Vending machine

• US 6,170,285 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Crane Company
• Original Assignee: Crane Company
• Inventors: Henning, Mark R., Ivey, Gregory Scott, Percy, Charles W., Huffman, John P., Petersen, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US09/427,240
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 624/48, 624/49, 624/50, 221/150.HC, 221/150.R
• US Class Current: 62/448
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/02 plug-in type
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/04131 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0071 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/105 Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064

Abstract

A vending machine having a self-contained self-aligning refrigeration unit, a temperature sensing probe positioned in front of the machine behind a glass panel for sensing the temperatures in the machine near the product to be vended and having a monetary unit which slides in and out of the cabinet and rotates for easy access.

Claims

1. A vending machine, comprising:

a housing having a floor and forming an interior space with an open front;

a door attached to the housing for pivotal movement between an open position for allowing access to the interior space of the housing through the open front and a closed position for covering the open front;

a horizontal shelf in the housing dividing the interior space of the housing into upper and lower portions, the shelf defining an opening along an edge thereof extending towards the open front of the housing; and

a refrigeration unit having substantially vertical side portions engageable with the edge of the shelf defining the opening therein, the refrigeration unit being slidable on the floor of the housing into the housing with the front door in the open position such that the vertical side portions engage the edge of the shelf along substantially the length of the opening therein.

2. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein the edge of the shelf defining the opening has tapered converging sides and the sides of the refrigeration unit are similarly tapered.

3. The vending unit of claim 2 including the refrigeration unit having an evaporator and fan located in the upper portion of the housing and a compressor and condenser located in the lower portion of the housing when the unit is engaged with the shelf.

4. The vending machine of claim 3 further including a heating member in the refrigeration unit disposed in the upper portion of the housing when the unit is engaged with the shelf.

5. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein the shelf and upper portion of the housing are insulated.

6. The vending machine of claim 3 wherein the edge of the shelf defining the opening is provided with a seal engageable with the side portions of the refrigeration unit.

7. The vending machine of claim 1 including:

an output duct in the refrigeration unit adjacent the fan;

a circulation duct along an inside wall of the housing connectable with the output duct for receiving cold air therefrom and circulating it through the housing; and

a return air passage formed in the refrigeration unit adjacent the evaporator for returning air circulated through the housing to the evaporator to be cooled.

8. A method of removably sealing a refrigeration unit in a vending machine having an interior space accessible through an open front covered by a door, comprising the steps of:

providing a horizontal shelf with a contoured edge facing the open front in the interior space of the vending machine so as to divide the interior space into upper and lower portions;

providing a refrigeration unit with vertical side walls engageable with the contoured edge of the horizontal shelf; and

sliding the refrigeration unit into the interior space of the vending machine so that the vertical side walls of the refrigeration unit engage the contoured edge of the shelf.

9. The method of claim 8 including the steps of:

providing the contoured edge with converging side walls and providing the side walls of the refrigeration unit to matingly engage the converging side walls of the contoured edge of the shelf when the unit is slid into the housing.

10. A vending Machine, including:

a housing forming an insulated interior portion and a glass front door;

a plurality of product support shelves contained in the interior portion of the housing;

a temperature sensing probe disposed on the interior portion adjacent a front portion of one of the shelves and the glass in the door;

a combined refrigeration and heating unit disposed in the housing; and

a controller associated with the unit and the temperature sensing probe so as to receive temperature information from the probe and operate the unit to either heat or cool the interior portion of the housing.

11. A vending machine as defined in claim 10 wherein the temperature sensing probe is a thermistor.

12. A vending machine as defined in claim 10 wherein the temperature probe is disposed in the lower front portion of the machine.

13. A vending machine as defined in claim 12 wherein the temperature probe is disposed between the front portion of the shelf and the glass.