Vending machine door closure mechanism

A vending machine (21) door closure mechanism (20) for providing pivotal movement of the door (52) from a closed position for vending purposes to an open position of approximately 100.degree.-110.degree. wherein the interior of the cabinet is accessible and one or more shelves (27) can be withdrawn, the closure mechanism (20) comprising a plate (66) secured to the top of the cabinet (22) and with a portion (69) extended forwardly beyond the front face (71) of the door (52); a flange (74) secured to the top of the door (52) and underlying the plate (66) with a pin (78) pivotally securing the plate (66) and the flange (74) together; and a panel (79) forming one end of the door (52), the panel (79) forming a relatively movable interlocking relationship at one vertical edge (81) with a corner (82) of the cabinet (22) and having a hinged relationship provided by a hinge ( 91) with an outer corner (70) of the door (52), the end panel (79) movably maintaining its closure position with the door (52) and cabinet (22) while the door (52) is swung openly; the door (52) capable of being swung to an approximate 270.degree. position up against the sidewall (23) of the cabinet (22) due to the temporary removal of a guard plate (93) which normally prevents the closure panel (79) from swinging free and out of its normal interlocking relationship.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates generally to an article vending machine, and 
more particularly to an improved door closure mechanism therefor. 
BACKGROUND ART 
The present invention relates to article vending machines comprising 
generally a cabinet for housing a plurality of vertically stacked, 
generally horizontally disposed and movable trays or shelves for holding 
products to be vended. Each shelf includes a plurality of longitudinally 
extended, parallel helical feeder coils mounted in individual troughs, 
rotation of a coil advancing product interposed between the convolutions 
of the coils to a delivery opening. Each shelf is movable from an inner 
vending position to an outwardly extended position, the shelf extended 
beyond the open face of the cabinet for ease of servicing and loading 
products. 
The machine includes further a door, normally with a glass front insert, 
which door usually carries a product delivery drawer with an anti-theft 
structure, and a coin discharge unit; thus, the door has substantial 
depth. Trim is normally mounted about the face of the door for aesthetic 
purposes. 
With this conventional machine available, several requirements of the 
industry and marketplace place rigid and demanding conditions on the 
design of the machine. A shelf must be pulled out sufficiently far enough 
to load the rear of the shelf with new products. This requires the door to 
be swung sufficiently about its pivot to enable the shelf to clear the 
door structure. The degree of door opening, however, is limited by the 
placement of the machine relative to a wall or other structure, such as 
another vending machine. The consuming public is familiar with a plurality 
of vending machines placed side-by-side in contacting engagement virtually 
from wall to wall in a public or corporate-type lunch room. The close 
proximity of the machines is such that even the depth of the door trim may 
present problems with respect to space limitations. 
Several structural arrangements have been devised in attempts to solve 
these problems, including changing the depths of the door, changing the 
pivot point for the door, and even having a pivot point within the 
vertical trim; however, none of the present structures solve all of the 
problems attendant with fulfilling all of the conditions. For example, one 
solution involved retaining the hinged side wall of the door in place and 
in a coupled engagement with the cabinet corner. This provided, however, 
an opening for the insertion of a pry bar or the like in the coupled hinge 
by thieves, anti-thievery provisions being a necessity in vending machines 
due to their exposure to the public at all times of the day and in many 
non-protected areas. 
Another condition is the capability of the vending machine being moved 
through doors of conventional width. A variety of arrangements have been 
tried, one being to recess the tray area for maneuvering the machine 
through a doorway. Due primarily to the need to limit the degree of 
opening of the door, this type of effort has had only limited success. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to an improved door closure mechanism for a vending 
machine having horizontally movable product vending shelves which require 
partial extraction from the machine for servicing, which vending machine 
door has a depth of sufficient amount to accommodate an anti-theft 
delivery drawer. 
The improved door closure comprises the provision of a pair of pivots for 
hingedly opening the door at one corner of the cabinet, one of the pivots 
being located within an outer stationary pivot and movable arcuately 
inside of and about the stationary pivot relative to the machine. To 
enclose the non-opening end of the door, a movable closure panel is 
provided, one end of which is hingedly connected to a clasp hinge which 
comprises the inner, movable pivot, the other end being free but movably 
interconnected with a corner element of the cabinet, sufficient movement 
being provided for accommodating the arcuate movement of the clasp hinge 
as the door is swung open. 
