阅读说明：本技术 一种模块化无人售货机及其使用方法 (Modularized unmanned vending machine and use method thereof ) 是由 任功嘉 于 2021-06-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种模块化无人售货机及其使用方法,涉及无人售货技术领域。本发明包括售货机构和基座；售货机构由第一储物模块、第二储物模块、第一卸货组件、第二卸货组件和限位组件组成；第二储物模块位于第一储物模块内部且两者固定连接,第一卸货组件位于第一储物模块内部且两者滑动配合；位于上方的第二卸货组件与下方的限位组件和第二储物模块之间滑动配合。本发明通过将第二储物模块和第一储物模块同心设置,利用第一卸货组件和第二卸货组件的配合作用,可同时实现第二储物模块和第一储物模块的同步转动,进而使第二储物模块和第一储物模块中罐体被卸出,实现了多个储物模块的集成化,大大节约了售货机占用的空间。(The invention discloses a modular unmanned vending machine and a using method thereof, and relates to the technical field of unmanned vending. The invention comprises a vending mechanism and a base; the vending mechanism consists of a first storage module, a second storage module, a first unloading assembly, a second unloading assembly and a limiting assembly; the second storage module is positioned in the first storage module and fixedly connected with the first storage module, and the first unloading assembly is positioned in the first storage module and is in sliding fit with the first storage module; the second unloading assembly positioned above is in sliding fit with the limiting assembly and the second storage module positioned below. According to the vending machine, the second storage module and the first storage module are concentrically arranged, and the first unloading assembly and the second unloading assembly are matched, so that the second storage module and the first storage module can synchronously rotate, the tank bodies in the second storage module and the first storage module are unloaded, the integration of a plurality of storage modules is realized, and the space occupied by the vending machine is greatly saved.)

1. A modular vending machine comprising a vending mechanism (1) and a base (2); the method is characterized in that:

the plurality of vending mechanisms (1) arranged up and down are in clamping fit, and the base (2) is fixedly connected with the vending mechanism (1) positioned at the lowest part;

the vending mechanism (1) consists of a first storage module (3), a second storage module (4), a first unloading assembly (5), a second unloading assembly (6) and a limiting assembly (7); the second storage module (4) is positioned in the first storage module (3) and fixedly connected with the first storage module, and the first unloading assembly (5) is positioned in the first storage module (3) and is in sliding fit with the first storage module;

the limiting assembly (7) is positioned at the tops of the first storage module (3) and the second storage module (4), and the limiting assembly (7) is in clamping fit with the first storage module (3);

the second unloading assembly (6) positioned above, the limiting assembly (7) and the second storage module (4) positioned below are in sliding fit, and the upper and lower second unloading assemblies (6) are in clamping fit.

2. The modular unmanned vending machine of claim 1, wherein the first storage module (3) comprises a storage ring body (301), an annular channel (302) is formed in the bottom of a storage cavity of the storage ring body (301), and a first sensor (303) is mounted on the outer wall of the storage cavity of the storage ring body (301);

the outer surface of the storage ring body (301) is respectively provided with a control module (8), a first prompt module (9) and a second prompt module (10), and the first prompt module (9) and the second prompt module (10) are electrically connected with the control module (8);

a plurality of support columns (304) are fixed at the bottom of the storage ring body (301).

3. The modular unmanned vending machine of claim 2, wherein the limiting assembly (7) comprises a sealing tray body (701), a first limiting ring (702) and a second limiting ring (703) are respectively clamped on the lower surface of the sealing tray body (701) from outside to inside, and the first limiting ring (702) and the second limiting ring (703) are both provided with an opening (704);

two upper and lower two support column (304) between mechanism of selling goods (1) and sealed disk body (701) joint cooperation are located fixed connection between support column (304) and the base (2) of below.

4. A modular vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the second storage module (4) comprises a storage compartment (401), the outer wall of the storage compartment (401) being fixedly connected to the inner surface of the storage ring body (301);

a second sensor (402) is installed on the inner wall of the storage box (401), and the second sensor (402) and the first sensor (303) are both electrically connected with the control module (8).

5. The modular vending machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sealing tray (701) has a central hole and the storage box (401) has a central hole at the bottom thereof;

the bottom in the storage box (401) and the bottom in the storage cavity of the storage ring body (301) are both provided with a discharge port (403), the discharge port (403) on the storage box (401) is matched with the position of the second sensor (402), and the discharge port (403) on the storage ring body (301) is matched with the position of the first sensor (303);

the first limiting ring (702) is positioned in the storage cavity of the storage ring body (301), and an opening (704) in the first limiting ring (702) is matched with the first sensor (303) in position; the second limiting ring (703) is positioned inside the storage box (401), and an opening (704) in the second limiting ring (703) is matched with the second sensor (402);

the inside of the unloading opening (403) is movably connected with a goods taking module (11).

6. A modular vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the second discharge assembly (6) comprises a turntable (601), the turntable (601) being located inside the storage bin (401);

a rotating shaft (602) is fixed at the bottom of the rotating disc (601), the rotating shaft (602) is in sliding fit with the through hole, and a clamping groove (603) is formed in the top of the rotating disc (601);

a plurality of connecting rods (604) are fixed on the surface of the rotating shaft (602), a driving magnet (605) is fixed at one end of each connecting rod (604), and the driving magnet (605) is in sliding fit with the outer bottom of the corresponding storage ring body (301);

and a rotating shaft (602) between the upper and lower second unloading assemblies (6) is in clamping fit with the clamping groove (603).

7. A modular vending machine according to claim 6, wherein the first discharge assembly (5) comprises a rotary ring (501), a magnetic ring (502) being fixed to the bottom of the rotary ring (501), the magnetic ring (502) being in sliding engagement with the annular channel (302);

the magnetic ring (502) and the driving magnet (605) are attracted magnetically;

a plurality of driving clamping pieces (503) are fixed on the outer wall of the rotating ring (501) and the peripheral side surface of the rotating disc (601);

a plurality of tank bodies (12) are respectively arranged in the storage cavity of the storage ring body (301) and the storage box (401), and the tank bodies (12) are arranged between two adjacent driving clamping pieces (503);

the inner surface of the first limiting ring (702) is attached to the tank body (12) in the storage ring body (301), and the inner surface of the second limiting ring (703) is attached to the tank body (12) in the storage box (401).

8. A modular unmanned vending machine according to claim 7, characterized in that a driving motor (201) is fixedly mounted at the bottom of the base (2), and an output shaft of the driving motor (201) is fixedly connected with a rotating shaft (602) positioned at the lowest part;

the driving motor (201) is electrically connected with the control module (8).

9. Use of a modular vending machine according to any of the claims 1-8, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

the SS01 presses the corresponding control module (8) according to the self needs of the customer, the control module (8) controls the driving motor (201) to operate, and the output shaft of the driving motor (201) is used for driving the second unloading assemblies (6) to rotate;

in the rotation process of the second discharging assembly (6), the SS02 drives the first discharging assembly (5) to synchronously rotate by using the driving magnet (605), and then the tank body (12) is pushed to the discharging outlet (403) under the pushing of the driving clamping piece (503);

the SS03 is characterized in that the first sensor (303) or the second sensor (402) senses the tank body (12) at the corresponding position and transmits a signal to the control module (8) on the corresponding vending mechanism (1), the control module (8) controls the first prompting module (9) or the second prompting module (10) to prompt the user to pick up the product while controlling the driving motor (201) to pause, the corresponding product taking module (11) at the unloading outlet (403) is opened, the required tank body (12) is taken out, and the product taking module (11) is remounted into the unloading outlet (403);

the SS04 allows for the simultaneous pick-up of cans (12) from multiple vending facilities (1) in accordance with steps SS01 to SS 03.

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of unmanned vending, and particularly relates to a modular unmanned vending machine and a using method thereof.

Background

The vending machine is a common device for commercial automation, is a device for realizing the autonomous and automatic transaction of commodities, has a long history in the market, is divided into a food machine, a beverage machine, a daily necessity and the like, is quite widely and generally applied in related countries, and is mainly distributed in regions with dense people flow.

