Vending machine for video cassettes.
Abstract
MACHINE TO AUTOMATICALLY EXPAND A SELECTED CONTAINER FROM A SERIES OF PACKAGING AND TO AUTOMATICALLY STORE A CONTAINER RETURNED TO THE MACHINE. THE MACHINE INCLUDES A SET OF STORAGE DEPOSITS (503) TO STORE THE CONTAINERS, A CART (507) MOUNTED TO BE MOVED IN RELATION TO THE DEPOSITS IN ORDER TO TRANSPORT A CONTAINER BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION OF THE MACHINE THE PACKAGES, AND A SECOND POSITION OF THE MACHINE CORRESPONDING TO ONE OF THE DEPOSITS. THE CART INCLUDES A SIDE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE (567, 575, 565, 569) TO SIDE ADJUST THE POSITION OF A CONTAINER TO A SIDE POSITION PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED INSIDE THE CAR. A CONTROLLABLE ARM (521) IS MOUNTED ON THE CART THAT MOVES WITH THE SAME BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITION OF THE MACHINE AND TO MOVE IN RELATION TO THE CART. THE CONTROLLABLE ARM HAS A FIRST AND SECOND SURFACES (573, 585) TO TRANSFER A CONTAINER BETWEEN DEPOSITS AND THE CART.

Term
Term ended
Expired 20 February 2007, 19.6 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Expired
- Today
27 claims: 27 independent, 0 dependent
- 1REIVINDICACIONES 1. Móaquina pra expender automóaticamente un envase seleccionado de una serie de envases y para almacenar automóaticamente un envase devuelto a la maóquina, caracterizada porque comprende:una serie de depoósitos, de almacenamiento para almacenar una serie de envases, los cuales estóan dispuestos en una serie de hileras horizontales verticalmente apiladas, con un conducto horizontal entre las hileras adyacentes de dichas hileras horizontales y un conducto vertical que conecta los conductos horizontales y cada envase almacenado en uno de los respectivos depoósitos citados;un carro montado para moverse en relacióon con cada depóosito para el transporte de un envase entre una primera posicióon de la móaquina para expender un envase seleccionado y para recibir un envase devuelto y una segunda posicioón correspondiente a uno de dichos depoósitos, incluyendo dicho carro medios de ajuste lateral para ajustar lateralmente la posicioón de un envase a una posicióon lateral previamente determinada dentro de dicho carro de forma que cuando el carro estaó en la seguna posicióon de la móaquina citada, la cassette estóe centrada en relacióon con dicho depóosito;un brazo controlable montado en dicho carro para moverse con el mismo entre dichas primera y segunda posiciones de la móaquina y para movimiento relativo con dicho carro a lo largo de una trayectoria horizontal transversal a dichos conductos horizontales, presentando dicho brazo controlable una primera y segunda superficie verticales;y medios de control que respondan a una senal de entrada correspondiente a uno de los citados depóositos para mover dicho carro entre dichas primera y segunda posiciones y para mover dicho brazo controlable a lo largo de dicha trayectoria horizontal en la citada segunda posicioón para sacar un envase seleccionado óo para insertar un envase devuelto en el citado depóosito, estando dispuesta la primra superficie vertical del citado brazo controlable de forma que empuje un envase seleccionado hacióendolo salir de un depóosito asociado y entrar en dicho carro cuando el citado brazo controlable es controlado de forma que se mueva en una direccióon a lo largo de la citada trayectoria horizontal, y estando dispuesta la segunda superficie vertical de dicho brazo controlable de forma que empuje un envase devuelto de dicho carro introducióendolo en el citado depóosito cuando dicho brazo controlable es controlado de forma que avance en la direccióon opuesta a lo largo de la trayectoria horizontal.
- 2Maóquina seguón la reivindicacioón 1, caracterizada porque dicho ajuste lateral incluye dos paredes laterales, de las cuales al menos una puede desplazarse en relacioón con la otra.
- 3Móaquina seguón la reivindicacióon 1, caracterizada porque dicho ajuste lateral incluye dos paredes laterales controlablemente movibles que pueden controlarse para ajustar la anchura del espacio entre las citadas paredes laterales.
- 4Maóquina seguón la reivindicacióon 3, caracterizada porque las dos citadas paredes tienen cada una un extremo alejado de dichos depoósitos y un extremo libre adyacente a dichos depóositos que es pivotable alrededor de dicho extremo para ajustar una separacióon entre las citadas dos paredes en sus extremos libres.
- 5Móaquina seguón la reivindicacioón 4, caracterizada porque dicho ajuste lateral incluye medios activadores conectados a cada pared lateral cerca del citado extremo libre para pivotar bajo control dicha pared lateral alrededor de dicho extremo.
- 6Maóquina seguón la reivindicacióon 1, caracterizada porque dichos depoósitos tienen cada uno un fondo en el que descansa una cassette y dicho carro tiene una plataforma para apoyar una cassette, incluyendo dicho carro ademaós un ajuste vertical para ajustar verticalmente dicha plataforma cuando dicho carro se halla en su citada segunda posicioón entre la primera posicióon vertical por encima del fondo de dicho depóosito y una segunda posicioón vertical por debajo del fondo de dicho depoósito.
- 7Maóquina seguón la reivindicacióon 6, caracterizada porque dicho ajuste vertical incluye una plataforma verticalmente ajustable en la que un cassette descansa sobre dicho carro.
- 8Maóquina seguón la reivindicacióon 7, caracterizada porque dicha plataforma tiene un extremo alejado de dichos depóositos unido por goznes a dicho carro y un extremo libre adyacente a dichos depóositos que es pivotable alrededor de dicho primer extremo.
- 9Maóquina seguón la reivindicacióon 8, caracterizada porque dicho ajuate vertical incluye un medio activador conectado a dicha plataforma cerca de dicho extremo libre para pivotar controlablemente dicho extremo libre y alrededor de dicho primer extremo.
- 10Móaquina seguón la reivindicacióon 1, caracterizada porque dicho medio de control incluye un primer pistoón conectado a dicho brazo controlable para mover dicho brazo controlable en una y otra direccióon a lo largo de dicha trayectoria horizontal y un segundo pistoón conectado a dicha superficie vertical para mover dicha segunda superficie vertical en relacióon con dicho brazo controlable a lo largo de dicha trayectoria horizontal, en la que cuando una cassette es empujada de dicho carro a dicho depóosito, la cassette avanza una cierta distancia a lo largo de dicha trayectoria horizontal que corresponde a los golpes combinados de dicho primer y segundo pistones en la direccioón hacia dicho depóosito.
- 11Maóquina seguón la reivindicacioón 1, caracterizada porque dichas hileras horizontales de depóositos estaón espaciadas entre só enladireccióon vertical de forma que cuando las cassettes se hallan en dichos depóositos, hay espacio suficiente entre las partes superiores de las cassettes en una hilera y las partes inferiores de los depóositos en la hilera horizontal inmediatamente por encima para constituir un conducto horizontal que tiene una altura menor que la altura de la primera superficie vertical de dicho brazo controlable, y que incluye ademaós medios que constituyen un canal horizontal entre dichas hileras de depóositos al final de dichos depóositos alejados del citado carro que tiene una altura suficiente para alojar la primera de las citadas superficies verticales.
- 12Móaquina seguón la reivindicacioón 1, carac17 2 004 103 terizada porque incluye ademáas un armazoán de maáquina que tiene una abertura en la citada primera posicioán de la maáquina a traváes de la cual puede pasar una cassette y una placa de base dispuesta en dicha primera posicioán de máaquina para apoyar una cassette recibida a traveás de la citada abertura oá del citado carro, teniendo la placa de base un extremo alejado del citado carro y conectado de forma que pivote el armazáon de la citada máaquina y un extremo libre adyacente a dicho carro que pivota alrededor de dicho primer extremo, y en el que el citado medio de control incluye un medio de pivotaje para pivotar selectivamente dicha placa de base en una primera posiciáon hacia abajo inclinada hacia dicha abertura, una segunda posiciáon que es horizontal y una tercera posiciáon que estáa inclinada hacia arriba hacia la citada abertura.
- 13Máaquina seguán reivindicacioán 12, caracterizada porque comprende ademáas un tope fijo en el armazáon de dicha máaquina para que sirva de retáen para una cassette apoyada en dicha placa de base cuando dicha base estaá en la citada tercera posicioán.
- 14Maáquina para expender automáaticamente un envase seleccionado de una serie de envases y para almacenar automaáticamente un envase devuelto a la máaquina; caracterizada porque:una serie de depáositos de almacenamiento para almacenar una serie de envases, estando dichos envases dispuestos en una serie de hileras horizontales verticalmente apiladas, con un conjunto horizontal entre los adyacentes de dichas hileras horizontales y un conducto vertical que conecta los conductos horizontales, con cada envase almacenado en uno de los citados depáositos correspondientes;un brazo controlable montado para movimiento relativo a traváes de dichos conductos horizontales y verticales entre una primera posicioán para expender un envase seleccionado y para recibir un envase devuelto, y una segunda posicioán correspondiente a uno de los citados depoásitos seleccionados teniendo dicho brazo controlable una primera y segunda superficies verticales;y un medio de control que responda a una senal de entrada que corresponde a uno de los citados depáositos respectivos y que estáa conectado a dicho brazo controlable para mover dicho brazo controlable a traváes de los citados conductos verticales y horizontales entre las citadas primera y segunda posiciones y para mover dicho brazo controlable a lo largo de una trayectoria horizontal transversal a dichos conductos horizontales en la citada segunda posicioán para sacar uno de los citados envases seleccionados áo para insertar un envase devuelto en uno de dichos depáositos;estando dispuesta la primera superficie vertical del citado brazo controlable de forma que empuje un envase seleccionado haciáendolo salir de su correspondiente depoásito cuando el citado brazo controlable es controlado de forma que se mueva en una direcciáon a lo largo de dicha trayectoria horizontal y estando dispuesta la segunda superficie vertical de dicho brazo controlable de forma que empuje un envase devuelto al correspondiente depoásito seleccionado asociado con el envase devuelto, cuando el citado brazo controlable es controlado para que se mueva en la direcciáon opuesta a lo largo de la trayectoria horizontal.
- 15Maáquina seguán la reivindicaciáon 14, caracterizada porque cada citado depoásito tiene un extremo vertical abierto a traváes del cual se inserta un envase y se saca del depáosito utilizando el citado brazo controlable y un segundo extremo vertical opuesto a dicho extremo vertical abierto;estando dispuestos los segundos extremos verticales de los depoásitos en cada hilera de forma que constituyan un canal horizontal a traváes del cual pueda moverse dicha superficie vertical en la direcciáon de las citadas hileras horizontales.
- 16Maáquina seguán la reivindicaciáon 14, caracterizada porque dicha serie tiene una configuracioán rectilánea.
- 17Maáquina seguán la reivindicaciáon 14, caracterizada porque dicha serie constituye una primera secciáon de la serie, y dicha máaquina incluye ademaás una segunda seccioán de la serie que comprende series adicionales de los citados depáositos dispuestos en distintas hileras horizontales verticalmente apiladas que constituyen conductos horizontales y verticales similares a los citados para la primera secciáon de la serie;estando dispuestas dicha primera y segunda secciones de la serie de fomra adyacente entre sá con dicho brazo controlable montado para que pueda moverse a traváes del conducto vertical de dicha segunda seccioán de la serie en una direcciáon horizontal perpendicular a la direcciáon horizontal de las citadas hileras de forma que dicho brazo controlable pueda ser colocado en relacioán operativa con una de las citadas primera y segunda secciones de la serie seleccionada.
- 18Máaquina seguán la reivindicaciáon 17, caracterizada porque dicho medio de control incluye:un primer tornillo de bola que tiene un primer eje longitudinal y que estaá montado con el primer eje longitudinal alineado en la direcciáon vertical;una primera tuerca de bola montada para que pueda moverse a lo largo de dicho primer tornillo de bola y conectada al citado brazo controlable para mover el citado brazo controlable en la direcciáon vertical;un segundo tornillo de bola que tiene un segundo eje longitudinal alineado con las hileras horizontales de dichas secciones de la serie;una segunda tuerca de bola montada para movimiento a lo largo de dicho segundo tornillo de bola y conectada para mover dicho brazo controlable en la direcciáon de dichas hileras horizontales;un tercer tornillo de bola que tiene un tercer eje longitudinal y que estaá montado con el tercer eje longitudinal alineado perpendicularmente al primer y segundo ejes longitudinales, y una tercera tuerca de bola montada para movimiento a lo largo de dicho tercer tornillo de bola y conectada para mover el citado brazo controlable en la direcciáon del citado tercer eje longitudinal.
- 19Maáquina seguán la reivindicaciáon 14, caracterizada porque dicha serie tiene una configuracioán circularmente cilándrica y dicho brazo controlable estáa montado interiormente en dicha configuraciáon.
- 20Maáquina seguán la reivindicaciáon 14, caracterizada porque dicho conjunto tiene una configuraciáon circularmente cilándrica que posee un eje central y dicho brazo controlable estáa dispuesto interiormente en dicha configuraciáon y vaá mon18 2 004 103 tado para movimiento rotativo alrededor del citado eje central.
- 21Méaquina seguén la reivindicacioén 20, caracterizada porque el citado medio de control incluye un tornillo de bola accionado por motor, alineado con el citado eje central y una tuerca de bola montada para movimiento a lo largo de dicho tornillo de bola;estando dicha tuerca de bola conectada para mover el citado brazo controlable a una posicioén vertical seleccionada.
- 22Méaquina seguén la reivindicaciéon 21, caracterizada porque el citado medio de control incluye un medio de pivotaje controlable para pivotar dicho brazo controlable a una posicioén azimutal seleccionada.
- 23Méaquina seguén la reivindicaciéon 22, caracterizada porque dicho medio de pivotaje controlable incluye un soporte ciléndrico que rodea a dicho tornillo de bola, teniendo dicho soporte una camisa exterior afianzada a dicha tuerca de bola y una camisa interior acoplada a dicho brazo controlable y montada para movimiento de rotacioén en relaciéon con dicha camisa exterior, dicha tuerca de bola y dicho tornillo de bola, y un motor apoyado por la citada tuerca de bola y conectado de forma que accione dicha camisa interior para hacer girar bajo control dicha camisa interior alrededor de dicho eje central.
- 24Maéquina seguén la reivindicaciéon 14, caracterizada porque cada depéosito tiene paredes laterales verticales que estaén espaciadas entre sé para alojar un envase entre ellas, formando dichas paredes verticales un extremo vertical abierto a travées del cual se inserta un envase y se saca del depéosito mediante el citado brazo controlable.
- 25Maéquina seguén la reivindicaciéon 14, caracterizada porque la senal de entrada incluye una primera senal de entrada que identifica un envase seleccionado que estéa almacenado en dicho conjunto y una segunda senal de entrada que identifica un envase devuelto a dicha maéquina, respondiendo el citado medio de control a la primera senal de entrada para controlar dicho brazo controlable de forma que avance a la segunda posiciéon para que el citado brazo controlable estée alineado con el depoésito seleccionado, a fin de controlar el citado brazo controlable para que avance a travées del depéosito seleccionado para sacar un envase de éel, y para controlar el citado brazo de forma que avance, con el envase, a la citada primera posicioén para expender el envase;mientras que el citado medio de control responde a dicha segunda senal de entrada para controlar el citado brazo controlable de forma que avance con un envase devuelto de la citada primera posiciéon a dicha segunda posicioén a fin de que dicho brazo controlable estée alineado con el depoésito seleccionado asociado con el envase devuelto, y para controlar el citado brazo controlable de forma que avance a travées de dicho depoésito para insertar en éel el avance devuelto.
- 26Maéquina seguén la reivindicaciéon 14, caracterizada porque cada citado depéosito tiene porciones de bordes que constituyen una abertura a travées de la cual se saca un envase del depoésito y se inserta en el citado depéosito, estando cada envase dotado de bordes biselados para cooperar con dichas porciones de bordes a fin de alinear cada envase con uno de los respectivos depéositos a medida que dicho envase es insertado en uno de los citados depoésitos.
