| 摘要 |
An article handling apparatus embodied, for example, as a vending machine, includes a controllably positioned hose-type dispenser for retrieving articles from an article storage area. A first end of the hose receives article securing energy (e.g., suction), and a second end is adapted to secure to and extract a selected article from the storage area. A hose positioning mechanism controllably positions the second end of the hose for retrieving articles from the article storage area. In order to maximize the height of the article storage volume, as well as provide other advantages, the following aspects of the invention are provided: 1) the hose positioning mechanism maintains a constant height during hose positioning, 2) a hose drive means drives the hose in the article extraction direction by passing "THROUGH" the hose positioning mechanism, 3) the hose is constrained for movement between a hose storage area and the hose positioning mechanism so as to move in the same space in which the hose positioning mechanism moves, 4) the hose positioning mechanism carries therein the hose drive means, 5) the hose positioning mechanism may comprise an X-Y, R-Theta, or Scissors arrangement.
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