Vending machine remote sensing of contents apparatus

Abstract

A vending machine remotes contents sensing apparatus collects information from the actual delivery of a product, sends it on to an MCU, then to a CPU, to the internet, to a remote receiver with a web interface application on a web page for access by a service person for real time delivery information.

Claims

1. A remote sensing system for sensing vending machine content comprising: a) a central processing unit (CPU) b) a microcontroller (MPU) c) a product tray d) at least one product delivery drive e) at least one product delivery feed f) at least one product delivery facilitator g) at least one switch, and h) at least one magnet wherein said at least one switch is mounted on said product tray, wherein said at least one magnet is attached to said at least one product movement facilitator, wherein when a customer purchases a product in said product tray, said at least one product delivery drive rotates said at least one product movement facilitator attached to the product delivery feed and rotates said at least one product delivery feed to deliver the product from said product tray, wherein when said at least one product movement facilitator is rotated, said at least one magnet on said at least one product movement facilitator is rotated past said at least one switch on said product tray, wherein when said at least one magnet is rotated past said at least one switch, said at least one switch is activated into a passing mode such that an electrical signal passes from the product delivery feed to said MCU, the electrical signal signifying a delivery of the product, wherein said MCU transforms said electrical signal into information in a usable format and passes said information in the usable format to said CPU.

2. The remote sensing system of vending machine contents of claim 1 further comprising an internet service provider (ISP) wherein the CPU transmits the information in the usable format to the internet service provider, wherein the transmitted information in the usable format is available to a remote receiver with a web page with a web page interface application program, wherein the web page with the web interface application program has the information in the usable format transforms the information in the usable format into information that can be accessed and read by a serviced person, and wherein the information that can be accessed by a service person is real time readable information on the product actually delivered.

3. The remote sensing system for sensing vending machine content of claim 2 further comprises a coin collector comprising: a) weight sensor, b) a coin track, and c) a coin collection container, wherein said weight sensor weighs coins in said coin collection container, wherein information of a weight and number of said coins in said coin collection container is transmitted to said MCU, wherein said MCU transforms said information of the weight and number of said coins into a usable format and passes said information in said usable form to said CPU, wherein said CPU passes said information in said usable format on to the Internet, wherein a service person can access said information in said usable format in a readable form on said webpage with said web interface application program in said remote receiver with said web interface application for an approximate value of coins received.

4. The remote sensing system for sensing vending machine content of claim 1 wherein the information contained in the CPU can be accessed by a service person with a computer.

5. The remote sensing system for sensing vending machine content of claim 1, further comprise a money bill collector comprising: a) a bill reception slot, b) a channel, c) a storage area, d) a floating plate, e) at least one spring, a proximity sensor, wherein when a plurality of money bills are inserted into said bill reception slot, each of said money bills is passed through said channel, into said storage area, against said floating plate, wherein said floating plate is biased against said money bills as they accumulate by said at least one spring, wherein said proximity sensor counts each said money bill as received and also senses a distance from said proximity sensor to said floating plate for evaluation of remaining capacity in said storage area for storage of additional said money bill storage which permits calculation of an approximate value of the money bills collected and communicates with said MCU which transforms the information from said proximity sensor into a usable format and passes said usable format of said information to the CPU which passes said usable format of said information to the Internet where the information in the usable format can be pulled up on a web page with a web interface application program of a remote receiver, in a readable form by a service person for evaluation of when to pick up said money bills collected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 8 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for the remote sensing of vending machine contents.

(2) FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, illustrate details of the alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(3) Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 8, the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vending machine remote contents sensing apparatus 100 for a vending machine 80 comprises a product delivery drive 71, a product delivery feed 72, a product movement facilitator 81, a remote receiver 10 with web page with a web interface application program, a central processing unit (CPU) 30, a microcontroller unit (MCU) 40, a coin collector 50, a bill collector 60, and a product tray 70.

(4) The coin collector 50 (Ref FIGS. 2 and 4) comprises a coin weight sensor 52, a light sensor 53, a coin track 54, and the coin collection container 56 for collecting coins 51.

(5) The light sensor 53 senses each coin 51 from the coin track 54 into the coin collection container 56 for collecting coins 51. The information of the sensing of each coin 51 as it passes through the coin track 54 is communicated for further processing to count how many coins 51 have been sensed by the light sensor 53.

(6) In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as a coin 51 is collected by the coin collection container 56, the coin weight sensor 52 senses the weight of the coins 51 in the coin collection container. Information gathered by the weight sensor 52 is transmitted from the weight sensor 52 for processing.

(7) The processing of the weight information permits determination of coin information, such as but not restricted to, total coins 51 weight, number of coins 51 collected by tallying each instance of a change in weight of the total coins 51 weight as each additional coin 51 is added, and each coin 51 face value from the change in weight of the total collection of coins 51, as different coins have different weights, which permits at least an approximate tally of the value of the coins 51 collected in the coin collection container 56.

(8) An alternative to the aforementioned determination of a coin 51 face value would be to estimate from the total number of coins 51 collected using historical data of what the typical mix of face value of coins 51 collected in previous collections of coins 51 collected.

(9) Information from the coin weight sensor 52 and the light sensor 53 is communicated to the MCU 40 through wiring 41. The MCU 40 transforms the information into a usable format. The information in the usable format is passed on to the CPU 30, then to the internet then to the remote receiver 10 equipped with the web page with the web interface application program which computes the at least approximate value of coins 51 collected, which is adequate information for determining when collection of the coins 51 is worth the time and expense of a service call.

(10) Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the bill collector 60 comprises a bill reception slot 62, a channel 63, a storage area 64, a floating plate 65, springs 66, and a proximity sensor 67 for sensing how many money bills 61 have been collected.

(11) When a money bill 61 is inserted into the bill reception slot 62, said bill 61 is passed through the channel 63 into the storage area 64.

(12) The floating plate 65 is spring biased against bills 61 collected by the at least one spring 66.

(13) The proximity sensor 67, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a photoelectric cell proximity light sensor 67.

(14) As the floating plate 65 is displaced by the bill 61 passing into the storage area 64, the proximity sensor 67 counts each money bill 61 as received into the storage area 64 and also judges the floating plate 65 displacement which permits an approximation of the value of the bills 61 based on accumulated averages of said bills 61 denomination obtained from previous bills 61 collections. The floating plate 65 displacement from the proximity sensor 67 is communicated by wiring 41 to the MCU 40 wherein the MCU receives information, such as, but not restricted to, the number of bills 61 collected as well as the storage area 64 capacity available. The MCU 40 also converts the information received into a usable format which is then transmitted to the CPU 30 which passes on the information in the usable format to the internet where it can be accessed on the aforementioned web page with the web interface application program by a service man by means of the remote receiver 10. The remote receiver 10 with the web interface application calculates and transforms the information received such as, but not restricted to, number of bills 61 collected, approximate value of bills 61 collected based on bill 61 denomination mixes from past collections, and remaining storage area 64 capacity for storing more bills 61.

(15) Knowing the number of bills 61 received and also the approximate value of the bills 61 in the storage area 64 is of value for knowing when the time and expense of a service call to collect the bills 61 is worthwhile.

(16) The product tray 70 comprises at least one product delivery drive 71, at least one product delivery feed 72, and at least one product movement facilitator 81.

(17) In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one product delivery drive 71 is a rotary electric motor.

(18) The CPU 30 is powered by a power source 43 through a power source wire 42.

(19) In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the switch 73 is a reed switch mounted to the product tray 70 (Ref. FIG. 2) when wiring 41 is used to communicate information from the switch 73 to the MCU 40.

(20) A magnet 74 is affixed to the product movement facilitator 81 (Ref FIG. 2).

(21) The switch 73 is actuated into a passing (i.e. closed) mode by the magnet 74, affixed to the product movement facilitator 81, which is attached to the product delivery feed 72. When the product delivery drive 71 rotates, a product 75 is delivered by the product delivery feed 72 and the product delivery feed 72, information in the form of an electrical signal passes on, through wiring 41 to the MCU 40, which transforms the information into a usable format to the CPU 30. The information in the usable format, that the product 75, is being delivered can then sent to the internet service provider (ISP) 20 which transmits the information is to the remote receiver 10 with a web page with a web interface application. The web page with the web interface application calculates for access by a service person in a readable form, information such as, but not restricted to, what product 75 from which product delivery feed 72, and how much product 75 remains in the given product delivery feed 72. This is real time information on actual product 75 delivery. This is different from current art that does not record actual delivery that may not happen in the event of a malfunction in the product delivery feed 72. The information in the CPU 30 can also be accessed directly, by a service man with a computer, such as, but not restricted to, a lap top computer.

(22) Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, a tilt switch 77 and an RFID tag 76 is attached to the product movement facilitator 81.

(23) In this case, for purposes of enablement, the RFID tag 76 is modified by clipping a wire so as to have a gap in the RFID tag 76 internal circuit. This makes the modified RFID tag 76 unreadable until the gap created by clipping the wire in the RFID tag 76 internal circuit is bridged.

(24) Said gap is bridged with the tilt switch 77 that has two electrical wires that are connected, one to each side of the gap when the tilt switch 77 is tilted, and passes into a closed (i.e. passing) condition.

(25) When the product delivery drive 71 is rotated, the product delivery feed 72 is rotated, the product movement facilitator 81 with the tilt switch 77 mounted on the product delivery feed 72 is rotated. The tilt switch 77, which, in the preferred embodiment is a mechanical tilt switch 77 with two exterior wires and an internal ball (not shown). When the tilt switch 77 is tilted, the tilt switch 77 internal ball bridges the gap in the modified RFID tag 76 internal circuit, providing a communication link within the RFID tag 76 internal circuit.

(26) The, RFID antenna 78 broadcasts a UHF signal to the RFID tag 76, when the tilt switch 77 tilts and the tilt switch 77 ball has provided the communication link within the RFID tag internal circuit, said UHF signal energizes the RFID tag 76 which results in the RFID antenna 78 receiving information from the RFID tag 76 affixed to the product movement facilitator 81. An RFID tag reader 79, connected to the receiving antenna 78 reads the information from the receiving antenna 78.

(27) The aforesaid information from the RFID tag reader 79 is passed on, by wiring 41 directly to the CPU 30 which passes the RFID tag 76 information to the internet where it is available to the remote receiver 10 on the web page with the web interface application, providing, readable information such as, but not restricted to, on actual product 75 delivery from a specific product delivery feed 72, and remaining products 75 in the given product delivery feed 72, for access by a service person.

(28) The CPU 30 is not shown on FIG. 8, only wiring 41 which is connected to the CPU 30 (Ref. FIGS. 3 and 4) which transmits to the internet.

(29) For purposes of enablement, an ISP router 20 is indicated in FIGS. 1 through 4 as an example of the internet. However DSL, not illustrated, is an acceptable alternative to the ISP router 20.

(30) In some cases, the product movement facilitator 81 that is used is known in the vending machine trade as a Universal Product Pusher and is commercially available. As obvious to anyone skilled in the art, a product movement facilitator 81 other than a Universal Product Pusher may be used.

(31) When a product 75 comprises the RFID tag 76, the RFID antenna 78 passes on the RFID tag 76 information received to the RFID tag reader 79 which sends the RFID 76 tag information directly to the CPU 30 which passes it on to the internet. The RFID tag 76 information is then available from the internet to the remote receiver 10 with the web page with the web interface application program which can be accessed by a service person who can read the information transformed by the web interface application program into a readable form on real time actual product 75 delivery information.

(32) When the product 75 has the RFID tag 76, there is no tilt switch 77 or RFID tag 76 on the product movement facilitator 81.

(33) Also, when the product 75 has the RFID tag 76, the RFID antenna 78 is located within the vending machine 80 near the product 75 with the RFID 76 tag being purchased, during the delivery of the product 75 with the RFID tag 76, so as to read only the RFID tag 76 on the product 75 being purchased, as opposed to the RFID antenna 78 reading all the products 75 with RFID tags 76 in the vending machine 80.

(34) The use of the tilt switch 77 and the modification discussed on the modified RFID tag 76 serve a similar purpose, namely to only read what is being purchased, not RFID tags 76 on other products 75 with RFID tags in a vending machine 80.

(35) In FIGS. 1-7, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the product delivery feed 72 is a helical coil.

(36) In FIG. 8, the product delivery feed 72 is an inclined channel which permits product 75, which is cylindrically shaped in FIG. 8 to roll into the position for release by the product movement facilitator 81.

(37) Each of the product delivery feeds 72 have a product movement facilitator 81, to facilitate final delivery of the product 75 selected by a buyer.

(38) In operation, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a customer deposits his/her coin 51 or money bill 61 and selects a product. A selected product delivery drive 71 rotates product movement facilitator 81 facilitates the delivery the selected product 75 from a given product delivery feed 72 to the customer. An adjacent product 75 is moved into position by the product delivery feed 72 to replace the delivered product 75.

(39) As this transaction is taking place, the magnet 73 is rotated past the switch 74, actuating the switch 74 into a passing mode, so an electric signal is transmitted along wiring 41 to the MCU 40. The MCU 40 transforms the electric signal into a usable format and passes it on the CPU 30 which broadcasts the usable format to the internet, where it is available to a service person, on the remote receiver 10 with the web page with the web interface application program.

(40) The web page with the web interface application program computes from the usable format of information from the CPU 30 through the internet information such as, but not restricted to, that a given product 75 has been dispensed from a specific product delivery feed 72 with the date and time. This information is available in a readable form for access by the service person.

(41) If the something happens where the product 75 is not delivered as expected, there will be no count of a product delivery. This is a major advantage over current art where there could be a count of a product delivery that didn't happen, as previously mentioned in the background information discussion.

(42) The apparatus 100 can be fitted to as many product delivery feeds 72 as needed for inventory. The remote receiver 10 with the web page with the web interface application program tracks from the usable format of information received, which product 75 was delivered from which product delivery feed 72, at what date and time, and how much product 75 is remaining in a given delivery feed 72, and which products 75 in which delivery feeds 72 are the slow moving and out of date products 75.

(43) Information on the accumulated number of each specific product 75 units sold, and approximate totals coins 51 and money bills 61 received from the accumulated sales, as the sales occur is gathered by the MCU 40, changed into a usable format, then transmitted to the CPU 30 which forwards the information in the usable format to the internet where it is available to the remote receiver 10 with web page with the web interface application where the information in the usable format is processed by the web page with the web interface application program so it is accessible on said web page in a readable format to vending machine service personnel.

(44) The apparatus 100 permits a vending machine service person can check inventory status and cash without needing to visit a vending machine. For the applicant, who has a number of vending machines, this saves him approximately two thirds of his time attending to his machines.

(45) On many vending machines, especially older machines, this is currently a manual process which takes maybe 20 or 30 minutes. This manual process is replaced by the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(46) Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

(47) As an example, the tilt switch 73 is described as a mechanical tilt switch wherein a ball bridges a communication gap within the RFID tag 76 pieces during the rotation of the product delivery facilitator 81. However, as obvious to anyone skilled in the art, a mercury tilt switch would also function as well, as would an electronic switch as technology develops.

(48) The internet is represented by the prior art ISP router 20 disclosed and illustrated for enablement purposes. Prior art DSL (not illustrated) is an alternative to the ISP router 20.

(49) It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.