US3317082A

US3317082A - Product and bag dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3317082A
Application number: US379845A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard W Ohlsson; Jerry W Saddler
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: King Seeley Thermos Co
Priority date: 1964-07-02
Filing date: 1964-07-02
Publication date: 1967-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-02

Description

y 2, 1967 L. w. OHLSSON ETAL 3,317,082

PRODUCT AND BAG DISPENSER Filed July 2, 1964 2 Sheets$heet 1 177/)? forms": Zea/Yarn MO/ilifan .Jkrz y lcf-iadaler- L. w. OHLSSON ETAL 3,317,082

PRODUCT AND BAG DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P Hi5 May 2, 1967 Filed July 2, 1964 United States Patent 3,317,082 PRODUCT AND BAG DISPENSER Leonard W. Ohlsson and Jerry W. Saddler, St. Paul, Minn., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 2, 1964, Ser. No. 379,845 2 Claims. (Cl. 221-14) This invention relates to vending machines and in particular to vending machines wherein the vended product is provided in a bag or the like.

In one form of vending machine, ice bodies are manufactured and stored in a collecting space for subsequent vending. A bag supply apparatus is associated with the ice making apparatus for providing a bag to be used to receive the vended ice bodies during the vending operation. The present invention comprehends a new and improved bag delivery apparatus associated with the ice making apparatus in a novel manner to provide improved control of the bag delivery operation.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved bag providing means.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a bag providing means including new and improved means for controlling the operation of the bag providing means as a function of the ice making apparatus vending operation.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a bag providing means arranged to be actuated at the end of a bag delivery cycle while allowing the vending of the ice bodies to be completed and further arranged to set itself up for a subsequent bag delivery cycle upon initiation of a subsequent vending cycle.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a bag providing means including means for storing a plurality of bags for delivery seriatim to an ejection position, and means for ejecting a bag from said ejection position to a dispense position including a discharge mechanism, means for operating the discharge mechanism through a discharge cycle wherein a bag is dispensed, and control means arranged to respond to an initiation of the cycle of operation of the ice vending machine mechanism to actuate the means for operating the discharge mechanism and thereby operate the discharge mechanism through one cycle, the control means being further arranged to deactivate the discharge mechanism at the end of the discharge cycle while allowing the cycle of operation of the ice vending machine mechanism to be completed, and set itself up for a subsequent discharge cycle upon an initiation of a subsequent cycle of operation of the ice vending machine mechanism.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bag providing apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation thereof with a portion of the cabinet removed to illustrate more clearly the arrangement of the bag delivery mechanism;

closed in the drawing, a bag providing apparatus generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a cabinet 11 defining a dispensing outlet 12 opening outwardly from the interior space 13 of the cabinet. The bag providing apparatus 10 may be disposed adjacent an associated apparatus such as an ice maker apparatus 14 which may be of conventional construction well known in the art. A plurality of bags 15 are disposed within cabinet space 13 and are delivered by a new and improved bag discharge mechanism 16 therefrom one at a time through the outlet 12 for use in receiving the products such as ice bodies from the apparatus 14 during a vending operation. The mechanism 16 includes a novel control 17 as shown in FIG- URE 5 which is electrically associated with a control 18 of the apparatus 14 for controlling the bag dispensing apparatus 10 as a function of the operation of the ice maker apparatus 14. More specifically, the control 17 functions to permit the operation of the bag dispensing apparatus 10 to deliver only a single bag during each vending cycle of operation of the apparatus 14.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 2 and 3, the bag discharge mechanism 16 includes an inclined bottom plate 19 and a horizontal guide 20. The individual bags 15 move downwardly through space 13 to have their upper portion 15a rest on the inclined plate 19 and their bottom folding portion 15b rest on the guide 20. As shown in FIGURE 2, guide 20 extends forwardly to a front edge 22 which defines the lower edge of the outlet opening 12.

The bag, as shown in FIGURE 2, is in an ejection position for movement to a dispense position, as shown in dotted lines, wherein the folded end of the bag projects substantially outwardly through outlet 12. To effect the movement of the bag from the ejection position to the dispense position, a pusher arm 23 is mounted on a slide 24 which is moved successively forwardly and rearwardly (to the right and to the left as seen in FIGURE 2) in a channel 25 which is attached to channel support plate 20a. The slide is moved by means of a link 26 having a first upstanding end 27 pivotally connected to the slide 24 and a second downturned end 28 pivotally connected to an arm 29 fixed to the output shaft 30 of a conven tional electric motor 31 carried on cabinet wall 11 by means of a bracket 32 subjacent the outlet 12. The upturned end 27 of the link 26 extends through a slot 33, in channel 25 and channel support plate 20a, and slot 33a in the guide 20 which extends forwardly from adjacent the rear end of the guide to adjacent the forward end thereof at outlet 12. Thus, as the motor rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 3, the arm 29 pulls the link 26 forwardly from the position of FIGURE 3 to a forward position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG- URE 2. During this forward movement, the pusher arm 23 engages the folded end 15b of the bag 15 and urges it forwardly and outwardly through the outlet 12 to the dotted .line dispense position of FIGURE 2 where the user may grasp the bag end and pull the bag from the cabinet 11 for use in receiving the ice body products of the associated apparatus 14.

The apparatus 10 further includes means to preclude operation of the discharge mechanism 16 when the supply of bags 15 reaches a preselected low level. Herein, this means comprises a switch 34 carried on the inclined plate 19 and having an actuating finger 35 extending upwardly through an opening 36 in the inclined plate to be engaged by the lowermost bag 15 in the ejection position. The switch 34 is arranged to the held closed by the weight of a preselected number of bags. The switch 34 is associated with the control 18 of apparatus 14 so that when the bag supply reaches the low limit no subsequent vending of the ice body product can be initiated until a replenishment of the bag supply in cabinet 11 is effected.

Control 17 functions to eject a single bag each time the apparatus 14 is operated to initiate a vending cycle. As seen in FIGURE 5, control 17 includes a first switch 37 having a moving contact 37a which when in its normally closed position is in engagement with a fixed contact 37b and an actuating finger 370. As shown in FIGURE 3, the switch is disposed with the actuating finger 370 in the path of movement of the outer end 29a of the arm 29 to be actuated by the arm at a point just short of a complete counterclockwise revolution of the arm from the starting position of FIGURE 3. The control 17 further includes a second switch 38 having a moving contact 38a, which when in its normally closed position is in engagement with a first fixed contact 38b and a second contact 380. Switch 38 further includes an actuating finger 380. which, as shown in FIGURE 3, is disposed in the path of movement of the arm end 29a at a point approximately one-quarter of a revolution of the arm from the starting position.

In the cycle of operation of the ejection mechanism 16, a switch 40 of control 18 is closed upon the initiation of a cycle of operation of apparatus 14 as a function of the operation of control 1 8. Switch 40 is connected in series from one power supply lead L to each of the

moving contacts

37a and 38a of switches 37 and 38, respectively. A coil 39 is associated Wit-h switch 38 for holding the finger 38d in the thrown position whenever the moving contact 38a engages fixed contact 380, providing switch 40 is in its closed position. When switch 40 is so closed, current may flow from the other power supply lead Lg through the ejection motor 31 to fixed contact 3812 of switch 38, to the moving contact 38a, which is normally in engagement with fixed contact 38b, and thence through switch 40 to the other power supply lead L Movement of the arm 29 by the operation of the motor 31 then permits contact 37a to move to its normally closed position in engagement with fixed contact 37b to establish a holding circuit from motor 31 through fixed contact 37b and moving contact 37a of switch 37 to the switch 40. The continued energization of motor 31 causes the arm 29 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 3, until the slide 24 is in the outermost position (the righthand position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2). This movement of the slide urges the folded end 15b of the lowermost bag 15 outwardly through the outlet 12 to the dispensing position for grasping by the user.

Rotation of the arm 29 causes the arm end 29a to engage the actuating finger 38d of switch 38 whereupon the moving contact 38a is spaced from contact 38b breaking this half of the circuit from motor 31 to the switch 40. Moving contact 38a is thrown into engagement with the second fixed contact 38c of switch 38 which is connected in series with the coil 39 between switch 40 and the power supply lead L Thus, coil 39 is energized and holds the moving contact 38a of switch 38 in engagement with fixed contact 38c notwithstanding a subsequent movement of the arm end 29a beyond the finger 38d of the switch as a result of continued rotation of the arm.

The motor 31 remains energized through fixed contact 37b, moving contact 37a and switch 40 until the arm end 29a engages the finger 370 of switch 37. This engagement causes moving contact 37a to become disengaged from fixed contact 37b to break the circuit from the motor 31 to the switch 40, thereby deenergizing the ejection motor 31 notwithstanding the continuing of the cycle of operation of apparatus 14 by control 1 8 which is maintaining the switch 40 closed. Thus, no further operation of the ejection mechanism 16 can be effected at this time. When, however, the cycle of operation of the apparatus 14 is completed, control 1 8 causes switch 40 to move to the open position shown in FIGURE whereupon the circuit is broken from coil 39 to power supply lead L thereby deencrgizing the coil 39 and permitting the moving contact 38a to move to its normally closed engagement with the fixed contact 38b. Thus, the circuit is restored to the arrangement of FIGURE 5 reestablishing it for subsequent initiation of an ejection cycle upon initiation of a vend cycle of apparatus 14 by means of control 18.

While control 17 is extremely simple, it provides an improved correlated functioning of the bag ejecting mechanism relative to the vending cycle of apparatus 14. The control 17 permits only a single bag to be ejected during each vending cycle of the apparatus 14 while automatically re-establishing itself for a subsequent bag ejection cycle upon a subsequent initiation of another vending cycle of apparatus 14. Further, the apparatus 10 includes control means for precluding initiation of the vending cycle of apparatus 14 in the event that the supply of bags in the apparatus 10 reaches a preselected low level which may comprise a condition wherein all of the bags have been dispensed from the apparatus 10.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In an apparatus utilizing bags for holding a product and having a first mechanism including a control provid-' ing a preselected cycle of operation thereof, means for providing bags one-at-a-time from a supply for use in said apparatus, said bag providing means comprising:

means for storing a pluraltiy of bags for delivery seriatim to a discharge position; and

means for discharging a bag from said discharge position to a dispense position including a discharge mechanism, means including an electric motor for operating said discharge mechanism through a discharge cycle wherein a bag is discharged, and control means arranged to respond to an initiation of the cycle of operation of said first mechanism to energize said motor and thereby operate the discharge mechanism through one cycle, said control means being further arranged to de-energize said motor at the end of the discharge cycle While allowing the cycle of operation of said first mechanism to be completed, and set itself up for a subsequent discharge cycle upon initiation of a subsequent cycle of operation of said first mechanism, said control means including a first switch connected in series with said motor and arranged to be opened at the initiation of the cycle of operation of said first mechanism, and a second switch connected in parallel with said first switch and arranged to be closed at the initiation of the cycle of operation of said first mechanism to energize said motor at that time, means associated with said motor for opening said second switch after a preselected amount of operation of the discharge mechanism, means for holding said second switch open until completion of the cycle of operation of said first mechanism, and means associated with said motor for closing said first switch prior to the opening of said second switch and subsequently opening said first switch after the opening of said second switch to terminate the energizationof said motor, said control means further including a third switch and means responsive to the weight of bags in the storing means to preclude operation of the first mechanism when ever the supply of bags therein is below a preselected minimum.

