Printed publication vending apparatus including programmable announcement capability
First Claim
1. A system for vending printed publications including a programmable announcement capability, the system comprising:
- an enclosure dimensioned to house a plurality of printed publications, including an access panel through which a customer may obtain one or more of the publications;
a trigger switch;
speaker unit, including;
an input to receive an announcement in electronic form,an audio speaker, anda voice circuit in electrical communication with the trigger switch, the input, and the audio speaker, the voice circuit being operative to perform the following functions;
receive and store the announcement in electronic form,retrieve the stored announcement upon activation of the trigger switch, anddeliver an electrical signal representative of the announcement to the audio speaker so that the announcement may be heard by the customer; and
a portable programming unit, including;
means for storing one or more announcements in electronic form,an output adapted for electrical coupling to the input of the speaker unit, andan operator control,whereby an announcement stored within the portable programming unit may be downloaded into the speaker unit upon activation of the operator control.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vending apparatus for printed publications includes a programmable announcement capability which permits audio messages to be played in response to a customer stimulus. Programming is conveniently carried out through the connection of a portable programming unit to the vending apparatus to download a message stored in the programming unit. Such programming may be done frequently, such as daily, or at such time when the rack is refilled with printed publications. The announcement capability within the vending apparatus is preferably triggered when a customer opens an access panel on the rack, which then plays the message downloaded through the portable programming unit.
29 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for vending printed publications including a programmable announcement capability, the system comprising:
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an enclosure dimensioned to house a plurality of printed publications, including an access panel through which a customer may obtain one or more of the publications; a trigger switch; speaker unit, including; an input to receive an announcement in electronic form, an audio speaker, and a voice circuit in electrical communication with the trigger switch, the input, and the audio speaker, the voice circuit being operative to perform the following functions; receive and store the announcement in electronic form, retrieve the stored announcement upon activation of the trigger switch, and deliver an electrical signal representative of the announcement to the audio speaker so that the announcement may be heard by the customer; and a portable programming unit, including; means for storing one or more announcements in electronic form, an output adapted for electrical coupling to the input of the speaker unit, and an operator control, whereby an announcement stored within the portable programming unit may be downloaded into the speaker unit upon activation of the operator control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for providing a programmable announcement capability to a newsrack, comprising:
a speaker unit, including; means for mounting the unit to the newsrack, a trigger switch for sensing a potential customer stimulus, an input to receive an announcement in electronic form, an audio speaker, and a voice circuit in electrical communication with the trigger switch, the input, and the audio speaker, the voice circuit being operative to perform the following functions; receive and store the announcement in electronic form, retrieve the stored announcement upon activation of the trigger switch, and deliver an electrical signal representative of the announcement to the audio speaker so that the announcement may be heard by the customer; and a portable programming unit, including; means for storing one or more announcements in electronic form, an output adapted for electrical coupling to the input of the speaker unit, and an operator control, whereby an announcement stored within the portable programming unit may be downloaded into the speaker unit upon activation of the operator control. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification