GB2159802A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-column cigarette packet vending machine has an electrical coin validator (2) which can give an electrical signal enabling a selected drawer or handle to be operated to cause a packet from a selected column to be delivered. Once dispensation occurs the validator is mechanically cancel led by a mechanical component and coins are sent to a coin box. Dispensation can occur when a solenoid (24) lifts a release latch so that a delivery bar (22) can move to the right to allow a dispensing component to be moved forwards as a wedge separates portions of the bar (22). Stops prevent any other handle being operated while a first handle is being operated. Articles in a stack rest on a trolley but cannot tilt over the edge of the trolley because of a non-tilt plate on the top of the column resting on the stack and capable of dropping down the column, but not tilting in the column. A plate on the block prevents operation of the dispensing mechanism when the column is exhausted. During dispensing the trolley moves forward to allow the lowest article to drop onto a platform and then rearward movement of the trolley pushes the bottom article into a delivery chute after which the remaining articles drop onto the trolley. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vending machine This invention relates to a vending machine, for example for vending packets of cigarettes from a stack in a column or perhaps bars of chocolate or packets of chewing gum. The machine may be a single column machine or a multi-column machine and will in general be arranged so that dispensing means can be operated by a purchaser after he has put the correct coin or combination of coins into a validator.

According to one aspect of the present invention a vending machine has an electrical coin validator arranged to give an electrical output signal when the correct coin (s) has been inserted, a release mechanism arranged in response to a validator output signal to enable dispensing means to be operated, and mechanical means arranged to reset the validator in response to operation of the dispensing means.

Validators are available which can sort and validate coins and be set to give an output signal when any desired combination of coins is being inserted. The validator may be energised from a battery or perhaps from a mains unit and there may be means of cancelling the output signal once the dispenser has operated to prevent a second article being vended before further coins have been inserted.

The present invention involves a mechanical linkage between the dispensing means and the validator so that as soon as the article is delivered from the machine the validator is positively cancelled and there is no possibility of an output being continually present,per- haps due to some electrical fault. Moreover, cancelling of the validator can be arranged to direct the validated coins into a coin box rather than to say a returned coin tray.

In one simple mechanism the validator output signal is used to energise a solenoid which lifts a release component whereas operation of the dispensing means drives a mechanical linkage to switch off the validator and open its output to the coin box.

In order to save drain on a battery it would be possible for the validator output signal merely to operate a microswitch which enables the dispensing means to commence operation but not to complete its operation.

However, commencement of operation of the dispensing means can be arranged to energise the solenoid to move the release mechanism after which the operation of the dispensing means can be completed and then the solenoid can be de-energised. That has the advantage that the solenoid is only energised for the actual time of dispensing and not for any time that the customer may delay between inserting his coins and actually operating the dispensing means.

According to a second aspect of the invention a vending machine has a column for a stack of articles to be vended and a block for resting on the top of the stack of articles in the column and cooperating with the walls of the column to be capable of freely dropping as articles are dispensed from the column and the top ofthe stack is lowered but not to tilt to a significant extent.

The column will conveniently have dispensing means arranged to dispense articles from the bottom of the stack and then the block may have means which drop with it as articles are vended for preventing operation of the dispensing means when the stack is exhausted.

Such a non-tilt block can be useful to prevent someone taking an article from the bottom of the stack before proper dispensing has occurred because such dishonest action would probably require the stack to be tilted.

However, the non-tilt block is also an optional feature of a novel dispensing mechanism according to a further aspect of the invention.

That further dispensing mechanism for dispensing an article from the bottom of a stack of articles comprises a platform defining a precipice, a support block for the stack mounted for reciprocating movement on the platform away from and towards the precipice and arranged when moved away from the precipice to allow the stack to drop from the top of the block onto the platform, and when then moved back towards the precipice to push the bottom article in the stack over the precipice for delivery. Conveniently, before delivery, the stack projects partly over the precipice so that the amount of reciprocating movement can be less than the depth of the article but then it will be convenient to use the non-tilt block defined above to prevent the stack tilting over the precipice before the article is positively pushed by the support block.

