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 the 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 multimedia content.
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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 the 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 multimedia content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. 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; 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 part said virtual buttons in response to the input commands or one or more machine related parameters. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 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 the 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. - 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 the 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. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification