A safe, integrated dye sublimation printer apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to print one or more images. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be incorporated into a fully-enclosed vending machine, equipped with one or more product storage containers, to provide on-demand persona
A safe, integrated dye sublimation printer apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to print one or more images. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be incorporated into a fully-enclosed vending machine, equipped with one or more product storage containers, to provide on-demand personalized sublimated products and accessories for a consumer.
대표청구항▼
1. A vending apparatus for providing a user with a customized sublimated product, comprising: a dye sublimation printer configured to receive a digital image file representing an image from the user and further configured to print the received image;a substrate configured to receive the customized s
1. A vending apparatus for providing a user with a customized sublimated product, comprising: a dye sublimation printer configured to receive a digital image file representing an image from the user and further configured to print the received image;a substrate configured to receive the customized sublimated product;one or more product storage containers configured to store a plurality of products;a robotic transport mechanism configured to retrieve a selected product from a storage container, and transport the product within the vending apparatus;a cooling system configured to cool the sublimated product to at least about an ambient temperature;a delivery opening configured to provide the cooled product to the user;a housing substantially enclosing the dye sublimation printer, substrate, one or more product storage containers, robotic transport mechanism, and cooling system in a manner that prevents a user from contacting the enclosed components; anda user interface device configured to permit the user to determine one or more images for printing, select one of the plurality of products on which to sublimate the one or more images, and facilitate payment by the user for the sublimated product. 2. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate further comprises a linear motion stage, and the substrate is configured to translate, via the linear motion stage, from a home position to a second position. 3. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the robotic transport mechanism is configured to translate along an H-shaped track, and comprises a telescoping robotic arm. 4. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the robotic transport mechanism comprises an end effector comprising one or more of a mechanical implement configured to interface with a product storage container and a sensor configured to determine information associated with the product storage container. 5. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received image is modified to permit sublimation of the image onto the product. 6. The vending apparatus of claim 4, wherein the robotic transport mechanism comprises multiple end effectors. 7. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface device is configured to transmit or receive information from a mobile application associated with one or more of a manufacturer of the vending apparatus, a retailer hosting the vending apparatus, or a third party. 8. The vending apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information comprises one or more of information associated with the user's desired product to be sublimated, information associated with an image or text to be sublimated on the product, information associated with payment for the sublimated product, information comprising a location of the nearest vending apparatus, or a code configured to facilitate access by the user interface device to information associated with a saved transaction ordered from the mobile application. 9. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface device is configured to: prompt the user to determine if additional sublimated products are desired;provide the user with information enabling later orders of additional sublimated products; andtransmit information associated with the sublimation task to a remote server to facilitate later orders of additional sublimated products. 10. The vending apparatus of claim 9, wherein the later orders are to be produced at a remote facility associated with one or more of a manufacturer of the vending apparatus, a retailer hosting the vending apparatus, or a third party and shipped to the user. 11. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling system comprises a heat sink in the form of a plate comprised of a thermally conductive material selected from the group consisting of copper, brass, aluminum, and steel. 12. The vending apparatus of claim 4, wherein the end effector comprises a sensor configured to determine information associated with the product storage container. 13. The vending apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit the information associated with the product storage container to a remote server. 14. The vending apparatus of claim 12, wherein the determined information comprises a count of the inventory that the product storage container contains. 15. The vending apparatus of claim 12, wherein the determined information comprises information associated with one or more of the vending apparatus, the product contained within the product storage container, the manufacturer of the vending apparatus, a retailer hosting the vending apparatus, or a third party. 16. The vending apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured to compile a report comprising the determined information. 17. The vending apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further configured to display the report to a user via the user interface device. 18. The vending apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to alter the information displayed to a user on the user interface device based on the determined count of inventory. 19. The vending apparatus of claim 18, wherein the alteration comprises one or more of an indication that a product or accessory is out of stock or an indication that only a certain quantity of products or accessories less than or equal to the determined count of inventory are available. 20. The vending apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more storage containers contains a product comprising multiple sublimatable items etched onto the product that may be individually punched out.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (154)
Jehnert Walt ; Hughey Stephen A. ; Eakes James W. ; Darr Roger Raymond, Apparatus and method for supervising derived channel communications.
Buckley Stephen P. (Kansas City MO) Robinson Richard A. (Parkville MO) Pfahl Kurt A. (Leawood MO) Doerflinger Arthur E. (Kansas City MO) Banks Thomas B. (Prairie Village KS) Vandemark Lynn (Shawnee K, Computer controlled machine for vending personalized products or the like.
