EP0135631A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article dispensing apparatus and a method of dispensing articles
Assignee: VERTX CORP
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Filing: 1983-09-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing apparatus includes a purchase initiation station (10) and a plurality of remotely located dispensing stations (11). A message carrier is encoded at the initiation station and then presented to a dispensing station where it is read. The information on the carrier corresponds to an article found in a particular receptacle (18), which is thus actuated to dispense that article. The message carrier is then re-encoded to indicate that the article has been dispensed. At the initiation station, the carrier can be read to determine whether a correct article has been dispensed.
Inventors
- 👤 Roderick V. Pierce
- 👤 Terri Demarco
- 👤 Richard R. Stutsman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:41
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
I. An article dispensing apparatus comprising: a purchase initiation station including a first writer means for encoding a message carrier with indicia corresponding to a particular category of article to be dispensed, and a first reader means for decoding a returned message carrier and thereby determining whether that message carrier has been used to cause an article to be dispensed; at least one article dispensing station including a plurality of receptacles in which various ones of said category of articles can be stored, releasing means associated with each of said receptacles for selectively dispensing said articles therefrom upon actuation thereof; second reader means for decoding said message carrier and actuating one of said releasing means associated with one of said receptacles corresponding to said encoded indicia, and second writer means for re-encoding said message carrier to indicate that said article has been dispensed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
2 Apparatus according to claim I, wherein said purchase initiation station is remote from said dispensing station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim I, wherein said first and second writer means are adapted for recording information magnetically; and said first and second reader means are adapted for reading magnetically recorded information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim I or claim 2, wherein said dispensing station includes sensor means for detecting one of said articles after it has been dispensed by one of said releasing means and for actuating said second writer means in response thereto to re-encode said message carrier.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of dispensing articles comprising: encoding a message carrier at a purchase initiation station with indicia corresponding to a particular category of article to be dispensed; presenting said message carrier at an article dispensing station remote from said purchase initiation station; decoding said indicia and dispensing an article corresponding thereto; re-encoding said message carrier with indicia to indicate that said article has been dispensed; returning said message carrier to said purchase initiation station; and decoding said re-encoded to determine that said article has been dispensed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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