Vendor
The present application provides a product vending module for vending a number of products. The product vending module may include a product row, a product gate positioned about the product row, and a product locking system in communication with the product gate. The product locking system may include a latch and a biased base such that releasing the latch allows the product gate to be opened and one of the number of products to be removed therefrom.
1. A product vending module for vending a number of products, the product vending module comprising:
a product row configured to contain a number of products therein;
a product gate positioned about the product row and rotatable from a closed position preventing access to the number of products to an open position allowing access to one of the number of products while preventing access to a remainder of the number of products, the product gate comprising a biased base; and
a product locking system in communication with the product gate, the product locking system comprising:
a latch releasably engaging the biased base and movable from an engaged position restricting rotation of the product gate to a released position allowing rotation of the product gate;
a solenoid in communication with the latch and configured to move the latch from the engaged position to the released position;
a micro-switch in communication with the biased base and configured to detect rotation of the product gate; and
a control in communication with the solenoid and the micro-switch, wherein the control is configured to activate the solenoid to move the latch from the engaged position to the released position when the micro-switch detects rotation of the product gate.
2. The product vending module of claim 1 , wherein the product row comprises an angled product shelf configured for gravity feeding of the number of products toward the product gate.
3. The product vending module of claim 1 , wherein the product gate further comprises a door extending from the biased base, wherein the door prevents access to the number of products when the product gate is in the closed position, and wherein the door allows access to the one of the number of products while preventing access to the remainder of the number of products when the product gate is in the open position.
4. The product vending module of claim 3 , wherein the door comprises a convex door.
5. The product vending module of claim 3 , wherein the door comprises a transparent door.
6. The product vending module of claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises one or more cam arms releasably engaging the biased base.
7. The product vending module of claim 6 , wherein the biased base comprises one or more cam tracks that cooperate with the one or more cam arms.
8. The product vending module of claim 7 , wherein the one or more cam tracks comprise a plurality of ratchets.
9. The product vending module of claim 1 , wherein the latch is spring biased to the engaged position.
10. The product vending module of claim 1 , wherein the biased base is spring biased to rotate the product gate to the closed position.
11. The product vending module of claim 3 , wherein the door is positioned at least partially between the one of the number of products and the remainder of the number of products when the product gate is in the open position.
12. A method of vending a number of products, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of product vending modules, the plurality of product vending modules each comprising:
a product row containing a number of products therein;
a product gate positioned about the product row and rotatable from a closed position preventing access to the number of products to an open position allowing access to one of the number of products while preventing access to a remainder of the number of products, the product gate comprising a biased base; and
a product locking system in communication with the product gate, the product locking system comprising a latch releasably engaging the biased base and movable from an engaged position restricting rotation of the product gate to a released position allowing rotation of the product gate;
detecting movement of the product gate of one of the plurality of product vending modules;
moving the latch of the one of the plurality of product vending modules to the released position so as to allow rotation of the product gate of the one of the plurality of product vending modules to the open position; and
maintaining the latches of a remainder of the plurality of product vending modules in the engaged position.
13. A vendor for vending a number of products, the vendor comprising:
a plurality of product vending modules, the plurality of product vending modules each comprising:
a product row configured to contain a number of products therein;
a product gate positioned about the product row and rotatable from a closed position preventing access to the number of products to an open position allowing access to one of the number of products while preventing access to a remainder of the number of products, the product gate comprising a biased base; and
a product locking system in communication with the product gate, the product locking system comprising a latch releasably engaging the biased base and movable from an engaged position restricting rotation of the product gate to a released position allowing rotation of the product gate; and
a control in communication with each of the plurality of product vending modules and configured such that upon movement of the product gate of one of the plurality of product vending modules, the control causes the latch of the one of the plurality of product vending modules to move to the released position while the latches of a remainder of the plurality of product vending modules are maintained in the engaged position.
14. The vendor of claim 13 , wherein the product gate further comprises a door extending from the biased base, wherein the door prevents access to the number of products when the product gate is in the closed position, and wherein the door allows access to the one of the number of products while preventing access to the remainder of the number of products when the product gate is in the open position.
15. The vendor of claim 13 , wherein the product locking system further comprises a solenoid in communication with the latch and the control, and wherein the solenoid is configured to move the latch from the engaged position to the released position.
16. The vendor of claim 13 , wherein the product locking system further comprises a micro-switch in communication with the biased base and the control, and wherein the micro-switch is configured to detect rotation of the product gate.
17. The vendor of claim 13 , wherein the latch comprises one or more cam arms releasably engaging the biased base, and wherein the biased base comprises one or more cam tracks that cooperate with the one or more cam arms.