Multi-Rack Article Dispensing Apparatus

Briefly described, the dispensing mechanism of the present invention includes a gravity feed system for storing articles compactly in large numbers and for dispensing the articles by gravity without requiring independent power means other than a simple release mechanism. This gravity vertical access feed system comprises a gravity feed main supply disposed for containing a column of articles, escapement means at the lower end of the supply chute for dispensing articles singly therefrom, and a plurality of inclined racks arranged along the vertical access and opening thereinto for storing articles in each rack when the article column in the access extends therebeyond and for supplying articles by gravity from each rack to the upper end of the article column as the upper end of the column of articles progresses past the storage rack. This arrangement of inclined racks opening into a main vertical access provides for compact storage and feeding of articles with the weight of the articles providing sufficient gravity force for operating the release mechanism, but without undue pressure on the article supply even when a large number of articles are in the supply. In addition, this arrangement permits the use of a flapper plate conveniently insertable under the articles in a particular rack and into the main chute to block the passage of articles so that repair or replacement of the release mechanism can be accomplished without the tedious removal of all of the articles from the dispensing mechanism.

The prior art patents for mechanically releasing articles detect the presence or absence of an article already released. When there is an article present, the actuator prevents the mechanical release mechanism from dispensing; however, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,714, issued to Wingate et al., when there is no article present in the access to retain the release mechanism in its article blocking position, the mechanical release dispenses the can into the vertical access. Many of the prior art patents having mechanical releases use devices above the rack which block the path of travel from the inclined rack to the access. Generally, these devices have pivotably mounted flapper plates which are kept shut by the presence of articles released from above the inclined rack. As the level of articles in the access lowers past the inclined rack, the weight of the stack of articles pushing against the flapper plate pivots it open and keeps it open until the last article in the rack is released. Examples of this type of mechanical release are shown in the patents issued to Dennis, U.S. Pat. No. 2,408,380, and Voigtritter, U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,347.

The prior art patent to Crittenden, U.S. Pat. No. 481,896, shows but another type of mechanical release mechanism where an article waiting to be dispensed is detected by a lever which cooperates with a pivotal flapper plate to prevent the release of more articles from the inclined rack.

While the prior art shows mechanical can releases which sense the presence of a first can in the vertical access and, thereby, prevents the release of a second can from the inclined rack, these devices are usually complicated and expensive to install in new or existing machines.

It is therefore the object of this present invention to provide a novel article releasing mechanism which is of sturdy and strong construction, simple and easy to manufacture and maintain, and not subject to malfunction.

In the present invention, the article release mechanism is located at the lower end of a generally inclined rack filled with articles, which the lowermost article in position to be released into a vertical access, where the articles are retained until released by a suitable dispensing mechanism. The articles move down the inclined rack by gravity, rolling at right angles to their long axis to be dispensed at the same posture and roll out of a receiver to be picked up by the purchaser. Generally, a vending machine will have many inclined racks stacked one on top of another forming a dispensing column which releases cans to the vertical access. In addition, a typical vending machine will have several rows of individual columns; however, my invention will work with a single column comprising as few as two inclined racks stacked one on top of the other. At the rear of each inclined rack, which is the lower end of the rack, there is a flapper plate for retaining the articles on the inclined rack until the level of articles in the vertical access is sufficiently lowered, at which time the articles in the inclined rack are released in multiples of two until the vertical access is again filled. The flapper plate includes a top portion extending into the inclined rack to retain the articles on the rack and a bottom portion which extends into the vertical access contacting the uppermost article preventing the two lowermost articles in the rack from being released. The flapper plate is a unitary construction having a horizontal pivot separating the top and bottom portions with an article retaining lip near the end of the top portion. There is a retaining spring to keep the flapper plate parallel to the inclined rack when there are no articles present, either on the inclined rack or in the vertical access.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts, FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the article release mechanism of the present invention showing the same installed at the end of an inclined rack of articles;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the inclined racks of a multiple-rack mechanism showing the release mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a view from the right of FIG. 1 with the side panel removed and showing how the articles are released from the top down; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the release mechanism of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a coin-operated vending machine 10 with a bottom access 12 for dispensing canned beverages and other packaged goods, in particular packaged foods, on the insertion of a coin and selection by a customer; for purposes of this description where the term "article" is used, it is intended to include other packaged articles such as cans or bottles, for example. The machine 10 comprises a series of inclined racks 14 partitioned into individual columns 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d (see FIG. 1) by vertical support walls 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The inclined racks 14 slant from front to back such that the articles C are loaded from the front of the machine 10 and travel down the incline by gravity to the lower end of the rack 14. Illustratively, the racks 14 are inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal in the order of 14.degree.. At the rear of the machine 10, there is a vertical access 20 which runs from the top to the bottom of the machine 10 and comprises a metal chute which has an inclined lower end. Articles C from the individual columns 16 are released into the access 20, which is divided to keep the articles C in each column 16 separated therein, and travel down the access 20 by gravity to be dispensed to a purchaser by a coin-actuated vending mechanism 48, illustratively of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,854.

To preclude the possibility of jamming, each of the inclined racks 14 includes an article release mechanism 24 (see FIG. 4) mounted near the rear end of each rack 14, as shown in FIG. 3. Each article release mechanism 24 includes a flapper plate 26 (see FIG. 4), which is divided by horizontal pivot supports 28 into an article support portion 30 and an article retaining portion 32. The article retaining portion 32 is notched and has a spring receiving aperture 34. Projecting outwardly from the lower end of the can support end 30 are stops 36 which engage the next, lower inclined rack 14; the purpose of the stop 36 will be explained in detail later. A retaining spring 38 is connected at one end to the aperture 34 of the flapper plate 26 and at the other end to a hook 40 which is connected to a rod 44.

Running horizontally across the rear of each rack 14 are parallel rods 42 and 44. The pivot supports 28 of each flapper plate 26 are connected to the rods 42 by running the rods 42 through the pivot holes 29 in the pivot support 28. The hook 40 of the retaining spring 38 is connected to rod 44 in such a manner that the tension of spring 38 retains the unloaded flapper plate 26 in a horizontal plane as shown in FIG. 4. Looking at FIG. 3, it is seen that the flapper plate 26 of the two empty racks 14.sub.1 and 14.sub.2 are retained horizontally by the spring 38.

When the vending machine 10 is to be filled, the vertical access 20 is filled first from the top and then the topmost inclined rack 14 and succeeding lower racks are filled in order, with the presence of the articles C in the access 20 retaining the flapper plate 26 in the vertical position against the force of spring 38. The other inclined racks 14 are filled in sequence until all racks 14 are filled. In the filled position, the weight of the articles C on the racks 14 presses against the retaining top portion 32 of the flapper plate 26, preventing any articles C from being released into the vertical access 20. When the level of the articles C in the access 20 is lowered, the spring force of the spring 38 pivots the flapper plate 26 upward, and the top portion 32 releases two additional articles C onto the flapper plate 26 for release into the access 20. It should be clear that the articles C travel down the inclined rack 14 by gravity and the articles C are also loaded onto the flapper plate 26 by gravity.

So that no more than two articles are dispensed at any one time, flapper plate top portion 32 is pivoted into the path of the next article C on the rack 14, stopping it from further travel. The articles C will continue to be released in this manner until all of the articles C are released in pairs into the access 20 and the next rack 14 will empty, and so on.

With the inclined rack 14 filled, the weight of the articles C could easily overcome the retaining spring 38, pivoting the bottom portion 30 of the flapper plate 26 out of the path of the articles C and releasing the articles C into the access 20. In order to prevent this, the flapper plate bottom portion 30 is equipped with wing stops 36 which engage the lower ends 46 (see FIG. 3) of the next, lower rack. The stops 36 therefore serve the vital function of preventing the bottom portion of flapper plate 26 from rotating past the lower end 46 of the next, lower rack 14 by contacting the rack 14, thereby holding back the articles C.

The foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the dispensing mechanism of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration only and it should be understood that the details may be varied within the scope of the present invention. Numerous other variations are within the intended scope and the invention also may be incorporated in various devices other than article vending mechanisms. The scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited other than as defined in the appended claims.