However, in the prior art, the modular vending machine still has the following drawbacks: (1) the existing unmanned vending machine generally sells plastic bottled or filled beverages, bagged cooked food and the like, the sold commodity package is not easy to damage, and the glass bottled beverage cannot be sold through an automatic vending machine, so that the shopping requirement of a consumer is influenced; (2) the existing unmanned vending machine occupies a large space and has low integration degree, so that the manufacturing cost is high; (3) the existing unmanned vending machine has single function and cannot realize the taking and placing of glass tank bodies with different sizes; (4) the existing unmanned vending machine can only take single articles once, and can not simultaneously take a plurality of glass tank bodies, so that the application range of the unmanned vending machine is small.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a modular unmanned vending machine and a using method thereof, and solves the problems that the existing unmanned vending machine is large in occupied space, low in integration degree, high in manufacturing cost, incapable of taking and placing glass tank bodies with different sizes, capable of taking only a single article at a time, incapable of simultaneously taking a plurality of glass tank bodies and small in application range due to the fact that the existing unmanned vending machine is large in occupied space and low in integration degree through the design of a first storage module, a second storage module, a first unloading assembly, a second unloading assembly, a limiting assembly, a control module, a first prompting module, a second prompting module and a goods taking module.

In order to solve the technical problems, the invention is realized by the following technical scheme:

the invention relates to a modularized unmanned vending machine and a using method thereof, comprising a vending mechanism and a base; the plurality of vending mechanisms which are arranged up and down are in clamping fit, and the base is fixedly connected with the vending mechanism positioned at the lowest part; the vending mechanism consists of a first storage module, a second storage module, a first unloading assembly, a second unloading assembly and a limiting assembly; the second storage module is positioned in the first storage module and fixedly connected with the first storage module, and the first unloading assembly is positioned in the first storage module and is in sliding fit with the first storage module; the limiting assembly is positioned at the tops of the first storage module and the second storage module and is in clamping fit with the first storage module; the second unloading assembly located above is in sliding fit with the limiting assembly and the second storage module located below, and the upper and lower second unloading assemblies are in clamping fit with each other.

Furthermore, the first storage module comprises a storage ring body, an annular channel is formed in the bottom of the storage cavity of the storage ring body, and a first sensor is mounted on the outer wall of the storage cavity of the storage ring body;

the outer surface of the storage ring body is respectively provided with a control module, a first prompt module and a second prompt module, and the first prompt module and the second prompt module are electrically connected with the control module;

and a plurality of support columns are fixed at the bottom of the storage ring body.

Furthermore, the limiting assembly comprises a sealing disc body, a first limiting ring and a second limiting ring are respectively clamped on the lower surface of the sealing disc body from outside to inside, and the first limiting ring and the second limiting ring are both provided with an opening;

two upper and lower support column and the cooperation of sealed disk body joint between the mechanism of selling goods are located fixed connection between support column and the base of below.

Furthermore, the second storage module comprises a storage box, and the outer wall of the storage box is fixedly connected with the inner surface of the storage ring body;

the second sensor is installed to the storage tank inner wall, second sensor and first sensor all with control module electric connection.

Furthermore, through holes are formed in the center of the sealing tray body and the center of the bottom in the storage box;

the bottom in the storage box and the bottom in the storage cavity of the storage ring body are both provided with a discharge port, the discharge port on the storage box is matched with the position of the second sensor, and the discharge port on the storage ring body is matched with the position of the first sensor;

the first limiting ring is positioned in the storage cavity of the storage ring body, and an opening on the first limiting ring is matched with the position of the first sensor; the second limiting ring is positioned in the storage box, and an opening on the second limiting ring is matched with the position of the second sensor;

the inside of the unloading port is movably connected with a goods taking module.

Further, the second unloading assembly comprises a rotary table, and the rotary table is positioned inside the storage box;

a rotating shaft is fixed at the bottom of the rotating disc, the rotating shaft is in sliding fit with the through hole, and a clamping groove is formed in the top of the rotating disc;

a plurality of connecting rods are fixed on the surface of the rotating shaft, a driving magnet is fixed at one end of each connecting rod, and the driving magnet is in sliding fit with the outer bottom of the corresponding storage ring body;

and a rotating shaft between the upper and lower second unloading assemblies is in clamping fit with the clamping groove.

Furthermore, the first unloading assembly comprises a rotating ring, a magnetic ring is fixed at the bottom of the rotating ring, and the magnetic ring is in sliding fit with the annular groove;

the magnetic ring and the driving magnet are magnetically attracted;

the outer wall of the rotating ring and the peripheral side surface of the rotating disc are both fixed with a plurality of driving clamping pieces;

a plurality of tank bodies are arranged in the storage cavity of the storage ring body and the storage box, and the tank bodies are arranged between two adjacent driving clamping pieces;

the jar body in the storing ring body and the laminating of first spacing ring internal surface mutually, jar body and the laminating of second spacing ring internal surface in the storage tank mutually.

Further, a driving motor is fixedly installed at the bottom of the base, and an output shaft of the driving motor is fixedly connected with a rotating shaft located at the lowest part;

the driving motor is electrically connected with the control module.

A method of using a modular vending machine, comprising the steps of:

SS01 presses the corresponding control module according to the self needs of the customer, the control module controls the operation of the driving motor, and the output shaft of the driving motor is used for driving the plurality of second unloading assemblies to rotate;

in the rotation process of the second unloading assembly, the SS02 drives the first unloading assembly to synchronously rotate by using the driving magnet, and then the can body is pushed to the unloading outlet under the pushing of the driving clamping piece;

the SS03 first sensor or second sensor senses the tank body at the corresponding position and transmits a signal to the control module on the corresponding vending mechanism, the control module controls the first prompting module or second prompting module to prompt the user to pick up goods while controlling the driving motor to pause, the corresponding goods picking module at the unloading outlet is opened, the required tank body is taken out, and the goods picking module is installed in the unloading outlet again;

the SS04 allows for the simultaneous operation of picking up cans from multiple vending facilities according to steps SS01 to SS 03.

The invention has the following beneficial effects:

1. according to the invention, the second storage module and the first storage module are concentrically arranged, and the synchronous rotation of the second storage module and the first storage module can be simultaneously realized by utilizing the matching action of the first unloading assembly and the second unloading assembly, so that the tank bodies in the second storage module and the first storage module are unloaded, the integration of a plurality of storage modules is realized, the space occupied by a vending machine is greatly saved, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

2. The first limiting ring and the second limiting ring on the limiting assembly are connected in a clamping mode, on one hand, the first limiting ring and the second limiting ring with different inner diameters can be flexibly replaced according to the size of the tank body, the rotary storage and transportation of the tank bodies with different sizes in the storage box and the storage ring body are met, on the other hand, the rotary movement of the tank body can be guided, the position deviation in the rotary movement process of the tank body is effectively prevented, the problem that the tank body cannot be discharged from the discharge outlet is avoided, and the application range of the invention is greatly enlarged.

3. According to the invention, through the clamping action among the plurality of second unloading assemblies arranged up and down and the magnetic connection action between the first unloading assemblies and the second unloading assemblies, the synchronous rotation of the plurality of second unloading assemblies or the synchronous rotation of the plurality of first unloading assemblies can be realized simultaneously, and then the discharge of the tank bodies in the plurality of second storage modules or the first storage modules can be carried out simultaneously, so that the application range of the invention is greatly enlarged.

Of course, it is not necessary for any product in which the invention is practiced to achieve all of the above-described advantages at the same time.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a modular vending machine;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a vending mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the transverse structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural view of a first storage module;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the bottom view of FIG. 8;

fig. 11 is a schematic view of the first discharge assembly;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the bottom view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural view of a second storage module;

fig. 14 is a schematic view of the second discharge assembly;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic structural view of a position limiting assembly;

fig. 17 is a bottom view of the structure of fig. 16.

In the drawings, the components represented by the respective reference numerals are listed below:

1-vending mechanism, 2-base, 201-driving motor, 3-first storage module, 301-storage ring body, 302-annular groove, 303-first sensor, 304-support column, 4-second storage module, 401-storage box, 402-second sensor, 403-discharge port, 5-first discharge component, 501-rotating ring, 502-magnetic ring, 503-driving fastener, 6-second discharge component, 601-rotating disc, 602-rotating shaft, 603-clamping groove, 604-connecting rod, 605-driving magnet, 7-limiting component, 701-sealing disc body, 702-first limiting ring, 703-second limiting ring, 704-discharge port, 8-control module, 9-first prompting module, 10-a second prompting module, 11-a goods taking module and 12-a tank body.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 1-17, the present invention is a modular vending machine and method of use thereof, comprising a vending mechanism 1 and a base 2;

the plurality of vending mechanisms 1 which are arranged up and down are matched in a clamping way, and the base 2 is fixedly connected with the vending mechanism 1 which is positioned at the lowest part;

the vending mechanism 1 consists of a first storage module 3, a second storage module 4, a first unloading assembly 5, a second unloading assembly 6 and a limiting assembly 7; the second storage module 4 is positioned in the first storage module 3 and fixedly connected with the first storage module, and the first unloading assembly 5 is positioned in the first storage module 3 and is in sliding fit with the first storage module 3;

the limiting assembly 7 is positioned at the top of the first storage module 3 and the second storage module 4, and the limiting assembly 7 is in clamping fit with the first storage module 3;

the second unloading assembly 6 positioned above, the limiting assembly 7 and the second storage module 4 positioned below are in sliding fit, and the upper and lower second unloading assemblies 6 are in clamping fit.

The first storage module 3 comprises a storage ring body 301, an annular channel 302 is formed in the bottom of a storage cavity of the storage ring body 301, and a first sensor 303 is mounted on the outer wall of the storage cavity of the storage ring body 301;

the outer surface of the storage ring body 301 is provided with a control module 8, a first prompt module 9 and a second prompt module 10 respectively, and the first prompt module 9 and the second prompt module 10 are both electrically connected with the control module 8;

a plurality of support columns 304 are fixed at the bottom of the storage ring body 301.

The limiting assembly 7 comprises a sealing disc body 701, a first limiting ring 702 and a second limiting ring 703 are respectively clamped on the lower surface of the sealing disc body 701 from outside to inside, and the first limiting ring 702 and the second limiting ring 703 are both provided with an opening 704;

the supporting column 304 between the upper and lower vending mechanisms 1 is in clamping fit with the sealing tray 701, and the supporting column 304 at the lowest position is fixedly connected with the base 2.

The second storage module 4 comprises a storage box 401, and the outer wall of the storage box 401 is fixedly connected with the inner surface of the storage ring body 301;

the second sensor 402 is installed to the inner wall of storage tank 401, and second sensor 402 and first sensor 303 all are connected with control module 8 electrical property.

Wherein, the center of the sealing tray 701 and the center of the bottom of the storage box 401 are both provided with through holes;

the bottom in the storage box 401 and the bottom in the storage cavity of the storage ring body 301 are both provided with a discharge port 403, the discharge port 403 on the storage box 401 is matched with the position of the second sensor 402, and the discharge port 403 on the storage ring body 301 is matched with the position of the first sensor 303;

the first limiting ring 702 is positioned in the storage cavity of the storage ring body 301, and an opening 704 on the first limiting ring 702 is matched with the first sensor 303; the second limit ring 703 is positioned inside the storage box 401, and an opening 704 on the second limit ring 703 is matched with the second sensor 402;

the goods taking module 11 is movably connected inside the unloading port 403, and a plurality of tank bodies 12 are respectively arranged in the storage cavity of the storage ring body 301 and the storage box 401; when the pick-up module 11 is removed, the can 12 at the discharge opening 403 can be discharged.

