IL32424A - Apparatus for dispensing articles - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES Background ~ Field of the Invention ■This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and in particular it relates to dispensing apparatus of the type having sequentially operated shelves.

• Background - Description of the Prior Art It has been known heretofore to provide dispensing apparatus having a plurality of vertically aligned article supporting shelves, operable in sequence starting from the bottom shelf, . to release the supported articles one at a time. An example of " such a machine is shovm in the Regan et al Patent Number 3,310,198.

While these previous machines have operated satisfactori- ly, the shelf release mechanisms in these previous machines have had certain disadvantages. First, they have generally been quite complex, thereby increasing the cost of the apparatus. In ad- dition,, they have been somewhat inflexible in practice, permitting little or no variation in the operation of the dispensing apparatus. For example, with previous apparatus, after each cycle of the release mechanism, the release mechanism was necessarily advanced to a position to operate the next highest adjacent shelf. However, on some occasions (for example when one desires to dispense an article larger than the space, between adj cent shelves) it is . desirable to utilize only every other shelf or every third shelf.

However, in this case it would be necessary for the release mechanisr/.i i to advance, during each cycle, to- a position to operate the next highest active shelf (that is, the next highest shelf which happens Thus, there exists a need for a dispensing apparatus of the type described having a more simplified and more flexible shelf control means for operating the shelves.

Summary of the .Invention Thus, it is a purpose of this invention to provide, in a dispensing apparatus of the type described, a more simplified and flexible control means for operating the shelves.

Briefly, this purpose is achieved by constructing the shelf control means such that it has a number of different operating positions, one for operating each shelf, and by utilizing elements connected to the shelves themselves to select which shelf the control means is in position to operate. With these features it is possible to provide an extremely simplified control means which is quite, flexible in that after releasing a shelf it automatically moves to a position to operate the next highest "active" shelf, that is, the. next highest shelf which happens to be in an article-supporting position whether or not it is the next highest adjacent shelf.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an article dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned shelves, each shelf being movable about an axis at the rear of each shelf between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical non-supporting position. Each shelf includes a laterally movable latch means which is capable of holding its^respective shelf in the horizontal position until rendered inoperable by the control moans, at which in this profo ed 'embodiment, the control means comprises an elongated bar extending vertically alongside all the shelves, i said bar including a plurality of actuating arms, one arm. being provided for each shelf. .The vertical bar is adapted to be oscillated about its axis, thereby swinging the said actuating arms in a generally horizontal plane. However, the arms are so arranged on the bar that only one of the arms will be in an operative position to operate its respective latch means. This arm will thus cause lateral movement of its respective latch means thereby rendering the same inoperable and permitting the shelf associated therewith to fall to its vertical non--£iuppor ing position.

According to a feature of this preferred embodiment, that actuating arm which happens to be in an operative position,-and hence also, the weight of the vertical bar actually rests on a rest surface of an element connected to the shelf. This element may or may not be the latch means itself. Consequently, after the latch means has been rendered inoperable, · and the shelf has fallen downwardly, the said rest element has also fallen downwardly so that the vertical bar will drop until an actuating arm located higher up on the vertical bar will engage the rest surface of the next highest active shelf, that is, the next highest shelf which happens to be in the horizontal article supporting position, and this may or may not .be the next higher adjacent shelf. Indeed, any number of shelves between the last operated shelf and the said next active horizontal shelf may be number of shelves and, still have the control means automatically move to the next highest horizontal shelf during each cycle of operation of the control means (that is, during each oscillation of the said vertical bar about its axis).

According to another feature of the present invention, a deflector means is located immediately above each shelf. One portion of the deflector means covers the rear of the shelf and thus covers the shelf when it is in a vertical position. Another portion of the deflector means covers the area in which its associated actuating arm move during the said oscillating movement of the bar. One purpose of these deflectors is to assure that as the articles fall downwardly they do not become snagged' on actuating arms or on lower shelves which are already in the vertical non-suppo ting position. In addition, the said second portion of the deflector prevents the actuating arms above that actuating arm in the operative position from striking the article on its shelf when the bar lis oscillated. . ^ Any convenient means such as a solenoid or the like may be employed to cause the said oscillating movement of the vertically extending bar.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved dispensing apparatus.

I is another object of this invention to provide, in a dispensing apparatus of the type described, a simplified and flexible shelf control means.

I is still another object of this invention to provide, one for each* shelf, and which, after releasing a given shelf from the horizontal position to the vertical position, automatically moves to a position to release the next highest shelf which happens to be in a horizontal position whether or no that shelf is the next highest adjacent shelf.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a dispensing apparatus of the type described, a simplified control means comprising a vertically extending bar having a plurality of actuating arms located' thereon, said arms being spaced from, each other by a distance between the shelves.

Another object of this invention is to provide deflector means for a dispensing apparatus of the type described.

Other objects and the attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow togethar with the accompanying drawings.

Brief...Description of the Drawings There follows a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of .the invention together with the accompanying draw- · ings. However, it is to be understood that this description and the accompanying drawings are provided only for purposes of illustration and that the invention is capable of numerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled in the art w hout' departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an article dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention.

Ficjui-e 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figures. 1 and 2. ,·. ;'.¾': ' Figured 4A through 4D are schematic views taken in the same direction as Figure 2 and showing various s ages in the operation of the invention. ^ Description of the Preferred Embodiment ,.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to indicate like parts throughout, and referring in particular to Figures 1 through 3, there is shown a dispensing apparatus 10 having a rear partition 11, a main side partition 12 and an opposite side partition 12A. Mounted' on the eipparatus 10 are a plurality of shelves 13A, 13D and 13C. While only three shelves are shown in Figures 1 through 3, it will be understood that any number of shelves could be provided below shelf 13C.

These shelves are of a length less than the distance between partitions 12 and 12A.

In the following description of the preferred embodiment the terms "right" and "left" will be used for convenience and refer to the location of the elements as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Further, a prime (') is employed to show the moved position of an element.

Each shelf includes a right side flange 14 and a left side flange 15. A support rod 16 extends along the rear partition 11 with its ends 17 and 18 protruding through sido partitions 12 and 12A respectively. The rear of each shelf 13 is mounted on this rod 16 so that each shelf is mounted for rotational movement svipport rod and the inside of flange 14 thereby urging the shelf 13 to the right to an extent limited by a spacing elemental located on the rod 16. Each shelf also includes a latching means comprising a latch pin 22 rigidly connected at one. end 23 to the bottom of its respective shelf 13 at a substantial distance alon the shelf forward of the pivotal connection. This rod 22 passes through the side flange 14 and its othe end 24 is adapted to pass through an aperture 25 in the partition 12. Thus, it will be seen that when the shelf 13 is urged to the right by spring 20 the rod 22 enters the opening 25 and thereby holds the shelf . in the horizontal position. If the shelf is now Urged to the left by a sufficient amount, the end 24 will pass to. the left side of opening 25 and the shelf 13 will swing downwardly around rod 16. A spacing element in the form of spring 26 is provided at the left side of rod 16 to limit the leftward movement of the Bhelf 13 after the shelf has moved a sufficient amount to remove the end 24 of rod 22 from the opening 25.

To assure smooth downward movement of each article as it passes the lower shelves which have already been placed in the vertical condition, there is provided a deflector arrangement including a rear deflector 30 and a side deflector 31. In the illustrated embodiment, these two deflectors are formed integrally with each other and with an upper plate 32, the latter of which is welded of otherwise connected directly to rear partition 11.

To provide the selective lateral movement of the shelves 13 there is provided a- control means comprising a Vertical control bar includes a plurality of rearweirdly extending arms 41. One arm is provided for each shelf. Thus, in Figures 1 through 3, three pins are illustrated, namely 41Λ, 41B and 4lc. These are best illustrated in Figure 2.

This bar includes elements 44 through 50 (which will be explained in greater detail below) for oscillating this bar through a slight angle. This angle is illustrated in Figure 3 between the two arms 41B and 41C and the phantom line representations of this moved positions of the arms, namely.4113' and 41C'.. The effect of the moveme t, of the arm 1C is to move the shelf 13C to the left as illus rated by the phantom line side flanges 14' and .15'. This distance is sufficient for the end 24 of rod 22 to pass to the right hand side of partition 12. Consequently, the rod 22 is no longer held in the horizontal position by aperture 25, and the shelf 13c swings downwardly abou rod 16 to the vertical position as illustrated by arrow X in Figure 3, and moved position 13C in Figure 1.

A fectture of the invention is the spacing between the arms 41. Assuming that the shelf 13C is in fact the lowermost shelf, then a the starting position the arm 41C will rest on the rod 22 . Concurrently, the rod 41B will be spaced a distance . H (Fig. 2) above its corres£>onding rod 22 on shelf 13B. Similarly, the rod 41A will be spaced a distance 2H above its rod 22 on shelf 13A. Stating 'this relationship more generally, for any number of shelves, when the lowermost shelf re ts on its pin 22, the second from the lowest sli f will be spaced a distance II above its pin - the number of that shelf counting up from the bottom shelf, for which n-=l .

An actuating, arm is considered to be in its "operative" position when it rests on its respective pin 22. When in this operative position, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 for arm 41C, swinging movement of the rod 40 will swing the arm 41C against flange 14 of the shelf 13C thereby moving this ohelf to the left as indicated at 14' and 15' in Figure '3 so that the shelf will fall in the manner described above, thereby releasing the article mounted on that shelf to be dispensed through an opening located below the shelves.

As the arm 41C swings to the left, all higher pins swing above their respective shelves so that they do ot urge their respective shelves to the' left. After the shelf 13c has fallen to the vertical position, and after the rod 40 has been turned back to its original position, the rod 40 will drop downwardly until the arm.4lB engages its respective rod 22 in preparation for the next actuation (oscillation) of rod 40. Since the. arm 4lA was located a distance 2H above its pin 22, it will now move down to a distance H, still above the level of its shelf 13A.

After actuation of the bar 40 to operate shelf 13B the rod 40 will fall downwardly once again until arm 41A engages; its respec v rod 22 j.n preparation fo operation of shelf 13A. After shelf 13A is in fact operated by oscillation of bar 40 the bar will fall downwardly until its horizontal bent portion 44 engages a fixed stop member 51.

It is important to note th t the downward movement of respective pin 22. However, this need' not be the next highest,^ shelf to that which was just actuated. For example, assume that it is desired to dispense an article which requires a space greater than that provided between two adjacent shelves but less than that provided between three adjacent shelves. Such articles could be dispensed by initially employing only every other shelf, leaving the intermediate shelves in the vertical position. Assume that > such an article is placed on the shelf 13c and that shelf 13B is initially placed in the vertical condition. Then,- after movement of arm 41C to lower the shelf 13C, the rod 40 will start its downward movement. However, the pin 22 of the shelf 1313 is no longer in the path of arm 4lB so that arm 41B will continue to move downwardly. This downward movement will continue until the arm 41A engages and rests- upon its respective pin 22 of the shelf 13A. Thus, the control means, after lowering a shelf, moves automatically to the next shelf which happened to be in the horizon al article supporting position whether or not that is the next id-jacent shelf.

Although it is believed that the operation of the invention is clear from the foregoing descri tion of the preferred embo men , nonetheless the operation of the invention will be described below with reference to schematic Figures 4A through 4D-. In this illustration shelf 13.0. is provided in addition to shelves 13A through 13C. Further, referring to Figure 4A, in the initial position only shelves 13A, 13c and 13D will be utilized to support articles. This might be the case where an extra tall article is placed on the shelf 13C. In these Figures, the pa ition Between Figures 4·Λ and 4D, the bar 40 has been oscilla d and returned. This had . the effect of dropping shelf 13D to the vertical position and lowering the bar 40 until the arm 41C rested upon its respective pin 22. Between Figures 4B and 4C the bar is once again oscillated. Arm 41C thereby moves shelf 13Ό to the left, causing the same to drop to the position shown in Figure 4C The bar 40 then drops .until the next highest shelf which happens to be in a horizontal position, namely the shelf 13Λ, is engaged by its respective arm 41A. Since the shelf 1313 was in a vertical position before the actuation of shelf 13C, then its pin 22 was already out of the path of arm 41B so that arm IB continues its downward movement unobstructed until the pin 41Λ engages its respective pin 22. Between Figures 4C and 4D the bar is once again oscillated thereby causing the shelf 13Λ to be lowered and permitting the bar 40 to fall until its upper bent portion 44 engages the fixed stop 51.

It can be seen that articles falling from the upper shelves migVit well become snagged in the shelves already placed in the vertical position or in the latch means for the lower shelves. The deflectors 30 and 31 assure the smooth downward movement: of the articles and prevent the possibility of snagging.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the mechanism for causing the said oscillating movement of the bar 40. The bar 40 includes a horizontally bent portion 44 and an upper vertical portion 45 which extends through the bottom of ε\ U-shaped clamp 46 which in turn is connected through connecting elements 4.8 to a solenoid switch 47. Operatio of this solenoid through electrical leads 49 causes movement of t e -4 and connectin elements 48 to the left thereby causing the oscillation of bar '40. Note the moved pos^io of elements 44' 45' and.48' in Figure 1. A spring 50 connected between connecting portion 48 and . partition 50 causes return . movemont of the elements 46 and 48. arid hence return movement of the control bar 40.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention is capable of numerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (1)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS An article dispensing apparatus a plurality of vertically aligned each being mounted for movement between a horizontal article supporting position a vertical shelf includin a latch for ing that shelf in the horizontal a control means having a plurality of operative positions one operative position for each shelf whereat the control operates e latch means of that shelf to cause that shelf to from the horizontal position to said control means being movable from a first operative whereat it operates the latch means of a first to a second operativ position space the first position whereat it operates the latch means of a shelf higher than the first movement of the means being by gravity and i response to the operation o the latch of the first shelf and to movement the first from its horizontal position its vertical positio An article dispensing apparatus according to claim wherein each shelf includes a rest surface thereto for supporting the control means when the means position to operate that said rest surface movable with the shelf between horizontal position and such that the rest surface is in positio to contro means only when the shelf is a and control means being cyclica ly operable whereby said higher shelf which the control means operates V whichever of plurality of vertically aligned shelves the said first shelf that happens to the next highe shelf in the horizontal A dispensing apparatus according to oiaim 2 wherein said control means comprises an elongated bar having a main portion extending vertically alongside all said shelves and includin an actuating arm for each and each shelf including a reference level which is at the height of the said rest surfac when that shelf is in the the said arms being spaced vertically each other such that when the arm of the lowermost shelf at its reference the arm of the second lowest shelf a distance above its respective re erence higher arms are spaced a distance their levels wherei is a integer epre the number of the up from the lowermost for which dispensin apparatus according to 3 wherein the latch means of shelf is between active whereat holds its shelf in a horizontal position and an inactive position whereat it permits its shelf to move to its ve tioal including actuating for moving arms in a horizontal plane cause said horizonta movement o said latch An article dispensing apparatus according to wherein said actuating means includes an operated solenoid switch for oscillating the said ba abouts its to move the in said horizontal plane An article dispensing apparatus according to including deflecto means located above each for preventing a given shelf from hitting the arms lower shelves and also for preventing arms from engaging articles on their respective shelves durin horizontal movement the A article dispensing apparatus accordin to claim including further means located above each shelf for preventin articles falling from a given shelf from hitting lower shelves in a vertical An article dispensing apparatus according to claim including a vertical partition along the of the shelves wherein each shelf is laterally movable in a towards and away said ver ical and wherein each latch comprises a latc pin rigidly attached to respective shelf and extending laterally from one side of shelf towards the said means the partition receivin the l tch pins remote the for holding the shelves in a horizontal position and spring means for urging the shelves towards the 9v An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the upper surface of the latch pin comprises the said surface and the shelf includes a vertical side flange facin the and the arm in the operative position engages the move the shelf laterally and ther by th pin away from means thereby permitting the shelf to to vertical A levels wherein is integer representing the of the countin in starting from the said lowermost shelf for when the shelves are in the horizontal positions said reference levels form rest for bar and of the tha the weigh of the bar and arms rests on whichever res surface is at the moment receiving it respective 13V An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each surface formed on latch pin attached to and protruding l from sid of its and means fo engagin each pin to hold the shelf the horizontal An article dispensin apparatus according to 13 including actuating means for oscillatin the bar abouts its axis thereby moving the arms in a horizontal such that the arm in the operative disengages its latch pin to permit that shelf to move to the and such that article dispensing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the upper end o said bar is offset from the main portion including a horizontally movable clamp said offset portion to move same horizontally to oscillate the in a horizontal plane about the axis the of the ba including spring means to the clamp for normally urging the said clamp one direction and a switch connected to the clamp for selectively movin the clamp opposite direction against said spring means to cause said oscillating movement of the ba An article dispensing apparatus comprising a of vertically shelves each shel article dispensin appara us according to claim 17 wherein the means comprises elongated bar extending vertically alongside all the shelves and a pluralit of arms formed for each the spacing of arms from each other being such that the weight the bar all of the at any rests upon horizontal An article dispensing according to claim 18 wherein the shelves laterally movable latch pins for holding shelves in the the arm with the lowermost horizonta shelf resting on its latch wherein the operation of the control means oscillating the bar about its axis to move the arm associated the lowermost shelf to latch pin permit the shel together with its latch pin to move to the position thereby permitting the arm associated with the next higher horizontal shelf to come to rest its associated latch article dispensing apparatus according to claim 19 each shelf horizontally movable along a support rod and wherein latch piti rigidly connected to the a sprin means fo urgin shelf towards bar of the control whereby the means acts ainst the shel move bo it the pin away the ba of the control means permit to mov to its article dispensing apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the upper end of said bar is offset from the main portion and including a horizontally movable clamp engaging said offset portion to move the same horizontally to oscillate the said bar in a horizontal plane about the axis of the main portion of the and including a spring means connected to clamp for normally urging the said clamp in one direction and a switch connected to the clamp for selectively moving the clamp in the opposite direction against said spring means to cause said oscillating movement of the An article dispensing apparatus according to claim wherein each shelf is mounted on a support rod for lateral movement therealongf and for swinging movement thereabout between a horizontal article supporting position and a vertical wherein said means are arranged on one side of the shelves and include a plurality of actuating one arm associated each each arm being movable laterally against its respective shelf to cause movement of that shelf from the horizontal position to the vertical and wherein a side deflector is located at the sides of and immediately above at least some of the shelves to extend above the area in which the arm associated with the next lower shelf so that articles falling down from the higher shelves will be prevented by the side deflector from hitting thesald arm associated with the shelf immediately below each side An dispensing apparatus according to claim and further including a rear deflector located immediately above at least some of the shelves to above the upper part of next lower when that shelf is in the vertical so that a ticles down from a higher shelf will prevented by the rear deflector from hittin the upper part o the shel immediately below each An article dispensing apparatus to wherein said shelves are mounted on a frame having a rear each shelf being on a support rod for movement thereabout between a article supporting position and a such that in th vertical position the shelves are generally against the rea partitio wherein a rear immediately above at least some of the shelves against the rea partition to extend above the upper par of the next lower shelf when that shelf is in the vertical position so that articles falling down from a higher shelf will be prevented by the rear deflector from hitting the uppe pa t of the shelf immediately below each rear An article dispensing apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying insufficientOCRQuality