Dispensing apparatus system and method
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An automatic dispensing apparatus system for dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An automatic dispensing apparatus system for dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:
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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.
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8. A method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of automatically dispensing a predetermined object, comprising:
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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.
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Specification