U.S. patent application number 10/254296 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for object dispenser.
Invention is credited to Lowes, Kenneth B., Veenstra, John H..
Application Number | 20040059464 10/254296 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31887862 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040059464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Veenstra, John H. ; et
al. |
March 25, 2004 |
OBJECT DISPENSER
Abstract
An object dispenser uses a support structure arranged to receive
and hold a compact array of objects for dispensing. The objects can
be contained in packages that are dispensed along with the objects
from any location in the array. Gravity can provide the motive
power for dispensing the objects when they are selectively released
from the array. This is accomplished by retainers that hold the
objects in place when latched and release the objects for
dispensing when selectively unlatched.
Inventors: |
Veenstra, John H.;
(Pittsford, NY) ; Lowes, Kenneth B.; (N.
Vancouver, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eugene S. Stephens
Eugene Stephens & Associates
56 Windsor Street
Rochester
NY
14605
US
|
Family ID: |
31887862 |
Appl. No.: |
10/254296 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/231 ;
221/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 11/64 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/231 ;
221/009 |
International
Class: |
G07F 011/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A dispenser comprising: a. a support structure arranged in a
portable case and configured to receive and hold objects for
dispensing; b. retainers mounted on the support structure to retain
the objects in held positions until released for dispensing; c. the
support structure being oriented in a dispensing position so that
releasing one of the objects for dispensing allows the released
object move out of the support and drop downward gravitationally;
d. the retainers being movable between latched positions blocking
exit of the objects from their held positions and unlatched
positions allowing entry of the objects into their held positions
and exit of the objects from their held positions when released for
dispensing; e. the support structure having latch mechanisms that
latch and unlatch the retainers; and f. microcircuitry arranged to
operate the latch mechanisms to unlatch the retainers and thereby
release selected objects for dispensing.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the portable case in a loading
position is oriented to receive and hold the objects until the
retainers are latched.
3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the retainers are biased to
spring open when unlatched.
4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises
tubes arranged to hold the objects, the latch mechanisms are
arranged in the tubes, and the retainers are mounted on access ends
of the tubes.
5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the tubes and the objects are
equal in number.
6. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the tubes have smaller
diameters than the objects and are arranged in spaces between the
objects.
7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the objects are contained in
packages.
8. A system dispensing a variety of objects, the system comprising:
a. each of the objects being contained in a package; b. a
supporting structure configured to support an array of the packages
for dispensing; c. latchable and unlatchable retainers arranged on
the support structure so that one of the retainers holds each of
the packages in place until selectively released for dispensing;
and d. the supporting structure being inclined in a dispensing
position so that unlatching one of the retainers releases one of
the packages which thereupon falls gravitationally from the
supporting structure for dispensing.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the supporting structure has latch
mechanisms to latch and unlatch the retainers and includes
microcircuitry arranged to unlatch the latch mechanisms.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the supporting structure has an
access side through which the packages can enter and exit the
support structure when the retainers are unlatched.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the supporting structure is
arranged in a portable case that is mounted securely at a
dispensing site.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the supporting structure has
mechanisms that unlatch the retainers, the mechanisms are actuated
by memory material, and the mechanisms are arranged in tubes
located between the packages.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein microcircuitry operating the
mechanisms is arranged on a rear side of the support structure
where the microcircuitry is in communicating connection with the
memory materials in the tubes.
14. A dispensing array comprising: a. a support structure including
microcircuitry having a memory of information identifying objects
loaded into the array for dispensing; b. the support structure
having an access side allowing the objects to be inserted into the
support structure for dispensing; c. the support structure being
inclined so that the objects can gravitationally drop out of the
access side of the support structure when released for dispensing;
d. the support structure having an array of tubes spaced to receive
and hold the objects until the objects are released for
gravitational dispensing; e. the support structure having latchable
and unlatchable retainers arranged on access ends of the tubes so
that one of the retainers corresponds to each one of the objects;
f. latch mechanisms for the retainers being arranged in the tubes
and being operably connected to the microcircuitry; and g. the
retainers being selectively unlatched by the microcircuitry to
permit loading of the objects into the array and to release
selected ones of the objects for dispensing from the array.
15. The dispensing array of claim 14 wherein the support structure
is arranged in a portable case that is carried to and from a
dispensing site.
16. The dispensing array of claim 14 wherein the microcircuitry is
arranged within the support structure where the latch mechanisms in
the tubes connect to the microcircuitry.
17. The dispensing array of claim 16 wherein the latch mechanisms
are unlatched by memory material in response to signals from the
microcircuitry.
18. The dispensing array of claim 14 wherein the objects are
packaged and the packages are held in spaces between any three of
the tubes.
19. A dispensing system comprising: a. a portable case that is
carried to and from a dispensing site; b. the case containing a
structure supporting an array of tubes arranged to retain packaged
objects supported between the tubes; c. the tubes and the packaged
objects retained between the tubes being inclined at the dispensing
site to allow selected ones of the packaged objects to be
gravitationally dispensed when released; d. manually latchable and
electrically unlatchable retainers mounted on the tubes so that
each retainer can hold and release a corresponding one of the
packaged objects; e. latching mechanisms for the retainers being
arranged within the tubes to be unlatched by memory material; f.
the case containing microcircuitry having a memory of information
identifying objects loaded into the tube array; g. the
microcircuitry being arranged to actuate the latching mechanisms to
selectively unlatch the retainers; and h. the retainers being
manually latchable and being biased to spring open when
unlatched.
20. The dispensing system of claim 19 wherein the microcircuitry is
arranged on the structure supporting the tubes to communicate with
the memory materials.
21. The dispensing system of claim 19 wherein the latching
mechanisms are spring-biased to retainer latching positions and are
moved against the spring bias by the memory materials.
22. The dispensing system of claim 19 wherein the microcircuitry is
arranged on a circuit board mounted on a rear face of the structure
supporting the tubes, and adapters connect the latch mechanisms to
circuits on the circuit board.
23. A dispensing array comprising: a. an array of tubes configured
to support packaged objects for dispensing; b. each of the tubes
having a latchable and unlatchable retainer holding one of the
packaged objects in the tube array when the retainer is latched; c.
a latch mechanism arranged in each of the tubes to latch and
unlatch each retainer; d. the latch mechanisms being spring-biased
into latching positions; e. the retainers being manually latchable;
f. memory materials being arranged to move the latch mechanisms
against the spring bias to unlatch the retainers; and g. the latch
mechanisms and memory materials being arranged within the
tubes.
24. The dispensing array of claim 23 wherein the tube array is
arranged at a dispensing site so that unlatching a retainer and
releasing one of the packaged objects results in the packaged
object falling gravitationally from the tube array.
25. The dispensing array of claim 23 wherein the tube array is
arranged in a portable case that is loaded with the packaged
objects at a loading site and transported to a dispensing site.
26. The dispensing array of claim 23 including microcircuitry
having a memory of information identifying the packaged objects
loaded into the tube array.
27. The dispensing array of claim 26 including an operative
connection between the microcircuitry and the memory materials so
signals from the microcircuitry can selectively actuate the memory
wires to unlatch the latch mechanisms.
28. The dispensing array of claim 23 wherein the retainers are
spring biased to open when unlatched.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Machines that automatically dispense objects.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Automatic dispensing machines have become increasingly
popular because of their ability to deliver objects reliably to
authorized recipients and thereby providing inventory control and
saving labor costs that would otherwise be involved. A wide variety
of dispensing machines has been developed to dispense different
sorts of objects, and yet all these dispensers suffer from various
problems.
[0003] Many automatic dispensing machines are large and heavy, take
up floor space, and are expensive to build and maintain. They tend
to include motors and mechanical movements that add to their
weight, complexity, and expense. They also have to be reloaded at
the dispensing site by a service man that transports the objects to
be dispensed.
[0004] A departure from this trend occurs in U.S. Pat. No.
6,338,007, which suggests cells arrayed in drawers to make medical
supplies available to authorized recipients. Drawers loaded with a
multiplicity of individual cells that can be transported to the
dispensing site, but there, the cells are scanned and inserted in
drawers and later merely opened to provide access, rather than
actually dispensing the intended objects.
[0005] Dispensing machines are also required to generate
information on what is dispensed to which recipient. Here too,
present machines either fail to do this completely or accomplish it
in an inconvenient and expensive way.
[0006] Altogether, this invention aims at a simpler and more
efficient automatic dispensing machine that is compact, and
inexpensive. The invention also aims at versatility in dispensing a
wide variety of objects and at convenience and efficiency in
generating and transmitting information on dispensing
transactions.
SUMMARY
[0007] The inventive dispenser uses a structure configured to
support an array of objects to be dispensed. Retainers mounted on
the support structure are latchable to hold the objects in their
places in the array until the retainers are selectively unlatched
to release the objects for dispensing. Mechanisms to unlatch the
retainers are arranged in the support structure, preferably in
communication with microcircuitry containing information on the
loaded objects and generating information on objects dispensed.
[0008] The support structure, retainers, and unlatching mechanisms
can be arranged in various ways to achieve advantages sought by the
invention. For example, to pack objects densely into the array, a
simple tubular structure can support the objects in a honeycomb
pattern, with the support tubes distributed between the objects. If
the objects vary in size and shape, they can be contained in
packages that are dispensed from such an array. A support tube
configuration also allows retainers to be mounted on the support
tubes and unlatching mechanisms to be mounted within the support
tubes. Microcircuitry arranged on a circuit board can be mounted to
achieve both physical and electrical communication with the support
tubes for dispensing purposes.
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the invention take advantage of
gravity to power the motion required to dispense the objects. One
way this can be done is by orienting the support structure at an
inclination at a dispensing site so that unlatching one of the
retainers releases an object for gravitationally falling out of and
dispensing from the support array. For this purpose, the latchable
and unlatchable retainers preferably block exit of objects from an
access side of the support structure and spring open when unlatched
to permit gravitational exit of objects. Springs can also be
arranged to bias the objects into movement gravitationally out of
the array.
[0010] To make the loading of objects for dispensing more efficient
and to accomplish the necessary flow of loading and dispensing
information back and forth between a supplier and a user, preferred
embodiments of the invention preferably arrange the object
supporting array within a portable case. This requires that the
support structure, the retainers, and the unlatching mechanisms all
be made light enough in weight so that when combined with a
reasonable number of objects for dispensing, the case is light
enough to be manually handled during transport. Keeping the support
structure to a minimum weight, and making the retainers and
unlatching mechanisms simple and light in weight helps make this
possible. Including microcircuitry in the support structure can
ensure that dispensing information travels efficiently between the
supplier and the user. The microcircuitry also facilitates
electromechanical actuation of retainer unlatching mechanisms,
which can be made simple and light in weight by using shaped memory
materials. Packaging objects that are not already packaged helps
keep the supporting structure simple by not requiring that it
provide package-like cells.
[0011] Preferred embodiments of the invention thus achieve
significant advantages over existing dispensers. They can be made
versatile, compact, low in cost, and inexpensive to load and
maintain. They can do all this while generating and transmitting
the necessary information and securely directing objects only to
authorized recipients. They can thus facilitate analysis of a
supply flow of the objects and reduce the cost of loading and
delivering the objects that will become necessary.
DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of a preferred
embodiment of the inventive dispenser arranged in a portable
dispensing case.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic and partially cut away side
elevational view of the portable dispensing case of FIG. 1 arranged
at a dispensing site.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view of a preferred
embodiment of an object-supporting array useable in the dispenser
of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of preferred
embodiments of object support tubes and a retainer unlatching
mechanism suitable for use in the structures of FIGS. 1-3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, and partially schematic
view of the retainer unlatching mechanism of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the
invention in the form of a portable dispensing case that
gravitationally dispenses packaged objects at a dispensing site.
The invention is not limited to these particulars, however. The
invention can also be applied to a fixed dispenser that does not
use a portable case, and it can be used for objects that are not
packaged or do not need packages to be retained in a dispensing
array. The invention can also be embodied in a dispenser that does
not rely on gravity for dispensing movement. The invention
therefore has advantageous merits that can be applied in many forms
other than the illustrated embodiment.
[0018] Case 10 holds an illustrated array of objects 25 to be
dispensed. Although case 10 can be fixed in place, its possible
portability is illustrated by carrying handle 11. Especially when
case 10 is intended to be carried from a loading site to a
dispensing site with a full load of objects 25, case 10 is
desirably made as light in weight and as compact as possible. To
advance these goals, objects 25 are preferably arranged in
staggered rows as illustrated or otherwise packed as densely as
possible. Strategies for packing objects 25 densely can vary with
the configuration of the objects, which can be packages, as
illustrated, in the form of tubular shapes that contain smaller
objects of various sizes and shapes for dispensing. Plastic tubes
in cylindrical or other cross-sectional form with closed ends and
removable end caps (not shown) are inexpensively available and can
be used to package and dispense a wide variety of objects. Object
packages 25 can also have many shapes other than cylindrical, and
these shapes can be affected by the configuration of the objects to
be packaged. Whatever their shape, packages 25 are preferably made
light in weight, especially if case 10 is to be portable.
[0019] The packages 25 shown in FIG. 1 all have the same diameter
or size, but this need not be so. An array within case 10 can be
configured to support packages of more than one diameter or length
or otherwise differing in size or configuration.
[0020] Packages 25 offer a special advantage in dealing with
objects differing in size and shape. Cutting tools and small parts
for assembly purposes provide a good example. These can occur in an
endless variety of shapes and sizes, many of which can fit within a
uniform array of packages 25. The uniformity of packages 25
simplifies the support structure within case 10, which only has to
be configured to receive one size, or possibly a few sizes, of
object packages.
[0021] Packages 25 can also be recycled. When a packaged object is
dispensed, the recipient can remove the package cap, obtain the
object within the package, and drop the package in a nearby
container for recycling.
[0022] Whether packaged or unpackaged, objects 25 are preferably
held in place by support tubes 30 that are distributed among
objects 25. Support tubes 30 can also vary widely in size and
shape. Simple cylindrical tubes 30 are illustrated in the drawings,
because these are economically available. Such support tubes can
have different diameters and different cross-sectional shapes,
however. It is also possible to mold a supporting structure within
case 10 to have projections, rods, cups, or other configurations
able to support an array of objects 25, without using tubes 30.
[0023] With a support rod or tube arrangement as shown in FIG. 1,
objects 25 are slid into spaces between tubes 30 from the
illustrated access side of case 10. During dispensing, objects are
released from between tubes 30 and slide out of the access side of
case 10. During transport, the illustrated access side of case 10
is closed by a moveable panel (not shown).
[0024] The array illustrated in FIG. 1 contains some gaps showing
spaces from which objects 25 have been dispensed. As the supply of
remaining objects 25 reduces, case 10 is replaced with a loaded
case and is brought to a reloading site where it is reloaded with a
supply of objects 25 for eventual return to a dispensing site.
Alternatively, if case 10 is fixed in place, it is reloaded at its
dispensing site.
[0025] Support tubes 30 have an advantage over other object
supporting structures in being able to mount and contain mechanisms
for holding and selectively releasing objects 25 from their
positions in the array. For this purpose, support tubes 30
preferably include retainers 40 mounted on the illustrated access
ends 32 of the support tubes 30. Retainers 40 can be latched in the
positions illustrated for all the spaces containing objects 25, and
in their latched positions, the retainers block any exit of objects
25 from the array. When retainers 40 are unlatched, they preferably
spring open to the positions illustrated for the empty array spaces
from which objects have been dispensed. This moves retainers 40
into alignment with tubes 30 where they are out of the way of an
exit path of objects 25 from the array. A few support tubes 31
arranged around sides and bottom of the array within case 10, hold
objects 25 in position without requiring retainers 40. Although
retainers 40 are illustrated as positioned above the spaces holding
objects 25, they can also be arranged below or along side the
retained objects. The illustrated staggered rows of objects 25
allow each object to be held in its array position by three support
tubes, preferably spaced 120.degree. apart around each object
space.
[0026] Case 10 is preferably mounted at an inclination at a
dispensing site 15, as schematically shown in FIG. 2. The
inclination angle is sufficient to allow objects 25 to fall out of
the array and be dispensed gravitationally to an access tray 16
below case 10. A suitable inclination angle is preferably set
depending on the configuration of objects 25 and the static
friction occurring between objects 25 and tubes 30. Inclination of
tubes 30 and objects 25 can be built into case 10, but especially
for portable cases, objects 25 and support tubes 30 are preferably
oriented horizontally during case transport, and then set to the
necessary inclination angle by tilting case 10 at a dispensing site
as illustrated.
[0027] Latched retainers 40 hold objects 25 in their retained
positions in the array within case 10, as shown in FIG. 2; except
one object 25a is shown gravitationally sliding out of its array
position by unlatching of its retainer 40a. Another object 25b is
shown dispensed to access tray 16.
[0028] Retainers 40 are preferably arranged at the access ends 32
of tubes 40, as shown in FIG. 2, and in this position they block
entry or exit of objects 25 from the array in case 10. It is also
possible to arrange retainers 40 near the closed or opposite end of
tubes 30 to engage lips or edges of objects 25.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows more detail of the array structure removed from
case 10 and dispensing site 15, but inclined at a dispensing angle.
