Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating module-based vending
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G07F-009/00
B60P-003/025
G06Q-030/02
G07F-009/10
G07F-011/04
G07F-011/36
G07F-011/54
출원번호
US-0516563
(2014-10-16)
등록번호
US-9589411
(2017-03-07)
발명자
/ 주소
Shimmerlik, Brian
Bofill, Steven
Bofill, Brian
Mohammed, Jafar
Gartenberg, Adam
출원인 / 주소
Vengo Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Downs, Michael D.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
37
초록▼
Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for modular vending systems utilizing reloadable product dispensing modules, including, but not limited to, vertical product dispensing modules comprising a vertical conveyor and a mounting structure for releasably engaging with module
Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for modular vending systems utilizing reloadable product dispensing modules, including, but not limited to, vertical product dispensing modules comprising a vertical conveyor and a mounting structure for releasably engaging with module holder structures of modular vending machines, and a central controller device for communicating with a plurality of modular vending machines.
대표청구항▼
1. A product dispensing module of a modular vending machine system, the product dispensing module comprising: a vertical conveyor comprising a plurality of product supporting positions in a substantially vertical arrangement;a coupler connected to the vertical conveyor, the coupler being configured
1. A product dispensing module of a modular vending machine system, the product dispensing module comprising: a vertical conveyor comprising a plurality of product supporting positions in a substantially vertical arrangement;a coupler connected to the vertical conveyor, the coupler being configured for coupling with a drive assembly of a modular vending machine for operating the vertical conveyor; anda container connected to the coupler, the container comprising at least one wall configured to retain products in the product supporting positions of the vertical conveyor,wherein the container comprises at least one mounting structure component configured to releasably secure the container to hang vertically within a modular vending machine,wherein the mounting structure component is configured to be removably engaged with at least one supporting shelf of the modular vending machine. 2. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the vertical conveyor comprises a helical coil rotatably mounted in the container. 3. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the vertical conveyor comprises a screw-type conveyor rotatably mounted in the container. 4. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall comprises: a first side wall, a second side wall and a third side wall. 5. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the container comprises an opening providing user access to the plurality of product supporting positions. 6. The product dispensing module of claim 1, the at least one wall of the container being configured to have one of: a substantially rectangular lateral cross section,a substantially square lateral cross section,a substantially triangular lateral cross section,a substantially elliptical lateral cross section, ora substantially circular lateral cross section. 7. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall comprises a top side wall of the container, wherein the vertical conveyor is connected to the top side wall. 8. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one wall comprises an opening, and wherein the vertical conveyor is connected to the coupler through the opening. 9. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall comprises at least one pair of grooves configured to receive a removable panel. 10. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one wall is adjustable to provide at least two different depths of the container for holding products of different sizes. 11. The product dispensing module of claim 1, further comprising: a coupler lock attached to the container, the coupler lock being configured to substantially prevent movement of the coupler and the vertical conveyor when the coupler is not coupled to a drive assembly for operating the vertical conveyor, the coupler lock being further configured to allow movement of the coupler and the vertical conveyor to dispense products when the coupler is coupled to a drive assembly for operating the vertical conveyor. 12. The product dispensing module of claim 11, wherein the coupler is rotatable and wherein the coupler lock is configured to engage the coupler to prevent the coupler from rotating. 13. The product dispensing module of claim 11, wherein the coupler lock is movable from a first coupler lock position for engaging the coupler to prevent movement of the coupler to a second coupler lock position for disengaging the coupler to allow movement of the coupler. 14. The product dispensing module of claim 13, wherein the coupler lock is slidable from the first coupler lock position to the second lock position. 15. The product dispensing module of claim 13, the coupler lock being configured so coupling the coupler with a drive assembly for operating the vertical conveyor moves the coupler from the first coupler lock position to the second coupler lock position. 16. The product dispensing module of claim 13, the coupler lock being configured so coupling the coupler with a drive assembly for operating the vertical conveyor causes the drive assembly to push the coupler from the first coupler lock position to the second coupler lock position. 17. The product dispensing module of claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to the container. 18. The product dispensing module of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of products, each product being stored in a respective one of the plurality of product supporting positions of the vertical conveyor. 19. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one wall has a vertical height not greater than seven inches. 20. The product dispensing module of claim 1, further comprising a data storage device storing an identifier that identifies the product dispensing module. 21. The product dispensing module of claim 20, the data storage device being configured to communicate with a processing device of a vending unit for reading the identifier. 22. The product dispensing module of claim 20, the data storage device being configured to connect electronically with a processing device configured to read the data storage device when the coupler is coupled to a drive assembly. 23. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting structure component comprises a snap joint component configured to releasably engage with a corresponding mating component of the modular vending machine. 24. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure component comprises a gap configured to receive the at least one supporting shelf of the modular vending machine. 25. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure component comprises: a coupler platform,a container platform separated from the coupler platform by a gap, andwherein the gap between the couple platform and the container platform is configured to receive the at least one supporting shelf of the modular vending machine. 26. The product dispensing module of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure component comprises a snap joint component configured to engage with a corresponding depression of the at least one supporting shelf of the modular vending machine. 27. A cartridge for dispensing products vertically in a vending machine, the cartridge comprising: a first side panel;a second side panel;a rear panel connected to the first side panel along a first edge of the rear panel and connected to the second side panel along a second edge of the rear panel that is opposite the first edge;a cartridge coupler mechanism, connected to respective top edges of the first side panel, the second side panel and the rear panel, the cartridge coupler mechanism comprising: a rotatably securable coupler,a coupler housing configured, when in a first position, to secure the coupler from rotating and, when in a second position, to allow the coupler to rotate,a vertical dispensing coil connected to the rotatably securable coupler, anda mounting structure component configured to releasably secure the cartridge vertically within a housing of a vending machine,wherein the mounting structure component is configured to be removably engaged with at least one supporting shelf of the modular vending machine. 28. The cartridge of claim 27, the cartridge coupler mechanism further comprising a handle attached to an upper surface of the cartridge coupler mechanism. 29. The cartridge of claim 27, the cartridge coupler mechanism further comprising a data storage device storing an identifier that identifies the cartridge. 30. The cartridge of claim 27, wherein the coupler housing is configured to be slidable from the first position to the second position. 31. The cartridge of claim 27, the cartridge coupler mechanism further comprising a forcibly compressible mechanism allowing the coupler housing to slide from the first position to the second position when force is applied to the coupler housing and to return the coupler housing to the first position when force is not applied to the coupler housing. 32. The cartridge of claim 27, further comprising: a plurality of sets of corresponding grooves in each of the first side panel and the second side panel configured to receive a removable front panel, each set of corresponding grooves allowing for configuration of the cartridge at a plurality of different depths. 33. The cartridge of claim 27, further comprising a removable front panel. 34. The cartridge of claim 27, wherein the mounting structure component comprises a gap configured to receive the at least one supporting shelf of the vending machine. 35. The cartridge of claim 27, wherein the mounting structure component comprises: a coupler platform,a container platform separated from the coupler platform by a gap, andwherein the gap between the couple platform and the container platform is configured to receive the at least one supporting shelf of the vending machine. 36. The cartridge of claim 27, wherein the mounting structure component comprises a snap joint component configured to engage with a corresponding depression of the at least one supporting shelf of the vending machine.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (37)
Kasper Kazmier J., Apparatus for dispensing cards having an integrated circuit chip.
Gore LeRoy D. (Independence MO) Gillett William G. (Kansas City KS) Roberts George F. (Independence MO), Drawer apparatus for article dispensing machine.
Kusakawa,Sadao, Vending machine, dispense product determination method, stock product determination method, and system thereof, and cartridge for vending machine.
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