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US 7,444,204 B2Granted
Vending machine
OwnerMunroe Chirnomasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to improvements in article handling, such as in vending machines, and more particularly, to improvements in: methods and apparatus for handling articles using a vacuum-type product lifting/dispensing mechanism, article display panels which enhance sales of primary products, and product containment systems which improve product storage capacity, as well as the ease and efficiency of product handling, access and loading into the article handling apparatus.
Claims21
An article dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a housing for forming exterior sides and enclosing an interior volume for the article dispensing apparatus, said interior volume including:
- a storage area for storing a plurality of different type articles to be dispensed, and
- user interface and control apparatus for allowing a user of the dispensing apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation, and to cause one of a user selected article to be moved to a dispensing area of the dispensing apparatus, wherein,
- said exterior sides of said housing include at least one side, said one side having an article display area thereon for displaying articles that are selectable by the user, said article display area including a graphic substrate having at least one article graphic thereon which identifies a selectable article, which graphic is permanently fixed at a predetermined location thereon,
- a tamper sensor is coupled to said substrate for detecting a tampering of said article display area, which tampering would be attempt to change the display of articles that are selectable by the user, and
- a control portion of the user interface and control apparatus is coupled to said tamper sensor for monitoring detection of tampering, and in response to a detection of tampering, said control portion at least partially disabling further user initiated dispensing operation of said dispensing apparatus.
3 more elements
An article dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a housing for forming exterior sides and enclosing an interior volume for the article dispensing apparatus, said interior volume including:
- a storage area for storing a plurality of different type articles to be dispensed, and
- user interface and control apparatus for allowing a user of the dispensing apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation by entering one of a plurality of article selection codes, and to cause one of a selected type of article to be moved to a dispensing area of the dispensing apparatus, and
- said exterior sides of said housing including at least one side, said one side having an article display area including;
- a graphic substrate having at least one article graphic thereon which identifies a selectable article, which graphic is permanently fixed at a predetermined location thereon,
- a tamper sensor coupled to said substrate for detecting tampering of said substrate, and
- a control system coupled to said tamper sensor for monitoring tamper detection.
4 more elements
An article dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a housing for forming exterior sides and enclosing an interior volume for the article dispensing apparatus, said interior volume including:
- a storage area for storing a plurality of different type articles to be dispensed, and
- user interface and control apparatus for allowing a user of the dispensing apparatus to initiate an article dispensing operation by entering one of a plurality of article selection codes, and to cause one of a selected type of article to be moved to a dispensing area of the dispensing apparatus, wherein,
- said exterior sides of said housing include at least one side, said one side having an article display area comprising:
- a first substrate having a plurality of article graphics which identify a plurality of selectable articles, which graphics are permanently fixed at predetermined locations thereon, and
- at least one of a second substrate having an article graphic which identifies a single selectable article, and
- wherein said article display area also includes a transparent window which allows a user to see into said interior volume of said dispensing apparatus, and wherein said first substrate and said at least a second substrate are positioned in the display area so as to form a periphery about said transparent window.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.