FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10, Rule 13)
COIN SACHET VENDING MACHINE
Kusters Engineering India Pvt. Ltd an Indian Company of, Ground Floor, Mastermind 2, Royal Palms Estate, Aarey Colony, Goregaon East, Mumbai - 400065, India
The following specification describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF THE INVENTON
The invention relates to dispensing machines and methods; particularly, to package dispensing systems and methods. More particularly, to systems and methods for dispensing coin sachets based on user requirements.
BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTON
Vending machines to dispense packaged goods are generally known in the art. Apparatuses for dispensing coins are also known.
The known vending machines disburse coins in either loose forms or in sachets. In known machines involving disbursement of coins in loose forms, coins are first loaded into a storage container in the machine. The machine will either have selection of predefined amount or will request the customer to enter the amount that can be dispensed as coins. As coins are dispensed in loose form, the vending machine will accept smaller amount that can be dispensed. The coins dispensed from the vending machine are dropped into a collecting cup for the customer to collect.
The coins dispensed in loose form are generally in small amount This limitation does not benefit the retail customers who require coins in bulk. The coins that are dispensed generally are of single denomination.
Another method is also known, where coins are sorted and packed into pouches before dispensing. EP 0 563 395 A1 discloses an extremely complex, and thus very expensive, unit. This unit includes in combination all of the coin-handling/coin-processing methods known to date, such as singularization, detection, segregation, sorting, transport and dispensing.

Although suited for use as a "window aid" and for "customer self-service," the unit disclosed by EP 0 563 395 A1 has several disadvantages: the unit is very complex, contains a large number of moving parts and its mechanical and electronic requirements are very expensive; based on its overall function, the unit contains many redundant components; the individual coins travel extremely long paths, resulting in expensive handling costs; the coins are dispensed singularly and in succession, and thus, in a relatively time-consuming fashion, especially for larger quantities; the coins constituting a desired sum are dispensed in a coin mix based upon a calculation which minimizes the total number of coins; the procedure is based generally upon an expensive direct measurement, with sensors, of the coin quantity in the bins; simultaneous deposit and dispensation of coins is not possible.
in yet another known method, coins are dispensed in pre-packed sachets. Each packet usually contains 100 coins of the same denomination. The vending machine has provision to upload multiple denominations. For each denomination the machine has a conveyor belt and cups in the belt. The packed sachets are loaded into the cup one after another. Depending on the customer request for denomination and amount, the sachet is dropped from the cup into a collecting cup for the customer to collect. The amount requested should be equal to the denomination multiplied by the number of bags, where each bag has 100 coins.
In known apparatuses and methods, the loading of packed sachets in to the vending machines is time consuming. This is a manual process where the field cashier will have to upload each bag into the cups on the conveyor belt. Usually there is no automated checking to see if the correct denomination is loaded into the proper cups. This would result in the customer getting the wrong denomination from the requested denomination. Also, if the sachet is

not placed property, the vending machine will not dispense the sachets. The most important problem encountered in the known machine, is dispensing of less number of coins in a sachet There is every possibility that the sachet may have less or more of coins of certain denomination resulting in the customer receiving fewer coins.
Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, there remains a need for a vending system and method that overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel vending system and method for efficient dispensing of packaged goods, like packet of coins.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method and a system machine for dispensing correct quantity of packaged goods.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a vending system and method that is easy to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTON
To meet the shortcomings of the prior art, it is disclosed herein, a system for vending packaged goods comprising of:
a cabinet having doors on one or more sides;
an input means disposed on one side of the cabinet to receive an input;
at least one collection hopper for collecting and storing the packaged goods placed at the top end of the said cabinet;

a first conveyor longitudinally movable along the central axis of the cabinet and positioned below the outlet of the collection hopper within the cabinet to collect packaged goods falling from the hopper;
a circular open drum rotatably fixed on the side door to receive the packaged goods from the first conveyor in door close position, the said drum comprising two or more fins dividing the drum into as many equal parts as the number of fins;
a swing tray rotatably fixed to the central axis of the drum and adapted to receive only one packaged good falling from the drum in door close position when that part of the drum having the packaged goods reaches above the swing tray;
a second conveyor longitudinally movable positioned parallely above the first conveyor approximately at 90o to the first conveyor within the cabinet to receive the packaged goods from the swing tray and dispense the goods through an opening from one of the sides of the cabinet; and
a control system comprising of:
a programmable logic device, the said programmable logic device containing programme instructions to validate currency, receive an input from the input means, instruct the first, second and third motor to rotate and stop rotation as pre-determined means; and
sensors to sense the weight of the packaged goods falling onto the second conveyor;
the control system further adapted to return excess packages to the hopper if the total weight of the packages exceed the pre-determined weight.
Also disclosed is a method of vending packaged goods to a user comprising the steps of:

loading packaged goods to be dispensed onto a hopper disposed inside a cabinet having doors on one or more sides;
receiving and validating a currency
receiving an input from the user on validation of the currency;
collecting packaged goods falling from the hopper on a first conveyor longitudinally movable and positioned below the outlet of the collection hopper;
receiving packaged goods from the first conveyor in door close position in a circular open drum rotatably fixed to the side door, the said drum comprising two or more fins dividing the drum into as many equal parts as the number of fins;
receiving only one packaged good falling from the drum in door close position in a swing tray rotatably fixed to the central axis of the drum when that part of the drum having the packaged goods reaches above the swing tray; and
receiving the packaged goods from the swing tray in a second conveyor longitudinally movable and positioned parallely above the first conveyor at atleast 90° to the first conveyor to dispense the goods through an opening from one of the sides of the cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Several embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG 1 is an illustrative diagram of one of the embodiment of the invention. FIG 2 is an illustrative diagram of the side door in one of the embodiment of the invention.

F!G 3 is the flow chart of the operation of the embodiments. FIG 4 illustrates the operational flow for the custorner/user.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention and its various embodiments are better understood by reading the description along with the accompanying drawings which appear herein for purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention in any way.
A system for dispensing of packaged goods is shown in FIGs.1 and 4. In one of the invention preorocessed coins in the form of sachets is dispensed. Packaged goods is referred to as sachet for the purpose of illustration and means packets of coins containing equal nijmber of coins of same denomination sealed completely in a plastic bag.
Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the invention includes a cabinet
(1) having doors on one or more walls or sides. The walls are generally
rectangular in shape. One side of the cabinet has an opening to receive a
currency, preferably with a coin validator (9), an User interface with a display
unit (8) to receive an input and a dispensing tray (10) to dispense the coin
sachets.
Inside the cabinet, as shown in FIG 2, in door open position, a collection hopper (2) is placed at the top end of the cabinet (1) to receive and store coin sachets. Below the cabinet are at least two conveyor assemblies, conveyor 1 (4) and conveyor 2 (5), conveyor 1 (4) is positioned directly below the hopper
(2) and adapted to receive sachets from the hopper (4). The conveyor 1(4) is
run mechanically by a motor (11) in a direction along the width of the cabinet
(1)

Conveyor 2 (5) is placed parallely above conveyor 1 (4) approximately at 90o to conveyor 1 but away from the hopper outlet (2). The conveyor 2 (5) is adapted to move the sachet towards the dispensing tray. Conveyor 2 is run by a motor (not shown) along the length of the cabinet (1). Conveyor 2 (5) has sensors to sense the weight of the sachets.
Onto the inner wall of a side door (3) a circular drum (20) is rotatably fixed. The drum has fins (24) to collect sachets falling from conveyor 1 (4) when in closed position. Around the central axis of the drum (20) is fixed a swing tray (23) to receive the falling sachets from the drum (20) in door closed position and transfer the goods to conveyor 2. The whole set up of drum (20) and swing tray (23) is run by a motor (21) and gear reduction unit (22).
The cabinet (1) has a programmable logic device (25) containing executable instructions for controlling actions of the machine and customer interface.
The system has a display unit (8) which displays the user information about the validation of the currency when a customer inserts a currency to be exchanged into coins into the currency validator (9). This validation is done by any of the known currency validation systems. Once the currency is validated, the machine (1) checks for the availability of coin sachets ready for dispensing out and dispense the customer the amount he/she has asked for. In case there are no sachets available in the system or there is a shortage of sachets in the system, the display unit (8) flashes the information for the customer.
The programmable logic device (25) senses the current drawn by the drum (20) rotating motor (21). On initial rotation the programme checks for the presence of appropriate numbers of sachets in the drum (20). This is done by

checking the current drawn by the motor (21). More the number of sachets in the drum (20), more current will be drawn by the motor (21) due to the weight of coins sachets inside the drum (20). if number of sachets in the drum are less the replenishment will take place even in idle condition. The system does not wait for an input to retrieve sachet from the hopper, one sachet is always available on the second conveyor to avoid waiting time of customer at the machine. As soon as an input is received the sachet is immediately dispensed.
As shown in FIG. 1, Conveyor 1 (4) is run by the motor unit (11) which is fixed inside the cabinet. This conveyor 1 (4) pushes the sachets (mostly one by one) into the drum (20) fixed next to it when the side door (3) is in closed position. From FIG 2, the side door open position of the system, it is clear that the drum (20) is mounted onto the side door (3) of the machine. The sachets falling directly into the drum (20) (side door closed position) are carried away by the combined effort of the drum rotation and the fins (24) fixed to the drum (20) spaced away at 120° from each other. The drum (20) and the fin (24) assembly comprising of several structural and operational members is designed keeping in mind the system stability at a working speed of 10-15 rpm. As soon as the drum (20) receives the sachets, the feeding conveyor i.e. conveyor 1(4) stops working. This helps in ensuring proper feed management of stock/sachet. This activity is also controlled by the programmable logic device (25) of the system.
After a sachet is carried by a fin (24) to a substantial height inside the drum (20), they slide-off due to gravity and are carried away to the next level of sachet dispensing process. Even if multiple coin sachets get carried away in the drum (20) at one point of time, the fins (24) are designed to carry only one

sachet to the next level. However, there could be cases where multiple sachets may get transferred to the next level.
The next stage of dispensing follows with the integration of the swing tray (23) to the drum assembly (20) at the centre. Every time the sachets slide off the drum (20), the free moving swing tray (23) carries it forward to the next level i.e. conveyor 2 (5). The swing tray (23) receives and then forwards the sachets to the next level and swing about a fulcrum if it receives more than one sachet. The swing tray (23) may be configured to operate for sachets of different denomination. This is done by adjusting the structural parts of the tray (23) manually as a pari of its 'calibration process'. The 'calibration process' further enhances the possibility of multiple sachets rejection at this stage. E.g. if there are still two sachets at this point, the calibrated swing tray (23) helps in filtering the excess sachet and forward only one to the next level by rejecting the extra into the drum unit (20). The whole unit in this case comprising of drum (20), fins (24) and other allied parts is governed by a motor (21) and a gear reduction unit (22) so as to achieve an optimum speed of the same for dispensing.
The swing tray (23) remains in its position if one sachet of coins falls on it and transfers the sachet to conveyor 2 (5). If a sachet has more weight due to more number of coins or supposes two sachets fall together then the tray (23) will swing back due to the overweight and the irregular sachet will fall back inside the drum (20).
Apart from final dispensing, the conveyor 2 (5) also acts as a rejection unit for the system which is run by motor (not shown) If by chance two sachets get carried up to this point, the conveyor 2 (5) can sense it with the help of the integrated weight sensors and can drive the extra sachet back to the sachet

collection hopper (2). As a result, the customer can get only one sachet at a time. Moreover, if there is any tear in the sachets at this dispensing point, the conveyor 2 (5) can sense it with the difference in Weight. Hence, broken down sachets can also be filtered by conveyor 2 (5).
The sachets are then dispensed through the dispensing tray (10) available in the front side of the cabinet.
The operation of the system of the invention is shown as a flow chart in FIGs 3 and 4. Referring to FIGs.1 to 4, on initial setup of the machine, the sachets are loaded into the sachet collection hopper (2) manually. The hopper /2) has an outlet at the bottom. As soon as the hopper (2) is filled one or two sachets fall from the outlet into the conveyor 1{4) and the other sachets queues at the outlet of the sachet collection hopper (2). When the machine is power on, the integrated weight sensors on the conveyor 2 (6) senses if there are any sachets on the conveyor. If no sachet exists on conveyor 2 (5), the programmable logic device (25) will instruct the motor for the rotating drum (20) to start and rotate in clockwise direction. Based on the current drawn by the motor (21) for the rotating drum (20), the programmable logic (25) identifies if there are sachets in the drum (20), it no sachet exists the logic device (25) instructs the motor (21) for conveyor 1(4) to start moving. Once the sachets are loaded on to the drum (20), the current drawn will be more and the programmable logic device (25) instructs the motor (21) for conveyor 1(4) to stop. The sachets in the drum (20) are carried by the fin (24) to a substantial height and it slides into a swing tray (23) and drops to conveyor 2 (5). Once the integrated weight sensors detect the sachet on conveyor 2 (5) the programmable logic device (25) instructs the motor (21) for the rotating drum (20) to stop.

ADVANTAGES
Bank staff has a Herculean task of loading sachets into the current vending machines. The sachets are received as a heap from the currency chest. Each sachet need to be carefully loaded into the current vending machine one sachet at a time into a sachet cup on a conveyor belt. If the loading is not proper the machine will refuse to dispense the sachet. In new invention the sachets received in heaps are loaded into the hopper compartment. The process is simple load and does not take time. The system takes care of extracting a single sachet-from the heap and be available for the dispensing out.
With the existing machine, customer receives sachets but cannot be sure if the sachet has 100 coins. In the novel invention disclosed herein, if the sachet does not have 100 coins then the sachet is not dispensed to the customer. The system will check for another sachet having 100 coins and dispense it out to the customer. Thus Customer will be assured of receiving sachets with 100 coins.
The new invention will help the Bank, as they don't have to check for each sachet before loading into the vending machines. In event the sachet does not have 100 coins this is rejected and stored in the system. Bank can retrieve these sachets and send it back to the currency chest. Bank will receive lesser complaints from the customer and give better service.
The above description is illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

We claim:
1. A system for vending packaged goods comprising of:
a cabinet having doors on one or more sides;
an input means disposed on one side of the cabinet to receive an input;
at least one collection hopper for collecting and storing the packaged goods placed at the top end of the said cabinet;
a first conveyor longitudinally movable along the central axis of the cabinet and positioned below the outlet of the collection hopper within the cabinet to collect packaged goods falling from the hopper;
a circular open drum rotatably fixed on the side door to receive the packaged goods from the first conveyor in door close position, the said drum comprising two or more fins dividing the drum into as many equal parts as the number of fins;
a swing tray rotatably fixed to the central axis of the drum and adapted to receive only one packaged good falling from the drum in door close position when that part of the drum having the packaged goods reaches above the swing tray;
a second conveyor longitudinally movable positioned parallely above the first conveyor approximately at 90o to the first conveyor within the cabinet to receive the packaged goods from the swing tray and dispense the goods through an opening from one of the sides of the cabinet; and
a control system comprising of:
a programmable logic device, the said programmable logic device containing programme instructions to validate currency, receive an input from the input means, instruct the first, second and third motor to rotate and stop rotation as pre-determined means; and

sensors to sense the weight of the packaged goods falling onto the second conveyor;
the control system further adapted to return excess packages to the hopper if the total weight of the packages exceed the pre-determined weight.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the said packaged goods may be coins of various denominations.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the said input means includes an opening to receive a currency, a currency sensor and a customer operable user interface.
4. A system for vending packaged goods comprising of:
a cabinet having doors on one or more sides;
an input means disposed on one side of the cabinet to receive an input;
at least one collection hopper for collecting and storing the packaged goods placed at the top end of the said cabinet;
a first conveyor longitudinally movable along the central axis of the cabinet and positioned below the outlet of the collection hopper within the cabinet to collect packaged goods falling from the hopper;
a circular open drum rotatably fixed on the side door to receive the packaged goods from the first conveyor in door close position, the said drum comprising two or more fins dividing the drum into as many equal parts as the number of fins;
a swing tray rotatably fixed to the central axis of the drum and adapted to receive only one packaged good falling from the drum in

door close position when that part of the drum having the packaged goods reaches above the swing tray; and
a second conveyor longitudinally movable positioned parallely above the first conveyor approximately at 90o to the first conveyor within the cabinet to receive the packaged goods from the swing tray and dispense the goods through an opening from one of the sides of the cabinet.
5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said packaged goods may be coins of various denominations.
6. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said input means includes an opening to receive a currency, a currency sensor and a customer operable user interface.
7. A method of vending packaged goods to a user comprising the steps of:
loading packaged goods to be dispensed onto a hopper disposed inside a cabinet having doors on one or more sides;
receiving and validating a currency through an input means;
receiving an input from the user on validation of the currency;
collecting packaged goods falling from the hopper on a first conveyor longitudinally movable and positioned below the outlet of the collection hopper;
receiving packaged goods from the first conveyor in door close position in a circular open drum rotatably fixed to the side door, the said drum comprising two or more fins dividing the drum into as many equal parts as the number of fins;

receiving only one packaged good falling from the drum in door close position in a swing tray rotatably fixed to the central axis of the drum when that part of the drum having the packaged goods reaches above the swing tray; and
receiving the packaged goods from the swing tray in a second conveyor longitudinally movable and positioned parallely above the first conveyor at atleast 90° to the first conveyor to dispense the goods through an opening from one of the sides of the cabinet.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the said packaged goods may be coins of various denominations.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the said input means includes an opening to receive a currency, a currency sensor and a customer operable user interface.
10. A system as substantially described herein in the accompanying description and drawings
11.A method as substantially described herein in the accompanying description and drawings