GB1321961A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

1321961 Dispensing articles MICROMATIC SYSTEMS Ltd 7 Feb 1972 5668/72 Heading A4T [Also in Division B8] A dispenser for articles, e.g. articles of food, comprises a set of individual horizontal conveyors leading at one set of ends to a common horizontal conveyor 26 leading to an outlet of the dispenser, and a respective vertically displaceable rack associated with each individual conveyor and holding a vertical stack of articles above the conveyor, the arrangement being such that on step-wise downward movement of a selected rack, the lowermost article of the stack is deposited on the respective individual conveyor and passes to the dispenser outlet via the individual conveyor and the common conveyor. The dispenser may feed articles to a micro-wave oven. The stacks may be formed by plates sliding on the smaller flanges of asymmetrical I-beams 71, the plates carrying prongs which pass through holes in plates 22 as they pass the level of the conveyor. The conveyors are formed of a single loop of wire, horizontal runs thereof forming the conveyor surfaces. The racks may be displaceable by a wire drive Fig.7, (not shown). The dispenser may be refrigerated, and have a glass front. The dispensing may be coin-controlled, and selection made by push buttons. The activating circuits of the dispenser may be in the same circuit as those of the micro-wave oven, so that dispensing cannot take place unless the oven is on. Micro-switches may be provided at each end of the movement of the rack, to prevent overrun, and, at the bottom, to light a "column empty" sign. Micro-switches are also provided to stop descent of the rack when an article is deposited on the conveyor. Time delays and photo-electric cells may be provided to ensure that articles do not follow too closely. A solenoid-actuated door may also be provided between the dispenser and the oven.