Customer initiated ordering system

Claim 1

A customer initiated system for ordering selected quantities of a plurality of customer selected items, said system comprising in combination: an opaque card of predetermined size including therein a two dimensional data matrix of punch-out blanks for being removed by the customer from the card to form data apertures therein representative of the items and quantities to be ordered, with said data matrix oriented in known registration with a reference edge of said card; a frame for removably receiving said card so as to be in stationary registration with said reference edge of said card; a source of light coupled to said frame for illuminating said data apertures of said card; a two dimensional matrix of photosensitive detectors coupled to and in known stationary registration with said frame and said card, with each of said photosensitive detectors being located adjacent to a corresponding one of said punch-out blanks of said card for generating a data signal responsive to being illuminated by light passing through said data aperture from said source of light; computer means electrically coupled to each of said photosensitive detectors for sequentially scanning said matrix and receiving said data signals therefrom and responsive thereto generating order signals representative of the items and quantities ordered; and a plurality of visual displays electrically coupled to, but each remotely spaced from, said computer means for visually displaying selected ones of said order signals, whereby individual items comprising the order may be separately assembled and collected from the remote preparation locations to fill the customer's order.

Claim 12

A method for registering and filling customer orders for merchandise at a fast food or other retail store, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing the customer with an opaque order card including thereon a data matrix of punch-out blanks representative of the quantity and types of merchandise available; (b) punching out selected ones of said punch-out blanks for defining data apertures in said order card representative of the quantity and type of merchandise ordered; (c) juxtaposing said data matrix of said order card adjacent to and in stationary registration with a congruent matrix of photosensitive detectors, with each of said photosensitive detectors being of the type which generates a data signal when illuminated by light; (d) verifying the proper registration between said data matrix and said matrix of photosensitive detectors by illuminating a plurality of alignment aperatures located within said order card in known registration with said data matrix, and then detecting the passage of light through said alignment apertures by a plurality of photosensitive detectors each of which evokes an alignment signal responsive to the illumination; (e) illuminating said data apertures within said order card; (f) detecting, subsequent to receiving all of said alignment signals, the light passing through said data apertures by electrically interrogating in sequence each of said photosensitive detectors and storing the data signals received therefrom; (g) receiving and reformatting said data signals into order signals representative of the quantity and type of items ordered; and (h) visually displaying selected ones of said order signals adjacent remotely located food preparation areas corresponding to the items ordered, whereby the operator preparing that item will receive visual instructions as to the quantity of that item requested by the order.

Claim 13

A method for registering and filling customer orders for merchandise at a fast food or other retail store, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing the customer with an opaque order card including thereon a data matrix of punch-out blanks representative of the quantity and types of merchandise available; (b) punching out selected ones of said punch-out blanks for defining data apertures in said order card representative of the quantity and type of merchandise ordered; (c) juxtaposing said data matrix of said order card adjacent to and in stationary registration with a congruent matrix of photosensitive detectors, with each of said photosensitive detectors being of the type which generates a data signal when illuminated by light; (d) verifying the proper registration between said data matrix and said matrix of photosensitive detectors by illuminating a plurality of alignment aperatures located within said order card in known registration with said data matrix, and then detecting the passage of light through said alignment apertures by a plurality of photosensitive detectors each of which evokes an alignment signal responsive to the illumination; (e) illuminating said data apertures within said order card; (f) detecting, subsequent to receiving all of said alignment signals, the light passing through said data apertures by electrically interrogating in sequence each of said photosensitive detectors and storing the data signals received therefrom; (g) receiving and reformatting said data signals into order signals representative of the quantity and type of items ordered; and (h) visually displaying selected ones of said order signals adjacent remotely located food preparation areas corresponding to the items ordered, whereby the operator preparing that item will receive visual instructions as to the quantity of that item requested by the order.