Horizontal product discharge system for a vending machine
AssigneeCrane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
InventorsJames Skavnak, Paul Ihn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for discharging a selected product into a dispensing chamber of a vending machine are provided. In the system and method of this disclosure, a selected product from a vending machine is received in a product delivery cup. The product delivery cup is moved to a dispensing chamber of the vending machine. Near the dispensing chamber, the product delivery cup moves in a horizontal direction which causes or activates a delivery cup sleeve within the product delivery cup to pivot or move from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. The dispensing position of the delivery cup sleeve releases the selected product from the delivery cup sleeve to the dispensing chamber where a consumer is able to access the selected product.
Claims18
A vending machine for storing and selectively dispensing products, the vending machine comprising:
- a delivery cup assembly having:
- a movable delivery cup sleeve and configured to receive a selected product, and
- a pivotable tip plate configured to shift the delivery cup sleeve when moved;
- and
- a product transport system configured to move the delivery cup assembly with the selected product toward a dispensing chamber of the vending machine,
- wherein the delivery cup sleeve is configured to pivot to release the selected product from the delivery cup assembly into the dispensing chamber in response to contact of a portion of the tip plate with an activation structure as a result of horizontal-only translation of the delivery cup assembly by the product transport system.
A product delivery system for use in a vending machine, the product delivery system comprising:
- a transport mechanism;
- and
- a product delivery cup assembly coupled to and selectively movable by the transport mechanism and configured to receive a selected product, the product delivery cup assembly including
- a movable delivery cup sleeve, and
- a tip plate for moving the delivery cup sleeve from a first non-dispensing position to a second dispensing position during horizontal-only translation of the product delivery cup assembly by the transport mechanism, bringing a portion of the tip plate into contact with an activation structure and moving the tip plate as a result of the contact.
A method of dispensing a selected product from a vending machine, the method comprising:
- receiving the selected product in a delivery cup assembly having a delivery cup sleeve;
- moving the delivery cup toward a dispensing chamber of the vending machine with a product transport system;
- moving the delivery cup sleeve from a first non-dispensing position to a second dispensing position during horizontal-only translation of the delivery cup assembly by the product transport system;
- and
- releasing the selected product from the delivery cup sleeve to the dispensing chamber in response to movement of the delivery cup sleeve from the first non-dispensing position to a second dispensing position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.