Self-learning depth logic for multi-depth vendor control

• US 6,945,427 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Vendo Company
• Original Assignee: The Vendo Company
• Inventors: Hieb, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US10/636,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 221/242, 221/241, 221/131, 221/124, 221/9, 221/10, 221/6, 221/59.3, 221/59.4, 312/42, 312/45, 312/72, 211/59.2, 211/59.1
• US Class Current: 221/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/04 in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/10 two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

The disclosed invention is a dispensing apparatus and method for dispensing product from a vending machine. The invention employs a product vend detector to sense when products are dispensed. A controller compares the occurrences of products actually dispensed to the product depth setting assigned to a product dispensing assembly. When vend-completed signals do not match the assigned product setting, the controller initiates a learning mode to determine the actual product depth of the product dispensing assembly and resets the product depth setting to the correct value. The present invention eliminates the need for manual adjustments and eliminates the need to use additional electromechanical components, such as timing cams and switches that are normally used by prior product dispensing systems.

Claims

1. A vending machine, comprising:

a housing for storing products to be dispensed;

a product dispensing assembly comprising a dispenser for holding and dispensing a product,

an actual product depth for the dispenser;

a product dispensing mechanism depth setting for the product dispensing assembly;

a product vend detector comprising a means to sense when the product is dispensed; and

a controller electrically coupled to the product dispensing assembly, wherein the controller receives input signals from the product vend detector and programmable to adjust the product dispensing mechanism depth setting to match the actual product depth.

2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller compares the input signals sent by the product vend detector to the product dispensing mechanism depth setting for the product dispensing assembly to determine whether the controller will enter a learning mode to adjust the depth setting.

3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the learning mode is entered when the input signals sent by the product vend detector do not match the depth setting for the product dispensing assembly.

4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein when in the learning mode, the controller counts the number of products vended during a complete vend cycle of the product dispensing mechanism.

5. The vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the controller adjusts the depth setting of the product dispensing mechanism to match the number or products vended during the complete vend cycle.

6. The vending machine according to claim 5, further comprising

a product chute for receiving the product when dispensed by the dispenser;

and wherein the product vend detector is positioned substantially at the product chute.

7. The vending machine according to claim 6, wherein the product vend detector is an impact sensor.

8. The vending machine according to claim 6, wherein the product vend detector is an optical sensor.

9. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the product vend detector is positioned substantially below the product dispenser.

10. The vending machine according to claim 9, wherein the product vend detector is an impact sensor.

11. The vending machine according to claim 9, wherein the product vend detector is an optical sensor.

12. A method for dispensing products from a vending machine, comprising the steps of:

storing products in a product dispensing assembly having an actual product depth;

setting a first product depth setting for a product dispensing assembly;

sensing input signals when products are dispensed;

transmitting the input signals from a product vend detector to a controller;

comparing the input signals to the first product depth setting; and

adjusting the first product depth setting for a product dispensing assembly to a second product depth setting that matches the actual product depth.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the controller compares the input signals transmitted by the product vend detector to the first product depth setting for the product dispensing assembly to determine whether the controller will enter a learning mode to adjust the depth setting.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the learning mode is entered when the input signals sent by the product vend detector do not match the depth setting for the product dispensing assembly.

15. The vending machine according to claim 14, wherein when in the learning mode, the controller counts the number of products vended during a complete vend cycle of the product dispensing mechanism.

16. The vending machine according to claim 15, wherein the controller adjusts the depth setting of the product dispensing mechanism to match the number or products vended during the complete vend cycle.