AUTOMATIC DISPENSING SYSTEM METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 20130090759A1
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brett Fleishman
• Original Assignee: Brett Fleishman
• Inventors: Fleishman, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 8,936,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/28 in which the magazines are inclined
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

A vending machine includes a reservoir for holding bulk goods and multiple reconfigurable distribution path devices to release the goods to a purchaser in entertaining fashion.

Claims

1. A vending apparatus comprising:

a plurality of reservoirs;

a distribution control device;

a dynamic user interface including a multipath serpentine visible goods guidance device;

and a controller device, said controller device being adapted to provide a dynamically configured release of a mixture of goods to said multipath serpentine visible goods guidance device by said distribution control device, whereby said mixture and said dynamic user interface combine to offer enhanced entertainment to a viewer.

2. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said dynamic user interface comprises a removable and replaceable user interface module.

3. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said multipath serpentine visible goods guidance device comprises a plurality of generally cylindrical serpentine tubes and wherein at least a portion of at least one tube includes a transparent region.

4. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said a reservoir of said plurality of reservoirs comprises a replaceable reservoir module.

5. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a reservoir of said plurality of reservoirs comprises a first generally horizontal portion and a second generally vertical portion, said second generally vertical portion including a feed mechanism for elevating stored goods into said generally horizontal portion.

6. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said feed mechanism comprises a motorized lift for elevating stored goods.

7. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said motorized lift comprises a threaded device and an electric motor.

8. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said motorized lift comprises a rack and pinion device.

9. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said motorized lift comprises an Archimedean screw.

10. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said feed mechanism comprises a pneumatic cylinder device.

11. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said feed mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder device.

12. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said feed mechanism comprises an elastic device, said elastic device being arranged to urge stored goods upward into said first horizontal portion.

13. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said elastic device tends to expand as said stored goods move upward.

14. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said elastic device comprises a gas.

15. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said second generally vertical portion has a lower end, said lower end being adapted to be received within said vending apparatus substantially adjacent to a floor of said vending apparatus.

16. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said second generally vertical portion has a generally circular horizontal cross-section.

17. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said second generally vertical portion has a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section.

18. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a reservoir of said plurality of reservoirs has a height substantially equal to an interior height of said vending apparatus.

19. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first generally horizontal portion comprises an inclined surface and a hopper, said inclined surface and hopper being adapted to promote gravitational feeding of said stored goods.

20. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller device comprises an electronic digital processor device.

21. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller device is adapted to communicate inventory status information to a remote processor device.

22. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller device is adapted to communicate sales information to a remote processor device.

23. A vending apparatus comprising:

a plurality of inventory storage modules, said plurality of inventory storage modules being adapted to store a respective plurality of different products;

a release device, said release device being adapted to release a configuration of said different products from one or more of said reservoirs respectively according to a received control signal;

an entertainment device, said entertainment device being adapted to receive said configuration of products from said release device and transfer said configuration of products through one or more serpentine transfer devices according to said received control signal; and

a controller device, said controller device being adapted to receive a user input and combine said user input with an output of a randomization function to produce said control signal.

24. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said one or more serpentine transfer devices comprises one or more substantially transparent plastic tubes.

25. A vending apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said output of said randomization function determines through which of said one or more serpentine transfer devices said configuration of product is transferred.

26. A method of vending a product comprising:

receiving a selection of goods from a user;

activating a randomization device;

releasing a configuration of goods configured according to said selection to a particular one of a plurality of entertaining delivery mechanisms depending on an output state of said randomization device; and

routing said configuration of goods to traverse at least one of a plurality of possible spatially distinctive serpentine paths.

27. A method of vending a product as defined in claim 26 wherein said plurality of entertaining delivery mechanisms comprises at least one serpentine tube.

28. A method of vending a product as defined in claim 26 wherein said plurality of entertaining delivery mechanisms comprises a multiuser game.

29. A method of vending a product as defined in claim 26 wherein said plurality of entertaining delivery mechanisms is disposed, at least in part, within a replaceable module.

30. A method of vending a product as defined in claim 26 wherein said plurality of entertaining delivery mechanisms comprises a further user input device, said further user input device being configured to affect a spatial delivery path of said goods.

31. A method of vending a product as defined in claim 26 wherein said releasing said configuration of goods comprises receiving said configuration of goods from at least one reservoir, and advancing an inventory of goods within said reservoir by activating and inventory feed mechanism.

32. A method of vending a product as defined in claim 26 further comprising adjusting a composition of said configuration of goods based on an output state of said randomization device.

33. A method of vending a product as defined in claim 26 further comprising adjusting a quantity of said configuration of goods released based on an output state of said randomization device.