Processing method for vending machine with substitutable magazines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
- assigning to each magazine an identification code;
marking said magazine with said code;
establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the locations in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
keeping a record of each of said magazines by identification numbers and related menus;
assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, menus and site identification codes;
transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines, compiling an account of selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
downloading from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
at said processing center, inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine; and
reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account.
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Abstract
A method for centralized mass processing of substitutable, good-holding magazines used in conjunction with computer-controlled vending machines. A memory-chip-mounting smart-card is used, not only to enter into the machines the magazine location and price of the various goods, but also to carry a sales transaction record of the replaced magazine, thus avoiding the need for magazine locking mechanisms and other security measures.
52 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning to each magazine an identification code;
marking said magazine with said code;
establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the locations in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
keeping a record of each of said magazines by identification numbers and related menus;
assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, menus and site identification codes;
transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines, compiling an account of selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
downloading from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
at said processing center, inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine; and
reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
whereby two goods may be dispensed by a vending machine at a discount price.
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9. The method of claim 1 which further comprises, at said processing center, replacing sold goods in said previously installed magazines and adding said magazine to said record.
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10. The method of claim 1 which further comprises:
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maintaining an inventory of said goods available for filling said magazines; and
integrating said filling and inventorying with said inventory.
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11. The method of claim 10 which further comprises:
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maintaining an inventory of said goods available for filling said magazines; and
integrating said filling, inventorying and replacing with said inventory.
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12. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps of recording on, downloading onto and reading from, said machine-readable medium comprises recording on, downloading onto and reading from a smart-card.
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13. The method of claim 12, wherein said steps of recording on, downloading onto and reading from said machine-readable medium comprises recording on, downloading onto and reading from a single smart-card for all machines on said route.
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14. The method of claim 1 which further comprises marking each of said magazines with an indicium of an assigned menu.
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15. The method of claim 1 which further comprises marking each of said magazines with an indicum of destination vending machine.
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16. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of compiling comprises accumulating a record of payments received by said vending machine.
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17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of accumulating comprises calculating the amount of currency collected by said vending machine into said magazine.
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18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of inventorying comprises counting currency accumulated in said magazine.
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19. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of compiling comprises indexing said selling transactions with time information.
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20. The method of claim 1 which further comprises generating from said downloaded compiled account, statistical sales data.
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21. A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning to each magazine an identification code;
establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the location in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
keeping a record of each of said filled magazines;
assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, and menus;
transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines, compiling an account of good-selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
downloading from from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
at said processing center, inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine; and
reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account.
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22. A method for managing vending machines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning to each of said vending machines an identification code;
establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said machines, each of said menus listing the locations in a machine holding series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
filling said machines in accordance with said menus;
keeping a record of each of said machines by identification numbers and related menus;
recording on a machine-readable medium, a route database including machine identification codes, menus and site identification codes;
at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines, compiling an account of good-selling transactions for a set of goods previously installed in said vending machine;
downloading from from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
whereby two goods may be dispensed by a vending machine at a discount price.
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28. The method of claim 22, wherein said steps of recording on, downloading onto and reading from, said machine-readable medium comprises recording on, downloading onto and reading from a smart-card.
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29. The method of claim 28, wherein said steps of recording on, downloading onto and reading from said machine-readable medium comprises recording on, downloading onto and reading from a single smart-card for all machines on said route.
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30. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of compiling comprises accumulating a record of payments received by said vending machine.
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31. The method of claim 30 wherein said step of accumulating comprises calculating the amount of currency collected by said vending machine.
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32. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of compiling comprises indexing said good selling transactions with time information.
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33. The method of claim 22 which further comprises generating from said downloaded compiled account, statistical sales data.
Specification