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 the delivery mechanism moving from and returning to a 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 deliver 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.
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Citations
20 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 the delivery mechanism moving from and returning to a 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, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vending machine, comprising:
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a plurality of helical coil dispensing mechanisms each selectively dispensing one of one or more products contained therein; a customer input accepting a customer order for a customer-selected product within one of the helical coil dispensing mechanisms, wherein products from each of the helical coil dispensing mechanisms pass through a single monitored region during delivery from the respective helical coil dispensing mechanism to a customer-accessible delivery bin; a monitoring system selectively determining when products pass through the monitored region; a controller causing the helical coil dispensing mechanism containing the customer-selected product to begin rotating in response to a signal from the customer input, wherein the monitoring system determines whether the customer-selected product passes through the monitored region while the helical coil dispensing mechanism rotates through a first revolution from a home position back to the home position, and wherein the controller, in response to the monitoring system detecting passage of the customer-selected product through the monitored region during rotation of the helical coil dispensing mechanism through the first revolution, causes the helical coil dispensing mechanism to stop at the home position, and in response to the monitoring system failing to detect passage of the customer-selected product through the monitored region during rotation of the helical coil dispensing mechanism through the first revolution, causes the helical coil dispensing mechanism to continue rotating past the home position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A vending machine, comprising:
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a plurality of helical coil dispensing mechanisms each selectively dispensing one of one or more products contained therein; a customer input accepting a customer order for a customer-selected product within one of the helical coil dispensing mechanisms, wherein products from each of the helical coil dispensing mechanisms pass through a single monitored region during delivery from the respective helical coil dispensing mechanism to a customer-accessible delivery bin; a monitoring system selectively determining when products pass through the monitored region; a controller causing the helical coil dispensing mechanism containing the customer-selected product to begin rotating in response to a signal from the customer input, wherein the monitoring system determines whether the customer-selected product passes through the monitored region while the helical coil dispensing mechanism rotates through a first revolution from a home position back to the home position, and wherein the controller, in response to the monitoring system detecting passage of the customer-selected product through the monitored region during rotation of the helical coil dispensing mechanism through the first revolution, causes the helical coil dispensing mechanism to stop at the home position, and in response to the monitoring system failing to detect passage of the customer-selected product through the monitored region during rotation of the helical coil dispensing mechanism through the first revolution, causes the helical coil dispensing mechanism to continue rotating past the home position until either the monitoring system detects passage of the customer-selected product through the monitored region or the helical coil dispensing mechanism completes a second revolution, whichever occurs first. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification