Automatic dispenser of portable terminals

Abstract

Automatic dispenser (10) of portable terminals (100), comprising a vertical body (11) having a fully closed storage area (20) including a plurality of compartments (50) for storing a corresponding plurality of portable terminals (100) to be taken by authorised users. At least one access door (25) is arranged on said vertical body (11) at said storage area (20) to provide for a selective access within the storage area (20). The dispenser (10) comprises a wireless charging unit arranged within said storage area (20) at each compartment (50) and an air conditioning system (200) configured to control temperature and humidity of each compartment (50).

Claims

1. Automatic dispenser of portable terminals, comprising: a vertical body having a fully closed storage area including a plurality of compartments for storing a corresponding plurality of portable terminals to be taken by authorized users, wherein the plurality of compartments are arranged on a plurality of superposed circular support members which are independently movable clockwise and/or anticlockwise relative to each other; at least one access door arranged on the vertical body at the storage area and providing for a selective access within the storage area; a wireless charging unit including a wireless power transmitter coil arranged at each compartment of the plurality of compartments to correspond to a wireless power receiving coil in the portable terminal stored in the compartment; an air conditioning system configured to control temperature and humidity of each compartment of the plurality of compartments within the storage area; and a user authorization device configured to authenticate a user, wherein the at least one superposed support member is configured to rotate to bring a portable terminal assigned to the authenticated user to an access door proximate the authorization device and enable the access door to be opened in response to authenticating the user.

2. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system comprises an air conditioning circuit extending within the storage area and passing through each compartment of the plurality of compartments.

3. The automatic dispenser of claim 2, wherein the air conditioning circuit is a closed circuit with full recycle of the air.

4. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system comprises at least one air filtration unit.

5. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, comprising at least one sterilization station arranged within the storage area and configured to perform sterilization of the portable terminals stored within the automatic dispenser.

6. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein the storage area has a substantially cylindrical shape and the plurality of compartments are arranged on a plurality of superposed circular support members.

7. The automatic dispenser of claim 6, wherein the air conditioning system comprises an air conditioning circuit extending within the storage area and passing through each compartment of the plurality of compartments, and wherein the air conditioning circuit comprises a central vertical hollow tube and wherein the support members are coaxially connected to the vertical hollow tube and extend radially outwardly therefrom.

8. The automatic dispenser of claim 7, wherein the vertical hollow tube comprises an inner channel and an outer channel connected to the inner channel for the passage of air from the inner channel to the outer channel, wherein the support members are connected to the outer channel.

9. The automatic dispenser of claim 8, wherein the inner channel comprises an air inlet portion at the top thereof and an air exit portion at the bottom thereof and wherein the outer channel is closed at the top portion thereof and is connected to the inner channel at the bottom portion thereof.

10. The automatic dispenser of claim 8, wherein the outer channel comprises an opening at each compartment of the plurality of compartments for the passage of air from the outer channel to the compartment.

11. The automatic dispenser of claim 10, wherein each compartment of the plurality of compartment comprises a seat for housing a portable terminal of the plurality of portable terminals, wherein at least one hole is formed in the seat for the passage of air from the compartment to the seat.

12. The automatic dispenser of claim 6, comprising a first plurality of access doors angularly spaced apart from each other, wherein each door of the plurality is configured to be opened independently from the others.

13. The automatic dispenser of claim 12, comprising at least one second access door vertically spaced apart from a respective door of the first plurality of access doors.

14. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein the at least one sterilization station is configured to perform sterilization of the portable terminals within the automatic dispenser via at least one of UV radiation, static filtration, electrostatic filtration.

15. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein each wireless charging unit is configured to detect a presence of a portable terminal being placed within the corresponding compartment and initiate wireless power charging in response thereto.

16. An automatic dispenser of portable data terminals, comprising: a vertical body having a fully closed storage area including a plurality of compartments for storing a corresponding plurality of portable terminals to be taken by authorized users, wherein the plurality of compartments are arranged on a plurality of superposed support members which are independently movable clockwise and/or anticlockwise relative to each other; at least one access door arranged on the vertical body at the storage area and providing for a selective access within the storage area; a wireless charging unit including a wireless power transmitter coil arranged at each compartment of the plurality of compartments to correspond to a wireless power receiving coil in the portable terminal stored in the compartment; and a user authorization device configured to authenticate a user, wherein the at least one superposed circular support member is configured to rotate to bring a portable terminal assigned to the authenticated user to an access door proximate the authorization device and enable the access door to be opened in response to authenticating the user.

17. The automatic dispenser of claim 16, comprising at least one card reader configured to read a fidelity card associated with the user.

18. The automatic dispenser of claim 16, further comprising at least one additional user authorization device configured to authenticate a user, wherein the user authorization device and the at least one additional user authorization device are spaced apart from each other and disposed adjacent to a corresponding access door for the support members to bring the portable terminal to depending on which user authorization device was used to authenticate the user.

19. The automatic dispenser of claim 18, wherein the circular support members configured to be operable simultaneously to bring different portable terminals to different access doors if multiple user authorization devices authenticate activate the automatic dispenser at overlapping intervals.

20. The automatic dispenser of claim 16, further comprising an ID code reader at each compartment of the plurality of compartments and configured to for identification of, and communication to and from, the portable terminals.

Description

(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the automatic dispenser of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made purely as a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective and partially sectioned view of a preferred embodiment of the automatic dispenser of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the dispenser of FIG. 1 in a different operative configuration thereof and from a slightly different point of observation;

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the internal area of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

(6) In FIGS. 1 to 4, an automatic dispenser of portable terminals in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated with numeral reference 10.

(7) The dispenser 10 is intended to be used in a store or shopping centre to provide authorised users or customers with portable terminals in order to carry out self-shopping operations.

(8) The dispenser 10 comprises a substantially vertical body 11.

(9) In the specific example shown in the attached drawings, the vertical body 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape.

(10) The vertical body 11 comprises a bottom portion 11a, an upper portion 11b and a cover element 12 arranged above the upper portion 11b to close the vertical body 11 at the top thereof.

(11) As shown in FIG. 4, the upper portion 11b defines in the vertical body 11a fully closed storage area 20.

(12) A plurality of compartments 50 are provided within the storage area 20. For the sake of clarity, in FIG. 4 numeral reference 50 has been affixed to only some of the abovementioned compartments.

(13) Each compartment 50 is configured to house a corresponding portable terminal. FIGS. 2-4 show an example of a portable terminal, labeled with 100, housed in a compartment 50 of the dispenser 10.

(14) The storage area 20 may be provided with a transparent outer surface enabling the internal area thereof to be observed from the outside. Alternatively, as in the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the outer surface is opaque.

(15) The upper portion 11b includes a plurality of access doors 25 allowing selective access of the users to the storage area 20. One of this access door 25 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the open position thereof.

(16) In an embodiment not shown, the dispenser 10 comprises just one access door 25.

(17) The opening of the access doors 25 can occur automatically or manually by sliding, as shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 3, or by pivoting on hinges provided on the upper portion 11b. The opening of each access door 25 is controlled by a control unit 15 arranged within the vertical body 11, for example in the bottom portion 11a thereof, as shown in FIG. 1.

(18) If more than one access door 25 is provided, the access doors 25 are configured to be opened independently from each other.

(19) Preferably, the access doors 25 are angularly spaced apart from each other. For example, four access doors 25 can be provided, wherein each access door 25 is spaced apart of about 90 from another access door 25.

(20) More preferably, further access doors may also be arranged in the upper portion 11b vertically spaced apart from each access door 25.

(21) Preferably, the access doors 25 are configured to be closed during blackout or malfunctioning in order to prevent access within the storage area 20 in such a special circumstances. Alternatively, a backup battery can be provided in the dispenser 10 to keep the dispenser 10 fully operative even when the external power supply is missing.

(22) As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the dispenser 10 further comprises, at the upper portion 11b, a plurality of card readers 30 for users identification.

(23) Preferably, the card readers 30 read optical codes printed on fidelity cards own by the users so as to identify each user and assign a portable terminal 100 to him/her.

(24) In an embodiment not shown, the dispenser 10 comprises just one card reader 30.

(25) If more than one car reader 30 is provided, the card readers 30 are preferably angularly spaced apart from each. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, four card readers 30 can be provided, wherein each card reader 30 is spaced apart of about 90 from another card reader 30.

(26) Preferably, each card reader 30 is arranged adjacent to a respective access door 25 in order to reduce the time spent by the users to take the portable terminals 100 and to avoid the users to hunt for the portable device 100 which has been assigned to him/her.

(27) The dispenser 10 further comprises, at the upper portion 11b, a plurality of displays 40.

(28) For example, the displays 40 can provide the users with information about the fidelity card and/or with the amount to be paid and/or with advertising information.

(29) Advertising information can be also provided to the user by affixing on the outer surface of the vertical body 11 advertising posters.

(30) In an embodiment not shown, the dispenser 10 comprises just one display 40.

(31) If more than one display 40 is provided, the displays 40 are preferably angularly spaced apart from each. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, four displays 40 can be provided, wherein each display 40 is spaced apart of about 90 from another display 40.

(32) Preferably, each display 40 is arranged above a respective card reader 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(33) One or more keyboards (not shown) can be provided, each one being preferably arranged at, or close to, a respective card reader 30.

(34) As better shown in FIG. 4, the compartments 50 are arranged on a plurality of superposed circular support members 60 which are preferably movable clockwise and/or anticlockwise. More preferably, each support members 60 rotates independently from the others. Alternatively, all the support members 60 can rotate together as a whole.

(35) In case all the access doors 25 are provided at a same height, the support members 60 can move also vertically.

(36) The compartments 50 of each support member 60 extend radially from a tube 70 extending vertically at the centre of the storage area 20.

(37) In the example shown in the attached drawings, the tube 70 is hollow and comprises an inner channel 71 and an outer channel 72 arranged in a radially outer position with respect to, and coaxially to, the inner channel 71. The support members 60 are connected to the outer channel 72.

(38) Each compartment 50 comprises a seat 51 for housing the portable terminal 100. Preferably, the seat 51 is U-shaped and is configured to allow accommodation of different versions of portable terminals 100, such as handheld versions or gun-shaped versions. For the sake of clarity, in FIG. 4 numeral reference 51 has been affixed to only some of the abovementioned seats.

(39) A wireless charging unit 55 is arranged within each compartment 50 for charging/recharging the battery of the portable terminal 100 housed in the seat 51. For the sake of clarity, in FIG. 4 numeral reference 55 has been affixed to only some of the abovementioned charging units.

(40) For example, each wireless charging unit 55 comprises one or more transmissive element (not shown), for example a TX coil, communicating with dedicated microcontroller (not shown) or with the central unit 15 or with a remote control station (not shown) and with a receiving element, for example a Rx coil, arranged within each portable terminals 100. Each transmissive element is able to detect the presence of a portable terminal 100 in the seat 51 and to start charging the battery of the portable terminal 100.

(41) Preferably, an ID code reader (not show) is provided at each seat 51 for allowing identification of the portable terminals 100. More preferably, the ID code is an IP address or a different custom code associated to each portable terminal 100 and configured to allow communication with the portable terminal 100.

(42) The dispenser 10 further comprises an air conditioning system 200 configured to control temperature and humidity of each compartment 50.

(43) In the specific example herein described, the air conditioning system 200 comprises an air conditioning power station 210 arranged within the vertical body 11 (for example in the bottom portion 11a thereof, as shown in FIG. 1) and an air conditioning circuit 220 extending within said storage area 20 and passing through each compartment 50.

(44) The air conditioning circuit 220 can be a closed circuit with full recycle of the air or an open circuit with full or partial integration of external air.

(45) The air conditioning system is designed and controlled by the air conditioning power station 210 to provide within the storage area 20 a temperature preferably between 8 C. and 18 C. and a humidity preferably below 10%.

(46) The air conditioning can be provided by an internal HVAC system or supplied by external water or air treated by external HVAC systems.

(47) Preferably, the air conditioning circuit 220 further comprises one or more filtration units (shown) arranged within the storage area 20.

(48) One or more sterilization stations (not shown) can be provided within the storage area 20 as well. The sterilization unit can comprise UV lamps. Alternatively or in addition to the UV lamps, sterilization can be obtained by static filtration or electrostatic filtration.

(49) Preferably, the central tube 70 is part of the air conditioning circuit 200.

(50) In the specific example shown in the attached drawings, and specifically in FIG. 4, the inner channel 71 comprises an air inlet portion 71a at the top thereof and an air exit portion (not shown) at the bottom thereof and the outer channel 72 is closed at the top portion thereof and is connected to the inner channel 71 at the bottom portion thereof so as to obtain an air flow within the inner channel 71 from the top to the bottom and an air flow in the outer channel 72 from the bottom to the top.

(51) In order to allow the air flowing in the outer channel 72 from the inner channel 71 to pass through the compartments 50 and reach the portable terminals 100 housed in the seats 51, the outer channel 72 comprises an opening 75 at each compartment 50 for the passage of air from outer channel 72 to the compartment 50 and each seat 51 has at least one hole 52 for the passage of air from the compartment 50 to seat 51. For the sake of clarity, in FIG. 4 numeral references 75 and 52 have been affixed to only some of abovementioned openings and holes, respectively.

(52) The path of the forced air flow is shown in FIG. 4 by appropriate arrows.

(53) In a specific embodiment designed by the Applicant, seven support members 60 are provided, each support member 60 supporting fourteen compartments 50, so that ninety-eight compartments 50 are provided within the storage area 20.

(54) In operation, the portable terminals 100 housed within the storage area 20 are kept at a temperature and humidity controlled condition in order to allow a quick and effective charging of the portable terminal battery as well as to avoid proliferation of undesired bacterium and contaminants onto the portable terminals 100. When an user is identified and authorized to take one of the abovementioned portable terminal 100 upon reading of his/her fidelity card by the card reader 30, the support member 60 which supports the compartment 50 wherein the portable terminal 100 assigned to the user is housed rotates to bring the portable terminal 100 in front of the access door 25 close to the card reader 30 where the user has been identified. The access door 25 automatically or manually opens and the user can take the portable terminal 100 and carry out a self-shopping operation.

(55) Of course, a man skilled in the art can make further changes and modifications to above-described dispenser 10 in order to meet specific and contingent application requirements, these changes and modifications in any case falling within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.