WO2001086602A2

WO2001086602A2 - Multiple product dispensing from a vending machine with a single selection

Info

Publication number: WO2001086602A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/015343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jack L. Osborn
Original assignee: Crane Co.
Priority date: 2000-05-10
Filing date: 2001-05-10
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: WO2001086602A3; AU2001261484A1

Abstract

A selection method and mechanism which causes multiple products from one or more vending machines to be dispensed through use of a single selection. The single selection mechanism can be the use of a single button either dedicated to this function or can be a button designated from the normal buttons on a selection key pad. The single selection can be the pushing of multiple buttons in a single selection process. The selection can be made after the establishment of sufficient credit in the machine to purchase the selection. The products can be vended sequentially or simultaneously.

Description

MULTIPLE PRODUCT DISPENSING FROM A VENDING MACHINE WITH A SINGLE SELECTION

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This application claims priority of U.S. patent Application, Serial No. 09/568,274, filed May 10, 2000 entitled: "Multiple Product Dispensing From A Vending Machine With A Single Selection" , and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to dispensing multiple products from one or more vending machines through use of a single selection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION;

There are a variety of different sizes and shapes of vending machines for vending a large variety of products such as snacks, candies, soda cans and bottles . Some vending machines keep the product stored at ambient temperature while others heat or refrigerate the products. All of these vending machines provide a means of making a selection from several available products stored in a single machine or from two machines standing side-by- side. The selection means is usually some form of key pad with multiple buttons which is coupled to a microprocessor which in turn is coupled to drive mechanisms for moving the selected product to a customer retrieval area such as a vend bucket. Either a single button or multiple buttons can be associated with a particular product. However, it is necessary in such prior art machines to utilize the selection means to individually select each product that the customer wishes to purchase from a machine or from multiple machines .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION;

The present invention provides an advantage over prior art vending machines by providing a selection method and mechanism which causes multiple products from one or more vending machines to be dispensed through use of a single selection. The single selection mechanism can be the use of a single button either dedicated to this function or can be a button designated from the normal buttons on a selection keypad. The single selection can be the pushing of multiple buttons in a single selection process. All of these alternatives for selecting result in the dispensing of multiple products from a single selection process, either simultaneously or sequentially

The use of such "bundled" purchases in a vending machine can yield increased sales and opportunities for new market promotions. Bundled purchasing allows for two or more products to be sold together with a single interaction with the vending machine. Increased sales revenues can be achieved by offering both products at a price less than the amount charged if both products were sold separately but greater than the price of each individual product. Marketing opportunities become available when customers are enticed to try new products at reduced prices that are linked by brand name to older better known products . As an example, a customer could purchase a drink and a snack as a combined single purchase transaction by pressing a single selection button which activates a single combination machine such as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,730,750 or possibly two different machines (a drink machine and a snack machine) to each dispense a product. Printed or electronic communication on the machine can alert customers to the potential to bundle a purchase. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS;

FIGURE 1. is a front view of a vending machine which can be utilized to practice the method of the present invention; and

FIGURE 2. is a side view of the vending machine of FIGURE 1 with a portion cutaway showing an interior cross-section.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT;

Illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a common form of vending machine 10 that can be utilized to practice the present invention. However, this particular machine is for exemplary purposes only and the present invention is intended to be usable on any type of vending machine that utilizes a microprocessor or other logic circuit or control mechanism to control it so long as it is capable of operating in accordance with the principals of the present invention. Vending machine 10 is disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,730,750, incorporated herein by reference. It has a snack storage and dispensing area 12 and a refrigerated soda storage and dispensing area 14. The snacks are stored in spiral members 16 which are rotated to force the outermost snack off of the shelve 18 so that it falls into a vend bucket 19 for retrieval by a customer. Cans of soda 20, or the like, are stored in a serpentine shelf and vended individually by a mechanism 21 in a well known manner. To operate the machine coins or other means of establishing credit in the machine are placed in the machine through the customer interactive area 22 and the customer then makes a selection with the buttons 24. A microprocessor 26 then controls the machine in a well known manner to cause a selected article to be vended. - However, in accordance with the present invention the microprocessor 26 is programmed to vend more than one article when the customer makes a single selection. For example, the machine can be programmed to vend two snacks from two different spiral members 16, or to vend one snack from a spiral vendor and a can of soda 20 from the refrigerated storage and dispensing area 14.. Any combination of items can be programmed in the microprocessor 26 to vend simultaneously or sequentially.

Also, it is contemplated that the method of the present invention can be utilized with more than one vending machine so long as they are capable of communication sufficiently to cause a vend from more than one machine . For example, there are known in the art so called "slaved" machines where a single customer interactive area such as area 22 in FIGURE 1 controls machine 10 and is additionally wired to a second machine placed next to it so as to cause selections to be vended f om either machine . It is contemplated in accordance with the present invention that the prices of the multiple articles to be vended from a single selection can either be the same as or less than the individual selection price. Also, the single selection can be programmed in the microprocessor 26 to be effected either with a single button or with multiple buttons, but with only a single establishing of credit in the machine 10 by a customer. In order to advise a customer that a "bundled" selection is available, it is contemplated that an electronic messaging area 28 can be utilized to provide an appropriate message to a customer prior to making a selection, or a simple printed sign could be placed in a visible area of the machine 10, such as inside the machine so that it is visible through the glass panel in the front of the machine, or a sign could be placed close to the machine. In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

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

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS;

1. A method of controlling vending of products from at least one vending machine, comprising the steps of: providing at least one microprocessor controlled vending machine; programming a microprocessor controller of the at least one vending machine, which controls vending of products from the at least one machine, to vend multiple products from the machine based on a single selection input by a customer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the single selection is made with a single button.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the single selection is made with a single button.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to allow the selection after sufficient credit has been established in the machine .

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a single microprocessor is utilized to make vends from more than one machine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple products are vended simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple products are vended sequentially.

8. A vending machine, comprising: a multiple product storage and dispensing area; a product retrieval area; a customer interactive area for selection by a customer of product and establishment of credit in the machine; and a microprocessor for controlling the dispensing of product from the multiple product storage area to the product retrieval area and programmed to dispense more than one product from the product storage and dispensing area based on a single selection by a customer.

9. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to vend multiple products by the customer pushing a single button to make the selection after establishment of sufficient credit for that selection.

10. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to vend multiple products from a single selection by the customer pushing multiple buttons after establishment of sufficient credit for that selection.

11. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to vend the multiple products sequentially.

12. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to vend the multiple products simultaneously.

13. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the microprocessor controls more than one vending machine and the multiple products are vended from more than one vending machine.