Tilt Hopper
AssigneeAutomated Merchandising Systems Inc.
InventorsKenneth B. Tenney, David Mark Campbell, Michael Vincent Smith, Daniel W. Ahl, SR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A product retrieval mechanism for vending machines that permits collection of varying size products at a first level yet presents such products for collection at a raised height to make retrieval more convenient. The retrieval mechanism utilizes a movable floor within the hopper that movable between a lowered position and a higher position for presenting the product at a higher retrieval point relative to the floor upon opening of the hopper.
Claims18
A retrieval mechanism for a vending machine comprised of a hopper mounted therein so as to receive selected and vended product and to present the vended product at a desired height level for a consumer, the hopper comprising;
- a support structure;
- a security shield pivotally attached to the support structure;
- a movable front retrieval door operatively secured to the support structure;
- a hopper assembly having a floor comprised of first and second floor sections that are each movably connected to the support structure and to one another so as to be movable between lowered and raised positions;
- and
- a control system for operating the movable front retrieval door, the security shield and the hopper floor in a coordinated manner.
A vending machine comprising:
- a housing having a top, bottom, opposing housing side walls and a rear wall, a front door operatively attached to the housing, an internal product holding assembly from which a selected product can be dispensed, a vend space having a depth defined between a front of the product holding assembly and an inside of the door and a width defined between an interior portion of the opposing side walls;
- a retrieval mechanism mounted to an interior portion of the door and positioned below the product holding assembly, the retrieval mechanism including a rear wall, a pair of opposing and spaced apart hopper side walls and a floor which collectively define a hopper having an upwardly facing opening in line with the vend space so that a product dispensed from the product holding assembly will drop along a path of travel into the hopper, the floor being movably attached in the retrieval mechanism and comprising flooring sections movably attached to one another and to each of the opposing hopper side walls so as to be movable between lowered and raised positions, a front wall having a top edge that will be adjacent the level of the floor sections when raised to the raised position, a retrieval door mounted to be movable between raised and lowered positions and a retrieval door locking assembly for locking the retrieval door in a raised position, and a security shield pivotally mounted to the opposing hopper side walls so as to be movable between open and closed positions;
- a drive assembly positioned beneath the floor and behind the front wall to operate the movement of the flooring sections and the retrieval door locking assembly;
- and
- a control system for operating the vending machine, including the retrieval door locking assembly, the security shield, and the floor sections in a coordinated manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.