GB2587347A

GB2587347A - Vending machine and dispensing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2587347A
Application number: GB1913625.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Taylor Shane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-09-20
Filing date: 2019-09-20
Publication date: 2021-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-20
Also published as: GB2587347B; GB201913625D0

Abstract

A vending machine 100 having a dispensing means for selectively dispensing an item 120, and a loading-access means 130 for loading of the items into the vending machine; the dispensing means provided on a first face of the vending machine, and the loading-access provided on a second face 150 of the vending machine; where the first and second face are positioned relative each other to enable items to be loaded into the vending machine whilst allowing a customer to interact with the dispensing means. The dispensing means may be a plurality of rotating doors at the front of the machine. The vending machine may have cartridges 400 which each hold a plurality of items and can be inserted through apertures 410 which act as the loading-access means in the second face of the machine. Each cartridge may supply items to one of the rotating doors, and the machine may stop a door from opening if its corresponding cartridge is removed, allowing a customer to interact with doors that have items while other cartridges are restocked.

Description

TITLE

Vending Machine and Dispensing Machine

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vending machine and a dispensing machine. Some relate to vending machines and dispensing machines in the hospitality industry.

BACKGROUND

A vending machine is typically a machine that dispenses small articles such as food, drinks, or cigarettes when a payment is made. Known vending machines have a user interface on the front of the vending machine so that a user can select items to dispense as well as means for retrieving the dispensed items from the front of the machine by the user. These machines also have means for a loader to access the interior of the vending machine via the front surface so that they can restock the machine with items when necessary. The disadvantage of these known vending machines is that a user cannot use the vending machine whilst it is being restocked as both the user and the loader have to use the same surface of the vending machine to use the vending machine.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a vending machine comprising: dispensing means configured to selectively dispense items for retrieval by a customer; loading-access means, configured to enable loading of the items into the vending machine from outside of the vending machine; wherein the dispensing means is provided on a first face of the vending machine and the loading-access means is provided on a second face of the vending machine; wherein the first face and the second face are positioned relative to each other to enable the items to be loaded into the vending machine whilst allowing a customer to interact with the dispensing means.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the first face is located at the front of the vending machine, and the second face is located at the rear of the vending machine.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the dispensing means comprises a plurality of rotating doors, wherein the vending machine is configured to supply the items to the rotating doors, wherein each rotating door is configured to prevent access to the items supplied to the rotating door when closed, and allow access to one of the items supplied to the rotating door when opened for retrieval by the customer.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine is configured to enable at least two of the rotating doors to be open at the same time to enable the customer to retrieve an item from each of the open rotating doors.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine additionally comprises an outer door, wherein the outer door is configured to cover the dispensing means when the outer door is closed.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine is configured to enable the rotating doors to change from being closed to being open and vice versa only when the outer door is closed.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine additionally comprises door limit switches, wherein the door limit switches detect whether each rotating door is open or closed.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine additionally comprises cartridges, wherein each cartridge is configured to hold a plurality of items, wherein the loading-access means comprises apertures in the second face of the vending machine, wherein each of the cartridges is configured to be inserted into the vending machine via one of the apertures.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine comprises cartridge position sensors, wherein the cartridge position sensors are each configured to detect if a cartridge has been removed from the vending machine.

In some but not necessarily all examples, each cartridge supplies items to one of the rotating doors, wherein the vending machine is configured to stop the rotating door from opening if the cartridge supplying items to the rotating door has been removed.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine comprises item sensors, wherein each item sensor is associated with one of the rotating doors, wherein each item sensor is configured to detect whether an item is ready to be dispensed when the rotating door opens next.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine is configured to open each rotating door only when the item sensor associated with the rotating door indicates an item is ready to be dispensed and the cartridge position sensor detects that the cartridge supplying items to the rotating door has not been removed.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine is configured to enable the customer to interact with rotating doors that have items to dispense whilst rotating doors with no items left to dispense are kept closed whilst the cartridges supplying items to the rotating doors with no items left to dispense are removed and restocked with items.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine additionally comprises an electric lock, wherein the electric lock is configured to selectively lock one of the cartridges in the vending machine to prevent removal of the cartridge from the vending machine.

In some but not necessarily all examples, each cartridge comprises a rotating door engaging portion. The rotating door engaging portion comprises a wall and a base. The rotating door engaging portion is configured to rotate between open and closed positions and the wall comprises a wall profile. Each rotating door comprises a rotating door profile, wherein the wall profile is configured to engage with the rotating door profile on each rotating door, and the rotating door engaging portion is configured to rotate with the rotating door that the cartridge is supplying items to when the wall profile engages with the rotating door profile.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the rotating door engaging portion comprises a lock, wherein the lock is configured to lock the door engaging portion in the closed position.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine comprises unlocking members, each unlocking member being located below a corresponding rotating door and each unlocking member is configured to engage with and release the lock in each cartridge.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the rotating door engaging portion is automatically locked by the lock when the rotating door engaging portion is in the closed position and is not engaging with any of the unlocking members.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the wall prevents the items in the cartridge from escaping out the front of the cartridge when in the closed position.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the dispensing means additionally comprises a customer user interface, wherein the customer user interface is configured to enable a customer to make a selection of which items to dispense.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine comprises a loader user interface, wherein the loader user interface is configured to enable a loader to interact with the vending machine to restock the vending machine.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the loader is a human.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the loader user interface is configured to alert the loader when a cartridge is empty.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine is configured to enable the loader to disable the electric lock associated with each cartridge to allow each cartridge to be removed from the vending machine.

In some but not necessarily all examples, the vending machine is configured to disable the electric lock associated with a cartridge only when the rotating door that is being supplied with items by the cartridge is closed.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a dispensing machine comprising: dispensing means configured to selectively dispense items for retrieval by a user; loading-access means, configured to enable loading of the items into the dispensing machine from outside of the dispensing machine; wherein the dispensing means is provided on a first face of the dispensing machine and the loading-access means is provided on a second face of the dispensing machine; wherein the first face and the second face are positioned relative to each other to enable the items to be loaded into the dispensing machine whilst allowing a user to interact with the dispensing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1A shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 1B shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 2A shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 2B shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 4 shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 6 shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 7A shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 7B shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 7C shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 8A shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 8B shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 9A shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 9B shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 9C shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 9D shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 9E shows an example embodiment of the subject matter described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate an example of a vending machine 100 or a dispensing machine 100. The vending machine 100 or the dispensing machine 100 comprises dispensing means 110 configured to selectively dispense items 120 for retrieval by a customer and also comprises loading-access means 130, configured to enable loading of the items 120 into the vending machine 100 or the dispensing machine 100 from outside of the vending machine 100 or the dispensing machine 100. The dispensing means 110 is provided on a first face 140 of the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 and the loading-access means 130 is provided on a second face 150 of the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100. The first face 140 and the second face 150 are positioned relative to each other to enable the items 120 to be loaded into the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 whilst allowing a customer or user to interact with the dispensing means. This allows a customer or user to interact with the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 without interruption by a loader. This will lead to more efficient use of the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 as there is no down-time in which the vending machine or dispensing machine 100 cannot be used by a customer or user as the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 can continue to dispense items to a customer or a user whilst the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 is restocked with items.

In the example of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B the first face 140 is located at the front of the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 and the second face 150 is located at the rear of the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100. In other examples the second face 150 may be located at the side of the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 which would still allow a user or customer to interact with the dispensing means whilst a loader may interact with the loading-access means 130 to restock the machine thereby still allowing the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 to be used without interruption whilst the vending machine 100 or dispensing machine 100 is restocked with items.

In the remaining examples described herein reference is made to a vending machine and not a dispensing machine. It is to be understood that the only difference between a vending machine and a dispensing machine is that a vending machine involves a money transaction between a customer and the vending machine whereas a dispensing machine will dispense items to a user without a money transaction.

Therefore, any reference to a vending machine will be interpreted as also being applicable as a dispensing machine, and any reference to a customer will also be interpreted as being applicable to a user of a dispensing machine where there is no money transaction between the user and the dispensing machine.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a vending machine 100 where the dispensing means 110 comprises a plurality of rotating doors 200. The vending machine 100 is configured to supply the items 120 to the rotating doors 200 and each rotating door 200 is configured to prevent access to the items supplied to the rotating doors 200 when closed and allow access to one of the supplied items 120 to the rotating door when opened for retrieval by the customer. For example, in FIG. 2A one item 120 is visible for retrieval by a user, the other rotating doors 200 are closed and behind these closed rotating doors 200 may be items 120 which are being prevented from being retrieved by the customer.

In this example, the vending machine 100 is configured to enable at least two of the rotating doors 200 to be opened at the same time to enable the customer to retrieve an item from each of the open rotating doors 200. This enables a customer to make a multiple order of different items and retrieve them at the same time which increases efficiency over a traditional vending machine where the customer would have to do separate orders for each item or wait as each item is dispensed separately at different times. For example, in FIG. 2A, the customer may select three drinks and each of the three drinks may be present behind one of the three doors 200 on the bottom row of the rotating doors 200. Therefore, after the customer has made the order the bottom three rotating doors 200 can open at the same time and the customer can obtain all three drinks at the same time from the bottom three rotating doors 200. Any combination or number of rotating doors 200 may open in response to a customer's order depending on the number of items 120 the customer has ordered and also the different types of items 120 the customer has ordered.

In the example of FIG. 2A the vending machine 100 additionally comprises an outer door 210. The outer door 210 is configured to cover the dispensing means 110 when the outer door 210 is closed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B the outer door 210 is closed and in FIG. 2A the outer door 210 is open.

In the example of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the vending machine 100 is configured to enable the rotating doors 200 to change from either being closed to being open or from being open to being closed only when the outer door 210 is closed. This therefore avoids the customer interacting with the rotating doors 200 whilst they are moving, as the rotating doors 200 will only either be open or closed and will not move while the outer door 210 is open and are therefore accessible to the customer. The outer door 210 acts as a main seal and keeps the machine at the desired temperature if refrigeration means is provided in the vending machine.

As the rotating doors 200 are in a constant position the items 120 can be supplied in glass bottles as the product is not dropped to an access point as with other vending machines. The items 120 will also not be shaken up when dispensed which can cause problems with fizzy drinks.

FIG. 3 illustrates example door limit switches 301, 302. In this example the vending machine 100 comprises the door limit switches 301, 302 which detect whether an associated rotating door 200 is open or closed. The rotating door 200 is, in this example, rotated by an electric motor and when the rotating door 200 rotates from a closed position as shown in FIG. 3 the body of the rotating door 200 will come into contact with the switches 301, 302. When switch 302 has been activated by contact with the rotating door 200, the door limit switch 302 has detected that the rotating door 200 has been opened. Starting from an opened position and going to a closed position, the door limit switches 301, 302 will detect that the rotating door 200 has closed when switch 302 is not detecting contact with the body of the rotating door 200. In this example, the rotating door 200 will open by rotating clockwise and will close by rotating anticlockwise. In other examples, the rotating door 200 will open by rotating anticlockwise and will close by rotating clockwise. In other examples the rotating door can open by rotating clockwise or anticlockwise, and can close by rotating clockwise or anticlockwise.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example vending machine 100 which additionally comprises cartridges 400. Each cartridge 400 is configured to hold a plurality of items 120. In this example the loading-access means 130 comprises apertures 410 in the second face 150 of the vending machine 100. Each of the cartridges 400 is configured to be inserted into the vending machine 100 via one of the apertures 410. The capability of the cartridges 400 to be slid out of the vending machine 100 for restocking whilst the vending machine 100 is still in use allows a customer to continue to carry on with a transaction and obtain objects from other rotating doors 200 not connected to the cartridge 400 that has been removed FIG. 5 illustrates an example of several cartridges 400. In this example the vending machine 100 comprises cartridge position sensors 500 which are each configured to detect if a cartridge 400 has been removed from the vending machine 100. For example, the cartridge position sensor 500 is a proximity sensor which will detect the cartridge back plate 530. The sensor 500 will feedback to the control system of the vending machine 100 stopping the rotating door 200 from opening if the cartridge 400 is not present. The vending machine 100 additionally comprises electric locks 510. Each electric lock 510 is configured to selectively lock one of the cartridges 400 in the vending machine 100 to prevent removal of the cartridge 400 from the vending machine 100. In the example of FIG. 5, the electric locks 510 are electromagnets, however any other suitable electric lock may be used, for example an electric solenoid operated bolt mechanism.

FIG. 5 also illustrates seals 520 on the back of the cartridge backplates 530 which help to maintain the interior of the vending machine 100 at the temperature set by refrigeration means provided in the vending machine.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example vending machine 100. The vending machine 100 comprises item sensors 600. Each item sensor 600 is associated with one of the rotating doors 200 and each item sensor 600 is configured to detect whether an item is ready to be dispensed when the rotating door 200 opens next. As shown in FIG. 6 an item 120 is directly above each of the item sensors 600, so when the associated door 200 is next opened if it is closed an item 120 will be ready for the user to obtain. If any of the cartridges 400 were empty so that no items 120 were present then the item sensor 600 would detect that there is no item 120 in place ready to be dispensed next. The vending machine 100 is configured to open each rotating door 200 only when the item sensor 600 associated with the rotating door 200 indicates an item 120 is ready to be dispensed and that the cartridge position sensor 500 detects that the cartridge 400 supplying items 120 to the rotating door 200 has not been removed. The vending machine 100 is configured to enable the customer to interact with the rotating doors 200 that have items 120 to dispense whilst one or more of the rotating doors 200 which have no items 120 to dispense are kept closed whilst the cartridges 400 supplying items 120 to the one or more rotating doors 200 with no items 120 left to dispense are removed and restocked with items 120. The cartridges 400 also comprise a delivery device 610. For example, a spring device may be provided as the delivery device which pushes items 120 to the front of the cartridge 400 for dispensing. FIG. 6 also illustrates electric motors 620 which are used to rotate the rotating doors 200.

FIG. 7A illustrates a vending machine 100 comprising a customer user interface 700.

The customer user interface 700 is configured to enable a customer to make a selection of which items 120 to dispense. For example, the customer may select the quantity of items 120 to dispense and follow this with a card payment. Once the payment is accepted the machine opens the required rotating doors 200. The outer door 210 will then unlock once the rotating doors 200 are open. The customer can then open the outer door 210 and remove their items 120. Once the items 120 have been removed and the outer door 210 is closed the outer door 210 will lock. The rotating doors 200 will then close. If the item 120 is a bottle the customer can push the bottle cap into a bottle opening device on the vending machine 100. The cap will then fall into a removable tray which the operator will empty when full. Finally, the machine will allow the next customer to make their selection.

FIG. 7B illustrates a vending machine 100 with a loader user interface 710. The loader user interface 710 is configured to enable a loader to interact with the vending machine 100 to restock the vending machine 100. The loader user interface 710 is configured to alert the loader when a cartridge 400 is empty. The vending machine 100 is configured to enable the loader to disable the electric lock 510 associated with each cartridge 400 to allow each cartridge 400 to be removed from the vending machine 100 to allow restocking. The vending machine 100 is configured to disable the electric lock 510 associated with a cartridge 400 only when the rotating door 200 that is being supplied with items 120 by the cartridge 400 is closed. For example, an alarm may appear on the screen of a loader user interface 710 if a cartridge 400 becomes empty. The loader can then press a button on the screen of the loader user interface 710 at the back of the vending machine 100 to release/unlock the cartridge 400. The cartridge 400 will only release if the cartridge 400 is not in use (i.e. the rotating door 200 is closed). Once unlocked the loader can remove the cartridge 400 and replace it with a full cartridge 400. Wien the machine detects the cartridge 400 is in position it will then lock again.

FIG. 7B also illustrates a schematic location of refrigeration means 720. The refrigeration means 720 is kept inside the vending machine 100, and the seal on the main outer door 210 and the seals 520 on the backplates 530 of each cartridge help to maintain the interior of the vending machine 100 at the desired temperature.

FIG. 70 illustrates a vending machine 100 with two dispensing areas and a central region having the customer user interface 700.

FIG. 8A illustrates an example cartridge 400. The cartridge 400 holds multiple items 120 and is closed at one end by a back plate 530 and at the other end by a rotating door engaging portion 800. In FIG. 8A, the rotating door engaging portion 800 is in a closed position, which prevents the items 120 from escaping out of the front of the cartridge 400. The rotating door engaging portion 800 is configured to be automatically locked in the closed position to prevent the rotating door engaging portion 800 accidentally rotating whilst the cartridge is removed which would allow the items 120 to escape out the front of the cartridge whilst the cartridge is removed from the vending machine. The lock is described below in FIG. 90. The rotating door engaging portion 800 comprises a wall 810 and a base 820. The wall 810 has a profiled section 811 which is substantially flat whereas the rest of the wall 810 is curved. The rotating door engaging portion also comprises a secondary base 821.

FIG. 8B illustrates the rotating door engaging portion in an open position. FIG. 8B is for representation purposes only and in normal use the cartridge 400 would not be able to be in the open position when removed from the vending machine. As will be described below, the rotating door engaging portion 800 engages with the rotating door 200 into which the cartridge 400 has been inserted. The profiled section 811 of the wall 810 engages with a corresponding profiled section of the rotating door 200 so that when the rotating door 200 rotates the wall 810 also rotates which causes the base 820 to also rotate. The secondary base 821 remains stationary. The rotation of the rotating door engaging portion 800 to an open position allows for easier access to the item 120 as the wall 810 is now on the opposite side of the item which allows for easier removal of the item from the open rotating door 200 compared to if the rotating door engaging portion 800 was in the closed position.

FIG. 9A illustrates a schematic representation of the rotating door engaging portion 800 approaching the rear of a rotating door 200 within the interior of the vending machine. Situated below the rotating door 200 is an unlocking member 900, which in this example is an unlocking pin. This unlocking member 900 interacts with the lock of the rotating door engaging portion 800 which will be described below to allow the rotating door engaging portion to move from the closed position as shown in FIG. 9A to the open position. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the bottom of the rotating door 200 comprises profiled sections 910 which are substantially flat. These substantially flat profiled sections 910 engage with the profiled sections 811 of the rotating door engaging portion 800 as shown in FIG. 9B.

Due to the flatness of the profiled sections 811 of the rotating door engaging portion 800 and the flatness of the profiled sections 910 of the rotating door 200, when the rotating door 200 rotates these flat sections will engage and cause rotation of the rotating door engaging portion 800. Due to the flatness of the profiled sections 811 of the rotating door engaging portion 800 and the profiled sections 910 of the rotating door 200, this allows for parallel movement in the direction along the length of the cartridge 400 so that the cartridge 400 and the rotating door engaging portion 800 can be easily slid in and out of engagement with the rotating door 200 when the rotating door engagement portion 800 is in the closed position.

FIG. 90 illustrates a lock 920 of the rotating door engaging portion 800. FIG. 9D illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lock 920 from below in a locked condition and FIG. 9E illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lock 920 from below in an unlocked condition. The lock 920 comprises a locking rod 921 and a biasing member 922. FIG. 90 also illustrates a rotating shaft 930. The top of the rotating shaft 930 is connected to the base 820 of the rotating door engagement portion 800 and the bottom of the rotating shaft is connected to the secondary base 821. The locking rod 921 has a narrower portion 9211 and a thicker portion 9212.

When the narrow portion 9211 of the locking rod 921 is located adjacent to the groove 931 of the rotating shaft 930 as shown in FIG. 9C and FIG. 9E, the rotating shaft 930 is free to rotate as the narrower portion 9211 does not interfere with the rotating shaft 930. When the thicker portion 9212 of the locking rod 921 is slid within the groove 931 this prevents rotation of the rotating shaft 930.

The locking rod 921 is biased towards the locked position shown in FIG. 9D, so that the thicker portion 9212 of the locking rod 921 is within the groove 931 of the rotating shaft 930. When the thicker portion 9212 is in this position, rotational movement of the rotating shaft 930 will not be possible, as the rotating shaft 930 will engage against the rotating shaft 930.

