Abstract: A vending machine includes a cabinet having a product storage zone and a product delivery mechanism that transports a selected product to a consumer. The vending machine includes a door assembly pivotally mounted relative to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the product storage zone. The door assembly includes an outer, exposed surface and an inner surface that are spaced to define an inner door zone including a vertical drop zone that terminates in a delivery area. A portal is formed in the inner surface of the door assembly and leads from the product storage zone into the door zone. A discharge element is provided on the inner surface of the door assembly and cooperates with the product delivery mechanism to dispense the selected product through the portal as the product delivery mechanism moves past the portal.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a cabinet having a product storage zone and a product delivery mechanism that transports a selected product to a consumer. The vending machine includes a door assembly pivotally mounted relative to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the product storage zone. The door assembly includes an outer, exposed surface and an inner surface that are spaced to define an inner door zone including a vertical drop zone that terminates in a delivery area. A portal is formed in the inner surface of the door assembly and leads from the product storage zone into the door zone. A discharge element is provided on the inner surface of the door assembly and cooperates with the product delivery mechanism to dispense the selected product through the portal as the product delivery mechanism moves past the portal.

Abstract: A magazine vending machine provides a plurality of vending mechanisms in a series of rows and columns in a glass front cabinet. Each vending mechanism includes a magazine dispensing mechanism for individually dispensing customer selected magazines and a pusher plate assembly that can be locked in a rear most loading position to allow the operator to fill each vending mechanism with magazines. The magazine dispensing mechanism includes a microprocessor and sensor arrangement which determines the height of magazine dispensed from the magazine vending mechanism and makes adjustments to the magazine dispensing mechanism operation according to the height of the magazine.

Abstract: Access panel and method of manufacture. The access panel is mounted on a vending machine for movement between open and closed positions and normally closes the opening to a product retrieval area. Advertising indicia is provided behind a front face of the access panel to prevent damage to the indicia. The access panel is also tamper resistant and may be changed only by authorized personnel. The advertising indicia is encapsulated between a front panel and back panel of the access panel.

Abstract: The thermally regulated storage container of the present invention comprises a cabinet housing with an one open face. A self-sealing and self aligning cover provides an environmental seal between an insulated storage area within the cabinet housing and an external environment. A modular environmental control unit is removably installed within the cabinet. This unit can control temperature, pressure, humidity or any other environmental condition. A ducting system within the cabinet mates with the environmental control unit. An environmental monitoring system monitors internal conditions of the storage container and provides an input to a control system operable to direct the modular environmental control. This ensures that the desired internal conditions are maintained.

Abstract: A vending machine having a self-contained self-aligning refrigeration unit, a temperature sensing probe positioned in front of the machine behind a glass panel for sensing the temperatures in the machine near the product to be vended and having a monetary unit which slides in and out of the cabinet and rotates for easy access.

Abstract: A modular vending machine for dispensing a variety of different sized products with at least one array received within a cabinet, wherein the array is made up of a plurality of storage chambers with a dispensing mechanism disposed at the bottom of each chamber. The cabinet can receive any number of arrays which in turn can receive any number of storage chambers. The modular vending machine further includes a sensing device received within a receiving trough for confirming that a product has actually been dispensed. The dispensing mechanism includes a solenoid actuated plunger wherein the plunger controls the movement of a toggle member which is movable between a blocking position and a dispensing position so that only a single product is dispensed.