Chelliah Raman ; Cornez Jason S. ; Dellar Carl ; Harrison Stephen ; Hempe John A. ; Hsu Chih-Cheng ; Golin Eric J. ; Price Charles A. ; Rutta Neal S. ; Wood Thomas A. ; Yamamoto Wayne K., Computer system and method for electronic commerce.
Suzuki,Taro; Suzuki,Masamitsu; Kita,Tatsuya; Oshima,Katsuyuki, Curl straightening method for image receiving paper for sublimation dye transfer and curl straightening device therefor.
Berghauser Donald C. (4664 S. Union St. Morrison CO 80465) Berghauser Sally H. (4664 S. Union St. Morrison CO 80465), Instant color sublimation transfers.
Will, Gary Edward; Tarter, Mark Leslie; Solace, Bryan Keith; Huss, James Francis; Shoenhair, Jordan Daniel, Integrated sublimation transfer printing apparatus.
Powell Kenneth A. (523 Sunset Ann Arbor MI) Crawford Andrew S. (523 Sunset Ann Arbor MI 48103), Interactive design terminal for custom imprinted articles.
Banks Thomas B. (Prairie Village KS) Laughlin Daniel B. (Kansas City MO), Method and apparatus for display sequencing personalized social occasion products.
Wallace Elizabeth (134 Mountain King Boulder CO 80302) Spelz ; Sr. John B. (134 Mountain King Boulder CO 80302), Method and apparatus for producing needlework canvas.
McIntyre, Dale F.; Cooper, Andrew T.; Weir, Robert F., Method and system for notifying a consumer that the photofinishing order is ready and for controlling inventory of photofinishing orders in a business.
Murray, Tomas; Jansson, Edward, Method for reducing capacity demands for conveying geographic location information over capacity constrained wireless systems.
Ferguson, Patrick; Newton, Paul Geoffrey; Neri, Kenneth, Method for thermally printing a dye image onto a three dimensional object using flexible heating elements.
Haigh ; deceased John M. (10421 Londonridge Ct. late of Baton Rouge LA) Quinlan ; administrator by Joyce E. (10421 Londonridge Ct. Cincinnati OH 45252), Method of dye absorption into the surface of plastic.
Murray, Tomás; Jansson, Edward R.; Comer, Edward Irby; Nicolaides, Alexander; Garcia Peralta, Juan Manuel, Methods and system for managing vending operations based on wireless data.
Hale Nathan S. (Mt. Pleasant SC) Xu Ming (Mt. Pleasant SC), Printing method of applying a polymer surface material and substrate produced by the method.
Xu Ming (Mt. Pleasant SC) Hale Nathan S. (Mt. Pleasant SC), Printing method of applying a polymer surface material and substrate produced by the method.
Lion Jean-Pierre,FRX, Process for continuously printing a plastic film, device for carrying out the process and printed plastic film obtained by the process.
Helma, Thomas Richard; Jones, Terrence K.; Maynard, Raymond Eugene; Sadeck, Richard Michael, Single-pass double-sided image transfer process and system.
Arledge, Jr., Sol E.; Pasquantino, Bernard D.; Wakefield, G. Steve, System and method for preparing customized printed products over a communications network.
Downs, Roland Joseph; Adams, Christopher Michael; Holweger, Jon Michael, System and method for the transfer of color and other physical properties to laminate composite materials and other articles.
Davidson Leonard (Los Angeles CA) Russell Matt (Glendale CA) Allred Scott (Riverside CA) Russell Michael S. (Glendale CA), System for creating and producing custom card products.
Sedam Jason K. (Dunwoody GA) Hale James V. M. (Dunwoody GA) Caldwell Stewart W. (Marietta GA) Bushman Willard T. (Palm Bay FL) Wright Richard A. (Melbourne FL), System for the remote monitoring of vending machines.
Chauvin, Lou; Bussey, Howard E.; Dobbs, Christopher M.; Parulski, Kenneth A.; Thompson, Timothy G.; Foster, John A.; Gotham, Pamela J., System, method and software product for ordering image products using images stored on a digital storage device from a plurality of order terminals.
Kolls, H. Brock, Vending machine control system having access to the internet for the purposes of transacting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business, and for conducting vending transactions.
Will, Gary Edward; Tarter, Mark Leslie; Solace, Bryan Keith; Huss, James Francis, Automated simultaneous multiple article sublimation printing process and apparatus.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.