WO1991006075A1

WO1991006075A1 - Automatic vending machine

Info

Publication number: WO1991006075A1
Application number: PCT/US1989/004579
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tsuneo Takada
Original assignee: The Mead Corporation
Priority date: 1989-10-12
Filing date: 1989-10-12
Publication date: 1991-05-02

Abstract

A vending machine in which articles are stored dispenses articles one by one by through respective feeding paths from an outlet. A main lane (4) supports a carton (6) containing a plurality of articles therein which can be loaded directly into a main feeding lane. At least one auxiliary lane (5A) adjacent to the main lane supports a plurality of articles which can be loaded individually into the machine. The carton supported on the main lane is designed with a portion which can be opened, and a stopper (11) is designed so as to retain articles within the carton unless no articles are located in the auxiliary lane. For vending, the auxiliary lane (5A) is depleted first, whereafter articles stored in the carton are vended.

Description

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to an automatic vending machi of a type in which desired articles, such as cans or bottl containing drinks, can be dispensed one by one through an artic outlet, and more particularly, to improvement in the system f loading and storage of such articles into the machine.

Automatic vending machines are well known in whi various types of articles, such as cans and bottles containi various kinds of drinks, are stored in groups within respecti storage areas. Articles of the desired kind are dispensed one one to the dispensing outlet by putting coins or paper money in a receiving means and pushing the push-button corresponding to t desired kind of article.

Various types of storage arrangements for automat ver.ding machines are known. Examples include the vertical-colu type, in which the articles are accumulated in the form of vertic columns; the sloping-shelf type, in which the articles are arrang in rows in inclined directions; the serpentine type, in which t articles are arranged along serpentine guiding members; the heape up type, in which the articles are heaped in random order; and t suspending type, in which the articles are suspended and support by guide rails.

In the various storage arrangements described above f known automatic vending machines, the articles are separate stored one by one. Thus, the loading of the articles into t storage area comprises a first step of taking out the articles o by one from a carton containing a number of the articles and second step of putting the articles one by one into the stora area in the upper portion of the vending machine. Such a loadi operation requires a repetition of the same action, which tedious labor in the summer season when the demand for drinks increased considerably resulting in more frequent loading articles and more intensive labor.

Furthermore, since known storage arrangements other th the heaped-up system described above are adapted to arranging t articles in rows, the capacity of the vending machine is small. comparison with its total volume, resulting in inefficie utilization of storage space.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention helps to eliminate the abo described disadvantages by loading and storing full cartons of articles resulting in loading of the articles as well as m efficient utilization of the storage space.

These objectives are achieved by a vending machine o type in which articles stored in article storage means dispenses one by one by means of respective feeding paths from outlet, characterized in that the storage means is constructed a main lane which supports a carton containing a plurality articles therein which can be loaded into respective feeding pa and at least one auxiliary lane adjacent to the main lane wh supports a plurality of articles which can be loaded i respective feeding paths. The cartons supported on the main la are designed with a portion which can be opened, and a stopper designed so as to retain articles within the carton unless articles are located in the respective auxiliary lanes.

In accordance with one aspect of the automatic vend machine described above, the stopper is introduced into a posit in the auxiliary lane whereby the opening in the carton suppor on the main lane is covered.

In accordance with another aspect of the vending machi a direction switching means is provided in the article feeding pa for selectively feeding an article coming fr m either the main the auxiliary lane into the article feeding path.

In accordance with another aspect of the vending machin means is provided to connect the main and auxiliary lanes, whi connecting means is blocked in the event a carton is in place the main lane but is uncovered as the carton is withdrawn f loading of a new carton. Thus, any articles remaining within t old carton move out of the carton opening, through the connecti means and into the auxiliary lane. This empties the carton a reduces or eliminates the need to load the auxiliary lane.

Alternatively, articles remaining in partially us cartons move out of the cartons as they are withdrawn, through t corresponding connecting means and into the respective auxilia lane.

In the operation of the vending machine described abov a plurality of articles taken out of cartons are first loaded in the respective auxiliary lanes. The entire cartons containi articles and having openings formed therein are loaded onto t respective main lanes. The articles located in the respecti auxiliary lanes cause the respective stoppers to retain articl contained within the opened cartons.

Under these conditions, articles of the desired kind a selected by putting a pre-deter ined amount of currency into t receiving means and pushing the push-button corresponding to t desired kind of article so that one of the articles contained the corresponding auxiliary lane is thereby dispensed by means the feeding path to the dispensing outlet.

The articles contained in the respective auxiliary lan are successively fed out as described above. When an auxilia lane has been cleared of articles, the stopper moves into position uncovering the opening formed in the carton supported the corresponding main lane so that the articles contained with the carton flow out of the carton through the opening into t article feeding path. Thereafter, when articles of the desir kind are selected, one of the articles stored in the carton in t main lane is thereby dispensed to the dispensing outlet by mea of the feeding path.

It will be recognized from the above that in th invention at least a portion of the articles can be loaded into t storage means of the vending machine by means of a carton articles as such, resulting in a very easy loading procedur Furthermore, since articles packed in cartons in a vertically- a laterally-arranged condition are stored in the machine, t available storage space of the machine can be more efficient utilized. Since articles are loaded first into the auxiliary lan and then cartons are loaded into the respective main lanes, t articles located on the auxiliary lanes are dispensed first in "first-loaded, first-fed" system, the risk of leaving old articles is eliminated. Likewise, any articles remaining cartons to be replaced are automatically moved upon carton remo into the auxiliary lanes, which will be dispensed first u further machine operation.

According to the first aspect of the invention, stoppers are adapted so as to be normally introduced into auxiliary lanes so as to uncover the opening of the carton and cover the opening of the carton whenever any articles are loca in the auxiliary lane, thereby insuring reliability of operat and preventing the formation of bridges and consequent jamming to the flow of articles from both sides.

According to the second aspect of the inventi direction switching members restrict the feeding of articles com from either the main or the auxiliary lane, thereby furt insuring reliability of operation and preventing jamming.

According to the third aspect of the invention, connecting means directs older articles from cartons to auxiliary lanes during carton removed, thereby eliminating the ne to handle the articles and insuring that such articles will dispensed next.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are side diagrammatic views of a vendi machine in accordance with the invention, showing each step of t operation for loading the machine with articles such as cans; a

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the main lane of the vendi machine. Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, a vertic feeding path 2 is located at the rear portion of the vertical bo like body 1 of the vending machine, and the bottom portion of t feeding path 2 communicates with an article outlet (not show positioned on the front side of the body 1.

Can storage areas 3 are formed vertically with dimensio contained within the body 1. Each can storage area 3 comprises main lane 4 inclined downward to the rear side of the body 1, a auxiliary lane 5A located below and with the same inclination the main lane 4, and another auxiliary lane 5B located below a with the same inclination as the auxiliary lane 5A. The lowermo auxiliary lane 5B is extended forward more than the upper auxilia lane 5A so as to receive cans C dropping from the respective ma lane 4.

The main lanes 4 are each adapted for mounting there cartons 6 containing cans C therein, and the rear portion of t main lanes 4 is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced gui rails 7A and 7B, as shown in Fig. 4. These guide rails 7A and are of a size to support at both ends the cans C rolling thereo The length of guide rails 7A and 7B is on the order of about 2 of the length of the main lane 4, and a opening 8 is formed forwa of the front ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B so that cans C c drop through the opening 8 onto the lower auxiliary lanes 5A a 5B respectively.

A carton mount 9, capable of being drawn forward, positioned on the front portion of the main lane 4 covering t opening 8. The carton mount 9 has two parallel plates 10A and 1 so constructed that their forward ends are downwardly inclin An L-type stopper 11 is pivotally attached by its base portion the front end of the carton mount 9, adapted for an opening a closing movement immediately in front of the forward end of t guide rails 7A and 7B. The stopper 11 comprises a pair of plat 12 of the same L-form connected together by connector plates 13 a lateral distance. The plates 12 are each provided with -vertic portions 12A opposing the rear end of the carton mount 9 locat in front of the forward ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B.

The stopper 11 is adapted to be supported rotated means of a surface cam or the like (not shown) so that when t carton support 9 is moved into the machine, the stopper dro downwardly into position in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B. If a number of cans C are stored in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, t stopper cannot be moved. When the carton mount 11 is drawn to i fully extended position, the stopper 11 cannot be rotated.

A guide plate 14 is provided above the guide rails 7A a

7B so as to control cans C released from the respective cartons preventing the jamming of these cans C at the lower ends of t guide rails 7A and 7B. For this purpose, the inclination of t guide plate 14 is greater than that of the guide rails 7A and 7 The guide plate 14 is supported by a partition plate 15 mount inside and parallel to the rear wall 1A of the body 1 of t machine.

An auxiliary feeding path 18 is formed between the re ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B and the partition plate 15. T auxiliary feeding path 18 is defined upwards by the respecti guide plate 14 and extends downwards in front of the rear ends the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B and is of such a size that a line cans C is formed therein.

A direction switching lever 17 is pivotally mounted the lower end of the guide rails 7A and 7B in front of t auxiliary feed path 18. The direction switching lever 17 ope selectively the lower end of the auxiliary lane 5A or the lower e of the guide rails 7A and 7B, thereby feeding either a can located in the auxiliary lane 5A or a can C located on the gui rails 7A and 7B. The direction switching lever 17 is adapted be rotated by means of a driving source (not shown) between t positions illustrated in Fig. 1 by a solid line and a dotted lin respectively. The direction switching lever 17 can alternative be urged by a spring (not shown) to the position illustrated Fig. 1 by a dotted line and rotated by the weight of a can C f from the main line 4.

The rear end of the lower auxiliary lane 5B is position short of that of the corresponding upper auxiliary lane 5A, and guide projection 18 of triangular cross-section is formed in t portion of the partition plate 15 located approximately at t extension of the lower, auxiliary lane 5B. The guide projection comprises an inclined deflector plate 18A for deflecting cans forward and another inclined guide plate 18B having approximate the same inclination as that of guide plate 14.

A guide plate 19 is connected to the lower end of t lower auxiliary lane 5B so as to coordinate with the respecti upper guide plate 18B in guiding cans C into the main feeding pa 2. The main portion of the guide plate 19 has the same inclinati as that of the guide plate 18B. The auxiliary feeding path joining the main feeding path 2 consequently has a serpentine for A guide projection 20 is provided on the under surfa of the lower end portion of the auxiliary lane 5A to assist ca C to drop smoothly through the auxiliary feeding path 18.

Stoppers 21A, 21B and 21C are positioned respectively the forward end of the deflector plate 18A, at the lower end the lower auxiliary lane 5B, and at the lower portion of the gui plate 19. These stoppers 21A, 21B and 21C are retractab operated by a driving source such as a solenoid (not shown) restrain the rolling of cans C positioned above them. Detecto such as photosensors 22A and 22B are located in the auxiliary lan 5A and 5B near the switching lever 17 and the stopper 2I respectively, to detect the presence of cans in the said auxilia lanes. Detectors such as photosensors 23A and 23B are located al in the auxiliary path 16 near the respective stoppers 21A and 2 to detect the presence of cans restrained by these stoppers in t auxiliary path.

A control means (not shown) is provided for generati control signals to the respective driving sources for the switchi lever 17, and stoppers 21A, 21B.and 21C. The control means adapted to generate control signals corresponding to the signa detected by the detectors 22A and 22B, the amount in curren inserted into the machine and the flavor selection. Such contr means, and the driving sources controlled thereby, are convention and known to those skilled in the art.

Operation of stopper 11 may be performed by a drivi means connected thereto, controlled by the driving means. In su a case, the stopper 11 is rotated downward to uncover the openi of the carton 6 when the absence of cans C in both auxiliary lan 5A and 5B has been detected, and cans C are loaded into th auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B when the opening of the carton 6 has thu been uncovered. Then, when either or both of the detectors 22A an 22B has registered the presence of cans C in the auxiliary lane 5A and 5B, the stopper 11 is not rotated into its down positio immediately, but only after the carton mount 9 has been pulle outward to its fully-extended position.

Once the carton mount 9 has been pushed completely ont the main lane 4 until the rear ends thereof abut against t forward ends of the guide rails 7A and 7B and the detectors 22A a 22B have registered the absence of cans C in the respecti auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, the stopper 11 will be rotated to i downward position.

For this purpose, detectors such as limit switches (n shown) are provided to register both ends of the stroke of t carton mount 9, and the signals from the respective positi detectors are input into the control system.

The operation of the mechanism embodying the inventi as described above is described herein below.

When no cans C are located in the main lane 4 or in t respective auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, a number of cans C m initially be loaded one by one into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5 During this step, the direction.switching lever 17 is turned to t position illustrated by the dotted line in Fig. 1 so as not inhibit the flow of cans C from the auxiliary lane 5A. The fir can C loaded into the auxiliary lane 5A flows from the lower e of the auxiliary lane 5A into the auxiliary feeding path 16, pass over the retracted stopper 21A and abuts against the stopper 2 at the lower end of the auxiliary feeding path 16, there to retained. When the detector 23A corresponding to the stopper 2 registers the passing of the first can C, the stopper 21A retur to its projecting position so that the first successive can C abu against this stopper 21C, there to be retained.

When both auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B have been ful loaded with cans C, the carton mount 9 is drawn outward from t body 1 of the machine to the extended position illustrated in Fi 1. In this step, the vertical portion 12A of the stopper 11 is the position covering the open end of the carton mount 9.

A carton 6 having an opening (not shown) formed in t lower portion of its end wall 6A is mounted onto the cart mount 9, and the carton mount 9 is then pushed forward complete onto the main lane 4 so that the respective end wall 6A abu against the vertical portion 12A of the stopper 11, as illustrat in Fig. 2. In the situation illustrated in Fig. 2, if t detectors 22A and 22B detect cans C located in the respecti auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, as shown by the middle storage area the vertical portion 12A of the stopper 11 remains upward to cov the opening of the carton 6 and prevent the flow of cans C throu the opening.

Should there be no can C in contact with the stopper 2 in the lower portion of the auxiliary feeding path 16, t corresponding detector 23B will register the absence of a can C a output an absence signal to the control means (not shown) , whi in turn will output a control signal to the driving source for o of the stoppers 21A and 2IB. As a result, the respective stopp 21A or 2IB will immediately be retracted by the corresponding dri source, thereby allowing one can C to flow out and abut against t lower stopper 21C, there to be retained.

In these circumstances, when a user inserts coins in the coin slot and selects a can C, the can C retained by t stopper 21C is the first to be dispensed through the main feedi path 2 by retracting the stopper 21C. One or the other of t stoppers 21A and 2IB in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B is retract simultaneously with the retraction of the stopper 21C, there releasing the can C restrained by that stopper to be fed into t auxiliary feeding path 16, there to abut the once again projecti stopper 21C and be retained.

In this case, when can C commences its movement towa the stopper 21C, the next can C located in the respective auxilia lane 5A or 5B rolls by its own weight down to abut the respecti stopper 21A or 2IB, there to be restrained.

While both the detector 23A corresponding to the stopp 21A and the detector 22B corresponding to the stopper 21B regis respectively the presence of cans C, the stoppers 21A and 2IB be interconnected alternatively with the stopper 21C; and when o one of the two detectors 23A and 22B registers the presence of c

C, only that stopper which corresponds to the detector will continuously interconnected with the stopper 21C. Similarly, w either the stopper 21A or the stopper 2IB is first interconnec continuously with the stopper 21C and then the correspond detector 23A or 22B registers the absence of cans C, the ot respective stopper 21A or 2IB may be continuously interconnec with the stopper 21C. When both detectors 22A and 22B in the auxiliary lan 5A and 5B detect the absence of cans C, a control signal is outp from the control unit (not shown) to the driving source (not show for the stopper 11 whereby the said stopper 11 is rotated downwa into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B so as to uncover the openi (not shown) of the respective carton 6 as illustrated in Fig. In the embodiment wherein stopper 11 is not driven but moves gravity, withdrawal of the cans from beneath stopper 11 wil-1 resu in its moving into the downward position.

Cans C contained within the carton 6 flow by gravi through the opening in the carton and roll onto the main lane until the first can C reaches the direction switching lever covering the auxiliary feeding path 16 and is stopped.

While the cans C continue flowing as described above a the detector 23A corresponding to the upper stopper 21A in t auxiliary feeding path 16 registers the absence of a can C, t control unit generates a control signal to the driving sour whereby the switching lever 17 is rotated to permit the flow cans C out of main lane 4, as illustrated in the upper portion Fig. 2. The can C immediately retained by the switching lever 1 followed successively by cans C in the main lane 4, drop along t main feeding path 16 until retained by the stopper 21A.

The selection action of a user thereafter causes t stoppers 21A and 21C to be retracted instantaneously a simultaneously, so that cans C can thus be dispensed one by o from the article outlet.

Furthermore, if the total volume of the upper stre between the guide rails 7A and 7B, the guide plate 14 and the upp stopper 21A in the auxiliary feeding path 16 is greater than volume of cans C in the carton 6, then when cans C are fed from carton 6 directly into the auxiliary feeding path 16 as descri above, all of the cans C contained in the carton 6 will f therefrom and empty the carton. In such a case, additional c C can be loaded easily by replacing the empty carton 6 on carton mount 9 with a new carton 6.

To effect the exchange of cartons 6, the carton moun is first drawn outward to its fully extended position, illustrated in Fig. 1. At this time the stopper 11 is rota upward by means of a signal from the position detect

Alternatively, stopper 11 is. moved upwardly by a camming act during withdrawal of carton mount 9. In either case, when a carton 6 is mounted onto the carton mount 9, the vertical port

12A of the stopper 11 covers the opening formed in the new car

6. When the carton mount 9 has been pushed forward completely i position abutting the guide rails 7A and 7B, and if auxiliary la

5A and 5B are empty of cans, the stopper 11 will be rota downward into a position whereby the opening in the carton 6 uncovered.

In this situation, when the stopper 11 leaves the open of the carton 6 uncovered, the stopper 11 is positioned in auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B so that the auxiliary lanes 5A and cannot be directly charged.

If any cans C remain in the old carton 6, the car mount 9 may first be drawn partially outward, allowing can remaining therein to drop down through the opening 8 in the m lane 4 onto the upper auxiliary lane 5A, as illustrated in upper portion of Fig. 3. When the carton mount 9 is drawn furt outward, cans C still remaining in the carton 6 can drop down o the lower auxiliary lane 5B, since the forward end of the lo auxiliary lane is projected forward more than that of the up auxiliary lane 5A, thus allowing both auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B be loaded with cans C.

When no cans C remain in the carton, the carton moun is again drawn outward to its fully extended position and the em carton is replaced with a new carton. If desired, additional c C may thereafter be placed by hand one by one in the respect auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B before pushing the carton mount 9 i its completely forward position.

Particularly where stopper 11 is driven for moveme while even one can C remains in either of the auxiliary lanes and 5B, the stopper 11 remains in position covering the opening the carton 6. Thus, either the direct loading of cans C into auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B or the replacement of the empty car 6 can be carried out first as desired.

In the embodiments described above, it is noted that wh no cans C are located in the main lane 4 or in the auxiliary lan 5A and 5B, a plurality of cans C may be charged one by one into t respective auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B. In this case, however, the stopper 11 is rotated by any means to its down position in t auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B, and the main lane 4 is loaded with ca C first, a greater number of cans C can be loaded into t respective lanes.

It should be recognized that since the cartons can loaded as is, the loading of cans into the storage areas can carried out easily, with the additional advantage of more efficie utilization of the available space.

Furthermore, not only can cans C be loaded into t auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B by hand, but also cans C contained cartons 6 can be fed into the auxiliary lanes 5A and automatically by drawing out the carton mount 9 and then mounti a new full carton 6 thereon. As a result, the loading of cans into the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B can be carried out more easil

When cans C are loaded first into the auxiliary lanes and 5B and then a carton 6 containing cans C is mounted onto t carton mount 9 on the main lane 4, the cans C located in t auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B are fed first. This constitutes a "fir loaded, first fed" system which eliminates the risk of leavi older articles.

Furthermore, the provision of a direction switching lev 17 at the juncture of the auxiliary feeding path 16 where cans flow in two directions, and the selective retraction of the upp stoppers 21A and 2IB allow for the flow of cans C only in o direction in any part of the auxiliary feeding path 16. Th eliminates the risk of possible bridging and jamming of cans C.

The present invention is not limited to the embodime described above, as various modifications are possible within scope of the invention if required. For example, the articles be stored in the carton 6 are not limited to cans C as descri in the foregoing, as any articles which can drop and move gravity are also applicable in the present invention. Each stor area of a single vending machine need not be constructed with m and auxiliary lanes as described above, since a portion of storage areas can be of conventional type where the articl dispensed are loaded one by one.

It will be noticed from the above that according to t invention, loading of articles can be carried out more easily, a the articles can be^' stored in the machine with more efficie utilization of storage space.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, positioning the stopper 11 in such a way that it penetrates in the auxiliary lanes 5A and 5B when uncovering the opening of t carton 6, the stopper cannot be introduced into the auxiliary lan while any articles are stored therein, so that the reliability operation is increased and space otherwise needed for t retraction of the stopper can be omitted.

The provision of the direction switching member insur the feeding of articles from either the main or auxiliary lan selectively, thereby eliminating bridging and the conseque jamming of articles.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a vending machine having storage means storing a plurality of articles, outlet dispenser means presenting an article for removal from the machine, conduit me for directing an article from said storage means to said out dispenser means, article metering means disposed within s conduit means for permitting movement of articles through s conduit means, and control means for causing said metering me to permit movement of one article through said conduit means response to actuation of the machine, the improvement comprisi

means within said storage means for supporting a car of articles having an opening in a first end thereof allowing s articles to exit therethrough, said supporting means support said carton within a main lane in an inclined position with s first end lowermost; auxiliary lane means within said storage means adjac to said main lane for supporting a plurality of individual artic within an auxiliary lane in an inclined position; said conduit means including means for receiving articles from said main lane and said auxiliary lane and direct the articles into said conduit means.

2. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, furt comprising stopper means having an upstanding plate port disposed at the lowermost portion of said carton support means, means for moving said plate portion into blocking relationship w respect to said opening of a carton placed on said carton supp means.

3. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, where said means for moving said plate portion includes drive mea connected to said stopper means.

4. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, furth comprising slidable mounting means for mounting said supporti means for sliding movement in the direction of inclination of sa supporting means, whereby said supporting means may "be sl outwardly with respect to the machine for placing of a cart thereon, and wherein said means for moving said plate porti includes cam means for moving said plate portion into blocki relationship with respect to said opening of a carton placed said support means during sliding movement thereof in an outwa direction with respect to the machine, and for moving said pla portion out of blocking relationship with respect to said openi during sliding movement of said support means in an inwa direction.

5. A vending machine as defined in claim 2, where said auxiliary lane is disposed beneath said main lane, and furth comprising means for receiving said stopper means into sa auxiliary lane upon movement thereof away from said carton openin thereby to block said auxiliary lane.

6. A vending machine as defined in claim 5, furth comprising means for preventing movement of said stopper means in said auxiliary lane unless said auxiliary lane is empty of sa articles.

7. A vending machine as defined in claim 5, furth comprising means connecting said main and auxiliary lanes, whi connecting means is blocked whenever a carton is fully position inwardly on said main lane, and which connecting means is uncover at least when a carton is partially withdrawn from said main lan whereby articles may move from a carton supported on said main la into said auxiliary lane.

8. A vending machine as defined in claim 1, furth comprising a direction switching member provided in said artic feeding path to selectively feed articles coming from either sa main lane or said auxiliary lane into said article feeding path