Back to results
US 4,363,422 AGranted
Helical vending machine with expansible divider
AssigneeD.O.V.E. Equipment Corporation
InventorWilliam C. Boettcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention involves a vending machine having helix discharge units. The units are used to store and dispense packaged objects such as chip products, candy, mints, chewing gum, candy bars, cigarettes, cigars, etc. The unit preferably utilizes a rotatable helix dispensing spindle having a central divider within the convolutions of the helix which divides the helix into separate side-by-side compartments and is expansible to vary the size of the compartments to accommodate different size packages.
Claims8
A vending machine item discharge unit comprising:
- (a) a tray means having side, rear and bottom walls,
- (b) helical means having a plurality of convolutions along its length to retain articles to be dispensed in the convolutions,
- (c) drive means connected to the helical means to rotate said helical means in predetermined increments upon activation by a customer, and
- (d) adjustable divider means positioned within the helical means and having elements movable laterally toward the tray side walls to change the spacing between the divider means and the tray side walls to compensate for articles of different width in the convolutions of the helix.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.