GB2062595A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An article storage and releasing device for a vending machine wherein articles are disposed on a vertically- extending helical element (10) rotatably mounted in a cabinet and are discharged through a lower end opening one at a time by the controlled rotation of the helical element has its cabinet provided with a front opening for loading articles and two stopper plate members (13, 13') vertically disposed in the front opening to prevent articles from falling out of the cabinet. At least one stopper plate member is rotatable from the article-falling preventing position to another position to permit articles to be loaded on the helical element through the front opening without interference by the stopper plate. In order to enable the storage device to be used for storing articles of various shapes and sizes, the rotatable stopper plate is provided with a projection projecting from, and vertically extending along, the inner surface thereof in order to support articles of different measurements in the direction of the depth of the cabinet from the front opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to article storage and releasing devices for vending machines This invention relates to article storage and releasing devices for vending machines.

A helix-type article storage and releasing device includes a cabinet having lower opening and a helical column fixedly mounted on a drive shaft to extend vertically in the cabinet, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,273,748. Articles are disposed on a continuous spiral surface of the helical column and are discharged through the lower opening one at a time by a controlled rotation of the helical column.

A helically-wound coil rod which is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft may be used in place of the helical column, as shown in U.S. Patent No.

2,918,195.

In such a helix-type article storage and releasing device, the cabinet may be provided with a front opening for loading articles thereinto. The front opening is usually closed by a front door to prevent the loaded articles from sliding or slipping out of the cabinet through the front opening. The use of such a door completely closing the front opening makes the storage device weighty and makes the article-loading operation complicated.

If no door is used in the storage device, the device must be mounted in the vending machine so as to be inclined rearwards at a slight angle, as disclosed in the U.S. Patent No. 3,273,748. The inclination of the storage device leads to an unused space in the vending machine cabinet.

Moreover, the risk of loaded articles falling out of the device cannot be completely removed.

Generally speaking, it is desirable that a helixtype article storage and releasing device can be used for vending various articles having different shapes and different sizes. It is possible to store articles of a relatively smaller size in a storage device designed for storing articles of a relatively large size. However, the smaller articles may be carried by the helical member and rotated at a time when an article is intended to be discharged, so that the vertical row of loaded articles is broken. As a result, an article would be held between the inner wall of the cabinet and drive shaft, so that the discharge of articles may be interrupted.

According to the present invention there is provided an article storage and releasing device for a vending machine, the device including a cabinet having a lower end opening for discharging articles, a drive shaft vertically extending and rotatably supported in said cabinet, and a helical element fixedly mounted on said drive shaft and defining a continuous spiral surface about said drive shaft on which vendible articles may be disposed, whereby articles are discharged through said lower end opening one at a time by a controlled rotation of said drive shaft, wherein said cabinet is provided with a front opening through which articles can be loaded onto said helical element to form first and second vertical rows, one at each side of said drive shaft as viewed from said front opening, first stopper plate means for stopping articles in said first vertical row from moving forwardly together with said helical element due to said controlled rotation of said drive shaft are vertically extending alongside said first vertical row in said front opening, the upper and lower ends of said first stopper plate means are mounted on upper and lower frame members defining respective upper and lower edges of said front opening so that said first stopper plate means are rotatable about a vertical axis positioned near a side edge of said front opening opposite to said second vertical row, the first stopper plate means being movable from a first position where it serves to stop articles from moving forwardly to a second position where it has been moved outwardly of the cabinet to permit articles to be loaded, said first stopper plate means are formed with vertically extending internal projection so that the first stopper plate means have an "L"-shaped cross section, and second stopper plate means for stopping articles in said second vertical row from slipping out of said spiral surface of said helical element due to its forward inclination are vertically extending alongside said second vertical row in said front opening.

Suitably, the upper and lower ends of said second stopper plate means are connected to respective upper and lower frame members so that said second stopper plate means are rotatable about a vertical axis positioned near a side edge of said front opening opposite to said first vertical row, the second stopper plate means being movable from a first position where it serves to stop articles from moving forwardly to a second position where it has been moved outwardly of the cabinet to permit articles to be loaded, and said second stopper plate means are formed with a vertically extending internal projection so that the second stopper plate means have an "L"-shaped cross section.

Alternatively, the upper end, the lower end and a side edge of said second stopper plate means are fixedly connected to said upper frame member, said lower frame member and a side plate of said cabinet, respectively, so that said front opening is permanently partially closed by said second stopper plate means.

One embodiment of this invention is a helixtype article storage and releasing device wherein the articles are effectively prevented from slipping out of the device without use of a door completely closing the front opening for loading articles therein. Articles are guided reliably in downward movement due to the rotation of the helical element. Articles of various shapes and sizes can be stored and discharged reliably.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on a line Il-Il in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating movement of stopper plate members; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating another movement of the stopper plate members; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an arrangement for holding the stopper plate member at its inwardly moved position; Fig. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on a line VIl-VIl in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but illustrating a modification; Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modification of the stopper plate member; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view of another modification of the stopper plate member.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an article storage and releasing device 1 according to an embodiment of this invention shown therein comprises a cabinet 2 which is composed of left.

and right side plates 2a and 2b, rear plate 2c and ceiling plate 2d remaining a front opening 2e and a lower opening 2f. A drive source 5 including a motor 3 and a reduction gear 4 is mounted on ceiling plate 2d. A drive shaft 6 is disposed to extend vertically within cabinet 2. The upper end of drive shaft 6 is coupled with the output of reduction gear 4 and is rotatably supported by a bearing 7 mounted in ceiling plate 2d. The lower end of drive shaft 6 is rotatably supported by a bearing 8 mounted in a shaft supporting arm 9.

A helical element or a coil rod 10 is fixedly secured onto drive shaft 6 by supporting rods 11.

Helical element 10 forms a continuous spiral surface on which articles 12 are disposed. Articles 12 are arranged in two vertical rows at both sides of drive shaft 6 as viewed from front opening 2e.

In order to prevent articles 12 on helical element 10 from slipping and falling out of cabinet 2 through front opening 2e, two stopper plates 13 and 13' are disposed in front opening 2e to vertically extend at both sides of drive shaft 6 as viewed from front opening 2e. Each stopper plate of 13 and 13' is supported at its upper and lower ends by ceiling plate 2d and a frame or a lower front plate 14. Frame 14 extends between front ends of lower portions of left and right side plates 2a and 2b and is supported by securing its opposite ends to the side plates. Thus, frame 14 defines the lower edge of front opening 2e of cabinet 2. Shaft supporting arm 9 is fixedly secured on the inner surface of frame 14 by bolt means 15.

Each stopper plate of 13 and 13' is movable rotatively to permit articles to be loaded on helical element 10 in cabinet 2 through front opening 2e.

In the embodiment shown, two pivot pins 16 and 16' are fixedly attached onto ceiling plate 2d at spaced positions by fittings 17 and 17' secured by bolt means 18 and 18'. On the other hand, upwardly-extending pivot pins 19 and 19' are fixedly attached onto the inner surface of lower frame 14 by fittings 20 and 20' secured by bolt means 21 and 21' thereon. Each stopper plate of 13 and 13' is curled at a side end portion to form a cylindrical sleeve portion of 1 3a and 13'a thereat. Upper and lower pivot pins 16, 16', 19 and 19' are loosely fitted into the upper and lower ends of sleeve portions 1 3a and 13'a to support stopper plates 13 and 13' to be rotatable and vertically slidable.The lower end of each stopper plate of 13 and 13' is supported by each lower fitting of 20 and 20' because lower pivot pins 19 and 19' are loosely fitted into sleeve portions 1 3a and 13'a. Therefore, each stopper plate 13 and 13' cannot be rotated forwardly by interference of front lower frame 14 less it is raised. Thus, stopper plate 13 and 13' serves to prevent articles 12 from falling out of cabinet 2 through front opening 2e, as shown in Fig. 2.

In article-loading operation, each stopper plate of 13 and 13' is raised so that its lower end may be above the upper edge of front lower frame 14, and is rotated forwardly, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the shown embodiment, left-side stopper plate 1 3 is formed with curled sleeve portion 1 3a at the left side edge which is fitted on pivot pins 1 6 and 1 9 near left side plate plate 2a, so that left-side stopper plate 1 3 may be rotated about a vertical axis near left side plate 2a. On the other hand, right-side stopper plate 13' is formed with curled sleeve portion 13'a at the right side edge which is fitted on pivot pins 16' and 19' near right side plate 2b, so that right-side stopper plate 13' may be rotated about a vertical axis near right side plate 2b. Therefore, when both stopper plates 13 and 13' are forwardly rotated as shown in Fig. 3, the central portion of front opening 2e is wide open.Articles 12 can be, then, loaded on helical element 10 through the wide central opening, and are arranged into two vertical rows at both sides of drive shaft 6.

Articles 12 which are arranged in two vertical rows at left and right sides of drive shaft 6 in article-loading operation, move downwardly by the rotation of helical element 10 together with drive shaft 6 in the direction indicated by arrow A.

That is, articles 12 are prevented from being carried with helical element 10 by side plates 2a and 2b, rear plate 2c and stopper plates 13 and 13', and are guided by them to move down along the spiral surface moving. As a result, lowermost articles of the right and left article rows are alternatively discharged through lower end opening 2f of cabinet 2 at every rotation of 1 800 angle of helical element 10.

Stopper plates 13 and 13' are provided with projections or fins 1 3b and 13'b which inwardly project from, and vertically extend along, side edges opposite to respective curled sleeve portions 1 3a and 1 3'a. Projecting ends of projections 1 3b and 13'b are rounded by a mechanical working such as curling. Projections 1 3b and 13'b serve to guide vertical movement of articles in respective vertical rows due to rotation of helical element 10 to prevent articles from moving together with helical element 10.

Referring to Fig. 2, when articles 12-1 of a relatively short length but wide breadth are stored in left vertical row or column, each article 12-1 is prevented by the projecting end of projection 1 3b from being carried by helical element 10 moving in a direction of arrow A. On the other hand, articles 12-2 of a relatively long length but narrow breadth are prevented by the inner surface of projection 1 3b from rotatively moved together with helical element rotating in the direction of arrow A.

In the right vertical row or column, articles 12 of a relatively long length but narrow breadth such as bottles 12-3 and of a relatively short length but wide breadth such as boxes 12--4 are prevented from moving together with the rotation of helical element 10 in the direction of arrow A.

The former is brought into contact with rear plate 2c by stopper plate 13' while the latter is brought into contact with rear plate 2c by the projecting end of projection 13'b.

In the right vertical column, fin or projection 13'b is not necessary because article 1 2 is carried towards rear plate 2c by helical element 10 rotating in the direction of arrow A.

In the shown embodiment, right projection 13'b is shorter than left projection 13b, and a guide plate 22 is fixedly secured onto the inner wall of rear plate 2c by screw means 23 to project from the inner wall into right vertical column and to extend vertically. Guide plate 22 serves to vertically guide articles 12 in the right row and to reliably prevent them from being carried by helical element 10 into a gap between rear wall 2c and drive shaft 6.

A surface 22a of guide plate 22 which is perpendicular to rear plate 2c, serves to guide articles 12-3 which are relatively smaller in width, and another surface 22b which is in parallel with rear plate 2c, serves to guide articles 12-4 which are relatively larger in width.

In the embodiment, stopper plates 13 and 13' are rotatable about respective vertical axes defined by pairs of upper and lower pivot pins 1 6-19 and 1 6'-1 9' as above described.

Accordingly, each stopper plate of 13 and 13' can be rotated inwardly to guide articles 12-5 of a shorter length by the outer surface of fin 1 3b and 13'b, as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to maintain each stopper plate of 13 and 13' at a position to guide the shorter articles 12-5 as shown by imaginary line in Fig. 4, retaining or holding member 24 is provided by securing to the inner side of lower frame 14 by screw means 25, as shown in Fig. 5. Retaining member 24 is formed "L"-shaped, with the foot portion of "L" is formed into two spaced plate parts 24a and 24b. These plate parts 24a and 24b are provided with bolt receiving holes 24c and 24d registered with one another. Lower frame 14 is provided with bolt receiving holes 1 4a which are spaced from one another along the upper edge thereof.Retaining member 24 is positioned on the upper edge of frame 14 by registering holes 24c and 24d with a selected hole 1 4a and fixed to frame 14 by fastening screw 25 after inserting it through registered holes 24c, 24d and 14a. Fixed position of retaining member 24 can be changed by selecting holes 14a, and stopped angle of stopper plate 13 or 13' can be, thus; changed in response to length of loaded articles.

In the shown embodiment, stopper plates 13 and 13' are provided with holes 1 3c and 1 3'c in order to make it easy to manually move the stopper plates. But because stopper plates 1 3 and 13' do not entirely close front opening 2e, there are remained gaps between stopper plates 13 and 13' and between side plates 2a and 2b and stopper plates 1 3 and 13'. Accordingly, since it is easy to manually operate the stopper plates using those gaps, it is not necessary to form holes 1 3c and 1 3'c in stopper plates 13 and 13'. The existence of those gaps makes it possible to know without moving stopper plate whether articles are contained or not in the cabinet. This is an advantage for operators.

In another aspect of this invention, one of the two stopper plates is mounted on the cabinet not rotatable but fixed.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, another embodiment shown therein is similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1-5 except that one of stopper plates is fixedly mounted on the cabinet. Simiiar parts are represented by the same reference numerals as the embodiment of Figs. 1-5 and the description of the similar parts will be omitted for purpose of simplification.

In place of rotatable right stopper plate 13' in the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, a stopper plate 26 is mounted fixedly on cabinet 2. That is, the upper and lower ends of stopper plate 26 are fixedly connected to ceiling plate 2d and lower frame 14, and the right side edge is connected to right side plate 2b. In practical construction, fixed stopper plate 26 is formed integral with side plate 2b.

In article-loading operation, single rotatable stopper plate 13 is rotatively moved forwardly to form a wide opening between fixed stopper plate 26 and sleeve portion 1 3a of rotatable stopper plate 13, through which articles are loaded into right and left vertical rows. Because it is also performed through the resultant wide opening to load articles into right column, the distance between drive shaft 6 and left side edge of fixed stopper plate 26 must be sufficient to permit articles to pass through a space between them.

This means that the space between the left side edge of fixed stopper plate 26 and the right side edge of stopper plate 1 3 is also large so that there may be a possibility that loaded articles slip out or expose through the space. In order to remove such a disadvantage, an inwardly extending projection 27 is formed at the left side edge of fixed stopper plate 26 in the shown embodiment of Figs. 1-5 so that its left side edge may reach drive shaft 6 as viewed from the front opening.

Fig.8 is a modification in which the rotatable stopper plate is different from the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7. A rotatable stopper plate 28 has a curled sleeve 28a of one side edge portion like sleeve portion 1 3a in Figs. 1-7, a vertical extending "U"-shaped projection 28b which inwardly projects at an intermediate portion of the stopper plate, and a flange portion 28c at the opposite side portion. Stopper plate 28 is readily formed of a single plate by bending. It will be understood from Fig. 8 in comparison with Fig. 2 that one leg 28d of "U" serves, similar to projection 1 3b in Fig. 2, to prevent long articles 12-2 from being carried by helical element 10 to rotatively move.The base 28e of "U" guides the vertical movement of short articles 12-1 similar to the projecting end of projection 1 3b in Fig. 2.

The other leg 28f of "U" and flange portion 28c serve to prevent articles in the right column from slipping out and exposing through rotatable stopper plate 28 and fixed stopper plate 26. The retained article is shown by imaginary line 12' in Fig. 8. Thus, the disadvantage in the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 is removed.

Stopper plate 28 in Fig. 8 may be replaced by one of stopper plates 28' and 28" as shown in Fig.

9 and Fig. 10. Stopper plate 28' in Fig. 9 has a "U"-shaped member 29 which is fixedly secured on the inner surface of a flat plate member 29 in such an orientation that one leg 29a of "U" is in contact with the inner surface of flat plate 30. It will be understood that the end of the other leg 29b of "U" serves to guide articles in the left vertical row similar to leg portion 28d in Fig. 8, while the base 29c of "U" serves to prevent articles in right column from passing through a gap between left and right stopper plates together with an end portion 30a of flat plate 30, similar to the leg of "U" 28b and flange portion 28c in Fig. 8.

"U"-shaped member may be secured onto flat plate 30 in such an orientation that the base 29c of "U" is in contact with the inner surface of flat plate 30, as shown in Fig. 10. In the arrangement, the leg 29a of "U" 29 serves to guide articles in left column similar to the leg 28d in Fig. 8 and the other leg 29b serves to prevent together with end flange portion 30a of flat plate 30 articles in right column from passing through the gap between the left and right stopper plates.

