Vending audit system

• US 20030030539A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Mei Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Walker, Darren L., Rabinovitch, Kevin L., Sagady, Cary M., McGarry, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.9
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A vend audit system and methods are described. In an implementation, the system includes vend items with packaging having tags, at least one tag sensor, and a control circuit capable of receiving data from the tag sensor. A method for tracking inventory in a vending machine is also described. In an implementation, the technique includes loading vend items having tags into a vending machine, sensing the tags, and transferring information to a control circuit. The tags may be RF tags, and the tag sensor may be an RF antenna sensor.

Claims

1. A vend audit system comprising:

vend items that include packaging having at least one tag;

at least one tag sensor; and

a control circuit capable of receiving data from the tag sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tag is a printed radio-frequency (RF) smart-tag.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the tag sensor is an RF antenna associated with a product dispenser.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a communications device for transferring data concerning the vend items to a central office.

5. A package comprising:

a first layer of material for wrapping a vend item;

at least one further layer of packaging material for overlaying the first layer; and

a radio-frequency (RF) tag printed on at least one surface of at least one of the first and further layers.

6. A method for tracking inventory in a vending machine comprising:

loading vend items having tags into a vending machine;

sensing the tags with at least one tag sensor; and

transferring information concerning the vend items to a control circuit.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the tags are printed radio-frequency (RF) tags, and the tag sensor includes at least one RF sensor.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising transferring information concerning the vend items to a central office.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the information includes whether a vend item has successfully exited a product dispenser.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the information includes at least one of use-by date data, brand identity data, planogram data and SKU data.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising at least one of disabling the vending machine and alerting service personnel, depending on brand identity data of at least one vend item.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising at least one of lowering a vend item price and preventing sale of a vend item, depending on use-by date data of the vend item.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising at least one of sensing service personnel tags and sensing customer tags.

14. The method of claim 14 further comprising at least one of generating an alarm signal, notifying a central office and authorizing a customer payment.

15. A method comprising:

preparing a first layer of packaging material for wrapping a vend item;

preparing at least one further layer of packaging material to overlay the first layer; and

printing a radio-frequency (RF) tag on at least one surface of at least one of the first and further layers.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the RF tag is printed on an outside surface of the first layer of packaging.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the RF tag is printed on an inside surface of at least one of the further layers of packaging.