Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of monitoring performance of a currency detector such as a coin acceptor or bill validator. Status of the currency detector relative to each item introduced to it is tracked. A ratio of rejected items to accepted items is compiled over a given period of time to create a rejection rate. Rejection rate can be displayed or communicated to another device. The rejection rate can be used to indicate poor operation or malfunction of the currency detector. It may indicate attempts at cheating. It also can be used to attempt to improve performance or adjust or train operation of the currency detector. Analogous techniques can be used to monitor performance of a credit card or proximity card reader.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for promoting voluntary contributions, such as to charitable causes, in association with an automated merchandising machine. The apparatus comprises a collection container with a lockable access door, the container adapted for mounting to an automated merchandising machine and including an opening through which coins or bills can be inserted. Information about the voluntary contribution cause can be displayed on the contribution box and/or the automated merchandising machine. Placement of the box is preferably chosen to promote voluntary contributions from customers of the automated merchandising machine customers. Preferably only the voluntary contribution cause has a key to the collection box.

Abstract: An imposed shelf arrangement for vending tubular products such as cans and the like comprising a tray having a base, a rear panel and a pair of side panels or dividers forming a longitudinally disposed product feed trough having a width equal substantially to twice the length of a tubular product; a helix disposed centrally within said feed trough and adapted to receive a plurality of tubualr products between the convolutions thereof in a staggered relationship whereby the inner end of each tubular product is adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis of said trough; and a drive unit at the rear of the base for rotating said helix whereby to advance said tubular products one by one to the front edge of said base to drop to a delivery position.

Abstract: A dispensing machine having a cabinet; an endless, upright conveyor mounted within the cabinet and having an elliptical-type shape with opposed vertical stretches; a dispensing station formed on a housing for the cabinet and disposed adjacent one of the vertical stretches of the conveyor; a plurality of product carriers each of which has support devices formed on opposite ends thereof; a plurality of arms, each arm mounting a carrier on the conveyor and enabling movement of the carriers in succession past the station; a stabilizer unit rotatably connected to each mounting arm and having a follower, the stabilizer unit adapted to receive the support devices; and a pair of horizontally offset elliptical-type guidepaths with vertical stretches extended parallel the vertical stretches of the conveyor. The dispensing machine comprises further a carrier sensing device mounted on the cabinet for interacting with a cost identification unit mounted on each carrier.

Abstract: An article dispensing machine (10) comprising a cabinet (12) containing a plurality of upstanding columns (14),(15),(16) each of which includes a first serpentine track unit (17) having an upper article receiving end (19) and a lower article dispensing end (21), the first track unit (17) having serpentine track sections overlying each other in contiguous relationship, a second track unit (22) including an upper serpentine section (23) disposed above the first track unit (17) and including also a rear substantially straight, vertically disposed track section (26) connected to the lower end of the upper section (23) and disposed behind said first track unit (17) and having a lower article dispensing end (27), and article dispensing control units (28),(29) at the lower dispensing ends of said first and second track units, each control unit selectively pushing and lifting an article (18),(18') to be dispensed for aiding the release thereof.

Abstract: In a vending machine shelf arrangement, wherein a combined helix unit and drive unit are vertically slidably mounted within a vertical slot formed in a rear panel mounted on the base of the shelf, an assembly for preventing accidental axial separation of a helix unit from a drive unit which includes a first disc element mounted at the rear end of the helix unit adjacent the rear panel and frictionally gripping a drive connection of the helix unit with the drive unit, and a second lip element upstanding on the shelf base and also adjacent the rear panel, the disc element interposed between the lip element and the rear panel thereby preventing normal separation of the helix unit from the drive unit.

Abstract: Dispensing shelves for cabinet-type vending machines having a plurality of different sized helical feeder coils all on the same level for advancing articles interposed between the convolutions of the coils to a delivery opening. The width of the troughs holding the coils is variable on the same shelf level and the placement of the helical feeder coil within a trough is variable. The shelf is of either a sheet metal or a molded, high-density plastic type material. Drive units for the helical coils are removably mounted for operation without fastening devices and are adjustably laterally mounted within a single trough. A unique shelf support rail unit maintains the shelf side panels of the vending machine against lateral movement and bending. Further, a unique door closure member maintains the shelves in their vending positions at all times when the door is closed.

Abstract: An electric water heater (10) for a vending unit has an elongated cylindrical housing (11) defining a water heating chamber divided lengthwise into a large inlet subchamber (24) and a small outlet subchamber (27) by a panel (26) extending the entire length of the heating chamber and supported by the arms (32, 33) of a lengthwise disposed U-shaped thickened embossment (14) integrally formed with the inner surface of the housing, with the U-shaped embossment (14) and panel (26) defining the outlet subchamber (27). Cold water enters the inlet subchamber (24) under control of a float valve unit (17) and is heated to a predetermined temperature by an electric heater (19) therein. The heated water then flows through a restricted opening (31) in the panel (26) into the outlet subchamber (27) for discharge from a fluid outlet (13). The smaller outlet subchamber (27) restricts convection action therewithin such that the hot water stored therein retains its heat longer than that stored in the inlet subchamber (24).

Abstract: A vending machine (21) door closure mechanism (20) for providing pivotal movement of the door (52) from a closed position for vending purposes to an open position of approximately 100.degree.-110.degree.

Abstract: A vending machine (20) comprises a housing (21) and a pair of product vending shelf units (24, 26) mounted within the housing (21) in vertically stacked relation. Each shelf unit has a front end higher than the rear end thereof. A product selection mechanism (29) is mounted within the housing (21) for actuation of each of the shelf units (24,26) to vend a product (90) forwardly therefrom in response to a customer selection. An anti-theft product delivery drawer assembly (31) is mounted below the lower shelf (26) within the housing (21) and receives the vended product in an inner stored position, and exposes the product for retrieval by the customer upon the customer pulling the drawer outwardly, a drawer cover plate (153) slidable outwardly over the drawer (151) as the drawer is pulled outwardly for preventing access to the interior of the vending machine.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus having a tray for holding a plurality of containers to be dispensed and having an elevated shelf for receiving containers which is inclined to cause such containers to move towards the front end of the tray. A stop is disposed at the front of the tray for contacting an intermediate portion of the frontmost one of the containers for preventing the containers from being dispensed until such operation is desired. An ejector is operatively attached to the front of the tray for selectively pushing the frontmost one of the containers over the top of the stop and then resetting itself such that the next frontmost container will be ready to be dispensed when desired.

Abstract: Product storing and dispensing apparatus for the improved handling of products such as gum and mints is provided and especially suited for use in multi-product, selective vending machines of types that store and dispense a variety of products from compartmented drawers, which must be withdrawn for practical reloading with products. The improved apparatus conserves space and minimizes the weight of the structure to be moved during loading by substituting for the conventional drawer unit a lower assembly that carries the operating mechanism for selective product dispensing and may remain within the machine during loading and an upper assembly that merely receives products, is shiftably mounted on the lower assembly and alone need be withdrawn during loading.