Fawn Engineering Corporation

Edward Babich

Elmer B Offutt

William G Gillett

Product storing and dispensing apparatus for the improved handling of products such as gum and mints is provided and especially suited for use in multi-product, selective vending machines of types that store and dispense a variety of products from compartmented drawers, which must be withdrawn for practical reloading with products. The improved apparatus conserves space and minimizes the weight of the structure to be moved during loading by substituting for the conventional drawer unit a lower assembly that carries the operating mechanism for selective product dispensing and may remain within the machine during loading and an upper assembly that merely receives products, is shiftably mounted on the lower assembly and alone need be withdrawn during loading. The loading operation is further improved by eliminating the conventional, overhanging, product hold-down flanges along the sides of the product compartments and substituting therefor a hinged, plate-like cover that is also rearwardly and forwardly shiftable to facilitate reliable latching and unlatching thereof. Loading is still further enhanced by a construction providing automatic removal of product pusher forces during withdrawal of the upper assembly for loading and automatic restoration thereof when the upper assembly is moved back into its normal operating position. Selective product ejector mechanisms of a new and simplified construction especially adapted for employment with the upper and lower assembly arrangement of the improved apparatus are also incorporated in the latter.

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Kansas City, MO, United States of America

Edward Babich