System and method for tracking document shredding and voter ballots
A networked system of connected and trackable document deposit and destruction kiosks can be used to remotely dispose of and destroy confidential documents and monitors and records compliance with employer document destruction policies. A networked system of connected ballot deposit kiosks can be used to safely deposit, track, and verify the locations of completed ballots and to monitor and track the subsequent collection of the ballots by election officials or other authorized persons.
1 . A kiosk for tracking deposition of an item having data associated with the item, the kiosk comprising:
a lock box comprising:
a deposit compartment configured to receive and temporarily retain the item;
a door configured to be opened for depositing the item into the deposit compartment;
a locking mechanism configured to unlock the door upon receiving an unlock instruction;
a secured receptacle configured to receive the item from the deposit compartment; and
a deposit actuator configured to selectively allow the item to pass from the deposit compartment to the secured receptacle; and
a kiosk computing device including a processor configured to instruct the locking mechanism to unlock and lock the door of the lock box only if the data associated with the item is valid.
2 . The kiosk of claim 1 , wherein the secured receptacle includes partitioned sections being collapsible canvas bags, the kiosk further comprising:
a sorting means configured to sort the item to one of the collapsible canvas bags according to the data associated with the item, the sorting means including a movable carriage configured to reposition the collapsible canvas bags so that the item is sorted to the one of the collapsible canvas bags.
3 . The kiosk of claim 2 , wherein the sorting means is a plurality of chutes configured to redirect the item into one of the collapsible canvas bags according to the data associated with the item.
4 . The kiosk of claim 2 , wherein the sorting means comprises a pivoting actuator.
5 . The kiosk of claim 2 , wherein the sorting means comprises an actuator configured to selectively create temporary openings leading into the collapsible canvas bags.
6 . The kiosk of claim 2 , the locking mechanism being configured to automatically lock upon the door being shut.
7 . The kiosk of claim 2 , the processor being further configured to instruct the locking mechanism to unlock the door when the item is in the deposit compartment if a rejection condition is met.
8 . The kiosk of claim 2 , the processor being further configured to present guidance instructions if a rejection condition is met.
9 . The kiosk of claim 2 , the kiosk computing device further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to the processor of the kiosk computing device, wherein the processor of the kiosk computing device is further configured to validate the item by comparing the data associated with the item to data stored on the memory.
10 . The kiosk of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk computing device is configured to present directed advertising according to the data associated with the item.
11 . The kiosk of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to enter a guest deposit mode and generate a temporary identification for user deposition of the item.
12 . The kiosk of claim 1 , further comprising a data acquisition device, the processor of the kiosk computing device being configured to obtain the data from the item via the data acquisition device.
13 . The kiosk of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the locking mechanism to unlock and lock the door of the lock box only if a payment is received or a promotional mode is entered.
14 . The kiosk of claim 1 , wherein the kiosk computing device is further configured to present curated content according to the data associated with the item.