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US 2011/0238209 A1Published application
Vending Systems and Methods
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorsJurgen Roekens, Willy Van Esch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vending system for dispensing a number of products. The vending system may include an enclosure with an access point, a weighing system, a user interface, and an access system. The user interface may include a proximity card coupling device to read and write to a proximity card. The access system allows the access point of the enclosure to be opened in response to the user interface.
Claims20
A vending system for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
- an enclosure with an access point;
- a weighing system;
- a user interface;
- wherein the user interface comprises a proximity card coupling device to read and write to a proximity card;
- and
- an access system;
- wherein the access system allows the access point of the enclosure to be accessed in response to the user interface so as to permit a user to access one or more of the number of products.
4 more elements
A method of vending a number of products from an enclosure:
- reading a proximity card in a user interface;
- determining if the proximity card has a sufficient amount of credit thereon;
- allowing an access point of the enclosure to be opened if the proximity card has the sufficient amount of credit therein;
- weighing the enclosure;
- determining the number of products removed from the enclosure based upon the weight of the enclosure;
- determining the value of the number of products removed;
- and
- writing a revised credit balance onto the proximity card at the user interface.
5 more elements
A vending system for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
- a cooler with a glass door;
- a weighing module positioned under the cooler;
- a user interface module positioned about the cooler and in communication with the weighing module;
- wherein the user interface comprises a proximity card coupling device to read and write to a proximity card;
- and
- an access system positioned about the door of the cooler;
- wherein the access system allows the door of the cooler to be opened in response to the user interface determining that the proximity card has a sufficient amount of credit thereon.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.