Compact table-top vending machine

• US 6,330,958 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Distributed Vending Company, Todd A. Simon
• Original Assignee: Distributed Vending Company, Todd A. Simon
• Inventors: Charmasson, Henri J. A., Brusso, Peter C., Simson, Anton K., Ruskin, Frank, Buchaca, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US09/414,910
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/7, 221/13, 221/9, 221/197, 221/75, 221/90, 221/131, 221/247, 221/249
• US Class Current: 221/75
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A light and compact vending machine suitable for use on a table or counter top, uses interchangeable magazines that can be preloaded with goods at a service center and quickly and conveniently installed on or removed from the machine. Each magazine has good-holding stations that differ in numbers and sizes. Each station has an access port on the front of the magazine toward which a spiral rack driven by a mechanism mounted in the machine moves goods. The currency accepted in payment for the goods is automatically dropped into a sealed receptacle at the bottom of the magazine. Each magazine is secured by a door that opens automatically only when the magazine is in place and the machine door has been locked. Personnel servicing the machine by replacing an empty one with a loaded one need not handle the goods or the cash. In some alternate embodiments of the invention, packaged goods and beverage cans slide down along slanted channels toward dispensing gates under their own weight.

Claims

1. A vending machine which comprises:

a housing cabinet having a good dispensing opening;

a detachable and replaceable magazine having a plurality of stations, each holding a plurality of goods and means for dispensing said goods therefrom;

means housed outside said magazine for driving said means for dispensing;

means for selectively activating one of said means for driving;

a control mechanism, housed within said cabinet, including;

means for selecting one of said stations;

means, responsive to said means for selecting, for controlling said means for selectively activating one of said means for driving; and

wherein said magazine comprises a box having a closable front and a back panel;

each of said good-holding stations comprises one of said means for dispensing goods; and

said stations are distributed over a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of side-by-side positioned stations.

2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein said means for selecting an item comprises a coded card reader.

3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein said means for selecting an item further comprises a coin accepting mechanism;

and

said magazine comprises a receptacle for collecting coins accepted by said coin accepting mechanism.

4. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein each of said means for dispensing comprises an axially rotatable spiral good-holding rack having a shaft extending through a hole in said back panel;

said means for selectively driving comprise a motor mounted on a back area of said housing cabinet and being engaged with said shaft when said magazine is placed in said housing cabinet;

said housing cabinet further comprises a mounting frame positioned behind and parallel to the back panel of said magazine when said magazine is mounted in said housing cabinet; and

a plurality of motor-holding modules removably secured to said mounting frame; and

wherein each of said motor-holding modules includes a row of said motors having drive-shafts sized and positioned to engage with corresponding shafts of said good-holding racks.

9. The vending machine of claim 4, which further comprise a plurality of goods, and movable means associated with each of said goods, and having an aperture axially and slidably engaged upon said rack.

5. A vending machine which comprises:

a housing cabinet having a good dispensing opening;

a detachable and replaceable magazine having a plurality of good-holding stations, and means for dispensing goods therefrom;

means for selectively activating one of said means for driving;

a control mechanism, housed within said cabinet including;

means for selecting one of said stations;

means, responsive to said means for selecting, for controlling said means for selectively activating one of said means for driving; and

means for securely sealing said stations upon any attempt to detach said magazine from said cabinet;

wherein said magazine comprises a box having a closable front and a back panel; and

wherein each of said good-holding stations comprises one of said means for dispensing goods.

6. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein each of said means for dispensing comprises an axially rotatable spiral good-holding rack having a shaft extending through a hole in said back panel;

and

said means for selectively driving comprise a motor-mounted on a back area of said housing cabinet and being engaged with said shaft when said magazine is placed in said housing cabinet.

7. The vending machine of claim 6, wherein said box comprises a plurality of superimposed layers of good-holding station.

8. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein said means for sealing comprise means for securely closing said front when said magazine is removed from said housing cabinet.

10. The vending machine of claim 7, wherein said housing cabinet further comprises a mounting frame positioned behind and parallel to the back panel of said magazine when said magazine is mounted in said housing cabinet;

and

a plurality of motor-holding modules removably secured to said mounting frame;

wherein each of said motor-holding modules include a row of said motors having drive-shafts sized and positioned to engage with corresponding shafts of said good-holding racks.

11. The vending machine of claim 10, wherein at least two of said layers of good-holding stations hold different numbers of goods-holding stations.

12. A vending machine for dispensing a plurality of goods and for accepting payment therefor, said machine comprising:

a removable and replaceable magazine having cells each sized and dimensioned to hold a plurality of said goods;

whereby said cells can be selectively enabled to dispense goods therefrom; and

wherein each of said cells comprises;

a compartment having a dispensing gate;

a floor having a downward slant and a front edge proximate said dispensing gate;

said compartment being shaped and dimensioned to hold a single row of dispensable goods stacked one against the other;

said dispensing gate comprising a door having a closed position and an open position;

said door being shaped and dimensioned to support no more than one of said items when in the closed position;

a barrier insertable between said no more than one item and a following item in said row when said door is moved from said closed position to said open position; and

means for moving said door from one of said position to the other;

whereby said machine may be restocked by substituting an empty one of said magazine with a loaded one without separate handling of said goods by service persons.

13. The vending machine of claim 12 which further comprises a currency-accepting apparatus, mounted outside said magazine, and a sealed receptacle for holding accepted currency in said magazine, and a goods-distributing pocket to receive goods extracted from said magazine.

14. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein said magazine further comprises good-holding cells that can be selectively enabled to dispense goods therefrom.

15. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein said means for automatically securing said cells comprise a scrolling screen.

17. The vending machine of claim 15, wherein cells differ in numbers and sizes between said layers.

21. The vending machine of claim 15, wherein said means for opening comprise meas for partially opening said door;

and

said means closing comprise means for moving and locking said door against and opening of said magazine.

16. A vending machine for dispensing a plurality of goods and for accepting payment therefor, said machine comprising:

a removable and replaceable magazine having sealable cells sized and dimensioned to hold said goods;

whereby said machine may be restocked by substituting an empty one of said magazine with a loaded one without separate handling of said goods by service persons;

means for securely sealing said cells;

means for preventing the removal of said magazine from said machine, when said cells are not securely sealed;

wherein said magazine further comprises good-holding cells that can be selectively enabled to dispense goods therefrom; and

wherein said cells are distributed over a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of side-by-side positioned cells.

18. The vending machine of claim 16, wherein said magazine further comprises a lockable door for preventing access to said goods when said magazine is removed from said vending machine.

19. The vending machine of claim 18 which further comprises a locking mechanism for securing said magazine into said vending machine.

20. The vending machine of claim 19, wherein said locking mechanism comprises means for opening a passage between said magazine and said good-distributing pocket when said magazine is locked inside said machine;

and

means for closing said passage when said magazine is pulled out of said machine.

22. A vending machine for dispensing a plurality of goods and for accepting payment therefor, said machine comprising:

a removable and replaceable magazine having sealable cells sized and dimensioned to hold said goods;

whereby said machine may be restocked by substituting an empty one of said magazine with a loaded one without separate handling of said goods by service persons;

means for securely sealing said cells; and

means for preventing the removal of said magazine from said machine, when said cells are not securely sealed,

wherein said magazine further comprises good-holding cells that can be selectively enabled to dispense goods therefrom; and

wherein each of said good holding cells comprises;

a compartment having a dispensing gate;

a floor having a downward slant and a front edge proximate said dispensing gate;

said compartment being shaped and dimensioned to hold a single row of dispensable goods stacked one against the other;

said dispensing gate comprising a door having a closed position and an open position;

said door being shaped and dimensioned to support no more than one of said items when in the closed position;

a barrier insertable between said no more than one item and a following item in said row when said door is moved from said closed position to said open position; and

means for moving said door from one of said position to the other.

23. The vending machine of claim 22, wherein said door has a substantially planar shape, said closed position is substantially co-planar with said slanted floor;

and said open position is substantially angular to said slanted floor.

24. The vending machine of claim 22, wherein said door is arcuate about an axis perpendicular to the slant of said floor;

and

which further comprise;

means for rotating said gate about said axis between said closed position wherein said door has a trailing edge contiguous to the front edge of said floor, and said open position wherein said trailing edge rises above said front edge to form said barrier.

25. A vending machine for dispensing a plurality of goods and for accepting payment therefore, said machine comprising:

a removable and replaceable magazine having sealable cells sized and dimensioned to hold said goods;

whereby said machine may be restocked by substituting an empty one of said magazine with a loaded one without separate handling of said goods by service persons;

means for securely sealing said cells; and

means for preventing the removal of said magazine from said machine, when said cells are not securely sealed; and

a scrolling display and a plurality of messages on said display, promoting goods dispensable by said machine.

26. The vending machine of claim 25, wherein at least one of said messages promotes a combination of at least two of said goods.

27. The vending machine of claim 25, which further comprise an auxiliary vending station packaged in a separate enclosure and having a front panel mounting said scrolling display.

28. A vending machine which comprises:

a housing cabinet having a good dispensing opening;

a detachable and replaceable magazine having a plurality of good-holding stations, and means for dispensing goods therefrom;

means housed outside said magazine for driving said means for dispensing;

means for selectively activating one of said means for driving;

a control mechanism, housed within said cabinet, including;

means for selecting one of said stations;

means, responsive to said means for selecting, for controlling said means for selectively activating one of said means for driving;

means for securely sealing said station upon any attempt to detach said magazine from said cabinet;

wherein said means for selecting an item comprises a coded card reader;

a coded card reader/writer;

means for writing data upon and reading data from a coded card through said card reader/writer;

means for accepting payment through said card reader/writer;

means for monitoring transactions and maintaining records thereof;

means for accepting program instructions through said card reader/writer; and

means for outputting said records through said card reader/writer.

29. A vending machine, for dispensing a plurality of goods packaged in substantially symmetrical containers having cylindrical walls, which comprises:

a good-holding tank;

a dispensing station;

a dispensing gate between said good-holding tank and dispensing station;

said tank including a channel having a floor slanted downwardly toward said dispensing gate, said channel being shaped and dimensioned to hold a series of said containers lying one behind the other on their cylindrical walls;

whereby said containers can freely roll, in line, down said slated floor toward said dispensing gate in the absence of any applied force other than gravity;

said tank having a loading aperture in an upper section thereof;

a lockable loading gate sealing said loading aperture;

a portable refilling magazine shaped and dimensioned to hold a plurality of said cylindrical containers and interlock with said tank;

said magazine having a dumping aperture in a lower section thereof;

a lockable dumping gate sealing said dumping aperture;

said dumping aperture being shaped, sized and located to line up with said loading aperture when said magazine is interlocked with said tank;

a first locking mechanism associated with said loading gate and a second locking mechanism associated with said dumping gate;

wherein said mechanisms have interlocking interfaces;

means for interlocking said loading gate and said dumping gate when said tank and their locking mechanism interfaces are securely interlocked;

whereby the tank can be reloaded from said magazine without operator'"'"'s access and handling of said containers.

30. A vending machine which comprises:

a housing cabinet having a good dispensing opening;

at least one detachable and replaceable magazine having at least one station holding a plurality of goods, and means for dispensing said goods;

at least one means housed outside said magazine for driving said means for dispensing;

means for selectively activating one of said means for driving;

a control mechanism, housed within said cabinet, including;

means for selecting one of said stations;

means, responsive to said means for selecting, for controlling said means for selectively activating one of said means for driving; and

wherein each of said stations comprises;

a compartment having a dispensing gate;

a floor having a downward slant and a front edge proximate said dispensing gate;

said compartment being shaped and dimensioned to hold a row of dispensable goods stacked one against the other;

said dispensing gate comprising a door having a closed position and an open position;

said door being shaped and dimensioned to hold no more than one of said items when in the closed position;

a barrier insertable between said no more than one item and a following item in said row when said door is moved from said closed position to said open position; and

means for moving said door from one of said position to the other.

31. A vending machine which comprises:

a cabinet having a good-dispensing opening;

at least one detachable and replaceable magazine comprising a box shaped and dimensioned to be inserted into said cabinet, and including a back panel

said magazine being held stationary within said cabinet;

said magazine further comprising at least one compartment shaped and dimensioned to hold a plurality of good-holding packages, and having an aperture positioned to direct good-holding packages passing therethrough toward said good-dispensing opening;

a good-dispensing mechanism within said magazine including a drive shaft accessible at said back panel; and

an electromechanical drive unit, for said good-dispensing mechanism, mounted in said cabinet, said drive unit including an output coupling head shaped and positioned to engage said drive shaft when said magazine is inserted into said cabinet;

an electronic control module housed within said cabinet, said control module including;

means for selecting and activating said drive unit;

whereby said magazine can be removed from said cabinet independently of said drive unit and control module for reloading or replacement with another one of said magazines.

32. The vending machine of claim 31, wherein said good-dispensing mechanism further includes a spiral rack coupled to said drive shaft.

33. The vending machine of claim 32, wherein said spiral rack comprises a plurality of coils shaped and spaced apart to hold a plurality of said packages.

34. The vending machine of claim 32, which further comprises a plurality of said packages, each of said packages having a hole engaged by said spiral rack.

35. The vending machine of claim 31, wherein said good-dispensing mechanism further include a gate positioned across said aperture and coupled to said drive shaft.

36. The vending machine of claim 31, which further comprises:

a coded card reader/writer;

means for writing data upon and reading data from a coded card through said card reader/writer;

means for accepting payment through said card reader/writer;

means for monitoring transactions and maintaining records thereof;

means for accepting program instructions through said card reader/writer; and

means for outputting said records through said card reader/writer.

37. The vending machine of claim 35, which further comprises a plurality of substantially symmetrical good-holding packages having cylindrical walls;

said compartment including a channel having a floor slanted downwardly toward said dispensing opening, said channel being shaped and dimensioned to hold a series of said packages lying one behind the other on their cylindrical walls;

whereby said containers can freely roll, in line, down said slanted floor toward said gate in the absence of any applied force other than gravity.