Retrieval systems for vending machines

1 - 173 . (canceled)

174 . A positioning mechanism for use in retrieval and delivery of products in a vending machine having a cabinet and a door cooperatively forming a storage cavity comprising:

a. a pair of Y-rail assemblies mounted in said storage cavity in a generally vertical orientation;

b. an X-rail assembly having a generally horizontal orientation operatively mounted at each end to one of said Y-rail assemblies for movement along said Y-rail assemblies;

c. a first motor assembly for moving said X-rail assembly along said Y-rail assemblies;

d. a carriage operatively mounted to said X-rail assembly for movement along said X-rail assembly;

e. a second motor assembly for moving said carriage along said X-rail assembly; and

f. a torsion spring for assisting said first motor in driving the upward movement of the X-rail assembly on said Y-rail assemblies.

175 . The apparatus of claim 174 wherein said Y-rail assemblies are mounted inside the door of said cabinet.

176 . A positioning and gripping apparatus for retrieving product containers from a support assembly inside the cabinet of a vending machine comprising:

a. a pair of generally vertically oriented support structures provided on opposite sides of said cabinet, each of said structures having a first track located thereon;

b. a generally horizontally oriented elongated cross member having follower assemblies located on both ends for engagement with each of said first tracks;

c. a first motor located on said cross member for simultaneously moving both of said follower assemblies along said first tracks;

d. at least one second track on said cross member and a carriage unit operatively engaged with said second track;

e. a second motor located on said carriage unit for moving said carriage unit along said second track;

f. a gripping mechanism housing having a third track thereon mounted to said carriage;

g. a gripping mechanism mounted in said housing and extendable along said third track in a generally horizontal direction from said housing toward said product support assembly;

h. a third motor located on said gripping mechanism for moving said gripping mechanism along said third track; and

i. a torsion spring on said cross member for assisting said first motor in driving the upward movement of the cross member relative to said generally vertical support structures.

177 . The apparatus of claim 176 wherein a first sensor is provided on said housing for detecting when said gripper has been fully retracted into said housing.

178 . An apparatus for retrieving product containers inside the cabinet of a vending machine comprising:

a. a pair of generally vertically oriented support structures provided on opposite inside edges of a door of said cabinet, each of said structures having a first track located thereon, the positions of each of said first tracks being adjustable relative to its respective support structure;

b. a generally horizontally oriented elongated cross member having follower assemblies located on both ends for engagement with each of said first tracks;

c. a first motor located on said cross member for simultaneously moving both of said follower assemblies along said first tracks;

d. a movement assisting member on said cross member for assisting said first motor in driving the upward movement of the cross member relative to said generally vertical support structures;

e. at least one second track on said cross member and a carriage unit operatively engaged with said second track;

f. a second motor located on said carriage unit for moving said carriage unit along said second track;

g. a gripping assembly attached to said carriage for removing said product container from queues in said cabinet comprising a housing having at least one generally horizontal third track, a base member movably mounted for travel along said third track, and a plurality of independently movable fingers mounted on said base member, said fingers being oppositely positioned along a generally vertical axis for temporary secure engagement with a product container wherein said third track includes a plurality of perforations, and said base includes at least one rotatable sprocket operated by a third motor for engagement with the perforations of said track.

179 . The apparatus of claim 178 wherein said movement assisting member is in the form of a torsion spring.

180 . The apparatus of claim 178 wherein said movement assisting member is in the form of a counter weight.

181 . A method for delivering a product container from inside a vending machine to a user comprising the steps of:

a. moving a horizontally oriented elongated cross member on which a gripping mechanism is provided on a along a pair of generally vertically oriented support structures to horizontally align the gripping mechanism with a product container to be vended, wherein said movement of said horizontally oriented elongated cross member is assisted by a torsion spring provided on said horizontally oriented elongated cross member;

b. moving said gripping mechanism along the length of said horizontally oriented elongated cross member to vertically align said gripping mechanism said product container; and

c. grasping said product container with said gripping mechanism.

182 . A method for positioning a carriage inside a vending machine for alignment with any of a plurality of product queues comprising the steps of:

a. moving a generally horizontally oriented elongated cross member in a Y plane defined by a pair of generally vertically oriented support structures, said cross member being mounted between said support structures and having follower assemblies located at both ends that are movably engaged with each of said support structures, until said cross member is adjacent to a selected product queue, wherein said movement of said horizontally oriented elongated cross member is assisted by a torsion spring provided on said horizontally oriented elongated cross member; and

b. moving a carriage unit along said cross member on an X plane defined by said cross member until said carriage is adjacent to the selected product queue.

183 . The method of claim 182 wherein said carriage unit is provided with a gripper comprising a plurality of closable opposing fingers for grasping a product container at the front of said selected queue, and comprising the additional steps of:

c. extending said gripper in a generally horizontal direction toward said selected queue such that said fingers are located on either side of said product container;

d. moving said gripper down;

e. closing said fingers against said product container; and

f. removing the product container from the queue by retracting the gripper.

184 . The method of claim 183 comprising the additional step of raising said gripper above a retaining lip prior to retracting said gripper.

185 . The method of claim 182 wherein said carriage unit is provided with a gripper comprising a plurality of closable opposing fingers for grasping a product container at the front of said selected queue, and comprising the additional steps of

c. retrieving a product from said queue using said gripper,

d. moving said horizontally oriented cross member and said carriage unit such that said gripper is positioned above a discharge chute, and

e. releasing said product from said gripper.