Abstract: An automated article dispensing device for dispensing articles to a plurality of users, the device comprising: a) a plurality of storage compartments configured for storage of a vertical stack of cloth articles, the storage compartments arranged in a plurality of tiers; b) a plurality of cloth articles deployed in at least some of the storage compartments in vertical stack configurations; c) at least one dispensing outlet; d) an article delivery system configured to retrieve a top-most article from at least one the stack and deliver the article to the dispensing outlet, the article delivery system including a plurality of article retrieval systems equal in number to the number of tiers of the storage compartments; e) a user interface unit accessible to the users; and f) an on-board processing unit configured to control the article delivery system, the on-board processing unit being in electrical communication with the article delivery system, and the user interface unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an interactive automated system for dispensing cloth articles, the principles of which may be readily adapted for use in systems for dispensing a wide variety of articles suitable for distribution by use of a vending style device, such as, but not limited to hospital scrub outfits, clean rooms suits, towels, blankets, sweat suits, t-shirts, socks, underwear, under shirts, ties, scarves, hats, and rain suits. Further, systems of the present invention will be of benefit to a variety of institutions and outlets, such as, but not limited to, hospitals, hotels, motels, resorts, health clubs, country clubs, swimming pools, college and university dormitories, shopping malls, tourist attractions, sport stadiums and arena, fair ground, sport shops, factories, laboratories and the like.