Patent US3566732A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3566732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vending machine
Assignee: General Mills Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-23
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Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1989-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A vending machine using a rotary conveyor to move a strip of individual items from a storage area in the machine to a cutter which severs individual items from the strip as a purchaser purchases the items and operates the vending machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Hasten
- 👤 Lee S Jones
- 👤 Floyd Lobash
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:25
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F1/00; A47F1/04; G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/68; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/444; Y10T83/4443; Y10T83/4448; Y10T83/4496; Y10T83/4498; Y10T83/4607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A vending machine which comprises a housing having a storage area and a product discharge bin, a rotary conveyor means mounted in said housing and mounted adjacent the discharge bin, a continuous strip of product in the storage area of said housing having one end engaging said conveyor means, said strip of product being composed of individual items of product equally spaced along the length of the strip, said conveyor means being in the form of a wheel having pockets equally spaced along the periphery and designed to accept said individual items of product, a cutting means mounted in said frame adjacent to the periphery of said conveyor means and externally thereof, for cutting said product into pieces of predetermined length, said cutting means including a knife mounted on a cam-operated arm, actuating means mounted on said conveyor means for actuating said cutting means, said actuating means including a cam mounted on said rotary conveyor, control means connected to said conveyor means for restricting movement of said conveyor means, means connected to said control means for disengaging said control means from said conveyor means, and means for rotating said conveyor means upon disengagement of said control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A vending machine which comprises a housing having a storage area and a product discharge bin, a rotary conveyor means mounted in said housing and mounted adjacent the discharge bin, a continuous strip of product in the storage area of said housing having one end engaging said conveyor means, said strip of product being composed of individual items of product equally spaced along the length of the strip, said conveyor means being in the form of a wheel having pockets equally spaced along the periphery and designed to accept said individual items of product, a cutting means mounted in said frame adjacent to the periphery of said conveyor means and externally thereof, for cutting said product into pieces of predetermined length, said cutting means including a knife mounted on a cam-operated arm, actuating means mounted on said conveyor means for actuating said cutting means, said actuating means including a cam mounted on said rotary conveyor, control means connected to said conveyor means for restricting movement of said conveyor means, means connected to said control means for disengaging said control means from said conveyor means, and means for rotating said conveyor means upon disengagement of said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vending machine in accordance with claim 4 which further includes a shield mounted adjacent to the periphery of said conveyor means and extends along a portion of the periphery to capture said individual items of product in the pockets of said conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vending machine in accordance with claim 1 in which said knife blade is serrated, and it is pivotable about an axis stationary with respect to the rotatable conveyor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A vending machine in accordance with claim 1 which further includes at least one peripheral groove formed in the rotary conveyor, and at least on stripping finger mounted on said housing adjacent the discharge bin, a portion of said finger being positioned within said groove and cooperating with said rotary conveyor to insure discharge of the product from said conveyor into the discharge bin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |