Rick Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Should probably patent this before I throw it out there for all of the internet, but what if a scale manufacturer could create a cost effective way to affix a digital scale into the base of a bulk head and developed the ability to read the weight remotely. Imagine having 1,000 single gumball machines and being able to read the weight in each of them in real time. You could even develop a software package sold in conjunction with it where the user could set a dollar amount to be alerted when it's dropped into a "Service Needed" queue. Imagine no longer servicing your bulk route based on time, but only being alerted on the heads with $50+ (or the weight of your choosing) in them. The weight (or dollar amount) would turn yellow when it hasn't changed for more than X hours and turn red when it hasn't changed in X+12 hours (indicating a jammed or broken coin mech). I know it's not cost feasible, but I can dream can't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainor5251 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Not sure it would be more cost effective then current coin counters they already have for bulk machines. Just need more cost effective way to relay data remotely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Should probably patent this before I throw it out there for all of the internet, but what if a scale manufacturer could create a cost effective way to affix a digital scale into the base of a bulk head and developed the ability to read the weight remotely. Imagine having 1,000 single gumball machines and being able to read the weight in each of them in real time. You could even develop a software package sold in conjunction with it where the user could set a dollar amount to be alerted when it's dropped into a "Service Needed" queue. Imagine no longer servicing your bulk route based on time, but only being alerted on the heads with $50+ (or the weight of your choosing) in them. The weight (or dollar amount) would turn yellow when it hasn't changed for more than X hours and turn red when it hasn't changed in X+12 hours (indicating a jammed or broken coin mech). I know it's not cost feasible, but I can dream can't I? Not sure it would be more cost effective then current coin counters they already have for bulk machines. Just need more cost effective way to relay data remotely. probably better with a microswitch i agree with mainor, relay is a big problem, and hardware cost as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandJGroup Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Yeah, this is something that I heard about ten or so years ago through a guy I use to work for in this industry. He actually at one point tried to get it developed. Needless to say it never got off the ground. It would be nice especially on those long trip routes to have a dollar figure before making a long haul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodney69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 They do have a counter that is for the coin mech that has a remote transmitter, but I think it's short range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlindVending Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I'd chip in money to see this developed! Kickstarter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 hmmmm...any takers for development? ill give it a shot if no one else wants to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 I just don't see how you'd build in a scale AND reliable remote capability without making it cost prohibitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsd Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 why would you need a scale? a micro switch would accomplish mostly the same thing, only exception would be that the scale might catch a broken pawl causing free vends... but isnot common enough to justify cost of scale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musser Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Ez count I believe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodney69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 yes, that's the one! It will count how many vends and another version has a transmitter on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 What's the price Rodney - does it tell the distance it will transmit. You'd need several hundred miles IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodney69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 You would have to go tip their website if they're still running, I can't remember. I looked at it several years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondog Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Should probably patent this before I throw it out there for all of the internet, but what if a scale manufacturer could create a cost effective way to affix a digital scale into the base of a bulk head and developed the ability to read the weight remotely. Imagine having 1,000 single gumball machines and being able to read the weight in each of them in real time. You could even develop a software package sold in conjunction with it where the user could set a dollar amount to be alerted when it's dropped into a "Service Needed" queue. Imagine no longer servicing your bulk route based on time, but only being alerted on the heads with $50+ (or the weight of your choosing) in them. The weight (or dollar amount) would turn yellow when it hasn't changed for more than X hours and turn red when it hasn't changed in X+12 hours (indicating a jammed or broken coin mech). I know it's not cost feasible, but I can dream can't I? Now you need an outlet which is one of the biggest advantages to bulk vending - fits anywhere and no electricity. Not to mention Wifi - those telemetry fees might eat you guys alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 The nice thing about something like this if it was sold as a kit is that you could still bulk vend traditionally in places that don't have an outlet available. I agree, the remote telemetry would be the biggest pricing hurdle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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