Adjustable storage rack for a vending machine
AssigneeAutomated Merchandising Systems Inc.
InventorsPaul L. Mason, II, David A. Sprankle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vending machine includes at least one width-adjustable storage rack, the storage rack having a fixed wall and a movable wall connected to the fixed wall by at least one connecting link; and an adjustment mechanism constructed and adapted to position the movable wall relative to the fixed wall and to thereby vary an interior width between the fixed and movable walls. Two movable walls can be connected to a single fixed wall.
Claims17
A vending machine comprising:
- at least one width-adjustable storage rack, the storage rack having a fixed wall and a movable wall connected to the fixed wall by at least one movable connecting link so as to define a variable storage space there between;
- an adjustment mechanism constructed and adapted to position the movable wall relative to the fixed wall and to thereby vary an interior width of the storage space between the fixed and the movable wall;
- and
- a vending mechanism connected below the storage space;
- wherein the vending mechanism is connected to said at least one connecting link and is automatically centered relative to the storage space as the movable wall is adjusted.
A width-adjustable storage rack for a vending machine, the storage rack comprising:
- a fixed wall and a movable wall connected to the fixed wall by a plurality of movable connecting links to define an adjustable storage space there between;
- an adjustment mechanism constructed and adapted to position the movable wall relative to the fixed wall and thereby to vary an interior width of the storage space between the fixed and movable walls;
- and
- a vending mechanism positioned adjacent an outlet of the storage space to extract products from the storage rack;
- wherein the vending mechanism is connected to the a set of the movable connecting links and is automatically centered relative to the storage space as the movable wall is adjusted.
A method of adjusting an interior width of a storage rack for a vending machine, the method comprising:
- providing a flied wall and a movable wall connected to the fixed wall by at least one movable connecting link so as to define a variable size storage space there between;
- providing a vending mechanism connected to a connecting link that connects the movable wall to the fixed wall;
- and
- moving the movable wall relative to the fixed wall along with movement of the at least one connecting link to vary the interior width of the storage space between the fixed and movable walls until an appropriate width thereof is reached so that as the interior width is adjusted the vending mechanism is automatically centered relative to the storage space as the movable wall is adjusted.
A vending machine comprising:
- at least one width-adjustable storage rack, the storage rack having a fixed wall and a movable wall Connected to the fixed wall by at least one movable connecting link so as to define a variable storage space there between;
- an adjustment mechanism constructed and adapted to position the movable wall relative to the fixed wall and to thereby vary an interior width of the storage space between the fixed and the movable wall;
- and
- a vending mechanism connected below the storage space;
- wherein the vending mechanism is connected to said at least one movable connecting link and the vending mechanism is automatically centered relative to the storage space as the movable wall is adjusted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.