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Centralized machine vending method

  • US 6,367,653 B1
  • Filed: 09/20/2000
  • Issued: 04/09/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for selling goods from a supply center to employees and customers of a plurality of entities at a number of locations, said method comprising the following steps:

  • installing at each one of said locations at least one vending machine engineered to dispense a set of said goods out of a removable magazine upon acceptance of a payment;

    at said supply center, filling a plurality of said magazines with sets of a diversity of said goods;

    establishing routes, each of said routes linking a given number of said locations;

    transporting said full magazines to said locations along said routes, and, at each of said locations, mounting one of said magazines in each of said vending machines in place of any other magazine previously mounted therein;

    returning each of said previously mounted magazines to said supply center; and

    servicing said returned magazines;

    wherein, for each of said vending machines, said step of mounting one of said magazines essentially consists of;

    opening said vending machine;

    removing said previously mounted magazine;

    inserting said full magazine in place of said previously mounted one; and

    securely locking said vending machine;

    in the absence of any currency or discrete goods handling or counting at said locations.

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