2. In an apparatus utilizing bags for holding a product and having a first electrically operable product dispensing mechanism arranged to operate in preselected cycles, means for providing bags one-at-a-time from a supply for use in receiving the product dispensed from said apparatus, said bag providing means comprising:

means for storing a plurality of bags for delivery seria tim to a discharge position; and

means for discharging a bag from said discharge position to a dispense position including a discharge mechanism, electrically operable means for operating said discharge mechanism through a discharge cycle wherein a bag is discharged, and electrical control means actuatable to initiate a cycle of operation of said product dispensing mechanism only when there is at least a preselected number of bags in said storing means, and only after said initiation of said cycle of operation of the product dispensing mechanism to actuate said means for operating said discharge mechanism and thereby operate the discharge mechanism through one cycle, said control means including means responsive to the weight of bags in the storing means to preclude operation of said control means whenever the quantity of bags in said storing means is below a preselected minimum greater than one, said weight responsive means being arranged to be engaged by a bag in both said discharge position and said dispense position, said control means being further arranged to deactivate the discharge mechanism at the end of the discharge cycle while allowing the cycle of operation of said product dispensing mechanism to be completed, and upon completion of said cycle of operation of said product dispensing mechanism set itself up for effecting a subsequent discharge cycle upon initiation of a subsequent cycle of operation of said product dispensing mechanism.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN AN APPARATUS UTILIZING BAGS FOR HOLDING A PRODUCT AND HAVING A FIRST MECHANISM INCLUDING A CONTROL PROVIDING A PRESELECTED CYCLE OF OPERATION THEREOF, MEANS FOR PROVIDING BAGS ONE-AT-A-TIME FROM A SUPPLY FOR USE IN SAID APPARATUS, SAID BAG PROVIDING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS FOR STORING A PLURALITY OF BAGS FOR DELIVERY SERIATIM TO A DISCHARGE POSITION; AND MEANS FOR DISCHARGING A BAG FROM SAID DISCHARGE POSITION TO A DISPENSE POSITION INCLUDING A DISCHARGE MECHANISM, MEANS INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR OPERATING SAID DISCHARGE MECHANISM THROUGH A DISCHARGE CYCLE WHEREIN A BAG IS DISCHARGED, AND CONTROL MEANS ARRANGED TO RESPOND TO AN INITIATION OF THE CYCLE OF OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MECHANISM TO ENERGIZE SAID MOTOR AND THEREBY OPERATE THE DISCHARGE MECHANISM THROUGH ONE CYCLE, SAID CONTROL MEANS BEING FURTHER ARRANGED TO DE-ENERGIZE SAID MOTOR AT THE END OF THE DISCHARGE CYCLE WHILE ALLOWING THE CYCLE OF OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MECHANISM TO BE COMPLETED, AND SET ITSELF UP FOR A SUBSEQUENT DISCHARGE CYCLE UPON INITATION OF A SUBSEQUENT CYCLE OF OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MECHANISM, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST SWITCH CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH SAID MOTOR AND ARRANGED TO BE OPENED AT THE INITIATION OF THE CYCLE OF OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MECHANISM, AND A SECOND SWITCH CONNECTED IN PARALLEL WITH SAID FIRST SWITCH AND ARRANGED TO BE CLOSED AT THE INITIATION OF THE CYCLE OF OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MECHANISM TO ENERGIZE SAID MOTOR AT THAT TIME, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MOTOR FOR OPENING SAID SECOND SWITCH AFTER A PRESELECTED AMOUNT OF OPERATION OF THE DISCHARGE MECHANISM, MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID SECOND SWITCH OPEN UNTIL COMPLETION OF THE CYCLE OF OPERATION OF SAID FIRST MECHANISM, AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MOTOR FOR CLOSING SAID FIRST SWITCH PRIOR TO THE OPENING OF SAID SECOND SWITCH AND SUBSEQUENTLY OPENING SAID FIRST SWITCH AFTER THE OPENING OF SAID MOTOR, SAID CONTO TERMINATE THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID MOTOR, SAID CONTROL MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING A THIRD SWITCH AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE WEIGHT OF BAGS IN THE STORING MEANS TO PRECLUDE OPERATION OF THE FIRST MECHANISM WHENEVER THE SUPPLY OF BAGS THEREIN IS BELOW A PRESELECTED MINIMUM.