Abstract:
An orthotic vending machine may comprise a measuring apparatus and an orthotic fabricating apparatus. The measuring apparatus may comprises a plurality of probes capable of sensing pressure at various pixels on the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet at various configurations (e.g., flat plane, shoe contour, or prescriptive optimal) and determining the heights at the various pixels for the various configurations. The fabricating apparatus may lay down a plurality of discs on a base layer having different hardnesses based on the measured pressure and heights by the measuring apparatus to fabricate customized orthotics. Alternatively, the fabricating apparatus may form the customized orthotic via solidifying a polymerizeable material in a honeycomb structure based on the measured pressure and heights by the measuring apparatus. As a further alternative, the fabricating apparatus may form the customized orthotic via milling orthotic blanks based on the measured pressure and heights by the measuring apparatus. The orthotic vending machine may be placed in shoe retail shops such that shoe purchasers may purchase a shoe and a customized orthotic during one visit to the shoe store.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/709,878, filed Aug. 19, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Also, this application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/793,446, filed Apr. 20, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to an orthotic vending machine, a method of measuring a pressure distribution on underside surfaces of a person&#39;s feet, a method of fabricating orthotics, a method of marketing orthotics in a retail environment, and a process of delivering custom products (e.g., customized orthotics, etc.) at the Point of Purchase. 
         [0004]    The human foot is an engineering marvel having an intricate biomechanical composition of twenty-six bones, thirty-three joints and a complicated arrangement of muscles and ligaments. The bones, joints, and muscles intricately cooperate with each other to propel the person over an average of 100,000 miles during the person&#39;s life. Unfortunately, such repetitive and demanding use of the foot magnifies any minor foot problem into a major issue. 
         [0005]    Foot problems affect the person&#39;s comfort level while standing, walking, or running. Moreover, foot problems may affect other areas of the person&#39;s body. For example, foot problems may affect the person&#39;s posture over a long period of time. Additionally, pain or injury may appear in the person&#39;s feet, ankles, shins, knees, hips or back. 
         [0006]    Over-the-counter orthotics may be purchased to address foot problems. Unfortunately, over-the-counter orthotics do not appropriately resolve most foot problems. Moreover, the foot problems that over-the-counter orthotics do resolve are not always resolved effectively. Many foot problems are not effectively resolved using over-the-counter orthotics because over-the-counter (OTC) orthotics are typically designed for the average foot and do not take into consideration the wide degree of variance in foot structure, contour, gait, pronation, and supination unique to each person. 
         [0007]    A large population does not fit within the average category, and over-the-counter products do not effectively address the foot problems of these users. Even if there is an OTC product that works for an individual finding it is a challenge since there are so many products to choose from. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, not only are our feet unique compared to everyone else, our own two feet maybe different thereby necessitating a different orthotic for each foot. Simply put, each person needs a customized orthotic for each foot to redistribute pressures applied to the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet based on the unique combination of foot to foot differences, foot contour, body weight, life style, and other factors. 
         [0009]    In the alternative, a person may purchase customized orthotics from a podiatrist. The podiatrist may form a mold of the person&#39;s feet or take an electronic contour reading. The mold/reading is sent to an orthotics manufacturer for fabrication. The orthotic manufacturer may fabricate the customized orthotics based on the mold/reading and send the fabricated orthotics to the doctor or directly to the patient. Unfortunately, customized orthotics may be cost and time prohibitive. Customized orthotics take approximately one to eight weeks to manufacture and deliver to the patient. Moreover, customized orthotics are costly, from several hundred dollars to $1,200. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method of fabricating orthotics and providing orthotics to patients. There is also a need in the art for improved orthotics. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present invention addresses the needs discussed above as well as other needs addressed below and those known in the art. An orthotic vending machine may be placed in a retail shoe store for the purpose of providing the shoe purchaser with a pair of orthotics within about ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes such that the user may simultaneously purchase 1) a pair of shoes and 2) a pair of orthotics customized to fit the purchased shoes and the user&#39;s feet. By way of example and not limitation, a user may purchase shoes from a shoe store. Unfortunately, a manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles) provided with the purchased shoes may be sub-optimal for the user because the manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles) may not bring the distribution of pressure on the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet to optimal biomechanical positioning. For example, the arch regions of the manufacturer&#39;s insert may be too hard, too soft, too high or too low for the user thereby applying too much or too little pressure under the arches of the user&#39;s feet. Fortunately, the user may purchase a pair of customized orthotics with the orthotic vending machine to optimally redistribute the pressures on the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet. Each vended orthotic may be disposed on top of the manufacturer&#39;s shoe insole to optimally redistribute the pressure applied to the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet. Alternatively and preferably, the manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles) may be discarded, and each vended orthotic may be disposed on top of an upper surface of the shoe&#39;s soles. Alternatively, each vended orthotic may be disposed between the manufacturer&#39;s insole and the shoe&#39;s sole. Based on various factors, e.g., (selected shoe, etc.), the orthotic vending machine may recommend one of the three placements and/or inform the customer why such placement is recommended. The same process can be used for pre-owned shoes in a doctors office, a clinic, or virtually any place one may wish. 
         [0012]    In the operation of the orthotic vending machine, the user may stand upon platforms of the vending machine. The vending machine may then measure the pressure distribution to the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet at small pixilated areas thereof. After the customer selects the shoe type, style and manufacturer the pressure sensing pixels are moved into position to emulate the manufacturer&#39;s insole contours. The vending machine then displays the changes in foot pressure distribution based on the shoe selected. Next, the customer pushes a button and the machine moves the pixels in accordance to a prescriptive algorithum that will equalize pressure under all aspects of the foot. This will allow the customer to effectively feel what the new shoe insert/orthotic will feel like. In addition to being able to feel the effects of the potential new insert/orthotic the customer will be able to see on the LCD touch screen a graphic display of the corrected pressure distribution effected by the prescriptive insert. Based on the measured contour heights and the measured pressure distribution, the vending machine may fabricate a pair of customized orthotics in about ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes. Accordingly, the user may purchase a pair of shoes from a retail shoe store then purchase and take home a pair of customized orthotics in a single visit to the retail shoe store. The vending machine promotes sales of orthotics because the user does not have to wait until customized orthotics are fabricated off site which may take up to one to eight weeks, and the vended orthotics may be reasonably priced. 
         [0013]    The orthotic vending machine measures the height contours and the pressure distribution with a plurality of probes operative to measure a height and a pressure of the underside surface of each foot of the user. The probes may include a stud and a hexagonal shaped cap. The stud may have a long cylindrical configuration. The cap may have a flat distal tip. The flat distal tip may have a transducer attached thereto to sense pressure. The aggregate of flat distal tips forms the platforms. The studs may be sized and configured to be received into a plurality of apertures formed in a support plate. The apertures may be threaded, and the studs may be threaded so as to be threadably insertable into the threaded apertures. The plurality of apertures and the plurality of probes may be divided into two (2) sets of apertures and probes. In particular, a first left set of probes and apertures may be disposed approximately eighteen (18) inches apart from a second right set of probes and apertures. The distance between the first and second sets of probes and apertures may be varied based upon the average foot width stance of the user. 
         [0014]    In operating the vending machine, the flat distal tips may be vertically traversed by rotating the stud into and out of the apertures. The studs may be rotated such that the aggregate of flat distal tips (i.e., the platforms) forms a flat surface. The user may stand on the platforms with the left foot over the first set of probes and the right foot over the second set of probes. The transducers may sense the pressure on the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet to obtain mapped pressure distributions regarding how the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet supports the weight of the user. 
         [0015]    The user may then input the manufacturer and model of shoes, which the user has purchased, will purchase, or is thinking about purchasing. The vending machine may simulate the feeling of the shoes by retrieving information relating to inner surface contours of the inputted shoes and traversing the probe distal tips to simulate the retrieved inner surface contours. This provides the user with an idea of how the purchased shoes will feel without customized orthotics. At this position, the transducers may map a pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet. Thereafter, the vending machine may then traverse the probes to optimize the distribution of pressure on the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet to accomodate optimal biomechanical positioning. This provides the user with an idea of how the purchased shoes will feel with customized orthotics. The probes are vertically traversed until the pressure distribution to the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet meets with the machines diagnostic prescriptive algorithym selected for that particular individual. The information related to the inner surface contours of the selected shoes, the vertical traversal of the probes to bring the pressure distribution to optimal biomechanical positioning, and the associated mapped pressure distribution at the various positions of the probes may be used to calculate a contour and a hardness of the vended orthotics. 
         [0016]    If the user decides to purchase customized orthotics, then a computer program of the vending machine may calculate a specific contour, thickness and a hardness of the customized orthotics to optimally redistribute the pressure on the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet based on the sensed pressure distribution and the sensed height contours of the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet. 
         [0017]    The computer may then command an orthotic molding apparatus (first or second version) or a milling apparatus to fabricate the customized orthotics based on the calculated thickness and the calculated hardness thereof. In a first version of the orthotic molding apparatus, the same may comprise a polymerizable material delivery system, a plurality of cavities and a fabrication plate. The polymerizable material may be a two (2) part silicone, polyurethane or other comprising of a resin and a catalyst. The delivery system may have a resin reservoir and a catalyst reservoir which are respectively fillable with resin and catalyst. The resin reservoir may be connected to pumps to deliver the resin to outputs of resin nozzles traverseably disposable above each of the plurality of cavities. The delivery system may also have a catalyst reservoir fillable with the catalyst. The catalyst reservoir may be in fluid communication with pumps operative to deliver the catalyst to outputs of catalyst nozzles traverseably disposable above each of the plurality of cavities. The outputs of the resin and catalyst nozzles may have an elongate thin configuration to deliver respective thin films of the resin and the catalyst to each of the plurality of cavities. The outputs of the resin and catalyst nozzles may be immediately adjacent to each other such that the resin thin film and the catalyst thin film may be sufficiently mixed together when disposed in the cavity. 
         [0018]    The computer may command the nozzles and the pumps to deliver a specific amount and ratio of resin and catalyst to each of the pluralities of cavities based on the calculated thickness and calculated hardness of the customized orthotics. When the mixed resin and catalyst is cured, a plurality of columnar pillars is formed which are held together by a thin film or layer at bottom portions of the plurality of columnar pillars. In particular, as the cavities are filled with the resin and catalyst, a small amount of mixed resin and catalyst squeezes out to adjacent cavities forming the layer or film. The plurality of cavities may be referred to as a honeycomb. 
         [0019]    More particularly, the fabrication plate may be disposed about 0.030 inches below a lower surface of the honeycomb. The mixed resin and catalyst fill the cavity, and a small portion of the mixed resin and catalyst is disbursed onto the fabrication plate spreading under adjacent cavities. As each of the cavities are filled with the mixed resin and catalyst, the small portions of mixed resin and catalyst disbursed on the fabrication plate forms the film or layer that holds the plurality of columnar pillars in fixed relationship to each other. 
         [0020]    As the polymerizeable material is being polymerized, the material slightly shrinks so as to move away from cell walls of the cavities. After the polymerizeable material has been polymerized, the fabrication plate is lowered away from the honeycomb to remove the polymerized material (i.e., plurality of columnar pillars) from the honeycomb. A first set of cavities may have a plurality of columnar pillars in the general shape of the left foot, and a second set of cavities may have a plurality of columnar pillars in the general shape of the right foot. As a final step, a knife may cut an outer periphery of the left orthotic and the right orthotic. Additionally, a fabric or other material cover may be attached to the orthotic. This material may also be infiltrated with a silver oxide or other bacteriocidal/fungicidal ingredient for the purpose of odor control and antifungal control. Thereafter, the orthotics may be presented to the customer. 
         [0021]    It is preferable to coat the cell walls of the honeycomb molding plate with nickel Teflon such that the polymerisable material does not stick thereto and may easily slide out of the cavities of the honeycomb. It is also preferable that the polymerized material be pushed out of the cavities. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, a second version of the orthotic molding apparatus may include two separate orthotic manufacturing units. The first orthotic manufacturing unit may fabricate an orthotic for a left foot of a person. Also, a second orthotic manufacturing unit may fabricate an othotic for a right foot of a person. The orthotic manufacturing unit may fabricate the orthotic by laying a plurality of discs on a base layer (e.g., fabric, and the like) and permanently attaching the discs to each other as well as to the base layer. The discs may be selectively attached to the base layer with respect to position, number of discs and hardness. Each of the orthotic manufacturing units may have a hopper, tube plate, dispensing plate, honeycomb, the base layer and the fabrication plate. The tube plate may be fabricated with at least three rows of a plurality of tubes. The tubes of each row may be longitudinally stacked in an offset manner to increase the longitudinal density of the number of tubes per row of tubes. One hopper may be placed over each row of tubes. Each hopper may contain a plurality of discs having the same hardness. Also, the discs in the different hoppers may have a different hardness. For example, a left hopper may contain a plurality of soft discs. A middle hopper may contain a plurality of medium hardness discs. A right hopper may contain a plurality of hard discs. 
         [0023]    The hopper may have four sidewalls which define an inner volume. The hopper may have a top cover which is removably engageable to a top of the four sidewalls. A bottom of the hopper may have a plurality of apertures which are sized and configured to receive a respective one of the tubes. The hopper may be filled with discs and the top cover placed on the hopper to prevent any of the discs from falling out of the hopper during operation. 
         [0024]    With the hopper, tube plate and dispensing plate in the position shown in  FIG. 11 , the hopper is rapidly traversed vertically in the plus and minus Y direction. As the hopper is moved up (see  FIG. 12 ) and down (see  FIG. 13 ), the discs within the hopper begin to fill up each of the tubes, as shown in  FIG. 12 . When the tubes are filled with discs, the hopper&#39;s vertical reciprocal movement is halted. At this point, the tubes of each of the rows of tubes have a plurality of discs filled therein. A different hardness disc is filled in each of the row of tubes. The dispensing plate is then traversed in the negative Z direction until a plurality of apertures of the dispensing plate is aligned to the rows of tubes in the x-direction. As the dispensing plate is traversed in the negative Z direction, the discs within the tubes slide on a top surface of the dispensing plate. When the apertures of the dispensing plate is aligned to the tubes in the x-direction, the tube plate is traversed in the negative X direction (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ) until the tubes are vertically aligned to the apertures, as shown in  FIG. 15 . At this point, the plurality of discs within the tubes slide down into the apertures of the dispensing plate. A bottom edge of the apertures of the dispensing plate has an internal inwardly directed edge which prevents the discs from falling out of the apertures of the dispensing plate. The tube plate is then traversed in the positive X direction and the dispensing plate is then traversed in the positive Z direction, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0025]    The plurality of discs are then displaced into a honeycomb and on a base layer by pushing the discs through a bottom surface of the dispensing plate via pins, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 16 . Once the discs fall through the bottom surface of the dispensing plate, the discs are received into an aperture of the honeycomb and on a base layer, as shown in  FIG. 17 . The base layer is disposed on a fabrication plate. The fabrication plate and a bottom surface of the honeycomb does not have a gap as described in the first version of the orthotic molding apparatus. Rather, the base layer contacts the bottom surface of the honeycomb such that the discs are not permitted to move out of alignment with the aperture of the honeycomb. The honeycomb and base layer are traversed in the positive and negative X direction until the apertures of the honeycomb are filled with the appropriate number of discs and hardness. 
         [0026]    Each of the apertures of the honeycomb may be filled with one or more discs of the same or different hardness. As such, each of the apertures of the honeycomb may be filled with one or more soft discs, one or more medium hardness discs, one or more hard discs, or any combination thereof. By this manner, each of the apertures of the honeycomb may be filled with two or more different hardness discs to fabricate a customized orthotic. 
         [0027]    The orthotic vending machine determines the number of discs and the hardness of the discs to insert into each aperture of the honeycomb based on the measured height contour and pressure distribution of the underside surface of the person&#39;s foot. Also, the orthotic vending machine builds the orthotic based on the determined thickness and hardness with discs via the method described herein. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 11 , although only one pin is shown, a plurality of pins may be positioned above the apertures of the dispensing plate. Each of the pins may push down the disc within the dispensing plate. The pin may be accurately vertically traversed such that the pin may displace only a selected number of discs into the apertures of the honeycomb. 
         [0029]    After the correct number of discs of a particular hardness has been filled within the appropriate apertures of the honeycomb, the discs are permanently attached to each other as well as to the base layer. By way of example and not limitation, each side of the disc may have an RF energy activated adhesive. After the correct number and type of discs have been disposed within the apertures of the honeycomb, the discs and the base layer may be exposed to RF energy which permanently attaches the discs to each other and to the base layer. A final cut in the shape of the inner periphery of the person&#39;s shoe is made to the base layer and discs such that the customized fabricated orthotic may be inserted in the person&#39;s shoe. 
         [0030]    The orthotics formed in the above mentioned manner may be fabricated in an inverted manner. 
         [0031]    In a third method of forming the orthotics which is via the milling apparatus, the same may have an entry port, laminator section and a milling section. The entry port is configured to align a near net shaped orthotic blank to the milling apparatus. The orthotic blank may be secured to a machining platen and subsequently milled via a milling head. The milling head mills the orthotic blank according to the measured pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet to bring the user&#39;s feet to an optimal biomechanical position. After the orthotic blank is milled via the milling head, a cover layer may be adhered to the top surfaces of the left and right orthotic blanks. 
         [0032]    The orthotics formed in the above mentioned manner in relation to the milling apparatus may be fabricated in a right side up manner. 
         [0033]    The vending machine may also comprise of a display which is operative to display instructions to guide the purchaser or user in operating the vending machine. The display may also provide information regarding the sensed pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet. 
         [0034]    The computer may also have a communications port for providing a communications pathway to an offsite server, financial institution or a medical doctor (i.e., podiatrist). The server may be operative to transmit information related to the inner surfaces of a plurality of shoes to the vending machine. The server may also be operative to receive status information from a plurality of sensors attached to various components of the vending machine for the purpose of maintenance and the like. The communications port may communicate with a financial institution to debit a credit card account or bank account of the user such that the user may pay for the customized orthotics. Moreover, the communications port may provide a communications pathway to a medical doctor for on-line, virtual, or telephonic consultations. The vending machine may advertise specific products and/or refer customers to podiatrists, therapist, etc. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0036]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an orthotics vending machine wherein a computer of the machine is in communication with a server, financial institution, and/or a medical doctor via a communications pathway; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a measuring apparatus and a first version of an orthotic molding apparatus of the orthotics vending machine shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 2A  is an enlarged view of the measuring apparatus illustrating a plurality of probes threadably insertable into a plurality of apertures of a support plate; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the probe shown in  FIG. 2A  wherein the probe has a stud and a cap; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the measuring apparatus and the molding apparatus shown in  FIG. 2  illustrating nozzles traverseably disposable over a cavity; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the measuring apparatus and the molding apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged top view of a plurality of cavities; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the cavities shown in  FIG. 5  illustrating nozzles disposed over the cavity and a different amount of resin and catalyst in each of the cavities; 
           [0044]      FIG. 6A  is a cross sectional view of the cavities shown in  FIG. 5  illustrating a cured resin/catalyst mixture wherein the mixture has shrunk after curing; 
           [0045]      FIG. 7A  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the first version of the orthotic molding apparatus placed on top of a manufacturer&#39;s insole; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7B  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the first version of the orthotic molding apparatus placed on top of a shoe&#39;s sole; 
           [0047]      FIG. 7C  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the first version of the orthotic molding apparatus interposed between the shoe&#39;s sole and the manufacturer&#39;s insert; 
           [0048]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 9  is a foot display illustrating a mapped pressure distribution of an underside surface of a person&#39;s foot; 
           [0050]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a method of producing orthotics with the vending machine; 
           [0051]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a second version of the orthotic molding apparatus; 
           [0052]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of a hopper filled with discs traversed upward, a tube plate and a dispensing plate; 
           [0053]      FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of the hopper traversed downward which together with the upward movement shown in  FIG. 12  fills tubes with the discs filled within the hopper; 
           [0054]      FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view of the tube plate and the dispensing plate wherein apertures of the dispensing plate are not aligned such that the discs are not filled in the tubes as the hopper is traversed upward as shown in  FIG. 12  and downward as shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view of the tube plate and the dispensing plate wherein apertures of the dispensing plate are aligned such that discs are filled within the tubes of the tube plate for filling the apertures of the tube plate with discs; 
           [0056]      FIG. 16  is a cross sectional view of a pin, dispensing plate, base layer and fabrication plate, a selected numbers of discs being pushed into each aperture of the honeycomb; 
           [0057]      FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view of pin, dispensing plate, base layer and fabrication plate illustrating the honeycomb, base layer and fabrication plate traversable across the rows of apertures of the dispensing plate for filling any one of the apertures of the honeycomb with a different hardness disc 
           [0058]      FIG. 18A  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the second version of the orthotic molding apparatus placed on top of a manufacturer&#39;s insole; 
           [0059]      FIG. 18B  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the second version of the orthotic molding apparatus placed on top of a shoe&#39;s sole; 
           [0060]      FIG. 18C  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the second version of the orthotic molding apparatus interposed between the shoe&#39;s sole and the manufacturer&#39;s insoles; 
           [0061]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 18A ; 
           [0062]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a milling apparatus; 
           [0063]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the measuring apparatus; 
           [0064]      FIG. 22A  is an enlarged view of the measuring apparatus shown in  FIG. 21  illustrating a plurality of probes threadably inserted into a plurality of apertures of the support plate; 
           [0065]      FIG. 22B  is a front view of the probe shown in  FIG. 22A  wherein the probe has a stud, a cap and a pressure sensor mat; 
           [0066]      FIG. 23  is a front view of the measuring apparatus shown in  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0067]      FIG. 24A  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the milling apparatus placed on top of a manufacturer&#39;s insole; 
           [0068]      FIG. 24B  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the milling apparatus placed on top of a shoe&#39;s sole; 
           [0069]      FIG. 24C  is an illustration of an orthotic produced with the milling apparatus interposed between the shoe sole and the manufacturer&#39;s insert; 
           [0070]      FIG. 25  is a side view of the milling apparatus shown in  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0071]      FIG. 25A  is a top cross sectional view of a heating block of a laminator section; 
           [0072]      FIG. 26  is a top perspective view of the orthotic blank used in conjunction with the milling apparatus; 
           [0073]      FIG. 27  is a top perspective view of a machining platen of the milling apparatus; 
           [0074]      FIG. 27A  is a side cross sectional view of the machining platen with one of three different orthotic blanks disposable over the machining platen; 
           [0075]      FIG. 28  is an alternative entry section compared to the entry section of  FIG. 20  and an alternative to the blanks shown in  FIG. 27A ; and 
           [0076]      FIG. 29  is illustrates the alternative blanks shown in  FIG. 28 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0077]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an orthotic vending machine  10  is illustrated which may measure height contours and pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of a user&#39;s feet in relationship to or in combination with the contours of the insoles of the shoes to be purchased and fabricate a pair of customized orthotics  12  based on the measured height contours and the measured pressure distribution within about ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes. It may also do so in relationship to or in combination with the contours of the insoles of the shoes to be purchased. The short turn around time from measurement to providing the customized orthotics  12  to the user, allows a purchaser to purchase shoes and fit the shoes with customized orthotics  12  during a single visit to a retail shoe store. 
         [0078]    The orthotic vending machine  10  may comprise a display  14 , a computer, a measuring apparatus  16  (see  FIGS. 2 and 21 ), and a molding apparatus  18  (see  FIGS. 2 and 11 ) or a milling apparatus  284  (see  FIG. 20 ). The shoe purchaser or user may purchase shoes (e.g., running shoes, tennis shoes, golf shoes, comfort shoes, etc.) from a retail shoe store. The shoes salesperson may then suggest that the shoes purchaser purchase a pair of customized orthotics  12  to correct any sub-optimized pressure distribution on the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet due to manufacturer&#39;s shoe inserts (insoles)  20  (see  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C;  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C; and  24 A,  24 B and  24 C. The shoes purchaser may use the orthotic vending machine  10  to experience how the shoes will feel without and with a pair of customized orthotics  12  to decide whether the user wants to purchase the customized orthotics  12 . 
         [0079]    The user may step onto a left platform  22   a  and a right platform  22   b  of the measuring apparatus  16  (see  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  21 ) for measuring height contours and pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet. In particular, the measuring apparatus  16  may include a support plate  24 . The support plate  24  may have a first left set  26   a  of apertures and a second right set  26   b  of apertures, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 21 . Probes  28  (see  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) of a first left set  30   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a second right set  30   b  (see  FIG. 2 ) may each have a stud  32  and a hex cap  34  attached to the stud&#39;s upper distal end, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Alternatively, the probes  28  of the first and second sets  30   a, b  may each have a stud  32  and a square cap  286  attached to the stud&#39;s upper distal end, as shown in  FIGS. 22 ,  22 A and  22 B, with a pressure sensor mat  288  disposed over the collective top surfaces  290  of the square caps  286 . The probes  28  measure the height contours and pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet. The studs  32  and the apertures  36  may be threaded such that the studs  32  are threadably receivable into the apertures  36 . The studs  32  are threaded into the apertures  36  until a bottom surface  38  of the hex cap  34  or square cap  286  contacts an upper surface  40  of the support plate  24 . Top surfaces  42  of the hex caps  34  or square caps  286  collectively form the left and right platforms  22   a, b.    
         [0080]    The apertures  36  of the first set  26   a  may be equally spaced apart from adjacent apertures  36 . Similarly, the apertures  36  of the second set  26   b  may be equally spaced apart from adjacent apertures  36 . The first and second sets  26   a, b  of apertures  36  may each comprise five hundred (500) apertures  36  evenly spread about an area of about 6 inches by about 13 inches (custom platforms may have larger dimensions). Probes  28  may be inserted into the apertures of the first and second sets  26   a, b  with the top surfaces  42  of the probe hex caps  34  or probe square caps  286  collectively forming the platforms  22   a, b . The first and second sets  26   a, b  of the apertures  36  may be separated from each other to permit the user to stand over the platforms  22   a  and  22   b  with the person&#39;s left foot and right foot, respectively. Preferably, the first and second sets  26   a, b  of apertures  36  are about eighteen inches apart from each other. Indicia in the shape of the left foot and the right foot may be provided on the platforms  22   a, b  to inform the user that the user should step on top of the platforms  22   a, b  with his/her left foot and right foot, respectively. 
         [0081]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 21 , the support plate  24  may be supported by a plurality of posts  44  which are selectively placed about a periphery thereof. The posts  44  may be supported on top of a cover plate  46 . The cover plate  46  may be fixedly attached to a base cover  47  (see  FIG. 1 ). The cover plate  46  may additionally have two apertures  48   a, b  sized and configured larger than an aggregate area of the studs  32  of the first and second sets  30   a, b  of probes  28 , respectively. 
         [0082]    The probes  28  may be vertically traversed between a fully retracted position to a fully extended position. The probes  28  may be traversed between the fully retracted position and the fully extended position by rotating the studs  32  clockwise or counterclockwise. Additionally, while the probes  28  are being vertically traversed, the hex caps  34  or square caps  286  do not rotate but are only vertically traversed. In particular, the hex cap  34  or square caps  286  may snap onto a distal end of the threaded stud  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 2B and 22B . The hex caps  34  or square caps  286  may be disposed immediately adjacent to each other. The hex caps  34  or square caps  286  may be vertically raised and lowered by rotating the stud  28  into and out of the apertures  36 . The hex caps  34  or square caps  286  do not rotate with the studs  28  because the hex cap sides  50  or square cap sides  287  abut sides  50 ,  287  of adjacent hex caps  34  or square caps  286 . 
         [0083]    In relation to the hex caps  34 , the flat top surfaces  42  of the hex caps  34  may have pressure sensors  52  (e.g., transducers) attached thereto. Each hex cap  34  may have beryllium copper  54  on external surfaces thereof and in contacting alignment with beryllium copper  54  on adjacent hex caps  34 . Beryllium copper on adjacent hex caps  34  remain in electrical contact with each other due to an outward bow of the sides  50  of the hex caps. The beryllium copper  54  provides a communications pathway from each of the pressure sensors  52  to the computer such that the computer may retrieve a sensed pressure from each of the pressure sensors  52 . Alternatively or in conjunction with the beryillium copper interconnection assembly, each pressure sensor may be interrogated with the use of a frequency selected RFID device placed individually or alongside each pressure sensing device. 
         [0084]    Alternatively, in relation to the square caps  286 , the collective flat top surfaces of the square caps  286  may have the pressure sensor mat  288  fitted thereover. At least one pressure sensor mat  288  may be disposed on each of the left and right platforms  22   a, b . The pressure sensor mat  288  may be in electrical communication with the computer. The pressure sensor mats  288  may be operative to sense a pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet and communicate the pressure distribution to the computer. 
         [0085]    The studs  32  may be rotated via six (6) stepper motors  56  located on a base plate  58  (see  FIGS. 2 and 21 ). The stepper motors  56  may be traverseably disposable under each of the studs  32 . Three (3) of the stepper motors  56  may be disposed under the first set  30   a  of probes  28 , and the other three (3) stepper motors  56  may be disposed under the second set  30   b  of probes  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 23 . The stepper motors  56  may have hexagonal shaped distal tips  60  (see  FIGS. 2 and 21 ) which are engageable to hexagonal shaped recesses formed on the lower distal ends  62  (see  FIGS. 2A and 22A ) of the studs  32 . The stepper motors  56  may rotate the hexagonal shaped distal tips  60  in the clockwise as well as the counter clockwise direction to rotate the studs  32  into and out of the apertures  36  for raising and lowering the hex caps  34  or square caps  286  and altering the contours of the platforms  22   a, b . The hexagonal shaped distal tips  60  of the stepper motors  56  may each have a tapered configuration. The tapered configuration allows the hexagonal shaped distal tips  60  to engage the hexagonal shaped recesses in the event that the tips  60  and recesses are out of angular alignment. The computer and the stepper motors  56  communicate with each other to determine amounts each of the probes  28  were vertically traversed. 
         [0086]    In an aspect of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 21 , the middle stepper motors  56  disposed under the first and second sets of probes  28  may have a plurality of rotatable hexagonal shaped distal tips  60 . Each of the middle stepper motors  56  is operative to rotate the plurality of hexagonal shaped distal tips  60 . Preferably, each of the middle stepper motors  56  is operative to rotate four hexagonal shaped distal tips  60 . Moreover, each of the plurality of hexagonal shaped distal tips  60  are engageable to a respective hexagonal shaped recess formed on the lower distal ends  62  of the studs  32  as discussed above. 
         [0087]    It is also contemplated that the hexagonal shaped distal tips  60  may have other configurations such as triangular, octagonal, etc. 
         [0088]    In operation, the distal tips  60  of the stepper motors  56  may be in a retracted position. The stepper motors  56  may be horizontally traversed under the studs  32  without the distal tips  60  of the stepper motors  56  interfering with the lower distal ends  62  of the studs  32 . An X and Y motion control system  64  (see  FIGS. 3 and 23 ), discussed in detail below, traverses the stepper motors  56  in the X and Y direction to align the distal tips  60  to the hexagonal shaped recesses of the studs  32 . The stepper motor  56  traverses its distal tips  60  to an extended position. The distal tips  60  may be biased toward the extended position with a spring  66  (see  FIGS. 2 and 21 ). As the distal tips  60  are traversed from the retracted position to the extended position, the distal tips  60  engage the hexagonal shaped recesses of the studs  32 . If the distal tips  60  and recesses are not aligned, then the tapered configuration of the distal tips  60  rotates the distal tips  60  and the recesses into alignment such that the distal tips  60  may engage the recesses. The stepper motors  56  may rotate the stud  32  into or out of the aperture  36  to change the contour of the platforms  22   a, b . Thereafter, the stepper motors  56  may traverse the distal tips  60  to the retracted position. The X and Y motion control system  64  may traverse the stepper motors  56  to adjust different probes  28 . The traversal of the stepper motors  56  in the X and Y directions and the traversal of the distal tips  60  in the Z direction may take less than about ½ second per cycle. Accordingly, the adjustments for all of the probes  28  may take about one minute provided that the average number of probes to be adjusted for each foot is about three hundred (300) probes  28 . 
         [0089]    The user may step onto the left and right platforms  22   a, b  with his/her left foot and right foot, respectively. The hex caps  34  of the probes  28  may be vertically traversed until they are in a common plane (e.g., flat), and the pressure sensors  52  or pressure sensor mats  288  may sense pressures and communicate the sensed pressures to the computer. The computer may display the sensed pressures on the display  14  for the user to visualize the pressure distribution of his/her feet. An example of the display of the pressure distribution is shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0090]    The display  14  may request the user to input the make, model and size of the purchased shoes or the shoes to be purchased. The computer may retrieve inner surface contours of the inputted shoes which may be the foot interface surfaces of the manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles)  20 . The computer may also command the probes  28  to traverse vertically until the platforms  22   a, b  emulate the retrieved inner surface contours of the inputted shoes. This provides the user with an idea of how the shoes will feel without customized orthotics  12 . 
         [0091]    The pressure sensors  52  or pressure sensor mats  288  may sense the pressures on the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet and transmit such information to the computer. At this time, the computer may inform the user to remain still on the platforms  22   a, b  until the probes are again adjusted to redistribute the pressure on the underside surfaces of the person&#39;s feet optimally. This provides the user with a simulated feeling of customized orthotics  12  inserted into the purchased shoes. Moreover, the user is able to make a side by side comparison of the feeling of the shoe with and without the customized orthotics  12  to make an informed decision as to whether to purchase the customized orthotics  12 . The user may switch between the two modes at a press of a button. 
         [0092]    The user may purchase the customized orthotics  12  in three versions. In a first version, the customized orthotics  12  are placed on top of the manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles)  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7A ,  18 A or  24 A. In a second version, the customized orthotics  12  replace the manufacturer&#39;s shoe inserts (insoles)  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7B ,  18 B or  24 B. In this regard, the inner surface contours of the shoes are upper surfaces of the shoe&#39;s soles. In a third version, the customized orthotics  12  are interposed between the manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles)  20  and the shoe&#39;s soles  68 , as shown in  FIG. 7B ,  18 B or  24 B. During the adjustments of the probes  28  discussed above, heights of the probe&#39;s top surfaces  42  and pressures applied to the pressure sensors  52  may be recorded on a memory of the computer for subsequent processing. The computer may calculate a thickness and a hardness of the customized orthotics  12  based on the recorded heights and pressures. Additionally, the computer may calculate the thickness and hardness of the customized orthotics based on whether the customized orthotics  12  are placed on top of the manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles)  20 , whether the customized orthotics  12  are interposed between the manufacturer&#39;s inserts (insoles)  20  and the shoe&#39;s soles  68 , or whether the customized orthotics  12  replace the manufacturer&#39;s shoe inserts (insoles)  20 . 
         [0093]    After the computer calculates the thickness and hardness of the customized orthotics  12 , the computer may then command the orthotic molding apparatus  18  (see  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 ; and  FIGS. 11-17 ) or the orthotic milling apparatus  284  (see  FIGS. 20 and 25 ) to fabricate the customized orthotics  12  in accordance with the calculated thickness and hardness. 
         [0094]    In a first version of the orthotic molding apparatus  18 , the same may comprise a polymerizable delivery system  70  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ), a plurality of cavities  72  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), and a fabrication plate  74  (see  FIG. 3 ). The customized orthotics  12  may be fabricated from a polymerizable material. By way of example and not limitation, the polymerizable material may be a two part silicon including a resin and a catalyst. It is also contemplated that other polymerizable materials that are heat, light, or UV cured may also be utilized such as but not limited to polyurethanes, certain other styrene, butyl and acrylic compounds The delivery system  70  may include a resin delivery sub-system and a catalyst delivery sub-system which respectively transfers resin and catalyst to cavities in a specific amount and specific ratio based on the calculated thickness and hardness. The resin sub-system may include a resin reservoir  76  (see  FIG. 2 ) which may be filled with resin. The resin reservoir  76  may be in fluid communication with a left orthotic resin pump  78   a  and a right orthotic resin pump  78   b , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . By way of example and not limitation, the pumps  78   a, b  may be a peristaltic pump. The left and right orthotic resin pumps  78   a, b  may be in fluid communication with left and right resin flexible tubes  80 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Moreover, the left and right resin flexible tubes  80  may be in fluid communication with left and right orthotic resin nozzles  82   a, b , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The left orthotic resin nozzle  82   a  may be traversably disposable over each one of the cavities of a first set  84   a , and the right orthotic resin nozzle  82   b  may be traversably disposable over each one of the cavities of a second set  84   b.    
         [0095]    Similarly, the catalyst delivery sub-system may include a catalyst reservoir  86  which may be filled with catalyst, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The catalyst reservoir  86  may be in fluid communication with a left orthotic catalyst pump  88   a  and a right orthotic catalyst pump  88   b . By way of example and not limitation, the pumps  88   a, b  may be a peristaltic pump. The left and right orthotic catalyst pumps  88   a, b  may be in fluid communication with left and right catalyst flexible tubes  90  (see  FIG. 4 ), respectively. Moreover, the left and right catalyst flexible tubes  90  may be in fluid communication with left and right orthotic catalyst nozzles  92   a, b , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The left orthotic catalyst nozzle  92   a  may be traversably disposable over each one of the cavities of the first set  84   a , and the right orthotic catalyst nozzle  92   b  may be traversably disposable over each one of the cavities of the second set  84   b.    
         [0096]    Moreover, the left orthotic resin nozzle  82   a  may be disposed immediately adjacent to the left orthotic catalyst nozzle  92   a  to sufficiently mix the resin and catalyst of the polymerizable material. The nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  may each have an output  94   a, b  (see  FIG. 6 ) having an elongate thin configuration. For example, each output  94   a, b  may be about 0.030 inches long and about 0.010 inches wide. The outputs  94   a, b  may define centerlines  96   a, b  which intersect one another at an angle  100  of about 3 degrees to about 15 degrees, and preferable, at about 6 degrees. The nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  may be immediately adjacent to each other and centerlines  96   a, b  of the outputs  94   a, b  may intersect one another at an angle  100  such that the resin is effectively mixed with the catalyst when the resin and catalyst are injected into each of the cavities. 
         [0097]    Likewise, the right orthotic resin nozzle  82   b  may be disposed immediately adjacent to the right orthotic catalyst nozzle  92   b  to sufficiently mix the resin and catalyst of the polymerizable material. The nozzles  82   b ,  92   b  may each have an output having an elongate thin configuration similar to the left orthotic resin and catalyst nozzles  82   a ,  92   a . The nozzles  82   b ,  92   b  may be disposed immediately adjacent to each other and centerlines of the outputs may intersect one another at an angle such that the resin is effectively mixed with the catalyst similar to the left resin and catalyst nozzles  82   a ,  92   a.    
         [0098]    The left resin and catalyst nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  (see  FIG. 3 ) are traverseably disposeable over each cavity of the left set  84   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) of cavities. Also, the right resin and catalyst nozzles  82   b ,  92   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) are traverseably disposable over each cavity of the right set  84   b  (see  FIG. 2 ) of cavities. The nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  and  82   b ,  92   b  may be traversed over the cavities of the left and right sets  84   a  and  84   b  respectively, via the X and Y motion control system  64  (see  FIG. 3 ). More particularly, the nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  and  82   b ,  92   b  may be connected to an underside of the base plate  58  (see  FIG. 2 ). The base plate  58  may be mounted to a slideable block and a threaded block  102 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The threaded block  102  may be threaded onto a ball screw  104 , and the slideable block may have an aperture (e.g., round, square, etc.) through which a corresponding bar  106  is slideably inserted. The ball screw  104  may be connected to a motor  108  which rotates the ball screw  104  and traverses the base plate  58  with the nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  and  82   b ,  92   b  in the X direction. The ball screw  104  and bar  106  may be mounted to a threaded block  110  and a slideable block  112 . A ball screw  114  may be threaded onto the threaded block  110  and the slideable block  112  may have an aperture through which a corresponding bar  116  is slideably inserted. The ball screw  114  may be attached to a rotational motor  118  which rotates the ball screw  114  and traverses the base plate  58  with the nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  and  82   b ,  92   b  in the Y direction. In this manner, the nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  and  82   b ,  92   b  may be traversed in the X direction and the Y direction to position the nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  and  82   b ,  92   b  over any one of the cavities of the left and right sets  84   a  and  84   b , respectively. 
         [0099]    Each of the first and second sets  84   a ,  84   b  of cavities may have a honeycomb configuration, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In particular, the cavities  120  may be immediately adjacent to each other. Each cavity  120  may have six (6) cell walls  122  with each cell wall  122  shared by an adjacent cavity  120 . Each cavity  120  may be about 0.43 inches in width  124  between opposing cell walls  122 . The cell wall  122  may be about seventy-five (75) microns thick. Alternatively, the first and second sets  84   a, b  of cavities may be formed in a plate. The plate may be drilled with a plurality of apertures with each aperture having a diameter of about 0.43 inches. 