Claims (14)

1. An article storage and releasing device for a vending machine, the device including a cabinet having a lower end opening for discharging articles, a drive shaft vertically extending and rotatably supported in said cabinet, and a helical element fixedly mounted on said drive shaft and defining a continuous spiral surface about said drive shaft on which vendible articles may be disposed, whereby articles are discharged through said lower end opening one at a time by a controlled rotation of said drive shaft, wherein said cabinet is provided with a front opening through which articles can be loaded onto said helical element to form first and second vertical rows, one at each side of said drive shaft as viewed from said front opening, first stopper plate means for stopping articles in said first vertical row from moving forwardly together with said helical element due to said controlled rotation of said drive shaft are vertically extending alongside said first vertical row in said front opening, the upper and lower ends of said first stopper plate means are mounted on upper and lower frame members defining respective upper and lower edges of said front opening so that said first stopper plate means are rotatable about a vertical axis positioned near a side edge of said front opening opposite to said second vertical row, the first stopper plate means being movable from a first position where it serves to stop articles from moving forwardly to a second position where it has been moved outwardly of the cabinet to permit articles to be loaded, said first stopper plate means are formed with a vertically extending internal projection so that the first stopper plate means have an "L"-shaped cross section, and second stopper plate means for stopping articles in said second vertical row from slipping out of said spiral surface of said helical element due to its forward inclination are vertically extending alongside said second vertical row in said front opening.

2. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper pivot pin and a lower pivot pin are fixedly mounted on respective upper and lower frames, each pin being at a position near a side edge of said front opening opposite to said second vertical row, and said first stopper plate means are provided at a side edge portion thereof with a curled sleeve which is loosely fitted onto said upper and lower pivot pins, whereby said vertical axis is defined.

3. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lower pivot pin is mounted on the inner surface of said lower frame so that said first stopper plate means are disposed at the inner side of said lower frame, and said first stopper plate means are vertically slidable along said upper and iower pivot pins so that said stopper plate means may be rotated forwardly after being raised above the upper edge of said lower frame.

4. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, which further comprises means for retaining said first stopper plate means at an inwardly rotated angle so that, in use, the side edge from which said projection projects is in contact with, and vertically guides, articles loaded in said first vertical row.

5. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said retaining means are formed of a member having an "L"-shaped section, the foot of the "L" being connected to said lower frame member at a position such that in use the end of the leg portion of the "L" remote from the foot holds said first stopper plate means at a predetermined angular position within said cabinet.

6. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower ends of said second stopper plate means are connected to respective upper and lower frame members so that said second stopper plate means are rotatable about a vertical axis positioned near a side edge of said front opening opposite to said first vertical row, the second stopper plate means being movable from a first position where it serves to stop articles from moving forwardly to a second position where it has been moved outwardly of the cabinet to permit articles to be loaded, and said second stopper plate means are formed with a vertically extending internal projection so that the second stopper plate means have an "L"-shaped cross section.

7. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein an upper pivot pin and a lower pivot pin are fixedly mounted on respective upper and lower frames, each pin being at a position near a side edge of said front opening opposite to said first vertical row, and said second stopper plate means are provided at a side edge portion thereof with a curled sleeve which is loosely fitted onto said upper and lower pivot pins, whereby said vertical axis is defined.

8. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lower pivot pin is mounted on the inner surface of said lower frame, the lowor portion of said second stopper plate means being at the inner side of said lower frame, and said second stopper plate means are vertically slidable along said upper and lower pivot pins so that said stopper plate means may be rotated forwardly after being raised above the upper edge of said lower frame.

9. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said retaining means are formed of a member having an "L"-shaped section, the foot of the "L" being connected to said lower frame member at a position such that, in use, the end of the leg portion of the "L" remote from the foot holds said second stopper plate means at a predetermined angular position within said cabinet.

10. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper end, the lower end and a side edge of said second stopper plate means are fixedly connected to said upper frame member, said lower frame member and a side plate of said cabinet, respectively, so that said front opening is permanently partially closed by said second stopper plate means.

11. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first stopper plate means has an end flange portion adjacent to said fixed second stopper means, said projection being formed at a position between said sleeve portion and said flange portion and defining two spaced inwardly extending surfaces, one of which is connected with said flange portion to prevent articles in said second vertical row from slipping out of the space between said first and second stopper plate means, the other surface serving to prevent articles in said first vertical row from moving together with said spiral element rotated.

12. An article storage and releasing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises guide means vertically extending and projecting from the inner surface of the rear wall of said cabinet to prevent articles from being carried into gaps between said rear wall and said drive shaft due to the rotation of said helical element.

13. An article storage and releasing device for a vending machine constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

14. A vending machine including an article storage and releasing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.