Patents by Inventor Dexter V. Bautista

Dexter V. Bautista has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • ULTRASONIC SENSOR FOR DETECTING THE DISPENSING OF A PRODUCT
    Publication number: 20110054676
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
  • Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product
    Patent number: 7831335
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
  • Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product
    Publication number: 20090210087
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
  • Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product
    Patent number: 7480543
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Dixie-Narco, Inc.
    Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
  • Ultrasonic sensor for detecting the dispensing of a product
    Patent number: 7255246
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Dixie-Narco, Inc.
    Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell