WO2001073699A2

WO2001073699A2 - Product lock-out system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2001073699A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/009841
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Stuart Hamilton
Original assignee: Crane Co.
Priority date: 2000-03-28
Filing date: 2001-03-27
Publication date: 2001-10-04
Also published as: AU2001251031A1; WO2001073699A3

Abstract

A vending machine, such as a coffee vending machine, having product storage and dispensing-compartments and a microprocessor control is provided with a magnetic card reader connected to the microprocessor for receiving data stored on a card such as unique identifiers for the card, a supplier of product to be placed in a storage compartment, the type of product and the identifier of the storage compartment. The card is supplied along with a given quantity of product, to a vending machine operator who services the machine. The card is inserted in the card reader when the storage compartment is filled. If the unique codes are determined by the microprocessor to be correct it will set an internal counter to allow a given number of vends to be made, or set period of time during which vends can be made, from the compartment. When the microprocessor determines that the given number of vends has been made or the time period elapsed it will disable vending from that compartment until a new card is inserted in the reader.

Description

PRODUCT LOCK-OUT SYSTEM ND METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority of U.S. patent Application, Serial No. 09/535,758, filed March 28, 2000 entitled: "Product Lock-Out System and Method", and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present invention relates to vending machines and, more particularly to a control system and method for controlling dispensing of product from a vending machine.

Vending machines, and particularly hot drink vending machines, utilize a supply of product, such as coffee, that is stored in a storage compartment and dispensed by a measured amount to be mixed with hot water and possibly condiments such as sugar or creamer and delivered to a cup for removal and consumption by a customer. The vending machine is controlled, such as by a microprocessor, to cause a vend of a selected product once the customer inserts the proper currency or establishes the proper credit in the machine. Particularly in the case of hot beverage vending machines, the customer does not usually know what company's product is in the machine since it is kept in a bulk storage compartment out of sight of the customer and not in any identifiable package, or the customer must assume that if the product is advertised on the front of the machine that it is that product that is actually in the machine. Thus, in the latter case, if other than the identified product is actually in the machine, the quality of its taste, good or bad, will be attributed to the identified product. Thus, if the operator who services the machine puts inferior product from other than the identified source in the machine the goodwill of the advertised product could be diminished. In addition, it is common for some companies, such as coffee manufactures, to supply vending machines to operators without charging them directly for the vending machines . These operators then purchase their supplies to be used in the machines from the company who supplied the machines. However, since it is necessary for such companies to recover their costs of purchasing these machines they do so by attributing part of the cost of sales of products to the operators to the cost of the machine. Thus, it is important to these companies that the operators purchase such goods from the company and not some other source. Unfortunately, even though such operators agree to do so, some attempt to lower their costs by purchasing similar but cheaper, and potentially inferior, products from other sources. It is very difficult for the companies supplying the machines to detect this improper action since they do not actually see these actions occurring. Such actions prevent the companies supplying the machines from recovering their costs and if inferior products are used this can damage the reputation of the companies and their products.

There is, therefore, a need in the vending machine business to provide a means of controlling what product is put into and dispensed from vending machines.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and systems for optimizing the use and allocation of limited resources over a multitude of possible routing patterns, and more particularly, to a multiple layer scheduling engine that employs a mathematical scoring function for which the complexity and nature of the scoring function may be modified to a wide variety of applications in an iterative fashion with meta-heuristic techniques that avoids reliance on linearity or independence of individual modeling parameters. Summary of the Invention The present invention overcomes the above described difficulties and disadvantages of prior art vending machines by providing a method and system that is associated with the goods that are supplied for use in the machine and limits the use of the machine based on the amount of goods supplied or for a specific period of time. To achieve these advantages, a vending machine, such as a coffee machine which is microprocessor controlled, is provided with a magnetic card reader connected to the microprocessor for supplying information thereto. The supplier of product for use in the machine provides a magnetic card along with product it supplies to the operator for the machine. When the operator fills the storage compartment in the machine the operator also swipes the magnetic card through the card reader which reads the card and supplies information therefrom to the microprocessor. Such information can include the number of vends to be allowed from the machine or a time limit after which the machine will not vend. The number of vends or the time limit can be correlated to the amount of product supplies by the product supply company so that after the microprocessor determines that that number of vends has occurred, or the time has elapsed, it will prevent further vends until a new card has been read by the card reader when the machine is again filled by the operator. In this way the product supply company can be reasonably assured that the operator is purchasing product from that supplier and using it in the vending machine that the supplier has provided.

The advantages of the present invention are achieved by a vending machine product dispensing control system for use with a vending machine having at least one product storage compartment and dispensing apparatus for dispensing product from the at least one storage compartment, the system comprising a magnetic strip card with predetermined recorded data thereon; a magnetic strip card reader disposed within the vending machine for reading the recorded data on the magnetic strip card when inserted therein; and a microprocessor controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data stored thereon and allowing product to be dispensed from the at least one storage compartment and thereafter preventing product from being dispensed from the at least one storage compartment based on the predetermined recorded data supplied by the magnetic strip card. The system can include wherein the controller keeps track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and compares the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and prevents more vends than the allowed number, or the system can include wherein the controller keeps track of a period of time after the card reader has read the card-and allows vends to be made from a storage compartment for that period of time and thereafter prevents vends from being made from that storage compartment.

The advantages of the present invention can also be achieved by a vending machine product dispensing control system for use with a vending machine having product storage compartments, dispensing apparatus for dispensing product from the storage compartments, a hot water supply and dispensing -mechanism, a mixing chamber for mixing hot water with product dispensed from a storage compartment, a cup station for receiving a cup and a dispensing tube connecting the mixing chamber to the cup station for supplying a mixture from the mixing chamber to a cup disposed in the cup station, the system comprising a magnetic strip card reader disposed within the vending machine for reading predetermined data stored on a magnetic strip card when inserted therein; and a microprocessor controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data stored thereon and allowing product to be dispensed from a storage compartment and thereafter preventing product from being dispensed from that storage compartment based on the predetermined recorded data supplied by the magnetic strip card.

The advantages of the present invention can also be provided by a method of controlling the vends from a vending machine having product storage compartments and dispensing mechanisms for the compartments, the steps comprising providing a magnetic card reader in the vending machine for receiving a magnetic card therein and reading predetermined data therefrom; and providing a microprocessor controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data stored thereon and allowing product to be dispensed from a storage compartment and thereafter preventing product from being dispensed from that storage compartment based on the predetermined recorded data supplied by the magnetic strip card. The method can include wherein the controller keeps track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and compares the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and prevents more vends than the allowed number, or the method can include wherein the controller keeps track of a period of time after the card reader has read the card and allows vends to be made from a storage compartment for that period of time and thereafter prevents vends from being made from that storage compartment .

The advantages of the present invention can also be provided by a method of doing business, comprising the steps of supplying a given quantity of product to a vending machine operator to be dispensed from a vending machine, the vending machine having product storage compartments and dispensing mechanisms for the compartments, a magnetic card reader for receiving a magnetic card therein and reading predetermined data therefrom including the number of vends to be allowed of a product to be vended from a product storage compartment, a controller for receiving the predetermined data from the card reader and keeping track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and comparing the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and preventing more vends than the allowed number; and supplying a magnetic card to the operator which contains predetermined data including the number of vends allowed for a particular product code that can be allowed by the vending machine which substantially corresponds to the number of mixtures that can be obtained with the quantity of product supplied to the vending machine operator. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a partial front elevational view partially cutaway of a coffee vending machine of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

A vending machine 10 is of the type which brews hot beverages, such as coffee or tea, and is of the general type well known in the industry. Such vending machines 10 generally include a plurality of product dispensers such as, for example, a decaffeinated coffee storage compartment and dispenser 12 and a regular cof ee storage compartment and dispenser 14. Either of these dispensers can provide either preground coffee or coffee beans which are ground each time a customer operates the equipment, if desired. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the decaffeinated coffee dispenser 12 is shown as being provided with a funnel and a delivery tube or conduit 18 through which preground coffee is delivered from the dispenser 12 to the top of a brewing chamber 20. A metered amount of the preground coffee in the dispenser 12 is dispensed with a motor driven auger 21 in the bottom of the dispenser which places the proper amount of coffee grounds into the funnel 16. Likewise, the regular coffee dispenser 14 dispenses coffee beans with a motor driven auger 23 into a grinder 22 from which the ground coffee is then distributed by the tube 24 into the brewing chamber 20. Such a brewing system is disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,344,050, but other known brewing systems could be utilized in connection with the present invention as well . After coffee has been brewed in chamber 20 it is forced out through tube 26 through a mixing bowl 28 where, if selected, condiments such as sugar or creamer are added from the storage compartments 30 with the subsequent mixture then being delivered to the cup station 32 through tube 34 and directed into a cup (not shown) positioned in the station. Operation of the coffee machine 10 is controlled by a microprocessor

38, in a well known manner, through activation of the drive motors, etc. as a result of the selection entered by customer on the selection key panel 40. In accordance with the present invention, a magnetic card reader 42 is added to the conventional coffee machine 10 inside the lockable service door 43 of the machine so that it is only accessible to the, service person once the door is opened. The card reader 42 is connected to the microprocessor 38 to provide information to the microprocessor obtained from a magnetic card 44 which is swiped through the channel in the card reader 42 in a well known manner. The card 44 is programmed to magnetically store information such as a product identification and a limitation on the number of vend cycles the coffee machine will allow for that product or a time period during which the machine will be allowed to operate. This information is correlated by the supplier of the product, such as coffee, with the amount of coffee the supplier gives to the operator to put into a storage compartment, such as compartment 12, in the coffee machine 10. For example, if the supplier provides the operator with a ten pound bag of coffee, the card that the supplier provides to the operator with the bag will be programmed to indicate the number of times the coffee machine 10 can be cycled to produce coffee using coffee from compartment 12 before it will no longer activate the coffee making cycle using product from that compartment. That number of cycles has been previously determined-to correlate to approximately the amount of product supplied by the supplier to the operator. For example, if 10 pounds of coffee brews approximately 500 cups of coffee then the card will be programmed to provide the microprocessor with information that will allow the coffee machine to produce 500 cups of coffee from the compartment in which the 10 pounds of coffee has been placed and then prevent any further vends using product from that compartment until a new card has been inserted in the card reader .

Alternatively, the microprocessor can be programmed to allow vends from a compartment or the machine for a period of time and a card can be supplied to provide the microprocessor with the time period during which the machine is to be allowed to operate or the compartment allowed to vend product. For example, the card can be programmed to allow the machine to operate for three months and as long as the product supplier notes that the operator has purchased during that time the anticipated amount of product required for that machine for that period of time the supplier will continue to provide additional cards for future periods of time, otherwise it will not and the machine will be shut down after the period of time runs out. The period of time can be tied to any other-measure of reasonable use of the machine, such as the amount of time that is required to vend a given quantity of product in the same way as discussed above for controlling the number of vends.

The card 44 is also preferably programmed with unique identification codes which are also imported to the microprocessor 38, such as one for the card itself, the supplier, the type of the product and the product storage compartment in which it is to be used. These codes can be used to prevent the card from being reused by the operator more than once. For example the code associated with a particular card, a particular supplier, a particular product and a particular product storage compartment, all of which are programmed on a card, can be compared by the microprocessor 38 to the unique codes associated with that storage compartment placed in its memory and if the card has not been used in that machine before and the other codes match it will reset the counter that permits vends from that particular compartment of that machine. However, if that card is inserted in the reader of another machine it will not be accepted since it has the wrong storage compartment identifier and the microprocessor of that machine will not reset the counter. Likewise, if there is an attempt to store product in a different compartment the counter for that compartment would not be reset since it is not the compartment with which the code is associated. Some variations on the number and types of codes which are needed to control resetting of the number of vends allowed from a compartment or the time period the vending is allowed to occur, are considered to be within the scope of the present invention and may be dependent on the particular vending machine involved. For example, for a vending machine that has only one product storage compartment only a single unique identification code associated with that machine and an identifier for the magnetic card need be utilized since the microprocessor for that machine can determine if the card is for use in that machine and if it has been used before. If that card is for a different machine or has been used in that machine before, the microprocessor will not reset the machine for vending. In addition, the present invention is not intended to be limited to coffee or other hot or cold liquid vending machines but the principles are applicable to a wide range of vending machines as well. In the case of keeping track of the number of vends, after the card codes have been accepted by microprocessor 38 it will reset an internal count/down counter. As the vending machine then vends product from the newly supplied storage compartment the microprocessor will count down each time such a vend is made. Once the counter reaches zero the vend mechanism, such as the motor which drives the augers 21 and 23, that produces a vend from that compartment, will be disabled until a new card is inserted in the card reader and the counter again reset. A message, such as "sold out" can be displayed on a display screen 46 advising the customer who can then make another selection. The same basic control is used in the case of a time of use limitation, for example, the machine is allowed to vend for one month and is then shut down in the same way.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the following claims.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS :

1. A vending machine product dispensing control system for use with a vending machine having at least one product storage compartment and dispensing apparatus for dispensing product from the at least one storage compartment, the system comprising: a magnetic strip card with predetermined recorded data thereon; a magnetic strip card reader disposed within the vending machine for reading the recorded data on the magnetic strip card when inserted therein; and a microprocessor controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data is stored thereon and allowing product to be dispensed from the at least one storage compartment and thereafter preventing product from being dispensed from the at least one storage compartment based on the predetermined recorded data supplied by the magnetic strip card.

2. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller keeps track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and compares the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and prevents more vends than the allowed number.

3. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller keeps track of a period of time after the card reader has read the card and allows vends to be made from a storage compartment for that period of time and thereafter prevents vends from being made from that storage compartment .

4. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 2, including: the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the number of product vends to be allowed.

5. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 4, wherein one determination the microprocessor makes is whether the unique card identification code has been received before and if so it will not reset the number of vends allowed.

6. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 3, including: the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card, a product supplier, the type of product and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the time period during which vends are to be allowed.

7. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 1, including: the magnetic card reader being capable of removing data from the card to prevent reuse of the card to reset the controller.

8. A vending machine product dispensing control system for use with a vending machine having product storage compartments, dispensing apparatus for dispensing product from the storage compartments, a hot water supply and dispensing mechanism, a mixing chamber for mixing hot water with product dispensed from a storage compartment, a cup station for receiving a cup and a dispensing tube connecting the mixing chamber to the cup station for supplying a mixture from the mixing chamber to a cup disposed in the cup station, the system comprising: a magnetic strip card reader disposed within the vending machine for reading predetermined data stored on a magnetic strip card when inserted therein; and a microprocessor controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data stored thereon and allowing product to be dispensed from a storage compartment and thereafter preventing product from being dispensed from that storage compartment based on the predetermined recorded data supplied by the magnetic strip card.

9. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 8, wherein the controller keeps track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and compares the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and prevents more vends than the allowed number.

10. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the controller keeps track of a period of time after the card reader has read the card and allows vends to be made from a storage compartment for that period of time and thereafter prevents vends from being made from that storage compartment .

11. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 9, including: - the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the number of product vends to be allowed.

12. A vending machine product dispensing control system - as defined in claim 11, wherein one determination the microprocessor makes is whether the unique card identification code has been received before and if so it will not reset the number of vends allowed.

13. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 10, including: the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card, a product supplier, the type of product and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the time period in which vends are to be allowed.

14. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 8, including: the magnetic card reader being capable of removing data from the card to prevent reuse of the card to reset the controller.

15. A method of controlling the vends from a vending machine having product storage compartments and dispensing mechanisms for the compartments, the steps comprising: providing a magnetic card reader in the vending machine for receiving a magnetic card therein and reading predetermined data therefrom; providing a microprocessor controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data stored thereon and allowing product to be dispensed from a storage compartment and thereafter preventing product from being dispensed from that storage compartment based on the predetermined recorded data supplied by the magnetic strip card.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the controller keeps track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and compares the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and prevents more vends than the allowed number.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the controller keeps track of a period of time after the card reader has read the card and allows vends to be made from a storage compartment for that period of time and thereafter prevents vends from being made from that storage compartment .

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the number of product vends to be allowed.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein one determination the microprocessor makes is whether the unique card identification code has been received before and if so it will not reset the number of vends allowed.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card, a product supplier, the type of product and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the time period during which vends are to be allowed.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the magnetic card reader is capable of removing data from the card to prevent reuse of the card to reset the controller.

22 . A method of doing business, comprising the steps of: supplying a given quantity of product to a vending machine operator to be dispensed from a vending machine, the vending machine having product storage compartments, dispensing mechanisms for the compartments, a magnetic card reader for receiving a magnetic card therein and reading predetermined data therefrom including the number of vends to be allowed of a product to be vended from a product storage compartment, a controller for receiving the predetermined data from the card reader and keeping track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and comparing the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and preventing more vends than the allowed number; and supplying a magnetic card to the operator which contains predetermined data including the number of vends allowed for a particular product code that can be allowed by the vending machine which substantially corresponds to the number of mixtures that can be obtained with the quantity of product supplied to the vending machine operator.

23. A vending machine having product storage compartments, dispensing apparatus for dispensing product from the storage compartments, a hot water supply and dispensing mechanism, a mixing chamber for mixing hot water with product dispensed from a storage compartment, a cup station for receiving a cup and a dispensing tube connecting the mixing chamber to the cup station for supplying a mixture from the mixing chamber to a cup disposed in the cup station, a magnetic strip card with predetermined recorded data thereon including a product code and a number of vends to be permitted for that product code, a magnetic strip card reader disposed within the vending machine for reading the recorded data on the magnetic strip card when inserted therein, and a controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data stored thereon and keeping track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader has read the card and comparing the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and preventing more vends of that product than the allowed number.

24. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 23, including: the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the number of product vends to be allowed.

25. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 24, wherein one determination the microprocessor makes is whether the unique card identification code has been received before and if so it will not reset the number of vends allowed.

26. A vending machine product dispensing control system as defined in claim 23, including: the magnetic strip card contains unique identification codes for the card, a product supplier, the type of product and a product storage compartment and the microprocessor is capable of importing these codes and comparing them against codes previously programmed in its memory to determine if additional vends are to be allowed and if so, resetting the number of product vends to be allowed.

27. A vending machine having product storage compartments, dispensing apparatus for dispensing product from the storage compartments, a hot water supply and dispensing mechanism, a mixing chamber for mixing hot water with product dispensed from a storage compartment, a cup station for receiving a cup and a dispensing tube connecting the mixing chamber to the cup station for supplying a mixture from the mixing chamber to a cup disposed in the cup station, a magnetic strip card reader disposed within the vending machine for reading recorded data on a magnetic strip card when inserted therein, and a controller connected to the card reader for receiving the predetermined data therefrom and keeping track of the number of vends made by a product storage compartment after the card reader-has read the card and comparing the number of vends against the vends allowed for that product code and preventing more vends from the storage compartment than the allowed number.