Enhancement to accommodate tall beverage containers in an automatic merchandiser

• US 6,367,895 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Crane Company
• Original Assignee: Crane Company
• Inventors: Huffman, John P., Petersen, Ronald P., Duncan, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US09/643,400
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 312/97.1, 312/125, 312/135, 312/305, 312/138.1, 312/116, 312/35, 312/36, 312/72, 312/73, 221/12, 221/120, 221/121, 221/122, 221/155, 221/242
• US Class Current: 312/97.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes

Abstract

A multiple product merchandising machine of the rotating drum type which is capable of vending large size bottles. It includes a cylindrical merchandise carrying drum mounted within the cabinet for rotation about its central longitudinal axis disposed vertically within the cabinet and having a plurality of annular product supporting shelves at spaced intervals along the drum, concentric with the axis of the drum, a plurality vertical walls extending between adjacent shelves and together with the shelves defining a plurality of individual product compartments, a central column extending the height of the drum and having wall portions adjacent each product compartment with at least one hole defined in at least some of the wall portions, the holes so positioned and arranged that a necked-down portion of a bottle supporting a cap can be inserted into each hole with the remainder of the bottle being disposed within the confines of an associated product compartment.

Claims

1. A multiple product merchandising machine, the machine dispensing a bottle of a product, the machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a cylindrical merchandise carrying drum mounted within the cabinet for rotation about its central longitudinal axis disposed vertically within the cabinet and having a plurality of annular product supporting shelves at spaced intervals along the drum, concentric with the axis of the drum, a plurality of vertical walls extending between adjacent shelves and together with the shelves defining a plurality of individual product compartments, a central column extending the height of the drum and having wall portions adjacent each product compartment with at least one hole defined in at least some of the wall portions, the at least one hole so positioned and arranged that a necked-down portion of the bottle supporting a cap can be inserted into the at least one hole with the remainder of the bottle being disposed within the confines of an associated product compartment; and

a plurality of access doors in the cabinet for allowing access to the shelves for removal of merchandise therefrom; and

a vend control system associated with the access doors for allowing the doors to be opened upon a customer establishing a proper amount of credit in the vend control system.

2. A multiple-product merchandising machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one hole is vertically positioned within an associated compartment such that the necked-down portion of the bottle inserted in the hole engages a lower portion of the hole and rests on the wall portion in a manner such that the bottle is disposed at an angle sloped downwardly toward an outer edge of the compartment.

3. A multiple-product merchandising machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one hole is so positioned and arranged that the cap of the bottle disposed in the at least one hole engages a rear side of the wall portion so as to prevent outward movement of the bottle until it is lifted by a customer to be removed from the compartment.

4. In a multiple product merchandising machine, the machine dispensing a bottle of a product, the machine having a cabinet;

a cylindrical merchandise carrying drum mounted within the cabinet for rotation about its central longitudinal axis disposed vertically within the cabinet and having a plurality of annular product supporting shelves at spaced intervals along the drum, concentric with the axis of the drum, a plurality of vertical walls extending between adjacent shelves and together with the shelves defining a plurality of individual product compartments, a central column extending the height of the drum and having wall portions adjacent each product compartment;

a plurality of access doors in the cabinet for allowing access to the shelves for removal of merchandise therefrom; and

a vend control system associated with the access doors for allowing the doors to be opened upon a customer establishing a proper amount of credit in the vend control system, wherein the improvement comprises;

at least some of the wall portions defining at least one hole, the at least one hole so positioned and arranged that a necked-down portion of the bottle supporting a cap can be inserted into the at least one hole with the remainder of the bottle being disposed within the confines of an associated product compartment.

5. In a multiple product merchandising machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the at least one hole is vertically positioned within an associated compartment such that the necked-down portion of the bottle inserted in the hole engages a lower portion of the hole and rests on the wall portion in a manner such that the bottle is disposed at an angle sloped downwardly toward an outer edge of the compartment.

6. In a multiple product merchandising machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the at least one hole is so positioned and arranged that the cap of the bottle disposed in the at least one hole engages a rear side of the wall portion so as to prevent outward movement of the bottle until it is lifted by a customer to be removed from the compartment.