Drawer apparatus for article dispensing machine
First Claim
1. In an article dispensing machine:
- drawer means adapted to be received in said dispensing machine;
cartridge means adapted to receive in an aligned successively abutting arrangement a plurality of articles to be dispensed,said cartridge means including means for urging said articles therewithin toward one extremity thereof,said cartridge means being provided with a pair of opposed lateral openings in upright sidewalls thereof and adjacent said one extremity thereof;
releasable means for removably securing said cartridge means upon said drawer means;
article displacing means including an article engaging element mounted on said drawer means for swinging movement from a standby position in which said element is disposed adjacent one of said lateral openings externally of said cartridge means to an operated position in which said element enters said cartridge means through said one lateral opening to engage one of said plurality of articles positioned between said opposed lateral openings and displace said article from said cartridge means through the other of said lateral openings for dispensing thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved dispensing drawer is provided for article dispensing machines, especially those of the so-called "helix vendor" type, which is slideably removable from the front of the dispensing machine and includes at least one article receiving cartridge removably secured within the drawer for efficient loading, storage and release of articles to be dispensed therefrom. The cartridge is removable and replaceable after being loaded with articles from the front of the machine and does not require removal of the drawer for access thereto. An opening in the rear end of the cartridge permits rapid carton-like loading of articles therein when removed from the drawer for replenishment of the dispensing machine by a serviceman. A swingable, article engaging element mounted in the front of the drawer adjacent a pair of opposed lateral openings in the front end of the cartridge is actuated through a coupling forming a part of the drawer assembly by a power drive provided in the machine and operably coupleable with the drawer at the rear of the latter. When actuated, such element swings through one opposed opening in the cartridge adjacent its front extremity to contact an article and force the same through an opposed second opening, thereby dispensing the article.
58 Citations
8 Claims
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1. In an article dispensing machine:
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drawer means adapted to be received in said dispensing machine; cartridge means adapted to receive in an aligned successively abutting arrangement a plurality of articles to be dispensed, said cartridge means including means for urging said articles therewithin toward one extremity thereof, said cartridge means being provided with a pair of opposed lateral openings in upright sidewalls thereof and adjacent said one extremity thereof; releasable means for removably securing said cartridge means upon said drawer means; article displacing means including an article engaging element mounted on said drawer means for swinging movement from a standby position in which said element is disposed adjacent one of said lateral openings externally of said cartridge means to an operated position in which said element enters said cartridge means through said one lateral opening to engage one of said plurality of articles positioned between said opposed lateral openings and displace said article from said cartridge means through the other of said lateral openings for dispensing thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification