GB2097772A - Article dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

Dispensing means comprises a storage means (10) and delivery means comprising delivery member (15) and operating member (27). The operating member (27) is adapted to be contacted by a receptacle, for example, a drinking glass, movement of the operating member (27) causing operation of the delivery means (23) to deliver one or more lumps from the storage means (10) into the receptacle. The operating member may be adapted to be moved in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction to cause operation of the delivery member, the storage means may be provided with an agitator (19). The dispensing means is particularly suitable for the dispensing of lumps of ice into drinking glasses. A pivoted member (19) is moved by the delivery member (15) to agitate the lumps in the storage means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved dispensing apparatus Description of Invention The present invention relates to dispensing apparatus adapted to dispense one or more articles in lumps or piece form from a store of such articles. All such articles will hereinafter be described for the sake of convenience as lumps.

The dispensing apparatus is particularly, but not exclusively, designed for the dispensing of lumps of ice, in particular lumps of ice in cube form or "flats" for serving with beverages.

It is usual for lumps of ice pieces or ice cubes to be kept in an insulated container and, when desired, to be extracted and served manually from said container. In order that the ice does not melt in the container which is surrounded by an ambient temperature above that of the freezing point of water, the container is normally supplied with a lid to prevent escape of cold air from the container and likewise prevent the ingress of warm air.

In order to serve the ice therefore it is necessary to first remove the lid from the container, remove one or more lumps of ice with a suitable serving implement, place the ice into a beverage and subsequentiy replace the serving implement and the lid.

It would be desirable if dispensing means could be provided which minimised or overcame the time consuming operation as above described of dispensing ice into a beverage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing lumps from storage means into a receptacle.

According to one aspect of the invention I provide dispensing means adapted to dispense one or more lumps from storage means into a receptacle dispensing means comprising delivery moveable relative to said storage means and adapted to deliver one or more of said lumps from said storage means towards a receptacle, an operating part associated with or forming part of the delivery means, the arrangement being such that movement of said operating part causes said delivery means to deliver one or more lumps into said receptacle.

Preferably the delivery means is adapted to be moved to cause delivery of one or more lumps into said receptacle by contact with and movement of said receptacle.

Preferably the operating part is separate from the delivery means and comprises an operating member in which case means are provided to connect the operating member to the delivery means to provide for movement of the delivery means or in response of the operating member.

Where the lumps to be stored in the storage means are of a nature that there may be a tendency for them to adhere to each other, it would be desirable to provide means to prevent or minimise said adherence at least in respect of the lumps positional to be imminently delivered from the storage means.

According to a further aspect of the invention I provide dispensing means adapted to dispense one or more lumps from a storage means for storing said lumps, said storage means comprising a discharge opening, a delivery member movable relative to said storage means to deliver one or more lumps to said discharge opening and agitator means adapted to cause movement of at least some of the stored lumps in response to movement of said delivery means.

Said delivery means may be operated by an operating member which, in the case of the stored lumps being ice cubes or pieces, may comprise an operating member adapted to be contacted and moved by a receptacle such as a drinking glass.

Preferably the storage means is provided at its discharge opening with a movable restraining member to prevent undesired movement of the lumps from the storage means, said movable retaining member may comprise a plurality of resilient "fingers" adapted to be moved resiliently from their restraining position on operation of the delivery member in a delivery operation.

Conveniently the force applied by the delivery member to those lumps to be delivered in a delivery operation is sufficient for them to move the retaining means out of its retaining position.

Preferably the delivery member is mounted for sliding movement relative to the storage means and is situated at the bottom of the storage means.

In order to prevent the weight of all of the lumps being stored acting on the delivery member, the storage means may be provided with baffles adapted to support at least part of the weight of the lumps stored thereabove.

The agitator means, where provided, may be situated above said delivery member and may at least partially bear on the delivery member, the cooperating bearing surfaces between the agitator means and the delivery member being inclined to the direction of travel of the delivery member to cause movement of the agitator means on movement of the delivery member.

The operating member may comprise any suitable part movable either manually or automatically to cause operating of the delivery member. When the dispensing appartus is adapted to dispense pieces of ice and the operating member is adapted to be operated manually then the operating member may be of a form and so situated as to be contacted by a drinking glass, movement of the glass in an upwards direction causing movement of the operating member in an upwards direc tion, the glass travelling in a direction towards the discharge opening of the storage means.

