Anti-pilfering device for a vending machine
View Patent ↗A vending machine includes a storage/display region, a dispensing chamber including a product access opening, and an anti-pilfer device that prevents unauthorized removal of products from the storage/display region through the product access opening. A delivery door is provided which can be shifted from a closed position to an open position to enable the removal of products from the dispensing chamber. The anti-pilfer device includes a plate coupled to a lower portion of the delivery door. When the delivery door is moved from the closed position, the anti-pilfer plate shifts, over a guide element, into a position that prevents products from being withdrawn from the storage/display area. Preferably, the storage/display region and dispensing chamber are separated by a product door, with the anti-pilfer plate preventing the product door from opening when the delivery door is shifted from the closed position.
1. A method for use with a vending machine comprising a product storage area, a product dispensing chamber from which a customer may retrieve a vended product, and a passage from the product storage area to the product dispensing chamber through which a vended product travels during vending, the method comprising:
configuring an anti-pilfer plate to move, in response to and concurrently with shifting of a product access door from a closed position blocking customer access to the product dispensing chamber to an open position allowing customer access to the product dispensing chamber, wherein the product access door has an upper end and a lower end and the anti-pilfer plate is pivotally coupled to at least one point at the lower end of the product access door, from a first position leaving at least a portion of the passage unobstructed to allow passage of a vended product from the product storage area to the product dispensing chamber to a second position wherein the anti-pilfer plate obstructs the passage,
wherein movement of the product access door from the closed position to the open position laterally shifts the anti-pilfer plate in a direction parallel to a major surface of the anti-pilfer plate across the passage.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anti-pilfer plate is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the product access door.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a guide element guiding the anti-pilfering plate for movement between the first and second positions.
4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
enabling sliding of the anti-pilfering plate upon the guide element.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the vending machine is a glass-front vending machine.
6. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising a providing a product door moveable by a vended product traveling through the passage.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the anti-pilfer plate projects from the lower portion of the product access door upwardly and rearwardly into the dispensing chamber.
8. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the guide element is a rod.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the rod projects substantially perpendicularly from a side portion of the dispensing chamber.
10. A system, comprising:
a product storage area of a vending machine, a product dispensing chamber of the vending machine from which a customer may retrieve a vended product, and a passage from the product storage area to the product dispensing chamber through which a vended product travels during vending;
a product access door configured to move from a closed position blocking customer access to the product dispensing chamber to an open position allowing customer access to the product dispensing chamber, wherein the product access door has an upper end and a lower end; and
an anti-pilfer plate pivotally coupled to at least one point at the lower end of the product access door, wherein the anti-pilfer plate is configured to move simultaneously with shifting of the product access door from a first position leaving at least a portion of the passage unobstructed to allow passage of a vended product from the product storage area to the product dispensing chamber to a second position wherein the anti-pilfer plate obstructs the passage, wherein movement of the product access door from the closed position to the open position laterally shifts the anti-pilfer plate in a direction parallel to a major surface of the anti-pilfer plate across the passage.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the anti-pilfer plate is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the product access door.
12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a guide element guiding the anti-pilfering plate for movement between the first and second positions.
13. The system to claim 12 , wherein the anti-pilfering plate slides upon the guide element.
14. The system to claim 12 , wherein the vending machine is a glass-front vending machine.
15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a product door moveable by a vended product traveling through the passage.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the anti-pilfer plate projects from the lower portion of the product access door upwardly and rearwardly into the dispensing chamber.
17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the guide element is a rod.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the rod projects substantially perpendicularly from a side portion of the dispensing chamber.
19. A method for use with a vending machine comprising a product storage area and a product dispensing chamber, the method comprising:
in response to a customer selection, delivering an item from the product storage area to the product dispensing chamber; and
in response to movement of a product access door providing customer access to the item within the product dispensing chamber from a closed position to an open position, wherein the product access door has an upper end and a lower end, moving an anti-pilfer plate pivotally coupled to the lower end of the product access door to obstruct an opening through which items pass during delivery from the product storage area to the product dispensing chamber, wherein movement of the product access door from the closed position to the open position laterally shifts the anti-pilfer plate in a direction parallel to a major surface of the anti-pilfer plate across the opening.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the anti-pilfer plate is pivotally mounted to a lower edge of the product access door.