Optical vend-sensing system for control of vending machine

• US 20040204791A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automated Merchandising Systems Incorporated (Seaga Manufacturing Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Automated Merchandising Systems Incorporated (Seaga Manufacturing Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hair, James M. III, Spentzos, Kyriakos P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/04 in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

For ensuring that a vending machine motor will continue to operate until a product has descended through a vending space or an established time interval has elapsed, an optical beam is established across the vend space through which a product must drop. A change in beam intensity is detected. By preference infra red light is emitted at one focal point of an elliptical reflector, and detected at the other focal point. The light is emitted in pulses in the preferred embodiment, and the optical sensing system has automated calibration and error detecting functions.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A method of detecting a dispensed object, comprising:

emitting electromagnetic radiation in a beam such that said electromagnetic radiation substantially subtends a detection region through which said dispensed object will traverse;

collecting electromagnetic radiation from said emitting and directing the collected electromagnetic radiation onto an electromagnetic radiation detecting element;

selecting a detection threshold that is exceeded when said object to be detected does not intercept said detection region and is not reached when said object intercepts said region; and

comparing a plurality of signals from said electromagnetic radiation detecting element, each at a different time, to said detection threshold.

35. A method of detecting a dispensed object according to claim 34, wherein said emitting electromagnetic radiation emits pulsed radiation.

36. A method of detecting a dispensed object according to claim 34, wherein said emitting electromagnetic radiation emits continuous radiation.

37. A method of detecting a dispensed object according to claim 34, wherein said selecting a detection threshold is a dynamic selection that compensates for variations in electromagnetic radiation in said detection region that are slow relative to a time interval for said dispensed object to traverse said beam of electromagnetic radiation.

40. A method of detecting a dispensed object according to claim 35, wherein a pulse width of said pulsed radiation is selected during a calibration of said detecting a dispensed object.

38-39. -39. (canceled)

41-57. -57. (canceled)