US 2019/0172295 A1 · VENDING MECHANISM

Abstract

A system and method of vending product items may include storing product items within a product storage area. A product item may be released from the product storage area. The product item may be hoisted over at least a portion of the product storage area. The hoisted product item may be presented to a user. In one embodiment, the product storage area may be positioned within a vending machine, and the vending machine may be mobile. The vending machine may also be self-propelled. In an embodiment, the vending machine may be moved via a controller being used by an operator. Alternatively, the vending machine may be moved autonomously.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A vending machine, comprising:

a housing;
a product storage area in which product items to be dispensed by the vending machine are stored;
an elevator shaft positioned adjacent to said product storage area, and having an acute angle relative to a base and towards said product storage area;
an elevator member configured to hoist a product item along said elevator shaft;
a drive mechanism configured to cause said elevator member to move from a first position to a second position along the elevator shaft to hoist the product item;
and
an opening defined by the housing, and configured to enable the hoisted product item to be received by a user.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vending mechanism

Life of this patent

Vending mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29