Method and system for accomplishing product detection

Abstract

The present invention provides for a vending system wherein a monitoring system verifies that a product ordered by a vending customer is actually delivered through a delivery area to the customer. If the product ordered is unavailable either because of an out of stock situation or a blockage of the delivery path for that product, the present invention allows the customer to request a refund or order a second product. Additionally, the present invention helps to prevent theft of product from the vending system.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 an ordering configured to accept entry of a customer order;   a product delivery mechanism configured to receive a signal based on the customer order and to dispense an ordered product from the product dispensing mechanism to a delivery bin;   a monitoring system located below the product delivery mechanism and above the delivery bin, the monitoring system including a plurality of selectively activated light emitters each configured to direct light across a delivery path for the dispensed product towards a plurality of light detectors, wherein at least two of the light detectors are monitored when one of the light emitters is activated, the monitoring system determining product passage using a plurality of detectable light beams each within light emitted by an activated light emitter and detected by the at least two monitored light detectors unless interrupted by product passage between the light emitters and the light detectors; and   a reporting circuitry electronically coupled to the monitoring system and configured to report detection of product passage.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each light detector detects interruption of a detectable light beam within light emitted by a corresponding light emitter. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the light emitters are sequentially activated. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each of the light emitters is positioned on an opposite side of the delivery path from the at least two monitored light detectors. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein more than two of the light detectors are monitored when one of the light emitters is activated. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a spacing between the detectable beams is smaller than for a smallest product that transitions through the delivery path, and wherein the detectable beams collectively form a light curtain across the delivery path. 
     
     
         27 . A vending machine comprising:
 a cabinet and a main door supporting a glass panel, the cabinet and the main door forming an enclosure;   a plurality of product shelves mounted within the enclosure and visible through the glass panel, each product shelf supporting a plurality of product dispensers arranged across the respective product shelf;   a delivery bin mounted below the product shelves within the enclosure, wherein one of the product dispensers attempts to deliver a product to the delivery bin in response to a customer order event; and   a product delivery monitoring system located at a position along a delivery path from the product dispensers to the delivery bin and configured to verify delivery of the product, the product delivery monitoring system comprising:
 a plurality of light emitters, wherein each light emitter is individually activated; and 
 a plurality of light detectors, wherein each light emitter is positioned to direct light across the delivery path towards at least two of the light detectors when activated, and wherein the at least two light detectors are monitored when a corresponding one of the light emitters is activated, wherein product passage is determined based on interruption of any of a plurality of detectable light beams each within light emitted by an activated light emitter and detected by the at least two monitored light detectors. 
   
     
     
         28 . The vending machine of  claim 27 , wherein each light detector detects interruption caused by passage of the product during delivery of one detectable light beam within light emitted by a corresponding light emitter. 
     
     
         29 . The vending machine of  claim 27 , wherein the light emitters are sequentially activated. 
     
     
         30 . The vending machine of  claim 27 , wherein each of the light emitters is positioned on an opposite side of the delivery path from the at least two monitored light detectors. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein more than two of the light detectors are monitored when one of the light emitters is activated. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a spacing between the detectable beams is smaller than for a smallest product that transitions through the delivery path, and wherein the detectable beams collectively form a light curtain across the delivery path. 
     
     
         33 . A method of verifying product delivery in a vending machine comprising a cabinet and a main door supporting a glass panel, the cabinet and the main door forming an enclosure, a plurality of product shelves mounted within the enclosure and visible through the glass panel, each product shelf supporting a plurality of product dispensers arranged across the respective product shelf, a delivery bin mounted below the product shelves within the enclosure, wherein one of the product dispensers attempts to deliver a product to the delivery bin in response to a customer order event, and a product delivery monitoring system located at a position along a delivery path from the product dispensers to the delivery bin, the product delivery monitoring system including a plurality of light emitters and a plurality of light detectors, wherein each light emitter is positioned to direct light across the delivery path towards at least two of the light detectors when activated, the method comprising:
 individually activating each of the light emitters; and   monitoring the at least two light detectors corresponding to one of the light emitters when the respective one of the light emitters is activated,   wherein product passage is determined based on interruption of any of a plurality of detectable light beams each within light emitted by an activated light emitter and detected by the at least two monitored light detectors.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each light detector detects interruption caused by passage of the product during delivery of one detectable light beam within light emitted by a corresponding light emitter. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the light emitters are sequentially activated. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each of the light emitters is positioned on an opposite side of the delivery path from the at least two monitored light detectors. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein more than two of the light detectors are monitored when one of the light emitters is activated. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein a spacing between the detectable beams is smaller than for a smallest product that transitions through the delivery path, and wherein the detectable beams collectively form a light curtain across the delivery path.