Method for automated planogram programming in a vending machine
View Patent ↗Automatic planogram programming for a glass front snack or cold drink vending machine is accomplished using tray, product and price barcodes, each preferably a different type of barcode. Trays within the vending machine are labeled with unique barcodes, and a set of price barcodes for predetermined prices is provided together with a USB-connected scanner. The barcode label affixed to any tray is scanned by the route driver. The UPC/EAN barcodes on products are then scanned for each selection progressing across the tray, together with a price barcode for the first selection and each subsequent selection having a different price from the prior selection on the tray. Planogram data for the tray may be reviewed and corrected on a customer interface display for the vending machine before moving on to another tray, with the trays programmed in any order. The planogram for the entire vending machine is quickly and accurately programmed.
1. A vending machine, comprising:
a memory configured to store a planogram for the vending machine;
a plurality of trays each including a tray barcode unique to that tray among the trays within the vending machine;
a set of price bar codes, each price bar code corresponding to a price within a group of selected prices; and
a vending machine controller configured to communicably couple to a barcode scanner, wherein the vending machine controller is configured to, insert values within product and price entries for a selection in the planogram stored within the memory in response to receiving information corresponding to a tray barcode for a tray, a product code for products loaded within each selection on the corresponding tray, and at least one of the price barcodes.
2. The vending machine according to claim 1 , wherein the product codes are product Universal Product Codes (UPCs) or European Article Number (EAN) codes, and wherein the vending machine controller is configured to prompt a user to scan, with the barcode scanner, the tray barcode and then sequentially the product UPCs or EAN codes for the products loaded within the each selection on the corresponding tray, and the at least one price barcode.
3. The vending machine according to claim 2 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to prompt the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, each product UPC or EAN code for one of the products loaded within a selection on the corresponding tray and one of the price barcodes.
4. The vending machine according to claim 3 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to prompt the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, one of the price barcodes for each product selection on the tray.
5. The vending machine according to claim 2 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to prompt the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, a predetermined number of tray barcodes.
6. The vending machine according to claim 2 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to prompt the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, a predetermined number of the product UPCs or EAN codes following scanning of a tray barcode.
7. The vending machine according to claim 2 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to determine a number of product selections on the tray from a number of the product UPCs or EAN codes scanned between scanning of the barcode for the tray and scanning of the barcode for a next tray.
8. The vending machine according to claim 2 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to use, in the planogram, a price corresponding to a first scanned price barcode for each product selection corresponding to the product UPCs or EAN codes scanned between scanning of the first scanned price barcode and subsequent scanning of a second scanned price barcode.
9. The vending machine according to claim 2 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to populate planogram data for a predetermined number of product selections within the vending machine.
10. The vending machine according to claim 2 , wherein the vending machine controller is configured to prompt the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, a tray barcode for each tray within the vending machine.
11. A method of populating data in a vending machine planogram, comprising:
receiving an electrical signal from a barcode scanner representing information corresponding to a tray barcode for a tray within a plurality of trays each including a tray barcode unique to that tray among the trays within the vending machine within the vending machine;
receiving an electrical signal from a barcode scanner representing information corresponding to a product code for products loaded within each selection on the corresponding tray;
receiving an electrical signal from a barcode scanner representing information corresponding to at least one of a set of price bar codes, each price bar code corresponding to a price within a group of selected prices; and
inserting into a planogram for the vending machine stored within a memory in the vending machine values within product and price entries for a selection in the planogram stored within the memory.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the product codes are product Universal Product Codes (UPCs) or European Article Number (EAN) codes, and further comprising:
prompting a user to scan, with a barcode scanner connected to the vending machine, the tray barcode and then sequentially the product UPCs or EAN codes for the products loaded within the each selection on the corresponding tray, and the at least one price barcode.
13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
prompting the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, each product UPC or EAN code for one of the products loaded within a selection on the corresponding tray and one of the price barcodes.
14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
prompting the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, one of the price barcodes for each product selection on the tray.
15. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
prompting the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, a predetermined number of tray barcodes.
16. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
prompting the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, a predetermined number of the product UPCs or EAN codes following scanning of a tray barcode.
17. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a number of product selections on the tray from a number of the product UPCs or EAN codes scanned between scanning of the barcode for the tray and scanning of the barcode for a next tray.
18. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
using, in the planogram, a price corresponding to a first scanned price barcode for each product selection corresponding to the product UPCs or EAN codes scanned between scanning of the first scanned price barcode and subsequent scanning of a second scanned price barcode.
19. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
populating planogram data for a predetermined number of product selections within the vending machine.
20. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
prompting the user to scan, with the barcode scanner, a tray barcode for each tray within the vending machine.