Vending machine

Claim 2

In a vending machine, a cabinet having an opening, a plurality of product carriers, endless conveyor means movable about a closed loop including a pair of spaced, substantially vertical runs, means connecting said carriers to Said conveyor means for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, whereby said carriers may be sequentially moved by said conveyor means to a discharge position in front of said cabinet opening, said carriers being so spaced and so proportioned that successive carriers are vertically juxtaposed and substantially in contact with each other to form a substantially uninterrupted column on the vertical runs of said conveyor means and are separated as they are moved about the ends of the conveyor loop, carrier leveling means for maintaining said carriers in substantially horizontal orientation as they are moved about one end of the conveyor loop from one vertical run to the other, a transparent viewing window mounted in registration with said cabinet opening for vertical sliding movement between an open and a closed position, said cabinet opening and said window being of a size to simultaneously expose to view the interiors of a plurality of product carriers on said one vertical run of said conveyor, and stop means for limiting the vertical movement of said window, whereby when said window is open the opening will give access to the interior of only that carrier which is in the discharge position.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein carrier leveling means is provided at both the top and bottom ends of the conveyor loop, whereby said carriers will be maintained in substantially horizontal orientation as they are moved about the two ends of the conveyor loop.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes a plurality of pairs of parallel carrier-supporting arms extending outwardly substantially normal to the direction of conveyor travel, each of said carriers being carried by trunnion means between said arms.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 1 wherein said carriers each have a plurality of horizontal article supports, whereby the interior of each carrier is divided into a plurality of vertically adjacent compartments.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 1 wherein said carriers each have at least one vertical partition dividing the interior of said carriers into a plurality of laterally adjacent compartments.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes at least two vertically aligned sprockets respectively defining the top and bottom ends of the conveyor loop, said sprockets being rotatable about parallel horizontal axes, and endless chain trained about said sprockets, a drive wheel rotatable about a general horizontal axis, said wheel having a plurality of rollers disposed in uniform radial array and mounted with their axes oriented generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel, said rollers being in meshing engagement with one of said sprockets, and power means for rotating said drive wheel whereby said one sprocket may be rotated to drive said endless chain.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 6 wherein there are provided a pair of spaced parallel wheels with said rollers disposed therebetween.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 1 wherein the product carriers are arranged on said conveyor means to provide a plurality of laterally adjacent compartments which may be sequentially moved by said conveyor means to a discharge position, and there are a plurality of transparent viewing windows, one for each of said compartments.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 8 wherein locking means is provided for each of said windows, and means is provided for unlocking a selected one of said windows to give access to the carrier which is in the discharge position on the conveyor associated with that window.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 8 wherein said stop means is adjustable, whereby the maximum opening for each window may be regulated in accordance with the spacing between the product carrying portions of the carriers on the conveyor associated with that window.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 1 wherein there is provided at least one pair of hingedly interconnected arms, one of said arms being pivotally connected to a fixed pivot on said cabinet above the opening and the Other of said arms being pivotally connected to a fixed pivot on said window, said arms being angularly disposed with respect to each other in all positions of said window movement, and resilient means urging said arms in a direction which will increase with the angle between said arms, whereby said window is urged toward its closed position.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 1 wherein there are two pair of hingedly interconnected arms, one arm of each pair being pivotally connected to said cabinet above the opening and the other arm of each pair being pivotally connected to said window, the arms of each pair being angularly disposed with respect to each other in all positions of said window movement, with the hinged angles of the pairs being opposite and equal, and resilient means urging said hinge connections toward each other, whereby said window is urged toward its closed position.

Claim 14

The structure of claim 12 wherein said arms are of equal length, and said two pairs of hingedly interconnected arms are pivotally connected to each other at the top and bottom to form a rhombic frame.

Claim 15

The structure of claim 13 wherein a spring extends between said hinge connections to resiliently resist their movement away from each other during movement of said window toward its open position.

Claim 16

In a vending machine, a cabinet having an opening, a plurality of product carriers, means for moving said carriers sequentially into a position of alignment with said opening for discharge, a panel for said opening, said panel being mounted for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position giving access to the interior of the carrier which is in position for discharge, and at least one pair of hingedly interconnected arms, one of said arms being pivotally connected to a fixed pivot point on said cabinet and the other of said arms being pivotally connected to a fixed pivot point on said panel, said arms being angularly disposed with respect to each other in all positions of said window movement, and resilient means urging said arms in a direction which will increase the angle between said arms, whereby said panel is urged toward its closed position.

Claim 17

In a vending machine, a cabinet having an opening, a plurality of product carriers, means for moving said carriers sequentially into a position of alignment with said opening for discharge, a panel for said opening, said panel being mounted for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position giving access to the interior of the carrier which is in position for discharge, and at least one pair of hingedly interconnected arms, one of said arms being pivotally connected to a fixed pivot point on said cabinet and the other of said arms being pivotally connected to a fixed pivot point on said panel, said arms being angularly disposed with respect to each other in all positions of said window movement, and resilient means urging said arms in a direction which will increase the angle between said arms, whereby said panel is urged toward its closed position.

Claim 18

The structure of claim 15 wherein there is a second pair of hingedly interconnected angularly-disposed arms pivotally connected to said cabinet and said panel, the hinge angles of said pairs of arms being equal and opposite in all positions of panel movement.

Claim 19

In a vending machine, a plurality of product carriers, endless conveyor means movable about a closed loop including a pair of spaced, substantially vertical runs, means connecting said carriers to said conveyor means for pivotal movement about horizontal axes which are fixed with respect to said conveyor means, whereby said carriers may be sequentially moved by said conveyor means to a discharge position, said carriers being so spaced and so proportioned that successive carriers are vertically juxtaposed and substantially in contact with each other to form a substantially uninterrupted column on the vertical runs of said conveyor means and are separated as they are moved about the ends of the conveyor loop, carrier leveling means for maintaining said carriers in substantially horizontal orientation as they are moved about one end of the conveyor loop from one vertical run to the other; said carrier leveling means comprising a follower member mounted for reciprocating movement in a generally vertical direction and having a transverse element positioned for engagement by said carriers as they are moved about the one end of the conveyor loop, and means for maintaining the carrier-engaging portion of said follower member transverse element in a substantially horizontal orientation throughout the movement of said follower member.

Claim 20

In a vending machine, a plurality of product carriers, endless conveyor means movable about a closed loop including a pair of spaced, substantially vertical runs, means connecting said carriers to said conveyor means for pivotal movement about horizontal axes which are fixed with respect to said conveyor means, whereby said carriers may be sequentially moved by said conveyor means to a discharge position, said carriers being so spaced and so proportioned that successive carriers are vertically juxtaposed and substantially in contact with each other to form a substantially uninterrupted column on the vertical runs of said conveyor means and are separated as they are moved about the ends of the conveyor loop, carrier leveling means for maintaining said carriers in substantially horizontal orientation as they are moved about one end of the conveyor loop from one vertical run to the other; said carrier leveling means comprising a follower member mounted for reciprocating movement in a generally vertical direction and having a transverse element positioned for engagement by said carriers as they are moved about the one end of the conveyor loop, and means for maintaining the carrier-engaging portion of said follower member transverse element in a substantially horizontal orientation throughout the movement of said follower member.

Claim 21

The structure of claim 19 wherein there is provided means synchronized with said conveyor means for forcibly moving said follower member and maintaining the carrier-engaging portion of said follower member normally in vertically-spaceD relationship with respect to each carrier as that carrier is moved about the end of the conveyor loop, whereby a carrier will only engage said follower member portion if that carrier swings from its horizontal orientation as it is being moved about the end of the conveyor loop.

Claim 22

In a vending machine, a cabinet having an opening, a plurality of product carriers, means for moving said carriers sequentially into a position of alignment with said opening for discharge, and a transparent window for said opening, said window being mounted for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position giving access to the interior of the carrier which is in position for discharge, said cabinet opening and said window being of a size sufficient to simultaneously expose to view the interiors of several of said carriers including the carrier in said position for discharge.

Claim 23

In a vending machine, a cabinet having an opening, a plurality of product carriers, means for moving said carriers sequentially into a position of alignment with said opening for discharge, and a transparent window for said opening, said window being mounted for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position giving access to the interior of the carrier which is in position for discharge, said cabinet opening and said window being of a size sufficient to simultaneously expose to view the interiors of several of said carriers including the carrier in said position for discharge.

Claim 24

The structure of claim 1 wherein said carrier leveling means includes a follower having a transverse element positioned for engagement by said carriers as they are moved about the one end of the conveyor loop, said follower member being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis which is substantially horizontal and normal to the axes of said means connecting said carriers to said conveyor means.

Claim 25

The structure of claim 19 wherein said carriers are vertically juxtaposed and substantially in contact with each other to form a substantially uninterrupted column from the time they are moved into view through said transparent window to after they have been positioned in alignment with said opening for discharge.

