Multiple purchase discount module for a single price vending machine
First Claim
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1. In a vending machine for vending a plurality of products each of which is sold for the same first predetermined product price if purchased individually during different sales transactions, the improvement comprising:
- first manually adjustable price-setting digital switching means for generating a digital price code for establishing said first predetermined product price for the vend of a single product and second manually adjustable price-setting digital switching means for generating a price code for establishing a second price for a second product when two products are collectively purchased during a single sales transaction, said second price being less than said first product price;
accumulator means for receiving money during said single sales transaction and establishing credit toward the purchase of said products;
escrow memory means for storing escrow credit established by said accumulator means toward the purchase of one or more products during a single sales transaction;
credit detector means for determining when said escrow credit is at least equal to said first predetermined product price and for determining when said escrow credit equals the total of said first predetermined product price and said second price;
product selector means for initiating the vend of one or more of said products following the insertion of all money related to said single sales transaction; and
vend discharge control means responsive to said credit detector means for enabling the vend of one product if said credit detector means determines that the escrow credit established in said escrow means at least equals said first predetermined product price and for enabling the vend of two products during said single sales transaction if said escrow detector means determines that said escrow credit is at least equal to the total of said first predetermined product price and said second price.
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Abstract
A vending machine includes a switching device for establishing a first price for a first item sold during a sales transaction and for establishing at least a second price for additional items sold in the same transaction. The machine determines the amount of currency deposited during a transaction and the maximum number of items which may be purchased during the transaction based upon the amount deposited. The purchaser may freely select the number of items to be purchased at any time.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a vending machine for vending a plurality of products each of which is sold for the same first predetermined product price if purchased individually during different sales transactions, the improvement comprising:
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first manually adjustable price-setting digital switching means for generating a digital price code for establishing said first predetermined product price for the vend of a single product and second manually adjustable price-setting digital switching means for generating a price code for establishing a second price for a second product when two products are collectively purchased during a single sales transaction, said second price being less than said first product price; accumulator means for receiving money during said single sales transaction and establishing credit toward the purchase of said products; escrow memory means for storing escrow credit established by said accumulator means toward the purchase of one or more products during a single sales transaction; credit detector means for determining when said escrow credit is at least equal to said first predetermined product price and for determining when said escrow credit equals the total of said first predetermined product price and said second price; product selector means for initiating the vend of one or more of said products following the insertion of all money related to said single sales transaction; and vend discharge control means responsive to said credit detector means for enabling the vend of one product if said credit detector means determines that the escrow credit established in said escrow means at least equals said first predetermined product price and for enabling the vend of two products during said single sales transaction if said escrow detector means determines that said escrow credit is at least equal to the total of said first predetermined product price and said second price. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vending machine for vending goods in discrete sales units, each unit comprising one or more articles, comprising:
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a first manually adjustable digital price setting switching device for generating a digital price code for setting a first sales price for a first unit vended in a single sales transaction; a second manually adjustable digital price setting switching device for generating a digital price code for setting a second price for a second unit when two units are vended in a single sales transaction; first means for receiving and determining the amount of currency deposited by a purchaser during a sales transaction; and second means for determining if said amount deposited equals or exceeds said first price and for permitting a purchaser to select one unit when said amount deposited equals or exceeds said first price, and for determining if said amount deposited equals or exceeds the sume of said first and second prices and for permitting a purchaser to select two units when said amount deposited exceeds said sum. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification