Optical vend-sensing system for control of vending machine
US6708079B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F9/00
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical vend-sensing system for reliably detecting the dispensing of an article, is presented. The system includes two parallel reflecting surfaces, each mounted at opposite sides of a vend space through which the article falls upon selection by a consumer. An emitter generates an optical beam which is reflected off each of the reflecting surfaces such that the reflected beam traverses across the vend space. A detector senses the reflected beam and communicates with a machine control unit. In response to the detector sensing that the reflected beam has been interrupted, the machine control unit terminates the vending operations of a mechanism controlling the dispensing of the article.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.