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TRAY UNIT

  • US 3,848,745 A
  • Filed: 08/08/1973
  • Issued: 11/19/1974
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1973
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A merchandise vending unit having an automatic merchandise advancing means, said unit comprising:

  • a tray having a bottom wall adapted to support a quantity of individual merchandise items;

    said tray having a front rim and being of a size and shape to retain said items in a longitudinally disposed layer extending rearwardly from said rim; and

    advancing means affixed to said bottom wall and engageable with a normally rearwardmost one of said items to automatically shift the remaining ones of said items forwardly in said tray when the normally forwardmost one of said items is removed therefrom whereby the next remaining forwardmost item is adjacent said rim, said advancing means including a roll of extensible sheet material having a memory to render the same self-winding, said material including a stretch underlying said items when in a partially extended condition, said advancing means presenting a rolled portion of said material rearwardly of said rearmost item when the advancing means is in engagement with the said rearmost item, said material having an end affixed to said bottom wall proximal said forward rim of said tray whereby said items in the tray are biased in the direction of said rim by said rolled portion, said advancing means further including a cylindrically shaped roller about which said rolled portion of material is wound, said roller being disposed transversely of said material and in contact with said rearmost item.

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