The apparatuses and methods described herein are intended to be used with a number of containers 10. The containers 10 may be any type of object that is generally sold within a vending machine. The containers 10 may take any desired shape or size. Likewise, any number of the containers 10 may be used herein. The containers 10 may include bottles, cans, pouches, and the like. The containers 10 may contain beverages, foods, and the like. Any other type of merchandise may be used herein without limitation.
Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views,
Generally described, the vending machine 100 includes a shelf system 110 and a vend belt system 120. The shelf system 110 and the vend belt system 120 may be used with any number of other components of the vending machine 100. Specifically, the shelf system 110 and the vend belt system 120 may be used with a conventional frame, heating and/or refrigeration systems, selection systems, payment systems and any other type of conventional or desired component. The shelf system 110 and the vend belt system 120 may be a retrofit, in whole or in part, to an existing vending machine or the shelf system 110 and the vend belt system 120 may be provided with the vending machine 100 as original equipment.
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The shelf system 110 may include a number of shells or shelves 140. The shelves 140 may be made out of metal, plastic, or any type of material that is substantially corrosion resistant. Any number of shelves 140 may be used herein. The shelves 140 may be positioned on a belt 150. The belt 150 may be any type of circular or endless belt or chain. The belt 150 may have any desired length. A number of belts 150 may be used together with the shelves 140 attached to each. Each shelf 140 may be attached to the belt 150 via a hinge or other type of rotatable attachment. Each shelf 140 may be positioned in a largely inclined horizontal direction so as to load the containers 10 thereon and transport them downwardly towards the vend belt system 120. The shelf 140 may then rotate to a largely vertical direction once the containers 10 have been dispensed such that the shelf 140 returns back up to the top of the belt 150 in an endless loop.
The distance between the columns 130 determines the maximum width of each shelf 140 as well as the maximum diameter of the containers 10. Note that the maximum length of each shelf 140 (or the length of a combination of multiple shelves 140) is determined by the interior depth of the vending machine 100 as a whole. The spacing between the shelves 140 also may be varied as desired. The vertical distance between two shelves 140 determines the maximum height (and also the maximum diameter) of the containers 10. The vertical distance may be changed based upon the dimensions of the containers 10.
The belt 150 of the shelf system 110 may be motorized in a conventional fashion such that the belt 150 may rotate as desired. Alternatively, the belt(s) 150 may be fixed and a further belt 150 may be used to drive the shelves 140. A conventional DC motor or similar types of drive means may be used herein. The shelf system 110 and the vending machine 100 as a whole may be operated by conventional control means or otherwise.
The vend belt 160 may be used with a pulley system 190. The pulley system 190 may include a first wheel 200 and a second wheel 210. The pulley system 190 further may include a pair of pulley belts 220. The pulley belts 220 may connect the wheels 200. 210 and the vend belt 160. Specifically, the first end 170 of the vend belt 160 may be spooled or retracted about the first wheel 200. The second end 180 of the vend belt 160 may be attached to the pulley belts 220. In turn, the pulley belts 220 are mounted around the second wheel 210 on one end and about the first end 170 of the vend belt 160 on the other. Other methods of advancing and retracting the vend belt 160 may be used herein.
Either or both the first wheel 200 and the second wheel 210 of the pulley system 190 may be mechanized so as to rotate the wheels 200, 210. Any type of conventional drive mechanism may be used herein such as a conventional DC motor or similar types of devices. As above, the vend belt system 120 and the vending machine 100 as a whole may have a conventional control system.
A stop 230 may be positioned about the first end 170 of the vend belt 160. The stop 230 may be positioned a predetermined distance off of the vend belt 160. The stop 230 may be any type of blunt, fixed surface and may be made out of metal, plastic, or any type of convenient materials. The stop 230 may be mounted or positioned adjacent to the vend belt 160 as desired.
In use, the containers 10 may be positioned on the vend belt 160 largely without regard to spacing. Rather, the vend belt 160 itself operates to organize the containers 10 in a single file fashion. As is shown in
When the next container 10 is to be dispensed, the vend belt 160 again retracts towards the first wheel 200 such that the rear container 10 again contacts the stop 230. The vend belt 160 continues to retract such that the next container is then dispensed. The vend belt 160 then extends back towards the second wheel 210 so as to limit the loss of cool or otherwise treated air. The process will repeat itself until the vend belt 160 is empty. At that point, the shelf system 10 may be triggered so as to discharge the containers 10 of the next shelf 140 onto the vend belt 160. The extent of travel of the vend belt 160 may be predetermined. Alternatively, various types of sensors can be used to determine when the container 10 drops off of the vend belt 160 and when the vend belt 160 should be reloaded.
It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present application and that numerous changes and modification may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.