Self-service dispensing cabinet

Abstract

A self-service product dispensing pivotable cabinet has an open face which is faced forwardly for product dispensing and rearwardly for product restocking. A trigger plunger projects forwardly from the open face of the cabinet through a hole in a fixed faceplate. Pivotal support means for the cabinet include two pivot axis, a first of which comprises a vertical hinge rod mounted on the fixed faceplate for pivotal movement about its own axis. A pair of hinge arms extend horizontally from the vertical rod, one from its upper and the other from its lower end. The second pivot axis comprises an imaginary vertical axis extending between a pair of vertically aligned pivot posts, one each on the top and bottom surfaces of the cabinet, and located at the centers of the surfaces. Each pivot post is received within a recess at the distal end of one of the horizontal hinge arms. The length of the hinge arms and the pivotal movement of the hinge rod allow the cabinet to be initially moved rearwardly along a substantially straight line to effect withdrawal of the trigger plunger from the hole in the fixed faceplate, and then to be moved pivotally through at least 180.degree. to cause the open face to face rearwardly. After restocking, the cabinet is pivoted in the opposite direction and then pushed forwardly along a substantially straight line to cause the head of the trigger plunger to enter and pass through the hole in the fixed faceplate.