unit 64. Various decoders 85 and 86, and encoders 87 and 88 permit operation of the drive motor 91, pickoff motor 92, limit switches 93 and position sensors 94 of the dispensing unit 75 to make available a selected garment to the user.

A modem 65 is shown connected to the processor main control unit 64. Via a central personal computer, it is possible to obtain all the transactions carried out by the system of Figure 4 at a central location. Video monitor 74 will also be provided locally to display transactions which have been recorded on the video tape recorder 73.

The foregoing apparatus includes a processor main control unit 64 having a stored program. The program necessary to carry out the foregoing functions of receiving and inventorying a soiled garment deposit, as well as dispensing a clean garment to users having sufficient credits is depicted in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 5, the process of either depositing soiled garments and/or receiving a new clean garment begins when the user inserts his card in step 100. The processor main control unit 64 will validate the user's card in step 101 and, should the card not be recognized as being a valid card in the possession of a legitimate user, the display 60 indicates this fact in the process step 102.

Assuming a valid card has been detected, the display language options are presented to the user in step 103 and, by virtue of a keyboard selection made by the user in step 104, the correct menu in the selected language is displayed in step 105.

Included among these menu selections is a selection to either elect the pickup service represented by the selection in step 108, or to elect a deposit service, represented by step 109, to receive credit for a garment being returned. Assuming that the user selects the service 108, a check is made in step 111 of the user's credits. For each valid user, the system keeps an account stored in memory of the number of credits the user has received at the time the user was authorized. These credits are subtracted each time the user receives a garment. In a typical system, a user could not check out more than a predetermined number of garments at any one time. Thus, in a conventional system in an industrial setting, the user having two garments checked out would have exhausted his credit, and would not be able to obtain a third garment, as represented by process step 112. Thus, a message would be displayed on display 60 that no credits were available and that to receive credit, a deposit of soiled garments must be made.

In the event credits are available to the user, a decision is made in step 116 to determine whether the particular request made by the user has been previously authorized. In a system in accordance with the preferred embodiment, certain classes of users would have access only to certain garments and other classes of users would have access to a greater number of garments. A practical realization of this is in a hospital setting, where interns may have access to a limited number of garments, stored in individual zones of the dispensing unit 75. Doctors and other persons of status would have access to a greater number of zones containing an even greater number of garments. When access is denied, a message is posted on the display 60 in step 114.

A further decision is made in step 120 to determine whether the particular selection is in stock or not. When that selection is out of stock, a message is posted on display 60, indicating this fact in step 121. A further message in accordance with the preferred embodiment may be provided in step 122 to indicate that the next size up is available other than the one selected by the user.

When the processor main control unit 64 determines that a selection is to be issued by the dispensing system 75, the release solenoid 79 is activated in step 124. Further, the positioner and transporter 77 under command of processor main control 64, will position the zone on the rails 83, containing the selected garment for transfer by transfer station 80.

The selection having been made, the memory associated with the processor main control unit 64 notes the transaction as to (1) the particular garment delivered and (2) the user's account is debited, indicating that he has received a garment.

The deposit service for receiving the soiled garment and crediting the user for having returned the garment is initiated in step 109. In this step, the user has selected from the menu this particular function. Details of the deposit, i.e., the particular garment type or model, is entered by the user in step 110 via the user interface keyboard 59. The deposit key of the keyboard 59 can be pressed in step 115, indicating that the correct data has been entered. A similar validation occurs in step 117 as was effected in step 116 on the dispensing side of the process. In step 117, the user's identity is checked to be certain that the selection which he has indicated will be deposited is one that in fact he is authorized to have received in the first instance. In the event the user attempts to fool the system into thinking it is receiving a garment of higher value or worth than that user had authority to have, a message is posted in step 119 on the display 60, indicating that fact.

When the user has indicated that he is returning a garment for which he has authority to possess, the deposit bins are unlocked in step 123 by releasing the solenoid 68 of Figure 4. The deposited items fall from the bin 10 into the storage bin 70 where they simultaneously activate the sensor 66, interrupting a light beam or otherwise indicating their presence, during the transfer from deposit bin 10 to storage bin 70. The video camera 69 is also enabled. The video camera 69 records the deposit event on the VTR 73. The video camera 69 is energized by the processor main control unit 64 at the time the release solenoid 68 is activated. The mixer 72 additionally superimposes alphanumeric information, identifying the user, date and time of deposit, and garment type being received on the video image supplied by video camera 69.

