US4676074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigeration system for a counter-top or wall-mounted vending machine
Assignee: Coca-Cola Co
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Filing: 1985-08-13
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Granted: 1987-06-30
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Expires: 2005-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A coin-operated vending machine for bottles or cans of a moderate capacity, including a plurality of side-by-side storage chutes for feeding bottles or cans to openings in the front wall of the vending machine and a cradle in each of the openings forming a row of adjacent cradles for receiving the bottles or cans from the chutes. A refrigeration system directs chilled air by convection toward the next-to-be-vended cans in each of the cradles. The chilled air is directed by an air foil toward the cradles and the cradles have stand-off ribs therein to permit the free flow of chilled air under and around the next-to-be-vended cans.
Inventors
- 👤 Annis R. Morgan, Jr.
- 👤 Bernd Mehlan
- 👤 Josef Gress
- 👤 Hugh S. Williford
- 👤 Gunter Baumgartner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:19
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F9/00; G07F5/00; G07F5/26; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/16; G07F11/24; G07F11/28; G07F11/30; G07F9/10; G07F9/105; F; F25; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/04; F25D21/00; F25D21/14; F25D25/00; F25D31/00; F25D31/006; F25D31/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A convection refrigeration system for a cylindrical product vending machine comprising: a thermally-insulated cooling compartment for housing the cylindrical products on side-by-side vend chutes; evaporator means included within a mechanical refrigeration assembly disposed adjacent to a rear wall of the compartment for chilling air therein; each of said vend chutes including means for storing and feeding the cylindrical products to a discharge opening in a front of the vending machine including, a pair of sidewalls; a bottom shelf between said sidewalls sloping downwardly from the rear of said chute toward the front of said chute adjacent the discharge opening, a bottom surface of said bottom shelf directing chilled air from said evaporator means toward the discharge opening, whereby said cylindrical products roll along a serpentine path defined by said first and second shelves, said path beginning at the front of said top shelf and terminating at the discharge opening adjacent the front of said bottom shelf; and air foil means disposed opposite to the bottom surface of said bottom shelf for concentrating and directing chilled air toward said discharge opening and the next-to-be-vended cylindrical product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A convection refrigeration system for a cylindrical product vending machine comprising: a thermally-insulated cooling compartment for housing the cylindrical products on side-by-side vend chutes; evaporator means included within a mechanical refrigeration assembly disposed adjacent to a rear wall of the compartment for chilling air therein; each of said vend chutes including means for storing and feeding the cylindrical products to a discharge opening in a front of the vending machine including, a pair of sidewalls; a bottom shelf between said sidewalls sloping downwardly from the rear of said chute toward the front of said chute adjacent the discharge opening, a bottom surface of said bottom shelf directing chilled air from said evaporator means toward the discharge opening, whereby said cylindrical products roll along a serpentine path defined by said first and second shelves, said path beginning at the front of said top shelf and terminating at the discharge opening adjacent the front of said bottom shelf; and air foil means disposed opposite to the bottom surface of said bottom shelf for concentrating and directing chilled air toward said discharge opening and the next-to-be-vended cylindrical product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1, further including a vend cradle in each discharge opening having a support surface for the next-to-be-vended cylindrical product in the vend chute, said surface having stand-off rib means thereon to space the next-to-be-vended product therefrom, and permit chilled air to flow under and around said product.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vend chute according to claim 1, wherein said sidewalls and shelves are perforated to permit the free flow of air and fluids therethrough for providing virtually unimpeded cooling circulation in said cooling compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said air foil means includes a substantially flat surface disposed opposite to the bottom surface of said bottom shelf which slopes downwardly from the rear wall of said compartment toward the front wall thereof and there is further provided a drip tray adjacent the front wall of the compartment contiguous to said air foil to receive condensation which runs down the flat surface of the air foil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 1, further including a defrost tray for said evaporator means disposed below the evaporator means adjacent the compartment rear wall, a drain tube extending from said defrost tray through the rear wall of the compartment, a condensation tray for collecting water flowing from the drain tub and a hot gas tube from a compressor in the mechanical refrigeration assembly passing through the condensation tray for evaporating water therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said drip tray, air foil means and defrost tray are integrally formed from the same material.
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) | 1990-06-29 | 1990-12-29 | 1991-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-29 | 1994-12-29 | 1995-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-29 | 1998-12-29 | 1999-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |