Vending apparatus for self-service store

• US 4,954,697 A
• Filed: 04/06/1989
• Issued: 09/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Todokoro, Shinji, Kurosawa, Akihito, Ushikubo, Kohei, Kokubun, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAFTON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/333,804
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/383, 365/63, 369/30, 369/64, 360/12, 364/479, 340/711, 221/2, 221/3
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

A vending apparatus comprises a cabinet for storing a plurality of items available for purchase; a memory for storing product data associated with the plurality of items; a message device for visually or audibly reproducing selected segments of the stored product data; an input device for receiving selection and designation data from a user in accordance with the data in the message device; a deposit mechanism for receiving payment for items selected for purchase; and a dispenser responsive to the deposit mechanism and the input device for ejecting items selected by the user for receipt by the user.

Claims

1. A vending apparatus, comprising:

cabinet means provided with storage means for storing a plurality of different items available for purchase;

memory means for storing product data associated with said plurality of different stored items, said product data including multiple displays of more precise product information on successive screen displays;

information transmission means for visually and audibly reproducing selected corresponding segments of the product data including image display means for displaying visual video information on said plurality of different stored products available for purchase, and speaker means for reproducing audio information corresponding to said plurality of different stored products available for purchase, said image display means including an image display unit having a display panel;

input means for receiving selection and designation data from user in accordance with the data in said information transmission means, said input means including a touch sensing input device on said display panel;

deposit means for receiving payment for items selected for purchase; and

dispensing means responsive to the payment means and the input means for ejecting items selected by the user for receipt by the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 also including means for bypassing selected ones of the screen displays.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 also including means for terminating the sequence of operation of the apparatus.