Processing method for vending machine wtih substitutable magazines
First Claim
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1. A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
- assigning to each magazine an identification code;
marking said magazine with said code;
establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the locations in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
keeping a record of each of said magazines by identification numbers and related menus;
assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, menus and site identification codes;
transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines, compiling an account of good-selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
downloading from from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
at said processing center, inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine; and
reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account.
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Abstract
A method for centralized mass processing of substitutable, good-holding magazines used in conjunction with computer-controlled vending machines. A memory-chip-mounting smart-card is used, not only to enter into the machines the magazine location and price of the various goods, but also to carry a sales transaction record of the replaced magazine, thus avoiding the need for magazine locking mechanisms and other security measures.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning to each magazine an identification code;
marking said magazine with said code;
establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the locations in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
keeping a record of each of said magazines by identification numbers and related menus;
assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, menus and site identification codes;
transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines, compiling an account of good-selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
downloading from from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
at said processing center, inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine; and
reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning to each magazine an identification code;
establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the location in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
keeping a record of each of said filled magazines;
assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, and menus;
transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines, compiling an account of good-selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
downloading from from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
at said processing center, inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine; and
reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account.
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Specification