US3797698A - Devices for dispensing articles from a stack of articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for dispensing articles comprises a vertical chute for a stack of articles. The chute is closed from below by a pivotal element which supports the stack. An arrester element is slidable along a slot in the wall of the chute and engages the uppermost article of the stack. When all the articles have been discharged, the head pivots to lock the element in its closed position.

Description

I United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,797,698

Hemard Mar. 19, 1974 DEVICES FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES [56] References Cited FROM A STACK OF ARTICLES UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: Jean-Hemard, Paris, France 2,696.324 12/1954 Jones 221/20 73 A S t P d, P F 1 'sslgnee 0cm ans fame Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Flledl 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brooks, Haidt & Haffner [21] Appl. No.: 329,443

[57] ABSTRACT A device for dispensing articles comprises a vertical 30 F A I t P t 1 orugn pp "on y Data chute for a stack of articles. The chute is closed from Feb. 22. 1972 France 720597) Y below y a pivotal element which pp the Stack An arrester element is slidable along a slot inthe wall of the chute and engages the uppermost article of the I I n s v n s I e 1 s t u v n n s i i s l s I i t I W h b d [58] Field of Search 221 /94, 151, 152, 268, s the amcles ave lscharged the head pivots to lock the element in its closed position.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 19 m4 SHEET 1 [1F 3 PATENTEU MAR l 9 I974 SHEET 2 [1F 3 DEVICES FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES FROM A STACK OF ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to devices for dispensing articles. I

2. Description of the Prior Art A device for delivering pre-packed articles from a vertical stack within a vertical chute has been proposed in which the chute is adjustable at least in width relative to the width of the articles, and the articles are fed downwardly toward an outlet closable by means of a bottom element pivoting downwardly about an axis extending in the direction of a lateral edge of the articles. The bottom element is upwardly directed along the pivot axis such that when the element is in its closed position, the lowermost article of the stack is offset slightly relative to the penultimate article. When the bottom element is pivoted, the upwardly direction portion of the latter supports the penultimate article of the stack, whilst an arrester element slides in the chute to prevent the remainder of the articles from tumbling over the edge or bearing surface constituted by the upwardly directed portion of the bottom element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided in a device for dispensing articles a vertical chute for a stack of articles, said chute including a slot, a pivotal bottom closure element, said element having an upeardly directed portion supporting the penultimate article of the stack during discharge of the lowermost article of the stack, and arrester head means, said arrester head means resting on the uppermost article of the stack and comprising a slide member movable along the slot, and a pivotal element for locking the closure element, said pivotal element being carried by the slide member and normally resting on theuppermost article of the stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS arrester head during the course of the dispensing operation;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the arrester head; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the lower portion of the device and showing the arrester head at the end of the dispensing operation.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED MBO IME FIG. 1 shows a vertical chute 1 of rectangular section, containing a stack of articlessuch as 2a, 2b, 2c, for example in the form of packages.

The article 2c, being the lowermost article of the stack, rests on a bottom wall or closure element 3 of the chute, the wall being pivotably mounted about a shaft 4 directed along a lateral edge of the articles. The wall 3 is biased into the horizontal position shown by a spring (not shown). The edge of the wall 3 adjacent to the shaft 4 is directed upwardly to form a doublethickness front wall portion 5.

At the front of the chute 1, a slot 6 is provided, in which engages a slide member 7 of an arrester head 8, which rests on the article 2a located at the top of the stack (FIGS. 1 and 2). The member 7 is L-shaped and is provided on one of its arms with two grooves 9, 9a which engage the edges of the slot 6.

On the slide member 7, substantially in its median portion, a locking element 11 is mounted pivotably about a shaft 10. The element is in the form of a plate and has an upwardly directed edge portion 12 opposite the shaft 10. The locking element 11 is so mounted on the sliding member 7, that it can rest against an arm 13 of the slide member 7.

On its median portion, the locking element 11 has two hooks 14, 14a, adapted to project through an opening 15 provided in a vertical arm of the slide member 7 when the locking element is tilted back after pivoting in the direction of arrow A, as indicated in FIG. 2.

At the beginning of the dispensing operation, as indicated in FIG. 1, the slide member 7 is engaged in the slot 6 of the chute 1, and the locking element 11 rest horizontally on the uppermost item 2a of the stack.

As the articles 2c, 2b are dispensed, the upper level of the stack is lowered together with the slide member 7, and the upper edge 16 of the vertical walls 17, 17a defining the slot 6 engage an edge 18 of the locking ele' ment 11, which edge extends in front of the shaft 10 and causes the locking element 11 to pivot in the direction of the arrow A about the shaft 10. As a result, the locking element 11 assumes a vertical position, as indicated in FIG. 2, and its edge portion 12 engages the uppermost article 2a which then occupies a lower position in the chute 1.

