Handles and displays for product vending system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021065492-A1
Application number	US-201916559300-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 3, 2019
Priority date	Sep 3, 2019
Publication date	Mar 4, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A handle for a product vending system includes a housing configured to be secured to a door of a product storage cabinet having a lock. The handle includes a display arranged on the housing, that is configured to show product information. A payment processing unit is arranged on the housing and is configured to detect or receive a payment. A control unit is configured to communicate with the lock of the product storage cabinet, such that when the payment is detected by the payment processing unit, the control unit is configured to unlock the lock of the product storage cabinet so as to provide access to a product stored in the product storage cabinet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A handle for a product vending system, comprising:
a housing configured to be secured to a door of a product storage cabinet having a lock; a user interface arranged on the housing, wherein the user interface comprises a display configured to show product information; a payment processing unit arranged on the housing, wherein the payment processing unit is configured to detect a payment source; and a control unit configured to communicate with the lock of the product storage cabinet, such that when the payment source is detected by the payment processing unit, the control unit is configured to unlock the lock of the product storage cabinet so as to provide access to a product stored in the product storage cabinet.

2 . The handle of claim 1 , wherein the payment processing unit comprises one or more of a credit card reader, a near field communication antenna, and a chip reader.

3 . The handle of claim 1 , wherein the display is a touch-screen display configured to receive a user input.

4 . The handle of claim 1 , further comprising an audio unit configured to play an audible alert.

5 . The handle of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be retrofitted onto the door of the product storage cabinet.

6 . A product vending system, comprising:
a cabinet comprising:
a storage compartment for storing products; and
a door connected to the storage compartment, wherein the door is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration;
a handle securable to the door of the cabinet, comprising:
a digital display;
a payment processing unit configured to detect a payment source; and
a control unit configured to control operation of the product vending system;
a product sensor arranged within the storage compartment that is configured to detect a product removed from the storage compartment;
wherein the control unit is configured to cause the digital display to show product information about a product removed from the storage compartment as determined by the product sensor.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the cabinet further comprises a lock configured to maintain the door in the closed configuration, wherein the control unit is in communication with the lock and is configured to unlock the lock when the payment source is detected by the payment processing unit.

8 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a product information display arranged within the storage compartment, wherein the product information display is configured to display the product information corresponding to a product removed from the storage compartment of the cabinet.

9 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a cabinet light arranged within the storage compartment, wherein the cabinet light is in communication with the control unit of the handle, and wherein the control unit is configured to increase a brightness of the cabinet light when the door of the cabinet is in the open configuration.

10 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising an audio unit configured to play an audible alert when a product is removed from or is returned to the storage compartment of the cabinet as determined by the product sensor.

11 . A method for vending a product from a product storage cabinet, comprising:
receiving a payment by a control unit of a handle arranged on a door of the product storage cabinet; unlocking a lock of the door of the product storage cabinet upon receipt of the user input to allow the door of the product storage cabinet to be opened; detecting removal of the product from the storage compartment of the product storage cabinet by a product sensor; and displaying product information about the product removed from the product storage cabinet on a display of the handle.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving a user input comprises detecting a payment source by a payment processing unit of the handle.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
dimming the display of the handle after unlocking the lock of the door of the product storage cabinet.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising playing an audible alert by an audio unit when a product is removed from the storage compartment of the product storage cabinet as determined by the product sensor.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising increasing a brightness of a cabinet light arranged within the storage compartment after unlocking the lock of the door of the product storage cabinet.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein displaying product information comprises displaying a total price of products removed from the storage compartment.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving a user input at a user interface of the handle to complete a purchase of the product removed from the storage compartment.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying the product information on a product information display arranged within the storage compartment of the product storage cabinet.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising locking the door of the product storage cabinet after a predetermined period of time.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting a return of the product to the storage compartment of the product storage cabinet after the product is removed from the storage compartment.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Rosburg Klaus
• Lim Stephen

Classifications

• G07F9/10

  Casings {or parts thereof}, e.g. with means for heating or cooling · CPC title

• G06Q20/18

  involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals · CPC title

• G07F9/023 Primary

  Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising · CPC title

• G07F11/62

  in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles · CPC title

• G06Q20/40145

  Biometric identity checks · CPC title