U.S. patent number 3,749,280 [Application Number 05/196,147] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-31 for bulk loading can dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rowe International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ronald Gale, deceased.
United States Patent |
3,749,280 |
Gale, deceased |
July 31, 1973 |
BULK LOADING CAN DISPENSER
Abstract
A bulk loading can dispenser for delivering cans of beverage or
the like in response to the deposit of coins, for example, in which
cans may be randomly stacked in an upper relatively deep hopper
portion having a width approximating the height of a can upon
removal of retaining elements at the front of the upper hopper
portion in which the upper hopper section is provided with
vertically staggered can kickers at the front and back thereof for
ensuring that the centers of the cans do not become horizontally or
vertically aligned as they move downwardly toward a relatively
shallower can dispensing hopper section from which a can is
released upon each operation of a releasing mechanism. An empty
switch is provided at a location between the upper and lower hopper
sections to cause the hopper to be refilled before the supply of
cans falls below a level at which the upper hopper section leads
into the lower hopper section.
Inventors: |
Gale, deceased; Ronald (LATE OF
Orlando, FL) |
Assignee: |
Rowe International, Inc.
(Whippany, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
22724260 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/196,147 |
Filed: |
November 5, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/67; 221/68;
221/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
9/02 (20130101); G07F 11/24 (20130101); G07F
11/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
9/02 (20060101); G07F 11/04 (20060101); G07F
11/24 (20060101); G07F 11/16 (20060101); G07f
011/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;221/67,68,200-205,129,224,236,175,283-287,275 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Kocovsky; Thomas E.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for dispensing cans including in combination, a hopper
having a width approximately the length of a can to be dispensed
for receiving cans with the longitudinal axes thereof extending
laterally of said hopper, said hopper comprising an upper hopper
section and a lower hopper section, said upper hopper section being
deeper than said lower hopper section and extending forwardly of
said lower hopper section and rearwardly of said lower hopper
section, respective inclined front steps leading from said upper
hopper section to said lower hopper section, respective inclined
rear steps leading from said upper hopper section to said lower
hopper section, said rear steps being vertically staggered with
respect to said front steps, a plurality of front can kickers
extending transversely of the upper hopper section and into said
upper hopper section at vertically spaced locations at the front
thereof, a plurality of rear can kickers extending transversely of
said upper hopper section and into the upper hopper section at
vertically spaced locations at the rear thereof, said rear
locations being staggered with respect to said front locations,
means adjacent to the lower hopper section for delivering cans one
at a time, and empty signal means located above and adjacent to the
juncture between the upper and lower hopper sections.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including detachable gates at the front
of said upper hopper section for retaining cans therein.
3. Apparatus for dispensing cans including in combination, a hopper
having a width approximating the length of a can to be dispensed,
said hopper comprising a lower hopper section constructed to hold a
pair of columns of cans in side by side relationship with the
longitudinal axes of the cans of each column generally vertically
aligned and with the longitudinal axes of the cans of one column
vertically staggered with respect to the longitudinal axes of the
cans of the other column and an upper hopper section having a depth
from front to back which is greater than that of the lower hopper
section, said upper hopper section having a back spaced rearwardly
from said lower hopper section and having a front spaced forwardly
from said lower hopper section, a first pair of stationary
forwardly inclined rear steps connecting the back of said upper
hopper section to said lower hopper section, a second pair of
stationary rearwardly inclined front steps for connecting the front
of said upper hopper section to said lower hopper section, and
means adjacent to the lower end of said lower hopper section for
alternately dispensing cans from said columns.
4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said front steps have risers
which are shorter than the rear step risers.
5. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said front steps have treads
which are deeper than those of the rear steps.
6. Apparatus as in claim 3 including a can kicker extending into
said upper hopper section from the front thereof at a location
intermediate the upper and lower ends of the upper hopper
section.
7. Apparatus as in claim 3 including a can kicker extending into
said upper hopper section from the rear thereof at a location
intermediate the upper and lower ends of the upper hopper
section.
8. Apparatus as in claim 3 including respective front and rear can
kickers extending into the upper hopper section from the front and
rear thereof at staggered locations intermediate the upper and
lower ends of the upper hopper section.
9. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the depth of said upper hopper
section is greater than X can diameters but less than X + 1/2 can
diameters, where X is an integer.
10. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the depth of the lower hopper
section is greater than y can diameters but less than y + 1/2 can
diameters, where y is an integer.
11. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which the upper hopper section is
deeper than the lower hopper section by greater than p but less
than q can diameters, where p and q are integers.
