Merchandising machine with bulk coin hopper

A merchandising machine for vending and dispensing items comprising:

• a merchandising system which is operable to dispense selected items;
• a control, said control determining an inserted amount deposited into the merchandising machine and further determining a return amount;
• and
• coin dispensing means comprising at least one container for holding a supply of coins in bulk, said coin dispensing means for dispensing a return amount out of said merchandising machine at least occasionally from said at least one container for holding a supply of coins in bulk in response to said control.

A merchandising machine for vending items in response to credit being deposited therein, said merchandising machine comprising:

• a merchandise dispensing assembly for dispensing items selected by a user of said merchandising machine;
• a credit receiving mechanism which receives credit therein and is operable to determine an input amount;
• an arranged-coin dispenser comprising at least one storage container which stores an individual denomination of coin in an arranged fashion;
• at least one bulk coin dispenser comprising a bulk storage bin adapted to store a single denomination of coin and a dispensing mechanism which is at least occasionally operable to dispense coins from said bulk storage bin out of said merchandising machine;
• and
• a control which responds to said credit receiving mechanism and selectively dispenses coins from at least one of said arranged-coin dispenser and said at least one bulk coin dispenser out of said merchandising machine.

A merchandising machine comprising:

• a merchandising system operable to dispense a selected item;
• a credit receiving mechanism operable to receive credit and determine an amount of credit being received;
• a control operable to determine a return amount in response to the amount of credit received and any selection input to said merchandising machine, said control being further operable in at least one of a change mode to provide change of a value substantially equivalent to the credit received, and a vend mode, said merchandising system being operable to dispense the selected item when said control is in said vend mode;
• and
• at least one bulk coin dispenser adapted to store a single denomination coin and at least occasionally dispense said return amount out of said merchandising machine.

A method of modifying a merchandising machine comprising the steps of:

• providing a merchandising machine which is operable to vend items in response to credit being deposited therein, the merchandising machine including a cabinet, a merchandise dispensing assembly for dispensing items selected by a user, and a credit receiving mechanism which receives credit therein and is operable to determine an input amount;
• providing a bulk coin dispensing unit which includes a bulk storage bin adapted to store a single denomination of coin and a dispensing mechanism which is operable to dispense coins from said bulk storage bin;
• mounting said bulk coin dispensing unit within the cabinet of the merchandising machine;
• and
• connecting a control to the merchandising machine and to said bulk coin dispensing unit, said control being operable to respond to the credit receiving mechanism of the merchandising machine and to selectively dispense coins from said at least one bulk coin dispensing unit out of the merchandising machine.

A merchandising machine comprising:

• a merchandise dispensing system for dispensing selected items;
• a credit receiving device which is operable to receive credit and to determine an amount of credit being received thereby;
• and
• a bulk-loaded coin hopper operable to at least occasionally dispense change of a value substantially equal to an amount of credit received by said credit receiving device less a purchase price of a selected item and to at least occasionally dispense change of a value substantially equal to an amount of credit received by the credit receiving device.

A merchandising machine comprising:

• a merchandise dispensing system for dispensing selected items;
• a credit receiving device which is operable to receive credit and to determine an amount of credit being received thereby;
• and
• a bulk-loaded coin hopper, said bulk-loaded coin hopper being operable to at least occasionally dispense change in an amount substantially equivalent to the amount of credit received by said credit receiving device less a purchase price of a selected item.

A merchandising machine comprising:

• a merchandise dispensing system;
• a credit receiving device which is operable to receive credit and to determine an amount of credit being received thereby;
• and
• a bulk-loaded coin hopper, said bulk-loaded coin hopper being selectively operable to at least occasionally automatically dispense change in an amount substantially equivalent to the amount of credit received by said credit receiving device, the change being dispensed to a user of said merchandising machine.

A merchandising machine comprising:

• a merchandise dispensing system;
• a credit receiving device which is operable to receive credit and to determine an amount of credit being received thereby;
• an accounting control which is operable to track transactions made at said merchandising machine;
• and
• a bulk-loaded coin hopper, said bulk-loaded coin hopper being operable to at least occasionally dispense change in response to at least one of said credit receiving device and a user input.

A merchandising machine operable to dispense selected items in response to a selection input, said merchandising machine comprising:

• a cabinet for holding items available for dispensing;
• a merchandise dispenser in said cabinet for dispensing an item selected by a user;
• p1 a first coin holder and dispenser in said cabinet, said first coin holder and dispenser comprising a bulk-loaded coin hopper and being at least occasionally operable to dispense change out of said merchandising machine;
• and
• a second coin holder and dispenser in said cabinet, said second coin holder and dispenser being at least occasionally operable to dispense change out of said merchandising machine.