IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0904587
(2010-10-14)
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등록번호 |
US-8788091
(2014-07-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
19 |
초록
▼
A modular vending and display system and a method of operation of the system, which is especially applicable to high-value and pilfer-prone products such as prestige fragrances, and to self-service shopping environments. The system enables shoppers to self-sample various scents and self-dispense fra
A modular vending and display system and a method of operation of the system, which is especially applicable to high-value and pilfer-prone products such as prestige fragrances, and to self-service shopping environments. The system enables shoppers to self-sample various scents and self-dispense fragrance product packages for later purchase. The system uses a plurality of modules which, upon actuation by a shopper, convey a package toward the shopper within individual enclosures such that only one package can be removed at a time, and then de-activate for a time delay period to prevent rapid removal of multiple packages from the module. The modules may interact, so that once a shopper has selected a product at one module in the system, other modules are also de-activated during the delay period. This reduces pilferage by making it difficult to remove more than one package during the delay period from a group of modules.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method of vending product packages using a plurality of modules for vending a plurality of product packages, the packages being housed in an enclosed row such that only a single front most package in the row can be removed by a shopper when it is advanced to an at least partially unenclosed sel
1. A method of vending product packages using a plurality of modules for vending a plurality of product packages, the packages being housed in an enclosed row such that only a single front most package in the row can be removed by a shopper when it is advanced to an at least partially unenclosed selection position within the row, all other packages in the row remaining enclosed such that the remaining packages cannot be removed by the shopper, the module comprising a selection input, a pusher for moving the product packages in the enclosed row, and a rear position sensor for sensing when the pusher is in a rearward position, the plurality of modules being coupled together by a data bus comprising at least a data line for communication between modules, the method comprising: a) accepting an indication on the selection input that the shopper wishes to remove a package;b) advancing the row of packages forward by moving a pusher until a package is in the at least partially unenclosed selection position within the row, allowing removal of the package which has been advanced to the selection position;c) de-activating the selection input for a delay period starting simultaneous with or immediately after the advancing step (b), and extending for a period of time after the ending of the advancing step (b) and initiating a condition on the data line during the delay period, such that no further packages can be advanced to the selection position from any of the plurality of modules during the delay period;d) activating the selection input after the delay period;e) repeating the method from step (a) until no more packages remain in the row;f) accepting a refill indication; andg) retracting the pusher rearwardly, until the rear position sensor senses that the pusher is in the rearward position, such that additional packages may be inserted into the row from a front of the module. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a sample for a shopper to select. 3. The method of claim 2, in which the sample is provided in a sample module in the module for vending. 4. The method of claim 1, in which the module further comprises a selection position sensor adjacent to the selection position for sensing a presence of a package in the selection position, and the advancing step (b) advances the packages until a package is sensed by the selection position sensor. 5. The method of claim 1, in which the module further comprises a selection position sensor adjacent to the selection position for sensing a presence of a package in the selection position, and the activating step (d) only activates the selection input if no package is sensed in the selection position. 6. The method of claim 1, in which the module further comprises a queue position sensor for sensing a package is in a queue position, the queue position being such that a package in the queue position is at a forward position in the enclosed row, but not far enough forward for the package to be grasped by a shopper, and the method further comprises, after the delay period of step (c), advancing the row of packages forward until the queue position sensor senses a package is in the queue position. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: after retracting the pusher, accepting an indication on the selection input; andadvancing the pusher until a first package is adjacent to, but not in, the selection position. 8. The method of claim 1, in which the refill indication comprises activating the selection input for a selected period of time. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising each module monitoring the data line and, while the condition is detected on the data line, de-activating the selection input, such that no packages can be removed during the delay period. 10. A product package vending system comprising a plurality of modules coupled together by at least one data line, each module comprising: a conveyor module having a front and a rear and a top surface for supporting a plurality of product packages arranged in a row, comprising: a pusher on the top surface of the conveyor module, movable from a rear position adjacent to the rear of the conveyor module to an empty position adjacent to the front of the conveyor module, for moving the row of product packages along the top surface of the conveyor;a controller coupled to the pusher and coupled to the data line;a selection input coupled to the controller; anda pair of row dividers and a roof, located over the conveyor module, forming an enclosure for the plurality of packages in a row,the row dividers and roof being arranged such that when a row of product packages is in the enclosure, with the package closest to the front of the conveyor module being in a selection position, only the package in the selection position can be removed by a shopper, all other packages in the row remaining enclosed and unavailable for removal by the shopper;such that when the selection input is activated, the controller causes the pusher to move toward the front of the conveyor module, advancing the row of packages until a package is in the selection position, allowing removal of the package;the controller in each of the plurality of modules being programmed such that a condition is indicated on the data line for a delay period starting simultaneous with or immediately after the controller causing the pusher to move, and extending for a period of time after the package is in the selection position; andthe controller in at least one module of the plurality of modules being programmed such that the pusher in the module is not moved while a condition is detected on the data line. 11. A method of vending product packages using at least one module for vending a plurality of product packages, the packages being housed in an enclosed row such that only a single front most package in the row can be removed by a shopper when it is advanced to an at least partially unenclosed selection position within the row, all other packages in the row remaining enclosed such that the remaining packages cannot be removed by the shopper, the module comprising a selection input, a pusher for moving the product packages in the enclosed row, and a queue position sensor for sensing a package is in a queue position, the queue position being such that a package in the queue position is at a forward position in the enclosed row, but not far enough forward for the package to be grasped by a shopper, the method comprising: a) accepting an indication on the selection input that the shopper wishes to remove a package;b) advancing the row of packages forward by moving a pusher until a package is in the at least partially unenclosed selection position within the row, allowing removal of the package which has been advanced to the selection position;c) de-activating the selection input for a delay period starting simultaneous with or immediately after the advancing step (b), and extending for a period of time after the ending of the advancing step (b), such that no further packages can be advanced to the selection position during the delay period;d) after the delay period of step (c), advancing the row of packages forward until the queue position sensor senses a package is in the queue position;e) after the delay period of step (c), activating the selection input; andf) repeating the method from step (a) until no more packages remain in the row. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a sample for a shopper to select. 13. The method of claim 12, in which the sample is provided in a sample module in the module for vending. 14. The method of claim 11, in which the module further comprises a selection position sensor adjacent to the selection position for sensing a presence of a package in the selection position, and the advancing step (b) advances the packages until a package is sensed by the selection position sensor. 15. The method of claim 11, in which the module further comprises a selection position sensor adjacent to the selection position for sensing a presence of a package in the selection position, and the activating step (e) only activates the selection input if no package is sensed in the selection position. 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: accepting a refill indication; andretracting the pusher rearwardly, such that additional packages may be inserted into the row from a front of the module. 17. The method of claim 16, in which the module further comprises a rear position sensor for sensing when the pusher is in a rearward position, and the retracting step comprises moving the pusher rearwardly until the rear position sensor senses that the pusher is in the rearward position. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: after retracting the pusher, accepting an indication on the selection input; andadvancing the pusher until a first package is adjacent to, but not in, the selection position. 19. The method of claim 16, in which the refill indication comprises activating the selection input for a selected period of time.
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