Quantity checking system and method
First Claim
1. A quantity checking system for a plurality of storage racks for storage of articles in a vending machine with the articles adapted to be dispensed from the racks, said articles adapted to be stored along the length of each rack in numerical sequence, said system comprising in combination:
- means for dispensing articles from the racks;
passive indicia mounted adjacent each of said plurality of racks and adapted to identify a plurality of different brands of articles;
each of said indicia being subdivided along the length of the rack into passive individual indicia, each one corresponding to the numerical sequence of the respective adjacent article stored in the rack;
interrogation means unconnected to, yet cooperable with, said indicia for interrogating and determining data from said indicia as to a particular rack and the sequential number of the last article near one end of the particular rack at that instant;
memory means having an input from said interrogation means to store data from each said indicia from each interrogation of the plurality of storage racks and to store data from at least one prior interrogation of the plurality of storage racks; and
a computer connectable to said memory means to determine which brands of articles are being dispensed more frequently.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A checking system is provided to check the condition of a plurality of storage racks, e.g., the quantity and types of articles in racks in a machine, with the articles being stored along the length of the racks. Rack indicating means is provided in the form of indicia adjacent each of the plurality of racks to identify a plurality of different types or brands of articles. Each of these rack indicating means is subdivided along the length of the respective rack into individual indicating means or indicia, and, as an example, may correspond to the numerical sequence of the respective adjacent article stored in the rack. Interrogation means is cooperable with the indicating means, and this may be a bar code reader to cooperate with bar code indicia to determine data from the rack and individual indicating means. As an example, this may be identifying the particular rack and the sequential number of the articles in the particular track at that instant. A computer is connectable to memory means and to the interrogation means with the memory having an input from the interrogation means to remember data from each indicating means and from the prior history of interrogation. The computer calculates which are those brands of articles which are being dispensed more frequently, and hence are the articles of particular brands or types which should be added into inventory in that particular machine. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A quantity checking system for a plurality of storage racks for storage of articles in a vending machine with the articles adapted to be dispensed from the racks, said articles adapted to be stored along the length of each rack in numerical sequence, said system comprising in combination:
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means for dispensing articles from the racks; passive indicia mounted adjacent each of said plurality of racks and adapted to identify a plurality of different brands of articles; each of said indicia being subdivided along the length of the rack into passive individual indicia, each one corresponding to the numerical sequence of the respective adjacent article stored in the rack; interrogation means unconnected to, yet cooperable with, said indicia for interrogating and determining data from said indicia as to a particular rack and the sequential number of the last article near one end of the particular rack at that instant; memory means having an input from said interrogation means to store data from each said indicia from each interrogation of the plurality of storage racks and to store data from at least one prior interrogation of the plurality of storage racks; and a computer connectable to said memory means to determine which brands of articles are being dispensed more frequently. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A quantity checking method by use of an indicia reader for a plurality of storage racks in a vending machine for storage of plural articles in numerical sequence along the length of each rack with the articles adapted to be removed from the racks;
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passive rack indicia to identify a plurality of different types of articles being subdivided along the length of the rack indicia into individual indicia to correspond to the numerical sequence of the plural articles adapted to be stored in a particular rack, and with the rack indicia being adjacent each of said plurality of racks; said method comprising the steps of; resting a single active indicia reader on an article near one end of a particular rack and adjacent to the passive rack indicia and moving said indicia reader along said article to read the individual indicia at said article at the time said reader is moved; and inputting data from each said individual and rack indicia into memory means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification