The present invention relates to a dispensing machine, and the related operating method, comprising means for dispensing packaged and/or unpackaged edible goods/beverages, a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine and provided with memory means to store and
The present invention relates to a dispensing machine, and the related operating method, comprising means for dispensing packaged and/or unpackaged edible goods/beverages, a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine and provided with memory means to store and retrieve digital data, a user interface for showing information to the user and for retrieving input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit. The user interface is a graphic user interface GUI comprising a touch-panel integrated in a graphic screen capable to display multimedia content including moving images. The content and/or form of said information shown on the screen is changed by the control unit on the basis of at least one parameter related to any of the operative status of the machine, the location wherein the machine is running, the calendar date and/or the daily time, statistics indicative of previous selections made by user(s) or on the basis of the signal provided by at least one sensor of the machine detecting proximity of the user(s).
대표청구항▼
1. A dispensing machine, comprising: a dispensing unit operable to dispense packaged and unpackaged products;a control unit, implemented by a central processing unit, connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine and provided with a memory operable to store and retrieve digita
1. A dispensing machine, comprising: a dispensing unit operable to dispense packaged and unpackaged products;a control unit, implemented by a central processing unit, connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine and provided with a memory operable to store and retrieve digital data; anda user interface operable to show information to a user and to retrieve input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit, said user interface being a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen operable to display at least part of virtual buttons and virtual shelves, wherein said virtual buttons on the display are operable to send a command to the control unit related to product information displayed on said display and said virtual shelves on the display are operable to display to the user available products for dispensing, said virtual including a window panel as a virtual shelf that shows the products for sale by the dispensing machine, and, in response to the input commands from the user for choice of products from the dispensing unit or screen modification by displaying additional product information in response to the user pressing a corresponding virtual button of a desired product, the control unit controls the interface to dynamically modify the display on the graphic screen to relate to details of the input commands from the user and the dispensing unit to perform the dispensing of at least one of said packaged or unpackaged products of said available products selected by the user from the dispensing machine. 2. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said control unit changes or alters at least a position of at least part of said virtual buttons on the basis of a control unit command depending on a machine related parameter. 3. The dispensing machine according to claim 2, wherein said machine related parameter is selected from product profitability and product shelf-life. 4. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said GUI includes a touch-panel comprising sensors to detect pressure exerted by the user and the graphic screen is selected from an LCD monitor, or a plasma monitor. 5. The dispensing machine according to claim 2, wherein said machine related parameter is selected from a fault-condition or a remaining life-span of a component or part or module of the machine, an available quantity of the products, or ingredients, or water, a temperature of at least one of the products to be dispensed, a temperature of a site where the machine is located, a granulometry of an ingredient, and a pressure or a temperature of water to be used for preparing a beverage. 6. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit alters said virtual buttons and multimedia content displayed on the screen according to an identify of said user. 7. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, further comprising means to inform said control unit of a status of the products to be sold and a status of machine components. 8. The dispensing machine according to 7, wherein said means to inform are selected from tags and RFIDS. 9. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the screen is operable to display multimedia content and said multimedia content comprises weather forecasts, news update and advertisements. 10. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein the screen is operable to display multimedia content and said multimedia content comprises a profile of a selection made by the user, a time-remaining to completion of a vend, a number and type of available selections, prices of available products, and promotional advertising on available selections. 11. The dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is connected to a remote managing server. 12. A method for operating a dispensing machine, comprising: controlling, via a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the dispensing machine and provided with a memory storing and retrieving digital data, a user interface showing information to a user;retrieving input commands, via the user interface, from the user to be sent to the control unit, said user interface being a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen displaying at least part of virtual buttons and virtual shelves, wherein said virtual buttons on the display send a command to the control unit related to product information displayed on a display and said virtual shelves display to the user available products for dispensing, and said control unit changes or alters at least part of at least said virtual buttons on the basis of a the command sent from one of the virtual buttons or one or more machine related parameters, and said virtual shelves including a window panel as a virtual shelf that shows the products for sale by the dispensing machine, wherein said available products comprise packaged and unpackaged products;in response to the input commands from the user for choice of products from the dispensing machine or screen modification by displaying additional product information in response to the user pressing a corresponding virtual button of a desired product, dynamically modifying the display on the graphic screen to relate to details of the input commands from the user; anddispensing at least one of said packaged or unpackaged products of said available products selected by the user from the dispensing machine. 13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising changing at least a position of said virtual buttons upon command from one of the virtual buttons or upon detection of said machine related parameter. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said machine related parameter is selected from profitability of the product and product shelf-life. 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said machine related parameter is selected from profitability of the product and product shelf-life. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least the information on said product shelf life is obtained from a tag or RFID provided on said product. 17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said machine related parameter is selected from a geographical location of the dispensing machine, a calendar date, a day time, statistics or log data indicative of previous selections made by at least one user, a signal provided by at least one sensor of the machine detecting proximity of the at least one user, an ambient temperature, a temperature of machine components, ambient humidity, information on the products contained in the machine, status of the machine components, a fault-condition or a remaining life-span of one of the components or a part or a module of the machine, an available quantity of the products or ingredients or water, a temperature of at least one of the products to be dispensed, a temperature of a site where the machine is located, a granulometry of an ingredient, a pressure or a temperature of water to be used for preparing a beverage, a profile of the selection made by the user, time-remaining to completion of a vend, a number and type of available selections, and prices of available products. 18. The method according to claim 12, wherein a form or content of said information shown to the user by the user interface dynamically changes during a time frame wherein the user makes selections through a touch-panel. 19. A dispensing machine, comprising: a control unit, implemented by a central processing unit, connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine and provided with a memory operable to store and retrieve digital data; anda user interface operable to show information to a user and to retrieve input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit, said user interface being a graphic user interface (GUI) comprising a graphic screen operable to display at least part of virtual buttons and virtual shelves, wherein said virtual buttons on the display are operable to send a command to the control unit related to product information displayed on said display and said virtual shelves on the display are operable to display to the user available products for dispensing, said virtual shelves including a window panel as a virtual shelf that shows the products for sale by the dispensing machine, and wherein the control unit is adapted to dynamically change a number, an aspect position, and content of the virtual buttons to fit on space available on the display of the graphic screen separate from space on the display operable to display multimedia content, in response to the input commands from the user for choice of products from the dispensing machine or screen modification by displaying additional product information in response to the user pressing a corresponding virtual button of a desired product, wherein the products available for dispensing comprise packaged and unpackaged products, and wherein the control unit controls dispensing of at least one of said packaged or unpackaged products of said available products selected by the user from the dispensing machine.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (10)
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