Fawn Engineering Corporation

Randy E Harwood

Henry J Albright

Paul L Hawkins

Dispensing shelves for cabinet-type vending machines having a plurality of different sized helical feeder coils all on the same level for advancing articles interposed between the convolutions of the coils to a delivery opening. The width of the troughs holding the coils is variable on the same shelf level and the placement of the helical feeder coil within a trough is variable. The shelf is of either a sheet metal or a molded, high-density plastic type material. Drive units for the helical coils are removably mounted for operation without fastening devices and are adjustably laterally mounted within a single trough. A unique shelf support rail unit maintains the shelf side panels of the vending machine against lateral movement and bending. Further, a unique door closure member maintains the shelves in their vending positions at all times when the door is closed.

Vending machine shelf assembly

A vending machine (21) door closure mechanism (20) for providing pivotal movement of the door (52) from a closed position for vending purposes to an open position of approximately 100.degree.-110.degree. wherein the interior of the cabinet is accessible and one or more shelves (27) can be withdrawn, the closure mechanism (20) comprising a plate (66) secured to the top of the cabinet (22) and with a portion (69) extended forwardly beyond the front face (71) of the door (52); a flange (74) secured to the top of the door (52) and underlying the plate (66) with a pin (78) pivotally securing the plate (66) and the flange (74) together; and a panel (79) forming one end of the door (52), the panel (79) forming a relatively movable interlocking relationship at one vertical edge (81) with a corner (82) of the cabinet (22) and having a hinged relationship provided by a hinge ( 91) with an outer corner (70) of the door (52), the end panel (79) movably maintaining its closure position with the door (52) and cabinet (22) while the door (52) is swung openly; the door (52) capable of being swung to an approximate 270.degree. position up against the sidewall (23) of the cabinet (22) due to the temporary removal of a guard plate (93) which normally prevents the closure panel (79) from swinging free and out of its normal interlocking relationship.

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Guthrie Center, IA, United States of America

Randy E Harwood