Article identification

• US 20030028284A1
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Munroe Chirnomas
• Original Assignee: Munroe Chirnomas
• Inventors: Chirnomas, Munroe
• Application Number:
  US09/998,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028284A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/04 in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/10 two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements in the design and operation of an article dispensing apparatus used in conjunction with an article identification device, and is particularly useful in the environment of a vending machine. A user interface and control portion of the dispensing apparatus allows a user of the apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation and cause controlled movement of an article handling device so that a selected article is moved from an article storage area along a common path to a dispensing area of the dispensing apparatus. The article identification device is operated so as to generate data which identifies the handled article before, during or after it moves along the common path. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the dispensing apparatus is disabled, directly or indirectly, in response to article identification data. Furthermore, re-enablement, or prevention of disabling of the dispensing apparatus, directly or indirectly, in response to data acquired using the article identification device, is also contemplated. Business methods in accordance with such disabling are also contemplated, wherein inoperability of the apparatus is used as an enforcement mechanism to stimulate adherence by an operator or owner of the apparatus to predetermined rules.

Claims

1. An article dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a storage volume for storing articles along a plurality of longitudinal axes;

an article extracting device including a free end for selectively extracting an article from the storage volume;

a positioning mechanism coupled to the article extracting device and responsive to control signals for positioning the free end of the device in alignment with a selected one of the longitudinal axes

a drive mechanism coupled to the article extracting device for moving the free end thereof in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axes in the storage area;

user interface and control apparatus for allowing a user of the dispensing apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation, and to cause controlled movement of the article extracting device and the positioning mechanism so that a selected article is extracted from the article storage area and moves along a common path to a dispensing area of the dispensing apparatus, and

an article identification device, mounted within the dispensing apparatus, and operated so as to provide identification of an article before, during or after it moves along the common path,

wherein the article identification device uses optics to provide article identification, and is directed to image or scan the articles when they move in the common path,

wherein the article identification device comprises an imaging system, such as an analogue or digital, still or video, camera, coupled to an image analysis device that recognizes predetermined images (color/pattern or texture, etc.) thereby providing article identifications during the dispensing operation, and wherein the drive means causes the article extracting device to perform a predetermined movement in relation to the position of the article identification device, as the article moves from the article storage volume to the dispensing area.