US3904076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptable dispensing apparatus with unique escrow bar and associated latch mechanism
Assignee: CAVALIER ACQUISITION Corp A TENNESSEE CORP
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Filing: 1974-08-15
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1994-08-15
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for dispensing articles such as cans and/or bottles is disclosed as comprising a reservoir or bin for receiving at least two staggered stacks, each stack including at least two columns of the articles with adjacent articles of the staggered stacks aligned substantially axially of each other. A releasable, article support member is disposed beneath each column of the staggered stacks to support two articles thereon and capable of moving from a first article supporting position to a second article releasing position. An escrow bar is disposed to receive one of the released articles from the actuated article support member and is operable to move from its first article retaining position to a second article releasing position whereby the second article is released. The escrow bar is responsive to the release of an article by one of the first and second support members to permit upon a second cycle or operation of the dispensing apparatus with the escrow bar retaining an article, the escrow member to be disposed to its second article releasing position to release the second retained article. The dispensing apparatus of this invention is capable of being adapted for dispensing either two stacks of articles such as cans or a single stack of articles such as bottles, in that the escrow bar is readily removed and the dispensing mechanism is operated to release a single bottle at a time without further adaptation thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry R Payne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:09
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/04; G07F11/08; G07F11/16; G07F11/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
358 words
Apparatus for storing and successively dispensing articles from first and second staggered stacks, each stack including at least two columns of the articles with adjacent articles in the columns of a stack staggered with respect to each other and adjacent articles in the first and second staggered stacks aligned substantially axially of each other, said apparatus comprising: a. an article support member disposed to support each of the two columns of the first and second stacks of articles, each of said article support members disposable from a first article supporting position beneath its respective column of the first and second stacks, to a second article releasing position whereby an article from one column of each of the first and second stacks is released; b. an actuatable escrow means disposed to receive one of the two articles released by one of said first and second article support members and movable from a first article retaining position to a second article releasing position; c. latch means pivotably mounted to be moved from a first, rest position, wherein said latch means engages and holds said first and second article support members in their first article supporting positions, to a second position wherein said latch means engages and holds said first article support member in its first article supporting position and releases said second article support member to permit it to move to its article releasing position under the weight of the articles, and to a third position wherein said latch means engages and holds said second article support member in its article supporting position and releases said first article support member to permit it to move to its second article releasing position; d. first releasable lock means for normally retaining said pivotably mounted latch means in its first rest position; e. second releasable lock means for normally retaining said escrow means in its first article retaining position; and f. said escrow means responsive to the release of an article by one of said first and second support members to render nonreleasable said first lock means whereby said first lock means retains said pivotably mounted latch means in its first rest position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
358 words
Apparatus for storing and successively dispensing articles from first and second staggered stacks, each stack including at least two columns of the articles with adjacent articles in the columns of a stack staggered with respect to each other and adjacent articles in the first and second staggered stacks aligned substantially axially of each other, said apparatus comprising: a. an article support member disposed to support each of the two columns of the first and second stacks of articles, each of said article support members disposable from a first article supporting position beneath its respective column of the first and second stacks, to a second article releasing position whereby an article from one column of each of the first and second stacks is released; b. an actuatable escrow means disposed to receive one of the two articles released by one of said first and second article support members and movable from a first article retaining position to a second article releasing position; c. latch means pivotably mounted to be moved from a first, rest position, wherein said latch means engages and holds said first and second article support members in their first article supporting positions, to a second position wherein said latch means engages and holds said first article support member in its first article supporting position and releases said second article support member to permit it to move to its article releasing position under the weight of the articles, and to a third position wherein said latch means engages and holds said second article support member in its article supporting position and releases said first article support member to permit it to move to its second article releasing position; d. first releasable lock means for normally retaining said pivotably mounted latch means in its first rest position; e. second releasable lock means for normally retaining said escrow means in its first article retaining position; and f. said escrow means responsive to the release of an article by one of said first and second support members to render nonreleasable said first lock means whereby said first lock means retains said pivotably mounted latch means in its first rest position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
176 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is included first actuating means for releasing said first lock means, whereby said pivotably mounted latch means is permitted to be disposed to either of its first or second positions, second actuating means actuatable for releasing said escrow means to be moved to its second article releasing position, and control means for first releasing substantially simultaneously said first and second lock means, whereby one of said first and second support members is disposed to its articles releasing position to release articles from its corresponding columns of the two stacks so that one of the articles is released and the other article is retained by said escrow means which is disposed in its second position, and for releasing a second time said first and second lock means whereby said first lock means is defeated by said second lock means to retain said latch means in its first, rest position and said second lock means is released to permit the release of the other article by said escrow means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a regulator disposed beneath and in an engaging manner with said first and second support members, and drive means for moving gradually said regulator to permit said first and second support members to follow the gradual movement of said regulatOr toward their second article releasing positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said regulator comprises a non-extensible flexible element extending beneath said first and second support members, said drive means including means for tensioning said non-extensible flexible element, an eccentric, an electric motor rotating said eccentric through one complete revolution, and an assembly for suspending said non-extensible member with respect to said first and second support members and engaged by said eccentric for reciprocal movement from a first position wherein said non-extensible flexible element is held taut against said first and second support members to a second position wherein the tension applied to said non-extensible flexible element is released.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said latch means comprises an engaging surface against which said non-extensible flexible element is tensioned for controlling the movement of said pivotably mounted latch means to either of its second or third positions and for retaining said latch means in either of its first or second positions for a period sufficient to permit the articles to be released by either of said first or second support members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is included reservoir means for receiving the stacks of the articles and said escrow means is disposed tranversely of said reservoir means for a length not greater than the axial length of the article to be dispensed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein there is included a spacing wall and means for adjustably disposing said spacing wall from an opposed wall of said bin a distance slightly in excess of that of the axial length of the article to be dispensed, whereby a single stack of the articles may be disposed within said bin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said escrow means comprises a pivotably mounted bar, a link coupling said pivotably mounted bar and said first lock mechanism, and said pivotably mounted bar pivotable from a first position wherein said escrow bar is free of an article to a second position under the weight of an article released from one of said article support members wherein said link is disposed by said escrow bar to render unreleasable said first lock mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said escrow bar includes an article receiving portion and a weight for normally disposing said escrow bar in its first position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said escrow bar is pivotably mounted by a readily removable pin to permit the ready removal of said escrow bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is included means fixedly mounted with respect to said latch means for suspending said non-extensible flexible element so that when tension is applied thereto in the first position of said assembly, said non-extensible member is disposed to abut the lower surfaces of said first and second article support members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said suspension means comprises a rotatably mounted roller having a flange for aligning said non-extensible member with respect to said first and second article and second article support members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is included a tray disposed to receive articles released by said first and second article support members and said escrow means, and support means for supporting said tray and engageable with said suspending assembly to be moved from a first position wherein said tray is aligned to dispense the released articles through an exit opening, to a second position wherein said tray is misaligned with respect to said exit opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said mounting member includes a limiting member engageable with a portion of the dispensing apparatus housing for limitinG the movement of said support means as said suspending assembly moves towards its first position and thereby defining said first position of said support means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3224631A
Cited
US3300084A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |