Method and system for accomplishing product detection

• US 8,046,100 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Whitten, David Boyd, Griner, Paul Kevin, Duncan, Brian Lee, Booth, William Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US11/717,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/240, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

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.

Claims

1. A vending system comprising:

an optical monitoring system to determine if a product associated with a customer ordering event is delivered to a receiving location, wherein the optical monitoring system comprises a plurality of light emitters and a corresponding plurality of light detectors disposed a substantially fixed distance from the plurality of light emitters, wherein a spacing between each of the light emitters is selected to minimize an effect of ambient and reflective light on the optical monitoring system, and wherein delivery of the product is determined by (a) separately activating then deactivating each of the light emitters such that all of the light emitters are individually activated in round-robin fashion and such that all of the light emitters are activated at least once during a period shorter than a time required for the product to fall between the light emitters and the light detectors, and (b) for each of the light emitters when that light emitter is activated, monitoring at least two of the light detectors, wherein the same at least two light detectors are monitored each and every time the respective light emitter is activated and wherein a product delivery is indicated in response to any of the at least two light detectors failing to detect light emitted by the activated emitter.

2. The vending system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitters and corresponding plurality of light detectors are each arranged in rows each having first and second ends, wherein the optical monitoring system monitors two of the light detectors if a light emitter at either end of the row of light emitters is activated and wherein the optical monitoring system monitors three of the light detectors if a light emitter other than a light emitter at either end of the row of light emitters is activated.

3. The vending system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitters are pulsed multiple times upon each activation.

4. The vending system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller, wherein the optical monitoring system transmits a first signal to the controller in response to one or more detectors monitored for an activated emitter failing to detect light from the activated emitter and transmits a second signal to the controller in response to all detectors monitored for an activated emitter detecting light from the activated emitter.

5. The vending system according to claim 4, wherein the controller employs at least the first signal from the optical monitoring system to control a delivery mechanism.

6. The vending system according to claim 5, wherein the controller activates operation of the delivery mechanism following a customer ordering event and terminates operation of the delivery mechanism in response to receipt of the first signal from the optical monitoring system.

7. The vending system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a home switch, wherein the controller receives a signal from the home switch indicating when a helical portion of the delivery mechanism turns one revolution from a home position to return to the home position.

8. The vending system according to claim 7, wherein the controller activates operation of the delivery mechanism following a customer ordering event and continues operation of the delivery mechanism after a first receipt of the signal from the home switch after the customer ordering event if the first signal from the optical monitoring system was not received during the period between activation of the delivery mechanism and the first receipt of the signal from the home switch.

9. The vending system according to claim 8, wherein the controller, having previously activated operation of the delivery mechanism following a customer ordering event, terminates operation of the delivery mechanism after the first receipt of the signal from the home switch and in response to receipt of the first signal from the optical monitoring system.

10. The vending system according to claim 9, wherein the controller, having previously activated operation of the delivery mechanism following a customer ordering event and received the first receipt of the signal from the home switch, terminates operation of the delivery mechanism after a second receipt of the signal from the home switch without an intervening receipt of the second signal from the optical monitoring system, wherein the second receipt of the signal from the home switch occurs after the delivery mechanism attempts delivery of the product a predetermined number of times following the customer ordering event.

11. A vending system comprising:

an optical monitoring system to determine if a product associated with a customer ordering event is delivered to a receiving location, wherein the optical monitoring system comprises a plurality of light emitters and a corresponding plurality of light detectors disposed a substantially fixed distance from the plurality of light emitters, wherein a spacing between each of the light emitters is selected to minimize an effect of ambient and reflective light on the optical monitoring system, and wherein delivery of the product is determined by (a) separately activating then deactivating each of the light emitters such that all of the light emitters are individually activated in round-robin fashion and such that all of the light emitters are activated at least once during a period shorter than a time required for the product to fall between the light emitters and the light detectors, and (b) for each of the light emitters when that light emitter is activated, monitoring at least two of the light detectors, wherein the same at least two light detectors are monitored each and every time the respective light emitter is activated, and wherein a calibration mode determines a light intensity for each of the light emitters that is just enough to be detected by the corresponding light detectors plus a safety margin.

12. The vending system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of light emitters and corresponding plurality of light detectors are each arranged in rows each having first and second ends, wherein the optical monitoring system monitors two of the light detectors if a light emitter at either end of the row of light emitters is activated and wherein the optical monitoring system monitors three of the light detectors if a light emitter other than a light emitter at either end of the row of light emitters is activated.

13. The vending system according to claim 11, wherein the light emitters are pulsed multiple times upon each activation.

14. The vending system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a controller, wherein the optical monitoring system transmits a first signal to the controller in response to one or more detectors monitored for an activated emitter failing to detect light from the activated emitter and transmits a second signal to the controller in response to all detectors monitored for the activated emitter detecting light from the activated emitter.

15. The vending system according to claim 14, wherein the controller employs at least the first signal from the optical monitoring system to control a delivery mechanism, wherein the controller activates operation of the delivery mechanism following a customer ordering event and terminates operation of the delivery mechanism in response to receipt of the first signal from the optical monitoring system.

16. A vending system comprising:

an optical monitoring system to determine if a product associated with a customer ordering event is delivered to a receiving location, wherein the optical monitoring system comprises a plurality of light emitters and a corresponding plurality of light detectors disposed a substantially fixed distance from the plurality of light emitters, wherein a spacing between each of the light emitters is selected to minimize an effect of ambient and reflective light on the optical monitoring system, and wherein delivery of the product is determined 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, the same at least two light detectors monitored each and every time the respective light emitter is activated, and wherein an aperture is disposed in front of each of the light detectors, and wherein each light detector has a horizontal reception angle that is larger than a vertical reception angle.

17. The vending system according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of light emitters and corresponding plurality of light detectors are each arranged in rows each having first and second ends, wherein the optical monitoring system monitors two of the light detectors if a light emitter at either end of the row of light emitters is activated and wherein the optical monitoring system monitors three of the light detectors if a light emitter other than a light emitter at either end of the row of light emitters is activated.

18. The vending system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one but fewer than all of the light emitters are pulsed multiple times upon each activation.

19. The vending system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a controller, wherein the optical monitoring system transmits a signal to the controller in response to one or more detectors monitored for an activated at least one emitter failing to detect light from the activated at least one emitter.

20. The vending system according to claim 19, wherein the controller employs the signal from the optical monitoring system to control a delivery mechanism, wherein the controller activates operation of the delivery mechanism following a customer ordering event and terminates operation of the delivery mechanism in response to receipt of the signal from the optical monitoring system.