초록 ▼

A number of improvements to the single article vending machine of U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,477 are disclosed. An angled catch has been provided to prevent the platform which holds the articles from being depressed by a customer, thereby defeating one mode of theft. The provision of a biasing spring great

A number of improvements to the single article vending machine of U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,477 are disclosed. An angled catch has been provided to prevent the platform which holds the articles from being depressed by a customer, thereby defeating one mode of theft. The provision of a biasing spring greatly facilitates the adjustment of the width of the slot through which the articles are withdrawn. Other improvements enable the machine to operate more smoothly and dependably by insuring that the vended articles are withdrawn easily from the machine and without becoming skewed or jammed in the slot. An improved mounting bracket facilitates proper mounting of the protective cover plate by the operator after the machine has been serviced.

대표청구항 ▼

In a single-article vending machine of the type in which a stack of articles to be vended is stacked on an upwardly-biased platform vertically movable on a rod, which platform urges the articles upwardly against a generally planar face of a cover and in which the uppermost article nearest the cover

In a single-article vending machine of the type in which a stack of articles to be vended is stacked on an upwardly-biased platform vertically movable on a rod, which platform urges the articles upwardly against a generally planar face of a cover and in which the uppermost article nearest the cover is removable from the stack in a direction parallel to the cover following the depositing of a predetermined combination of coins into the vending machine and the opening of an access door in the vending machine, the improvement comprising: an angled catch mounted to the underside of said vertically movable platform for simultaneous clockwise rotation and horizontal sliding movement away from said rod to engage said rod and lock said platform against downward movement, thereby to prevent users of the machine from depressing the stack of articles sufficiently to remove an article sideways from beneath said cover; and means enabled by an operator operative to pivot said catch in a counterclockwise direction and to slide said catch towards said rod to permit said platform to be lowered for replenishing the supply of articles in said vending machine.