Water vending machine

• US 6,077,427 A
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LVD Acquisition, LLC (Culligan International Company)
• Original Assignee: Bruce D. Burrows
• Inventors: Burrows, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US09/159,974
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 210/198.1, 210/205, 210/147, 222/153.02, 222/153.03, 222/320, 222/504, 312/215, 312/216, 239/104, 239/288, 70/78-82, 70/120, 70/158
• US Class Current: 210/198.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/08 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0014 the beverage being supplied from water mains
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/10 formed by a lock arranged in the handle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 5/003 Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/043 with crank pins and connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/047 comprising key-operated locks, e.g. a lock cylinder to drive auxiliary deadbolts or latch bolts E05C9/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5097 Cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5115 Multiple bolts

Abstract

A water vending machine is provided of the type having a water purification system for producing a supply of relatively purified water for dispensing into a customer-supplied container such as a water bottle. The vending machine includes an open dispense chamber for receiving and supporting the water bottle beneath a dispense nozzle through which water is delivered in response to coin-initiated operation of a machine control panel. A trap door normally conceals and thereby prevents unauthorized access to the dispense nozzle, wherein the trap door is retracted upon operation of the control panel to expose the dispense nozzle and permit water dispensing to the bottle. In addition, the vending machine includes an improved door lock assembly including a square-shaped and rotatable main lock cartridge seated in a locked condition within a matingly shaped lock case, wherein this door lock assembly provides improved security locking of a machine access door.

Claims

1. A water vending machine, comprising:

a cabinet defining a dispense chamber exposed to the exterior of said cabinet for receiving and supporting a container adapted to receive a quantity of water to be dispensed;

a dispense nozzle unit within said cabinet, said dispense nozzle unit including a dispense nozzle for dispensing water through a dispense port formed by said cabinet into a container positioned within said dispense chamber;

control panel means exposed to the exterior of said cabinet for actuating said dispense nozzle unit to dispense water; and

a trap door movable between a normal closed position closing said dispense port to conceal and protect said dispense nozzle unit against access from the exterior of said cabinet, and an open position opening said dispense port to expose said dispense nozzle and permit dispensing of water through said dispense port into the container, said trap door being movable between said closed and open positions in response to operation of said control panel;

said dispense nozzle unit being mounted on a slide carriage for vertical reciprocation between an elevated inoperative position and a lowered operative position, and further including cam linkage means coupled between said slide carriage and said trap door for moving said trap door to said closed position when said slide carriage is in the elevated inoperative position, and for moving said trap door to said open position upon downward displacement of said slide carriage from said elevated inoperative position toward said lowered operative position, and actuator means operated by said control means for displacing said slide carriage between said inoperative and operative positions.

2. The water vending machine of claim 1 further including a storage reservoir within said cabinet for receiving and storing a supply of water to be dispensed.

3. The water vending machine of claim 1 further including a water purification unit mounted within said cabinet for producing a supply of relatively purified water to be dispensed.

4. The water vending machine of claim 3 wherein said purification unit comprises a reverse osmosis purification unit.

5. The water vending machine of claim 3 wherein said purification unit further includes a radiation sanitation module.

6. The water vending machine of claim 5 wherein said radiation sanitation module comprises an ultraviolet radiation unit, and further including means for directing ozone gas generated by said ultraviolet radiation unit against said dispense nozzle.

7. The water vending machine of claim 1 wherein said cabinet has a hinged front door mounted thereon, and further including a lock assembly for releasibly locking said front door in a normal closed position.

8. The water vending machine of claim 1 wherein said dispense nozzle unit further includes valve means operated by said control panel for dispensing a predetermined quantity of water through said dispense nozzle.

9. The water vending machine of claim 1 wherein said dispense nozzle is disposed above said dispense port when said slide carriage is in said elevated inoperative position, and wherein said dispense nozzle protrudes downwardly through said dispense port when said slide carriage is in said lowered operative position.

10. The water vending machine of claim 1 wherein said control panel is mounted on a front side of said cabinet.

11. The water vending machine of claim 1 wherein said dispense chamber is formed by a forwardly open dispense chamber housing mounted on said front door.

12. The water vending machine of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a pneumatic actuator.

13. The water vending machine of claim 1 wherein said lock assembly comprises:

a main lock cartridge having a noncircular shape;

a lock case mounted on said door and defining a noncircular cavity for substantially mated and nested reception of said main lock cartridge to prevent rotation of said main lock cartridge relative to said lock case;

said main lock cartridge including a primary latch bolt movable between an advanced position retaining said main lock cartridge nested within said lock case and a retracted position permitting manual retraction of said main lock cartridge from said lock case to permit rotation of said main lock cartridge relative to said lock case, said main lock cartridge further including lock means for releasibly advancing and retracting said primary latch bolt;

at least one secondary latch bolt mounted on said door for movement between an advanced position engaging a keeper mounted on said cabinet when said door is in the closed position; and

drive means coupled between said main lock cartridge and said at least one secondary latch bolt for displacing said secondary latch bolt between said advanced and retracted positions in response to rotation of said main lock cartridge relative to said lock case.

14. The water vending machine of claim 13 wherein said main lock cartridge and said lock case have substantially square shapes.

15. The water vending machine of claim 13 wherein said primary latch bolt in said advanced position engages a keeper mounted on said cabinet when said door is in the closed position.

16. The water vending machine of claim 13 wherein said at least one secondary latch bolt comprises a pair of secondary latch bolts movable between said advanced and retracted positions relative to an associated pair of keepers mounted on said cabinet.

17. A look assembly for a vending machine having a cabinet and a door mounted thereon for movement between a closed position and an open position, said lock assembly comprising:

a main lock cartridge having a noncircular shape;

a lock case mounted on said door and defining a noncircular cavity for substantially mated and nested reception of said main lock cartridge to prevent rotation of said main lock cartridge relative to said lock case;

said main lock cartridge including a primary latch bolt movable between an advanced position retaining said main lock cartridge nested within said lock case and a retracted position permitting retraction of said main lock cartridge from said lock case to permit rotation of said main lock cartridge relative to said lock case, said main lock cartridge further including lock means for releasibly advancing and retracting said primary latch bolt, said main lock cartridge engaging a keeper on said cabinet when said door is in the closed position;

at least one secondary latch bolt mounted on said door for movement between an advanced position engaging a keeper mounted on said cabinet when said door is in the closed position; and

drive means coupled between said main lock cartridge and said at least one secondary latch bolt for displacing said secondary latch bolt between said advanced and retracted positions in response to rotation of said main lock cartridge relative to said lock case.

18. The water vending machine of claim 17 wherein said main lock cartridge and said lock case have substantially square shapes.

19. The water vending machine of claim 17 wherein said at least one secondary latch bolt comprises a pair of secondary latch bolts movable between said advanced and retracted positions relative to an associated pair of keepers mounted on said cabinet.