Drinking cup storage and feeding device for an automatic vending machine
US4480764A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 1983 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F13/10
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A drinking cup storage and feeding device for an automatic vending machine comprises a rotary type cup storage drum having a plurality of cup storage chambers around its periphery for receiving different kinds of drinking cups stacked in columns. A cup take-out stage has at least two cup take-out mechanisms spaced apart from each other and positioned adjacent to, but outside the rotational movement of the cup storage drum, for supplying specific cups one by one to a vending stage according to a selection signal. A switch detects when a cup take-out stage becomes empty of cups and then rotates the cup storage drum. A cup selecting mechanism detects when a full cup storage chamber storing a certain cup type reaches a position adjacent to the empty cup take-out stage for the same type of cup, during rotation of the cup storage drum, and stops rotation of the drum when the position is reached. A cup delivering mechanism delivers the full stored cup group column from the cup storage drum to the adjacent cup take-out stage for that cup type, while keeping the column in an upright stacked posture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.