GB1588233A

GB1588233A - Vending machine apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1588233A
Application number: GB3147177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Roboserve Ltd
Current assignee: Roboserve Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-04-15

Description

(54) VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS (71) We, ROBOSERVE LIMITED, a British Company, of 19 Aintree Road, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to vending machines for dispensing articles, in particular but not essentially for dispensing beverage cups, and to apparatus for such machines.

In vending machines for dispensing a number of different articles, for example cups containing a number of different beverages pre-packed therein, it is necessary to provide a number of dispensing devices, one for each variety of beverage or article to be dispensed from the machine, and to ensure operation of each dispensing device as well as to provide an indication that all of the cups or other articles of any one dispensing device have been sold out. A stack of articles, e.g. cups containing beverage, of one type is supported by support means associated with each dispensing device. Normally a plurality of separate stacks and dispensing devices, one for each type of article are arranged side by side and this occupies all the available volume of the vending machine.Conventional machines have space for only one stack of each variety and this means the machines must be frequently serviced to avoid disenchantment by a customer who requires a type of article or beverage which has sold out.

The present invention provides a vending machine comprising a front wall, a plurality of first support means arranged side by side adjacent the front wall. each for supporting an upright stack of articles to be dispensed, for each first support means a dispensing means for dispensing articles from a stack supported by the associated first support means, for each first support means a reserve stack support means located rearwardly and above the associated first support means for supporting a reserve stack of articles to be dispensed and for each first support means a transfer means for automatically transferring a stack of articles from the associated reserve support means to the first support means when the stack of articles supported by that first support means falls below a predetermined level, said transfer means substantially using gravity to effect the transfer.

By redesigning the dispensing means we have achieved space for the reserve stacks without increasing the volume of vending machine or decreasing the number of dispensing units.

More than one reserve support means may be associated with each first support means, and each will have a transfer means operable in appropriate sequence to transfer its reserve stack to the associated first support means.

With advantage a detector is arranged to detect when there is only one or not more than a few articles left in each first support means and to cause operation of the associated transfer means. The detector may be similar to but placed above that conventionally used to indicate that a particular article is sold out and when the reserve supply has been transferred and used another detector will act to indicate that the article is sold out.

Each reserve stack support means preferably includes a plate pivotally mounted along or adjacent one edge and retaining means normally retaining it in a generally horizontal position in which it will support a reserve stack of articles above it. Each transfer means includes means for releasing the retaining means so that the plate pivots down to a tilted position so that articles will slide down the plate under gravity to the associated first support means. Preferably an inclined chute extends between the plate and the associated first support means.

One embodiment of the support and dispensing means including reserve stack support means for a vending machine will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of support and dispensing means for a vending machine, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the drive for the dispensing part of the device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view on an enlarged scale of the reserve stack support and transfer means of the device of Figure 1, and, Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic alternative electrical circuits for operating the device of Figures 1 to 3.

The vending machine has a plurality of support means each for supporting a stack of articles to be dispensed. The support means support the stacks side by side adjacent to front wall 11 of the vending machine. Each support means has an associated, dispensing device, reserve stack support means and transfer means. Since these are all the same only one support means and its associated mechanisms is described and illustrated.

A support chassis 12 supports three plates 14, 15, 16 for sliding horizontal movement guided therein. A first support mechanism of the device supports a stack of articles, in this case cups 10, in a position from which they are to be dispensed one by one to a position accessible by a user of the machine.

The first support mechanism comprises the lower one 14 of the three sliding plates and an open ended vertical tubular guide 13.

The guide 13 is supported on the top of the chassis and extends for only part of the height of the stack of cups, at its rear side not more than 5 cups, and is positioned adjacent the front wall 11 of the vending machine. The plate 14 is slidable between a retaining position shown in Figure 1 in which it extends beneath the tubular enclosure and a withdrawn dispensing position in which a cup or article of the stack can drop downwardly (Figure 3). In this example the articles are nested cups 1() (each containing a powdered beverage) made of polystyrene and having no rim formation. The upper of the three sliding plates 15 is a cup grip member which has a curved leading edge ISA shaped to engage the outer upright surface of a cup around about a third of its perimeter at a position below its rim as seen in Figures 2 and 3.The plates 14 and 15 are spaced so that when the bottommost cup of a stack is supported on the plate 14 the plate 15 will be at a level to engage the second from bottom cup.

A stripper mechanism 17 is provided at each side of the assembly, only one being shown in Figure 1 since the mechanism is similar at the other side. Each stripper mechanism comprises a cranked arm 18, 19 pivotally mounted adjacent the bend on a horizontal pivot pin 20. The forward end 18 of the arm is mounted on a rod 21 depending from the plate 15 and can slide vertically relative thereto. The rear end 19 of the crank arm is pivotally connected at 24 to a link 25, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the forward end of the third horizontally slidable plate 16.

A motor 30 is mounted on the chassis 12 and has a vertical output shaft 31 which it is arranged to drive in the direction of arrow 32. The motor is arranged to revolve this shaft one revolution for each cup to be dispensed. Mounted on the shaft are two cams 33 and 34. Cam 33 carries two rollers 35 and 36 at opposite sides respectively while cam 34 carries a drive pin 37 and also drives a microswitch.

In the rest position before a dispensing operation, the cup grip plate 15 is withdrawn and the stripper mechanisms are out of contact with any cup since they are withdrawn by the rods 21 depending from the plate 15. The retaining plate 14 is beneath a stack of cups 10 which are supported thereon and also supported or guided by the tubular container 13. When a dispensing operation is initiated the motor output shaft turns and initially the plate 15 is released and moves to the position shown in Figure 2 until it engages the outer upright surface of the second from bottom cup in the stack and prevents that and the cups above it from falling. This also moves the guide rods 21 and the stripper mechanisms to a position in line with the lowest cup's largest diameter i.e. just above its rim. Next the plate 14 starts to move to its withdrawn position (to the right in Figure 2) and at the same time the slide plate 16 is moved to the right and this in turn swings the front position 18 of the stripping arms downwards by action of the links 25. The noses 27 of the stripper arms follow and at the same time turn inwards to push the cup to be dispensed downwards. by this time the plate 14 having moved clear of the stack. The plates 14 and 16 will now return under spring tension.

Further motion of the motor shaft will pull the cup grip plate 15 back allowing the cup stack to fall onto the plate 14. The movement is not linear and timing the sequence is important to successful stripping.

The cup guide 13 contains two microswitches 41 and 42 one above the other acting as a transfer switch and a sold out switch respectively. These switches detect when there is no cup present at their level, i.e.

when the stack to be dispensed has only four and only three cups remaining supported on the plate 14. The transfer switch 41 is arranged to operate a transfer solenoid 43.

A reserve cup supporting means, shown in Figure 3 in its supporting position, is located above the motor 30 and thus is displaced upwardly and rearwardly from the front of the machine relative to the first support means comprising the plate 14 and tube 15. The reserve stack supporting means comprises a plate 44 pivotally mounted about a horizontal pin 45 parallel to and spaced forwardly from its rear edge 49 and retained in a horizontal position by a catch comprising a hooked end 46 of an arm 47 pivotally mounted about a horizontal pivot 48 and urged by a spring 50 to its retaining position engaging the edge 49 shown in Figure 3. The hooked end 46 is connected by a link 51 to the operating arm 52 of the solenoid 43. A reserve stack of cups 10A is supported on the platform 44.The platform 44 has a plate 53 extending upwardly therefrom above the pivot pin 45 to contact the rear of the reserve stack.

A reserve stack guide mechanism extends upwardly from the platform 44. This mechanism comprises arms 54 connected to the front corners 55 of the platform and having their upper ends connected to generally horizontal side arms 56 which carry a pusher bar 58 extending upwardly from the arms 56 and then round the back of the reserve stack.

When the solenoid 43 is energised the catch 46 moves backwards due to the straightening effect of the link 51 and arm 47, allowing the platform 44 to pivot down and the reserve stack of cups to slide downwards towards the tube 13. To ensure a parallel transfer the arms 54 and pusher 58 move forwards and keep the stack vertical, assistance to this motion being given by the plate 53. The front wall 11 of the casing may also guide the reserve stack.

Cups released from the platform 44 will slide into the tubular guide 13 where they will be supported in the dispensing position by the first support means. A sloping slightly dished chute 59 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear edge of guide 13 ensures that the cups do not catch on the edge of the guide 13. Re-setting of the reserve stack mechanism is by manually lifting the platform 44 and ensuring that it is retained by the catch 46. The pusher bar 58 will be re-set by the action of the arms 54.

Considering now the electrical control circuits of Figures 4 and 5, the drive motor 30 of each dispensing unit for dispensing one type of beverage or article has a motor switch 60 operated by a cam. Each motor switch has a terminal L which is connected on line 61 to the live power supply from the motor switch of the previous dispensing unit and a terminal NC which is connected on line 62 to the motor switch of the next dispensing unit. In the standby position the motor switch is held in the NC position by the motor cam and therefore has no supply to its winding. A motor start signal is receivable on line 63, for example when a coin has been inserted in the vending machine and the selector button pressed indicating the particular article to be dispensed by that dispensing unit.Line 63 is connected to the terminal NO of the motor switch and to the drive motor, and from the drive motor to the transfer solenoid 43. The other side of the transfer solenoid is connected to a transfer switch 64 which is operable by the microswitch 41 so that it is open when cups are in the main stack, i.e. in the guide 13 but is made when only one or two cups remain in the main stack. A sold out switch 65 is made when cups are in the stack and is opened by the microswitch 42 when no or only one cup remains. The sold out switch supplies a neon indicator and a signal to the control unit preventing further operation of that dispensing unit.A signal from the control unit on line 63 starts the motor 30 and also drives the cam putting the motor switch 60 into action, holding supply via the live feed from the previous unit on line 61 and at the same time disconnecting supply from any subsequent unit on line 62 and the control unit thereby clearing any credit. The motor will continue to turn until it is stopped by the motor switch falling into the dwell of the cam.

In Figure 4 the transfer switch 64 is connected back to the motor start signal line 63 so that a supply is available to the transfer system only during a cycle of operation of the motor 30. When a stack of cups is consumed it allows the transfer switch 64 to make and therefore during the next vending cycle the transfer solenoid 43 will release the reserve cup stack, being switched off when the action is completed.

The solenoid will still be operated when no reserve is available but only until the column goes into a sold out situation.

In the arrangement of Figure 5 the transfer switch is connected to the supply through the sold out switch so that the transfer system can operate at any time when the cups are not holding the transfer switch open. This will only operate the solenoid until the reserve supply has been transferred, when the transfer switch will again open and remove supply to the solenoid.

The dispensing mechanism is the subject of our application (Serial No. 1582289) No.

31472/77 which claims a dispensing device for a vending machine comprising a support member for supporting a stack of articles to be dispenced one by one, a retaining member movable between a retaining position in which it will contact the second from bottom article of a stack and a non-retaining position clear of the stack, drive means for causing co-ordinated movement of the support and retaining members, and stripper means attached to the retaining means in a manner allowing relative vertical movement and pivotal movement about a vertical axis, the stripper means being arranged to be moved to a position adjacent the stack on movement of the retaining means to a retaining position and thereafter to be acted on by the drive means and thereby pivoted to urge the lowest article of the stack to fall.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vending machine comprising a front wall, a plurality of first support means arranged side by side adjacent the front wall, each for supporting an upright stack of articles to be dispensed, for each first support means a dispensing means for dispensing articles from a stack supported by the associated first support means, for each first support means a reserve stack support means located rearwardly and above the associated first support means for supporting a reserve stack of articles to be dispensed and for each first support means a transfer means for automatically transferring a stack of articles from the associated reserve support means to the first support means when the stack of articles supported by that first support means falls below a predetermined level, said transfer means substantially using gravity to effect the transfer.

2. A vending machine according to Claim 1 including, for each first support means, a detector arranged to detect when there is only one or not more than a few articles left in the stack supported by a first support means and to cause operation of the associated transfer means.

3. A vending machine according to Claim 2 including, for each first support means. a further detector arranged to detect when there are less articles in the stack than said first detector is arranged to detect and to operate a sold out signal.

4. A vending machine according to any of claims l to 3 including articles in the form of cups containing beverage.

5. A vending machine according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which each reserve stack support means comprises a support member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent its rear end and retaining means normally retaining the support member in a generally horizontal position in which it will support a reserve stack of articles above it.

6. A vending machine according to Claim 5 in which each transfer means includes means for releasing the retaining means so that the support member pivots down to a tilted position in which articles will slide downwardly to the associated first support means.

7. A vending machine according to Claim 6 in which each releasing means comprises a solenoid coupled to the associated retaining means and responsive to a detector arranged to detect when the associated first stack is nearly empty.

8. A vending machine according to any of Claims 5 to 7 including guide arms extending upwardly from each support member to be adjacent the sides of a stack supported thereon and to extend around the rear of such a stack, the guide arms being coupled to the support member for movement therewith.

9. A vending machine according to any of Claims 5 to 8 including an upright member attached to each support member and arranged to engage the rear of a stack of articles supported on the support member at the beginning of a transfer operation.

10. A vending machine according to any of Claims 1 to 9 including, for each first support means, an inclined chute extending between the first support means and its associated reserve stack support means.

11. A vending machine according to any of Claims 1 to 10 in which each first support means includes a tubular guide which is open above its lower part at least at the side facing the associated reserve stack support means.

12. A vending machine according to Claim 11 together with Claim 10 in which the chute extends upwardly and rearwardly from the upper rear edge of the tubular guide.

13. A vending machine substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. be dispenced one by one, a retaining member movable between a retaining position in which it will contact the second from bottom article of a stack and a non-retaining position clear of the stack, drive means for causing co-ordinated movement of the support and retaining members, and stripper means attached to the retaining means in a manner allowing relative vertical movement and pivotal movement about a vertical axis, the stripper means being arranged to be moved to a position adjacent the stack on movement of the retaining means to a retaining position and thereafter to be acted on by the drive means and thereby pivoted to urge the lowest article of the stack to fall. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A vending machine comprising a front wall, a plurality of first support means arranged side by side adjacent the front wall, each for supporting an upright stack of articles to be dispensed, for each first support means a dispensing means for dispensing articles from a stack supported by the associated first support means, for each first support means a reserve stack support means located rearwardly and above the associated first support means for supporting a reserve stack of articles to be dispensed and for each first support means a transfer means for automatically transferring a stack of articles from the associated reserve support means to the first support means when the stack of articles supported by that first support means falls below a predetermined level, said transfer means substantially using gravity to effect the transfer.