GB2239863A - Dispense apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispense apparatus suitable for a cooled cabinet (10) arranged to dispense cans of soft drink has a transparent dispense closure door (12) against which the can (16) to be dispensed abuts. The door (12) is pivotally mounted about an axis parallel (15) to those of the drink cans, and has a portion which, as the door is opened, passes behind the can to be dispensed and prevents the next can from leaving the dispenser and presents a thermal barrier to inhibit heat gain from the exterior. <IMAGE>

Description

Dispense Apparatus This invention relates to dispense apparatus.

In particular it relates to apparatus which is capable of dispensing containers of carbonated beverages.

According to the invention we provide a dispense apparatus for dispensing substantially cylindrical containers, said apparatus comprising a cabinet having a dispense aperture from which said containers may be removed by a person, biasing means within said cabinet arranged to cause said containers to tend to move towards the dispense aperture, the dispense aperture being in use normally closed by a closure member which is mounted on the cabinet to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to those of said cylindrical containers, and which is arranged to rotate about the pivot axis under downward pressure to subtend a partial arc about a container about to be dispensed influenced by the biasing means to provide a dispense chute through the dispense aperture for that container whilst acting upon other containers influenced by the biasing means to prevent their access to the dispense chute.

Preferably, the cabinet is chilled and the closure member acts to provide at least a partial thermal barrier when a container is dispensed to inhibit heat gain, the closure member being arranged as it rotates to ensure the thermal barrier is raised across the dispense aperture behind the container upon the dispense chute.

With the biasing means being an inclined plane, the containers will tend to move towards the dispense aperture under the influence of gravity.

Alternatively, the biasing means may comprise a spring loaded device which similarly urges the containers in the direction of the dispense aperture.

The containers may be containers for carbonated beverages eg commonly known as drink cans and they may slide or roll down the inclined plane upon removal of the container closest to the dispense aperture.

The closure member may have an integral handle. The closure member may be made as a single piece moulded plastics construction including the handle. The handle may be adjacent the topmost portion of the closure member. The closure member may be made of transparent material so as to clearly display the first container within the cabinet or in fact to identify whether the cabinet remains loaded or otherwise with containers. The closure member may be returned to its closed position after manually opening by means of a return biasing system such as a return spring.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying illustrations: FIGURE 1 shows an isometric view of a closure member being part of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a schematic side elevation of part of a dispense apparatus in accordance with the invention.

A chilled or refrigerated carbonated drinks cabinet 10, parts of which are illustrated generally in the attached drawing, contains right cylindrical carbonated beverage containers 16, 17, 18 loaded on an inclined slope 11 adjacent the lower portion of the container 10. The inclined slope is reloaded at periodic intervals and may have a capacity of say a dozen or so containers of eg 330 ml size "cans". A closure member 12 is pivotally mounted by pivot blocks 15 to the cabinet 10. The closure member 12 is generally of part cylindrical shape with two lugs extending parallel to one another from the inner surface of the part cylinder, each lug carrying a pivot block 15.The closure member may have an integral handle 13 which is located at the uppermost portion of the closure member 12 and may be integrally moulded with the part cylinder portion of closure member 12.

The closure member 12 is operable manually by handle 13 to pivot about an axis through pivot blocks 15 which is substantially parallel to the principal axis of the cylindrical cans or containers. Downward movement of handle 13 rotates the closure member 12 about this axis from the dashed position shown in Figure 2 to the solid position shown in the same figure. At the lower end of the part cylindrical portion of closure member 12 (when in its normal closed position) is a knife edge 14 which during the opening movement of closure member 12 forces its way between container 16 closest to the closure member and the next adjacent container 17.This operation also provides a dispense chute for the container 16 closest to the closure member 12 and which is now partly enclosed by said closure member 12, whilst acting to retain the adjacent container 17 within cabinet 10 and present a thermal barrier to inhibit heat gain in the cabinet 10 from exterior. The dispense chute comprises that part of the closure member that effectively forms the slope 11. A spring loaded device shown schematically at 19 in Figure 2 then returns the closure member 12 to its normal closed position as shown by the dashed outling. Upon removal of the knife edge 14 from the downward side of contain 17, containers 17, 18 and the other containers within the cabinet 10 are permitted to roll or slide down the inclined slope 11 until prevented from further movement when they come into engagement with the closed closure member 12.

The invention provides a convenient dispense means for cans of carbonated drinks from a chilled storage environment. It may be refilled by suitable entry at the rear of the cabinet which is not shown.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:

1. A dispense apparatus for dispensing substantially cylindrical containers, said apparatus comprising a cabinet having a dispense aperture from which said containers may be removed by å person, biasing means within said cabinet arranged to cause said containers to tend to move towards the dispense aperture, the dispense aperture being in use normally closed by a closure member which is mounted on the cabinet to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to those of said cylindrical containers, and which is arranged to rotate about the pivot axis under downward pressure to subtend a partial arc about a container, influenced by the biasing means to prevent their access to the dispense path.

2. A dispense apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cabinet is chilled and the closure member acts to provide a thermal barrier when a container is dispensed and so inhibit heat gain, the closure member being arranged as it is rotated to ensure the thermal barrier is raised across the dispense aperture in proportion to the arc subtended and behind the container upon the dispense chute.

3. A dispense apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein the biasing means is an inclined plane.

4. A dispense apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherin the biasing means is a spring.

5. A dispense apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure member has an integral handle.

6. A dispense apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the handle is arranged about the topmost portion of the closure member to facilitate downward pressure for rotation about the pivot axis.

7. A dispense apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure member is formed from a moulded plastic material.

8. A dispense apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure member is formed of transparent material to facilitate observation of containers held therein.

9. A dispense apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the closure member is biased to a position whereby container dispense is prevented.

10. A dispense apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.