WO2005057509A1

WO2005057509A1 - Device for storing and retrieving articles

Info

Publication number: WO2005057509A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/005339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Michael Faes
Original assignee: Teknowledge Group Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-06
Filing date: 2003-12-06
Publication date: 2005-06-23
Also published as: AU2003288437A1

Abstract

A device for storing and retrieving articles comprises a series of axially aligned carousels with stalls that receive articles, for example coins, stepper drive motors with worm gear reduction that operate to rotate and position the carousels so coins can be stored in the stalls and transferred between the carousels, and non-lifting coin transfer mechanisms that operate to move the coins between the carousels. An electronic controller is programmed to keep track of the positions of the coin stalls and the values of the coins in the coin stalls, and to determine and operate the appropriate drive motors and transfer mechanisms for transferring coins between the carousels and for returning change and moving coins directly to the cash box. The device can be used to store and retrieve articles other than coins, for example products to be sold in a vending machine.

Description

DEVICE FOR STORING AND RETRIEVING ARTICLES

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for storing and retrieving articles. Background of the Invention One example of a device for storing and retrieving articles is a coin changer. Coin changers are commonly used in machines that accept cash payment for goods and services. Such machines may be but are not limited to vending applications. In the known prior art coin changers include a mechanical or electronic coin validation and a mechanical or electronic coin sorter for the purpose of recognizing and then routing a coin. The coins are typically routed to a stack or tube for storage. Such prior art coin changers are generally limited to having three or four tubes of specific denominations. A drawback to such coin changers is that the number of different coin denominations is limited by the amount of tubes that are in each device. Accordingly it can be seen that there is a need for a coin changer that has the flexibility to accept a high number of various denomination coins and different currencies at the same time, while still be able to give change effectively. Also, the change giver mechanism should be simple enough to allow for highly reliable operation and operate with either custom or commonly used coin validators. Another type of device which stores and retrieves articles is a vending machine.

Conventional vending machines vending a number of different products are provided with fixed storage spaces for each of the different products; if the demand for some products is greater than for others, this can be catered for to a certain extent by using more than one storage space, such as a rack, for that product, but the rack size defines the minimum product capacity, while larger capacity has to be in multiples of that minimum. In addition, care needs to be taken in loading the vending machine to ensure that all the products are correctly placed in their respective racks. There is therefore a need for a vending machine which offers the operator greater operating flexibility. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the invention provides a device for storing and retrieving articles, comprising: a pair of drums mounted for rotation about a common horizontal axis, each drum having a plurality of stalls defined therearound for receiving and holding individual articles, drive means for rotating each drum incrementally according to the spacing of the stalls, entry means for introducing articles into vacant stalls in one of the drums, input means associated with the entry means for inputting to control means an identifier for each article, transfer means for selectively allowing articles to transfer from one drum to the other under the influence of gravity, and discharge means for selectively discharging articles from at least one of the drums, wherein the control means is arranged to monitoring the stall locations of individ- ual articles, to control the transfer of articles between the drums, and to control the discharge of selected articles from the device. Preferably, each drum comprises an outer region containing the stalls, each stall opening inwardly of the drum into a hollow hub around which the drums rotate, and the transfer means comprise: a first opening from a first of the drums into the hub in the uppermost part thereof coincident with the opening of the stalls, first gate means selectively closing the first opening, a ramp for guiding articles released by the first gate means along the common axis and downwardly under the influence of gravity towards a second opening from the low- ermost part of the hub into the other drum, and second gate means selectively closing the second opening. For greater capacity and flexibility, the device may contain more than two drums mounted side-by-side on said common horizontal axis, transfer means being associated with each adjacent pair of drums. The or each pair of drums may be provided with trans- fer means to transfer articles from each drum in the pair to the other drum of the pair, whereby articles can be transferred in both directions, permitting sorting of the articles, for example according to priority of use. In one embodiment of the invention, the articles are coins and the identifier input to the control means is the value of the coin. Thus, for example, the input means may be a coin validator. In this way, the device of the invention may be a coin changer for use in a coin-release machine, for example a vending machine. The coin changer apparatus may be configured in such a manner that common validators that currently exist can be mounted into and used with the change giver. An electronic controller may be provided for validating, and pacing coins into the individual coin stalls and, for when change is to be made, selecting which stalls are to be emptied to dispense the selected amount of change. The electronic controller also utilizes a housekeeping feature which can position the coins in the coin stalls to a predetermined sequence to allow for flexible coin delivery schemes based on common used change patterns for a given machine. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, the input means may comprise a key pad for assigning a code or other description to each article introduced. Thus, articles can be introduced into the apparatus randomly, identified by entry of information on the keypad, and subsequently retrieved by reference to the code or description entered. In yet another embodiment of the invention, especially useful for storage and re- trieval of packaged products, for example products to be sold from an automatic vending machine of which the device forms a part, or small medical or pharmaceutical items in a doctor's office or pharmacy, the input means comprises a bar code reader, a radiofre- quency tag reader, or the like, for detecting identifying data associated with the packaging of each article. Each separate item can therefore be automatically identified according to these data as it is introduced into the apparatus, and then subsequently retrieved at random by reference to the data or to information cross-referenced to the data. Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate a coin change apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front of the apparatus with the main frame removed for clarity. Figure 3 is a perspective view corresponding to that of Figure 2, but with the drum partially sectioned for clarity. Figure 4 is perspective view of the rear of the apparatus with the main frame removed for clarity. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the coin validator Figure 6 and 7 are perspective views of the front of the apparatus with partially sectioned drums removed for clarity. Figure 8 is an enlarged view of part of the discharge mechanism. Figure 9 and 10 are rear perspective views with the rear drum removed for clarity. Figure 1 1 is a block diagram illustrating the interconnection of the various components with the central controller. Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment Figure 1 shows a coin change apparatus (hereafter called the" change giver"). The change giver 1 includes a main frame 2 which has means to locate and attach the functional components of the change giver 1 described below. Referring to Figure 2 which has the main frame 2 removed for clarity, a pair of drums 3a and 3b are mounted in axially alignment on a centre frame 4. Drums 3a and 3b consists a cylindrical shaped outer member 5 and a series of axial extending walls which define an open volume for the storage of coins. For example walls 6a and 6b define a stall 7 and are typical for either drum 3a or 3b. The volume of stall 7 is of sufficient size to allow a coins of various denominations to be placed in the volume for storage. Further reference to Figure 2 shows rollers 9a - 9c, which are pivotally mounted to centre frame 4 and engaging a chamfered edge 10 on drum 3a. The rollers 9a-9c provide support to hold the drum 3a axially about its' own centre to maintain the drum 3a in a fixed linear position on its centre axis. A drive motor assembly 1 is rigidly mounted to centre frame 4. A drive gear 12 is integrally mounted to drive motor assembly 1 1 and has a series of gear teeth 13 which engage gear teeth 14 on drum 3a. The drive motor assembly 1 1 is electronically connected to an electronic controller 15. When the drive mo- tor is energised by electronic controller 1 5, the drive gear 1 3 rotates causing the drum 3a to rotate radial about its axis. A sensor 16 is rigidly mounted to the centre frame 4 and electrically connected to controller 15. The sensor 1 6 provides an electronic signal to the controller 15 when the drum 3a is rotated and provides a means of identifying the radial position of the drum 3a and therefore the position of its stalls 7. Referring now to Figure 3 the drum 3a has a section of it removed for clarity. A circularly formed outer hub 17 and a circularly formed inner hub 18 are rigidly attached to the centre frame 4. The hub 17, hub 18, centre frame 4 and an outer member 5 provide a means of support and capture for coins when placed into the drum 3a (for example coinsδa and 8b are captured in a stall). Suffice it to say the same configuration described above is applied to drum 3b to provide a means for rotating and positioning the drum 3b. Referring to Figure 4 and 5, a coin validator 1 9 receives a coin 8c in aperture 20 for processing. The coin validator 1 is connected electronically to controller 5. The coin validator 1 9 determines if the coin 8c is a valid coin and determines the value of the coin. The coin validator 19 directs a valid coin to exit slot 21 and directs an invalid coin to exit slot 22. The coin validator function can be provided by a conventional coin validating mechanism as known in the art. When a coin is passed through exit slot 21 , it enters a chute 39 and rolls into an empty coin stall 7b on drum 3b. A sensor 23 is rigidly mounted to chute 39 and electronically connected to controller 15. When the coin 8c passes sen- sor 23 a signal is sent to the controller 15. The signal is used by the controller 1 5 to determine if there is a coin jam. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, drum 3a is shown partially sectioned for clarity and centre frame 4 is removed for clarity, a transfer means is comprised of a blocking gate 24 which is pivotally mounted to centre frame 4, a chute 25 which is rigidly mounted to cen- tre frame 4 and a solenoid 26which is rigidly mounted to centre frame 4. The solenoid 26 is linked to the blocking gate 24. The solenoid 26 is electrically connected to the controller 15. The blocking gate 24 and solenoid 26 are shown in the non-energized position in Figure 6, so that the tines 27 on the blocking gate 24 restrict a coin 8d from moving off the inner hub 18. When the controller 1 5 issues a command to move the a coin from drum 3b to drum 3a the solenoid 26 is energized causing the gate 24 to rotate and moving the tines 27 to an open position as shown in Figure 7 allowing the coin 8d to drop by gravity into the gate 24. A ramp 28 is integral to blocking gate 24 guides the coin 8d towards and the chute 25. The coin 8d then enters chute 25 and passes by sensor 29 and exits into drum 3a. The sensor 28 sends a signal to the controller 15. The controller 1 5 then determines if the coin 8d has passed the sensor 29. If the coin 8d has passed the sen- sor 29 the controller 15 keeps the change giver operational. If the coin 8d has not passed the sensor 29, the controller 1 5 can put the machine in an error condition and not accept coins. The same operation causes a coin to move from drum 3a to drum 3b. Referring to Figure 8-10 a discharge means is comprised of discharge mechanism

30 consisting of a solenoid 31 , a pin 32 and a sliding tine 33. As shown in Figure 9, the solenoid 31 is non-energized and the tines 33 are positioned in such a way as to block coin 8d on the outer hub 17. When the controller 15 determines that a coin needs to be discharged from the any stall 7, the coin 8d is position over the tines 33 and the solenoid

31 is energized, causing the times 33 to move as shown in Figure 10 and allowing the coin to drop by gravity into discharge chute 34. A sensor 35 is rigidly mounted to the dis- charge chute 34. The coin passes by sensor 35 on the discharge chute 34, then out of the change giver 1. As the coin passes by sensor 35 an electrical signal is sent to the controller 1 5. The controller 1 5 then determines if the coin has passed the sensor 35. If the coin has passed the sensor 35 the controller 15 keeps the change giver operational. If the coin has not passed the sensor 35, the controller 1 5 can put the machine into an error condi- tion and not accept coins. There can be more than one discharge mechanism as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The electronic interconnect is represented in Figure 1 1. The coin validator 19, sensors 1 6,23,29,35, solenoids 26 and 31 , drive motor assembly 1 1 are electronically connected to the controller 1 5. Alternatively, any means of the input of coins into the drum 3b can be connected such as a bar code reader 36, a radio frequency tag reader 37, or a key pad 38 can be connected to the controller. It is useful to note multiple input devices

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for storing and retrieving articles, comprising: a pair of drums mounted for rotation about a common horizontal axis, each drum having a plurality of stalls defined therearound for receiving and holding individual articles, drive means for rotating each drum incrementally according to the spacing of the stalls, entry means for introducing articles into vacant stalls in one of the drums, input means associated with the entry means for inputting to control means an identifier for each article, transfer means for selectively allowing articles to transfer from one drum to the other under the influence of gravity, and discharge means for selectively discharging articles from at least one of the drums, wherein the control means is arranged to monitoring the stall locations of individual articles, to control the transfer of articles between the drums, and to control the dis- charge of selected articles from the device.

2. A device according to Claim 1 , wherein each drum comprises an outer region containing the stalls, each stall opening inwardly of the drum into a hollow hub around which the drums rotate, and the transfer means comprise: a first opening from a first of the drums into the hub in the uppermost part thereof coincident with the opening of the stalls, first gate means selectively closing the first opening, a ramp for guiding articles released by the first gate means along the common axis and downwardly under the influence of gravity towards a second opening from the lowermost part of the hub into the other drum, and second gate means selectively closing the second opening.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, comprising more than two drums mounted side-by-side on said common horizontal axis, transfer means being associated with each adjacent pair of drums.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each pair of drums is provided with transfer means to transfer articles from each drum in the pair to the other drum.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the articles are coins and the identifier input to the control means is the value of the coin.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the input means is a coin validator.

7. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the input means com- prise a key pad for assigning a code to each article introduced.

8. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the input means comprises a bar code reader, a radiofrequency tag reader, or the like, for detecting identifying data associated with each article.

9. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the control means is arranged to discharge one or more coins representing the value of change required for a transaction.