Article dispensing – With transparent inspecting or viewing means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-04
2003-11-11
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
With transparent inspecting or viewing means
C221S232000, C221S244000, C221S273000, C221S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06644503
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to vending devices for vending publications and the like and more specifically to a device for vending a single publication per transaction by exposing only a single publication to the purchaser per transaction.
2. Background
Newspaper vending machines provide a convenient and relatively economic means for selling or distributing newspapers, magazines and the like, herein publication or publications, throughout an area of distribution. Most often, vending machines operate on an honor system, that is, upon payment of a prescribed sum, the vending machine allows a purchaser to access, typically through a manually-operated door, a bay which contains the vending device's remaining stock of publications.
For obvious reasons, this system of vending, based upon an honor system, has over the course of time proven to be problematic to the owner of the vending machine. Problems may arise both due to loss of merchandise and the associated profits from lost sales as well as from increased maintenance costs associated with damage to the machines, much of the internal workings of which are exposed upon opening the door to the vending device.
Although any number of solutions have been proposed, it appears, at least in terms of popular use, that no outstanding solution as been recognized and adopted by machine vendors. The reasons for a lack of adoption of a solution may be numerous. One prevailing reason, however, lies in the complexity and therefore the cost associated with adopting any given proposed solution. Another justification may lie in the fact that many distributors and vendors have significant capital investment in existing vending devices and may be therefor reluctant to invest additionally in any given proposed solution that requires an additional substantial capital investment.
There may be advantage then in providing a single vend device for vending a single publication per transaction by exposing only a single publication to the purchaser per transaction for removal from the vending device.
There may also be advantage in providing a single vend device for vending a single publication per transaction that may be retrofitted into the cabinets of many existing newspaper vending machines.
There may also be advantage in providing a single vend device for vending a single publication per transaction that does not expose the interior of the device to the purchaser during the vend cycle.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to a device for vending a single publication per transaction by exposing only a single publication to the purchaser for removal from the vending device during any single vend cycle. The single publication vending device of the present invention may be manufactured as a complete stand alone unit or, in the alternative, various subassemblies of the present invention may be incorporated in an existing publication vending device to retrofit the publication vending device.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the single publication vending device includes a product vend assembly positioned within a housing for dispensing a single publication per vend cycle.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the single publication vending device includes a housing having a publication vend port, the housing containing a product support platform, the upper surface of the product support platform lying substantially parallel to a plane extending through a generally horizontal midline of the publication vend port. A carriage is connected to and is at least partially contained within the housing. The carriage assembly may be forwardly motivated through a plane lying substantially parallel to a plane extending through a generally horizontal midline of the publication vend port and a publication supported by the product support platform. A forward transport assembly is connected to the carriage for reciprocating movement with the carriage for advancing a publication positioned on the product support platform forward through the publication vend port.
In an alternate preferred embodiment of the invention, the single publication vending device includes the following related components and systems:
a) a housing including a product support platform, a product vend port and an access door;
b) a product storage and elevator assembly;
c) a payment and security system;
d) a carriage assembly;
e) a forward transport assembly; and
f) a vend flap assembly.
In an alternate preferred embodiment of the invention, the single publication vending device may also include a product display and release system.
The housing may be configured as a single monolithic cabinet for housing all of the subsystems and component parts of the single publication vending device or in the alternative the housing may include housing subassemblies, for instance a payment and security system sub-housing and a product storage and dispensing sub-housing. The housing includes a product vend port from which a single publication is discharged during a vend cycle. Additionally, the housing may include an access door providing access for stocking product and device maintenance. A publication or a stack of publications may be placed on the product support platform within the housing such that a fold of the publication lies substantially parallel to and is directed towards the vend port of the housing.
A product storage and elevator assembly is positioned within the housing and includes a product elevator to which the product support platform is connected. In one embodiment of the invention, the product elevator may also be responsive to one or more springs providing a vertical up bias for the product elevator and the product support platform against a vertical lift stop. The product elevator is also responsive to operation of the door to lower the product elevator to permit access to the product support platform.
In one embodiment of the invention, the payment and security system includes a payment receipt mechanism combined with a latch assembly. The payment receipt mechanism may be configured to receive payment by coin or paper currency and may or may not be configured to provide change or return of payment. In the alternative the payment receipt mechanism may be configured to accept credit or debit payment by electronic means. All of the above configurations for a payment receipt mechanism are currently known to those skilled in the art. The payment receipt mechanism may also include secure cash storage or other means for storing or transmitting payment data.
In a secure mode, the latch assembly secures the vending device and prohibits operation of the product vend assembly. Regardless of the particular configuration of the payment receipt mechanism, upon payment of a prescribed sum, the payment receipt mechanism cooperates with the latch assembly disabling a latch which otherwise restricts operation of the product vend assembly. Once the latch releases, the product vend assembly becomes operable and a vend cycle may be initiated.
In one embodiment of the invention, a product vend assembly includes a carriage assembly and a forward transport assembly. The forward transport assembly is supported by the carriage assembly. In addition, the carriage assembly provides motivation for the forward transport assembly. In one embodiment of the invention, the carriage assembly includes first and second carriage members which are slideable through support bushings. The first and second carriage members are joined by a crossbar which is operable by a purchaser to motivate the carriage in a generally forward direction. Alternately, forward motivation for the carriage may be provided by a motor or by electrical or electromechanical means.
The forward transport assembly is connected to the carriage for reciprocating movement with the carriage for advancing the publication forward through the publication vend port. The forward transport assembly includes a first advance arm connected to the first carriage member, the first advance arm
Holland Joseph W.
Schlak Daniel K
Walsh Donald P.
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