Drive system for a vending machine dispensing assembly
First Claim
1. A vending machine dispensing system configured to selectively dispense beverage containers, the vending machine dispensing system comprising:
- at least one shelf configured to support a plurality of beverage containers in each of a plurality of queues;
dividers separating the queues;
first and second release mechanisms mounted at an end of each queue on opposite sides of the beverage containers within the respective queue, each of the first and second release mechanisms including a drive member; and
a drive system mounted to the shelf, the drive system including a drive mechanism operatively connected to each of the first and second release mechanisms through the drive member wherein, upon selection of a queue, the drive mechanism is activated to shift the first and second release mechanisms from a retention position to a release position to release a foremost beverage container within the queue.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vending machine includes first and second release mechanisms mounted to front portions of adjacent shelf dividers extending along a product shelf and establishing a product queue. A product transport system is arranged in the cabinet to carry a selected product container from the product queue towards a delivery chamber. A drive mechanism, operatively connected to each of the first and second release mechanisms, is mounted to an underside of the product shelf to simultaneously shift the first and second release mechanisms in order to release a selected product to the product transport system.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vending machine dispensing system configured to selectively dispense beverage containers, the vending machine dispensing system comprising:
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at least one shelf configured to support a plurality of beverage containers in each of a plurality of queues; dividers separating the queues; first and second release mechanisms mounted at an end of each queue on opposite sides of the beverage containers within the respective queue, each of the first and second release mechanisms including a drive member; and a drive system mounted to the shelf, the drive system including a drive mechanism operatively connected to each of the first and second release mechanisms through the drive member wherein, upon selection of a queue, the drive mechanism is activated to shift the first and second release mechanisms from a retention position to a release position to release a foremost beverage container within the queue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of selectively dispensing beverage containers from a vending machine dispensing system, comprising:
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retaining a plurality of beverage containers supported on at least one shelf configured to support the plurality of beverage containers in each of a plurality of product queues using first and second release mechanisms mounted at an end of each queue on opposite sides of the beverage containers within the respective queue, each of the first and second release mechanisms including a drive member; and activating a drive system mounted to the shelf at the end of a selected one of the queues, the drive system including a drive mechanisms operatively connected to each of first and second release mechanisms through the drive member that, when activated, shifts the first and second release mechanisms from a retention position to a release position to release a foremost beverage container within the selected queue. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification