Patent ID: 6694221
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
An office supply dispensing apparatus, comprising:a cabinet defining an enclosed space and having at least one door, said at least one door having a secured position wherein access to said enclosed space is prevented; at least one surface within said enclosed space, said at least one surface being configured to receive a quantity of an office supply item: a controlled inventory arrangement comprising a memory for storing a programmable protocol, a processor for processing said programmable protocol, a user interface electrically connected to said processor, said user interface configured to receive a user identification input, a weight sensor electrically connected to said processor, wherein said weight sensor is operatively associated with said at least one surface to determine the weight of said Quantity of said office supply item; wherein said controlled inventory arrangement is configured to release said at least one door from said secured position in response to processing of said programmable protocol upon receiving an approved user identification input; wherein said controlled inventory arrangement is additionally configured to determine a change in said Quantity of an office supply item in response to processing of said programmable protocol upon determining a change in weight of said Quantity of said office supply item; and wherein said controlled inventory arrangement additionally comprises a calibration input device electrically connected to said processor, said processor operating to modify said programmable protocol in response to calibration data received from said calibration input device.