Vending machine with controlled return access door

Claim 1

An improved vending machine of the type comprising a housing for storing a supply of articles to be vended, an access door hinged to said housing for movement through an arc between a closed and an open position, and means for returning said access door from said open to said closed positions wherein said means for returning include a hydraulic door closer comprising a piston connected to one of said door or said frame said piston displaceable through a stroke between said open and closed positions in a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid, said cylinder connected to the other of said door or said frame; said piston displacement towards said closed position being opposed by hydraulic fluid flow through restricted conduit means in said piston; first spring means in said cylinder urging said piston towards said closed position through a first stage of said stroke terminating short of said closed position; and second spring means between said frame and door urging said door to said closed position throughout said stroke; and wherein said first spring is a coil spring about a piston rod connected to said piston, said coil spring being secured to said cylinder in spaced relationship from said piston when said piston is in fully retracted position in said cylinder, such that the piston moves through a second stage of said stroke against said hydraulic fluid alone before engaging and compressing said coil spring whereby said door is subjected to relatively high closing force at said open position and a lower closing force near said closed position.