Such a dispensing mechanism is a suitable alternative to the more conventional drawer type mechanism which has to have room at the front for a drawer to be withdrawn. The pusher type of dispensing mechanism can push the article rearwardly into a delivery chute which does not have to be as wide as the full depth of the article.

Many dispensing mechanisms are of the multicolumn type with a number of columns side by side each containing a stack of articles, the articles in the various stacks being different. For example, if the dispensing mechanism is in combination with a coin release mechanism for vending, then once the correct coins have been introduced the purchaser can select which article he buys by operating the dispensing means for the appropriate column.

It is of course important that the purchaser can only operate one of the dispensing mechanisms and that after an article has been dispensed the mechanism is reset so that another article cannot be dispensed until further coins have been put in.

According to a further aspect of the invention a multi-column article dispensing means comprises a dispensing mechanism for each column arranged to dispense an article by a pulling or pushing movement of a handle, a stop bar common to all the columns and normally preventing dispensing movement of all the handles, and release means enabling, when actuated, one handle but only one handle to undergo dispensing movement.

The stop bar may be a transverse bar divided into sections one corresponding to each column, and each dispensing mechanism can include a wedge or the equivalent which enters the space between adjacent sections of the stop bar when the corresponding dispensing mechanism is operated. Such movement of parts of the stop bar to accommodate the wedge can prevent any other dispensing mechanism from undergoing dispensing movement, whether because the degree of movement of one end of the bar is limited or because the'inserted wedge prevents movement of the other end of the bar.

It is also desirable to ensure that after an article has been dispensed the stop bar is returned to its normal position preventing dispensing movement of all the handles and according to a further aspect of the invention a locking bar is arranged to be driven in response to one handle undergoing dispensing movement to prevent any other handle from undergoing dispensing movement. In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention each dispensing mechanism can be associated with cam means for driving the locking bar when the dispensing mechanism is operated to act as a stop against movement of any other dispensing mechanism whatever may be the position of the stop bar.

In a particularly convenient arrangement, the mechanism includes a double cam surface one part of which acts to move the locking bar so as to lock all the other dispensing mechanisms while the other acts to drive the stop bar through the appropriate movement necessary to accompany dispensing movement of the selected handle.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a view of an electrically validated drawer type vending machine; Figure 2 is a view of an electrically validated drawerless vending machine; Figure 3 is a view of a vending machine of the type shown in either Figure 1 or Figure 2, with the front cover and dispensing means removed; Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic view of the dispensing means release mechanism which is shown generally at "A" in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side elevation of a column of a drawerless vending machine; Figure 6 is an underside plan view of a drawerless vending machine dispensing means release mechanism;; Figure 7 is a front elevation of an element of the drawerless vending machine dispensing means release mechanism which is shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a scrap sectionalised view of an individual column and stabilising/anti-theft block which may be utilised in a vending machine; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the delivery trolley shown in Figures 5 and 7.

The vending machine shown in Figure 1 is wall mountable and has an electrical coin validator 2 which validates coins that are inserted through the slot 4 and either rejects them through reject slot 6, or accepts them and displays the total value of the coins inserted on the display 8. When the value of the coins inserted is sufficient to purchase one of the products displayed in the columns 10, the validator sends an electrical release signal to the drawer release mechanism (not shown) and indicates that this has been done by illuminating the light 1 2. The product can then be removed from the machine by opening a selected drawer 14; this action actuates a coin acceptance mechanism which causes the coins to pass to a collecting box within the machine.Alternatively, the coins can be reclaimed, by the purchaser, by pushing the reject button 16, whereby the coins pass to the reject slot 6. Once the product has been removed the drawer 1 4 has to be pushed back before the vending cycle can be repeated.

Figure 2 shows a drawerless vending machine which operates in a similar way to that described above, with the exception that, to remove the product from the machine, the purchaser has to pull out the requisite handle 18, and push it back into the machine whereupon the product is dispensed to the tray 1 9 at the bottom of the machine. This type of drawerless machine has the advantage that its vending cycle is completed upon vending of the product, i.e. the machine is ready to operate again immediately after a product is vended; there is no need to push a drawer back.

The capability of the electrical coin validator 2 to evaluate numerous combinations of coins, and to issue release signals at numer ous values enables the machines described above to accept a wide range of coinage, and, in dependence upon their respective dispens ing means, release mechanisms to vend differ ent products at different values. Figure 3 shows a dispensing means release mechanism 20 which could be utilised in either type of machine, described above, and which releases all the columns 10 of the machine simultaneously. This mechanism 20 operates on the end of a stop bar 22 which bar 22 in its locked position (as shown in Figure 4) holds all the dispensing means (14,18) against any attempt to dispense a product.Upon receipt of a release signal from the validator 2, a solenoid coil 24 is activated and attracts its core 26 downwards thus causing a release lever 28 to pivot about point 30 and raise a release gate 32 thereby freeing the slide bar 22. The release mechanism remains in this state until the dispensing means is actuated i.e. the drawer opened or knob pulled, which action causes the stop bar 22 to move in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 4.

Such movement of the stop bar 22 operates a coin acceptance linkage 34 by causing a translator lever 36 to pivot about point 38, thus moving a peg 40 which is mounted on the lever 36; the peg 40 in turn moves a peg 42 which is mounted on a coin acceptor lever 44, thus pivoting the coin acceptor lever 44 about point 46. The stepped upper end of the coin acceptor lever 44 trips a coin acceptance mechanism within the validator 2 thereby causing the inserted coin to drop into the collecting box and the electrical release signal to be cancelled. A return spring 48 biases the whole release mechanism to return upon reinsertion of the dispensing means (drawer or knob), so that the release gate 32 is relatched in the end of the stop bar 2 in readiness for the next vending cycle.

In order to save electrical power, particularly in cases where the machine is battery operated, a microswitch operated by the dispensing means release mechanism may be incorporated between the validator 2 and the solenoid coil 24.

Therefore, instead of the solenoid coil 24 being actuated from the time of the electrical release signal from the validator 2, until the time when the dispensing mechanism causes the coins to be accepted and the release signal to be cancelled, one side of the microswitch is powered from the time of the electrical release signal, but the circuit to the solenoid coil 24 is not completed until the initial actuation of the dispensing mechanism closes the microswitch. This arrangement ensures that the solenoid coil 24 is only energised for the short period of time during which the dispensing mechanism is actuated. As well as the aforementioned method of power saving, the coin validator 2 may have an overall vending cycle duration timer, whereby following validation of the correct coinage the vending cycle must be completed within a short period of time, for example 30 seconds.If the vending cycle is not completed within this short period of time, the validator 2 cancels the release signal and switches off the display 8 and indicator light 12, whereupon the coins must be retrieved by way of the reject button 16.

The dispensing mechanism will now be described with reference to the drawerless type of machine as shown in Figures 5,6 and 7; however, it should be appreciated that a similar type of two bar locking mechanism as will be described could be employed on a machine with drawers. The dispensing operation is best described with reference to Figure 5 from which it can be seen that a stack 51 of products, held in a column 10,of the machine rests on a delivery trolley 50, which is mounted for reciprocal movement by actuation of the knob 1 8. When the knob 18 is pulled out the trolley 50 rolls out from beneath the stack, on rollers 55 and 57, shown in Figure 9, of products causing them to drop onto a shelf 52.Rolling in of the trolley 50 then pushes the product at the bottom of the stack off the shelf 52 so that it falls into a slide 54 and rests in the tray 1 9. As the bottom product is dispensed, the trolley 50 slides under the next product so that this next product becomes the bottom product and is ready for dispensing in the next vending cycle. A roller 56 at the upper rear edge of the trolley 50 eases the sliding of the trolley 50 back under the stack of products.

The locking mechanism shown in Figure 6 prevents more than one dispensing mechanism from being operated at a time.

As soon as the knob 1 8 is pulled a locking cam 58 on a sliding member 59 of the dispensing means causes a locking peg 60 to move a locking bar 62 and thus offset locking pegs 64 of the other dispensing mechanisms to a locked position in front of stops 66 on the other sliding members. This movement of the locking bar 62 may be utilised to close an energy saving microswitch and activate the solenoid coil 24, without risk of jamming the mechanism since it happens before any movement of the stop bar 22 has occurred. The stop bar 22 is composed of segments 68 each of which is the legnth of the distance between adjacent dispensing mechanisms, and the joins of which in the locked position, lie in line with the dispensing mechanisms.

On further pulling of the knob 18 a slide cam 70 separates two adjacent segments 68 and moves part of the stop bar 22 to the left, the other side 72 of the cam 70 prevents any movement of the part of the stop bar 22 which is not caused by the separation of the segments 68. The movement of part of the stop bar 22 offsets the joins between the segments 68, in that part of the stop bar 22, from the dispensing mechanisms lying on the cam 70 side of the operated dispensing mechanism thereby preventing operation of those dispensing mechanisms should the locking pegs 64 fail, or should more than one of the dispensing mechanisms have been moved past the locking pegs 64 by simultaneous "snatch" operation of two or more dispensing mechanisms.The dispensing mechanisms on the right of the operated cam 70 are prevented from moving the remaining part of the stop bar 22, and are thus prevented from being operated, by the edge 72 in the event of the locking pegs 64 being circumvented, as described above.

A ratchet means 73 (partially shown in Figure 6) restricts each dispensing mechanism to a complete cycle withdraw/insert stroke, thereby preventing the locking mechanism being circumvented by partial operation of any of the dispensing mechanisms. The two independent locking means, locking bar 62 and stop bar 22 are necessary so that the locking mechanism cannot be overcome by frictionally holding one of them in an unlocked position and selectively operating the other.For example if there was no locking bar 62, once the stop bar 22 was released by the release mechanism described above, a dispensing mechanism could be pulled out, then another dispensing mechanism on the cam 70 side of the operated mechanism could be jammed to hold the stop bar 22 against the return spring 48, so that on return of the first dispensing mechanism and dispensing of the products the stop bar 22 is not returned and the release gate 32 not re-latched therefore enabling the same, or another dispensing mechanism on the edge 72 side of the second jamming dispensing mechanism to be operated without further insertion of money.

Because there is no movement amplification between the knob 18 and the trolley 50. the length of the pullstroke of the knob 1 8 is governed by the length of the trolley 50.

Since it is desired that this pullstroke length be as short as possible, the length of the trolley 50 is reduced to less than half of the length of the products to be dispensed. Such sizing of the trolley 50 leads to problems in that the products tend to tilt on the trolley 50 and either jam the machine or easily fall off the trolley 50.

These problems are circumvented by incorporating a stabilising block 74 at the top of the stack of products (as shown in Figure 5).

This stabilising block 74 is raised to the top of the column 10 where it is held by a magnet 76 whilst the stack of products is loaded into the column. The stabilising block 74 is then freed from the magnet 76 so that it bears down on the stack of products and prevents any lifting of an edge of the products, hence preventing the tendancy for the stack to tilt on the trolley 50. The stabilising block 74 is constrained to present a horizontal under face to bear down on the stack of products because it reacts against and is guided by the walls of the column 10 and slots therein. The rear of the stabilising block 74 has an upturned angle piece 78 which reacts against the rear of the column 1 0. A cutout portion 80 of this angle piece 78 is bent over and runs in a slot 82 in the rear of the column 10.

The front of the stabilising block 74 has a downwards turned angle section 84 the horizontal limb 86 of which has two slots cut in it adjacent the angle. These slots co-operate with inwardly turned portions of the front of the column 10 to serve as a further guide to the stabilising block 74. The vertical limb 88 of the downwards turned angle section 84 bears against the outside of the front of the column 10 and extends downwardly, further than the underside face of the block. This extension of the vertical limb 88 prevents the trolley 50 being pulled out when the column is completely empty, thereby preventing operation of a dispensing mechanism at the bottom of an empty column.

Vending of different priced products from the same machine may be achieved by utilising the same dispensing means release mechanism as described above, with the addition of selectively operated locking solenoids which serve to lock segments 68 of the slide bar 22 so that the more expensive products cannot be dispensed until the requisite money has been inserted.

Whilst this description by way of example has concentrated on electrically validated vending machines, it must be appreciated that all aspects described herein are equally applicable to mechanically validated vending machines if suitable mechanisms are incorporated in place of the solenoids.

Claims (20)

1. A vending machine having a column for a stack of articles to be vended and a block for resting on the top of the stack of articles in the column and cooperating with the walls of the column to be capable of freely dropping as articles are dispensed from the column and the top of the stack is lowered, but not to tilt to a significant extent.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 in which the column has dispensing means arranged to dispense articles from the bottom of the stack and in which the block has means which drop with it as articles are vended for preventing operation of the dispensing means when the stack is exhausted.

3. A dispensing mechanism for dispensing an article from the bottom of a stack of articles comprising a platform defining a precipice, a support block for the stack mounted for reciprocating movement on the platform away from and towards the precipice and arranged when moved away from the precipice to allow the stack to drop from the top of the block onto the platform and then moved back towards the precipice to push the bottom article in the stack over the precipice for delivery.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which, before delivery, the stack projects partly over the precipice so that the amount of reciprocating movement is less than the depth of the article.

5. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 including a block for resting on the top of the stack of articles in a column and cooperating with the walls of the column to be capable of freely dropping as articles are dispensed from the column and the top of the stack is lowered, but not to tilt to a significant extent.

6. A dispensing mechanism as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5 in which the support block is arranged to push the bottom article rearwardly over the precipice for delivery and including a delivery chute arranged to collect an article pushed from the stack and directed to the front of the mechanism.

7. A multi-column vending machine in which each column has a dispencing mechanism as claimed in Claim 6, the delivery chute being common to all the columns.

8. A multi-column article dispensing means comprising a dispensing mechanism for each column arranged to dispense an article by a pulling or pushing movement of a handle and including a stop bar common to all the columns and normally preventing dispensing movement of all the handles and release means enabling, when actuated, one handle, but only one handle, to undergo dispensing movement.

9. Means as claimed in Claim 8 in which the stop bar is a transverse bar divided into sections, one corresponding to each column and in which each dispensing mechanism includes a wedge which enters the space between adjacent sections of the stop bar when the corresponding dispensing mechanism is operated.

10. Means as claimed in Claim 9 in which movement of parts of the stop bar to accommodate a wedge prevents any other dispensing mechanism undergoing dispensing movement.

11. Means as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 10 including a locking bar arranged to be driven in response to one handle undergoing dispensing movement to prevent any other handle undergoing dispensing movement.

1 2. Means as claimed in Claim 11 in which each dispensing mechanism is associated with cam means for driving the locking bar when the dispensing mechanism is operated to act as a stop against movement of any other dispensing mechanism whatever may be the position of the stop bar.

1 3. Means as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11 in which each mechanism includes a double cam surface, one part of which acts to move the locking bar so as to lock all the other dispensing mechanisms while the other acts to drive the stop bar in the appropriate movement necessary to accompany dispensing movement of the selected handle.

14. A vending machine having an electrical coin validator arranged to give an electric output signal when the correct coin or combination of coins has been inserted, a release mechanism arranged in response to a validator output signal to enable dispensing means to be operated and mechanical means arranged to reset the validator in response to operation of the dispensing means.

1 5. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 3 including battery or mains means for energising the validator.

16. A machine as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 1 3 including a mechanical linkage between the dispensing means and the validator arranged so that as soon as an article is delivered from the machine the validator is positively cancelled and no electrical output signal can be given.

17. A machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 3 to 1 6 in which cancelling of the validator is arranged to direct the validated coins to a coin box.

1 8. A machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 2 to 1 7 in which the validator output signal energises a solenoid for lifting a release element.

1 9. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 7 in which the validator output signal merely operates a microswitch to enable the dispensing means to commence, but not complete operation and in which commencement of operation energises a solenoid to lift a release component after which operation of the dispensing means can be completed and solenoid de-energised.

20. A vending machine or dispensing means constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to any of Figures 4 to 9 of the accompanying drawings or with reference to any combination of those Figures.