System and method for calibrating a vending apparatus

• US 7,988,049 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kuehnrich, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/235,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 700/232, 700/235, 700/241
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/004 Restocking arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/007 wherein the storage and dispensing mechanism are configurable in relation to the physical or geometrical properties of the articles to be stored or dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/04 in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/26 Endless bands
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/48 the storage containers or supports, e.g. magazine, being pivotally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/50 the storage containers or supports being rotatably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 : for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/005 : for the hiring of content carriers, e.g. of DVDs or CDs reverse vending for box-like objects such as videocassettes G07F7/069
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 : by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 : Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• 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: G07F 9/10 : Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A system and method for calibrating a vending apparatus is provided. A vertical base reference position of a selector arm is stored, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of rows in a cylindrical storage device. A horizontal base reference position is stored, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to a compartment identifier identifying a compartment within each of the plurality of rows. A position of the selector arm corresponding to a media storage compartment is also stored, wherein the position comprises a vertical position and a horizontal position. A motor is initiated to move the selector arm along a vertical axis, wherein a movement of the selector arm results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the vertical position of the selector arm. A stepper motor is initiated to rotate the cylindrical storage device, wherein a rotation of the device results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the horizontal position of the selector arm.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising the steps of:

setting an optical sensitivity setting of a optical sensor to zero;

incrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting;

storing the first optical sensitivity setting;

decrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting;

storing the second optical sensitivity setting; and

,

selecting a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the third optical sensitivity setting is the average of the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is the media product.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical sensor is at least one of a laser, an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a barcode reader and/or a magnetic scanner.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical sensor is mounted on a selector arm.

6. A system for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product of a plurality of media products stored within the vending apparatus, comprising:

a housing for housing the plurality of media products, having an article transfer opening therein for performing at least one transfer function selected from a group consisting of dispensing and returning the media product;

a storage device for storing the plurality of media products;

a user interface for receiving inputs for selecting the media product from the plurality of media products;

a card reader for reading a transaction card;

a controller;

a memory associated with controller; and

,

an optical sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to;

set an optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor to zero;

increment the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting;

store the first optical sensitivity setting in the memory;

decrement the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting;

store the second optical sensitivity setting in the memory; and

,

select a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the third optical sensitivity setting is the average of the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the object is the media product.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the optical sensor is at least one of a laser, an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a barcode reader and/or a magnetic scanner.

10. The system of claim 6 further comprising an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is mounted on the selector arm.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller is an optical sensitivity controller, and wherein the optical sensitivity controller is also mounted on the selector arm.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the selector arm is positioned adjacent the storage device and is configured to move along a vertical axis.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a motor for driving the selector arm.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the selector arm comprises a conveyor belt for conveying the media product through the article transfer opening.

16. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code, for execution on a controller, for calibrating a vending apparatus having an optical sensor, the vending apparatus for vending a media product of a plurality of media products stored within the vending apparatus, the computer code comprising

a first code segment for setting an optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor to zero;

a second code segment for incrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting;

a third code segment for storing the first optical sensitivity setting in a memory;

a fourth code segment for decrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting;

a fifth code segment for storing the second optical sensitivity setting in the memory; and

,

a sixth code segment for selecting a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the third optical sensitivity setting is the average of the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the object is the media product.