Guide plates are mounted on the cabinet face for normally maintaining the 
free end of the closure panel in its interlocked position; however, by the 
temporary separation of one of the guide plates, the closure panel is 
freed from its cabinet interlocked condition such that the door can then 
be swung approximately 270.degree. about the stationary pivot to a 
position substantially flush with the adjacent side of the cabinet. This 
places the machine in condition for transportation through narrow doorways 
and the like. When the machine is again located for normal use, upon 
closure of the door and re-engagement of the closure panel with its normal 
interlocking engagement with the cabinet corner element, the separated 
guide plate is re-secured to the cabinet and the entire machine is ready 
for normal vending operation. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a new and unique door closure 
mechanism for a vending machine. 
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved door closure 
mechanism which mechanism for a vending machine of the type shown herein 
will provide for the shelves to be pulled outwardly of the cabinet with 
the door open to not more than 100.degree.-110.degree. from its initial 
closed position. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new door closure 
mechanism for a vending machine of the type shown herein which, when open 
to approximately 100.degree.-110.degree. does not place any obstruction to 
the placement of the machine flush against a like machine, a wall or the 
like. 
Still another object of this invention is to enable the vending machine 
door to be swung open approximately 270.degree. with a minimum of effort, 
thereby rendering the machine much more capable of movement through narrow 
openings. 
It is another object of this invention to achieve all of the aforementioned 
objectives while maintaining the improved door closure mechanism against 
breaking and entering the machine as by a pry bar or the like through the 
door closure mechanism.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings, a novel and unique door closure mechanism is 
illustrated generally at (20) in FIG. 2 as part of a vending machine, 
indicated generally at (21). The vending machine (21) has a cabinet (22) 
open at the front end and with laterally spaced sidewalls (23) and (24), 
an inner sidewall (26) also laterally spaced from opposite sidewall (23) 
to form a cavity for a plurality of horizontally disposed shelves (27) 
each of which carries product (28) (FIGS. 2 and 4) to be vended therefrom. 
Each shelf (27) has a plurality of troughs (29), (31), etc. (FIG. 2) formed 
by dividers (32), and with a helical feeder coil (33) (33') mounted within 
each trough (29), (31). Rotation of a feeder coil (33) by customer 
selection of a selected drive unit (34) for each coil (33) causes 
advancement of a product (28) carried within the convolutions of the coil 
(33) forwardly until discharged beyond the front end (36) (FIG. 4) of a 
shelf, the product (28) falling downwardly for delivery. 
It will be noted that a product dispensing tray or shelf (27) (FIG. 2) 
encompasses substantially all of the horizontal space encompassed 
laterally between the sidewalls (23), (26), and depthwise between the rear 
cabinet wall (37) and the front (38) (FIG. 8) of the cabinet as extended 
between the front corners (39) ahd (41) of the cabinet (22). For example, 
as viewed in FIG. 2, the left side (42) of the shelf (27) is closely 
adjacent and disposed parallel to the left sidewall (23) of the cabinet 
(22). The shelves (27) are movable by the operator from an inner vending 
position completely within the cabinet (22) (FIG. 2) to a position 
extended at least partially outwardly of and through the cabinet front, as 
shown by dotted lines in FIG. 8, the extended position for servicing and 
product loading purposes by the operator. 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, although not a part of this invention, the cabinet 
includes further a grouping of control equipment, including a dollar bill 
validator (43), light emitting diode unit (44) for customer information 
and operator service diagnostic purposes, coin return switch (46), coin 
insert (47) for coin handling mechanism (48). A membrane switch product 
selector panel (49) is provided for product selection purposes, and behind 
which is mounted a microprocessor unit (not shown) for electronically 
selecting the particular product to be vended. The control equipment is 
mounted on a vertically disposed side element (51) which is slidably 
connected to the right sidewall (24) of the cabinet (22), whereby the 
entire aforementioned grouping of control equipment can be slid from a 
stored position (FIG. 8) to an extended position for improved servicing 
purposes. 
The vending machine has further a box-like door unit indicated generally at 
(52), and includes a top panel (53) (FIG. 4), bottom panel (54), solid 
right side panel (56) as viewed in FIG. 2, and a product delivery drawer 
(57) with an anti-theft flap (60). A glass panel (58) is mounted in the 
face of the door (52) and vertically disposed strips of trim (59), (61) 
form the front corners of the door (52) (FIGS. 2 and 5). 
The closure mechanism (20) of this invention is mounted at the top and 
bottom of the cabinet (22) and door (52) and only the top mechanism (20) 
will be described. It includes a flat plate (66) (FIG. 5) secured to the 
top wall (67) of the cabinet (22) by fasteners (68) and a triangular 
portion (69) of which extends forwardly over the top (53) of the door (52) 
at one corner thereof indicated generally at (70) and slightly beyond the 
face (71) thereof. It will be noted the forward edge (72) of the plate 
(66) is slightly forward than the forward face (73) of the adjacent trim 
strip (59). 
Additionally, the closure mechanism (20) includes a flat flange (74) 
secured by fasteners (76) to the top panel (53) of the door adjacent the 
corner (70), and with a portion (77) of the flange (74) extended beneath 
the plate triangular portion (69), the two portions (69) and (77) 
pivotally connected together at (78). The pivot (78) is located slightly 
forwardly of the door face (71) (FIG. 5) and substantially on-line with 
the adjacent cabinet sidewall (23). It will be noted that the pivot (78) 
is slightly forward of the trim strip outer face (73). 
Further, the closure mechanism (20) includes a substantially rectangular 
panel (79) (FIGS. 5-9) having a length substantially equal the height or 
length of the door (52) and forming one end of the door (52). The closure 
panel (79) has a movable interlocking relationship at one side edge (81) 
thereof with an adjacent corner angle portion (82) (FIG. 6) of the cabinet 
(22), and has a hinged relationship at the opposite side edge (83) with an 
outer corner edge (70) of the door (52). By this arrangement, upon 
movement of the door (52) from a closed position (FIG. 5) to an open 
position (FIG. 7), the closure panel (79) is movable relative to the 
cabinet angle portion (82) while maintaining its interlocked relationship 
with the door (52). Further, the closure panel (79) acts at all times as a 
closed end of the door (52) at the hinged end thereof (FIGS. 5-7), and 
prevents normal access to the interior of the cabinet through that end of 
the door (52). 
More particularly, the closure panel (79) in cross-section has a flat 
portion (86) (FIG. 7) extended inwardly from the hinged edge (83), with an 
integral, outwardly facing U-shaped portion (87) extended further 
inwardly, and encompassing the cabinet angle portion (82). The panel flat 
portion (86) extends substantially in-line with the side (23) of the 
cabinet (22). By providing sufficient longitudinal distance between the 
legs (88), (89) of the portion (87), the entire panel (79) may move or 
shift longitudinally back and forth relative to the angle portion (82), 
and due to swinging movement of the door (52). With the hinged connection, 
a strap hinge (91) (FIG. 9) in this instance, forming a second pivot (92) 
(FIG. 6) relative to the first pivot (78), which second pivot (92) is at 
the outermost corner of the door (52) as viewed in FIGS. 5-7, and which 
second pivot (92) lies inside of the first pivot (78) relative to the 
remainder of the cabinet (22) and door (52), it will be readily apparent 
upon swinging movement of the door (52) that the hinged pivot (92) moves 
arcuately about the pivot (78), thus causing longitudinal movement with a 
slight lateral movement of the closure panel (79), all provided by the 
interlocking arrangement of the panel (79) which provides sufficient 
freedom for such movements. 
The closure mechanism (20) provides further for swinging the door (52) to a 
position 100.degree.-110.degree. from its closed position (FIG. 8) such 
that any of the shelves (27) can be moved to their extended position (FIG. 
8) for servicing, such operation provided without manipulating any of the 
components. However, further swinging movement is permitted by removal of 
a lower guard plate (93) (FIGS. 4 and 9), secured to an interior wall (94) 
of the cabinet (22) by fasteners (96), and extended parallel the outer 
wall (23) so as to embrace the U-shaped portion (87) of the closure panel 
(79) (FIG. 6) at all times. Other similar guard plates(97) (FIG. 9) are 
also provided; however, these plates (97) do not extend forwardly 
sufficient to embrace the U-shaped portion (87) enough to prevent its 
swinging completely away from its interlocked arrangement. 
The removal of the lower guard plate (93) thus frees the hinged closure 
panel (79), preventing its being sprung upon opening of the door (52) 
beyond the 100.degree.-110.degree. , and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 the 
door (52) can then be swung to a position wherein it is closeable against 
the outer side of the cabinet wall (23) and substantially flush therewith 
(FIGS. 10 and 11). As illustrated in FIG. 11, by opening up the front of 
the cabinet (22), which has a U-shape due to the inset nature of the 
shelves (27), and by swinging the door (52) to the fully open position 
wherein it extends the width of the cabinet (22) while only increasing the 
depth slightly at one end, the entire vending machine (21) is readily and 
easily moved through a doorway (98) more narrow than the width or length 
of the closed machine (21).