Dispenser tray for a vending machine
First Claim
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1. A tray for a product vending machine comprising:
- a flat base upon which product to be vended may be placed;
a plurality of walls attached to the base which define rows into which product is organized;
a channel within the flat base for housing a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft threadingly attached to a product drive member;
a mating surface associated with the threaded shaft such that when the mating surface is rotated, the product drive member is moved within the row wherein the mating surface is defined by a drive shaft comprising a gear that meshes with a gear of the threaded shaft to rotate the threaded shaft; and
wherein the product drive member is adapted to be biased toward one end of the row by a linear coil spring that wraps around the drive shaft and around a spring shaft in an opposite direction as the drive shaft.
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Abstract
A tray for a product vending machine including a flat base upon which product to be vended may be placed. A plurality of walls are attached to the base which define rows into which product is organized. A channel within the flat base houses a threaded shaft. The threaded shaft threadingly attaches to a product drive member.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A tray for a product vending machine comprising:
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a flat base upon which product to be vended may be placed; a plurality of walls attached to the base which define rows into which product is organized; a channel within the flat base for housing a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft threadingly attached to a product drive member; a mating surface associated with the threaded shaft such that when the mating surface is rotated, the product drive member is moved within the row wherein the mating surface is defined by a drive shaft comprising a gear that meshes with a gear of the threaded shaft to rotate the threaded shaft; and wherein the product drive member is adapted to be biased toward one end of the row by a linear coil spring that wraps around the drive shaft and around a spring shaft in an opposite direction as the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A tray for a product vending machine comprising:
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a flat base upon which product to be vended may be placed; a plurality of walls attached to the base which define rows into which product is organized; and a channel within the flat base for housing a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft threadingly attached to a product drive member; a pair of resilient arms located at an end of each row and biased in a position that substantially blocks product from exiting the row, the resilient arms being resiliently deflectable to allow product to pass between the arms when product is forced past the arms; a mating surface associated with the threaded shaft such that when the mating surface is rotated, the product drive member is moved within the row wherein the mating surface is defined by a drive shaft comprising a gear that meshes with a gear of the threaded shaft to rotate the threaded shaft; and wherein the product drive member is adapted to be biased toward one end of the row by a linear coil spring that wraps around the drive shaft and around a spring shaft in a opposite direction as the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification