Supports: cabinet structure – Show-case type – With closure
Utility Patent
1999-07-06
2001-01-02
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Show-case type
With closure
C312S119000, C312S120000
Utility Patent
active
06168246
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article providing apparatus for storing articles and for discharging a selected one or ones of the articles in response to operation of an operational unit included in the article providing apparatus.
A conventional article providing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (JP-U) No. 06-3916. The conventional article providing apparatus comprises a storage rack for storing articles, a delivery port, and a conveyance means disposed along the storage rack for conveying a selected one of ones of the articles from the storage rack to the delivery port. The conventional article providing apparatus can handle a wide variety of articles by dividing the storage rack into many parts. Therefore, the realization of an unmanned retail store can be expected by applying the existing technique for automatic vending machines to the conventional apparatus to actualize an article providing apparatus or an automatic vending system.
One problem in this case is the way articles are loaded into the storage rack. Since there is the conveying means on one side of the storage rack, it is not advisable and is difficult to do the loading operation on this side of the storage rack. On the other hand, in case that the apparatus is structured to do the loading operation on the opposite side of the storage rack, a large loading space is required, increasing the size of the apparatus as a whole. That is, it is also not advisable. Actually, the opposite side of the storage rack is covered by a panel. Providing the loading space between the panel and the storage rack makes the apparatus significantly large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an article providing apparatus which has excellent loading capacity and enables the reduction in its installation area.
Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
According to the present invention, there is provided an article providing apparatus which comprises a storage rack for storing articles, said storage rack having a front face through which said articles are loaded in said storage rack. The article providing apparatus further comprises a covering member covering the front face of said storage rack and including a sample showcase for showing a sample. The sample showcase being displaceable to enable the front face of said storage rack be exposed.
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Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Fisher Michael J.
Sanden Corp.
Wilkens Janet M.
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