Coin operated dispensing machine
OwnerDuncan J. Milceticinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coin-operated vending machine for dispensing lollipops and other irregularly shaped items having several semi-cylindrical vertical chutes of U-shaped cross section, each with a diameter slightly larger than the item. The lollipop stick extends out of a slot extending along one side of the chute. The lollipops exit the bottom of the chutes and rest atop a cradle having a vertical slot therein. A deposited coin is advanced by a plunger through the slot to displace and dispense the lollipop.
Claims19
A coin operated vending machine for dispensing irregularly shaped packages, each having a neck extending outwardly therefrom, the machine comprising:
- a longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical chute having:
- (i) an inner dimension slightly larger than the package;
- (ii) a bottom dispensing end and a spaced opposite top end;
- and
- (iii) a longitudinally extending slot extending between said bottom dispensing end and said top end, the slot having a width slightly larger than the neck;
- the packages being serially loaded into said top end of said chute with the necks positioned at least partially within the slot to maintain alignment of the packages;
- dispensing means located below said bottom dispensing end of said chute for dispensing a package responsive to a coin being deposited into the vending machine;
- and
- a guide member disposed on an interior region of said chute opposite the slot and near said bottom dispensing end for guiding the package out of said chute onto said dispensing means.
A coin operated vending machine for dispensing spherical packages, the machine comprising:
- a cradle having
- (i) a counter bore therein for receiving the spherical packages;
- and
- (ii) a ridge located at a periphery of the counter bore having a rounded cross-section to facilitate dispensing of the package from the counter bore;
- and
- means for dispensing packages from said cradle following insertion of a coin into said machine, said means for dispensing packages comprising a coin ramp disposed partially beneath said cradle for raising the coin above said cradle to contact and displace a spherical package.
A coin operated vending machine for dispensing spherical packages having a neck extending outwardly therefrom, the machine comprising:
- a plurality of longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical chutes disposed alongside each other, each of said chutes having:
- (i) an inner dimension slightly larger than the package;
- (ii) a bottom dispensing end and a spaced opposite top end;
- (iii) a longitudinally extending slot extending between said bottom end and said top end, the slot having a width slightly larger than the neck;
- and
- (iv) two longitudinally extending edges defining sides of the slot, each edge having a partially rounded cross-section to facilitate sliding of the spherical packages from said top end to said bottom end;
- and
- the packages being serially loaded into said top ends of said chutes with the necks positioned at least partially within the slots to maintain alignment of the packages, all of the slots facing in the same direction;
- dispensing means located below each of said bottom dispensing ends of said chutes for dispending a package responsive to a coin being deposited into the vending machine, said dispensing means comprising a cradle for receiving the spherical package, said cradle having a counterbore on one side thereof facing said bottom dispensing end and a ridge located at a periphery of the counterbore, said ridge having a rounded cross-section to facilitate dispensing of the package from the counter bore up and over said ridge;
- and
- a guide member disposed on an interior region of each of said chutes opposite the slot and near said bottom dispensing end for guiding the spherical package out of said chute onto said cradle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.