Vending apparatus

US4301909A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• John Snavely · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 1979
• Grant date: Nov 24, 1981
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F11/10
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A vending apparatus comprising (1) a storage area comprising a plurality of vertical chutes for storing rectangular boxes or chutes stacked vertically therein, each chute having a fixed ledge at one side of the lower end of the chute and a pivotally mounted ledge opposite to said fixed ledge and biased toward said fixed ledge, for holding and releasing boxes stacked in said chute; (2) a box retrieval mechanism comprising a carriage mounted on a guide and movable below said vertical chutes and in operational association therewith, a motor to drive said carriage, a release member mounted on said carriage for releasing a box from a chute onto said carriage; (3) a delivery area associated with the carriage guide whereby said carriage may approach said delivery area; (4) an arm to move a box from said carriage into said delivery area, and (5) electronic control circuit comprising a detector to sense an empty chute, a circuit arrangement to price each chute individually and alterably, an input to receive currency, a comparator to compare accumulated currency with the price for said chute, a circuit arrangement to select a chute for delivery of a box therefrom and a control arrangement to…