Patent Publication Number: US-8527089-B2

Title: Dispensing machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is an National Phase application of PCT/GB2009/001795, filed Jul. 21, 2009, claiming priority from Application GB 0813437.1 filed on Jul. 22, 2008. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a dispensing machine for dispensing items to customers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Dispensing machines are widely used for the dispensing of various items, e.g. snacks, drinks, newspapers and cards. They are typically installed in public areas such as train stations and office buildings. 
     The machine generally comprises a cabinet having one or more windows in a front wall thereof for viewing the items to be dispensed. The cabinet contains a number of different items; and associated with each item is a dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism can for example be actuated to advance a selected item into a discharge area, from where it can be removed by the customer. 
     Typically, the machine further comprises a customer interface having a selection device for the customer to select a desired item. A dispensing machine for vending items to a customer, i.e. vending machine, typically has a coin/card slot on the customer interface for the customer to make payment for the selected item. Typically, the customer interface comprises a keypad for the customer to key in a number or code associated with the desired item. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary dispensing machine (vending machine)  1  which contains a variety of items  10  to be dispensed. The items are stored behind a window of a cabinet. Each item  10  is retained on a shelf  20  by a dispensing apparatus (not shown) which is selectively actuatable to dispense the item into a discharge area  30  from where it can be removed by the customer. The vending machine further comprises a customer interface  40  positioned laterally of the window. The customer interface  40  comprises a coin slot  50  and a coin return recess  80 , a banknote or bill insert slot  60  and a card acceptor  70  to initiate a vending operation. The customer interface  40  further comprises a keypad  90  with a display  95  to display prices of items, instructions for operating the machine, or other information to customers. 
     An exemplary dispensing apparatus of the above type comprises a dispensing spiral as disclosed in United Kingdom patent application GB2432580. The spiral vending machine has a plurality of parallel dispensing spirals located inside the cabinet and oriented with their axes substantially perpendicular to the window. Each spiral extends substantially from the back of each shelf to the front edge of the shelf and the rotation of the spiral advances the items in that spiral towards the front of the shelf, from where they drop into a discharge bin for collection by the customer. 
     GB-A-3535890 describes a vending machine with a display cabinet, a selection mechanism based on an electromechanical telephone dialling wheel, and a “selection indicator device” to indicate the item that has been selected by the selection mechanism. It is suggested that the selection indicating device could consist of a number of lamps each individually arranged to project a beam of light on a different product sample in the display cabinet. The selection indicating device in the GB patent is only activated after a selection has been made. 
     A disadvantage associated with a dispensing machine using a keypad or dialling wheel for selection is that it requires the customer to remember the item code that is displayed adjacent to the item inside the cabinet and then input the code using the keypad to make a selection. As the keypad or dialling wheel is typically positioned laterally of the window, the customer must look away from the item when making the selection. Thus, it is easy to make an unwanted or unsuccessful selection by keying in an incorrect item code. Furthermore, using keypads or telephone dialling wheels to make selections can also be somewhat slow. 
     Other selection devices have been designed for an improved selection. For example, electronic selection devices such as touch screens have been used for improving speed of selection. Such electronic selection devices generally require sensing circuitries to sense from the touch screen which command has been made by the customer and communicate this to a computer which will then process the command and control the dispensing mechanisms to dispense the corresponding item. 
     The touch screen may be positioned laterally of the window, where it is used in similar fashion to the keypad  90  shown in  FIG. 1 . It can also be positioned in other areas for making selection in a more direct manner. In particular, European patent application EP-A-1783705 discloses a vending machine having a selection device formed by a transparent touch screen attached to the outer surface of the product viewing window, the selection device comprising a sensor associated with the touch screen. The customer can make the selection by moving his/her hand close to the touch screen and/or touching it at the position of the desired item. The user then need not look away from the item he/she wishes to buy thus limiting selection errors. However, large-area transparent touch screens are expensive, and it is relatively easy to make an erroneous selection by accidentally touching the wrong part of the window. 
     Therefore, a need remains for a quicker and better controlled selection. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been devised to overcome the above-mentioned problems, providing a dispensing machine with a quick and better controlled selection performance. 
     In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided dispensing machine for dispensing items to customers, the dispensing machine comprising a cabinet having at least one window for viewing a plurality of different items to be dispensed to customers; a plurality of supports for supporting said plurality of different items to be dispensed to customers; a pointing device for selecting a desired item from the plurality of items; an indicator associated with the pointing device and operable to provide an indication, visible through the window, of which item is being selected by the pointing device without dispensing the selected item; and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the selected item in response to a dispensing instruction. 
     In one embodiment, the dispensing machine further comprises a control system operably connected to the pointing device and the indicator, wherein the control system, in response to a signal from the pointing device, controls the indicator to provide an indication, visible through the window, of which item is being selected by the pointing device. 
     The term “pointing device” is used in its usual sense in the electronics hardware art. That is to say, it refers to a human interface device that allows a user to input spatial (i.e. continuous and multi-dimensional) data to a machine such as a computer using physical gestures. The pointing device may suitably comprise a roller ball, a touch pad, a touch sensitive transparent window, joystick, or pointing stick to control selection of the items. 
     In one embodiment, the indicator suitably comprises at least one illuminator to selectively illuminate the item selected by the pointing device. The illuminator may suitably comprise a downward facing light to illuminate the selected item from above. Alternatively or additionally, the illuminator may suitably comprise a forward facing light adjacent to the selected item. The light for illumination may comprise a LED. 
     In one embodiment, the machine further comprises a display for displaying information relating to the selected item or instructions for operating the machine. For example, the display may comprise a screen, such as a liquid crystal display screen, positioned laterally of the window(s). 
     In one embodiment, the dispensing machine is a spiral dispensing machine in which the dispensing mechanism comprises a plurality of dispensing spirals. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided method for operating a dispensing machine for dispensing items to customers, the method comprising using a pointing device to select a desired item, the selection comprising moving an indicator, wherein the indicator is operable to provide an indication, visible to customers through at least one window of the dispensing machine, to show which item is being selected by the pointing device; and dispensing a selected item in response to a dispensing instruction. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises browsing items through control of the pointing device. 
     In one embodiment, the indicator suitably provides an indication by illuminating the selected item. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises displaying information relating to the items or instructions for operating the machine to the customers. 
     As such, the present invention provides various advantages over the dispensing machines of the art. For example, using a pointing device instead of a keypad enables a quicker selection and provides more ‘fun’ of control. The user can browse the available products using the pointing means before making a selection. The localised illumination assists improving the accuracy of selection. It provides a clearer view of items to the customer and thus the customer may feel closer to items during selection. The localised illumination also provides visual appeal. In certain embodiments, the illumination may provide a static or dynamic illumination of different items in the machine when the machine is not being used, in order to increase the visual impact and appeal of the machine and thereby attract customers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a conventional vending machine using keypad. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a dispensing machine containing items in accordance with the present invention and  FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of the the dispensing machine without items. 
         FIGS. 2B-2D  show a perspective view of various embodiments of the pointing device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2E  shows a partial view of an indicator, control system and pointing device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a method of operating a dispensing machine in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of a detailed method of operating a dispensing machine in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a flowchart of another detailed method of operating a dispensing machine in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 2 ,  2 A illustrates an embodiment of a spiral dispensing machine  200  in accordance with the present invention. The dispensing machine  200  comprises a cabinet  202  retaining a plurality of different items  204 . The cabinet  202  has a window  206 ; the window is generally transparent through which the items are viewable to the customer. Inside the cabinet is a plurality of support shelves  220  for supporting the items and a plurality of dispensing spirals  210 . The dispensing machine as shown in  FIG. 2  contains 6 by 8 compartments  208  of different items. Price tags  225  may also be attached below each compartment of items. 
     In one embodiment, the dispensing machine  200  has a customer interface comprising various means for the customer to interact with the machine  200 .  FIG. 2  shows an exemplary customer interface  240  in a dispensing machine for vending items. The customer interface  240  comprises a coin slot  250 ; banknote or bill slot  260 ; card acceptor  270  and coin return recess  280 . The customer interface  240  further comprises a pointing device  290 , a display  295  for displaying information relating to items or instructions for operating the machine, and a dispensing button  230 . 
     The pointing device  290  is an input interface that allows a user to input spatial data which can then be recognised and processed by a computer. Typical pointing devices include computer mice, roller balls  290 , touch pads or touch screens  209   a , graphics tablets  209   c , joysticks  209   b  pointing sticks  290   d , light pens, etc. See  FIGS. 2B-2D . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pointing device comprises a roller ball  290 . A roller ball generally includes a rotateable ball partially housed in a housing. The housing generally further contains sensors to detect rotation and position of the ball and supporting circuitries to communicate the input signal to a control system. A user may use thumb, fingers, or the palm of the hand to rotate the ball. 
     Using a pointing device for selection can improve the speed of selection, especially compared to a conventional keypad. It can also increase the fun of control for the customer during selection. Other advantages of using a pointing device include that it can be easily build into a console and cannot be easily vandalised. Further, the pointing device, such as a roller ball, can be designed to occupy only a small area on the customer interface and thus the size of the customer interface can be advantageously reduced. The cost of manufacture may also be reduced. 
     It should be noted that other pointing devices can also be used in the dispensing machine of the present invention. Other suitable pointing devices include, but are not limited to, touch pads, touch sensitive glass screens, joysticks and pointing sticks. 
     Another object of the present invention is provide a localised indication of the selected item to the customer which is absent from the art. This is achieved by having an indicator in the machine to locally highlight the selected item. A suitable indicator  212  comprises an illuminator  205 ,  215  which illuminates the selected item or the corresponding compartment. More specifically, the indicator  212  is associated with the pointing device  290  such as the above mentioned roller ball. Both the indicator  212  and the pointing device  290  are connected to a control system  214 . See FIG. E. As the sensor attached to the roller ball senses the rotation and position of the ball and communicates this information to the control system, the control system controls an illuminating circuit to illuminate the selected item or the corresponding compartment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the inset illustrates an exemplary indicator that may be used in each of the compartments. The selected item is illuminated in response to the control of the pointing device, providing a direct indication and clear view of the selected item to the customer. This assists the customer to select the desired item and increase the accuracy of selection. 
     The indicator may suitably comprise an illuminator. In an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, each compartment of items is equipped with a downward facing light  205 , e.g. a LED, to illuminate the item from above. Each compartment is additionally equipped with a forward facing light  215 , e.g. a LED, to ‘underline’ the item.  FIG. 2A  shows a detailed exemplary embodiment in which one focused LED  205  is used to illuminate the item from above and four diffused LEDs  215  are used to underline the item. 
     In an idle state of the machine, the illuminator may also be used to produce various static or dynamic illumination patterns to attract customers. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided method for operating a dispensing machine.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary process of operating a dispensing machine in accordance with the present invention. The process includes the steps that the customer uses a pointing device, e.g. a roller ball, to move an illumination to highlight the selected item  310 , giving a dispensing instruction for a desired item  320  and collecting the dispensed item  330 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a more detailed exemplary method of operation. The customer approaches the dispensing machine in which item prices are displayed below the corresponding items  410 . If the machine is a vending machine, the customer then inserts coin, banknote or bankcard into the corresponding slots  420 . Using a pointing device, e.g. a roller ball, the customer moves illumination to highlight the selected item  430 . The item will then be dispensed to a discharge area  450  from where it can be removed by the customer. 
       FIG. 4  also shows another embodiment of operation in which the customer needs to give a dispensing instruction  440 , for example by pressing a dispensing button, to initiate the item dispensing.  FIG. 4  shows yet another embodiment of operation in which the customer needs not to make payment for the desired item while the dispensing machine works in a free vending mode. 
       FIG. 5  shows another detailed exemplary method of operation. The customer approaches the dispensing machine and uses a pointing device, e.g. a roller ball, to browse items  510 , position and/or rotation of the roller ball being simultaneously indicated by illumination over the corresponding item  520 . As the item is illuminated, the price or other item information will be displayed on a display  530 . The customer may also go back to step  510  to browse items again if he/she is looking for some other item. The customer then inserts coin, banknote or bankcard into the slots  540  if the item is for vending. The item will then be dispensed to a discharge area  560 . In another embodiment, the customer may need to give a dispensing instruction  550 , for example by pressing the dispensing button, to initiate the item dispensing. 
     It should be noted that the roller ball and LED illuminator are described above and shown in the figures only as suitable embodiments. Other types of pointing devices and/or other types of indicators which are operable to provide selectively localised indication, visible to the customer through the window, to show the item corresponding to the input from the pointing device can also be used. In addition, vending machine is an exemplary field of application only. It should be understood that the present invention can be applied to other types of dispensing machines for other purposes.