Title: Merchandise compartmenting arrangement for an automatic vending machine

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. In a merchandise compartmenting arrangement for an automatic vending machine of merchandise packages; including actuating means operatively associated with merchandise compartments for dispensing the merchandise packages; at least one of said merchandise compartments being constructed as an independent self-supporting unit which is fillable with merchandise packages externally and separately from said vending machine, and is separately transportable with regard to the latter and insertable therein for filling of the vending machine with merchandise packages; means for receiving said unit in said machine in an operative position for the dispensing of packages by operation of said actuating means, said unit having a dispensing aperture through which the merchandise packages are dispensable singly responsive to operation of said actuating means when the unit is in said operative position within said vending machine, the improvement wherein said unit has a front opening extending substantially the entire height of the unit for filling the unit with merchandise packages, said dispensing aperture being formed by a lower portion of said front opening, a cover plate for said unit extending substantially the entire height thereof and having an open position for filling the unit with merchandise packages through said front opening, and a closed position to enclose the packages in said unit during transport thereof, said cover plate covering said dispensing aperture in said closed position, means slidably supporting said cover plate for longitudinal movement thereof in the plane of the front opening, and projecting means on said cover plate for being operatively engaged when the unit is inserted into the machine to effect longitudinal upwards displacement of the cover plate relative to the unit to expose said dispensing aperture.

2. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is lowered into said machine to reach said operative position and is raised from the machine for re-filling of the merchandise packages, said projecting means comprising a front projection on said cover plate positioned to be stopped as the unit is being lowered such that further lowering of the unit progressively exposes the dispensing aperture.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said front projection rests on a stop when the unit is in said operative position, said cover plate dropping by gravity to its closed position when the unit is raised from the machine.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said units are insertable into said machine and collectively include a plurality of said merchandise compartments in a number corresponding to the number of merchandise compartments provided in said vending machine.

5. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a merchandise ejector operatively associated with a respective one of said merchandise compartments, each said ejector being movable in the operative position of said unit for dispensing the merchandise packages through a recess provided in said unit opposite said cover plate and through a slot provided in the floor of said unit.

6. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover plate is slidable vertically at the front of said unit, said cover plate having an upper end and including an angle portion at said upper end which rests on said unit when the cover plate is in said closed position.

7. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a coin collecting box secured to said unit laterally thereof for being located below a coin channel provided in said machine when said unit is in said operative position.

8. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 comprising a handle pivotably secured to said unit at the front thereof for being engaged to insert and remove said unit with respect to said machine.

9. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 comprising retaining means including a support in said machine for fastening said unit therein, said unit including a hook on the back of the unit for engaging said support when said unit is introduced into said machine and after said projecting means on the cover plate has been operatively engaged, said unit being pivotable on said support to be fully introduced into said machine, said retaining means comprising a second support vertically located above the first support, said unit including means for engaging the second support when said unit is pivoted and fully introduced into said machine.

10. The improvement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for engaging the second support comprises a pair of resilient rollers for clampingly engaging said second support.

Other info:

Inventors: Kiefer, Josef (Herrieden, DT)

Application Number: 648803
Filing Date: 1976-01-13
Publication_date: 1977-10-04
Assignee: Sielaff GmbH & Co. Automatenbau Herrieden (Herrieden, DT)
Primary Class(es): 221/197
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2784621	Mar, 1957	Klingler	221/198.
3486658	Dec, 1969	Cheslak et al.	221/197.
3787052	Jan, 1974	Glass et al.	221/197.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Reeves, Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Bartuska, Francis J.
Attorney: Haseltine, Lake & Waters