Article dispensing apparatus

• US 6,786,341 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harold K. Stinnett, William A. Stinnett
• Original Assignee: Harold K. Stinnett, William A. Stinnett
• Inventors: Stinnett, Harold K., Stinnett, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/190,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/194, 312/35, 312/42, 312/45, 312/60, 312/72, 221/97, 221/98, 221/102, 221/194, 221/195, 221/266, 221/268, 221/68, 221/93, 221/241
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/08 dispensing from bottom

Abstract

An article dispensing apparatus includes a bin for storing articles to be dispensed therefrom. The bin includes front, rear, left, right, top and bottom, and an adjustable ramp for accommodating articles of various sizes. The storage capacity of the bin can be increased by adding one or more expansion bins.

Claims

1. An article dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a) a bin for storing articles to be dispensed therefrom;

b) said bin including a front, rear, left, right, top and bottom;

c) said bin including a first adjustable ramp for accommodating articles of various sizes;

d) said bin including a second ramp;

e) said first and second ramps extending between the front and rear of said bin;

f) one of said first and second ramps comprising a feeder ramp and the other of said first and second ramps comprising a return ramp; and

g) said feeder ramp comprising a fixed ramp portion and an adjustable ramp portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a) said feeder ramp is adjustable relative to said return ramp.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a) said adjustable ramp portion is pivotable relative to said fixed ramp portion between first and second angular positions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

a) said feeder ramp is inclined downwardly from the front of said bin to the rear thereof; and

b) said return ramp is inclined downwardly from the rear of said bin to the front thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

a) said fixed ramp portion is inclined at an angle of about 30-60°

.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein

a) said fixed ramp portion is inclined at an angle of about 40°

.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

a) said return ramp is inclined at an angle of about 4-9°

.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

a) said return ramp is inclined at an angle of about 5°

.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

a) said return ramp includes a generally curved portion having a radius of curvature of about 0.75-1.5 inches.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

a) one of said first and second angular positions of said adjustable ramp portion is inclined at an angle of about 10-20°

from the horizontal.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

a) said first and second angular positions are separated by an angle of up to 90°

.

12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

a) a predetermined gap is present between said adjustable ramp portion and said return ramp; and

b) said gap is narrowed or enlarged when said adjustable ramp portion is pivoted relative to said fixed ramp portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a catch adjacent the front of said bin.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a door for opening or closing the front of said bin.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

a) said bin is open at the top thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a) said bin includes a notch in the front thereof for removing an article therefrom.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a) means for attaching said bin to a support structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

a) said attaching means comprises a rail member and a cooperating bracket; and

a) said rail member is mounted on one of said bin and said support structure, and said cooperating bracket is mounted on the other of said bin and said support structure.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

a) said bin is slidable relative to said structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

a) said support structure comprises a peg board; and

b) said attaching means comprises a bracket.

21. An article dispensing unit, comprising a plurality of dispensing apparatuses of claim 1.

22. An article dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a) a first bin for storing articles to be dispensed therefrom;

b) a second bin in operable engagement with said first bin for supplying articles to said first bin;

c) each of said first and second bins including a front, rear, left, right, top and bottom; and

d) one of said first and second bins including a first adjustable ramp for accommodating articles of various sizes.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

a) said second bin includes an inclined ramp for supplying articles to said first bin.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

a) the top of said first bin and the bottom of said second bin include cooperating openings for moving articles from said second bin to said first bin.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a) a door for opening or closing the front of said second bin.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:

a) said first bin includes a notch in the front thereof for removing an article therefrom.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a) a plurality of said second bins; and

b) a first one of said plurality of second bins is disposed atop said first bin and the remaining said second bins are stacked one atop the other.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

a) said second bin includes a return ramp and a feeder ramp for supplying articles to said first bin.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a) a plurality of said second bins.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

a) a plurality of said first bins.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

a) said first and second bins are alternately disposed in a vertical direction.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

a) a plurality of said first bins are disposed horizontally with at least one of said second bins disposed atop one of said first bins.

33. An article dispensing unit, comprising a plurality of dispensing apparatuses of claim 22.

34. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

a) said first bin includes said first adjustable ramp;

b) said first bin includes a second ramp; and

c) said first and second ramps are disposed between the front and rear of said first bin.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

a) one of said first and second ramps comprises a feeder ramp and the other of said first and second ramps comprises a return ramp.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein:

a) said feeder ramp comprises a fixed ramp portion and an adjustable ramp portion.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

a) said adjustable ramp portion is pivotable relative to said fixed ramp portion between first and second angular positions.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

a) said feeder ramp is inclined downwardly from the front of said first bin to the rear thereof; and

b) said return ramp is inclined downwardly from the rear of said first bin to the front thereof.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

a) one of said first and second angular positions of said adjustable ramp portion is inclined at an angle of about 10-20°

from the horizontal.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

a) said first and second angular positions are separated by an angle of up to 90°

.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

a) a predetermined gap is present between said adjustable ramp portion and said return ramp; and

b) said gap is narrowed or enlarged when said adjustable ramp portion is pivoted relative to said fixed ramp portion.

42. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a) first and second interlocking members for locking said first and second bins together.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein:

a) said first and second interlocking members comprise tongue and groove members; and

b) one of said first and second bins comprises said tongue member and the other of said first and second bins comprises said groove member.

44. An article dispensing unit, comprising:

a) a support structure defining a recess;

b) an article dispensing apparatus disposed in said recess; and

c) said article dispensing apparatus, comprising;

i) a first bin for storing articles to be dispensed therefrom;

ii) a second bin in operable engagement with said first bin for supplying articles to said first bin;

iii) each of said first and second bins including a front, rear, left, right, top and bottom; and

iv) one of said first and second bins including a first adjustable ramp for accommodating articles of various sizes.

45. The article dispensing unit of claim 44, wherein:

a) one of said first and second bins is slidable relative to said support structure.

46. The article dispensing unit of claim 44,

comprising a plurality of said article dispensing apparatuses.