SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING A VENDING APPARATUS
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product of a plurality of media products stored within the vending apparatus, comprising:
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a housing for housing the plurality of media products, having an article transfer opening therein for performing at least one transfer function selected from a group consisting of dispensing and returning the media product; a storage device for storing the plurality of media products; a user interface for receiving inputs for selecting the media product from the plurality of media products; a card reader for reading a transaction card; a controller; a memory associated with controller; and
,an optical sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to; set an optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor to zero; increment the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting; store the first optical sensitivity setting in the memory; decrement the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting; store the second optical sensitivity setting in the memory; and
,select a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:
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computer code, for execution on a controller, for calibrating a vending apparatus having an optical sensor, the vending apparatus for vending a media product of a plurality of media products stored within the vending apparatus, the computer code comprising a first code segment for setting an optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor to zero; a second code segment for incrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting; a third code segment for storing the first optical sensitivity setting in a memory; a fourth code segment for decrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting; a fifth code segment for storing the second optical sensitivity setting in the memory; and
,a sixth code segment for selecting a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification