Abstract:
An automated, self-service dry cleaning delivery system accepts and records items dropped off through a kiosk for cleaning, and returns cleaned items to the same kiosk for customer pick-up. A computer software program operates the conveyors, the loading doors, and material transporting equipment. To facilitate maximum customer satisfaction, numerous customer feedback choices are displayed to maximize system dexterity.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon, and claims the filing date of, prior U.S. Provisional application, Ser. No. 61/130,935, entitled “Automated Garment Storage Retrieval and Drop-Off System”, filed Jun. 4, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     Our invention relates generally to automatic self service dry cleaning delivery systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a software controlled, computerized dry cleaning drop-off and retrieval system that intelligently recognizes and processes inventory, and which provides a wide range of corrective measures that are user selectable to maintain accuracy and customer satisfaction. 
     II. Description of the Prior Art 
     While numerous partially automated dry cleaning systems exist, we are aware of no fully operational, self service dry cleaning drop-off and retrieval stations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,064 issued Dec. 3, 1996 discloses a system for reading popular retail discount coupons. Identifying information can be derived with a bar code reader, an OCR scanner, a combination bar code reader/OCR scanner, or manual entry. The manufacturer&#39;s discount coupon has an alphanumeric identification of a particular item, a description and an amount by which to decrease the retail price of the item, an expiration date, and a U.P.C. (Universal Product Code), or other code, that identifies it. The system correlates the first identifying code with one or more second identifying codes, and chooses a particular one of the second identifying codes in uniquely identifying the coupon. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,726 issued Dec. 21, 2004 provides barcode optical character recognition software configured to create a printer format based on scanned labels. After an existing label is scanned, the software converts the scan into a label format through optical character recognition (OCR). The software recognizes and distinguishes text, graphics, and barcodes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,451 issued Mar. 9, 1999 discloses an OCR processing system that reads human readable characters corresponding to an unsuccessfully decoded word in a bar code symbol. An imaging system captures an image of the label including its bar code symbol and corresponding human readable characters. If a bar code character is not successfully decoded, the system locates the associated human readable text and segments the text into individual character images. The unsuccessfully decoded bar code character is mapped to one or more of the alphanumeric character images, which are converted into text characters. The resulting ASCII data is used to create a substitute bar code character in the bar code symbology. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,744,938 issued Jun. 1, 2004 discloses a retail terminal with an imaging scanner that scans and reads labels to derive identifying product attributes. An attribute recognition program such as an optical character recognition (OCR) program is used on the scanned product label that generates text strings from alphanumeric label information and graphics images from graphics and logos. Text strings and/or graphics data are then compared to various text strings and graphics data in a database or look-up table to return information relative to the scan. Data, stored either locally or at a remote site accessible via a network or the like, is correlated to a plurality of text strings/graphics that correspond to alphanumeric text/graphics on a plurality of product labels. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,841 issued Jun. 23, 1998 discloses a scanner including an imaging system and a label decoding system. The imaging system captures an image of a package surface that includes a machine readable code such as a bar code and an alphanumeric destination address. The label decoding system locates and decodes the machine readable code and uses OCR techniques to read the destination address. The destination address is validated by comparing the decoded address to a database of valid addresses. If the decoded address is invalid, an image of the destination address is displayed on a workstation and an operator enters the correct address. The system forms a unified package record by combining the decoded bar code data and the correct destination address data. The unified package record is used for subsequently sorting and tracking the package and is stored in a database and applied to a label that is affixed to the package. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,246 issued Oct. 29, 1985 discloses an inventory control and reporting system for dry cleaning establishments. A data input keyboard provides information for analyzing processing costs of laundry articles, a data processor adapted to calculate pricing information and to generate reports based upon such data. Sequential bar code records and tags for attachment to the laundry articles are generated in sequential transactions. The bar code tags are attached to articles of clothing and are used with scanning apparatus to facilitate generation of reports according to various management needs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,834 issued Oct. 5, 1999 discloses a tracking and management system designed especially for dry cleaning inventory control using RF encoding device and optical encoding. The optical pattern includes a barcode for automatic or semiautomatic data capture as well as human readable characters that are cross referenced to the RF identifying code and to inventory control records in a database. An identification packet is attached to each garment for tracking. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,348 issued to Lohrey, et al. on Feb. 7, 1989 involves an automated customer interface for services relating to drop-off and pickup at laundry and dry cleaning establishments. A customer&#39;s processed order is retrieved via a customer interface through a door which opens to enable the customer to pick up his order. Included in the customer interface panel are a card reader for reading the customer&#39;s credit card, a display for presenting information and instructions to the customer, a menu of services for selection by the customer and a keyboard or other input device to select desired services. A printer is included for printing a receipt and/or a transaction record. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a self service dry cleaning drop-off and retrieval method and apparatus that responds with user-friendly computer prompts to maximize customer satisfaction. The apparatus recognizes and associates orders with particular customers, and subsequently delivers dry cleaned products in batches accessible at the kiosk. 
     Our automated, self-service dry cleaning delivery system described herein accepts orders of garments or items to be cleaned, and delivers them back to customers at a convenient kiosk. An upright kiosk has an access door for customers to drop off items for cleaning, or to pick up and retrieve items that have already been cleaned. A touch-screen monitor interface provides numerous customer options, and allows for user-friendly customer inputs. Payment transactions are facilitated with a card reader and a printer for customer receipts. Disposable bags are available from a convenient dispenser. 
     Clothing to be cleaned is bagged and put into a kiosk compartment by the customer at time of drop-off. A conveyor system with material handling apparatus stores and delivers cleaned garment orders to the kiosk at time of customer pick-up. Barcode scans, or alternatively RFID or OCR scans or manual entry, provide inventory control. A customer user interface program runs on a computer with a touch screen monitor mounted on the kiosk. 
     Thus a basic object is to provide a fully automated, computerized self service dry cleaning delivery system. 
     A related object is to provide a user-friendly, computerized self service dry cleaning delivery system of the character described that maximizes customer convenience and satisfaction. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a self service dry cleaning delivery system of the character described with an inventory tracking system to maximize product delivery efficiency. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a self service dry cleaning delivery system of the character described with security features that assure no customer gains access to any items other than their own. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a self service dry cleaning delivery system of the character described that allows customers to return cleaned items through the kiosk to be re-hung on a storage conveyor or rack so as not to require re-cleaning. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent in the course of the following descriptive sections. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of the preferred customer kiosk; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic block diagram of the preferred customers interfacing and computer portions of our invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the machine control and hardware of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the preferred load station where an operator loads cleaned customer orders onto the system; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary pictorial view of the dry cleaning delivery system; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary diagrammatic overhead view of the dry cleaning delivery system; 
         FIGS. 7-18  are flow charts of the preferred computer software executed by the invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a pictorial view of the garment transfer unit that transfers cleaned customer orders from the storage conveyor to the kiosk delivery hook as well as from the kiosk delivery hook back to the storage conveyor; and, 
         FIGS. 20-21  are flow charts of the steps used by the garment transfer unit when transferring garments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to the invention, an automated self-service dry cleaning delivery system seen generally in  FIGS. 1-6  and  19  provides customers with fully automatic, unattended dry cleaning drop-off and retrieval services. When installed within a staffed dry cleaning store, the system will deliver cleaned customer orders to the kiosk  10  when requested by a customer using the kiosk, and it will also deliver cleaned customer orders to a position on the conveyor accessible by a customer service representative (CSR) when requested by the CSR through a point-of-sale (POS) terminal located behind a customer service counter. The system design allows clothes items to be dropped-off and picked-up through the same kiosk door and compartment. This results in a space savings versus systems using one point for customer pick-up and another area for customer drop-off. 
     The system operates independently of an outside Point of Sale (POS) system, other than obtaining data records used to identify customers and their orders. Data is dumped from a POS into the database, then the system accesses only it&#39;s own database during operation. This allows the system to operate without the need for any continuous communication with another system. 
     This invention incorporates certain technology presented in a co-pending Utility Patent Application, entitled Automated Dry Cleaning Assembly Conveyor System, Ser. No. 11/801,728, filed May 10, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     With initial reference directed now to  FIG. 1  of the appended drawings, the upright, kiosk  10  generally in the form of a parallelepiped is disposed within an area or facility providing high visibility and easy ingress and egress to consumers, i.e., actual or potential dry cleaning customers. Front door  11  allows the customer to drop off items for cleaning, or to pick up and retrieve items that have already been cleaned. Operations are self service, and customer preferences are inputted via a touch-screen monitor interface generally designated by the reference numeral  12 . For payment transactions and customer identification there is a magnetic card reader  13  adjacent a thermal printer  14  that outputs customer receipts. For customer convenience, disposable bags are available from dispenser  15 . The system incorporates the built-in garment bag dispenser in order to provide a bag to any customer who drops off clothes and does not already have a bag. The bag dispenser apparatus  15  is located inside of the kiosk so that bags can only be accessed upon being dispensed after customer has been identified and has requested a bag. Audio feedback is provided to assist customers through speaker  16 . All instructions are provided to customers both visually through text on the kiosk monitor and audibly through voice prompts via the kiosk speaker. 
     The system is modular so that the kiosk cabinet may be located at most any point along the storage conveyor (along one side or at the nose end). This allows for almost unlimited configuration options so the system may be installed in a large variety of spaces. The kiosk cabinet is designed so that it can be installed through a wall either on the exterior of a building, or into a lobby or vestibule area inside a building. All components on the front of the kiosk cabinet are sealed and weather resistant. 
     The system is represented diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 . Touch screen monitor  20  and the barcode canner  21  allow operator inputs to the processing unit  28  during the order loading process. Identification card reader electronics  13 , a thermal receipt printer circuit  14 , and the touch screen monitor interface  12  likewise communicate with the processing unit  28 . A diagnostic monitor  25 , a mouse  26 , and a keyboard  27  aid operator information input and diagnostics, and these units also interface with processing unit  28 . A PLC machine control unit  31  and an optional external “point of sale” (i.e., “POS”) system  30  communicate with the processing unit  28  via communication interface  29 , which ideally communicates locally through Ethernet communications, and which may communicate externally of the system through the Internet. An advantage of our system is that the processing unit  28  is provided by an inexpensive personal computer that runs the software to be hereinafter described. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the machine control unit  31  processes inputs and outputs from the communication interface  29 , the bag dispenser  15 , front door lock  34  that locks front door  11  ( FIG. 1 ), and rotary door lock  37  that locks an internal rotary door  35  ( FIG. 6 ). Steps are included to insure that no customer has access to any clothing/order other than their own: Any time front door is unlocked, the rotary door is locked. Further, the rotary door  35  will not rotate when front door is open or unlocked. 
     Manual conveyor controls including an emergency stop function are designated generally by the reference numeral  36 . Item handling apparatus includes the garment transfer unit  38 , the conveyor motor control  39 , and the clothes drop RAM  40 . A front door sensor  32  detects whether the front door  11  ( FIG. 1 ) is open or closed, and a rejected clothes sensor  33  detects presence of clothing on rotary door hook  52  ( FIG. 5 ). Conventional power supply  41  supplies power. 
     The relatively large kiosk compartment used for both drop-off and pick-up allows for large and/or bulky items to be facilitated. Smooth surfaces and gaps between the rotary door  35  and surrounding kiosk surfaces allow for long dresses and other large items to be handled without the risk of snags or catching. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , cleaned customer orders are loaded onto the conveyor by an operator at loading shroud  42 , and materials are moved by electric garment storage conveyor  48 . This is monitored by the touch screen monitor  20 , that also displays the barcode scans from scanner  21 . Manual control of the conveyor is provided by manual control switch  46 , that is located next to an emergency “STOP” button  45 . A typical garment hanging bracket is designated by the reference numeral  47 . Conveyor  48  controls a plurality of such spaced apart brackets  47 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the kiosk structure is designated by the reference numeral  54 . Dirty clothes or other items to be cleaned are placed into the kiosk in a bag by a customer. For fast drop-off only, customers are given an “express drop-off” button on the touch screen monitor after swiping a card and entering their phone number for identification. This allows repeat customers to skip all screens related to order pick-up and item detail for drop-off for time savings. 
     Items dropped off are moved out of the kiosk by rotary door  35 , then pushed clear of the rotary door by bag drop ram  40 . Processed items (i.e., cleaned garments)  51  to be returned to the customer are temporarily suspended upon a delivery hook  52  attached to the rotary door  35 . 
     Customers may return items with which they are not completely satisfied. The system asks customers at pick-up to examine their order and answer “yes” or “no” as to their satisfaction with the order. If they select “no”, they are given the option to return any unsatisfactory items by hanging them back inside the kiosk. The items are then removed by the garment transfer unit and placed onto the conveyor. The rejected clothes sensor  33  (i.e.,  FIG. 3 ) detects if clothes are present on the delivery hook  52 . In the event a customer forgets clothes they are picking up, and leaves them on the delivery hook (inside the kiosk) after the customer&#39;s transaction is completed, the garment transfer unit is activated to remove any such items from the delivery hook and place them back onto the conveyor prior to allowing the next customer access to the kiosk. Assignment and recording of the conveyor slot on which the items are hung allows the system to return the items when that customer returns to retrieve them again. 
     A mechanical garment transfer unit  38  is computer controlled for transferring items to and from the electric garment storage conveyor  48  and the delivery hook  52 . Customer orders  57  disposed upon conventional clothes hangers are held by conveyor hanging brackets displaced by the storage conveyor  48 . A customer order aligned to be picked up from the conveyor by the garment transfer unit is designated by the reference numeral  58 . A computer and other controls are located within the machine controls cabinet  63  portion of the kiosk structure  54 . 
     Each conveyor hanger bracket  47  is designed with an internal slots with a ‘V’ configuration. Each such “dip” in each hanger slot causes garment hangers to all gravitate toward the middle of the bracket slot (i.e., the bottom of the “V”) assuring that the gripper fingers on the garment transfer unit can easily grip all hangers. This bracket design along with the garment transfer unit design prevent items from falling off the conveyor or being dropped during transfer from the conveyor to the kiosk. 
     Customers who have an order ready for pick-up, are given the option of either picking it up now or leaving it for pick-up later. This is useful for a customer who uses the system to drop off dirty clothes on their way to catch a train for a commute to work for example, but doesn&#39;t want to pick up cleaned orders until they return on their way home from work. 
     Each order has a unique identification number. This number is normally assigned and printed (usually in the form of a bar code) onto a paper invoice by the Point of Sale system. This invoice is then attached to each order and the bar code is then scanned by scanner  21  ( FIG. 4 ) by moving the invoice in front of the scanner  21  at the load station. (Alternatively, an RFID chip and reader may be used, or alpha/numeric characters may be printed and read with an OCR reader for this step.) At this time the order information from the POS system has been received, and the system then references the order number in the database to find the customer information so that the order can be properly loaded onto the conveyor. 
       FIG. 6  schematically shows an overhead view of the floor plan for the equipment. The machine controls cabinet  63  is located near rotary door  35  that supports delivery hook  52 . Dirty clothes are dropped by customers into cavity  83  which is spaced apart from kiosk usage or customer area  84  on the interior side of building wall  85 . The garment transfer unit  38  is located between the electric garment storage conveyor  48  and the kiosk cabinet  10  ( FIG. 1 ). The conveyor load area is generally designated by the reference numeral  90 . 
     Customer User Interface: 
     The customer user interface program of  FIG. 7  runs on the primary computer whose display  12  ( FIG. 1 ) is mounted proximate the front face of the kiosk  10  ( FIG. 1 ). This display is touch screen enabled. Audio is provided through speaker system  16  ( FIG. 1 ) also mounted on the front face of kiosk  10  ( FIG. 1 ). All of the verbal instructions are dynamically generated using computer speech synthesis. 
     After the “start” function, the Display Welcome Screen step  100  executes, prompting the customer to press the start button on the computer touch screen or to swipe a magnetic card in the card reader  13  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The “Wait for card swipe” step  200  ( FIG. 7 ), follows. At this time the computer monitors the magnetic card reader  13  waiting for a customer input. A Card Swipe is processed in step  300  wherein magnetic data is parsed and swipe is validated. This routine will return to the main program either a loyalty card number or the first and last name of the card holder, in the event the swiped card was a credit card. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the “Process Card Swipe” step  300  of  FIG. 7  is detailed. Step  305  tests for a Valid Swipe, wherein magnetic track data is parsed from the reader to check for validity of the input. Invalid Swipe step  310  determines if magnetic card data was corrupt or in a format that was not compatible. An error condition is set and control is passed back to the customer user interface at  300 . If the “valid swipe” step  305  ( FIG. 8 ) is “yes”, the Parse Magnetic Data step  315  executes. Track data is parsed for information including card number, expiration date and the card holder name. 
     Step  320  ( FIG. 8 ) determines if a “loyalty card” is in use. The loyalty card is a custom branded card supplied by the assignee of this case, i.e., HMC Solutions LLC. The loyalty card contains a loyalty number that uniquely identifies a particular customer. A “yes” results in step  325 , wherein the loyalty card number is stored, and control is passed back to the customer user interface at  300 . If step  320  produces a negative, the “Return Customer Name” step  330  stores customer name data from the magnetic stripe and passes it back to the customer user interface at  300 . 
     Returning again  FIG. 7 , the “Valid Data” step  400  follows the steps of  FIG. 8 , and the output of Process Card Swipe step  300  is checked for validity. If validity is negative, the process returns to the “Display Welcome Screen” step  100 . If validity is yes, the “Prompt Customer For Phone” step  500  follows. In step  500  the screen on the kiosk displays a phone number entry screen and instructions for the customer to enter their phone number. In addition to the display, the instructions are read aloud through computer synthesized speech and broadcast on speaker  16  ( FIG. 1 ). The customer enters their phone number and presses the continue button on the touch screen. 
     In the “Look Up Customer” step  600  the customer is looked up by matching the name field in the event of a credit card, or the loyalty number in the event of a loyalty card, obtained from step  300  with the phone number the customer entered in step  500 . Referencing  FIG. 9 , step  600  is followed by the “Locate customer ID” step  605  wherein a customer table is queried with the phone number entered and customer name or loyalty number. The “Customer Locate” step  610  determines if a match was located in step  605 . Step  615 , the “no customer match” step, follows, returning to customer user interface step  600  ( FIG. 7 ) if no customer ID is located. If a customer ID is found, “Customer found” step  620  uses a unique customer ID field to identify the correct customer to the system application, as well as third party software pertinent to the system and control is passed back to the customer interface step  600  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     The “New Customer” step  700  ( FIG. 7 ) proceeds if step  600  returns no customer ID. At this point the customer is presented with an option to set up a new account or enter a new phone number. The “Get New Customer Information” step  800  ( FIG. 10 ) gathers information and creates a new customer record. The “Display screen for daytime contact number” step  805  ( FIG. 10 ) causes the front kiosk screen to display instructions for the customer to enter a daytime phone number using the touch screen interface  12  ( FIG. 1 ). The instructions are also read to the customer via synthesized computer voice over speaker  16 . In the following “User Inputs Phone Number ” step  810  ( FIG. 10 ) the customer enters a daytime contact number for an employee to contact them and set up their profile, via the touch screen interface  12 . When the phone number is entered the customer selects “continue” on the touch screen  12 , and the “New Customer Record Created” step  815  creates a record in the new customer table based on information from the customers magnetic card data gathered in step  300  ( FIG. 7 ) and phone number entered in step  810 . Then the “New customer file created for third party software” step  820  creates a file and passes it to a third party software point of sale system, in a format that has been pre-agreed upon. 
