JP4169482B2 - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A vending machine for vending articles, most notably beverage or food containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vending machine having a cabinet with a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, and an "X-Y" picker assembly for receiving a packaged beverage from a shelf and for delivering the packaged beverage to a delivery port in a front face of the cabinet, or to another location as desired.

Description

[0001]
(Cross-reference of related applications)
The present invention shall inherit the priority of provisional patent application 60 / 127,629, filed April 2, 1999, by reference and claims.
[0002]
(Technical field)
The present invention relates to a vending machine for selling goods, in particular beverage or food containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cabinet having a plurality of vertically partitioned shelves, and a discharge port or other desired location on the front of the cabinet that receives the packaged beverages from the shelves. The present invention relates to a vending machine having an “XY” pick-up assembly for carrying to a car.
[0003]
(Background of the present invention)
Various vending machines are known that dispense items from shelves or storage bottles. Traditionally dispensed items fall under the influence of gravity to a location away from the shelf or storage. A chute (downhill) is typically placed in the path of the falling item and directs the falling item to a discharge port below the shelf or depot.
[0004]
Such a conventional vending machine cannot be said to make full use of the internal volume of the vending machine. Because gravity is used to carry items to the discharge port, the space near and below the discharge port cannot be used to store items that can be sold. Thus, the discharge port is typically located in the lower part of the vending machine, but this is not always convenient for the user.
[0005]
In such a conventional dispensing device, there is also a plurality of escapement mechanisms, one for each row of products, which is shaped so that one product can be removed from the front of each row. I am doing. As can be appreciated, such an escapement mechanism is costly and difficult to make reliable, for example, 45 separate escapement mechanisms.
Other known devices include those described in US Pat. No. 4,867,628 and German Patent DE-U-946212. The U.S. Patent describes a dispenser for moving items into and out of a storage room via a storage container. The storage container can be moved in the Z-direction via a sliding guide. The German patent clearly shows a distributor for removing an item from a storage chamber via a piercing device moving in the Z-direction.
[0006]
A vending machine with a glass door has a glass door on the front, so that the person who receives the item opens the glass door from the front. This allows the seller to remove the product through the front opening. This is also advantageous because the consumer can see the item. However, when assembling the device, particularly when the products are upright and have different heights, the product packout becomes a problem when making the device. In such a situation, using a shorter product in the same shelf results in poor packing due to the tallest product on a particular shelf. Furthermore, the use of gear motors to excite the coils of each product distribution area in a vending machine with a glass door again tends to be costly and suffer from the reliability of the overall distribution device.
[0007]
But glass door vending machines have several advantages. That is, if a consumer walks and approaches a glass door vending machine, the consumer can see if there is a product in the vending machine. If the product is not visible, the customer will have some hesitation instead of using this vending machine.The above known dispensing devices are not used in vending machine applications with glass doors because the customer is prevented from viewing the item.
[0008]
Therefore, the industry demands an improved product vending machine that can see the product, can perform improved packing, is compatible with various distribution methods, and is cost effective and reliable. Has been.
[0009]
(Outline of the present invention)
In accordance with the present invention, a conventional method is provided by providing an improved product vending machine that is capable of viewing products, improved stuffing, can be adapted to various sales systems, and is cost-effective and reliable. The shortcoming of is overcome.
[0010]
Generally speaking, the present invention relates to an apparatus for storing and distributing a plurality of products, the apparatus comprising an outer frame, a plurality of storage locations for storing the products, a discharge location, and an optional storage location for the products. And a pick-up device for transporting them one by one and distributing them to the discharge site.
[0011]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing device and method of use thereof.
[0012]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing device that allows the product to be viewed.
[0013]
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing device that can provide improved packing.
[0014]
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing device that can be adapted to various sales systems.
[0015]
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing device that is efficient in manufacturing and operating costs.
[0016]
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing device that is reliable.
[0017]
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in combination with the accompanying drawings and claims.
[0018]
(Detailed description of the present invention)
The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several views shown in FIGS.
[0019]
General description of the method and apparatus of the present invention
Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a dispensing device that dispenses products such as cans, bottles, boxes, etc. to waiting consumers. FIG. 1 shows one view of such a dispensing device 10 that uses a pick-up assembly 20 that is part of an XY lateral motion assembly 15 to make multiple transfers from various shelves I, II, III, and IV. The different products 11 are distributed.
[0020]
Referring also to FIG. 2, the pick-up assembly 20 also includes a rotating finger member, a stationary finger member 22, and left and right blocking members 23 and 24, respectively, which engage and are respectively above and below. Move horizontally with respect to the horizontal bars 30,31.
[0021]
As the rotating fingers of the pick-up assembly 20 rotate, the pick-up assembly 20 "picks up" one product, moves the product to a remote location by the XY lateral assembly 15, and dispenses the product as desired. be able to.
[0022]
Outer frame
An outer frame of the entire distributor 10 is generally indicated by 13 in FIG. This outer frame can be known in the art in that it provides an enclosure for housing the product, as well as a framework that supports various other component elements of the device, such as the XY lateral assembly 15. .
[0023]
XY lateral movement assembly 15
Referring to FIG. 1, the XY lateral assembly 15 includes a pick-up assembly 20, and upper and lower horizontal bars 30, 31, left and right lateral assembly blocking members 25, 26, and left and right vertical bars. 32 and 33 are included.
[0024]
The left and right vertical bars 32, 33 generally extend in parallel together and are shaped to allow relative movement of the left and right lateral assembly blocking members 25, 26 along their respective heights. . This can be done by causing the bars 32, 33 and the blocking members 25, 26 to interact, as used in conventional XY plotter technology.
[0025]
The horizontal bars 32 and 33 have ends attached to the left and right lateral assembly blocking members 25 and 26, respectively. The left and right blocking members 23, 24 are each engaged and shaped to move relatively horizontally across the upper and lower horizontal bars 30, 31. Again, the interaction between the rods 30, 31 and the blocking members 23, 24 can be as used in conventional XY plotter technology.
[0026]
The pick-up assembly 20 moves along the “X” axis by moving relatively along the upper and lower horizontal bars 30, 31. The pick-up assembly 20 also moves along its “Y” axis as the left and right lateral assembly blocking members 25, 26 move in parallel along the corresponding left and right vertical bars 32, 33.
[0027]
Such movement along the X and Y axes causes the pick-up assembly to select the product (ie pick-up) and move it to a different location, which is then either a single exit chute (not shown) or shown in FIG. Such a guide member 50 is used to discharge into a container of 6 pieces.
[0028]
Pickup assembly 20
As described above, a single pick-up assembly 20 moves along both the “X” axis and the “Y” axis with respect to the outer frame of the device 10. Referring to FIG. 2 in further detail, the pick-up assembly includes a pair of rotating finger members 21 and a pair of stationary finger members 22 as well as the left and right pick-up assembly blocking members 23, 24 described above.
[0029]
The paired stationary fingers 22 are each configured to be mounted within the corresponding left and right pick-up assembly blocking members 23,24. As will be described later, the paired stationary fingers 22 are “cradles” for the product after the product has been picked up by the rotating fingers 21 and before the product is released by the pick-up assembly 20. (Cradle-shaped cradle), cradle ".
[0030]
The rotating finger 21 rotates in one direction (and can be rotated in reverse), and such rotation is performed about a central, substantially horizontal axis. This pair of rotating fingers 21 "pick up" the products from the front row of products, and as the fingers 21 rotate, they are comb-like in a shelf 12 as described below. Used to pass the finger 40.
[0031]
Besides having the function of picking up, as will be explained in more detail later, the rotating finger 21 "blocks" the can behind the target can, and the next can is off the shelf by its own momentum. It also has a function to prevent it from rolling down.
[0032]
Shelf with comb-like fingers
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 3 which show the shelves 12 used to store products before being dispensed. As can be seen in FIG. 1, four rows of products 11, i.e., I, II, III and IV, are contained in a single shelf 12 illustrated. The shelf is tilted as is known in the art, and is provided with a divider that hangs a plurality of tilted “chutes” as is known in the art, so that products, especially circular products, are Can slide or roll down to the front of the shelf under the influence (spring pressure can be used as needed to aid in dropping against rectangular or irregular shaped products).
[0033]
Comb lip-shaped members having finger-like members arranged at a plurality of intervals are attached to the four corners of the shelf, and the finger-like members generally extend upward from the four corners of the shelf 12 and are arranged in front of each row. It gives the can a holding function that prevents it from falling. However, this holding function can be overcome by using the rotating finger member 21 that passes through the comb-like finger member 40 as described above, and the foremost product is withdrawn from a particular row by the pick-up assembly 20. .
[0034]
In the present invention, the interval between the finger-like members of the comb-like mechanism can be further increased. But when programmed, the gripper has enough “smart” performance to know where to pick up the product.
[0035]
Single pick-up process
Reference is made to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the relative movement of the rotating finger 21 when the rotating finger 21 acts with the stationary finger 22 to pick up the product 11. FIG. 3 is a side view of a plurality of different products 11 housed in various shelves 12A, 12B, and 12C, and the rotating finger 21 acts with the stationary fingers 22 to bring the product 11 together. The relative movement of the rotating finger member 21 as it moves through the positions indicated by picks 11-A, 11-B and 11-C is shown. To illustrate that the device 10 of the present invention can be adapted to different sized products, other sized products 11 'are shown.
[0036]
4a-4d are sequential diagrams of picking up the rotating finger 21 and stationary finger 22 as the target product 11 is picked up and the “next” product occupies its position in front of the row of products. Show the process.
[0037]
In FIG. 4a, the rotating finger 21 is in the “preparation” position.
[0038]
In FIG. 4 b, the rotating finger member 21 rotates from the position of FIG. 4 a, passes through the comb-like finger member, and contacts the target product 11.
[0039]
In FIG. 4c, the rotating finger 21 rotates from the position of FIG. 4b, and the target product 11 is removed from the row and is now supported by the stationary finger. At the same time, the rotating finger 21 "blocks" the next product that moves to the position of the product just picked up under the influence of gravity. This blockage consumes the energy of the next product and prevents it from jumping up from the comb-like lip.
[0040]
In FIG. 4d, the rotating finger 21 rotates from the position of FIG. 4c and the product is in a ready position to be placed on the cradle and carried by the pick-up assembly 20 and released at a remote location. The “next” product is in the position to be picked up next as needed.
[0041]
Understand that in some cases the shelf above the item being picked up helps to hold the item in that the item is prevented from falling from the rotating fingers. Should.
[0042]
Emission options
After the product is picked up by the pick-up assembly 20, the product is carried by the pick-up assembly 20 and released at a remote location. Such a release can take several forms.
[0043]
One type of release carries the product down until one end contacts a stationary surface, tilts the product from the cradle of the pick-up assembly 20, and under the action of gravity it becomes a standby chute or guide member (eg in FIG. 1). 50).
[0044]
Alternatively, the product can be lowered down onto an inclined ramp, where the inclined ramp is located between two stationary finger members 22.
[0045]
Still other methods could "drop out" one of the stationary fingers 22 and release the product without contacting another device.
[0046]
Operation of the configuration of FIG. 1 using other device modules
Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which shows how a vending machine A can be started and how it can be built up. In FIG. 5, various modules are shown. The first figure shows the concept of the “A” module alone. This “A” module can include one outer frame, several shelves and one XY pick-up assembly.
[0047]
The second figure (A + B) shows the A module combined with a base module that can be adapted to remove the can from the front, side or desired location.
[0048]
The third figure (A + C) shows the A module combined with a base module that can allow several cans to be removed from the front at once, but also in multiple upright containers Multiple packs containing the product could be prepared.
[0049]
The fourth figure (A + B + C) shows the A module combined with a base module that can allow several cans to be removed from the front at once, but also provided by an upright D in the field. Multiple packs containing multiple products could also be provided in the upright container provided.
[0050]
Other pick-up device 120-Figs.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 6-10 illustrating another pick-up device 120 that can be used with another device 200.
[0051]
FIG. 6 shows another pick-up assembly 120 cut away. The pick-up assembly 120 includes a body 119, a rotating shaft assembly 125 having two rotating fingers 121, a stationary support rod 122, a motor 130, a bevel gear 140, a bevel gear 141, and a pair of bearings 150. Is included.
[0052]
The barrel 119 is generally “U-shaped” in cross section in the lateral direction, and has a main portion and two side portions extending in the same direction from opposite edges of the main portion. These lateral portions are substantially flat and parallel to each other. The two side parts and the main part together form a partially closed concealment space for placing the drive motor 130.
[0053]
The stationary support rod 122 is substantially securely attached to one of the sidewalls of the barrel 199 and is configured to work with a rotating shaft 125 as will be described in detail below.
[0054]
The rotating shaft assembly 125 includes two rotating fingers, each indicated at 121. When properly operated, these two rotating fingers act together to support an elongated product 11 as shown in FIG. 1 and as indicated by the dashed line in the cradle of FIG.
[0055]
The rotating shaft assembly 125 is mounted for rotation relative to the body 119 of the pick-up assembly 120 by using a pair of bearings 150. One bearing is located inside each side wall and is configured to receive the rotating shaft assembly 120 and appropriately rotate the rotating shaft assembly 125 relative to the body 119.
[0056]
The bevel gear 141 is firmly attached to and forms part of the rotating shaft assembly 125 at a location intermediate between the two bearings 150 along the rotating shaft assembly 125. The bevel gear 141 is configured to fit the bevel gear 140, and the bevel gear 140 is driven and rotated by the motor 130 such that the shaft assembly 125 rotated by the rotation of the motor 130 rotates.
[0057]
By appropriately controlling the motor 130 by methods known in the art, the rotating shaft assembly 125 is similarly controlled, and its rotational position, rotational speed, and direction of rotation are all known to electronic devices or the art. It can be controlled appropriately by other appropriate devices.
[0058]
The motor 130 can be of any type known in the art, but in one form can be a direct current gear motor or a step motor.
[0059]
Although the main shaft of the rotating shaft assembly 125 is shown to be substantially parallel to the stationary support rod 122, in the preferred embodiment it is substantially at the same height as the rotating shaft 125. .
[0060]
In FIG. 6, the rotating shaft assembly 125 is in a position that is considered a so-called “ready” position, which is the position when the pick-up assembly 120 is empty and moving.
[0061]
FIG. 7 is another view of the pick-up assembly 120 shown in FIG. 6, but in this configuration, the rotating shaft assembly 125 is rotated to a different position. This position can be considered the position where the picked up product 11 has been “dropped” into the cradle attached to the members 125, 122. In this position, the above-described “blocking” function can be similarly performed by the rotating finger member 121.
[0062]
When the product is rolled into the appropriate position in the cradle attached to members 125, 122, the rotating shaft assembly 125 is shown in FIG. 6 without the received product being disturbed thereby. It is preferable to return to the position where it was made. This can be done just before the product is “stripped”, as described in detail below.
[0063]
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the apparatus of FIGS. 6 and 7, showing the results of the inventor's planning for some of its dimensions, which is absolutely important for the operation of the present invention. is not.
