Modular vending machine for packaged goods

摘要

The Novel Modular Vending Machine for Packaged Goods allows consumers to purchase packaged goods without an attendant present. The invention uses two or more conveyor assemblies to store and transfer packaged goods and primarily uses gravity to transfer the packaged goods from the storage location to the customer. When a vend is initiated, a dispensing drum rotates and places a packaged item on a delivery system for transportation to the customer. The remaining packaged goods move into position for the next vend. When the lower conveyor assembly is empty, an upper conveyor assembly is lowered into position to transfer the remaining packaged goods to the dispensing drum. The apparatus may be configured in a system comprised of multiple modular units controlled by a single user interface.