Patent ID: 7234609

Claim:
A method of transporting and installing articles slated for inventory to an article dispensing machine, comprising the steps of: loading a plurality of articles of inventory into an article transport storage unit; assigning the article transport storage unit to an article dispensing machine, wherein the article dispensing machine comprises an article transport storage unit receiving station and at least one article storage rack; causing the article transport storage unit to be in a locked condition wherein the plurality of articles of inventory cannot be accessed; causing delivery of the locked article transport storage unit to the article dispensing machine; permitting installation of the locked article transport storage unit into the article transport storage unit receiving station of the article dispensing machine; following installation of the article transport storage unit into the article transport storage unit receiving station of the article dispensing machine, causing the article transport storage unit to enter an unlocked condition for allowing unloading of the plurality of articles of inventory to occur; and, automatically unloading the plurality of articles from the unlocked article transport storage unit and transferring the plurality of articles to the at least one storage rack for later rental or purchase of the plurality of articles.