US 11,928,910 B2
Lean vending machine
Emad Jafa, Brewster, NY (US); Xuejun Li, White Plains, NY (US); Ovidiu Butnaru, Brasov (RO); Claudiu Iov, Brasov (RO); Marius Mihaila, Brasov (RO); Jozsef Sandor, Brasov (RO); and Andrei Smitko, Brasov (RO)
Assigned to PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, NY (US)
Filed by PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, NY (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,675.
Application 17/499,675 is a continuation of application No. 16/691,060, filed on Nov. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,170,599.
Application 16/691,060 is a continuation of application No. 15/382,042, filed on Dec. 16, 2016, granted, now 10,490,014, issued on Nov. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0139147 A1, May 5, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G07F 11/42 (2006.01); G07F 11/00 (2006.01); G07F 11/16 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 11/005 (2013.01) [G07F 11/165 (2013.01); G07F 11/42 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vending machine comprising:
a shelf containing a vending product;
a delivery area comprising a rack, an outer door, and a projection mechanically linked to the outer door and protruding through a slot; and
a delivery cup configured to transport the vending product to the delivery area, the delivery cup comprising:
an actuator configured to send a signal to the shelf to dispense the vending product onto the delivery cup,
a sensor configured to sense a presence of the vending product within the delivery cup,
a pinion gear configured to interact with the rack as the delivery cup moves the vending product into the delivery area, and
a pushing surface configured to push the projection to mechanically open the outer door and provide access to the vending product within the delivery area from the exterior of the vending machine.