When the unlocking member 900 engages with the front of the locking rod 921 this pushes against the biasing member 922 causing the narrow section 9211 of the locking rod 921 to move over the groove 931 which allows the rotating shaft 930 to rotate. This arrangement therefore allows for the rotating door engaging portion 800 to be automatically locked in the closed position when the locking rod 921 is not engaging with the unlocking member 900. When the cartridge is inserted into the vending machine and is pushed against the back of the rotating door 200 the unlocking member 900 engages with the front of the locking rod 921 which causes the lock to unlock and allow rotation of the rotating door engaging portion 800 by rotation of the rotating shaft 930.

In normal use the cartridge 400 cannot be removed from the vending machine 100 without the rotating door engaging portion 800 being locked in the closed position as the electric lock 510 for that cartridge 400 will not disable unless it is detected that the rotating door 200 associated with that cartridge is closed, which would also mean that the rotating door engaging portion 800 would also be in the closed position.

In the examples described above the delivery device 610 of the cartridges 400 may be provided in any suitable form, for example a common spiral rotating system used in many previous vending machines may be provided. Alternatively, the delivery device 610 may be provided by a dual variable spring-loaded cartridge. The variable spring is designed to give a constant supply of pressure to deliver the items. The cartridge may also have a pivoted front end which allows the product to be supplied at an angle that is more accessible to the user.

In the examples described above cartridges are used to load the vending machine, however any type of item stocking device could be used which would not change the functionality and in some examples no form of item stocking device such as a cartridge is used and the items may be individually loaded from the back of the machine.

In the examples illustrated above rotating doors 200 are provided as the dispensing means. In other examples, the rotating doors may be replaced by a mechanical grip so that the items are always on show but will be gripped until the customer selects and pays for the item. Following this the mechanical grip would be released to allow the user to obtain the item.

In the examples described above the customer user interface 700 and the loader user interface 710 are provided as part of the vending machine 100. Alternatively, these user interfaces may be provided separately to the vending machine 100, for example in the form of software applications. For example, the customer may have an app on their phone which allows them to make the selection and payment on their phone. Following this they could then approach the vending machine 100 which will have received their order from the smartphone via appropriate circuitry and signal receiving means and they could then obtain their order. Similarly, the loader may have the software for providing the loader user interface 710 on a device separate to the vending machine 100 which would allow them to control the vending machine 100 remotely.

Where a structural feature has been described, it may be replaced by means for performing one or more of the functions of the structural feature whether that function or those functions are explicitly or implicitly described.

The term 'comprise' is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use 'comprise' with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to "comprising only one.." or by using "consisting".

In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term 'example' or 'for example' or 'can' or 'may' in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus 'example', 'for example', 'can' or 'may' refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that a feature described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example as part of a working combination but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example.

Although examples have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described above.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not.

The term 'a' or 'the' is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising a/the Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use 'a' or 'the' with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of 'at least one' or 'one or more' may be used to emphasis an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer an exclusive meaning.

The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature or (combination of features) itself and also to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.

In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features believed to be of importance it should be understood that the Applicant may seek protection via the claims in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon.

I/we claim:

