Automatic dispensing machine and method of operation
First Claim
1. A dispensing machine, comprising:
- a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine, the control unit including a memory to store and retrieve digital data; and
means for showing information to an user and for retrieving input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit, said means for showing and retrieving including a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen configured to display at least part of virtual buttons to operate said machine and to display multimedia content,wherein the control unit is configured to change at least one of the virtual buttons on the graphic screen in response to a control unit command depending on a machine related parameter obtained by the control unit, the change including increasing a size of the at least one of the virtual buttons with respect to at least another one of the virtual buttons present on the graphic screen, andwherein said machine related parameter is product profitability or product shelf-life of a product corresponding to the at least one of the virtual buttons to be increased in size.
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Abstract
A dispensing machine, and related operating method, includes a device for dispensing packaged and/or unpackaged edible goods or beverages, a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine, a user interface to show information to the user and retrieve input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit. The user interface is a graphic user interface GUI comprising a touch-panel integrated in a graphic screen to display multimedia content. The content or form of the information shown on the screen is changed by the control unit based on at least one parameter related to any of the operative status of the machine, the location wherein the machine is running, the calendar date and/or the daily time, statistics indicative of previous selections made by user(s), or the signal provided by at least one sensor of the machine detecting proximity of the user(s).
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A dispensing machine, comprising:
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a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine, the control unit including a memory to store and retrieve digital data; and means for showing information to an user and for retrieving input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit, said means for showing and retrieving including a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen configured to display at least part of virtual buttons to operate said machine and to display multimedia content, wherein the control unit is configured to change at least one of the virtual buttons on the graphic screen in response to a control unit command depending on a machine related parameter obtained by the control unit, the change including increasing a size of the at least one of the virtual buttons with respect to at least another one of the virtual buttons present on the graphic screen, and wherein said machine related parameter is product profitability or product shelf-life of a product corresponding to the at least one of the virtual buttons to be increased in size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium operating a dispensing machine program for a dispensing machine that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute:
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storing and retrieving digital data by a control unit of the dispensing machine; displaying, via a graphic screen of a graphic user interface (GUI), information including virtual buttons to operate said machine and multimedia content including moving images; retrieving input commands from a user via the graphic screen; and changing at least one of said virtual buttons in response to a control unit command depending on a machine related parameter obtained by the control unit, and the changing includes increasing a size of the at least one of said virtual buttons with respect to at least another one of said virtual buttons present on the graphic screen, wherein said machine related parameter is product profitability or product shelf-life of a product corresponding to the at least one of the virtual buttons to be increased in size. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A dispensing machine, comprising:
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a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine, the control unit including a memory to store and retrieve digital data; and a user interface configured to show information to an user and to retrieve input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit, said user interface being a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen configured to display at least part of virtual buttons or selectable images to operate said machine, and products on sale by the machine being shown by said virtual buttons or selectable images so that the GUI acts as a virtual shelf showing the products, wherein a part of the interface is configured to show multimedia content and any one of number, aspect, position and content of virtual buttons are adapted by the control unit to fit space available on said interface, wherein the control unit is configured to change at least one of said virtual buttons on the graphic screen in response to a control unit command depending on a machine related parameter obtained by the control unit the change including increasing a size of the at least one of said virtual buttons with respect to at least another one of said virtual buttons present on the graphic screen, and wherein said machine related parameter is product profitability or product shelf-life of a product corresponding to the at least one of the virtual buttons to be increased in size. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A dispensing machine, comprising:
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a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine, the control unit including a memory to store and retrieve digital data; and a user interface configured to show information to an user and to retrieve input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit, said user interface being a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen configured to display at least part of virtual buttons or selectable images to operate said machine, products on sale by the machine being shown by said virtual buttons or selectable images so that the GUI acts as a virtual shelf showing the products and a number, content, aspect, or position of said virtual buttons or selectable images is changed by the control unit or a previous selections made by an owner or operator of the machine, wherein the control unit is configured to change at least one of said virtual buttons on the graphic screen in response to a control unit command depending on a machine related parameter obtained by the control unit, the change including increasing a size of the at least one of said virtual buttons with respect to at least another one of said virtual buttons present on the graphic screen, and wherein said machine related parameter is product profitability or product shelf-life of a product corresponding to the at least one of the virtual buttons to be increased in size. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification