U.S. patent number 3,712,507 [Application Number 05/137,561] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-23 for article dispensing apparatus and methods.
Invention is credited to Wythe W. Holt.
United States Patent |
3,712,507 |
Holt |
January 23, 1973 |
ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS AND METHODS
Abstract
Provided is an apparatus for manually or automatically
dispensing articles. The apparatus is especially useful for
dispensing large bags of ice and generally comprises at least two
drums having a common vertical axis about which the drums rotate.
Each drum is provided with a plurality of radially extending
compartments about its periphery. A stationary shelf is located
below the compartments of each drum for retaining the articles in
the compartments. When the drums rotate the articles located in the
compartments slide along the shelf. Each shelf is provided with an
opening vertically aligned with the openings of all other shelves,
such that when a compartment containing an article is caused by
drum rotation to pass over the opening, the article is dispensed
from the apparatus. The drums are rotated by a rotatable vertical
shaft extending along the common vertical axis of the drums. The
vertical shaft, however, is only directly connected to the
uppermost drum. Dispensing starts with the rotation of the
uppermost drum only, which drum upon becoming empty, engages the
next lower drum whereupon continued rotation of the uppermost drum
by the rotatable vertical shaft also causes this next lower drum to
rotate and dispense. Like engagement of each empty upper drum with
its lower drum continues until the apparatus is empty of
articles.
Inventors: |
Holt; Wythe W. (Hampton,
VA) |
Family
ID: |
22477991 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/137,561 |
Filed: |
April 26, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/82;
221/150R |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
11/54 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
11/46 (20060101); G07F 11/54 (20060101); G07f
011/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;221/82,86,15HC,15B,103,120,121,133,76,83-85 ;312/36,97.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Bartuska; Francis J.
Claims
I claim:
1. An article dispensing apparatus comprising at least two drums
having a common substantially vertical axis about which the drums
are rotatable, each drum having a plurality of radially extending
compartments, stationary means located below each drum for slidably
supporting articles located within the compartments, an opening
located in each of said stationary means of a sufficient size and
located such that when a compartment becomes aligned therewith an
article in the compartment will be dispensed through said opening,
all of the openings in said stationary means being aligned one with
the other and with a common exit in said apparatus to allow for the
dispensing of an article from the apparatus, means for rotating the
uppermost drum about its substantially vertical axis to bring its
compartments sequentially into dispensing alignment with said
openings, said means initially rotating only said uppermost drum
until all of its compartments are empty of articles, and means for
causing each upper drum, only after said upper drum is empty of
articles and as said upper drum continues to rotate, to
sequentially rotate the next lower drum about its substantially
vertical axis to bring its compartments into dispensing alignment
with said openings.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are more than 2
drums and every upper empty drum continues to rotate, as the drum
upper to a dispensing next lower drum rotates said next lower
drum.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for
rotating said uppermost drum comprises a drive mechanism for
rotating a shaft extending longitudinally through the vertical axis
of the drums.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for causing
each upper drum to rotate said next lower drum includes a drive lug
extending below the lower horizontal plane of an upper drum and a
catch lug extending above the upper horizontal plane of said next
lower drum, said lugs being so aligned that after the last
compartment of the upper drum becomes empty, the drive lug engages
said catch lug in a manner such that further rotation of said upper
drum will cause said next lower drum to rotate.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 which also includes an
automating system comprising means for actuating the rotation of
the uppermost drum upon the issuance of an appropriate signal and
means for deactivating the rotation of the uppermost drum upon the
dispensing of an article.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for
activating said rotation comprises a coin receiver, a switch
responsive to the receipt of the appropriate amount of coin, and a
drive motor activated by said switch.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for
deactivating said rotation comprises a switch responsive to the
dispensing of an article which deactivates said drive motor.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 which also includes a means
for indicating when said apparatus is empty of articles.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8 which also includes a means
for rejecting any further coin when said apparatus is empty of
articles.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes an insulated
housing and refrigeration means for maintaining said compartments
at a temperature below the ambient temperature of the
environment.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said compartments are
in the periphery of said drums and said compartments do not touch
said stationary means, said stationary means being comprised of a
shelf surface having located thereon a slide track upon which said
articles reside and along which said articles slide upon rotation
of their drum.
12. An apparatus for dispensing bags of ice comprising a housing
having located therewithin a refrigeration means, a dispensing
means, and a drive means, said dispensing means comprising a
plurality of vertically stacked drums having a commonly aligned,
longitudinal, substantially vertical, axis and a rotatable shaft
extending therethrough, a plurality of compartments located
circumferentially about each drum and shelf means located below
each drum for supporting articles located in said compartments,
each shelf means and each drum having an opening which is capable
of being vertically aligned with each other opening in each other
shelf and drum when all compartments of all drums are fully loaded
with articles, said openings being sufficiently large to allow said
bags to pass therethrough, means for connecting said shaft to said
drums such that when said shaft rotates it engagedly rotates the
uppermost drum but only slidably rotates about the common axis of
all lower drums, and means located between each of said drums for
causing an adjoining upper drum to rotate the next lower drum with
continued rotation of said adjoining upper drum, said means being
so aligned that rotation of said lower drum only begins after said
upper drum is empty of articles, said drive means comprising a
mechanism capable of rotating said shaft.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means located
between each of said drums comprises a drive lug extending below
the lower horizontal plane of an upper drum and a catch lug
extending above the upper horizontal plane of the next lower drum,
said lugs being so aligned that after the last compartment of the
upper drum becomes empty, the drive lug engages the catch lug in a
manner such that further rotation of said upper drum will cause
said lower drum to rotate.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the respective drive
lugs and catch lugs of each empty drum and the next lower drum
remain engaged until all articles are dispensed from the
apparatus.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14 which also includes a
dispensing shute vertically aligned with the openings in said shelf
means, and a door located in the wall of said housing above said
shute, which when opened brings into view all of the openings in
said drums when all of said openings are vertically aligned.
16. A method of re-loading the apparatus of claim 15 when it is
completely empty comprising opening said door, rotating the
uppermost drum in the direction of dispensing rotation until the
first compartment to be dispensed is in the first position in the
direction of dispensing rotation past the opening in said shelf
means, loading said compartment and each next compartment after
continued rotation of the drum in the direction of dispensing
rotation such that the compartment to be loaded is past said
opening in the shelf means, and rotating and filing sequentially
each next lower drum in the same manner as the first drum until all
compartments are filled.
17. A method of re-loading the apparatus of claim 15 when it is
only partially empty comprising opening said door, rotating the
lowest drum partially or completely emptied in a direction opposite
that of the direction of dispensing until the first empty
compartment is in the first dispensing position before the opening
in said shelf means, loading said compartment and each next
compartment after continued rotation of the drum in the direction
opposite that of dispensing rotation such that the compartment to
be loaded is dispensingly before said opening in the shelf means,
and rotating and filling sequentially each next higher drum in the
same manner as the first drum until all compartments are filled.
Description
This invention relates to dispensing apparatus. More particularly
this invention relates to apparatus for dispensing articles
sequentially therefrom in response to a signal or other action from
an external source.
With the advent of packaged goods and the concept of commercial
self-service came the development of a plethora of dispensing
apparatus of all types and sizes. Many of these apparatus have
proven to be highly successful while other have proven to be
operative but economically undesirable. The success or failure
(economic) of a dispensing apparatus often revolves about its
simplicity of design, its durability, and its general reliability
to function as intended for long periods of time. Simplicity of
design is often a competitive necessity while durability and
reliability decrease capital expenses and repair costs.
One particular area which has received some attention in recent
years has been the art of dispensing ice. While many devices have
been manufactured to produce and dispense ice in chip, flake or
cube form, there has been a definite lack of successful attempts to
develop dispensing apparatus which can dispense bags of ice such as
3 or 5 lb. bags of ice cubes. This is especially true if one not
only desires an operative ice bag dispensing apparatus but also one
which is simple in design, durable, and reliable so as to achieve
the economies set forth hereinabove.
The above-described needs in the art are fulfilled by this
invention which provides the art with a dispensing apparatus simple
in design, durable and reliable and which may be used to dispense
articles generally or bags of ice and the like more
specifically.
Generally speaking the article dispensing apparatus of this
invention are comprised of at least two drums having a common
substantially vertical axis about which the drums are rotatable.
Each drum is provided with a plurality of radially extending
compartments, preferably located at the periphery of the drum.
Stationary means, usually in the form of shelves, are located below
each drum for slidably supporting articles located within the
compartments. An opening is located in each stationary means,
having a sufficient size and located such that when a compartment
becomes aligned therewith, an article in a compartment thereabove
will be dispensed through the opening. All of the openings in the
stationary means are aligned one with the other and with a common
exit in the apparatus to allow for the dispensing of an article
from the apparatus. Means are provided for initially rotating the
uppermost drum about its substantially vertical axis to bring its
compartments sequentially into dispensing alignment with the
openings until all of its compartments are empty of articles and
only then sequentially rotating each lower drum about its
substantially vertical axis to bring its compartments sequentially
into dispensing alignment with the openings after the drum
immediately thereabove becomes empty.
In a preferred form of this invention the means for rotating the
drums continues to rotate each upper empty drum as it rotates a
lower drum for dispensing. Preferably, this is accomplished by the
upper drum engaging the lower drum and driving the lower drum for
dispensing by continued rotation of the upper drum. In turn, this
is preferably accomplished by forming the means for rotating the
drums of a vertical rotatable shaft extending longitudinally
through the vertical axis of the drums. Usually the vertical shaft
is directly connected only to the uppermost drum and is caused to
rotate either directly or indirectly by a signal or other action
from an external source. The means for rotating the drums then also
includes engagement means located on the drums by which an upper
drum will engage a lower drum when the upper drum becomes empty.
This is preferably accomplished by providing a drive lug which
extends below the lower horizontal plane of the upper drum and a
catch lug which extends above the upper horizontal plane of a lower
drum. By aligning the lugs such that after the last compartment of
the upper drum becomes empty, the drive lug engages the catch lug,
further rotation of the upper drum will cause the lower drum to
rotate, thus to sequentially dispense its articles in a manner
similar to that of the upper drum.
The apparatus of this invention may be manually operated such as by
providing an appropriate gear and manual lever for causing rotation
of the drums, preferably one lever pull causing rotation of a drum
sufficient only to bring one compartment into dispensing alignment
with the openings. By the use of conventional coin receivers and
reset mechanisms, the manual apparatus can be easily rendered
commercial.
While manual operation is contemplated, the preferred apparatus of
this invention are automatic. This may be accomplished by the use
of a system which comprises means for issuing a signal to rotate a
drum a desired distance. Such means usually comprise a conventional
automated coin receiver mechanism and circuit in combination with
means for actuating a drive mechanism to rotate the drums,
preferably by rotating the vertical shaft described above, and
means for sensing the dispensing of an article and stopping the
drive mechanism which rotates the drums. In a particularly
preferred embodiment automatic operation also includes a means for
sensing and signaling when the apparatus is empty of articles.
The apparatus of this invention may be housed in any conventional
casing such as a display container or the like. When, however, the
apparatus is to dispense bags of ice or other articles in need of
refrigeration, it is housed in a conventional refrigeration
container and means are preferably provided in the shelves and/or
drums to insure adequate communication for the refrigeration
throughout the compartments.
This invention will now be further described with reference to
certain specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying
drawings of which:
IN THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispensing apparatus in
accordance with this invention in which several internal components
are illustrated in dotted line fashion.
FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded elevational view of an upper and lower drum
of the apparatus in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along sectional line 4--4 of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the engaging lug mechanism of
FIG. 4 taken along sectional line 5--5 therein.
FIG. 6 is a schematic design of a preferred circuit for operating,
automatically, the apparatus of FIG. 1.
The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is capable of dispensing
bags of ice usually of the standard 3 or 5 lb. type. Such bags are
of conventional dimensions and are usually formed of paper, plastic
(e.g., polyethylene) or the like.
Referring to FIG. 1, dispensing apparatus 1 is comprised of an
insulated housing 3 which surrounds and contains the various
components of the device. Housing 3 is provided with a door 7 which
allows access for refilling purposes into dispensing chamber 9.
Located on door 7 is coin receiver mechanism 11. Also provided in
housing 3 is article dispensing door 13.
Within the upper portion of housing 3 there is located a
refrigeration chamber 15 which houses a conventional, preferably
self-defrosting, refrigeration unit 17. Unit 17 provides
refrigeration to dispensing chamber 9 usually by circulating air
downwardly and withdrawing air upwardly through chamber 9.
Below dispensing chamber 9 there is located drive mechanism bin 19
which houses an appropriate electric motor 21 and a gear drive
mechanism 23 for rotating vertical drive shaft 25. While any
conventional motor, gear, and drive shaft mechanism can be
employed, it is preferred to employ one which is adjusted to rotate
shaft 25 at about one rpm or less for reasons more fully described
hereinafter.
FIGS. 2 and 4 best illustrate dispensing mechanism 27 located
within dispensing chamber 9. Dispensing mechanism 27 is comprised
of a plurality of drums 29, in this instance five, stacked one
above the other such that all of drums 29 have a common,
substantially vertical, axis about which they are rotatable in
their horizontal plane. Each drum 29 is comprised of a totally
enclosed central portion 31, a top surface 33, and a plurality of
article compartments 35 radially extending from central portion 31
and located in the periphery of the circumference of drum 29.
Below each drum 29 there is located a shelf means 37. Shelf means
37 are bracketed to housing 3 by conventional fastening means whose
type will depend upon the strength necessary to support the weight
of articles located in compartments 35. Weld joints or bolts are
sufficient for most purposes of this invention including ice-bag
dispensing. Shelves 37 comprise a horizontal surface 39 which has
located thereon a slide track 41 and retaining ring 43. Within
horizontal surface 39 is located circular opening 45 having a
circumference equal to or slightly larger than the circumference of
central portion 31 of drum 29. Also within surface 39 is dispensing
opening 47 which is of a similar shape and slightly larger than or
equal to the size of compartments 35 in drum 29. Each opening 47 in
shelf 37 is vertically aligned with every other opening 47 such
that when a compartment 35 containing an article is aligned
thereabove, gravity will cause the article to fall through the
opening(s) into dispensing shute 49. Horizontal surface 39 is
further provided with circulation holes 51 to allow for more
uniform refrigeration throughout chamber 9.
The lower surfaces of compartment walls 53 in drums 29, as
illustrated in FIG. 4, do not rest upon track 41 but rather reside
above it. This increases refrigeration circulation, reduces
friction, and enables better sliding action of the articles along
track 41 when drums 29 are rotated. Better sliding can be further
improved by providing track 41 with a smooth surface such as by
forming the track of polished metal or by coating the track with a
suitable non-adherent material such as Teflon or the like. All
drums 29, except for the upper most drum, are held in position by
conventional slip joints such as those comprised of retaining rings
55, spacers 57 and slip columns 59. In this manner drive shaft 25
slidable rotates within slip columns 59 so as not to directly cause
any rotation of those drums 29 lower than uppermost drum 29.
Contrary to the slip columns 59 in the lower drums, is rectangular
engagement column 61 provided in uppermost drum 29. As illustrated,
drive shaft 25 is provided in its upper section with rectangular
journal 63 which fits snugly within engagement column 61 such that
drive shaft 25 directly rotates uppermost drum 29. For stability,
the upper end of drive shaft 25 is rotatably held in retainer
bracket 65 located in the upper wall of dispensing chamber 9.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the top surface 33 of
drums 29 (except for the uppermost drum) are provided with openings
67 which are initially aligned with openings 47 so as to allow
dispensing of an article into shute 49 from an upper drum. Since a
lower drum does not rotate prior to the emptying of an upper drum,
opening 67 in a lower full drum remains aligned for dispensing
purposes throughout the dispensing operation of all upper drums
until they are empty.
The non-rotation of a lower drum prior to the complete dispensing
of all upper drums may be accomplished in many ways such as by
mechanisms located on drive shaft 25 itself. However in a preferred
embodiment and as best illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, lugs are provided
on each drum to accomplish the desired result. In this respect a
drive lug 69 is provided on the lower surface of central portion
31. Lug 69 extends downwardly past the horizontal plane of the
lower surface. Further, catch lug 71 is provided on top surface 33
of the next lower drum 29 and extends upwardly past the horizontal
plane of the surface. Lugs 69 and 71, as best illustrated in FIG.
5, are so located initially (dotted lines) to allow a substantially
complete rotation (in this instance, counterclockwise) of the upper
drum before lug 69 engages lug 71 (full lines) so as to insure
complete dispensing of the upper drum. Preferably lug 69 engages
lug 71 sometime after the last compartment 35 of the upper drum
aligns with the openings and dispenses its article. The next
rotation, then, of shaft 35, rotates all empty drums and begins and
continues the rotation, through engagement of the lugs, of the next
lower drum for the next sequential dispensing of an article.
FIG. 6 illustrates a particularly preferred mechanism for
automatically operating the device of FIGS. 1-5. As stated, door 7
is conveniently provided with coin receiver 11. For the purposes of
this invention coin receiver 11 is preferably of a conventional
accumulator coin mechanism type 73 such as coin receiver of the
10-01 Series produced by National Rejectors Inc. of St. Louis, Mo.
Such a receiver is comprised of a switch generally illustrated at
75 activated by the insertion of the proper amount of money
therein. In accordance with this invention, when switch 75 is
activated it causes motor relay 77 to close. This, in turn,
activates motor 21 which causes shaft 25 and uppermost drum 29 to
begin to rotate (in the FIGS., counterclockwise). Uppermost drum 29
continues to rotate until an article (e.g., bag of ice) is
dispensed from the first compartment 35 and falls through the
openings into dispensing shute 49. As best illustrated in FIG. 2,
the upper forward edge of shute 49 is provided with limit switch 79
which is tripped by the falling dispensed article, causing motor
relay 77 to open and stop motor 21.
There is obviously a time lapse during the fall of the article
wherein the dispensing drum continues to rotate despite the fact
that an article has been dispensed therefrom but prior to the time
that it hits limit switch 79. Where speed of rotation is minimized,
i.e., kept under about 1 r.p.m., "excess" rotation is minimal to
the point of being negligible for almost all drums and compartments
contemplated for dispensing 3-5 lb. bags of ice and 5-drum stacks
(i.e., falls less than about 10 ft. in height with radial
compartment dimensions of greater than about 10.degree. or more).
However, where extremely high stacks and small compartments are
employed (i.e., as where other articles are dispensed) rotation
speeds should be adjusted using simple trial and error techniques
to determine optimum operating conditions and minimal "excess"
rotation or limit switches should be provided on the upper shelves
to minimize fall distance to the switch.
The above procedure will continue with each new insertion of a coin
until the uppermost drum is empty. Upon the next insertion of a
coin, the upper drum will drive lug 69 into contact with lug 71
which will then drive the lower drum through its necessary
sequential dispensing rotation (i.e., until limit switch 79 is
tripped). This procedure continues until all compartments in all
drums are empty.
In order to safeguard against lost coin insertion after the
dispensing apparatus is completely empty and to indicate that the
apparatus is empty, rearward wall 81 of the last compartment in the
lowermost drum is provided with switch activator 83. As the last
article is dispensed, activator 83 (after a counterclockwise
revolution from its position in FIG. 2) will trip empty switch 85,
which, in a known fashion, will light up an "empty" sign on the
receiver 11 and cause it to return all further money deposited
therein. Upon reloading and resetting, the "empty" light is
extinguished and receiver 11 reactivated to initiate rotation upon
deposition of a coin therein.
Reloading of the apparatus may be effected after rerotating the
drums into initial alignment. A preferred reloading procedure which
allows for reloading through door 7 without the removal of housing
3, is to, if the apparatus is completely empty, open door 7 and
disengage the clutch (not shown for convenience) between motor 21
and gear 23 so as to allow shaft 25 to freely rotate. Next the
uppermost drum is rotated counterclockwise (which of course rotates
all other drums) until the first compartment to be dispensed is in
the first position counterclockwise from opening 47. This
compartment is then loaded and counterclockwise rotation and
loading of each compartment in the aforesaid first position is
accomplished until all compartments are loaded and the first loaded
compartment is in the first dispensing position (first position
clockwise from opening 47). Each next lower drum is then, in turn,
counterclockwise rotated and filled in the same manner as the
uppermost drum. When all compartments are filled in this manner and
the clutch reengaged all drums and lugs thereon are aligned
properly and the apparatus is set to start anew the dispensing
procedure described hereinabove.
Reloading a partially filled apparatus differs from the above
procedure in that after clutch disengagement one begins with the
lowest drum partially or completely emptied. The drum is rotated
clockwise until the first empty compartment is in the first
dispensing position. The compartment is then loaded and the drum is
rotated clockwise until all compartments are filled. Each next
higher drum, in turn, is then refilled in a like manner. When all
compartments are filled all is in readiness for reengagement of the
clutch and the start of a new dispensing operation.
In order to prevent reloading error, aligned markings may be placed
on the drums to signify when all drums are aligned. This may be
done by marking the outer forward wall of the first dispensing
compartment of each drum with a vertical arrow. Simple viewing of
the vertical arrows and their alignment prior to shutting of door 7
after reloading, then indicates whether reloading has been proper
or erroneous.
Once given the above disclosure many other features modifications
and improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such
other features, modifications and improvements are considered to be
a part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by
the following claims:
* * * * *