Patent ID: 6929149
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A frozen product vending machine for selectively delivering one of a plurality of frozen products to a customer comprising: an upright style freezer unit having a cooled interior for storing the plurality of frozen products; a product delivery mechanism for selectively removing a frozen product in response to customer selection, said product delivery mechanism having a linear bearing and cross-slide mechanism mounted within said freezer unit for movement in X and Y directions and, for movement along a Z axis direction, said product delivery mechanism including; a hose reel; a length of vacuum hose wound upon said hose reel, said length of hose having an inflow end and an outflow end; a pick-up head coupled to said inflow end of said length of vacuum hose; a vacuum pump mounted in said freezer unit for generating negative pressure; an extension hose coupling an output of said vacuum pump to said outflow end of said length of vacuum hose for directing negative pressure from said pump to said pick-up head to pick up a frozen product from said container by suction; a Z-axis drive motor for driving rotation of said hose reel to unwind and wind said length of vacuum hose for extending and retracting said length of hose along the Z axis direction; and a guide member rotatably connected to said hose reel for aligning said vacuum hose when winding and unwinding, and said guide member being rotatable through approximately 90° from a vertical position to a horizontal position in response to tension exerted on said vacuum hose by said Z-axis drive motor when said vacuum hose is fully wound up on said reel.