US 12,243,371 B2
Vending machine
Edward Chen, Shanghai (CN)
Filed by Edward Chen, Shanghai (CN)
Filed on May 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/736,425.
Application 17/736,425 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/568,389, filed on Sep. 12, 2019, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0262191 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. G07F 11/72 (2006.01); G07F 9/00 (2006.01); G07F 9/10 (2006.01); G07F 11/16 (2006.01); G07F 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/0078 (2013.01) [G07F 9/006 (2013.01); G07F 9/105 (2013.01); G07F 11/1657 (2020.05); G07F 11/72 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic vending machine comprising:
a. a control unit;
b. a payment unit, wherein the payment unit is configured to receive payment from a user;
c. a refrigeration unit, wherein the refrigeration unit is a chest freezer having a top lid and a hinge, wherein the top lid is controlled by the control unit, wherein the top lid moves between an open position and a closed position;
d. a food package stored in the refrigeration unit;
e. a picking arm mounted on a picking arm swivel, wherein the picking arm has a pick suction tip that is vacuum driven, wherein the picking arm is controlled by the control unit;
f. a microwave heating unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the picking arm to pick a food package from the refrigeration unit and move it to the microwave heating unit for heating; and
g. a pickup area, wherein the food package moves to the pickup area after being heated, wherein the pickup area has a pickup port for dispensing to a user; wherein the refrigeration unit is mounted on a cold side and the microwave heating unit is mounted on a hot side, wherein the cold side and the hot side are separated by an isolation module, wherein the isolation module is formed as an insulated wall, wherein the insulated wall has a partition door opening formed through the insulated wall, wherein a partition door is mounted to the partition door opening, wherein the picking arm swivel is configured to send the food package through the partition door opening into the microwave heating unit.