Modular vending machines

US11756366B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PepsiCo, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Robert Crawford · Raleigh, US
• Emad Jafa · Brewster, US
• Cheuk Chi LAU · White Plains, US
• Xuejun LI · Pleasantville, US
• Yong Serock · Coventry Lake, US
• Wai Ting Chan · Cambridge, GB
• Samuel Luke Johnstone · Cambridge, GB
• Martyn Thomas Mitchell · Royston, GB
• Euan Morrison · Cambridge, GB
• Erik David Williams · Cambridge, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 12, 2023
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F17/14
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Modular vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers. A modular vending machine may include a product storage system, a user interface, and a control unit. Several modular vending machines may be stacked and/or arranged together in various configurations. Several modular vending machines may be linked electronically and may communicate with each other and/or with a user mobile device over a network. A modular vending machine may automatically complete a transaction with the consumer, where the consumer removes a product from the modular vending machine. A consumer may access and purchase products from several modular vending machines in one transaction.