Automated retail service delivery system

• US 4,893,727 A
• Filed: 08/08/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Near
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Near
• Inventors: Near, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/229,465
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 221/83, 221/82, 221/12, 221/9, 221/79, 221/81, 221/86, 221/89, 221/90, 221/119, 221/120, 221/121, 221/122, 221/133, 221/123, 221/191, 221/194, 221/289, 194/205
• US Class Current: 221/81
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes

Abstract

An automated delivery system includes a unitary wheel assembly having a plurality of horizontally disposed tiers each supporting a plurality of radially extending product bins. Electronic control components including customer interfacing devices, regulate the operation of a motor to rotate the wheel assembly to position a specific bin juxtaposed a single, fixed delivery chute, at which point one stationary discharge assistant as provided for each tier is actuated to manipulate a gate assembly associated with each bin to cause the discharge of its product, by gravity, into the chute. Input keyboard, monitor, credit card and currency processing devices connected to the control components permit varied types of transactions by customers of the system.

Claims

1. An automated delivery system comprising:

a wheel assembly including a plurality of circular tiers,

each said tier provided with a plurality of storage bins adapted to contain a product to be dispensed,

each said bin having a gate assembly displaceable between an open and a closed position,

horizontal bin support means beneath said bins of each said tier,

means interlocking said tiers into a unitary assembly,

wheel assembly support means engageable with and maintaining said wheel assembly at a fixed elevation,

a delivery chute adjacent the outer periphery of said wheel assembly,

indexing motor means operable to rotate said wheel assembly to position a selected one of said bins on any said tier juxtaposed said delivery chute,

discharge motor means on each said tier operable to displace any one said bin gate assembly on its respective tier, whereby upon displacement of any one said gate assembly, any product within the respective said bin is directed into said delivery chute,

said gate assembly includes a lever pivotally attached to each said bin, and

said lever and discharge motor means are provided with cooperating cam surfaces.

2. An automated delivery system according to claim 1 including;

electronic control components connected to said indexing and discharge motor means, and

customer controlled input means connected to said control components and operable to actuate said motor indexing and discharge means.

3. An automated delivery system according to claim 2 wherein,

said input means includes a keyboard,

a video monitor adjacent said input means and connected to said control components, and

check controlled apparatus connected to said control components.

4. An automated delivery system according to claim 1 wherein;

each said bin includes an outer open end and said gate assembly includes a product gate normally blocking said bin open end.

5. An automated delivery system according to claim 4 wherein,

said bins are inclined downwardly toward said open end whereby,

said product is directed by gravity from said bins to said chute.

6. An automated delivery system according to claim 5 wherein,

each said bin includes a pair of vertical side walls joined to a bottom wall and a rear wall, and

each said gate assembly comprising a lever pivotally attached to one said bin side wall.

7. An automated delivery system according to claim 1 wherein,

said wheel assembly support means includes a vertical tube having gear means thereon, and

said indexing motor means engageable with said tube gear means.

8. An automated delivery system according to claim 1 including,

a stationary support member adjacent each said tier,

each said discharge motor means mounted upon one said support member, and

said discharge motor means mounted in radial alignment with said delivery chute.

9. An automated delivery system according to claim 1 including,

a fixed vertical shaft extending through the central axis of said wheel assembly, and

10. An automated delivery system according to claim 1 including,

stationary support means attached to each said discharge motor means.