Patent ID: 8392019

Claim:
A modularized vending machine, retail display, or automated retail store comprising: a central robotic gantry comprising an upright enclosure with a pair of sides and a front and a back, an internal elevator, the elevator comprising a transverse conveyor for moving items laterally, wherein the transverse conveyor comprises a flexible sheet entrained about a pair of spaced apart rollers that are journalled for rotation, the conveyor disposed upon a conveyor tray that is vertically displaceable within said gantry, wherein said conveyor comprises a pair of retractable, product collection wings that open when the elevator is in place to collect items that are dispensed from inventory area(s) in modules placed on either side of the dispensing gantry; at least one inventory cabinet attached to at least one gantry side; at least one door fitted upon the front or back of the gantry, the doors comprising a product vend area; at least one display module proximate said gantry, the display module containing items to be vended, the display module comprising a plurality of physical displays in which items to be vended are visibly housed; a computer for activating and controlling the gantry and said module; software for controlling said computer; a conveyor drive roller; a stepper motor for controlling the conveyor drive roller; and a belt means entrained over pulleys within said gantry for moving the traverse conveyor vertically.