×

Method and apparatus for defining and utilizing product location in a vending machine

  • US 20060102645A1
  • Filed: 09/27/2004
  • Published: 05/18/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A vending machine, comprising:

  • a plurality of receptacles for holding units of products, each receptacle operable to hold a respective plurality of units in a series;

    a dispensing mechanism operable to dispense, from each receptacle, a first unit in the respective plurality of units, the dispensing mechanism thereby being operable to dispense only a first unit from the respective series at a time; and

    means for determining, for a unit, information allowing a relationship among the unit and a location of the unit in the receptacle to be determined.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×