During the pivoting of the locking element 11, the books 14, 14a extend through the opening 15 of the slide member 7.

When the last article 2a has been dispensed and the chute l is empty (FIG. 4), the locking element 11 is located behind the wall portion 5 of the wall 3 and the hooks 14, 14a engage on a panel 19 provided in the region of the slot 6 of the chute 1. In this manner, by

means of the locking element 11, the bottom wall 3 is prevented from pivoting about the shaft 4 since the locking element 11 bears both on the panel 19 by means of its hooks 14, 14a and on the vertical walls 17, 17a withits edge 18, which prevents it from pivoting about the shaft 10.

The arrester head particularly described permits maximum filling of the chute.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for dispensing articles having walls forming a vertical chute for receiving a stack of articles to be dispensed from the bottom portion of said chute, the combination therewith of a bottom closure element pivotally mounted at the bottom portion of said chute, said closure element having a first portion extending into said chute for engaging and restraining the lowermost of said articles and having a second portion extending upwardly of said first portion and out of the path of movement of said articles in said chute, said element being pivotable about its pivot axis to move said first portion to a position which permits the discharge of the lowermost article from said chute and said second portion into a position within said chute in which said second portion engages the penultimate article and restrains it during the discharge of said lowermost article arrester head means comprising a slide member mounted for vertical sliding movement on a wall of said chute from a first upper position to a second lower position and a locking element pivotally mounted on said slide member and extending into said chute, said locking element being pivotable about its pivot axis from a first position in which it rests upon the uppermost article in said stack and maintains said slide member in said first position thereof to a second position in which it extends along a wall of said chute, said locking element in said second position thereof and in said second position of said slide member having locking means engaging a wall portion of said chute for limiting pivotal movement of said locking element out of said second position thereof and said locking element in said second positions of said locking element and said slide member being engageable with a portion of said closure element for limiting pivotal movement thereof and thereby preventing discharge of an article from said chute.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wall on which said slide member is mounted has means forming vertically extending slots and said slide mem ber has vertically extending sides slidably received in said slots and has an arm at the upper portion thereof extending into said chute, said locking element being pivotally mounted on said arm.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises at least one downwardly opening hook on said locking element and said wall along which said locking element extends in said second position thereof has an opening through which said hook extends and said last-mentioned wall has a panel at the lower side of said opening engageable by said hook when said locking element and said slide member are in said second positions thereof and wherein said locking element engages said second portion of said closure element when said locking element and said slide member are in said second positions thereof.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking element has a portion on one side of said pivot axis thereof which extends into said chute in said first position of said locking element and a flange at the opposite side of said pivot axis thereof, said flange being engageable with a wall of said chute as said slide member moves downwardly for pivoting said locking element about its pivot axis.

Claims (4)

1. In a device for dispensing articles having walls forming a vertical chute for receiving a stack of articles to be dispensed from the bottom portion of said chute, the combination therewith of a bottom closure element pivotally mounted at the bottom portion of said chute, said closure element having a first portion extending into said chute for engaging and restraining the lowermost of said articles and having a second portion extending upwardly of said first portion and out of the path of movement of said articles in said chute, said element being pivotable about its pivot axis to move said first portion to a position which permits the discharge of the lowermost article from said chute and said second portion into a position within said chute in which said second portion engages the penultimate article and restrains it during the discharge of said lowermost article arrester head means comprising a slide member mounted for vertical sliding movement on a wall of said chute from a first upper position to a second lower position and a locking element pivotally mounted on said slide member and extending into said chute, said locking element being pivotable about its pivot axis from a first position in which it rests upon the uppermost article in said stack and maintains said slide member in said first position thereof to a second position in which it extends along a wall of said chute, said locking element in said second position thEreof and in said second position of said slide member having locking means engaging a wall portion of said chute for limiting pivotal movement of said locking element out of said second position thereof and said locking element in said second positions of said locking element and said slide member being engageable with a portion of said closure element for limiting pivotal movement thereof and thereby preventing discharge of an article from said chute.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wall on which said slide member is mounted has means forming vertically extending slots and said slide member has vertically extending sides slidably received in said slots and has an arm at the upper portion thereof extending into said chute, said locking element being pivotally mounted on said arm.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises at least one downwardly opening hook on said locking element and said wall along which said locking element extends in said second position thereof has an opening through which said hook extends and said last-mentioned wall has a panel at the lower side of said opening engageable by said hook when said locking element and said slide member are in said second positions thereof and wherein said locking element engages said second portion of said closure element when said locking element and said slide member are in said second positions thereof.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking element has a portion on one side of said pivot axis thereof which extends into said chute in said first position of said locking element and a flange at the opposite side of said pivot axis thereof, said flange being engageable with a wall of said chute as said slide member moves downwardly for pivoting said locking element about its pivot axis.

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