GB2200899A - Dispensing articles from hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the storage and delivery of articles comprising an housing (2) defining a reservoir (4) for confining such articles with a delivery passage (10) extending therefrom, at least one wall of the delivery passage extending into the reservoir, and an agitating element aligned with said one wall, the element being movable along a path substantially parallel to said one wall and into the reservoir beyond said one wall and in engagement with articles confined therein, to agitate and align such articles with the delivery passage. The agitating elements may be driven by rocker arms 20 in synchronisation with a release gate 24. Instead of rigid agitating elements, a flexible web may be used, which is advanced either manually or by a motor. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR STORAGE AND DELIVERY OF DISCRETE ARTICLES This invention relates to the storage and delivery of articles from reservoirs in which they are loosely contined. The invention has application in a wide variety of equipment such as for example, coin-freed machines in which change must be given; feed devices for articles in industrial machinery; and vending machines. Apparatus according to the invention is best adapted tor use with substantially circular or spherical articles.

It is often convenient to package, transport, and/or store discrete articles loosely confined in a container. However, at some stage such articles are normally required individually or at least in a controllable sequence, and when their delivery is from a container or reservoir in which they are loosely confined, a trequent problem is that they become jammed near or adjacent the point of discharge. The present invention is concerned with a mechanism for relieving this problem, and seeks to provide a'mechanism in which the seriatim delivery of articles trom such a container or reservoir is assurea.

According to the invention, apparatus for the storage and delivery of discrete articles comprises an housing in which a reservoir for confining the articles is defined. A delivery passage extends trom the reservoir, and at least one wail of the delivery passage extends into the reservoir. An agitating element aligned with this one wall is adapted for movement along a path substantially parallel to the wall, and into and out of the reservoir beyond the inner end ot the wall. Such movement agitates articles in the reservoir, and serves to align the articles with the delivery passage.

In one embodiment of the invention, the delivery passage is defined by a wall ot the housing or reservoir, and another wall spaced therefrom by a distance -substantially corresponding to the major dimension of each article confined therein. The agitating element is aligndwith this other wall, external of the delivery passage, and the reciprocal movement thereof cyclically extends and reduces the effective length of the delivery passage. Each inward movement of the element torces articles away from or into the delivery passage such that they may be freely discharged therefrom. In the delivery passage of course, because of its dimensions, the articles will arrange themselves substantially in line.The delivery passage will normally be oriented substantially vertically, at least when the apparatus is in use, and thus gravity combines with the operation of the agitating element to ensure a smooth flow of articles through the delivery passage.

In another-embodiment of the invention, the delivery passage is defined quite separately from the walls of the container or reservoir, and in this embodiment it is preferred that two agitating elements are provided on either side of the delivery passage.

neir movement will normally be synchronous into and out of the reservoir, although in some cases alternate movement can produce the desired result. In this embodiment also, the agitating element may extend around the entire wall of the delivery passage, such that the delivery passage and agitating element are in the form of two coaxial tubes or sleeves.

In most embodiments of the invention, the container or reservoir will be of substantially rectangular cross-section, the shorter dimension of which is substantially equal to a dimension of each article contained therein. In this way, the delivery passage can be detined between the opposite major faces ofthe container or reservoir, with the agitating element or elements extending therebetween. This arrangement is particularly suitable for applications of the invention where the container is relatively small, and is for example in the form of a replaceable or refillable magazine. By making one of the mayor faces of the container transparent, the level of the supply of articles therein can be readily visible.

However, where the container is to be of larger capacity, the arrangement described above is more suitable, in which the delivery passage is defined quite separately trom the housing or container walls.

The means by which the agitating element is moved into and out of the reservoir can take many forms. The agitating element may be moved manually, either by direct contact therewith or through a lever system operable from a remote location, for example external of the housing. Such systems are appropriate where the or each agitating element is a substantially rigid body. However, one particular such means described he-rewith uses an agitating element which is flexible, and reciprocal linear movement is imparted thereto, either by a direct physical action or a suitable reciprocal drive mechanism. It will be appreciated also that the means for imparting movement to the agitating element or elements may be linked to a closure system for the delivery passage..For example, a single agitating movement or cycle can open the delivery passage for a time sufficient to release one article, while being effective also to ensure that at least one further article is aligned at the inner end of the delivery passage.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings-wherein:- Figure l is a diagrammatic front sectional elevation of apparatus according to the invention; Figure z is an enlarged detailed view showing the delivery passage and agitating element of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side detailed view of the delivery passage and agitating element of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional front elevation of another embodiment ot the invention; and Figure 5 is a sectional front elevation of yet a further embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises an housing generally indicated at 2 in which is defined a reservoir 4 containing discrete articles 6. The barriers 8 define the lower boundaries of the reservoir 4,and direct articles 6 under the force of gravity towards a delivery passage 10.

The configuration of the delivery passage 10 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3.

The front and rear walls 12 and 14 of the container are spaced by a distance substantially corresponding to one dimension of each article 6.

Where the articles are discs or coins, this spacing will correspond to the thickness of each article. For spherical articles, it will correspond to the diameter thereof, and be substantially equal to the breadth of the delivery passage 10. Thus, the articles 6 are confined in the container 4 in the form of a substantially vertical single layer. The delivery passage is defined by the container walls 12 and 14, and two side walls 16. As can be best seen in Figure 2, the side walls 16 extend into the container 4 beyond the barriers 8. Aligned externally of and substantially parallel to the side walls 16, is a pair of agitating-elements 18 which extend through slots between the barriers 8 and the respective side walls 16. As shown in Figure 1, these are pivotally attached at the end of levers 20, the other ends of which are pivotally mounted at points 22 fixed in the housing.

The elements 18 are adapted for reciprocal movement into and out of the reservoir, and such movemeni cyclically extends or shortens the ettective length of the delivery passage. As each element moves into the reservoir, it agitates the articles 6 and forces them either away from or into alignment with the delivery passage 10. In the embodiment shown, this arrangement thus ensures that there are at least four articles within the delivery passage at all times, ready for discharge therefrom.

Referring again to Figure 1, this embodiment of the invention is provided with a cap 24 pivotally mounted at the discharge end of the delivery passage 10. Pivotally movement of the cap is linked by a gear train 26 to a rod 28. This rod 28 is also pivotally linked to one of the arms 20. By upward movement of the rod 28, the cap 24 is opened to release one or more articles from the delivery passage, and simultaneously the agitating elements 18 are moved into the reservoir to extend the inward length of the delivery passage 10.

Upon release the agitating elements are withdrawn, and the cap 24 closes. Although not shown, it will be understood that the two arms 20 are interlinked for synchronous operation.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 can be readily modified to confine articles in a container in which the articles are loosely spread in three dimensions. In such modification, Figure 2 would properly represent a cross-section through the delivery passage, and additional agitating elements 18 may be employed.

Alternatively, the agitating elements 18 may be combined in a single element in the form of a tube encircling the delivery passage. It will also be appreciated that particularly in this modification the agitating element may extend within the delivery passage rather than externally thereof. Indeed, the agitating element could itself define the entirety of the delivery passage which is reciprocally movable into the reservoir 4.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the delivery passage is defined adjacent a side wall 30 of the container 4. The other wall 16 of the delivery passage is spaced from the wall 30 by a distance substantially equal to the major dimension of each article 6 confined in the reservoir 4. A barrier 8 is inclined to the wall 30, and directs the articles 6 under gravity towards the delivery passage 10. As in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the barrier 8 terminates short of the walls 16 to define a slot through which the agitating element 32 may extend into the reservoir 4. In this embodiment, the element 32 is a strip of flexible material which extends within the housing 2 around two rollers 34.

The opposite end of the element 32 has a spigot mounted thereon which extends through a slot (not shown) in the opposite wall 36 of the housing to a pad 38. Manual movement of the pad 38 along the line of the slot causes reciprocal movement of the other end of the element 32 into and out of the reservoir 4. As with the previous embodiment, this movement agitates the articles 6 within the reservoir 4, and assures their proper alignment with the delivery passage 10.

A slide 40 is mounted on the base 42 of the housing for closing the discharge end of the delivery passage 10. Movement of the slide is coupled to movement ot the element 32 by another spigot 44 extending through a second slot (also not shown) in the base 42. Thus, upward movement of-the pad 38 simultaneously affects withdrawal of the element 32 from the reservoir, and withdrawal of the slide 40 trom the discharge opening. The opposite movement closes the discharge opening.

The embodiment of Figure 4 is also illustrated as appartus in which articles are contined in a single vertical layer, although this too can readily be extended to three dimensions if required.

In that event, the wall 16 will extend around three dimensions of the delivery passage which can remain define against one wall 30 of the housing 2, and the barrier 8 will normally be made in the form of a frusto-cone.

The embodiment of Figure 4 is also shown with a removable cap 46 pivotally mounted on an hinge 48, and held closed by a clip 50. A side ot the housing 2, or part thereof, may be mad transparent such that the supply of articles 6 within the reservoir 4 can be readily determined, for replenishment as required.

Figure 5 is a modification of the apparatus ot Figure 4 in which the movement of the agitating element is motorized. The definition of the reservoir 4, the delivery passage 10, and the movement of the agitating element within the reservoir 4 is substantially the same, but the other end of the element 32 has a transverse slot therein which receives a peg 52 mounted on a wheel 54. The wheel 54 is coupled to a gear train 56 driven by an electric motor 58. The motor is selectively activated by a switch 60 coupled to a source (not shown) of electrical power.

The source may be a mains supply, or a battery incorporated within the apparatus.

The apparatus of Figure 5 is particularly suited for use in vending machines or coin-treed apparatus in which coins needed for change are confined in a single layer in the reservoir 4. Each use of the machine may operate the switch 60 to effect a specified number of movements of the agitating element, and ensure that coins 6 are readily available for discharge as required through a separate metering mechanism (not shown).

Claims (13)

C L A I M S:

1. Apparatus for the storage and delivery of articles comprising an housing defining a reservoir for confining such articles with a delivery passage extending therefrom, at least one wall of the delivery passage extending into the reservoir; an agitating element aligned with said one wall, the element being movable along a path substantially parallel to said one wall and into the reservoir beyond said one wall and in engagement with articles confined therein, to agitate and align such articles with the delivery passage.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the housing includes a barrier within the reservoir for directing articles therein toward the end of the delivery passage..

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the delivery passage is defined by said one wall and a wall of the housing.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the delivery passage is defined separately from the housing.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including two said agitating elements aligned on opposite sides of the delivery passage.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the agitating elements are adapted to move simultaneously into and out of the reservoir.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the agitating elements are adapted to move alternately into and out of the reservoir.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including means for imparting said movement to said at least one agitating element.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein said means comprises a pivotal linkage.

10. Apparatus-according to any preceding Claim which are not used with a toy pellet gun.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim except such which are so arranged, designed and adapted to operate with toy pellet guns.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim disclaiming any such apparatus which operate with toy pellet guns.

13. Apparatus substantially as described herein and shown in any of the accompanying drawings.