Vending machine for dispensing refrigerated and unrefrigerated foods

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a vending machine permitting the dispensing of refrigerated product and unrefrigerated product from a single machine; the provision of such vending machine which is suitable for locations having space limitations; the provision of such vending machine which permits the independent and separate dispensing of refrigerated and unrefrigerated product; the provision of such vending machine which partially cools product in the unrefrigerated section of the vending machine; the provision of such vending machine which has a single selection control for choosing refrigerated and/or unrefrigerated product; and the provision of such vending machine which is economically feasible and commercially practical.
Briefly described, a vending machine of the present invention is for dispensing refrigerated and unrefrigerated foods.
The vending machine includes a housing having a refrigerated storage and dispensing area for the refrigerated foods separate from an unrefrigerated storage and dispensing area for the unrefrigerated foods.
The vending machine also includes a device contained in the housing for cooling the refrigerated foods in the refrigerated storage and dispensing area.
The vending machine also includes a common receiving device adjacent the refrigerated and unrefrigerated storage and dispensing areas for receiving dispensed foods from either area.
The vending machine further includes a device for selecting one of the refrigerated foods or unrefrigerated foods to be dispensed to the common receiving device and a device responsive to the selecting device for dispensing the selected food to the common receiving device.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.