Patent US3027831A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3767084A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3767084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Commodity vendor apparatus
Assignee: CARTRETTE
•
Filing: 1973-02-27
•
Granted: 1973-10-23
•
Expires: 1993-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An anti-theft commodity vendor apparatus for dispensing items from a vending machine which is capable of dispensing soft as well as hard commodity items without damage or misfunction. The vendor apparatus, which converts reciprocating motion to intermittent uni-directional motion, comprises, in combination: a tray; first and second track members disposed in the tray bottom and adapted to engage each other when the first member moves a predetermined distance forward or backward; a movable driving member in the tray to engage commodity items placed in the tray; first means for selectively engaging the driving member and the first track member; and second means for engaging the driving member and the second track member. The selective engaging means engages the driving member and the first track member only when the first track member moves forward, and the second engaging means engages the driving member and the second track member when the second track member moves backward. By moving the track members back and forth, with the second member moving a smaller distance than the first member, the driving member moves forward to expel items from the tray. Preferably, the selective engaging means comprises a fiber mat containing oriented fibers, slanted in one linear direction.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bayha
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:50
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/38; G07F11/04; G07F11/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
468 words
An apparatus for dispensing items from a vending machine having an actuating mechanism which comprises, in unitary combination: a. a tray having a bottom portion and side portions adapted to receive and store items for vending; b. said tray is elongated along a longitudinal axis parallel to said side portions, one end of which defines a front portion and the other end defines a back portion; c. first and second track members disposed in the bottom of the tray; d. a movable driving member disposed in said tray adapted to engage items placed in the tray; e. said track members and driving member are movable parallel to said longitudinal axis in a first, forward direction and a second, backward direction; f. said first track member is adapted to engage the second track member when the first member moves in either a forward or backward direction; g. said first track member engages the second track member when the first track moves either forward or backward only after the first track moves a first predetermined distance in either direction; h. first means for selectively engaging the driving member and the first track members disposed in association with said driving and track members; i. second means for engaging the driving member and the second track member disposed in association with said driving and track members; j. said first selective engaging means is adapted to selectively engage the driving member and the first track member only when the first track member moves in a forward direction, and said second engaging means is adapted to engage the driving member and the second track member when the second track member moves in a backward direction, so that when the first track and driving member are moved forward the first predetermined distance, the second track member is cooperatively engaged with the first track member and moves forward, so that after the first track member is moved backward the first predetermined distance, the second track is cooperatively engaged with the first track member and the first and second track members move backward a second predetermined distance and so that when said second track member is moved backward the second predetermined distance, the second track member and driving member are engaged and moved backward, said driving member moving backward a third predetermined distance, with said third distance being less than the second predetermined distance and substantially equal to the first predetermined distance; and k. means for operatively connecting said vending machine actuating mechanism to said first track member to impart motion to said first track member in response to motion of said actuating mechanism, whereby the driving member moves forward in response to back and forth motion of the first track member to selectively dispense items from said tray in response to movement of said actuating mechanism.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
468 words
An apparatus for dispensing items from a vending machine having an actuating mechanism which comprises, in unitary combination: a. a tray having a bottom portion and side portions adapted to receive and store items for vending; b. said tray is elongated along a longitudinal axis parallel to said side portions, one end of which defines a front portion and the other end defines a back portion; c. first and second track members disposed in the bottom of the tray; d. a movable driving member disposed in said tray adapted to engage items placed in the tray; e. said track members and driving member are movable parallel to said longitudinal axis in a first, forward direction and a second, backward direction; f. said first track member is adapted to engage the second track member when the first member moves in either a forward or backward direction; g. said first track member engages the second track member when the first track moves either forward or backward only after the first track moves a first predetermined distance in either direction; h. first means for selectively engaging the driving member and the first track members disposed in association with said driving and track members; i. second means for engaging the driving member and the second track member disposed in association with said driving and track members; j. said first selective engaging means is adapted to selectively engage the driving member and the first track member only when the first track member moves in a forward direction, and said second engaging means is adapted to engage the driving member and the second track member when the second track member moves in a backward direction, so that when the first track and driving member are moved forward the first predetermined distance, the second track member is cooperatively engaged with the first track member and moves forward, so that after the first track member is moved backward the first predetermined distance, the second track is cooperatively engaged with the first track member and the first and second track members move backward a second predetermined distance and so that when said second track member is moved backward the second predetermined distance, the second track member and driving member are engaged and moved backward, said driving member moving backward a third predetermined distance, with said third distance being less than the second predetermined distance and substantially equal to the first predetermined distance; and k. means for operatively connecting said vending machine actuating mechanism to said first track member to impart motion to said first track member in response to motion of said actuating mechanism, whereby the driving member moves forward in response to back and forth motion of the first track member to selectively dispense items from said tray in response to movement of said actuating mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
