PNEUMATIC PRODUCT VENDING SYSTEM AND PRODUCT LOADER

摘要

A pneumatic product vending and delivery system (10) is provided which preferably uses an existing product vending machine (24) as a storage and loading device for use in a pneumatic vending and delivery system along with an interface unit (30) in place of the vending machine door. A product dispensing terminal (20, 20a, 20b) is provided that is connected by the delivery tube (26) of a pneumatic conveyor (11) from the storage and loading device, which has a loading mechanism (50) configured to load a product (32) dispensed by the dispensing mechanism into the delivery tube. The pneumatic conveyor includes a back pressure source (220) operable to apply reverse pressure to a product in the delivery tube to gently slow a product approaching the product dispensing terminal through the tube.