Patent ID: 7422128
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A carousel vending machine, comprising in combination: a housing; a carousel located within said housing, said carousel adapted to rotate within said housing; said carousel having a plurality of separate cells, each of said cells located adjacent a portion of a wall of said housing; said cells substantially isolated from each other; a door in said housing, said door sized to allow access to only a single cell of said carousel within said housing; wherein a carousel rotator is provided, said carousel rotator adapted to rotate said carousel to align different cells of said carousel with said door, said rotator adapted to be selectively lockable; wherein said rotator is adapted to be locked when said door is open, such that only items within a cell aligned with said door can be accessed; wherein said carousel includes a cap overlying said cells, said cap including a plurality of pins thereon extending up from said cap, said rotator including an advance arm adapted to engage at least one of said pins of said carousel and rotate while adjacent at least one of said pins of said carousel to cause said carousel to rotate along with said arm; and a pawl mounted to said housing, said pawl allowing said pins to pass in a first direction but to preclude passage of said pins in an opposite direction, such that said pawl keeps the carousel moving in only a single direction.