Step 125 determines whether or not a garment has been sensed by sensor 66 during its transfer to the storage bin 70. The count produced by monitoring the signals from sensor 66 should agree with count information inputted via the user keyboard 59. Assuming this is correct, the user is given credit in the transaction memory in step 129 associated with the processor main control unit 64. Thus, properly returned items result in credit being given to each user, permitting that user to draw further on the supply of clean garments 82. Variations of the foregoing scenario would permit different classes of users to receive different numbers of garments. In one such variation, the system would be set up as follows. A user card is provided for the highest class of users, permitting access to various zones on the dispensing unit 75. Each time such a zone is accessed by a user, a per-piece charge will be debited to that user. Thus, if one of the zones accessed included a suit having trousers and jacket, two (2) pieces would be charged to the unit. However, when that user returned the soiled two (2) pieces, he would receive a single credit when the two (2) pieces were deposited together through the deposit bin 10. Zone piece credit limit is established for each of the zones, such that the foregoing example would provide for only two sets of garments to be outstanding at any one time.

In a system having a divided bin, it is possible by having separate sensors for each compartment of the bin to credit more pieces per deposit, because independent sensing of each two compartments is possible.

Other variations of this system could include as part of the user interface 12 the bar code reader, or intelligent tag reader, which would be used to scan each garment being deposited by a user. This would offer corroboration of the user's key word entered information, describing the garment being deposited.

Thus, there is described with respect to a preferred embodiment an example of the invention which is described more particularly by the claims which follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for inventorying returned garments comprising:

a garment return enclosure including a deposit bin for receiving soiled garments, said deposit bin being pivotal from a garment receiving position outside said enclosure to a delivery position inside said enclosure;

a video camera positioned within said enclosure to produce an image of garments being delivered by said deposit bin;

a video recorder connected to record an image signal being generated by said video camera;

a card reader accessible from outside said enclosure to read an identification card of a user;

a keyboard accessible from outside said enclosure for permitting a user to enter data relating to garments being returned by said user;

a display for displaying to said user instructions for depositing said garments and receiving credit therefor; and,

a processor connected to said card reader, keyboard and display, said processor programmed to execute the steps of:

(a) reading an authorization card supplied to said card reader;

(b) displaying on said display user menus in response to a valid user authorization card being read by said card reader;

(c) reading user data entered on said keyboard;

(d) enabling said video camera and video recorder to record garments being delivered by said bin; and,

(e) providing a transaction record of data identifying said garments when a delivery of garments is made by said deposit bin.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a dispensing unit connected to said processor, said dispensing unit dispensing garments to a user in response to a command received from said processor.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a video character generator for receiving transaction data from said processor, and producing a video data message,for recording by said video tape recorder; and,

mixer means for combining said video data message with said video camera image signal.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said processor is programmed to display a menu which instructs said user how to initiate a request for dispensing a garment.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to display a menu for instructing said user to enter through . said keyboard certain information relating to garments being received in said bin.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for detecting the garments being deposited.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a locking solenoid for releasing said deposit bin to pivot to a position for delivering said garments when a command is received from said processor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said transaction record includes the identification of a user depositing garments as well as the identity of garments being deposited.

9. A system for documenting the exchange of garments which are supplied to users, and exchanged by users to obtain a clean garment comprising:

a deposit bin for delivering used garments to a collection bin within a system housing;

a user interface for receiving data from a user returning garments, and for providing menu instructions for returning said garment;

means for recording indicia relating to the deposit of garments by said deposit bin in said collection bin; and,

a control processor unit connected to said user interface, said control processor unit enabling said dispensing bin to transfer said garments to said collection bin in response to a command received from said user interface, and for enabling recording of the deposit indicia.

10. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for recording the deposit indicia comprises a transaction log stored in a memory of said control processor unit, which stores user supplied data identifying said deposit garments.

11. The system of claim 11 wherein said control processor unit stores in memory a credit for each returned garment for each authorized user returning a garment.

12. The system of claim 12 further comprising a dispensing system for issuing a garment to said user having said credit.