     The “Check For Ready Items” step  900  in  FIG. 7  occurs when a return customer is involved (i.e., the customer is found not to be new in preceding step  700  et. al.). Step  900  queries the conveyor and order tables in the database to determine if the customer identified in step  600  has items that are able to be delivered through the kiosk. The “Check conveyor table in database for ready orders” step  905  ( FIG. 11 ) checks the conveyor table looking for orders that are ready for the identified customer. If no order is found in step  910 , the routine returns to step  900 . If an order is detected in the “Orders Found” step  910 , i.e., if orders were located in the conveyor table for the identified customer, the “Check orders table to verify order is allowed to be picked up through kiosk” step  915  executes, wherein the orders table is queried and checked via the relationship with the conveyor table. The matching order is then checked to verify that the third part software will allow the order to be picked up through the kiosk in step  920 . If the “Orders valid to be picked up, step  920  finds that none of the orders are authorized to be picked up, control is returned to the customer user interface  950 , otherwise the “Orders Ready to be picked up” screen  922  is displayed and the customer is told that they have orders ready to be picked up and asks if they want to pick them up now. If they respond in step  924  with “no” or choose the “Express Drop Off” button, control is passed to the customer user interface step  950 . If “yes” is selected, then the “Create command to pick up orders” step  925  follows, and the list of valid orders is generated and sorted based on the most efficient grouping to expedite off loading by the system. The off load commands are then placed in a queue to be processed by the system. The “Create pickup file for Third Party Software” step  930  creates a file and passes it to a third party software point of sale system, in a format that has been pre-agreed upon. 
     Referencing  FIG. 7 , in step  950 , a routine checks to see whether or not the customer has selected “express drop off”. If yes, control passes to the “Process Drop Off” routine, step  1200 . If no, then in the “Display drop off screen” step  1000  a screen is displayed on the kiosk touch screen  12  asking the customer if they will be dropping off items for cleaning. The instructions are also read aloud to them through the use of the computer synthesized voice on speaker  16 . In the “Dropping Off” step  1100  the customer responds to the drop off screen by touching the “Yes”, “No”, or “Express” button displayed on the touch screen. If the customer responds with a “no,” then control is passed to step  1300  detailed below. If either a “yes” or “Express” is selected in step  1100 , or if “Express” was selected in step  950 , the “Process Drop Off Routing” step  1200  ( FIG. 12 ) proceeds. Routine  1200  interacts with the customer to gather information about the order being dropped off, prints receipts and creates the necessary records needed for the transaction. 
     If in step  1210  ( FIG. 12 ) it is determined that “Express” was selected, then control is passed to step  1250 . 
     If in step  1210  ( FIG. 12 ) it is determined that “Express” was not selected, then during the “Ask user how many items they are dropping off” step  1220 , the kiosk touch screen  12  displays, and the speaker  16  verbally announces, asking how many items the customer/user will be dropping off. The customer then enters the number of items they are dropping off through an on screen keyboard. The customer presses “continue” to move to the “Display ‘need a bag’ screen” step  1225  ( FIG. 12 ). The kiosk touch screen  12  displays a screen informing the customer that all items dropped off will need to be in a bag, and asks if they will need a bag. This information is also read verbally to the customer. In the succeeding “Ask user if they need a bag” step  1230 , the user/customer will answer “yes” or “no” using the touch screen  12  and the indicated yes or no buttons. In step  1235 , if they answer no, control is passed to step  1250 , but if they answer “yes,” the “Activate bag dispenser” step  1240  follows, sending a command to the kiosk&#39;s machine control unit PLC  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to dispense one bag from the bag vending device attached to the kiosk. The following “Display bag instructions” step  1245  ( FIG. 12 ) causes the kiosk touch screen  12  to display a message informing the customer to place all items in a bag and to place the bag inside of the kiosk cabinet. In the “Print 2 copies of the receipt” step  1250  two copies of the receipt is printed via the kiosks&#39; built-in printer. One copy is for the customer to keep for a record, the other copy is placed inside the bag with the items to identify the order to the third party software. The “Display receipt printing screen” step  1255  ( FIG. 12 ) displays a screen on the kiosk&#39;s touch screen  12  informing the customer that receipts are being printed and instructing them to place one receipt in the bag and keep the other. The “Ask user if reprint is needed” step  1260  provides an option to print another copy of the receipt. The customer responds to the question in step  1265  via the touch screen and yes/no buttons. If they answer “yes” then control is passed back to step  1250 . The “Create drop-off record in database” step  1270  follows if step  1265  results in a “no.” In step  1270 , a record is created in the drop-off table in the database containing the customer ID, the number of items they are dropping off, the date and time, promise date on the order and other miscellaneous information. The “Create drop-off file for third party software” step  1275  creates a file and passes it to a third party software point of sale (POS) system, in a format that has been pre-agreed upon. Step  1300 , the “Finish Transaction” step, ( FIG. 7 ) follows. 
