System for the remote monitoring of vending machines
First Claim
1. A system for the remote monitoring of sensors in a vending machine and for automatically communicating the condition of said sensors to a central computer complex comprising:
- a plurality of storage compartments for containing products to be vended;
door means in said vending machine providing access to said storage compartments;
door switch means for sensing when said door is open and generating a door open signal;
entry acknowledge switch means within said vending machine which is inaccessible until said door means is opened, said entry acknowledge switch means generating a legal entry signal when actuated within a predetermined period of time after the generation of said door open signal;
timer means for measuring said predetermined period of time after the generation of said door open signal;
logic circuit means for sensing if said entry acknowledge switch means is actuated during said predetermined period of time;
alarm generating means coupled to said logic circuit means for transmitting an illegal entry alarm signal to said central computer complex if said entry acknowledge switch is not actuated within said predetermined period of time;
service switch means for generating a service signal in response to the manual actuation thereof indicative of an entry into said vending machine to service the same; and
means for generating and transmitting a service alarm signal to said central computer complex in response to the occurrence of said service signal in combination with said legal entry signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the remote monitoring of vending machines and for automatically communicating conditions at the vending machines to a central computer complex is described. Each vending machine is provided with a microprocessor which monitors and stores data within that machine and transmits the data to the central computer complex either immediately or at scheduled call-in times. The distributed logic between the vending machine microprocessors and the central computer complex provides various alarm function signals and aids in inventory control and efficient route planning for the supply and maintenance of the machines. In a preferred embodiment the data is transmitted between the central computer complex and each vending machine over telephone lines.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for the remote monitoring of sensors in a vending machine and for automatically communicating the condition of said sensors to a central computer complex comprising:
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a plurality of storage compartments for containing products to be vended; door means in said vending machine providing access to said storage compartments; door switch means for sensing when said door is open and generating a door open signal; entry acknowledge switch means within said vending machine which is inaccessible until said door means is opened, said entry acknowledge switch means generating a legal entry signal when actuated within a predetermined period of time after the generation of said door open signal; timer means for measuring said predetermined period of time after the generation of said door open signal; logic circuit means for sensing if said entry acknowledge switch means is actuated during said predetermined period of time; alarm generating means coupled to said logic circuit means for transmitting an illegal entry alarm signal to said central computer complex if said entry acknowledge switch is not actuated within said predetermined period of time; service switch means for generating a service signal in response to the manual actuation thereof indicative of an entry into said vending machine to service the same; and means for generating and transmitting a service alarm signal to said central computer complex in response to the occurrence of said service signal in combination with said legal entry signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for the remote monitoring of sensors in a coin-operated vending machine and for automatically communicating the condition of said sensors to a central computer complex comprising:
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a plurality of storage compartments for containing products to be vended; means for sensing each vend of a product from each of said compartments; changer means for dispensing the correct change to a customer in response to the request for a selected vend accompanied by the insertion into a coin slot of an amount of coinage in excess of that required for the selected vend, said changer means generating a changer return signal during the period that change is being dispensed; means for sensing the presence or absence of a vend during and following the dispensing period of said change; and means for generating and transmitting an alarm signal to said central computer complex in the absence of a sensed vend during and following said change dispensing period. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for the remote monitoring of sensors in a vending machine and for automatically communicating the condition of said sensors to a central computer complex comprising:
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a plurality of storage compartments for containing products to be vended; means for sensing each vend of a product from each of said compartments; register means for counting the total number of vends from each of said compartments; vend actuator means associated with each of said storage compartments for causing a vend from said compartments when said associated vend actuator means is on; sold-out sensor means associated with each of said storage compartments for generating a sold-out signal when the last product in said compartment has been dispensed; logic means for determining which of said vend actuator means was on when a sold-out signal was generated to correlate said sold-out signal to a specific storage compartment; and said central computer complex including; means for scanning inventory records for said respective columns stored in the memory thereof at the time of occurrence of a sold-out signal for said column; and means for classifying said sold-out signal as a sold-out condition when said inventory records indicate a near empty condition for the column and as a jam condition when said inventory records do not indicate a near empty condition for that column.
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Specification