초록 ▼

In accordance with one embodiment, a vending machine comprises a plurality of receptacles for holding units of products, each receptacle operable to hold a respective plurality of units in a series. The vending machine further comprises a dispensing mechanism operable to dispense, from each receptac

In accordance with one embodiment, a vending machine comprises a plurality of receptacles for holding units of products, each receptacle operable to hold a respective plurality of units in a series. The vending machine further comprises a dispensing mechanism operable to dispense, from each receptacle, a first unit in the respective plurality of units, the dispensing mechanism thereby being operable to dispense only a first unit from the respective series at a time. The vending machine further comprises a means for determining, for a unit, information allowing a relationship among the unit and a location of the unit in the receptacle to be determined.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method, comprising:storing, in a memory of a vending machine, an indication of a first price and an indication of a second price associated with a single receptacle of the vending machine, the receptacle being operable to store a plurality of units of products,wherein the in

What is claimed is: 1. A method, comprising:storing, in a memory of a vending machine, an indication of a first price and an indication of a second price associated with a single receptacle of the vending machine, the receptacle being operable to store a plurality of units of products,wherein the indication of the first price comprises an indication that a unit of product next available for vending from the receptacle is available for inclusion in a package of products,wherein the indication of the second price comprises an indication that a unit of product next available for vending from the receptacle is not available for inclusion in a package of products, andwherein only one of the indication of the first price and the indication of the second price is active at a time; andstoring, in the memory of the vending machine, a rule for determining which one of the indication of first price and the indication of the second price is to be active, the rule being a rule based at least on inventory data of the vending machine.