US3799393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Staggered stack vending machine
Assignee: SandenVendo America Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-30
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1993-03-30
Abstract
Abstract Internal product storing and dispensing apparatus is provided for a selective vending machine adapted to handle products of various types and sizes in either single or double depth staggered stacks thereof. With longer products such as certain bottled beverages, the products are stored and successively dispensed from the bottom of a single staggered stack for each selection; while, with shorter products such as certain canned beverages, the products for each selection are stored in a double depth pair of staggered stacks and effectively dispensed alternately from the bottoms thereof. The dispensing mechanism for each selection includes a pair of alternately operable members for supporting the stack (or stacks) for that selection through engagement with the lowermost product(s) thereof, depending upon which column of the stack(s) contains such lowermost product(s), and a pair of alternately operable escrowing assemblies below the supporting members for receiving the lowermost product(s) released from the stack(s) upon release of a supporting member and for subsequently discharging such escrowed product(s) successively as the mechanism is cycled. Each mechanism is also preferably provided with its won separate and controllable source of driving power, so that sold-out or jammed conditions involving individual selections can be appropriately provided for without disabling the entire machine.
Inventors
- 👤 J Baxendale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:13
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/06; B65G59/061; B65G59/062; G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/16; G07F11/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
834 words
Apparatus for storing and successively dispensing products of at least one variety having a pair of opposite ends, an axis extending between said ends, and a generally symmetrical crosssectional configuration transverse to said axis, said apparatus comprising: a magazine means for each variety of said products to be stored and dispensed, each magazine means providing a chamber for receiving a plurality of said products of the corresponding variety, each magazine means including structure for maintaining at least a lower group of said products received in said chamber of said magazine means arranged in at least one staggered stack thereof with said axes of the individual products therein disposed in generally horizontal and substantially parallel directions, each stack having a pair of generally upright, laterally offset columns of which at least the lower portions are partially interleaved, the lowest product of one or the other of said columns being the current lowermost product of the stack, is interengaging and partially underlying relationship to the lowest product of the opposite column, and in effective ultimate supporting relationship to all other products thereabove in both columns of the stack; a pair of shiftable product-supporting means for each magazine means, one of said pair of supporting means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product-supporting position underlying one of said columns of at least one stack of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means for engaging and supporting the lowermost product in said one stack when it is in said one column thereof and (ii) a productreleasing position for clearing said lowermost product for release and separation from said one stack when it is in said one column thereof, the other of said pair of supporting means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product-supporting position underlying the other of said columns of said one stack in said chamber of the corresponding magazine for engaging and supporting the lowermost product of said one stack when it is in said other column thereof and (ii) a product-releasing position for clearing said lowermost product for release and separation from said one stack when it is in said other column thereof; a pair of product escrowing means for each magazine means, each escrowing means including a shiftable component, said component of one of said pair of escrowing means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product escrowing position for engaging and rendering said one escrowing means operative to escrow the previously lowermost product from said one stack of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means when it has been released from said one column thereof by said one supporting means and (iii) an inactive disposition, through (ii) an intermediate product discharging position for clearing said product from said one stack escrowed by said one escrowing means for discharge therefrom, said component of the other of said pair of escrowing means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product escrowing position for engaging and rendering said other escrowing means operative to escrow the previously lowermost product from said one stack of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means when it has been released from said other column thereof by said other supporting means and (iii) an inactive disposition, through (ii) an intermediate product discharging position for clearing said product from said one stack escrowed by said other escrowing means for discharge therefrom; and control means for each magazine means operably coupled with said one and said other supporting means and said components of said one and said other escrowing means for said magazine means for cycling the same through a sequence of conditions in which, during one product dispensing operation, (a) initially, said one supporting means is in its releasing position, said other supporting means is in its suPporting positions, said component of said one escrowing means is in its escrowing position, and said component of said other escrowing means is in its inactive disposition, later (b) said one supporting means is moved into its supporting position, said other supporting means remains in its supporting position, said component of said one escrowing means is moved into its discharging position, and said component of said other escrowing means remains in its inactive disposition, and later (c) said one supporting means is in its supporting position, said other supporting means is moved to its releasing position, said component of said one escrowing means is in its inactive disposition, and said component of said other escrowing means is moved into its escrowing position, and then, during a subsequent product dispensing operation, (d) said one supporting means remains in its supporting position, said other supporting means is moved to its supporting position, said component of said one escrowing means remains in its inactive disposition, and said component of said other escrowing means is moved into its discharging position, and later (e) the condition set forth under (a) above is restored, from which the aforesaid cycling may be continued for subsequent dispensing operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
834 words
Apparatus for storing and successively dispensing products of at least one variety having a pair of opposite ends, an axis extending between said ends, and a generally symmetrical crosssectional configuration transverse to said axis, said apparatus comprising: a magazine means for each variety of said products to be stored and dispensed, each magazine means providing a chamber for receiving a plurality of said products of the corresponding variety, each magazine means including structure for maintaining at least a lower group of said products received in said chamber of said magazine means arranged in at least one staggered stack thereof with said axes of the individual products therein disposed in generally horizontal and substantially parallel directions, each stack having a pair of generally upright, laterally offset columns of which at least the lower portions are partially interleaved, the lowest product of one or the other of said columns being the current lowermost product of the stack, is interengaging and partially underlying relationship to the lowest product of the opposite column, and in effective ultimate supporting relationship to all other products thereabove in both columns of the stack; a pair of shiftable product-supporting means for each magazine means, one of said pair of supporting means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product-supporting position underlying one of said columns of at least one stack of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means for engaging and supporting the lowermost product in said one stack when it is in said one column thereof and (ii) a productreleasing position for clearing said lowermost product for release and separation from said one stack when it is in said one column thereof, the other of said pair of supporting means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product-supporting position underlying the other of said columns of said one stack in said chamber of the corresponding magazine for engaging and supporting the lowermost product of said one stack when it is in said other column thereof and (ii) a product-releasing position for clearing said lowermost product for release and separation from said one stack when it is in said other column thereof; a pair of product escrowing means for each magazine means, each escrowing means including a shiftable component, said component of one of said pair of escrowing means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product escrowing position for engaging and rendering said one escrowing means operative to escrow the previously lowermost product from said one stack of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means when it has been released from said one column thereof by said one supporting means and (iii) an inactive disposition, through (ii) an intermediate product discharging position for clearing said product from said one stack escrowed by said one escrowing means for discharge therefrom, said component of the other of said pair of escrowing means for each magazine means being movable between (i) a product escrowing position for engaging and rendering said other escrowing means operative to escrow the previously lowermost product from said one stack of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means when it has been released from said other column thereof by said other supporting means and (iii) an inactive disposition, through (ii) an intermediate product discharging position for clearing said product from said one stack escrowed by said other escrowing means for discharge therefrom; and control means for each magazine means operably coupled with said one and said other supporting means and said components of said one and said other escrowing means for said magazine means for cycling the same through a sequence of conditions in which, during one product dispensing operation, (a) initially, said one supporting means is in its releasing position, said other supporting means is in its suPporting positions, said component of said one escrowing means is in its escrowing position, and said component of said other escrowing means is in its inactive disposition, later (b) said one supporting means is moved into its supporting position, said other supporting means remains in its supporting position, said component of said one escrowing means is moved into its discharging position, and said component of said other escrowing means remains in its inactive disposition, and later (c) said one supporting means is in its supporting position, said other supporting means is moved to its releasing position, said component of said one escrowing means is in its inactive disposition, and said component of said other escrowing means is moved into its escrowing position, and then, during a subsequent product dispensing operation, (d) said one supporting means remains in its supporting position, said other supporting means is moved to its supporting position, said component of said one escrowing means remains in its inactive disposition, and said component of said other escrowing means is moved into its discharging position, and later (e) the condition set forth under (a) above is restored, from which the aforesaid cycling may be continued for subsequent dispensing operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said structure for each magazine means includes adjustable means for laterally confining said lower group of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said structure for each magazine means includes adjustable means for axially confining said lower group of products in said chamber of the corresponding magazine means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said adjustable means includes a shiftable rear panel in said chamber, and means for selectively positioning and holding said panel including laterally opposed slot means in said magazine means at both sides of the chamber, a pair of laterally reciprocal means on said panel, tab means on opposite extremities of said reciprocable means for reception within said slot means at the corresponding side of the chamber, and means yieldably biasing said reciprocable means laterally outwardly in the directions of their respective tab means for urging said tab means on each reciprocable means into the corresponding slot means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said product-supporting means for each magazine means are each mounted for independent swinging movement about respective pivotal axes disposed at opposite sides and adjacent the bottom of said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said product-supporting means for each magazine means is provided with a cam follower mounted thereon, and said control means includes cam means engageable with said cam followers for moving said supporting means between said supporting and releasing positions thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cam means are disposed below said follower means and support each of said follower means upon a circularly curved cam surface whenever the corresponding supporting means is in its product-supporting position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said escrowing means for each magazine means includes a stationary part toward and away from which said shiftable component is movable, said component being relatively adjacent said stationary part when in its escrowing position and more remote therefrom when in its discharging position and its inactive disposition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said stationary part of said one escrowing means is disposed generally beneath said other supporting means, and said stationary part of said other escrowing means is disposed generally beneath said one supporting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said components of said one and said other escrowing means for each magazine means are interconnected in Spaced relationship to each other and are mounted for movement together about a common axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means for each magazine means includes a motor, a control cam, means coupling the motor with the control cam for turning the latter, means connecting said components of said escrowing means to said control cam for movement therewith, and follower means on each of said supporting means in overlying engagement with said control cam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said coupling means oscillates said control cam in a rocking motion as said motor is operated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said coupling means includes a crankshaft coupled with said motor for rotation thereby, a link pivotally connected to said crankshaft adjacent one end of the link, a rack adjacent the opposite end of the link, a pinion engaged with said rack, and means coupling said pinion with said control cam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein is provided auxiliary cam means coupled with said motor for rotation thereby, switching means operably coupled with said auxiliary cam means for operation thereby and electrically coupled with said motor for controlling energization of the latter, said auxiliary cam means being operable to operate said switching means for de-energizing said motor after each product dispensing operation is completed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said magazine means to provide selection between a plurality of varieties of products, and a common discharge chute disposed for receiving products discharged from said escrowing means of any of said magazine means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said structure for at least one magazine means maintains said lower group of received products in a double-depth pair of said staggered stacks, one behind the other in the direction of said axes of said products; said product-supporting means for said one magazine means, when in their product-supporting positions, each extend beneath the corresponding column of both of said stacks and, when in their product-releasing positions, release the lowermost product from both of said stacks; said component of said one escrowing means is provided with a width extending element thereon engageable with an escrowed product from one of said stacks; said component of said other escrowing means is provided with a width extending element thereon engageable with an escrowed product from the other of said stacks; said components of said escrowing means for said one magazine means, when in their product escrowing positions, each engage and escrow a previously lowermost product from the corresponding column of both of said stacks and, when in their aforesaid primary discharging positions, discharge only the product previously escrowed from one of said stacks, but are provided with an auxiliary discharging position between said primary discharging position and said inactive disposition thereof and discharge the product previously escrowed from the other of said stacks when moved through said auxiliary discharging position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
160 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said control means for said one magazine means is operable for cycling said supporting means and said components of said escrowing means, after said condition (b) thereof and during the next product dispensing operation thereafter, into a condition (b'') in which said one supporting means remains in its supporting position, said other supporting means remains in its supporting position, said component of said one escrowing means is moved into its auxiliary discharging position, and said component of said other escrowing means remains in its inactive disposition, and subsequently, after said condition (d) thereof and during the next product dispensing operation thereafter, into a condition (d'') in which said one supporting means remains in its supporting position, said other supPorting means remains in its supporting position, said component of said one escrowing means remains in its inactive disposition, and said component of said other escrowing means is moved into its auxiliary discharging position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein each control means includes an electric motor, switching means electrically coupled with said motor for controlling energization thereof, and auxiliary cam means operably coupled with said switching means for operating the latter to de-energize said motor after each product-discharging operation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said auxiliary cam includes a cam surface provided with depressions for operating said switching means at the conclusion of each of said operating cycle conditions (b), (b''), (d) and (d''), and a shiftable adjusting plate for selectively masking the depressions for operating the switching means for conditions (b'') and (d'') when only a single stack is to be handled in the corresponding magazine means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said control means for said one magazine means includes an electric motor, a control cam, means coupling the motor with the control cam for oscillating the latter, means connecting said components of said escrowing means to said control cam for movement therewith, follower means on each of said supporting means in overlying engagement with said control cam, auxiliary cam means coupled with the motor for rotation thereby, switching means operably associated with said auxiliary cam means for operation by the latter and electrically coupled with said motor for de-energizing the latter after each successive discharge of a product.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
506 words
Apparatus for storing and successively dispensing generally cylindrical products from a plurality of plural columns, staggered stacks thereof arranged with corresponding products of corresponding columns of the respective stacks in end-facing, substantially axially aligned relationship to each other, without need to provide in said apparatus any divider means for maintaining endwise physical separation between the stacks in order to avoid jamming or deter pilferage, said apparatus comprising: magazine means, including side walls and end walls, arranged to provide an upright, horizontally uninterrupted and undivided chamber for receiving a plurality of said stacks of said products in said relationship to each other, there being a corresponding, lowermost product of each of said stacks in a corresponding column thereof upon which the remaining products of the same stack are supported and a corresponding, next-to-lowest product of each of said stacks in a different corresponding column thereof which will become the lowermost product of the same stack and upon which the remaining products of the same stack will be supported when said first mentioned lowermost products are released from the stacks; a shiftable product-supporting means for each column of said stacks, each of said supporting means being common to all of said stacks and movable between (i) a product-supporting position thereof underlying the corresponding column of all of said stacks for engaging and supporting said lowermost products of all of said stacks when said lowermost products are in the corresponding column of said stacks, and (ii) a product-releasing position for clearing said lowermost products of all of said stacks for simultaneous release from said stacks when said lowermost products are in the corresponding column of said stacks; operating means operably coupled with said supporting means for moving the one of said supporting means for the column then containing said next-to-lowest products of said stacks to its said product-supporting position, and thereafter moving the other of said supporting means for the column then containing said lowermost products of said stacks from its said product-supporting position to its said product-releasing position to simultaneously release all of said lowermost products from all of said stacks and to thereby permit all of said stacks to concurrently descend together until said previously next-to-lowest products of all of said stacks have moved into supported engagement with said one supporting means; escrowing means, including a shiftable component, below said supporting means for concurrently receiving and temporarily retaining in escrow all of said lowermost products released from all of said stacks when said other supporting means is moved to its product-releasing position; actuating means operably coupled with said escrowing means for moving said shiftable component thereof through a plurality of successive incremental steps each releasing a single product from said escrowing means for successive dispensing thereof from said apparatus; and control means for operating said operating means to release another plurality of lowermost products from all of said stacks to said escrowing means after said actuating means has been actuated to release from said escrowing means the last of the products previously received by said escrowing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
506 words
Apparatus for storing and successively dispensing generally cylindrical products from a plurality of plural columns, staggered stacks thereof arranged with corresponding products of corresponding columns of the respective stacks in end-facing, substantially axially aligned relationship to each other, without need to provide in said apparatus any divider means for maintaining endwise physical separation between the stacks in order to avoid jamming or deter pilferage, said apparatus comprising: magazine means, including side walls and end walls, arranged to provide an upright, horizontally uninterrupted and undivided chamber for receiving a plurality of said stacks of said products in said relationship to each other, there being a corresponding, lowermost product of each of said stacks in a corresponding column thereof upon which the remaining products of the same stack are supported and a corresponding, next-to-lowest product of each of said stacks in a different corresponding column thereof which will become the lowermost product of the same stack and upon which the remaining products of the same stack will be supported when said first mentioned lowermost products are released from the stacks; a shiftable product-supporting means for each column of said stacks, each of said supporting means being common to all of said stacks and movable between (i) a product-supporting position thereof underlying the corresponding column of all of said stacks for engaging and supporting said lowermost products of all of said stacks when said lowermost products are in the corresponding column of said stacks, and (ii) a product-releasing position for clearing said lowermost products of all of said stacks for simultaneous release from said stacks when said lowermost products are in the corresponding column of said stacks; operating means operably coupled with said supporting means for moving the one of said supporting means for the column then containing said next-to-lowest products of said stacks to its said product-supporting position, and thereafter moving the other of said supporting means for the column then containing said lowermost products of said stacks from its said product-supporting position to its said product-releasing position to simultaneously release all of said lowermost products from all of said stacks and to thereby permit all of said stacks to concurrently descend together until said previously next-to-lowest products of all of said stacks have moved into supported engagement with said one supporting means; escrowing means, including a shiftable component, below said supporting means for concurrently receiving and temporarily retaining in escrow all of said lowermost products released from all of said stacks when said other supporting means is moved to its product-releasing position; actuating means operably coupled with said escrowing means for moving said shiftable component thereof through a plurality of successive incremental steps each releasing a single product from said escrowing means for successive dispensing thereof from said apparatus; and control means for operating said operating means to release another plurality of lowermost products from all of said stacks to said escrowing means after said actuating means has been actuated to release from said escrowing means the last of the products previously received by said escrowing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said escrowing means includes structure for blocking substantial axial movement of products while received therein, and said supporting means are so arranged and juxtaposed with said escrowing means as to block sufficient upward movement of products to clear said blocking structure while received in said escrowing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2951616A
Cited
US2901964A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |