Disposable personal protective equipment vending machine

The article presents the concept and structure of a prototype of a vending machine that can dispense disposable personal protection equipment (PPE) or other products with similar physical properties (size, weight) to be used in outpatient clinics, hospitals or beauty parlours, where special and effective protection against pathogens is required, particularly during the pandemic. Due to the difficult-to-predict and unspecified technical and on-site conditions for the installation and use of the device, the authors wanted to achieve autonomy by using a replaceable battery as a power source and large storage capacity of a product rack, at a limited size of the device. The machine operates on a contactless payment system (credit/debit card or NFC mobile payments) – to buy a gown, a customer just has to tap or wave their card on or over the card reader installed in the front wall of the cabinet. Purchased products are dispensed automatically, once the transaction has been approved. The vending machine is also equipped with a removable dispenser to better manage any waste generated. The prototype was comprehensively tested in accordance with the developed verification methodology, in cooperation with an entity interested in implementing the device.