WO2009007766A1

WO2009007766A1 - Vending machine for medicines

Info

Publication number: WO2009007766A1
Application number: PCT/HU2008/000085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gábor FARKAS; Rudolf NÉMETH; Anna Kiss; Richárd MAYER; Helga Marinov; Balázs NAGY; László FÖLDES
Original assignee: B4 Group Ingatlanhasznosító Kft.
Priority date: 2007-07-11
Filing date: 2008-07-10
Publication date: 2009-01-15
Also published as: HUP1000298A2; HU0700117V0; HU3394U; EP2193508A1

Abstract

Vending machine comprising a product dispensing unit located in the safety-lock protected housing, where the product dispensing unit has multiple, independently controlled product dispensers, and where the product dispensing cell of the product dispensing unit has a hinged door opening to the front panel of the machine. The machine also comprises a coin identifying unit having a coin insertion slot disposed on the front panel, a coin return unit, and a banknote unit with a banknote insertion slot and a bank card reader unit having a bank card insertion slot, the machine further comprising a receipt printer, operating means and a display, which are all connected either directly or indirectly to the input and output ports of a control unit characterised by that the control unit is a computer, with1 the product dispensing unit, the bank -card reader unit, a wireless internet adapter, and a peripheral interface unit being connected to the control input-output ports of the computer. The coin identifying and coin return units, the banknote identifying unit, the receipt printer, the operating means implemented as buttons and also a door sensor, a motion sensor, an alarm, and an infrared sensor are connected to the compμter through the peripheral interface unit; and the computer further • comprises as peripherals a display monitor, an active speaker, a maintenance keyboard, a printer, and a WLAN network adapter.

Description

Vending machine for medicines

The object of the invention is an automatic product vending machine, particularly for vending medicines, that is capable of performing purchase transactions involving payment by coins and/or banknotes, bank or credit card, or through telecommunication means (with mobile phone using SMS); is also capable of issuing invoices (receipts), and of displaying and/or announcing identification data, usage information, etc. of the product (medicine) dispensed.

Automatic product vending machines are widespread in many areas. The mechanical design of such machines is primarily determined by the characteristics

(purpose, packaging) of the products they offer. Automatic vending machines are usually applied for the unattended vending of beverages, cigarettes, sweets, and hygiene products but automatic machines are also used for offering certain services, such as money exchange and ticket machines, and machines issuing receipts (e.g. for per-visit copayment).

Known solutions include for instance the machine described in the document HU 193 921 that has circular sector-shaped storage compartments. The compartments are turned about a vertical axis into the desired position by a locking disc having locking teeth corresponding in number to the number of compartments. The machine described in patent application with publication number H/113 was developed for dispensing cylindrical cans, and has can "towers" arranged on sloping tracks connected to one another by arced sections. The cigarette vending machine according to Hungarian utility model U 1868 has parallelly arranged piles of stock. Even nowadays, the majority of automatic vending machines is operated by coins. Accordingly, these machines have mostly mechanical coin identifying units (identifying coins by weight and size) applied for operating the dispensing mechanism. Solutions involving electric and electronic units also exist, such as the machine according to the patent ES 900 21 45, where coins are measured based on the deformation of a flexible strip, with a strain gauge being used as sensor, or the coin identifying unit according to the patent HU 171332, where the signal of an etalon oscillator circuit is compared with the signal of another oscillator that is modified by the inserted coin(s). Following user demand, payment methods available for purchasing products from vending machines have been developing constantly. First, machines accepting credit cards appeared on the market, and solutions providing the possibility of payment using mobile phone followed them shortly. An example of the latter type of machine is the automatic vending machine described in Hungarian patent HU 220 728. According to the document, the customer directly or indirectly communicates (expediently through a mobile phone network) with the vending machine using his/her mobile phone. Authorization of the purchase transaction is performed and details of the purchase are recorded in a processing centre, and the payment is carried out from the mobile phone account of the customer.

The advanced solution described in Hungarian patent application P 0700142 also provides the possibility of payment by mobile phone. According to this solution a network of vending machines has data transfer connection to a mobile phone exchange, with SMS messages being used for purchase authorization requests, purchase verification, authorization granting, and purchase confirmation.

All of these advanced vending machines have a control unit consisting primarily of a communication unit providing data transmission links and an output unit (usually connected to the communication unit through level converters) that provides electronic and/or electromechanical control of the "conventional" functional units, such as push buttons, coin identifying units, dispensing mechanisms, displays, etc. of the machine.

