Modular vending machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020175802-A1
Application number	US-201816206474-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2018
Priority date	Nov 30, 2018
Publication date	Jun 4, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Modular vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers. A modular vending machine may include a product storage system, a user interface, and a control unit. Several modular vending machines may be stacked and/or arranged together in various configurations. Several modular vending machines may be linked electronically and may communicate with each other and/or with a user mobile device over a network. A modular vending machine may automatically complete a transaction with the consumer, where the consumer removes a product from the modular vending machine. A consumer may access and purchase products from several modular vending machines in one transaction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A modular vending system, comprising:
a first modular vending unit, comprising:
a first product compartment having a first locking mechanism that is operably accessible to a user through a first door,
a first product sensor configured to determine the number of products disposed in the first product compartment, and
a user interface configured to receive user information;
a second modular vending unit, comprising:
a second product compartment having a second locking mechanism that is operably accessible to a user through a second door, and
a second product sensor configured to determine the number of products disposed in the second product compartment; and
wherein when user information is received by the user interface of the first modular vending unit, both the first and second doors are unlocked.

2 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein only one of the first and second doors may be opened at a time.

3 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein the first modular vending unit and second modular vending unit are stackable.

4 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein the second modular vending unit further comprises a second user interface, wherein when user information is received by the second user interface of the second modular vending unit, both the first and second doors are unlocked.

5 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein the first modular vending unit and second modular vending unit are configured to communicate with each other over a network.

6 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein during a vending operation, the first and second product sensors automatically determine the number of products removed from the first and second product compartments and a transaction is completed with the user.

7 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein the first product compartment is temperature controlled.

8 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein the user information received by the user interface is a machine readable item.

9 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein the user information received by the user interface is a biometric characteristic.

10 . The modular vending system of claim 1 , wherein the products are packaged products.

11 . A modular vending machine, comprising:
a first product compartment; a second product compartment separate from the first product compartment; a first locking mechanism configured to automatically lock and unlock a first door of the first product compartment; a second locking mechanism configured to automatically lock and unlock a second door of the second product compartment; a user interface; a product sensor system configured to determine the number of products disposed in the first and second product compartments; wherein during a vending operation, both the first and second product compartments are accessible to a user through the first and second doors, respectively, wherein only one of the first and second doors may be opened at a time.

12 . The modular vending machine of claim 11 , wherein during the vending operation, a transaction is completed with the user.

13 . The modular vending machine of claim 11 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive input from the user.

14 . The modular vending machine of claim 13 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive information from a user via a user mobile device.

15 . The modular vending machine of claim 11 , wherein the first and second product compartments are disposed together in an integral housing.

16 . A method of vending a product from a modular vending machine, the method comprising:
receiving user information from a user; determining the number of products disposed in a first product compartment and a second product compartment; unlocking a first door and a second door whereby the user may access the first product compartment and the second product compartment, respectively; locking the second door when the first door is opened; unlocking the second door when the first door is closed; locking the first door and the second door; and determining the number of products that were removed from the first product compartment and the second product compartment.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising performing a transaction with the user.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the transaction includes an electronic payment.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the user information is received from a user via a user mobile device.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the user mobile device is a smart phone.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Crawford Robert
• Jafa Emad
• Lau Cheuk Chi
• Li Xuejun
• Serock Yong
• Chan Wai Ting
• Johnstone Samuel Luke
• Mitchell Martyn Thomas
• Morrison Euan
• Williams Erik David

Classifications

• G07F11/002 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G07F11/007

  wherein the storage and dispensing mechanism are configurable in relation to the physical or geometrical properties of the articles to be stored or dispensed · CPC title

• G07F11/16

  Delivery means · CPC title

• G07F17/14

  for fastenings for doors (of containers for safe keeping G07F17/12); for turnstiles · CPC title

• G07F17/12

  comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned · CPC title