Article dispensing – With discharge assistant – Having movable segregating chamber
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-30
2003-05-13
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Article dispensing
With discharge assistant
Having movable segregating chamber
C221S258000, C221S289000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06561380
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a product delivery apparatus for a vending machine, adapted for delivering at the time of selling downward a product for sale located lowermost among a plurality of products stored in a product passage in such a state that they are vertically stacked on top of one another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, a serpentine column, which is vertically extended in a serpentine state, has hitherto been applied to a product passage for a vending machine wherein products, for example, can beverage products or PET bottle products, are stored in such a state that they are vertically stacked on top of one another. A product delivery apparatus for delivering, at the time of selling, downward a product for sale only among a plurality of products stored in the column is provided at the lower end of the column. The product delivery apparatus provided in a conventional serpentine column comprises: a stopper which, under stand-by condition, supports the lowermost product for sale from the underside of the product for sale and, in addition, at the time of selling, supports a product for next sale, located just above the product for sale, from the underside of the product for next sale and, immediately after supporting the product for next sale, releases the support of the product for sale; a solenoid for driving the stopper; and the like.
Another product delivery apparatus known in the art is described in a microfilm of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 160575/1986. This product delivery apparatus comprises: a semi-cylindrical delivery member which, under stand-by condition, supports a product for sale from the underside of the product for sale in such a state that the lower half part of the product for sale is accommodated in the delivery member; and a drive motor for driving and rotating the delivery member at the time of selling, wherein, upon the rotation of the delivery member supporting the product for sale at about 180 degrees at the time of selling, the product for sale is delivered downward. The delivery member in the product delivery apparatus is constructed so that an adapter having a predetermined shape for raising can be mounted on the inner face of the delivery member according to the diameter of products to be sold. By virtue of the mounting of the adapter on the delivery member, even when products having a smaller diameter than the delivery member is sold, the delivery member can be smoothly rotated without raising products located above a product for next sale and can surely deliver the product for sale.
In the case of the product delivery apparatus provided in conventional serpentine columns, when there are a plurality of columns, the product delivery apparatus should be provided for each column. In addition, since a solenoid is used, the production cost is increased. On the other hand, in the case of the another conventional product delivery apparatus, products having various diameters can be delivered by mounting an adapter on the delivery member. However, several types of adapter should be provided according to products to be sold. Further, when the product to be sold is changed to products having a different diameter, troublesome adapter mounting work should be performed. There is also room for improvement in these points.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been made with a view to solving the above problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the invention to provide a product delivery apparatus for a vending machine which can be produced at a lower cost than the product delivery apparatus provided in conventional serpentine columns, and is advantageous in that products having various sizes can be surely delivered one by one without use of any adapter.
A product delivery apparatus for a vending machine defined by claim
1
, adapted for delivering downward a product for sale located lowermost at the time of selling among a plurality of products stored in such a state that they lie sideways and are vertically stacked on top of one another, comprises:
a vertically extended product passage for storing the plurality of products, defined by two vertically extended passage walls which have been disposed so as to face each other while leaving a predetermined space therebetween;
a product delivery drum which is provided at the lower end of the product passage so as to be rotatable around an axis line horizontally extended in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the two passage walls face each other and is extended along the axis line; and
drive means which, at the time of selling, drives and rotates the product delivery drum at a predetermined angle to deliver the product for sale,
said product delivery drum comprising: a first product supporting face which is disposed outside the axis line, is concaved in an arc form toward the axis line, and, under stand-by condition, supports the product for sale from the underside of the product for sale in such a state that the lower part of the product for sale is accommodated within the first product supporting face, while, at the time of selling, upon the rotation of the product delivery drum, the product for sale is delivered toward one of the two passage walls; and a second product supporting face, which is continued from the first product supporting face, is extended concentrically with respect to the axis line, and, at the time of selling, supports a product for next sale, from the underside of the product for next sale, located just above the product for sale,
said product passage having an enlarged-width section at the lower end of one of the passage walls, for permitting the passage of the product for sale.
According to this construction, under stand-by condition, among a plurality of products stored in a product passage in such a state that they lie sideways and are vertically stacked on top of one another, the lowermost product for sale is supported from the underside of the product for sale by the first product supporting face in the product delivery drum in such a state that the lower part of the product for sale is accommodated in the first product supporting face. At the time of selling, as soon as the product delivery drum driven and rotated by drive means is rotated around the axis line, the first product supporting face is rotated around the axis line and consequently faces one of the passage walls, whereby the product for sale is delivered in the state of being supported by the first product supporting face to the enlarged-width section. Further, in this case, the second product supporting face is also rotated around the axis line and reaches beneath the product for next sale to support the product for next sale from the underside of the product for next sale. Upon the rotation of the product delivery drum to a predetermined angle, the product for sale is separated from the first product supporting face, passed through the enlarged-width section, and delivered downward. On the other hand, upon further rotation of the product delivery drum, the product for next sale supported by the second product supporting face is delivered from the second product supporting face to the first product supporting face, thereby permitting the product for next sale to be supported by the first product supporting face and to now become a product for sale.
Thus, according to the product delivery apparatus having the above construction, the product for sale is delivered by rotating the product delivery drum provided at the lower end of the product passage. This, unlike the prior art, can eliminate the need to use any solenoid, and can realize the production of the product delivery apparatus at a lower cost than the conventional product delivery apparatus provided in conventional serpentine columns. Further, for the product for sale and the product for next sale stored in the product passage, as described above, a certain range of size (for example, diameter), which can be supported by the first product supporting face and the second product supporting face, suffice
Fuji Electric & Co., Ltd.
Rodriguez Joseph C
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Walsh Donald P.
LandOfFree
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