METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A VENDING MACHINE
First Claim
1. A data reporting and enforcement system for use with a plurality of article vending machines, each machine including an accumulator for collecting operational information concerning one or more operational parameters which describe the operational history of a corresponding one of the vending machines, and each machine having a control portion preprogrammed to at least partially cease its vending operation after accumulation of a predetermined amount of an operational parameter;
- said system comprising;
a central database for;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vending apparatus including a control system for dispensing articles, including one or more of the following features: 1. an article ID device which can identify articles being dispensed from the apparatus; 2. ability to disable dispensing of at least some of the articles stored therein, in a predetermined fashion, without the need for any communication or any disable code being input thereto external from the apparatus or its control system; ability to re-enable dispensing of articles when an authorization code is received and input into the control system of the apparatus. In another aspect of the invention, relevant parameters in the control system are pre-programmed (and can be adjusted, changed or eliminated) by an authorized party, in order to enforce agreements and rules that govern operation of the vending apparatus. For example: 1. determining the types of articles which are authorized to be dispensed, 2. adjusting the parameters which determine when or how the apparatus is partially or fully disabled, and 3. adjusting the programming in the control system to allow a apparatus to disable based on time intervals, or the amount of product sold, etc.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A data reporting and enforcement system for use with a plurality of article vending machines, each machine including an accumulator for collecting operational information concerning one or more operational parameters which describe the operational history of a corresponding one of the vending machines, and each machine having a control portion preprogrammed to at least partially cease its vending operation after accumulation of a predetermined amount of an operational parameter;
- said system comprising;
a central database for; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 34, 36, 38)
- said system comprising;
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8. A method of operating equipment which is pre-programmed to perform a repetitive task within a predetermined time period having one of fixed start/stop times, or a sliding window of time, comprising:
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8. accumulating the time during which the equipment operates, comparing the accumulated time with the predetermined time period, and based upon said comparing indicating that the accumulated time has equaled or exceeded the predetermined time period, either inhibiting further operation of at least a portion of the equipment, or initiating a procedure which will inhibit further operation of at least a portion of the equipment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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- 11. A method of operating a vending machine having a usage meter which determines usage of the machine based on accumulation of a given operational parameter of the machine, comprising:
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22. A vending apparatus, comprising:
- 23. A vending apparatus, comprising:
- 26. A method of operating a vending apparatus, comprising:
- 29. A processing system, comprising:
Specification