Vending apparatus incorporating an improved closed loop positioning system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An improved closed loop positioning system, comprising:
- a carousel rotatably disposed on a support shaft, said carousel having a plurality of apertures disposed about the perimeter of said carousel;
a motor coupled to said carousel, for adjusting the rotational position of said carousel;
a bar code ring disposed coaxially with the perimeter of said carousel, said bar code ring for coding the absolute position of said carousel;
sensor means for detecting whenever said apertures of said carousel are aligned with said sensor means;
a scanner for reading the values of the bar codes; and
controller means coupled to said sensor means, said scanner and said motor, said controller for advancing or retarding the rotational position of said carousel a predetermined amount based on the output of said scanner means and verifying the predetermined amount of movement based on the output of said scanner means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to the field of vending machines and more specifically to an improved method and means for detecting and correcting positioning errors in a vending machine. A carousel type dispensing apparatus is incorporated.
108 Citations
4 Claims
-
1. An improved closed loop positioning system, comprising:
-
a carousel rotatably disposed on a support shaft, said carousel having a plurality of apertures disposed about the perimeter of said carousel; a motor coupled to said carousel, for adjusting the rotational position of said carousel; a bar code ring disposed coaxially with the perimeter of said carousel, said bar code ring for coding the absolute position of said carousel; sensor means for detecting whenever said apertures of said carousel are aligned with said sensor means; a scanner for reading the values of the bar codes; and controller means coupled to said sensor means, said scanner and said motor, said controller for advancing or retarding the rotational position of said carousel a predetermined amount based on the output of said scanner means and verifying the predetermined amount of movement based on the output of said scanner means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeJesse A. Ojala, William C. Newell
-
Original AssigneeJesse A. Ojala, William C. Newell
-
InventorsOjala, Jesse A., Newell, William C.
-
Primary Examiner(s)PITTS, HAROLD I
-
Application NumberUS07/543,266Time in Patent Office554 DaysField of Search235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 235/381, 364/479US Class Current235/381CPC Class CodesG06K 17/0009 with sequential access sele...G07F 11/52 about horizontal axes
