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. 13, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 21, 2008
Talbert James Black, Jr., Pelion, SC (US);
Thomas Roger Meinardi, Aiken, SC (US);
Edmund Scott Richardson, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Terring M. Ware, Aiken, SC (US);
Talbert James Black, Jr., Pelion, SC (US);
Thomas Roger Meinardi, Aiken, SC (US);
Edmund Scott Richardson, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Terring M. Ware, Aiken, SC (US);
Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc., Bridgeton, MO (US);
Abstract
A dispensing system for a vending machine includes a vend motor, a cradle, a load bar and a push arm. Upon selection of a particular product, the vend motor rotates the cradle, causing the product to emerge from the vending machine. The cradle is designed to accommodate a wide array of container sizes. The dispensing system incorporates a rotation sensor, a position sensor, and a lift arm. The sensors enable accurate rotation of the cradle through a plurality of vend angles depending upon the particular product being vended, while the lift arm cooperates with the push arm and load bar to refill the cradle after a series of product containers have been dispensed. In addition, the vend motor includes a soft start control that prevents instantaneous rotation of the output shaft so as to prolong an overall operational life of the motor.