Patent · US Expired

Can vending mechanism

US5547105A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
12References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 18, 1994
Grant dateAug 20, 1996
Priority date—
Expiry dateOct 18, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F11/08
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A can vending mechanism comprising a module containing three vertically-extending channels arranged front-to-back and dimensioned to vend cylindrical products, such as cans, with their longitudinal axes parallel to the front face of a vending machine to achieve greater product capacity. A sold-out switch is provided in each channel. Each sold out switch is activated when two products remain in escrow at the bottom of its respective channel. The channels are refilled without the use of diverters by dropping new products into the channels. The two products remaining in escrow at the bottom of each channel absorb the shock of the falling products.

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