Personalization vending kiosk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current personalization of garments is labor-intensive and requires large spaces and high-volume machinery, making on-demand small-volume orders costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A kiosk system with a housing containing a personalization system, conveying system, and control system that automates the personalization process, including embroidery and direct-to-garment printing, allowing for small-footprint installations and minimizing labor, capable of processing orders without human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If large-scale personalization machinery is used, then manufacturing capability is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization throughputVSAvoidmachinery complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the personalization system into modular components including embroidery module, printing module, hooping module, and conveying module. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently controlled, allowing the system to achieve high productivity without requiring a single complex large-scale machine. The modular architecture reduces overall system complexity while maintaining manufacturing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes vertical space arrangement within the housing, positioning different personalization modules at different heights and levels. The conveying system moves articles between vertical levels, effectively using the third dimension to pack multiple functions into a compact footprint, thereby achieving high productivity without increasing horizontal space requirements or device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If skilled operators work around machines, then personalization quality is improved, but labor requirements and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization qualityVSAvoidlabor requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates automated article handling where the conveying system automatically transports articles between modules without human intervention. The hooping system automatically secures articles, and the embroidery/printing modules automatically execute personalization based on digital designs. This self-service capability maintains high manufacturing precision while eliminating the need for skilled operators to manually handle articles throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated systems. Instead of operators manually positioning and securing articles, automated hooping mechanisms perform these tasks. Instead of skilled workers operating embroidery machines, computer-controlled systems execute the personalization processes, thereby maintaining quality while reducing labor requirements and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If on-demand personalization is implemented, then customer service responsiveness is improved, but production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorder flexibilityVSAvoidproduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous operation capability where the conveying system continuously moves articles through the personalization modules without interruption. Multiple modules can operate simultaneously on different articles, maintaining continuous productive action. This allows the system to handle on-demand orders flexibly while maintaining high production efficiency, as the system never idles and can quickly transition between different personalization tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares by pre-loading design data and configuring modules before articles arrive. When an on-demand order is received, the personalization parameters are already ready to be executed immediately upon article insertion. This preliminary preparation enables the system to respond quickly to individual orders without sacrificing production speed, maintaining both adaptability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If high-volume machinery is used for personalization, then manufacturing capacity is improved, but space requirements and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization capacityVSAvoidfootprint
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests multiple functional modules within a compact hierarchical structure. Smaller modules such as printing and embroidery units are positioned within or adjacent to larger housing structures. The conveying system nests within the housing volume, and control systems are integrated into module structures. This nesting arrangement achieves high personalization capacity while minimizing the overall footprint of the equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The system arranges personalization modules vertically within the housing, utilizing height rather than horizontal spread. Articles are conveyed between vertical levels, allowing multiple processing stages to occupy overlapping horizontal spaces at different heights. This three-dimensional arrangement achieves high manufacturing capacity within a compact footprint, effectively trading horizontal space for vertical arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11413882B2Personalization vending kiosk
Publication Date: 2022.08.16 CREATEME TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • US11413882B2 patent drawing
  • US11413882B2 patent drawing
  • US11413882B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Kiosk systems are used for personalizing articles. The articles may include an item to be personalized assembled with components of packaging in a pre-hooped configuration. The system may include a housing and a personalization system within the housing. The personalization system may include a plurality of system components for personalizing the article. The system may also include a conveying system within the housing. The conveying system may be used to transfer the article in the pre-hooped configuration between the system components of the personalization systems. The system may also include a control system in the housing and/or remote from the housing. The control system may receive a personalization order and in response the control system may control the system components of the personalization systems and the conveying system so that the article is personalized without human intervention once within the housing.