12. Apparatus as in claim 3 including detachable gates extending
across the front of said upper hopper section for releasably
retaining cans therein.
13. Apparatus as in claim 3 including empty signal means located
adjacent to and above the juncture between said upper and lower
hopper sections.
14. Apparatus as in claim 3 including a transversely extending
partition located centrally of said lower hopper section to divide
the lower hopper section into subsections, and in which said
delivery means includes respective laterally extending rollers
associated with the respective subsections for supporting the cans
therein, means mounting said rollers for oscillatory movement below
said subsections and means for oscillating said rollers with simple
harmonic motion 90.degree. out of phase whereby alternately to
deliver cans from said front and rear subsections.
15. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said front steps are
vertically staggered with respect to said rear steps.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many machines are known in the prior art for dispensing articles of
merchandise such, for example, as canned soft drinks. All of the
machines which have been successful incorporate guide means for
directing a string of cans making up the supply to a delivery
mechanism adapted to dispense the cans one at a time. The provision
of such guide means which extend throughout the supply greatly
complicates the operation of loading the machine. That is, the
person servicing the machine must load the cans on the guides with
a great deal of care. It might be said that the serviceman must
almost place the cans individually on the guide tracks. It will
readily be appreciated that this operation is extremely
time-consuming.
In addition to the difficulty pointed out hereinabove of loading
machines of the prior art which are adapted to dispense cans, the
complicated guide system adds to the expense of the machine.
Moreover, the capacity of such machines is limited, thus
necessitating relatively frequent servicing.
A number of attempts have been made in the prior art to overcome
the problems outlined hereinabove by providing a machine which can
be "bulk loaded." That is to say, a machine which permits of a
random stacking of cans in the supply. None of these attempts have
heretofore been successful for the reason that if a supply of any
appreciable magnitude is to be provided the weight of the upper
cans in the magazine causes a bridging effect on the lower cans so
that the cans become jammed in the supplyand do not reach the
delivery mechanism.
This invention relates to a solution to the problems of the prior
art pointed out hereinabove. The can dispensing machine disclosed
herein permits bulk loading while avoiding the problem of bridging
present in mechanisms of the prior art. It is more quickly and
expeditiously loaded than are can dispensing machines of the prior
art. It has a relatively large capacity as compared with machines
of the prior art thus reducing the necessity for frequent
servicing. It is relatively expensive to construct for the result
achieved thereby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to provide a can merchandising
machine which can be loaded by random stacking of cans.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bulk loading can
dispenser which can be loaded much more quickly than can dispensing
machines of the prior art.
A further object of the invention is to provide a bulk loading can
dispenser having a greater capacity than do can dispensers of the
prior art.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a bulk
loading can dispenser which is relatively inexpensive to construct
for the result achieved thereby.
Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the
following description.
In general the invention contemplates a bulk loading can dispenser
each unit of which includes a hopper having a width approximating
that of a can to be dispensed and having a relatively deep upper
section into which cans can be random stacked upon removal of
retainers at the front of the upper section and provided with
vertically staggered can kickers and vertically staggered inclined
steps leading to a relatively shallower lower hopper section, which
kickers and steps prevent the centers of cans from becoming aligned
in vertical or horizontal directions from front to back or from top
to bottom of the upper hopper section to prevent bridging. A
mechanism located at the bottom of the lower hopper section
releases cans one at a time from the hopper. An empty switch
located above the dividing line between the upper and lower
sections prevents further operation of the machine after such time
as the supply reaches a level above the lower section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant
specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and
in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in
the various views:
FIG. 1A is a sectional view through a unit of the bulk loading can
dispenser illustrating possible initial relative positions of the
cans of the supply.
FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic view of the unit shown in FIG. 1A
illustrating the relative positions of the cans of the supply
following one operation of the unit.
FIG. 1C is a diagrammatic view of the unit illustrating the
relative positions of the cans following another operation of the
unit.
FIG. 1D is a diagrammatic view of the unit illustrating the
relative positions of the cans following a still further operation
of the unit.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the bulk loading can
dispenser taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1A and drawn on an
enlarged scale.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine shown in
FIG. 1 taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1A and drawn on an
enlarged scale.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the upper
hopper section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the delivery mechanism
taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the delivery
mechanism taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of one form of electrical circuit which
may be used to control the operation of the bulk loading can
dispenser.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the bulk loading
can dispenser includes a hopper indicated generally by the
reference character 10 made up of two sides 12 and 14 which may be
made of sheet metal, for example. Hopper 10 includes an upper
section indicated generally by the reference character 16 which is
relatively deep and a lower section indicated generally by the
reference character 18 which is relatively shallow as will be
explained more fully hereinbelow. A slightly outwardly bent
mounting flange 20 extends along the forward edge of the upper
portion of each of the sides 12 and 14. An inwardly directed
mounting flange 22 extends along the rear edge of the sides 12 and
14. An inwardly directed retaining flange 24 having an offset 26
along the inner edge thereof is provided along the lower forward
edge of each of the sides 12 and 14. Inwardly directed can
retaining flanges 28 are formed along the rear edge of each of the
lower portions of the sides 12 and 14.
Respective straps 30, 32 and 34 spot welded or the like between
flanges 22 at the upper and lower ends thereof and spot welded
between the lower ends of the flanges 28 hold the sides 12 and 14
together adjacent the rear edges thereof.
An upper front can kicker and retaining rod receiver 36 is secured
between the support flanges 20 of the sides 12 and 14 at a location
slightly below the upper end of the unit 10. The member 36 is
formed with an off-set 38 extending slightly inwardly of the hopper
10. A horizontal flange 40 at the lower end of the offset 38 has a
vertical flange 42 along the forward edge thereof. A plurality of
combined intermediate can kickers and retaining rod supports 44 are
secured between the sides 12 and 14 at spaced locations along the
forward edge of the hopper 10. An upper horizontal flange 46 on
member 44 has a vertical flange 50 at the front edge thereof. A
lower horizontal flange 48 has a vertically extending flange 52
along the forward edge. A lower retaining rod support and empty
switch bracket 54 is secured between the flanges 20 at the lower
end of the upper hopper section 16 by any suitable means such as by
spot welding. A horizontal flange 56 extending along the upper edge
of bracket 54 has a vertical flange 58 at the front thereof.
The dispenser includes a plurality of identical can retaining rods
60 the upper ends of which have laterally extending portions 62
carrying downwardly extending offsets 64. A laterally extending
portion 66 at the lower end of each of the rods 60 has a downwardly
extending offset 68. After the machine has been loaded, in a manner
to be described hereinbelow, the rods 60 are assembled on the
retainers 38, 44 and on the bracket 54. For example, the offset 64
on one of the rods 60 is inserted in a hole 70 adjacent the outer
edge of the offset 38 of the upper member 36 and the vertical
portion of the rod 60 extends downwardly through a slot 72 formed
in the flange 42. As this operation is accomplished, the offset 68
is inserted into a hole 74 in the upper flange 46 of the
intermediate kicker 44 with the horizontal portion 66 located
behind the retaining flange 50. In this manner, the rod is securely
held in place. In the particular embodiment of the hopper 10
illustrated in the drawings, two rods 60 are shown as extending
between the upper kicker 38 and an intermediate kicker 44. In a
similar manner rods may be assembled between as many adjacent
intermediate kickers as there are provided. The offset 68 of a
lowermost rod 60 is inserted in a hole 76 adjacent the outer edge
of the flange 48 and the horizontal portion 62 is located behind
flange 52 so that the vertical portion of the rod extends through a
slot 78 formed in the flange 52. As this is done, the offset 68 on
the lower end of the rod is inserted through an opening 80 in the
flange 56 at the upper end of the bracket 54. When all the rods
have been placed in position in the manner just described, they
prevent escape of any cans out through the front of the hopper 10.
Flanges 22 prevent escape of any cans from the back of the upper
hopper portion.
The machine incorporates a plurality of rear can kickers 82,
provided with offset flanges which permit them to be welded or
otherwise secured to the inwardly directed flanges 22 on the sides
12 and 14. For a reason which will more fully be explained
hereinafter, the rear kickers 82 are staggered vertically with
relation to the front kickers 38 and 44.
Inwardly extending runners 84 formed at the lower ends of the
flanges 22 on the sides 12 and 14 form a first can step extending
inwardly and downwardly at an angle of about 5.degree. toward the
lower portion 18 of the hopper. A lower step 86 formed of sheet
metal or the like and welded into position between the sides 12 and
14 receives cans from the step 84 and guides the cans inwardly and
downwardly at an angle of about 5.degree. toward the rear of the
lower hopper section 18.
Respective upper and lower front steps 88 and 90 are provided by
elements which may be integral which are secured to the respective
sides 12 and 14 so as to guide cans at the front of the upper
hopper section slightly downwardly and inwardly toward the lower
hopper section 18. It will be seen that the front steps 88 and 90
are staggered with respect to the rear steps 84 and 86.
We mount a partition 92 in the lower hopper section 18 generally
centrally thereof and extending between sides 12 and 14. The form
of our dispenser illustrated in the drawings is adapted to handle
either rimless cans or cans having rims. Where rimless cans are
involved, we attach respectively vertically extending members to
the partition 92 at the front and rear thereof to reduce the space
between the partition and the front flanges 24 and between the
partition and the rear retaining flanges 28 so as to handle the
rimless cans. These members are indicated in phantom at 94 in FIG.
1 of the drawings. Respective can delivery runners 94 secured to
the sides 12 and 14 at the lower ends thereof are adapted to guide
cans released in a manner to be described outwardly through an
opening 96 at the lower ends of the flanges 26.
A motor mounting plate 98 is secured to the offsets 26 on flanges
24 adjacent the lower end of magazine 10 by any suitable means such
as by welding. Respective bearing brackets 100 and 102 rotatably
support the output shaft 104 of a gear reduction box 108 the input
to which is provided by a motor 106. The hear reduction box 108 and
motor 106 may be mounted on a bracket 110 secured to the plate 98.
Shaft 104 supports for rotation therewith a cam 112 having four
spaced recesses 114 for receiving the actuating element of a switch
116. As will be more fully described hereinafter cam 112 actuates
the switch 116 to control motor 106 so that shaft 104 rotates
through a quarter revolution on each operation of the machine.
A front pivot rod 118 supports the lower ends of spaced front
roller arms 120 and 122 the upper end of each of which receives a
stub shaft 124 carrying a plug 126. Plugs 126 receive a front
roller 128. A rear shaft 130 rotatably supported in the sides 12
and 14 receives the lower end of spaced rear roller support arms
132 and 134. The upper end of each of the arms 132 and 134 carries
a stub shaft 124 supporting a plug 126 received in one end of the
rear delivery roller 136.
The machine includes an operating mechanism responsive to rotation
of shaft 104 for oscillating rollers 128 and 136 so that one can is
delivered on each operation of the machine. Respective pins 138
connect the front arms 120 and 122 to front connecting rods 140 and
142. Pins 144 connect the front ends of connecting rods 146 and 148
to the rear arms 130 and 132. Each connecting rod is formed with an
opening 150 at its end for receiving an eccentric plate 152. Each
of the plates 152 is formed with a first pair of holes 154 and 156
having flats disposed at 90.degree. with respect to each other. A
second set of holes 158 and 160 are arranged with their centers on
a line generally at right angles to a line through the centers of
the two holes 154 and 156.
Cam retainer plates 162 having holes similar to the cam holes are
disposed at the sides of each of the cam plates 152. A spacer
retainer plate 162 may be located between the center plates 162 at
each side of the unit to hold the cam plates 152 in position in the
openings 150. A hub 164 having a flat 166 is adapted to be received
in the holes 154 and 156 of the cam plates 152 and retainer plates
162 at each side of the unit in such a way that the two sets of
arms 120 and 122 and 132 and 134 oscillate 90.degree. out of phase
as shaft 104 rotates. In order to accomplish this the hub 164,
which is secured to shaft 104 by a set screw 168 or the like, is
passed through the hole 154 of the eccentric plate 152 associated
with rod 140 and is passed through the hole 156 of the eccentric
plate 152 associated with rod 146. Any suitable means such, for
example, as a rivet 170 extends through certain of the holes 158
and 160 of the eccentric plates 152 and retainer plates 162 so as
to retain the assembly at each side of the unit in assembled
relationship. For example, rivet 170 passes through the holes 160
of the eccentric plates 152 associated with the connecting rods 140
and it passes through the holes 158 of the eccentric plates 152
associated with rods 146.
From the structure thus far described, it will be appreciated that
the two eccentric plates 152 are oriented at 90.degree. with
relation to each other on the axis of the shaft 104. For that
reason, the two rolls 128 and 136 oscillate 90.degree. out of phase
through three positions including a position to the left as viewed
in FIG. 5, a central position as viewed in FIG. 5, and a position
to the right as viewed in that figure. As will more fully be
explained hereinafter, for that reason each time the shaft 104
rotates through 90.degree., one can is released from the lower
section of the hopper.
An empty switch 172 is mounted on bracket 154 at a location at
which the feeler thereof senses the presence of a cam on the front
step 90. As will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, switch 72
is adapted to occupy a first position at which it completes the
circuit of motor 106 and a second position at which the motor
circuit is interrupted and at which an empty signal light, to be
described, is illuminated.
Referring now to FIG. 7 we have a simplified schematic diagram of
an electrical circuit which may be used to control the operation of
a single unit of the machine. The circuit shown in FIG. 7 includes
respective conductors 174 and 176 connected to the terminals 178
and 180 of a suitable source of electrical power. A coin mechanism
182 of any suitable type known to the art is adapted to complete a
circuit in response to the deposit of coins as is indicated in
phantom by switch 184 to energize motor 106 from conductor 174
through switch 184, through the motor, and through empty switch 172
to line 176 assuming that the level of cans in the hopper 10 is
above the level of the step 90. Once the motor starts rotating,
switch 184 opens and cam 112 closes switch 116 to bypass the coin
mechanism switch 184. Thus, motor 106 is driven for a quarter
revolution. When the supply of cans in the machine falls below the
level of step 90 switch 172 changes position to complete the
circuit of an empty signal lamp 186.
In operation of the can vending unit with the rollers 128 and 136
positioned as indicated in FIG. 1A, the lower or escrow hopper
section 18 is initially carefully loaded with the cans placed in
relative positions as indicated in FIG. 1A. Cans are loaded in the
hopper until a can actuates the feeler of the empty signal switch
172. From that point the upper hopper section 16 can be loaded in
random fashion with little care being exercised. When the purchaser
wishes to make a purchase, he deposits a sum equal to the purchase
price in the register 182 to close switch 184 to energize motor 106
to cause shaft 104 to go through a quarter revolution under the
action of cam 112. Assuming the rolls 128 and 136 are initially in
the position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 5, and that shaft 104
rotates in the direction of the arrows in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the
course of the first quarter revolution the rollers 128 and 136 move
from the positions illustrated in FIG. 1A to the position
illustrated in FIG. 1B. As they move from the first position to the
second position one can will be delivered from the front or forward
portion of the lower hopper section 18. Upon subsequent quarter
revolutions of the shaft 104, rollers 128 and 136 move to the
position shown in FIG. 1C and then to the position shown in FIG. 1D
and finally back to the position shown in FIG. 1A. On each quarter
revolution a can is delivered from either the front or the back
portion of the lower hopper section 18. By way of illustration
numbers applied to the cans in FIGS. 1A to 1D indicate the sequence
in which cans are delivered from the lower hopper section. As is
pointed out hereinabove, upon the initial loading operation of the
unit, care must be exercised in placing the cans in the lower
hopper section to ensure that this action takes place. In one
actual embodiment of a machine unit adapted to store approximately
140 cans, only about 16 cans are located in the lower section so
that it comprises only a very small percentage of the overall
capacity. Further, when the supply of cans in the unit 10 reaches a
level below that at which the feeler of empty switch 172 is
disengaged the machine cannot further be operated. Thus, on the
next servicing of the machine, no care needs to be taken in loading
the upper hopper section since cans in the lower hopper section
already are properly oriented for delivery by the rollers 128 and
136.
A number of factors have been found to contribute to the effective
operation of the machine even though the upper section is bulk or
random loaded. That is to say, construction of the machine is such
that the "bridging effect" is substantially eliminated. More
specifically, the construction is such that the centers of a line
of cans are not permitted to become aligned in either a vertical or
a horizontal direction. Constructional features contributing to
this operation are the fact that the depth of the upper hopper
section is greater than x can diameters but less than x + 1/2 can
diameters. Similarly, the depth of the lower hopper section 18 is
greater than y + 1/2 can diameters but less than y can diameters.
The upper hopper section is approximately 3 1/2 can diameters
deeper than the lower hopper section. Additionally, and
significantly, the staggered can kickers provided by front elements
38 and 44 and rear elements 82 contribute to maintaining the
staggered relationship of the can centers. In addition, the front
steps 88 and 90 are above the rear steps 84 and 86. The "riser" of
the front step is shorter than is that of the rear steps. Moreover,
the "treads" of the front guide are longer than those at the rear
guide. These factors, together with the location of the empty
switch 172 at a position at which the predetermined arrangement of
cans in the lower delivery section of the hopper cannot be
distributed after the initial loading, all contribute to the
operation which permits random loading.
While there is shown only one unit of the machine, it will readily
be appreciated that as many units as desired providing different
selections can be assembled into one machine.
It will be seen that the objects of the invention have been
accomplished. There is provided a can dispensing mechanism which
permits of random loading. It can be loaded much more quickly than
can dispensing machines of the prior art adapted to dispense goods
of a similar character. It has a greater capacity than do can
dispensers of the prior art. It is relatively inexpensive to
construct for the result achieved thereby.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are
of utility and may be employed without reference to other features
and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the
scope of the claims. It is further obvious that various changes may
be made in details within the scope of the claims without departing
from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, to be
understood that the nvention is not to be limited to the specific
details shown and described.
* * * * *