GB2382567A

GB2382567A - An automatic card dispensing unit with card display

Info

Publication number: GB2382567A
Application number: GB0209018A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tamotsu Tsuchida
Original assignee: Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
Current assignee: Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-24
Filing date: 2002-04-19
Publication date: 2003-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-19
Also published as: KR100797382B1; KR20020082771A; CN1221921C; CN1383099A; GB2382567B; TW517215B; GB0209018D0

Abstract

An automatic card dispenser unit for displaying and dispensing cards includes a storage housing (h) for storing an array of cards. A holding member (2L,2r) operatively positions a lower most card at a load station in a vertical alignment for display. A controller unit (51) can receive a user input to dispense a card which will activate a dispenser assembly to cause a pickup member to removably grasp the card surface and release it from the holding member along a predetermined path of movement. A stopper member (19) is mounted in the path of movement for separating the card from the pickup member to enable the card to be dispensed to the user.

Description

/ AL AUTOMATIC CARD DISPENSING UNIT

WITH DISPLAY CAPABILIIN

Present invention provides an automated card dispensing unit that is capable of displaying a card to a user and disposing the card upon the request of Me user and more particularly for stonug a stack of cards for viewing through a display window and for a grasping a surface of a displayed cod and releasing it without obstructing the 0 display feature.

As labor costs have increased venous forms of dispersing apparatus have been employed to automatically dispense items to users. For example, dispensing machines IS have, upon the insertion of monetary value by a user, dispensed telephone cards, subway tickets, bus tickets, prepaid credit cards, arcade game cards, novelty character cards, etc. Usually, the cards are thin rectangular objects with writing andlor display symbols placed on a face surface of the cards. The cards can be made In venous materials such as a resin matenal, paper or metal or similar substances having an 20 ability to retain indicia, a degree of flexibility and a size to be hand held. The tenn card is Eequently used as a generic descriptive term and it can be appreciated that other dispensable objects having value to enable a user to enjoy either the card itself or the services that can be provided by Me card can be utilized.

Japanese Laid pen Patent Application No. 1 283525 is an example of a 25 vending machine that can dispense monetary notes.

Kadlic, U.S. Patent No. 4,377,285 and the Nicoleth, U.S. Patent No. 4, 750,743 disclose various storage dispensing devices for dippen ng playing Cards. The Henncssy, U.S. Patent No. 4,654,513 discloses a newspaper vending machine.

As can be appreciated it is highly desirable for a vending machine for 30 disposing cards to be able to dispense different types of cards and to provide

f variations of the cards that are to be dispensed. Frequently such machines have displayed on their exterior a sample card or indicia representative of the card to be dispensed. If the cards that are to be utilized and dispensed from the machine are changed, the sample card andJor indicia must be changed to match the characteristics 5 of the present card in the dispensing machine. Accordingly, there is desire to provide a highly economical an efficient automatic card dispenser urut that can provide cu:Tcnt information on the card being dispensed to permit the user to purchase or choose an individual card in a convenient manner.

An automatic card dispenser unit for displaying and dispensing cards is provided. The automatic card dispensing unit can be integrated into a vending machine or can be a modular unit that is adaptable for installing within a vending machine baying an appropriate window to permit me display of cards. storage IS housing can store a plurality of cards preferably in a vertical alignment in such a manner that may be urged in an stray environment to a display position against a holding member that can position one of the plurality of cards for both display and at a loading position for dispensing. The automatic card dispersing unit can incorporate a micro processor based controller unit that can receive user input to dispense a card 20 and control a dispenser assembly wherein a motor can drive a pickup member to removable grasp the card surface at the loading position and to subsequently release it along a predetermined path of movement for dispensing to the user. Appropnate sensors can monitor Me dispenser assembly while a stopper member cm be mounted in a path of movement for separating a card from a pickup member to enable the card 2s to be dispensed to We user. The stopper member is preferably transparent to facilitate the display of the card to the user and can fimber include action material to insure a positive release from the pickup device.

Lee controller unit can monitor the operation Of Me automatic card dispenser unit and can initiate a subsequent activation if Me initial activation does not release a 30 used. The controller urut can fiercer indicate an error signal if the card dispenser unit

malfunctions. Finally, the pickup member can mechanically capture and release a suspended card to insure an economical design.

The exact nature of this invention, as well as its objects and advantages, will become readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description when

considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings in which like reference numerals designate lice parts throughout the figures thereof, and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention 10 hom a right hand side view; Figure 2 is a perspective view without cards Rom a lefl-hand side view; Figure 3 is an elevated nBht hand side view; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a pick up disk; Figure is a block schematic diagrmn of the control circuit of the first IS embodimalt, Figure 6 is a flow chart explaining the operation of the first anbodanent; Figure 7 is an elevated le0-hand side explanatory view of the first embodiment; and Figure 8 is a right hand perspective view of a second embodiment of the 20 present invention.

In the present invention the tenninology card is used to describe Me stacked "ray of items that arc to be dispensed by the present invention. Thus, the term card is not limited to the preferred embodiments disclosed herein, but rather is used as a

convenient manner of describing one of an array of objects Mat can be progressively displayed and dispensed for example, Dom a vending machine in an economical manner. Refemng to Figure 1 a plurality cards, c, can be arrayed within an card holder h so that they can be displayed for Hieing by the user and can then be subsequently dispensed by a dispenser assembly d. As can be seen in Figure 1, the card holder h has a bottom plate lb and a pair of vertical side boards 1L and Ir. The bottom plate 5 lb is incline to We horizontal to facilitate a gravity Dow of the stacked array of vertical cards. The card holder h has B channel like shape with the first side board 1L and the second side board lr vertically extending upward Bom the bottom plate lb. A base frame 2 extends downward to pair of lateral flanges which can be mounted within a vending machine.

lo The discharged end of the card holder or storage housing has the base board slightly slanted upwards at lbt to facilitate tile support ofthe lower most card of the array in a vertical aligmnent.

The lower ends of the side plates I L and lr can have an engaging or holding member or sections 2L and 2r protruding inwardly into the storage channel to facilitate Is a retention ofthe stacked vertical array of cods c. The first or head card is stopped and held by engagement with the sections 2L and 2r, while the remaining cards are arrayed behind Tic head card c in the card storage area 3 and positioned pe pendicul to the horizontal. The positioning of Me lower support cc lbt and Me side holding engagement parts 2L and 2r define a load or pickup position f. These features zo define a holding member e that can include a rang nB device 4 Mat c" comprise a shaft 6 and central roller 7.

The shaft 6 can have reduced or smaller shaft ends that can be inserted within vertically elongated holes SL and 5r. Lee roller 7 Mat is fixed to me middle ofthe slum 6 cm be made of rubber with the position of the roller 7 located over the initial head card c at the pickup position f. The surface ofthe roller 7 can have contact with the upper edge of the card c to align the cam c in a load position.

Because the cards are stored in a perpendicular Lodgement wherein me weight is loomed by the base board lb the cumulative wage or pressure from the plurality of cards arrayed behind the head card is relatively small and therefore lo prevents any dernagc to me cards.

' Refemag to Figure 3, a schematic view ofthe housing of a vending machine havmg a window u is disclosed. The window u permit" a vertically standing card c to be viewed by the user so that Me design ofthe card c and its content can be seen from outside ofthc vending machine. A stopper member 19 positioned on an extended s flange ofthe respective leR IL and It side channels The stopper member I 9 has a bar or rod like shape and is located in front of the end 1bt of the bottom plate lb. The distance between the stopper member 19 and the end lbt is smaller don the height of the card c. As can be seen, the stopper 19 ends across a viewing space in a vertical plane that is offset Bom a vertical plane containing the vertically aligned card c. As lo suck it is desirable that the stopper 19 be made of B transparent material so that it does not obstruct the view of the user. To further facilitate the gravity feed ofthe cards c, a weight member 12 can be located on We bottom plate lb in Me card storage urea 3 to provide a force to push the array of cards downward to the loading position. Thus, the weight 12 Phil slide downward on Me bottom plate lb by gravity and Me angular Is inclination of the bottom plate lb is such to allow movement ofthe weight 12.

The dispensing device or assembly d includes a pair of anns 12L and 12r having an L like shape that are fixed for pivoting about the rotating shah 1 1 f. Shaft I 1fis supported on the base plate 2. A supporting bar 13 is fixed to the respective Ads ofthe first lever 12L and the second lever 12r. Mounted on the support bar 13 is 20 a pickup member or disk 14 that is Eked to the middle portion ofthe support bar 13.

A cross sectional view ofthe disk 14 can be seen In Figure 4. Aloe pickup disk 14 has a cylindrical body 14b which includes an end 14t which has a cone like shape and supports an extendal disk 14s which has a ring lace shape. The combination ofthe dislc 14s and the end 14t define a space area 14c. The disk 14s can be made fiom a 2s material which is smooth and flexible but which can withstand repotiffve contact win a card member. Such a material can be a flexible polyurethane. The support bar passes through a mounting hole or bore 14h in the cylindrical body 14b. A screw 14n can be wed to fix the cylinder body 14b to the supporting bar 13.

As shown, for example, in Figure 3 the p cbep member 14 can be rotated 30 across predetermined path between a pickup position fthat permits adhering of Me pickup dial; 14s ofthe card c and B standby position w which lies in horizontal piano in Ront of rd c. The standby position w is a position which can be achieved by rotation ofthc shad 1 If m a clockwise direction. In such a position the

l pickup member 14 is located below the end lbt and away from the card c which is located at the load or pickup position f. When the pickup member 14 is moved between the standby position w and the pickup position f, the pickup member will be located between the end plate lbt and the stopper 19.

s Refaring to Figure 3, the driving device 21 which can be an electric motor for rotating the shad 1 lf through a gear transmission comprising a pinion gear 23 mounted on the shaft 22 connected to the motor which intern contacts a gear 25 which rotates a pinion gear 26 which engages the gear 27 mounted on a shaft I 1 f. The pinion Bear 23 is fixed to the output shaft 22 of the motor 21 with a reducer which is lo fixed to the inner side of the base 2. Gears 25 and 26 are rotatable and fixed to the shaft 24, which is also fixed for notation on the base 2.

Refening to Figure 1 and Figure S a position detecting device 30 for Me pickup member 14 includes a mounting bracket 31 of an L shape configuration that is fixed to the base plate 2. A stand by position sensor 32 and pickup position sensor 33 5 are also fixed to bracket 31. These sensors can for example, be a proximatity sensor, a photoelectric sensor or any other conventional sensor to monitor the position of the shaft 1 If. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, an extension member 34 fixed to an end of the second lever 12 r can move between channels of the respective sensor positions 32 and 33. As shown in Figure 1 if a first lever 12L and a second 20 lever 12r are moved in a counter clockwise direction, the standby sensor 32 is switched OD at the standby position w. When the respective levers are moved in the clockwise direction a pickup position sensor 33 is switched on at the pickup position f which is located so that the pickup member 14 will have a Ripping contact with a card c. 25 Mounted bdow the end plate lbt is a card guide member 40 which can be formed in a rectangular configuration and can be fixed to the base plate 2. Card "aide 40 is located beneath the stopper 19 and is capable of receiving a card c that can be released hom the pickup member 14 to permit B gravity fission towards an opening of a vending machine. A card sensor 41 shown in figure I can tee fixed to the 30 base of the card guide 40 to measure the transporting of a owed c through the card guide 40. This sensor 41 can be a transmission photoelectric sensor.

Referring to the schematic circuit in Figure 5, the control dewce 50 can include a microprocessor compnsu g MPU 51. a RAM 52 and ROM 53. This control device

can receives signals that are input firm the standby position sensor 32, the pickup position sensor 33, a card sensor 41, and a dispensing signal pg that can be entered through an enter phase with the user. lithe motor 21 and a visual display 54, for example, on the exterior of the vending machine, can be controlled by the control s dense 50. l he visual display 54 can indicate the status of the machine, the occasion of an error signal and can Further provide operation information to the user Refemug to Figures 6 and 7, the operation of the first embodiment can be explained. In a standby situation a card c is located at the storage area 3 in a load position above the base plate Ibt. In this position the lower most card is Vertically lo aligned at the pickup position f and it engages die holding member conned by the respective left and right engagement pieces 2L and 2r. The roller 7 engages the top surface of the card. As can be seen hom Figure 3, the user can observe the surface of the cam tl ugh an appropnate vied window in the housing of We vending machine. A user that desire" to secure Tic card can Men activate die vending machine Is which will subsequently produce a dispensing signal pg which can be provided to the IdPU 51. Far example, the user can purchase a telephone card by dispensing monetary coins into the vending machine which in turn prwides a dispensing signal pg. Ibe MPU 51 then activates a control program in response to Me dispensing signal pa as illustrated in Figure 6.

20 The decisional step sl indicates wheeler or not a dispensing signal pg for ejecting a card has been received. If it has been received, step 2 initiates the start of Me motor 21 whereby Me first arm 12L and the second mm 12r will rotate in a counter clockwise direction at the appropriate reduced speed as indicated by the arc path P shown in Figure 7. The pickup member 14 will move upward toward die card c as surface which is located at the load position. The pickup position sensor 33 detects the enhance of the operation piece 34 and provides a signal indicating the operative position of Me pickup disk in stop s3. The control signal then indicates in step s4 Mat Me motor 21 has stopped. The center of Me card surface of the card c surface is adhered by the vacuum depression ofthe space 14c so that it is now removably secure 30 to the pickup member 14. The control program keeps the motor 21 in a stopped position for a predetermined time as shown in step s5 and that subsequently reverses the moth 21 in step s6 so that the respective first lever 12L and second lever 12r in the dispensing assembly rotates in the count" clockwise direction shown in Figure 7.

When the first lever 12L and the second lever 12r are moved to a horizontal level position the standby position sensor 32 detects the operating piece 34 and outputs an appropriate signal as shown in step s7. The motor then is stopped at step s8. Dunug this movement the center ofthe card c is sufficiently adhered by the pickup device 14 s so that the card G iS bent in a curved or arched like shape to permit the right and leR end of the card c to release Rom the holding members 2r and 2L. The width of card is narrowed by bending and the card c will pass through and will be released from the first stopper 2L and the second stopper 2r The subsequent card c in the stacked array will slide downward under the force of the weight 12 to again engage at a load lo position Me first stopper 2L and the second stopper 2r.

The card that has been attached to the pickup member 14 will contact the end Ibt and it will also contacts the stopper manber 19. The pickup member 14 will be released and as a result the card c is released and will bounce back by a reaction and will also be released from the end lbt so that it will then fall down the card guide 40 and will be guided to a exit position for delivery to the user. lfin the case that the lower end of the drawn card is released from the end lbt and has contact with the upper end of the card guide 40 the card c will be stopped by the upper end of the card guide 40 and the stopper I 9 and the picln p disk 14 is also easily moved away fiom the card c so that it is released and guided to an article exit zo As We card c falls through the card guide 40 the card sensor 41 can sense the passage of We card c and can output a detecting signal pf. Refemug again to Figure 6 if Me dispensing of We cud is detected at step s9, the dispensing process is finished.

If, however, the signal pf is not confirmed in step s9, the control process advances to step slO to make a detenninaiioD whether die output ofthe signal pfhas occurred 25 twice. If the signal pf occurs only once the control program is retuned to step s2 and the process of attempting to remove the card c jB retned. When the signal pf is received twice an output signal can be provided as shown in step al 1 to output an abnonnal signal and the system can shut down. The abnonnal signal can be displayed for example, in a visual display 54 such as an LCD.

30 Ihe present invention can be modified within the scape and spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the bottom plate lb of the card holder h can be

located at a horizontal level position rather than being inclined slid therefore the weight 12 would be replaced vow a spring bias plate for using the "ray of cards

forward to the vertical load position. As an additional modification, the pickup member 14 can have an auxiliary suction source to help adhere to the surface of card c. It is also possible to have a first guide plate gL located in an area between the s first side board I L and the card guide 40 and a second guide plate gr located in an area between We second side board lr to provide a card guide as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1. Therefore, if the card c happens to bounce and slip away, the card c is guided by the first guide board al and the second guide board gr and is guided to the card guide 40.

O Referring to Figure 8, a second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Basically, the structure in the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment and only those components that differ Bom the first embodiment will be explained.

The stopper I 9 can be covered by a tube 100 to provide a high Diction section.

is The tube lOO can be made for example, from a silicone gum material which can be highly transparent thereby Still permitting the card c to be seen by Me purchaser or user through the vend machine display window. Alternatively, the tube 100 can be made from a polyurethane or MBR which are not as highly transparent.

The high friction section tube can be Conned by providing a powder like gum JO directly to the surface of the stopper 19 and further the stopper 19 could have embossed on its surface a predetermined uneven structure or friction surface.

Tic operation ofthe second embodiment when the first lever 12L and the second 12r moire in a counter clockwise direction to the level position it perfonns the same fimetion as set ford, in step 7 of the first embodiment. When the pickup device 25 14 contacts the card at the load position and the motor21 is reversed the lower edge of the card c that is being drawn Tom the array is stopped by Me end lbt and the upper edge is stopped by We stopper 19. In this situation the card c is held by Me end lbt and is in contact with the Diction surface of the tube I 00 on the stopper 19. As the pickup member 14 farther is retracted the upper section ofthe card c has contact with 30 the high Diction section and accordingly mill not slip Bom the tube 100. Additionally, the card c can not tee beet, as a result Be pickup member 14 will break away, Bom the card c because Be holding force at the end lbt and Be stopper 19 become" largerth

the pickup force excened by the pickup member 14. Therefore, the card c will fall into the card guide 40 and be Guided to the article exit.

Claims

1. An automated card dispenser unit for displaying and dispensing cards, comprising: a storage housing for storing a plurality of cards; a holding manber operatively connected to the storage housing for positioning one of the plurality of cards at a position dint can display a card surface, a controller unit for receiving a user input to dispense card; a dispenser assembly for receiving a signal Tom the controller unit to dispense a card including a pickup member for removably grasping the card surface arid releasing it from the holding member along a predetermined path of movement; and O a stopper member mounted in the path of movement for separating the card Mom the pickup member to enable the card to he dispensed to the user.

2. The automatic card dispenser urut of Clann 1, wherein the stopper member is transparent.

3. A unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the holder member positions the card in a vertical plane for display.

4. The automatic card dispenser unit of Clang 3, wherein the dispenser assembly rotates We pickup November Tom a horizontal rest position below Me holding member to a vertical position adjacent the holder member to engage the pickup member within the card and retracts the pickup member to initially release Me card 20 Bom the bolder Tne:nber and subsequently to contact the card with the stopper member.

5. Me automatic cam dispenser unit of Claim 4, wherein Me stopper

member is positioned in a second vertical plane offset and parallel to Me vertical plane containing the card and within the display space for the card.

6. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 5, herein the stopper member includes a Diction member for contacting the card.

7. The automatic card dispenser unit of Claim 6, wherein the Diction member is made from a silicone gum material.

5

8. A unit according to any of claims 1 to 7, herein the storage housing mounts the p1 rali of cards in a stacked YeEtiC aliment.

9. An automated card dispenser unit for displaying and dispensing cards, . compnsmg: a storage housing for storing a plurality of cards; o a holding, member operatively connected to the storage housing for positioning one of the plurality of cards at a position that can display a card surface; and a controller unit for receiving a user input to dispense a.card.

10. The automatic card dispenser unit of Clean 9, wherein the dispenser assembly includes a pickup member which moves between a standby position and a 15 pickup position, and fiercer including a stopper member positioned between the standby position and the pickup position.

11. The automatic card dispenser unit of Claim lo, wherein the holder member positions the card in a vertical plane for display.

12. Ike automatic card disperser unit of Claim 11, wherein the dispenser 2 0 assembly rotates the pickup member hom a horizontal standby position below the holding member to a vertical pickup position adjacent the holder member to engage the pickup member within the card and retracts the package member within the card and retracts the pickup member to initially release the card Dom the holder member and subsequently to contact the card with the stopper member.