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Dispenser tray for a vending machine

  • US 7,686,185 B2
  • Filed: 06/02/2006
  • Issued: 03/30/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
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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