Retractable gauge step for flexible multi-depth vending

Abstract

The disclosed invention is a dispensing apparatus and method for dispensing product from a vending machine. In the present invention, the gauging portion of a product dispensing mechanism in a vending machine can be easily configured to accommodate the depth and number of products being dispensed without adding or removing parts, as required by existing product dispensing mechanisms. The present invention provides a sliding gauge step that can be easily extended or retracted to create or eliminate a product gauge step. Thus, the present invention avoids the use of removable parts, which are required in existing vending machines, to configure product dispensing assemblies to vend an array of products.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vending machine, comprising: 
 a housing for storing products to be dispensed;    a product dispensing assembly comprising a dispenser for holding and dispensing products,    wherein the dispenser has an open side and is mounted substantially horizontally within the housing and rotatable about an axis,    wherein the dispenser uses a retractable gauge step adaptable to vend products of various sizes;    a product chute for receiving products when dispensed by the dispenser; and    a motor coupled to the dispenser for rotating the dispenser.    
     
     
         2 . The vending machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the retractable gauge step is substantially permanently affixed to the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         3 . The vending machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the retractable gauge step adaptable to being in a first position where the gauge step is extended to create a gauge step to support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The vending machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the retractable gauge step is adaptable to being in a second position where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The vending machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the retractable gauge step is operable to slide from a first position where the gauge step is extended to create a gauge step to support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly to a second position where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The vending machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the retractable gauge step comprises a plurality of detents operable to hold the gauge step in the first position.  
     
     
         7 . The vending machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the retractable gauge step comprises a plurality of detents operable to hold the gauge step in the second position.  
     
     
         8 . The vending machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the product dispensing assembly has a plurality of cutout slots and the retractable gauge step has a plurality of hooks, wherein the cutout slots and the hooks are coupled such that the gauge step and the dispensing assembly are substantially permanently affixed to each other.  
     
     
         9 . The vending machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the retractable gauge step is further adaptable to being in a plurality of positions where the gauge step is extended to create a plurality of gauge steps to support the products resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The vending machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the retractable gauge step is further adaptable to being in a plurality of positions where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the products resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The vending machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the retractable gauge step is operable to slide from a plurality of positions where the gauge step is extended to create a plurality of gauge steps to support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly to a plurality of positions where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the products resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         12 . A method for dispensing products from a vending machine, comprising the steps of: 
 storing products in a product dispensing assembly;    employing a retractable gauge step for supporting products stored in the product dispensing assembly; wherein the retractable gauge step is adaptable to dispense products of various sizes; and    dispensing products from the dispensing assembly in a sequential manner.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the retractable gauge step is substantially permanently affixed to the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the retractable gauge step adaptable to being in a first position where the gauge step is extended to create a gauge step to support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the retractable gauge step is adaptable to being in a second position where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the retractable gauge step is operable to slide from a first position where the gauge step is extended to create a gauge step to support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly to a second position where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the retractable gauge step comprises a plurality of detents operable to hold the gauge step in the first position.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the retractable gauge step comprises a plurality of detents operable to hold the gauge step in the second position.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the product dispensing assembly has a plurality of cutout slots and the retractable gauge step has a plurality of hooks, wherein the cutout slots and the hooks are coupled such that the gauge step and the dispensing assembly are substantially permanently affixed to each other.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the retractable gauge step is further adaptable to being in a plurality of positions where the gauge step is extended to create a plurality of gauge steps to support the products resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the retractable gauge step is further adaptable to being in a plurality of positions where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the products resting in the product dispensing assembly.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the retractable gauge step is operable to slide from a plurality of positions where the gauge step is extended to create a plurality of gauge steps to support the product resting in the product dispensing assembly to a plurality of positions where the gauge step is retracted such that the gauge step does not support the products resting in the product dispensing assembly.