WO2000033267A1

WO2000033267A1 - Release device for a dispensing chute

Info

Publication number: WO2000033267A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/001060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham Richard Watts
Original assignee: Rothmans Of Pall Mall (Australia) Limited
Priority date: 1998-11-26
Filing date: 1999-11-26
Publication date: 2000-06-08
Also published as: AUPP735398A0

Abstract

A release device (1) for a dispensing chute (3), the device including: a lever arm (6) with a pivotal coupling (7) mounting the arm relative to the chute, and a holding member (8) at a free end thereof for supporting a lower end (10) of a first item (4) located in the chute; a gripping member (17) coupled to the lever arm for biased engagement with a second item (5) located above the first item in the chute; wherein the lever arm is arranged to pivot from a first position, in which the holding member is arranged to support the first item, through a second position, where the gripping arm is brought into engagement with the second item, to a third position where the holding member is pivoted to release the first item from the chute; and wherein return of the lever arm to the first position results in the second item being disengaged from the gripping member, to drop onto the holding member for subsequent release therefrom.

Description

RELEASE DEVICE FOR A DISPENSING CHUTE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a release device for a dispensing chute particularly, but not exclusively, a chute of a cigarette dispensing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a release device for a dispensing chute, the device including: a lever arm with a pivotal coupling mounting the arm relative to the chute, and a holding member at a free end thereof for supporting a lower end of a first item located in the chute; a gripping member coupled to the lever arm for biased engagement with a second item located above the first item in the chute; wherein the lever arm is arranged to pivot from a first position, in which the holding member is arranged to support the first item, through a second position, where the gripping arm is brought into engagement with the second item, to a third position where the holding member is pivoted to release the first item from the chute; and wherein return of the lever arm to the first position results in the second item being disengaged from the gripping member, to drop onto the holding member for subsequent release therefrom.

Preferably, the gripping member is coupled to the lever arm via a gripper arm, which is connected to the lever arm via a second pivotal coupling and a tension spring, arranged to bias the gripping member toward the chute for engagement with the second item when the lever arm pivots from the first position to the third position.

Preferably, the gripper arm is pivotally connected to the lever arm intermediate a second end of the lever arm and the pivotal coupling mounting the lever arm relative to the chute.

Preferably, the lever arm is positioned between the gripper arm and the chute over at least a portion of the gripper arm and is arranged to abut the portion and drive the gripper arm out of engagement with the second item during movement of the lever arm from the second to the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is more fully described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a device, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an opposite side view of the device of Figure 1 , with a lever arm in a first position; Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 2 with the lever arm in a third position; and

Figure 4 is a rear view of the device of Figures 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring firstly to Figure 1 , the release device 1 includes a housing 2 mounted relative to a chute 3 of a dispensing machine, for dispensing items 4, 5 such as cigarette packets. The device further includes a lever arm 6 which is mounted relative to the chute 3 by a pivotal coupling 7. A holding member 8 is provided at a free end 9 of the arm 6 to releasably support the first item 4 at an end 10 of the chute 3. The arm 6 is driven in a rocking motion about pivot coupling 7 via a drive linkage 11 which is coupled to a drive mechanism within the housing via a cam 12. A gripper arm 13 is coupled to the lever arm 6 by a tension spring 14 and a second pivot coupling 15 positioned on the lever arm 6 intermediate the coupling 7 and a second end 16 thereof. The gripper arm 13 is provided with a gripping member 17 at a free end thereof for releasably engaging the second item 5 in the chute, through an appropriately dimensioned window 18. Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the device 1 is shown from an opposite side to that shown in Figure 1. A motor 19 is shown mounted to the housing 2 for driving gears within the housing. A second cam 12' is provided for operative connection with a motor position switch 20. The cam 12' provides an indication of a full revolution of the cam 12 and, in combination with the switch 20, turns off the motor after a full revolution of the cam 12 has been executed.

In its rest position, the lever 6 is located in a first position as shown in Figure 2, whereby the holding member 8 supports the first item 4 in the chute 3. When the motor 19 is activated, the drive linkage 11 causes the arm 6 to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, so as to commence tensioning of the spring 14 such that the arm 6 is driven to a second position where at the gripping member 17 is in engagement with the second item 5.

Continued rotation of the arm 6 results in the gripping member 17 being further biased against the second item 5 until the lever arm reaches its full extent of rotation at a third position, shown at Figure 3. In this position, the holding member 8 is pivoted clear of the opening 10 of the chute 3 so that the first item 4 is released from the chute. At this time, the second item is securely engaged by the gripping member 17 to prevent it from also being released from the chute.

The third position corresponds to the cam being rotated through approximately half a revolution. The second half of the revolution results in the lever being rotated back toward the first position in a clockwise direction such that the holding member 8 pivots back into the opening 10 and the tension on the spring 14 is eased. As is clear from the drawings, the lever arm 6 is positioned between the gripper arm 13 and the chute 3, over at least a portion 21 of the gripper arm, so that the arm 6 is arranged to abut the portion 21 and drive the gripper arm away from the chute, and thereby the gripping member out of engagement with the second item, during movement of the lever arm from the second to the first position. This results in the second item 5 dropping onto the holding member 8 for subsequent release therefrom. The following item 22 will correspondingly drop into the location previously adopted by the second item 5.

With reference to Figure 4, each of the arms 6,13 are more clearly shown as open-framed brackets, interconnected by pivotal couplings 15, only one of which has been shown in the preceding Figures 1 to 3. The arm 13, in particular, is in the form of a bracket 24 with two cross members 25 and 26. The cross member 25 serves to mount the gripping member 17, which is preferably in the form of a cylindrical plastics sleeve 27 and the cross member 26 provides a central seat 28 for attachment of the spring which couples the arm 13 to the lever arm 6. A product sensor 29 is also shown in Figure 4, for detecting the presence of an item on the holding member 8. If no item is present, an indication is provided that the chute needs re-stocking.

The chute 3 preferably includes a clear perspex material to allow available items to be readily viewed for the purpose of either selecting an item for purchase or for determining if further items need to be stocked in the chute.

The device has been described by way of non-limiting example only and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A release device for a dispensing chute, the device including: a lever arm with a pivotal coupling mounting the arm relative to the chute, and a holding member at a free end thereof for supporting a lower end of a first item located in the chute; a gripping member coupled to the lever arm for biased engagement with a second item located above the first item in the chute; wherein the lever arm is arranged to pivot from a first position, in which the holding member is arranged to support the first item, through a second position, where the gripping arm is brought into engagement with the second item, to a third position where the holding member is pivoted to release the first item from the chute; and wherein return of the lever arm to the first position results in the second item being disengaged from the gripping member, to drop onto the holding member for subsequent release therefrom.

2. A release device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping member is coupled to the lever arm via a gripper arm, which is connected to the lever arm via a second pivotal coupling and a tension spring, arranged to bias the gripping member toward the chute for engagement with the second item when the lever arm pivots from the first position to the third position.

3. A release device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gripper arm is pivotally connected to the lever arm intermediate a second end of the lever arm and the pivotal coupling mounting the lever arm relative to the chute.

4. A release device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the lever arm is positioned between the gripper arm and the chute over at least a portion of the gripper arm and is arranged to abut the portion and drive the gripper arm out of engagement with the second item during movement of the lever arm from the second to the first position.