Modular vending machine

• US 10,332,331 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Xuejun, Jafa, Emad, Drake, Joshua, Clapper, Michael D., Clark, Brian D., Fageroos, Victor Jon, Larson, Steven Dean, Ness, Brian, Chiugu, Michael, Rorabaugh, Chad, Ripley, Brian Douglas, Minar, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US15/388,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20180108203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/10 two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1653 the picking arrangements being collecting buckets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A modular vending machine is provided. The modular vending machine can include a central module having a pickup area and one or more product storage cabinets.

Claims

1. A product dispenser comprising:

a central module including a user interface and a product pickup area;

a first product storage cabinet including a first plurality of product shelves positioned within a first interior area;

a second product storage cabinet including a second plurality of product shelves positioned within a second interior area;

a first product transport mechanism positioned within the first interior area to receive a first product from one of the first plurality of product shelves in the first product storage cabinet and deliver the first product to the product pickup area;

a first product orientation mechanism to orient the first product in the product pickup area in a vertically upright orientation, the first product orientation mechanism having a transfer position where a bridge of the first product orientation mechanism spans a space between the product pickup area and the first product transport mechanism, the first product orientation mechanism having an orientation position where a portion of the bridge extends into an interior area of the product pickup area to orient the first product into a vertically upright orientation; and

a second product transport mechanism positioned within the second interior area to receive a second product from one of the second plurality of product shelves in the second product storage cabinet and deliver the second product to the product pickup area.

2. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first product orientation mechanism includes a first pivot connecting the portion to the product pickup area, a second pivot connecting a control arm to the portion, and a third pivot connecting the control arm to a motorized slider.

3. The product dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a second product orientation mechanism to orient the second product in the product pickup area in a vertically upright orientation.

4. The product dispenser of claim 3, wherein the second product orientation mechanism has a transfer position where a portion of the second product orientation mechanism spans a space between the product pickup area and the second product transport mechanism, and

wherein the second product orientation mechanism has a pickup position where the portion of the second product orientation mechanism extends into the product pickup area to orient the second product.

5. The product dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a first product positioner to orient the first product onto the first product transport mechanism such that a bottom of the first product is positioned closer to the central module than a top portion of the first product.

6. The product dispenser of claim 5, further comprising a second product positioner to orient the second product onto the second product transport mechanism such that a bottom of the second product is positioned closer to the central module than a top portion of the second product.

7. The product dispenser of claim 6, wherein the first product positioner is attached to one of the first plurality of product shelves in the first product storage cabinet, and

wherein the second product positioner is attached to one of the second plurality of product shelves in the second product storage cabinet.

8. The product dispenser of claim 6, wherein the first product positioner and the second product positioner are non-motorized.

9. A product dispenser comprising:

a central module including a user interface and a product pickup area;

a first product storage cabinet including a first plurality of product shelves positioned within a first interior area;

a first product transport mechanism positioned within the first interior area to receive a first product from one of the first plurality of product shelves in the first product storage cabinet and deliver the first product to the product pickup area; and

a first product orientation mechanism to orient the first product in the product pickup area in a vertically upright orientation, the first product orientation mechanism having an orientation position where a portion of a bridge of the first product orientation mechanism extends into an interior area of the product pickup area to orient the first product into a vertically upright orientation.

10. The product dispenser of claim 9, wherein the first product orientation mechanism has a transfer position where a portion of the first product orientation mechanism spans a space between the product pickup area and the first product transport mechanism.

11. The product dispenser of claim 9, wherein the first product orientation mechanism includes a first pivot connecting the portion to the product pickup area, a second pivot connecting a control arm to the portion, and a third pivot connecting the control arm to a motorized slider.

12. A method for dispensing a product, comprising:

transmitting a first electronic signal to a control system based on a first user selection on an electronic user interface;

moving a first product transport mechanism into a first vertical position to receive a first product from a first storage shelf based on the first electronic signal;

moving the first product transport mechanism into a first vertical delivery position to deliver the first product into a pickup area;

moving a first product orientation mechanism into a transfer position to receive the first product from the first product transport mechanism;

moving the first product into the pickup area;

moving the first product orientation mechanism into an orientation position wherein a portion of a bridge of the first product orientation mechanism extends into an interior area of the pickup area to orient the first product in a vertically upright orientation in the pickup area.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a second electronic signal to the control system based on a second user selection on the electronic user interface;

moving a second product transport mechanism into a second vertical position to receive a second product from a second storage shelf based on the second electronic signal;

moving the second product transport mechanism into a second vertical delivery position to deliver the second product into the pickup area;

moving a second product orientation mechanism into a transfer position to receive the second product from the second product transport mechanism; and

moving the second product into the pickup area.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

moving the second product orientation mechanism into a pickup position to orient the second product in a vertically upright orientation in the pickup area.