| 摘要 |
A modular vending and display system and a method of operation of the system, which is especially applicable to high-value and pilfer-prone products such as prestige fragrances, and to self-service shopping environments. The system enables shoppers to self-sample various scents and self-dispense fragrance product packages for later purchase. The system uses a plurality of modules which, upon actuation by a shopper, convey a package toward the shopper within individual enclosures such that only one package can be removed at a time, and then de-activate for a time delay period to prevent rapid removal of multiple packages from the module. The modules may interact, so that once a shopper has selected a product at one module in the system, other modules are also de-activated during the delay period. This reduces pilferage by making it difficult to remove more than one package during the delay period from a group of modules. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method of vending product packages using a plurality of modules for vending a plurality of product packages, the packages being housed in an enclosed row such that only a single front most package in the row can be removed by a shopper when it is advanced to an at least partially unenclosed selection position within the row, all other packages in the row remaining enclosed such that the remaining packages cannot be removed by the shopper, the module comprising a selection input, a pusher for moving the product packages in the enclosed row, and a rear position sensor for sensing when the pusher is in a rearward position, the plurality of modules being coupled together by a data bus comprising at least a data line for communication between modules, the method comprising:
a) accepting an indication on the selection input that the shopper wishes to remove a package; b) advancing the row of packages forward by moving a pusher until a package is in the at least partially unenclosed selection position within the row, allowing removal of the package which has been advanced to the selection position; c) de-activating the selection input for a delay period starting simultaneous with or immediately after the advancing step (b), and extending for a period of time after the ending of the advancing step (b) and initiating a condition on the data line during the delay period, such that no further packages can be advanced to the selection position from any of the plurality of modules during the delay period; d) activating the selection input after the delay period; e) repeating the method from step (a) until no more packages remain in the row; f) accepting a refill indication; and g) retracting the pusher rearwardly, until the rear position sensor senses that the pusher is in the rearward position, such that additional packages may be inserted into the row from a front of the module. |
