Pneumatic product vending system and product loader therefor

• US 6,164,491 A
• Filed: 05/13/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Howard, John, Bustos, Rafael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US09/311,078
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 221/211, 221/278, 221/150 R, 186/52, 186/53, 186/55, 186/56, 406/2, 406/3, 406/182, 406/30, 406/33
• US Class Current: 221/211
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 14/00 Buildings for combinations of different purposes not covered by any single one of main groups E04H1/00-E04H13/00 of this subclass, e.g. for double purpose E04H3/02, E04H9/06 take precedence; Buildings of the drive-in type
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/02 Hotels; Motels; Coffee-houses; Restaurants; Shops; Department stores
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/16 Delivery means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/58 the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/00 Cash registers alarm indicators G07G3/00

Abstract

A pneumatic product vending and delivery system is provided which preferably uses an existing product vending machine as a storage and loading device for use in a pneumatic vending and delivery system along with an interface unit in place of the vending machine door. A product dispensing terminal is provided that is connected by the delivery tube of a pneumatic conveyor from the storage and loading device, which has a loading mechanism configured to load a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism into the delivery tube. The pneumatic conveyor includes a back pressure source operable to apply reverse pressure to a product in the delivery tube to gently slow a product approaching the product dispensing terminal through the tube. A gate is selectively moveable into and out of the path of a product proximate the outlet end of the delivery tube to stop a product slowed by the back pressure source and to release the stopped product for delivery to a customer at the product dispensing terminal. A pressure control valve is connected to the output end of the delivery tube to control the release of air from the delivery tube ahead of the product to gradually decelerate the product approaching the dispensing terminal. The loading mechanism includes a moveable member connected at one end to a blower and having an open end configured to receive a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism and to seal the inlet end of the delivery tube with the received product positioned between the blower and the tube. The moveable member is preferably a bucket shaped element pivotally mounted to move between an open position for receiving a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism and a closed position sealing the inlet to the deliver tube.

Claims

1. A product delivery system suitable for dispensing bottled beverages comprising:

a product dispensing terminal;

a delivery system control including a product selector located proximate the dispensing terminal;

a blower having an outlet;

a pneumatic conveyor having a delivery tube with an output end connected to the dispensing terminal and an inlet end connected to the blower;

a storage cabinet having a packaged product vending machine dispensing mechanism and storage array of storage positions therein, the dispensing mechanism being operable to selectively dispense products from the storage positions, the mechanism having control lines connected to the product selector for receiving signals therefrom for operating the dispensing mechanism; and

an interface between the vending machine dispensing mechanism and conveyor including;

a loading tube having a circular cross-section and an internal diameter dimensioned to loosely pass one of the products therethrough, the loading tube having an outlet end connected to the inlet end of the delivery tube of the pneumatic conveyor and an inlet end connected to the blower outlet; and

a loading mechanism configured to load a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism into the loading tube between the inlet end and the outlet end thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the product selector is mounted on the product dispensing terminal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the pneumatic conveyor includes a back pressure source communicating with the delivery tube near the output end thereof that is operable to apply reverse pressure to a product in the delivery tube to gently slow a product approaching the product dispensing terminal through the tube.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a gate selectively moveable into and out of the path of a product proximate the outlet end of the delivery tube to stop a product slowed by the back pressure source and to release the stopped product for delivery to a customer at the product dispensing terminal.

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a pressure control valve connected to the output end of the delivery tube and operable in response to an approaching product to control the release of air from the delivery tube ahead of the product to gradually decelerate the product approaching the dispensing terminal.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a gate selectively moveable into and out of the path of a product proximate the outlet end of the delivery tube to stop a product slowed by back pressure ahead of the product in the delivery tube and to release the stopped product for delivery to a customer at the product dispensing terminal.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a pressure control valve connected to the output end of the delivery tube and operable in response to an approaching product to control the release of air from the delivery tube ahead of the product to gradually decelerate the product approaching the dispensing terminal.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a pressure control valve connected to the output end of the delivery tube and operable in response to an approaching product to control the release of air from the delivery tube ahead of the product to gradually decelerate the product approaching the dispensing terminal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the loading mechanism includes a moveable member connected one end to the blower and having an open end configured to receive a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism and to seal the inlet end of the delivery tube with the received product positioned between the blower and the delivery tube.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the loading mechanism includes a bucket shaped element pivotally mounted to move between an open position for receiving a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism and a closed position sealing the inlet to the deliver tube.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the back pressure applying means includes a gate selectively moveable into and out of the path of a product proximate the outlet end of the delivery tube to retain back pressure ahead of the product in the delivery tube.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the back pressure applying means further includes a pressure control valve connected to the output end of the delivery tube and operable to control the release of air from the delivery tube ahead of the product to gradually decelerate the product approaching the dispensing terminal.

11. A product delivery system comprising:

a product dispensing terminal;

a delivery system control including a product selector located proximate the dispensing terminal;

a blower having an outlet;

a pneumatic conveyor having a delivery tube with an output end connected to the dispensing terminal and an inlet end connected to the blower;

a storage cabinet having a packaged product dispensing mechanism and a storage array of storage positions therein operable to selectively dispense products from the storage positions;

a loading tube section having an outlet end connected to the inlet end of the delivery tube and an inlet end connected to the blower outlet; and

a loading mechanism configured to load a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism into the loading tube between the inlet end and the outlet end thereof, the loading mechanism including a moveable member connected at one end to the blower and having an open end configured to receive a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism and to seal the inlet end of the delivery tube with the received product positioned between the blower and the delivery tube.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the loading mechanism includes a bucket-shaped element pivotally mounted to move between an open position for receiving a product dispensed by the dispensing mechanism and a closed position sealing the inlet to the deliver tube.

13. A product delivery system comprising:

a product dispensing terminal;

a delivery system control including a product selector located proximate the dispensing terminal;

a pneumatic conveyor having a delivery tube with an output end connected to the dispensing terminal and an inlet end;

a storage cabinet having a packaged product dispensing mechanism and a storage array of storage positions therein operable to selectively load products selectively from the storage positions into the inlet end of the delivery tube;

means for applying back pressure air near the output end thereof ahead of an approaching product to slow the product when approaching the product dispensing terminal through the tube.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

the back pressure supplying means includes a back pressure blower operable having an outlet communicating with the delivery tube near the output end thereof and operable to apply reverse pressure to a product in the delivery tube to gently slow a product approaching the product dispensing terminal through the tube.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a gate selectively moveable into and out of the path of a product proximate the outlet end of the delivery tube to stop a product slowed by the back pressure applying means and to release the stopped product for delivery to a customer at the product dispensing terminal.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a pressure control valve connected to the output end of the delivery tube and operable in response to an approaching product to control the release of air from the delivery tube ahead of the product to gradually decelerate the product approaching the dispensing terminal.