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:
Jun. 03, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 10, 2001
Kevin J. Machalek, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
William C. Hittie, Jr., Mount Prospect, IL (US);
Merkle-Korff Industries, Inc., Des Plaines, IL (US);
Abstract
A vending machine includes a gearmotor with feedback control allowing for the determination and control of the axial rotational position of the gearmotor's output shaft. The gearmotor has a DC motor, gear train, at least one rotation sensing mechanism and control circuitry. The rotation sensing mechanism is in operative connection with the output shaft of the gearmotor and/or the armature shaft of the motor such that the feedback provided by the sensor allows the control circuitry to determine the position of at least one of the shafts and, based on that determination, control the output of the motor to either stop rotation or produce additional rotation as necessary to properly dispense product of varying sizes based on pre-programmed data regarding the desired rotation for various products. A method for controlling the dispensing of products in a vending machine is also disclosed.