Method and system for accomplishing product detection
First Claim
1. An apparatus for facilitating delivery of a product from a vending machine, the vending machine having an ordering system for accepting a customer order of the product, at least one delivery mechanism associated with the product and a delivery path for delivering the product, the delivery mechanism moving from and returning to a home position in response to the customer order, the apparatus comprising:
- a monitoring system located about the delivery path, the monitoring system determining if a product passes along the delivery path; and
a circuitry communicatively coupled to the monitoring system, the circuitry determining a failure if the product does not pass along the delivery path in response to a customer order, and in response to detection of movement of the delivery mechanism from and return of the delivery mechanism to the home position, the circuitry instructing the at least one delivery mechanism to move from the home position in response to the failure and to subsequently stop in response to the product passing along the delivery path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for a vending system wherein a monitoring system verifies that a product ordered by a vending customer is actually delivered through a delivery area to the customer. If the product ordered is unavailable either because of an out of stock situation or a blockage of the delivery path for that product, the present invention allows the customer to request a refund or order a second product. Additionally, the present invention helps to prevent theft of product from the vending system.
87 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for facilitating delivery of a product from a vending machine, the vending machine having an ordering system for accepting a customer order of the product, at least one delivery mechanism associated with the product and a delivery path for delivering the product, the delivery mechanism moving from and returning to a home position in response to the customer order, the apparatus comprising:
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a monitoring system located about the delivery path, the monitoring system determining if a product passes along the delivery path; and
a circuitry communicatively coupled to the monitoring system, the circuitry determining a failure if the product does not pass along the delivery path in response to a customer order, and in response to detection of movement of the delivery mechanism from and return of the delivery mechanism to the home position, the circuitry instructing the at least one delivery mechanism to move from the home position in response to the failure and to subsequently stop in response to the product passing along the delivery path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of facilitating the delivery of a product from a vending machine, the vending machine having an ordering system for accepting a customer order of the product, at least one delivery mechanism associated with the product and a delivery path for delivering the product, the at least one delivery mechanism moving from and returning to a home position in response to the customer order, the method comprising:
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monitoring the delivery path with a monitoring system located about the delivery path;
instructing the at least one delivery mechanism to move in response to a failure of the product to pass along the delivery path in response to the customer order and despite detection of movement of the delivery mechanism from and return of the delivery mechanism to the home position; and
instructing the at least one delivery mechanism to stop moving in response to a subsequent passing of the product along the delivery path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vending machine for delivering at least one product in response to a customer order, the vending machine comprising:
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an ordering system for accepting the customer order of the product;
at least one delivery mechanism associated with the at least one product, the at least one delivery mechanism moving from and returning to a home position in response to the customer order;
a delivery path for delivering the product;
a monitoring system located about the delivery path, the monitoring system determining if a product passes along the delivery path; and
a circuitry communicatively coupled to the monitoring system and the at least one delivery mechanism, the circuitry instructing the at least one delivery mechanism to move beyond the home position if movement of the delivery mechanism from and return of the delivery mechanism to the home position in the response to the customer order is detected but does not cause the product to pass along the delivery path, and to subsequently stop in response to the product passing along the delivery path. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification