초록 ▼

A vending machine includes a refrigeration compartment, an oven compartment, structure for transferring a food product from the refrigeration compartment to the oven compartment, and structure for transferring the food product from the oven compartment to a user of the vending machine. The vending m

A vending machine includes a refrigeration compartment, an oven compartment, structure for transferring a food product from the refrigeration compartment to the oven compartment, and structure for transferring the food product from the oven compartment to a user of the vending machine. The vending machine provides automated handling and cooking of packaged food products that enables a hot cooked food to be delivered to a customer in a cool package sleeve. The vending machine also includes a system for inventory control that enables vertical storage of packaged food products while minimizing crushing of packaged food products at the bottom of a stack. A magazine empty indicator automatically indicates when an inventory magazine is empty. An oven door latch mechanism eliminates the possibility that the oven can be operated while the oven door is open.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A vending machine comprising an inventory carousel mounted rotatably on a vertical axis, the inventory carousel including a plurality of inventory magazines mounted around the vertical axis, each inventory magazine comprising a product chute and having a product release mechanism f

[ We claim:] [1.] A vending machine comprising an inventory carousel mounted rotatably on a vertical axis, the inventory carousel including a plurality of inventory magazines mounted around the vertical axis, each inventory magazine comprising a product chute and having a product release mechanism for releasing product contained in the inventory magazine, said product release mechanism comprising:an inventory magazine release member having first and second cam surfaces, the inventory magazine release member movable between first and second positions;a first retention lever rotatably mounted so as to pivot about a first axis, the first retention lever including a first cam follower in contact with the first cam surface, wherein:when the inventory magazine release member is positioned in the first position, contact between the first cam surface and first cam follower causes the first retention lever to be retracted from the product chute; andwhen the inventory magazine release member is positioned in the second position, contact between the first cam surface and first cam follower causes the first retention lever to be extended into the product chute; anda second retention lever rotatably mounted so as to pivot about a second axis, the second retention lever including a second cam follower in contact with the second cam surface, wherein:when the inventory magazine release member is positioned in the first position, contact between the second cam surface and second cam follower causes the second retention lever to be extended into the product chute; andwhen the inventory magazine release member is positioned in the second position, contact between the second cam surface and second cam follower causes the second retention lever to be retracted from the product chute.