     The “Finish transaction” step  1300  of  FIG. 7  is detailed in  FIG. 13 . This routine delivers the completed orders to the customer, asks the customer if they would like to reject an order, and handles the reject operation. The “Orders to be delivered” step  1305  ( FIG. 13 ) checks the results from step  900  ( FIG. 7 ); if there are no orders to be delivered, control is passed to step  1360 . If step  1305  determines that orders are ready to be delivered, then the commands are executed and sent to the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) for retrieval. 
     The “Wait for a Batch of Orders to be Ready” step  1310  organizes batches of cleaned garments. Orders are picked up in batches to accommodate the size of the pickup cabinet. Excessively large orders will be delivered in several successive batches. The “Batch ready” step  1315  checks a register in the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to see if a batch of orders is ready. If the batch is not ready, control is sent back to step  1310 . If a batch is ready, the “Rotate rotary door” step  1320  which is detailed in  FIG. 17  follows. 
     During the “Rotate rotary door” routine ( FIG. 17 ), step  17 . 20  checks a register in the machine control unit PLC  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to determine if the kiosk&#39;s front door  11  ( FIG. 1 ) is locked. If “yes”, then control proceeds to step  17 . 40 . If “No”, then in step  17 . 30 , a command is executed by the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to lock the front door. Then in step  17 . 40 , a register in the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) is checked to determine if the rotary door  35  ( Fig.5 ) is locked. If “No”, then control proceeds to step  17 . 60 . If “Yes”, then a command is executed in step  17 . 50  by the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to unlock the rotary door. In step  17 . 60 , a command is executed by the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to rotate the rotary door, then is step  17 . 70  a command is executed by the machine control unit  31  to lock the rotary door. Then in step  17 . 80 , a register in the machine control unit is checked to determine if the rotary door is in the “hook-out” position. If “No”, then control passes to step  1325  ( FIG. 13 ). If “Yes”, then in step  17 . 90  a command is executed by the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to unlock the front door before proceeding to step  1325  ( FIG. 13 ). 
     Next, referencing  FIG. 13 , step  1325  entitled “Display prompt for user to remove orders from cabinet,” follows, and the kiosk&#39;s touch screen  12  ( FIG. 1 ) displays a message telling the user/customer to open the front door  11 , reach in and remove their order, and then press the “continue” button. Then in step  1327 , a routine checks to determine if the customer has removed the items from the kiosk. The routine repeats until that is confirmed, and then the “More orders to be delivered” step  1330  checks to see if all orders for that customer have been delivered, or if more orders remain. If more orders remain then the commands are sent to the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to extract and deliver the next batch or orders and control is passed to step  1335 , otherwise control goes to step  1340 . In step  1335  ( FIG. 13 ) the kiosk&#39;s touch screen  12  ( FIG. 1 ) displays an instruction, and the speaker  16  ( FIG. 1 ) verbally announces, that the customer should wait for the next batch of orders that will be delivered, control passes to step  1337  and the rotate rotary door routine runs per the steps previously described in  FIG. 17 , then control is returned to step  1310 . In step  1340  the customer is visually and audibly instructed to inspect all of their orders via touch screen  12  and the speaker  16  ( FIG. 1 ) respectively. The customer is then asked if they would like to return or reject any of their orders in step  1345 . 
     The “Reject order” step  1347  ( FIG. 13 ) requires the customer to indicate a “yes” or “no” by pressing corresponding buttons on the kiosk&#39;s touch screen  12 . If the answer is “no,” then control is passed to step  1360 . If the answer is “yes”, and an order is to be rejected, the “Process reject of an order” step  1350  runs. Referencing  FIG. 14 , the “Display message for user to enter a daytime phone number” step  1351  causes the kiosk touch screen to display instructions for the customer/user to enter a daytime phone number. The latter instruction is announced orally on speaker  16 . The “User inputs phone number” step  1352  instructs the customer to input a phone number through the kiosk&#39;s touch screen and on screen number pad. The customer chooses “continue” on the touch screen display when done entering the requested phone number. In the “Reject record is created in database” step  1353  a record is created in the “rejects table” in the database. This record contains the customer ID, phone number, date and time of the transaction and other miscellaneous information. The “Display instructions for user to place order on hook inside of cabinet and close door” step  1354  is facilitated by the touch screen display and verbal system, presenting instructions for the customer to place the order they are returning inside the cabinet on the hook, close the door, and then press the continue button on the screen  12 . The routine is then complete and control passes to step  1360  where a routine runs to check whether or not the rotary door  35  ( FIG. 5 ) is in the hook-in position. If “yes”, control is passed to step  1395 . If “no”, then the rotate rotary door routine, step  1390  ( FIG. 17 ) is executed, then control is passed to step  1395 . In step  1395 , a routine checks to determine if the rejected clothes sensor  33  ( FIG. 5 ) has been tripped. If “No”, control is passed to step  1400  ( FIG. 7 ). If “Yes”, step  1397  process rejected/left behind orders routine ( FIG. 18 ) is run. 
     In  FIG. 18 , the Process Rejected/Left Behind Orders routine begins with step  18 . 10  in which an available slot on a hanger bracket  47  ( FIG. 4 ) on the electric storage conveyor  48  ( FIGS. 4 ,  5  &amp;  6 ) is found on which to hang the rejected/left behind order. Then in step  18 . 20 , the machine control unit PLC  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) moves the electric storage conveyor to position that available slot at a point where it can be loaded by the garment transfer unit  38  ( FIG. 5 ). Then in step  18 . 30 , the garment transfer unit removes the rejected/left behind order from the delivery hook  52  ( FIG. 5 ) and places it onto the available hanger bracket slot on the conveyor. A record is then created in the database in step  18 . 40  for the order and slot number. Then in step  18 . 50 , a routine is run to determine if the order was a rejected order (per step  1347 ,  FIG. 13 ). If “Yes”, a rejected order record is created in the database in step  18 . 60  and a message is sent to kiosk management that an order has been rejected. Control then passes to step  1400  ( FIG. 7 ) where a finish screen is displayed on the touch screen monitor  12  ( FIG. 1 ). If “No”, then in step  18 . 70  a left behind order message is created in the database and a message is sent to kiosk management that an order has been left behind by a customer. An order record is then created in the database for the last customer to use the system in step  18 . 80  enabling the order to be retrieved again in the event the customer returns to do so. The routine is then complete and control then passes to step  1400  ( FIG. 7 ) where a finish screen is displayed on the touch screen monitor  12  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     After checking registers on the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to verify that the door is closed and locked, audible “thank you” message is played and control is sent to step  100 . 
     Load Station User Interface 
     The load station consists of a secondary computer monitor  20  ( FIG. 4 ) which is touch screen enabled. A serial barcode scanner  21  is used as an input device to supplement the touch screen. Operation commences with the “Display operator load screen” step  2000  ( FIG. 15 ). The main load station User Interface (UI) screen is displayed on the monitor  20  ( FIG. 4 ). This screen has an input box allowing for the entry of an order number. The “Operator scans or types order number” step  2005  ( FIG. 15 ) allows the order number to be entered using the onscreen number pad, or scanned using the attached serial scanner. The “Verify order” step  2010  compares the order number entered in step  2005  against the orders table in the database. The “Valid order?” step  2015  looks for an order entry corresponding to that found in the database in step  2010 , and control is sent to step  2020 , otherwise control is passed to  2025 . 
     The “Find optimal load position” step  2020  insures maximum time efficiency by arranging delivery of orders for the same customers as close together as possible. This is determined through the algorithm of  FIG. 16 . 
     In  FIG. 16 , a routine in step  2020 . 2  determines if the customer who owns the order that was just entered has any other orders already hanging on the conveyor. If no, the nearest empty slot (or hook) is assigned to the order in step  2020 . 7 . If yes, then the nearest hanging order is determined in step  2020 . 3  and then in step  2020 . 4  a routine runs to determine if there is an empty slot next to the order found in step  2020 . 3  If yes, then that slot is assigned to the order being loaded. If not, another routine runs in step  2020 . 5  to determine if there are additional orders belonging to the same customer that are already hanging on the conveyor. If yes, then in step  2020 . 6  the nearest of those orders is determined and control is passed back to step  2020 . 4 . If no, then in step  2020 . 8  the closest empty slot on the conveyor is determined and is assigned to the order being loaded. Control then returns to step  2030  ( FIG. 15 ). 
     The target load position is displayed on the load station monitor. Control is then passed to the “Move conveyor to load position” step  2030  that issues a command to the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to rotate the conveyor to the correct load position. This is done by moving the conveyor in the direction that yields the shortest travel distance. The operator confirms the load operation in step  2035 , i.e., the operator is given the choice of loading and confirming the placement of the order, or manually entering a new location and confirming the new location. Placement of the order onto the conveyor is confirmed either by a sensor located on the load shroud  42  ( FIG. 4 ), or by the operator pressing a confirmation button on the load station touch screen monitor  20  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     In the event a new location is selected by the operator, a command is sent to the machine control unit  31  ( FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 ) to rotate the conveyor to the new position. If step  2040  confirms a “yes”, steps  2045  and  2050  follow, otherwise the program returns to step  2000 . 
