| CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120130536 | IMPLEMENTING SECURE, ANONYMOUS CUSTOMER INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN ONE OR MORE VENDING MACHINES THROUGH TOKENIZED CUSTOMER IDENTIFIERS GENERATED USING A ONE-WAY HASH FUNCTION - A unique, anonymous, tokenized customer identifier is derived by a one-way hash function from a credit/debit account number each time a customer provides the same credit/debit card information at a vending machine. The customer identifier thus repeatedly generated at each of the vending machines is then used to track the customer's purchase history and preferences for customer-focused programs, such as a loyalty rewards program. The customer need not carry a separate token bearing the customer identifier, but instead can automatically participate in the customer-focused programs as part of paying for a purchase. The customer may optionally remain anonymous in each program. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120109368 | REAL-TIME TARGETED DYNAMIC CONTENT DELIVERY TO A CONSUMER VIA SERVER-DRIVEN MESSAGING - Content for display to a consumer at a vending machine is dynamically generated at a remote content server based on one or more variables maintained at the content server, and delivered in real time to the vending machine for display to the customer during a vend process. In the case of a customer loyalty program, the content may include metadata comprising an authorization code for a free vend and an associated message if the customer has accumulated sufficient reward points, or a message indicating a number of accumulated rewards points. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120006204 | MODULAR VENDING MACHINE AND CARTRIDGE SYSTEM - A refillable vend module includes at least one canister configured to contain an ingredient for a beverage, and a connecting mechanism configured to slidably connect to any one of a plurality of modular vend spaces in a vending machine. In some embodiments, the at least one canister comprises a poka-yoke refill connection configured to couple an ingredient cartridge to the canister, where the poka-yoke refill connection matches a type of the canister to a type of the ingredient cartridge. A vending machine includes a plurality of modular vend spaces and a plurality of refillable vend modules. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20110281000 | HIGH PRESSURE COFFEE BREWER - A brewer for brewing different beverages requiring different brewing pressures does not employ an internal valve adjusting an outlet opening to achieve the different pressures. Instead, compression of grinds within the brewer and pressure of water injected to brew the beverage is employed to control the brewing pressure, achieving a greater consistency of brew quality over time. Overheating is implemented for certain beverages based on a time since a last vend, and a back check valve between a flow meter and pump provides greater control over the pump output. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110265500 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL DISCHARGE COOLING IN A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for operating a discharge cooling cycle in a refrigeration system. The method includes determining a first operating condition of the refrigeration system. The method also includes, based on the determination of the operating condition, activating an evaporator fan for a first predetermined period of time, deactivating the evaporator fan for a second predetermined period of time, and repeating the activating and deactivating until a second operating condition is detected. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110173568 | MECHANISM FOR A VENDING MACHINE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE UTILIZING XML FOR A VERSATILE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE - Logic for a vending machine customer interface is supplied from one a plurality of markup language descriptions of the customer interface contained within storage media in the vending machine. Each markup language description is configured to cause the customer interface flow between different sets of application states, and content that is displayed/rendered when respective application states are activated. In response to customer selection of a particular product or class of products, based on the customer selection, the controller processes customer interface flow and content based upon a corresponding markup language description to produce the customer interface display. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110173535 | MECHANISM FOR A VENDING MACHINE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE UTILIZING XML FOR ON-THE-FLY LANGUAGE SELECTION BY AN END USER - Text for a vending machine customer interface is supplied from one of a plurality of markup language descriptions of the customer interface text contained within storage media in the vending machine. Each markup language description is configured to cause the customer interface text to be displayed in a different human language. In response to initiation of a vend transaction, the vending machine may prompt the customer to select a preferred human language in which to transact the vend and, based on the customer selection, load customer interface text from a corresponding markup language description into the customer interface display. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110129581 | MODULAR INFUSER WITH CONTINUOUS FILTER BELT - A modular infuser includes a back plate assembly containing drive mechanisms and supporting a belt assembly, and infusing and mixing chambers. The belt assembly includes rollers rotating a continuous filter belt in either direction, an annular seal, and a funnel directing liquid to a removable, rotatable spout. The infusing chamber moves between having the bottom clamped to the seal through the filter belt and being spaced apart from the filter belt to allow waste removal by rotation of the filter belt. The mixing chamber receives and mixes ingredient and water, passing the mixture into the infusing chamber below. Replacement of the filter belt with different mesh sizes and of the removable spout with different inner diameters allows the mechanism to be easily adapted for different beverages, such as coffee or tea. Multiple instances of the modular infuser may be mounted in a single vending machine. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110125316 | UNIVERSAL BILL RECYCLER - A bill recycler accepts bills and payment and dispenses previously accepted bills as change in a vending machine including a vending machine controller and a coin handler. The bill recycler receives from the coin handler information relating to denomination(s) and quantities of coins available for dispensing by the coin handler, alters that information to include information relating to quantities of denomination(s) of bills available for dispensing by the bill recycler, then sends the altered information to the vending machine controller. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110098849 | ALL-IN-ONE DOOR SWITCH INTERFACE TO MULTIPLE CONTROLLERS WITHIN A VENDING MACHINE - A vending machine door switch interface allows multiple controllers, including the vending machine controller, to employ a single door switch without polarization or interference. The interface includes a comparator having inputs coupled across the door switch and, based on the door switch state, produces an output signal indicating whether the service door is closed or open. The comparator output when the service door is known to be open is recorded to subsequently distinguish open and closed states. Unbalanced connections to power and ground result in different voltages at the comparator inputs when the door switch is closed. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20100268792 | VENDING MACHINE WITH INTERACTIVE DISPLAY - A system and method are presented that include a remote server and a vending machine. The remote server transfers media control and content information via a communication link. The information includes an advertisement that relates to at least one product available for vending from the vending machine. The vending machine includes a product storage area, an interactive display, and a controller. The product storage area stores products available for sale from the vending machine. The interactive display receives a user selection of a product to vend. The controller receives the media information and displays graphical information relating to the advertisement using the interactive display, according to the media information. The controller receives a product selection signal from the interactive display, representing a product to vend, and dispenses a product from the product storage area according to the product selection signal. | 10-21-2010 |
