GB2285802A - Dispensing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A badge dispensing machine for dispensing badges 2 from stacks has a base plate 13 with an exit aperture (7 in Fig 2), a cover plate 3 with apertures below each stack and a rotatable dispensing plate 5 with a dispensing aperture. The apertures are each slightly larger than the badges and are arranged so that the dispensing aperture is covered by the cover plate 3 when the dispensing aperture is aligned with the exit aperture. A badge is dispensed by rotating the dispensing plate. As the dispensing plate 5 rotates, a badge drops into the dispensing aperture when this is aligned with a cover plate aperture and is then dispensed when the dispensing aperture is aligned with the exit aperture. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPENSING MACHINE This invention relates to a machine for dispensing discshaped objects, particularly though not exclusively, button badges.

GB 2 240 972 discloses a machine for dispensing discshaped objects from a hopper-type container. A disadvantage of supply from a hopper-type container is a tendency for the apparatus to jam. The use of a hopper-type container therefore requires extensive electronic control mechanisms to monitor the apparatus. An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing machine that does not require extensive monitoring circuitry.

According to the invention there is provided a machine for dispensing stackable objects, a container for a stack of objects and a dispensing plate assembly having a base plate including an exit aperture for the objects to be dispensed, and a dispensing plate having a dispensing aperture for receiving objects from the stack, the base and dispensing plates being relatively rotatable to bring the dispensing aperture into alignment with the exit aperture, to dispense objects.

The dispensing plate assembly preferably further comprises a cover plate mounted between the dispensing plate and the container stack and having a cover plate aperture for receiving the objects from the stack when the aperture is aligned with the object stack, the dispensing plate and the cover plate being relatively rotatable to align the cover plate apertuare and the dispensing plate aperture, the dispensing plate assembly being arranged so that the dispensing aperture is covered by the cover plate when the dispensing aperture is aligned with the exit aperture.

A specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a dispensing machine of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional front view on the line A-A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line B-B in Figure 1 to a larger scale showing delivery of a badge from the exit aperture; Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line C-C in Figure 1 to a larger scale showing the container for the stack aligned with the cover plate aperture: and Figure 5 is a simplified circuit diagram of the control circuit for the machine.

Referring first to figures 1 to 4, the dispensing machine there shown is part of a larger machine for vending badges. It should be noted that the parts illustrated are used in a larger housing.

The vending assembly is comprised of a base plate 13 with an exit aperture 7 for the vended badge. A drive motor and reduction gearbox 14 is secured centrally of the base plate 13 on its under side. An output shaft 10 extends up through the base plate 13 and carries a drive hub 9 secured by grub screw 12. To the drive hub is attached a dispensing plate 5 having one dispensing aperture 6. The upper rim of this dispensing aperture is chamfered. The dispensing plate may be provided with a plurality of dispensing apertures.

To the four corners of the base plate 13 are secured four spacers 4. A cover plate 3 is secured onto the top of the spacers. These have a thickness such that the cover plate just clears the dispensing plate where it overlies it.

The cover plate 3 has an aperture at its centre to allow the drive shaft 10 and the drive hub 9 to pass through it.

Attached to the top side of the cover plate is a micro switch 11 which is operated by the drive hub 9. There are five dispensing apertures la in the cover plate.

The machine has five cylindrical containers 1 for stacks of badges 2 to be sold. The containers are mounted vertically over the five dispensing apertures la of the cover plate 3.

The dispensing plate is preferably no thinner than the thickness of the objects to be dispensed and should be no more than 3mm thicker than the thickness of the objects to be dispensed.

The cover plate and the base plate can be spaced by little more than the thickness of the objects to be dispensed or by little more than the thickness of the dispensing plate.

Preferably, the dispensing aperture of the dispensing plate has a chamfer around its upper edge, whereby any second object resting on the one below is pushed up and out of the aperture back into its container on rotation of the dispensing plate towards registration of the dispensing and exit apertures.