In addition to the resilient retaining means, further retaining means of a more permanent nature may be provided, said further retaining means closing the discharge opening and being movable from its retaining position on operation of the operating member. Conveniently said further retaining means is connected to the operating member and is arranged so that movement of the operating member in a direction to cause lumps to be dispensed will cause said further retaining means to move out of its retaining position.

Conveniently the delivery member cooperates with the agitator means, when provided, to ensure that stored lumps do not prevent the return of the delivery member from its delivery position.

The storage means may have a discharge opening in the base wall thereof and the delivery member may act in association with, or be formed integrally with, a closure member which closes said discharge opening, which closure member will move progressively out of its closing position on movement of the delivery member during a delivery operation.

Preferably the movement of the delivery member and closure member will be caused by movement of an operating member which may be adapted to be moved by a receptacle, e.g. a glass. The operating member may comprise a part situated below the base wall of the storage means and adapted to be contacted by the glass and moved in a substantially horizontal direction.

In use the operating member and contact part may be moved by a receptacle travelling in a horizontal direction towards a position in which the receptacle is aligned with i.e. directly below, the discharge opening.

Movement of the operating member may cause movement of the delivery member and closure in a manner such that, as the receptacle approaches the discharge opening, the closure member is moved out of its closing position and the delivery member causes delivery of one or more lumps to the discharge opening so that the lumps may fall into the receptacle.

Such an arrangement may also incorporate a flexible retaining means, the lumps of ice being pushed past the flexible retaining means when they travel from their stored position to their delivered position by the delivery member.

The direction of travel of the operating member may be as has been aforedescribed, in a horizontal plane and may be substantially aligned with the direction of travel of the delivery member, or alternatively may be at right angles or any other inclined angle to the direction of travel of the delivery member, means being provided to ensure that move ment of the operating member causes move ment of the delivery member.

It is envisaged that the dispensing apparatus of the present invention may be adapted to stand on a table or other horizontal surface, it may be self supporting and be provided with a stand or may be adapted for securing to a substantially vertical surface.

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly exploded, view off one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a partly broken away front view of the apparatus with the operating member removed; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a base part of an alternative embodiment; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the base part shown in Fig. 4; and Figure 6 is an underneath plan view of the bae part shown in Figs. 3 and 4 illustrating the operating mechanism.

The embodiment of the dispensing apparatus shown in the drawings is intended for the dispensing of lumps in the form of cubes or pieces of ice intended for serving with beverages.

Pieces of ice such as cubes having dies of about 2.5 cm. or "flats" of about 0.6 cm.

square and 1.5 cm. high are stored in storage means comprising a container 10 which is preferably constructed with thermally insulating walls such as a double thickness of insulating material having a sealed space therebetween. The container 10 is closed by removable lid 11 which is also preferably made from thermally insulating material.

The container 10 has a discharge opening 1 2 which is partially closed by a retaining means 13, which retaining means 1 3 comprises a plurality of flexible fingers, one of which is shown at 14, which may be of rubber or similar material.

A delivery member 1 5 is mounted for sliding movement in directions shown by the arrow A towards and away from the discharge opening 1 2. The delivery member 1 5 has its sliding movement guided by guide members 16, 1 7 and extends through an aperture 1 8 provided in agitator means 1 9. The guide members 1 6 and 1 7 have inclined upper surfaces 1 6a and 1 7a respectively to guide the lumps to be delivered by the delivery member 1 5 into a delivery path in front of the delivery member.

The agitator means 1 9 is mounted for pivotal movement along axis 20 relative to the container 10, such pivotal movement being provided by a pair of pivot mounts at each side of the agitator means, one of said pivot mounts being shown at 21 and which comprises a pin 22 secured to the agitator means 19 engaging within a socket provided in the side wall of the container 10.

The size of the aperture 1 8 of the agitator 1 9 and the shape of the delivery member 1 5 is such that movement of the delivery member towards the discharge opening 1 2 will cause anit-clockwise pivotal movement of the agitator means 1 9 in view of the cooperating surfaces 23 on the delivery member 1 5 and 24 on the agitator means 1 9. As the delivery member 1 5 returns, i.e. travels in a direction away from the discharge opening 12, the agitator means 1 9 will pivot in a clockwise direction about its pivotal axis 20 biased either by gravity or alternatively or additionally biasing means in the form of a spring or other resilient member may be provided.In use the weight of the ice resting on the agitator means will contribute to the force tending to turn the agitator means 1 9 in a clockwise direction. Furthermore, the inclined surfaces 23 and 24 will ensure that a component of the force due to the weight of stored ice will act on the delivery member 1 5 in a direction to return it from its delivery position.

The container 10 is provided with baffles 25 and 26 secured respectively to the front and back of the container which baffles 25 and 26 extend towards the centre of the container to assist in bearing some of the weight of the ice so that when the container 10 is full not all the weight of the ice will bear on the agitator means 19 and the delivery member 15.

The delivery member 1 5 moves as has been afore described along the bottom of the container from one extreme position shown in bold outline in Fig. 2 in which it abuts or is adjacent to the back wall of the container, to a delivery position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2 in which the front end of the delivery member extends right up to and possibly beyond the flexible retaining means 1 3.

Movement of the delivery member 1 5 is caused by movement of an operating member 27 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to discharge chute 28. The discharge chute 28 is mounted on the container in a position as best shown in Fig. 2.

The operating member 27 has a contact member 29 of a shape adapted to be engaged by a glass or other receptacle and, if a receptacle engages the contact member 29 and force is applied to cause it to move upwardly then the operating member 27 slides relative to the discharge chute 28 in an upwards direction. Attachment means in the form of a cord 30 connects the operating member 27 to the delivery member 1 5 and, movement of the operating member 27 in an upwards direction will cause the cord 30 to move the delivery member 1 5 towards its delivery position, i.e. towards the discharge opening 12.

During movement of the delivery member 1 5 towards the discharge opening 1 2 any lumps of ice present in front of the delivery member 1 5 will be pushed towards the discharge opening 1 2 through the flexible retaining means 1 3 and into the delivery chute 28.

The length of travel of the operating member 27 and delivery means 1 5 is adapted to coincide such that a lump or lumps of ice delivered to the discharge chute arrive therein as the receptacle contact member 29 approaches a discharge orifice 31 provided in the discharge chute 28. Thus the lump or lumps of ice will be delivered through the orifice 31 and contact member 29 into the receptacle without incurring a large vertical fall of the lump or lumps of ice from the apparatus to the receptacle, thus minimising the splashing of the beverage out of the receptacle.

When the receptacle is removed from the annular contact member 29 the delivery member 1 5 will return to its position adjacent the back wall of the container 10 by the force of spring 32 which is stretched as the delivery member 1 5 moves towards the discharge opening 12, the spring 32 also causing the operating member 27 to return to its lower position in which lower position a second retaining means 33 lies adjacent the first flexible retaining means 1 3 as best shown in Fig. 2.

During movement of the delivery member 1 5 to and from its delivering position, respective anti-clockwise and then clockwise pivotal movement of the agitator means 1 9 will occur relative to the container 1 0. Such pivotal movement will cause agitation of the lumps of ice contained within the container 10 and greatly decrease the likelihood of the lumps of ice becoming fused together to form a homogenous mass thus the agitator means 1 9 will enable the lumps of ice to be delivered in single form or at least in small numbers of lumps.

It is intended that the distance through which the operating member 27 is moved during a discharging operation is considerably greater than the linear movement of that part of the agitator means 1 9 furthest from its pivotal axis 20. Thus, even through the container 10 may be full of ice and there is a considerable weight of ice in the container, the mechanical advantage provided will ensure that the agitator means 1 9 will provide some agitating movement of the contents without excessive force having to be supplied to the operating member 27. This is important since the operating member 27 is intended to be moved in contact with the receptacle, i.e. a glass which may be fragile.

The pivotal axis of the agitator means may alternatively be situated along the axis 40 and the part of the agitator means extending upwardly therefrom shortened or almost entirely dispensed with.

The agitator means 1 9 assists in ensuring that the lumps of ice do not form a homogenous mass. However, it is envisaged that one or two lumps of ice may bond together and the flexible retaining means 14 is adapted to allow the passage of acceptacle amounts of fused lumps, for example two or three cubes being so fused together or a greater number of "flats". The discharge opening 1 2 in the container 10 would prevent an unacceptably large fused mass which should not occur due to the intermittent agitation of the contents by the agitator means 1 5.

It is envisaged that the operating member may be of an alternative configuration to that shown and it is possible that rather than relying on contact with a receptacle and movement of said receptacle, a manual or automatically operated lever may be provided to cause movement of the delivery member 1 5. The operating means may comprise an electrically energised solenoid or alternatively a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement.

However where it is desired to fill the glass with ice, the manual arrangement described above permits such an operation to be carried out single handed.

Suitable drain means may be provided to allow water from ice that has melted to drain away without dripping through the discharge member 31.

In order to refill the container 10 it is only necessary for the lid 11 to be removed and more ice added.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs 4 to 6.

Referring to Fig. 4, a base part of a second embodiment of dispensing means mentioned previously for the dispensing of lumps of ice, is illustrated in perspective.

The base part comprises a base member 50 having upstanding walls 51, 52 and 53, the storage means for holding lumps of ice, being adapted to co-operate with the upstanding walls 51 to 53 to secure it to the base part.

The storage means (not shown) may be provided with baffles similar to the baffles 25, 26 described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

Alternatively the baffles may be of a more pliable nature and may comprise brush-like elements.

The storage means may also be provided with a lid, or if preferred since it is separable from the base part, such separation may be effected to fill the storage means thereby dispensing with the need for a separate lid.

The base part shown in Fig. 4 has an agitator 55, feed ramps 56 and 57, guide members 58 and a closure member 60.

The base member 50 is provided with an aperture 61 through which the objects to be dispensed, i.e. lumps of ice, pass from the storage means. The closure member 60 is connected via connecting members, one of which is shown at 62, to a delivery member shown in Fig. 5 at 63.

The delivery member 63 has a ramp-like surface 64 adapted on movement of the delivery member 63 to effect delivery of lumps of ice from the storage means, to cause limited pivotal movement of the agitator 55 about its pivotal axis 66.

The means for operating the delivery member 63 will now be described in more detail.

The operating means comprises a contact member 70 of a shape adapted to be engaged by a glass or other receptacle, the operating means also comprising a delivery chute 75. The contact member 70 and the delivery chute 75 are movable in the direction shown by arrow A within the confines of a delivery chute comprising a front wall 72 and side walls 73 and 74.

Connected to the delivery chute 75 is a slide member 76 which is guided in opposed channels, one of which can be seen in Fig 5 at 77.

Slide member 76 is provided with an abutment block 78 against which bears a roller bearing member 79 pivotally connected to connecting member 80 about a rotational axis 81. The connecting member 80 is in turn connected to a peripherally toothed gear segment 82 which meshes with another peripherally toothed gear segment 83.

The peripherally toothed gear segment 83 is non-rotatably connected to crank arm 84 which carries at its remote end bearing member 85.

The operation of the dispensing means will now be described.

Contact by a receptacle with the contact member 70 and subsequent movement of the receptacle and contact member 70 in the direction of arrow A will, referring to Fig. 6, cause clockwise movement of the gear segment 82. Such movement will cause anitclockwise movement of gear segment 83 which in turn will cause bearing membr 85 situated on the remote end of crank arm 84 to move the delivery member 63 in a direction opposite to the direction shown by arrow A.

The delivery member 63 will thus move towards aperture 61 and since the delivery member 63 is connected to closure member 60, the closure member 60 will also move in a direction opposite to arrow A allowing access to the aperture 61 for contents contained within the dispensing means, i.e. lumps of ice.

Movement of the contact member 70 in the direction of arrow A will cuase slide member 76 to be moved away from the aperture 61 thus, as a receptacle as shown in dotted outlise at 90, moves into position under the aperture 61, the aperture will be "opened" on its upper side by movement of the closure member 60 in a direction opposite to the arrow A and will be opened from the underside by movement of slide member 76 in the direction of arrow A.

Thus, the extent to which the aperture 61 is opened, i.e. the cross-sectional area of a passage to permit delivery of lumps of ice, from the dispensing means to a receptacle, is controlled by the amount of movement of the operating means in a direction shown by the arrow A.

Movement of the delivery member 63 which pushes lumps of ice towards the aperture 61 during a delivery mode of operation is aginst a resilient bias provided by biasing member 91.

The biasing member 91 may comprise an elastomeric piece of material or alternatively a helical spring or other spring means may be provided to bias the delivery member 63 and hence the closure member 60 into a closed position, preventing the undesired escape of ice from the dispensing means through the aperture 61.

The biasing means will return the delivery member to its retracted position on removal of the receptacle from the contact member 70.

The container part may include a curtain similar to the retaining means 1 3 in addition to the closure member 60, the curtain being made from a plurality of flexible fingers, for example of rubber or alternatively may comprise a plurality of bristles, natural or synthetic.

The above described embodiments of the present invention have been designed specifically to dispense lumps of ice. It has been found that they operate most satisfactorily with "soft" ice which is ice at approximately 0 C or only a few degrees therebelow. If very cold ice is used initally problems can occur since the pressure due to gravity acting on a large number of stored lumps can cause melting at the points of contact, particularly at the bottom of the store, where the pressure is greatest, and in view of the very cold temperature of the ice the water may freeze tending to bond the lumps of ice into a homogenous mass. The agitator means assist in deterring the formation of such a homogenous mass.

However, in order to minimise the problem the use of "soft" ice is preferable.

The embodiment described above have been described specifically for the discharging of lumps of ice to receptacles, i.e. beverage glasses. However it is envisaged that they may be used for the dispensing of any lumps of material and depending on the nature and size of such lumps, the shape and configuration of the various parts and the manner of operation may be somewhat different from the above described embodiments.

Claims (23)

1. Dispensing means adapted to dispense one or more lumps from storage means into a receptacle, said dispensing means comprising delivery means movable relative to said storage means and adapted to deliver one or more of said lumps from said storage means towards a receptacle, an operating part associated with or forming part of the delivery means, the arrangement being such that movement of said operating part causes said delibery means to deliver one or more lumps into said receptacle.

2. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the delivery means is adapted to be moved to cause delivery of one or more lumps into said receptacle by contact with and movement of said receptacle.

3. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said operating part is separate from said delivery means and comprises an operating member, means being provided to connect the operating member to the delivery means to provide for said movement of the delivery means in response to movement of the operating member.

4. Dispensing means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a storage means comprising a discharge opening, a delivery member movable relative to said storage means to deliver one or more lumps to said discharge opening and agitator means adapted to cause movement of at least some of the stored lumps in response to movement of said delivery means.

5. Dispensing means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the storage means is provided at its discharge opening with a movable restraining member to prevent undesired movement of lumps from the storage means.

6. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said movable retaining member comprises a plurality of resilient fingers adapted to be moved resiliently from their restraining position on operation of the delivery member in a delivery operation.

7. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said movable restraining member comprises a plurality of natural or synthetic bristles adapted to be moved resiliently from their restraining position on operation of the delivery member in a delivery operation.

8. Dispensing means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein retaining means are provided adapted to close a discharge opening, said retaining means being movable from its retaining position on operation of the operating member.

9. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said retaining means is connected to the operating member and is arranged so that movement of the operating member in a direction to cause lumps to be dispensed from the storage means will cause said retaining means to move out of its retaining position.

10. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said delivery member and said agitator means are each of a form so that they co-operate with each other in a manner to ensure that stored lumps do not prevent the return of the delivery member from its delivery position.

11. Dispensing means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the storage means has a discharge opening in the base wall thereof and the delivery member operates in association with, or is formed integrally with, a closure member which closes the discharge opening, in a manner to prevent the unintentional discharge of lumps, which closure member is adapted to move progressively out of a closing position on the movement of the delivery member during a delivery operation.

1 2. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the operating member comprises a part situated below the base wall of the storage means adapted to be contacted by a receptacle and moved in a substantially horizontal direction to cause operation of the dispensing means.

1 3. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 1 2 wherein said part situated below the base wall is adapted for contact with, and movement by, a drinking glass.

14. Dispensing means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the delivery member is mounted for sliding movement relative to the storage means and is situated at the bottom of the storage means.

1 5. Dispensing means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the storage means is provided with baffles extending inwardly from the inner surface of the storage means, said baffles being adapted to support at least part of the weight of the lumps stored thereabove.

16. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 1 5 wherein said baffles are flexible and comprise resilient fingers or natural or artificial bristles.

1 7. Dispensing means as claimed in Claim 4 or any claim appendant thereto wherein said agitator means is situated above the delivery member and bears at least partially on the delivery member, the co-operating bearing surface between the agitator means and the delivery member being inclined in the direction of travel of the delivery member, the co-operating bearing surfaces causing movement of the agitator means on movement of the delivery member.

18. Dispensing means adapted to dispense one or more lumps from a storage means for storing said lumps, said storage means comprising opening, a delivery member movable relative to said storage means to deliver one or more lumps to said discharge opening and agitator means adapted to cause movement of at least some of the stored lumps in response to movement of said delivery means.

1 9. Dispensing means adapted to dispense one or more lumps of ice from a storage means for storing said lumps into a drinking glass, said dispensing means comprising delivery means movable relative to said storage means and adapted to deliver one or more of said lumps of ice from said storage means towards said drinking glass, an operating part associated with or forming part of the delivery means, the operating part being adapted to be contacted by said drinking glass and being capable of causing operation of said delivery means on movement of said drinking glass in a direction to cause movement of said operating part.

20. A method of dispensing lumps from a storage means into a receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described.

21. Dispensing means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Dispensing means having delivery means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

23. Dispensing means including any novel feature or novel combination of features as described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.