Shelf apparatus for helix type product dispensing machines

Claim 2

In product dispensing apparatus: means including a product shelf having a product-discharge end; feeder means for advancing products along said shelf toward said discharge end and successively off the latter; and deflector means adjacent said discharge end projecting into the path of travel of said products and disposed to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent said leading product from tumbling as it leaves said discharge end, said deflector means including a resilient tongue projecting downwardly into said path of travel of the products from above the same.

Claim 3

In product dispensing apparatus: means including a product shelf having a product-discharge end; feeder means for advancing products along said shelf toward said discharge end and successively off the latter; and deflector means adjacent said diScharge end projecting into the path of travel of said products and disposed to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent said leading product from tumbling as it leaves said discharge end, said deflector means including a resilient finger projecting laterally into said path of travel of the products from one side thereof.

Claim 4

In product dispensing apparatus: means including a product shelf having a product-discharge end; feeder means for advancing products along said shelf toward said discharge end and successively off the latter; and deflector means adjacent said diScharge end projecting into the path of travel of said products and disposed to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent said leading product from tumbling as it leaves said discharge end, said deflector means including a resilient finger projecting laterally into said path of travel of the products from one side thereof.

Claim 5

In product dispensing apparatus: means including a product shelf having a discharge end; an elongated feeding helix overlying said shelf having a terminal portion adjacent said end, and having a plurality of spaced apart convolutions defining a series of product spaces therebetween; means for rotating said helix in a direction to advance product located within said spaces along said shelf, toward said end, and successively off the end; and arcuate product ejector means associated with said terminal portion having substantially the same radius as the next preceeding convolution but provided with a product-engaging surface departing outwardly from said preceeding convolution in the axial direction of the latter for pushing the leading product off said end during rotation of said helix in said direction, said terminal portion having a tip disposed inwardly of said product-engaging surface of the ejector means, said terminal portion comprising a loop in said helix integral with the remainder of the helix, said loop having an inner and an outer stretch, said outer stretch presenting said ejector means.

Claim 6

In product dispensing apparatus: means including a product shelf having a discharge end; an elongated feeding helix overlying said shelf having a terminal portion adjacent said end, and having a plurality of spaced apart convolutions defining a series of product spaces therebetween; means for rotating said helix in a direction to advance product located within said spaces along said shelf, toward said end, and successively off the end; and arcuate product ejector means associated with said terminal portion having substantially the same radius as the next preceeding convolution but provided with a product-engaging surface departing outwardly from said preceeding convolution in the axial direction of the latter for pushing the leading product off said end during rotation of said helix in said direction, said terminal portion having a tip disposed inwardly of said product-engaging surface of the ejector means, said terminal portion comprising a loop in said helix integral with the remainder of the helix, said loop having an inner and an outer stretch, said outer stretch presenting said ejector means.

Claim 7

In product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tip of the terminal portion is on said inner stretch of the loop.

Claim 8

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within said spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said terminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said terminal portion including transversely arcuate product ejector means substantially the same radius as the next preceeding convolution but having an outermost, product-engaging surface extending progressively away from said preceeding convolution in the axial direction of the feeder for pushing the leading product off said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder, said terminal portion comprising a loop in said feeder having an inner and an outer stretch, said outer stretch presenting said ejector means.

Claim 9

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within said spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said terminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said terminal portion including transversely arcuate product ejector means substantially the same radius as the next preceeding convolution but having an outermost, product-engaging surface extending progressively away from said preceeding convolution in the axial direction of the feeder for pushing the leading product off said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder, said terminal portion comprising a loop in said feeder having an inner and an outer stretch, said outer stretch presenting said ejector means.

Claim 10

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said unit is provided with yieldable means biasing the unit toward said normal position.

Claim 11

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said inner stretch of the loop has a tip end.

Claim 12

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said drive means and said unit are provided with mating gear teeth, said teeth being out of mesh when the unit is in said released position.

Claim 13

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said unit is rotatable concentrically with said feeder and shiftable axially between said positions to place said teeth into and out of mesh.

Claim 14

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said unit is provided with yieldable means biasing said teeth into mesh.

Claim 15

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of said structures includes an elongated section shiftable laterally with respect to said compartment for varying the effective width of the compartment.

Claim 16

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said section is provided with parallel linkage for swinging the section between its adjusted dispositions.

Claim 17

Product dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said linkage is provided with friction means for yieldably holding the linkage and hence said section in a selected, adjusted disposition.

Claim 18

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within said spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said terminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said compartment being provided with deflector means projecting into the normal path of travel of products within the compartment in disposition to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent tumbling of the leading product, said deflector means including a bail spanning said compartment and swingably supported by said structures for height adjustment, said bail being provided with a resilient tongue for contacting the products.

Claim 19

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within said spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said terminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said compartment being provided with deflector means projecting into the normal path of travel of products within the compartment in disposition to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent tumbling of the leading product, said deflector means including a bail spanning said compartment and swingably supported by said structures for height adjustment, said bail being provided with a resilient tongue for contacting the products.

Claim 20

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within saId spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said interminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said compartment being provided with deflector means projecting into the normal path of travel of products within the compartment in disposition to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent tumbling of the leading product, said deflector means including a bail spanning said compartment and swingably supported by said structures for height adjustment, said bail being provided with means for frictionally holding the bail in a selected vertical position.

Claim 21

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within saId spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said interminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said compartment being provided with deflector means projecting into the normal path of travel of products within the compartment in disposition to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent tumbling of the leading product, said deflector means including a bail spanning said compartment and swingably supported by said structures for height adjustment, said bail being provided with means for frictionally holding the bail in a selected vertical position.

Claim 22

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within said spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said terminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said compartment being provided with deflector means projecting into the normal path of travel of products within the compartment in disposition to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent tumbling of the leading product, said deflector means comprising a resilient finger on at least one of said structures and projecting laterally therefrom into the compartment.

Claim 23

Product dispensing apparatus including: means including an elongated product shelf and a pair of laterally spaced apart, normally upright product guide structures extending along said shelf, defining a product compartment above said shelf and between said structures, said shelf having a normally inner end and a normally outer discharge end; at least one elongated, helical, product feeder overlying said shelf within said compartment and extending between said ends of the shelf, said feeder having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart concentric convolutions defining a longitudinally extending series of product receiving spaces between the convolutions, said feeder being adapted for rotation about the common axis of said convolutions for advancing products disposed within said spaces along said shelf and toward said discharge end thereof during rotation of the feeder, said feeder having a terminal portion cooperable with said discharge end of the shelf during rotation of the feeder to dispense the leading product from said compartment over said discharge end; drive means for the feeder at said inner end of the shelf; and a releasable coupling unit between said drive means and the feeder shiftable between a normal position operably interconnecting the drive means and the feeder and a released position allowing the feeder to be manually rotated to index said terminal portion to any selected one of a number of rotative dispositions, said compartment being provided with deflector means projecting into the normal path of travel of products within the compartment in disposition to engage the leading product at a point spaced substantially above said shelf as the leading product is advanced off said discharge end, whereby to prevent tumbling of the leading product, said deflector means comprising a resilient finger on at least one of said structures and projecting laterally therefrom into the compartment.