Article dispensing – With transparent inspecting or viewing means
Patent
1995-04-06
1998-01-20
Terrell, William E.
Article dispensing
With transparent inspecting or viewing means
221194, 221240, 271 42, 271141, 271128, 4147956, 4147969, G07F 1100, B65H 324, B65H 300, B65G 5907
Patent
active
057093156
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method for successively removing folded sheet units, such as newspapers, magazines or the like, each comprising superposed sheet layers, from a stack of such sheet units.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In vending machines and other apparatuses for dispensing products one by one, products such as newspapers, magazines or the like folded sheet units comprising superposed sheet layers are normally arranged in a stack of such sheet units. The sheet units should then be removed one by one from one end of the stack and delivered to a customer or user.
Various attempts have been made to ensure reliable separation of the sheet unit to be removed from the remaining stack. Examples of known apparatuses are disclosed in Danish patent No. 138,196, European patent publications Nos. 0,165,504, 0,282,457, and 0,424,329, German Offenlegungsschrift Nos. 23 53 477, 25 18 429, and 25 57 880, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,828.
In the majority of these prior art apparatus the sheet unit to be removed is engaged by frictional forces and pushed from the stack in the direction of the plane of the sheet unit. In European patent publication No. 0,424,329 it is proposed to remove newspapers and magazines from a stack by means of a pair of rotating discs having points or needles extending from the peripheral surface thereof. The prior art devices may function satisfactorily when the sheet units stacked are relatively thin and when the sheet layers of the unit are relatively stiff. However, when the sheet units are relatively thick and comprise a great plurality of sheet layers, malfunction may occur.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus by means of which a single folded sheet unit having a thickness within a wide range may efficiently be removed from a stack of such units.
Thus, the present invention provides a method for successively removing folded sheet units, such as newspapers, magazines, or the like each comprising superposed sheet layers, from a stack of such sheet units, and the method according to the invention is characterized in inserting at least one sheet engaging member between adjacent sheet layers of the sheet unit to be removed adjacent to the fold thereof, and subsequently moving the sheet engaging member transversely towards the fold so as to withdraw the sheet unit or sheet assembly from the stack. Thus, the sheet engaging member will come into engagement with the inner side of the fold of one of the sheet layers of the unit. Consequently, the sheet unit will be dragged rather than pushed, when it is removed from the stack. As the dragging force applied by the sheet engaging member is applied to at least the outer folded sheet layer or layers of the unit a satisfactory removal of all unit layers may be ensured even when the folded unit is relatively thick and heavy so that the frictional forces between the unit to be removed and the adjacent unit of the stack are relatively high.
It is sufficient to insert a sheet engaging member between the sheet layers of the unit to be removed at only one of the edges of the unit extending transversely or substantially at right angles to the fold. In the preferred embodiment, however, a pair of oppositely directed sheet engaging members are inserted into the sheet unit at opposite edge portions thereof. In such case the necessary depth of penetration of the sheet engaging member into the sheet unit may be substantially smaller than when only one sheet engaging member is used. Furthermore, such opposite pair of sheet engaging members may grip the sheet unit to be removed more safely.
Each sheet engaging member preferably comprises a pin or rod member which in its operative position is preferably substantially parallel with the fold of the sheet unit to be removed.
The method according to the invention may be used in any case where folded sheet units should successively be removed from a stack of such units. As an example, the stack of sheet units may be located within a vending machine, and said at leas
REFERENCES:
patent: 2444389 (1948-06-01), Wagner
patent: 2546352 (1951-03-01), Weaver
patent: 3250432 (1966-05-01), Green et al.
patent: 4008828 (1977-02-01), Branchaud
patent: 4131213 (1978-12-01), Tamura et al.
patent: 4501379 (1985-02-01), Halone et al.
Boysen Keld
Hartmeyer Karl
Kahler Steen
Chandler Richard
De Berlingske Dagblade A/S
Terrell William E.
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