Adjustable vending mechanism
US5713490A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F11/04
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An adjustable mechanism for vending products includes left and right column walls defining a column divided into front and rear sections for retaining the products in front and rear corded stacks. A rear spacer provided at the back side of the column is laterally adjustable relative to the front side of the column to accommodate products of different lengths in the rear section. Front and rear product funnels are positioned respectively in the front and rear sections above the bottom end of the column, with front and rear adjustable product ramps interposed between the outlets of the front and rear product funnels, respectively, and the open bottom end of the column. The front and rear adjustable product ramps are independently pivotable about their pivot axes in response to movement of front and rear adjustment rods to change the width of the open bottom of the column at the front and back sections to accommodate products of different diameters. Front and rear rotatable cradles are positioned below the outlets of the front and rear product funnels, respectively, to releasably support the bottommost products in the front and rear corded stacks, and are independently rotatable to ve…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.