Patent · US Expired

Anti-theft device for tandem column vendor

US4509658A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
14References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 1984
Grant dateApr 9, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F11/24
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A vendor for sequentially vending in alternation successive lowermost articles, such as beverage cans, from at least two stacks which are arranged in tandem, using a shared generally semi-cylindrical angularly indexable cradle having a stepped edge, where angular movement of the cradle by a first increment is sufficient to drop one supported article from under a forward one of the stacks to a delivery station, but insufficient to drop an axially adjacent supported article from under a relatively rearward one of the stacks, is improved by being provided with an anti-theft device preferably in the form of a leaf spring based on the cradle and erectable into the volume of space which is at other times occupied by the one supported article. The leaf spring is so constructed and mounted that when respective articles are supported in both forward and rear spaces in the cradle, the article supported in the relatively forward space flattens the spring to an inactive disposition, but when that article is dropped from the cradle by angularly moving the cradle through a first increment, the spring erects so as to prevent the article supported in the relatively rearward space from being slid o…

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