1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of vending machines and, more particularly, to a drive system for operating a vending machine dispensing assembly.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Vending machines for dispensing canned and/or bottled beverages have long been known. Early model vending machines release similarly sized bottles, one at a time, following deposit of the required purchase amount. In order to withdraw the selected bottle from the vending machine, the purchaser was required to, for example, manually remove a beverage container through a release mechanism on a shelf. Over time, manufacturers developed various other mechanisms for releasing products from vending machines. These arrangements range from a more conventional mechanism wherein the products are guided within a chute, often times along a serpentine path, into a delivery port, to more unique mechanisms such as the use of transport systems that shift a product transport carrier to a point adjacent a selected product, receive the selected product and then deliver the selected product to the consumer.
At present, specialty beverages such as sports drinks, flavored teas, fruit juices, milk and the like are growing in popularity. Typically, these beverages are packaged in glass or plastic bottles that are available in many differently sized and shaped containers. Given the variety of container sizes, mechanisms for releasing selected products during a vend operation must be capable of accommodating the wide range of containers available to today's consumers. As the number of different sized and shaped containers continues to grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to insure a proper vending operation with standard dispensing systems.
Based on the above there exists a need in the art for an enhanced drive system for a vending machine dispensing assembly. More specifically, there exists a need for an operating system for a dispensing assembly that can, with a single input, control multiple release mechanisms associated with a single product queue.
The present invention is directed to a drive system for a vending machine including a cabinet within which is arranged a product storage zone having at least one shelf for storing and displaying products prior to a vend operation. The shelf is provided with at least two dividers that establish a product queue. In accordance with the invention, first and second release mechanisms are mounted at front ends of the dividers, with each of said first and second release mechanisms including an associated drive member. The vending machine includes a product transport mechanism arranged in the cabinet. The product transport mechanism is shiftable along both horizontal and vertical axes to carry a selected product container from the product queue towards the delivery chamber.
In further accordance with the invention, the vending machine includes a drive system mounted to the at least one product shelf. The drive system includes at least one drive mechanism that is operatively connected to each of the first and second release mechanisms through the drive member. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the drive mechanism is mechanical, having an activation member operationally connected to a driven member thorough first and second geared links. Both the activating member and driven member are connected to. respective ones of the first and second release mechanisms through a corresponding drive member. With this arrangement, a linear force appliance to the activation member causing substantially simultaneous shifting of the first and second release mechanism between product retention and product release positions. Preferably the linear force is supplied by a plunger mounted to the product transport system. That is, the product transport system includes an activation mechanism that triggers a plunger to act upon the activation member to release a selected product.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the drive mechanism is electrical, having a solenoid connected to a drive bracket through a connecting member. The drive bracket is operatively connected to the first and second release mechanism through a corresponding drive member. With this arrangement, activation of the solenoid applies a linear force to the drive bracket causing substantially simultaneous shifting of the first and second release mechanisms between product retention and product release positions. The solenoid could be activated by, for example, the plunger acting upon a switch or, activated by a separate control signal sent from a vending controller.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
With initial reference to
As illustrated, storage/display zone 14 is provided with a plurality of product support shelves 20-24 for supporting and displaying a plurality of product containers, one of which is indicated at 26. Preferably, each of the plurality of product support shelves is mounted, at a downwardly and forwardly extending shelf angle, to ensure that product containers moves toward a forward following a vend operation. In addition, each of the plurality of product support shelves 20-24 includes a plurality of dividers, one of which is indicated at 28, that establish a plurality of product queues, one of which is indicated at 30 on product support shelf 20. Each of the plurality of product queues 30 includes an integrated dispensing or escapement unit 33. Actually, integrated dispensing unit 33 is mounted at a front end (not separately labeled) of each of the plurality of dividers 28 and, as will be discussed more fully below, is selectively activated to release a product container 26 from storage/display zone 14 for delivery to a consumer. In a manner known in the art, storage/display zone 14 includes top, bottom and opposing side walls 37-40 (see
Arranged alongside storage/display zone 14 is currency receiving zone 15. In the embodiment shown, currency receiving zone 15 includes a currency receiving center 50 for inputting currency deposited by the consumer during a vend transaction. Currency receiving center 50 includes a bill acceptor/validator 52, a multi-price coin mechanism 53 and a key pad 55 for inputting particular product selections. Currency receiving center 50 also includes a display 57 for providing information to the consumer, as well as validating the particular selection made. Finally, a coin return slot 59 is provided for returning any required change to the: consumer at the completion of a vend operation. Arranged below currency receiving zone 15, dispensing zone 16 includes a dispensing chamber 65 that enables a consumer to remove a dispensed product from vending machine 2. In the embodiment shown, currency receiving zone 15 and dispensing zone 16 are provided on a door 70 that overlaps door 46 and therefore must be opened prior to opening door 46. To this end, door 70 is preferably provided with a lock 75 that prevents unauthorized access to within vending machine 2.
In accordance with the invention, vending machine 2 includes a product transport and delivery system 90 that receives one of the plurality of product containers 26 from one of the plurality of product queues 30 and transports the selected product towards delivery chamber 65 for receipt by the consumer. As referenced in
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, integrated dispensing unit 33 includes first and second release mechanisms 134 and 135. Referring to
Hinge plate 144 is also pivotally attached to hinge plate 145, with hinge pin 155 extending through bores in tab portions 210 and 211 of hinge plate 144 and tab portions 212-214 of hinge plate 145. In a similar manner, hinge plate 145 is pivotally attached to slidable connector 172, with hinge pin 156 extending through bores in tab portions 219 and 220 in hinge plate 145 and tab portions 221-223 of connector 172. In a manner that will be detailed more clearly below with regard to release mechanism 135, slidable connector 172 includes upper and lower projecting portions 227 and 228. The upper projecting portion is adapted to slide along a flange formed in top wall section 164, while the lower projecting portion is shiftably arranged within an open-ended elongated slot 230 defined in bottom wall section of frame 162. In this fashion, connector 172 is guided for sliding movement relative to frame 162. Hinge pin 156 includes an extension or drive member 234 which actually projects entirely through bottom wall section 165 of frame 162. With this arrangement, a linear force applied to extension 234 will cause first release mechanism 134 to transition between product retention and product dispensing positions as will be detailed more fully below.
In a similar manner, hinge plate 146 is pivotally attached to slidable connector 172, with hinge pin 157 extending through bores in tab portions 240 and 241 of slidable connector 172 and, tab portions 238 and 239 of hinge plate 146. Likewise, hinge plate 146 is pivotally attached to hinge plate 147 with hinge pin 158 extending through bores in tab portions 243 and 244 of hinge plate 146 and tab portions 245-247 of hinge plate 147. Actually, hinge pin 158 includes an extension 250 that ensures a smooth transition of products in each product queue 30. More specifically, extension 250 abuts an outer surface of certain product containers to ensure that the product containers do not get “caught” in product queue 30. That is, certain product containers, such as those having outer ribs, ridges or the like, pass by extension 250, ensuring a smooth transition. Finally, as will be detailed more fully below with respect to release mechanism 135, hinge plate 147 is pivotally mounted to slidable connector 173, with hinge pin 159 extending through bores in tab portions 252 and 253 of hinge plate 147 and tab portions 254-257 of slidable connector 173. Slidable connector 173 includes a lower projecting portion (not separately labeled) that extends into an elongated slot 258 formed in frame 162, while hinge pin 159 includes an upper section (not separately labeled) that is arranged with an elongated guide slot 259 formed in frame 162. In any case, it should be noted that slidable connectors 172 and 173 shift relative to frame 162 to move hinge plates 144-147 between article retention and dispensing positions, as will be discussed more fully below, while spring 179 biases each of slidable connectors 172 and 173, and hinged plates 144-147 towards front wall 166.
In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, hinge plate 144 is provided with first and second queue spacing members 260 and 261 which project into the product queue when release mechanisms 134 and 135 are in the article retention position as shown in
Reference will now be made to
Hinge plate 273 is also pivotally attached to hinge plate 274 with a hinge pin 278 extending through aligned bores (not separately labeled) formed in tab portions 309 and 310 of hinge plate 273 and tab portions 311-313 of hinge plate 274. Similarly, hinge plate 274 is pivotally attached to slidable connector 284, with hinge pin 279 extending through tab portions 317 and 318 of hinge plate 274 and tab portions 319-321 of slidable connector 284. Slidable connector 284 includes an upper projecting portion 332 and a lower projecting portion 333. Upper projecting portion 332 is adapted to slide upon a flange 336 of frame 162, while lower projecting portion 333 is shiftably arranged within an open-ended elongated slot 337 defined in frame 162. Hinge pin 279 includes an extension or drive member 340 which actually extends entirely through slot 337. In this fashion, connector 284 is guided for sliding movement relative to frame 162 and a linear force can act upon extension 340 to reposition release mechanism 135 during a dispensing operation as will be discussed more fully below.
As shown, hinge plate 275 includes a main plate member 347 and a sub-plate or kicker member 350. Main plate member 347 is pivotally attached to slidable connector 284 by means of hinge pin 280 extending through both tab portions 353 and 354 of main plate member 347 and tab portions 356 and 357 of slidable connector 284. In a manner similar to hinge pin 279 with respect to lower projecting portion 333 of slidable connector 284, a lower end 360 of hinge pin 280 is received in slot 337. At the same time, kicker member 350 is pivotable about an axis defined by hinge pin 280 since hinge pin 280 also extends through tab portion 365 of kicker member 350. With this arrangement, kicker member 350 can also pivot relative to main plate member 347 during a dispensing operation as will be discussed more fully below. Main plate member 347 includes a central cut-out or recessed region 375 into which is arranged a thickened central portion 376 (see
Main plate member 347 is also pivotally connected to hinge plate 276 through hinge pin 281. More specifically, hinge pin 281 extends through tab portions 410 and 411 of main plate member 347 and tab portions 415-417 of hinge plate 276. A terminal end 425 of hinge pin 281 is provided with an extension 427 that is adapted to abut a recessed section 428 of frame 162 to limit the movement of hinge plates 275 and 276 as shown in
Slidable connector 285 includes a lower projecting portion 480 slidably arranged in an elongated slot 485 formed in frame 162. Slidable connector 285 is biased in a forward direction by means of spring 286. Although not clearly shown, slidable connector 285 has projecting therefrom a rear shaft about which spring 286 is arranged. The shaft extends a short distance into a longitudinal bore 490 formed in frame 162, while spring 286 extends all the way into bore 490. In general, the shaft provides desired directional stability to this overall biasing arrangement.
In a manner similar to that described above, hinge plate 273 is provided with first and second queue spacing members 500 and 501. Queue spacing members 500 and 501 project outward from hinge plate 273 into product queue 30. More specifically, as shown in
With this construction, release mechanisms 134 and 135 initially assume the position shown in
As shown, when shifting to the product release position, kicker plate 350 engages with product container 26, urging product container 26 forward into product delivery cup 114, while hinge plates 146, 147 and 275, 276 assume an article blocking position preventing multiple vends. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, kicker plate 350 is coupled to a low torsion spring 550. Spring 550 actually retards the deployment of kicker 350 when shifting to the product release position establishing a particular timing for engaging with product container 26. In particular, this arrangement allows hinge plates 144, 145,273 and 274 to move at least partially to the product release position prior to the motion kicker plate 350. Also, given the presence of queue spacing members 262 and 505, when in the dispensing position, hinge plates 146, 147 and 275, 276 prevent multiple product containers from being dispensed from product queue 30. That is, instead of making adjustments to, for example, dividers 28 or escapement/dispensing units 33 to accommodate different size product containers, queue spacing members 262 and 505 establish a preferred spacing between adjacent dispensing units 33 to prevent multiple vends. In a similar manner, subsequent to the vending operation, a new product container is urged to a forward portion of the product queue, with queue spacing members 260, 261 and 500, 501 setting an appropriate size for the product to prevent smaller product containers from inadvertently exiting the product queue.
Reference will now be made to
Drive assembly 634 includes a main housing 640 that supports an activation member 643. Activation member 643 includes a first end 645 adapted to be engaged by structure carried by product delivery cup 114 to release the selected product, and extends to a second end 646 through an intermediate portion 647. At this point, it should be understood that activation member 643 extends substantially parallel to an underside (not separately labeled) of, for example, product support shelf 20. That is, given that each product delivery shelf 20-24 is preferably arranged at a downward angle causing product containers 26 to migrate to a forward position of each product queue, activation member 643 extends along a corresponding angle. In any case, activation member 643 includes first and second opposing side sections 649 and 650, with side section 649 being provided with a connector member 655 in the preferred form of a slot, and side section 650 including a plurality of geared teeth 660 which establishes a gear rack.
Activation member 643 is operatively connected to a first geared link or pinion 670 having a plurality of teeth 672 that are adapted to mesh with geared teeth 660 on activation member 643. First geared link 670 rotates about a pin member 675 that is supported in main housing 640. First geared link 670 is operatively connected to a second geared link or pinion 685. Second geared link 685 includes a plurality of teeth 687 that are adapted to mesh with teeth 672 on first geared link 670. Preferably, first and second geared links 670 and 685 are identical. However, it should be understood that, so long as a pitch diameter of teeth 672 and 687 are similar, there is no need for first and second geared links 670 and 685 to be identical. In any event, second geared link 685 rotates about a pin member 689 which is positioned adjacent to pin member 675 on main housing 640.
Second geared link 685 is operatively connected to a driven member 696 having a front end section 697, a rear end section 698 and opposing side sections 699 and 700. In a manner similar to that described above, first side section 699 includes a plurality of geared teeth 705 which mesh with teeth 687 on second gear link 685, while a connector member 709 is arranged on second side section 700. At this point, it should be noted that connector member 655 and connector member 709 are adapted to receive extending portions 234 and 340 of release mechanisms 134 and 135 respectively.
With the above-described construction, upon application of a force to front end 645, activation member 643 travels into main housing 640. As activation member 643 travels inward, geared teeth 660 engage with geared teeth 672, causing first geared link 670 to rotate clockwise. The clockwise rotation of first geared link 670 results in a counterclockwise rotation of second geared link 685, thereby shifting driven member 696 inward of main housing 640. That is, as second geared link 685 rotates, geared teeth 687 mesh with geared teeth 705, shifting drive member 696 in the same direction as activation member 643. Preferably, activation member 643 and driven member 696 shift inward in unison such that connector members 655 and 709 act upon extended portions 234 and 340, thereby simultaneously shifting first and second release mechanisms 134 and 135 between their product retention and product release positions.
In accordance with one preferred aspect of the invention, activation member 643 is operated by an activating mechanism 736 mounted in a housing portion 738 of product delivery cup 114 as shown in
At this point, reference will be made to
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, plunger 740 includes a first end 796, a second end 797 and an intermediate portion 798. Arranged within intermediate portion 798 is a return spring 809 that biases plunger 740 to retract back into housing portion 738 of activating mechanism 736 at the completion of a release cycle. In addition to return spring 809, a safety spring 815 is mounted within intermediate portion 798. Safety spring 815 is operatively connected between first end 796 and a second end 817 of pusher member 780. Safety spring 815 allows pusher member 780 to collapse relative to lobe 761 if plunger 740 engages a non-movable obstruction during a product vend operation. For instance, in the event that plunger 740 inadvertently contacts one of the plurality of shelves 20-24, a force is absorbed by plunger 740 that overcomes a preset tension in safety spring 815 whereupon pusher member 780 pivots about a pin 821 allowing plunger 740 to retract back into housing portion 738 to prevent damage to activation mechanism 736 or shelves 20-24. In any case, it should be understood that the above-described activating mechanism is but one means to activate and release a selected product from one of the plurality of product shelves. That is, in addition to aligning a plunger with an activation arm, other systems, such as simply wiping across a mechanical or electrical activating member, could trigger a release of a product. For example, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, mechanical drive system 630 is replaced by an electrical drive system such as indicated at 860 in
As shown, drive assembly 863 includes a solenoid 870 that is mounted to an underside of one of the plurality of product support shelves 20-24 through bracket elements 871 and 872. Solenoid 870 includes a plunger 873 having an associated spring 874 that is connected to a drive bracket 875 through a connecting member 878. Drive bracket 875 includes a plurality of slotted openings 883-885 through which pass an associated plurality of guide elements 889-891. Guide elements 889-891 are fixedly mounted relative to an underside of the one of the plurality of product support shelves 20-24 and terminate in mechanical fasteners (not separately labeled). In addition to slotted openings 883-885, drive bracket 875 includes a pair of pin receiving openings 896 and 897. Pin receiving opening 896 and 897 receive extended portions 234 and 340 of release mechanisms 134 and 135 respectively.
With this particular arrangement, activation of solenoid 870 causes plunger 873 to retract, shifting drive bracket 875 inward. As drive bracket 875 shifts inward, extended portions 234 and 340 shift in adjacent frames 162, causing release mechanisms 134 and 135 to transition between product retention and product release positions. At this point, it should be noted that solenoid 870 could be activated by depressing a switch, such as indicated at 900, mounted to a front side of one of the plurality of product shelves 20-24 adjacent each product queue 30. Alternatively, solenoid 870 may simply be interconnected to a control portion in vending machine 2 that activates solenoid 870 when product delivery cup 114 is in a product receiving position.
Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the relative positions of the product storage zone, currency receiving zone and dispensing zone can be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Also, the product transport system including a product delivery cup is but one possible mechanism for delivering a product to a consumer, other mechanisms such as conveyor belts can also be employed. In fact, at least when used in connection with vending products, such as snacks and non-carbonated beverages, which can be released from a product queue and allowed to simply fall into a dispensing chamber, no product transport system is required. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/249,525 filed Oct. 14, 2005, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,145 on Oct. 20, 2009.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5497905 | Vogelpohl et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
6199729 | Drzymkowski | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6966455 | Skavnak | Nov 2005 | B2 |
7604145 | Percy | Oct 2009 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20100038375 A1 | Feb 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11249525 | Oct 2005 | US |
Child | 12589069 | US |