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Biju Menon and Kavya Madhavan have joined hands again after the film 'Gadhama'. The name of their new film is 'Osho'. A.K. Sajan is the director of the film.
Sajan's earlier venture Asuravithu did not fare well at the box office and he is banking on Osho to reverse the trend.
Sajan says, "I don't want to reveal too much at this stage but it will be a humorous story and will have Biju as an Osho follower." The others in the cast include Nedumudi Venu and Jayabharathi.
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Posts Tagged: mobile apps
Sep 05, 2012No Comments
Building a Mobile App from the Ground Up: TXCHANGE Webcast RecapAs the mobile industry continues to grow, business and organizations are turn to mobile applications and websites to reach their target audience on the go. During the latest TXCHANGE Webcast, Unidev's Cathy Harris and Rob Vigil explored the strategic and technical implications of this growing technology. In case you didn't catch the presentation, here are...


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Fujifilm FinePix S9900W, S9800 zoom to where the action is
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Scallops With Gin Cream...vintage?...retro?
Be the first to review
READY IN: 16mins
Recipe by Jezski
An unusual recipe in that it uses gin to flavor. The gin may be an acquired taste but we like it. The sherry is very good too but more the normal thing. Bay scallops also work in this recipe but watch the cooking time so they don't become rubber! From "6 Minute Souffle Cookbook" by Carol Cutler, published in 1976, when I was just a young chick!
See Discussion:
Ingredients Nutrition
- 4 tablespoons butter or 4 tablespoons oleo
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3⁄4 cup flour (approximately)
- 1 lb sea scallops or 1 lb bay scallop
- 1⁄4 cup gin (or less) or 3⁄4 cup sherry wine
- 1 cup cream or 1 cup half-and-half cream
- 1⁄2 lemon, juice of
- salt & pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped tarragon
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Directions See How It's Made
- Heat butter and oil together. While butter heats, spread flour on large sheet of waxed paper. Lift scallops from container & dredge with flour.
- Shake off excess flour. Add to hot foamy butter in skillet.
- Saute 1-2 minutes, just enough to make light brown. Keep turning with spatula.
- Pour in remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to medium and cover.
- Simmer 2 minutes for bay scallops, 3-4 for large. Serve in hot au gratin dishes.


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There was a time when Kristian Fulton didn't want his parents to send him to Rummel.
Fulton wasn't interested in attending a school that had no girls there.
That was four years ago.
Fast forward to Saturday and the junior cornerback was all smiles and hasn't thought twice about his parents' decision.
He and his Rummel teammates had just completed a perfect regular season and wrapped up the Catholic League title in the process with a 45-24 victory over Brother Martin.
Fulton, usually a pretty quiet guy, broke into a little dance postgame as his team waited for the band to play the alma mater.
"I'm glad I came to Rummel," he said. "This is great. Our No. 1 goal since January was to go undefeated as district champs. It's a perfect feeling. I've never had this feeling as a player."
Fulton, a ball-hawking cornerback, had two interceptions in the game, pushing his season total to 10.
Not bad considering Fulton missed the first three games recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered in the spring.
So, that's actually 10 interceptions in just seven games. Even more impressive is that five of those picks have come in the past eight days.
He picked off three passes last week against Holy Cross, returning one for a touchdown.
His two interceptions Saturday, one in each half, helped turn the momentum of the game. It also was just how many he predicted to his father he would get earlier Saturday morning.
His first one came in the first quarter with Rummel trailing 7-3 when he made a leaping grab near the Rummel sideline.
The Raiders cashed in, scoring just five plays later to take a lead they would never give up. Just three plays before the interception, he was flagged for a pass interference.
"He is a big time playmaker with a short memory," Rummel coach Jay Roth said. "You have to be that way when you are cornerback. He makes plays and he gave us momentum in the second half."
His second pick came off a deflection in the game-changing third quarter when Rummel put the game out of reach to claim the Catholic League title.
Now the Raiders get chance to do it all over again as they go for the Division I title, or what we perhaps should call the Catholic League Plus championship. (The 12-team field consists of the six Catholic League schools, plus St. Paul's, John Curtis, Baton Rouge Catholic, Evangel Christian, St. Thomas More, and Teurlings Catholic.)
The playoff pairings will be announced Sunday morning.
"You just have to do what you have to do," Fulton said. "I would rather it be 32 teams, but it's not so we just have to handle our business. It will be hard to beat the same teams twice, so we know we will have to work extra hard."
Roth isn't concerned about that right now. He just wanted to take time to soak in the perfect regular season.
"Out initial goal was to win the Catholic League," Roth said. "I will worry about having to play somebody twice later. We are proud to have this championship."
Rummel, the No. 2 seed in the LHSAA power rankings going into Saturday's game, will have a bye in the first round. It will be a much-needed rest for a team that has played a brutal 10 games in 10 weeks schedule.
Fulton probably doesn't want a week off after how he has performed the past two weeks.
"He just has great football instincts, with excellent ball skills and just a good athlete," said Nick Monica, who coaches defensive backs. "Last year was a turning point for him. He started really maturing and learning the defense, and then you combine that with his athletic ability."
But while Fulton makes plenty of noise off the field, he doesn't say a whole lot off the field.
"He's really quiet," said Michelle Fulton, Kristian's mom and one of the more vocal fans cheering Saturday. "He's totally different at home than he is in on the field. We can barely get him to talk."
He opens up more when talking to his big brother Keith, the person he is closest to. Keith played running back at Rummel last season and is now playing at Mississippi College.
"We talk about everything," said Keith Fulton II, who was in attendance Saturday as well. "He always talks about how crazy the recruiting is starting to get."
Fulton, who has a 3.4 grade point average, has about 15 college offers so far, including eight from Southeastern Conference schools.
"Some days we get 10 or 15 pieces of mail," Michelle said. "He will come in and walk right past it. He's just real laid back."
He had to hurry off following after Saturday's win to make a trip to Baton Rouge to watch the LSU-Alabama game.
He recently told his mom that he wants to trim his list of schools down.
But with Signing Day for him still a year and three months away, he has plenty time to decide.
For now, he's a Rummel Raider.
And now, he's proud of it.
Until, of course, he gets on the field.


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Tape trim added to Rachel's white settee gives a refreshed look, while patterned pillows grab attention. "I love to wrap major pieces in a neutral fabric and then add a pop of color and pattern," says Tobi.
Designer Tobi Fairley gives this entry a bold and colorful makeover, via mail order.


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|Kaiu Utsu
|c. 1147
|Kaiu Otoge
|Kaiu Daimyo
Kaiu Utsu was a Siege Master of the Crab Clan.
Demeanor Edit
Utsu was a calm, friendly and entirely unassuming man who had a great joy of life. He was a tall man with warm brown eyes, and a scar on his cheek from when a battlement had collapsed on him. [1]
Youth Edit
As a child he was fascinated by models and learned origami before he could walk. He would hold mock battles with paper armies. In training his bushi skills were adequate, but his strategic knowledge was second to none. He could plan a defense like no other. [2]
Siegemaster Edit
After his gempukku he took a position in Kaiu Shiro to study the Crab defenses and how to make them better. He would also study other fortresses of Rokugan and how to breach them. As the Crab Clan Siege Master he was not a combatant and would be located with his siege weapons, not in the heat of the battle. [3]
Kaiu Wall Edit
During the Clan War he defended the Kaiu Wall from the Shadowlands, despite the Crab pact with the minions of Jigoku during that time. Utsu would permit no Tainted creature to cross the portions of the Wall under his command. [4]
Assault on Otosan Uchi Edit
In 1127 Utsu was beside Hida Kisada, in the shores of the Golden Sun Bay during the Kisada's Blockade. Only the Lion were between them and Otosan Uchi. The Great Bear ordered to attack the Outer Wall of the Imperial City, and once it was breached, the Kuni had to assault the Western Wall of the Miwaku Kabe, to release as many of the Oni trapped within as possible. Utsu was stunned, fully aware of the horrors that Kisada intended to release upon the Lion. [5]
Brother Edit
In 1144 the settlement which would be known as Water Hammer City rapidly grew. The monk and blacksmith Haru accepted his first students, who were offered the chance to practice his skills on the sacred forge there. [6] Kaiu Otoge, the younger brother of the Kaiu Daimyo, came there as the Crab representative. [7]
Death Edit
Utsu died of natural causes during the War of Spirits, but the exact year was unknown. A portion of the Great Wall was dedicated to his memory, with a shrine built along a section that supported numerous siege engines. [8] He had a nephew, Kaiu Umasu, and Umasu's father became the new daimyo. [9]
See Also Edit
External Links Edit
- Kaiu Utsu (Anvil of Despair)
|Preceded by:
|Kaiu Daimyo
? - (c. 1147)
|Succeeded by:
Kaiu Umasu's father
|This Crab Clan related article is a stub. That means that it has been started, but is incomplete. You can help by adding to the information here.


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Although second under IRC, St. Jude sailed well enough to win PHS from Stephen Trevillion's Jarkan 12, Online and Greg Barter's Mount Gay 30, Shaya Moya.
Breezes were light on, eight knots being the average, but it was enough to get the last boat home by 5.00pm. Twelve were registered to start, but only seven finished the race.
The start off Point Piper, had all the hallmarks of last year's very light race, with very little breeze to get the yachts going, prompting Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson to say: 'It's going to be a long, slow race.' However, at least the tide was an outgoing one, which helped take the small fleet out and the breeze did recover to better than expected.
For full race results and provisional Ocean Pointscore Series standings are available online.
http://www.cyca.com.au/" target="_blank">CYCA website


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Dec 18, 2001
|Filing date
|Oct 8, 1999
|Priority date
|Apr 22, 1997
|Fee status
|Publication number
|Frank Ruskin, Anton K. Simson, Peter C. Brusso, Henri J. A. Charmasson, John D. Buchaca
|Original Assignee
|Frank Ruskin, Anton K. Simson, Peter C. Brusso, Henri J. A. Charmasson, John D. Buchaca
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (77), Classifications (16), Legal Events (8)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. PCT/US98/08064 filed Apr. 15, 1998, a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 08/844,767 filed Apr. 22, 1997 and now abandoned. This is also a continuation-in-part of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/104,006 filed Oct. 13, 1998.
This invention relates to vending machines, and more specifically to the type of vending machines found on jobsites capable of distributing pastries, small snack items, and beverages.
Conventional vending machines for pastries, candy bars, soda cans and other snack products must be able to hold a substantial inventory of goods so that they do not need to be serviced too often. Accordingly, they tend to be bulky and heavy and occupy about a square meter (10 square feet) of floor space, with a height of almost 2 meters (72 inches).
The reloading of such a machine is time consuming since items must be inserted one by one, and inventory of unsold items must be checked for expiration date, and, occasionally, replaced. Cash must then be collected and counted by the servicing employee. The good-holding stations must be cleaned of all oil and grease that may have oozed out of the packaged goods. These cumbersome procedures are time-consuming, labor intensive, and sometimes give occasion for pilferage and theft.
Conventional machines are not well-adapted to small job sites having 150 employees or less, because the profit generated at such a small site can not justify the labor cost of servicing the machines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,649 Fellner et al. offers a partial solution to the above-mentioned problems by the use of a removable and replaceable magazine for the goods which can be loaded in the factory then used to replace an empty magazine or partially empty one. However, this type of magazine is relatively inefficient since it can hold only one item of goods in each location. Moreover, the coins need still be collected and counted on site. The same type of shortcomings characterize the vending machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. RE. 32,115 Lockwood et al. which uses a drum carousel to hold the goods to be sold. Although an empty carousel could be removed and replaced by a fully loaded one, each carousel station can only hold one item, and the cash must be handled separately. The inefficient designs of the above-devices inevitably leads to bulky vending machines which are not suitable for small locations.
The instant invention results from an attempt to palliate these various shortcomings.
The principal and secondary objects of this invention are to provide a simple, compact, efficient and economical vending machine that can be installed on a table top or counter top, requires a minimal on-site service and maintenance costs, and can eliminate pilferage of merchandise or money by service personnel.
These and other valuable objects are achieved by means of a compact vending machine that can be conveniently installed on a table top or counter top surface such as the counter of a cafeteria, wherein a replaceable magazine holds all the goods to be distributed, and collect all the currency that is used to pay for it. Accordingly, the servicing consists only in removing the empty or near empty magazine which also holds the cash in a tamper-proof receptacle, and replacing it with a new magazine that has been thoroughly cleaned and fully loaded in the factory without any need for on-site inventory or handling of any kind of goods or cash.
Each magazine comprises several layers of sets of merchandise-holding stations arranged so that their access ports are on the front of the magazine. Each station includes a spiral good-holding rack driven by a motor mounted on the back plane of the enclosure. During transportation and handling a door seals the access ports. Once the magazine is in the machine, the door separates slightly from the open front of the magazine to form a chute opening into a distributing pocket. The merchandise selected by the user is pushed forward by a spiral rack and falls into the chute leading to a distribution pocket. Currency from a coin box is automatically directed into a sealed receptacle at the bottom of the magazine. A keypad is used to make a selection of items seen through the transparent door of the machine. Payment for the goods can also be made by means of a magnetic card. Alternate embodiments of the good-dispensing mechanism are gravity-driven, greatly reducing the number of motors and other structures used to dispense the goods. A tamper-proof reloading cartridge that securely mates with a beverage-holing magazine can be used to top dispensing slots from which only a few items have been extracted. This type of vending machine is particularly indicated for small businesses or for small departments in a large organization. They can be serviced by low-skill persons whose tasks are limited to the removal of the magazine whether it is completely or only partially emptied, and its replacement by one that has been filled at a service center.
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the vending machine;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the magazine withdrawn for removal;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of the motor-holding module assembly;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the magazine with the transparent door in the shipping position;
FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the sprial rack-motor coupling mechanism;
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the lock assembly;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the electronic units;
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of the machine operation;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a multi-unit machine equipped with a scrolling display;
FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a first alternate embodiment of the vending machine according to the invention;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a dispensing channel equipped with a good-centering insert;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a can-dispensing mechanism;
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a gating plate;
FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 6—6, 7—7, and 8—8 respectively of FIG. 15;
FIG. 19 is a detail cross-sectional view of a barrier mechanism;
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate version of the dispensing channel;
FIG. 21 is a detail view of a snack food package distributing mechanism in the closed position;
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view thereof in the open position;
FIG. 23 is a detail view of a spring barrier insert;
FIG. 24 is a top plan view of an alternate gating plate;
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a magazine;
FIG. 26 is a perspective exploded view of the cartridge locking mechanism;
FIG. 27 is a side view of a locking pin;
FIG. 28 is perspective view of a drive motor coupling mechanism;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a cartridge tray;
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate beverage can distributing cartridge;
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative gating plate and barrier drive mechanism;
FIG. 32 is a top plan view thereof;
FIG. 33 is a perspective view of an alternate package-feeding mechanism; and
FIG. 34 is an exploded view of a machine dedicated to beverage cans, minus the cabinet.
FIG. 35 is a side view of an alternate goods dispensing mechanism;
FIG. 36 is a side view of the mechanism during the gate-opening sequence;
FIG. 37 is a side view of the mechanism during the gate-closing sequence;
FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of the pusher drive mechanism;
FIG. 39 is a top plan view of the alternate dispensing mechanism;
FIG. 40 is a detail view of the gate actuator;
FIG. 41 is a side view of another embodiment of the dispensing mechanism;
FIG. 42 is a detailed view thereof in the open position;
FIG. 43 is a frontal view of the dispensing mechanism;
FIG. 44 is a top plan view of the dispensing gate;
FIG. 45 is a side view of the currency receptacle gate;
FIG. 46 is a top plan view of an arcuate dispensing gate mechanism;
FIG. 47 is a side view thereof;
FIG. 48 is a top plan view of an actuating cam;
FIG. 49 is a top plan view of yet another dispensing gate mechanism;
FIG. 50 is a side view thereof;
FIG. 51 is a side view of a beverage can dispensing mechanism and auxiliary magazine;
FIG. 52 is a front view of the magazine interlocking mechanism;
FIG. 53 is top plan view of a magazine gate;
FIG. 54 is a block diagram of the vending machine electronic control; and
FIG. 55 is a block diagram of the central processing facility's data processing system.
Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a compact, counter top vending machine 1 housed in a molded plastic and sheet metal cabinet 2. A substitutable, quadrangular magazine 3 having a transparent front door 4 is securely held into the cabinet. The customer interface includes a message display 5, a keypad 6 upon which the selection of a desired goods can be made, a currency-acceptor 7, a magnetic-card reader 8 and a dispensing pocket 9. The goods 10 and the numbers of the stations or cells 11 holding them can be observed through the transparent door of the magazine.
Each station 11 can hold a plurality of goods having the same sale price. Each station is identified by a letter (A-E) and a number (1-5) designating a column of stations. In each station 11, a plurality of goods are held between the coils of a spiral rack 13. These goods may be of various configurations or sizes. When a spiral rack is rotated, it acts as an Archimedes screw, and shifts the goods toward the access port 14 along the front of the magazine. The magazine comprises five layers of good-holding station units or trays 15. It should be understood that the number of stations in each unit and the number of units in a magazine can be varied to accommodate different sizes and varieties of goods. Typically, small goods such as candy bars can be loaded on a five-station unit such as the one shown in the third row. Large items such as pastries and potato chip packs that require a larger stations can be loaded on units having four stations such as the one shown in the first, seconds fourth and fifth rows.
The lower, lateral corner of the magazine 3 rests upon a pair of fully extendible drawer slides 16, 17 for ease of installation and removal as illustrated in FIG. 2. Elongated, shallow depressions 18, 19 in the sides of the transparent door 4 form convenient pulling handles.
As more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the magazine 3 comprises a quadrangular box housing 20 in which the transparent door 4 is hinged by a set of pins 21 along the currency receptacle 22. The front, lateral edges 23, 24 of the box 20 are slightly slanted downwardly and inwardly. The transparent door 4 has two pairs of lateral flanges 25, 26 that overlap by approximately 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) the sides of the box. Accordingly, when the door 4 is held in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 3, there is created a void space 27 between the access ports 14 of the station and the back face of the transparent door. Moreover, because of the slanted edges 23, 24 of the cabinet, there remains an open gap 28 between the lower edges of the box and the transparent door. This gap matches an opening 29 on the front top part of the dispensing pocket 9. The void 27 and the gap 28 provide a chute for the goods ejected by the spiral racks out of their respective stations.
When the magazine is installed in the cabinet, and the transparent door is kept in the above-described vertical position, a slot opening 30 in the right side of the coin receptacle is not covered by the right flange 25, and is lined up with the base of a currency chute 31 which drops down from the currency-acceptor. However, when the magazine is extracted from the cabinet, the transparent door is slanted inwardly as more specifically illustrated in FIG. 5. In that position, the right flange of the door 24 completely seals the slot opening 30. A locking mechanism 32 is attached to a central, lower section of the transparent door 4 and passing through the currency box 22 cooperates with a keyed-pin 33 mounted on the back frame 41 of the cabinet.
The locking mechanism 32 comprises two telescopically engaged members 35, 36 which are axially adjustable through the cooperative action of their male 37 and female 38 threads. At the distal end of each member is a lock 39, 40. The locks act as clutches, whereby in the unlocked position, the threaded members 35, 36 are free-spinning in relation to the locks, and in the locked positions the male threaded member 35 can be rotated by means of a key 32 providing that the keyed pin 33 is engaged into the inner lock 40. Furthermore, once the cooperating members 35, 36 have been extended by a counter-clockwise movement of the key 42, the inner lock 40 cannot be separated from the keyed pin 33. The outer lock 39 is rotatively and permanently secured to the transparent door 4 by a washer 43. The inner lock 40 prevents the female-threaded member 36 from escaping from a pass-through hole in the back wall 34 of the magazine. The front lock is long enough to span most of the depth of the currency box receptacle 22. The inner lock 40 is rotatively attached to the back panel 34 of the magazine box 20 by a nut 44. Accordingly, it can be understood that the transparent door 4 of the magazine can only be placed in the vertical position illustrated in FIG. 3 when the magazine is fully inserted into the cabinet 2. In that position, the magazine is safely locked into the cabinet by the attachment of the inner lock 40 to the keyed pin 33. In order to remove the magazine from the cabinet, the service key 42 must be used to turn the male thread member 35 clockwise, thus pushing the transparent door's lower edge toward the lower edge of the currency receptacle, and effectively closing the slot opening 30 on the side of the currency receptacle. Once the magazine has been thus secured, the locking of the keyed pin 33 with the inner lock 40 is released and the magazine can be pulled out of the cabinet. It should be noted that the overhang 45 along the upper edge of the box effectively prevents access to the station when the cabinet magazine is out of the cabinet. It should also be noted that when the magazine is inserted into the cabinet, the top edge 46 of the transparent door 4 abuts the upper edge or lintel 47 of the cabinet. Accordingly, the transparent door cannot be pulled back further than the vertical position shown in FIG. 3. In a warehouse or service center, a special key similar to the keyed pin 33 is used to disengage the two threaded members 35, 36 in order to completely open the door 4 to give access to the stations.
In an alternate construction of the magazine, the box 20 is omitted. The station units or trays 15 are simply stacked upon one another and held together by self-aligning bolting pins to form the magazine.
In the back section of the cabinet, and for each row of good-holding stations, there is a good-extracting mechanism 49 that is engineered and positioned to contact the spiral rack of the good-holding units. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, each goods-extracting mechanism comprises an electrical motor 50 coupled to a short spline 51 having at its distal end, a head 52 shaped and dimensioned to couple with the spiral rack mechanism of a good-holding station when the magazine is fully inserted and held stationary into the cabinet. The shaft 53 of each spiral rack 13 is held in a bearing 54 that is mounted in the back plane of a station unit, and passes through a hole in the back plane 40 of the magazine box 3 where it comes into engagement with the spline head 52 of a corresponding motor 50. Gangs of motors are mounted on motor-holding modules 55 secured to the back-mounting frame 41. There is one motor-holding module for each station unit. The wirings of the motors in each module are brought to a pigtail connector 56 that mates with a corresponding connector 57 on the main wiring harness 58 leading to the electronic control unit 59 located in the rear of the cabinet base. Accordingly, modules of four or five motors can be quickly substituted for one another to match the composition of the station units.
The goods dispensing pocket 9 comprises an opening 60 leading to a opens space 61 immediately below the front end of the magazine. The opening 60 is closed by a triangular trapdoor hinged just above and behind the upper edge of the opening. Goods escaping from one of the spiral racks fall down the chute 27 into the dispensing pocket 9 where they can be retrieved by pushing the trapdoor 62. It should be noted that the curved back 63 of the trapdoor tends to direct the goods toward the back end of the open space 61 where they do not interfere with the movement of the trapdoor. It should also be noted that when the trapdoor is pushed, it prevents access to the station by effectively closing the opening 29 in the roof of the dispensing pocket.
An electronic sensor 65 mounted near that opening detects the passage of the goods toward the distributing pocket. The output of the sensor is fed to the microprocessor 66 which constitutes the principal component of the electronic control unit 59. A fan 67 proximate the electronic control unit 59 is used to extract heat out of the cabinet. An infrared transceiver 68 provides access to the micro-processor data. This transceiver may be used by a service person to read useful information such as money paid, and goods sold using a type of hand-held downloading device well known to persons skilled in the art of data-processing.
It can now be understood that once a user has made a selection by dialing on the keypad 6 the identification of the station holding the desired type of goods, the good-extracting mechanism servicing that particular station can then be activated to cause the goods most frontally located on the spiral rack to fall through the chute 27 into the dispensing pocket 9.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the operation of the vending machine is controlled by the microprocessor 66. The motors are controlled by motor-control modules 69, and the address-decoder 70. The motor-control modules and the address decoder consist essentially of gated current drivers, that, under control of the microprocessor, feed the forward current to the two appropriate motor. A modem 71 provides the communication interface to the microprocessor. An LCD message display 72 which is part of display 5 on the front of the cabinet is used to suggest to the user an alternate selection when the selected items is not available and to give other notices as will be explained below. A light 73 is mounted in the front portion of the cabinet to illuminate the front opening of the stations.
As more specifically illustrated in FIG. 9, the operation of the machine begins when the currency-acceptor detects that currency has been entered 101, or when a magnetic card has been inserted 102. In case of payment by currency, once the correct amount has been received 103, the system waits for the user to dial his choice of goods beginning with the letter corresponding to the proper row. In the case of a payment by magnetic card, the system first determines whether it is a credit card 104. In that case, the card owner's identification is read 105, and a credit check is initiated 106 via the modem 71. If credit is refused, the user is so advised by the display 108 of a rejection message. If the credit card owner has sufficient credit, the system waits for the user's selection. If the card is not a credit card, the system assumes that it is a debit, or so-called "smart card", and reads the card for the available balance 109. If the balance is not sufficient to pay for one of the offered goods, a rejection message is displayed 108. If that balance is sufficient to cover a purchase 110, the system waits for the user's selection.
Once the user has selected a row 111, that row identification is entered 112 into the microprocessor. The system then waits for the dialing of the appropriate column 113. When the column is dialed, its identification is entered into the computer 114. At that point, the corresponding motor is started 115 and, at the same time, a ten-second timer is also started 116. If the timer expires 117 before the electronic sensor 65 detects the passage of goods into the dispensing pocket, the motor is stopped 118 and a message suggesting an alternate selection 119 is displayed. A twenty second timer is also started 120. If that timer runs out 121 before a new row letter is dialed by the user, the magnetic card or the currency which has been introduced into the machine, is rejected 122. If a row letter is dialed before the expiration of the timer 123, the system proceeds with the entering of the row identification 112; then the column identification 114 as previously described. If the electronic sensor 65 detects the passage of the goods 124 before the ten-second timer runs out, the motor is stopped 125. In the event of payment by currency 126, the currency is accepted 127 and dropped into the currency receptacle 22. In case of payment by credit card 128, the charge is confirmed to the bank 129 via the modem 71. In case of payment by "smart card", the card is debited 130 by the price of the goods.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. RE. 32,115 Lockwood et al. which patent is incorporated in this specification by this reference, the modem 71 can be used to communicate with a warehouse or other type of control center, in order to provide information about the status of the vending machine such as the amount of goods already sold, proceeds received including the exact amount of currency which is now stored in the currency receptacle 22. The microprocessor can be programmed according to well-known techniques to initiate that kind of communication at preset intervals or specific times. Alternately, the microprocessor can respond to polling calls initiated from the control center. From the information thus received at the control center, the most appropriate time when servicing personnel should be dispatched to exchange the magazine of the machine can be determined. Moreover, the amount of money held in the currency receptacle, as well as the amount of goods remaining in the magazine are already known and can be verified upon receipt of the magazine. Any tampering or pilfering by the service personnel can thus be abated.
The preferred embodiment of the vending machine has a total height of 99 centimeters (39 inches), a total width of 84 centimeters (33 inches), and a total depth of 51 centimeters (20 inches), and an approximate weight of 36 kilograms (80 pounds), including an empty magazine. Such a vending machine can be easily transported and installed on a table or counter top where it occupies no more than 0.5 square meters (5.4 square feet).
In order to minimize the manufacturing, reconfiguring and maintenance of the vending machine, a combination of modular molded plastic and stamped metal components are used. The back and bottom part of the cabinet constitutes a single metal-stamped assembly. The back mounting frame 41 and the motor-holding modules are also made of metal-stampings. The cabinet consists of two symmetrical and similar molded plastic half-shells joined in the middle of the cabinet. The transparent door and the magazine itself are also made of molded plastic.
The use and profitability of the vending machine can be substantially increased by combining it with a programmable scrolling display of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,802 Simson, which patent is hereby incorporated in this specification by this reference.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, a scrolling display 131 is preferably incorporated into the door 132 of an auxiliary vending machine unit 133 that dispenses only beverages. Such a machine is disclosed below and illustrated in FIG. 51. The beverage-dispensing machine does not require a transparent door to view the various available items. The type of available beverages can be indicated on a picture sign 134 located near the distribution pocket 135.
The selection of the beverage and payment therefor is done on the control panel 136 and by using the card slot 137 located on principal machine 138. A simple umbilical cable 139 connects the two machines. A wide variety of enticing messages can be carried on the scroll 140 of the display. The messages on the scroll are exposed for several seconds per frame in a continuous mode of operation. Some messages may tout special packages combining a food item from the principal machine with a drink from the auxiliary machine at a reduced price. The display can also be programmed to match the message with the time of the day. Sandwiches and puddings may be emphasized around lunch or dinner time while candies and cookies are promoted during coffee breaks. The operation of the scrolling display is controlled by the microprocessor 66 operating under well-known programming routines. Entry of program commands can be made through the card reader 8 or via the modem 71.
In this embodiment of the invention, the principal machine 138 has a transparent door 141 that is hinged to the main enclosure 142. The magazine 143 has a scrolling tambour door 144 that securely closes upon any attempt to unlock the door 141, and automatically opens once the magazine is safely installed into the machine and the transparent door 141 has been locked. The tambour mechanism is substantially similar to the one used in the scrolling display, except that the scroll is constituted by a transversally rigid curtain such as the one used in connection with conventional roll-top desks.
An alternate embodiment 201 of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 11-18 also features a merchandise and currency cartridge 202 which is removable from the enclosure cabinet 203. The cabinet, preferably made of molded plastic, includes a transparent front door 204 secured to the cabinet by a top horizontal hinge 205 and a bottom lock 206. The cartridge 202 is mounted on a pair of slides 207 secured to the lower section of the cabinet.
With the transparent door 204 open, the magazine can be pulled out and lifted from its supporting slides.
On a front right section of the cabinet is a keypad 208 upon which the user can dial his selections a card slot 209 for accepting payment by bank card or enter and down-load data on a so-called "smart card", and a coin slot 210 for accepting cash payments. A large opening 211 in the lower section of the door leads to a dispensing pocket 212 into which purchased items are dropped. In the lower back section of the cabinet is a refrigerating unit comprising a compressor 213 and a condenser 214. Attached to a backboard 215 is a electronic module 216 and a series of motor assemblies 217. A light 219 mounted in the door 24 illuminates the entire machine. The cartridge comprises three or more merchandise-holding trays 219, 220 and 221, and a triangle-shaped currency receptacle 222. The currency receptacle forms the base of the cartridge and its lower lateral ledges rest upon the slides 207. The trays are stacked upon one another and upon the slanted top of the currency receptacle. The trays have downwardly slanted floors and tapering front faces 224 which are vertically aligned exposing a marginal front section of their underside which forms the dispensing openings 225 for the stored merchandise. The trays have approximately the same width. Accordingly, and due to their slanted orientation, a back section 226 of each tray's underside is also exposed. A cover 223 is used to seal the upper tray 219. The cover, the trays and the currency receptacle are secured together by screws engaged in sets of lugs 227 along their respective lateral edges.
A cartridge may combine trays configured to hold different types and sizes of merchandise. For the sake of illustration, the preferred embodiment is shown having a top tray 219 configured to hold small items such as candy bars and cookie packages. The intermediary tray 220 is configured to hold bags of snack foods such as chips or pretzels. The bottom tray 221 is configured to hold standard beverage cans. Each tray is divided into four or eight rows, each row is equipped with its own dispensing mechanism. Typically, a 60 centimeters (24 inches) wide cartridge can accommodate four rows of beverage cans or snack food packages, and eight rows of candies or cookies. Each row in the beverage can holding tray 221 comprises two layers of cans fed to the same dispensing gate. It should be noted that the number of layers of cans can be increased as shown in FIG. 30, and that an entire cartridge devoted uniquely to beverages could comprise a single tray divided into four rows. As shown in FIG. 13, a row initially configured for large snack food bags, can be modified by addition of an insert 231 to accommodate smaller items 232.
A sliding gate member 233 lining the bottom of each row has a front section that closes the dispensing opening 225. At the opposite end of the gate member, a toothed rack 234 is engaged by a pinion or gear 235 driven by an external electrical motor 236. A gang of motors, one for each row, is mounted on the motor assembly 217 secured to the backboard 215. Accordingly, each tray requires a motor assembly board. If the tray configuration within the cartridge is changed, the arrangement of the motor assembly in the back of the cabinet must be reconfigured accordingly. As shown on FIG. 28, when a cartridge is pushed into place in the cabinet, a flat key element 237 mounted at the end of the shaft 238 which drives the pinion 235 engages into a slot 239 cut into a head 240 capping the motor shaft 241. The motor can then be energized to drive the gear in either direction to open or close the dispensing opening 225.
As will be explained below, when the cartridge is being transported, all the dispensing openings are closed. Accordingly, the keys 237 can be oriented to always face the slot 239 in the motor shaft head 240.
In each tray, the goods are laid against the back of the front face 224 and are kept in this position by a triangular pushing block 242 inserted against the back face of the last item in a row. As the goods are dispensed one by one, the blocks keep sliding along with the remaining goods toward the front face 224 and the dispensing opening 225.
The pushing block is not necessary in connection with smoothly or roundly-shaped good which can slide toward the dispensing gate in the absence of any applied downward force other than gravity.
To make certain that no more than one item is dispensed with every movement of the gate member 233, a barrier 243 rises between the item being dispensed and the one next in line in synchronization with the backward movement of the sliding gate member 233. The barrier passes through a quadrangular window 245 cut into the forward end section of the sliding gate member 233.
In the beverage can tray 221, the barrier is constituted by a nylon plate 246 creased along three parallel lines to form three hinges 247, 248 and 249 articulating two rising panels 250 and 251 forming the barrier 243. The forward end 252 of the barrier is secured into the forward end of the window 245. The back end 253 is connected to a trapezoidal nylon pushbar 254 running within a similarly-shaped channel 255 along the length of the gating member 233. The back end of the pushbar is shaped into a toothed rack 255 which also engages the pinion or gear 235 in a diametrically opposed position to the rack 234 of the gate member itself. Accordingly, it be understood that when the gate member 233 is withdrawn toward the back of the tray to open the dispensing opening 225, the pushbar 254 moves in the opposite direction to cause the barrier to rise.
As illustrated in FIG. 20, in order to prevent the heavy weight of the cans 256 from bearing upon the gate member 233 and impeding its movement, the gate member is nested in a depression 257 in the center of the channel floor 258. The edges of the can thus ride on the remaining shoulders 259 on the lateral edges of the channel.
As more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 21-24, a simpler type of barrier 260 may be use in connection with lighter items such as snack fool packages 261. In this case, the barrier consists of a normally arcuate leaf spring member 262 secured within a quadrangualar frame 263 which is nested in a cavity 264 in the floor of the tray. As the gate member 233 is withdrawn, the lift spring 262 is allowed to slowly rise through the gate member window 245 and between the item being dispensed and the one next in line. When the gate member is moved forward to close the dispensing opening 225, the lift member 262 is pushed back into its frame by the backward edge of the window 245. In order to accommodate different sizes of items, differently sized and positioned lift spring assemblies can be substituted. It should be noted that in this case, there is no need for a pushrod activated by the pinion or gear 235. Certain irregularly-shaped or floppy items including certain snack food packages, may move in an erratic fashion as they approach the dispensing openining and the most forward item is released. In order to stabilize the sliding movement of the third item in line, it has been found advantageous to add a pushing member 265 which rises between the third and fourth of the remaining packages, and pushes that third package forward as the gate member closes the dispensing opening. This pushing member may be implemented in the same manner as the barrier 260, but must be installed in the opposite direction. A second window 266 must be provided in the gate member 233 slightly behind the first window 45 for that purpose.
In order to lock all the gating members 233 in their most forward position where they close the dispensing openings 225, a locking mechanism is provided in each tray as illustrated in FIGS. 25-27. The locking mechanism comprises a locking bar 267 which runs along the back lower corner of each tray, and has a series of lugs 268 positioned to slide behind the back end of each rack 234 in the locked position. In the unlocked position, the lugs can be moved to fall within the gap 269 left behind the pinion 235. The left end of the bar passes through the tray wall and into a lock 270 mounted against the lower back corner of the left face of the tray. The lock comprises a eccentric cam 271 engaged into a circular bore 272 at the end of the bar 267. On the front end of the lock, a lever 273 can be actuated by the service personnel. The back end of the lock comprises a tumbler assembly which is configured and aligned to be engaged by a key 275 permanently secured to the backboard 215 of the cabinet when the cartridge is fully installed into the cabinet. The tumbler assembly 274 prevents the lever 273 from being manipulated if the key 275 is not engaged. Moreover, in order to separate the tumbler assembly from the key, the mechanism must be put in the locked position. It can now be understood that when the cartridge is out of the cabinet all the dispensing openings 225 are closed and the levers 273 cannot be manipulated without the use of a key similar to the one installed into the machine. Once the cartridge is installed into the machine and the locking mechanism has been released by manipulation of the levers 273, the dispensing openings can only be opened by operation of the driving motors 236.
The coins fed into the coin slot 210 are led through a chute to a small aperture in the back of the currency receptacle 222. A sliding gate controlled by the same type of locking mechanism that secures the trays, closes that aperture when the mechanism lever is manipulated to release the cartridge. Accordingly, when the cartridge is out of the magazines the coin receptacle cannot be accessed through that aperture.
A locked door 277 is provided for emptying the currency receptacle at a service center. An alternate embodiment 278 of the gate member and barrier driving mechanism, is illustrated in FIGS. 31 and 32, relies upon a threaded rod 279 driven by an in-line motor 280 instead of a rack-and-pinion assembly. The rod 279 engages a square nut 281 captured by a cavity in the gate member 233. The distal end 282 of the rod engages a bore in the back edge of the barrier 243. When the motor is turned in one direction, the progress of the rod through the square nut draws the gate member away from the dispensing opening, at the same time pushing against the back side of the barrier.
In the alternate embodiment of the feeding mechanism illustrated in FIG. 33, the goods are held in separate packs 284 suspended to a rotating threaded rack 285 through pierced tabs 286. The aperture in each tab is axially and slidingly engaged upon the threaded rack 285 so as to move toward the dispensing opening when the rack is rotated. The rack is driven by the same motor that controls the gate member 233. Thus, the goods can be precisely delivered and dropped right above the dispensing opening in synchronization with the movement of the gate member.
The beverage can dispensing machine 287 illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 34 uses a series of side-by-side mounted can cartridges 288 rather than the stacked-up trays of the earlier described embodiment of the invention. Each cartridge has a plurality of rows feeding the single dispensing opening as shown in FIG. 30.
Each cartridge seats on a pair of slated support rails 289 and a front bar 290. The front bar mounts a series of pin keys that cooperate with lock assemblies 292 in the bases of the cartridges to secure the cartridge within the cabinet. A similar locking mechanism 293 is provided for the coin receptacle 294. Loading of the cartridges can be done through the dispensing opening or through a removable panel in either the top, side, or back wall. The slant of the rows in the beverage tray or cartridge is preferably between 10� and 20� from the horizon.
In snack food packages or candy bar rows, the slant is preferably between 20� and 30�.
A 60 cm (24 inches) wide, 75 cm (30 inches) high and 55 cm (22 inches) deep magazine can accommodate approximately 96 candy bars, 32 chip bags and 72 cans.
A 15 cm (6 inches) wide, 60 cm (24 inches) tall and 55 cm (22 inches) deep cartridge can hold 32 cans, for a total machine capacity of 128 cans.
Illustrated in FIGS. 35-40, is an alternate design for the dispensing control which does not rely on gravity to move the items toward the gate. It uses instead, a pushing mechanism synchronized with the gate opening.
In the dispensing mechanism 300 a folding gate 301 is mounted across the dispensing slot 302, and is driven by a backboard-mounted motor 303 by means of a spline and threaded rod assembly. The forward end of the folding gate 301 is secured to a threaded spline 304 having its opposite end engaged in a threaded sleeve 305. The opposite end of the sleeve is fixedly attached to the end of a threaded rod 306 driven by the motor 303. Thus, when the motor is activated the folding gate 301 is withdrawn, forming a barrier between the item 307 first in line to be dispensed and the next one 308 as illustrated in FIG. 37. The items to be dispensed are aligned and pressed against the front face of the dispensing channel by a pusher plate 310 which has a driving mechanism 311 riding in a longitudinal slot 312 in the floor 313 of the channel. This driving mechanism comprises a U-shaped bracket 314 having it ends engaged by the threaded rod 306. Captured between the legs of the bracket are a square nut 315 and a coil spring 316 both also engaged by the treaded rod 306. A spring leaf plate 317 allows the nut to follow the rotational movement of the rod 306 during clockwise rotation of the rod, but causes the nut to progress toward the distal end of the rod opposite the motor 303 when the motor direction is reversed to close the dispensing gate 301. This movement of the square nut 315 apply pressure through the spring 316 against the distal end of the bracket 314 causing the pusher plate 310 to shift the items toward the dispensing slot as illustrated in FIG. 37. The coil spring 316 against which the nut pushes, is provided to accommodate small differences in the sizes of the items and to avoid crunching goods such as potato chips under the action of the pusher plate 310. Accordingly, the pushing movements occurs only after one item has been dispensed and the next in line must be positioned over the folding gate 301.
It should be noted that by changing the position of the hinge on the folding gate and barrier, items of a different thickness can be quickly accommodated. Alternately, a transparent insert can be applied against the back side of the front face to reduce the width of the dispensing slot. Since the folding gate has a very light duty cycle and is not subject to any particular stress, it can conveniently be implemented with a nylon or other synthetic sheet of material that has been appropriately creased to form the hinge. The attachment of the gate elements to the spline and to the floor of the channel can be accomplished by simple snapping nib-and-cavity mechanisms. Accordingly, the gate barrier can be quickly replaced for adjustment to a new height and size or to replace it in case of excessive wear. Since the customer cannot reach the dispensing slot, it is not necessary that the folding gate span the full width of the dispensing slot. Closing the central third of the slot may be sufficient. All the moving components of the system can conveniently be made out of nylon or similar self-lubricating and rust-proof material.
In another alternate embodiment of the dispensing mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 41-45, the gate and barrier element 401 comprises five articulated contiguous and adjacent segments 402-406. These elements may be made of a nylon plate creased along four parallel lines 407-410 to form the hinges that delineate the segments. The most distal segment 402 forms a trap door that folds down under the weight of the item 411 first in line to be dispensed. When closed, the distal edge of that trap door is supported by a pair of small blocks 412, 413 projecting from the side walls of the dispensing opening 414. As the gate and barrier element is withdrawn, the trap door 402 frees itself from that support, rotates down and lets the item fall. The second support segment 403 is secured and supported by, a driving bracket 415 whose wing tips 416 ride within small grooves 417 in the supporting side walls of the dispensing opening. The proximal end of the driving bracket mounts a nut 418 that is engaged by a threaded rod 419.
The rod 419 runs inside the currency receptacle 320 and passes through its back wall to contact the driving motor 421 mounted on the back plane of the vending machine, by means of a detachable coupling 422.
The third and fourth segments 404 and 405 of the gate and barrier member fold upwardly when the gate is withdrawn to form a barrier between the first and second items.
The fifth segment 406 has its proximal edge fixedly secured to the forward edge of the dispensing channel floor 423.
When the driving bracket and gate barrier element are pushed forward by reversing the rotation of the motor, a small arm 424 projecting laterally from the proximal edge of the first trap door segment 402 comes in contact with a nib 425 on the right side wall. Causing the trap door to flip up and eventually come to rest on the support blocks 412 and 413.
A U-shaped carriage 426 having nuts 427, 428 engaged upon the threaded rod 419 within the currency receptacle forms a door 429 closing the currency opening 430 leading to the currency chute (not shown).
A lock (not shown) mounted on the left wall of the currency receptacle 420 near its opening 430 has a teno projecting into the receptacle to lock the gate 429 and also the gate barrier element 401 in the closed position. The lock engages a key permanently mounted on the machine cartridge support and can only be unlocked when the cartridge is in place.
Yet another embodiment of a dispensing gate mechanism 431 is illustrated in FIGS. 46-48. This mechanism is particularly adapted for dispensing irregularly shaped articles such as bags of chips, and packages of cookies and gum. It could also be used for dispensing beverage cans. The moving gate 432 is arcuate and forms a trough having a quarter-round bottom 433. The gate is rotatably suspended on each side by a pair of pins 434 mounted on a pair of brackets 435. The bases of the brackets are secured to the lateral edges of a plate 436 that forms the bottom of a goods-holding channel. The plate slides in its longitudinal direction under the action of a rotating cam 437 activated by a motor 438. A pair of arms 439 projecting vertically from the top of the lateral walls of the arcuate gate 432 come in contact with two stationary posts 440 and 441 mounted astride the arm. When contacting either one of the two posts, the arms 439 act as levers that cause the gate to swing around its supporting pins 434 about an axis perpendicular to the downward slant of the plate 436. As illustrated in FIG. 47, when under the action of the cam 437, the plate 436 is fully withdrawn, the gate 432 swings inwardly, opening the dispensing slot 442. It should be noted that the width of the dispensing slot is the sum of the quarter-round chord of the gate plus the amount of translation of the plate 436. Accordingly, a gate having a radius of 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) when combined with a plate movement of 1.25 centimeters (0.5 inch) can yield a total dispensing slot opening of about 5 centimeters (2 inches). It should also be noted that the trailing edge 443 of the arcuate gate rises above the forward edge of the floor plate 436 to form a barrier that prevents the movement of the item next in line to be dispensed toward the dispensing slot 442. When the plate 436 is slid forward, the arcuate gate assumes the closed position illustrated in dotted line in FIG. 47 wherein the trailing edge 443 of the gate meets the forward edge of the floor plate. As more particularly shown in FIG. 46, the interface between the back section 443 and the gate and the forward edge of the plate 436 form a series of intermeshing crenels 444, and 445. This configuration prevents pinching the bottom of some of the items to be dispensed between the gate and the plate.
Another embodiment of the dispensing gate particularly adapted for dispensing beverage cans is illustrated in FIGS. 49 and 50. In this case, the gate is formed by a trapdoor 446 that drops under its own weight away from a resting stop 447 when the sliding plate 448 is withdrawn by as little as 0.625 centimeters (0.24 inch). The trapdoor gate 446 is hinged to the end of the sliding plate 448 by a pin 449 located approximately 1.25 centimeter (1.5 inch) from the rear edge of the trapdoor gate 446. Accordingly, the back end 450 of the gate forms a barrier to prevent the passage of the next to be dispensed can 451 when the gate is down. A pair of posts 452 fixedly secured to the lateral wall of the good-holding channel come in contact with the upper surface of the rear section of the gate 450 when the sliding plate 448 is moved forwards causing the dispensing gate to rotate upwardly and close the dispensing slot.
Another convenient embodiment of a beverage can dispensing machine is illustrated in FIGS. 51-53. In this embodiments the cabinet 444 and the principal magazine 455 are basically similar to those in the embodiment described in FIG. 12. The front door 456 of the cabinet is hinged at its base 457 rather than its top edge in order to provide the space necessary to mount the auxiliary magazine 458 on top of the principal magazine 455. In this embodiment, the principal magazine has a capacity of 16 cans. It includes a coin receptacle 459 and a dispensing gate 460 driven by a cam and motor mechanism 461 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 47 and 48. The principal magazine is not supported by slides but is installed by first placing the front lower corner on a tilting angled bar 462 with the front of the magazine in a horizontal position, then tilting the magazine upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 463 until the back end of the moving plate 464 comes in contact with the cam and motor mechanism 461. The cans rolls along three levels of slides tilted at approximately 5 degrees from the horizontal. The magazine is loaded from a slot opening 465 on its top which is closed by a sliding gate as will be explained below. The principal magazine 455 can be either completely refilled or simply topped from a portable auxiliary magazine 458. Accordingly, the service person has the option of either removing the principal magazine and replacing it by a fully loaded one, or use the portable auxiliary magazine 458 to add as many cans as may be necessary to top the principal magazine. The auxiliary magazine 458 has a bottom geometry which is designed to intimately mate with the geometry of the principal auxiliary magazine top. Furthermore, the dispensing gate 466 in the bottom of the auxiliary magazine can only be opened when the two magazines are completely mated. Both the filling opening 465 of the principal magazine and the dispensing slot 466 of the auxiliary magazine are controlled by sliding gates which are activated by similar and mating mechanisms 467 and 468 more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 52 and 53. Each sliding plate 469 has a pair of longitudinal slots 470 and 471 near its front edge 472. A first slot 470 is engaged by a lock 473 which is mounted by an angled bracket 474 against the front face of the corresponding magazine. The angled bracket is not attached to the body of the lock but to the shaft that normally mounts the bolt. An enlarged area 475 in the forward end of the first slot is shaped and dimensioned to be engaged by the rotating main body of the lock 476, the lock is oriented such that when the key 477 is removed, the main body of the lock 476 is locked in the position illustrated in FIG. 53. Thus, preventing any movement of the gate 479. The second slot 478 is shaped and dimensioned to pass the key 477 of the other magazine lock. That key is also mounted by a bracket 479 against the front face of the magazine. It can be now understood that in order to free the sliding gate 479 of either magazine, both magazines must be intimately mated with the keys 477 properly engaged into the respective locks. At this point, the main bodies 476 of each lock can be rotated as indicated by a row 480 to allow the sliding gates 469 to be pulled out and open the feeding and dispensing slots 465 and 466 of the respective magazines. A handle 481 associated with each lock body is provided to facilitate the rotation. The auxiliary magazine 458 can be reloaded in a service center by opening a lock-secured top lid 482.
It should be noted that the service personnel can never get access to the goods held by either one of the two magazines.
In addition to or in lieu of currency, the machine accepts payment by so-called "smart cards". A smart card is a type of debit card which mounts a microchip having the capability of holding a file to which data can be added or substracted. Typically, a smart card can be purchased for a fixed price plus a small service charge. The fixed price corresponds to the amount of money stored in the microchip. Machines adapted to accept payment with such a card have the ability of deducting, from the microchip file, the amount corresponding to the purchase. This type of smart card and associated hardware and software technology are commercially available from Cardlogix of Irvine, Calif. Accordingly, the vending machine is equipped with a microprocessor 483 whose data bus 484 is connected to a variety of peripheral devices including a smart card reader/writer 485 having the capability to read and write on smart cards 486 used by customers and smart cards used by service persons to track the machine performance and inventory. The microprocessor bus is also connected to a keypad 487 upon which the customer can dial his choice of goods, and the service person can enter certain information and instructions. The bus also accesses an alpha numerical display 488 used to communicate visual messages to the customers such as machine operating instructions and the like. Once a customer has made his selection, commands are transferred to a motor control 489 that selects and activates the motor corresponding to the channel into which the selected goods are stored. The position of a variety of status switches 490 can be read by the processor through the data bus in order to verify the proper operation of the machine. An optical sensor 491 located at the entrance of the dispensing slot gives an indication that the selected goods has been dropped into the dispensing pocket. The microprocessor can also release certain latches 492 which enable or disable certain operations of the machine in accordance to certain conditions reflected by the status switches 490. For instance, the machine will not attempt to dispense goods if the magazine is not properly inserted into the machine and the front door closed. A solid state memory 493 is used to hold the microprocessor operating an application software as well as the inventory information. The microprocessor can monitor all the sales and maintain a detailed inventory in memory. Prior to servicing a machine, a service person introduces a smart card into the card reader and dials a code on the keypad instructing the microprocessor to transfer the inventory data from the solid state memory 483 onto the service person's smart card. The smart card may also contain program instructions that are read and executed by the microprocessor. Those instructions may include price changes or special promotional command to he scrolling display. The smart card, as well as the removed or partially empty magazine, can be turned in at the service center for processing, and refiling and restocking. The service center is equipped with a central processor 494 which is also provided with a smart card reader/writer 495 and a printer 496. The information read off the service person's smart card 497 is used to verify the returned cartridge contents is consistent with the quantities and types of goods dispersed by the machines, and to generate a complete inventory of the remaining goods held in various vending machines throughout the serviced territory, as well as a schedule of services to be performed during the next day in accordance with the status, that is, the amount of goods still held by the machine previously serviced. Accordingly, the central processor 494 includes a return cartridge software module 498, a inventory control module 499 and a route planning module 500. It should be understood that the central processor can also accumulate statistical data about the entire operation.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
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|Apr 17, 2012
|Intervet International B.V.
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|May 18, 2010
|Apr 2, 2013
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|Apr 9, 2013
|Antonio Vardaro
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|Apr 29, 2014
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|Jul 15, 2014
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|Mar 15, 2016
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|May 10, 2016
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|May 24, 2016
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|Jul 12, 2016
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|Nov 8, 2016
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|Aug 23, 2001
|Aug 29, 2002
|Whitten David Boyd
|Method and system for accomplishing product detection
|Aug 29, 2001
|Mar 6, 2003
|Grandai Srinivasan
|Merchandise dispensing system and associated methods
|Nov 27, 2002
|May 22, 2003
|Munroe Chirnomas
|Vending machine
|Feb 22, 2001
|Jun 12, 2003
|Riegler Robert M.
|Cost-controlled activation of a motor vehicle
|Sep 25, 2002
|Mar 25, 2004
|Nickerson James L.
|Audit monitoring and product drop system for reretrofitting vending machines
|Oct 11, 2002
|Apr 15, 2004
|Sams Gary L.
|Rear loading vending machine
|Jun 4, 2003
|Dec 9, 2004
|The Vendo Company
|Anti-theft hopper for vending machine
|Jul 14, 2004
|Aug 4, 2005
|Doug Huffer
|Can and bottle dispenser
|Jun 13, 2003
|Sep 29, 2005
|Munroe Chirnomas
|Article storage magazine for an article handling device
|Nov 10, 2005
|Mar 23, 2006
|Sams Gary L
|Rear loading vending machine
|Jun 3, 2005
|Dec 7, 2006
|Stephen Murray
|Refrigerator for storing vials and cartridge for use in the same
|Jul 28, 2005
|Feb 1, 2007
|Idx, Inc.
|Vending machine having a game of chance
|May 12, 2006
|Nov 15, 2007
|Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.
|Vending machine with non-vend storage area and modular storage unit
|Aug 13, 2007
|Mar 6, 2008
|Bautista Dexter V
|Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product
|Mar 6, 2008
|Jun 26, 2008
|Scott Juds
|Vending machine having a game of chance
|Mar 24, 2005
|Oct 16, 2008
|Graham Packaging Company L.P.
|Storage System For Transfer Stabilizing Supports and/or Containers
|Jan 16, 2009
|Aug 20, 2009
|Bautista Dexter V
|Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product
|Jul 20, 2010
|Jan 20, 2011
|Antonio Vardaro
|Horizontal small packet dispenser
|Nov 8, 2010
|Mar 3, 2011
|Bautista Dexter V
|Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product
|May 30, 2012
|Sep 20, 2012
|Tuttoespresso S.R.L.
|Automatic dispensing machine and method of operation
|Jun 26, 2012
|Oct 25, 2012
|Vigix, Inc.
|Systems, methods, and devices for dispensing products from a kiosk
|Mar 9, 2013
|Jul 25, 2013
|ecoATM, Inc.
|Mini-Kiosk For Recycling Electronic Devices
|Apr 9, 2013
|Jun 11, 2015
|Tapgreet, Inc.
|Greeting card distribution system
|Mar 2, 2015
|Sep 3, 2015
|Nrg Energy, Inc.
|Power Pack Vending Apparatus, System and Method of Use
|Dec 19, 2014
|Sep 28, 2016
|Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating module-based vending
|Aug 12, 2005
|May 16, 2007
|Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
|Point of purchase dispensing device with container and method of using same
|Aug 12, 2005
|Jun 26, 2013
|Wrigley W M Jun Co
|Point of purchase dispensing device with container and method of using same
|Mar 24, 2005
|Oct 20, 2005
|Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
|Storage system for transfer stabilizing supports
|Dec 19, 2014
|Jun 25, 2015
|Vengo Inc.
|Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating module-based vending
|U.S. Classification
|221/75, 221/197
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jun 3, 2002
Owner name: SIMON, TODD A., CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RUSKIN, FRANK;SIMSON, ANTON K.;BRUSSO, PETER C.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012946/0116;SIGNING DATES FROM 20020511 TO 20020520
Owner name: DISTRIBUTED VENDING COMPANY, CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RUSKIN, FRANK;SIMSON, ANTON K.;BRUSSO, PETER C.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012946/0116;SIGNING DATES FROM 20020511 TO 20020520
|Jun 20, 2005
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Jun 29, 2009
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Oct 5, 2009
|Surcharge for late payment
Year of fee payment: 7
|Oct 5, 2009
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Jul 26, 2013
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Dec 18, 2013
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Feb 4, 2014
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20131218


text:
Submit News
Blog: Internet
Cyber Crime Black Market Exploding Worldwide
Michael Hatamoto
August 13, 2012 8:08 PM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
Infographic explaining cyber crime and security
(Source: Rasmussen College)
Governments and police authorities are scrambling to try and catch up to global demand of stolen information from cyber criminals
Growing up in the United States, children are continually warned about potential "real-world" crime that plagues only a small number of the population each year. However, more people are now becoming victims of cyber crimes, and there is very little being done to help protect Internet users – and companies routinely targeted.
Increasingly, the looming threat of cyber crime is hitting us at a rapid pace –researchers estimate organized crime groups collected more than $388 billion from identity theft and other crimes in 2011. Amazingly, cyber crimes are quickly approaching the $411 billion industry involving the trafficking and selling of illegal narcotics, according to Rasmussen College researchers.
Criminals are developing their cyber crime skills that include phishing, internet scams, identity theft, and other sophisticated attempts to steal personal information.
For internet users looking to protect themselves, researchers have a few basic tips: not using a single password for all online accounts, avoid clicking unsafe links, connecting to secure Wi-Fi accounts, keep security software updated, and be careful about what you're posting on the Internet.
That's all fine and dandy for casual Internet users, but what if the problem is a structural issue from corporations and the government?
The U.S. government is now making its own cyber security a more pressing matter, though very few people seem to know what to do.
Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), the Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman, believe the Pres. Obama administration should utilize an executive order for cyber security. Lieberman and Rockefeller haven't had success with efforts in Washington because certain industries aren't happy they'd be forced to adhere to stricter digital standards.
Obama is interested in
seeking longer prison sentences
for digital criminals, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has
a cyber operation plan
to standardize military cyber operations.
Even with all of this talk regarding U.S. vulnerabilities, the U.S. government has found success launching coordinated attacks. In addition to temporarily
crippling Al Qaeda
, the U.S. has used Stuxnet and Flame to
target Iranian computer networks
In the long term, government legislation will not help protect the US government – and its citizens – from cyber attacks, but elected officials trying to ignore the problem won't do any good.
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