Wherein, the second unloading assembly 6 comprises a rotary table 601, and the rotary table 601 is located inside the storage box 401;

a rotating shaft 602 is fixed at the bottom of the rotating disc 601, the rotating shaft 602 is in sliding fit with the through hole, and a clamping groove 603 is formed at the top of the rotating disc 601;

a plurality of connecting rods 604 are fixed on the surface of the rotating shaft 602, one ends of the connecting rods 604 are fixed with driving magnets 605, and the driving magnets 605 are in sliding fit with the outer bottoms of the corresponding storage ring bodies 301;

the rotating shaft 602 between the upper and lower second unloading assemblies 6 is in clamping fit with the clamping groove 603, so that the rotary unloading of the tank bodies 12 in the upper and lower storage boxes 401 can be realized simultaneously.

Wherein, the first unloading assembly 5 comprises a rotating ring 501, a magnetic ring 502 is fixed at the bottom of the rotating ring 501, and the magnetic ring 502 is in sliding fit with the annular groove 302; the magnetic ring 502 and the driving magnet 605 are magnetically attracted; when the second unloading assembly 6 is rotated, the corresponding storage ring body 301 can be driven to rotate synchronously by utilizing the strong magnetic attraction between the driving magnet 605 and the magnetic ring 502 when the storage box 401 rotates, and the rotary unloading of the tank bodies 12 in the storage box 401 and the storage ring body 301 can be flexibly realized as required;

a plurality of driving clamping pieces 503 are fixed on the outer wall of the rotating ring 501 and the peripheral side surface of the rotating disc 601, the tank body 12 is arranged between two adjacent driving clamping pieces 503, and in the process of rotating the rotating ring 501, the driving clamping pieces 503 are used for driving the tank body 12 to move in a rotating mode;

the tank body 12 in the storage ring body 301 is attached to the inner surface of the first limiting ring 702, the tank body 12 in the storage box 401 is attached to the inner surface of the second limiting ring 703, when the size of the tank body 12 is changed, the first limiting ring 702 and the second limiting ring 703 with corresponding sizes can be flexibly replaced, the rotary storage and transportation of the tank bodies 12 with different sizes in the storage box 401 and the storage ring body 301 are met, on the other hand, the rotary movement of the tank body 12 can be guided, the position deviation in the rotary movement process of the tank body 12 is effectively prevented, the problem that the tank body 12 cannot be unloaded from the unloading outlet 403 is avoided, and the application range of the invention is greatly increased.

Wherein, the bottom of the base 2 is fixedly provided with a driving motor 201, and an output shaft of the driving motor 201 is fixedly connected with a rotating shaft 602 positioned at the lowest part; the driving motor 201 is electrically connected with the control module 8; by starting the driving motor 201, the synchronous rotation of the plurality of second storage modules 4 arranged up and down can be realized at the same time, and the synchronous rotation of the plurality of first storage modules 3 can be realized at the same time under the magnetic attraction between the magnetic ring 502 and the driving magnet 605.

A method of using a modular vending machine, comprising the steps of:

SS01 presses corresponding control module 8 according to the self-needs of the customer, control module 8 controls driving motor 201 to run, and the output shaft of driving motor 201 is used for driving a plurality of second unloading assemblies 6 to rotate;

in the rotation process of the second discharge assembly 6, the SS02 drives the first discharge assembly 5 to synchronously rotate by using the driving magnet 605, so that the can body 12 is pushed to the discharge outlet 403 by the driving clamp 503;

the SS03 senses the tank 12 at the corresponding position by the first sensor 303 or the second sensor 402, and transmits a signal to the control module 8 of the corresponding vending mechanism 1, the control module 8 controls the driving motor 201 to pause and simultaneously controls the first prompting module 9 or the second prompting module 10 to prompt the picking of the goods, opens the picking module 11 at the corresponding discharge outlet 403, takes out the required tank 12, and remounts the picking module 11 into the discharge outlet 403;

SS04 allows for the simultaneous pick-up of cans 12 from multiple vending facilities 1 in accordance with steps SS01 through SS 03.

In the description herein, references to the description of "one embodiment," "an example," "a specific example" or the like are intended to mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

The preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed above are intended to be illustrative only. The preferred embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. The invention is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.