Fawn Engineering Corporation

Fawn Engineering Co.

Inland Finance Company

Other

Francis A Wittern, Iii

Arthur N Wirstlin

Paul L Hawkins

Gary L Walke

James L Denato

Joseph F Nerly

Francis A Wittern, Jr

Roger L Wilson

John Van Horn

A means and method to utilize government-issued food stamp credit to purchase items from a vending machine. The food stamp credit is to be received through a monetary device and validated through the vending machine control network. The network will validate the transaction and allow or limit the type of purchases based on information collected from the food stamp government program rules and regulations. The invention is applicable to any electronic benefit transfer (EBT) type program or analogous transactions.

Apparatus, system and method of obtaining items from a vending machine with an electronic benefits transfer card

An apparatus and method for increasing assurance a product has been vended upon an authorized product selection. The method comprises monitoring if a product has been vended during a first vend cycle and if not, commencing a second vend cycle, and stopping a second vend cycle immediately if a product is sensed.

Apparatus and method for vending from a vending machine

The apparatus and method for retaining a vertical stack or stacks of vendable items in a vending machine includes a column having sidewalls and a front and back. The back is substantially blocked to retain vendable items vertically at the back of the column. The front of the column is substantially blocked to maintain vertical the vendable items in the front of the column. The front of the column can be substantially unblocked for access through the front of the column to other parts of the column. In one form, a door or retainer can be positioned so that it is closed and latched across the front of the column but releasable and openable to substantially expose the front of the column.

Vertical stack retainer for vending machines

Vending machine face

A dispensing apparatus and method for vending machines includes in one embodiment vertical vending from one or more columns. Each column is defined by two walls. A triggering mechanism at the bottom of the column is actuated by the rotation of a rod from the top of the column. The triggering mechanism blocks items placed along the column from being dropped out the bottom of the column to a delivery area but also controls when such dispensation occurs. The configuration allows items of different sizes, shapes, and types to be loaded into the column and therefore allows the column to be easily adapted to dispense a wide variety of items.

Apparatus and method for dispensing items from a vending machine

An apparatus and method for maximizing the amount and selection of vendible items from a bucket-type vending machine includes a main access door over an access opening to buckets of the machine. One or more shields are positioned below the access opening but can be selectively interlocked with the door so that when the access door uncovers the access opening, any of the shields can be raised to cover any or all of the access opening. This arrangement allows each bucket to be subdivided into separate buckets. The selectable shields therefore can close off from access any of the sections of the bucket which are not selected by a customer thereby allowing use of one main access door to facilitate the increased amount and number of selections available from each bucket of the bucket-type vending machine.

Split door for vending machine

A dispensing apparatus and method for vending machines includes in one embodiment a horizontal vending tray with one of more columns. Each column can have one or more tracks. A biasing device such as a spring is associated with a pusher plate that slides along the column. A triggering mechanism at the front of the column is actuated by the rotation of a rod from the back of the column. The triggering mechanism blocks items placed along the track from being pushed off the front of the column to a delivery area but also controls when such dispension occurs. The configuration allows items of different sizes, shapes, and types to be loaded into the column by standing on their bases and therefore allows the column to be easily adapted to dispense a wide variety of items.

An apparatus and method for illuminating portions of a vending machine includes an internal light source that is used to generate light inside a housing defining the vending machine. A user interface including such things as a money or token receiver, selection buttons, and coin return, has an external surface that can be operated by a customer or a vendee. Light from the light source is transmitted from inside the housing to outside the housing and unto selected portions of the user interface. This can be accomplished by using windows or other light conduits to provide illumination of the external face of the user interface to assist in user operation at night and especially in places that do not include a lot external lighting.

Means and method for illuminating parts of a vending machine

An apparatus and method for maximizing the amount and selection of vendable items from a bucket-type vending machine includes a main access door over an access opening to buckets of the machine. One or more shields are positioned below the access opening but can be selectibly interlocked with the door so that when the access door uncovers the access opening, any of the shields can be raised to cover any or all of the access opening. This arrangement allows each bucket to be subdivided into separate buckets. The selectable shields therefore can close off from access any of the sections of the bucket which are not selected by a customer thereby allowing use of one main access door to facilitate the increased amount and number of selections available from each bucket of the bucket-type vending machine.

Articles such as cans vertically stacked on a serpentine shelf (30) and on a longitudinally inclined shelf (33) at the lower end thereof are dispensed one at a time by a motor driven article release mechanism (24). A single can is dispensed for each user actuation of the release mechanism (24). A pair of longitudinally and arcuately spaced fingers (72), (73) are mounted for rotation as a unit as a part of the mechanism (24), and extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cans in the section. The lowermost finger (72) is normally in can-blocking position and the upper finger (73) is normally in a non-can-blocking position. Upon actuation of the mechanism, the fingers are rotated sequentially from their normal positions to a second position, where a lowermost can (C') is released and the next adjacent can (C') held in place, to their normal positions where the next adjacent can (C') moves by gravity down against the lowermost finger (72). The motor driven article release mechanism (24) removably mounted on transverse rods (32) extended across the inclined shelf (33) by longitudinal movement relative to the rods (32).

Article release mechanism

A vending machine has a frame comprising a newspaper holding compartment with a spring hinged door and a housing for a mechanical control system secured to the top of the holding compartment. A vending member is secured to the door and operably engaged with the control mechanism. The control mechanism includes a lever biased to a locking position with respect to the vending member. A lever holding rod is secured to the lever and has an 'up', or unlocked, position wherein the lever does not lock the vending member, and a 'down', or locked, position wherein the vending member is locked in position. A coin operated mechanism has an output shaft and cam which rotate in response to the insertion of a low price coinage amount to a first position, and a high price coinage amount to a second position. A second cam is mounted for free rotation on the coin mechanism shaft and is gravity biased to follow the first cam. The second cam follows the first cam to rotate freely to the first position wherein it holds the lever holding rod in the 'up', or unlocked, position so that the vending member is unlocked. A lock out member which is operated by an exterior key is provided to block the free rotation of the second cam so that only the first cam rotates to the second position when the high price amount of coinage is inserted. In the second position, the first cam holds the lever holding rod in the 'up' position so that the vending member is unlocked. A reset mechanism for the coin operated mechanism is provided.

Adjustable price setting mechanism for a vending machine

A product dispensing apparatus of a coin operated type is provided with a housing having a product delivery compartment attached thereto. A frame structure is rotatably mounted within the housing and has a plurality of product column assemblies mounted in a carousel arrangement. Each of the product column assemblies has a set of shelves, each shelf pivotally attached thereto and oriented one above another in each column for allowing a product to be placed thereon for dispensing, one at a time. A radially extending partition wall is disposed on each side of each set of shelves for preventing the product from being moved off of the shelf. Each of the shelves is a generally pie section shaped configuration with side wing members that fold so that such shelves do not become wedged between the partition walls when they drop towards a product dispensing position. A motor is provided for turning the carousel for selection of particular product desired and a delivery system is provided for delivering the product upon insertion of the proper amount of money into the machine and pushing a delivery button.

Carousel dispensing apparatus

A vending apparatus of a type utilizing a selectively rotatable helical member. The helical member is connected at one end to an annular plate having gear teeth around the inner periphery thereof. A drive gear is disposed within the annular plate and is in operative engagement with the teeth on the inner periphery of the annular plate. The drive gear and thereby the annular plate and helix is driven ultimately by an electric motor. Once the motor is turned on the helical member will rotate one-half of a revolution before being switched off by a switching device. A vertical divider is disposed within the helical member and supports the helical member along the top thereof. A portion of the helical member is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the helix and this portion is connected to the vertical divider for stabilizing and supporting the helical member as it rotates. A plurality of such vending units are stacked on top of one another and are slidable into and out from a cabinet housing. Structure is also provided for providing side access for loading items into the helical member on each side of the vertical divider.

Vending apparatus with helical discharge member

A vending apparatus of the type having a helical member rotatably disposed in a vending chamber. A vertical divider is disposed within the helical member for positioning items to be vended in two rows. A mechanism is also provided for compressing the helical member and releasing such compressed helical member by rotation of such helical member to thereby aid in the discharge of items placed on one side of the vertical divider. Rotation of the helical member by one-half of a revolution releases an item on one side of the vertical divider. Further rotation of one half of a revolution releases an item from the other side of the vertical divider, and so forth, releasing an item from the front of each side successively.

Vending apparatus

A vending device for use in article dispensing machines is disclosed wherein a continuous loop conveyor periodically carries a plurality of dispensing units, each unit adapted by means of a biased spring clip member to releasably hold an article to be dispensed, past a stationary cam, whereupon coaction by the dispensing unit with the cam causes the dispensing unit to release and dispense the article.

Growing community of inventors

Des Moines, IA, United States of America

Francis A Wittern, Iii