WO1992012081A1 - Unite de separation - Google Patents

Unite de separation Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1992012081A1
WO1992012081A1 PCT/GB1991/000049 GB9100049W WO9212081A1 WO 1992012081 A1 WO1992012081 A1 WO 1992012081A1 GB 9100049 W GB9100049 W GB 9100049W WO 9212081 A1 WO9212081 A1 WO 9212081A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
stack
article
separation unit
support surface
slide element
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1991/000049
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Steven Geoffrey Collins
Original Assignee
The Polytechnic Of Wales
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The Polytechnic Of Wales filed Critical The Polytechnic Of Wales
Publication of WO1992012081A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992012081A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G59/00—De-stacking of articles
    • B65G59/10—De-stacking nested articles
    • B65G59/105—De-stacking nested articles by means of reciprocating escapement-like mechanisms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/10—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a unit for separating a tubular article from a stack of such articles nested together, each article having a rim or ether enlargement in cross-section at or adjacent its top.
  • the invention relates particularly but net solely to a unit for dispensing rimmed cups or other vessels in a vending machine.
  • a separation unit for separating a tubular article from a stack of such articles nested together, each article having a rim at or adjacent its top
  • the separation unit comprising a slide element which is mounted for linear sliding movement between first and second positions, the slide element having a first support surface on which the rim of the lowermost article rests to support the stack when the slide element is in its first position, a second support which bounds two inclined edges to an aperture through the slide member and which moves to below the rim of the next lowest article as the slide element moves to its second position, and a wedging surface formed on an underside of the slide element adjacent said two inclined edges and inclined to the support surfaces to bear en the top of the lowermost article to separate it from the stack as the slide element moves to its second position.
  • the slide element occupies its first position and the stack is supported by the rim of the lowermost article resting on the first support surface of the slide element. Then in order to separate and dispense the lowermost article, the slide element is moved linearly to its second position: in so doing, the second support surface moves to below the rim of the next lowest article in the stack; also the first support surface is displaced from below the rim of the lowermost article and the wedging surface bears on the top of the lowermost article in a wedging action so as to separate it from the stack.
  • This lowermost article once separated from the stack, now falls to a collection point, and the stack becomes supported by the rim of next article resting on the second support surface.
  • the slide element can now be slid back to its first or rest position, causing the support for the stack to be transferred from the second support surface to the first support surface, i.e. the rim of the article which is now lowermost comes to rest en the first support surface.
  • the slide element preferably comprises a one - piece member en which the first and second support surfaces and the wedging surface are formed.
  • each of the first and second support surfaces supports the rim of an article around part only of the periphery of the article, the first support surface offering support from one side of the stack and the second support surface offering support from the other side of the stack.
  • the second support surface lies generally parallel to but spaced above the first support surface.
  • the first support surface preferably bounds a semicircular portion of the aperture through the slide element.
  • the wedging surface which bears on the toe of the lowermost article to effect its separation from the stack, rises from below to above the first support suface.
  • Each of the support and wedging surfaces may be continuous or discontinuous but still serve the purposes described above.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic showing of a separation unit for a vending machine
  • FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the slide member of the separation unit
  • FIGURE 3 is a section through the slide member on the line III - III of Figure 2.
  • a separation unit for separating a tubular article from a stack of such articles nested together, each article having a rim or ether enlargement in cross-section at or adjacent its top.
  • the articles may comprise plastics cups in a vending machine, each cup having a continuous rim at its top, but the separation unit may be used for other articles and in general the rims may be continuous or discontinuous.
  • the unit which is shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 comprises a base plate 1 formed with a circular aperture 2.
  • a cylindrical feed tube 3 is mounted over the base plate 1, with the lower end of the feed tube 3 registered with the aperture 2 through the base plate 1.
  • a pair of angle members 4 are mounted to the underside of base plate 1 to provide a slideway for a slide member 1C.
  • a collection or delivery tube 5 is mounted below the base plate 1 with its axis aligned with the axis of the feed tube 1.
  • the stack of e.g. plastics cups is disposed within the feed tube 1 and is supported by the rim of the lowermost cup resting on the slide member 10, as will be described below.
  • the slide member 10 is slid in the direction of the allow A from a first or rest position to a second position, and is then slid back again: this action serves to separate the lowermost cup from the bottom of the stack, and this separated cup falls down through the delivery tube 5.
  • the reciprocal sliding movement of the slide member may be effected manually or a drive unit may be provided, e.g. a solenoid.
  • a return spring may be provided to return the slide member to its rest position.
  • the slide member is a generally flat, rectangular member which is profiled as follows.
  • the member has an aperture formed through it from its upper surface to its lower surface: this aperture comprises a narrow rectangular portion 12 extending across the width of the slide member and itself having a width W, a semicircular portion 14 of radius R and having its centre on the centre of one side of the rectangular portion 12, and a trapezoidal shape portion 16 having its longer side along the opposite side of the rectangular portion 12.
  • the distance between the opposite inclined edges 16a, 16b of the portion 16 is, at one end of these edges, greater than the diameter (2R) of the portion 14 and indeed greater than the diameter of the cup 30 across its rim, whilst the distance between these inclined edges at their other end is substantially less than the diameter of the portion 14.
  • the upper side of the slide member is recessed to a depth C around the periphery of the semicircular portion 12 of the aperture, to form a first support surface 20 which is parallel to the top of the slide member but a distance D below it.
  • the top of the slide member around the trapezoidal portion 16 of the aperture forms a second support surface 22.
  • the bottom of the slide member to either side of the trapezoidal portion 16 of the aperture is formed with an inclined surface 24, which rises from the shorter side of the trapezium towards its longer side, and adjacent the longer side is above the levelof the first support surface 20.
  • the stack of e.g. cups is supported with the rim of the lowermost cup 30 resting on the first support surface 20 of the slide member: the cup itself extends through the aperture in the slide member. Because the lowermost cup is supported around only 130° of its circumference, there may be a tendency for the stack of cups to tilt but the feed tube 3 serves to maintain the stack upright.
  • the second support surface 22 comes below the rim of the lowest- but-one cup 32: the first support surface 20 moves away from below the rim of the lowermost cup, and also the opposite inclined edges 16a, 16b engage opposite side wall regions of the cup 30 and the advancing inclined surface 24, adjacent the edges 16a, 16b, bears onto the top of the lowermost cup 30, at the opposite sides of the latter, exerting a wedging action which separates the lowermost cup from the stack.
  • the lowermost cup then falls from the stack and through the delivery tube 5, and the stack becomes supported by the rim of the cup 32 resting on the second support surface 22.
  • the slide member is then returned to its rest position, causing the stack to drop until the rim of the cup 32, which is now the lowermost cup, rests on the first support surface 20.
  • the feed tube 3 may be unable to maintain the stack upright, particularly when the wedging surface 24 is bearing upon the top of the lowermost cup curing a separation cycle therefore tending to tilt the stack.
  • the delivery tube 5 abuts the lowermost cup to prevent such tilting: a stop member such as a transverse bar can be provided instead of the delivery tube 5 for this purpose.
  • the dimensions of the aperture through the slide member are chosen in dependence upon each other to suit the particular size and shape of the CUDS or other articles to be dispensed from the unit.
  • the separation unit serves to dispense the e.g. cups one-at-a-time by means of a simple linear reciprocation of the one-piece slide member 10. Because of the arrangement of the inclined edges 16a, 16b and wedging surface 24 which engage the lowermost cup to separate it from the stack, the distance through which the slide member moves is very small. The separation unit is therefore of simple and compact construction and is effective and reliable in operation.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)

Abstract

Unité servant à séparer un objet tubulaire tel qu'un gobelet à rebord d'une pile de tels objets emboîtés les uns dans les autres, comprenant un élément coulissant (10) monté de façon à effectuer un déplacement linéaire entre deux positions. L'élément coulissant (10) comprend une surface de support (20) sur lequel le bord de l'objet inférieur (30) de la pile repose, et une seconde surface de support (22) qui se déplace sous le rebord (32) du prochain objet de la pile alors que l'élément coulissant se déplace vers une seconde position. La seconde surface de support (22) relie deux bords inclinés (16a, 16b) à une ouverture ménagée dans l'élément coulissant: une surface inclinée (24), se trouvant sur la surface inférieure de l'élément coulissant adjacente aux bords (16a, 16b) s'appuie sur le sommet de l'objet le plus bas (30) afin de le séparer de la pile alors que l'élément coulissant se déplace vers sa seconde position.
PCT/GB1991/000049 1989-07-13 1991-01-14 Unite de separation WO1992012081A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8916106A GB2237270A (en) 1989-07-13 1989-07-13 Nested cup stripper

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992012081A1 true WO1992012081A1 (fr) 1992-07-23

Family

ID=10660022

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1991/000049 WO1992012081A1 (fr) 1989-07-13 1991-01-14 Unite de separation

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2237270A (fr)
WO (1) WO1992012081A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1022294C2 (nl) * 2002-12-31 2004-07-01 F T T Internat B V Afgeefinrichting voor bloemenvazen, bloemenvaas en werkwijze voor het in een vaas plaatsen van bloemen.

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1666008A (en) * 1926-10-06 1928-04-10 Milwaukee Lace Paper Company Cup-dispensing machine
US3169356A (en) * 1963-11-01 1965-02-16 Dye Sheet Metal Products Inc Cup dropper
GB1315313A (en) * 1969-09-03 1973-05-02 Kenwood Peerless Ltd Dispenser
US3768694A (en) * 1971-05-28 1973-10-30 W Miller Wedging action cup dispenser
GB2107688A (en) * 1981-10-08 1983-05-05 British Syphon Ind Ltd Cup dispenser apparatus for beverage vending machine
GB2193197A (en) * 1986-06-28 1988-02-03 Ems Societe Nested drinking cup separator

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB775201A (en) * 1954-10-27 1957-05-22 Alfred Howard Whitby Hickman B Improvements in or relating to cup stripping devices
AT390874B (de) * 1983-02-18 1990-07-10 Jede Automater Ag Vereinzelungsvorrichtung fuer becher

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1666008A (en) * 1926-10-06 1928-04-10 Milwaukee Lace Paper Company Cup-dispensing machine
US3169356A (en) * 1963-11-01 1965-02-16 Dye Sheet Metal Products Inc Cup dropper
GB1315313A (en) * 1969-09-03 1973-05-02 Kenwood Peerless Ltd Dispenser
US3768694A (en) * 1971-05-28 1973-10-30 W Miller Wedging action cup dispenser
GB2107688A (en) * 1981-10-08 1983-05-05 British Syphon Ind Ltd Cup dispenser apparatus for beverage vending machine
GB2193197A (en) * 1986-06-28 1988-02-03 Ems Societe Nested drinking cup separator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8916106D0 (en) 1989-08-31
GB2237270A (en) 1991-05-01

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