AUTOMATIC FIRST AID KIT/PRODUCT VENDING MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to vending machines and in particular to an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine which can be operated by the purchaser of the kit/product and which makes it possible to make first aid kits/products available at any time of the day/night wherever they are needed. It does not require deployment of any manpower for operating it.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Vending machines are very common these days. They are used for vending innumerable products tike hot and cold drinks, snacks and savouries, light reading materials, newspapers/magazines, toys, branded products etc. in innumerable places like shopping malls,,amusement parks, institutions, hostels, clubs, resorts etc., i.e., wherever there may be congregation of a sizable number of human beings.
The majority of such vending machines are semi-automatic. For example, for machines vending hot drinks, certain personnel are posted to man them. The machine does the work of actually preparing and delivering the beverages, while the manpower is needed for collection of the payment. Usually automatic vending machines are deployed when a single product is delivered against insertion of a specified coin. A vending machine for chocolate bars or coin chocolates is an example.
However, vending machines traditionally deal only with so called "feel-good" products having mass consumption and steady demand. They have hitherto not been used for dispensing medical products as such.
Wherever there is congregation of a sizable number of human beings, there are chances of minor accidents taking place. Sometimes major accidents also take place. Children's play ground, clubs, hostels, schools, gymnasia are all such places, to name a few. In case of any accident, a first aid kit/product is an immediate and vital need.
It has been observed that the ready availability of such a kit/product is always a major problem in such locations. In the absence of prompt and timely administration of first aid, even a minor injury tends to turn serious in nature.
Such automatic self-service first aid kit vending machines for first aid kits/products should find application in amusement parks, sports stadia, shopping malls, multiplexes, software and MNC companies, government secretariats, educational institutions, apartment complexes etc. In the event of any emergency, people can procure a first aid kit/product immediately, which sometimes can turn out to be life saving too.
Therefore there is a need in the industry for an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine which can be operated by the purchaser of the kit and which makes it possible to make first aid kits available at any time of the day/night wherever they are needed. It should not require deployment of any trained manpower for operating it. The present invention seeks to overcome this and other drawbacks of the prior art.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the. present invention is to provide an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine that makes available easily a variety of first aid kits at any time of the day/night, wherever they are needed.
Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine that presents a selection of six varieties of first aid kits in order that the most appropriate kit, depending upon the accident to be attended to, is procured.
A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine that is user-friendly and does not need any trained manpower for its operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine that is provided with an electronic payment system consisting of note acceptor, receipt printer and note dispenser and is adapted to accept payment for the kits in currency notes, issue receipts and make refunds, if applicable.
A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine which has GSM telemetry system with SMS alerts as an in-built feature.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automatic first aid kit/product vending machine that is simple in construction, built on the stand-alone principle, so that it can be deployed in remote areas.
How the foregoing objects are achieved will be clear from the following description. In this context it is clarified that the description provided is non-limiting and is only by way of explanation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An automatic first aid kit/product vending machine comprises of a robust sheet metal cabinet provided with epoxy coating and having a naif-glass front door for visual display of the first aid kits/products. The front face of the cabinet accommodates a plurality of illuminated push button switches for product selection. The cabinet is provided with white LED internal lighting for better visibility. It encases a programmable microprocessor to control all operations of the machine. A plurality of trays is provided for easy loading and display of different first aid kits/products. It also encases built-in drop sensors with nudge function to ensure reliability in dispensing the kits or products to the user. The machine is provided with a bank currency note validator. A receipt printer and a cash balance dispenser are also encased within the cabinet.
The trays are positioned just behind the half-glass front door of the cabinet so that the kits/products loaded on them are clearly visible from outside.
Anti-drill and tamper proof secure locks are provided on the cabinet. The glass of the half-glass of the front door of the cabinet is toughened glass. The cabinet has an LCD display

and a delivery window on. the front face of the cabinet covered by a flap-type movable lid which opens the window only when pushed inwards. The cabinet is free-standing-on-floor
type, optional wheels being provided for easy movement of the machine.
The number of the trays is six and each tray stores and displays a certain number of first aid kits/products of one particular variety. The number of kits/products per tray depends upon the size of an individual kit/product of that particular variety.
The bank note validator is suitable for authenticating INR currency notes and the cash balance dispenser has a capacity to hold 400 bank notes of INR 10 denomination.
The receipt printer is a 2-inch thermal printer which is configured to print receipts for the user which can be enabled or disabled based on requirement and the microprocessor can be programmed such that the same printer also prints out the sales audit reports for the machine owner.
The microcontroller is configured with a sales audit algorithm which enables the owner of the machine to view the entire transaction details and replenish the stock as necessary.
GSM telemetry system with SMS alerts is provided in the automatic first aid kit/product vending machine as an in-built feature, particularly useful for the machines which operate in remote locations.
The programmable microcontroller allows individual price settings for each type of first aid kit or product being dispensed by the machine and the LCD display displays xNo Stock' and xNo balance' conditions to the user.
The machine operates on single phase 230V/50Hz domestic power supply and consumes 60W (maximum) of energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The nature and scope of the present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawing, which is by way of illustration of a preferred embodiment and not by way of any sort of limitation. In the accompanying drawing:-
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the automatic first aid kit/product vending machine according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Having described the main features of the invention above, a more detailed and non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment will be given in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Further, when in the following it is referred to "top", "bottom", "upward", "downward", "above" or "below", "right hand side", "left hand side" and similar terms, this is strictly referring to an orientation with reference to the apparatus, where the base of the apparatus is horizontal and is at the bottom portion of the figure. The number of components shown is exemplary and not restrictive and it is within the scope of the invention to vary the shape and size of the apparatus as well as the number of its components, without departing from the principle of the present invention.
All through the specification including the claims, the technical terms and abbreviations are to be interpreted in the broadest sense of the respective terms, and include all similar items in the field known by other terms, as may be clear to persons skilled in art. Restriction or limitation if any referred to in the specification, is solely by way of example and understanding the present invention.
■Referring to figure 1, the automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) according to the present invention has a robust sheet metal cabinet (1) provided with epoxy coating for superior and durable finish. It has a half-glass front door for visual display of the first aid kits, the glass being toughened glass. The front door accommodates a plurality of illuminated push button switches (3) for product selection and an LCD display with blue backlight and white characters for user interface. The cabinet has white LED internal lighting for better visibility and showcasing the kits/products.
The front face of the cabinet has an LCD display (5) and a delivery window (4) covered by a flap-type movable lid which opens the window only when pushed inwards. This lid is to be pushed inwards to access the kit once it is delivered in the window (4) by the machine. Anti-drill and tamper proof secure locks are provided on the cabinet (1). The cabinet is free-standing-on-floor type, optional wheels being provided for easy movement of the machine.
The cabinet (1) encases a microprocessor to control all operations of the machine (A) and a plurality of trays (2) for easy loading and display of the different first aid kits that are available. The number of trays is six for this particular embodiment, but it can be more or less in other embodiments. The trays are positioned within the cabinet just behind the half-glass front door so that the kits/products loaded on them are clearly visible to the procurer from outside.
Each tray should store and display a certain number of first aid kits/products of one particular variety. The number of kits per tray depends upon the size of an individual kit of that particular variety.
The machine is provided with a bank note (currency INR) validator for authenticating bank notes, a receipt printer and a cash balance dispenser in bank notes of a single denomination

(INR 10) for simplicity, which offers the complete payment solution for each transaction to the users of the machine, exactly like in an attendant-based vending machine.
The vending machine (A) is available for round-the-clock operation guarantying immediate access on an emergency, which can occur at any time of the day.
The note dispenser provided in machine has a capacity to hold about 400 bank notes of INR 10 denomination in its cash box. This special feature allows non-stop working of the machine as it makes available the balance in change to the user in the form of notes ensuring smooth vending of the kits/products from the machine.
The receipt printer is a 2-inch thermal printer which is configured to print receipts for the user. This can be enabled or disabled, based on the requirement. The microprocessor can be programmed such that the same printer also prints out the sales audit reports for the machine owner, if desired.
Also encased within the cabinet (1) are built-in drop sensors with nudge function to ensure reliability in dispensing the kits/product's to the user.
It is intended that the machine (A) should have different varieties of first aid kits/products to offer to the user, because injuries needing first aid are different and the user may not be required to travel to different locations to procure the appropriate items. It follows therefore, that the first aid kits/products of different varieties will have different prices. The programmable microcontroller of the machine allows individual price settings for each type of first aid kit or product being dispensed by the machine. The LCD display (5) of the machine also displays xNo Stock' and 'No balance' conditions to the user.
The microcontroller of the machine is configured with an excellent sales audit algorithm which enables the owner of the machine to view the entire transaction details and replenish the stock as necessary. GSM telemetry system with SMS alerts is provided as an in-built feature in the vending machine, particularly useful for the machines which operate in remote locations like fuel outlets on highways.
The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) according to the present invention is a user-friendly machine with built-in self-test for all sub-assemblies of the machine. It is a highly reliable machine provided with state of the art technology.
It operates on single phase domestic power, i.e. on 230V/50Hz power supply and consumes 60W (maximum) of energy.

Advantages:
Some of the non-limiting advantages of the present invention are mentioned in the list below. Other advantages will be clear to a person skilled in the art from the description provided above.
- It makes first aid kits/products readily available at any time of the day and night.
- It does not require any attendant for operation.

- It is a stand-alone vending machine which can be set up anywhere, occupies very little floor space and can operate on a single phase domestic power outlet.
- It consumes very little energy.
- It offers a choice of first aid kits to suit different needs.
- It is capable of accepting bank currency notes and also refunding to the user any balance due.
The present, invention has been described with reference to some drawings and a preferred embodiment purely for the sake of understanding and not by way of any limitation and the present invention includes all legitimate developments within the scope of what has been described herein before and claimed in the appended claims.

I claim:
1. An automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) comprising of a robust sheet metal cabinet (1) provided with epoxy coating and having a half-glass front door for visual display of the first aid kits/products, the front face of the cabinet accommodating a plurality of illuminated push button switches (3) for product selection, said cabinet (1) being provided with white LED internal lighting for better visibility and encasing a programmable microprocessor to control all operations of machine (A), a plurality of trays (2) for easy loading and display of different first aid kits/products and built-in drop sensors with nudge function to ensure reliability in dispensing the kits to the user, the machine being provided with a bank currency note validator, a receipt printer and a cash balance dispenser also encased within cabinet (1).

2. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trays (2) are positioned just behind the half-glass front door of the cabinet (1) so that the kits/products loaded on them are clearly visible from outside.
3. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein anti-drill and tamper proof secure locks are provided on the cabinet (1), the glass of said half-glass of the front door of the cabinet being toughened glass, the cabinet having an LCD display (5) and a delivery window (4) on the front face of the cabinet covered by a flap-type movable lid which opens the window only when pushed inwards and the cabinet is free-standing-on-floor type, optional wheels being
provided for easy movement of the machine.
4. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said trays (2) is six and each tray stores and displays a certain number of first aid kits/products of one particular variety, the number of kits/products per tray depending upon the size of an individual kit/product of that particular variety.
5. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bank note validator is suitable for authenticating INR currency notes and said cash balance dispenser has a capacity to hold 400 bank notes of INR 10 denomination.
6. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receipt printer is a 2-inch thermal printer which is configured to print receipts for the user which can be enabled or disabled based on requirement and said microprocessor can be programmed such that the same printer also prints out the sales audit reports for the machine owner.

7. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is configured with a sales audit algorithm which enables the owner of the machine to view the entire transaction details and replenish the stock as necessary.
8. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein GSM telemetry system with SMS alerts is provided as an in-built feature, particularly useful for the machines which operate in remote locations.
9. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said programmable microcontroller allows individual price settings for each type of first aid kit or product being dispensed by the machine and the LCD display (5) displays 'No Stock' and xNo balance' conditions to the user.
10. The automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine operates on single phase 230V/50Hz domestic power supply and consumes 60W (maximum) of energy.

An automatic first aid kit/product vending machine (A) comprises of a robust sheet metal cabinet (1) provided with epoxy coating. It has a half-glass front door for visual display of the first aid kits and the front face of the cabinet accommodates a plurality of illuminated push button switches (3) for product selection. The cabinet (1) is provided with white LED . internal lighting for better visibility. The cabinet encases a programmable microprocessor to control all operations of machine (A), a plurality of trays (2) for easy loading and display of different first aid kits/products and built-in drop sensors with nudge function to ensure reliability in dispensing the kits to the user. The machine is provided with a bank currency note validator, a receipt printer and a cash balance dispenser, also encased within the cabinet
(1).