Dispensing apparatus system and method

• US 7,909,206 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clifford H. Davis Jr
• Original Assignee: Clifford H. Davis Jr
• Inventors: Davis, Clifford H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US11/987,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 221/123, 221/124, 221/127, 221/191, 221/102, 221/97
• US Class Current: 221/124
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/26 Endless bands
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0609 by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

An automatic dispensing apparatus system and method for dispensing predetermined objects is disclosed. More particularly, the invention is an automatic bottled water dispensing apparatus system and method having a housing which houses various sizes of bottled water and a conveyor system for transporting the bottled water to a dispensing member for a customer. The dispensing apparatus system also includes a return machine for returning empty bottles, a plurality of selection members, a payment member and an inventory monitoring member.

Claims

1. An automatic dispensing apparatus system for dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:

a housing constructed and arranged to house a plurality of predetermined objects in a storage area;

a plurality of dispensing members, each having a body and a door;

a conveyor system constructed and arranged to transport at least one of the plurality of predetermined objects from the storage area to at least one of the plurality of dispensing members, wherein the conveyor system is operatively positioned in the housing;

a return machine constructed and arranged for returning an empty or substantially empty predetermined object, wherein the return machine includes a body, a door, a nozzle and a base;

a plurality of selection members constructed and arranged to select a type, size and/or quantity of the predetermined objects to be dispensed to a customer; and

a payment member for paying for the predetermined objects selected.

2. The automatic dispensing apparatus system of claim 1, further comprising an inventory monitoring member for monitoring the type, size and/or quantity of predetermined objects sold.

3. The automatic dispensing apparatus system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor system includes a plurality of conveyor belts having a plurality of legs providing support to the plurality of conveyor belts.

4. The automatic dispensing apparatus system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of conveyor belts extend from the plurality of predetermined objects in the storage area to a corresponding dispensing member of the plurality of dispensing members.

5. The automatic dispensing apparatus system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection members includes a plurality of predetermined object selection buttons and at least one empty product return button.

6. The automatic dispensing apparatus system of claim 1, further comprising:

an intermediate security door along the conveyor system between the storage area and the plurality of predetermined dispensing members.

7. An automatic dispensing apparatus system for dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:

a housing constructed and arranged to house a plurality of predetermined objects in a storage area, wherein the plurality of predetermined objects include various sizes of bottled water including at least one of;

1 gallon bottles, 3 gallon bottles, 5 gallon bottles, and/or a case of bottles;

a plurality of dispensing members, each having a body and a door;

a conveyor system constructed and arranged to transport at least one of the plurality of predetermined objects from the storage area to at least one of the plurality of dispensing members, wherein the conveyor system is operatively positioned in the housing;

a return machine constructed and arranged for returning an empty or substantially empty predetermined object, wherein the return machine includes a body, a door, a nozzle and a base;

a plurality of selection members constructed and arranged to select a type, size and/or quantity of the predetermined objects to be dispensed to a customer; and

a payment member for paying for the predetermined objects selected.

8. A method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:

selecting a desired size and quantity of a predetermined object from a plurality of selection members;

paying for the desired size and quantity of the predetermined object at a payment member with cash or a credit card;

dispensing and transporting the predetermined object from a storage area and along a conveyor system to a predetermined dispensing member;

opening a door of the predetermined dispensing member when the predetermined object reaches a predetermined distance from the door of the predetermined dispensing member and payment for the predetermined object is received;

advancing the predetermined object through an opening formed by the opening of the door of the predetermined dispensing member to a customer; and

closing the door of the predetermined dispensing member.

9. The method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object of claim 8, further comprising:

providing at least one signal thereby providing activation, the at least one signal including at least one of;

product on gravity conveyor;

automatic operation auto;

product on gravity conveyor clear delay;

product at security door;

product at security door clear delay;

product in purchase area;

product in purchase area clear delay;

product on gravity conveyor blocked delay;

product moving into purchase area;

product at security door with door closed;

product on gravity conveyor okay to run belt;

security door closed;

product door closed;

product vending;

door open index product forward;

okay to send product to purchase area open door;

product in place stop belt;

okay to close security door;

security door closed cycle complete;

24 pack product selected open door;

1 gallon product selected open door;

3 gallon product selected open door;

5 gallon product selected open door;

product in purchase area ready to vend;

24 pack product selection relay from machine;

1 gallon product selection relay from machine;

3 gallon product selection relay from machine;

5 gallon product selection relay from machine;

24 pack product sold out;

1 gallon product sold out;

3 gallon product sold out;

5 gallon product sold out;

door open product ready to be removed;

product door open;

product clear close door;

product in purchase area clear delay;

product door closed;

air valves security door open;

air valves security door closed;

air valves product door open;

air valves product door closed;

push button start;

delay to activate product vend simulator;

signal from machine 24 pack product selected;

signal from machine 1 gallon product selected;

signal from machine 3 gallon product selected;

signal from machine 5 gallon product selected;

delay to drop out selection relays;

24 pack product selection relay from machine;

1 gallon product selection relay from machine;

3 gallon product selection relay from machine; and

/or 5 gallon product selection relay from machine.

10. The method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object of claim 8, further comprising:

returning an empty or substantially empty predetermined object to a return machine.

11. A method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:

selecting a desired size and quantity of a predetermined object from a plurality of selection members;

paying for the desired size and quantity of the predetermined object at a payment member with cash or a credit card;

dispensing and transporting the predetermined object from a storage area and along a conveyor system to a predetermined dispensing member;

opening a door of the predetermined dispensing member when the predetermined object reaches a predetermined distance from the door of the predetermined dispensing member and payment for the predetermined object is received;

advancing the predetermined object through an opening formed by the opening of the door of the predetermined dispensing member to a customer;

closing the door of the predetermined dispensing member;

returning an empty or substantially empty predetermined object to a return machine, wherein returning the empty or substantially empty predetermined object to the return machine comprises;

selecting a predetermined return button from the plurality of selection members;

opening a door of the return machine;

inserting the empty or substantially empty predetermined object into a body of the return machine;

inserting a nozzle into the empty or substantially empty predetermined object thereby creating a seal;

closing the door of the return machine;

testing the empty or substantially empty predetermined object with a predetermined amount of air injected into the empty or substantially empty predetermined object;

providing a result of the testing; and

accepting or rejecting the empty or substantially empty predetermined object based on the result of the testing.

12. The method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object of claim 11, further comprising:

releasing a coin or sending a credit signal to a payment member for the customer to receive a credit or a partial credit towards purchase of another predetermined object upon an accepted result of the testing.

13. The method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object of claim 12, further comprising:

paying a balance price for a new predetermined object after receiving the coin or the credit signal and receiving the new predetermined object.

14. The method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object of claim 11, further comprising:

returning the empty or substantially empty predetermined object to the customer upon a rejected result of the testing and providing no credit therefor.

15. A method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:

selecting a desired size and quantity of a predetermined object from a plurality of selection members, wherein the predetermined object includes various sizes of bottled water including at least one of;

1 gallon bottles, 3 gallon bottles, 5 gallon bottles, and/or a case of bottles;

paying for the desired size and quantity of the predetermined object at a payment member with cash or a credit card;

dispensing and transporting the predetermined object from a storage area and along a conveyor system to a predetermined dispensing member;

opening a door of the predetermined dispensing member when the predetermined object reaches a predetermined distance from the door of the predetermined dispensing member and payment for the predetermined object is received;

advancing the predetermined object through an opening formed by the opening of the door of the predetermined dispensing member to a customer; and

closing the door of the predetermined dispensing member.