METHOD OF SELECTING A PRODUCT FROM A REFRIGERATED GLASS FRONT VENDING MACHINE

摘要

An improved method and apparatus for selection of vendible products provides designated product reference areas at a refrigerated double glass front vending machine for making viewable product selections thereon by applying a light tap at its outer glass pane and sensing the tap location by three or more spaced apart resilient members each having its first portion attached at the inner glass pane. The resilient member's second portion suspends an inertia mass that reciprocates at a predetermined rate due to the inertia mass weight and the resiliency of the suspending member. A sensor senses the reciprocating movement in response to the light tap. The predetermined reciprocating rate is designed to be less than the natural rear to front movement of the inner glass pane but greater than most of the other vibration times that occur due to the tap. The location of the tap is determined by measuring the arrival time of each predetermined signal produced by the first resonating alternation of its attached resiliently suspended inertia mass during the first rearward movement of the inner glass pane. A variation of the method incorporates attaching the first portions of three of more spaced apart resilient piezo sensor discs that have the second portions suspending an attached inertia mass which reciprocates at the predetermined rate when a light tap arrives and produces the predetermined signal. A further variation incorporates an independently suspended inertia mass to maintain its reference to the resilient member second portion.