Article dispensing – Mechanical release or separation of articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-08
2001-03-27
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Mechanical release or separation of articles
C221S193000, C221S31200B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206237
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispenser for containers, and more particularly to a dispenser for cylindrical containers, such as bottles, having a sloped guide track for automatically dispensing stored bottles while preventing them from skewing on the track and limiting shock between the bottles themselves and between the bottles and the track. The present invention also relates to a dispenser formed of modular components that can be assembled into various shapes and sizes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Containers such as two-liter beverage bottles or other types and sizes are typically shipped in trays or shipping crates, and are loaded manually onto a display rack, shelving unit or refrigeration display unit at grocery stores or convenience stores for sale.
Several container dispensers for automatically dispensing containers by gravity feed are known. In a typical dispenser, the containers are supplied from the rear of the dispenser and slide down a linear track due to gravity in order to be dispensed from the front of the dispenser. In one dispenser of this type, the containers are vertically-oriented with their bottoms sliding along the track, and in another the containers are horizontally-oriented and roll down the track.
However, such conventional dispensers have many drawbacks. For example, each dispenser must have a considerable length in order to stock an adequate supply of containers. That is, the length of each track of the dispenser must be at least as long as the cumulative diameters of the stocked containers and the depth of the dispenser is almost as long as its tracks, depending on the angle of the tracks. Also, because such a dispenser is stocked from the rear of the dispenser, access to the rear must be available, which could require even more space or require the dispenser to be temporarily moved to provide adequate space when stocking.
Further, if the containers are supplied vertically, as they are individually placed on and slide down the track, they could topple. On the other hand, horizontally-oriented containers can skew while sliding down the track, especially if they are not properly oriented at the time they are loaded into the dispenser. Proper orientation is defined as the cylindrical axis of the container being disposed substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Skewing is also prone to occur when the container is rolling and an end contacts a side wall of the track. Friction caused by the end rubbing the sidewall tends to skew the container. This is especially true with bottles if their neck ends contact the sidewall. These incidents of skewing can lead to jamming along the dispenser track.
When one container is pulled out of the dispensing end of a typical dispensing unit, the next container in line slides or rolls due to gravity into a dispensing position defined by a stop. The remaining containers simultaneously slide down and are abruptly halted when the leading container hits the stop. The resulting impact or shock between the lead container and the stop and between the containers themselves results in unwanted jostling of the containers and can cause movement of the dispenser itself. The forces on the containers can cause damage and can even force the lead container out of the dispenser.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing unit for storing, displaying and dispensing containers at a point of sale.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing unit that can be stocked and dispensed from the same side of the unit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensing unit configured for front-loading and front-dispensing, and which receives and dispenses the containers in a horizontal position.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing unit that can aid a user in correctly orienting the containers as they are fed into the unit.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing unit that maintains the containers in their desired orientation throughout their travel.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing unit that can sequentially dispense individual containers one at a time.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing unit that prevents unwanted shock or skewing of the containers throughout their travel.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide modular container dispenser units that can be readily stacked and interlocked vertically and horizontally.
According to one aspect of the present invention a dispenser sequentially dispenses a plurality of containers. The dispenser includes a housing, a passage and a receiving door. The housing has a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, while an inlet and an outlet for the containers are disposed on the front of the housing. The passage is disposed within the housing for guiding the containers from the inlet to the outlet. The receiving door is connected to the housing for openably covering the inlet. The receiving door is movable between a closed position covering the inlet and an open position allowing the containers to be inserted into the inlet. The receiving door includes a front face contoured to cooperate with the passage to guide the containers in a predetermined orientation upon insertion into the inlet.
According to another aspect of the present invention a dispenser, which sequentially dispenses a plurality of containers, includes a housing and a passage. The housing has a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, with an inlet and an outlet for the containers being disposed on the front of the housing. The passage is disposed within the housing for guiding the containers from the inlet to the outlet. The passage comprises at least one ramp having a downward slope for guiding the containers from the inlet to the outlet of the housing. The at least one ramp is canted downwardly from the first to the second side of the housing to urge the containers toward the first side of the housing.
According to a further aspect of the present invention a dispenser, which sequentially dispenses a plurality of containers, includes a housing, first and second ramps and a U-turn section. The housing has a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, with an inlet and an outlet for the containers being disposed on the front of the housing. The first ramp is disposed within the housing and is angled downwardly from the inlet toward the rear of the housing. The second ramp is disposed within the housing and is angled downwardly from the rear toward the outlet of the housing. The U-turn section is disposed between the first and second ramps, is of a semi-circular shape, and is formed contiguously with the second ramp. Each of the containers has a cylindrical sidewall of a predetermined diameter, and a minimum distance between the first ramp and the U-turn section is slightly greater than the predetermined diameter.
According to a yet another aspect of the present invention, a dispenser, which sequentially dispenses a plurality of containers, includes a housing, a passage, a gate and a container cradle. The housing has a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, with an inlet and an outlet for containers being disposed on the front of the housing. The passage is disposed within the housing for guiding the containers from the inlet to the outlet. The gate is disposed at the outlet of the housing and is movable between a first position blocking the containers from exiting the housing and a second position allowing the containers to exit the housing through the outlet. The container cradle is disposed outside of the housing adjacent the outlet and is interconnected with the gate. When
Dillon Mike
Furbershaw Gerard A.
Howard Robert A.
Laituri David W.
McGinty Adam K.
Crawford Gene O.
Ellis Christopher P.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
PepsiCo Inc.
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