First-in first-out product-dispensing machine having high-level article display and discharge

Claim 2

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray members; structure supporting the tray members of successive movement past the dispensing station along an upright closed loop path extending below the dispensing station with the tray members projecting outwardly from respective portions of said closed loop path; and motive means operably coupled with the tray members for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said path, said structure and said motive means being cooperatively operable to first swing each tray member into a product display position as it approaches the delivery station during one increment of operation of the motive means, and then continue the swinging movement of such tray member relative to the adjacent tray members during another increment of operation of the motive means through a displacement sufficient to insure gravitational delivery of a product from each tray member as it is moved past the delivery station.

Claim 3

A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided a shiftable blocking component adjacent said dispensing station normally located to prevent removal of a product from a tray member in said product display position, and mechanism operably connected to said component for shifting the latter to a second location clearing each tray member as it is swung from said product display position through an arc to effect gravitational delivery of a product thereon to said dispensing station.

Claim 4

A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said mechanism is operable to shift the component out of blocking relationship to an adjacent tray member before the latter is swung from said product display position thereof.

Claim 5

A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said mechanism is actuated by the motive means during each cycle of operation thereof.

Claim 6

A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said structure and the motive means are cooperable to swing each tray member into a product display position with the latter inclined in a direction toward the dispensing station, said blocking component being positioned to prevent removal of a product from each tray member respectively upon movement thereof to said display position adjacent the dispensing station.

Claim 7

A machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said mechanism is operable to shift the component out of said product blocking location thereof and back prior to swinging of the next tray member into the inclined product display position thereof.

Claim 8

A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided retaining means operably associated with the tray members at said dispensing station for maintaining the product on each tray member in said product display position, said retaining means clearing a corresponding product for gravitational delivery thereof to the dispensing station as each tray member is swung from said display position past the dispensing station.

Claim 9

A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said retaining means comprises a transparent element to permit visual observation of a product therethrough located on a tray member in said product display position thereof.

Claim 10

A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said structure includes guide means configured to cause the tray members to move through a generally J-shaped closed loop path.

Claim 11

A machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said guide means is disposed to cause the tray members to move through an inverted J-shaped closed loop path defined by upper and lower curved portions and upright stretches joined thereto with one of the upright stretches having a reentrant section.

Claim 12

A machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said dispensing station is located adjacent the upper end of said reentrant section of said one stretch of the closed loop path.

Claim 13

A machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein said motive means is operable to shift the tray members in a direction to effect movement thereof downwardly along said one stretch of the closed loop path and upwardly along the other stretch thereof.

Claim 14

A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein adjacent tray members are joined one to the other presenting an endless chain thereof extending around said closed loop path.

Claim 15

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray members; structure supporting the tray members for successive Movement past the dispensing station along an upright closed loop path extending below the dispensing station with the tray members projecting outwardly from respective portions of said closed loop path; and motive means operably coupled with the tray members for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said path, said structure being operable to swing each tray member as it is moved past the dispensing station during incremental movement of the series of tray members by the motive means, through an arc relative to adjacent tray members sufficient to insure gravitational delivery of a product therefrom, adjacent tray members being joined one to the other presenting an endless chain thereof extending around said closed loop path, said tray members being provided with mutually cooperable, interfitting elements pivotally adjoining adjacent tray members for rotation relatively in a direction transverse to said closed loop path.

Claim 16

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray members; structure supporting the tray members for successive Movement past the dispensing station along an upright closed loop path extending below the dispensing station with the tray members projecting outwardly from respective portions of said closed loop path; and motive means operably coupled with the tray members for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said path, said structure being operable to swing each tray member as it is moved past the dispensing station during incremental movement of the series of tray members by the motive means, through an arc relative to adjacent tray members sufficient to insure gravitational delivery of a product therefrom, adjacent tray members being joined one to the other presenting an endless chain thereof extending around said closed loop path, said tray members being provided with mutually cooperable, interfitting elements pivotally adjoining adjacent tray members for rotation relatively in a direction transverse to said closed loop path.

Claim 17

A machine as set forth in claim 14, wherein said elements project outwardly from opposite sides of the tray members and said structure includes guide means on opposite sides of the series of tray members slidably receiving proximal elements along said closed loop path as the tray members are shifted by said motive means.

Claim 18

A machine as set forth in claim 15, wherein said guide means comprises opposed, inwardly facing, aligned, complemental channels configured to define an inverted J-shaped closed loop path.

Claim 19

A machine as set forth in claim 15, wherein is provided retainer means on said tray members engaging said guide means and operable to maintain said tray members in disposition projecting outwardly in generally perpendicular relationship to that portion of said closed loop path being traversed by a respective tray member.

Claim 20

A machine as set forth in claim 17, wherein said guide means is provided with a wall defining said closed loop path and extending toward one side of said series of tray members, said retainer means each having a shoulder-defining edge located to slidably engage a proximal part of the wall and hold respective tray members in positions projecting outwardly from said proximal part of the wall.

Claim 21

A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein is provided a plurality of said series of tray members presenting individual, independently movable, side-by-side, upright, product-receiving conveyor units, said motive means being common to the conveyor units, and means for coupling said motive means to a selected conveyor unit of said plurality thereof for moving only the tray members of a selected conveyor unit each time the motive means is operated.

Claim 22

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray members; structure supporting the tray members for successive movement past the dispensing station along an upright closed loop path extending below the dispensing station with the tray members projecting outwardly from respective portions of said closed loop path; motive means operably coupled with the tray members for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said path, said structure being operable to swing each tray member as it is moved past the dispensing station during incremental movement of the series of tray members by the motive means, through an arc relative to adjacent tray members sufficient to insure gravitational delivery of a product therefrom, said structure including guide means configured and disposed to cause the tray members to move through an inverted J-shaped closed loop path defined by upper and lower-curved portions and upright stretches joined thereto with one of the upright stretches having a reentrant section; a cam block located above the dispensing station adjacent the upper extremity of said reentrant section of the inverted J-shaped closed loop path defined by said guide means; and cam plates operably associated with said tray members in disposition to engage the cam block and as a consequence positively swing each tray member through said arc of movement thereof relative to adjacent tray members as the corresponding tray member approaches the dispensing station and moves into the reentrant section of the closed loop path defined by said guide means during operation of said motive means. 21 In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a plurality of series of tray members presenting individual, independently movable, side-by-side, upright, product receiving conveyor units; structure supporting the tray members of each unit for successive movement past the dispensing station along an upright closed loop path extending below the dispensing station with the tray members projecting outwardly from respective portions of said closed loop path; motive means common to said conveyor units; means for coupling said motive means to a selected conveyor unit of said plurality thereof for moving only the tray members of the selected unit each time the motive means is operated to cause each tray member of a selected unit to be shifted relative to the adjacent tray members of said unit into a position for gravitational delivery of a product from said tray member as it approaches and is moved past the dispensing station during incremental movement of the series of tray members of the selected unit by said motive means, said motive means including a vertically movable beam, power means for reciprocating the beam, a coupler for each conveyor unit normally in position clearing the beam but movable into disposition to engage and be moved by the beam, an actuator operably coupled to each conveyor unit for moving the tray members thereof upon movement of a respective actuator, and selectively operable means connected to said couplers for shifting the latter into disposition to be moved by said beam, each of said couplers being operable to shift a corresponding actuator upon movement of the coupler by said beam.

Claim 23

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray members; structure supporting the tray members for successive movement past the dispensing station along an upright closed loop path extending below the dispensing station with the tray members projecting outwardly from respective portions of said closed loop path; motive means operably coupled with the tray members for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said path, said structure being operable to swing each tray member as it is moved past the dispensing station during incremental movement of the series of tray members by the motive means, through an arc relative to adjacent tray members sufficient to insure gravitational delivery of a product therefrom, said structure including guide means configured and disposed to cause the tray members to move through an inverted J-shaped closed loop path defined by upper and lower-curved portions and upright stretches joined thereto with one of the upright stretches having a reentrant section; a cam block located above the dispensing station adjacent the upper extremity of said reentrant section of the inverted J-shaped closed loop path defined by said guide means; and cam plates operably associated with said tray members in disposition to engage the cam block and as a consequence positively swing each tray member through said arc of movement thereof relative to adjacent tray members as the corresponding tray member approaches the dispensing station and moves into the reentrant section of the closed loop path defined by said guide means during operation of said motive means. 21 In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a plurality of series of tray members presenting individual, independently movable, side-by-side, upright, product receiving conveyor units; structure supporting the tray members of each unit for successive movement past the dispensing station along an upright closed loop path extending below the dispensing station with the tray members projecting outwardly from respective portions of said closed loop path; motive means common to said conveyor units; means for coupling said motive means to a selected conveyor unit of said plurality thereof for moving only the tray members of the selected unit each time the motive means is operated to cause each tray member of a selected unit to be shifted relative to the adjacent tray members of said unit into a position for gravitational delivery of a product from said tray member as it approaches and is moved past the dispensing station during incremental movement of the series of tray members of the selected unit by said motive means, said motive means including a vertically movable beam, power means for reciprocating the beam, a coupler for each conveyor unit normally in position clearing the beam but movable into disposition to engage and be moved by the beam, an actuator operably coupled to each conveyor unit for moving the tray members thereof upon movement of a respective actuator, and selectively operable means connected to said couplers for shifting the latter into disposition to be moved by said beam, each of said couplers being operable to shift a corresponding actuator upon movement of the coupler by said beam.

Claim 24

A machine as set forth in claim 21, wherein said selectively operable means comprises a solenoid operably connected to each of the couplers, and a customer-actuated switch for each solenoid respectively.

Claim 25

A machine as set forth in claim 22, wherein said couplers are normally out of engagement with said beam to preclude interference with movement of the couplers by respective solenoids.

Claim 26

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray assemblies pivotally joined one to the other presenting an endless chain thereof; upright guide means slidably receiving the tray assemblies for successive movement past the dispensing station along a closed loop path defined by said guide means and having upper and lower curved path portions and upright path stretches joined thereto; and motive means engageable with the tray assemblies for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said closed loop path, said tray assemblies each including a pair of pivotally interconnected tray members having elongated, normally back-to-back, proximal panel sections, and mutually cooperable components engageable with said guide means to maintain the panel sections of respective pairs of tray members in said back-to-back, proximal relationship as the tray assemblies move along the upright stretches of said closed loop path, and to maintain the panels in generally radial relationship to the curved upper and lower portions of said closed loop path whereby each panel section is maintained in sufficiently close relationship to the proximal panel section of an adjacent tray assembly to preclude end-for-end turning of products between the assemblies as the latter are moved around said curved portions of said closed loop path.

Claim 27

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray assemblies pivotally joined one to the other presenting an endless chain thereof; upright guide means slidably receiving the tray assemblies for successive movement past the dispensing station along a closed loop path defined by said guide means and having upper and lower curved path portions and upright path stretches joined thereto; and motive means engageable with the tray assemblies for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said closed loop path, said tray assemblies each including a pair of pivotally interconnected tray members having elongated, normally back-to-back, proximal panel sections, and mutually cooperable components engageable with said guide means to maintain the panel sections of respective pairs of tray members in said back-to-back, proximal relationship as the tray assemblies move along the upright stretches of said closed loop path, and to maintain the panels in generally radial relationship to the curved upper and lower portions of said closed loop path whereby each panel section is maintained in sufficiently close relationship to the proximal panel section of an adjacent tray assembly to preclude end-for-end turning of products between the assemblies as the latter are moved around said curved portions of said closed loop path.

Claim 28

A machine as set forth in claim 24, wherein the tray members of each assembly are connected for pivoting movement relatively about a common axis.

Claim 29

A machine as set forth in claim 24, wherein said components include retainer means engageable with the guide means and disposed to maintain each panel section of the tray members in generally parallel relationship to the panel section of an adjacent assembly as the tray assemblies are moved around the curved portions of said closed loop path.

Claim 30

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray assemblies; upright guide means for said assemblies configured to define a closed loop path past the dispensing station and having upper and lower curved path portions and upright path portions joined thereto, each of said tray assemblies including a first tray member having an elongated panel section and a connector segment rigidly joined to and extending in one direction outwardly from a respective panel section, and a second tray member provided with an elongated panel section and pivotally connected to the first panel section at the zone of juncture thereof with said connector segment whereby the panel sections of each pair of tray members are normally in proximal back-to-back relationship, the outer part of each connector segment being pivotally joined to an adjacent pair of tray members at the point of pivotal interconnection thereof, there being guide elements on said tray assemblies at the points of pivotal interconnection thereof slidably received in said guide means for causing the assemblies to follow said closed loop path; and motive means engageable with the tray assemblies for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said closed loop path, said connector segments being located at an angle relative to respective panel sections to cause the latter to be maintained in outwardly extending relationship to the upright stretches of the closed loop path and generally radial relationship to the curved portions thereof, and said second tray member of each pair thereof being provided with a retainer cam thereon between respective adjacent axes of pivoting of the tray members located to engage the guide means and maintain the panel sections of corresponding second members in said proximal back-to-back relationship to the panel sections of the first tray members when the assemblies are located at the upright stretches of said closed loop path and to maintain said panel sections of the second tray members in spaced, generally parallel relationship to the panel section of the adjacent tray assembly when the assemblies are located at the curved portions of said closed loop path to preclude end-for-end turning of products between the assemblies as the latter are moved around said curved portions of the closed loop path.

Claim 31

In a first-in, first-out product dispensing machine, a dispensing station; a series of product-supporting tray assemblies; upright guide means for said assemblies configured to define a closed loop path past the dispensing station and having upper and lower curved path portions and upright path portions joined thereto, each of said tray assemblies including a first tray member having an elongated panel section and a connector segment rigidly joined to and extending in one direction outwardly from a respective panel section, and a second tray member provided with an elongated panel section and pivotally connected to the first panel section at the zone of juncture thereof with said connector segment whereby the panel sections of each pair of tray members are normally in proximal back-to-back relationship, the outer part of each connector segment being pivotally joined to an adjacent pair of tray members at the point of pivotal interconnection thereof, there being guide elements on said tray assemblies at the points of pivotal interconnection thereof slidably received in said guide means for causing the assemblies to follow said closed loop path; and motive means engageable with the tray assemblies for incrementally shifting the series thereof along said closed loop path, said connector segments being located at an angle relative to respective panel sections to cause the latter to be maintained in outwardly extending relationship to the upright stretches of the closed loop path and generally radial relationship to the curved portions thereof, and said second tray member of each pair thereof being provided with a retainer cam thereon between respective adjacent axes of pivoting of the tray members located to engage the guide means and maintain the panel sections of corresponding second members in said proximal back-to-back relationship to the panel sections of the first tray members when the assemblies are located at the upright stretches of said closed loop path and to maintain said panel sections of the second tray members in spaced, generally parallel relationship to the panel section of the adjacent tray assembly when the assemblies are located at the curved portions of said closed loop path to preclude end-for-end turning of products between the assemblies as the latter are moved around said curved portions of the closed loop path.