The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 26, 2024
Filed:
Jan. 28, 2019
Automated Retail Technologies, Llc, Sarasota, FL (US);
James Edward Deaton, Georgetown, TX (US);
Linda H. Wu, Newberg, OR (US);
John C. Serieka, Chicago, IL (US);
Lynn Warren Hamrick, Leander, TX (US);
Sean Raymond Lucas, Leander, TX (US);
William Warrenburg, Austin, TX (US);
Brent Joseph Clafferty, Round Rock, TX (US);
Automated Retail Technologies. LLC, Sarasota, FL (US);
Abstract
An assembly for product support and deployment for a vending machine includes a product chute, a pusher, a pusher drive assembly, and a controller. The product chute is configured to receive a plurality of products stacked on one another. The product chute includes an exit opening through which a respective product of the plurality of products is dispensed. The pusher drive assembly is operatively connected with the pusher and is configured so as to move the pusher in at least two mutually perpendicular axes. The controller is in communication with the pusher drive assembly. The controller is configured to control operation of the pusher drive assembly such that the pusher pushes the respective product being dispensed towards the exit opening and supports or lifts the remaining products in the chute against the force of gravity prior to the respective product fully exiting the product chute through the exit opening.