Package vending machine
First Claim
1. A frozen confection vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages, said vending apparatus comprising:
- a) an outer cabinet;
b) storing means for storing the plurality of packages, said storing means comprising a freezer compartment disposed within a portion of said outer cabinet, said freezer compartment having displaceable means for thermally separating the interior of said freezer compartment from the ambient air in the remainder of said outer cabinet'"'"'s interior, said thermal separating means being operative to prevent heat transfer from said freezer compartment to said outer cabinet interior between package removal operating cycles;
c) opening means for alternately activating and deactivating said thermal separating means immediately before and after, respectively, a package removal operating cycle;
d) package removing means for selectively removing the selected package from said freezer compartment, said package removing means being separated from said freezer compartment by said thermal separating means between removal operating cycles and entering said freezer compartment for removing the selected package from said freezer compartment only during the removal operating cycles after said thermal separating means is deactivated; and
e) controlling means for automatically controlling said package removing means and opening means in response to a customer'"'"'s selection.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages. The vending apparatus comprises:
a) an outer cabinet;
b) an isolated freezer compartment within the outer cabinet for storing the plurality of packages disposed within the outer cabinet, the freezer compartment having a thermal barrier for maintaining a frozen environment within the freezer compartment in isolation of the ambient temperature air filling the remaining interior space of the outer cabinet;
c) a mechanism for opening the thermal barrier;
d) a picker for selectively removing the selected package from the freezer compartment, the picker being located outside the freezer compartment in between operating cycles and entering the freezer compartment for removing one of the packages only during the removal operation; and
e) a controller for automatically controlling the picker and opening mechanism in response to a customer'"'"'s selection.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A frozen confection vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages, said vending apparatus comprising:
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a) an outer cabinet; b) storing means for storing the plurality of packages, said storing means comprising a freezer compartment disposed within a portion of said outer cabinet, said freezer compartment having displaceable means for thermally separating the interior of said freezer compartment from the ambient air in the remainder of said outer cabinet'"'"'s interior, said thermal separating means being operative to prevent heat transfer from said freezer compartment to said outer cabinet interior between package removal operating cycles; c) opening means for alternately activating and deactivating said thermal separating means immediately before and after, respectively, a package removal operating cycle; d) package removing means for selectively removing the selected package from said freezer compartment, said package removing means being separated from said freezer compartment by said thermal separating means between removal operating cycles and entering said freezer compartment for removing the selected package from said freezer compartment only during the removal operating cycles after said thermal separating means is deactivated; and e) controlling means for automatically controlling said package removing means and opening means in response to a customer'"'"'s selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages, said vending apparatus comprising:
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a) an outer cabinet; b) a thermally insulated freezer compartment for storing the plurality of packages, said freezer compartment being disposed within said outer cabinet and further having displaceable means for thermally separating the interior of said freezer compartment from the ambient air in the remainder of said outer cabinet'"'"'s interior, said thermal separating means being operative to prevent heat transfer from said freezer compartment to said outer cabinet interior between package removal operating cycles; c) opening means for alternately activating and deactivating said thermal separating means immediately before and after, respectively, a package removal operating cycle; d) package removing means for selectively removing the selected package from said freezer compartment, said removing means being located outside said storing means between removal operating cycles and entering said storing means for removing one of the packages from said storing means only during the removal operating cycles; and e) controlling means for automatically controlling said package removing means and opening means in response to a customer'"'"'s selection, said vending apparatus having no mechanical, electro-mechanical or electronic parts contained within said storing means between successive removal operations.
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14. A vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages, said vending apparatus comprising:
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a) an outer cabinet; b) a thermally insulated freezer compartment for storing the plurality of packages, said freezer compartment being disposed within said outer cabinet and further having displaceable means for thermally separating the interior of said freezer compartment from the ambient air in the remainder of said outer cabinet'"'"'s interior, said thermal separating means being operative to prevent heat transfer from said freezer compartment to said outer cabinet interior between package removal operating cycles; c) opening means for alternately activating and deactivating said thermal separating means immediately before and after, respectively, a package removal operating cycle; d) package removing means for selectively removing the selected package from said freezer compartment said selection apparatus comprising a picker with a picker head for contacting the package to be removed, x-y positioning means for positioning said picker over the stack, z positioning means for selectively raising and lowering said picker above the selected package, constant air blower means for creating a constant negative air pressure in said picker, said air blower means being connected to said picker by an air hose, and sensing means for sensing contact between said picker and the package, said removing means being located outside said storing means between removal operating cycles and entering said storing means for removing one of the packages from said storing means only during the removal operating cycles; and e) controlling means for automatically controlling said package removing means and opening means in response to a customer'"'"'s selection, said vending apparatus having no mechanical, electro-mechanical or electronic parts contained within said storing means between successive removal operations. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification