Vending machine for dispensing cylindrical Articles

Abstract

A vending machine having increased capacity and that efficiently dispenses cylindrical articles is provided. The vending machine includes a storage section for cylindrical articles which alleviates the force created when storing articles in conventional vertical columns or stacks. The storage section is provided with a plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls perpendicularly mounted on a back board which form a plurality of column or stack areas. The configuration of the stack area continuously shifts the forces generated by the weight of the articles to lessen the force being applied to the lowest most article. In this manner, jamming of a dispensing section can be eliminated.

1 . A vending machine comprising:
 a cabinet frame including top, bottom, side and rear walls that collectively define a central cavity;   a storage section positioned in the central cavity, the storage section including a plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls perpendicularly mounted on a back board to define a plurality of stack areas, each of the plurality of stack areas being adapted to receive an associated plurality of product containers;   a door having an opening, the door being pivotally mounted to the cabinet frame to enable selective access to the central cavity to permit loading of product containers in the plurality of stack areas;   a delivery section arranged below the plurality of stack areas, the delivery section being adapted to conduct a selected one of the plurality of product containers to the opening in the door; and   a dispensing system arranged between the plurality of stack areas and the delivery section for dispensing a selected one of the plurality of product containers from an associated stack area.   
   
   
       2 . The vending machine as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls and the back board of the storage section are of a unitary construction. 
   
   
       3 . The vending machine as in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls and the back board are formed from a thermoplastic. 
   
   
       4 . The vending machine as in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing system includes:
 a frontal support wall having arranged thereon a plurality of vend motor units; and   a plurality of cradles that support and deliver product container to the delivery section, the plurality of cradles being arranged behind the frontal support wall and each of plurality of cradles being coupled to an associated vend motor unit.   
   
   
       5 . The vending machine as in  claim 1 , further comprising a pedestal for supporting the cabinet frame, wherein the cabinet frame, door, storage section, delivery section and pedestal are formed from a thermoplastic polymer material. 
   
   
       6 . The vending machine as in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls includes a plurality of teeth having an upper surface configured to facilitate the downward movement of the plurality of product containers. 
   
   
       7 . The vending machine as in  claim 6 , wherein the upper surface of each of the plurality of teeth is configured at a predetermined angle in the range of about 40 degrees to 50 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The vending machine as in  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined angle is 45 degrees. 
   
   
       9 . The vending machine as in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls includes a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth of each column wall face each other, wherein each tooth of a first column wall is offset by a predetermined distance from a corresponding tooth of an adjacent column wall. 
   
   
       10 . A vending machine comprising:
 a cabinet frame including top, bottom, side and rear walls that collectively define a central cavity;   a storage section positioned in the central cavity, the storage section including a plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls perpendicularly mounted on a back board to define a plurality of stack areas, each of the plurality of stack areas being adapted to receive an associated plurality of product containers;   a door having an opening, the door being pivotally mounted to the cabinet frame to enable selective access to the central cavity to permit loading of product containers in the plurality of stack areas;   a delivery section arranged below the plurality of stack areas, the delivery section being adapted to conduct a selected one of the plurality of product containers to the opening in the door; and   a dispensing system arranged between the plurality of stack areas and the delivery section for dispensing a selected one of the plurality of product containers from an associated stack area,   wherein each of the plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls includes a plurality of teeth having an upper surface configured to facilitate the downward movement of the plurality of product containers, the upper surface of each of the plurality of teeth is configured at a predetermined angle in the range of 40 degrees to 50 degrees, the plurality of teeth of each column wall face each other, wherein each tooth of a first column wall is offset by a predetermined distance from a corresponding tooth of an adjacent second column wall.   
   
   
       11 . The vending machine as in  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls and the back board of the storage section are of a unitary construction. 
   
   
       12 . The vending machine as in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of vertically extending saw-tooth column walls and the back board are formed from a thermoplastic polymer material. 
   
   
       13 . The vending machine as in  claim 12 , further comprising a pedestal for supporting the cabinet frame, wherein the cabinet frame, door, storage section, delivery section and pedestal are formed from a thermoplastic polymer material. 
   
   
       14 . The vending machine as in  claim 13 , wherein the dispensing system includes:
 a frontal support wall having arranged thereon a plurality of vend motor units; and   a plurality of cradles that support and deliver product container to the delivery section, the plurality of cradles being arranged behind the frontal support wall and each of plurality of cradles being coupled to an associated vend motor unit.