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Vending machine inventory system and method

  • US 6,695,166 B2
  • Filed: 09/26/2001
  • Issued: 02/24/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A vending machine that vends products, comprising:

  • a housing;

    at least one rack that contains the products to be vended;

    a controller that is coupled to said at least one rack to vend the products when a product selector coupled to said controller and associated with said at least one rack is selected; and

    an array of capacitive switches coupled to said controller and placed in said at least one rack wherein each of said capacitive switches in said array of capacitive switches is aligned each position for said products in said at least one rack;

    said controller adapted to determine the height of the products contained in said at least one rack by sensing the capacitance of said positions for the products using said array of capacitive switches.

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