GB2224498A

GB2224498A - Mechanism for dispensing article from stack

Info

Publication number: GB2224498A
Application number: GB8924607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Reed
Original assignee: PRECISION VENDING MACHINES Ltd
Current assignee: PRECISION VENDING MACHINES Ltd
Priority date: 1988-11-03
Filing date: 1989-11-01
Publication date: 1990-05-09
Also published as: GB8924607D0; GB8825696D0

Abstract

There is provided an article dispenser comprising first support means in the form of plates 16, 17 having flanges 18, 19 for supporting a lowermost article A in a column. Also provided are second support means in the form of clips 26, 27 having ridges 28, 29 which engage the penultimate article in the column. The arrangement allows article B and the column to be supported by the second support means 26, 27 whist the first support means 16, 17 drops the lowermost article A and the second support means to then remove its support to let article B and the column drop to be supported by the first support means. <IMAGE>

Description

Articl~~Dl~P~D--r This invention concerns improvements in an article dispensing device typically a device for dispensing an article using a coin freed mechanism.

Traditionally article dispensing devices stack articles in a column within the device the column of articles resting on drawer mechanism below the lowermost article the drawer being released by a coin which enables the operator to pull the drawer thereby dispensing the lowermost article from the column of articles the column being supported until the drawer is returned to its normal position at which point the column of articles will be supported by the drawer ready for the next vend.

Such devices have a disadvantage in that the device must be of such a depth that it will accommodate movement of the drawer from the location below the column of articles to an advanced position forward of the column of articles in which the lowermost article is dispensed either by presenting the article to the customer or by forcing the article into a vending channel within the device.

This arrangement requires a depth of device which is approximately twice the depth of the drawer and often twice the depth of the column of articles to be vended.

A further disadvantage of the drawer release mechanism is that the drawer requires an aperature in the front of the device through which the drawer is presented to the customer. The presence of the drawer within such an aperature presents opportunity for pilferage and interference with the mechanism by the customer inserting items within the aperature in an effort to dispense items without a coin being inserted into the machine or to interfere with the items or with coin storage devices within the machine.

It is the purpose of the present invention to avoid such disadvantages by avoiding the need for a device which is substantially deeper than the depth of a typical column of articles to be dispensed and avoids the problems associated with pilferage and interference with the mechanism. According to the present invention an article dispensing device comprises a first support means for supporting a column of articles to be dispensed by engaging the lowermost article in the column, second support means for supporting the column of articles by engaging the penultimate article in the column and means for dispensing an article by operating the first and second support means such that the second support means engages the penultimate article and supports the column, the first support means removes support from the lowermost article, allowing it to drop from the column to a dispensing location, the second support means removes support from the penultimate article to allow the column of articles to drop and the first support means supports the column in its dropped configuration.

Preferably, the first and second support means are operated simultaneously Preferably, the first and/or second support means operates by frictionally engaging the sides of the article.

The first support means may operate by providing a support on which the lowermost article can rest.

The first and second support means may be interconnected and operated by a common operator device.

Preferably, the first and second support means are provided by common support devices mounted on each side of the column of articles and the opposed upper parts of which are adapted to engage and support the penultimate article in the column and the opposed lower parts of which are adapted to engage and support the lowermost article.

The common support means may be pivotally mounted and spring biased and operated by a common cam device adapted to slide between the opposed devices to cause them to move relative to one another.

The common operator device may be operated by a plunger disposed externally of the device and spring biased to return the plunger to the next position after operation by a user.

A second aspect of the present invention is concerned with the device for preventing abuse of the dispensing device by an operator. Traditionally, dispensing mechanisms have included an operating handle by which an operator will cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense an article. In these traditional devices the operating handle is connected directly to a slide mechanism for dispensing an article, the article being dispensed by pulling on the operating handle which will cause a drawer or slide to move and dispense an article.

Such mechanisms suffer from the disadvantage that an operator can damage the mechanism and often pilfer the machine by exerting excessive pull on the handle thereby damaging the machine.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a dispensing device comprises a slide mechanism the movement of which causes an article to be dispensed and an operating handle by which an operator causes movement of the slide mechanism to dispense an article, the operating handle being connected to the slide mechanism by a resilient connection whereby the handle will move relative to the slide mechanism and avoid operation of the mechanism if predetermined conditions for operation of the slide mechanism are not met Preferably the handle is connected to the slide mechanism by a spring allowing relative movement between the handle and the slide mechanism The slide mechanism may be prevented from moving by a lock device which is released only upon the presence of a coin or token inserted by the operator to dispense an article.

Means may be provided for preventing reverse movement of the slide mechanism during its movements both for dispensing an article and for returning to its dispensing location.

Preferably the resilient device will permit relative movement between the handle and the slide mechanism if the handle is pulled during a return movement of the slide mechanism.

The slide mechanism may operate article dispensing clamps to alternately retain and release articles from a column of articles upon operation of the mechanism.

The slide mechanism may alternatively comprise a drawer for dispensing articles in succession from a column of articles hetd over the drawer.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism of an article dispenser according to the present invention Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism of Figure 1 showing the elements in different relative positions.

Figure 3 is an elevation on arrow A of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevation in the direction of arrow B of the device of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a part sectioned side view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 in the direction of arrow C of those figures showing the device in a position between the two extremes shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 6 is a view of the device of Figure 5 in a different position.

Figure 7 is a part sectional view through part of the device shown in Figures 5 and 6 showing operation of the component.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 1 and 3 show the mechanism in one operating position and Figures 2 and 4 show the same mechanism in a different operating position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, a column of articles A, B, C, D and E is disposed within an article dispensing device having side panels 10, 11. Fixed to the side panels 10 and 11 are brackets 12 and 13 respectively to which are pivotally mounted at pivot points 14 and 15 respectively article retaining plates 16 and 17 respectiveLy The lower ends of plates 16 and 17 are provided with flanges 18 and 19 respectively which provide article support surfaces for the lowermost article A in the column of articles.

Cam follower wheels 20 and 21 are mounted on the flanges 18 and 19 respectively at the rearmost corners of the flanges 18 and 19 as shown more clearly in Figure 1.

The plates 16 and 17 are adapted to pivot on the pivot points 14 and 15 respectively against leaf springs 22, 23 respectively which are disposed between upper sections 24, 25 of the plates 16, 17 and the side panels 10,11 of the dispensing device.

Fixed to the plates 16, 17 are clips 26, 27 respectively which are formed by angled plates fixed at their lower ends to the plates 16, 17 and providing resilient clips at their upper ends with article engaging ridges 28, 29 formed at bends within the clips 26, 27 as more clearly shown in Figure 1.

Disposed behind the opposed plates 16 and 17 is a draw block 30 slideably mounted between the opposed panels 10 and 11 to move between and away from the opposed plates 16 and 17.

The draw block 30 is provided with chamfered cam faces 31, 32 adapted to engage the wheels 20 and 21 as the block moves between the position shown in Figure 1 to the position in Figure 2.

A locking pin 33 sits within a cutout 34 within the draw block 30 and prevents movement of the draw block. The locking pin 33 is released by the presence of a coin within the coin operating mechanism (not shown) whereby the pin is released from the cutout 34 thereby freeing the draw block 30 for movement.

The draw block 30 sits on a plate 40 which is slidingly disposed within supports attached to the opposed panels 10 and 11 of the dispensing device. The plate 40 is attached to a slide mechanism comprising a slide 41 having a slot 42 by which the slide is mounted on two supports 43 and 44 fixed to the wall 11 of the device. A pawl is pivotally attached to the end of slide 41 and engages with a ratchet 46 fixed to the wall 11 of the device.

At the front end of the slide 41 there is disposed a handle 50 connected to the slide 41 in a manner described in more detail below.

In the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 the opposed flanges 18 and 19 provide support surfaces for the lowermost article A in the column of articles. The opposed ridges 28 and 29 are located adjacent the penultimate article B in the column but are so disposed as to be spaced from the opposed faces of the article D and do not touch it.

Once a coin has been inserted into the operating mechanism and has successfully located within the device, the locking pin 33 will be released to enable the draw block 30 to be operated. By pulling on the handle 50 the draw block 30 can be pulled forward in the direction of arrow 51. In moving from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 the block 30 will move between the opposed plates 16 and 17 causing the wheels 20 and 21 to ride on the cam faces 31 and 32 and due to their chamfered configuration will force the plates 16 and 17 apart to the position shown in Figures 2 and 4.As the opposed plates 16 and 17 start to move apart the ridges 28 and 29 of the spring clips 26 and 27 will also move and-will frictionally engage the opposed faces of article B to hold that article and the articles stacked above it in a column to prevent movement of the column of articles from B and above. Further movement of the block 30 will cause the opposed plates 16 and 17 to move further apart increasing the frictional grip on article B but at the same time moving the opposed flanges 18 and 19 to the location shown in Figures 2 and 4 such that the flanges 18 and 19 have moved to a location in which they are spaced apart by a distance that is greater than the width of article A. At this time article A, no longer being supported, will drop away from the column of articles into a dispensing chute (not shown) to be presented to the customer.It will be appreciated that the movement of article A away from the column will not result in the column being disturbed since the column will be supported by article B which itself is frictionally engaged by the spring clips 26 and 27.

With the release of handle 50 the slide 41 will return from position shown in Figures 2 and 4 to that shown in Figures 1 and 3 and in returning the flanges 18 and 19 will become disposed below the column of articles and thereafter the spring clips 26 and 27 will be released from their frictional engagement with the article B at which time the column of articles will drop such that article B will rest upon the flanges 18 and 19 with the other articles C, D and E disposed thereabove in a column. The device is then reset ready for a further dispensing operation which will repeat the operation described above.

It will be appreciated that the manner in which the lowermost article is supported on the flanges 18, 19 could be replaced by a mechanism similar to the spring clips 26 and 27 whereby ridges or other frictionally engaging fingers 28, 29 could engage the lowermost article and hold it in frictional engagement thereby supporting the column above it.

Similarly, the fLanges 18, 19 need not be fixed to the spring clips 26 and 27 but the support for the lowermost article and the frictionally engaging devices for the penultimate article could be quite separate items separately operated by independent or common operating means. The principle of operation of the dispensing device is not affected by the choice of the manner in which the dispensing operation will take place or by the means of so achieving this end. The preferred means is as illustrated in the drawings but variations obvious to those schooled in the art can be adopted.

The benefit of the system as described above will be seen in that a drawer device for dispensing the lowermost article is avoided.

The draw block 30 is limited in its movement to only a fraction of the depth of an article and the depth of the total machine can be only a fraction of that which would normally be required for a drawer operated mechanism. Furthermore, since the draw block does not need to protrude from the machine as would a drawer the risk of an operator pilfering or inserting foreign objects into the aperature presented by the drawer is avoided and greater security is thereby provided.

Further benefits arise from a more positive location of the column of articles whereby jamming is reduced since the column is supported whilst the lowermost article is dispensed and this operation is more positive than that which is provided by a drawer operated mechanism.

A further aspect of the present invention concerns the slide mechanism operated by handle 50 shown in more detail in Figures 5 to 7.

As shown in Figure 5, the slide 41 supported on supports 43 and 44 has connected to its foremost end the handle 50 which protrudes through a front face 60 of the case of the dispensing device.

The handle 50 is hollow and within the bore 58 of the handle is disposed a coil spring 52 connected to a spigot 53 fastened to the front face 54 of the handle 50 to a spigot 55 connected to an end plate 56 on the front end of slide 41.

The handle 50 is connected to the slide 41 only by means of the coil spring 52 and is held in resilient engagement with the slide 41 with an end flange 57 held in face to face abutment with the end plate 56 of slide 41. With sufficient pressure exerted on the handle 50 and with the slide 41 held fixed relative movement occurs between the handle 50 and the slide 41, the coil spring 52 permitting such movement in providing a resilient connection between the handle 50 and the slide 41 to allow the handle 50 and slide 41 to move apart relative one to the other.

In normal operation, the strength of the spring coil 52 does not permit relative movement between the handle 50 and the slide 41.

As shown in Figure 5 the slide 41 is in a position between the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 and that shown in Figures 2 and 4, i.e. during the movement in direction of arrow 51 of Figure 1 in which an operator is pulling on the handle 50 to dispense the lowermost article from the column. During this movement the pawl 45 will pivot and move over the ratchet 46. If the handle is released at this time or any attempt made to return the slide, the pawl and ratchet 45, 46 will prevent such reverse movement. The reverse movement cannot be achieved until the slide has been pulled in the direction of arrow 51 to its full movement.

