US 7,584,869 B2
Article dispensing system and method for same
Michael DeLazzer, Bloomingdale, Ill. (US); and Franz Kuehnrich, Bartlett, Ill. (US)
Assigned to Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, Oak Brook, Ill. (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/767,065.
Application 11/767065 is a division of application No. 10/824781, filed on Apr. 15, 2004, granted, now 7,234,609.
Prior Publication US 2008/0041871 A1, Feb. 21, 2008
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65H 1/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 221—197  [221/7; 221/79; 221/87; 221/124; 221/129; 221/130; 221/216; 221/287] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of transporting and installing articles slated for inventory to an article dispensing machine, comprising the steps of:
loading a plurality of articles of inventory into an article transport storage unit, wherein the article transport storage unit comprises an opaque housing which is constructed to prevent the plurality of articles of inventory from being visually identified from outside of the article transport storage unit after the articles of inventory are loaded into the article transport storage unit;
assigning the article transport storage unit to an article dispensing machine, wherein the article dispensing machine comprises an article transport storage unit receiving station;
causing the article transport storage unit to be in a locked condition wherein the plurality of articles of inventory cannot be accessed;
causing delivery of the locked article transport storage unit to the article dispensing machine;
permitting installation of the locked article transport storage unit into the article transport storage unit receiving station of the article dispensing machine; and,
following installation of the article transport storage unit into the article transport storage unit receiving station of the article dispensing machine, causing the article transport storage unit to enter an unlocked condition for allowing access to the plurality of articles.