Enhanced vending machine product delivery system
AssigneeCrane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
InventorsGrey Parker, William Koederitz, Curtis Bailey, Brian McCormick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a vending machine. The vending machine comprises an access port, a chassis including a plurality of trays and a plurality of columns, a movable stage, and a product catch coupled to the movable stage. The product catch is operable to move in a first direction to accept a product from one of the plurality of trays, and the product catch is operable to move in a second direction to deposit the product in the access port.
Claims21
A vending machine, comprising:
- an access port;
- a chassis including a plurality of trays and a plurality of columns;
- a movable stage;
- and
- a product catch coupled to the movable stage,
- wherein the product catch is operable to move in a first direction to accept a product from one of the plurality of trays, and
- wherein the product catch is operable to move in a second direction to deposit the product in the access port.
A method of dispensing a product from a tray to a delivery port, the method comprising:
- moving a product catch in a first direction;
- accepting a product from a plurality of trays;
- moving a stage to a discharge position;
- moving the product catch in a second direction;
- and
- depositing the product in an access port as a result of the movement of the product catch.
A method of delivering a product in a vending machine from a column in a tray to a product catch, the method comprising:
- providing a product catch coupled to a stage;
- initiating release of a product from the column;
- accepting by the product catch the product from the column;
- and
- pushing by a pusher assembly a next product in the column towards a release mechanism of the column,
- wherein the pusher assembly comprises a spring and a damper, and
- wherein the damper counteracts a force of the spring and decreases a velocity of the pusher assembly when the pusher assembly pushes the next product towards the release mechanism of the column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.