Once the article has been dispensed and the slide is released to return to its normal position, the slide will move in direction of arrow 61 as shown in Figure 6 will the pawl 45 moving over the ratchet 46 in the opposite direction but with no obstruction to its movement. If in the course of this movement an operator endeavours to pull the slide in the direction of arrow 51, that is against the return movement of the slide, the pawl and ratchet 45, 46 will engage to prevent such reverse movement. Only movement in direction of arrow 61 will be permitted until the slide has returned to its normal operating position. In that position, the Locking pin 33 will re-engage, cut out 34 to prevent movement of the draw block and slide 41 until a coin has been inserted to release the mechanism.

If the Locking pin has not been released and the draw block is thereby not released for sliding movement any excess force on the handle 50 will result in the handle 50 moving relative to the slide 41 the force overcoming the resilience of the spring 52 to allow such movement. The spring 52 will stretch as shown in Figure 7 and such movement will continue until the flange 57 of handle 50 engages the front face 60 of the machine.

A similar action will result if an excessive force is exerted on handle 50 whilst the slide 41 is returning to its normal position, i.e. during the movement illustrated in Figure 6. The pawl and ratchet 45, 46 will engage to prevent reverse movement of the slide 41 and any further pressure exerted on the handle 50 will overcome the resilience of the coil spring 52 to cause the handle 50 to move relative to the slide 41 and again this movement will continue until the flange 57 engages with the front face 60 of the machine.

This design of the handle with the resilient connection between the handle and the slide mechanism prevents damage to the mechanism. Without the resilient connection operators can very readily damage the mechanism by excessive exertion on the handle 50 which will act directly on the slide mechanism which operates either a block as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or a drawer mechanism as in traditional vending machines and in either event can result in serious damage by this direct mechanical link possibly resulting in further vandalism with the drawer or mechanism being released providing access to the column of articles or access to the coin box in which coins are stored ready for collection.

The resilient connection between the handle and the slide mechanism substantially reduces such risks and provides a relatively damage free and vandal proof mechanism for any design of vending machine

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An article dispensing device comprising first support means for supporting a column of articles to be dispensed by engaging the lowermost article in the column, second support means for supporting the column of articles by engaging the penultimate article in the column and means for dispensing an article by operating the first and second support means such that the second support means engages the penultimate article and supports the column, the first support means removes support from the lowermost article, allowing it to drop from the column to a dispensing location, the second support means removes support from the penultimate article to allow the column of articles to drop and the first support means supports the column in its dropped configuration.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second support means are operated simultaneously.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first and/or second support means operates by frictionally engaging the sides of the article.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first support means operates by providing a support on which the lowermost article can rest.
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim where the first and second support means are interconnected and operated by a common operator device.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first and second support means are provided by common support devices mounted on each side of the column of articles and the opposed upper parts of which are adapted to engage and support the penultimate article in the column and the opposed lower parts of which are adapted to engage and support the lowermost article.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the common support devices are pivotally mounted and spring biased and operated by a common cam device adapted to slide between the opposed devices to cause them to move relative to one another.
8. A device as claimed in claims 5, 6 or 7 wherein the common operator device is operated by a plunger disposed externally of the device and spring biased to return the plunger to the next position after operation by a user.
9. A dispensing device for dispensing articles comprising a slide mechanism,the movement of which causes an article to be dispensed and an operating handle by which an operator causes movement of the slide mechanism to dispense an article, the operating handle being connected to the slide mechanism by a resilient connection whereby the handle will move relative to the slide mechanism and avoid operation of the mechanism if predetermined conditions for operation of the slide mechanism are not met.
10. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the handle is connected to the slide mechanism by a spring allowing relative movement between the handle and the slide mechanism.
11. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the slide mechanism is prevented from moving by a lock device which is released only upon the presence of a coin or token inserted by the operator to dispense an article.
12. An article dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein means are provided for presenting reverse movement of the slide mechanism during its movements both for dispensing an article and for returning to its dispensing location.
13. An article dispensing device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the resilient device will permit relative movement between the handle and the slide mechanism if the handle 1-s pulled during a return movement of the slide mechanism.
14. An article dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the slide mechanism operates article dispensing clamps to alternately retain and release articles from a column of articles upon operation of the mechanism.
15. An article dispensing device is claimed in any of claims 9 to 13 wherein the slide mechanism comprises a drawer for dispensing articles in succession from a column of articles held over the drawer.
16. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.