Patent Application
20070108222
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of vending machines and, more particularly, to a transport system that shifts along multiple axes to carry a selected product from a display/storage area to a dispensing area for delivery to a consumer.
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.
The more unique mechanisms are gradually becoming more prevalent, particularly given their ability to attract consumers. That is, the ability to watch the selected product being transported about the vending machine has proven to be an attraction to many consumers, often times convincing the consumer into making a purchase. Unfortunately, while the more unique mechanisms have proven successful at attracting customers, often times the more unique mechanisms are generally more complex, costly and prone to potential operational problems.
Many of the more unique transport systems employ linear actuator mechanisms having a vertical rail slidably mounted to upper and lower horizontal rails. A carrier is mounted to the vertical rail for movement between product shelves. Typically, a motor is mounted to the vertical rail for driving a belt in order to shift the carrier. The vertical rail is shifted along the horizontal rails to position the carrier adjacent a particular product. In general, horizontal translation of the vertical rail is accomplished by synchronized operation of distinct upper and lower drive motors. The drive motors are connected to upper and lower drive belts which are, in turn, connected to end portions of the vertical rail. While this method is generally effective at positioning the carrier, it is often difficult to maintain proper synchronization between the upper and lower drive motors. That is, through continued use, components of the upper and lower drive motors will wear causing one motor to operate at a rate different that the other motor resulting in misalignment of the carrier with the particular product. In addition to problems associated with maintaining a desired synchronization between multiple motors, maintaining proper tension in multiple drive belts has also proven to be a challenge. That is, like the drive motors, through continuous use, the drive belts will wear at different rates. One belt will, over time, stretch more than the other. Unless proper and similar tensions are maintained in both of the belts, the carrier may not be properly positioned.
Based on the above, despite the presence of numerous types of product transport systems in the prior art, there still exists a need for an enhanced, belt driven product transport system for a vending machine. More specifically, there exists a need for a product transport system that eliminates the need to synchronize motors, while also avoiding the problems associated with varying belt tension.
The present invention is directed to a vending machine including a product delivery system that shifts along multiple axes inside a cabinet to transport a selected product from one of a plurality of product queues, arranged on one of a plurality of product shelves, to a dispensing chamber for delivery to a consumer. In accordance with the invention, the product delivery system includes first and second guide rails and a carriage rail. Each of the first and second guide rails are fixedly mounted in the cabinet. The guide rails are spaced from one another and extend along a first and second substantially parallel axes. The carriage rail extends across the cabinet along a third axis and is slidably mounted to the first and second guide rails. More specifically, the carriage rail includes a first end connected to the first guide rail and a second end connected to the second guide rail. A carrier member is slidably mounted to the carriage rail for movement along the third axis.
In accordance with the invention, the product transport system includes a first drive belt associated with movement along the third axis. The first drive belt is mounted to the carriage rail and operatively coupled to the carrier member. The first drive belt is also operatively connected to a first drive motor which is selectively activated to shift the carrier member along the carriage rail. During a vend operation, the motor shifts the carrier member along the carriage rail to a position adjacent a particular product. However, in addition to translation along the third axis, the carriage rail member must be shifted along the first and second axes.
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, the product delivery system includes a second, continuous drive belt associated with movement along the first and second axes. The second drive belt includes a first portion that extends adjacent the first guide rail and which is operatively connected to the first end of the carriage rail; a second, intermediate portion that extends substantially parallel to the third axis; and a third portion that extends adjacent the second guide rail and which is operatively connected to the second end of the carriage rail. The second drive belt is operatively connected to a second drive motor that is fixedly mounted relative to the cabinet. The second drive motor is selectively activated to shift the carriage rail along the first and second axes to position the carrier member adjacent the particular product. That is, the first and second drive motors shift the carrier member along X and Y axes to a point adjacent the selected product. In any event, the above described construction advantageously provides movement of the carrier member along multiple axes without the need to synchronize drive motors or to match tensions in drive belts.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments 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. 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 associated dispensing or escapement mechanism 33 for releasing a product container 26 from storage/display zone 14 for delivery to a consumer. The actual construction and operation of dispensing mechanism 33 does not constitute part of the present invention. Instead, various known dispensing mechanisms could be employed, including that set forth in detail in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,988 entitled “Article Release Mechanism For a Vending Machine” issued on Jun. 3, 2003. 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
Reference will now be made to
As further shown in the figures, carriage rail 100, which extends along a third or vertical axis, includes a first end 160 leading to a second end 161 through an intermediate portion 162. First end 160 is slidingly mounted to first guide rail 95 and second end 161, in a similar manner, is slidingly mounted to second guide rail 96. Carriage rail 100 supports a carrier member 168, to which product delivery cup 114 is secured, that shifts vertically along carriage rail 100 to position product delivery cup 114 at a select one of the plurality shelves 20-24. More specifically, carrier member 168 includes a plurality of rollers two of which are indicated at 180 and 181 in
In accordance with the invention, a first drive belt 196 extends between first and second ends 160 and 161 of carriage rail 100. Preferably, first drive belt 196 constitutes a continuous belt and is operatively connected to a vertical translation mechanism 107 which, in the embodiment shown, is constituted by a motor 200. At this point, it should be understood that by “continuous” it is meant that belt 196 forms a loop. That is, while belt 196 could be formed as one continuous element, end portions of belt 196 could also be joined, such as through a mechanical device such as a clamp, to form a continuous loop. In any case, as best shown in
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, carriage rail 100 is connected to first and second guide rails 95 and 96 through a pair of roller plates 240 and 241. However, as each roller plate 240, 241 is similar, a detailed description will be made with respect to roller plate 240 with an understanding that roller plate 241 is substantially similarly constructed. As best shown in
In further accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, product transport system 90 includes a second, continuous drive belt 294 having a first portion 298 that extends along first guide rail 95 along the first axis, a second portion 299 that extends along second guide rail 96 along the second axis, and an intermediate portion 300 which extends along side wall 39. As best shown in
As also shown in these figures, a lower cover 313 is provided over second drive belt 294 along bottom wall 38 to prevent foreign objects from interfering with the operation of product transport and delivery system 90. In any case, while only a single cover 313 is shown, it should be understood that substantially all exposed portions of drive belt 294 could be covered. Likewise, first drive belt 196 is also preferably covered, however this structure has been removed in the figures to enable a better understanding of the overall system construction.
In order to ensure proper operation of product transport system 90, each drive belt 196, 294 is preferably provided with a belt tensioning device which, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, is constituted by a spring clip member 323 shown in connection with drive belt 196 in
Spring loaded idler pulley 331 includes a bracket 344 having a plurality of mounting apertures, two of which are shown at 347 and 348, for attaching spring loaded idler pulley to, preferably, side wall 39. Bracket 344 includes first and second leg portions 353 and 354, each having a corresponding out-turned face section 357, 358. Arranged between first and second leg portions 353 and 354 is a first pulley 363 having a plurality of ridges 364 for receiving corresponding teeth arranged on drive belt 294. In any case, first pulley 363 is supported upon a pin 366 that is loaded by a spring 369 compressed between leg portion 353 and a washer 370. First pulley 363 constitutes the stationary portion of spring loaded idler pulley 331. By stationary portion, it should be understood to mean that, while first pulley 363 can rotate freely, and axis of rotation of first pulley 363 is fixed.
Spring loaded idler pulley 331 also includes a second pulley 373 that is rotatably supported by a block member 379 through a pin 380. Block member 379 is mounted on pin 366, which extends through second leg 354 of bracket 344. Pin 380 is preferably, axially offset from pin 366. With this arrangement, block member 379 can be shifted laterally outward against a force supplied by spring 369 and pivoted about an axis defined by pin 366 such that block member 379 can be rotated relative to bracket 344. With this arrangement, pin 380 and pulley 373 can be shifted to a forward position, such as shown in
At this point, is should be understood that the product transport and delivery system constructed in accordance with the present invention provides a rather advantageous arrangement employing a single drive motor to shift a product delivery cup along a first axis and another, single drive motor to shift the product delivery cup along a second axis. That is, by utilizing only a single motor for movement in each axis, the need to provide synchronization between multiple motors is no longer necessary. Particularly advantageous is the generally C or U-shaped arrangement for one continuous drive belt which enables both ends of a carriage or other product transport unit to be positively driven for movement in one directional axis with a single, preferably fixed, drive motor. In addition, by utilizing a single drive belt in connection with each motor, problems associated with improper tensioning or stretching of one belt more than another is also removed, ensuring that product delivery cup 114 is properly positioned even after extended operation of vending machine 2. Furthermore, motors 200 and 304 drive belts 196 and 294 through their respective drive pulleys, with the drive pulleys being mounted between bushings (not shown). In this manner, side loads are not placed on the driveshafts of motors 200 and 304. With this construction, motors 200 and 304 can be disconnected from their respective pulley without removing the associated belt 196, 294.
Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment 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, while described with reference to horizontal and vertical axes, the axes can also be reversed without detracting from the operation of the product delivery system. That is, the continuous belt in the described embodiment is used in connection with horizontal or X-axis shifting, while the arrangement could be readily re-aligned for use in connection with a controlled vertical or Y-axis shifting design such as would be needed if the transport system employed a conveyor in place of the delivery cup described. To that end, it should also be noted that various mechanisms could be employed to carry the selected product towards the delivery chamber. In addition, various guide configurations could also be employed for the carriage, including a sleeve shiftably mounted for movement along a guide shaft. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
