Vending audit system

• US 7,053,773 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Rabinovitch, Kevin L., Sagady, Cary M., Walker, Darren L., McGarry, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/213,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/5.92, 3405721-5729, 235/385, 235/381, 700/236, 700/232
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A vend audit system and methods are described. In an implementation, the system includes vend items with packaging having tags, at least one tag sensor, and a control circuit capable of receiving data from the tag sensor. A method for tracking inventory in a vending machine is also described. In an implementation, the technique includes loading vend items having tags into a vending machine, sensing the tags, and transferring information to a control circuit. The tags may be RF tags, and the tag sensor may be an RF antenna sensor.

Claims

1. A method for tracking inventory in a vending machine comprising:

dispensing a vend item from a vending machine, wherein a radio-frequency (RF) tag is attached to the dispensed vend item;

using a sensor to sense the RF tag attached to the vend item so as to check passage of the dispensed vend item past an exit point; and

transferring information concerning the vend item to a control circuit, wherein said information includes whether the vend item has successfully exited a product dispenser.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tag is a printed RF tag.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring information concerning the vend item to a central office.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes at least one of use-by date data, brand identity data, planogram data and SKU data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising at least one of generating an alarm signal, notifying a central office and authorizing a customer payment.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the vend item has a first layer of packaging material wrapped about the vend item and at least one further layer of packaging material that overlays the first layer, wherein the RF tag is printed on an outside surface of the first layer of packaging material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the vend item has a first layer of packaging material wrapped about the vend item and at least one further layer of packaging material that overlays the first layer, wherein the RF tag is printed on an inside surface of one of the further layers of packaging material.