Pepsico, Inc.

Erik David Williams

Emad Jafa

Wai Ting Chan

Xuejun Li

Euan Morrison

Cheuk Chi Lau

Yong Serock

Martyn Thomas Mitchell

Samuel Luke Johnstone

Sam Johnstone

Robert Crawford

A vending machine has an interactive customer experience. Some embodiments of the vending machine include a transparent front wall with a plurality of display units located behind the front wall. Each of the display units may contain an example of a product available for vending. Based on input received from a customer and other information, the vending machine may provide a recommendation for a product or products to select for purchase. The vending machine may highlight the recommendation by selectively illuminating the product display units that contain the recommended products.

Interactive vending machine

Modular vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers. A modular vending machine may include a product storage system, a user interface, and a control unit. Several modular vending machines may be stacked and/or arranged together in various configurations. Several modular vending machines may be linked electronically and may communicate with each other and/or with a user mobile device over a network. A modular vending machine may automatically complete a transaction with the consumer, where the consumer removes a product from the modular vending machine. A consumer may access and purchase products from several modular vending machines in one transaction.

Modular vending machines

Vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers in a space-efficient manner. A vending machine may include a product compartment, a product storage system, a support structure, a dispensing port, and a product delivery system. The support structure may elevate the product compartment and form a void beneath the product compartment. Other structures may occupy the void beneath the product compartment, or humans may walk through the void beneath the product compartment. A product may be automatically moved from the product compartment to the dispensing port using the product delivery system.

Vending machine

Mobile vending machines for storing and dispensing products to consumers at various locations. A mobile vending machine may include a product storage system, a user interface, a powertrain system, and a control unit. A consumer may view a list of products in the mobile vending machine using a mobile device, such as a smart phone. The consumer may summon the mobile vending machine to a location using the mobile device, and the mobile vending machine may automatically complete a transaction with the consumer, where the consumer receives a product from the mobile vending machine. The control unit may enable the mobile vending machine to autonomously travel to the location of the consumer.

Mobile vending machine

A vending machine with a curved exterior shape is disclosed. Some embodiments of the vending machine are circular in design, and include a transparent upper housing that allows customers to see into the interior of the vending machine. Products for vending may be stored in a non-transparent lower housing. A centrally-located product delivery system transports products for vending from the lower housing to delivery portals located on the upper housing. The product delivery system is able to move along a vertical line and rotate through the horizontal plane and can deliver products from any portion of the lower housing to any delivery portals located on the upper housing.

A vending machine with a reduced vertical height and footprint has a horizontal roller surface system for delivering vending products. The horizontal roller system includes actuated rollers and trays that move on top of the rollers. The products are present on top of the trays; the rollers actuate to deliver the trays, and the products, to a delivery portal. Some embodiments of the vending machine have a transparent top to allow the interior of the vending machine, and particularly the roller surface, to be visible from the exterior of the vending machine. The reduced height and size of the vending machine enables it to be placed in locations that are unavailable to conventional vending machines.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Erik David Williams