Article dispensing – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-03-20
Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Processes
C221S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202888
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automated systems and methods for performing vend operations on articles selected by a purchaser. More specifically, the present invention relates to such a system or method which utilizes a helical transfer member holding plural articles in a storage section and rotatable to dispense an article.
2. Description of Background Information
Vending machines hold articles to be purchased within sections of a helical member. When the helical member is rotated, it forwards the article to the entrance of a chute which leads to a catch bin accessible through a vend opening. U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,844 to Muehlberger (the '844 patent) discloses one example of such a system. In that patent, the vending machine has a rear vertical chute which curves gradually under trays holding articles to be dispensed and communicates with a vend opening. The system utilizes a dispense sensor positioned at the exit side of each tray, and the dispense sensor detects when an individual article passes into the chute. A helix is continuously turned until the article is dispensed into the chute as sensed by the dispense sensor. Another sensor is provided to detect whether an article is present at the discharge end of the helix.
There are problems associated with existing or conventional vending systems. For example, the '844 patent system allows its helix to rotate until a vend is sensed by the passage of the article across a beveled surface provided at the exit end of the tray. While doing this, the helix may rotate so far that the next article is susceptible to slipping past and over the beveled surface into the chute. If the next article does not fall into the chute due to its own weight, it may be dislodged by the unscrupulous passerby by simply jarring or rocking the machine.
Some vending machines provide ejectors on the end of each helix, which comprise small plastic projections that force the product off the shelf slightly sooner than if the helix had no ejector. This allows the rotation in the dispensing direction to be stopped sooner, thereby allowing the helix to maintain a better grip on the next article, holding the next article and preventing it from slipping off the shelf. Some existing vending machines utilize helixes with such ejectors, and vend articles by rotating the helix one complete revolution (i.e., 360 degrees) per dispensed article. With this solution, however, it is necessary to provide separate ejectors on the ejecting end of each and every helix, which can increase material and assembly costs.
There is a need for a vending system which is simple in construction, yet ensures both the dispensing of an article when properly paid for, as well as the retention and storage of articles not yet paid for.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is provided to improve upon vending systems which automatically perform vend operations on articles selected by a purchaser. In order to achieve this end, one or more aspects of the present invention may be followed in order to bring about one or more specific objects and advantages such as those noted below.
One object of the present invention is to provide an automated method or system for performing vend operations on articles selected by a purchaser, whereby a mechanism is provided to ensure the dispensing of an article upon selection and payment for that article, while preventing a next article from being prematurely dispensed. A further object of the present invention is to provide such an automated vending method or system requiring less parts and a more simple construction.
The present invention, therefore, may be directed to a method or system, or one or more parts thereof, for performing vend operations on articles selected by a purchaser through a payment mechanism or point of sale (POS) device. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a vending system is provided which includes a storage section arranged to store articles to be dispensed. A vend section is provided to which a purchased article is transferred from the storage section. A vend-destined section and a vend mechanism associated with the vend-destined section are also provided. The vend mechanism rapidly moves a given article from the vend-destined section to the vend section. A helical transfer member holds the articles in the storage section, and is rotatable in a dispensing direction to transfer the given article from a position immediately adjacent the vend-destined section to the vend-destined section. The helical transfer member is also rotatable in a reverse direction opposite the dispensing direction.
A driver is coupled to the helical transfer member, and is actuable to rotate the helical transfer member in either the dispensing direction or the reverse direction. A controller is provided which is operable during each vend operation to control the driver to first rotate the helical transfer member in the dispensing direction by a first amount until the given article is fully transferred to the vend-destined section, and to then rotate the helical transfer member in the reverse direction by a second amount until an article immediately following the given article is securely held in the storage section.
The storage section may comprise a generally horizontal portion supporting the articles and an exiting end in communication with the vend-destined section. The vend section comprises an article catching bin and a vend opening providing outside access to the catching bin.
The vend mechanism may comprise a substantially vertical chute having an upper entrance and a lower exit leading to the vend section, wherein the vend-destined section is located at the upper entrance.
The helical transfer member may comprise a resilient rod formed as a helix. The driver may comprise an actuator and an electric motor. The controller may comprise a central processing unit (CPU).
The first and second amounts of rotation may be predetermined. For example, the first and second amounts of rotation may be fixed rotational amounts controlled by measuring an amount of time during which the driver rotates the helix, or controlled by sensing the amount of rotation of the helix. Alternatively, the amounts of rotation may be determined based upon the sensed condition of the articles. For example, the first amount of rotation may be 360+a
1
degrees of rotation, and the second amount of rotation may be a
2
degrees. The values a
1
and a
2
may be fixed, and equal to each other (e.g., by rotating the helix in either direction by an equal amount of time). In one implementation, a
1
is determined by rotating the helix for a given amount of time sufficient to assure that the given article is fully transferred to the vend-destined section. a
2
is the determined by simply rotating the helix in the opposite direction until a home position is sensed by a home position sensor or switch coupled to the motor.
The system may further comprise a positive vend sensor positioned to generate a positive vend signal indicating a positive vend whereby the given article is fully transferred to the vend-destined section. Alternatively, the positive vend sensor may be positioned to generate a positive vend signal indicating a positive vend whereby the given article is fully transferred to the vend section. For each vend operation, a
1
may be defined by the controller receiving the positive vend signal and stopping the dispensing rotation of the helical transfer member in response to the positive vend signal, and a
2
may be set by simply stopping the reverse rotation of the helical transfer member once the home position is sensed.
The system may further comprise a store check sensor positioned to generate a positive store signal indicating a secure storage state wherein the article immediately following the given article is securely held in the storage section. In this regard, for each vend operation, a
2
is defined by the controller receiving the positive store signal and stopping the reverse rotati
Pollock Richard A.
Spentzos Kyriakos
Steeley Roy S.
Automated Merchandising Systems Inc.
Noland Kenneth W.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
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