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vending machine comprising: dispensing means configured to selectively dispense items for retrieval by a 5 customer; loading-access means, configured to enable loading of the items into the vending machine from outside of the vending machine; wherein the dispensing means is provided on a first face of the vending machine and the loading-access means is provided on a second face of the vending 10 machine; wherein the first face and the second face are positioned relative to each other to enable the items to be loaded into the vending machine whilst allowing a customer to interact with the dispensing means.
2. A vending machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first face is located at the front of the vending machine, and the second face is located at the rear of the vending machine.
3. A vending machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing means comprises a plurality of rotating doors, wherein the vending machine is configured to supply the items to the rotating doors, wherein each rotating door is configured to prevent access to the items supplied to the rotating door when closed, and allow access to one of the items supplied to the rotating door when opened for retrieval by the customer.
4. A vending machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vending machine is configured to enable at least two of the rotating doors to be open at the same time to enable the customer to retrieve an item from each of the open rotating doors.
5. A vending machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vending machine additionally comprises an outer door, wherein the outer door is configured to cover the dispensing means when the outer door is closed.
6. A vending machine as claimed in claim 5, when dependent on claim 3 or 4, wherein the vending machine is configured to enable the rotating doors to change from being closed to being open and vice versa only when the outer door is closed.
7. A vending machine as claimed in any of claims 3 to 4 or 6, wherein the vending machine additionally comprises door limit switches, wherein the door limit switches detect whether each rotating door is open or closed.
8. A vending machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vending machine additionally comprises cartridges, wherein each cartridge is configured to hold a plurality of items, wherein the loading-access means comprises apertures in the second face of the vending machine, wherein each of the cartridges is configured to be inserted into the vending machine via one of the apertures.
9. A vending machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the vending machine comprises cartridge position sensors, wherein the cartridge position sensors are each configured to detect if a cartridge has been removed from the vending machine.
10. A vending machine as claimed in claim 9 when dependent on any of claims 3 to 4 or 6, wherein each cartridge supplies items to one of the rotating doors, wherein the vending machine is configured to stop the rotating door from opening if the cartridge supplying items to the rotating door has been removed.
11. A vending machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the vending machine comprises item sensors, wherein each item sensor is associated with one of the rotating doors, wherein each item sensor is configured to detect whether an item is ready to be dispensed when the rotating door opens next.
12. A vending machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the vending machine is configured to open each rotating door only when the item sensor associated with the rotating door indicates an item is ready to be dispensed and the cartridge position sensor detects that the cartridge supplying items to the rotating door has not been removed.
13. A vending machine as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12 when dependent on any of claims 3 to 4 or 6, wherein the vending machine is configured to enable the customer to interact with rotating doors that have items to dispense whilst rotating doors with no items left to dispense are kept closed whilst the cartridges supplying items to the rotating doors with no items left to dispense are removed and restocked with items.
14. A vending machine as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the vending machine additionally comprises an electric lock, wherein the electric lock is configured to selectively lock one of the cartridges in the vending machine to prevent removal of the cartridge from the vending machine.
15. A vending machine as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14, wherein each cartridge comprises a rotating door engaging portion, wherein the rotating door engaging portion comprises a wall and a base, wherein the rotating door engaging portion is configured to rotate between open and closed positions, wherein the wall comprises a wall profile; wherein each rotating door comprises a rotating door profile, wherein the wall profile is configured to engage with the rotating door profile on each rotating door, wherein the rotating door engaging portion is configured to rotate with the rotating door that the cartridge is supplying items to when the wall profile engages with the rotating door profile.
16. A vending machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the door engaging portion comprises a lock, wherein the lock is configured to lock the door engaging portion in the closed position.
17. A vending machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the vending machine comprises unlocking members, each unlocking member being located below a corresponding rotating door, wherein each unlocking member is configured to engage with and release the lock in each cartridge.
18. A vending machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rotating door engaging portion is automatically locked by the lock when the rotating door engaging portion is in the closed position and is not engaging with any of the unlocking members.
19. A vending machine as claimed in any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the wall prevents the items in the cartridge from escaping out the front of the cartridge when in the closed position
20. A vending machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing means additionally comprises a customer user interface, wherein the customer user interface is configured to enable a customer to make a selection of which items to dispense.
21. A vending machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vending machine comprises a loader user interface, wherein the loader user interface is configured to enable a loader to interact with the vending machine to restock the vending machine.
22. A vending machine as claimed in claim 21, when dependent on claim 8, wherein the loader user interface is configured to alert the loader when a cartridge is empty.
23. A vending machine as claimed in any or claims 21 or 22, when dependent on claim 8 and 14, wherein the vending machine is configured to enable the loader to disable the electric lock associated with each cartridge to allow each cartridge to be removed from the vending machine
24. A vending machine as claimed in claim 23, when dependent on any of claims 3 to 4 or 6, wherein the vending machine is configured to disable the electric lock associated with a cartridge only when the rotating door that is being supplied with items by the cartridge is closed.
25. A dispensing machine comprising: dispensing means configured to selectively dispense items for retrieval by a user loading-access means, configured to enable loading of the items into the dispensing machine from outside of the dispensing machine; wherein the dispensing means is provided on a first face of the dispensing machine and the loading-access means is provided on a second face of the dispensing machine; wherein the first face and the second face are positioned relative to each other to enable the items to be loaded into the dispensing machine whilst allowing a user to interact with the dispensing means.