Facilitating vending of customer-configured pizza preparation kits
View Patent ↗A vending machine comprises a first product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza crust product, a second product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza topping product, and an information processing apparatus coupled to the first product dispensing unit and the second dispensing unit. The information processing apparatus is configured for facilitating input and processing of a customer-configured pizza preparation kit order. The first product dispensing unit is a frozen product dispensing unit configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza crust product to be selectively dispensed. The second product dispensing unit is a refrigerated product dispensing unit configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza topping product to be selectively dispensed. The information processing apparatus includes an user interface arrangement, an order processing arrangement and a kit component management arrangement.
1. A vending machine, comprising:
a first product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza crust product;
a second product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza topping product; and
a second product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza topping product; and
an apparatus coupled to the first product dispensing unit and the second dispensing unit, wherein the apparatus is configured for facilitating input and processing of a customer-configured pizza preparation kit order;
wherein the apparatus includes:
an user interface arrangement configured for enabling input and payment of the customer-configured pizza preparation kit order; and
an order processing arrangement configured for determining pizza kit components of the customer-configured pizza preparation kit order, preparing component-specific preparation instructions and controlling dispensing of said kit components.
2. The machine of claim 1 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is a frozen product dispensing unit; and
the second product dispensing unit is a refrigerated product dispensing unit.
3. The machine of claim 1 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza crust product dispensers; and
the second product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza topping product dispensers.
4. The machine of claim 1 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza crust product to be selectively dispensed; and
the second product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza topping product to be selectively dispensed.
5. The machine of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a kit component management arrangement configured for managing kit component inventory.
6. A vending machine, comprising:
a user interface arrangement configured for facilitating input of a customer-configured pizza preparation kit order;
an order processing arrangement configured for processing the customer-configured pizza preparation kit order; wherein said processing includes determining pizza kit components of the customer-configured pizza preparation kit order, preparing component-specific preparation instructions and controlling dispensing of said kit components; and
a product dispensing arrangement configured for dispensing a customer-configured pizza preparation kit corresponding to said order.
7. The machine of claim 6 wherein the product dispensing arrangement includes:
a first product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza crust product; and
a second product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza topping product.
8. The machine of claim 7 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is a frozen product dispensing unit; and
the second product dispensing unit is a refrigerated product dispensing unit.
9. The machine of claim 7 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza crust product dispensers; and
the second product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza topping product dispensers.
10. The machine of claim 7 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza crust product to be selectively dispensed; and
the second product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza topping product to be selectively dispensed.
11. The machine of claim 6 , further comprising:
a kit component management arrangement configured for managing kit component inventory.
12. A vending machine, comprising:
a user interface arrangement configured for facilitating input of a customer-configured pizza preparation kit order;
an order processing arrangement configured for processing the customer-configured pizza preparation kit order; wherein the order processing arrangement is configured for processing payment of said order; displaying a visual representation of a pizza corresponding to said order; and controlling dispensing of kit components comprised by said order; and
a product dispensing arrangement configured for dispensing a customer-configured pizza preparation kit corresponding to said order.
13. The machine of claim 12 wherein the product dispensing arrangement includes:
a first product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza crust product; and
a second product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza topping product.
14. The machine of claim 13 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is a frozen product dispensing unit; and
the second product dispensing unit is a refrigerated product dispensing unit.
15. The machine of claim 13 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza crust product dispensers; and
the second product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza topping product dispensers.
16. The machine of claim 13 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza crust product to be selectively dispensed; and
the second product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza topping product to be selectively dispensed.
17. The machine of claim 12 , further comprising:
a kit component management arrangement configured for managing kit component inventory.
18. A vending machine, comprising:
a user interface arrangement configured for facilitating input of a customer-configured pizza preparation kit order; wherein the user interface includes a visual display; and
an order processing arrangement configured for processing the customer-configured pizza preparation kit order; wherein the order processing arrangement includes means for displaying a visual representation of a pizza corresponding to said order on the visual display; and
a product dispensing arrangement configured for dispensing a customer-configured pizza preparation kit corresponding to said order.
19. The machine of claim 18 wherein the product dispensing arrangement includes:
a first product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza crust product; and
a second product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza topping product.
20. The machine of claim 19 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is a frozen product dispensing unit; and
the second product dispensing unit is a refrigerated product dispensing unit.
21. The machine of claim 19 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza crust product dispensers; and
the second product dispensing unit includes a plurality of packaged pizza topping product dispensers.
22. The machine of claim 19 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza crust product to be selectively dispensed; and
the second product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza topping product to be selectively dispensed.
23. The machine of claim 18 , further comprising:
a kit component management arrangement configured for managing kit component inventory.
24. A vending machine, comprising:
means for determining kit components of a customer-configured pizza preparation kit;
means for preparing component-specific preparation instructions for the customer-configured pizza preparation kit order; and
means for dispensing said kit components and said preparation instructions.
25. The machine of claim 24 wherein said means for determining kit components includes a apparatus configured for facilitating input and processing of a customer-configured pizza preparation kit order.
26. The machine of claim 24 wherein said means for dispensing said kit components includes:
a first product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza crust product; and
a second product dispensing unit configured for dispensing packaged pizza topping product.
27. The machine of claim 18 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is a frozen product dispensing unit; and
the second product dispensing unit is a refrigerated product dispensing unit.
28. The machine of claim 18 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit includes a plurality of pizza crust dispensers; and
the second product dispensing unit includes a plurality pizza topping dispensers.
29. The machine of claim 26 wherein:
the first product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza crust product to be selectively dispensed; and
the second product dispensing unit is configured for enabling different types of packaged pizza topping product to be selectively dispensed.
30. The machine of claim 24 , further comprising:
means for managing kit component inventory.