Article dispensing – Miscellaneous – Magazine charging
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-11-13
Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Miscellaneous
Magazine charging
C193S0250AC
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315159
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a package delivery chute and in particular to a vending machine chute having an impact dampening system for dampening the impact of dispensed carbonated soft drink packages as they are received by the chute en route to a customer access port of the vending machine.
Prior art vending machines for dispensing soft drinks were almost universally provided with chutes below the vending apparatus intended to receive carbonated soft drinks in 12 ounce metal cans. Sheet metal chutes used in vending machines are common in the prior art and are quite adequate to direct the metal containers from the dispensing location to the customer without creating a foam-over problem when the can is opened by a customer. Sometimes the chute is lined with a low-friction plastic to facilitate delivery.
The foam-over problem resulting from the use of relatively soft plastic bottle packages used in conjunction with a conventional sheet metal delivery chute has caused annoyance to customers and is exacerbated when the chute is not only rigidly mounted but also has deflecting surfaces intended to direct the package into the area of the access port in a somewhat random travel path. The first impact occurs as the package falls from the dispensing mechanism under gravity directly onto the rigid chute, secondary impacts occur depending on the travel path of the package to the access port and in addition, packages are sometimes subject to a tertiary effect from impacting the vending machine door in which the access port is located.
The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages in a manner not revealed in the known prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This package delivery chute incorporates a dampening system to overcome problems which occur when soft plastic packages such as 20 ounce bottles, are agitated during travel of the packages from the initial point of impact onto the chute to the customer access port. The dampening system is effective to reduce or eliminate foam-over when the product is opened by a customer.
The present system provides a delivery chute which is mounted to receive the initial impact of plastic packages, such as 20 ounce bottles, and is arranged to direct the package toward the access port with minimum secondary impact, the delivery chute being mounted in the vending machine in conjunction with an impact dampening system which absorbs impact forces caused primarily by gravitational forces and deflecting forces on the package.
The impact dampening system is created by providing a resilient plastic chute and a cushioning means between the plastic chute and an underlying metal chute, the cushioning means being disposed at locations between the two chutes which preferably have conforming configurations. Additionally, cushioning means may be provided between the plastic chute and the door of the vending machine.
This impact dampening system for vending machine containers, in its broad aspect comprises resilient means providing an impact surface receiving containers dispensed from a vending machine; and load transfer means for transferring load applied to said impact surface to said vending machine.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide that said load transfer means includes a fixed support means attached to said vending machine; and cushioning means is disposed between said impact surface and said fixed support means.
It is another aspect of this invention that the resilient means includes a resilient plastic panel; the fixed support includes a sheet metal panel; and the cushioning means includes a cushioning pad arrangement disposed between said resilient plastic panel and said sheet metal panel.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide an impact dampening system for a vending machine having a rear wall, and a front door having a dispensing port, the system comprising a sheet metal chute including a downwardly inclined panel having an upper rear portion operatively attached to the vending machine, and a front portion; a sheet plastic chute including a downwardly inclined panel disposed above the downwardly inclined panel of the metal chute, a front portion disposed adjacent the dispensing opening and deflecting means on each side of the dispensing port for directing containers toward the dispensing port; and cushioning means between the sheet plastic chute and the sheet metal chute for transferring impact received by the sheet plastic chute to the sheet metal chute.
It is still another aspect of this invention to provide that said cushioning means includes cushioning pad means disposed between said inclined panel of said plastic chute and said inclined panel of said sheet metal chute.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide that said sheet metal chute includes wing panels; and said sheet plastic chute includes wing panels providing said deflecting means, said wing panels being disposed above said wing panels of said sheet metal chute.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide that said resilient means includes cushioning means disposed between said wing panels of said sheet plastic chute and said wing panels of said sheet metal chute.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide that the angle of inclination of said downwardly inclined panel of said sheet plastic chute is less than the angle of inclination of said downwardly inclined panel of said sheet metal chute to create a wedge-shaped space between said panels.
It is still another aspect of this invention to provide that said sheet plastic chute includes upwardly extending flanges on each side of said chute; and a cushioning means is disposed between said flanges and the vending machine door.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a vending machine including a rear wall, opposed side walls, a front door having a customer access port and a floor; a sheet metal chute including a downwardly inclined panel attached at its upper end to the rear wall and attached at its lower end to the floor and including integrally formed deflecting wing panels at each side of the inclined panel; a sheet plastic chute disposed above the sheet metal chute and including a downwardly inclined panel attached at its upper end to the upper end of the inclined chute of the sheet metal panel and including integrally formed deflecting wing panels at each side of the inclined panel; the chutes being spaced from each other at the lower end; and an impact dampening means to absorb impact load received by the sheet plastic chute from containers dispensed onto said sheet plastic chute, said dampening means including a first dampening means provided by the resilience of the plastic panel initially impacted by the containers and a second dampening means provided by cushioning means disposed between the chutes.
It is yet another aspect of the invention to provide that said plastic chute includes upright front flanges at each side spaced from the vending machine door when its in closed position, and said impact dampening means includes cushioning means disposed between said flanges and said door to provide a third dampening means to further absorb impact load received by the sheet plastic chute from containers dispensed onto said sheet plastic chute.
In another embodiment, it is an aspect of this invention to provide that the resilient means includes a non-rigid, flexible plastic sheet providing a single chute.
In another aspect of the invention the load transfer means includes suspension means extending between said plastic sheet and said vending machine which may be provided by hanger springs. In another aspect, the load transfer means is provided by brackets attached to said vending machine.
It is yet another aspect of the invention to provide that the flexible sheet includes a diverter for deflecting containers away from the point of impact, toward the wing panels, and initially away from the access port, the diverter having opposed inclined surfaces diverging on a downward direction.
In still another aspect of the invention, the diverter h
Cohn, Powell & Hind
Coin Acceptors, Inc.
Noland Kenneth W.
LandOfFree
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