System and method for calibrating a vending apparatus

• US 20060259262A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kuehnrich, Franz
• Granted Patent: US 7,447,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/104
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

A system and method for calibrating a vending apparatus is provided. A vertical base reference position of a selector arm is stored, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of rows in a cylindrical storage device. A horizontal base reference position is stored, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to a compartment identifier identifying a compartment within each of the plurality of rows. A position of the selector arm corresponding to a media storage compartment is also stored, wherein the position comprises a vertical position and a horizontal position. A motor is initiated to move the selector arm along a vertical axis, wherein a movement of the selector arm results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the vertical position of the selector arm. A stepper motor is initiated to rotate the cylindrical storage device, wherein a rotation of the device results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the horizontal position of the selector arm.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising the steps of:

setting an optical sensitivity setting of a optical sensor to zero;

incrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting;

storing the first optical sensitivity setting;

decrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting;

storing the second optical sensitivity setting; and

, selecting a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third optical sensitivity setting is the average of the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is the media product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is at least one of a laser, an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a barcode reader and/or a magnetic scanner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is mounted on a selector arm.

6. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising the steps of:

optically sensing a first position on a compartmentalized storage device;

recording the first position as a horizontal base reference position;

optically sensing a second position on the compartmentalized storage device;

recording the second position as a vertical base reference position; and

, tracking the location of a selector arm, wherein the location is measured with reference to the horizontal base reference position and the vertical base reference position.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of compartments.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of compartmentalized rows.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a combination of at least the horizontal base reference position and the vertical base reference position determine a location of a compartment in the compartmentalized storage facility.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

initiating a substantially vertical movement of the selector arm, wherein the substantially vertical movement aligns the selector arm with one of a plurality of compartmentalized rows.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

initiating a stepper motor, wherein the stepper motor rotates the compartmentalized storage device to place the selector arm in substantial alignment with one of a plurality of compartments.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the location of the selector arm is adjusted to correspond with the rotation of the compartmentalized storage device.

13. A system for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising:

a storage device having a plurality of compartments, wherein each of the plurality of compartments has a location designated by a horizontal location and a vertical location;

a stepper motor for rotating the storage device;

a selector arm for manipulating the vending of the media product;

a vertical motor for moving the selector arm along a vertical axis; and

, a controller having an associated memory for storing a location of the selector arm, wherein the location comprises a horizontal position and a vertical position, wherein the horizontal position is determined with reference to a horizontal base position and wherein the vertical position is determined with reference to a vertical base position.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the location of the selector arm corresponds to one of the plurality of compartments.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of compartmentalized rows.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein at least a combination of the horizontal base reference position and the vertical base reference position determines a location of one of the plurality of compartments.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein a movement of the selector arm along the vertical axis results in one of an increment and/or a decrement of the vertical position of the selector arm.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein a movement of the storage device results in one of an increment and/or decrement to the horizontal position of the selector arm.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of compartments is for storing the media product.

20. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising:

storing a vertical base reference position of a selector arm, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of rows in a cylindrical storage device;

storing a horizontal base reference position of a selector arm, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to a compartment identifier identifying a compartment within each of the plurality of rows;

storing a position of the selector arm corresponding to a media product storage compartment in the cylindrical storage facility, wherein the position comprises a vertical position and a horizontal position;

initiating a motor to move the selector arm along a vertical axis, wherein a movement of the selector arm results in one of an increment and/or a decrement of the vertical position of the selector arm; and

, initiating a stepper motor to rotate the cylindrical storage device, wherein a rotation of the cylindrical storage device results in one of an increment and/or a decrement of the horizontal position of the selector arm.