The cylindrical container is mounted on the upper side of the cover plate, to register with the cover plate dispensing aperture.

The drive motor housing is connected to the base plate and the dispensing plate is rotatable by the drive motor.

Referring now to figure 5, the control circuit will be seen to have two control switches - (i) a coin operated VEND micro switch and (ii) a drive hub 9 operated STOP micro switch 11.

Operation of the-machine will now be described, firstly with reference to the control circuit. On operation of the VEND micro switch, by a coin intended to pay for a badge, input pin 2 of the NAND gate is grounded, causing the output pin 4 of the monostable connected NAND gates to go negative for a period of approximately 2 seconds, pin 4 going negative makes pin 10 of the inverter positive for the same time period, pin 10 going positive switches ON the TIP 122 transistor. The TIP 122 switching ON allows motor current to flow via a current limiting resistor 1R8, the drive motor starts turning.

Operation of the drive motor causes the drive hub to turn, the drive hub micro switch 11 switches ON when its operating level clears the indent which is in the side of drive hub, current can now flow through the switch to keep the TIP 122 transistor switched ON after the monostable pulse has ended.

The motor will keep turning for one full revolution of the circular vending plate 5, then the indent of the drive hub 9 will switch OFF the drive hub micro switch 11 breaking the current flow to TIP122. This will switch OFF and stop the drive motor from turning.

The three diodes 1N4148 situated between the base of the TIP122 and OV and the resistor 1R8, form a current limiting circuit. This circuit protects the drive motor from overheating during fault conditions.

Referring now to figure 4, which shows a badge 2 in its container 1 but resting on the top surface of the dispensing plate 5. Rotation of the dispensing plate 5 will cause the badge to drop into the dispensing aperture 6 and to be carried around the base plate 13 until it drops through the exit aperture 7. It is then delivered by a chute (not shown) to the customer.

Only one badge is carried during each revolution of the dispensing plate 5, any other badges are pushed clear by the chamfered edge on the dispensing aperture 6.

The depth of the dispensing plate may also be such that a predetermined number of badges may be carried during each revolution of the dispensing plate 5.

One revolution of the dispensing plate 5 takes approximately 5 seconds, the initial start pulse of 2 seconds rotates the drive hub 9 enough to switch ON the drive hub micro switch 11. The drive hub micro switch 11 is positioned to be operated OFF by the indent on the drive hub 9 shortly after the badge exits from the base plate exit aperture 7.

Claims (10)

1. A machine for dispensing stackable objects, comprising a container for a stack of objects and a dispensing plate assembly having a base plate including an exit aperture for the objects to be dispensed, and a dispensing plate having a dispensing aperture for receiving objects from the stack, the base and dispensing plates being relatively rotatable to bring the dispensing aperture into alignment with the exit aperture, to dispense objects.

2. A machine according to claim 1 characterised in that the dispensing plate assembly further comprises a cover plate mounted between the dispensing plate and the container stack and having a cover plate aperture for receiving the objects from the stack when the aperture is aligned with the object stack, the dispensing plate and the cover plate being relatively rotatable to align the cover plate aperture and the dispensing plate aperture, the dispensing plate assembly being arranged so that the dispensing aperture is covered by the cover plate when the dispensing aperture is aligned with the exit aperture.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the objects to be dispensed are disc-shaped.

4. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the machine further comprises a drive motor and control circuit for rotating the dispensing plate.

5. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the cover plate aperture and the exit aperture are arranged so as to lie on the circumference of a circle having the axis of rotation of the dispensing plate as its centre.

6. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the machine comprises a plurality of containers for stacks of objects.

7. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the dispensing plate comprises a plurality of dispensing apertures.

8. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the container is a tubular container.

9. A machine according to claim 8 wherein the container includes a viewing portion a'ong its longitudinal axis for viewing the number of objects in the stack.

10. A machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.