Power pack vending apparatus, system and method of use for charging packs with biased locking arrangement

• Main Authors: Dangora, James, Hamilton, IV, Calhoun B, Rostlund, Anders Olof, Burns, Scott C, Krapfl, Clifford, Brinkman, Ross, Hatch, Paul
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2022
• Subjects: CALCULATING; CHECKING-DEVICES; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS; COMPUTING; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

A power pack vending system comprises a plurality of kiosks including a magazine having a plurality of slots, and a plurality of rechargeable power packs. Each power pack has a unique identifier and is sized to be received within one slot. Each kiosk includes a computer for receiving and storing the unique identifier of each power pack received within the magazine, the specific slot the power pack is in, and current power pack information. The kiosk computer controls a charging unit for charging the power packs. The system includes a central management operation comprising a central computer and central database. The management operation communicates with each kiosk and the central database includes a database storing power pack information for every power pack and a database storing customer information. The central management operation receives, stores and processes information received from the kiosks and sends information to each of the kiosks.