8 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 which includes:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said front end closure is generally U-shaped in horizontal cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tray is generally U-shaped in vertical cross section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 which includes means for frictionally retaining goods within the tray disposed on the interior of the tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: r. said first track member contains an opening therein disposed near the front end of the track member, and s. a lock member is disposed on said driving member and is adapted to move in a generally vertical direction and engage the opening in the first track member; whereby the first track member is locked to the driving member when the driving member reaches the front end of the tray thereby preventing further operation of the apparatus when all of the items are dispensed from the tray.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 which includes: t. a horizontally extending side rail having a bottom face and a top face disposed on the side porition of the tray, parallel to and spaced above the bottom portion of the tray, and u. said side rail is adapted to carry goods placed in the tray for vending on the top portion of the rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said driving member has a bottom portion Containing said selective engaging means, said bottom portion is positioned between the bottom face of the side rail and the selective engaging means associated with the first track member; and wherein means for biasing the bottom portion of the driving member against said track members is disposed between said driving member and said rail member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said selective engaging means comprises oriented fiber mats associated with said track members and associated with said driving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the fibers in the mat associated with the first track member are slanted forward towards the front of the tray, and said fibers in the mat associated with the driving member are slanted backward towards the back of the tray; and wherein the mats are arranged so that they can selectively engage each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said selective engaging means comprises an oriented fiber mat member and a mesh screen member which are arranged so that the fiber mat selectively engages the mesh screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first predetermined distance is substantially equal to the thickness of an item to be dispensed from the tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 which includes anti-theft means comprising an elongated cover having a top detachably connected to the tray, and said cover is adapted to be locked to said tray.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said top of the cover contains a narrow slot running along the longitudinal axis of the top from one end to the other, whereby said tray contents can be viewed for inventory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second means for engaging the driving member and the second track member is adapted to selectively engage the driving member when the second track member moves forward and frictionally engage the driving member when the second track member moves backward.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second means for engaging the driving member and the second track member is adapted to selectively engage the driving member only when the second track member moves backward.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
336 words
An apparatus for dispensing items from a vending machine having an actuating mechanism which comprises, in unitary combination: a. a tray having a bottom portion and side portions adapted to receive and store items for vending; b. said tray is elongated along a longitudinal axis parallel to said side portions, one end of which defines a front portion and the other end defines a back portion; c. first and second track members disposed in the bottom of the tray; d. a movable driving member disposed in said tray adapted to engage items placed in the tray; e. said track members and driving member are movable parallel to said longitudinal axis in a first, forward direction and a second, backward direction; f. said first track member is adapted to engage the second track member when the first member moves in either a forward or backward direction; g. said first track member engages the second track member when the first track moves either forward or backward only after the first track moves a first predetermined distance in either direction; h. first means for selectively engaging the driving member and the first track members disposed in association with said driving and track members; i. said first selective engaging means is adapted to selectively engage the driving member and the first track member only when the first track member moves in a forward direction so that when the first track and driving member are moved forward the first predetermined distance, the second track member is cooperatively engaged with the first track member and moves forward together with the first track member and the driving member; and j. means for operatively connecting said vending machine actuating mechanism to said first track member to impart motion to said first track member in response to motion of said actuating mechanism, whereby the driving member moves forward in response to back and forth motion of the first track member to selectively dispense items from said tray in response to movement of said actuating mechanism.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
336 words
An apparatus for dispensing items from a vending machine having an actuating mechanism which comprises, in unitary combination: a. a tray having a bottom portion and side portions adapted to receive and store items for vending; b. said tray is elongated along a longitudinal axis parallel to said side portions, one end of which defines a front portion and the other end defines a back portion; c. first and second track members disposed in the bottom of the tray; d. a movable driving member disposed in said tray adapted to engage items placed in the tray; e. said track members and driving member are movable parallel to said longitudinal axis in a first, forward direction and a second, backward direction; f. said first track member is adapted to engage the second track member when the first member moves in either a forward or backward direction; g. said first track member engages the second track member when the first track moves either forward or backward only after the first track moves a first predetermined distance in either direction; h. first means for selectively engaging the driving member and the first track members disposed in association with said driving and track members; i. said first selective engaging means is adapted to selectively engage the driving member and the first track member only when the first track member moves in a forward direction so that when the first track and driving member are moved forward the first predetermined distance, the second track member is cooperatively engaged with the first track member and moves forward together with the first track member and the driving member; and j. means for operatively connecting said vending machine actuating mechanism to said first track member to impart motion to said first track member in response to motion of said actuating mechanism, whereby the driving member moves forward in response to back and forth motion of the first track member to selectively dispense items from said tray in response to movement of said actuating mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
165 words
An apparatus as in claim 17 which includes: k. a front end closure member having a front portion disposed across the front porition of the tray and a rearwardly extending leg portion; l. said front end member is movable from a first open position for discharge of goods to a second closed position for retention of goods in said tray; m. means for pivotally connecting a leg portion of said front end closure to said second track member; n. said leg and second track member pivotally cooperating to move the end closure forward to said first, open position when said second track member moves backward; o. said open position providing an opening disposed between said end closure and said tray bottom for discharge of items, and, p. said pivotal connecting means permitting said second track member to pivotally cooperate with said leg portion to move said closure backward to said second, closed position for the retention of items when the second track member moves forward.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
355 words
An improved apparatus for selectively advancing a member in one direction along a predetermined path as a result of reciprocatory motion of another member along the path, comprising: a. a track member including an elongated body which defines a predetermined path having a first end and a second end; b. first member supported by the track member for relative movement therebetween and for reciprocatory, back and forth movement along the path, the first member having an elongated body which has a mat receiving surface thereon, with the longitudinal axis of the body of the first member being substantially parallel to the path; c. first fiber mat means mounted on the mat receiving surface of the body of the first member, the first fiber mat means containing fibers which are selectively oriented or slanted in a direction toward the second end of the path; d. second member supported by the track member for relative movement therebetween and having a mat receiving surface thereon, with the mat receiving surface of the second member being disposed adjacent to the mat receiving surface of the first member; e. second fiber mat means mounted on the mat receiving surface of the second member, the second fiber mat means containing fibers which are selectively oriented or slanted in a direction toward the first end of the path; f. means for maintaining the fibers of the first fiber mat means and the fibers of the second fiber mat means in contact with each other; and g. means for causing selective, reciprocatory movement of the first member back and forth along the path, in a direction parallel to the path, whereby when the first member moves toward the second end of the path, the slanted fibers of the first and second fiber mat means engage and the second member moves with the first member so as to be moved along the path in a direction from the first end of the path to the second end of the path and whereby when the first member moves toward the first end of the path, the second member remains stationary relative to the first member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
355 words
An improved apparatus for selectively advancing a member in one direction along a predetermined path as a result of reciprocatory motion of another member along the path, comprising: a. a track member including an elongated body which defines a predetermined path having a first end and a second end; b. first member supported by the track member for relative movement therebetween and for reciprocatory, back and forth movement along the path, the first member having an elongated body which has a mat receiving surface thereon, with the longitudinal axis of the body of the first member being substantially parallel to the path; c. first fiber mat means mounted on the mat receiving surface of the body of the first member, the first fiber mat means containing fibers which are selectively oriented or slanted in a direction toward the second end of the path; d. second member supported by the track member for relative movement therebetween and having a mat receiving surface thereon, with the mat receiving surface of the second member being disposed adjacent to the mat receiving surface of the first member; e. second fiber mat means mounted on the mat receiving surface of the second member, the second fiber mat means containing fibers which are selectively oriented or slanted in a direction toward the first end of the path; f. means for maintaining the fibers of the first fiber mat means and the fibers of the second fiber mat means in contact with each other; and g. means for causing selective, reciprocatory movement of the first member back and forth along the path, in a direction parallel to the path, whereby when the first member moves toward the second end of the path, the slanted fibers of the first and second fiber mat means engage and the second member moves with the first member so as to be moved along the path in a direction from the first end of the path to the second end of the path and whereby when the first member moves toward the first end of the path, the second member remains stationary relative to the first member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 19 wherein the distance that the first member can be moved in either direction along the path at any one time can be varied.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 19 wherein the path is horizontally disposed; and wherein the second member is disposed above the first member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 19 wherein the predetermined path is straight.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 19 wherein the elongated body of the first member extends substantially from the first end of the path to the second end of the path; and wherein the first fiber mat means extends between the ends of the bodY of the first means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 19 wherein the second member is biased toward the first member so that the second fiber mat means is maintained in contact with the first fiber mat means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 20 wherein the elongated body of the first member extends substantially from the first end of the path to the second end of the path; and wherein the first fiber mat means extends between the ends of the body of the first means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 25 wherein the predetermined path is straight; wherein the second member is biased toward the first member so that the second fiber mat means is maintained in contact with the first fiber mat means;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved apparatus described in claim 26 wherein the path is horizontally disposed; and wherein the second member is disposed above the first member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3043420A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |