Cigar vending machine

Year	Description
1997	Invention patented by Peter T. Michaels and Joseph R. Preston on March 11th, 1997. Abstract: A cigar vending machine provides for the automated vending of cigars which are stored in a humidor area within the machine until being dispensed. The humidor portion of the machine provides for the automatic control of the humidity and at least the minimum temperature therein, to maintain the freshness of the cigars stored therein until they are purchased. The machine may utilize conventional automated currency and credit card acceptance devices, and also utilizes a robotic arm dispensing device which withdraws a given cigar from an appropriate storage area within the humidor, depending upon the selection made by the purchaser. The separate storage areas may be adjusted in size to accommodate different sizes, types, and/or brands of cigars, as desired. The machine operates by accepting an appropriate currency or credit card input by a purchaser, who then makes a selection on a cigar selection panel on the front of the machine. When the selection has been made, the machine automatically opens the lid to the humidor, and the robotic arm travels to a position above the compartment in which cigars of the selected type are stored. The arm withdraws the uppermost one of the selected cigar type, and transfers the selected cigar to a dispensing tray in the front of the machine, which is accessible by the purchaser. The present machine enables cigar smokers to purchase a cigar as desired at any time, without need to visit a tobacco shop or the like during its hours of operation.
1998	Invention patented by Mark Wayne Rawlins on November 26th, 1998. Abstract: A cigar vending machine for selectively dispensing cigars of varying sizes on selection by a user includes a plurality of cigar storage and dispensing containers each of which includes a base plate having an extension portion extending in a first direction, a restraining plate having an edge oriented in the first direction, the restraining plate in spaced, substantially parallel relationship with the base plate, the extension portion extending substantially in the first direction beyond the edge of the restraining plate. An adjuster is provided to adjust the distance between the base plate and restraining plate to conform to the diameter of cigars located between the base plate and restraining plate and an adjustable stop communicates with the extension for preventing movement of the cigars located between the base plate and restraining plate in the first direction, the stop adjustable along the plane of the base plate to change the distance between the stop and an edge plane perpendicular with the base plate and adjacent the edge of the restraining plate, to conform to the diameter of the cigar to be located adjacent the stop. A cigar dispenser moves the selected cigar adjacent the stop, past the stop upon activation by an activator to dispense the selected cigar, upon a selector receiving an input from a user to identify the selected cigar from one of the plurality of containers.
Source: selected by the editor from original sources.

Cigar vending machine

Invention: Cigar vending machine