GB2212793A

GB2212793A - Cup stripper

Info

Publication number: GB2212793A
Application number: GB8728098A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Douglas Norma Withnall; Martin Philip Spivey; Timothy Vaughan Bloor
Original assignee: CANTINA Ltd
Current assignee: CANTINA Ltd
Priority date: 1987-12-01
Filing date: 1987-12-01
Publication date: 1989-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-01
Also published as: GB8728098D0; GB2212793B

Abstract

For incorporation in a beverage dispensing machine, apparatus for separating the lowermost one (15a) of a stack of like disposable cups (15) moulded of plastics material, each having an outwardly-directed peripheral lip (17) at its open mouth, from off the bottom of the stack. Said apparatus comprises: a member (21), disposed adjacent said lowermost item (15a) having a recess (30) to receive the outwardly-directed peripheral lip (17) of the lowermost item (15a); and means to move said recessed member (21) arcuately such that a wall (37) of the recess (30) impinges upon the outwardly-directed peripheral lip (17) of the lowermost item (15a) and thereby moves the lowermost item (15a) away from the next lowermost item (15b). Member 21 may be frustoconical; four such members may be spaced round the cup rim, and be moved by a solenoid-driven rack-and-pinion arrangement. <IMAGE>

Description

SEPARATION APPARATUS This invention relates to separation apparatus for separating items from a stack. Preferably, but not necessarily, said items are nested within one another and/or are to be separated individually from the stack. The present invention is particularly concerned with, but not limited to, so-called cup splitter apparatus for separating the lowest one of a stack of lipped cups, nested within one another, from the remainder of the stack. Preferably, but not necessarily, the cup splitter apparatus forms part of a beverage dispensing machine.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided separation apparatus for separating the lowermost item of a stack of like items, each having a lateral protuberance, from the remainder of said stack, said apparatus comprising: a member disposed adjacent said lowermost item and having a recess to receive the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item; and means to move said recessed member arcuately such that a wall of the recess impinges upon the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item and thereby moves the lowermost item away from the next lowermost item.

Preferably said means to move the recessed member is operable in a reverse direction such that upon reverse arcuate movement of the member following separation of the lowermost item, the member's recess can receive the lateral protuberance of said next lowermost item which now occupies the previous lowermost item's position.

According tot another aspect of this invention there is provided separation apparatus for separating the lowermost item of a stack of like items, each having a lateral protuberance, from the remainder of said 's stack, said apparatus comprising: a pair of members spaced apart around the perimeter of said lowermost item, each member having (a) a first surface portion to engage said lowermost item adjacent its lateral protuberance, (b) a second surface portion to engage the next most lowermost item during separation of the lowermost item from the stack, and (c) a recess between the first and second surface portions to receive the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item; and means to move each said member arcuately to effect disengagement of said first surface portions from the lowermost item, movement of the lowermost item away from the next lowermost item by engagement of a surface of each said recess with the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item, and engagement of the next lowermost item by said second surface portions.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a second pair of members similar to the first-mentioned pair of members, one member of each said pair being mounted for arcuate movement about a common first axis, and the other member of each said pair being mounted for arcuate movement about a common second axis. Advantageously, the first and second axes are parallel to one another and disposed on opposite sides of the stack.

Preferably the or each said member comprises a notched disc having said first and second portions defined by arcuate edge portions of the disc perimeter, and having said recess defined by a notch extending into the disc perimeter.

Preferably said items are nested within one another.

Preferably, said items comprise beverage cups, e.g.

disposable cups moulded of plastics material, each having an outwardly-directed peripheral lip at its open mouth. Conveniently, the outwardly-directed lips of said cups constitute the said lateral protuberances.

Preferably the member moving means comprises a solenoidoperated rack in engagement with a pinion wheel arranged to drive the or each said member arcuately. Advantageously, the pinion is mounted coaxially with and rotatably fast with the said member(s).

Advantageously the cup separation apparatus is incorporated in a beverage dispensing machine.

By way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of cup separation apparatus, or a so-clled "cup splitter", according to this invention in a beverage dispensing machine, Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line A-A of Fig 1, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line B-B of Fig 1, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a part of the apparatus illustrated in Figs 1-3.

The illustrated beverage dispensing machine 10 houses two vertical stacks 14, 16 of disposable cups 15 that are nested within one another in an upright state. Optionally, the nested cups may be pre-prepared and contain appropriate granular material (in soluble or insoluble form) to provide the appropriate beverage upon the addition of hot water. To this end th machine 10 incorporates a cold water tank 11 and a horizontal cylindrical water boiler 13. The machine 10 may be optionally provided with a coin-freed or tokenfreed mechanism.

The cups 15 are all alike and are moulded of plastics material to have a tapered shape at least adjacent the cup mouth, the cup mouth itself being provided with an outwardly protruding rib-like rim 17. Such cups have a tendency to stick to one another - particularly in the warm, moist environment associated with beverage dispensing machines and therefore require a cup splitter to force the lowest cup 15a off the bottom of the stack 14 or 16, i.e. downwardly with respect to the next lowest cup 15b. In this illustrated embodiment, each stack 14,16 has its own individual cup splitter 12 which, for convenience, is described below with respect to stack 14 alone.

The illustrated cup splitter 12 comprises spindles 18,19 mounted horizontally to the rear and to the front of the lowest cup 15a just below that cup's rim 17. The rearward spindle 18 has a pinion wheel 23 at one end and also has two notched discs 21,22 of frusto-conical form spaced axially along it with their smaller diameter end surfaces facing one another. The discs 21, 22 and pinion wheel 23 are fixed to the spindle 18 for rotation in unison therewith, the axial spacing between discs 21,22 being adjustable and in use set appropriate to the diameter of the cup rim 17. The forward spindle 19 has a pinion wheel 33 at one end and also has two identical notched discs 31, 32 of frusto-conical form spaced axially along it with their smaller diameter end surfaces facing one another. The discs 31,32 and pinion wheel 33 are fixed to the spindle 19 for rotation in unison therewith, the axial spacing between discs 31,32 being adjustable and in use likewise set appropriate to the diameter of the cup rim 17. For convenience the discs 21,22,31,32 may be fixed in the positions to which they are to be set by means of grub screws or set screws threaded in hollow stubs formed integrally with the discs and engaging the shafts 18,19.

The two pinion wheels 23,33 are radially in line with one another and are respectively engaged by opposing toothed limbs 24,34 of a double-limbed rack unit 25 (see Fig 2). The latter is disposed for horizontal movement in a fore-and-aft direction of the machine 10 and is attached to the armature 26 of an actuator solenoid 28.

The frusto-conical notched discs 21,22,31,32 are all alike (see Fig 4), each having a cut-out or notch 30 provided by radial edge walls 36,37. The arrangement of the first pair of opposed discs 21,32 and of the second pair of opposed discs 22,31 is such that the conical peripheries of the four discs engage the lowest cup 15a of a stack with that cup's rim 17 freely accommodated in the notch 30 of each disc 21,22,31,32 and resting upon the notch's edge wall 36.

In use, when the actuator solenoid 28 is energised, the armature 26 and rack unit 25 are moved rearwardly of the machine 10 such that toothed limb 24 rotates pinion wheel 23 counter-clockwise (when viewed as in Fig 2), and toothed limb 34 rotates pinion wheel 33 clockwise (when viewed as in Fig 2). As a result spindle 18 and notched discs 21,22 rotate counter-clockwise, and spindle 19 and notched discs 31,32 rotate clockwise (when viewed as in Fig 2).

As the discs rotate in the directions stated, the edge walls 37 of the four rim-accommodating notches 30 impinge upon the rim 17 and urge cup 15a downwards to force it off the bottom of the stack. However, the same rotation of the discs brings the conical peripheral edge portion 38 of each disc into abutment of the tapered side wall of the next lowest cup 15b thereby to prevent the latter falling off the stack together with, or in succession to, the cup 15a. Upon deenergising the solenoid actuater 28, the rack unit 25 moves forwardly of the machine 10 under the action of a return spring 39 and via toothed limbs 24,34 and pinion wheels 23,33 causes the notched discs 21,22 to move angularly clockwise and the notched discs 31,32 to move angularly anti-clockwise.Such reverse angular movements cause the discs' conical peripheral edge portions 38 to rotate past the rim 17 of now lowermost cup 15b of the stack, so that that rim 17 can then be received in the notch 30 and rest upon the notch's edge wall 36, the latter thereby again supporting the rim 17 of the lowermost cup (now cup 15b).

It will be appreciated that the discs 21,22,31,32 together serve to support the entire stack (14 or 16) as well as to act in separating the lowermost cup from off the bottom of the stack.

A micro-switch 29 is located adjacent the bottom of each stack 14,16 to detect when that stack is empty.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the apparatus 12 of the illustrated embodiment comprises a first pair of members 21,32 spaced apart approximately 1800 around the perimeter of the lowermost item 15a, and a second pair of 0 members 22,31 spaced apart approximately 180 around the perimeter of the lowermost item 15a, each member having a recess 30 to receive the lateral protuberance 17 of the lowermost item 15a and having an adjacent surface portion 38 to engage the next most lowermost item 15b during separation of the lowermost item 15a.The illustrated apparatus 12 is further provided with means 25,26,28 to move each of the members 21,22,31,32 arcuately whereby edge wall surface 37 of each recess 30 impinges upon the lateral protuberance 17 of the lowermost item 15a to effect movement of the lowermost item 15a away from the next lowermost item 15b.

It will furthermore be noted that, following separation of the lowermost item 15a, the reverse operation of the means 25,26,28 movies the recessed members 21,22,31,32 in a reverse direction such that the recess 30 of each member can receive the lateral protuberance 17 of the next lowermost item 15b (which now occupies the position previously occupied by the (now removed) lowermost item 15a).

It will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiment of -this invention requires very few parts, avoids the need for a motor, and permits ready adjustability of the separation apparatus for cups of different rim diameter. As indicated above, such adjustment is achieved by simply altering the axial spacing of the notched frusto-conical discs 21,22 along shaft 18 and the axial spacing of the notched frustoconical discs 31,32 along shaft 19.

It is considered that, in appropriate circumstances, the above-described embodiment of the invention may be modified to provide a cup splitter which, at least in part, is common to two separate stacks of cups. For such a modification it is envisagedthat the shafts 18,19 which bear the notched frusto-conical discs 21,22,31,32 would be directed in a fore-and-aft direction (rather than laterally as in Fig 1) with one of the shafts disposed between the two stacks 14,16.

In another modification of the illustrated embodiment of this invention, the armature 26 of the actuator solenoid 28 may be mounted vertically and be connected to a double-sided rack (i.e. having teeth directed in opposite directions from a common central stem), this rack being movable inbetween the two pinion wheels 23,33 to drive them in opposite directions.

This application is not to be deemed limited to the exemplary embodiments described above and it will be appreciated that still further embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Separation apparatus for separating the lowermost item of a stack of like items, each having a lateral protuberance, fran the remainder of said stack, said apparatus comprising: a member disposed adjacent said lowermost item and having a recess to receive the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item; and means to move said recessed member arcuately such that a wall of the recess impinges upon the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item and thereby moves the lowermost item away from the next lowermost item.

2. Separation apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said means to move the recessed member is operable in a reverse direction such that upon reverse arcuate movement of the member following separation of the lowermost item, the member's recess can receive the lateral protuberance of said next lowermost item which now occupies the previous lowermost item's position.

3. Separation apparatus for separating the lowermost item of a stack of like items, each having a lateral protuberance, from the remainder of said stack, said apparatus comprising: a pair of members spaced apart around the perimeter of said lowermost item, each member having (a) a first surface portion to engage said lowermost item adjacent its lateral protuberance, (b) a second surface portion to engage the next most lowermost item during separation of the lowermost item from the stack, and (c) a recess between the first and second surface portions to receive the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item; and means to move each said member arcuately to effect disengagement of said first surface portions from the lowermost item, movement of the lowermost item away from the next lowermost item by engagement of a surface of each said recess with the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item, and engagement of the next lowermost item by said second surface portions.

4. Separation apparatus according to Claim 3 and further comprising a second pair of members similar to the firstmentioned pair of members, one member of each said pair being mounted for arcuate movement about a common first axis, and the other member of each said pair being mounted for arcuate movement about a common second axis.

5. Separation apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the first and second axes are parallel to one another and disposed on opposite sides of the stack.

6. Separation apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the or each said member comprises a notched disc having said first and second portions defined by arcuate edge portions of the disc perimeter, and having said recess defined by a notch extending into the disc perimeter.

7. Separation apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein said items are nested within one another.

8. Separation apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein said items comprise beverage cups.

9. Separation apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein said items comprise disposable cups moulded of plastics material, each having an outwardly-directed peripheral lip at its open mouth.

10. Separation apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the outwardly-directed lips of said cups constitute the said lateral protuberances.

11. Separation apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the member moving means comprises a solenoidoperated rack in engagement with a pinion wheel arranged to drive the or each said member arcuately.

12. Separation apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the said pinion wheel is mounted coaxially with and rotatably fast with the said member(s).

13. A beverage dispensing machine incorporating separation apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims.

13. Separation apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. A beverage dispensing machine incorporating separation apparatus according to any preceding Claim.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Separation apparatus for separating the lowermost item of a stack of like items, each having a lateral protuberance, from the remainder of said stack, said apparatus comprising: a disc adjacent said lowermost item having first and second portions defined by arcuate edge portions of the disc perimeter, and a recess defined by a notch extending into the disc perimeter to receive the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item; and means to move said notched disc arcuately such that a wall of the recess impinges upon the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item and thereby moves the lowermost item away from the next lowermost item.

2. Separation apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said means to move the notched disc is operable in a reverse direction such that upon reverse arcuate movement of the disc following separation of the lowermost item, the disc's recess can receive the lateral protuberance of said next lowermost item which now occupies the previous lowermost item's position.

3. Separation apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising first and second pairs of said notched discs, one member of each said pair being mounted for arcuate movement about a common first axis, and the other member of each said pair being mounted for arcuate movement about a common second axis.

4. Separation apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the first and second axes are parallel to one another and disposed on opposite sides of the stack.

5. Separation apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the disc moving means comprises a solenoid-operated rack in engagement with a pinion wheel arranged to drive the or each said disc arcuately.

6. Separation apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the said pinion wheel is mounted coaxially with and rotatably fast with the said member(s).

11. Separation apparatus for separating the lowermost item of a stack of like items, each having a lateral protuberance, from the remainder of said stack, said apparatus comprising: a pair of discs spaced apart around the perimeter of said lowermost item, each disc having (a) a first arcuate portion of the disc perimeter to engage said lowermost item adjacent its lateral protuberance, (b) a second arcuate portion of the disc perimeter to engage the next most lowermost item during separation of the lowermost item from the stack, and (c) a recess defined by a notch extending into the disc perimeter between the first and second arcuate portions to receive the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item; and means to move each said disc arcuately to effect disengagement of said first arcuate portions from the lowermost item, movement of the lowermost item away from the next lowermost item by engagement of a surface of each said recess with the lateral protuberance of the lowermost item, and engagement of the next lowermost item by said second arcuate portions.

12. Separation apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.