Cup transfer device for vending machine

Details Cup transfer device for vending machine Cup transfer device for vending machine

2001-12-14

2003-07-29

Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3653)

Article dispensing

With recorder, register, indicator, signal or exhibitor

Dispenser operated register

C221S258000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06598758

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a vending machine, and more particularly to a cup transfer device for a vending machine that transfers a supplied cup from a cup supply device between a cup supply unit and a low material discharging hole.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional cup transfer device
10
of a vending machine is shown in FIG.
1
. The cup transfer device
10
of the vending machine shown in
FIG. 1
is an undisclosed prior art device of the assignee of the present invention, thus, it cannot be used as a ground for rejecting the present invention.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, the conventional cup transfer device
10
of the vending machine comprises a cup holder
110
, a driving means
120
, and a position control means
130
. The cup holder
110
comprises a holder body
111
and a cup hold unit
112
for embracing a cup.
The driving means
120
includes a motor
121
(shown in phantom) and a gear box
122
(shown in phantom). Rotational force of the motor
121
is amplified by the gear box
122
, and provides rotational energy to a rotary shaft
123
. Accordingly, the cup holder
110
, secured to the rotary shaft
123
, also rotates.
The position control means
130
comprises a sensing disk
131
and a pair of sensors
132
and
133
. The sensing disk
131
is secured to the cup holder
110
by an appropriate means, such as the pins shown, and the pair of sensors
132
and
133
are secured to a base plate
101
by a bracket
134
.
A plurality of sensing detents
132
a,
133
a
and
133
b
are formed along an outer circumference
135
of the sensing disk
131
. Alternatively, the sensing disk
131
can be formed integrally with the cup holder
110
. Original point and stop positions of the cup holder
110
are controlled in accordance with a reciprocal movement of the pair of sensors
132
and
133
in the sensing detents
132
a,
133
a
and
133
b.
In other words, the original point of the cup holder
110
is controlled by the relative movement of the sensor
132
in the sensing detent
132
a,
and the stop position of the cup holder
110
is controlled by the relative movement of the sensor
133
in the sensing detents
133
a
and
133
b.
For the conventional cup transfer device
10
of the vending machine with the above described construction, if the stop position of the cup holder
110
is sensed by the sensor
133
and the sensing detents
133
a
and
133
b,
the stop position of the cup holder
110
is controlled by stopping the operational rotation of the motor
121
.
However, according to the position control method of the cup holder
110
as described above, the cup holder
110
sometimes cannot stop at the appropriate place due to inertial forces of a rotary body or the change of viscosity of grease inside of the gear box
122
caused by a change in the weather.
In the above case, supplying of the cup and discharging of the ice cream cannot be performed actively. Accordingly, the vending machine might be polluted because the ice cream is discharged to the wrong place and the useful credibility of the vending machine can be damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the related art. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cup transfer device of a vending machine capable of accurately controlling a stop position of a cup holder.
The above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing a cup transfer device of a vending machine, comprising a cup holder; means for driving the cup holder; means for controlling a position of the cup holder; and means for adjusting a position of the cup holder.
The driving means includes a motor and gear box, the position control means is secured to the cup holder, and includes a sensing disk having a plurality of sensing detents formed at an outer circumference and a pair of sensors that reciprocate with the sensing detents. Moreover, in various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the position adjusting means can include position adjusting detents formed at an outer circumference of a sensing disk and a roller urged toward the outer circumference of the sensing disk by a resilient member, and also can include a position adjusting detent formed at an outer circumference of a sensing disk and a wedge member for selectively engaging with the position adjusting detent or can include a magnetic material attached at an outer circumference of a sensing disk and an electromagnet for selectively operating with the magnetic material.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4480764 (1984-11-01), Takagi et al.
patent: 5261467 (1993-11-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5503300 (1996-04-01), Prescott et al.
patent: 2002/0113078 (2002-08-01), Kim et al.
patent: 2089208 (2002-03-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Cup transfer device for vending machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Cup transfer device for vending machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cup transfer device for vending machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3068267