Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A VENDING M~TN~ A VENDING ~Y~ I AND METHOD8 FOR
OPERATING 8AME
MORDECHAI TEICHER
FIELD OF THE lNV~ lON
The present invention relates to vending machines
generally, and more particularly to a vending machine
which allows free access to a variety of articles stored
therein and which charges the customer upon the
completion of a purchase for the articles removed
therefrom.
R~R~OUND OF THE lNV~. lON
Vendiny machines for selling merchandise, such as
cans of soft drinks, are well known in the art.
Generally speaking, conventional vending machines include
a vending unit, a payment unit and a control unit for
coordinating therebetween.
Typically, the vending unit includes a storage unit
for storing an inventory of articles to be vended and a
dispensing unit for dispensing the purchased article.
Alternatively, the dispensing unit may be replaced by a
unit which provides selective access to a preselected
article, such as described in U.S. Patents 4,893,705 and
5,133,441, both to Brown.
In prior art vending machines, purchasing an item
typically involves the following four operations:
1. depositing a sum of money using either cash or a
payment card;
2. selecting an item to be purchased by employing a
mechanical lever, a keypad or a touch screen;
3. receiving the purchased item vended by a dispensing
unit or receiving selective access to the preselected
item; and
4. retrieving change for the unused portion of the
deposited cash sum or the payment card.
~ 40 Prior art vending machines are deficient in many
respects, a few of which are listed below.
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Generally, they do not allow free access to the
articles on sale. Further, conventional dispensing
mechanisms complicate the machine's design while limiting
the available storage volume. Moreover, most dispensing
mech~nisms are designed for a specific product range, for
example, beverage cans and snack bags usually require
different dispensing mechanisms.
Whereas vending machines do not provide free access
to a plurality of items at the customer choice, there are
known in the art self service systems, such as a
supermarket or hotel minibars, which provide free access
to a plurality of products. U.S. Patents 3,716,697 to
Weir and 4,108,363 to Susumu describe a supermarket in
which the removal of a merchandise article from a shelf
is sensed by weight calculations. A personal customer
payment card is used with the removal of each article, to
associate the article with the respective customer. The
customer pays for the removed items at the supermarket's
checkout by presenting the personal customer payment card
to the cashier. It will be appreciated that the customer
may pay the cashier with any acceptable monetary
instrument.
Susumu also describes a vending machine within the
supermarket which provides free access to a variety of
goods on sale. A coin is deposited and the customer is
free to remove items from the vending machine as long as
their total value does not exceed that of the deposited
coin. When the customer removes an item which causes the
total value to exceed the value of the deposited coin, an
alarm sounds to call for the intervention of a human
attendant.
U.S. Patents 4,553,211 to Kawasaki et al, 4,629,090
to Harris et al and 4,791,411 to Staar describe hotel
room minibars, with various arrangements to detect the
removal of articles and transmit this information to the
hotel's computer for record-keeping. Payment is made by
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the hotel guest to the cashier, typically during the
checkout procedure.
A drawback of prior art free access self service
systems is that an attendant must be involved in the
purchase process. In hotel r~in;h;~s and supermarkets,
checkout is done at the cashier whereas Susumu's coin
operated machine assumes the intervention of a human
attendant in case a purchase exceeds the coin's value.
A particular prior art free access vending machine
in which a human att~n~nt does not supervise the
purchase process is that of the newspaper box. However,
this is inherently a single item system and therefore the
atten~nce of a human attendant is not required since an
implicit assumption is made that most customers will find
no interest in removing more than a single newspaper copy
per purchase.
~UMMARY OF THE lN V ~.. ~ lON
An important object of the present invention is to
provide a vending machine which offers a plurality of
customers free access to a variety of items and in which
the removal of items from the vending machine and the
charging therefore, may be completed without assuming the
presence of a human attendant.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
the vending machine provides free access to a variety of
articles in the accessible inventory during purchase,
thereby enabling the customer to select and remove the
number and type of articles of his choice.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the accessible inventory includes the entire
inventory of the vending machine.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the
present invention, the accessible inventory is part of
~ 35 the entire inventory of the vending machine.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
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the vending machine includes a card payment system
capable of the following:
A. validating, prior to the onset of a purchase, that
the customer may be charged for the value of the entire
inventory to which the customer has access during
purchase. This inventory is also termed herein the
accessible inventory; and B. charging the customer upon
the purchase completion, in accordance with the items he
has removed from the accessible inventory.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, the vending machine employs a card payment
unit which interacts with at least one of the following
payment cards as defined hereinbelow:
A. An electronic checkbook - This is a credit card
and/or a bank debit card. It is a payment card which
bears information identifying a remote credit account or
bank account and authorizing transactions therefrom. A
payment with an electronic checkbook is executed actually
between the customer's remote account and the merchant's
account, i.e. the vending machine owner's remote account,
and is therefore associated with relatively costly
procedures of communication, authorization, accounting
and reporting which are well known.
B. A combo smart card - This payment card includes both
an electronic checkbook and an electronic purse. The
electronic purse is a rechargeable stored-value card in
which value is added to the electronic purse via purse
replenishment transactions and subtracted therefrom by
using it for payment. In a Combo Smart Card the
electronic purse may be replenished by charging the
respective credit or bank account via the electronic
checkbook part of the same card.
C. A local account card - This is a personal payment
card which identifies and authorizes transactions with a
customer account in a database of accounts managed in a
local computer.
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According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the card payment unit operates with a combo
smart card and includes a transaction selector which
selects whether to charge the customer from the
electronic purse or his remote bank or credit account via
~ the electronic checkbook, or whether to replenish the
electronic purse via the electronic checkbook before
charging the electronic purse.
According to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the card payment unit operates with an
electronic checkbook which is also linked to a local
account, or with a local account card which is also
linked to a remote bank or credit account. The card
payment unit is linked with a local computer which
includes a transaction selector for selecting whether to
charge the customer's local account or remote account or
whether to replenish the local account from the remote
account before charging the local account.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the local computer forms part of the vending
machine. Alternatively, it may communicate with a number
of vending machines.
A preferred method of operating the vending machine
of the present invention includes the following steps:
A. The customer introduces his payment card to the card
payment unit;
B. The payment card is checked for validity with
respect to a maximal possible purchase value, the ~x;~-l
possible purchase value being the value of the accessible
inventory;
C. Upon validation, the customer receives free access
to the accessible inventory and removes any item
therefrom, the removal is being recorded by the vending
machine; and
D. Upon purchase completion, the customer is being
charged in accordance with the items he purchased by
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removal.
There is thus provided, in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vending
machine serving a plurality of customers, each having a
payment card, which includes a vending unit for storing
and displaying an accessible inventory and for
selectively enabling and barring free access of a
customer to a plurality of items therefrom, a card
payment unit which upon receipt of a payment card from a
customer, validates, prior to the enabling, that the
payment card can be charged for the value of the
accessible inventory, and which charges, after the
barring, the payment card with a sum in accordance with
the items removed from the accessible inventory by the
customer and a control unit for coordinating the
operations of the vending unit and the card payment unit.
Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the vending unit includes a storage
and display unit having therein the accessible inventory,
an access control unit for enabling and barring the free
access of the customer to the storage and display unit
and a purchase sensing unit for sensing the removal of
each item from the accessible inventory stored in the
storage and display unit.
The purchase sensing unit may be selected from the
group consisting of a plurality of position sensing
elements, a plurality of weight sensing elements, a
pattern sensing element and any combination therebetween.
The access control unit may include a door with a
locking mechanism for selectively barring and enabling
access to the storage and display unit.
Additionally, the storage and display unit may have
therein an inaccessible inventory of a second plurality
of items, the access control unit further includes an
inventory splitting unit for barring access to the second
- plurality of items of the inaccessible inventory.
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Also, the inventory splitting unit may operate to
selectively replenish the accessible inventory with items
from the inaccessible inventory.
Further, the card payment unit includes a
transaction selector which automatically selects whether
to charge the customer from a local account, from a
remote account or whether to replenish the local account
from the remote account and to charge the customer from
the local account thereafter.
lo According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the payment card is a combo smart card, the
local account is charged from an electronic purse of the
combo smart card and the remote account is charged via an
electronic checkbook of the combo smart card.
Further, the card payment unit includes an
electronic checkbook payment unit for executing
electronic checkbook transactions, an electronic purse
payment unit for executing electronic purse transactions
and an electronic purse replenishment unit for
replenishing the electronic purse from the remote account
via the electronic checkbook.
In accordance with an alternative preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the card payment
unit includes a local computer for managing the local
account and wherein the payment card, when presented at
the card payment unit, identifies and authorizes
transactions with both the respective account in the
local computer and a remote account, the remote account
being a bank account or a credit account.
Further, the card payment unit includes a remote
account payment unit for executing transactions charged
to the remote account, a local account payment unit for
executing a local account transaction and a local account
replenishment unit for replenish;ng the local account
from the remote account.
There is also provided, in accordance with a
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preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vending
system which includes:
a) at least two vending machines, each operating for
serving a plurality of customers, each customer having a
payment card, including:
a vending unit for selectively enabling and
barring free access of a customer to a plurality of items
from an accessible inventory stored therein;
a card payment unit which upon receipt of a
payment card from a customer, communicates with a local
computer; and
a control unit for coordinating the operations
of the vending unit and the card payment unit; and
b) a local computer communicating with the card payment
unit of each of the at least two vending machines for
validating, prior to the enabling at a respective vending
machine, that the payment card can be charged for the
value of the accessible inventory and for charging, after
the barring at the respective vending machine, the
payment card with a sum in accordance with the items
removed from the accessible inventory of the respective
vending machine.
Further, the local computer includes a transaction
selector which selects automatically, for each purchase
in any of the at least two vending machines, whether to
charge the customer from a local account of the customer
managed within the computer, from a remote account of the
customer, or whether to replenish the local account from
the remote account and to charge the customer from the
local account thereafter.
There- is also provided, according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, a method of
operating a vending machine for a plurality of customers
each having a payment card, the vending machine having a
vending unit for selectively enabling and barring free
access to a plurality of items from an accessible
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inventory stored therein, a card payment unit and a
control unit for coordinating the operations of the
vending unit and the card payment unit, the method
includes the following steps:
a) introducing the payment card in the card payment
~ unit;
b) validating whether the payment card can be charged
for the value of the accessible inventory;
c) upon successful validation of the payment card,
10 enabling free access of the customer to the plurality of
items stored in the vending unit;
d) sensing and recording each item as removed from the
accessible inventory;
e) barring, upon indication from the customer, the free
15 access; and
charging the payment card for the value of the items
removed from the vending unit.
Further, the method may also include the step of
sensing the removal of an item by sensing one of the
20 group consisting of the item weight, the item position,
tthe item pattern and any combination therebetween.
Still further, the vending unit also operates for
storing an inaccessible inventory of items, and the
method further includes the step of selectively replenish
25 the accessible inventory by items from the inaccessible
inventory.
Additionally, the method may include the step of
selecting automatically whether to charge the payment
card from a local account, from a remote account or
30 whether to replenish the local account from the remote
account and to charge the payment card from the local
account thereafter.
~According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the payment card is a combo smart card and the
local account is the electronic purse of the combo smart
card, and the method further includes charging the remote
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account via the electronic checkbook of the combo smart
card.
Alternatively, the payment card may be an electronic
checkbook or a local account card.
BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWING8
The present invention will be understood and
appreciated more fully from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the appended
drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of
a vending machine, constructed in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart illustration of the
purchase procedures employed when using the vending
machine of the Fig. l;
Figs. 3A - 3C are schematic pictorial illustrations
of a vending machine, constructed according to one
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 4A - 4C are schematic pictorial illustrations
of the vending machine of Figs. 3A - 3C including an
inventory splitting unit which divides the inventory of
articles in the vending machine to an accessible
inventory and an inaccessible inventory;
Figs. 5A - 5C are schematic pictorial side views
illustrations of a row of articles on one shelf of the
vending machine of Figs. 4A - 4C during the operation of
the vending machine;
Figs. 6A - 6C are schematic pictorial illustrations
of a purchase sensing unit, constructed in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 7A - 7B are schematic pictorial illustrations
of a vending machine, constructed in accordance with a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8A is a schematic pictorial illustration of a
portion of one shelf of the vending machine of Figs. 7A -
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7B;
Figs. 8B -- 8C are schematic pictorial side views
through the portion of the shelf of Fig. 8A, illustrating
two alternative purchase sensing units, constructed in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 9 is a schematic pictorial illustration of the
vending machine of Fig. 7A - 7B with a video purchase
sensing unlt;
Fig. 10A is a schematic block diagram illustration
of a card payment unit operative with a combo smart card,
constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 10B is a schematic flow chart illustration of
the operation of the card payment unit of Fig. 10A;
Fig. llA is a schematic block diagram illustration
of a card payment unit operative with a local account
card or with an electronic checkbook, constructed
according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. llB is a schematic flow chart illustration of
the operation the card payment unit of Fig. llA; and
Fig. llC is a schematic block diagram illustration
of the a card payment system operative with a local
account card or with an electronic checkbook, constructed
according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DET~TT~n DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT lNV~ ON
Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which is a schematic
block diagram of a vending machine, generally referenced
100, constructed in accordance with a preferred
v embodiment of the present invention.
The vending machine 100 preferably comprises a
vending unit 101 for storing, displaying and accounting
for items to be purchased, a card payment unit 103
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operative with a combo smart card, an electronic
checkbook or a local account card, for checking before
the onset of purchase whether the payment card is valid
with respect to the maximal possible purchase value and
for charging the customer via the payment card in
accordance with the items removed from the vending unit,
and a control unit 105 for controlling the operations of
the vending unit 101 and the card payment unit 103.
The vending unit 101 preferably comprises a storage
and display unit 102 accommodating an inventory of a
plurality of various articles offered for sale of which
three are referenced 112A, 112B and 112N, an
access-control unit 106 for enabling and barring access
to the storage and display unit 102, a purchase sensing
unit 104 for detecting and identifying articles removed
by the customer from the storage and display unit 102, a
purchase termination unit 107 for indicating that a
purchase has been concluded and an accounting unit 108
which calculates the total price of the articles
purchased.
It will be appreciated that the vending unit 101 is
of the type which enables the customer free access to the
articles on sale in an accessible inventory during
purchase.
The access-control unit 106 comprises any suitable
means for enabling and barring access to the storage and
display unit 102. In the embodiments described herein,
the access control unit comprises a glass door, manually
or electrically driven, and a lock (Fig. 3A).
In addition, the access control unit 106 may include
an inventory splitting unit, described in detail with
reference to Figs. 4A - 5C hereinbelow, which preferably
physically divides the storage and display unit 102 into
an accessible inventory and an inaccessible inventory.
The purchase termination unit 107 preferably
comprises a sensor for confirming the re-locking of the
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door of the access-control unit 106 after a purchase is
terminated.
The card payment unit 103 is capable of receiving a
- customer personal payment card and of charging him, via
the payment card, any sum between zero and the
possible purchase value, which is the value of the items
in the accessible inventory.
The control unit 105 preferably comprises a central
processing unit (not shown) and the suitable applications
and drivers for coordinating the operation of the vending
unit 101 and the card payment unit 103.
The operation of the vending machine 100 is
preferably controlled by the control unit 105 as follows:
A. The preferred default state of the vending machine
100 is that the access-control unit 106 bars the
customer's access to the articles offered for sale in the
storage and display means 102;
B. When a payment card is received in the card payment
unit 103 it is checked for its validity and if approved,
the access-control unit 106 is activated to allow the
customer free access to the accessible inventory of the
storage and display unit 102.
The customer removes any number of the articles offered
for sale from the storage and display unit 102;
C. Each article removed by the customer is sensed by
the purchase sensing unit 104 and the removal is recorded
by the accounting unit 108.
D. Once the customer finishes to remove items from the
storage and display unit 102, he actuates the purchase
termination unit 107, for example by closing a door of
unit 102. The purchase termination unit 107 transmits an
indication that the purchase is completed to the
accounting unit 108 which calculates the sum to be paid,
and ensures that the access-control unit 106 returns to
its state in which it bars access to the storage and
display unit 102.
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Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which is a schematic
flow chart illustration of a preferred operation
procedure of the vending machine 100.
Block 201 indicates the vending machine 100 in an
idle state, ready for use. A customer wishing to use the
vending machine 100, first introduces his payment card,
as indicated by block 202, at the card payment unit 103.
Next, as shown in block 204 the payment card is checked
for validity, to check in advance that payment of any sum
between zero and the maximal possible purchase value is
reasonably guaranteed.
It is a particular feature of the present invention
that the vending machine 100 includes a card payment unit
103 which checks in advance that the payment card it
interfaces with may be charged for any sum between zero
and the maximal possible purchase value as described in
detail with reference to Figs. lOA - llC hereinbelow.
If the payment card is found to be valid in the step
indicated by block 204, the access-control unit 106 is
activated to allow free access, as indicated by block
207, to the accessible inventory of the storage and
display unit 102. If the payment card is found invalid
for any reason, the transaction is rejected at block 205,
the transaction is completed with no payment as indicated
in block 106, and the machine idles again at 201.
If the payment card is found valid, the machine is
waiting until an article is removed by the customer,
which is sensed by the sensing unit 104 as indicated by
block 210 and the purchase is recorded by the accounting
unit 108 as indicated by block 212.
It will be appreciated that unlike conventional
prior art vending machines, the customer is allowed to
remove any number of articles during purchase, even until
the entire accessible inventory is consumed, since the
card payment unit 103 ensures, in advance, that the
customer's payment card can be charged for any purchase.
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Upon purchase termination as shown by block 209, the
control unit 105 activates the access-control unit 106 to
preclude the customer from further access to the articles
~ stored in the storage and display unit 102 (block 220).
5In addition, if the inventory in the storage and
display unit 102 is divided into an accessible inventory
and an inaccessible inventory by a suitable splitting
unit, items may be replenished from the inaccessible
inventory to the accessible inventory as indicated by
10block 211.
Then, as indicated by block 208, the sum to be paid
for the purchase is charged via the customer's payment
card as provided by the accounting unit 108. This sum
typically, but not necessarily, equals to the arithmetic
total sum of prices of the items previously recorded by
the accounting unit 108 and indicated by block 212. In
case that a discount of any type, such as purchase 2 and
get 1 free, is provided the sum to be charged may be
smaller than the total of the sums recorded by the
accounting unit 108.
The customer is then charged as described in detail
with reference to Figs. lOA - llC and after the
transaction is completed as indicated by block 206, the
vending machine 100 returns to its idle state 201.
25Reference is now made to Figs. 3A - 3C which are
schematic pictorial illustrations of a vending machine,
generally referenced 300. The vending machine 300 is a
non limiting pictorial example of the vending machine 100
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 3A is a front view of the vending machine 300,
Fig. 3B is a side view thereof and Fig. 3C is a front
view of the vending machine 300 during purchase.
The vending machine 300 preferably comprises a three
dimensional chamber 301 of which one side is open. The
chamber 301 includes therein a storage and display unit
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303 which includes a plurality of articles for sale of
which one is referenced 304.
The chamber 301 is preferably closed by a glass door
310, thereby enabling a potential customer to view the
items offered for sale by the vending machine 300. In the
illustrated embodiment, the glass door 310 is hung on
hinges 302A and 302B and is locked by a bolt 307 and a
lock 306. A sensor 305 confirms that the door is closed,
for example when a purchase is completed.
The system 300 preferably also comprises a card
payment unit 308 which operates similarly to the card
payment unit 103 with any suitable payment card as
described in detail with respect to Figs. lOA - llC
hereinbelow.
When a payment card is inserted into the card reader
308, its validity is checked and if approved the bolt 307
is released to allow the user to open the door 310 by
pulling its handle 309. As seen in Fig. 3C, once the door
is opened, the customer has free access to a plurality of
items on sale and can remove articles from the storage
and display unit 303 as he desires. The removal of each
article is sensed by a sensor and recorded as described
in detail hereinabove with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
As best seen in Fig. 3B, the shelves on which the
items for sale are located, such as shelf 321 are
inclined to facilitate the removal of articles from the
storage and display unit 303. In the illustrated
embodiment, as each article is removed from the front
row, it is being replenished by an item from a successive
row by gravity, the replenishing item is being stopped by
stopper 322.
When a purchase is completed, the customer closes
the door. The sensor 305 senses that the door has been
closed and actuates the bolt 307 while confirming that
the door is closed and providing an indication to this
effect to the accounting unit (not shown). The accounting
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unit which is similar to the accounting unit 108
completes the accounting procedure, the customer is
charged via his payment card and an indication is
~ provided to the card payment unit 308 that the payment
card may be returned to the customer.
Reference is now made to Figs. 4A - 4C which are
pictorial illustrations of the vending machine 300
including an inventory splitting unit 320 which divides
the storage and display unit 303 into an accessible
inventory which includes items which may be removed by
the customer during purchase, and to an inaccessible
inventory.
For simplicity of illustration, Figs. 4A - 4C
include a limited number of items in the storage and
display unit 303. Fig. 4A and 4B illustrate the vending
machine 300 during purchase and Fig. 4C after a purchase
has been completed.
As best seen in Fig. 4B, the inventory splitting
unit 320 preferably comprises a plurality of separating
members, such as separating members 325, 345 and 348,
connected via horizontal bars, such as bar 372 to a
movable vertical bar 373. The vertical bar 375 is
connected via a connection member 375 to the door 310 of
the vending machine 300.
When the door 310 is opened, as shown in Figs. 4A
and 4B, the separating members, such as the separating
member 325 separate between the first and second rows of
items, thereby the customer has free access only to the
first row of items.
In addition (Fig. 4B), once the articles referenced
326, 344 and 347 have been removed by the customer from
the first row, the separating members 325, 345 and 348
- prevent the replenishment of the spaces from which these
items have been removed by items from the second row.
The removal of each item is sensed by any suitable
sensor, such as the sensor described with reference to
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Figs. 6A - 6C hereinbelow. Preferably, but not
necessarily, the vending machine 300 includes one sensor
for each item location at the first row, such as the
sensors 343, 346 and 349.
As best seen in Fig. 4C, between purchases, the door
310 is closed to effect via the connection ~- h-~r 375,
horizontal shift of vertical bar 373 indicated by arrow
376. This horizontal movement positions the separating
members, such as the separating members 325 and 345 in an
offset with the items to allow replenishment of items
from the second row as indicated by reference numerals
327, 344A and 347A as described in detail with respect to
Figs. 5A - 5C to which reference is now made.
Figs 5A - 5C illustrate a successive column of items
in a portion of the shelf 321, that of the items 326 -
330. Fig. 5A illustrates the item 326 before it is
removed, the separating member 325 is positioned between
the items 326 and 327 to prevent access of the user to
item 327. Once the item 326 is removed, as shown in Fig.
5B, the space 324 in the first row is left empty and the
separating member 325 prevents its replenishment by item
327. Once the purchase is completed and the door 310 is
closed, the separating member 325 is shifted to allow
item 327 to replenish item 326 in the position 324.
It will be appreciated that with the gravitational
movement of the item 327, the items 328, 329 and 330 move
from their original position to the next row as well,
thereby allowing to replenish the space 324 after each
purchase. Preferably, but not necessarily, the front part
of the shelf 321, that of the space 324 is more inclined
than its back part both to enable easy removal of the
items therefrom and to facilitate the movement of the
separating member 325.
Figs. 6A - 6C are described hereinbelow with respect
to any shelf having thereon any desired number of items
in each position, since it is suitable for use, not only
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in the vending machine 300 but in any system in which the
removal and the state of the inventory is to be
monitored, such as in hotel mini-bar systems.
~ It will be appreciated that the sensing unit
described with respect to Figs. 6A - 6C are particularly
useful when stacking items on shelves is desirable.
Fig. 6A is a schematic pictorial cross section
through a shelf 601 having a weight sensor 602, the
reading of which, indicated W1, is provided to a
controller 603. Five items, referenced 604, 605, 606, 607
and 610 are placed on the shelf 601, where items 606 and
607, as well as items 605 and 610, are of the same type.
When the item 610 is removed, the reading of W1
changes by AWl. AWl will identify the type of article
610 if its weight is known and is different from that of
the other item types represented by 604, 606 and 607.
Fig. 6B is a schematic pictorial cross section
through a shelf 621 according to an alternative, improved
embodiment of the present invention. The shelf 621 is
preferably supported on two weight sensors 622A and 622B,
measuring two respective weights W1 and W2. The distance
between 622A and 622B is designated "a". On the shelf
621, a plurality of items 623, 624, 625, 626, 627 and 630
are positioned and of which items 627 and 630 are of
different type but of the same weight. Therefore, the
removal of an article is sensed by both its weight and
position.
In the illustrated embodiment, the removal of an
article, such as article 630, causes two changes ~W1 and
AW2, in the readings Wl and W2, respectively. The removal
of the item 630 can be now sensed both by calculating the
item's weight which equals -(~Wl+~W2), and if two items
are of similar weight but of different types, also by its
position, referenced X which is calculated by solving for
X the equation AWl*X = ~W2*(a-X). A controller 623
computes both the weight and the position, to conclude
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that the article 630 is the one which has been removed.
Fig. 6C is a schematic top view of a shelf according
to a third alternative embodiment of the present
invention. The shelf 641 is preferably supported by four
weight sensors, referenced 642A, 642B, 642C and 642D. The
shelf 641 accommodates four groups of items, 643, 644,
645 and 646, of which items in groups 643 and 644 are of
similar weight. Preferably, the groups 643, 644, 645 and
646 are separated by a partition 647.
When an item 650 is removed, the readings of the
weight sensors 642A - 642D are changed by ~Wl, ~W2, ~W3
and ~W4, respectively. The weight of article 650 equals
-(~Wl+~W2+~W3+~W4), while its position coordinates X,Y
can be calculated from solving for X,Y the e~uation pair:
(~Wl+~W2)*X = (~W3+~W4)*(a-X) and (~W2+~W4)*Y
(~Wl+~W3)*(b-Y) where "a" and "b" are the distances
between the weight sensors 642B - 642D and 642A - 642B,
respectively. The position and weight measurement
provide a definite indication that the item 650 has been
removed.
It is a particular feature of the present invention
that the removal of an item is determined by sensing both
its weight and position and not only by its weight as in
prior art sensing systems.
Reference is now made to Figs. 7A and 7B which
illustrate a vending machine, generally referenced 700,
as a second non limiting example of the vending machine
100 (Fig. 1).
The vending machine 700 preferably comprises a
chamber 702 for storing a plurality of articles 703 and
a glass door 706 locked by a lock 707 which also
incorporates a sensor for determining whether the door is
open or shut and locked.
In the illustrated embodiment, the internal storage
and display unit, referenced 702, is divided into cells
705, each cell designated to accommodate a single article
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of a predetermined type. Each cell also includes a sensor
704 to determine whether the cell is occupied or empty.
The vending machine 700 is particularly suitable for
~ an environment in which the vending machine owner wishes
to provide a variety of goods for sale but in which the
consumption is relatively slow.
The vending machine 700 also comprises a card reader
708 which for exemplary purposes only, is different than
the card reader 308 (Fig. 3A) in that it is a swipe card
reader, preferably connected to a local computer (not
shown), as described in detail hereinbelow with reference
to Figs. llA - llC.
When a payment card is swiped in the card reader
708, ~-he respective account in the local computer is
checked for card validity. If the payment card is valid,
the lock in 707 is released, allowing the customer to
open the door 706, supported by its hinges 710A and 710B.
When the customer closes the door 706, unit 707 both
re-locks the door 706 and senses that the door is
re-locked, thus actuating the completion of accounting
and payment, which in this example is charged through the
local computer.
Reference is now made to Figs. 8A - 8C and 9 which
illustrate two types of alternative purchase sensing
units suitable for the vending machine 700. It will be
appreciated that the purchase sensing units may also be
used with any other suitable vending machine, such as the
vending machine 300, mutatis mutandis.
The purchase sensing unit of Figs. 8A - 8C is
incorporated in the shelves of the storage and display
unit 702, of which only a portion, referenced 800, is
shown in Figs. 8A - 8C for exemplary purposes.
As shown in Fig. 8A, the shelf 800 is divided into
distinct cells, of which one 705 is shown herein for
simplicity and having therein a sensor 704. The sensor
704 may be any suitable sensor, such as an electro-
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optical sensor (Fig. 8B) or an electro-mechanical switch
type sensor (Fig. 8C).
It will be appreciated that preferably, the location
of items in the plurality of cells within the storage and
display unit is predetermined in order to associate the
removal of an article with a specific merch~n~ise.
Therefore, the removal of the item 806 will be easily
detected and distinguished from the removal of item 708.
The electro-optical sensor (Fig. 8B) operates to
distinguish between an empty cell 827, i.e. a cell from
which an item has been removed, and an occupied cell 832.
In the empty cell 827, light-emitting element 822
which is energized through wire 821 emits light which is
not detected by the light-sensitive element 823 since
light rays 826 escape through opening 825. Therefore, no
signal is transmitted through wire 824 which indicates
that cell 827 is empty.
Cell 832 is occupied by an article 831, which
reflects the light energized by wire 835, the reflected
light is sensed by light-sensitive element 834 which, in
turn, transmits a signal through wire 833 to indicate
that cell 832 is occupied. However, if item 708 will be
removed from cell 832, the removal will be indicated by
the cease of the signal transmitted from 833.
In the electro-mechanical switch type sensor (Fig.
8C), wires 843 and 844 are disconnected because contacts
841 and 842 are open as a result of a removal of an item,
while wire 851 and 852 are connected because the
respective contacts are closed by the weight of an
article which occupies the cell.
Reference is now made to Fig. 9 which illustrates an
alternative purchase sensing unit 104 to that of Figs. 8A
- 8C.
In the embodiment of Fig. 9, a video camera 900 is
used as the purchase sensing unit. The video camera 900
acquires continuously the image of the articles present
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in the storage and display unit 702, hence detecting
changes in the recorded image both before and after each
purchase and during the purchase. An image processor 902
~ is used to compare between successive images, thereby
detecting changes therebetween and providing an
indication of the cells from which items have been
removed.
It will be appreciated that an advantage of the
embodiment of Fig. 9 is that the using a video camera 900
eliminates the need to use individual sensors in each one
of the cells, such as in cell 705.
Further, it will be appreciated that by applying
image processing t~chn;ques which are well known in the
art, the image processor 902 can identify the type of the
removed article by any visible characteristic, such as
its size, shape, color or markings, collectively referred
to herein as the item's pattern.
Reference is now made to Figs. lOA - llC which
illustrate two alternative card payment units,
constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiments
of the present invention, in which the card payment unit
is capable of charging effectively the customer with any
amount from zero up to the ~ 1 possible purchase
value. Also, the card payment unit checks before the
onset of a purchase only whether the payment card can be
charged with the maximal possible purchase value, whereas
charging is done after the completion of the purchase in
accordance with the value of the items which have been
removed from the storage and display unit.
It will be appreciated that while the operation of
the card payment unit of Figs. lOA - llC is described
with reference to the card payment unit 103 of the
vending machine 100, it is also intended for any other
suitable vending machine, such as the vending machines
300 and 700.
Reference is now made specifically to Fig. lOA which
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is a block diagram illustration of a card payment unit
which operates with a combo smart card generally
referenced 1001.
The combo smart card 1001 comprises an electronic
checkbook 1002 and an electronic purse 1004. The
electronic checkbook contains in its register 1003
information identifying and authorizing transactions with
at least one remote bank or credit card account. The
electronic purse maintains in its register 1005 the
balance of the electronic cash stored therein.
The payment card 1001 preferably also includes an
external interface 1006 which enables to use it for three
types of transactions, namely, payment via the electronic
checkbook 1002, payment via the electronic purse 1004 and
replenishment of the electronic purse 1004 from a remote
account via in the electronic checkbook 1002.
The card payment unit 103 comprises a card interface
1012 for communicating with the combo smart card 1001. In
addition, the card payment unit 103 preferably also
comprises means for retaining the payment card during
purchase and for releasing it after the transaction for
the purchase has been completed.
The card payment unit 103 preferably also comprises
a customer interface 1013, such as a display and a
keypad, for allowing the customer to add information,
such as a personal identification number (PIN) or to
select a specific remote account, if more than one remote
account is accessible by the electronic checkbook 1002.
The card payment unit 103 preferably also comprises
an interface with the merchant 1014, i.e an interface for
receiving from the vending machine owner or operator
which is schematically indicated by reference numeral
1021, input such as the minimal checkbook transaction
value or payment card validation criteria.
The card payment unit 103 also comprises a machine
control interface 1016 for connecting between the payment
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unit 1010 and the machine control unit 105, for disabling
the access-control unit 106 upon receiving a valid
payment card, and for reporting the purchase sum from the
accounting unit 108 upon the completion of the purchase.
The card payment unit 103 also comprises a
transaction selector 1015 which selects automatically the
proper transaction sequence in response to the payment
sum, the balance in the electronic purse and the minimal
sum allowed for electronic checkbook transactions, as
described in detail with reference to Fig. lOB. The
transaction selector 1015 selects in accordance with the
transaction sequence, one of the payment units, namely,
an electronic purse payment unit 1017, an electronic
checkbook payment unit lOl9 and an electronic purse
replenishment unit 1018. It will be appreciated that a
transaction directed to the electronic purse
replenishment unit involves a sequence of transactions as
described hereinbelow.
The electronic purse payment unit 1017 executes
payment transaction from the electronic purse 1004.
Similarly, the electronic checkbook payment unit 1019
executes payment transactions from a remote bank and/or
credit account accessible by the electronic checkbooks
1002, optionally using additional information provided by
the customer 1023, such as the secret PIN code, so as to
enhance the security of the transaction. The electronic
purse replenishment unit 1018 executes replenishment of
the electronic purse 1004 by charging a remote bank
and/or credit account accessible by the electronic
checkbook 1002, with or without additional information
provided by the customer 1023. Remote account interface
1020 includes the means necessary to communicate with
transaction processing centers of banks and credit
companies 1022, for example with respect to account
information received from register 1003 of a valid
customer payment card.
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Fig. lOB is a flow chart illustrating the
transaction procedure employed with the card payment unit
103 of the vending machine 100.
In its idle state 1041, the vending machine 100 is
ready for a purchase to be made by the customer.
In 1042, the combo smart card 1001 currently
containing a value designated by $BALANCE in its
electronic purse 1004, is received at the payment unit
103 and retained therein by card interface 1012. The
information stored in the payment card is read by the
card interface 1012, and if appropriate, the customer is
prompted to key-in his PIN code and select the remote
bank or credit account if more than one remote account is
accessible by the combo smart card 1001.
In block 1043, a validity check is performed for
deter~; n; ng whether the payment card is valid and whether
it can be charged after the purchase has been completed
for the maximal possible purchase value, the value of the
accessible inventory.
The criteria of the validity check 1043 are
programmed into the transaction selector, preferably, but
not necessarily, by the merchant 1021.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the validity check includes communicating the
bank or credit card company to which the electronic
checkbook is related, for checking whether the remote
account may be charged via the payment card for the
maximal possible purchase value, i.e. the value of the
entire accessible inventory.
Alternatively, an off-line validity check may be
allowed, counting on additional security measures, such
as requiring the customer to enter a PIN code, or
checking a red list of lost and stolen cards routinely
received from banks and credit companies and maintained
at the payment unit.
According to one embodiment of the present
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invention, the merchant 1021 may undertake part of the
risk from the card issuer and therefore the on-line or
off-line check with the bank or credit company will be
for only part of the ~ 1 possible purchase value. For
example, a customer keying-in a valid PIN code and whose
card is not found in the red list may get free access to
an inventory worth $100, even if the respective card
issuer bears responsibility only for a $50 off-line
transaction.
It will be appreciated that risk sharing between
banks or credit companies and merchants is a common
practice and typically depends on factors such as
customer behavior and the merchant's willingness to
trade-off a calculated risk for improved, more efficient
service to the customer.
If the validity check ends up with a negative
result, the payment card is returned to the customer as
indicated in 1044 by card interface 1012, and the machine
is ready for the next purchase (block 1041). An
indication to this effect may appear on the customer
interface 1013.
If the payment card is found valid as described with
reference to block 1043, step 1045 is performed, namely,
the payment unit 1010 signals the machine control unit to
disable the access control unit 106 so that the customer
receives free access to the storage and display unit 102
and may purchase any desired items from the accessible
inventory as described hereinabove.
In 1046, the purchase for a sum referenced $SUM is
concluded by purchase termination unit 107 and calculated
by the accounting unit 108. The sum $SUM is provided to
the card payment unit 103, and the automatic transaction
selector 1015 then selects automatically the payment unit
from which the payment for the purchase $SUM will be
collected.
In 1047 $SUM is compared to $MINCT to determine
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whether a checkbook payment is feasible. If the answer
is positive then, as indicated in block 1049 $SUM is
compared with $BALANCE to determine whether a purse
transaction is feasible as well. If the electronic purse
transaction is also feasible a selection which
transaction to execute is provided as indicated by 1050.
The transaction can be executed either way, so a switch
is provided to direct the transaction either to the
checkbook payment unit 1019 as indicated by block 1048 or
10the purse payment unit 1017 as indicated by block 1052.
The switch setting to C or P position is either
predetermined by the merchant 1021 through the merchant
interface and memory 1014, or is made selectable by the
customer during purchase through customer interface 1013.
15If the answer in 1047 is negative, i.e. the payment
has been found unfeasible for checkbook payment, it is
checked for purse payment feasibility as indicated in
block 1051. In block 1052 the payment is found feasible
through the purse, i.e. $SUM is smaller or equal to
$BALANCE, and therefore payment is executed through the
purse payment unit 1017.
However, if $SUM is larger than $BALANCE, the
electronic purse has to be replenished and as indicated
by block 1053, the electronic purse is replenished with
at least the sum of $MINCT from the checkbook through
unit 1018, and only then purse payment is executed in
1052. As the check in 1047 has already confirmed that in
1053 $SUM<$MINCT, this ensures that purse payment is
positively feasible in 1052 after purse replenishment
with at least $MINCT in 1053.
It will be appreciated that the user interface 1013
may indicate that an amount of at least $MINCT must be
replenished and allow the customer to select a sum larger
than $MINCT, e.g. for increasing the amount of electronic
cash in his combo smart card.
When payment is completed, either in 1052 or 1048,
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the transaction is completed as indicated by block 1044,
the combo smart card 1001 is returned to the customer and
the vending machine loO is ready for the next customer,
~ as indicated by block 1041
Fig. llA illustrates a card payment unit 103 which
is particularly suitable for local environments, for
serving customers within the boundaries of a local
communication network. It is particularly useful in
workplaces, universities, ~ h~r clubs or residential
lo neighborhoods. It will be appreciated that the card
payment system of Figs. llA - llC does not require the
use of a smart card.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention the card payment unit 103 of Fig. llA includes
a local account data base 1119 maintained in a local
computer 1130 which forms part thereof.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the
present invention (Fig. llC), the card payment units of
more than one vending machine form with a local computer
connected thereto a card payment system.
The local computer 1130 comprises a local account
data base 1119 wherein customer's local accounts are
maintained.
In Fig. llA, the card payment unit 103 receives
Z5 payment cards which identify and authorize transactions
with both a local account managed in the local computer
1130 and a remote bank or credit card account. In the
illustrated embodiment such a payment card may be either
the local account card llOlA provided with a link to a
remote bank or credit account, or the electronic
checkbook llOlB provided with a link to a local account.
If a local account card llOlA is to be used with the
card payment unit of Fig. llA, his owner preferably signs
a contract with the merchant, identifying and authorizing
access to a remote bank or credit account of the
customer, for payment and replenishment transactions as
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described in detail hereinbelow. The information required
in order to use the customer's remote account is recorded
in the respective local account in the database 1119 of
the local computer 1130.
If an electronic checkbook llOlB is to be used with
the card payment unit of Fig. llA, the procedure
described in U.S. patent 5,206,488 to Teicher is
preferably applied to allow the customer to use his
electronic checkbook llOlB to establish and use a local
account in the local account database 1119.
Both the local account card llOlA and the electronic
checkbook llOlB include an external interface 1103 which
allows them to interface with the card payment unit 103
through a card interface 1112.
The card payment unit 103 preferably also comprises
a customer interface 1113, such as a display and a
keypad, to allow the customer to input information such
as his payment card's PIN, and a payment unit controller
1116 for coordinating between payment executed at local
computer 1130 and the control unit 105 of the vending
machine 100.
The local computer 1130 includes a merchant
interface and memory 1114 allowing the merchant, i.e. the
vending machine owner or operator, schematically
referenced 1121 to input and store information, such as
the minimal transaction size and the payment card
validation criteria. The local computer 1030 also
comprises a transaction selector 1115 which selects
automatically the type of transaction in response to the
payment sum, the balance in the local account and the
minimal sum allowed for remote account transactions, as
described in detail with reference to Fig. llB
hereinbelow.
The transaction selector 1115 selects whether a
transaction will be conducted via a local account payment
unit 1117, a remote account payment unit 1118 or via the
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local account replenishment unit 1124. It will be
appreciated that a transaction conducted via the local
replenishment unit 1124 involves a sequence of
~ transactions as described hereinbelow.
The local account payment unit 1117 executes payment
transactions from the respective local account in local
account database 1119. It will be appreciated that in
order to register in the data base 1119 a customer using
a local account card, such as the payment card llOlA,
identifies and authorizes transactions with his remote
bank or credit account and the information required for
such transactions is stored in the respective database
record in 1119.
The remote account payment unit 1118 executes
payment transactions with remote bank and/or credit
accounts in 1122, with or without additional information
provided by customer 1123. The local account
repl~r;,ch ~nt unit 1124 includes the hardware, protocols
and security means needed to execute replenishment of a
local account in 1119 by payment from a remote bank
and/or credit account, schematically referenced 1122 via
a remote account interface 1120.
Fig. llB describes the transaction procedures
involved in using either of the payment cards of Fig.
llA. In its idle state referenced 1141, the vending
machine 100 having a ~ 1 possible purchase value
$MAXP provided by the merchant 1121 is ready for a
purchase to be made.
In step 1142, the local account card llOlA or the
electronic checkbook llOlB is received by the card
payment unit 103. It will be appreciated that the
payment card can be retained in the card payment unit as
described with reference to the vending machine 300, or
may be swiped therethrough as described with reference to
the vending machine 700.
Then, the payment card is checked for its validity
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as indicated by block 1143, similarly to the validity
check described in block 1043 (Fig. lOB) and if the
payment card is found valid, the access control unit 106
is activated to enable access to the items in the storage
and display unit 102 as indicated by block 1045.
It will be appreciated that the vending machines
which operate with the card payment unit 103 of Fig. llA,
are particularly suitable for well defined environments,
such as a work place or a university campus, in which the
customers are known. Therefore, the merchant may afford
taking a relatively high part of the risk in the validity
check relatively to the risk taken by the bank or credit
company.
After the purchase is concludes as indicated by
block 1046, a decision as to how the customer will be
charged is made.
In block 1147, similarly to block 1047 (Fig. lOB),
the payment unit controller 1116 checks whether $SUM is
larger or equal to $MINCT.
If $SUM is equal to or larger than $MINCT, $SUM is
charged from the customer's remote bank or credit account
identified via the local account in the data base 1119 or
via the electronic checkbook llOlB as indicated by block
1148.
If $SUM is smaller than $MINCT, i.e. the payment is
found unfeasible for checkbook payment, it is checked for
feasibility of payment from the local account as
indicated by block 1151. In block 1152 the payment is
found feasible from the local account, and therefore is
executed through the local account payment unit 1117. In
1153 the payment is found unfeasible for local account
payment, and therefore the local account is replenished
at least with the sum of $MINCT from the respective bank
or credit account through unit 1118, followed by
executing a local account payment, as indicated in 1152.
It will be appreciated that since the check in block
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1147 has confirmed that in 1153 $SUM is smaller than
$MINCT, the payment from the local account indicated by
block 1152 is guaranteed after replenishment with at
~ least the sum of $MINCT as indicated by 1153.
When payment is completed, either in 1148 or 1152,
- the transaction is completed as indicated by block 1144,
the payment card is returned to the customer if a card
payment unit similar to 308 (Fig. 3A) is used and the
vending machine 100 is ready for the next purchase as
indicated by 1141.
According to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention, local credit in the local account may
be granted to the customers, either by the merchant or by
the bank or credit company.
Local credit will reduce the number of transactions
with the remote bank or credit account as evident from
the following example. If a credit of $25.00 is granted
and $MINCT is $25.00, transaction equal to or greater
than $50.00 will be executed via block 1148 while smaller
transaction will be executed via block 1151. The
transaction selection criteria of block 1147 and 1151
will be adjusted accordingly, by allowing in 1147 $SUM to
be compared to $MINCT+$CREDIT, and in 1151 to be compared
with $BALANCE + $CREDIT, and by replenishment in 1153
with $MINCT+$CREDIT, where $CREDIT is the credit granted
to the respective local account.
The system illustrated in Fig. llC provides a
vending system which includes a plurality of vending
machines and a single local computer 1130R capable of
communicating with a plurality of vending machines
connected thereto by any suitable communication method.
In the illustrated embodiment, three card payment
units 103A, 103B and 103N of three di~ferent vending
machines lOOA, lOOB and lOON, respectively are connected
to a single local computer 1130R.
The local computer 1130R is similar to the local
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computer 1130 of Fig. llA, provides similar functions and
operates in a similar fashion to the card payment units
103 (Fig. llA) as described with respect to Fig. llB.
It will be appreciated that the three vending
machines illustrated in Fig. llC are for exemplary
purposes only and that any desired number of vending
machines may be connected to the local computer 1130R.
For each vending machine, such as the vending machine
lOOA, the local computer 1130R operates with its card
payment system 103A as described in detail with respect
to Fig. llB hereinabove.
It will be appreciated that the preferred
embodiments described hereinabove are described by way of
example only and that numerous modifications thereto, all
of which fall within the scope of the present invention,
exist. For example, the vending machine 100 may
incorporate the local computer 1130.
Another example is that any of the transactions
described hereinabove may be off-line or on-line
transactions. If desired, the transactions may be
recorded in a local memory (not shown) of any of the
vending machines, such as the vending machine lO0 and may
be executed, for example in order to save communication
costs, as a daily batch to the appropriate central
transactions system of the banks or the credit companies
involved.
Another example is to employ the inventory splitting
unit to facilitate the replenishment of the inventory in
a desired fashion. If the inventory includes a plurality
of pre-packaged boxes of identical items as part thereof,
the inventory splitting unit may allow access to items
from one box first, and only when the items from this box
are removed, access to the next box will be allowed. This
way, replenishment of the inventory can be done by whole
pre-packaged boxes instead of by single items.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art
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that the present invention is not limited to what has
been particularly shown and described hereinabove.
Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined
only by the claims that follow:
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