| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to improvements in the design and operation of an article dispensing apparatus used in conjunction with an article identification device, and is particularly useful in the environment of a vending machine. A user interface and control portion of the dispensing apparatus allows a user of the apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation and cause controlled movement of an article handling device so that a selected article is moved from an article storage area along a common path to a dispensing area of the dispensing apparatus. The article identification device is operated so as to generate data which identifies the handled article before, during or after it moves along the common path. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the dispensing apparatus is disabled, directly or indirectly, in response to article identification data. Furthermore, re-enablement, or prevention of disabling of the dispensing apparatus, directly or indirectly, in response to data acquired using the article identification device, is also contemplated. Business methods in accordance with such disabling are also contemplated, wherein inoperability of the apparatus is used as an enforcement mechanism to stimulate adherence by an operator or owner of the apparatus to predetermined rules.
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