Dispensing and display system

• US 9,052,994 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Lockwood, Thomas A., Miller, Roger K., Stapleford, Scott H., Stapleford, Gary N.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/746,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 221/125, 221/126, 221/151, 221/152
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/025 using stock management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/10 for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/14 for fastenings for doors of containers for safe keeping G07F17/12; for turnstiles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

A system for controlling advancement of and access to product and for generating data associated with such advancement and access. Systems of this invention include a pusher system having a track, a pusher, and mechanisms for generating data relating to the movement of the pusher. Certain embodiments of the invention include a door assembly, which controls consumer access to product located behind the door assembly, a stop for limiting the forward progression of the pusher along the track, and mechanisms for generating data relating to when and/or for how long the door assembly is open.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing products comprising:

(a) a device that controls access to products stored within the device comprising;

(1) a movable pusher assembly that urges the products toward a front of the device; and

(2) a position sensor that converts movement of the pusher assembly into an electrical signal relating to at least one of the following;

(a) removal of a product from the device;

(b) the number of products removed from the device; and

(c) the number of products remaining in the device;

wherein the position sensor is not accessible to a consumer attempting to access the products stored within the device;

(b) a processor that is in electronic communication with the position sensor and configured to process data received from the position sensor; and

(c) a transmitter in electronic communication with the processor, the transmitter capable of transmitting at least some of the data processed in the processor to at least one device external to the system,

wherein the position sensor is a potentiometer.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more proximity sensors configured to generate at least one signal relating to at least one of:

when the pusher assembly moves to urge the products towards the front of the device; and

the number of products stored within the device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a resistance mechanism that slows the speed at which the movable pusher assembly urges the products toward the front of the device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver system that receives the processed data from the transmitter and generates an output signal based on the processed data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the output signal generated by the receiver system indicates at least one of the following:

(a) removal of a product from the device;

(b) the number of products removed from the device; and

(c) the number of products remaining in the device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the output signal triggers an audible alert.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver system that receives the processed data from the transmitter and generates an output signal based on the processed data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the output signal generated by the receiver system indicates at least one of the following:

(a) that a door is in an open position (b) removal of a product from the device; and

(c) the amount of time that the door has been in the open position.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the output signal triggers an audible alert.

10. A system for dispensing products comprising:

(a) a device comprising;

(1) a track configured to receive a plurality of products; and

(2) a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, wherein the pusher urges the plurality of products toward a front of the track;

(b) one or more sensors configured to sense movement of the pusher to generate at least one electrical signal relating to one or more of the following;

(i) removal of a product from the device;

(ii) the number of products remaining in the device; and

(iii) the number of products removed from the device,

wherein the one or more sensors are not accessible to a consumer attempting to access the plurality of products stored within the device;

(c) a processor in electronic communication with the one or more sensors and configured to process the at least one electrical signal received from the one or more sensors; and

(d) a transmitter in electronic communication with the processor, the transmitter capable of transmitting at least some data processed in the processor to at least one device external to the system,

wherein the one or more sensors is a potentiometer.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a resistance mechanism that slows the speed at which the spring urges the pusher toward the front of the track.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a receiver system that receives the processed data from the transmitter and generates an output signal based on the processed data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the output signal generated by the receiver system indicates at least one of the following:

(a) removal of a product from the device;

(b) the number of products removed from the device; and

(c) the number of products remaining in the device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the output signal triggers an audible alert.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising a shaft, wherein movement of the pusher rotates the shaft and wherein the one or more sensors sense rotation of the shaft to generate the at least one electrical signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the shaft is capable of rotating within an aperture in the pusher without obstruction.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the shaft is configured so that when the pusher moves in a linear direction, the linear movement of the pusher is converted into a rotary motion of the shaft.

18. The system of claim 10, the device further comprising:

(1) a door having (a) an open position and (b) a closed position for restricting access to the plurality of products stored within the device; and

(2) a stop, wherein the stop is engaged and prevents the pusher from urging the plurality of products toward the front of the track when the door is in the open position and the stop is disengaged and allows the pusher to urge the plurality of products toward the front of the track when the door is in the closed position,

wherein the system further comprises a proximity sensor configured to sense the proximity of the stop to generate at least one signal relating to at least one of the following;

(a) whether the door is in the open or closed position;

(b) how long the door has been in the open position;

(c) when the pusher moves to urge product toward the front of the device; and

(d) the number of products stored in the device, and wherein the processor is in electronic communication with the proximity sensor to process the at least one signal received from the proximity sensor.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a receiver system that receives the processed data from the transmitter and generates an output signal based on the processed data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the output signal generated by the receiver system indicates one or more of the following:

(a) that the door is in the open position;

(b) removal of a product from the device; and

(c) that the door has been in the open position for more than a predetermined period of time.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the output signal triggers an audible alert.