GB2177075A - Dispensing flanged containers from a stack - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for sequentially releasing flanged containers A from a stack of such containers comprising a pair of opposed paddle wheels 10 rotatable about horizontal axes, paddles 12 of the paddle wheels extending horizontally to support a lowermost container in the stack and on rotation thereof releasing the lowermost container and supporting the remainder of the stack, the paddles having radially extending projections 14 and radially extending ribs 24 adapted to support substantially the whole length of the flanges 28 parallel to the axes. The stack of containers may be located above an oven which heats food in the containers prior to dispensing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Article release apparatus This invention relates to apparatus, which may be used in a vending machine, forthe sequential release of articles such as containers of food from a stack.

The invention also includes food storage and heating means including such apparatus.

British Patent 653623 discloses apparatus forthe sequential release of bottles from a stack thereof, the apparatus comprising a pair of opposed parallel axles provided with sets of radial arms, the arrangement being such that one set of arms from each axle supports the lowermost bottle of the stack, the axles being rotatable in opposite senses to releasethe lowermost bottle, a further set of arms from each axle engaging the next to lowest bottle and lowering itto the position previously occupied by the bottle previously released.

Apparatus analogous to the aforementioned bottle dispensing apparatus might be considered suitable for dispensing processed food packaged in disposable paperboard orthermoplastics containers ofthe type comprising a generally rectangularchamber provided with a generally rectangular peripheral flange, one set of arms from each axle supporting the lowermost container of a stack by engaging portions of the flange aligned perpendicularto the axles.

However such apparatus would not be satisfactory for example in a vending machine requiring a large number of such containers to be held in a stack be causetheweightofthestackwould causethesup- ported flange portions of the lowermost containerto bend along lines parallel to the supporting arms allowing the stackto fall.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus forthesequential release ofperipherallyflanged con tainersfrom a stackthereof.

According to the invention we provide apparatus forthesequential release ofperipherallyflanged containers from a stack thereof, the apparatus comprising: a pair of opposed paddle wheels mounted for rotation about substantially parallel axes in a horizontal plane, each paddlewheelcomprisinganaxleanda plurality of paddles, each paddle comprising a pairof spaced, parallel projections extending radially ofthe respective axle and defining therebetween a container-receiving recess, and a rib between the projections adjacent to the axle, the projections and the rib being arranged to supportcontainerflange portions aligned respectively perpendicular and parallel to the axle; and rotation means for rotating the paddle wheels in synchronism in opposite senses on demand; the apparatus being arranged such that in the rest position a pair of paddles, one paddle from each paddlewheel, lie in a horizontal plane in which they can support the lowermost member of a container stack.

Because the flange of the container at the base of the stack is supported along at least part of each of its four edges it is precluded from failing by bending along any one pair of parallel lines,thereforethe flangecanfail only in a complexfailure moderequir- ing a greater force than if only the portions of the flange aligned perpendicular to the axles were supported.

The invention will now be described in detail by way ofexample with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 are schematic drawings illustrating apparatus embodying the invention; Figures a more detailed plan view of part the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4; Figure 6 is a side view ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 5; Figure 7isa schematic sideview of food storage and heating means embodying the invention.

Figure 1 shows a stack of food containers resting one on top of the other. The four lowermost containers are designated A, B, C and D. The apparatus is shown in Figure 1 in a rest position, in which the lowermost container A is supported by two paddle wheels shown generally as 10. The paddle wheels comprise a pair or parallel axles 15 each having four equally spaced radially projecting paddles 1 2a, 1 2b, 12c, 1 2d. A peripheral flange 13 of containerA is supported between a pairofopposed paddles 12a of respective paddle wheels 10, this being shown in more detail in Figure 5. Upon synchronised rotation of the paddle wheels in opposite senses X as shown in Figure 1, container A is lowered and successive paddles 1 2b are moved into a position to engagethe flange 13 of container B as shown in Figure 2.As rotation of the axles 15 continues article A is gradually released from engagement with paddles 12a and container Btakes its place (Figures 3 and 4).Thus, by rotation ofthepaddlewheels lOcontainersarese- quentially released from the stackwhilstthe remainder of containers in the stack are supported by a container newly arrived at the base of the stack.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 each axle 15 of the paddle wheels 10 is journalled in a support 18 (shown only in part). Each axle has at one end a toothed wheel 20 which is driven on demand by a toothed wheel 22 from a motor 21 either directly orthrough intermediate gears 23.

Each paddle comprises a pair of parallel spaced projections 14, integral with a rib 24 of less radial length thatthe projections. With a containerAdis- posed in the rest position, as shown in Figure 1, projections 14 each support a portion 26 of the peripheral flange l3ofthecontainerAaligned perpendicularto the axle 15. The rib 24 supports substantially the whole length of a portion 28 of the said flange aligned parallel and adjacent to the axle 15.

As successive projections 14 interpose themselves, upon rotation of the paddle wheels, between the flangesl3onsuccessivecontainersAand Bitisthe end-most regions of the projectionswhich first abuta succeeding container as is shown in Figure 3. It is not until the container is substantially in the position shown for the container A in Figure 1 thatthe rib 24 supportstheflange portion 28.

The axles 15 are preferably driven on demand by a motor in said opposite senses trough the agency of toothed wheels, but a sprocket chain or any other suitable drive arrangement such as a toothed belt or friction members may be used.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the paddle wheels may mount paddles at more or less than four angularly-spaced positions around their axles, and the projections may be of a differing shape, size orconfiguration to those shown, depending upon the shape and disposition of the containers which the apparatus is to dispense. The configuration ofthe ribs may also be differentfrom that shown, for example each rib may comprise a member projecting from its respective axle separately from the projections.

Figure 7 shows a vending machine including food storage and heating means comprising a refrigerated cabinet 110 within which are disposed stacks 112 of containers 114. Containers are released on demand from the base ofthe stacks by rotation, on demand, of opposed pairs of paddle wheels 116 in the manner described above.

The cabinet 110 has at its base an outletopening 120 forthe containers of each stack 112 disposed directly above an oven 122. The oven has a closure element 124 having side pieces 126 and pivoted at 128 at the sides of the oven 122. The oven includes a conveyor 130 and when the closure element 124 is disposed in an open position generally indicated at 132, containers released from the stacks can fall directly on to the conveyor in the oven. The closure element 124 is movable to a closed position generally indicated at 131, in broken lines, wherein the oven is closed offfor heating ofthe containertherein. Also, the closure element 124 in this position closes off the outlet aperture 120 so that in this position, which can be used as a standby condition forthe apparatus, escape of cooled airfrom the outlet openings 120 is prevented by the closure element 124.

After heating ofthe container the closure element 124 is returned to the open position wherein the containercan be removed laterally from the oven by movement of the belt 130.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatusforthe sequential release of peripherally flanged containers from a stackthereof, the apparatus comprising: a pair of opposed paddle wheels mounted for rotation about substantially parallel axes in a horizontal plane, each paddle wheel comprising an axle and a plurality of paddles, each paddle comprising a pair of spaced, parallel projections extending radially of the respective axle and defining therebetween a container-receiving recess, and a rib between the projections adjacentto the axle, the projections and the rib being arranged to support container flange portions aligned respectively perpendicular and parallel to the axle; and rotation means for rotating the paddle wheels in synchronism in opposite senses on demand; the apparatus being arranged such that in the rest position a pair of paddles, one paddle from each paddle wheel, lie in a horizontal plane in which they can supportthe lowermost member of a container stack.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the rib is arranged to supportsubstantiallythewhole length of a container flange portion aligned parallel to the axle.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the rib comprises a member projecting from the axle separatelyfrom the projections.

4. Apparatus for releasing containers from a stack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. Avending machine incorporating containerrelease apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

6. Food storage and heating meansforavending machine comprising (a) storage means for receiving a stack of food containers, (b) container release apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, arranged sequentiallyto release said containers from the storage means, and (c) an oven situated beneath said apparatus. The oven being arranged such that the containers released by said apparatus are received into the oven from above and can be removed laterally from the oven.

7. Means as claimed in Claim 6 in which a conveyorwithin the oven is operable to convey containers laterally from the oven.

8. Food storage and heating meansforavending machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.