Latched retainers 40 hold objects 25 in their places between
support tubes 30, and an unlatched retainer 40a allows a released
object 25a to slide gravitationally out of an access side of the
array, as illustrated. Another unlatched retainer 40a stands open
above an empty place from which an object 25 has been
dispensed.
[0030] A plate 17 preferably provides a principal support for tubes
30. Plate 17 can be drilled to accept tubes 30, or tubes 30 can be
integrally molded with a support plate or backing. Additional
support for tubes 30 is preferably provided by circuit board 20,
which is preferably arranged in a rear or non-access region of a
portable case 10. Support plate 17 is preferably spaced from
circuit board 20 so that tubes 30 are securely mounted to extend
from circuit board 20 to support plate 17 and on forward to an
access side 35 of the array where objects 25 can enter and
exit.
[0031] Circuit board 20 preferably includes the necessary circuit
elements to store records of loading information of objects 25 and
store records of dispensing transactions that occur when authorized
recipients enter information at a dispensing site and receive
objects 25. Such memory travels with case 10, when case 10 is made
portable. Circuit board 20 also preferably includes circuitry
necessary for operating unlatching mechanisms for retainers 40.
Circuit board 20 can thus do double duty providing some structural
support for the closed ends of tubes 30, while providing electrical
connections necessary to operate the unlatching mechanisms arranged
within tubes 30.
[0032] A preferred embodiment of an unlatching mechanism 45 for
retainers 40 is schematically shown in FIG. 4. The unlatching
mechanism 45 is preferably arranged within an inner tube 35 fitted
within support tube 30. Unlatching mechanism 45 includes a latch
pin 46 that is moveable laterally between a latched position shown
in the upper part of FIG. 4 and an unlatched position shown in the
lower part of FIG. 4. A spring 47 biases latch pin 46 into latching
engagement with a latch edge 41 of retainer 40, and to accomplish
this, spring 47 is preferably a compression spring arranged between
an end of inner tube 35 and a washer 48 fixed to latch pin 46.
[0033] A shape memory material preferably in the form of a wire,
tape, or other elongated element 50, is preferably made of a
nickel-titanium alloy, which provides the motive power for moving
latch pin 46 to an unlatched position. The preference for using
memory material 50 is based on factors such as light weight,
compactness, low energy consumption, and reliable operation. To
accomplish its task, memory material 50 extends from a connection
51 with latch pin 46 to a connection 52 with an adapter 53 arranged
at a rear or closed end of inner tube 35. Adapter 53 preferably has
one of several plug-in connector forms so that it can plug into an
electrified socket 56 pre-arranged on circuit board 20.
Alternatively, adapter 53 can have a soldered or other connection
to a circuit element on board 20.
[0034] More details of unlatching mechanism 45 are shown in FIG. 5.
A wire 55 completing a circuit for memory material 50 preferably
extends from washer 48 along the length of inner tube 35 to an
electrical connection on circuit board 20. For this purpose, inner
tube 35 can be formed with a groove to receive and hold wire 55 in
place when inner tube 35 is fitted within outer support tube 30.
Wire 55 need not be formed of memory material, and the illustrated
preferred arrangement economizes on the more expensive memory
material 50. Its connections 51 and 52 are preferably formed by
crimping, swaging, or other mechanical attachment. When memory
material 50 is in the form of a wire, it can be threaded through
holes in connectors 51 and 52 and then crimped in place. Memory
material 50 can also be arranged in its own complete circuit by
extending in a loop from circuit board 20 to latch pin 46 and back
to circuit board 20.
[0035] Retainer 40 is preferably biased to an unlatched position by
a orsion spring 42 having one end engaging retainer 40 and another
end fixed in place on tube 30. Many other arrangements of torsion
springs are possible. When unlatched by movement of latch pin 46,
retainer 40a springs open to the position illustrated in the lower
part of FIG. 4.
[0036] The preferred unlatching mechanism 45 co-operates with the
other elements explained above in holding objects 25 securely in
place within the dispensing array until a retainer 40 is unlatched
by movement of latch pin 46. This occurs via memory elements and
circuitry arranged on circuit board 20. Retainers 40 can be
selectively unlatched to dispense objects 25 at a dispensing site
or to make array spaces available for loading objects 25 into the
array.
* * * * *