초록 ▼

A vending apparatus has a housing and at least one rotatable dispensing coil disposed within the housing. The coil is vertically oriented and rotates in a manner such that products placed between the rungs of the coil move progressively downward during rotation until each product is ejected from a b

A vending apparatus has a housing and at least one rotatable dispensing coil disposed within the housing. The coil is vertically oriented and rotates in a manner such that products placed between the rungs of the coil move progressively downward during rotation until each product is ejected from a bottom end of the coil. There are retaining walls surrounding the coil on opposite sides of the coil. The walls extend an entire length of the coil but do not encompass the entire circumference of the coil, so that two longitudinal portions of the coil located opposite one another are not surrounded by the retaining walls. A product having a length exceeding the diameter of the coil can be placed in the coil for vending so that the ends of the product extend beyond the coil through the two portions not surrounded by the retaining walls. The retaining walls prevent the product from rotating when the coil rotates, and keep the product moving progressively down the coil until it is ejected from the coil.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for vending packaged items, comprising: a housing; at least one rotatable dispensing coil disposed within said housing, said coil having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and rotating such that products placed within said coil move progressively downward as

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for vending packaged items, comprising: a housing; at least one rotatable dispensing coil disposed within said housing, said coil having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and rotating such that products placed within said coil move progressively downward as the coil rotates, until each product is ejected from a bottom end of said coil; two retaining walls surrounding said at least one coil on opposite sides of said coil, said walls extending an entire length of said coil, said walls being separated from each other by two longitudinally extending gaps located on opposite sides of said coil, such that a product having a length exceeding a diameter of said coil can be placed in said coil for vending with ends of said product extending beyond said coil through said gaps and abutting edges of said retaining walls when said coil rotates, and wherein said retaining walls prevent said product from rotating when said coil rotates. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a motor for driving the coil, and a funds receiving device connected to said motor, wherein said motor causes the coil to rotate a predetermined number of degrees when a predetermined amount of money is placed in said funds receiving device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a slot in a bottom area of said housing for retrieving products ejected from said coil. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are at least three coils disposed in the housing. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor mounted near a bottom end of said coil, said sensor sensing when there are no products remaining in said coil. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sensor is connected to a display for notifying customers when the product is sold out. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said gaps is approximately 0.5 inches in diameter. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retaining walls have a semi-circular cross-section.