AU765311B2 - Dispensing means for vending machine - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/41716 PCT/AU99/00085 DISPENSING MEANS FOR VENDING MACHINE TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a dispensing means for use in a vending machine for selectively dispensing containers having a circular cross sectional shape.

BACKGROUND ART Vending machines are in common usage throughout the world and generally include a plurality of parallel upright vending channels in which are stored a plurality of soft drink containers having a circular cross-section. The vending channels can be in fluid communication with a refrigeration system to allow refrigerated air circulate and cool the soft drink containers. Various forms of dispensing means are located at the lower end of each channel which allow for single dispensing of the required soft drink following payment and selection.

In the vending industry it is usual for a vending machine to be particularly constructed for one configuration of vending channels and with particular allocated dispensing means limited to dispense containers only from a predetermined vending channel. The dispensing means must be purpose built therefore not allowing for easy and cost effective retrofitting of a plurality of dispensing means. Access to the dispensing means for service of various parts of the vending machine, is generally limited and requires the vending machine to be out of operation for a considerable time. As vending machines are usually refrigerated, the machine is not commercially useable until expiration of a further down time in which the containers must be sufficiently refrigerated following completion of the service or repair of the vending machine. Another problem of known vending machines is the need for a plurality of vending channels to be able to hold different quantities of different types of soft drinks so that a large quantity of the most popular soft drink is available while still allowing smaller quantities of smaller quantities of the less popular soft drinks. Also vending machines generally cannot cater for a range of sizes of containers.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vending machine that overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the above problems by providing more flexibility and accessibility of a vending machine and its components.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vending machine with an improved dispensing means.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispensing means which is locatable below a plurality of vending channels defined by spaced upright walls with the containers to be dispensed lying within the vending channels, the dispensing means including a plurality of releasing mechanisms located adjacent each other and able to be separately or jointly controlled so that the vending channels can be divided into defined .portions to receive different sized containers or different content containers and the required 15 separate or adjacent releasing mechanisms can be activated to dispense the required S° container from a stack in the defined portion of the vending channel; wherein each of the S"releasing mechanisms includes a rocking body locatable in the path of the stack escaping the vending channel and which in one state in combination with a drop chute, that is locatable below or extending from at or near the bottom of the vending channels, engages the lowest 20 container and prevents dispensing of the lowest container and in a second state allows movement of the rocking body to dispense the lowest container and return to the first state to prevent the next lowest container from being dispensed; and wherein the rocking body is latchable, and has an abutting arm and a cradling arm, the rocking body pivotally mounted such that in the first state the rocking body is latched so that the abutting arm is positioned at a distance from the end of the drop chute smaller than the circular cross section of the containers being dispensed so that the lowest container is prevented from being dispensed, and while in a second state the rocking body is unlatched and allows pivotal rotation of the abutting arm away from the end of the drop chute so as to allow the lowest container to fall to the cradling arm and be dispensed and such that the action of dispensing and/or a resilient means forces the rocking body to pivotally rotate and return the abutting arm to the first state having a distance from the end of the drop chute less than the cross sectional size of the containers to prevent the next lowest container being dispensed.

Preferably a plurality of the adjacent releasing mechanisms which are able to dispense from different defined portions of the vending channel are mounted on a carrier rack which is removable.

The dispensing means is preferably removably locatable in a vending machine.

The dispensing means may have a plurality of the releasing mechanisms able to be activated by respective solenoids which are controllable externally of the carrier rack. In 15 this embodiment the plurality of releasing mechanisms and their respective driving .solenoids may be mounted on the carrier rack.

The dispensing means may have a plurality of manual releasing mechanisms which are selectively operable by a drive means mounted adjacent the plurality of releasing mechanisms and including a track and a solenoid bank able to travel along the track and S: 20 engage a selected one or more of the releasing mechanisms to cause a container to be released from a selected vending channel or defined portion.

The dispensing means may include a plurality of drop chutes and rocking bodies linearly mounted adjacent each other and separately or in combination able to be controlled so as to allow dispensing of various sizes and lengths of containers or to allow separate dispensing of containers from various portions of vending channels located adjacent each other.

The separate or combined operation of the rocking bodies may be by electronic means, electrical means, mechanical means, or a combination.

The releasing mechanism may include a solenoid providing the required latch mechanism.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a dispensing means which is separate and insertable into a vending machine or integral with a vending machine, for individually dispensing circular or approximatley circular cross sectional containers from a staggered stack of containers held in a vending channel in a vending machine, the vending channel having an escape opening at one end, the dispensing means having releasing mechanism locatable adjacent the escape opening of the vending channel in the vending machine and including a rocking body located in the path of the staggered stack escaping the vending channel and which in one state in combination with a drop chute :i 15 below or extending from at or near the bottom of the vending channel engages the lowest container and prevents dispensing of the lowest container and in a second state allows movement of the rocking body to dispense the lowest container and return to the first state to prevent the next lowest container from being dispensed; wherein the rocking body is latchable, and includes an abutting arm and a cradling arm, the rocking body pivotally 20 mounted such that in the first state the rocking body is latched so that the abutting arm is positioned at a distance from the end of the drop chute smaller than the circular cross section of the containers being dispensed so that the lowest container is prevented from S. being dispensed while in a second state the rocking body is unlatched and pivotally rotates the abutting arm away from the end of the drop chute so as to allow the lowest container to fall to the cradling arm and be dispensed and such that the action of dispensing and/or resilient means forces the rocking body to pivotally rotate and return the abutting arm to the first state having a distance from the end of the drop chute less than the cross sectional size of the containers to prevent the next lowest container being dispensed.

In this second aspect, the dispensing means may include a plurality of drop chutes and rocking bodies linearly mounted adjacent each other and separately or in combination able to be controlled so as to allow dispensing of various sizes and lengths of containers or to allow separate dispensing of different content containers from various defined portions of vending channels located adjacent each other.

As with the first aspect, the separate or combined operation of the rocking bodies may be by electronic means, electrical means, mechanical means, or a combination.

The rocking body may include at least one solenoid providing the required latch mechanism.

The dispensing means in accordance with the second aspect may include a plurality of 15 drop chutes and rocking bodies able to be located below vending channels of a vending machine and allowing dispensing from a selected one or portion of laterally arranged S. adjacent vending channels.

A linear drive system may be included which extends across a plurality of laterally arranged rocking bodies and includes a bank of one or more solenoids that travels along a 20 linear track to a position to activate selected rocking bodies so as to dispense the required container from a vending channel or defined portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention is more readily understood, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a front view of a vending machine with a dispensing means in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a vending machine having a dispensing means in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front diagrammatic view of the dispensing means of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the dispensing means of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the dispensing means of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a linear drive system in accordance with a second aspect of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an illustrative view of containers in a vending machine that can be used in accordance with the dispensing means of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan diagrammatic view of the linear drive system of Fig. 6.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Co* oo** WO 99/41716 PCT/AU99/00085 7 According to one aspect of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 5, there is provided a vending machine 11 including a plurality of vending channels 13 defined by parallel upright walls 15 spaced across an upper part of the vending machine 11. Each wall 15 of the vending machine defining the vending channels 13 ends at a common lower height with escape openings 16 at the lower ends of each vending channel 13. A plurality of circular cross sectional containers, being cans or bottles, can be stacked in a lying position within the vending channels 13 and can escape through respective lower escape openings 16. The vending channels 13 include vertical dividers 19 which divide the depth of each vending channel 13 into a plurality of separate defined portions of vending channels located respectively behind each other. Therefore a vending machine having seven laterally adjacent vending channels 13 can be multiplied to twenty-one vending channels by vertical dividers 19 separating each vending channel 13 into 3 channels located respectively behind each other.

Different combinations of portions of vending channels can also be configured to allow various depths that accommodate various sized containers.

A dispensing means 21 is located below the vending channels 13 and adjacent the escape openings 16 but is separate therefrom to allow for retrofitting or removal for repair or servicing. The dispensing means 21 includes a plurality of releasing mechanisms 22 associated with each vending channel 13 or portion of vending channel to allow separate dispensing of containers from each channel or part The releasing mechanisms 22 are located in the path of containers escaping through the escape openings 16 of the vending channels 13. A plurality of drop chutes 23 intermediate the releasing mechanisms 22 and the escape openings 16 of the vending channels 13 deflect the containers towards the releasing mechanisms 22. The releasing mechanism 22 includes a rocking body 26 located in the path of containers escaping through the escape opening 16 of each respective vending channel 13 WO 99/41716 PCT/AU99/00085 8 and which in combination with the drop chute 23 prevents the lowest container being released. The subsequently higher containers are thereby retained above the lowest container.

The rocking body 26 includes a planar top abutting arm 28 extending from one side of an intermediate body portion and laterally offset to a lower straight arm extending from an opposite side and which in combination with the intermediate body forms a cradling arm 29 in the shape of a reversed reclined L-shape. The abutting arm 28 and lower straight arm of the cradling arm being at an obtuse angle to the intermediate body portion.

Each rocking body 26 is pivotally mounted below the surface of the abutting arm 28 and cradling arm 29 and is able to be latched or unlatched by a solenoid 31 such that in a first state the solenoid 31 latches the rocking body 26 in a position such that the abutting arm 28 is located a distance from the end 24 of the drop chute 23 which is smaller than the cross sectional size of the container falling from the escape opening 16 of the vending channel 13.

The lowest container A is thereby held in position between the abutting arm 28 and the end 24 of the drop chute 23. By control of the solenoid 31 the rocking body 26 is in its second state and unlatched results in the weight of the lowest container A to force the rocking body 26 to pivot around the pivot 27 away from the end 24 of the drop chute 23 to enlarge the opening such that the lowest container A falls into the cradling arm 29. The weight of the lowest container and a return spring rotates the rocking body 26 back to the first position releasing container A through outlet 36 of the dispensing means 21 and causes the abutting arm 28 to engage the second lowest container B and retain it in the lowest position with the solenoid 31 latching the rocking body 26 into the retaining position in its first state.

By having separate controls of a plurality of releasing mechanisms 22 located behind each other in a particular vending channel 13, it is possible to divide the vending channel 13 WO 99/41716 PCT/AU99/00085 9 into a plurality of separate portions which can accommodate various lengths of containers.

As shown in Fig. 4, it is possible to dispense three separate cans with each releasing mechanism controlling the release of each row of cans, when three releasing mechanisms 22 including solenoids 31 and rocking bodies 26 are located behind each other. In another configuration it is possible to dispense two rows of bottles lying behind each other which are longer than cans but can be dispensed by activation of the respective front and rear releasing mechanisms while the intermediate releasing mechanism is not active. In a still further configuration two coacting adjacent releasing mechanisms release a bottle which is the size of two releasing mechanisms with cans being dispensed by the third mechanism. In another configuration a bottle the length of all three mechanisms can be released by coacting three adjacent releasing mechanisms.

In order to accommodate the various circumferential sized containers in the dispensing means an adjusting rod 41 as shown in Fig. 2 can be inserted through the front of the dispensing means to engage with respective drop chutes 23 so as to ensure by positioning of the adjusting rod 4 1 in position one or position two the relative position of the drop chute 23 as shown in Fig. 5 can be adjusted so that the distance between the end 24 of the drop chute and the abutting arm 28 in its first position is sized smaller than the diameter of the respective containers and thereby is able to hold the containers in a retaining position.

As well as being able to separately dispense containers of various lengths, the arrangement of the releasing mechanisms 22 behind each other below a single vending channel 13 allows the releasing mechanisms 22 to be mounted on a single carrier 39 that is separably removable from the dispensing means 21 by being slidable out through a front opening 40. This allows for any servicing or replacement of any one releasing mechanism 22 on the entire carrier 39 of releasing mechanism 22.

WO 99/41716 PCT/AU99/00085 Referring to Fig. 6, 7 8 there is shown an alternative control means of releasing mechanisms whether they be the releasing mechanisms 22 of the first embodiment including the rocking body 26 and drop chute 23 or releasing mechanisms 41 including a pair of opposing drop rocking bodies 42 which on an upper outer side has a container holding face 43 able to engage the lowermost container in a vending channel 13 and pivotally rotatable so as to dispense the required container from the vending channel or other releasing mechanism. In Figure 6 there is shown three release mechanisms 41 located behind each other to dispense containers from one or more defined portions of a vending channel 13 located behind each other. The control and movement of the plurality of drop rocking bodies 42 around their respective pivots by elongated latching levers 46 including rods 47 extending parallel from each release mechanism 41 through a central lower part of the front release mechanisms 41 to the front of the dispensing means 21 and ending with cams 48. A solenoid bank 51 which is drivable along a linear drive 52 extending across the front of the dispensing means 21 allows the solenoid bank 51 to be located and engage the cams 48 of the latching levers 46 associated with any one of the seven laterally adjacent vending channels 13. By the structure of the linear drive means this can be separably removable from the dispensing means 21.

As shown in Fig. 7 when three releasing mechanisms including drop rocking bodies 42 are located behind each other, it is possible to dispense three separate cans with each releasing mechanism controlling the release of each row of cans. In another configuration it is possible to dispense two rows of bottles lying behind each other which are longer than cans but can be dispensed by activation of the respective front and rear releasing mechanisms by the respective latching levers 46 while the intermediate releasing mechanism is not active.

In a still further configuration two adjacent releasing mechanisms is jointly coactivated to WO 99/41716 PCT/AU99/00085 11 release a bottle which is the size of two releasing mechanisms with cans being dispensed by the third mechanism. In another configuration a bottle the length of all three mechanisms can be released by coactivating three adjacent releasing mechanisms.

Claims (16)

1. A dispensing means which is locatable below a plurality of vending channels defined by spaced upright walls with the containers to be dispensed lying within the vending channels, the dispensing means including a plurality of releasing mechanisms located adjacent each other and able to be separately or jointly controlled so that the vending channels can be divided into defined portions to receive different sized containers or different content containers and the required separate or adjacent releasing mechanisms can be activated to dispense the required container from a stack in the defined portion of the vending channel; wherein each of the releasing mechanisms includes a rocking body locatable in the path of the stack escaping the vending channel and which in one state in combination with a drop chute, that is locatable below or extending from at or near the bottom of the vending channels, engages the lowest container and prevents dispensing of the lowest container and in a second state allows movement of the rocking body to dispense the lowest container and return to the first state to prevent the next lowest container from being dispensed; and wherein the rocking body is latchable, and has an abutting arm and a cradling arm, the rocking body pivotally mounted such that in the first state the rocking body is latched so that the abutting arm is positioned at a distance from the end of the drop chute smaller than the circular cross section of the containers being dispensed so that the lowest container is prevented from being dispensed, and while in a second state the rocking body is unlatched and allows pivotal rotation of the abutting arm away from the end of the drop chute so as to allow the lowest container to fall to the cradling arm and be dispensed and such that the action of dispensing and/or a resilient means forces the rocking body to pivotally rotate and return the abutting arm to the first state having a distance from the end of the drop chute less AMENDED SHEET IPENAAU PCT/AU99/00085 Received 07 September 1999 13 than the cross sectional size of the containers to prevent the next lowest container being dispensed.

2. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of the adjacent releasing mechanisms which are able to dispense from different defined portions of the vending channel are mounted on a carrier rack which is removable.

3. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the dispensing means is removably locatable in a vending machine.

4. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 2 having a plurality of the releasing mechanisms able to be activated by respective solenoids which are controllable externally of the carrier rack.

A dispensing means in accordance with claim 4 wherein the plurality of releasing mechanisms and their respective driving solenoids are mounted on the carrier rack.

6. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 or 2 having a plurality of manual releasing mechanisms which are selectively operable by a drive means mounted adjacent the plurality of releasing mechanisms and including a track and a solenoid bank able to travel along the track and engage a selected one or more of the releasing mechanisms to cause a container to be released from a selected vending channel or defined portion.

7. A dispensing means in accordance with claim I wherein the dispensing means include a plurality of drop chutes and rocking bodies linearly mounted adjacent each other and separately or in combination able to be controlled so as to allow dispensing of various sizes and lengths of containers or to allow separate dispensing of containers from various portions of vending channels located adjacent each other. AMENDED SHEET (Article 34)'(PEA/AU) 14

8. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the separate or combined operation of the rocking bodies is by electronic means, electrical means, mechanical means, or a combination.

9. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the releasing mechanism includes a solenoid providing the required latch mechanism.

A dispensing means which is separate and insertable into a vending machine or integral with a vending machine, for individually dispensing circular or approximatley circular cross sectional containers from a staggered stack of containers held in a vending channel in a vending machine, the vending channel having an escape opening at one end, the dispensing means having releasing mechanism locatable adjacent the escape opening of the vending channel in the vending machine and including a rocking body located in the path of the staggered stack escaping the vending channel and which in one state in combination with a drop chute below or extending from at or near the bottom of the vending channel engages the lowest container and prevents dispensing of the lowest container and in 15 a second state allows movement of the rocking body to dispense the lowest container and return to the first state to prevent the next lowest container from being dispensed; wherein S. the rocking body is latchable, and includes an abutting arm and a cradling arm, the rocking body pivotally mounted such that in the first state the rocking body is latched so that the abutting arm is positioned at a distance from the end of the drop chute smaller than the S 20 circular cross section of the containers being dispensed so that the lowest container is prevented from being dispensed while in a second state the rocking body is unlatched and pivotally rotates the abutting arm away from the end of the drop chute so as to allow the lowest container to fall to the cradling arm and be dispensed and such that the action of dispensing and/or resilient means forces the rocking body to pivotally rotate and return the abutting arm to the first state having a distance from the end of the drop chute less than the cross sectional size of the containers to prevent the next lowest container being dispensed.

11. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 10 wherein the dispensing means include a plurality of drop chutes and rocking bodies linearly mounted adjacent each other and separately or in combination able to be controlled so as to allow dispensing of various sizes and lengths of containers or to allow separate dispensing of different content containers from various defined portions of vending channels located adjacent each other.

12. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 10 wherein the separate or combined operation of the rocking bodies is by electronic means, electrical means, mechanical means, or a combination.

13. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 10 wherein the rocking body includes at least one solenoid providing the required latch mechanism.

14. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 10 including a plurality of drop chutes and rocking bodies able to be located below vending channels of a vending machine and 15 allowing dispensing from a selected one or portion of laterally arranged adjacent vending channels.

15. A dispensing means in accordance with claim 10 wherein a linear drive system is included which extends across a plurality of laterally arranged rocking bodies and includes a bank of one or more solenoids that travels along a linear track to a position to activate 20 selected rocking bodies so as to dispense the required container from a vending channel or defined portion. •go•

16. A dispensing means substantially as herein before described with particular reference S. S.i to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 21 st day of July 2003 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for NIDA GROUP PTY LTD 9 9e 9. 9* 99 9 9 9 S. 9 9 9* 99 9 9 9*