US 11,688,224 B2
Vending machine for hot packaged food
Wing Chi Stephen Chan, Hong Kong (CN); Jun Chen, Hong Kong (CN); and Sing Ng, Hong Kong (CN)
Assigned to Kamakura Foods Limited, Hong Kong (CN)
Filed by Kamakura Foods Limited, Hong Kong (CN)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/301,580.
Prior Publication US 2022/0327885 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. G07F 11/48 (2006.01); G07F 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 11/48 (2013.01) [G07F 17/0078 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vending machine, comprising:
a storage and dispenser unit comprising plural dispensing trays arranged in an array for storing one or more packaged foods, a frame, and a carrier structure, wherein:
each individual dispensing tray comprises a pivotable gate and a slideway inclined by a tilting angle from a horizontal axis;
the carrier structure comprises:
a carrying arm having an engaging feature;
an engaging mechanism for actuating the pivotable gate; and
a collection mechanism configured to receive the packaged food from the individual dispensing tray, wherein the collection mechanism comprises a first lever arm and a second lever arm, both disposed on the carrying arm;
the engaging mechanism is configured to move the carrying arm towards the individual dispensing tray such that the engaging feature actuates the pivotable gate from a locked position to an unlocked position;
the packaged food is prevented from sliding down when the pivotable gate is at the locked position;
the packaged food is slidable relative to the individual dispensing tray when the pivotable gate is at the unlocked position;
the first lever arm is rotatable between an upright position and a flat position;
the first lever arm at the upright position stops a subsequent packaged food from sliding down to the carrying arm; and
the first lever arm is rotated to the flat position when the engaging feature moves away from the pivotable gate.