Pivot keypad and dual interface for multiple price and size setting vending machine
US5884745A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F9/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A programmable size and price setting mechanism for use in a vending machine has a plurality of .eta. access doors aligned horizontally across a front of the vending machine, each of which access doors has a locked condition denying access therethrough and an unlocked condition allowing access therethrough, and each of which is selectably activatable between the locked and unlocked condition. There are a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which has a plurality of partitionable areas corresponding in size to a corresponding one of the .eta. access doors, such that each shelf is selectably partitionable into a plurality of up to .eta. product holding areas. A conveyor mechanism is provided for selectably moving each horizontal shelf into a vending position adjacent to the access doors so that each one of the .eta. partitionable areas is adjacent to a corresponding one the .eta. access doors. A sensor detects when one of the plurality of shelves is positioned adjacent to the plurality of .eta. access doors. A keypad with a plurality of actuatable buttons is pivotably mounted on the vending machine for use by a consumer in a "vending mode" of operation and for use as a programming…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.