Method and machine for dispensing coupons
First Claim
1. A machine for selectively producing and dispensing a desired one of at least two coupons respectively including at least two different inscriptions thereon to be respectively redeemable for at least two different bargains, said machine comprising:
- a cabinet;
control means in said cabinet;
a video display screen on said cabinet;
said video display screen being controlled by said control means to display specific bargain information indicating said different bargains capable of being acquired by redemption of respective said coupons and a specific amount of currency required to obtain each of said respective coupons;
selection means mounted on said cabinet for selecting said desired one of said different bargains and said respective coupon therefor;
currency deposit means in said cabinet for receiving various amounts of said currency;
means for storing a supply of paper for forming said coupons in said cabinet;
coupon dispensing means mounted in said cabinet in alignment with said supply of said paper stored therein and capable of dispensing each of said coupons to an exterior of said cabinet after production thereof;
said control means being capable of determining said desired one of said different bargains selected through said selection means and that said specific amount of said currency for said desired one of said different bargains as selected has been deposited in said currency deposit means and then causing said coupon dispensing means to dispense said respective coupon for said desired one of said different bargains;
said control means including means for altering said different bargains and said respective coupons therefor which are capable of being produced and dispensed by said machine;
said coupon dispensing means including printing means operated by said control means to selectively print on said supply of said paper for forming each of said respective coupons with a respective one of said different inscriptions for said coupons;
said printing means for printing said respective one of said different inscriptions selected through said selection means; and
said control means including selectable means for causing said printing means to print standard information independent of said bargain information as indicated on said video display screen on each said coupon being produced by and dispensed from said machine, whereby said desired one of said at least two coupons is only produced and dispensed by said machine after said selecting with said selection means and said printing by said printing means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine is for selectively dispensing a plurality of coupons including at least two different inscriptions thereon to be respectively redeemable for at least two different promotions or bargains. The machine includes a cabinet and a display area on the cabinet indicating the different bargains capable of being acquired by redemption of the respective coupons and a specific amount of money required to obtain each respective coupon. Selection buttons mounted on the cabinet are used to select a desired one of the different bargains and the respective coupon therefor. A coin slot and collection box in the cabinet are used to receive various amounts of money. The coupons are stored in the cabinet and are aligned with a coupon dispenser which is capable of dispensing each coupon to the exterior of the cabinet through a slot. A printed circuit board in the cabinet electrically coupled to all of the components includes control circuitry which is capable of determining that the desired one of the different bargains selected by the buttons and that the amount of money for the desired one of the different bargains as selected has been deposited in the coin slot and collection box. The control circuitry then causes the coupon dispenser to dispense the respective coupon for the desired one of the different bargains.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A machine for selectively producing and dispensing a desired one of at least two coupons respectively including at least two different inscriptions thereon to be respectively redeemable for at least two different bargains, said machine comprising:
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a cabinet; control means in said cabinet; a video display screen on said cabinet; said video display screen being controlled by said control means to display specific bargain information indicating said different bargains capable of being acquired by redemption of respective said coupons and a specific amount of currency required to obtain each of said respective coupons; selection means mounted on said cabinet for selecting said desired one of said different bargains and said respective coupon therefor; currency deposit means in said cabinet for receiving various amounts of said currency; means for storing a supply of paper for forming said coupons in said cabinet; coupon dispensing means mounted in said cabinet in alignment with said supply of said paper stored therein and capable of dispensing each of said coupons to an exterior of said cabinet after production thereof; said control means being capable of determining said desired one of said different bargains selected through said selection means and that said specific amount of said currency for said desired one of said different bargains as selected has been deposited in said currency deposit means and then causing said coupon dispensing means to dispense said respective coupon for said desired one of said different bargains; said control means including means for altering said different bargains and said respective coupons therefor which are capable of being produced and dispensed by said machine; said coupon dispensing means including printing means operated by said control means to selectively print on said supply of said paper for forming each of said respective coupons with a respective one of said different inscriptions for said coupons; said printing means for printing said respective one of said different inscriptions selected through said selection means; and said control means including selectable means for causing said printing means to print standard information independent of said bargain information as indicated on said video display screen on each said coupon being produced by and dispensed from said machine, whereby said desired one of said at least two coupons is only produced and dispensed by said machine after said selecting with said selection means and said printing by said printing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of selectively producing and dispensing a desired one of at least two coupons respectively including at least two different inscriptions thereon to be respectively redeemable for at least two different bargains, which said method comprises the steps of:
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displaying bargain information on a video display screen including an indication of said different bargains and each respective said coupon thereof; selecting said desired one of said respective coupons; printing at least a corresponding inscription of said different inscriptions on said selected one of said respective coupons; said printing including standard inscription on all said coupons which said standard inscription is in addition to said corresponding inscription and independent of said displaying of said bargain information on said video display screen. said printing of said corresponding inscription and said standard inscription being performed after said selecting; dispensing said desired one of said respective coupons with said corresponding inscription thereon after said printing said at least said corresponding inscription and said standard inscription; and said displaying and said printing being performed by selective programming means for establishing of each of said different bargains for which said respective coupons can be redeemed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A machine for selectively producing and dispensing a desired one of at least two coupons respectively including at least two different inscriptions thereon to be respectively redeemable for at least two different bargains, said machine comprising:
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a cabinet; control means in said cabinet; a video display screen on said cabinet controlled by said control means to display bargain information about said different bargains capable of being acquired by redemption of respective said coupons; selection means mounted on said cabinet for selecting said desired one of said different bargains and said respective coupon therefor; means for storing a supply of paper in said cabinet; coupon dispensing means mounted in said cabinet in alignment with said supply of said paper and capable of dispensing each of said coupons after said producing thereof to an exterior of said cabinet; control means in said cabinet capable of determining said desired one of said different bargains selected through said selection means and then causing said coupon dispensing means to dispense said respective coupon for said desired one of said different bargains; said coupon dispensing means including printing means operated by said control means to selectively print on said paper of said supply each of said respective coupons with a selected one of said different inscriptions for said desired one of said respective coupons corresponding with said desired one of said bargains selected through said selection means; said control means including selectable means for causing said printing means to print standard information on each of said respective coupon being produced by and dispensed from said machine; and said standard information being different from and independent of said bargain information displayed on said video display screen. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification