First in First Out Vending Systems

Abstract

A vending machine for dispensing a number of products. The vending machine may include a transparent panel, a number of visible product columns, a number of non-visible product columns, and a product delivery system.

1 . A vending machine for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
 a transparent panel;   a plurality of visible product columns;   a plurality of non-visible product columns; and   a product delivery system.   
   
   
       2 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of non-visible columns to one of the plurality of visible columns. 
   
   
       3 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one delivery port and wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of visible columns to the at least one delivery port. 
   
   
       4 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of visible columns comprises a plurality of product cell. 
   
   
       5 . The vending machine of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of products cells comprises a plurality of sensors positioned thereabout. 
   
   
       6 . The vending machine of  claim 5 , wherein the product delivery system is activated when one of the plurality of sensors indicates that one of the plurality of cells is empty. 
   
   
       7 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product delivery system comprises a product tray. 
   
   
       8 . The vending machine of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of visible columns comprise a product stop at one end thereof and wherein the product stop comprises a plurality of tines. 
   
   
       9 . The vending machine of  claim 8 , wherein the product tray comprises a plurality of out of phase tines. 
   
   
       10 . The vending machine of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of product baskets and wherein the plurality of product baskets comprise a plurality of basket tines. 
   
   
       11 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product delivery system comprises a pulley system for motion in a plurality of axes. 
   
   
       12 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of visible product columns comprises heated or refrigerated product columns. 
   
   
       13 . The vending machine of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of non-visible product columns comprise ambient product columns or comprise heated or refrigerated product columns. 
   
   
       14 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product delivery system comprises a picking device. 
   
   
       15 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product delivery system comprises a C-clamp device. 
   
   
       16 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein the product delivery system comprises a rotating basket. 
   
   
       17 . A vending machine for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
 a transparent panel;   a plurality of visible product columns;   a plurality of non-visible product columns; and   a product delivery system;   the product delivery system comprising a product tray and a three-dimensional drive system.   
   
   
       18 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of non-visible columns to one of the plurality of visible columns. 
   
   
       19 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one delivery port and wherein the product delivery system delivers one of the number of products from one of the plurality of visible columns to the at least one delivery port. 
   
   
       20 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of visible columns comprise a product stop at one end thereof and wherein the product stop comprises a plurality of tines. 
   
   
       21 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein the product tray comprises a plurality of out of phase tines. 
   
   
       22 . The vending machine of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of visible product shelves comprises a plurality of product baskets and wherein the plurality of product baskets comprises a plurality of basket tines. 
   
   
       23 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein the three-dimensional drive system comprises a pulley system. 
   
   
       24 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of visible product columns comprises heated or refrigerated product columns. 
   
   
       25 . The vending machine of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of non-visible product columns comprise ambient product columns or comprise heated or refrigerated product columns. 
   
   
       26 . A method of dispensing a number of products from a vending machine shelf with a number of product columns, comprising:
 selling down a first column of the number of product columns;   selling down a number of adjacent columns one by one while leaving one or more remaining product columns stocked in part or in full;   restocking the sold down columns; and   selling down the first of the one or more remaining column.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of selling down the rest of the one or more remaining columns one by one until the one or more remaining columns are depleted. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the restocking step comprises pushing in a number of new products from the front of each of the plurality of product columns.