| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 221135000 | WITH ARTICLE TREATMENT | 26 |
| 20090014460 | MOBILE SELF-CONTAINED POWER VENDING STATION AND METHOD - A system for charging a power source of an electronic device includes a mobile self-contained power vending station that includes a central processor, a payment processing device, a DC power source, a DC to AC power inverter, and an AC outlet. The central processor, after detecting a valid payment from the payment processing device activates the DC to AC power Inverter thereby providing electricity to the power source of the electronic device via the AC outlet. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20130020347 | Strip Dispenser - A strip dispenser ( | 01-24-2013 |
| 20140061220 | Anti-Septic Dispensing Device - An anti-septic dispensing device allows items, such as gloves, to be reliably removed one at a time from a container while limiting the risk for contamination of the items and/or transmission of infectious agents to the items during removal. The device has a plurality of panels that define a space for receiving one or more containers. One panel contains an aperture aligned with an opening in the container received in the space. A flexible sheet is arranged surrounding the aperture in the one panel. The flexible sheet includes a passage that provides reach-in access to the items. The anti-septic dispensing device includes an antimicrobial component on the flexible sheet and/or the panels. The antimicrobial component limits the potential for transmission of infections agents during the item removal process. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140312052 | Medicine Supply Apparatus - A tablet supplying portion of a medicine supply apparatus includes: a tablet supplying portion body including a supply cell; a bottom plate; and a bottom plate supporting member. A second end portion of the bottom plate pivotally moves about a first end portion of the bottom plate supported by the tablet supplying portion body, whereby a lower opening portion of the supply cell is opened and closed. The bottom plate supporting member can restrict a pivotal movement of the bottom plate. The tablet supplying portion body and the bottom plate supporting member are relatively movable in a horizontal direction. The bottom plate pivotally moves between a state where the lower opening portion is blocked from opening and an opened state, along with this relative movement. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20160045397 | Medicine Supply Apparatus - A tablet supplying portion of a medicine supply apparatus includes a tablet supplying portion body including a supply cell, a bottom plate, and a bottom plate supporting member. A lower opening portion of the supply cell is opened and closed by the bottom plate. The bottom plate supporting member can restrict a pivotal movement of the bottom plate. The tablet supplying portion body and the bottom plate supporting member are relatively movable in a horizontal direction. The bottom plate pivotally moves between a state where the lower opening portion is blocked from opening and an opened state, along with this relative movement. In a state where the bottom plate closes the lower opening portion, at least part of an upper surface of the bottom plate is located higher, whereas a lower surface in a periphery of the lower opening portion is located lower. | 02-18-2016 |
| 221150000 | With cooling or heating | 21 |
| 20090008404 | DISPENSER RELATED TECHNOLOGY - A dispenser and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed. The dispenser includes a body defined with a passage for movement of a content supplied from a supplier, and a guide member separably coupled to the body, to guide the content to an outside of the body. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20100140286 | PORTABLE BEVERAGE MACHINE - The beverage vending machine comprises a beverage storage area, a mechanism to dispense beverages, a solar photovoltaic panel, a battery, and a refrigeration unit. The energy gathered by the solar photovoltaic panel is stored within the battery, and a self-contained refrigeration unit is operable to cool the beverage storage area. The beverage vending machine operates without an external source of electricity. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20110006074 | DISPENSER - A dispenser automatically dispenses beverage cans. A housing has a conveyor along which cans are conveyed by gravity to a removal opening. A dispensing flap is on the removal opening and can be pivoted between a closed position, in which it prevents the removal of products through the removal opening, and a removal position. The dispensing flap has two trough-shaped receptacles lying at right angles to the conveyor section for one can, and is pivotal such that in the closed position a can is conveyed from the conveyor section into the first receptacle positioned to the inside of the housing, removal of the can from the first receptacle being prevented. In the removal position the can rolls from the first receptacle into the second receptacle, at the same time a new can is prevented from being conveyed from the conveyor into the first receptacle. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110132921 | VENDING MACHINE IMPROVEMENT - A vending machine system includes a control module for controlling a cooling system. The cooling system, which includes an evaporator, may omit a heating element for defrosting the evaporator. In operation, the control module cycles an evaporator fan in conjunction with a compressor based on a required set temperature to help keep products within a specified range. In an embodiment, the evaporator fan is turned on and off at substantially the same time as the compressor is turned on and off. In another embodiment, there is a predetermined delay after the compressor is turned on and off before the evaporator is respectively turned on and off. Other variations are contemplated. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20120043345 | PASSENGER VEHICLE-FOR-HIRE VENDING MACHINE WITH REFRIGERATION - A refrigerated vending system for installation in a taxi cab is provided. The taxi cab has a driver area, a front passenger chair, a divider, and a rear passenger salon. The front passenger chair has a surface facing the rear passenger salon. The system of the invention adds a housing having an interior compartment configured to include at least a plurality of items therein and an exterior structurally adapted to seat against the surface of the front passenger chair that faces the rear passenger salon and proximal to the divider. A refrigerator is operative to cool the interior compartment of the housing. A vending control system is operative to respond to an actuation by dispensing one of the plurality of items from the interior compartment for access within the rear passenger salon. The housing so provided can be accommodated while optimally preserving the driver area and the rear passenger salon. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20130015198 | BEVERAGE CONTAINER DISPENSING APPARATUS - A beverage dispensing apparatus is shaped like the torso of a sports figure with appropriate head gear. The head gear pivots between an open and closed position. Opening the head gear permits access to beverage containers stacked in rows in a dispensing chamber within the apparatus. A mechanical lifting mechanism is coupled to the head gear. The lifting mechanism lifts a new row of beverage containers upward for access as the head gear is pivoted closed. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130284758 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE ZONE(S) IN REFRIGERATED VENDING MACHINE - An automated vending machine that can be selectively configured to include one or several temperature zones. A single refrigeration system and universal interior allows easy and economical assembly into a one, two, or three temperature zone machine. Thermal breaks and dividers are used to partition zones, when needed. The basic vending machine cabinet, dispensers, and controls are not changed between configurations. In one aspect, a universal air duct can be used for all three configurations, with minor changes. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130341344 | Bagged Ice Vending Machine - A bagged ice vending machine where a drive motor is energized causing conveyors to move, the conveyors are designed to move in opposite directions so that the product will move to the end of that conveyor and drop to the conveyor below, which will force the last bag on the bottom conveyor to fall into the vending chute, activating the ice vended sensor, and slide into the vending hopper, the product can then be accessed by the customer through the vended product access door. A drive chain is configured on each conveyor chain sprocket so that when the drive motor is energized the conveyors will move in opposing directions. This movement indexes the product so that as each item reaches the end of the conveyor it will fall to the conveyor below. Each conveyor will only move the product one position for each product dispense cycle. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140061221 | VENDING MACHINE WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vending machine includes a rack, and a temperature control system. The rack includes a rear plate. The temperature control system is secured to the rack and includes an evaporator. The evaporator includes an installation box, a plurality of fins, and a fan. The plurality of fins is secured to the installation box. The fan is secured to the installation box and inclined to the plurality of fins, and an acute angle is defined between an air outlet of fan and the rear plate. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140124527 | VENDING MACHINE FOR FRESH PRODUCE - An automated produce department has a housing at least partially enclosing a display area and a window for viewing the display area. A plurality of produce supports each support a plurality of packages of produce in a vertical stack. The produce supports are disposed in a horizontal array such that the supports cooperate to display produce as a horizontal display viewable through the viewing window. Each of the produce supports have a vertically adjustable platform such that the platforms may be adjusted to position an uppermost package of produce in each of the vertical stacks at a display level generally in a display plane, and the uppermost packages are viewable through the viewing window. A retrieval system retrieves a package of produce from any of the produce supports and delivers the package to an output area. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140183212 | VENDING MACHINE WITH TEMPERATURE-CONTROL DEVICE - A vending machine in which the internal temperature can be locally and remotely controlled and set includes an input device, a temperature control device, and a main control board. The input device inputs a temperature value. The main control board includes a control module, a setting module, and a storing module. The setting module receives and sets the temperature value. The control module controls the temperature control module to adjust temperature of the vending machine according to the set temperature. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140312053 | AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE - A controller, when a normal cooling operation is being performed, forward-drives a lower-side and an upper-side in-box blower fans, thereby causing internal air cooled by an evaporator to circulate within a commodity storage box in such a way that it enters a rear face duct through a lower-side opening and is discharged from an upper-side opening, and when a cold-maintaining operation is being performed, stops driving the lower-side and the upper-side in-box blower fans, and when a cooling recovery operation is being performed, forward-drives the lower-side in-box blower fan and reverse-drives the upper-side in-box blower fan, thereby causing internal air cooled by the evaporator to enter the rear face duct through the lower-side opening and causing internal air to enter the rear face duct through the upper-side opening, and also causing internal air entered the rear face duct to be discharged from the intermediate opening. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140339251 | Refrigerated Dispensing Machine - A refrigerated dispensing machine comprising: includes a refrigerated compartment having shelves adapted to hold items, and including a path along which the items can move through the refrigerated compartment to a dispensing outlet; a pick-up compartment located adjacent the dispensing outlet and separated from the refrigerated compartment by a door at the dispensing outlet; and a trigger that activates a release mechanism to dispense an item, wherein upon activation the release mechanism allows an item to dispense into the pick-up compartment and prevents a subsequent item from being dispensed. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20150129606 | Vending Machine, Especially for Frozen Products - The proposed vending machine is comprised of a cooling chamber with a sectional cover with flaps, a gripping device with fingers mounted in the head, an extension arm touching sensor, a “stop” sensor with an on-off switch, a shutdown switch, a guiding holder and a fixing plate. All of the elements are mounted axially on the telescopic extension arm and its housing. The sectional cover of the cooling chamber is comprised of at least two flaps that can rotate along one of the sides of the sectional cover (open and close) and that are built into the frame of the sectional cover of the cooling chamber. Each flap is precisely situated over the row of products in the cooling chamber and is equipped with an independent drive. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20100252566 | Systems for dispensing bedding materials into cages for laboratory animals - The present invention is directed to dispensers of bedding materials for laboratory animal cages. According to one embodiment of a dispensing unit, materials are drawn into a storage chute by a vacuum and dispensing is accomplished in a dispenser comprising a plurality of dispensing chutes having dispensing openings through which material is dispensed into cages. While in a first position, a material directing gate allows the materials to be dispensed through one of the dispensing chutes into a first number of cages, and through another one of the dispensing chutes into a second number of cages while in a second position. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum from the vacuum blower is utilized to remove dust from the dispensing area where material is dispensed into cages. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for aligning, indexing and drying laboratory animal cages which have already been cleaned in a cleaning station. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a programmable controller which advantageously facilitates the programming of automated control of the dispensing system. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110139809 | Automated hot food vending machine for pre-packaged food articles - An automated pre-packaged hot food vending machine is equipped with an unattended microwave cooking and vending system that is capable of quickly cooking a large variety of frozen or refrigerated pre-packaged food items that utilizes a gravity delivery system, which reduces the amount of parts needed to operate the vending machine thereby reducing the overall machines malfunction and repair. The overall invention of the automated, pre-packaged hot food vending machine achieves its objectives by automatically cooking and delivering a variety of pre-packaged food items, such as pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, desserts, etc. that were previously frozen or refrigerated within the vending machine, to users of the machine that purchase and select such items. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20120255967 | Stocking System and Collection Device, and Method for its Utilization - A stocking and vending machine may have first and second linear conveyor systems which are initially parallel and aligned so that an object may be transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system. The machine may be configured to move the second conveyor system so that it carries the object to a position for distribution thereof. The first conveyor system may feature three parallel and side-by-side conveyor belts wherein the outer belts extend farther in the direction of the second conveyor system than the middle belt. Correspondingly, the second conveyor system may feature three parallel and side-by-side conveyor belts wherein the outer belts extend less in the direction of the first conveyor system than the middle belt so that the middle belt may extend between the outer belts of the first conveyor system when in said initial position. The conveyor systems may be driven by separate drivers. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20140175112 | VENDING MACHINE WITH HEATING BOX - A vending machine supplying heated goods includes a cabinet and an output delivering device mounted to the cabinet. The cabinet defines a product storing area, a receiving area, and a pickup opening communicating with the receiving area. The output delivering device includes a delivering strap and a heating box mounted to the delivering strap. The heating box receives and heats one of the plurality of products and the delivering strap is then driven to move to drive the heating box to move to a position in which the product drops out of the heating box into the receiving area for the customer to pick up. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20100025422 | Food Automate and Method for Automatically Supplying and Heating Food Packages - The invention relates to a method for automatically supplying and heating individual portions stored in a chilled or frozen condition, and a food automate ( | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100230431 | IMPROVED FOOD DISPENSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A food dispensing machine and method of use are provided that include first and second food portions that are separately stored, loaded, conveyed, and heated. A first food portion, such as a meat product, is dispensed from a chain of portions in a sealing film via a first dispensing device, which slices the film and expels the food portion. The first food portion is heated in a first heating device. The second food portions, such as buns, are stored within containers attached to a film so as to form a chain, are dispensed by a second dispensing device, which separates each container from the film for placement onto a platform. The platform conveys the second food portions to a second heating device, and the heated first and second food portions are then combined and dispensed. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20150014345 | AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE - An automatic vending machine includes a hot warehouse, a cold warehouse, a refrigeration system for cooling the cold warehouse, a heat system, and a refrigeration system. The heat system includes a ventilation device, a first heat dissipating device, a second heat dissipating device, and a valve. The control system includes a control module for controlling the heat system. The valve is rotatable by the control module to allow the ventilation device to communicate with the refrigeration system and the hot warehouse. The first heat dissipating device and the second heat dissipating device are controllable by the control module, for allowing hot air generated by the refrigeration system to flow through the ventilation device into the hot warehouse. | 01-15-2015 |
| 221150000 | Heating and cooling combined | 3 |
| 20090008404 | DISPENSER RELATED TECHNOLOGY - A dispenser and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed. The dispenser includes a body defined with a passage for movement of a content supplied from a supplier, and a guide member separably coupled to the body, to guide the content to an outside of the body. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20100140286 | PORTABLE BEVERAGE MACHINE - The beverage vending machine comprises a beverage storage area, a mechanism to dispense beverages, a solar photovoltaic panel, a battery, and a refrigeration unit. The energy gathered by the solar photovoltaic panel is stored within the battery, and a self-contained refrigeration unit is operable to cool the beverage storage area. The beverage vending machine operates without an external source of electricity. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20110006074 | DISPENSER - A dispenser automatically dispenses beverage cans. A housing has a conveyor along which cans are conveyed by gravity to a removal opening. A dispensing flap is on the removal opening and can be pivoted between a closed position, in which it prevents the removal of products through the removal opening, and a removal position. The dispensing flap has two trough-shaped receptacles lying at right angles to the conveyor section for one can, and is pivotal such that in the closed position a can is conveyed from the conveyor section into the first receptacle positioned to the inside of the housing, removal of the can from the first receptacle being prevented. In the removal position the can rolls from the first receptacle into the second receptacle, at the same time a new can is prevented from being conveyed from the conveyor into the first receptacle. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110132921 | VENDING MACHINE IMPROVEMENT - A vending machine system includes a control module for controlling a cooling system. The cooling system, which includes an evaporator, may omit a heating element for defrosting the evaporator. In operation, the control module cycles an evaporator fan in conjunction with a compressor based on a required set temperature to help keep products within a specified range. In an embodiment, the evaporator fan is turned on and off at substantially the same time as the compressor is turned on and off. In another embodiment, there is a predetermined delay after the compressor is turned on and off before the evaporator is respectively turned on and off. Other variations are contemplated. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20120043345 | PASSENGER VEHICLE-FOR-HIRE VENDING MACHINE WITH REFRIGERATION - A refrigerated vending system for installation in a taxi cab is provided. The taxi cab has a driver area, a front passenger chair, a divider, and a rear passenger salon. The front passenger chair has a surface facing the rear passenger salon. The system of the invention adds a housing having an interior compartment configured to include at least a plurality of items therein and an exterior structurally adapted to seat against the surface of the front passenger chair that faces the rear passenger salon and proximal to the divider. A refrigerator is operative to cool the interior compartment of the housing. A vending control system is operative to respond to an actuation by dispensing one of the plurality of items from the interior compartment for access within the rear passenger salon. The housing so provided can be accommodated while optimally preserving the driver area and the rear passenger salon. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20130015198 | BEVERAGE CONTAINER DISPENSING APPARATUS - A beverage dispensing apparatus is shaped like the torso of a sports figure with appropriate head gear. The head gear pivots between an open and closed position. Opening the head gear permits access to beverage containers stacked in rows in a dispensing chamber within the apparatus. A mechanical lifting mechanism is coupled to the head gear. The lifting mechanism lifts a new row of beverage containers upward for access as the head gear is pivoted closed. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130284758 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE ZONE(S) IN REFRIGERATED VENDING MACHINE - An automated vending machine that can be selectively configured to include one or several temperature zones. A single refrigeration system and universal interior allows easy and economical assembly into a one, two, or three temperature zone machine. Thermal breaks and dividers are used to partition zones, when needed. The basic vending machine cabinet, dispensers, and controls are not changed between configurations. In one aspect, a universal air duct can be used for all three configurations, with minor changes. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130341344 | Bagged Ice Vending Machine - A bagged ice vending machine where a drive motor is energized causing conveyors to move, the conveyors are designed to move in opposite directions so that the product will move to the end of that conveyor and drop to the conveyor below, which will force the last bag on the bottom conveyor to fall into the vending chute, activating the ice vended sensor, and slide into the vending hopper, the product can then be accessed by the customer through the vended product access door. A drive chain is configured on each conveyor chain sprocket so that when the drive motor is energized the conveyors will move in opposing directions. This movement indexes the product so that as each item reaches the end of the conveyor it will fall to the conveyor below. Each conveyor will only move the product one position for each product dispense cycle. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140061221 | VENDING MACHINE WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vending machine includes a rack, and a temperature control system. The rack includes a rear plate. The temperature control system is secured to the rack and includes an evaporator. The evaporator includes an installation box, a plurality of fins, and a fan. The plurality of fins is secured to the installation box. The fan is secured to the installation box and inclined to the plurality of fins, and an acute angle is defined between an air outlet of fan and the rear plate. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140124527 | VENDING MACHINE FOR FRESH PRODUCE - An automated produce department has a housing at least partially enclosing a display area and a window for viewing the display area. A plurality of produce supports each support a plurality of packages of produce in a vertical stack. The produce supports are disposed in a horizontal array such that the supports cooperate to display produce as a horizontal display viewable through the viewing window. Each of the produce supports have a vertically adjustable platform such that the platforms may be adjusted to position an uppermost package of produce in each of the vertical stacks at a display level generally in a display plane, and the uppermost packages are viewable through the viewing window. A retrieval system retrieves a package of produce from any of the produce supports and delivers the package to an output area. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140183212 | VENDING MACHINE WITH TEMPERATURE-CONTROL DEVICE - A vending machine in which the internal temperature can be locally and remotely controlled and set includes an input device, a temperature control device, and a main control board. The input device inputs a temperature value. The main control board includes a control module, a setting module, and a storing module. The setting module receives and sets the temperature value. The control module controls the temperature control module to adjust temperature of the vending machine according to the set temperature. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140312053 | AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE - A controller, when a normal cooling operation is being performed, forward-drives a lower-side and an upper-side in-box blower fans, thereby causing internal air cooled by an evaporator to circulate within a commodity storage box in such a way that it enters a rear face duct through a lower-side opening and is discharged from an upper-side opening, and when a cold-maintaining operation is being performed, stops driving the lower-side and the upper-side in-box blower fans, and when a cooling recovery operation is being performed, forward-drives the lower-side in-box blower fan and reverse-drives the upper-side in-box blower fan, thereby causing internal air cooled by the evaporator to enter the rear face duct through the lower-side opening and causing internal air to enter the rear face duct through the upper-side opening, and also causing internal air entered the rear face duct to be discharged from the intermediate opening. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140339251 | Refrigerated Dispensing Machine - A refrigerated dispensing machine comprising: includes a refrigerated compartment having shelves adapted to hold items, and including a path along which the items can move through the refrigerated compartment to a dispensing outlet; a pick-up compartment located adjacent the dispensing outlet and separated from the refrigerated compartment by a door at the dispensing outlet; and a trigger that activates a release mechanism to dispense an item, wherein upon activation the release mechanism allows an item to dispense into the pick-up compartment and prevents a subsequent item from being dispensed. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20150129606 | Vending Machine, Especially for Frozen Products - The proposed vending machine is comprised of a cooling chamber with a sectional cover with flaps, a gripping device with fingers mounted in the head, an extension arm touching sensor, a “stop” sensor with an on-off switch, a shutdown switch, a guiding holder and a fixing plate. All of the elements are mounted axially on the telescopic extension arm and its housing. The sectional cover of the cooling chamber is comprised of at least two flaps that can rotate along one of the sides of the sectional cover (open and close) and that are built into the frame of the sectional cover of the cooling chamber. Each flap is precisely situated over the row of products in the cooling chamber and is equipped with an independent drive. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20100252566 | Systems for dispensing bedding materials into cages for laboratory animals - The present invention is directed to dispensers of bedding materials for laboratory animal cages. According to one embodiment of a dispensing unit, materials are drawn into a storage chute by a vacuum and dispensing is accomplished in a dispenser comprising a plurality of dispensing chutes having dispensing openings through which material is dispensed into cages. While in a first position, a material directing gate allows the materials to be dispensed through one of the dispensing chutes into a first number of cages, and through another one of the dispensing chutes into a second number of cages while in a second position. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum from the vacuum blower is utilized to remove dust from the dispensing area where material is dispensed into cages. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for aligning, indexing and drying laboratory animal cages which have already been cleaned in a cleaning station. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a programmable controller which advantageously facilitates the programming of automated control of the dispensing system. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110139809 | Automated hot food vending machine for pre-packaged food articles - An automated pre-packaged hot food vending machine is equipped with an unattended microwave cooking and vending system that is capable of quickly cooking a large variety of frozen or refrigerated pre-packaged food items that utilizes a gravity delivery system, which reduces the amount of parts needed to operate the vending machine thereby reducing the overall machines malfunction and repair. The overall invention of the automated, pre-packaged hot food vending machine achieves its objectives by automatically cooking and delivering a variety of pre-packaged food items, such as pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, desserts, etc. that were previously frozen or refrigerated within the vending machine, to users of the machine that purchase and select such items. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20120255967 | Stocking System and Collection Device, and Method for its Utilization - A stocking and vending machine may have first and second linear conveyor systems which are initially parallel and aligned so that an object may be transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system. The machine may be configured to move the second conveyor system so that it carries the object to a position for distribution thereof. The first conveyor system may feature three parallel and side-by-side conveyor belts wherein the outer belts extend farther in the direction of the second conveyor system than the middle belt. Correspondingly, the second conveyor system may feature three parallel and side-by-side conveyor belts wherein the outer belts extend less in the direction of the first conveyor system than the middle belt so that the middle belt may extend between the outer belts of the first conveyor system when in said initial position. The conveyor systems may be driven by separate drivers. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20140175112 | VENDING MACHINE WITH HEATING BOX - A vending machine supplying heated goods includes a cabinet and an output delivering device mounted to the cabinet. The cabinet defines a product storing area, a receiving area, and a pickup opening communicating with the receiving area. The output delivering device includes a delivering strap and a heating box mounted to the delivering strap. The heating box receives and heats one of the plurality of products and the delivering strap is then driven to move to drive the heating box to move to a position in which the product drops out of the heating box into the receiving area for the customer to pick up. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20100025422 | Food Automate and Method for Automatically Supplying and Heating Food Packages - The invention relates to a method for automatically supplying and heating individual portions stored in a chilled or frozen condition, and a food automate ( | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100230431 | IMPROVED FOOD DISPENSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A food dispensing machine and method of use are provided that include first and second food portions that are separately stored, loaded, conveyed, and heated. A first food portion, such as a meat product, is dispensed from a chain of portions in a sealing film via a first dispensing device, which slices the film and expels the food portion. The first food portion is heated in a first heating device. The second food portions, such as buns, are stored within containers attached to a film so as to form a chain, are dispensed by a second dispensing device, which separates each container from the film for placement onto a platform. The platform conveys the second food portions to a second heating device, and the heated first and second food portions are then combined and dispensed. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20150014345 | AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE - An automatic vending machine includes a hot warehouse, a cold warehouse, a refrigeration system for cooling the cold warehouse, a heat system, and a refrigeration system. The heat system includes a ventilation device, a first heat dissipating device, a second heat dissipating device, and a valve. The control system includes a control module for controlling the heat system. The valve is rotatable by the control module to allow the ventilation device to communicate with the refrigeration system and the hot warehouse. The first heat dissipating device and the second heat dissipating device are controllable by the control module, for allowing hot air generated by the refrigeration system to flow through the ventilation device into the hot warehouse. | 01-15-2015 |
| 221150000 | Heating | 4 |
| 20090008404 | DISPENSER RELATED TECHNOLOGY - A dispenser and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed. The dispenser includes a body defined with a passage for movement of a content supplied from a supplier, and a guide member separably coupled to the body, to guide the content to an outside of the body. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20100140286 | PORTABLE BEVERAGE MACHINE - The beverage vending machine comprises a beverage storage area, a mechanism to dispense beverages, a solar photovoltaic panel, a battery, and a refrigeration unit. The energy gathered by the solar photovoltaic panel is stored within the battery, and a self-contained refrigeration unit is operable to cool the beverage storage area. The beverage vending machine operates without an external source of electricity. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20110006074 | DISPENSER - A dispenser automatically dispenses beverage cans. A housing has a conveyor along which cans are conveyed by gravity to a removal opening. A dispensing flap is on the removal opening and can be pivoted between a closed position, in which it prevents the removal of products through the removal opening, and a removal position. The dispensing flap has two trough-shaped receptacles lying at right angles to the conveyor section for one can, and is pivotal such that in the closed position a can is conveyed from the conveyor section into the first receptacle positioned to the inside of the housing, removal of the can from the first receptacle being prevented. In the removal position the can rolls from the first receptacle into the second receptacle, at the same time a new can is prevented from being conveyed from the conveyor into the first receptacle. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110132921 | VENDING MACHINE IMPROVEMENT - A vending machine system includes a control module for controlling a cooling system. The cooling system, which includes an evaporator, may omit a heating element for defrosting the evaporator. In operation, the control module cycles an evaporator fan in conjunction with a compressor based on a required set temperature to help keep products within a specified range. In an embodiment, the evaporator fan is turned on and off at substantially the same time as the compressor is turned on and off. In another embodiment, there is a predetermined delay after the compressor is turned on and off before the evaporator is respectively turned on and off. Other variations are contemplated. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20120043345 | PASSENGER VEHICLE-FOR-HIRE VENDING MACHINE WITH REFRIGERATION - A refrigerated vending system for installation in a taxi cab is provided. The taxi cab has a driver area, a front passenger chair, a divider, and a rear passenger salon. The front passenger chair has a surface facing the rear passenger salon. The system of the invention adds a housing having an interior compartment configured to include at least a plurality of items therein and an exterior structurally adapted to seat against the surface of the front passenger chair that faces the rear passenger salon and proximal to the divider. A refrigerator is operative to cool the interior compartment of the housing. A vending control system is operative to respond to an actuation by dispensing one of the plurality of items from the interior compartment for access within the rear passenger salon. The housing so provided can be accommodated while optimally preserving the driver area and the rear passenger salon. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20130015198 | BEVERAGE CONTAINER DISPENSING APPARATUS - A beverage dispensing apparatus is shaped like the torso of a sports figure with appropriate head gear. The head gear pivots between an open and closed position. Opening the head gear permits access to beverage containers stacked in rows in a dispensing chamber within the apparatus. A mechanical lifting mechanism is coupled to the head gear. The lifting mechanism lifts a new row of beverage containers upward for access as the head gear is pivoted closed. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130284758 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE ZONE(S) IN REFRIGERATED VENDING MACHINE - An automated vending machine that can be selectively configured to include one or several temperature zones. A single refrigeration system and universal interior allows easy and economical assembly into a one, two, or three temperature zone machine. Thermal breaks and dividers are used to partition zones, when needed. The basic vending machine cabinet, dispensers, and controls are not changed between configurations. In one aspect, a universal air duct can be used for all three configurations, with minor changes. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130341344 | Bagged Ice Vending Machine - A bagged ice vending machine where a drive motor is energized causing conveyors to move, the conveyors are designed to move in opposite directions so that the product will move to the end of that conveyor and drop to the conveyor below, which will force the last bag on the bottom conveyor to fall into the vending chute, activating the ice vended sensor, and slide into the vending hopper, the product can then be accessed by the customer through the vended product access door. A drive chain is configured on each conveyor chain sprocket so that when the drive motor is energized the conveyors will move in opposing directions. This movement indexes the product so that as each item reaches the end of the conveyor it will fall to the conveyor below. Each conveyor will only move the product one position for each product dispense cycle. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140061221 | VENDING MACHINE WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vending machine includes a rack, and a temperature control system. The rack includes a rear plate. The temperature control system is secured to the rack and includes an evaporator. The evaporator includes an installation box, a plurality of fins, and a fan. The plurality of fins is secured to the installation box. The fan is secured to the installation box and inclined to the plurality of fins, and an acute angle is defined between an air outlet of fan and the rear plate. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140124527 | VENDING MACHINE FOR FRESH PRODUCE - An automated produce department has a housing at least partially enclosing a display area and a window for viewing the display area. A plurality of produce supports each support a plurality of packages of produce in a vertical stack. The produce supports are disposed in a horizontal array such that the supports cooperate to display produce as a horizontal display viewable through the viewing window. Each of the produce supports have a vertically adjustable platform such that the platforms may be adjusted to position an uppermost package of produce in each of the vertical stacks at a display level generally in a display plane, and the uppermost packages are viewable through the viewing window. A retrieval system retrieves a package of produce from any of the produce supports and delivers the package to an output area. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140183212 | VENDING MACHINE WITH TEMPERATURE-CONTROL DEVICE - A vending machine in which the internal temperature can be locally and remotely controlled and set includes an input device, a temperature control device, and a main control board. The input device inputs a temperature value. The main control board includes a control module, a setting module, and a storing module. The setting module receives and sets the temperature value. The control module controls the temperature control module to adjust temperature of the vending machine according to the set temperature. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140312053 | AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE - A controller, when a normal cooling operation is being performed, forward-drives a lower-side and an upper-side in-box blower fans, thereby causing internal air cooled by an evaporator to circulate within a commodity storage box in such a way that it enters a rear face duct through a lower-side opening and is discharged from an upper-side opening, and when a cold-maintaining operation is being performed, stops driving the lower-side and the upper-side in-box blower fans, and when a cooling recovery operation is being performed, forward-drives the lower-side in-box blower fan and reverse-drives the upper-side in-box blower fan, thereby causing internal air cooled by the evaporator to enter the rear face duct through the lower-side opening and causing internal air to enter the rear face duct through the upper-side opening, and also causing internal air entered the rear face duct to be discharged from the intermediate opening. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140339251 | Refrigerated Dispensing Machine - A refrigerated dispensing machine comprising: includes a refrigerated compartment having shelves adapted to hold items, and including a path along which the items can move through the refrigerated compartment to a dispensing outlet; a pick-up compartment located adjacent the dispensing outlet and separated from the refrigerated compartment by a door at the dispensing outlet; and a trigger that activates a release mechanism to dispense an item, wherein upon activation the release mechanism allows an item to dispense into the pick-up compartment and prevents a subsequent item from being dispensed. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20150129606 | Vending Machine, Especially for Frozen Products - The proposed vending machine is comprised of a cooling chamber with a sectional cover with flaps, a gripping device with fingers mounted in the head, an extension arm touching sensor, a “stop” sensor with an on-off switch, a shutdown switch, a guiding holder and a fixing plate. All of the elements are mounted axially on the telescopic extension arm and its housing. The sectional cover of the cooling chamber is comprised of at least two flaps that can rotate along one of the sides of the sectional cover (open and close) and that are built into the frame of the sectional cover of the cooling chamber. Each flap is precisely situated over the row of products in the cooling chamber and is equipped with an independent drive. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20100252566 | Systems for dispensing bedding materials into cages for laboratory animals - The present invention is directed to dispensers of bedding materials for laboratory animal cages. According to one embodiment of a dispensing unit, materials are drawn into a storage chute by a vacuum and dispensing is accomplished in a dispenser comprising a plurality of dispensing chutes having dispensing openings through which material is dispensed into cages. While in a first position, a material directing gate allows the materials to be dispensed through one of the dispensing chutes into a first number of cages, and through another one of the dispensing chutes into a second number of cages while in a second position. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum from the vacuum blower is utilized to remove dust from the dispensing area where material is dispensed into cages. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for aligning, indexing and drying laboratory animal cages which have already been cleaned in a cleaning station. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a programmable controller which advantageously facilitates the programming of automated control of the dispensing system. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110139809 | Automated hot food vending machine for pre-packaged food articles - An automated pre-packaged hot food vending machine is equipped with an unattended microwave cooking and vending system that is capable of quickly cooking a large variety of frozen or refrigerated pre-packaged food items that utilizes a gravity delivery system, which reduces the amount of parts needed to operate the vending machine thereby reducing the overall machines malfunction and repair. The overall invention of the automated, pre-packaged hot food vending machine achieves its objectives by automatically cooking and delivering a variety of pre-packaged food items, such as pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, desserts, etc. that were previously frozen or refrigerated within the vending machine, to users of the machine that purchase and select such items. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20120255967 | Stocking System and Collection Device, and Method for its Utilization - A stocking and vending machine may have first and second linear conveyor systems which are initially parallel and aligned so that an object may be transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system. The machine may be configured to move the second conveyor system so that it carries the object to a position for distribution thereof. The first conveyor system may feature three parallel and side-by-side conveyor belts wherein the outer belts extend farther in the direction of the second conveyor system than the middle belt. Correspondingly, the second conveyor system may feature three parallel and side-by-side conveyor belts wherein the outer belts extend less in the direction of the first conveyor system than the middle belt so that the middle belt may extend between the outer belts of the first conveyor system when in said initial position. The conveyor systems may be driven by separate drivers. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20140175112 | VENDING MACHINE WITH HEATING BOX - A vending machine supplying heated goods includes a cabinet and an output delivering device mounted to the cabinet. The cabinet defines a product storing area, a receiving area, and a pickup opening communicating with the receiving area. The output delivering device includes a delivering strap and a heating box mounted to the delivering strap. The heating box receives and heats one of the plurality of products and the delivering strap is then driven to move to drive the heating box to move to a position in which the product drops out of the heating box into the receiving area for the customer to pick up. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20100025422 | Food Automate and Method for Automatically Supplying and Heating Food Packages - The invention relates to a method for automatically supplying and heating individual portions stored in a chilled or frozen condition, and a food automate ( | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100230431 | IMPROVED FOOD DISPENSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A food dispensing machine and method of use are provided that include first and second food portions that are separately stored, loaded, conveyed, and heated. A first food portion, such as a meat product, is dispensed from a chain of portions in a sealing film via a first dispensing device, which slices the film and expels the food portion. The first food portion is heated in a first heating device. The second food portions, such as buns, are stored within containers attached to a film so as to form a chain, are dispensed by a second dispensing device, which separates each container from the film for placement onto a platform. The platform conveys the second food portions to a second heating device, and the heated first and second food portions are then combined and dispensed. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20150014345 | AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE - An automatic vending machine includes a hot warehouse, a cold warehouse, a refrigeration system for cooling the cold warehouse, a heat system, and a refrigeration system. The heat system includes a ventilation device, a first heat dissipating device, a second heat dissipating device, and a valve. The control system includes a control module for controlling the heat system. The valve is rotatable by the control module to allow the ventilation device to communicate with the refrigeration system and the hot warehouse. The first heat dissipating device and the second heat dissipating device are controllable by the control module, for allowing hot air generated by the refrigeration system to flow through the ventilation device into the hot warehouse. | 01-15-2015 |
