Patent ID: 6050447
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
An electronic bulk vending machine assembly, comprising:a plurality of bulk vending units, each including a merchandise storage globe, a rotatable merchandise dispensing element associated with said storage globe, a base including a dispensing opening, a electronic locking element capable of a switching between a locked state and a unlocked, rotation-permitting state, a manually actuatable rotatable crank handle assembly drivingly connected to said rotatable merchandise dispensing element and disposed to cooperate with said electronic locking element, a locking element control member in signal communication with said locking element associated with an electronic assembly being manually operable releasably lockably connected to said crank handle assembly for allowing limited rotation of said merchandise dispensing control element for controlled dispensing of merchandise from said storage globe to said dispensing opening;a control unit for transmitting an electronic actuation signal to the electronic locking element to move between said locked state and said unlocked state, said control unit being separate from and in electronic communication with each of said plurality of bulk vending units.