         [0100]    The fabrication plate  74  may be disposed underneath the cavities  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 6 , an upper surface  126  of the fabrication plate  74  may be disposed about 0.030 inches below the lower surface  128  of the cavities. For each of the cavities, the polymerizeable material may be disposed on the fabrication plate  74  and fill the cavity  120 . A small portion of the injected material may be squeezed out under adjacent cavities  120  on the fabrication plate  74 . The small portions squeezed out to adjacent cavities collectively form a layer  130  that spatially fixes the relationship between columnar pillars  132  of the material. 
         [0101]    The nozzles  82   a ,  92   a  and  82   b ,  92   b  may be disposed above the cavities  120 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The pumps  78   a, b ,  88   a, b  may transfer a specific amount and ratio of resin and catalyst into each of the cavities  120  based on the calculated thickness and the calculated hardness of the customized orthotics  12 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , resin and catalyst may be injected into a first cavity  120   a . Adjacent cavities  120   b ,  120   c  may have less resin and catalyst. Moreover, each of the cavities  120   a - c  may have a different ratio of resin and catalyst to make the columnar pillars  132  either harder or softer in accordance with the calculated thickness and calculated hardness of the customized orthotics  12 . Additionally, the ratio of resin and catalyst injected into each of the cavities  120  may be varied vertically. For example, the material may be harder near the bottom  134  of the columnar pillars  132  and softer near the top  136  of the columnar pillars  132 . The resin and catalyst not only fill in the cavity  120  but also fill in the space between the lower surface  128  of the cavities  120  and the upper surface  126  of the fabrication plate  74  thereby forming the layer  130  holding all of the columnar pillars  132  together. Moreover, the polymerizeable material may form a meniscus at an upper surface  138  of the columnar pillar  132 . Preferably, the polymerizeable material wets the cell walls  122  such that the meniscus has a concave configuration. It is also contemplated that the meniscus may have a convex configuration. 
         [0102]    As the polymerizeable material is polymerized, the material slightly shrinks thereby releasing itself from the sides of the cell wall  122 , as shown in  FIG. 6A . The cell wall sides may be coated with nickel Teflon to assist the material in releasing from the cell wall  122 . After polymerization, the fabrication plate  74  may be lowered to remove the polymerized material from the plurality of cavities  120 . The polymerized material may be removed from the plurality of cavities  120  by pushing the polymerized material out of the plurality of cavities  120 . A knife may cut out the outer periphery of the polymerized material to form the left and right orthotics  12 . 
         [0103]    Additionally, a fabric or other material cover may be attached to the customized orthotics  12  to prevent the customized orthotics  12  from blistering the user&#39;s feet. For example, a roll  140  of nylon may be disposed adjacent to the fabrication plate  74 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The nylon fabric  141  may be interposed between the upper surface  126  of the fabrication plate  74  and the lower surface  128  of the cavities  120 . The mixed resin and catalyst may be injected into the cavity  120  and disposed on the nylon fabric  141 . The mixed resin and catalyst may attach to the nylon fabric  141  during the polymerizing stage. Additionally, cover materials may incorporate specifically designed time released bacteriocides and fungicides that are infiltrated into the fabric covers for control of foot odor and fungal control to prevent or minimize infectious conditions such as athletes foot. 
         [0104]    The user may place the left and right orthotics  12  on top of the manufacturer&#39;s shoe inserts (insoles)  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 8 . Alternatively, the user may place the left and right orthotics  12  on top of the shoe&#39;s soles  68 , as shown in  FIG. 7B . More particularly, the meniscus side of the left and right orthotics  12  may interface with the upper surfaces  144  of the shoe&#39;s soles  68  (see  FIG. 7B )) of the shoes. The concave shaped meniscus behaves as a suction cup attaching the orthotics  12  to the shoes&#39; soles  68 . Alternatively, the orthotics  12  may be interposed between the manufacturer&#39;s insert  20  and the shoe&#39;s sole  68  (see  FIG. 7C ). In all three placements, the orthotics were inverted. 
         [0105]    In a second version of the orthotic molding apparatus  18 , the same may include two separate orthotic manufacturing units  250 .  FIGS. 11-17  illustrate only one of the orthotic manufacturing units  250 . A first orthotic manufacturing unit  250  may fabricate an orthotic for a left foot of a person. Also, a second orthotic manufacturing unit  250  may fabricate an orthotic for a right foot of a person. Alternatively, the orthotic manufacturing unit  250  shown in  FIGS. 11-17  may have a honeycomb  252  sufficiently large with a sufficient number of apertures  254  to fit a left orthotic and a right orthotic. The orthotic manufacturing unit  250  may fabricate the orthotic by laying a plurality of discs  256  (see  FIG. 12 ) on a base layer  258  (e.g., fabric, and the like; see  FIGS. 11 ,  16 , and  17 ) and permanently attaching the discs  256  to each other as well as to the base layer  258 . The discs  256  may be selectively attached to the base layer  258  with respect to position, number of discs  256  and hardness. 
         [0106]    Each of the orthotic manufacturing units  250  may have a hopper  260 , tube plate  262 , dispensing plate  264 , honeycomb  252 , the base layer  258  and the fabrication plate  74 . The tube plate  262  may be fabricated with at least three rows  266   a, b, c  of a plurality of tubes. The tubes  268  of each row may be longitudinally stacked in an offset manner to increase the longitudinal density of the number of tubes  268  per row  266  of tubes, as shown in  FIG. 11 . Although  FIG. 11  illustrates only one hopper  260  over a right row  266   c  of tubes, one hopper  260  may be placed over each row  266  of tubes  268 . Each hopper  260  may contain a plurality of discs  256  having the same hardness. Also, the discs  256  in the different hoppers  260  may have a different hardness. For example, a left hopper  260  may contain a plurality of soft discs. A middle hopper  260  may contain a plurality of medium hardness discs. The right hopper  260  may contain a plurality of hard discs. 
         [0107]    The hopper  260  may have four sidewalls which define an inner volume. The hopper  260  may have a top cover which is removably engageable to a top of the four sidewalls. A bottom of the hopper  260  may have a plurality of apertures which are sized and configured to receive a respective one of the tubes  268 . The hopper  260  may be filled with discs  256  (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) and the top cover placed on the hopper  260  to prevent any of the discs  256  from falling out of the hopper  260  during operation. The plurality of apertures formed on the bottom of the hopper may be sized and configured such that the discs  256  do not slip out of the hopper  260  between the tubes  268  and such apertures. 
         [0108]    With the hopper  260 , tube plate  262  and dispensing plate  264  in the position shown in  FIG. 11 , the hopper  260  is rapidly traversed vertically in the plus and minus Y direction such that the tubes  268  are filled with the discs  256 . As the hopper  260  is moved up (see  FIG. 12 ) and down (see  FIG. 13 ), the discs  256  within the hopper  260  begin to fill up each of the tubes  268 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . When the tubes  268  are filled with discs  256 , the hopper&#39;s vertical reciprocal movement is halted. At this point, the tubes  268  of each of the rows  266  of tubes have a plurality of discs  256  filled therein. A different hardness disc  256  may be filled in each of the row  266  of tubes. For example, a left row  266   a  of tubes  268  may be filled with soft discs, a middle row  266   b  of tubes  268  may be filled with medium hardness discs, and a right row  266   c  of tubes  268  may be filled with hard discs. 
         [0109]    The dispensing plate  264  is then traversed in the negative Z direction until apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264  is aligned to the tubes  268  in the X direction. As the dispensing plate  264  is traversed in the negative Z direction, the discs  256  within the tubes  268  slide on a top surface  272  (see  FIG. 12 ) of the dispensing plate  264 . When the apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264  are aligned to the tubes  268 , the tube plate  262  is traversed in the negative X direction (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ) until the tubes  268  are vertically aligned to the apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . At this point, the plurality of discs  256  within the tubes  268  slide down into the apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264 . A bottom edge of the apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264  has an internal inwardly directed edge  274  (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ) which prevents the discs  256  from falling out of the apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264 . At this point, a left row  276   a  of apertures of the dispensing plate  264  may have soft discs, a middle row  276   b  of apertures of the dispensing plate  264  may have medium hardness discs, and a right row  276   c  of apertures of the dispensing plate  264  may have hard discs. The tube plate  262  is then traversed in the positive X direction and the dispensing plate  264  is traversed in the positive Z direction, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0110]    The plurality of discs  256  are then displaced into the honeycomb  252  and on the base layer  258  by pushing the discs  256  through a bottom surface  278  of the dispensing plate  264  via pins  280 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 16 . Once the discs  256  fall through the bottom surface  278  of the dispensing plate  264 , the discs  256  are received into the aperture  254  of the honeycomb  252  and on the base layer  258 , as shown in  FIG. 17 . The base layer  258  is disposed on the fabrication plate  74 . The fabrication plate  74  and a bottom surface  282  (see  FIGS. 16 and 17 ) of the honeycomb  252  do not have a gap as described in the first version of the orthotic molding apparatus  18 . Rather, the base layer  258  contacts the bottom surface  282  of the honeycomb  252  such that the discs  256  are not permitted to move out of alignment with the aperture  254  of the honeycomb  252 . The honeycomb  252  and base layer  258  are traversed in the positive and negative X direction. The pins  280  push a determined number of discs  256  of a determined hardness based on the measured height contour and pressure distribution previously performed into the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252  until the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252  are filled with the appropriate number of discs  256  and hardness. 
         [0111]    Each of the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252  may be filled with one or more discs  256  of the same or different hardness. As such, each of the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252  may be filled with one or more soft discs  256 , one or more medium hardness discs  256 , one or more hard discs  256 , or any combination thereof. By this manner, one aperture  254  of the honeycomb  252  may be filled with two different hardness discs  256  to fabricate a customized orthotic. 
         [0112]    The orthotic vending machine determines the number of discs  256  and the hardness of the discs  256  to insert into each aperture  254  of the honeycomb  252  based on the height contour and pressure distribution of the underside surface of the person&#39;s foot. Also, the orthotic vending machine builds the orthotic based on the determined thickness and hardness with discs  256  via the method described herein. 
         [0113]    In  FIG. 11 , although only one pin  280  is shown, a plurality of pins  280  may be positioned above the apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264 . Each of the pins  280  may push down the disc  256  within the dispensing plate  264  into the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252 . The pin  280  may be accurately vertically traversed via a servo motor such that the pin  280  may displace only a selected number of discs  256  into the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252 . 
         [0114]    After the correct number of discs  256  of a particular hardness has been filled within the appropriate apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252 , the discs  256  are permanently attached to each other as well as to the base layer  258 . By way of example and not limitation, each side of the disc  256  may have an RF energy activated adhesive. After the correct number and type of discs  256  have been disposed within the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252 , the discs  256  and the base layer  258  may be exposed to RF energy which permanently attaches the discs  256  to each other and to the base layer  258 . It is contemplated that any method of attaching the discs  256  to each other and to the base layer  258  may be used. A final cut in the shape of the inner periphery of the person&#39;s shoe is made to the base layer  258  and discs  256  such that the customized fabricated orthotic may be inserted in the person&#39;s shoe. 
         [0115]    The discs  256  may have a flat circular shape. The discs  256  may be about 5 microns thick and about 9 mm in diameter. It is contemplated that any diameter and thickness disc may be used which is appropriate for the circumstance. The tubes  268  of the tube plate  262  may have a beveled entrance to permit the discs  256  to slide into the tubes  268  as the hopper  260  is being rapidly traversed up and down. The apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264  may be sized and configured to receive the discs  256  from the tube plate  262 . The apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264  are shown as circular apertures; however, it is also contemplated that the apertures  270  of the dispensing plate  264  may have other configurations such as square, pentagonal, etc. so long as the discs  256  are receivable therein from the tube plate  262  and do not fall out through the bottom surface  278  of the dispensing plate  264 . The apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252  are also shown as circular apertures; however, it is also contemplated that the apertures  254  of the honeycomb  252  may have other configurations such as square, pentagonal, etc. so long as the discs  256  are receivable therein from the dispensing plate  264  and maintains the discs  256  in a stacked configuration. 
         [0116]    The base layer  258  discussed in relation to the second version of the orthotic molding apparatus  18  may have the same characteristics and treatment as the fabric discussed in relation to the first version of the orthotic molding apparatus  18 . 
         [0117]    Referring now to  FIGS. 18A-18C  and  19 , the user may place the left and right orthotics  12  fabricated by the second version of the orthotic molding apparatus on top of the manufacturer&#39;s shoe insoles  20  in a similar manner as shown in  FIGS. 18A and 19 . Alternatively, the user may place the left and right orthotics  12  on top of the shoe&#39;s soles  68  and discard the insoles  20 , as shown in  FIG. 18B . The disc side of the left and right orthotics  12  may interface with the shoe&#39;s soles  68 . Alternatively, the orthotics  12  may be interposed between the manufacturer&#39;s insoles  20  and the shoe&#39;s sole  68  (see  FIG. 18C ). Similarly, the disc side of the left and right orthotics  12  may interface with the shoe&#39;s soles  68 . As shown in  FIGS. 18A-18C , the orthotics  12  are fabricated in an inverted manner. 
         [0118]    In relation to the milling apparatus  284 , the same may comprise an entry section  292 , laminator section  294 , a milling section  296  and a machining platform  298 , as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 25 . 
         [0119]    The entry section  292  may comprise an entry port  300  and a pair of upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304 . The entry port  300  may have an aperture  306  (see  FIG. 20 ) sized and configured to receive a near net shaped orthotic left and right blanks  308   a, b  (see  FIGS. 20 ,  25 , and  26 ) and a cover layer  310  (see  FIGS. 20 and 25 ) disposed on top of the near net shaped orthotic left and right blanks  308   a, b . More particularly, the aperture  306  of the entry port  300  may have an elongate opening with a center railway  312  (see  FIG. 20 ) formed at an upper side of the entry port  300  opening. The center railway  312  may be sized and configured to receive a rail  314  of the orthotic blanks  308 . As shown in  FIG. 26 , the orthotic blanks  308  may be provided as near net shaped orthotic left and right blanks  308   a, b . The left orthotic blank  308   a  and the right orthotic blank  308   b  may be connected to each other with a set of webs  316 . The rail  314  protrudes upwardly above the top surfaces  318  of the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b  and may have a straight elongate configuration. When the rail  314  of the orthotic blanks  308   a, b  is received into the center railway  312  (see  FIG. 20 ) of the entry port  300 , the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b  are registered or aligned in the X direction. The user continues to push the cover layer  310  and the near net shaped orthotic blank  308  through the entry port  300 . When a leading edge  320  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the orthotic blank  308  contacts the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304 , the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  traverse the cover layer  310  along with left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b  toward the laminator section  294 . When the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  grip the orthotic blank  308 , the rail  314  of the orthotic blank  308  is also received into a groove  322  (see  FIG. 20 ) formed in the upper gripper  302 . As such, the center railway  312  and the groove  322  of the upper gripper  302  registers the orthotic blank  308  in the X direction with respect to the milling apparatus  284 . 
         [0120]    As shown in  FIG. 25 , the laminator section  294  may include a heating block  324 , heating element  326  and a heatable/compressable gel  328  which are collectively traversable between a retracted position, a receiving position and an extended position via a screw  329  and motor  331 . In the receiving position, the rail  314  of the orthotic blank  308  is receivable into an optional straight groove  354  (see  FIG. 25A ) formed on the underside of the laminator  294 . The groove  354  may be formed by left and right gels  328  or machined in a lower surface of the heating block  324 . As the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  traverse the orthotic blank  308  further into the laminator section  294 , the rail  314  slides in the straight groove  354  formed on the underside of the laminator  294 . The upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  traverse the orthotic blank  308  into the laminator section  294  at a sufficient speed such that a leading edge  330  of the rail  314  is thrusted up against a limit switch  332  located at a front portion of the heating block  324 . When the rail  314  contacts the limit switch  332 , the rollers  302 ,  304  may stop rotating. Additionally, this registers or aligns the orthotic blank  308  in the Y direction with respect to the milling apparatus  284 . The left orthotic blank  308   a  and the right orthotic blank  308   b  may rest on a pair of machining platens  334  (see  FIGS. 25 ,  27  and  27 A) when the left and right othonic blanks  308   a, b  are aligned in the laminator section  294 . A top perspective view of one of the left and right machining platens  334  is shown in  FIG. 27 . At this point, the orthotic blanks  308  are registered or aligned with respect to the X and Y axes with respect to the milling apparatus  284 . The machining platen  334  may have three apertures  336  which are sized and configured to slidingly receive threaded bolts  338  (see  FIGS. 25 and 27A ). Threaded bolts  338  (see  FIGS. 25 and 27A ) may be traversed upward through machining platen holes  336  and rotated so as to be received into respective threaded holes  340  (see  FIGS. 26 and 27A ) in the orthotic blanks  308 . The threaded bolts  338  engage the threaded holes  340  of the orthotic blanks  308  and secure the orthotic blanks  308  to the machining platens  334 . The bolts  338  are vertically traversable and rotatable via the motors  342  disposed beneath the machining platens  334 . 
         [0121]    After the orthotic blanks  308   a, b  are secured to the machining platens  334 , the laminator  294  may have a plurality of pins  366  (see  FIGS. 25 and 25A ) which are received into corresponding holes  368  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the cover layer  310  so as to grab or lift the cover layer  310  off of the orthotic blank  308  and temporarily hold the cover layer  310  to an underside of the heatable/compressable gels  328 , as will be explained further below. The laminator  294  along with the cover layer  310  is traversed upward to a retracted position. In the retracted position, the rail  314  of the orthotic blanks  308  and the limit switch  332  of the laminator  294  do not interfere with each other. The machining platens  334  may then be traversed toward the milling section  296  via a Y direction motion control system  344  (see  FIG. 25 ). Once the orthotic blanks  308  are disposed under the milling section  296 , a milling head  346  mills out upper surfaces of the orthotic blanks  308  according to the measured pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet. The Y direction motion control system  344  controls the orthotic blanks  308  in the Y direction, whereas, the milling section  296  has an X-Z motion control system  348  (see  FIG. 20 ) to position the milling head  346  to the orthotic blanks  308  in the X-Y directions. 
         [0122]    After the orthotic blanks  308  are milled via the milling section  296 , the milled blank is traversed into the laminator section  294 . The laminator  294  is traversed to an extended position wherein the cover layer  310  is pressed on top of the milled orthotic blank  308 . A lower surface of the cover layer  310  may have a heat activated pressure adhesive (e.g., permanent adhesive or peelable adhesive such that cover layer  310  may be removed from the milled blanks for washing). While the orthotic blanks  308  were being milled out via the milling section  296 , the heating element  326  may have been activated so as to heat the heating block  324  and the heatable/compressable gels  328  thereby activating the adhesive of the cover layer  310 . Accordingly, when the laminator  294  is traversed to the extended position, the heat activated adhesive of the cover layer  310  is activated such that the cover layer  310  is now adhered or attached to the top surfaces  318  of the milled blanks  308 . At the extended position, the gels  328  press the cover layer  310  onto the top surfaces  318  of the milled blanks  308 . Since the gels  328  are compressable or formable, the gels  328  provide an even pressure onto the orthotic blanks  308 . After a sufficient period of time to adhere the cover layer  310  to the orthotic blank  308  has elapsed, the laminator  294  is traversed to the retracted position and the pins  366  of the laminator  294  release the holes  368  of the cover layer  310 . The orthotic blank  308  and the adhered cover layer  310  is traversed back toward the milling section  296  wherein the milling head  346  trims excess cover layer  310  which overhangs the orthotic blank  308 . Thereafter, the machining platen  334  is traversed back under the laminator section  294 . The bolts  338  of the machining platen  334  are disengaged from the threaded holes  340  of the orthotic blanks  308 . The machining platen  334  is then traversed rearward until the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  grip trailing edges  350  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the milled orthotics. The milled orthotics are pulled through the entry port and delivered to the end user. 
         [0123]    In an aspect of the milling apparatus  284 , the waste particulate due to the milling operation may be cleared from the milling apparatus  284  via compressed air blown toward the direction of the milling head  346 , a brush and a belt system. 
         [0124]    In another aspect,  FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the near net shaped left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b . As shown, the left orthotic blank  308   a  and the right orthotic blank  308   b  may be connected to each other via a system of webs  316 . In each of the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b , three threaded holes  340  may be formed through each of the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b . These threaded holes  340  may be aligned and sized and configured to mate with the threaded bolts  338  (see  FIGS. 25 and 27A ) which are vertically traversable through the machining platen  334  and engageable with the threaded holes  340 . The rail  314  extends above the top surfaces  318  of the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b  and may be centrally formed between the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b . The rail  314  may have a straight elongate configuration. The rail  314  may also be sized and configured to be received into the center railway  312  (see  FIG. 20 ) of the entry port  300 , the groove  322  (see  FIG. 20 ) of the upper gripper  302  and the straight groove  354  (see  FIG. 25A ) of the laminator  294 . 
         [0125]    The top surfaces  318  of the left and right orthotic blanks  208   a, b  may have a contoured shape sized and configured to the general shape of the underside contour of predetermined feet. Additionally, the lower surface of the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b  may have grooves and other prefabricated contours. The grooves and prefabricated contours of the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b  permit the milling head  346  to merely fine tune (i.e., mill off a minimal amount of material) the left and right orthotic blanks  308   a, b  to the particular contours of the user&#39;s feet. For example, a plurality of different types of left and right orthotic blanks  308  may be provided with the orthotic vending machine  10 . Each of the orthotic blanks  308  may have different upper and lower contoured surfaces designed to meet the needs of the user&#39;s feet. One orthotic blank  308  may be sized and configured to the general underside contours of a person who is flatfooted with small feet. Another orthotic blank  308  may be sized and configured to users with small feet but specially contoured to alleviate pronating feet. When the milling section mills the orthotic blanks, the milling head does not have to mill off gross amounts of material but merely needs to fine tune the particular orthotic blanks to the user. 
         [0126]    In an aspect of the milling apparatus  284 , as stated above, the orthotic blanks  308  and the cover layer  310  are thrusted into the laminator section  294  at a sufficient high speed such that a leading edge  330  of the rail  314  bumps up against the limit switch  332 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 25A , the heating blocks  324  may have left and right rollers  352   a, b . The left and right rollers  352   a, b  may grasp the rail  314  of the orthothic blanks  308  when the rail  314  of the orthotic blanks  308  is disposed within the groove  354  formed on the underside surface of the heating block  324 . Instead of thrusting the orthotic blanks  308  and the cover layer  310  into the laminator section  294 , the rollers  352   a, b  may rotate in conjunction with each other to traverse the rail  314  and orthotic blanks  308  in a forward motion. When the leading edge  320  of the rail  314  contacts the limit switch  332 , the limit switch  332  may send a signal to stop rotation of the rollers  352   a, b . At this point, the orthotic blanks  308  are aligned in the X and Y directions. 
         [0127]    In an aspect of the milling apparatus  284 , the orthotic blanks  308  may be provided in a plurality of different sizes. Preferably, the orthotic blanks  308  are provided in a small size  308   f , medium size  308   e , and a large size  308   d , as shown in  FIG. 27A . Within each of the sizes, the orthotic blanks  308  may be sized and configured to the general shape of the underside surfaces of predetermined feet and also to correct various foot conditions (e.g., a supination, pronation, etc.).  FIG. 27A  illustrates three different sized orthotic blanks  308   d, e, f  wherein the leading edge  330  of the rail  314  of the orthotic blanks  308  is aligned in the Y direction.  FIG. 27A  does not illustrate three orthotic blanks  308  simultaneously disposed between the laminator section  294  and the machining platen  298 . Rather, it merely illustrates the position of one of the orthotic blanks  380   d, e, f  in the Y direction when the rail  314  is received into the groove  354  (see  FIG. 25A ) of the laminator and the leading edge  330  of the rail  314  contacts the limit switch  332 . As can be seen in  FIG. 27A , the bolts  338  are not aligned to the holes  340  of the orthotic blanks  308   d, e, f  when they  308  are aligned in the Y direction. Accordingly, the machining platen  334  may be traversed in the Y direction to align the bolts  338  to the respective holes  340  of the respective orthotic blanks  380   d, e, f . After the bolts  338  are aligned to the holes  340 , the bolts may be traversed upwardly through holes  336  and screwed onto the threaded holes  340  to secure the orthotic blank  380  to the machining platen  334 . 
         [0128]    Referring to  FIGS. 27 and 27A , the machining platen  334  may have an upper surface  356  with an inner groove  358  and an outer groove  360 . The upper surface  356  supports the orthotic blanks  308  when the orthotic blanks  308  are secured to the machining platen  334 . For small sized orthotic blanks  308   f , an outer periphery  362  (see  FIG. 26 ) is aligned to the inner groove  358 . For medium sized orthotic blanks  308   e , an outer periphery  362  thereof is aligned to the outer groove  360 . For large sized orthotic blanks  308   d , an outer periphery  362  thereof overhangs the outer periphery  364  of the machining platen  334  (see  FIG. 27 ). When the milling head  346  mills out the outer periphery  362  of the milled orthotic  308  or the excess cover layer  310 , the milling head  346  may be received into the inner groove  358 , outer groove  360  or outside the boundary of the outer periphery  364  of the machining platen  334 . 
         [0129]    After the orthotic blanks  308  have been milled by the milling section  296 , the trailing edge  350  of the medium sized orthotics  308   e  and the small sized orthotics  308   f  do not overhang the machining platen  334 . As such, the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  may not grasp the trailing edge  350  to pull the milled orthotics  308  out of the laminator section  294  and deliver the same to the user. Instead, after the machining platen  334  is traversed under the laminator section  294 , the laminator  294  is then traversed to the receiving position. At this point, the rail  314  may now disposed between the rollers  352   a, b  (see  FIG. 25A ) of the laminator section  294 . Now, the rollers  352   a, b  may grasp the rail  314  and traverse the milled orthotic  308  back into the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304 . 
         [0130]      FIGS. 28 and 29  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the entry section  292  and orthotic blanks  308  compared to the entry section  292  shown in  FIG. 20  and the orthotic blanks  308  shown in  FIG. 27A . The entry section  292  shown in  FIG. 28  may have a plurality of rollers  374   a, b, c  to traverse the orthotic blanks  308  (see  FIG. 29 ) into and out of the laminator section  294 . In particular, the entry section  292  may have an idle roller  374   a  positioned underneath the orthotic blanks  308 . A first upper roller  374   b  may be vertically offset from the idle roller  374   a . The first upper roller  374   b  may be rotateable in the counter clockwise direction to traverse the blanks  308  into the laminator section  294  or clockwise to traverse the blanks  308  out of the laminator section  294 . The first upper roller  374   b  may also be spring loaded to apply pressure onto the blanks  308  as the blanks  308  are being traversed into and out of the laminator section  294 . 
         [0131]    In operation, the blank  308  is grasped by the first upper roller  374   b  and the idle roller  374   a . The blank  308  is traversed forward until the leading edge  330  of the rail  314  contacts the limit switch  332  or mechanical stop  376  attached to the front portion of the machining platform  298 . The limit switch  332  may send an electrical signal to the rollers  374   b, c  to stop rotating. At this point, the rollers  374   a, b, c  stop traversing the blank  308  into the laminator section  294  and the blanks  308  are aligned in the Y direction to the machining platform  298  such that the threaded bolts  338  are aligned to the threaded holes  340  of the blanks  308 . The mating grooves  354  and rail  314  align the blanks  308  in the X direction. The threaded bolts  338  engage threaded holes  340  and the milling apparatus  284  may operate as discussed herein. 
         [0132]      FIG. 29  illustrates two different sized blanks  308 —large and small orthotic blanks  308 . Other sizes are also contemplated and employable with the milling apparatus  284  discussed herein. The operation of the idle roller  374   a  in conjunction with the first upper roller  374   b  may be sufficient to traverse the large blanks into the laminator section  294  or the rail  314  up against the limit switch  332  or mechanical stop  376 . However, for small orthotic blanks  308 , as shown on the right hand side of  FIG. 29 , the idle roller  374   a  and the first upper roller  374   b  may release the small orthotic blanks  308  before the leading edge  330  of the rail  314  contacts the limit switch  332  or mechanical stop  376 . In this instance, the second upper roller  374   c , which is operative to rotate counter clockwise and clockwise and is spring loaded, may push the small orthotic blanks  308  against the machining platen  298  and push the small orthotic blanks  308  forward until the leading edge  330  of the rail  314  contacts the limit switch  332  or mechanical stop  376 . If the limit switch  332  is employed, the limit switch  332  may send an electrical signal to the rollers  374   a, b, c  to stop rotating. The threaded holes  340  of the blanks  308  are aligned to the threaded bolts  338 . The threaded bolts  338  may be engaged to the threaded holes  340  and the orthotic blanks  308  milled via the milling section  296 , as discussed herein. 
         [0133]    When the milled orthotic blanks  308  are ready to be ejected out of the vending machine or presented to the customer, the threaded bolts  338  disengage the threaded holes  340  and the first and second upper rollers  374   b, c  are rotated in the clockwise direction to eject the milled orthotic  308  out of the vending machine. 
         [0134]    The orthotic blanks  308  shown in  FIG. 29  may be formed such that the threaded holes  340  are always in the same position when loaded onto the machining platform  298 . In particular, the distance between the leading edge  330  of the rail  314  and threaded holes  340  are the same for large, medium and small orthotic blanks  308 , as shown in  FIG. 29 . In this manner, the threaded holes  340  of the blanks  308  are always aligned to the threaded bolts  338  when the blanks  308  are loaded onto the machining platen  298 . 
         [0135]    In an aspect of the milling apparatus  284 , as stated above, the pins  366  of the laminator  294  may frictionally engage the holes  368  of the cover layer  310 . In particular, the underside surface of the heating block  324  may have a plurality of spring loaded pins  366 . Distal tips of the pins  366  may extend below the gel  328 , as shown in  FIG. 25 . The pins  366  may retract into the heating block  324  or into the gel  328  provided that sufficient upward force is applied to the pins  366 . Also, the force of the spring may be greater than the frictional force between the pin  366  and the hole  368  of the cover layer  310 . The holes  368  formed in the cover layer  310  may be sized and configured to frictionally engage the pins  366 . The holes  368  may also be positioned to line up with the pins  366 . As such, when the laminator  294  is traversed to the engaged position, as stated above, the pins  366  are pushed through the holes  368 . The pins  366  are slightly larger compared to the holes  368  such that there is a friction fit between the pins  366  and holes  368 . Any pins  366  which do not align with the holes  368  are retracted into the heating block  324  or gel  328 . When the laminator  294  is traversed to the retracted position, the frictional forces between the pins  366  and the holes  368  lift the cover layer  310  off of the orthotic blanks  308   a, b . Also, after the cover layer  310  is adhered to the orthotic blanks  308  after milling, the adhesive force is greater than the friction force between the pins  366  and the holes  368  such that the cover layer  310  is now transferred to the orthotic blank  308  for subsequent final cutting or milling. 
         [0136]    The orthotic blanks  308  may be provided in a plurality of different sizes, as shown in  FIG. 27A . Preferably, the orthotic blanks  308  are provided in three different sizes (i.e., small, medium and large) to fit small sized feet, medium sized feet and large sized feet. Each of the left and right orthotic blank  308   a, b  may be sized to be larger than an effective area  370  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the orthotic blank  308 . The excess material of the orthotic blank  308  outside of the effective area  370  provides support to the cover layer  310  such that the pins  366  do not merely bend the cover layer  310  downward but that the pins  366  may be pushed into the holes  368  of the cover layer  310  when the laminator  294  is traversed to the engaged position. When the orthotic blanks  308  are milled via the milling section, the holes  368  of the cover layer  310  may be milled off for being positioned outside of the effective area  270  of the orthotic blanks  308 , as shown by the dashed lines  372  in  FIG. 26 . 
         [0137]      FIG. 25A  shows possible locations of the pins  366 , and thus the holes  368  of the cover layer  310  for the small, medium and large sizes. In particular, the front two holes  368   a  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the cover layer for the small, medium and large orthotic blanks may be located in the same position. As such, the two pins  366   a  (see  FIG. 25A ) may be sufficient to hold the frontal portion of the cover layers  310  sized for the small, medium and large orthotic blanks  308 . The rearwardmost pins  366   b  (see  FIG. 25A ) may engage the rear two holes  368   b  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the cover layer  310  for large orthotic blanks  308 . The middle pins  366   c  (see  FIG. 25A ) may engage the rear two holes  368   b  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the cover layer  310  for medium orthotic blanks. The front pins  366   d  (see  FIG. 25A ) may engage the rear two holes  368   b  (see  FIG. 26 ) of the cover layer  310  for small orthotic blanks  308 . 
         [0138]    In an aspect of the milling apparatus  284 , the rail  314  is received into the groove  322  of the upper gripper  302 , grooves of the first and second upper rollers  374   b,c  and the groove  354  of the heating block  324  such that the orthotic blanks  308  are not skewed when being traversed into the laminator section  294 . The rail  314  prevents the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  or the first and second upper rollers  374   b, c  from twisting the orthotic blanks  308  as the orthotic blanks  308  enter the laminator section  294 . Typically, the upper and lower grippers  302 ,  304  and the first and second upper rollers  374   b, c  have minute differences in diameters and different coefficients of friction along the width of the grippers and rollers. As such, one side of the orthotic blanks  308  tends to enter the laminator section  294  faster than the other side. The orthotic blanks  308  enter the laminator section  294  in a skewed or rotated orientation. Fortunately, the grooves  322 ,  354  and the grooves of the first and second upper rollers  374   b,c  aligns the orthotic blanks  308  when the rails  314  enter the grooves  322 ,  354  and/or the grooves of the first and second upper rollers  374   b,c  such that the orthotic blanks  308  enter the laminator section  294  aligned to the laminator section  294 /machining platform  298 . 
         [0139]    The display  14  may be in communication with the computer and may be operative to display a series of instructions transmitted by the computer to the display to guide the purchaser in operating the orthotic vending machine  10 . The display  14  may also receive the pressure distribution information from the computer and display the pressure distribution information illustrating how the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet support the user&#39;s weight, as shown in  FIG. 9 . For example, an outline  146  of the person&#39;s feet may be displayed on the display  14 . Areas of high pressure may be color coded in red, areas of low pressure may be color coded in yellow, and intermediate pressures may be color coded in varying shades of orange. 
         [0140]    The computer may also have a communications port for providing a communications pathway  148  to a server  150 , a financial institution  152 , or a podiatrist  154 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The communications pathway  148  may be provided via the interne, local area network or wide area network system. The server  150  may have a database of inner surface contours of shoes from various shoe manufacturers. The server may download the inner surface contours of shoes to the vending machine computer as new model shoes are introduced by shoe manufacturers via the communications pathway  148 . 
         [0141]    The vending machine  10  may also be attached to a credit card or ATM reader  156  (see  FIG. 1 ). The ATM reader  156  may transmit the purchaser&#39;s credit card or ATM card information to the financial institution  152  such that the user may purchase the customized orthotic  12  at the vending machine  10 . 
         [0142]    The vending machine  10  may gather initial health information about the purchaser&#39;s feet condition. If the computer decides that the purchaser may not be fitted with the customized orthotics  12  then the user may be placed in direct communication with the podiatrist  154  via the communications pathway  148 . The user may verbally communicate with the podiatrist  154  via a speaker and microphone  158  (see  FIG. 1 ) attached to the vending machine  10 . Alternatively, the user may communicate with the podiatrist  154  in an online chat format with a keyboard attached to the vending machine  10 . Alternatively the user may be referred to specialists that partake in our referral service. 
         [0143]    In another aspect of the vending machine  10 , a method of producing the customized orthotics  12  in a retail environment is provided, as shown in  FIG. 10 . In step  200 , the orthotic vending machine  10  may be placed in a retail store. Preferably, the retail store is a shoe store. The display  14  of the vending machine  10  may display advertisements to inform potential shoppers of features and benefits of having customized orthotics  12 . The platforms  22   a, b  may have indicia in the shape of feet silhouettes illustratively instructing the shopper to stand upon the platforms  22   a, b  with his/her feet aligned to the feet silhouette. 
         [0144]    Once the shopper stands on the platforms  22   a, b , the shopper may depress a start button at the bottom of the touch screen display  14 . The display  14  may then ask the shopper a series of questions relating to the shopper&#39;s general information, medical history and his/her feet. The shopper may input the information via a keyboard on the touch screen display  14 . By way of example and not limitation, the general information about the shopper may be sex, age, weight, and height. By way of example and not limitation, the medical history of the shopper may include whether the shopper is a diabetic, prior or current use of orthotics, known foot problems, etc. After the basic information and medical information is received by the computer, the display  14  may instruct the shopper to “not move your feet” and press “continue.” After the “continue” button has been depressed, the vending machine  10  may measure various characteristics of the shopper&#39;s feet, as shown in step  202 . In particular, the probes  28  may be vertically traversed until top surfaces  42  of the hex caps  34  or square caps  286  are in a common plane, and the pressure sensors  52  or the pressure sensor mat  288  may sense pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the user&#39;s feet. The probes  28  may be traversed up and down to simulate the inner surface contours of shoes and to redistribute pressures on the underside surfaces of the shopper&#39;s feet. The pressure sensors  52  or the pressure sensor mat  288  and the computer may map pressure distribution of the underside surfaces of the shopper&#39;s feet, as shown in step  204 . Also, the computer may track the heights of the top surfaces  42  of the hex caps  34  or square caps  286  to derive height contours of the shopper&#39;s feet, as shown in step  206 . The computer may transmit the mapped pressure distribution to the display  14  showing high pressure with a red color, low pressure with a yellow color and intermediate pressures in shades of orange. The displayed pressure distribution may illustrate the outline  146  of the feet with pressure readings at each pressure sensor  52  location or via the pressure sensor mat  288 . The shoe size of the person may be derived from the mapped pressure distribution and displayed to the user for the user&#39;s verification. The display  14  may then request the shopper to indicate any areas of current or intermittent foot soreness or discomfort. Thereafter, the computer may request that the shopper verify the information manually gathered from the shopper and derived from the mapped pressure distribution. 
         [0145]    If the gathered and derived information indicates that the vending machine  10  may not be able to produce customized orthotics  12  for the shopper, then the computer may ask the shopper to discontinue use of the vending machine  10  and ask whether the shopper would like a referral to a podiatrist  154  in the local area. If the gathered and derived information indicate that the vending machine  10  may be able to produce the customized orthotics  12  for the shopper, then the display  14  requests the shopper to select the shoes to be used with the customized orthotics  12 . By way of example and not limitation, the shopper may be asked about the shoe type (e.g., dress, athletic, boot, etc.), the shoe manufacturer (e.g., ALFANI, NIKE, PUMA, etc.) and shoe size. Once the shoes have been selected, the display  14  asks whether the shopper would like to feel how the shoes will feel without the customized orthotics  12 . If the shopper selects “yes”, then the computer retrieves the inner surface contours of the selected shoes and commands the probes  28  to move vertically to simulate the inner surface contours of the selected shoes. 
         [0146]    The display  14  then asks the shopper whether they are satisfied with the feel of the shoes without corrective orthotics  12  and whether the shopper would like to purchase customized orthotics  12 . The probes  28  are vertically traversed to simulate how the shoe will feel with the corrective orthotics  12  inserted into the shoes. The display  14  then asks the shopper whether he/she is satisfied with the feeling of the shoes with the customized orthotics  12 . If the shoppers respond affirmatively, then the shopper may purchase the customized orthotics  12  directly via the vending machine  10  or with the cashier of the retail store. To purchase the customized orthotics  12  directly from the vending machine  10 , the shopper may swipe his/her ATM or credit card into the reader  156 . The ATM card or credit card information is transmitted to a financial institution  152  via the communications pathway  148  to debit the shopper&#39;s account. After purchase is confirmed, the customized orthotics  12  may be fabricated with the molding apparatus  18  or milling apparatus  284 , as shown in step  208 . The fabricated orthotics  12  may be presented to the shopper, as shown in step  210 . 
         [0147]    In an aspect of the measuring apparatus, the same has been described herein in relation to measuring the underside contour of a person&#39;s feet. However, it is also contemplated that the measuring apparatus may be employed to measure the surface contour of other objects. For example, the measuring apparatus may be employed to measure the surface contour of a fabricated part such as an airplane wing. For example, the hex caps or square caps may be replaced with a pointed cap such that when the probes are vertically traversed, the apex of the pointed cap contacts the surface to be measured. The surface to be measured may be placed on the platform and the probes adjusted until the apexes of the pointed caps contact the surface to be measured. The position of the apexes may be calculated, as discussed above, and transmitted to a computer for further processing. 
         [0148]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.