Vending machine product stabilizer
A vending machine has one or more resilient members placed in each row from which products are vended. As product moves through the row, the product abuts against the resilient member and is forced into an upright and aesthetically pleasing orientation. Further forward movement forces the resilient member out of the path of the product's movement.
1. A vending machine comprising:
a shelf divided into at least two rows separated by a divider;
a product advancement tool associated with a first row of the at least two rows, wherein the product advancement tool is adapted to move product forward in response to a vend command from a customer; and
a resilient member, distinct from the product advancement tool and associated with the first row and adapted to abut product positioned in the first row so as to urge product into an upright position, wherein the resilient member comprises a first vertical surface and a second vertical surface hingedly connected to one another, wherein the first vertical surface is adapted to abut the product, and wherein the first vertical surface and the second vertical surface are connected through a spring hinge and form a triangle shape in a rest position, but flatten to allow passage of product as product is vended, and wherein as product is pushed past the resilient member by force exerted by the product advancement tool, the resilient member slides out of the way as a function of movement of the product, allowing the product to advance past the resilient member, and the resilient member returns to a default position after passage of the product.
2. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein the product advancement tool comprises a spiral vending mechanism.
3. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein the product advancement tool comprises a push plate mechanism.
4. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein the resilient member comprises a spring loaded resilient member.
5. The vending machine of claim 1 further comprising a resilient shield proximate the resilient member and adapted to prevent direct contact between a corner of the resilient member and product.
6. The vending machine of claim 5 wherein the resilient shield is positioned on an upper corner of the resilient member.
7. The vending machine of claim 6 wherein the resilient shield is adapted to cushion the upper corner of the resilient member so that the upper corner does not deform the product.
8. A vending machine comprising:
a shelf divided into at least two rows separated by a divider;
a product advancement tool associated with a first row of the at least two rows, wherein the product advancement tool is adapted to move product forward in response to a vend command from a customer; and
a spring-hinged deformable resilient member, distinct from the product advancement tool and associated with the first row and adapted to abut product positioned in the first row so as to urge product into an upright position, wherein the resilient member comprises a first generally triangular shape in a normal position and a second flattened shape as product is advanced past the resilient member, and wherein as product is pushed past the resilient member by force exerted by the product advancement tool, the resilient member slides out of the way to the second flattened shape as a function of movement of the product, allowing the product to advance past the resilient member, and the resilient member returns to the first generally triangular shape after passage of the product.
9. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the product advancement tool comprises an upright pusher plate.
10. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the resilient member comprises a first vertical surface and a second vertical surface, wherein the first vertical surface is adapted to abut the product.
11. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein the resilient member moves from the default position to a flattened position solely as a function of product passage and returns to the default position after product passage solely as a function of a spring element.
12. The vending machine of claim 8 wherein the resilient member moves from the first generally triangular shape to a flattened shape solely as a function of product passage and returns to the first generally triangular shape after product passage solely as a function of the spring-hinged deformable resilient member.