Claim 26

In a vending machine, a plurality of product carriers, endless conveyor means movable about a closed loop including a pair of spaced, substantially vertical runs, means connecting said carriers to said conveyor means for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, whereby said carriers may be sequentially moved by said conveyor means to a discharge position, carrier leveling means for maintaining said carriers in substantially horizontal orientation as they are moved about one end of the conveyor loop from one vertical run to the other; said carrier leveling means comprising a follower member mounted for reciprocating movement in a generally vertical direction and having a transverse element positioned for engagement by said carriers as they are moved about the one end of the conveyor loop, means for maintaining the carrier-engaging portion of said follower member transverse element in a substantially horizontal orientation throughout the movement of said follower member, and means synchronized with said conveyor means for forcibly moving said follower member and maintaining the carrier-engaging portion of said follower member normally in vertically-spaced relationship with respect to each carrier as that carrier is moved about the end of the conveyor loop, whereby a carrier will only engage said follower member portion if that carrier swings from its horizontal orientation as it is being moved about the end of the conveyor loop.

Claim 27

In a vending machine, a plurality of product carriers, endless conveyor means movable about a closed loop including a pair of spaced, substantially vertical runs, means connecting said carriers to said conveyor means for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, whereby said carriers may be sequentially moved by said conveyor means to a discharge position, carrier leveling means for maintaining said carriers in substantially horizontal orientation as they are moved about one end of the conveyor loop from one vertical run to the other; said carrier leveling means comprising a follower member mounted for reciprocating movement in a generally vertical direction and having a transverse element positioned for engagement by said carriers as they are moved about the one end of the conveyor loop, means for maintaining the carrier-engaging portion of said follower member transverse element in a substantially horizontal orientation throughout the movement of said follower member, and means synchronized with said conveyor means for forcibly moving said follower member and maintaining the carrier-engaging portion of said follower member normally in vertically-spaced relationship with respect to each carrier as that carrier is moved about the end of the conveyor loop, whereby a carrier will only engage said follower member portion if that carrier swings from its horizontal orientation as it is being moved about the end of the conveyor loop.

Claim 28

The structure of claim 22 wherein said means for forcibly moving said follower member includes an actuating element having a pair of oppositely-disposed arms, means for rotating said element about a transverse horizontal axis in synchronization with said conveyor means, said arms being sequentially movable into engagement with said follower member, to urge said follower member away from the rotational axis of said element, and resilient means urging said follower member toward the rotational axis of said element.

Claim 29

The structure of claim 23 wherein said follower has an elongated shank portion mounted for vertical sliding movement laterally adjacent said conveyor means and the path of carrier movement, and a horizontally-disposed carrier engaging plate extending inwardly into the path of movement of said carriers about the end of the conveyor loop.

Claim 30

The structure of claim 23 wherein said follower is provided with a second horizontal portion pOsitioned for engagement by the arms of said actuating element.

Claim 31

The structure of claim 25 wherein each of said actuating element arms carries a roller which is adapted to engage said follower member second horizontal portion.

Claim 32

The structure of claim 25 wherein said conveyor means includes a member rotatable about a horizontal axis and defining one end of said conveyor loop, said actuating element being affixed to and rotatable with said member.

Claim 33

The structure of claim 23 wherein said means for forcibly moving said follower member includes gear means operatively connected to said follower and driven in synchronization with said conveyor means.

Claim 34

The structure of claim 23 wherein said means for forcibly moving said follower member includes an operating member rotatable about a horizontal axis, an arm having one end pivotally connected to said follower member and the other end pivotally connected to said rotatable operating member, and means rotating said operating member in synchronization with the movement of said carriers about the end of the conveyor loop.

Claim 35

The structure of claim 29 wherein said rotatable member includes an eccentric gear and said means for rotating said rotatable member includes an elliptical gear in meshing engagement with said eccentric gear.

Claim 36

The structure of claim 30 wherein said conveyor means includes a rotatable guide member affixed to a horizontal shaft rotatable and defining one end of said conveyor loop, said elliptical gear being affixed to said shaft and rotatable with said guide member.

Claim 37

The structure of claim 30 wherein said conveyor means includes a pair of coaxially aligned rotatable sprockets, a pair of endless chains trained about said sprockets to define one end of said conveyor loop, said sprockets and said elliptical gear being keyed to a single shaft, whereby said elliptical gear will rotate with said sprockets in synchronization with said conveyor chains.