Patent ID: 6102162
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A cafeteria self-service system for displaying and selling a plurality of food items supplied from a kitchen to a plurality of patrons, each patron having a payment card; the cafeteria self-service system comprising:(a) at least one cafeteria self-service unit for the storage and display of said food items, said at least one cafeteria self-service unit being accessible via a first direction from the kitchen and being accessible via a second direction by the patrons, said cafeteria self-service unit including:(i) physical access control means for selectively barring or allowing physical access by the patrons to the food items in said cafeteria self-service unit via said second direction;(ii) at least one item sensing device for determining food items placed in said cafeteria self-service unit via said first direction and for determining food items removed from said cafeteria self-service unit via said second direction;(iii) a payment card accepting device for accepting payment cards presented by patrons;(b) an access controller for determining when to allow access and when to bar access, and for activating said physical access control means;(c) an automated payment handler for activating said payment card accepting device, validating the payment card, and charging the payment card a selectable amount;(d) a data storage facility storing therein:(i) a pricing schedule for said food items; and(ii) food item replenishment criteria to determine a required amount of food items to be supplied to said cafeteria self-service unit via said first direction;(e) a kitchen interface for directing food item preparation operations;(f) a central information and control system interfacing with said access controller, said automated payment handler, said item sensing device, said data storage facility and said kitchen interface; for:(i) receiving notification from said automated payment handler that a valid payment card has been presented;(ii) activating said access controller to allow patron access to said at least one cafeteria self-service unit via said second direction;(iii) receiving from said item sensing device the identity of each food item removed from said cafeteria self-service unit via said second direction;(iv) calculating said required amount of food items to be supplied to said cafeteria self-service unit via said first direction in accordance with said food item replenishment criteria, and activating said kitchen interface to exhibit said required amount; and(v) selectively activating said automated payment handler to charge said valid payment card.