Vending audit system

US7053773B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MARS, INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Patrick J. McGarry · West Chester, US
• Kevin Rabinovitch · Hackettstown, US
• Cary Sagady · Chester Springs, US
• Darren Walker · Buckingham, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 6, 2002
• Grant date: May 30, 2006
• Expiry date: Jan 16, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F9/026
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A vend audit system and methods are described. In an implementation, the system includes vend items with packaging having tags, at least one tag sensor, and a control circuit capable of receiving data from the tag sensor. A method for tracking inventory in a vending machine is also described. In an implementation, the technique includes loading vend items having tags into a vending machine, sensing the tags, and transferring information to a control circuit. The tags may be RF tags, and the tag sensor may be an RF antenna sensor.