Vending machine inventory control device

• US 5,706,976 A
• Filed: 12/21/1995
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jay Floyd Purkey
• Original Assignee: Jay Floyd Purkey
• Inventors: Purkey, Jay Floyd
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US08/576,254
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 222/2, 222/6, 222/8, 312/35, 312/42, 312/45, 312/49
• US Class Current: 221/6
• 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

Abstract

A manual inventory control device and method of utilizing it is disclosed. The inventory control device includes a strip member and a method of attaching the strip member. The strip member has one or more sets of numbers positioned to coordinate with items of inventory held in a storage area for later distribution. The strip member is located such that the stored items block the view of a portion of the strip member, and as items are removed from storage a portion of the strip member containing numbers corresponding to the quantity of items remaining in the storage area is exposed. The exposed portion of the strip member may also contain a set of numbers indicating the quantity of items required to fill the storage area. The strip member may be utilized in vending machine applications and other product distribution applications where the inventory is sequentially removed.

Claims

1. An inventory control system for tracking discrete items stored in and dispensed from a device, the system comprising:

a storage area for storing the items prior to being dispensed;

means for providing a visual indication of the quantity of said items remaining in said storage area;

said visual indication means being located such that the non-dispensed items block the view of a concealed portion of the visual indication means while an exposed portion of said visual indication means indicates the quantity of items remaining in said storage area.

2. The inventory control system of claim 1 wherein said exposed portion of said visual indication means further indicates the quantity of items required to fill said storage area.

3. The inventory control system of claim 1 wherein said visual indication means includes a generally planar strip member having a first set of symbols at predetermined, spaced intervals corresponding to stored locations of said items, said first set of symbols beginning at one end of said strip member and sequentially increasing in numeric value such that the quantity of said items remaining in said storage area can be observed by reference to an exposed portion of said first set of symbols.

4. The inventory control system of claim 3 wherein said visual indication means has a second set of symbols coordinated with said first set of symbols, said second set of symbols beginning at said one end and sequentially decreasing in numeric value such that the quantity of said items required to fill said storage area can be observed by reference to an exposed portion of said second set of symbols.

5. The inventory control system of claim 1 wherein the storage and dispensing device includes a plurality of dispensing mechanisms for holding and dispensing said items and said visual indication means includes an equal number of generally planar strip members, each said strip member corresponding to one of said plurality of dispensing mechanisms and having a first set of symbols at predetermined, spaced intervals corresponding to stored locations of said items, said first set of symbols beginning at one end of said strip member and sequentially increasing in numeric value, each said strip member being located such that the non-dispensed items in each said mechanism blocks the view of a concealed portion of said first set of symbols while an exposed portion of said first set of symbols indicates the quantity of items remaining in said mechanism.

6. The inventory control system of claim 5 wherein said strip members each have a second set of symbols coordinated with said first set of symbols, said second set of symbols beginning at said one end of each of said strip members and sequentially decreasing in numeric value such that the quantity of said items required to fill said mechanism can be observed by reference to an exposed portion of said second set of symbols.

7. The inventory control system of claim 5 wherein said storage and dispensing device includes a plurality of trays, and wherein said strips are affixed to the trays.

8. A method for tracking dispensable items in a vending machine, said machine having a dispensing mechanism for holding a plurality of items and which dispenses the items in an ordered sequence, said method comprising:

providing a generally planar strip having a first set of symbols spaced at intervals corresponding to locations where items are held in said dispensing mechanism, said first set of symbols beginning at one end of said strip and sequentially increasing in numeric value, said strip having a second set of symbols adjacent to said first set, said second set of symbols beginning at said one end of said strip and sequentially decreasing in numeric value;

placing the strip adjacent the dispensing mechanism such that each non-dispensed item therein blocks the view of a pair of said first and second symbols corresponding to the location of said item;

looking through said dispensing mechanism onto said strip to determine the quantity of items remaining in the dispensing mechanism by reference to the visible symbols of said first set of symbols, and determining the quantity of items required to fill said dispensing mechanism by reference to the visible symbols of said second set of symbols.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said dispensing mechanism is a helical coil located above a tray, and wherein said strip is attached to said tray beneath said coil.

10. An inventory control system for use in a vending machine, said vending machine having a series of helical coils rotatably attached to a tray, each of said coils being configured such that the distance between the flights of each said coil provides space for items to be placed and held within the flights of said coil, as said coil is rotated said items are forced along said coil until said items are sequentially driven off one end of said coil and falls, into a vending bin, said inventory control device comprising:

a generally planar strip member having a first end coordinated with said one end of said coil; and

attachment means for affixing said strip member to said tray, said strip member being attached to said tray and located such that items held in said coil block the view of a corresponding portion of said strip member.

11. The inventory control device of claim 10 wherein said strip member includes a set of numeric symbols, said symbols beginning at said first end of said strip member and increasing in numeric value, said symbols corresponding to said items remaining in said coil.

12. The inventory control device of claim 10 wherein said strip member includes a set of numeric symbols, said symbols beginning at said first end of said strip member and decreasing in numeric value, said symbols corresponding to said items required to fill said coil.

13. The inventory control device of claim 10 wherein said strip member includes a series of numeric symbols, said numeric symbols including a first set of numbers increasing in numeric value, said first set of numbers beginning at said first end of said strip member and corresponding to said items remaining in said coil, said numeric symbols include a second set of numbers adjacent said first set of numbers and decreasing in numeric value, said second set of numbers beginning at said first end of said strip member and corresponding to the number of items required to fill said coil.

14. An inventory control device for use in a vending machine, said vending machine having a storage and dispensing mechanism for storing and dispensing a plurality of items, the device comprising:

a generally planar strip member having a first and second set of numeric symbols located thereon, said symbols being at spaced intervals coordinated with storage locations of said items along said mechanism, said first set of numbers increasing in numeric value and said second set of numbers decreasing in numeric value, said first set indicating the number of said items remaining in said mechanism, said second set indicating the number of said items required to fill said mechanism.

15. The inventory control device of claim 14 wherein said numeric symbols are located on the strip such that items remaining in said mechanism block the view of a portion of said numeric symbols.

16. The inventory control device of claim 14 further comprising a tray, said storage and dispensing mechanism being in operative relation to said tray, and said strip member being affixed to said tray.