Patents by Inventor Roy S. Steeley

Roy S. Steeley 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).

  • System and method for performing vend operation
    Patent number: 6202888
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for performing vend operations on articles selected by a purchaser. Articles to be dispensed are stored in a storage section, and purchased articles are transferred from the storage section to a vend section. A vend mechanism is provided for rapidly moving a given article from a vend-destined section to the vend section. A helical transfer member holds the articles in the storage section and is rotatable in a dispensing direction to transfer the given article from a position adjacent the vend-destined section to the vend-destined section. The helical transfer member is also rotatable in a reverse direction opposite the dispensing direction. A driver is coupled to each helical transfer member, and is actuable to rotate the helical transfer member in either the dispensing direction or the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Automated Merchandising Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Pollock, Roy S. Steeley, Kyriakos Spentzos