GB2072633A

GB2072633A - Dispensing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2072633A
Application number: GB8001571A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Carpenter D G; KWAI KUN WONG
Current assignee: Carpenter D G; KWAI KUN WONG
Priority date: 1980-01-17
Filing date: 1980-01-17
Publication date: 1981-10-07

Abstract

A dispensing machine 1 comprises a plurality of containers 2 each for containing packs 9 to be dispensed. An ejector mechanism 3 is mounted for linear movement parallel to and adjacent the base of the containers 2 on a tubular rail 10 by means of a linear recirculating ball bearing 8. A hand grip 7 for moving the ejector mechanism 3 from side to side along the rail 10 is provided and an indexing mechanism is arranged to positively align the ejector mechanism with one of the packs 9 in one of the containers 2. On operation of suitable circuitry one of the packs 9 is urged out of slot 14 at the back of the containers by solenoid operated ejecting fork 22 and is delivered to the front of the machine via a chute. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing machine This invention relates to a dispensing machine, for example a vending machine.

Many types of dispensing and vending machines are known for dispensing any of a wide variety of products, e.g. cigarettes and food items. A popular type of vending machine used in small hotels and the like for dispensing food and drink products, such as butter, jam, sugar, milk, etc., comprises a number of vertical generally cylindrical containers each for receiving capsules of a particular food product and arranged on a circular framework pivoted about a vertical axis in the manner of a carousel. In use a knob at the top of the machine is rotated by hand to bring the selected container to the front of the machine and on actuation of a control or insertion of a coin an ejector mechanism placed centrally of the carousel at the bottom of the containers causes the ejection forwardly of a selected capsule.This kind of machine has the disadvantage that it is relatively difficult to operate, is unreliable and susceptible to jamming and occupies a considerable depth from front to back which may be of disadvantage in a narrow corridor, for example.

According to the invention we provide a dispensing machine comprising a plurality of containers each for containing a stack of packs to-be dispensed and positioned in a substantially linear side-by-side arrangement, and an ejector mechanism mounted for linear movement parallel to and adjacent the line of containers and having a hand grip accessible to a user of the machine for moving the ejector mechanism from side to side, the arrangement being such that the ejector mechanism can be positioned by a user adjacent a selected one of said containers whereupon a selected pack may be ejected by operating a control mechanism.

The control mechanism may be mechanical or electro-mechanical but preferably the ejector mechanism comprises a solenoid controlled by an electrical control circuit, such as a coin-operated switch.

According to a preferred embodiment the ejector mechanism is mounted for linear movement on a rail of circular cross-section via a linear recirculating ball bearing. The ejector mechanism is preferably positioned adjacent the base of the containers and operates to eject the pack rearwardly of the machine into a chute whence the pack is delivered to the user at the front of the machine.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a dispensing machine according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the machine of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the machine 1 comprises a plurality of containers 2 each for containing a stack of packs 9 to be dispensed. An ejector mechanism 3 is mounted for linear movement parallel to and adjacent the base of the containers 2 on a tubular rail 10 by means of a linear recirculating ball bearing 8. A hand grip 7 is provided for moving the ejector mechanism from side to side along the rail 10.

A chute 11 is positioned to receive packs ejected from the base of the containers and to deliver them to the front of a cabinet 29 which houses the machine 1. Each of the containers has an opening or slot 14 in its back and bottom walls. This slot is of sufficient size to allow only the lowest pack of the stack of packs 9 to pass into the chute when it is pushed by the ejector mechanism 3. Each of the containers 2 also has flanges 12 and 13 to retain the packs 9 while still allowing them to move down inside the containers.

The ejector mechanism 3 has a guide arm 17 mounted on the outside of the ball bearing 8 and a narrow extension of the guide arm carries the hand grip 7. A lower portion 31 of the guide arm 17 has an indexing mechanism mounted underneath it, while a solenoid 15 is mounted on an upper portion 30 of the guide arm 17. The indexing mechanism held beneath the lower portion of the guide arm 17 consists of a ball (not shown) which is held in a hole in the guide arm 17 by a spring or other suitable arrangement. An angled indexing and guide bar 25 has holes of smaller diameter than the ball made in it opposite each of the containers 2. When the ejector mechanism is aligned with one of the containers the ball moves into one of the holes in the indexing bar thus allowing positive alignment of the ejector mechanism 3 with the pack at the base of the container.When the arm 17 is moved sideways the ball rides up out of the hole in the indexing bar and moves with the guide arm along the bar 25.

A restraining flange 26 projects downwards from the guide arm 17 under the indexing bar 25. The purpose of the restraining flange 26 is to stop the rotation (clockwise in the Figures) of the ejector mechanism 3 about the axis of the bar 10.

The solenoid 15 has an operating arm 18 which is pivotally connected to an operating lever 19. One end of the operating lever 19 is mounted on a pivot pin 20, which also carries a return spring 21 for urging the operating lever 19 leftwardly in Figure 2.

The base of a U-shaped ejecting fork 22 passes through a slot 23 in the other end of the operating lever 19. The arms of the ejecting fork 22 are supported by rollers 24 proximate the base of the containers 2.

A control mechanism (not shown) for the solenoid 15 consists of suitable circuitry which when activated supplies a pulse of electrical current to the solenoid. The control mechanism can, for example, be activated by the insertion of a coin into a suitable coin-operated switch. When the solenoid receives the pulse of current the operating arm 18 is drawn into the body of the solenoid and the operating lever 19 pivots around the pivot pin 20. The ejecting fork 22 is thus urged towards a pack at the bottom of a stack of packs 9. When the supply of electricity to the solenoid ceases the return spring 21 urges the operating arm 18 out of the body of the solenoid and the ejecting fork 24 out of the container 2.

In use the ejector mchanism 3 is positioned in front of one of the containers 2 by means of the hand grip 7 and the indexing mechanism aids the alignment of the ejecting fork 22 with the pack at the base of the container. When the control mechanism for the solenoid is activated the ejecting fork 22 urges the pack at the bottom of the stack of packs 9 out of the slot 14 and the pack falls down the chute 11 to the front of the cabinet 29 whence it may be retrieved by the user.

Claims

1. A dispensing machine comprising a plurality of containers each for containing a stack of packs to be dispensed and positioned in a substantially linear side-by-side arrangement, and an ejector mechanism mounted for linear movement parallel to and adjacent the line of containers and having a hand grip accessible to a user of the machine for moving the ejector mechanism from side to side, the arrangement being such that the ejector mechanism can be positioned by a user adjacent a selected one of said containers whereupon a selected pack may be ejected by operating a control mechanism.

2. A dispensing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ejector mechanism comprises a solenoid controlled by an electrical control circuit.

3. A dispensing machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said electrical control circuit includes a coin-operated switch.

4, A dispensing machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ejector mechanism is mounted for linear movement on a rail of circular cross-section via a linear recirculating ball bearing.

5. A dispensing machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ejector mechanism is positioned adjacent the base of the containers and operates to eject the lowest pack in the stack rearwardly of the machine into a chute whence the pack is delivered to the user at the front of the machine.

6. A dispensing machine as claimed in any preceding claim including an indexing mechanism whereby the ejector mechanism may be positively aligned with a pack in one of the containers.

7. A dispensing machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein the indexing mechanism comprises a ball carried by the ejector mechanism and an indexing member having indexing holes aligned with the containers and adapted to receive the ball; the ball being urged towards the indexing member so that the ball will engage with an indexing hole when the ejector mechanism is aligned with a container and the ejector mechanism will then be positively aligned with a pack in that container.

8. A dispensing machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.