Patent · US Expired

Dispensing apparatus having continuously driven conveyor

US4274551A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 14, 1978
Grant dateJun 23, 1981
Priority date—
Expiry dateJun 14, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F17/0078
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing articles, particularly, but not necessarily, packaged food articles which are warmed within the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a storage zone, a dispensing zone and a conveyor for conveying articles between the storage zone and the dispensing zone. Articles are loaded into vacant holders in a loading zone and such loading is controlled by a detector which detects for the presence of articles in holders which are at any one time approaching the loading zone. A further detector detects for a vacancy in the dispensing zone and, if such vacancy exists, an article is transferred from an associated holder to the dispensing zone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.