Automatic cup detection and associated customer interface for vending apparatus and method therefor
AssigneeCrane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
InventorGregory G. Stettes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vending machine automatically detects the size of a customer-selected container or cup placed in the dispensing area of the vending apparatus to receive a dispensed beverage. A plurality of sensors positioned proximate the container receiving area detects the container's size (e.g., small/large; small/medium/large). In response, the vending machine conveys or illuminates to the customer one or more of the available beverage selections (provided by the vending machine) indicating which of the beverage selections is available based on the detected cup size.
Claims21
A container detection apparatus for use in a vending machine, the apparatus comprising:
- a container receiving area;
- means for automatically detecting the presence of a container within the container receiving area.
A container size detection apparatus for use in a vending machine, the apparatus comprising:
- a container receiving area;
- a first sensor having a first emitter for emitting a signal and a corresponding first detector for receiving the first emitted signal, the first sensor positioned proximate the container receiving area at a first predetermined position;
- a second sensor having a second emitter for emitting a signal and a corresponding second detector for receiving the second emitted signal, the second sensor positioned proximate the container receiving area at a second predetermined position;
- and
- wherein when a container having one of a plurality of predetermined sizes is positioned in the container receiving area, the first and second sensors are operable for detecting a first predetermined size when the container substantially blocks the first emitted signal from reception at the first detector and does not substantially block the second emitted signal from reception at the second detector, and for detecting a second predetermined size when the container substantially blocks the first emitted signal and the second emitted signal from reception at the first detector and the second detector, respectively.
A vending system for providing a beverage dispensed into a container, the vending system comprising:
- a customer input system for receiving a customer input for the beverage;
- a container receiving area;
- means for automatically detecting a size of the container positioned within the container receiving area;
- and
- an outlet for dispensing the beverage into the container.
A method of vending a beverage from a vending machine, the method comprising:
- receiving a container within a container receiving area of the vending machine, the container selected by a customer from a set of containers placed proximate the vending machine and wherein the set of containers include containers having a first size and containers having a second size;
- detecting the size of the received container within the container receiving area;
- and
- dispensing a beverage into the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.