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Method and system for accomplishing product detection

  • US 7,191,034 B2
  • Filed: 03/09/2004
  • Issued: 03/13/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A vending method for determining whether a product is delivered, the method comprising:

  • sending a delivery signal to a product delivery system based on a customer ordering event;

    monitoring a delivery path that the ordered product travels to reach a product receiving location with a monitoring system located along the delivery path to detect when the product passes through the delivery path, the monitoring system optically scanning the delivery path for product transition past the monitoring system using a plurality of light emitters and a corresponding plurality of light detectors by (a) separately activating at least one but fewer than all of the light emitters and (b) for each of the light emitters when that light emitter is activated, monitoring at least two of the light detectors; and

    determining if the product was delivered to the receiving location.

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