Solid merchandise dispensing system for mechanical or electrical control

• US 3,991,907 A
• Filed: 06/02/1975
• Issued: 11/16/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leo Kull
• Original Assignee: Leo Kull
• Inventors: Kull, Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Knowles, Allen N.
• Application Number:
  US05/583,181
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 221/123, 221/124, 221/125, 221/126, 221/127, 221/128, 221/129, 221/84, 221/85, 221/299, 221/301, 221/289, 221/295, 221/247, 221/251, 317/137, 317/157
• US Class Current: 221/84
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/28 in which the magazines are inclined
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

A dispensing and control system, adaptable to coin operated vending machines, for selective operation of one of the dispensers acting as a means for releasing and dropping a selected merchandise to a delivery location using a mechanical or electrical control. Three dispenser mechanisms, suitable for different merchandise groups, are operable by a low power operating stroke suitable for a fully mechanical machine where the operating power comes from the manual actuation of operating knobs which are visually and mechanically linked to individual dispensers. Same dispensers are operable by an electrical power source using a novel selection system which includes a coupling and resetting control for coupling a selected dispenser actuator to a common power driven actuating member. The electrical control system is utilizing a series connected simple selection switch unit and a compact drive mechanism where the power of a single motor in a machine can be coupled to any dispenser unit which includes a small electrical actuator and switching means to control the selective coupling and resetting action. The control system is adaptable to vending machines or selection mechanisms requiring a selectable coupling of a power stroke to one of the selected actuators. The basic electrical control system is adaptable to various modifications including a direct solenoid actuation of some light acting dispensers. A two pivot escapement principle is applied as a bases for a delivery door and for one of the dispensers.

Claims

1. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism for selective coupling of an oscillating motion comprising of an electric motor with an output shaft and more than one coupling mechanisms each including an electrical actuator, a coupler switch, a selector switch and a pivoting member with a coupler movably secured to said pivoting member, said output shaft having means for transmitting each revolution of it to a full oscillation of an operating bar, said mechanism having a standby position where a cycle switch, controlled by said output shaft, is keeping said motor deenergized and said operating bar with all of said pivoting members in one of their extreme positions, said coupler having a spring or gravity bias tending to move it from a nonactive position to a coupled position, said actuator having a gravity or spring biased armature normally holding said coupler in said nonactive position, a closing of said selector switch completing a circuit through said cycle and said coupler switch to energize said actuator for releasing said coupler to said coupled position, said releasing causing a switchover of said coupler switch for interrupting the circuit of said actuator and completing a starting circuit to said motor, the rotation of said output shaft actuating said cycle switch for maintaining a circuit of said motor throughout said cycle, half of said oscillation moving said coupler together with said pivoting member to a position to clear said armature for restoring its standby position, the second half of said oscillation moving said pivoting member together with said coupler back to said standby position letting said armature restore said nonactive position of said coupler and said coupler switch before said cycle switch is stopping said motor, the restored position of said coupler switch preventing a restart of said cycle if said control circuit is broken by said selector switch or by any other circuit interrupter in the circuit of said actuator.

2. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein all of said coupler switches and all of said selector switches are forming a series connected switch chain where all of said selector switches are grouped to the end of said switch chain;

the actuation of one of said selector switches and the following switchover of said coupler switch disabling all of said selector switches and allowing the coupling of only one of said couplers to said operating bar for transmitting the oscillation of said operating bar once to said pivoting member.

3. An electrical control system where more than one of said multiple coupling mechanisms of claim 1 being electrically linked together in a grouped series arrangement where all of said selector switches being grouped to the end of a switch chain, all of said cycle switches being grouped to the beginning of said switch chain and all of said coupler switches being grouped in the middle of said switch chain;

the actuation of one of said selector switches and the following switchover of said coupler switch disabling all of said selector switches and said coupler switch which was selected by said actuator acting to start said drive motor in same unit where said actuator was located, said motor transmitting the oscillation of said operating bar once to said pivoting member.

4. An electrical control system according to claim 1 wherein all said cycle, coupler and selector switches of one or more said multiple coupling mechanisms have a series connection with each other and with an open relay contact placed between said cycle switches and said coupler switches, said open contact disabling all of said selector switches, said contact forming an holding circuit to said relay through said cycle switches when said relay is receiving a validation pulse from any source, said closed relay contact permitting an actuation of one of said actuators for starting the cycle of one of said motors, the actuation of one of said cycle switches breaking said holding circuit of said relay and preventing the selection of a new cycle without a new validation pulse.

5. An electrical control system according to claim 1 wherein said cycle, coupler and selector switches of one or more of said multiple coupling mechanisms have a series connection with each other and with an open relay contact placed between said cycle switches and said coupler switches, said open contact disabling all of said selector switches, said contact forming an holding circuit to said relay through said cycle switches and through a parallel circuit with one or more series connected normally closed delivery switches when said relay is receiving a validation pulse from any source, said closed relay contact permitting an actuation of one of said actuators for starting the cycle of one of said motors, a simultaneous actuation of one of said cycle switches and said delivery switches breaking said holding circuit of said relay and preventing the selection of a new cycle without a new validation pulse, the opening of one of said delivery switches registering a desired action of one of said coupler mechanisms, a lack of said desired action permitting repeated selections until said desired action is reached.

6. An electrical control system according to claim 1 wherein said cycle, coupler and selector switches of one or more or said multiple coupling mechanisms have a series connection with each other and said circuit includes a multiposition switch permitting a grouping of said acutators for connecting one or more of them to each position of said switch, said grouping permitting the energization of only one of said actuators which is in a connected position of said multiposition switch.

7. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mehcanism according to claim 1 wherein said electrical actuator being a stationary solenoid and said armature a spring or gravity operated plunger of said solenoid acting with said coupler as a three dimensional mechanism.

8. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said electrical actuator being a stationary electromagnet with a spring or gravity operated armature controlling a moving member acting at right angles to the motion of said operating bar, said moving member acting to reset and hold said coupler in said nonactive position and to release it to said coupled position only when it is energized by said selector switch.

9. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said operating bar has a parallel motion and all of said pivoting members together with said couplers have a superimposed arrangement and a selective coupling capability to said operating bar.

10. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said operating bar has a parallel motion and all of said pivoting members together with said couplers have a superimposed arrangement and a selective coupling capability to said operating bar, said parallel motion being controlled by a one plane parallelogram-type of linkage including two bellcranks pivotally secured to a base plate, a connecting link for connecting two arms of said bellcranks and said operating bar connected to the other arms of said bellcranks, any member of said parallel motion linkage having a link connection to a crankpin rotated by said output shaft, said linkage transmitting one revolution of said output shaft to a full oscillation of said operating bar.

11. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechansim according to claim 1 wherein said operating bar has a straightline oscillating motion and all of said pivoting members together with said couplers being placed next to each other on same plane with said operating bar, said oscillating motion being generated by each revolution of said output shaft, said operating bar having individual coupling points for each said coupler for transmitting said oscillation selectively to one of said pivoting members.

12. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said couplers having another arm acting as a drive pawl for an indexing wheel having equally spaced teeth and restricted to move in one direction, said drive pawl being not in full contact with said teeth in said nonactive position, said drive pawl moving to a full drive contact in said coupled position, said indexing wheel being advanced by said pawl a full increment during the first half of said oscillation, said mechanism providing a selective indexing drive to one of said indexing wheels.

13. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said couplers having another arm acting as a drive pawl for an indexing wheel having three drive pins equally spaced and concentric to the center of said indexing wheel, said pivoting member carrying a 120°

segment in a working contact with said three pins and acting as a motion translating means between said pivoting member and said indexing wheel, said drive pawl being engageable to one of said drive pins in said coupled position, said operating bar transmitting the first half of said oscillation to a 60°

motion of said pivoting member and to a 120°

indexing of said indexing wheel, the second half of said oscillation acting to reset said coupler while said segment and said drive pins are maintaining the position of said indexing wheel throughout the return stroke of said pivoting member, said mechanism providing a positive and selective indexing drive to one of said indexing wheels.

14. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said coupler having another arm acting as a drive pawl for an indexable conveyor belt, said conveyor belt being provided with equally spaced partitions for transporting and dispensing articles placed between said partitions, said belt having a supporting framework with a drive station where said drive pawl can move to a full drive contact with one of said partitions in said coupled position, the first half of said oscillation causing said coupled drive pawl advance said belt one full pitch length as determined by said partitions, the advancement of said conveyor belt being usable for dispensing one article per each oscillation of said operating bar.

15. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting member is providing an oscillating motion for indexing a sprocket wheel used to advance a partitioned conveyor belt, said conveyor belt being usable for dispensing one article per each oscillation of said operating bar.

16. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting member acting as a two-pivot escapement lever for dispensing force fed products from a storage chute, said escapement lever having a first and second pivot point and a restriction controlling a pivoting sequence wherein said first pivot point will act during the first half of said pivoting sequence and said second pivot will act during the second half of said pivoting sequence, said escapement lever representing said pivoting member with said coupler during the first half of said pivoting sequence for providing a selective coupling to said operating bar, said operating bar and said escapement lever having a secondary meshing connection staying in full mesh throughout the second half of said pivoting sequence, said two-point coupling transmitting said full oscillation of said operating bar to a full reciprocating pivoting sequence of said escapement lever for releasing one of said products per each of said oscillation.

17. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting member having a link connection to a two-pivot escapement lever for selectively actuating a dispenser mechanism controlled by said escapement lever.

18. An electrically controlled multiple coupling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting member is providing a selective oscillating motion for actuating various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing one article from a selected storage column of a multiple storage unit per each of said oscillation.

19. A manually operable merchandise vending machine having an enclosure with a number of horizontal dispensing trays each having a series of dispensers with a front end dispensing mechanism and display location, each said dispenser having an operating lever operable by a vertical oscillating motion, said enclosure having a door with transparent areas for providing visibility to all of said display locations, said door having vertical support sections between said transparent areas with guide slots for a series of knobs on the outside of said door and for operating slides on the inside of said door connected to said knobs through said guide slots, said operating slides being grouped and in a vertical alignment with said operating levers, said operating slides and said operating levers having a coupling including a lost motion, said coupling providing a connection between said operating knobs and said operating levers when said door is closed, said coupling permitting a separation of said connection during an opening of said door;

all of said operating slides being controlled and controlling a common coin operated lock mechanism with a free sensing motion up to a lock-point and an operating motion after said lockpoint, said sensing motion equalling said lost motion and said operating motion being transferable to said operating lever of each said dispenser to perform a manually operated dispensing action from any dispenser in said enclosure which is operable by an oscillating motion.

20. A dispensing mechanism operable by an oscillating motion for dispensing odd shape articles from a storage structure, said storage structure including a supporting platform for an endless partitioned conveyor belt, said partitions having a uniform pitch and said conveyor belt acting as a transporting and dispensing means for said articles placed between said partitions, said platform having a horizontal or inclined position, said platform having a rounded front and rear end for guiding said endless belt, said front end guiding means having a radius not exceeding half of said pitch, said belt having an indexing feed operable by said oscillating motion for advancing the top side of said belt toward said front end one pitch length per each oscillation, said belt releasing one of said articles per each said oscillation over said front end.

21. A dispensing mechanism according to claim 20 wherein said storage structure is supporting a barrier plate placed next to said front end with a clearance not less than the thickness of said articles dispensable by said endless belt and with an angular relationship to said storage platform less then 90°

, said barrier plate permitting an upright placement of said articles between said partitions in a way that said foremost article being in said dispensing and display position leaning against said barrier plate and the next articles being also placed between said partitions leaning against each other, each of said indexing of said belt removing bottom hold of said foremost article to permit its fall to a delivery location.

22. A dispensing mechanism according to claim 20 wherein said oscillating motion to advance said conveyor belt being provided by a manual reciprocation of an operating means.

23. A dispensing mechanism operable by an oscillating motion for dispensing solid rectangular containers from a storage structure, said containers having a forced feed toward a dispensing station, said storage structure and said dispensing station consisting of a chute for said containers, a barrier plate and a shuttling frame all with same size opening to clear said containers, said chute and said barrier plate being stationary and in an angularly offset relationship while said shuttling frame being pivotally secured between them, said shuttling frame being in alignment with said chute in one of its extreme positions and in alignment with said barrier plate in the other of its extreme positions, said forced feed causing an advancement of said containers when said shuttling frame is moved to an alignment with said chute and another advancement and a release of one of said containers when said frame is moved to an alignment with said opening in said barrier plate, said frame and said opening in said barrier plate having their bottom open to permit a free fall of said dispensed container, said oscillating motion pivoting said shuttling frame once back and forth to accomplish one dispensing action per each said oscillation.

24. A dispensing mechanism for solid uniform shape merchandise according to claim 23 wherein said oscillating motion being provided by manual operating means which can simultaneously operate a control mechanism.

25. A dispensing mechanism for solid uniform shape merchandise according to claim 23 wherein said forced feed being provided by a pusher plate guided by said storage structure and spring loaded toward said dispensing station.

26. A release mechanism operable by an oscillating motion for releasing force fed items in a controlled way through a release station, said mechanism having a supporting and guiding structure for said items and for a two-pivot escapement lever in said release station, said escapement lever having a first and second pivot point with a centerdistance suited to the size of said items, both of said pivot points representing means to extend to the path of said items for providing a holding position to said items, said pivot points having a midposition where both of said pivot points are in said holding position, said pivot points having means to control a restricted pivoting sequence from said midposition to either one of two extreme or release positions, said oscillation moving said escapement lever through said restricted pivoting sequence in the following order:

a standby position as being one of said extreme positions, said midposition, the other of said extreme positions, said midposition and said standby position again, said pivoting sequence permitting an advancement of said items when one of said pivot points is reaching said release position and a release of one of said items per each said oscillation.

27. A release mechanism for force fed items according to claim 26 wherein said supporting structure being an inclined plane chute with a sideplate providing a support, guidance and said restriction to control said pivoting sequence of said escapement lever, said pivot points being means working in arched guideslots in said sideplate and said restriction being provided by two corner points, one in said sideplate and the other one in said escapement lever, said chute providing a gravity feed to said items and said two pivot points following said restricted pivoting sequence to release one of said items per each said oscillation.

28. A release mechanism for force fed items according to claim 26 wherein said supporting structure being a first and second deck inclined plane chute for rolling containers, said structure having a sideplate to provide a support guidance and said restriction to said escapement lever, said release station with said escapement lever being on said first deck, said second deck having a pivoting platform to guide said containers from said second deck to said release station when said first deck is empty, said platform resting normally on top of the container in said release station, said platform being lifted slightly by the motion of a connecting link which is pivotally secured to said escapement lever, said motion taking place after said midposition has been reached, said lifting permitting a free rolling action from said first deck during a release or dispensing sequence.

29. A release mechanism for force fed items according to claim 26 wherein said supporting structure having two sideplates each providing a support guidance and said restriction to control said pivoting sequence of said escapement levers, said escapement levers having tie-in means representing said two pivot points for forming an escapement frame guided by said two sideplates, said oscillating motion having a connection to at least one of said escapement levers to move said pivot points through said operating sequence and provide a dispensing of one of said items per each said oscillation.

30. A release mechanism for force fed items according to claim 26 wherein said restricted pivoting sequence being controlled and guided by a connecting link and two restricting corners between said escapement lever and said supporting structure, said connecting link providing a connection from the first of said pivotpoints of said escapement lever to said supporting structure with a pivot point in line or close to the location of said second pivot point of said escapement lever as taken in said midposition.

31. A release mechanism for force fed items according to claim 26 wherein said restricted pivoting sequence being controlled by two connecting links each having one of the ends connected to said first and second pivot points of said escapement lever and each said connecting link having its other end pivotally secured to said supporting structure in line with said second and first pivot points of said escapement lever as taken in said midposition.

32. A release mechanism for rolling containers according to claim 26 wherein said oscillating motion being provided by a solenoid and a return spring in a multidispenser unit where each said release mechanism being controlled by said solenoid, a selector switch for said solenoid and a resetting switch;

all of said switches having a series connection with each other and with a normally open relay contact placed between a group of said resetting switches and said selector switches, each of said selector switch being capable to energize its solenoid only after said relay contact was closed by a validation pulse, said relay contact forming a holding circuit to said relay coil through the chain of said resetting switches, one of said resetting switches breaking said holding circuit as soon as one of said released containers is overriding and actuating said resetting switch momentarily, said broken holding circuit deenergizing said solenoid and letting said return spring complete the second half of said oscillation, said solenoid powered oscillation dispensing one of said containers per each said oscillation.

33. A release mechanism for force fed items according to claim 26 wherein said escapement lever having an operating arm and said oscillating motion motion being provided by a manually operable reciprocating member connected to said operating arm.

34. A release mechanism for force fed items according to claim 26 wherein said supporting structure being a delivery box and said two-pivot escapement lever acting within said delivery box as a barrier plate and door to a delivery opening to permit a passage of articles and prevent access through said delivery box, said delivery box being formed by a vertical wall containing said delivery opening and by a U-shape structure with two side plates and a delivery platform around said delivery opening, said sideplates providing a support, guidance and restriction to control said pivoting sequence of said barrier plate, said barrier plate having an operating arm acting as said door to cover said delivery opening and a U-shape section between said first and second pivot points above said delivery opening, said U-shape section forming a closed pocket in said midposition when both of said pivot points are against said wall, said pocket being suited to the size of said articles and said pocket having its top open in said standby position where said door is keeping said delivery opening closed, a push of said door through said delivery opening and a gravity or spring actuated return of said barrier plate acting as said oscillating motion to move said barrier plate through said restricted pivoting sequence from said standby position, said restricted pivoting sequence keeping at least one of said pivot points of said barrier plate close to said wall to prevent an access through said delivery box, said standby position permitting an entrance of said article to said pocket and said pivoting sequence letting said article fall to said delivery platform for pickup through said delivery opening.