Vending machine for dispensing cans & bottles with elevator assembly

Abstract

An improved vending machine having a plurality of racks therein for dispensing products is disclosed. Each rack within such vending machine comprises a vertical, rectilinear, product dispensing channel equipped with an elevator assembly for support of product and means for elevating said support within said channel in response to consumer demand for the product. The preferred elevator assembly of this invention comprises a product cradle of unique design, which design imparts improved stability of the cradle within the channel and simplified operation as to the number and type of springs needed to effect its upward movement within the vertical channel of the dispensing rack. The unique angular slope of the cradle permits presentation of a product selection at the open end of the rack in a manner to facilitate removal of such product by a consumer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a vending machine for dispensing product from a plurality of vertical product dispensing racks housed therein, wherein product is dispensed from each such product racks in response to customer demand by incrementally removal of product from an open end at the top of said rack, wherein the improvement comprising: 
 an elevator assembly comprising a cradle, spring means and means for mounting said cradle to said spring means within a vertical channel of said product dispensing rack,    said cradle comprising a slope member for support of said product container, said slope member being inclined from the horizontal, and operatively associated with a base to support and guide said cradle within said vertical channel of said dispensing rack upon lifting of said cradle by said spring means within said vertical channel.    
     
     
         2 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein said base member comprising a planar component integral with an essentially elongated block associated with the underside of said planar surface, said block being dimensioned relative to a cross-section of said vertical channel of said dispensing rack so as to position and maintain said cradle support within said vertical channel as to permit dispensing of said container from an open end of said vertical channel.  
     
     
         3 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein said spring means comprises a ribbon spring.  
     
     
         4 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination of said support member in the range of from about 10 to 30 degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination of said slope member is in the range of from about 15 to 25 degrees.  
     
     
         6 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of said base and product support components of said cradle are integral with one another, having been formed as a unit.  
     
     
         7 . A product support cradle for support of a beverage container within an vertical channel of a product dispensing rack of a vending machine, said cradle comprising: 
 A. Cradling means having an inclined member for support of a container regardless of container configuration, and    B. A base member,    said inclined member of said cradling means having an angle of inclination of from about 10 to about 30 relative to said base, and being essentially open-ended along said inclination for cradle support of said container; and    said base member comprising a planar surface component integral with an essentially elongated block associated with the underside of said planar surface, said block being essentially integral with said planar surface and dimensioned relative to a cross-section of a vertical channel of said dispensing rack to position and maintain said cradle support within said vertical channel as to permit dispensing of said container from an open end of said vertical channel; and    C. Means for mounting said support means of said cradle to a resilient lifting member of an elevator assembly within said vertical channel of a product dispensing rack of vending machine.    
     
     
         8 . The product support cradle of  claim 7 , wherein the angle of inclination of said inclined member is in the range of from about 10 to 30 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The product support cradle of  claim 7 , wherein the angle of inclination of said inclined member is in the range of from about 15 to 25 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . The product support cradle of  claim 7 , wherein each of said base and product support components of said cradle are integral with one another, having been formed as a unit.