Patents by Inventor Joshua Robert Powell
Joshua Robert Powell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20110054676Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
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Patent number: 7837058Abstract: A product delivery system for a vending machine includes first and second guide rails and a carriage rail. The guide rails are fixedly mounted in the vending machine spaced from and parallel to each other and extend along respective first and second axes. The carriage rail extends along a third axis and includes first and second ends that are slidably connected to the respective ones of the first and second guide rails. A carrier member is slidably mounted to the carriage rail for movement along the third axis. A first drive belt is coupled to the carriage rail and a first drive motor to selectively shift the carrier member along the third axis. A second drive belt, extending in multiple axes, is connected to each of the first and second ends of the carriage rail and a second drive motor. The second drive motor selectively shifts the carriage rail along the first and second axes upon driving the second drive belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Alan Collins, Paul Hayward Kelly, Aron Phillip Lewis, Charles Wayne Percy, Joshua Robert Powell, William E. Roe
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Patent number: 7831335Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2009Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
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Patent number: 7684893Abstract: A vending machine incorporates a product support and dispensing system including an oscillator and an adjustable bail cap. The oscillator is pivotally mounted at a lower portion of one of a plurality of stack areas provided within the vending machine. The oscillator includes a product retention zone having first and second staging regions, each of which has upper and lower holding elements for retaining a product containers in pre-vend positions. The adjustable bail cap is detachably secured to the oscillator and includes an arcuate intermediate portion adapted to selectively support the product containers. The adjustable bail cap can be selectively repositioned to allow the product support and delivery system to accommodate a wide range of container sizes.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2003Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Dixie-Narco, Inc.Inventors: Paul Hayward Kelly, Joshua Robert Powell, Edmund Scott Richardson, John T. Samson, Michael E. Stevens
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Publication number: 20090210087Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
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Patent number: 7480543Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2007Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Dixie-Narco, Inc.Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
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Patent number: 7255246Abstract: A vending machine includes a vend sensor for detecting a completion of a vend operation. The vend sensor includes an electronic circuit connected to first and second sound elements positioned on opposing sides of a product delivery chute of the vending machine. The first sound element directs a sound beam across the product delivery chute where it is received by the second sound element. During a vend operation, a product container is guided to the product delivery chute to be dispensed to a consumer. As the container passes through the product delivery chute, the sound beam is interrupted, thereby signaling the completion of a vend operation. Each of the first and second sound elements is provided with a cone that focuses the sound beam so as to limit interruptions stemming from outside sound sources.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2003Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Dixie-Narco, Inc.Inventors: Dexter V. Bautista, Thomas Roger Meinardi, Joshua Robert Powell
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Patent number: 7100795Abstract: A vending machine includes an adjustable channel assembly for varying the depth of a product stack area within the vending machine. Preferably two adjustable channel assemblies are mounted to a column wall to support a rear spacer wall that defines a back portion of the stack area. The rear spacer wall is selectively movable fore-to-aft in order to permit the stack area to be customized in order to accommodate various sized bottles and cans.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Paul Hayward Kelly, Aron Philip Lewis, Joshua Robert Powell, Edmund Scott Richardson, John T. Samson
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Publication number: 20040108793Abstract: A vending machine includes an adjustable channel assembly for varying the depth of a product stack area within the vending machine. Preferably two adjustable channel assemblies are mounted to a column wall to support a rear spacer wall that defines a back portion of the stack area. The rear spacer wall is selectively movable fore-to-aft in order to permit the stack area to be customized in order to accommodate various sized bottles and cans.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Paul Hayward Kelly, Aron Philip Lewis, Joshua Robert Powell, Edmund Scott Richardson, John T. Samson
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Publication number: 20040108326Abstract: A vending machine incorporates a product support and dispensing system including an oscillator and an adjustable bail cap. The oscillator is pivotally mounted at a lower portion of one of a plurality of stack areas provided within the vending machine. The oscillator includes a product retention zone having first and second staging regions, each of which has upper and lower holding elements for retaining a product containers in pre-vend positions. The adjustable bail cap is detachably secured to the oscillator and includes an arcuate intermediate portion adapted to selectively support the product containers. The adjustable bail cap can be selectively repositioned to allow the product support and delivery system to accommodate a wide range of container sizes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Paul Hayward Kelly, Joshua Robert Powell, Edmund Scott Richardson, John T. Samson, Michael E. Stevens
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Publication number: 20040104646Abstract: A hinged front gate assembly includes a plurality of wire retaining elements pivotally secured across a vending machine through a plurality of hinge units for movement between a product retention position and a product loading position through a swing radius defined by the hinge units. When the front gate is shifted to the product retention position, the retaining elements can impinge upon and shift product containers into proper alignment. The front gate assembly can be automatically shifted through closure of a main door, with the door either directly engaging cammed hinges of the front gate assembly or indirectly through a gate pusher attached to the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Paul Hayward Kelly, Joshua Robert Powell, Edmund Scott Richardson, John T. Samson, Michael E. Stevens