# US 2014/0190985 A1 · Automatic vending machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190985 A1 - Document ID: US20140190985A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/011,922 - Filed: 2013-08-28 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.; Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Wuhan) Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.; HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD. - Inventors: YUN-LUNG CHEN; JIANG-FENG JIAO; YU-MING XIAO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190985A1 ## CPC - G07F 11/42: the articles being delivered by motor-driven means - G07F 11/36: in which the magazines are of helical or spiral form - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract An automatic vending machine with a stabilizing support for stocked items of merchandise includes a cabinet, a driving member secured in the cabinet, a helical element, and a pressing member secured to the cabinet. The cabinet includes a bottom plate. The helical element is secured to the driving member and moveable by the driving member. The pressing member is located within the coils of the helical element and runs the length of the helical element to support items of merchandise and reliably deliver an item of merchandise when bought. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic vending machine comprising: a cabinet comprising a bottom plate; a driving member secured to the cabinet; a helical element secured to the driving member and being moveable when driven by the driving member; and a pressing member secured to the cabinet; wherein the pressing member is located in an interior of the helical element and extends through the helical element from a helical element first end to a helical element second end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic vending machine of claim 1, wherein the helical element is rotatable about the pressing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automatic vending machine of claim 1, wherein the pressing member comprises a main post, a first securing portion extending from a main post first end, and a second securing portion extending from a main post second end; and the first securing portion is secured to the driving member, and the second securing portion is secured to the cabinet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The automatic vending machine of claim 3, wherein the driving member comprises a rotating shaft, and the first securing portion is secured to the rotating shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The automatic vending machine of claim 3, wherein the cabinet further comprises a mounting portion connected to the bottom plate and opposite to the driving member, and the second securing portion is secured to the mounting portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The automatic vending machine of claim 5, wherein the mounting portion comprises a first flange substantially parallel to the bottom plate and a second flange substantially perpendicular to the first flange; the second flange defines two securing holes, the second securing portion comprises a first clipping portion and a second clipping portion; and the first clipping portion and the second clipping portion are engaged in the two securing holes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The automatic vending machine of claim 6, wherein the second securing portion comprises a first extending post extending from the main post, a second extending post extending from the first extending post, and a third extending post extending from the second extending post; the third extending post abut the second extending post; and the first clipping portion is defined by the second extending post and the third extending post. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The automatic vending machine of claim 7, wherein the second securing portion further comprises a fourth extending post extending from the third extending post and a fifth extending post substantially perpendicularly extending from the fourth extending post; and the second clipping portion extends from the fifth extending post. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The automatic vending machine of claim 8, wherein the third extending post is substantially parallel to the fifth extending post and perpendicular to the fourth extending post. ### Claim 10 An automatic vending machine comprising: a cabinet comprising a bottom plate and a rear plate substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate; a mounting portion located on the bottom plate and opposite to the rear plate; a driving member secured to the rear plate; a helical element secured to the driving member and being moveable when driven by the driving member; and a pressing member extending through the helical element and pressing on the helical element; a pressing member first end is engaged with the driving member, and a pressing member second end is engaged with the mounting portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The automatic vending machine of claim 10, wherein the helical element is rotatable about the pressing member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automatic vending machine of claim 11, wherein the pressing member comprises a main post located in an interior of the helical element, and the main post is substantially parallel to the bottom plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The automatic vending machine of claim 12, wherein the pressing member further comprises a first securing portion extending from a main post first end, and a second securing portion extending from a main post second end; the first securing portion is secured to the driving member, and the second securing portion is secured to the mounting portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The automatic vending machine of claim 13, wherein the driving member comprises a rotating shaft, and the first securing portion is secured to the rotating shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The automatic vending machine of claim 13, wherein the mounting portion comprises a first flange substantially parallel to the bottom plate and a second flange substantially perpendicular to the first flange; the second flange defines two securing holes, the second securing portion comprises a first clipping portion and a second clipping portion; and the first clipping portion and the second clipping portion are engaged in the two securing holes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The automatic vending machine of claim 15, wherein the second securing portion comprises a first extending post extending from the main post, a second extending post extending from the first extending post, and a third extending post extending from the second extending post; the third extending post abut the second extending post, and the first clipping portion is defined by the second extending post and the third extending post. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The automatic vending machine of claim 16, wherein the second securing portion further comprises a fourth extending post extending from the third extending post and a fifth extending post substantially perpendicularly extending from the fourth extending post; the second clipping portion extends from the fifth extending post. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The automatic vending machine of claim 17, wherein the third extending post is substantially parallel to the fifth extending post and perpendicular to the fourth extending post.