IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0426388
(2009-04-20)
|
등록번호 |
US-8315733
(2012-11-20)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hales, Jr., Walter
- Panson, Michael
- Foshansky, Leonid
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
An apparatus for distributing at least one product to consumers includes a housing and a plurality of belt conveyors for storing a predetermined quantity of such product. A serving tray is positioned externally to the housing for incrementally receiving one of the predetermined quantity of such prod
An apparatus for distributing at least one product to consumers includes a housing and a plurality of belt conveyors for storing a predetermined quantity of such product. A serving tray is positioned externally to the housing for incrementally receiving one of the predetermined quantity of such product. Another belt conveyor is provided for incrementally obtaining such one of such product and for delivering it to the serving tray. A controller for selectively operating storage and delivery conveyors. A manually operable switch activates the controller to operate the delivery conveyor in order to deliver such one of such product. The apparatus is capable of capturing consumer personal data. Various methods contemplate use of these devices for delivering targeted marketing information, distributing product samples and for cross-marketing products.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for distributing at least one product to consumers, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size;(b) a storage means disposed within said housing for storing a predetermined quantity of such at least one product, said storage
1. An apparatus for distributing at least one product to consumers, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size;(b) a storage means disposed within said housing for storing a predetermined quantity of such at least one product, said storage means includes a frame defining a predetermined plurality of vertically disposed stacks, each of said predetermined plurality of vertically disposed stacks open at a top end thereof and closed at a bottom end thereof, said storage means further includes a predetermined plurality of trays positioned within at least one of said predetermined plurality of vertically disposed stacks, each of said predetermined plurality of trays includes a bottom wall, a back wall, a pair of side walls, each of said pair of side walls having an upstanding elongated rib disposed on an exterior surface thereof and oriented in a substantially horizontal direction when said each tray is positioned within said frame;(c) a serving means positioned within or in a predetermined relationship external to said housing for incrementally receiving one of such predetermined quantity of such at least one product;(d) a delivery means at least partially mounted within said housing for incrementally obtaining such one of such at least one product and for delivering it to said serving means;(e) a control means for selectively operating said delivery means; and(f) an activation means operable by such consumers to enable said control means to operate said delivery means in order to deliver such one of such at least one product. 2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said activation means includes a sensor for sensing a presence of each consumer. 3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes an audio means for soliciting such consumers to receive such at least one product. 4. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes means disposed therein for at least one of heating and cooling such at least one product stored within said housing. 5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said each of said predetermined plurality of trays further includes a front wall. 6. An apparatus for distributing at least one product to consumers, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size;(b) a storage means disposed within said housing for storing a predetermined quantity of such at least one product;(c) a serving means positioned within or in a predetermined relationship external to said housing for incrementally receiving one of such predetermined quantity of such at least one product;(d) a delivery means at least partially mounted within said housing for incrementally obtaining such one of such at least one product and for delivering it to said serving means, said delivery means includes a gripper assembly, means for moving said gripper assembly in a vertical direction, and means for moving said gripper assembly in a horizontal plane, said gripper assembly includes, a pair of vertical side members, a pair of elongated grooves, each of said pair of elongated grooves disposed on an inner surface of a respective one of said pair of vertical side members and sized for receiving said elongated rib therewithin, an electrically operable solenoid having a movable portion thereof connected to each of said pair of vertical side members, a back member, and a pair of guides disposed on an exterior surface of said back member;(e) a control means for selectively operating said delivery means; and(f) an activation means operable by such consumers to enable said control means to operate said delivery means in order to deliver such one of such at least one product. 7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said means for moving said gripper assembly in a vertical direction includes: (a) an elongated hollow frame disposed in said vertical direction;(b) a drive screw mounted in said vertical direction for rotation within said hollow frame;(c) a motor coupled to one end of said drive screw;(d) a drive nut mounted on said drive screw for translation thereabout during rotation thereof, said drive nut having a connection with said back member of said gripper assembly; and(e) a pair of elongated guide tracks mounted on said frame in operative engagement with said pair of guides of said gripper assembly. 8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said means for moving said gripper assembly in said horizontal plane includes: (a) a plate mounted on an upper end of said elongated hollow frame;(b) four first bearing blocks mounted in aligned pairs on an upper surface of said plate;(c) a pair of first drive shafts, each of said pair of first drive shafts mounted in said horizontal plane on an inner surface of a respective side of said housing and received within a pair of said first bearing blocks;(d) a pair of second drive shafts disposed in said horizontal plane transverse to said pair of first drive shafts;(e) a pair of second bearing blocks, each of said pair of second bearing blocks mounted for translation on a respective one of said pair of second drive shafts, wherein each of said pair of first drive shafts having one end thereof attached to one of said pair of second bearing blocks and having an opposed end thereof attached to an opposed one of said pair of second bearing blocks;(f) a pair of belt and pulley assemblies, each of said pair of belt and pulley assemblies having each of a driving puller, an idler puller, a continuous belt enveloping each of said driving and idler pulleys and a connection with a respective one of said pair of second bearing blocks;(g) a third shaft having said driving pulleys mounted in spaced apart relationship thereon for rotation therewith;(h) a first motor assembly having each of a motor, a first pulley mounted on an output shaft of said motor first for rotation therewith, a second pulley mounted on said third shaft for rotation therewith, and a continuous belt enveloping each of said first and second pulleys; and(i) a second motor assembly coupled to said plate. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, further including a belt conveyor having one end thereof extending outwardly past one exterior surface of said housing. 10. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising wheels mounted to a bottom end of said housing (e).
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