# US 9,038,854 B2 · Product distribution device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,854 B2 - Document ID: US9038854B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/530,337 - Filed: 2012-06-22 - Published: 2013-01-31 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-27 - Assignees: Dirk A. Brugmann Kunststoff-Verarbeitung GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Lars Brügmann - Inventors: Lars Brügmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038854B2 ## CPC - A47F 1/126: {the pushing device being urged by spring means} - G07F 11/30: two or more magazines having independent delivery - G07F 11/42: the articles being delivered by motor-driven means - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A product distribution device for accommodating at least one row of products with products which can be arranged in succession on a support surface of a product guide element in a receiving space with the following features: at least one door for stocking the receiving space with the products, guide means which are guided along the support surface in one conveyance direction F for advancing the products in the conveyance direction F, a catch element which can be switched between one catch position of the conveyance means and one conveyance position of the conveyance means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A product distribution device for accommodating at least one row of products, said device including: a housing defining a receiving space, the housing having a front upper edge extending between side walls of the housing; a product guide element disposed within the receiving space, the product guide element having a support surface for receiving the products thereon, wherein the products are aligned along one conveyance direction and the support surface has a pitch greater than 3 degrees in the conveyance direction, at least one door disposed on the housing, the at least one door movable between an open position for stocking the receiving space of the housing with the products and a closed position for allowing sequential distribution of the products from the device, wherein the at least one door is spaced from the front, upper edge of the housing to define a removal opening when the at least one door is in the closed position, the removal opening dimensioned to allow the product to be removed from the device when the at least one door is in the closed position and wherein only a single product disposed next to the at least one door is tilted away from the device when the at least one door is moved from the closed position to the open position, a guide device moveable on the support surface in the conveyance direction, the guide device having a surface for engaging the products to move the products in the conveyance direction, and a catch element disposed below the support surface of the product guide element, the catch element moveable between a catch position and a conveyance, wherein a stop of the catch element extends above the support surface of the product guide element for hindering movement of the guide device in the conveyance direction when the catch element is in the catch position and the stop of the catch element is disposed below the support surface of the product guide element when the catch element is in the conveyance position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product distribution device further includes: an actuation means located on an inside wall of the at least one door, the actuation means having a surface engaging the catch element for moving the catch element between the catch position and the conveyance position as the at least one door is moved between the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catch element is a catch rail which is located underneath the product guide element, the product guide element having guides for allowing the catch element to slide in the conveyance direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further includes a spring element that engages the catch element for biasing the catch element into the catch position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product guide element includes at least one guide groove formed therein to define a guideway and the catch element includes at least one guide pin moveable within the guide groove, wherein the catch element moves between the catch position and the conveyance position as the at least one guide pin moves along the guideway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one door is angled forward greater than 5 degrees relative to a line orthogonal to the support surface of the product guide element when the at least one door is in the closed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one door is angled forward greater than 5 degrees relative to a line orthogonal to the bottom of the product distribution device when the door is in the closed position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door is pivotally attached to one front edge of the bottom of the product distribution device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The product distribution device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuating means is actuated when the door is moved to the closed position.