Vending Systems and Methods

• US 20110238209A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Esch, Willy Van, Roekens, Jurgen
• Application Number:
  US12/731,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238209A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

A vending system for dispensing a number of products. The vending system may include an enclosure with an access point, a weighing system, a user interface, and an access system. The user interface may include a proximity card coupling device to read and write to a proximity card. The access system allows the access point of the enclosure to be opened in response to the user interface.

Claims

1. A vending system for dispensing a number of products, comprising:

an enclosure with an access point;

a weighing system;

a user interface;

wherein the user interface comprises a proximity card coupling device to read and write to a proximity card; and

an access system;

wherein the access system allows the access point of the enclosure to be accessed in response to the user interface so as to permit a user to access one or more of the number of products.

2. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a glass door cooler.

3. The vending system of claim 1, wherein each of the number of products comprises a substantially identical weight.

4. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a user interface module.

5. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the proximity card comprises a key and wherein the user interface comprises a key hole for mating therewith.

6. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a key retaining solenoid.

7. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a display.

8. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the access system comprises a bar positioned by the access point.

9. The vending system of claim 8, wherein the bar is operated by a solenoid.

10. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the weighing system comprises a plurality of weight transducers.

11. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the weighing system comprises a proximity sensor positioned about the access point.

12. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the weighing system comprises a weighing module.

13. The vending system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a controller.

14. A method of vending a number of products from an enclosure:

reading a proximity card in a user interface;

determining if the proximity card has a sufficient amount of credit thereon;

allowing an access point of the enclosure to be opened if the proximity card has the sufficient amount of credit therein;

weighing the enclosure;

determining the number of products removed from the enclosure based upon the weight of the enclosure;

determining the value of the number of products removed; and

writing a revised credit balance onto the proximity card at the user interface.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising accepting the proximity card in the user interface.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising locking the proximity card within the user interface.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a message on the user interface if the proximity card does not have a sufficient amount of credit thereon.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining when the access point of the enclosure is shut.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising locking the access point of the enclosure once the access point is shut.

20. A vending system for dispensing a number of products, comprising:

a cooler with a glass door;

a weighing module positioned under the cooler;

a user interface module positioned about the cooler and in communication with the weighing module;

wherein the user interface comprises a proximity card coupling device to read and write to a proximity card; and

an access system positioned about the door of the cooler;

wherein the access system allows the door of the cooler to be opened in response to the user interface determining that the proximity card has a sufficient amount of credit thereon.