Method and apparatus for vending a containerized liquid product utilizing an automatic self-service refill system
First Claim
1. The method of vending a containerized liquid product to a vendee utilizing an original container for said liquid product and, after said original container has been emptied of said liquid product, then vending multiple refillings of said liquid product in said original container, said container having machine-readable indicia thereon indicative of said liquid product and the original sales price of said container as filled with said liquid product prior to the first refilling thereof, and, for each refilling of said container, dispensing to the refill vendee a discount coupon to be presented to the vendor'"'"'s checkout together with the refilled container whereby the price charged to said vendee for said refilled container equals said original sales price less the value of said discount coupon.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for vending a containerized liquid product to a vendee, after an original liquid container has been emptied, by successive refillings of the product and utilizing machine-readable indicia on the container, a discount ticket or coupon being dispensed to the vendee upon completion of the filling of the container.
93 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. The method of vending a containerized liquid product to a vendee utilizing an original container for said liquid product and, after said original container has been emptied of said liquid product, then vending multiple refillings of said liquid product in said original container, said container having machine-readable indicia thereon indicative of said liquid product and the original sales price of said container as filled with said liquid product prior to the first refilling thereof, and, for each refilling of said container, dispensing to the refill vendee a discount coupon to be presented to the vendor'"'"'s checkout together with the refilled container whereby the price charged to said vendee for said refilled container equals said original sales price less the value of said discount coupon.
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8. Apparatus for vending a containerized liquid product to a vendee utilizing an original container for said liquid product and, after said original container has been emptied of said liquid product, then vending multiple refillings of said liquid product in said original container, said container having machine-readable indicia thereon indicative of said liquid product and the original sales price of said container as filled with said liquid product prior to the first refilling thereof, and for each refilling of said container, dispensing to the refill vendee a discount coupon to be presented to the vendor'"'"'s check-out, together with the refilled container, whereby the price charged to said vendee for said refilled container equals said original sales price less the value of said discount coupon, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a vertically-oriented liquid filling pipe having a discharge port at the bottom thereof and positioned over and in register with a filling opening in said original container, said container being positioned within a chamber with said machine-readable indicia oriented to be in register with indicia reading means;
b) at least one bulk supply of liquid, and means controlled by said indicia reading means for initiating the transfer of fluid from said bulk supply of fluid to said liquid filling pipe and thence to said container; and
c) means for sensing the complete filling of said container and for terminating said transfer of fluid, and for dispensing a discount coupon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification