US3674173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Column switching pivoted shelf merchandising machine
Assignee: Rowe International Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-22
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1991-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A column-switching, pivoted-shelf merchandising machine of the type in which respective travellers associated with columns of normally erected pivoted shelves sequentially release the shelves as they move upwardly in response to operation of their associated actuating mechanisms. We provide means for initially disabling one of the mechanisms and for enabling the other mechanism in response to actuation of a common push button or the like. This means is responsive to arrival of the one traveller at the top of its column for concomitantly disabling the one mechanism and enabling the other mechanism and responsive to the presence of both travellers at the top of the columns for disabling both mechanisms and for giving an empty signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Scarnecchia
- 👤 Frank T Scalera
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:03
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
In a merchandising machine, an assembly including a first column of releasable members for normally holding articles of merchandise to be dispensed, a first traveler associated with said column, means mounting said traveler for movement along the length of said column from an initial position to a terminal position, means responsive to movement of Said first traveler from said initial position to said terminal position for sequentially releasing the members of said first column, first means including first actuatable means adapted to be enabled for moving said first traveler along said column in response to successive actuations of said first actuatable means, a second column of releasable members for normally holding articles of merchandise to be dispensed, a second traveler associated with said second column, means mounting said second traveler for movement along the length of said second column from an initial position to a terminal position, means responsive to movement of said second traveler from its initial position to its terminal position for sequentially releasing the members of the second column, second means including second actuatable means adapted to be enabled for moving said second traveler along the second column in response to successive actuations of said second actuatable means, means for concomitantly enabling said first actuatable means and for disabling said second actuatable means and means responsive to the arrival of said first traveler in its terminal position for operating said enabling means to disable said first actuatable means and for enabling said second actuatable means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a merchandising machine, an assembly including a first column of releasable members for normally holding articles of merchandise to be dispensed, a first traveler associated with said column, means mounting said traveler for movement along the length of said column from an initial position to a terminal position, means responsive to movement of Said first traveler from said initial position to said terminal position for sequentially releasing the members of said first column, first means including first actuatable means adapted to be enabled for moving said first traveler along said column in response to successive actuations of said first actuatable means, a second column of releasable members for normally holding articles of merchandise to be dispensed, a second traveler associated with said second column, means mounting said second traveler for movement along the length of said second column from an initial position to a terminal position, means responsive to movement of said second traveler from its initial position to its terminal position for sequentially releasing the members of the second column, second means including second actuatable means adapted to be enabled for moving said second traveler along the second column in response to successive actuations of said second actuatable means, means for concomitantly enabling said first actuatable means and for disabling said second actuatable means and means responsive to the arrival of said first traveler in its terminal position for operating said enabling means to disable said first actuatable means and for enabling said second actuatable means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as in claim 1 including means responsive to the concomitant presence of said first and second travelers in their terminal positions for disabling said first and second actuatable means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as in claim 1 including means responsive to the concomitant presence of said first and second travelers in their terminal positions for permitting signalling that the supply of said articles in said columns is exhausted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An assembly as in claim 1 in which said actuatable means comprises respective first and second switches and a push button switch common to said first and second switches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
An assembly as in claim 1 in which said actuatable means comprises respective first and second switches having actuating arms, means mounting the switches respectively adjacent the terminal positions of said travelers, and in which said enabling means comprises means common to said switches for concomitantly engaging one of said actuating arms and releasing the other of said arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
An assembly as in claim 5 in which said common means comprises a toggle member carrying respective arms, means mounting said toggle member for movement from a central position at which its arms actuate the arms of said first and second switches to a first position at which one of the toggle arms actuates one of the switch arms while the other toggle arm releases the other switch arm and a second position at which the one toggle arm releases the one switch arm and the other toggle arm actuates the other switch arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly as in claim 6 in which concomitant presence of said first traveler in its terminal position and absence of said second traveler from its terminal position constrains said toggle member to its first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as in claim 6 in which concomitant presence of both of said travelers in their terminal positions constrains said toggle member to its neutral position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as in claim 6 including empty signal means adapted to be enabled and means responsive to said switches in the neutral position of said toggle member for enabling said empty signal means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a merchandising machine, an assembly including in combination, a first machine section for holding a first plurality of articles of merchandise, a second machine section for holding a second plurality of articles of merchandise, respective switches associated with said sections, each of said switches having a normal position and an actuated position, means including one of said switches in its actuated position for dispensing articles from said first section, means including the other switch in its actuated position for dispensing articles from said second section, an actuating element common to said switChes, means mounting said actuating element for movement to a first position at which said one switch is in its actuated position and said other switch is in its normal position and to a second position at which said one switch is in its normal position and said other switch is in its actuated position, means initially positioning said common actuating element in its first position, and means responsive to the dispensing of the last article in said first section for moving said common actuating element to its second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a merchandising machine, an assembly including in combination, a first machine section for holding a first plurality of articles of merchandise, a second machine section for holding a second plurality of articles of merchandise, respective switches associated with said sections, each of said switches having a normal position and an actuated position, means including one of said switches in its actuated position for dispensing articles from said first section, means including the other switch in its actuated position for dispensing articles from said second section, an actuating element common to said switChes, means mounting said actuating element for movement to a first position at which said one switch is in its actuated position and said other switch is in its normal position and to a second position at which said one switch is in its normal position and said other switch is in its actuated position, means initially positioning said common actuating element in its first position, and means responsive to the dispensing of the last article in said first section for moving said common actuating element to its second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
An assembly as in claim 10 in which said mounting means mounts said common actuating element for movement to a neutral position at which both said switches occupy their normal positions, an empty signal, means including said switches in their normal positions for energizing said empty signal, and means responsive to dispensing of the last article in said second section for moving said common element to its neutral position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assembly as in claim 11 in which said common actuating element comprises oppositely extending arms, said mounting means comprising means mounting said element for pivotal movement between limit positions corresponding to said first and second positions and a spring for releasably holding said element in said first and second positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3125244A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |