CA1189034A

CA1189034A - Storage means for use in a vending machine

Info

Publication number: CA1189034A
Application number: CA000390953A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Hiroshi Tominaga
Original assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 1980-11-26
Filing date: 1981-11-26
Publication date: 1985-06-18
Also published as: AU546768B2; EP0052888B1; DE3171845D1; KR830008257A; DK158171C; US4456147A; JPS6029439B2; AU7764281A; KR850001436B1; DK158171B; EP0052888A1; JPS5790794A; DK523081A; ATE14948T1

Abstract

Abstract:
For use in a vending machine, a storage device of the vertical serpentine track type, has the track (or each track) made so as to include some rotatably mounted segments that are urged (by a spring, or gravity, or both) to a position in which the track is narrowed.
Goods descending the track must use up kinetic energy in displacing these segments with the result that they are less prone to damage or breakage.

Description

Storage means for use in a vending machine The present invention relates to an improvement in serpentine type means for storing goods for use in an automatic vending machine, the improvement being adapted to prevent the goods from being subjected to damage or injury during storage. The serpentine type storage means is often used Eor goods that are apt to roll.
To enable the prior art to be described with the aid of diagrams the figures of the accompanying drawings will now be listed.
Figure 1 is a schematic, vertical cross-sectional view showing conventional serpentine type storage means;
Figure 2 and Figure 3 show storage means in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, Figure 2 being a schematic vertical cross-sectional view and Figure 3 being a perspective view showing a track segment; and Figure 4 through Figure 6 are schematic cross-sectional views respectively showing the main parts of various other embodiments.
In Figure 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a pair Z of vertical side plates located opposite each other.
Reference numerals 2 denote track segments, each of which is made up of arcs of semi-circular configuration on which the goods 6 roll. Reference numerals 3 denote passageways for the goods, such passageways extending in zigzag fashion ~ 3'~

in the vertical direction. ~he passageway~s 3 are thus constituted by the track segments 2 and are arranged to be continuous in the vertical direction between the pair of side plates 1. In addition, there are top trays 4 forming S inlet passageways 3a. Exit passageways 3b are provided with control mechanisms 5 having star wheels engaging the lowermost one o the goods 6 in each track segment.
When the device is filled, the goods 6 that enter the passageways 3a roll and drop at consiclerable speed, especially those to be stored near the bottom of the device. Following goods can collide violently with those already in storage and can be damaged or, in the case of bottles, broken.
The object of the present invention is to avoid this disadvantage and provide serpentine type storage means in which the goods are not subjected to any large shocks.
This object is achieved by the provision in a machine for storing and dispensing goods and having a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber formed by two horizontally spaced-apart series of vertically disposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side plates, said segment~ defining a track for the goods from an upper inlet to a lower outlet, means for absorbing energy from goods descending the track comprising means pivotally mounting upper ends of selected ones of said track segments while biasing said selected segments into positions projecting into the track for engagement by goods travelling down the track and pivoting movement out of the track by said goods while absorbing energy therefrom and allowing travel of the goods towards the outlet.

_-2a ~

In Figure 2 and Figure 3 the elements common to or the same as those in Figure 1 are given the same reference numerals, Reference numeral 8 denotes a track segment that forms part of a front passageway 3A and is pivoted on a support shaft 9 by means of ears 8a, the shaEt 9 extend-ing between the side plates 1~ The lower end 8b of each track segment 8 is urged in the direction indicated by the arrow A by a spring member 11 wound around the shaft 9 and having one end engaging a pin 10 which also extends between the plates 1. Each track segment 8 is thus disposed as , shown by the solid lines in Figure 2. Stops 12 also extending between the plates 1 can be engaged by the back surface of the lower ends 8b to limit pivoting to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, when a force as indicated by the arrow B is applied.

3'~

When the goods 6 are loaded into the device they provide the force B, the pivoting segments 8 acting as brakes to decelerate the dropping speed of the goods.
Essentially the same operation applies to -the rear passageway 3B.
As alternatives, only alternate segments 8 can be pivoted, with the others fixed, or the pivoted segmen-ts can be scattered at chosen locations throughout the passageway.
In the alternative shown in Figure 4, each semi-circular arc is formed by a plurality (two, in this case) of track segments 13a and 13b mounted between the side plates in the same way as each track segment 8.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, each track segment 8 is freely rotatably hung between the plates 1 by the support shaft 9. Since the center of gravity of the segment 8 is just below the shaft 9, it tends to hang in the position shown in solid line, gravity being used to supply the return force rather than a spring. This system is suited to comparatively light goods.
Figure 6 shows an arrangement in which each track segment 8 is provided with a weight 8e to enhance the gravitational effect for heavier goods.
By the present construction the kinetic energy of the goods 6 is absorbed in the track segments 8 as the goods 6 drop.

Claims

Claims:

1. In a machine for storing and dispensing goods and having a serpentine-shaped vertical storage chamber formed by two horizontally spaced-apart series of vertically disposed arcuate track segments and a cooperating pair of side plates, said segments defining a track for the goods from an upper inlet to a lower outlet, means for absorbing energy from goods descending the track comprising means pivotally mounting upper ends of selected ones of said track segments while biasing said selected segments into positions projecting into the track for engagement by goods travelling down the track and pivoting movement out of the track by said goods while absorbing energy therefrom and allowing travel of the goods towards the outlet.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the track segments are arranged in pairs directly opposite each other in the horizontal direction.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the track segments of one vertical series are staggered relative to those of the other series in the horizontal direction.

4, A machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, including stops for limiting pivoting movement of the segments in the direction out of the track.

5. A machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the selected segments are gravity biased.

6. A machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the selected segments are spring biased.