Vending machine method and apparatus
OwnerBrent D. Garsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vending machine has a plurality of product dispensing devices which dispense selected products for movement to a product retrieval location. A selected product is in a first orientation as it moves to the product retrieval location. The orientation of the selected product is changed from the first orientation to a second orientation at the product retrieval location. To change the orientation of the selected product, force is applied to an end portion of the selected product. This force may be applied in many different ways, including by a movable surface on a belt or a movable surface on a sweeper member.
Claims17
A method comprising the steps of providing a vending machine having a plurality of product dispensing devices and a product retrieval location where a customer has access to a selected product, moving a selected product from one of the product dispensing devices to the product retrieval location with the selected product in a first orientation, and changing the orientation of the selected product from the first orientation to a second orientation while the selected product is at the product retrieval location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.