US3292816A - Reversible regulator for dispensing mechanism for articles in staggered stacks - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1966 REVERSIBLE Filed March 17, 1965 H. R PAYNE 3,292,816

REGULATOR FEJR DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLES IN STAGGERED STACKS s Sheets-Sheet 1 HARRY R. PAYNE C /97 2mm MM 9% ATTORNEYJ 3,292,816 PENSING MECHANISM FOR Dec. 20, 1966 H. R. PAYNE REVERSIBLE REGULATOR FOR DIS ARTICLES IN STAGGERED STACKS Filed March 17, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

HARRY 1R. PAYNE ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 H. R. PAYNE 3,292,816

REVERSIBLE REGULATOR FOR DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLES IN STAGGERED STACKS 7 Filed March 17, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent M REVERSIBLE REGULATOR FOR DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLES IN STAG- GERED STACKS Harry R. Payne, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignor to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 17, 1965. Ser. No. 440,467 5 Claims. (Cl. 2219) This invention relates to a reversible regulator for dispensing mechanisms for dispensing a single article at a time from a plurality of articles arranged in staggered stacks of articles utilizing a portion of the mechanism generally disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 369,674, filed May 25, 1964.

Even more particularly this invention relates to a mechanism for dispensing a single article at a time from staggered stacks of articles in which the releasing and dispensing mechanisms are actuated by the weight of the articles in the staggered stacks of articles and release of the releasing and dispensing mechanisms for dispensing a single article at a time from the staggered stack of articles is actuated by electrically energized means,

Even more particularly still this invention relates to a dispensing mechanism for dispensing one at a time an article such as a single can or bottle from staggered stacks of articles, can or bottles, hereinafter referred to for convenience as bottles, in which the weight of the bottles in the stacks actuates the releasing and dispensing mechanisms. The mechanism is released for the dispensing of a single bottle at a time by electrically energized means which may be energized from any suitable source and controlled by any suitable switch mechanism which switch mechanism may preferably be actuated by the deposit of a coin.

At the present time articles such as bottles of popular beverages are usually stored for selective sale in refrig erated cabinets with coin release mechanisms for dispensing one bottle at a time. In these cabinets the bottles may be disposed on sloping shelves arranged one shelf above the other or the bottles may be arranged in vertical staggered stacks in side by side bins. In the first type of dispenser in which the bottles are arranged on sloping shelves, the lowermost bottle on each shelf may move by gravity to a position where it can be withdrawn manually by the purchaser after a coin has been deposited to release a locking mechanism allowing withdrawal of one bottle at a time.

In the second type of apparatus, in which the bottles are arranged vertically in columns in staggered stacks in side by side bins, various devices have been used for releasing one bottle at a time on the deposit of a suitable coin. Usually this release mechanism is driven by an electric motor and moves from beneath one bottle in the selected column in the selected staggered stack to a position beneath the next bottle to prevent more than one bottle from being dispensed at a time.

The first type of dispenser has advantages of relatively simple construction and the merchandise is visible for selection by the purchaser. A variety of types of beverage can be sold in this machine depending only on the number of sloping shelves provided. This multiplicity of variety is disadvantageous to the supplier who may place the machine on location since the machine can then be used for vending products other than those of the supplier.

In the second type of dispenser in which the bottles are arranged in staggered stacks it has been found that the practical size of the cooler, doors and the like of the apparatus limits the number of double column staggered stacks side by side in the cabinet. Thenumber 3,2 92,8 1 6- Patented Dec. 20, 1966 of selections are therefore limited in a machine of maximum size. This is advantageous to the supplier since it limits the number of beverages that can be sold other than those of the supplier. A further advantage is that more bottles can be stored in the staggered stack type dispenser than in the shelf type machine. However, in the staggered stack machine, the delivery mechanism is usually motor-driven; it is expensive; and there is always the possibility of a mechanical jam of the mechanism in the automatic, positive drive of the dispensing mechanism for the bottles.

' Heretofore, it has been proposed to dispense from stacks of bottles less than two diameters of the bottles in width with mechanism for holding the lowermost bottle in the stack first on one side of the stack and then on the other side of the stack. One such proposal is found in US. Patent No. 3,107,812 to Harry R. Payne and Jack M. Womack, for Dispensing Mechanism for Articles in Staggered Stack and owned by the assignee hereof. In the present invention the bottles being dispensed move the holding mechanism and particularly the latching portion thereof to the opposite position to support the next bottles on the opposite side of the stacks.

In the dispensing mechanism proposed in the present application the latch is actuated by the weight of the stacks of bottles to release the bottles to be dispensed and is moved by the weight of the bottles to position to latch the support for the opposite and next bottle in the stack.

The dispensing mechanism of the present concept is relatively inexpensive to make, use and service, and permits dispensing at a fast rate without damage to the mechanism. The speed of actuation is advantageous in rush hours, permitting maximum sales. The mechanism of the present concept provides maximum capacity of bottles; is simple to service; it eliminates vending errors; and is foolproof in operation.

A regulator is provided with the mechanism of the present concept of the type described in my copending application, Ser. No. 369,674, filed May 25, 1964, which returns the bottle supports to normal and stand-by position and is provided with means for reversal thereof should a support be jammed in partially lowered position to free the support.

In the present dispenser, when a coin is deposited or a switch in an electric circuit momentarily closed, a short pulse of electric current passes to an electrically energized means which sufiices to actuate this means. This means then lifts a latch which in turn releases a rock plate releasing a support beneath the lowermost bottle in the staggered stack of bottles. At the same time the regulator is actuated to provide slack to a non-extensible flexible element beneath the supports. The released support then moves the rock plate out of its path and into position to lock the opposite bottle support. The descending stack of bottles rotates the opposite bottle support arm into engagement with the rock plate and continues until the rock plate is rotated to a locked position, preventing further downward movement of the stack of bottles. The released support arm continues to rotate in a downward direction under the weight of the bottle at a rate determined by the regulator. One bottle only is then dispensed. The lowermost bottle thus moves with controlled speed toward dispensing position and the stack of bottles move slowly and with controlled speed downwardly until the next bottle in the stack of bottles engage the opposite bottle support. Thereafter, the first support is returned to its upper, stand-by and bottle supporting position by the regulator retensioning the flexible non-extensible element with the rock plate locking the opposite bottle support against movement.

Should the bottle support jam during downward movement as by the presence of ice, rust or dirt and fail to release the bottle, theregulator during retensioning of the flexible non-extensible element will be reversed automatically when the flexible element engages the jammed support to provide slack to the flexible element. The jar thus given the jammed support will usually tree the suport and the bottle will be dispensed. The reversed movement of the regulator is then automatically ended and the normal cycle resumed. V

This reversing cycle for the regulator will be repeated automatically as many times as may be required to tree the support.

The electrically energized or actuated means may be a solenoid, an electric motor or other suitable electrically actuated device for lifting the latch. The regulator is preferably energized by a reversible shielded pole, tandem electric motor in the circuit with the device for lifting the latch.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel dispensing mechanism for dispensing one at a time a single article such as a bottle from a staggered stack of bottles which mechanism is actuated by the weight of the bottles in the staggered stack at controlled speed and is released for freeing a bottle by electrically energized means actuating a latch with electrically actuated regulator means controlling the dispensing mechanism, .one bottle being dispensed at a time, and the regulator =be-ing automatically reversed in case of a jammed support to free the support and the bottle to be dispensed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a dispensing mechanism in which the electrically energized means is a solenoid which is momentarily actuated, on the deposit of a coin or by the momentary closing of a switch in its circuit, to raise a latch. This permits a support beneath the lowermost bottle'in the stack of bottles to swing downwardly under the weight of the bottles into engagement with an electrically energized regulator :to release the lowermost bottles in the stack. The next bottle in the stack engages an oppositely disposed support which prevents this bottle from being released and supports all of the remaining bottles in the stack. The first support is then returned to its upper position by the regulator which returns to its initial position. Should the first support jam in partially lowered position, the regulator reverses automatically and then automatically resumes normal cycle to free the jammed support.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention, as described hereinafter, should in no Way be construed as defining or limiting the invention and reference should be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of the present inventive concept.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the relative position of the parts thereof with the regulator in its normal or stand-by position only one stackof bottles being shown for simplicity of disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of FIG. 2 showing the position of the parts for reversal of the regulator when a support is jammed; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, partially in section, at the beginning of the dispensing cycle for the 'lower right bottle in the stack.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, bins for the sta gered stacks of bottles are provided havingside walls 11 and 12 and front andrear Walls 13 and 14. The side walls of the bins are spaced apart less than twice the diameter of the bottles to be dispensed so that the bottles will lie between the walls in staggered stacks, in known manner. The front andrear walls 13 and 14 are spaced to accommodate the lengths of the bottles to be dispensed.Brackets 15 are formed on the central portion offront wall 13.Solenoid 16 which is provided withplunger 17 is mounted onfront wall 13.Plunger 17 has arigid head 18 which in lowermost position lies adjacent tobracket 15.Arm 20 is pivotally mounted on from and is supported onfront wall 13. Face plate 30' is bored adjacent its central lower portion at 33 to receivepivot 34 ofrock plate 35. Anarcuate slot 129 is provided inrock plate 35 in which stoppin 130 is re-:

ceived, pin 130 being. mounted onface plate 30 and limits arcuate movement ofrock plate 35.Rock plate 35 has an arcuate upper edge 36 which is provided with a notch formed by spacedstops 37 and 38. In stand byposition tongue 25 oflatch 24 lies betweenstops 37 and 38.Rock plate 35 is reduced in width belowpivot 35 to formshank 39. Beneathshank 39rock plate 35 is widened to supporttumbler plates 79 and 80.Tumbler plates 79 and '80 are pivoted at 42 and 43, respectively, onshank 39.Shank 39 has out-turnedportion 44 separating the tumbler plates. plates into engagement withportion 44.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, tumbler plates 79 i and overlie cut-awayportions 46 and 47, respectively, which are let intofront wall 13.

Abottle support rod 58 extends the full length of the device being journaled in back 14 and extends through cut-awayportion 47. Rod '58 is provided with an arm 60 which is journaled insupport plate 13 at 61.

An opposedbottle support rod 59 extends the full length of the device being journaled in back 14 and extends through cut-away portion 46 and is provided with an arm 63 which is journaled at 64 insupport plate 13.

A flexible non-extensible element such as achain 89 is fastened to wall 13 at and passes beneathrock plate 35.Chain 89 passes overrollers 91, 73 and 73 and underroller 74, all being mounted for rotation on :front wall 13. The other end ofchain 89 is secured at 92 to vertically recipro-cable plate 77 mountedon'side 11 by pin andslot connectors 78. A horizontal groove 76 is provided at the bottom ofplate 77 which is engaged bypin 81 mounted ondisc 93.Disc 93 is rotated byshaft 94 of reversible, shaded pole, tandemelectric motor 95.

Motor 95 is mounted onbracket 96 secured toside wall 11. Alimit switch 97 is actuated byfinger 82 ondisc 93, as will appear more fully hereinafter, to deenergizemotor 95 after .disc 93 has made one complete rotation from and back to the position shown in FIG. 1.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4,plate 77 terminates at its lower end in an L-shapedhead 100 and is turned up at 101 to form the lower edge of groove 76.Piece 102 is welded to head 100opposite edge 101 to form the other edge of groove 76. Arocker piece 103 is pivoted at 104 to head 100 andis turned up at 105 to form an edge spaced from and parallel topiece 102. A spring or piece ofresilient material 106 is placed betweenedges 102 and 105.Rocker piece 103 is also turned at 107 to form an extension ofplate 102 and of the upper edge of groove 76. A reversingswitch 108 is mounted onplate 77 aboverocker piece 103 and is provided with a downward-1y extending actuator arm or toggle 109 and is suitably connected tomotor 95.Rocker piece 103 is provided with aninturned finger 110 to engagetoggle 109. Aflapper plate 111 is pivoted at 112 to switch 108 Aspring 45 urges the tumbler.

and is mounted to be rotated into engagement with toggle 109-byfinger 82 ondisc 93.

Assuming the switches of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to be in their normal positions as shown, deposit of a coin in the mechanism to obtain a bottle of beverage or other goods will cause current to fiow tosolenoid 16.Solenoid 16 is energized raisinglatch 24 which releases a bottle, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Current then flows throughswitch 108 to startmotor 95.

Motor 95 then begins to rotateshaft 94 which throughdisc 93 closes switch 97.Motor 95 revolvesdisc 93 through one complete revolution which then throughfinger 82 opens switch 97. The circuitry is now deenergized andmotor 95 stops. In the meantime a bottle has been released, all as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 1 shows the mechanism in stand-by condition withbottles 150 in staggered stack with the lower right bottle supporting the stack of bottles and resting onsupport rod 58. When a coin is inserted in the mechanism,solenoid 16 is energized to liftlatch 24 andfree tongue 25 from the notch inrock plate 35 formed byshoulder 37. The weight of the stack of bottles onrod 58moves rod 58 downwardly and through tumbler 80 movesrock plate 35 in a clockwise direction as seen in these figures so thatlatch 24 rides momentarily on the left portion of surface 36 (FIG. 4), and pin 130 engages the left end ofslot 129. At the same time,motor 95 is energized anddisc 93 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 supplying slack tomember 89 which permitsrod 58, under the weight of the stack ofbottles 150, to descend slowly. In the meantime,rock plate 35 has moved into position to supportrod 59 which now receives the weight of the stack of bottles rotatingrock plate 35 counterclockwise so thattongue 25 oflatch 24 is engaged againststop 38.

Whenrod 58 has descended to its lowermost position, it frees the lowerright bottle 150. Engagement oftongue 25 oflatch 24 withstop 38locks rock plate 35 in position and locks supportrod 59 in position.

Withsupport rod 58 in its lowermost position, the lowerright bottle 150 is released and the lower left bottle of the stack of bottles comes to rest onsupport rod 59 and is supported thereon.Rod 59 cannot move because it is a part of and locked withrock plate 35.

Thereafter, counterclockwise rotation ofdisc 93 continues and the slack inelement 89 is retrieved raisingsupport rod 58 rotating tumbler 80 out of the way.Rod 58 then returns to its normal raised position. At thispoint switch 97 is opened byfinger 82 ondisc 93 and the motor circuit is broken and the mechanism comes to rest having dispensed one bottle.

When the next cycle of operation of the apparatus is begun by the deposit of a coin, it will be noted, that the lower left bottle in the stack rests onrod 59 and supports the weight of the stack ofbottles 150. Deposit of the coin energizessolenoid 16, as above described, liftinglatch 24 and releasingrock plate 35 which is then rotated in counterclockwise direction, andsupport rod 59 descends in engagement withelement 89 withlatch 24 momentarily engaging the right side of surface 36 withpin 130 engaging the right end ofslot 129.Motor 95 is energized, as above described, anddisc 93 starts its single revolution in counterclockwise direction to provide slack forelement 89 which permits supportrod 59 to descend.Rock plate 35 is now moved in clockwise direction by the weight of the bottles onrod 58 and bringstumbler 79 into position to supportrod 59 when it returns.Tongue 25 oflatch 24 now engages stop 37 androck plate 35 is locked in position.

Motor 95 continues its rotation to complete the single revolution ofdisc 93 and this rotation ofdisc 93 retrieves the slack inmember 89 which returnssupport rod 59 to its upperposition tripping tumbler 79 during its return.

When thedisc 93 completes its single rotation, switch 97 is actuated and breaks the circuit to electric motor and the mechanism is locked against further dispensing action until another coin is inserted.

The cycle of this mechanism as described above in detail is the normal cycle of operation and will function in normal manner except in about one out of every five thousand cycles. During one such abnormal cycle let it be assumed thatsupport rod 58 has descended partially and then jams by reason of accumulation of ice, rust, dirt or the like. Thebottle 150 resting onrod 58 will not be moved to dispensing position even though slack is provided forelement 89 which would normally permitrod 58 to move to dispensing position.

Motor 95 continues to rotatedisc 93 and, after slack has been given toelement 89, this slack is retrieved andelement 89 is tensioned and comes into engagement withrod 58 in its partially lowered position. This occurs beforefinger 82 engages and openslimit switch 97. At thispoint pin 81 ofdisc 93 is somewhere beneathflange 107 ofrocker piece 103. The engagement ofelement 89 withrod 58 would normally tend to stallmotor 95 but because ofresilient pad 106pin 81 is rotated further bymotor 95rocking plate 103 aboutpivot 104 bringing finger into engagement with and actuatingtoggle 109 of reversingswitch 108. Actuation of reversingswitch 108 then reversesmotor 95 anddisc 93 andpin 81 are rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, thus providing slack forelement 89.

The jarring action thus performed onrod 58 usually is suflicient tofree rod 58 which then moves downward with the slack inelement 89 and dispenses the bottle resting thereon.

Further clockwise rotation ofdisc 93 bringsfinger 82 thereon into engagement withflapper plate 111 andswings plate 111 into engagement withtoggle 109 and moves switch 108 to its normal position again reversingmotor 95.Motor 95 then rotatesdisc 93 andpin 81 in counterclockwise direction retrieving the slack inelement 89 during the appropriate portion of the cycle of rotation and bringingfinger 82 into engagement with andopening limit switch 97 to end the cycle anddeenergize motor 95.

The mechanism is now in normal stand-by position sincerod 58 was returned to its normal position when the slack was retrieved fromelement 89 beforeswitch 97 was opened.

The above-described reversing of the regulator will occur should eitherrod 58 or 59 of any of the stacks in the machine become jammed in partially lowered position and one reversing cycle is usually sufiicient to free the rod. However, if one reversing cycle does not free the jam, the reversing cycle will be repeated automatically as often as may be required to free the jam or until the conventional safety fuse in the motor circuit burns out requiring a servicing of the mechanism.

It should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention in every way satisfies the several objectives discussed above.

Changes in or modifications to the above-described illustrative embodiment of this invention may now be suggested without departing from the present inventive concept. For example, the concept is not limited to but a single staggered stack. A plurality of staggered stacks may be arranged in side by side relationship. Separate electrical circuits can be used with each stack to provide for selective choice of beverage or other goods in the bottles. Only one regulator would be required and it would be actuated during the appropriate portion of the cycle of operation for each stack and will reverse automatically, as described, to free a jammed support rod at any stack. FIGS. 1 and 4 are broken vertically to indicate the location of additional staggered stacks. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is: p

1. A mechanism for dispensing a single bottle at a time from a stack of bottles in a bin, comprising supports for said bottles adjacent the lower end of the bin mounted for downward rotary movement for releasing the bottle to be dispensed, a regulator for control of releasing of the bottle to be dispensed disposed beneath said supports in stand-by position for engagement by said supports, motor means for driving said regulator during movement of one of said supports maintaining engagement between said one of said supports and said regulator, means for reversing said motor means, means displaced by engagement of said regulator with said one of said supports jammed in a downward position, means associated with said means displaced for actuating said means for reversing said motor means whereby said regulator is moved from engagement with said jammed support and means actuated thereafter by said motor means for returning said means for reversing said motor means to normal position.

2. Mechanism as described in claim 1, said regulator comprising a non-extensible flexible element extending beneath said supports, means for securing an end of said element to the bin, means for tensioning said element comprising an eccentric, said motor means rotating said eccentric through one complete revolution, a reciprocal plate engaged by said eccentric and means for connecting the other end of said element to said plate, said means for reversing said motor means being actuated prior to completion of the revolution of said eccentric.

3. Mechanism as described inclaim 2 including a pin on said eccentric, a channel on said plate receiving said pin, a rocker piece pivoted on said plate, means on said rocker piece forming an extension of said channel, resilient means holding said rocker piece against rotation on said pivot, said means for reversing said motor means including an electric switch mounted on said plate and actuated by movement of said rocker piece.

4. Mechanism as described in claim 3, said means actuated by said motor means comprising a flapper mounted, adjacent to and for actuation of said switch and exten-.

sion means on said eccentric for engaging said flapper after reversal of said motormeans for returning said switch to normal position.

5. Mechanism as described in claim 4 including a limit switch for said motor means opened by said extension means on said eccentric whereby said eccentric is rotated through one complete revolution.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

K. N. LEIMER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING A SINGLE BOTTLE AT A TIME FROM A STACK OF BOTTLES IN A BIN, COMPRISING SUPPORTS FOR SAID BOTTLES ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF THE BIN MOUNTED FOR DOWNWARD ROTARY MOVEMENT FOR RELEASING THE BOTTLE TO BE DISPENSED, A REGULATOR FOR CONTROL OF RELEASING OF THE BOTTLE TO BE DISPENSED DISPOSED BENEATH SAID SUPPORTS IN STAND-BY POSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID SUPPORTS, MOTOR MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID REGULATOR DURING MOVEMNT OF ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS MAINTAINING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS AND SAID REGULATOR, MEANS FOR REVERSING SAID MOTOR MEANS, MEANS DISPLACED BY ENGAGEMENT OF SAID REGULATOR WITH SAID ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS JAMMED IN A DOWNWARD POSITION, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MEANS DISPLACED FOR ACTUATING SAID MEANS FOR REVERSING SAID MOTOR MEANS WHEREBY SAID REGULATOR IS MOVED FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID JAMMED SUPPORT AND MEANS ACTUATED THEREAFTER BY SAID MOTOR MEANS FOR RETURNING SAID MEANS FOR REVERSING SAID MOTOR MEANS TO NORMAL POSITION.

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