초록 ▼

A dispensing device and method including a housing defining an opening. A door is movable relative to the housing from a closed position to a maximum open position. The door and the housing defining an access portion of the opening. A tray is disposed within the housing and is supported for movement

A dispensing device and method including a housing defining an opening. A door is movable relative to the housing from a closed position to a maximum open position. The door and the housing defining an access portion of the opening. A tray is disposed within the housing and is supported for movement relative to the housing. The tray is configured to support dispensable items within a plurality of segments of the tray. An access control mechanism is configured to locate the tray relative to the housing to generally align a selected one of the plurality of segments with the opening and also to limit opening movement of the door to limit a size of the access portion to a size of the selected segment if a corresponding position of the door is less than the maximum open position of the door.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing machine, comprising: a cabinet; a carousel assembly within said cabinet, said carousel assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior space and an opening to said interior space; a door slideably supported relative to said housing and movable from a closed p

What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing machine, comprising: a cabinet; a carousel assembly within said cabinet, said carousel assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior space and an opening to said interior space; a door slideably supported relative to said housing and movable from a closed position generally blocking said opening to an open position generally not blocking said opening; a carousel supported within said interior space for rotation relative to said housing, said carousel comprising a plurality of dividers dividing said carousel into a plurality of segments, one or more of said plurality of segments configured to receive a dispensable item, one or more of said dividers comprising an associated tab; a first stop coupled to said housing and configured to selectively interfere with a first tab associated with a first divider of said plurality of dividers to prevent rotation of said carousel in a first direction; a second stop carried by said door and configured to interfere with a second tab associated with a second divider of said plurality of dividers adjacent said first divider; wherein one or more segments defined between said first divider and said second divider is generally aligned with said opening when said first stop interferes with said first tab, said second stop is spaced from said second tab to allow said door to open while said carousel remains stationary, said second stop preventing said door from opening beyond said second divider in said first direction when said second stop contacts said second tab. 2. The dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein said carousel assembly additionally comprises a door lock, said door lock selectively engageable with said door to prevent movement of said door relative to said housing. 3. The dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein said carousel assembly additionally comprises a position sensor configured to sense a position of said carousel relative to said housing. 4. The dispensing machine of claim 3, wherein said position sensor senses a zero position of said carousel relative to said housing. 5. The dispensing machine of claim 4, wherein said carousel assembly additionally comprises a divider sensor configured to determine the presence of a divider within said carousel. 6. The dispensing machine of claim 5, additionally comprising a control unit configured to receive signals from said position sensor and said divider sensor, wherein said control unit is configured to create determine a segment arrangement of said carousel utilizing signals from said position sensor and said divider sensor. 7. The dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein said dividers are separable from said carousel to permit an arrangement of said plurality of dividers to be altered, and thereby permitting reconfiguration of said segments of said carousel. 8. The dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein said first stop comprises a first latch pivotally supported by said housing, said first latch being normally biased towards a position interfering with said first tab. 9. The dispensing machine of claim 8, wherein said carousel assembly additionally comprises a release lever configured to contact said first latch to retain said first latch in a position not interfering with said first tab, said release lever additionally configured to selectively release said first latch to permit said first latch to move to said position interfering with said first tab. 10. The dispensing machine of claim 9, wherein said second stop comprises a second latch pivotally supported by said door, said second latch being normally biased towards a position interfering with said second tab. 11. The dispensing machine of claim 10, wherein said second latch contacts said housing and is moved towards a position not interfering with said second tab when said door is moved to said closed position. 12. The dispensing machine of claim 1, additionally comprising at least one additional carousel assembly within said cabinet, wherein a carousel of said additional carousel assembly is rotatable independently from said carousel of said first carousel assembly. 13. A dispensing device, comprising; a housing defining an interior space and an opening to said interior space; a door movable in a first direction relative to said housing from a closed position to a maximum open position, thereby defining an access portion of said opening to permit access to said interior space; a tray disposed at least partially within said interior space and supported for movement relative to said housing, said tray configured to support dispensable items within a plurality of segments of said tray, each of said segments having a first dimension in said first direction; a first stop configured to locate said tray relative to said housing to generally align a selected one of said plurality of segments with said opening and to prevent said tray from moving in said first direction when said door is opened such that said selected one of said plurality of segments remains aligned with said opening; and a second stop configured to make contact with a portion of said tray after opening of said door, so as to limit movement of said door in said first direction to limit a size of said access portion to approximately said first dimension if a corresponding position of said door is less than said maximum open position of said door. 14. The dispensing device of claim 13, wherein said tray is supported for rotational movement relative to said housing. 15. The dispensing device of claim 13, additionally comprising a door lock selectively engageable with said door to prevent movement of said door relative to said housing. 16. The dispensing device of claim 13, additionally comprising a position sensor configured to sense a position of said tray relative to said housing. 17. The dispensing device of claim 13 additionally comprises a divider sensor configured to determine the presence of a divider within said carousel. 18. The dispensing device of claim 13, wherein said plurality of segments are defined by a plurality of dividers, said dividers being separable from said tray to permit an arrangement of said plurality of dividers to be altered, thereby permitting reconfiguration of said segments of said tray. 19. A dispensing machine, comprising: a cabinet; a carousel assembly within said cabinet, said carousel assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior space and an opening to said interior space; a door movable from a closed position to an open position relative to said opening; a carousel supported within said interior space for rotation relative to said housing, said carousel comprising plurality of dividers dividing said carousel into a plurality of segments, one or more of said plurality of segments configured to receive a dispensable item, wherein said plurality of segments comprises: a first segment defining a first angular dimension; and a second segment defining a second angular dimension that is different than said first angular dimension; a first stop coupled to said housing and configured to selectively contact a portion of said carousel to prevent rotation of said carousel in a first direction; a second stop carried by said door; wherein said carousel is movable to a first position in which said first segment is aligned with said opening and said carousel is prevented from rotating in said first direction by said first stop, wherein said door can be opened to expose said first segment and said second stop limits an opening distance of said door to approximately said first angular dimension, and wherein said carousel is further movable to a second position in which said second segment is aligned with said opening and said carousel is prevented from rotating in said first direction by said first stop, wherein said door can be opened to expose said second segment and said second stop limits an opening distance of said door to approximately said second angular dimension.