Methods and assemblies for changing vending machine sign face graphics

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 6499242
SERIAL NO

09771973

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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Methods and assemblies are described for displaying interchangeable graphics sheets on a display face of a merchandise cabinet such as a vending machine. The interchangeable sheets are stored on spool assemblies disposed within the cabinet and may be either manually or automatically manipulated in order to selectively register different graphics sheets within the display face of the vending machine. In a first embodiment, the graphics sheets have adhesive areas thereon in order to attach an old graphic sheet to a new graphic sheet to unwind the new graphic sheet from the spool assembly and position it into the display field on the face of the vending machine. The old graphics sheet functions as a leader for the new graphics sheet. In a second embodiment, the graphics sheets are provided with tear-off flexible leaders which are utilized to unwind the sheets from the storage spool assemblies and to position the graphics sheet into registry with the display fields on the face of the vending machine. In a third embodiment, an elongated graphics sheet having groups of graphic regions spaced thereon is wound onto a pair of spaced spool assemblies on opposite sides of the display field. A drive mechanism for rotating the spools is provided to selectively position selected ones of the groups of graphics into registry with the display field. A controller for selectively activating the drive mechanism to position the selected groups of graphics in the display field is provided and may include a timer for automatically activating the drive mechanism to change the groups of graphics or a suitable remote control and detector combination in order to selectively change the graphics by remote command signals.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
THE COCA-COLA COMPANYONE COCA-COLA PLAZA ATLANTA GA 30313-2420

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Credle, Jr William S Stone Mountain, GA 90 2259
Rudick, Arthur G Atlanta, GA 119 3486

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