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. 22, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 09, 2002
Kichihei Mori, Tokyo, JP;
Yasuhiro Ota, Tokyo, JP;
Kichihei Mori, Tokyo, JP;
Yasuhiro Ota, Tokyo, JP;
Mars Incorporated, McLean, VA (US);
Abstract
A small-sized automatic vending machine for snack confectionery is provided, which is capable of being fitted to a side surface of an already installed automatic vending machine for drinks, or the like, and which enables machine size reduction, commodity protection, and a first-in first-out operation for commodities. The small-sized automatic vending machine comprises a base frame (), which is capable of being fitted to a mounting surface (), and a cabinet (). The cabinet () comprises a commodity vending opening (), which is located at an upper region, and a commodity accommodating section, which is located within the cabinet () and accommodates a plurality of commodities (CA, CB) laid-up on commodity carriers (A,B). A lower region of the cabinet () is pivotably supported on the base frame () via a hinge (), such that the cabinet () is capable of being set in a sideways fallen state, in which the commodity accommodating section is exposed. In the sideways fallen state, commodity replenishment is performed by leaving the commodities, which remain in the commodity accommodating section, at a predetermined position, and moving the commodity carriers (A,B) in a direction heading away from the commodity vending opening ().