     If no order was found in step  2015 , the “Display order not found to Operator” step  2025  provides a message displayed to the operator that the order was not found, and requests that he or she please retry. Control is then passed to step  2000 , which results in rescanning and another verification attempt. 
     The “Create conveyor record in database for order” step  2045  ( FIG. 15 ) creates a record in the conveyor table in the database for the order. The location, order number, time of load, customer ID and other miscellaneous information is contained in this record. Finally, the “Create load file for Third Party Software” step  2050  creates a file and passed it to a third party software point of sale system, in a format that has been pre-agreed upon. Control is then passed back to step  2000 . 
     Garment Transfer Unit 
     The garment transfer unit  38  is depicted in  FIG. 19  and consists of a vertical actuator  92 , horizontal actuator  93 , rotary actuator  94 , reach actuator  95 , angular gripper  96 , and two gripper fingers  97 . Each of these components may be either pneumatic or electric. 
     In  FIG. 20 , when transferring orders from the electric garment storage conveyor  48  ( FIG. 5 ) to the rotary door order delivery hook  52  ( FIG. 5 ), the garment transfer unit is first positioned to the home position step  20 . 10  with the angular gripper  96  open, rotary actuator  94  is rotated so as to align the gripper fingers  97  perpendicularly with the storage conveyor  48  ( FIG. 5 ), vertical actuator at it&#39;s bottom position, horizontal actuator  93  at its most forward position and reach actuator  95  retracted. The reach actuator  95  is then extended in step  20 . 20 , and the angular gripper  96  is closed in step  20 . 30  to grip the neck of the garment hangers containing the order in the conveyor bracket  47  ( FIG. 4 ) slot, the vertical actuator  92  is moved to its top position in step  20 . 40  to lift the hangers out of the slot and the horizontal actuator  93  is then moved to its middle position in step  20 . 50  pulling the order away from the conveyor  48  ( FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 ). The rotary actuator  94  is then rotated 90 degrees in step  20 . 60  to align the order so that it&#39;s parallel to the rotary door  35  ( FIG. 5 ). The horizontal actuator  93  is then moved to its most reverse position (closest to the kiosk cabinet  54  ( FIG. 5 )) in step  20 . 70 . The vertical actuator  92  is then moved to its bottom position in step  20 . 80 , setting the order&#39;s garment hanger hook(s) on the rotary door order delivery hook  52  ( FIG. 5 ). The angular gripper  96  is open in step  20 . 90  to release the garment hangers, then the reach actuator is retracted in step  20 . 100  to move the gripper fingers  97  clear of the garment hangers. The horizontal actuator  93  is then moved back to its middle position in step  20 . 110 , then the rotary actuator  94  is rotated 90 degrees in step  20 . 120  to position the gripper fingers perpendicular to the garment storage conveyor  48  ( FIG. 5 ), and the finally in step  20 . 130  the horizontal actuator  93  is moved to its most forward position in order to complete the return of the garment transfer unit to its home position. 
     In  FIG. 21 , when transferring orders from the rotary door order delivery hook  52  ( FIG. 5 ) to the electric garment storage conveyor  48  ( FIG. 5 ), the garment transfer unit is first positioned to the home position step  20 . 10  with the angular gripper  96  open, vertical actuator at it&#39;s bottom position, rotary actuator  94  is rotated so as to align the gripper fingers  97  perpendicularly with the storage conveyor  48  ( FIG. 5 ), the horizontal actuator  93  at its most forward position and reach actuator  95  retracted. The horizontal actuator  93  is then moved to its middle position in step  21 . 20 , then in step  21 . 30  the rotary actuator  94  is rotated 90 degrees to align the gripper fingers to be parallel with the rotary door  35  ( FIG. 5 ). The horizontal actuator  93  is then moved to its most reverse position (closest to the kiosk cabinet  54  ( FIG. 5 )) in step  21 . 40  and then is step  21 . 50  the reach actuator  19  is extended. Then in step  21 . 60  the angular gripper  96  is closed so that the gripper fingers  97  grip the neck of the garment hanger(s) containing the order and then the vertical actuator  19  is moved to its top position in step  21 . 70  to lift the garment order off the rotary door order delivery hook  52  ( FIG. 5 ). Then in step  21 . 80  the horizontal actuator is moved to its middle position and then the rotary actuator  94  is rotated 90 degrees in step  21 . 90  to align the garment order perpendicularly to the garment storage conveyor  48  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     The horizontal actuator  93  is then moved to its most forward position in step  21 . 100  and the vertical actuator  92  is then moved in step  21 . 110  to its bottom position. The garment order&#39;s hanger(s) are then released onto the storage conveyor hanger bracket slot when the angular gripper  96  is opened in step  21 . 120 . The reach actuator is then retracted in step  21 . 130  to return the garment transfer unit to its home position, thus completing the process. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. 
     As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.