Processing method for vending machine with substitutable magazines
AssigneeDistributed Vending Company
InventorsFrank Ruskin, Anton K. Simson, Henri J. A. Charmasson, Peter C. Brusso
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Abstract
A method for centralized mass processing of substitutable, good-holding magazines used in conjunction with computer-controlled vending machines. A memory-chip-mounting smart-card is used, not only to enter into the machines the magazine location and price of the various goods, but also to carry a sales transaction record of the replaced magazine, thus avoiding the need for magazine locking mechanisms and other security measures.
Claims33
A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
- assigning to each magazine an identification code;
- marking said magazine with said code;
- establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the locations in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
- filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
- keeping a record of each of said magazines by identification numbers and related menus;
- assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
- recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, menus and site identification codes;
- transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
- at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines,
- compiling an account of selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
- replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
- downloading from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
- reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
- returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
- at said processing center,
- inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine;
- and
- reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account.
A method for processing vending machine removable, good-holding magazines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one of said vending machines, said method comprising the steps of:
- assigning to each magazine an identification code;
- establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said magazines, each of said menus listing the location in a magazine of a series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
- filling said magazines in accordance with said menus;
- keeping a record of each of said filled magazines;
- assigning a set of said magazines to a route including a number of said sites;
- recording on a machine-readable medium, a route distribution database including magazine identification codes, and menus;
- transporting said magazines to their respective sites;
- at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines,
- compiling an account of good-selling transactions out of a magazine previously installed in said vending machine;
- replacing said previously installed magazine with one of said transported magazines;
- downloading from from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
- reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code;
- returning said previously installed magazine to a processing center;
- at said processing center,
- inventorying the contents of said previously installed magazine;
- and
- reconciling said contents with said downloaded, compiled account.
A method for managing vending machines in connection with a plurality of vending sites, each site having at least one vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:
- assigning to each of said vending machines an identification code;
- establishing a plurality of price-and-location menus for said machines, each of said menus listing the locations in a machine holding series of goods and the sale price of each of said goods;
- filling said machines in accordance with said menus;
- keeping a record of each of said machines by identification numbers and related menus;
- recording on a machine-readable medium, a route database including machine identification codes, menus and site identification codes;
- at each of said sites and in at least one of said vending machines,
- compiling an account of good-selling transactions for a set of goods previously installed in said vending machine;
- downloading from from said vending machine and onto said machine-readable medium, said compiled account;
- reading from said machine-readable medium and writing into said machine, a menu corresponding to said identification code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.