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:
Mar. 11, 1980
Filed:
Jan. 30, 1978
James T Schuller, St. Louis, MO (US);
Harry C Haeusser, St. Louis, MO (US);
UMC Industries, Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An article dispensing apparatus, particularly for food products such as sandwiches, salads, dessert items, etc. and products such as canned drinks, particularly for on-location food and drink service, which is readily convertible from a self-service reach-in mode of use for a cafeteria-type operation to use as a vendor (i.e., a credit media controlled dispenser), whereby the apparatus may be used for cafeteria-type service during lunch or other peak periods, and as a vendor during off-peak periods. Articles are stocked on endless belt conveyors extending in rear-to-front direction in a cabinet having sliding glass doors at the front for merchandising display of the articles. The conveyors are arranged in tiers one above another and side-by-side in each tier. For the reach-in mode of use, the doors are unlocked. In the vending mode of use, a carrier movable laterally in front of the dispensers receives an article from any dispenser in any tier and moves to a delivery station at one side of the cabinet, and one door is completely locked and the other adapted only partially to be opened to open the delivery station.