[0064]
In FIG. 8, dimension A can be 3.375 inches. Dimension B can be 5.658 inches. The dimension C can be 1.600 inches. The dimension D can be 3.0 inches. The dimension E can be 1.175 inches. The diameter d of the main elongated bar of the stationary support bar 122 and the rotating shaft 125 can each be 0.250 inches.
[0065]
Device 200 and cable assembly
9 and 10 illustrate one way in which the device 120 of FIGS. 6-8 can be moved around the large support device 200. The large support device 200 includes a first cable portion 201 and a second cable portion 202. In addition, a sliding member 210, a vertical positioning motor 220, a horizontal positioning motor 230, and a dispensing location 240 are included. As will be described in detail later, the vertical positioning motor 220 moves the pick-up assembly 120 in the vertical direction, while the horizontal positioning motor 220 moves the pick-up assembly 120 in the horizontal direction, all of which are first and second. This is done using the cable part.
[0066]
The first cable portion 201 is substantially endless in function, but is actually a single length of cable, cord or other suitable flexible material that has its end Are each attached to a common movable element. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, which show the path of the first cable portion 201, this path is defined by a plurality of conventional guide pulleys 209 and motor-230 pulleys, all of which are in the frame of the support device 200. It is attached so that it can move. This frame is not shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, but is generally shown in FIG. In one embodiment, the end of the first cable portion 201 is attached to an elongated sliding member 220 described below. A horizontal positioning motor 230 including a drive pulley engaged with the first cable portion 201 is operated to move the pick-up assembly 120 in the horizontal direction as described in more detail below.
[0067]
The pick-up assembly 120 is slidably attached to the slide member 210, and the pick-up assembly 120 can slide the elongate slide member 210 up and down under the restraint of the second cable portion 202 as described below. The vertical positioning motor 200 is attached to the sliding member 210 and moves with it in the horizontal direction.
[0068]
The second cable portion 202 is substantially endless in function, but is actually a single length of cable, cord, or other suitable flexible material, each having a common end. It is attached to the movable element. This common movable element can be the pick-up assembly 120, and the pick-up assembly 120 can be moved up and down by rotation of the vertical positioning motor 220. The second cable portion 202 is supported by two pulleys, a guide pulley 203 that is rotatably mounted at the lower end of the sliding member 210, and a drive pulley that forms part of the vertical positioning motor 220.
[0069]
By properly controlling the vertical positioning motor 220, the vertical positioning of the pick-up assembly 120 can be similarly controlled.
[0070]
The elongated sliding member 210 has an upper end attached to the first cable portion 201 and a lower end attached to the first cable portion 201. Referring to FIG. 10, the arrow 250 causes the cable portion attached to the sliding member 210 to generally move in the same direction, and the movement of the first cable portion causes the sliding member 210 to similarly identify at the same speed as the cable 201. You will see that it moves horizontally.
[0071]
When the horizontal positioning motor 230 drives the first cable portion 201, depending on the rotation of the horizontal positioning motor 230, the sliding member 210 similarly moves to the side. That is, if the sliding member generally moves to the right, the pick-up assembly 120 will also move to the right along with the vertical positioning motor 220.
[0072]
If the desired vertical position of the pick-up assembly 120 changes, the vertical positioning motor 220 operates in the same way.
[0073]
Accordingly, the vertical positioning motor 220 moves the pick-up assembly 120 in the vertical direction, while the horizontal positioning motor 230 moves the pick-up assembly 120 in the horizontal direction.
[0074]
Use of distribution locations
After the pick-up assembly 120 picks up the product 11 and stores it in the cradle as shown in FIG. 7, the pick-up assembly 120 generally moves toward the dispensing location 240 and contains it for removal by the consumer. Fall into.
[0075]
As can be seen, for example, the pick-up assembly 120 shown in FIG. 7 has some kind of “cantilever” design, with the product 11 housed in the cradle coming to the side of the body 119 of the device. It is like that. Accordingly, the product (and supporting finger 120, part of the rotating shaft 125, and part of the stationary support rod 122) housed in the cradle by this “cantilever” design is inserted into the dispensing location 120. be able to.
[0076]
As the product stored in the cradle enters the interior of the dispensing location 120, the product can still be withdrawn by the consumer while still in the cradle. However, in a preferred alternative, when the pick-up assembly 120 is withdrawn from the dispensing location 120 and returned to the pick-up area, the product is removed from the pick-up assembly 120 by a suitable device that removes the product contained in the cradle from a position in the cradle. The product can be “extracted”. In this case, the consumer can reach the product and pick it up. Appropriate barriers may be provided to prevent reaching and touching the moving assembly 120 if necessary.
[0077]
The distribution area 240 can be included in the entrance flap to properly separate the pick-up area (frozen) from the distribution area (not refrigerated). Such a flap could be used to provide an extraction function in the form of a “one-way” flap that pivots inward into the cavity of the dispensing site but not outward.
[0078]
Alternatively, the “interference member” could be selectively moved from above, below, or from the side of the product in the cradle to provide an extraction function.
[0079]
Other alternative devices
Reference is now made to FIGS. 11-12 showing the device 200 and alternative devices 300, 400, 500. FIG.
[0080]
FIG. 11 is a simplified front elevation view illustrating the operation of the device 200 used with the pick-up device 120, primarily for comparison with FIGS.
[0081]
FIG. 12 shows another apparatus 300 that uses a central support shaft 301 that moves the bar 302 along its axis and has a pick-up assembly 320 attached to one end thereof. By rotating the central shaft 301 and extending or retracting the captured bar 302, the pick-up assembly 320 can be moved to an appropriate location within the rectangular area defining the general pick-up area.
[0082]
FIG. 13 shows yet another apparatus 400 that uses a articulated arm assembly 401 that supports a pick-up assembly 420. This articulated arm assembly is attached to the entire device outer frame outside the pick-up area.
[0083]
FIG. 14 shows yet another possible embodiment 500, in which a telescoping arm assembly 501 supports a pick-up assembly 520 at its free end, the telescoping arm assembly 501 being It is supported against the frame of the assembly along pivot point 505.
[0084]
FIG. 15 shows a sales assembly 200 having the configuration shown in FIGS. The sales assembly 200 includes a discharge port 241 through which a consumer inserts a product from a dispensing location.
[0085]
FIG. 16 shows a conventional sales assembly 1000 for reference.
[0086]
In other alternative configurations, as described above, the fingers can be independent of each other and at one point, or the other of the fingers can move upward and tilt to either side.
[0087]
A “two-way” pick-up device with a hand-like grip could also be used. It would also be possible to hold the product upright while gripping with this type of gripping member.
[0088]
As described above, some of the options that can be used in the present invention include the use of a “variety pack”. This can be done by packing a variety pack with different products inside the vending machine. The cage can drop the product into different slots within the six packs, and the guide members of the six packs can include slots to provide device clearance.
[0089]
The machine can also be used to derive some sort of “entertainment value”. As described above, the XY pick-up device moves within the user's field of view prior to selecting the product to be picked up. If desired, the XY pick-up device can be programmed to move according to the user's hand when the user touches the front glass. In such a situation, the user can place his hand on the front glass and effectively follow the XY pickup device. If necessary, the device can be programmed to select an item corresponding to the point at which the user releases his hand from the front glass.
[0090]
It should also be understood that the sales device of the present invention can be moved while not in use. In such a case, the XY pick-up device moves through the X-axis and Y-axis (without picking up) to attract the user's attention.
[0091]
Conclusion
Thus, the present invention provides an improvement over conventional methods by providing a vending machine that sells goods, particularly beverage or food containers. In particular, the present invention provides a cabinet having a plurality of vertically partitioned shelves and an XY pick-up assembly that receives packaged beverages from the shelves and discharges the packaged beverages to a discharge port or other desired location on the entire surface of the cabinet. Relates to a vending machine.
[0092]
Although the present invention has been described in detail with the above embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a diagram of a dispensing device 10 that uses a pick-up assembly 20 that is part of an XY lateral movement assembly 15 to dispense different products 11 from various rows I, II, III, and IV. The pick-up assembly 20 moves along the “X” axis by relative movement along the upper and lower horizontal bars 30, 31. This horizontal bar is attached at each end to the left and right lateral assembly blocking members 25,26. The pick-up assembly 20 moves along the “Y” axis by the parallel movement of the left and right lateral assembly blocking members 25, 26 along corresponding vertical left and right bars 32, 33.
FIG. 2 is an isolated plan view of the pick-up assembly 20 of the present invention. The pick-up assembly includes a rotating finger 21A, a stationary finger 22 and left and right pick-up assembly blocking members 23, 24, respectively, each of the blocking members relative to the upper and lower horizontal bars 30, 31. Engage and move horizontally. The rotating finger-like member 21A is a finger-like member of the first embodiment, whereas the finger-like members 21B and 21C of the second and third embodiments are described elsewhere.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a plurality of different products 11 loaded on top of various shelves 12A, 12B and 12C, and also when the rotating fingers 21B operate together to pick up the product 11 The relative movement of the rotating finger member 21B as it is moved through the positions shown at 11-A, 11-B and 11C is also shown. Another (small) size product 11 'is also shown to show that the device 10 of the present invention can be adapted to various size products.
FIGS. 4a to 4d are side views showing the pick-up process of rotating finger-like member 21C and stationary finger-like member 22 as sequential steps.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of module A that can be used with other modules B, C, and D.
FIG. 6 is an isolated plan view of another pick-up assembly 120. FIG. The pick-up assembly 120 includes a body 119, a rotating shaft assembly 125 having two rotating fingers 121, a stationary support rod 122, a motor 130, a bevel gear 140, a bevel gear 141, and a pair of bearings 150. Contains.
7 is another view of the pick-up assembly 120 shown in FIG. In this configuration, the rotating shaft assembly 125 rotates to a different position. This position is where the product 11 “drops” into the cradle provided on the members 125, 122.
8 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 6. FIG.
9 and 10 are illustrations of portions that facilitate movement of the pick-up device 120 within the device 200. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a simplified front elevation view illustrating the operation of the device 200 used with the picking device 120, primarily for comparison with FIGS.
FIG. 12 is an illustration of another embodiment 300 using a central support shaft 301 that moves a bar 302 along an axis, with a pick-up assembly 320 attached at one end. By rotating the central shaft 301 and extending or retracting the captured rod 302, the pick-up assembly 320 can be moved to an appropriate position within a rectangular area defining a general pick-up area.
FIG. 13 is an illustration of another aspect 400 illustrating the use of articulated arm assembly 401 that supports pick-up assembly 420. The articulated arm assembly is attached to the overall device frame outside the pick-up area.
FIG. 14 shows yet another possible embodiment 500. FIG. In this embodiment, telescoping arm assembly 501 supports pick-up assembly 520 at its free end, but telescoping arm assembly 501 supports the frame of the assembly along pivot point 505. It has been.
FIG. 15 shows a vending machine 200 made to have the configuration shown in FIGS.
FIG. 16 is a diagram of a conventional vending machine 1000 shown for reference. Note that the distribution location is different from the location shown in FIG.

Claims (13)

In the device (10) for storing and distributing a plurality of products (11),
An outer frame (13), a plurality of storage locations (12) for storing the product (11), a discharge location (50), and a pick-up device (20);
One or more rotating fingers (21) for the pick-up device (20) to transport one of the products (11) to the discharge location (50) are the plurality of products (11). One or more rotating fingers (21) and one or more stationary, such as pulling and lifting one of the products (11) from one to one or more stationary fingers (22) the apparatus for the has a finger-like member (22), characterized in that (10). The one or more rotating fingers (21) pull the first product (11) away from the plurality of products (11) and simultaneously from the plurality of products (11) to the second product (11). 2. The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the device (10) is configured to rotate to prevent removal.   The pick-up device (20) is configured to move independently along two substantially perpendicular axes (X, Y) with respect to the outer frame (13). Device (10).   The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage locations (12) are a plurality of storage locations (12) supplied by gravity for storing the product (11). At least one of the plurality of storage locations includes a protruding finger member (40) in a comb-like set defining an elongated interval with an open end, the protruding finger member (40) being in a pick-up position And at least partially supporting at least one of the products (11), the one or more rotating fingers (21) when the one of the products (11) is picked up from the pick-up position The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the device (10) is configured to pass through at least one of the open elongated gaps. A discharge location (C); and a multi-cavity container;
The multi-cavity container includes a plurality of storage locations;
The discharge location (C) is configured to receive the multi-cavity container and simultaneously remove the multi-cavity container;
The device (10) of claim 1, wherein the picking device (20) carries one of the products (11) to the multi-cavity container. Further comprising an elongated sliding member (210) mounted for movement relative to the outer frame (13) along a first axis (X);
The pick-up device (120) is slidably attached to the outer frame (13) along a second axis (Y) relative to the elongated sliding member (210);
Furthermore, a first cable (201) assembly for moving the sliding member (210) along the first axis (X); and the second axis (with respect to the first outer frame (13)) A second cable assembly (202) for moving the picking device (120) along Y);
The first and second cable assemblies (201, 202) of the dispensing device (1O, 200) are arranged so that the pick-up device (120) is either of the first and second axes (X, Y) or Move along both to the outer frame (13), remove the product (11) from any one of the storage locations (12), transport it one by one, and release it The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the apparatus (10) is operable to distribute to (240). In the device (10, 200) for storing and distributing a plurality of products (11),
A) first outer frame (13),
B) A plurality of storage locations (12) for storing the product (11),
C) Release location (50, 240),
D) A pick-up device (20, 120) for removing the product (11) from the storage location (12), transporting it one by one a distance and distributing it to the discharge location (50, 240). ,
1) a second outer frame (25, 26) which can move relative to the first outer frame (13) in at least two directions;
2) a cradle member (22, 122) attached to the second outer frame (25, 26) and configured to at least assist in storing one product (11) in the cradle during the transport;
3) A rotating member (125) including at least one pick-up finger member (21, 121) and configured to rotate from the first position to the third position via the second position;
4) Move the rotating member (125) from the first position to the second position so that the finger (21, 121) pulls the first product (11) away from the second product (11). The rotating member (125) is further rotated so that the fingers (21, 121) force the product (11) to the cradle position in contact with the cradle member (22, 122). A pick-up device (20, 120) comprising a first motor (130) for rotating to the third position, and E) the second outer frame (25, 26) in the first outer frame A second motor (220, 230) that moves along at least one of the two directions relative to (13)
A device (10, 200) comprising: 9. The device (10, 200) according to claim 8, wherein the cradle member (22, 122) is a stationary bar attached to the second outer frame (25, 26). The apparatus (10, 200) according to claim 8, wherein the cradle member (22, 122) operates in conjunction with a portion of the rotating member (125) to receive the product (11) in the cradle. ). The rotating member (125) further includes an elongate torso to which the pick-up fingers (21, 121) are attached, and the first motor (130) has the elongate torso about its elongate longitudinal axis. 9. A device (10, 200) according to claim 8 , characterized in that it has a configuration for rotating the part. The finger-like member (21, 121) pulls the product (11) to be taken out first from the product (11) to be taken out second, and at the same time, the finger-like member (21, 121) should take out the second product (11) 9. Device according to claim 8 , characterized in that it prevents removal of the product (11). 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the cradle member (22, 122) is configured to receive one of the products (11) in the cradle during the transport.

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