IE861374L

IE861374L - Can dispenser

Info

Publication number: IE861374L
Application number: IE137486A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Sean Durkan
Priority date: 1986-05-23
Filing date: 1986-05-23
Publication date: 1987-11-23
Also published as: GB8712192D0; GB2190906B; IE57269B1; GB2190906A

Description

2 This invention relates to a device for storing and dispensing cans and other objects capable of rolling, hereinafter collectively referred to as cans.

The technique of conventionally packing cans into a 5 container or box is well known. When delivered to a shop, supermarket or vending machine it is necessary to empty the container and place the cans on a shelf of the store or vending machine. Sometimes, in larger hypermarkets, the lid of the container is simply removed and the container with 10 cans is placed on the shelf of the store from which shelf the shopper selects the appropriate product.

Supermarkets or hypennarkets in particular are designed with high ceilings in order to provide a pleasant environment for the shopper. Clearly# while it may be desirable for the 15 manager of the store to use as much height as possible within the store for the storage of cans, it would be impractical for a customer to have to attempt to retrieve a can from a height greater than about 1.8m.

For cans at a relatively low level, it is necessary for 20 the customer to bend and search for the can.

Cans with a limited shelf live are vulnerable under existing display techniques as there is no guarantee that cans with the oldest date will be presented to or selected by the customer in advance of the cans having the most recent 25 date.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for use in the construction of a container/ 3 dispenser for cans or the like which device comprises a substantially rectangularly shaped member having a convoluted recess defined along one face thereof; one end of the recess having a first mouth which opens along a first 5 side of the device; the other end of the recess having a second mouth which opens along a second side of the device; said second mouth having associated therewith mounting means for a releasable or frangible closure element; and means for releasably connecting the device to another similar device 10 to form said container/dispenser so that the recess of one device is facing, is in register with and is in parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the recess of the other device to form a pathway for the cans; and wherein the closure element serves to close an opening of the pathway 15 which opening is generated by the second mouth of said device and the first mouth or the second mouth of the other device.

According to a second aspect of the device, there is provided a container/dispenser for cans or the like which 20 container/dispenser comprises two of said devices connected together by their respective connecting means in parallel spaced apart relationship with their respective recesses facing each other, said recesses providing a pathway along which the cans are free to roll into or out of the 25 container/dispenser via an opening defined by said mouths.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a stack of containers/dispensers which comprises two or more containers/dispensers placed on on top of the other so that the first opening of the lower container is in 30 register with the second opening of the upper container to form a continuous pathway which runs from the first opening of said upper container to the second opening of said lower container.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from 35 the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2a is a plan view of the interengaging of two of the components of the device of Figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 2b is a plan view of the interengaging of two of the components of the device according to the invention by an alternative means; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a container/dispenser according to the invention; Figure 4 is the container/dispenser of Figure 3 of the drawings filled with cans ready for shipping; Figure 4a is a cutaway view of part of the container/ dispenser of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part of the container/dispenser of Figure 4 of the drawings; Figure 6 is a perspective view of two container/ dispensers of Figure 3 of the drawings placed one on top of the other; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of part of the combination of Figure 6 of the drawings; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cabinet having a plurality of containers/dispensers of Figure 3 of the drawings therein, the cabinet having a dispensing means for the cans; Figure 9 is an enlarged view of part of the cabinet of Figure 8 of the drawings; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a frame for a plurality of containers/dispensers of Figure 3 of the drawings; and Figure 11 is a detail of the dispensing means for use with the cabinet of Figure 8 or the frame of Figure 10 of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a device 10 according to the invention which device comprises a substantially rectangularly shaped member 11 composed of a tough plastics material or similar material having four sides 12, 13, 14 and 15. One of the sides 15 terminates in a L-shaped edge 16. One face 17 of the member 11 has a convoluted recess 18 therein. The face 17, hereinafter referred to as the inner face 17, also has five connecting members 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 which will be described in more detail below. The recess 18 has a first mouth 24 located in the side 14 and a second mouth 25 located in the side 12.

The recess 18 provides a pair of ledges 26, 27 in parallel spaced apart relationship. The purpose of the ledges 26, 27 will be described below. Weight reduction holes 28 are provided along that part of the member 11 having the recess therein.

The side 12 has a plate 29 attached thereto and projecting therefrom in the same direction as the members 19-23. The L-shaped edge 16 has a plate 30 attached thereto and projecting therefrom in the same direction as the members 19-23.

Projecting from the inner face 17 and in parallel spaced apart relation to the members 19-23 is a cutting bar 31 having a cutting edge 310. Located to the left of the cutting bar 31 as viewed in Figure 1 of the drawings is a ledge 32.

With particular reference to Figure 2a of the drawings, each of the connecting members 19-23 one of which 22 is shown in said drawing comprises a tubular member 33 having a pair of diagonally located slits 34 therein. Projecting from within the tubular member 33 is a hemicylindrically shaped element 35 which terminates in a hemicylindrically shaped knob 36 having a flat face 37.

The members 19-23 are adapted for interengagement with a similar respective member (see Figure 3).

To construct a container/dispenser 10 according to the invention, two devices according to the invention are connected together. With particular reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, there is shown two devices 10, 10£ connected together. The device 10£ is identical in construction to the 6 device 10 which has been described above and has the various parts thereof numbered in a similar fashion followed by the suffix letter "a". However, it will be noted that the device 10£ has been rotated through 180° along an axis parallel 5 to the sides 12 and 14. Accordingly, the plate 29a^ is located uppermost and nearly opposite the cutting bar 31; the cutting bar 31a is located lowermost and nearly opposite the plate 29. The mouth 25<a is opposite the mouth 24; the mouth 24£ is opposite the mouth 25£. The plate 30a is 10 located uppermost; the plate 30 is located lowermost. The member 19 is interconnected with the member 21a^ the member 20 with the member 20£; the member 21 with the member 19a; the member 22 with the member 23a^ and the member 23 with the member 22a.

The members 19-22 are interconnected with the members 19a-22a in the following manner with specific reference to the connection of the member 22 with the member 23<a (see Figure 2a, of the drawings).

With the faces 37, 37a_ facing each other, the two 20 connecting members 22, 23£ are moved towards each other in the direction of their longitudinal axes. The faces 37, 37£ slide past each other until the knob 36^ encounters the tubular member 33<i. When the knob 36a^ engages with and . begins to slide inside the tubular member 33, the slit 34 is 25 widened by the action of the knob 36a^ expanding the oriface generated by the tubular member 33. Similarly the action of the knob 36 widens the slit 34a.

Each of the tubular members 33, 33a has a restricted oriface indicated by the respective dotted lines 38, 38£. 30 The length of the restriction in each case is substantially equal to the length of the "hemicylindrically shaped element 35 or 35£. Thus when the tubular member 33 abuts the tubular member 33a, the knob 36 will have moved past the restricted oriface 38£ allowing the slit 34a to return to 35 its normal width thereby retaining the hemicylindrically shaped element 35 together with the tubular member 33 in a locked relationship with the connecting member 23a. i Similarly the tubular member 33a is in a locked relationship with the connecting member 22.

The locking of the two connecting members 22, 23a is not permanent and may be reversed by a pulling action to separate the components in a reverse sequence of the steps described above. Thus, essentially, the connecting members 22, 23a are in snap-on interengagement.

An alternative method for connecting the devices 10, 10£ together, is shown in Figure 2b of the drawings. The connecting members 19-23 may be replaced by respective connecting members of the type shown in Figure 2b, of the drawings.

In Figure 2b, there is shown part of the device 10 and part of the device 10£. Projecting at similar location to the members 19-23 and 19a-23£ are members 119. Each member 119, which may be formed integrally with the device 10 or 10a, and essentially comprises a tubular portion 120 having a flat face 121 in which there is an opening 122. Via a hole (not shown) in the device 10 or 10a, which hole should be in register with the opening 122, a nut 123 or screw 124 is inserted. When connecting .the device 10 with the device 10a, all of the members 119 of the device 10 may have a respective nut 123 therein while of the members 119 of the device 10a may have a respective screw 124 therein. To join the devices 10, 10£ together, the screws 122 are screwed into associated nuts 123 and accordingly the faces 121 will be in abutment.

To the right of the plate 29 or 29a, as viewed in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings is a respective groove member 39, 39a^ Each of the groove members 39, 39ji is located opposite a respective cutting bar 31ia, 31.

In order to fill the container/dispenser 100 with cans 40, it is first necessary to close the opening 41 generated by the opposing mouths 25, 24a. To close the mouth 41, an adhesive tape 42 is placed across the opening so that the ends thereof are firmly stuck to the plates 29 and 30. Each of the cans 40 is then inserted through the opening 4 3 generated by the mouths 24, 25a_ at the top of the container 100. The gap between the devices 10, 10£ is such that each can. 40 is free to roll along the ledges 26, 27, 26a, 27a of the convoluted pathway generated by the opposing recesses 18, 18a.

With particular reference to Figure 4a of the drawings, there is shown a cutaway view of the two devices 10, 10a showing a can 40 therebetween. Each of the ledges 26, 27, 26ja, 27£ is stepped. By providing stepped ledges as shown in Figure 4a, the total surface area of the can 40 contacting the ledge surface is considerably reduced. Furthermore by virtue of the steps, the can 40 does not engage fully with the side walls of the device 10, 10a leading to a further reduction in friction providing for a smoother passage for the can 40.

In essence, each can 40 rolls on the ledges 26, 26a, 27, 27a as appropriate having regard to the vertical location of the can 40 within the container/dispenser 100. When the first can 40 reaches the opening 41, the tape 42 prevents the first can 40 from exiting the container/ dispenser 100. The remaining cans are loaded into the container/dispenser 100 in a similar fashion until the container/dispenser 100 is full. When full, the mouth 43 is closed by a second tape 44 similar to the tape 42 which tape 44 connects the plates 29^ and 30<a thereby closing the opening 43.

Thus, with cans 40 loaded into the container/dispenser 100 and with the openings 41, 43 closed, the container/ dispenser 100 functions as a container for transporting the cans 40.

To enable the cans 40 to be removed from the container/ dispenser 100, either tape 42, 44 may be cut with a knife (not shown) as either opening 41 or 4 3 may be used as the exit for the cans 40 depending on the orientation of the container/dispenser 100. In the case of Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the opening 41 is lowermost and may be regarded as the exit for the cans 100.

It will be appreciated that the axial length of the cans 40 loaded into the container/dispenser 100 will determine the distance the devices 11, lLa are to be separated. This distance is determined by the length of tubular members 33, 33a. If desired, each of the tubular members 33, 33/a may be integral with the internal faces 17, 17^ or may be in screw fit engagement therewith.

In the former case, each of the devices 10, 10a when joined together in the manner described would be a fixed distance apart. However, by providing some of the devices 10, 10£ with members 33, 33a having varying lengths, containers/dispensers 100 for accommodating cans 40 of different axial lengths may be constructed.

In the latter case, it would be necessary to manufacture separate members 33, 33a of varying lengths which are then screwed into respective internal faces 17, 17a as appropriate having regiard to the axial iength of cans 40 to be stored therein.

As a further alternative, each of the members 33, 33£ could have the same length and the distance between the devices 10, lOa^ could be varied by the use of connecting members (not shown) of varying lengths adapted for interengaging with the members 19-13 and 19£-23£. Each of the connecting members should have a slit 34, a hemispherically shaped element 36 and a knob 36 located at each end of a tubular member 33.

A dispensing cabinet 200 may be used in conjunction with the container/dispenser 100 (Figure 8). The cabinet 200 may be of any conventional construction, with or without refrigeration depe-nding on the nature of the contents of the cans 40. The cabinet 200 will not be described in detail here but essentially comprises two side walls 201, 202; a rear wall 203; and a door 204. The door 204 need not necessarily comprise the entire front of the cabinet 200 which has a fixed front face 205. Legs 206 support the cabinet 200.

It will be seen from Figure 8 of the drawings that three container dispensers 101. 102 and 103 have been placed inside the cabinet 200 being supported by a shelf or floor 207. For each cabinet/dispenser 101, 102, 103, the floor 207 has a respective opening 208 (Figure 11) in register with the opening 41 of each container/dispenser 101-103.

Each opening 208 leads into a respective trough 209 of U-shaped construction leading to a respective cabinet opening 210» 211# 212 for each container/dispenser 101, 102, 103.

At each opening# a respective cutting bar (not shown) similar to the cutting bar 31 or 3l£ may be located to cut the respective tape 42 of. each container/dispenser 101, 102, 103 in a manner to be described below.

Accordingly, the container/dispenser 101, for example is placed in the cabinet 200 with the tapes 42, 44 intact. When placed on the floor 207, one of the cutting bars of the cabinet 200 cuts the tape 42 thereby allowing the cans 40 to roll from the container/dispenser 101 into the trough 209 so that the first can 40a appears at the opening 210. The can 40a^ at the opening 210 may be removed by hand (Figure 9) whereupon all the remaining cans 40 in the container/ dispenser 101 roll down along the pathway by a distance equal to the diameter of the can 40a just removed• In Figure 8 of the drawings# it will be noted that loaded on top of the container/dispenser 101 are two further container/dispensers 104 and 105. With particular reference to Figures 6 and 7# two container/dispensers 101 and 104 are shown on top of each other. (For reasons of clarity, the bottom container/dispenser 101 is shown empty of cans 40).

In Figure 8 of the drawings# there is shown the lower part of the container/dispenser 104 and the upper part of the container/dispenser 101. Therefore# the cutting bar 31^ of the container/dispenser 104 is seen as well as the cutting bar 31 of the container/dispenser 101.

When the container/dispensers 101 and 104 are placed in the manner shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, the tapes 42 and 44 should be intact to prevent the cans 40 from the container 104 from falling out. As the container/ dispensers 101 and 104 contact# the cutting bar 31a severs the tape 44 while at the same time the cutting bar 31 severs the tape 42. The cutting bar 31 rests in the groove 39£; the cutting bar 31a rests in the groove 39. Thus# as the container/dispenser 104 is placed correctly on top of the container/dispenser 101# the tapes 42 and 44 are automatically severed and it is now possible for the cans 40 of the container/dispenser 104 to roll from the opening 41 thereof into the opening 43 of the container/dispenser 101 and through the container/dispenser 101 as the latter is emptied of cans.

As mentioned above# one of the cutting bars of the cabinet 200 cuts the tape 42 of the container/dispenser 101 in a manner described above when the container/dispenser 101 is placed in the cabinet 200.

With particular reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings# there is provided# a framework 300 constructed from a plurality of interconnected wooden battens 50 which define a series of seven housings 81-87. As all of the housings 81-87 are identical# only one of them# 81# will be described here.

The housing 81 is substantially rectangular in shape and is adapted to accommodate three container/dispensers 101# 104# 105 according to the invention. Thus one container/dispenser 101 may be accommodated in that part of the housing 81 marked 51; a second container/dispenser 104 may be placed on top of the first container/dispenser 101 that part of the housing 81 marked 52; and a third container/dispenser 105 may be placed on top of the second container/dispenser 104 in that part of the housing 81 marked 53. The opening 43 of the first container/dispenser 101 should be in register with the opening 41 of the second container/dispenser 104; the opening 43 of the second container/dispenser 104 should be in register with the opening 41 of the third container/dispenser 105. Clearly# when in position, the respective openings 41# 43 have their 12 closures removed in the manner described above so as to provide an extended continuous path for the cans 40.

The base of the housing 81 has an opening 208 leading to a trough 209 as described above with respect to the cabinet 200 (see Figure 11).

The housing 81 has a door 48 through which, when open, containers/dispensers according to the invention may be stacked. The remaining housings 82-87 may also have container/dispensers according to the invention stacked therein. The doors 48 may carry advertising if desired.

The cabinet 200 or framework 300, which may be used in a supermarket with or without a vending machine type apparatus'(not shown) associated therewith is mounted so as to enable a customer to select a partially exposed can 40a (Figure 11). In the case of the cabinet 200 or the framework 300 being used in a non-vending capacity, the can 40a and the next immediate can 40b serve to support the remaining cans 40 above them. Thus, as one can 40a is removed, gravity enables the next can 40b in the sequence to be positioned at the mouth 210.

In the case of a vending machine, a well known means, (not shown), may be incorporated therein so that only upon receipt by the vending machine of the correct amount of money will the known means release a can 40<a into the mouth 210 for removal by a customer.

Again, if desired, the trough 209 may incorporate a printing head or label placing mechanism therein indicated generally as 213 so that the cans 40 are automatically priced just prior to their removal by the customer. In addition, a known counting mechanism (not shown) may be incorporated into the trough 209 so as to provide a record of the number of cans 40 dispensed therefrom.

Accordingly, in a relatively small area having regard to the height of the cabinet 200 or framework 300, a relatively large number of cans 40 may be stored for dispensing as required. 13 The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiments disclosed which can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for use in the construction of a container/ dispenser for cans 'or the like which device comprises a substantially rectangularly shaped member having a convoluted recess defined along one face thereof; one end of the recess having a first mouth which opens along a first side of the device; the other end of the recess having a second mouth which opens along a second side of the device; said second mouth having associated therewith mounting means for a releasable or frangible closure element; and means for jreleasably connecting the device to another similar device to form said container/dispenser so that the recess of one device is facing, is in register with and is in parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the recess of the other device to form a pathway for the cans; and wherein the closure element serves to close an opening of the pathway which opening is generated by the second mouth of said device and the first mouth or the second mouth of the other device. S

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprises a snap-to-engage tubular member whirh projects from said one face; the member having a pair of opposing slits therein which bisect the member; projecting from one side of the member is a hemicylindrically shaped element which terminates in a hemicylindrically shaped knob; the other side of the member having a recess for accommodating the knob of a similarly snaprto-engage element insertable therein.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wheren a plurality of said tubular members projects from said face which tubular members are positioned on said face so as to enable a similar device to be connected thereto in only one predetermined orientaition thereof relative to said device.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1-3 wherein the first mouth and the second mouth are positioned respectively along opposing said first and second sides of the device so as to be directly opposite each other.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the side of the device between said mouths terminates in an L-shaped member one leg of which projects from said one face.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein that part of the L-shaped member adjacent said second mouth has integral therewith a first plate member which also projects in the same direction as the L-shaped member*

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 having a second plate member which projects from the second side of the device in the same direction as the first plate member.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first plate member and second plate member constitute said mounting means.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 8 having a transverse groove in the second side of the dfevice between the first plate member and the second plate member.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 having a cutting bar element which projects from the first side of the device in the same direction as the first plate member and is directly opposite said groove.

11. A container/dispenser for cans or the like which container/dispenser comprises a first device as claimed in any of claims 1-10 and a second device as claimed in any of claims 1-10 connected together by the respective connecting means in parallel spaced apart relationship with their 16 respective recesses facing each other; said recesses providing a pathway along which a can is free to roll into or out of the container/dispenser via said first and/or said second mouths.

12. A container/dispenser as claimed in claim 11 wherein the second device is orientated so that the first mouth of the first device is opposite the second mouth of the second device which together form a first opening for the pathway; and the second mouth of the first device is opposte the first mouth of the second device which together form a second opening for the pathway.

13. A container/dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein a first closure element for the first opening is adapted for mounting between the first plate member of the first device and the second plate member of the first device; and a second closure element for the second opening is adapted for mounting between the first plate member of the second device and the second plate member of the second device.

14. A container/dispenser as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cutting bar element of said first device is adapted to sever the second closure element of a second container/ dispenser placed in stacked formation relative to said container/dispenser the pathways of which containers/ dispensers are then in communication with each other to form an extended pathway for the cans or the like.

15. A container/dispenser as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cutting bar element of said second device is adapted to sever the first closure element of a second container/ dispenser placed in stacked formation relative to said container/dispenser the pathways of which containers/ dispensers are then in communication with each other to form an extended pathway for cans or the like. 17

16. A stack of containers/dispensers which comprise two or more containers/dispensers as claimed in any of claims 11-15 placed on on top of the other so that the first opening of the lower of said containers is in register with the 5 second opening of the upper container to form a continuous pathway which runs from the first opening of said upper container to the second opening of said lower container.

17. A stack as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cutting bar member adjacent the first opening of said lower container/ 10 dispenser is adapted to sever the second closure element of the second opening of said upper container/dispenser; and the cutting bar member adjacent the second opening of said upper container/ dispenser is adapted to sever the first closure element of the first opening of said lower 15 container/dispenser when said upper container/dispenser is placed on top of said lower container/dispenser.

18. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 20

19. A container/dispenser for cans substantially as • hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. A stack of containers/dispensers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated 25 in the accompanying drawings. F. R. KELLY & CO., AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS.