Pricing control system for multi-operation vending machines
First Claim
1. In a system for controlling a vending machine adapted to provide at least first and second customer operations at varying prices, a price setting device comprising:
- a base price setting field for storing first and second predetermined base prices for the first and second customer operations respectively;
an offset price setting field for storing a desired offset price, wherein the desired offset price equals a penny increment amount ranging from zero to four cents, andcontrol unit for establishing vending machine operation prices for the first and second customer operations, with at least one of the vending machine operation prices being determined by adding the desired offset price to one of said first and second predetermined base prices.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pricing control system for multi-operation vending machines, such as those commonly found in laundromat facilities, incorporates an offset price setting field for storing at least one incremental offset price which is added to a pre-established base price in order to set the cost for a respective vending machine operation. In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention, a single offset price is used to increment each of the base prices established for a given vending machine such that the costs associated with each of the operations is incremented an equal amount. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, multiple offset price amounts are stored and added to predetermined base prices to establish the cost of each of the respective vending machine operations. The price control system is considered to be particularly advantageous when utilized in connection with a debit card charging arrangement and enables facility operators to change the numerous vending machine operation prices by only altering the data stored in the offset price setting field. In addition, the use of the pricing control system of the present invention readily enables penny increment price changes to be implemented in existing vending machine facilities.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a system for controlling a vending machine adapted to provide at least first and second customer operations at varying prices, a price setting device comprising:
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a base price setting field for storing first and second predetermined base prices for the first and second customer operations respectively; an offset price setting field for storing a desired offset price, wherein the desired offset price equals a penny increment amount ranging from zero to four cents, and control unit for establishing vending machine operation prices for the first and second customer operations, with at least one of the vending machine operation prices being determined by adding the desired offset price to one of said first and second predetermined base prices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a system for controlling a vending machine adapted to provide at least first and second customer operations at varying prices, a price setting device comprising:
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at least one base price setting field for storing first and second predetermined base prices for the first and second customer operations respectively; an offset price setting field for storing a desired offset price, wherein the desired offset price equals a penny increment amount ranging from zero to four cents; and control means for establishing vending machine operation prices for at least one of the first and second customer operations by adding the desired offset price to at least one of said first and second predetermined base prices. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of establishing operation prices for vending machines, each of which is adapted to provide at least first and second customer operations at varying prices, comprising:
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establishing individual base prices for each of the first and second customer operations; storing a desired, incremental penny offset price, ranging from zero to four cents, in an offset price setting field; and adding the desired offset price to a predetermined one of the individual base prices to arrive at a vending machine operation price for the first customer operation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification