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Vending data collection system
| Details |
Inventors: Partyka, Kenneth M.; Pogoff, David J.; Cochran, Michell H.; Gannon, Michael L.;
Assignee: Proactive Vending Technology, LLC (Burnsville, MN)
Primary Examiner: Bartuska; F. J.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brown, Pinnisi & Michaels, P.C.
A monitoring system monitors a plurality of remote product dispensers. Vends are detected indicating that products have been dispensed from the dispenser during a given time period. Vend data indicative of the products dispensed is stored. The vend data is communicated to a base unit and a base unit provides a display indicative of products dispensed and a service schedule based on the vend data received. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention arises, in part, from the realization that simply monitoring the vend motor circuits to determine whether a vend has occurred produces results which are highly inaccurate.
For example, conventional wisdom teaches that by monitoring the vend motor circuit, and determining when the motor circuit is energized correlates to a vend.
However, it has been determined that in most currently available vending machines, the vend motor can be energized for different time periods for many different reasons.
In different vending machines, the vend motor can require a different degree of rotation to accomplish a vend.
Also, if the operator actuates the product selector button for an inadequate duration, the vend motor starts but stops before a vend has occurred.
This is referred to as a "quick hit" and can occur many times before the vend actually occurs.
Systems which count a vend with each energization of the motor circuit count all quick hits as vends and are erroneous.
In addition, in most currently used vending machines, the product out light which indicates that a bin is out of a certain product is also coupled into the power circuit which powers the vend motor.
When a product is depleted from a bin, the motor circuit is energized and a relay downstream of the product out light cuts out the motor so that it does not continuously turn.
However, the motor circuit still appears to be energized.
Thus, simply monitoring the vend motor circuit, and the time during which it is activated, can lead to inaccurate results.
Applicants' invention also arises, in part, from the realization that once accurate vend data is obtained, it would be desirable to use the data in determining an improved service schedule for servicing the machine.
A monitoring system monitors a plurality of remote product dispensers.
Vends are detected indicating that products have been dispensed from the dispenser during a given time period.
Vend data indicative of the products dispensed is stored
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Cell Phones 
