Vending machine for retaining and dispensing products
AssigneeThe Tranzonic Companies
InventorsFred I. Morad, William P. Camp, Jr., Arnold G. Benecke, Robert A. Acosta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing a product a hygiene product. The apparatus includes a housing for retaining a plurality of products wherein the housing includes a storage rack configured to hold the plurality of products. A weight is movably positioned within the storage rack and is configured to exert a downward force on the plurality of products. A sensor is positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the storage rack. A magnet is affixed to the weight wherein the magnet is configured to substantially align with the sensor once the plurality of products have been completely dispensed from the storage rack.
Claims20
An apparatus for dispensing a product, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing for retaining a plurality of products, the housing having a storage rack configured to hold the plurality of products;
- a weight movably positioned within the storage rack, the weight being configured to exert a downward force on the plurality of products;
- a sensor positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the storage rack;
- a magnet affixed to the weight, the magnet being configured to substantially align with the sensor once the plurality of products have been completely dispensed from the storage rack.
A method of dispensing a product from a plurality of products located in a storage rack of a product dispenser having a tray to receive one of the plurality of products in response to activation of a button, the method comprising:
- exerting a downward force on the plurality products located in the storage rack with a weight and a magnet affixed to the weight to move the plurality of products along the storage rack in response to activation of the button;
- and
- illuminating an indicator light in response to the magnet becoming substantially aligned with a sensor located at a bottom of the storage rack when each of the plurality of products has been dispensed.
An apparatus for dispensing a product, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing for retaining a first plurality of dispensable products in a first storage rack and a second plurality of dispensable products in a second storage rack;
- a first weight movably positioned within the first storage rack, the first weight including a first magnet located thereon, the first weight being configured to exert a downward force on the first plurality of dispensable products;
- a second weight movably positioned with the second storage rack, the second weight including a second magnet located thereon, the second weight being configured to exert a downward force on the second plurality of dispensable products;
- a first sensor positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the first storage rack wherein the first magnet is configured to substantially align with the first sensor once the first plurality of products have been completely dispensed from the first storage rack;
- and
- a second sensor positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the second storage rack wherein the second magnet is configured to substantially align with the second sensor once the second plurality of products have been completely dispensed from the second storage rack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.