Our invention answers a specific new user demand that cannot be satisfied using existing solutions. In 2006 the out-of-pharmacy vending of non-prescription drugs (particularly fever reducers and pain relievers) was permitted for the first time in Hungary by a law (Law XCVIII, 2006) and ministerial order (44/2006. XII. 27. Eu.

M.).

The out-of-pharmacy vending of such "products" poses several problems. Unattended self service sale is not suitable for medicines, and over-the-counter-sale by non-qualified sales personnel is also undesirable.

We have recognised that the application of an automatic vending machine of a novel type may provide a solution to this problem. In addition to performing product dispensing the machine may assume the role of a pharmacist by "communicating" with the customer. Communication may include giving information on major medicine groups that can be purchased from the machine (e.g. analgesics, antipyretics, antispasmodics), their area of application, their indications and contraindications.

It is preferable if the machine may only be used by people with proper authorization (that is, the machine rejects customers under the age of 14), also if it may give other health preservation information to the patient upon request for establishing a successful self-diagnosis.

Our inventive objective has been therefore to provide an automatic product vending machine that is capable of performing all the above mentioned functions and has an arrangement that provides for the secure storage and dispensing of products with a larger range (30-50 different products) and in larger numbers than is possible with conventional machines while taking up a small space, with the machine being capable of performing purchasing transactions using any currently available mode of payment. We have recognised that these objectives may be fully realised by providing an advanced automatic product vending machine where the purchase process is fully controlled by a computerised control unit, starting from the arrival of the potential customer to the machine and ending with the chosen product having been dispensed together with a receipt and patient information sheet; and where the computerised control unit is applied for operating in a coordinated manner, with the help of control software running on the computer, the "conventional" units of the machine adapted for product dispensing and performing payment, as well as those units (included to meet novel requirements) that perform such substantially information technology- related roles, as communications and security, with the control unit also being applied for data storage and transfer.

Based on the above recognition the object of our invention is a product vending machine, particularly for vending medicines, comprising a product dispensing unit located in the safety-lock protected housing of the machine, where the product dispensing unit is connected to a control unit, and has multiple, independently controlled product storage elements that are connected to a common product dispensing cell having a hinged door opening to the front panel of the machine. The automatic product vending machine has coin identifying and coin return units, a banknote identifying unit and a bank card reader unit, all having - A - configurations known per se, with the coin insertion and coin return slots, as well as the banknote insertion slot and the card slot being disposed on the front panel. The operating means of the machine, together with a display monitor and the output slot of a receipt printer, are also located on the front panel. Novel features of our invention are that the control unit thereof is a computer having a maintenance keyboard, an active speaker, a printer, a WIFI wireless internet adapter, and a display monitor as peripherals, with the product dispensing unit, the bank card reader unit, a GSM communication unit, a further printer, and a peripheral interface unit being connected to the input-output control ports of the computer, through which peripheral interface unit the coin identifying and coin return units, the banknote identifying unit, and the push-button operating means are connected to the computer. The automatic product vending machine further comprises multiple safety sensors and indicators, namely an open door sensor, a motion sensor, and an alarm, all of which being connected to the computer through the peripheral interface unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of our solution a further, inner motion sensor is disposed in the housing. Similarly to other units, this motion sensor is connected to the computer through the peripheral interface unit.

A preferred embodiment of our solution has an AC/AC uninterruptible power supply. To provide 12 V DC voltage to the machine units, an AC/DC power supply is connected to the output of the uninterruptible power supply.

An air conditioner is expediently disposed in the housing of the vending machine.

The alarm applied for indicating the unauthorized opening of the machine is preferably implemented as an alarm siren.

The GSM communication unit included in the inventive automatic product vending machine is of a configuration known per se, expediently comprising two (GSM and GPRS) antennas.

In a preferred embodiment the computer has a fanless integrated motherboard with a memory capacity of at least 512 MByte.

In a further preferred embodiment the display monitor is implemented as a 19" LCD screen having a double airtight safety cover. The operating means are expediently implemented as LED-illuminated push buttons arranged at both sides of the display monitor.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive automatic product vending machine applied for vending medicines the product dispensing unit has multiple rack- type storage elements arranged below one another. The storage elements consist of supporting and product dispensing spirals disposed on trays, with a separate electric motor (controlled by the computer) being connected to each of the supporting and product dispensing spirals.

Each supporting and product dispensing spiral is preferably connected to the shaft of the corresponding electric motor through a gear assembly.

In a further preferred embodiment an infrared sensor adapted for detecting the presence of the just-dispensed product is disposed inside the product dispensing cell of the machine, which infrared sensor is connected to the computer through the peripheral interface unit. The output slots of the receipt printer and the printer applied for printing patient information sheets are expediently also disposed on the wall of the product dispensing cell.

Finally, in a further preferred embodiment a "customer identification" keyboard is disposed on the front panel of the machine. The identification keyboard is connected to the computer through the peripheral interface unit as well.

The configuration and operation of the inventive automatic product vending machine will now be described with the help of drawings and a preferred embodiment, where

Fig. 1 is the schematic block diagram of the automatic product vending machine, and

Fig. 2 is a more detailed schematic drawing of the product dispensing unit of the automatic product vending machine.

Fig. 1 shows the block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the automatic product vending machine that is intended primarily for vending (dispensing) medicines, is suitable for performing payment transactions using cash, bank card, and mobile phone, gives the customer a receipt and patient information, and also provides the customer with audiovisual information if desired. The block diagram of Fig. 1 shows all functional units of the exemplary embodiment of our automatic product vending machine, also illustrating the interconnections between functional units. Since the implementation of individual units is either known per se or is straightforward for people skilled in the art the configuration of the units is not shown in the drawing but may be referred to as examples in the present description.

The core unit of our solution is a computer 1 that performs the role of the control unit of the vending machine. The computer 1 is applied for controlling all operating processes of the machine, with a product dispensing unit 2 connected to input/output control port COM-1 , a bank card reader unit 3 connected to input/output control port COM-2, a peripheral interface unit 4 connected to input/output control port COM-3, a WIFI wireless internet adapter 5 connected to input/output control port COM-4, and a GSM communication unit 6 being connected to input/output control port COM-5. Further peripherals of the computer 1 are a display monitor 7 (in the preferred embodiment a 19" LCD screen with double airtight protective cover) connected to the VGA OUT port of the computer 1 ; an amplified speaker 8 connected to the AUDIO OUT port of the computer 1, a printer 9 connected to LPT1 , and a maintenance keyboard 10 connected to the KEYBOARD port. The units controlled by the computer 1 are connected to the computer 1 through standard RS 232 serial ports.

In the preferred embodiment the computer itself has a low-power consumption fully integrated fanless motherboard capable of round-the-clock continuous operation, has a memory capacity of 512 MByte, 6 USB ports and peripherals detailed above (video, sound, WIFI, WLAN, GSM-GPRS, etc.) Cooling of the computer 1 is provided by an air conditioner 20 built into the metal housing of the automatic product vending machine.

Some of the sensors of the vending machine, such as an open door sensor 12, an external motion sensor 13, an alarm (siren) 14, an infrared sensor 22 applied for detecting that a product has been properly dispensed, and also the operating means 11 of the machine - implemented in the preferred embodiment as LED illuminated push buttons 11 A, 11 B, ..., 11 H - are connected to the computer via the peripheral interface unit 4. A banknote identifying unit 15 (having a configuration known per se), a coin identifying unit 16, a coin return unit 17, and another receipt printer 21 are also connected to the peripheral interface unit 4.

The computer 1 of the automatic product vending machine preferably has a WLAN connection (not shown in the drawing) to the computer or cash register of the pharmacy that operates (and resupplies) the machine.

The inventive automatic product vending machine operates from the 230V 50Hz mains but for safety reasons comprises an 230V AC/ 230V AC uninterruptible power supply 18. To provide the 12 V DC voltage to the machine, an AC/DC power supply 19 is connected to the output of the uninterruptible power supply 18.

The commercially available air conditioner 20, disposed inside the housing (H) of the machine ensures that the computer 1 (the motherboard) is properly cooled for secure operation. (Power supply means of other units are not shown in the drawing.)

A preferred embodiment of the product dispensing unit 2 of the automatic medicine vending machine according to the invention is illustrated by a detailed schematic drawing shown in Fig. 2. As it is shown in Fig. 2, the product dispensing unit 2 has storage trays 2A arranged below one another. Supporting and product dispensing spirals 2B are disposed in compartments separated by side walls inside the trays 2A. The storage trays 2A are movably arranged, and may be removed and replaced from the metal housing of the machine together with the supporting and product dispensing spirals 2B as a single unit. The drawing shows the bottom tray 2B drawn out.

The supporting and product dispensing spirals 2B have different dimensions (diameters) corresponding to the size of medicine boxes to be dispensed. Depending on their size, 4, 6, or 8 supporting and product dispensing spirals 2B may be arranged on each tray.

The rear end of each supporting and product dispensing spiral 2B is connected to an electric motor through a gear assembly (motors and gears are not shown in the drawing). Each spiral is driven by a separate motor that is controlled by the computer 1 independently of other motors.

Under the bottommost storage tray 2A a product dispensing cell 2C is located, with the hinged door of the cell opening to front panel E of the housing H of the automatic product vending machine. (The infrared sensor 22, and the output slots of the printer 9 issuing a preferably A/4 format patient information sheet and of the receipt printer 21 are also located in the product dispensing cell 2C)

The operation of the automatic medicine vending machine illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2 by a preferred embodiment is explained below. In the normal ("ready") state of the machine the display monitor 7 shows a medicine advertisement as still image. When a potential customer walks up to the machine, the motion sensor 13 detects his/her presence (the detection distance is preferably 0.5 metre), and the machine delivers a video and audio greeting (the latter through speaker 8) to the customer. After the greeting (in 8-10 seconds) the customer receives textual and audio information on the major medicine groups offered by the automatic vending machine (preferably 8 major groups), and also on possible modes of payment.

Using the push buttons 11A, 11 B, ... 11 H located beside the display monitor 7 (more particularly, by pressing the button corresponding in number to the desired major medicine group) the customer selects a medicine group. The display monitor 7 then shows the electronic image and the price of the given medicine. The price is also announced through the speaker 8.

The customer decides to buy or reject the given medicine, and selects one from the available modes of payment. In case of cash payment the coins or banknotes are inserted, respectively, into the coin insertion slot 16A of the coin identifying unit 16 or into the banknote insertion slot 15A of the banknote identifying unit 15. In case of a payment by bank card or credit card the card is inserted into the card slot 3A of the card reader unit 3.

If the customer opted for paying with his/her mobile phone, detailed step-by- step instructions on payment by SMS appear on the display monitor 7 and voice instructions are also announced through speaker 8. (This feature is identical with the sequence of the purchasing method described in patent application P 0700142.)

After the "payment" transaction has been carried out, a "payment completed" order is transmitted to the computer 1 , either - in case of payment with coins or banknotes - directly from the coin identifying unit 16 or banknote identifying unit 15, or - in case of payment with card - through a data communication link. In case of a payment carried out using a mobile phone, the order is received through the GSM communication unit 6 from an external "content provider" (see for instance patent application P 0700142).

Based on transaction evaluation and verification results, the issuing process of the selected medicine can be started by entering the code of the medicine using the push buttons 11A-11H located beside the display monitor 7. The computer 1 gives control orders to the electric motor of the supporting and product dispensing spiral 2B of the product dispensing unit 2 holding the medicine box to be issued. The motor rotates the supporting and product dispensing spiral 2B to the necessary extent to dispense a medicine box by displacing it into the product dispensing cell 2C.

After receiving verification of the payment transaction the computer 1 enables the opening of the door of the product dispensing cell 2C so that the customer can take the medicine from the machine.

At the same time the receipt printer 21 of the machine prints a receipt, and the computer 1 issues orders to display patient information on the display monitor 7 as well as to print it, preferably in A/4 format on the printer 9. The patient information sheet may be taken from the output slot of the printer 9, preferably arranged also in the product dispensing cell.

After taking the medicine the customer moves away from the automatic product vending machine. This is detected by the motion sensor 13, whereupon all the functional devices are set into stand-by state by the computer 1. Through the WLAN adapter of the computer 1 the inventive automatic product vending machine has a continuous data link to a central computer applied for recording transactions. Preferably, this computer is operated by the pharmacy where the machine is installed, and which pharmacy operates and regularly resupplies the machine. Data on customer purchases are transmitted to the central pharmacy computer (or cash register) either continuously or at the end of the day. This provides the possibility of financial control (by state authorities) and ensures proper tax paying.

Apart from performing purchasing transactions, the GSM communication unit 6 built into the machine performs several other functions. The unit preferably has two separate (GSM and GPRS) antennas utilized for transmitting machine health data, information on potentially occurring faults, and on unauthorized opening or damaging of the machine to a data centre or to the pharmacy that operates the automatic product vending machine. (An "unauthorized opening" signal is also transmitted during a resupply operation until the authorization code is entered on the maintenance keyboard 10.)

The solution according to the invention has been explained by describing in detail an automatic product vending machine for vending medicines. It is obvious, however, that the configuration and operation of the automatic product vending machine is similar in case it is applied for vending other products. Though some actions (e.g. issuing a patient information sheet) need not be carried out, the hardware implementation may remain unchanged and only the operating software of the computer 1 has to be modified.

The mechanical arrangement of the product dispensing unit 2 described in relation to the preferred embodiment is ideal for dispensing a large number of products packaged in block-shaped boxes of different size. Product dispensing units having any other configuration - even a configuration known per se - may of course be applied. For instance, products may be dispensed using stepper motors or by other electric or electromechanical means, the sole requirement being that the dispensing operation should be controlled by the computer 1.

An embodiment intended to be used only by a group of customers with proper authorization should be mentioned here. (In case of medicines the group includes persons above the age of 14.) According to a possible arrangement of this solution a further opening is disposed on the front panel E of the housing H of the machine for receiving a card-type identity document. The computer 1 gives or denies authorization to purchase products from the machine on the basis of birth date data read from the ID card introduced into the machine by the customer.

In sum, the automatic product vending machine (developed for vending nonprescription drugs outside pharmacies) may be advantageously applied for securely vending other boxed products utilizing different modes of payment. The configuration of the machine provides that visual and/or audio information may be conveyed to the customer, receipts and printed information sheets may be issued, and the details of transactions (number, type and price of products) may be recorded in a way that complies with tax regulations. Utilized as an automatic medicine vending machine, the invention fulfils health administration requirements stated in applicable laws.

Claims

1. Product vending machine, particularly for vending medicines, comprising a product dispensing unit (2) located in the safety-lock protected housing (H) of the machine, where the product dispensing unit (2) has multiple, independently controlled product dispensers, and where the product dispensing cell (2C) of the product dispensing unit (2) has a hinged door opening to the front panel (E) of the machine, the machine also comprising a coin identifying unit (16) having a coin insertion slot (16A) disposed on the front panel (E), a coin return unit (17) having a coin return slot (17A), and a banknote identifying unit (15) with a banknote insertion slot (15A) and/or a bank card reader unit (3) having a bank card insertion slot (3A), the machine further comprising a receipt printer (21), operating means (11) and a display (7), which are all connected either directly or indirectly to the input and output ports of a control unit, characterised by that the control unit is a mains-operated computer (1) where the product dispensing unit (2), the bank card reader unit (3), a WIFI wireless internet adapter (5) or GSM communication unit (6), and a peripheral interface unit (4) are connected to the control input-output ports (to COM-1 , COM-2, COM-4, COM-5, COM-3, respectively) of the computer (1), with the coin identifying and coin return units (16, 17), the banknote identifying unit (15), the receipt printer (21), the operating means

(11) implemented as push buttons (11 A, 11 B, ..., 11 H) and also an open door sensor (12), a motion sensor (13), an alarm (14), and an infrared sensor (22) being connected to the computer (1) through the peripheral interface unit (4); and where the computer (1) further comprises as peripherals a display monitor (7), an active speaker (8), a maintenance keyboard (10), a printer (9), and a WLAN network adapter.

2. The automatic product vending machine according to Claim 1 , characterised by that a further, inner motion sensor is disposed in the housing (H), where said motion sensor is also connected through a peripheral interface unit (4) to a control input- output port (COM-3) of the computer (1).

3. The automatic product vending machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised by that it has an uninterruptible power supply (18), with an AC/DC power supply (19) being connected to the output thereof.

4. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterised by that an air conditioner (20) is disposed in the housing (H) thereof.

5. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-4, characterised by that the alarm (14) thereof applied for indicating unauthorised opening of the machine is an alarm siren.

6. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterised by that the GSM communication unit (6) thereof has two antennas for providing GSM and GPRS communication.

7. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-6, characterised by that the control computer (1) thereof has an integrated fanless motherboard having at least 512 M Byte of memory and being capable of round-the- clock continuous operation.

8. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-7, characterised by that the display monitor (7) thereof is a 19" LCD screen having a double airtight (safety glass or anti-scratch polyethylene) protective cover.

9. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-8, characterised by that the operating means (11) thereof are LED-illuminated push buttons (11 A, 11 B, ... 11H).

10. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-9, characterised by that the product dispensing unit (2) thereof contains multiple rack- type supporting and product dispensing spirals (2B) arranged on trays (2A) that are located under one another and are removable from the housing (H) of the machine, with the rear end of each product dispensing spiral (2B) being connected to an electric motor controlled by the computer (1).

11. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-10, characterised by that the supporting and product dispensing spirals (2B) of the product dispensing unit (2) thereof are connected to the driving electric motors through gear assemblies.

12. The automatic product vending machine according to any one of Claims 1-11 , characterised by that the infrared sensor (22) is disposed in the product dispensing cell (2C) thereof, with the infrared sensor (22) being connected to the computer (1) through the peripheral interface unit (4).