Optical vend-sensing system for control of vending machine

• US 6,384,402 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US09/261,221
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 250/216, 250/221, 250/223.R, 221/194, 364/479.01
• US Class Current: 250/223.00R
• 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. An optical vend-sensing system for control of a vending machine which has at least one mechanism arranged for initiating operation upon selection by a customer for vending an article into a vend space through which the article falls into a customer-accessible hopper, the vend space having a defined lateral width and a defined front-to-rear depth, said sensing system comprising:

an article sensing subsystem arranged athwart said vend space, said article sensing subsystem comprising;

at least one emitter of electromagnetic radiation, and associated emitting structure, arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation in a broad plane which substantially completely covers the transverse cross section of the vend space, the transverse cross section extending across the lateral width and across the front-to-rear depth of the vend space and being below said at least one mechanism but above where said article, upon being vended, comes to rest in said customer-accessible hopper, and comprising at least one electromagnetic radiation detector and associated detection structure;

a machine control unit arranged to terminate operation of the respective at least one mechanism; and

control circuitry operatively connecting said article sensing subsystem with said machine control unit, and arranged to cause the machine control unit to complete a vend operation procedure of said at least one mechanism upon said article sensing subsystem sensing that electromagnetic radiation, reaching said at least one detector and associated detection structure as a result of electromagnetic radiation emission by said at least one emitter and associated emitting structure, has temporarily diminished by predetermined amount.

2. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one emitter of electromagnetic radiation is arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation predominately in the infrared part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

3. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said associated structure comprises a diffuser ranked closely in front of said at least one emitter relative to said at least one radiation detector, for spreading electromagnetic radiation emitted by said at least one emitter into said plane.

4. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 3, wherein:

said at least one emitter comprises a plurality of coordinately operated emitters arranged in at least one row which extends front-to-rear, depthwise of said vend space.

5. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one emitter comprises a plurality of coordinately operated emitters arranged in at least one row which extends fromt-to-rear, depthwise of said vend space.

6. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 5, wherein:

each said emitter is a light-emitting diode.

7. The optical vend-sensing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a collector body including at least one collector arranged at an opposite lateral extreme of said vend space to collect electromagnetic radiation reaching said at least one collector in said plane, substantially completely depthwise of said vend space, and for redirecting such collected electromagnetic radiation to said at least one electromagnetic radiation detector.

8. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 7, wherein:

said at least one electromagnetic radiation detector is disposed for receiving collected electromagnetic radiation collected by said at least one collector, from a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said plane.

9. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 8, wherein:

said at least one electromagnetic radiation detector is disposed below said at least one collector.

10. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 8, wherein:

said at least one collector comprises at least one parabolic mirrored surface provided on said collector body.

11. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 10, wherein:

said at least one detector comprises for each said parabolic mirrored surface, a photodetector disposed at an optical center of the respective parabolic mirrored surface.

12. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 11, wherein:

each said photodetector is mounted on said collector body.

13. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 10, wherein:

said at least one collector comprises at least two collectors arranged side by side depthwise of said vend space.

14. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 13, wherein:

said at least one electromagnetic radiation detector is disposed below said at least one collector.

15. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 7, wherein:

said at least one emitter comprises a plurality of coordinately operated emitters arranged in at least one row which extends front-to-rear, depthwise of said vend space; and

said at least one electromagnetic radiation detector is disposed for receiving collected electromagnetic radiation collected by said at least one collector, from a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said plane.

16. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 15, wherein:

said at least one collector comprises at least one parabolic mirrored surface provided on said collector body.

17. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 16, wherein:

said at least one detector comprises for each said parabolic mirrored surface, a photodetector disposed at an optical center of the respective parabolic mirrored surface.

18. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 17, wherein:

each said photodetector is mounted on said collector body.

19. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 16, wherein:

said at least one collector comprises at least two collectors arranged side by side depthwise of said vend space.

20. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 19, wherein:

said at least one electromagnetic radiation detector is disposed below said at least one collector.

21. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 20, wherein:

each said emitter is a light-emitting diode.

22. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 15, wherein:

said at least one electromagnetic radiation detector is disposed below said at least one collector.

23. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said control circuitry and said machine control unit are arranged for reducing the effect on sensing of temporary diminishment of electromagnetic radiator reaching said at least one detector, of ambient electromagnetic radiation not emitted by said at least one emitter.

24. The optical vend-sensing system of claim 1, wherein:

said control circuitry includes an adjuster for adjusting said predetermined amount.

25. A optical vend-sensing system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one mechanism for operation upon selection by a customer for vending an article is an electric motor-powered mechanism.

26. An optical sensor, comprising:

an elliptical reflector ring having an interior reflecting surface;

an emitter of electromagnetic radiation disposed proximate to a first focal point of said elliptical reflector ring;

a detector disposed proximate to the second focal point of said elliptical reflector ring, said said detector having an electromagnetic radiation detecting element,

wherein electromagnetic radiation from said emitter is reflected by said reflecting surface of said elliptical reflector ring and focused substantially on said electromagnetic radiation detecting element, and said emitter and said detector reserve a space therebetween to permit objects to be detected to pass therethrough.

27. An optical sensor according to claim 26, further comprising:

a first dimple reflector disposed substantially at the first focal point of said elliptical reflector ring; and

a second dimple reflector disposed substantially at the second focal point of said elliptical reflector ring,

wherein said first dimple reflector redirects electromagnetic radiation from said emitter to enhance an intensity of electromagnetic radiation from said emitter in said space reserved between said emitter and said detector, and

said second dimple reflector redirects electromagnetic radiation incident thereon onto said electromagnetic radiation detecting element.

28. A vending machine, comprising:

an electromechanical dispensing unit having a plurality of product containment regions;

a payment and selection unit that is in communication with said electromechanical dispensing unit, wherein said payment and selection unit sends a signal to said electromechanical dispensing unit to dispense a selected product after a consumer has selected and satisfied payment for said selected product; and

an optical vend-sensing system disposed proximate to said electromechanical dispensing unit, said optical vend-sensing system being in communication with said payment and selection unit and said electromechanical dispensing unit,

wherein said vend-sensing system comprises;

an emitter providing electromagnetic radiation substantially subtending a detection region through which an object to be detected will traverse,

a collector disposed in a path of said electromagnetic radiation and substantially subtending said detection region, and

a detector disposed proximate to said collector, said detector receiving substantially unattenuated electromagnetic radiation from said collector when said object to be detected in outside of said detection region, and receiving attenuated electromagnetic radiation from said collector when said object to be detected is in said detection region.

29. A vending machine according to claim 28, wherein said collector comprises an elliptical reflector ring having an interior reflecting surface,

said emitter is disposed proximate to a first focal point of said reflector ring,

said detector has an electromagnetic radiation detecting element disposed proximate to the second focal point of said reflector ring,

electromagnetic radiation from said emitter is reflected by said reflecting surface of said elliptical reflector ring and focused substantially on said electromagnetic radiation detecting element, and

said emitter and said detector reserve a space therebetween to permit objects to be detected to pass therethrough.

30. A vending machine according to claim 29, wherein said vend-sensing system comprises:

a first dimple reflector disposed substantially at the first focal point of said elliptical reflector ring; and

a second dimple reflector disposed substantially at the second focal point of said elliptical reflector ring,

wherein said first dimple reflector redirects electromagnetic radiation from said emitter to enhance an intensity of electromagnetic radiation from said emitter in said space reserved between said emitter and said detwector, and

said second dimple reflector redirects electromagnetic radiation incident thereon onto said electromagnetic radiation detecting element.

31. A vending machine according to claim 28, wherein said collector has a reflecting surface that is a section of a parabolic surface, said reflecting surface of said collector reflecting at least a portion of said electromagnetic radiation substantially subtending said detection region to said detector.

32. A vending machine according to claim 31, wherein said collector has a flat reflecting surface that is substantially a planar reflecting surface,

said flat reflecting surface being inclined at an angle with respect to incident electromagnetic radiation from said electromagnetic radiation substantially suntending said detection region to reflect said incident radiation to said parabolic surface.

33. A vending machine according to claim 28, wherein said emitter provides pulsed electromagnetic radiation.

34. A vending machine according to claim 28, wherein said emitter provides continuous electromagnetic radiation.

35. A vending machine according to claim 28, wherein said emitter provides infrared radiation.

36. A vending machine according to claim 28, wherein said optical vend-sensing system has at least one automatic calibration mode of operation.

39. The optical vend-sensing system according to claim 33, wherein said two reflecting surfaces are differently angled interior portions of an elliptically shaped reflector.

37. An optical vend-sensing system for controlof a vending machine which has at least one mechanism arranged for initiating operation upon selection by a customer for vending an article into a vend space through which the article falls into a customer-accessible hopper, the vend space having a defined lateral width and a defined front-to-rear depth, said vend-sensing system comprising:

an article sensing subsystem arranged athwart said vend space, said article sensing subsystem comprising;

an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and associated emitting structure arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation and an electromagnetic radiation detector and associated detection structure arranged to receive the electromagnetic radiation, said electromagnetic radiation substantially and completely covering a transverse cross sectional plane of the vend space, the transverse cross sectional plane extending across the lateral width and across the front-to-rear depth of the vend space and being below said at least one mechanism but above where said article, upon being vended, comes to rest in said customer-accessible hopper;

a machine control unit arranged to terminate the operation of the respective at least one mechanism; and

control circuitry operatively connecting said article sensing subsystem with said machine control unit, and arranged to cause the machine control unit to complete a vend operation procedure of said respective at least one mechanism upon said article sensing subsystem sensing that electromagnetic radiation, reaching said at least one detector and associated detection structure as a result of electromagnetic radiation emission by said at least one emitter and associated emitting structure, has temporarily diminished by a predetermined amount.

38. The optical vend-sensing system according to claim 37, wherein said sensing system further comprises two reflecting surfaces, each mounted at opposed lateral extremes of said vend space and wherein said beam is reflected off of each reflector at least once.

40. The optical vend-sensing system according to claim 38, wherein said electromagnetic radiation undergoes a plurality of reflections off of each reflecting surface.

41. The optical vend-sensing system according to claim 37, wherein the emitter is a laser.

42. An optical sensor, comprising:

two reflecting surfaces in a spaced apart, opposed relation;

an emitter of electromagnetic radiation disposed adjacent to said reflecting surfaces; and

a detector disposed between said reflecting surfaces and spaced apart from said emitter, said detector having an electromagnetic radiation detecting element,

wherein said reflecting surfaces, said emitter, and said detector are constructed and arranged such that electromagnetic radiation emitted from said emitter is reflected off of each reflector at least once and strikes the electromagnetic radiation detecting element, said reflected electromagnetic radiation defining a detection region through which objects to be detected traverse.

43. An optical sensor according to claim 42, wherein said electromagnetic radiation undergoes a plurality of reflections off of each reflecting surface.

44. An optical sensor according to claim 42, wherein the emitter is a laser.

45. An optical sensor according to claim 42, wherein the emitter is mounted to one of said reflecting surfaces.

46. An optical sensor according to claim 42, wherein the detector is mounted to one of said reflecting surfaces.

47. An optical sensor according to claim 42, wherein said two reflecting surfaces are differently angled interior portions of an elliptically shaped reflector.

48. A vending machine, comprising:

an electromechanical dispensing unit having a plurality of product containment regions;

a payment and selection unit that is in communication with said electromechanical dispensing unit, wherein said payment and selection unit sends a signal to said electromechanical dispensing unit to dispense a selected product after a consumer has selected and satisfied payment for said selected product; and

an optical vend-sensing system disposed proximate to said electromechanical dispensing unit, said optical vend-sensing system being in communication with said payment and selection unit and said electromechanical dispensing unit,

wherein said vend-sensing system comprises;

two reflecting surfaces in a spaced apart, opposed relation;

an emitter of electromagnetic radiation disposed adjacent to said reflecting surfaces; and

a detector disposed between said reflecting surfaces and spaced apart from said emitter, said detector having an electromagnetic radiation detecting element,

wherein said reflecting surfaces, said emitter, and said detector are constructed and arranged such that electromagnetic radiation emitted from said emitter is reflected off of each reflector at least once and strikes the electromagnetic radiation detecting element, said reflected electromagnetic radiation defining a detection region through which objects to be detected traverse.

49. A vending machine according to claim 48, wherein said electromagnetic radiation undergoes a plurality of reflections off of each reflecting surface.

50. A vending machine according to claim 48, wherein the emitter is a laser.

51. The vending machine according to claim 48, wherein said two reflecting surfaces are differently angled interior portions of an elliptically shaped reflector.