US4456147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic vending machine
Assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1981-11-20
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Granted: 1984-06-26
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Expires: 2001-11-20
Abstract
Abstract By displaceably, rather than fixedly, supporting selected track segments in the gravity-fed storage chamber of an automatic vending machine, the kinetic energy developed in the stored goods as they fall in the storage chamber is dissipated by the displaceable track segments in a damping fashion and the goods are not subject to shock and damage.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Tominaga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:58
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A machine for automatically dispensing, goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said horizontally-spaced track segments being directly opposed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A machine for automatically dispensing, goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said horizontally-spaced track segments being directly opposed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said machine including, in addition, stop means supported proximate to the lower portion of each of said selected ones of said track segments for limiting the displacement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said machine including, in addition, stop means supported proximate to the lower portion of each of said selected ones of said track segments for limiting the displacement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said horizontally-spaced track segments being partially opposed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said horizontally-spaced track segments being partially opposed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported above and proximate to their respective centers of gravity and each having a mass approximating that of one item of said goods, whereby selected ones of said arcuate track segments hang into the normal passage for said goods and dissipate the kinetic energy of each unit of said goods as it moves through such passage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet; said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported above and proximate to their respective centers of gravity and each having a mass approximating that of one item of said goods, whereby selected ones of said arcuate track segments hang into the normal passage for said goods and dissipate the kinetic energy of each unit of said goods as it moves through such passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes, in addition, a weight attached to each of said selected ones of said track segments to increase the effective mass of each such track segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet: said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said machine including, in addition, spring means coupled to said selected ones of said track segments for biasing said selected ones of said track segments towards said opposed arcuate track segments and into the path of said goods; the mass of each of said selected ones of said track means in combination with the force of said biasing spring approximating the force exerted by units of said goods passing through said storage chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A machine for automatically dispensing goods, including: a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber for said goods, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet: said serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber being formed by a series of vertically disposed, individually supported, horizontally-spaced and opposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side-plates; selected ones of said track segments being pivotally supported at their upper ends for rotation when engaged by said goods; said machine including, in addition, spring means coupled to said selected ones of said track segments for biasing said selected ones of said track segments towards said opposed arcuate track segments and into the path of said goods; the mass of each of said selected ones of said track means in combination with the force of said biasing spring approximating the force exerted by units of said goods passing through said storage chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-12-26 | 1988-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-12-26 | 1992-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-26 | 1995-12-26 | 1996-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |