Dispensing machine having multiple, vertically movable, horizontal product carriers

Claim 1

In a dispensing machine: a plurality of horizontally disposed carriers, each having a number of side-by-side product compartments; means defining a generally horizontally extending product delivery station; a conveyor for moving said carriers along a closed path of travel extending in upward and downward directions and in succession past said delivery station; means mounting said carriers on said conveyor and defining a generally horizontally extending pivotal axis for each carrier respectively for relative movement of the conveyor and the carriers as the latter sequentially change the direction of movement thereof upon advancement of the conveyor; structure engageable with the carriers for preventing substantial tilting thereof during said change in the direction of movement; said conveyor including a pair of movable, horizontally spaced, flexible, endless elements each having a pair of upright stretches corresponding to the upward and downward directions of said path of travel, and a plurality of pairs of support arms attached to respective elements and extending outwardly therefrom; said mounting means securing each of said carriers to a corresponding pair of said arms in spanning relationship thereto and for movement of each carrier along the arms inwardly and outwardly with respect to said elements transversely of its pivotal axis; a pair of guides associated with each of said elements respectively and disposed adjacent upper and lower limits of said path of travel for guiding each carrier as it changes its direction of movement; a pair of followers coupled with each of said carriers respectively and engaging corresponding guides at said upper or lower limits to cause the respective carrier to shift transversely of its pivotal axis and follow the guides during changing of its direction of movement; said structure including a pair of shiftable stabilizer members disposed adjacent said upper and lower limits of said path of travel respectively, and yieldable means biasing each of said members toward a position in intercepting relationship to a moving carrier approaching the respective limit; each of said members shifting away from an approaching carrier upon engagement thereby and against the action of said yieldable means to force the engaging carrier to maintain a substantially horizontal attitude as it changes its direction of movement and, at said lower limit, to hold the followers of the enGaging carrier against the lower guides.