Patent ID: 6360140
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A product dispenser with inventory monitoring, the dispenser being communicated with a central control and comprisinga plurality of selection pushbuttons, each selection pushbutton for use by a user to select a dispensable product, a selection confirmation pushbutton for the user confirming selection of a dispensable product that has been previously selected by actuating at least one selection pushbutton, a refrigerating equipment, a first compartment for storing dispensable products and a second compartment for storing dispensable products, the compartments being maintained at different temperatures, a horizontal separating plate which separates the first compartment from the second compartment, a plurality of compartmentalized trays in the first compartment and in the second compartment, an endless conveyor belt in each compartmentalized tray, a plurality of conveyor compartments on each conveyor belt, each of the conveyor compartments for positioning a dispensable product, each conveyor compartment being defined between separators provided on each conveyor belt, a channel into which a selected product among dispensable products is expelled from the conveyor belt carrying the dispensable product selected by means of the selection and confirmation pushbuttons, a box into which the selected product falls from said channel, the box having a frontal access opening extending over a whole front side of the dispenser, through which the selected product may be removed by the user, a closing gate for closing the access opening, a pivotable first strip over the closing gate, the first strip being collapsed when a selected product falls from the channel into the box, and a first sensor means selected from microswitches and photocells, being activated each time a selected product collapses the first strip.