Item vending machine and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing items from one of a plurality of packs of items, wherein each of the plurality of the packs of items has parameters associated therewith such as a number of items in the pack and item price, the apparatus comprising:
- an item dispenser adapted to dispense the items from the one of the plurality of packs of items;
a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for an item;
an input device;
an output device; and
a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the output device, the controller having memory for storing an item load table containing data corresponding to at least one of the parameters associated with the plurality of the packs of items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing items from a pack of items wherein the pack of items has parameters associated therewith such as pack size, an item dimension and an item price. The apparatus includes an item dispenser, a cash acceptor, input and output devices, and a controller. The controller has an item load table for storing data corresponding to the parameters associated with the pack of items. Thus, the parameters in the item load table can be displayed by the output device in lieu of the parameters being manually entered.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing items from one of a plurality of packs of items, wherein each of the plurality of the packs of items has parameters associated therewith such as a number of items in the pack and item price, the apparatus comprising:
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an item dispenser adapted to dispense the items from the one of the plurality of packs of items;
a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for an item;
an input device;
an output device; and
a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the output device, the controller having memory for storing an item load table containing data corresponding to at least one of the parameters associated with the plurality of the packs of items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A lottery ticket vending machine for dispensing lottery tickets from one of a plurality of packs of lottery tickets, wherein each of the plurality of packs of lottery tickets has parameters associated therewith such as a number of tickets in the pack, ticket size and ticket price, the ticket vending machine comprising:
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a ticket dispenser adapted to dispense the lottery tickets from the one of the plurality of packs of lottery tickets;
a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for a lottery ticket;
a user operable input device;
a display device; and
a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the display device, the controller having a lottery ticket load table for storing data corresponding to the parameters associated with the plurality of packs of lottery tickets. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of loading a pack of new items in an item vending machine having a bins and a controller with a user I/O interface permitting a user to enter data and view output data displayed by the controller, the method comprising:
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providing one type of a pack of new items to be loaded in one of the bins of the item vending machine;
initiating an item load process comprising operating the user I/O interface to identify the one of the bins, automatically displaying an identity of a type of items previously stored in the one of the bins, operating the user I/O interface to provide one of the following;
an acceptance indicating that the one type of the pack of new items is identical to the type of items previously stored in the one of the bins, and an identity of the one type of the pack of new items indicating that one type of the pack of new items is different from the type of items previously stored in the one of the bins; and
loading the one type of the pack of new items into the one of the bins of the ticket vending machine in response to receiving the acceptance. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of setting up an item dispensing machine having a bin for storing items and a controller with a user I/O permitting a user to enter data and view output data displayed by the controller, the method comprising:
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providing a pack of items to be loaded in the bin in the item dispensing machine, the pack of items having a pack identification code associated therewith;
initiating an item load process with the controller;
reading the pack identification code with a code reader;
automatically displaying to the user first data represented by the pack identification code;
receiving from the user an entry representing an acceptance of the first data;
storing in a data table in response to the entry, the first data as data to be associated with the new items, thereby relieving the user of having to manually enter data representative of the first data. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of setting up an item dispensing system having a bin for storing items and a controller with a user I/O permitting a user to enter data and view output data displayed by the controller, the controller being in electrical communications with a remote computer located geographically remotely from the controller, the method comprising:
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providing a pack of items to be loaded in the bin of the item dispensing machine, the pack of items having a pack identification code;
initiating an item load process with the controller;
reading the pack identification code with a code reader;
transferring from the controller to the remote computer first data represented by the pack identification code;
receiving with the controller from the remote computer an activation command;
automatically activating in response to the activation command, a record in a data table having data associated with the new items, thereby allowing a supplier of the items to control dispensing of the items. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of setting up an item dispensing machine having bins for storing packs of items and a controller with a user I/O permitting a user to enter data and view output data displayed by the controller, the controller being in electrical communications a remote computer located geographically remotely from the controller, the method comprising:
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providing a pack of items to be loaded in one of the bins of the item dispensing machine, the pack of items having a pack identification code;
initiating an item load process with the controller;
selecting the one of the bins;
reading the pack identification code with a code reader;
transferring from the controller to the remote computer first data represented by the pack identification code;
receiving with the controller a command from the remote computer;
automatically loading data in a data table associated with the new items in response to the command. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for dispensing items from a pack of items, wherein the pack of items has a pack identification code, the apparatus comprising:
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an item dispenser adapted to dispense the items from the pack of items;
a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for an item;
an input device providing data representing the pack identification code;
a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device, the controller having a memory for storing the data representing the pack identification code; and
a remote computer located geographically remotely from the item dispenser, the remote computer being in electrical communications with, and receiving the data representing the pack identification code from the controller, and the remote computer then authorizing the items in the pack of items to be redeemable.
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27. A ticket vending system for dispensing tickets from a pack of tickets, wherein the pack of tickets has a pack identification code, the ticket vending system comprising:
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a ticket dispenser adapted to dispense the tickets from the pack of tickets;
a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for a ticket;
a user operable input device providing data representing the pack identification code;
a display device;
a controller in electrical communications with the ticket dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the display device, the controller having a memory for storing the data representing the pack identification code; and
a remote computer located geographically remotely from the ticket vending machine, the remote computer being in electrical communications with, and receiving the data representing the pack identification code from the controller, and the remote computer authorizing the tickets in the pack of tickets to be redeemable. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of dispensing items from an item dispensing system comprising:
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providing a pack of items to be loaded in the item dispensing system, the pack of items having a pack identification code relating to the pack of items;
entering the pack identification code into a controller of the item dispensing system;
transmitting the pack identification code to a remote computer;
thereafter, receiving and storing a payment with the item dispensing system;
dispensing items from the item dispensing system in response to receiving the payment; and
redeeming the items in response to the remote computer authorizing a redemption of the items.
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30. A method of redeeming a ticket for a prize comprising:
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providing a ticket vending machine having a bin for storing tickets and a controller;
providing a pack of tickets to be loaded in the ticket vending machine, the pack of tickets having a pack identification code relating to the pack of tickets;
entering the pack identification code into the controller to provide input data;
transmitting the input to a remote computer;
receiving from the remote computer activation data releasing the tickets in the pack of tickets for redemption, if appropriate, after their sale;
thereafter, receiving and storing a payment with the ticket vending machine;
dispensing a ticket having a ticket identification code from the ticket vending machine in response to receiving the payment;
entering the ticket identification code into the controller; and
redeeming the ticket for the prize in response to the ticket identification code being released for redemption by the activation data.
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31. A lottery ticket dispensing system comprising:
first lottery ticket machines capable of dispensing lottery tickets at a first retail location, each of the first lottery ticket machines having a plurality of lottery ticket dispensers adapted to dispense lottery tickets from a pack of lottery tickets, a plurality of bins, each of the bins being associated with one of the plurality of lottery ticket dispensers and adapted to store a pack of lottery tickets prior to being dispensed, a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for an item, an input device, an output device, and a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the output device, the controller having memory for storing a load table containing data corresponding to at least identifying at least a game represented by a pack of lottery tickets.
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32. A lottery ticket dispensing system comprising:
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first lottery ticket machines capable of dispensing lottery tickets at a first retail location, each of the first lottery ticket machines having a plurality of lottery ticket dispensers adapted to dispense lottery tickets from a pack of lottery tickets, a plurality of bins, each of the bins being associated with one of the plurality of lottery ticket dispensers and adapted to store a pack of lottery tickets prior to being dispensed, a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for an item, an input device, an output device, and a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the output device, the controller having memory for storing a load table containing data corresponding to at least identifying at least a game represented by a pack of lottery tickets;
second lottery ticket machines capable of dispensing lottery tickets at a second retail location geographically remote from the first location, each of the second lottery ticket machines having a plurality of lottery ticket dispensers adapted to dispense lottery tickets from a pack of lottery tickets, a plurality of bins, each of the bins being associated with one of the plurality of lottery ticket dispensers and adapted to store a pack of lottery tickets prior to being dispensed, a payment acceptor adapted to receive a payment from a customer to pay for an item;
an input device;
an output device; and
a controller in electrical communications with the item dispenser, the payment acceptor, the input device and the output device, the controller having memory for storing a load table containing data identifying at least a game represented by a pack of lottery tickets; and
a remote computer in electrical communications with, but located geographically remote from, the first and second lottery ticket machines, the remote computer receiving and storing data relating to the lottery tickets loaded in the lottery ticket dispensers.
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Specification