US 11,756,366 B2
Modular vending machines
Robert Crawford, Yorktown Heights, NY (US); Emad Jafa, Brewster, NY (US); Cheuk Chi Lau, White Plains, NY (US); Xuejun Li, White Plains, NY (US); Yong Serock, Newton, CT (US); Wai Ting Chan, Cambridge (GB); Samuel Luke Johnstone, Cambridge (GB); Martyn Thomas Mitchell, Royston (GB); Euan Morrison, Cambridge (GB); and Erik David Williams, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, NY (US)
Filed by PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/206,474.
Prior Publication US 2020/0175802 A1, Jun. 4, 2020
Int. Cl. G07F 9/00 (2006.01); G07F 11/00 (2006.01); G07F 17/12 (2006.01); G07F 17/14 (2006.01); G07F 11/62 (2006.01); G07F 5/18 (2006.01); G07F 11/16 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 9/002 (2020.05) [G07F 11/007 (2013.01); G07F 5/18 (2013.01); G07F 11/16 (2013.01); G07F 17/12 (2013.01); G07F 17/14 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modular vending system, comprising:
a first modular vending unit, comprising:
a first product compartment having a first locking mechanism that is operably accessible to a user through a first door,
a first product sensor configured to determine the number of products disposed in the first product compartment,
a user interface configured to receive user information, and
a connection member; and
a second modular vending unit, comprising:
a second product compartment having a second locking mechanism that is operably accessible to a user through a second door,
a second product sensor configured to determine the number of products disposed in the second product compartment, and
a connection receptacle,
wherein the connection member is configured to connect with the connection receptacle to removably secure the first modular vending unit with the second modular vending unit and to communicate at least one of data or power between the first modular vending unit and the second modular vending unit, and
wherein the connection member is configured to support the first modular vending unit above a supporting surface when not connected with the connection receptacle.