- 27Méaquina para expender automéaticamente un envase seleccionado de una serie de envases y para almacenar automéaticamente un envase devuelto a la méaquina, caracterizada porque comprende:un conjunto de depoésitos de almacenamiento para almacenar una serie de envases, presentando cada uno de los citados depéositos un fondo que tiene una ranura alargada y estando dispuestos en una serie de hileras horizontales verticalmente apiladas, con un conducto horizontal entre las hileras adyacentes de las citadas hileras horizontales y un conducto vertical que conecta los conductos horizontales, y encontréandose cada envase almacenado en uno de los respectivos depoésitos citados;un brazo controlable montado para movimiento relativo a travées de dichos conductos horizontales y verticales entre una primera posicioén para expender un envase seleccionado y para recibir un envase devuelto, y una segunda posicioén que corresponde a uno de los depoésitos citados seleccionados, teniendo dicho brazo controlable una primera y segunda extensiones hacia arriba y estando montado ademaés para que pueda moverse a travées de uno de los respectivos depoésitos en una direcciéon horizontal pasando a travées de una de las respectivas ranuras alargadas;y un medio de control que responde a una senal de entrada correspondiente a uno de los respectivos depéositos y conectado a dicho brazo controlable para mover dicho brazo controlable a travées de los citados conductos verticales y horizontales entre las citadas primera y segunda posiciones y para mover selectivamente dicho brazo controlable en una y otra direcciéon a lo largo de un eje horizontal alineado con la ranura alargada del depoésito seleccionado en dicha segunda posicioén, donde la primera extensioén de dicho brazo controlable estéa dispuesta de forma que empuje un envase seleccionado haciéendolo salir de su depéosito correspondiente cuando el citado brazo controlable es controlado de forma que avance en una direcciéon a lo largo del citado eje horizontal y la segunda extensiéon de dicho brazo controlable estéa dispuesta de forma que empuje un envase devuelto haciéendolo entrar en el depoésito seleccionado asociado con el envase devuelto cuando dicho brazo controlable es controlado de forma que avance en una direcciéon opuesta a lo largo del citado eje horizontal. 2 004 103 F/G / 2 004 103 2 004 103 2 004 103
Independent claims27
155 paragraphs in 1 section, as filed
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a machine for automatically receiving and dispensing a package selected from a set of packages and for receiving and storing a package that is returned to the machine. The invention is especially useful as an automatic vending machine for video cassettes and similar items that are sold for temporary use by a person and must be returned and stored in the machine to be sold again.
In recent years, the increasing use of video cassette projectors (VCR) to project previously recorded programs, mainly in the form of popular films, has achieved an extensive rental market for such video cassettes. The distribution chain for the rental of video cassettes has been carried out mainly through a number of rental cassettes of video cassettes that have been established throughout the country to meet this demand. A typical transaction involves going to one of those video rental cassette stores, contacting a vendor or seller to orally request a selected film, often after waiting in a long queue, and if the selected cassette video was in existence , complete the rental transaction. When returning the rented video cassette to the store, it is necessary again to contact a seller or vendor, possibly after waiting in another queue, to settle the rental account. Simply put, the main mechanism that has been established in the market for the rental of video cassettes is often slow and inconvenient.
Due to its relatively small size, the standard cassette video can be sold by an automated vending machine. In reality, the applicant for this patent is aware that an automated vending machine of this type has been developed for this purpose. This automated video cassette video vending machine is primarily a cigarette vending machine that has been modified to accommodate video cassettes. This machine contains a limited set of cassette film titles that are selected and dispensed anaologically to the selection and sale of a pack of cigarettes. That is, the machine sells the selected cassette video by dropping the cassette of a column of similar titles to a platform located below the column where the person who made the selection can remove the cassette from the machine. After finishing using the cassette, the customer returns the cassette by depositing it in a storage tank associated with the machine. In order to position the cassette again, an operator must open the machine phosphorically and place the cassettes contained in the storage tank in the respective columns associated with the different film titles.
The automatic cassette vending machine described above has several disadvantages. As noted, the machine design only allows you to sell a limited number of titles. Second, the cassette is subject to damage in the process of selling them when they are deposited on the platform and again when they are returned to the machine and dropped into the storage tank. Again, the machine requires constant observation by an operator to store the cassettes returned in the appropriate position so that they can be subsequently sold.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for automatically dispensing a selected package from a set of packages and for automatically receiving and storing a package that is returned to the machine.
It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an automatic video cassette vending machine that can store a relatively large number of cassettes with different titles, automatically automate a selected video cassette and automatically store a video cassette once it is returned to the machine so that The video cassette is properly placed in the machine in order to be expanded, again without the intervention of a service operator.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a machine is provided to automatically automate a selected package from a set of packages and to automatically store a package returned to the machine, including the following:
a) a set of storage tanks for storing different containers, each tank being provided with a bottom with an elongated groove, and arranged in a series of horizontal rows stacked vertically, with a horizontal conduit between each horizontal row and a vertical conduit that connects the horizontal ducts, and with each container stored in one of the respective tanks;
b) a controllable arm mounted for relative movement through the horizontal and vertical ducts between a position to dispense a selected container and to receive a returned container, and a second position corresponding to one of the selected deposits, with the control arm being mounted so that it can move through one of the respective deposits by passing through one of the respective elongated grooves, and
c) a control mechanism that responds to an input signal corresponding to one of the respective deposits and connected to the controllable arm to move the controllable arm through the vertical and horizontal ducts between the first and second positions and to move the controllable arm through the elongated groove of the reservoir in the second position in order to remove a selected container from said reservoir and to insert a returned container into said reservoir.
This new deposit configuration allows each deposit to maintain a cassette and at the same time allows the controllable arm to pass through the reservoir through the elongated slot to insert or remove a cassette in relation to the deposit. In addition, the arrangement of deposits in horizontally stacked rows allows each machine to store a relatively high variety of
004 103 cassettes compared to the automatic vending machines of cassettes currently known.
The machine includes an electronic keyboard to accept the user's identification code and an identification code of the cassettes. After verifying the user identification code, the cassette identification code is entered and translated into control signals to move the controllable arm to a position corresponding to the deposit where the selected cassette is stored.
In another embodiment, the controllable arm is controlled to move upwardly through the elongated groove in order to raise the cassette by taking it out of the reservoir and inserting it into the horizontal conduit above the row in which said deposit is located. The arm is then controlled to transport the cassette to a position in the machine where the cassette can be sold to the customer.
The identification code of each cassette is provided in the form of a mechanically readable code, such as a bar code, on the outer surface of the cass ette. When the cassette is returned to the machine, the customer inserts the cassette into the controllable arm. A bar code reading device reads the identification code of the cassette which is then translated into positional control signals to move the controllable arm to a position above the deposit associated with the returned cassette. The controllable arm is then controlled to lower the cassette by inserting it into the tank, the arm returns to the delivery position and receiving where the next sequence of position control signals associated with the next customer transaction is expected.
In a preferred form of the invention, the control means includes a mechanical linkage of ball screws and ball nuts that are controlled to move the controllable arm to a desired position by means of properly programmed gradual speed motors.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the controllable arm has two vertical extensions, or claws that are spaced apart and the controllable arm is controlled so that it moves through the elongated grooves in the tanks in a horizontal direction so that the Cassette is removed horizontally from the tank or inserted horizontally into the tank by the controllable arm. In this embodiment of the invention, the control mechanism is thus provided with a third axis of movement to insert and remove the cassette from the reservoir in a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the plane in which the arm is controlled to transfer it between one of the selected deposits and the position of delivery and reception.
According to the principles of the invention, rows of horizontally stacked tanks may have a rectilinear configuration or a circularly cylindrical configuration. In the rectilinear configuration, the mechanical joint to move the arm is located behind the deposits in relation to the front panel of the machine. In the circularly cylindrical configuration of the deposits, the mechanical joint is located in the interior space constituted by the circularly cylindrical configuration of the deposits.
In relation to another aspect of the invention, the machine may comprise two rectilinear sections of deposits and the mechanical joint of the control mechanism is configured so as to selectively move the arm to an operating position in relation to one of the respective sections of Deposits to recover or return a cassette to any of the deposits throughout the machine.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the machine includes a carriage mounted for movement relative to the reservoirs that is used to transport a container between the first position of the machine to dispense a selected container and to receive a returned container, and a second position corresponding to one of the deposits, carriage that includes a means of lateral adjustment to laterally adjust the position of the container to a lateral position previously determined within the carriage so that when the carriage is in the second position of the machine the container is closed in relation to the tank. In this embodiment of the invention, the controllable arm is mounted on the carriage to move with it between the first and second positions of the machine and to move in relation to the carriage along the horizontal path transversely to the horizontal ducts between the rows of deposits. In addition, the controllable arm is equipped with a first and second vertical surfaces to receive a container. A control means is provided that responds to an input signal corresponding to one of the tanks to move the carriage between the first and second positions and to move the controllable arm along the horizontal path in the second position at the end of take out a selected container from the tank to insert a container returned into the tank. The first vertical surface of the controllable arm will be arranged so as to push a selected container out of its corresponding reservoir and enter the carriage when the controllable arm is controlled so that it advances in one direction along the horizontal path and the second vertical surface of the controllable arm will be arranged so that it pushes a container returned from the carriage by inserting it into the tank when the controllable arm is controlled from so that it moves in the opposite direction along the horizontal path.
The lateral adjustment means establishes a previously determined lateral position of the cassette within the carriage so that when the carriage is adjacent to the reservoir, the cassette will be closed with respect to the reservoir and will not engage with an edge of the lateral wall of the reservoir when The cassette is moved from the car to the tank.
In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment, the lateral adjustment means includes pivotable side walls that can be separated to prevent the cassette from engaging with an edge of the side walls of the carriage when the cassette is pushed by the controllable arm by removing it from
004 103 a storage tank and introducing it into the car.
According to another feature of this embodiment of the invention, the car is also provided with a pivotable lower platform that pivots so that the platform rests well above the bottom of a tank or below the bottom of a tank to prevent the The cassette grabs a lower edge of the tank or the car, respectively, depending on whether the cassette is moved from the car to the tank or vice versa.
In accordance with an additional advantageous feature of this embodiment of the invention, a pivotable base plate is provided adjacent to the opening in the frame of the machine through which a cassette can be dispensed to a customer or an alamine machine cassette can be returned. . The pivotable base plate is pivoted so that it tilts upwardly towards the opening in order to receive a cassette from a customer through the opening and so that it descends towards the carriage direction after the base plate is pivoted in a horizontal position. so that the controllable arm can remove the cassette by inserting it into the carriage. When dispensing a cassette to a customer, the base plate is pivoted so that it has a downward inclination towards the opening so that the cassette removed from the carriage by the controllable arm slides down to the opening of the machine.
Other aspects and characteristics of the invention became apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying illustrations.
Figure 1
It is a perspective view of the exterior of the automatic vending machine following a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2
It is a schematic view showing a front elevation view in a partial cross section of the machine of Figure 1 with the front panel removed.
Figure 3
It is a schematic view of a side elevational view in partial cross section of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 4
It is a perspective view of the components illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 5
It is a cross-sectional plan view of the components illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 6
It is a block circuit diagram illustrating the electronic elements used in the invention control mechanism.
Figure 7
It is a schematic view of a cross-sectional view of a machine according to the invention using two sections of deposits.
Figure 8
It is a schematic view that presents a cross-sectional plan view of the machine according to the embodiment of Figure 7.
Figure 9
It is a schematic view showing a front elevation view, in partial cross-section, of the automated vending machine according to another preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 10
It is a schematic view showing a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of Figure 9.
Figure 11
It is a partial frontal cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a machine according to the invention.
Figure 12
It is a cross-sectional plan view showing the modality illustrated in Figure 11.
Figure 13
It is a perspective view showing components of Figures 12 and 13 on a larger scale. Figure 14
It is a lateral cross-sectional view showing modified components of the machine according to another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 15
It is a perspective view of the components illustrated in Figure 14.
Figure 16
It is a perspective view of the components according to another modification of the invention.
Figures 17 and 18
They are perspective views of a component according to additional modifications of the invention.
Figure 19
It is a schematic view of a rear elevational view of the automatic vending machine according to a mode more than the invention. Figure 20
It is a schematic view of a side elevational view in the partial section of the machine contained in Figure 19.
Figure 21
It is a perspective view of the components illustrated in Figures 19 and 20.
Figures 22 to 24
They are side elevational views of the components contained in Figure 21 illustrating the way they work.
Figure 25
It is a schematic view of the front elevation view of a door mechanism that can be used for the delivery-reception opening of machine cassettes.
Figure 26
It is a schematic view illustrating the different positions of a pivotable base plate that can be used to transfer a container between the opening of the machine and a carriage in the incorporation of the invention illustrated in Figures 19 and 24.
A perspective view of the outer frame of an automated video cassette vending machine 10 constructed according to the principles of the invention is shown in Figure 1. The armature of the machine has a rectangular configuration with a front panel 11 on which a computer console 13 is mounted containing electronic elements of known computers (not illustrated) which are connected to a keyboard 15, a picture box4
004 103 visual seating 17 and a magnetic card reading device (not illustrated) which has a slot 19 for inserting the magnetic cards. The console 13 operates analogously to the consoles associated with the automated banking transaction machines, now well known, in which the user inserts a magnetic card containing a previously assigned identification code. The user then enters through the keypad 15 a personal identification code that is electronically confirmed by the electronic elements of the console, through which the user goes on to carry out a transaction, which, in the case of the present machine, comprises the They selected or returned from a video cassette. For the selection of a cassette the user, after confirmation of the personal identification, will transmit the identification code for the cassette that contains the desired title. The visual representation frame 17 is used in a well-known way to transmit instructions to the user and to visually display the information entered by the keyboard. The consoles, such as the console 13, and the associated electronic elements, are well known and are not part of the present invention.
The panel 11 contains an opening 21 that is illustrated centrally located in the panel for reasons that would become apparent; however, other places for opening 21 are possible according to the principles of the present invention. The cassettes that the machine sells are automatically presented in the opening 21 for the customer to remove. Similarly, the cassettes that are returned by the customer to the machine are inserted through the opening 21 and are stored automatically in the proper position in the machine as described. Preferably, the opening 21 has a door 23 that is mounted so that it can slide and is controlled by the signals coming from the console 13 to cover and uncover the opening 21. Preferably, the opening 21 remains covered by the door 23 except when a selected cassette is to be delivered through the opening 21 when a customer returns a cassette to the machine and makes an appropriate entry via the keypad to open the door 23 of so that it is possible to insert the cassette into the machine.
Figures 2 to 5 illustrate the main components within the machine illustrated in Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. With reference to figure 2, the frame of the machine is illustrated in section with side panels 22a and 22b to which different mounting brackets 24 are connected. A series of cassette storage tanks 25 are properly connected to the mounting brackets 24 in a rectilinear arrangement of vertically stacked horizontal rows 27a-27g. Horizontal rows 27a-27g are spaced apart to form horizontal ducts 28a-28f between rows. In addition, a horizontal duct 28 g is provided above the upper row 27g and a horizontal duct 28h below the lower row 27a. The horizontal ducts 28a-28g provide space for the horizontal movement of a cassette carriage 30 which has a series of pairs of side wall sections 31a and 31b mounted on the support 33 and protruding into the space immediately above each corresponding row of deposits as illustrated in figures 2 and
3. The tanks are also arranged so that they constitute a vertical duct 34 that communicates with each of the horizontal ducts 28a-28h and with the opening 21.
Two linear bearings 35a and 35b are connected near the lower and upper part, respectively of the support 33 to guide the horizontal movement of the support 33 with its secured pairs of side wall sections 31a and 31b along the respective linear support rods 37a and 37b. Linear support rods 37a and 37b are fixedly secured to the machine frame by appropriate joining members 38 as illustrated in Figure 2.
The ball screw 39 is mounted on the side panels 22a and 22b of the machine frame by means of support blocks 41 and 42 so that they are parallel to the linear support rods 37a and 37b. Ball screw 39 is connected to drive with a reversible gradual speed motor 43. A ball nut 45 is attached to the support 33 and is operatively connected with the ball screw 39 to move the entire cassette carriage 30 to the left or right as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 in response to a rotation in the direction from the clockwise I heard the counterclockwise direction imparted to the ball screw 39.
An upper end piece 47 is attached to the upper end of the support 33 and a lower end piece 49 is attached to the lower end of the support 33. Between the end pieces 47 and 49 a vertically oriented linear support rod 51 is mounted (Figure 3) and a ball screw 53 that is spaced and parallel to the linear support rod 51. The ball screw 53 is mounted on terminal parts 47 and 49 by means of the corresponding bearing blocks 55 and 59 and is connected to drive with a gradual speed motor 61. A ball nut 63 operates operatively with the ball screw 53 and joins by means of a support 65 to a linear support means 67 that slides with the linear support rod 51. The carriage 30 also includes a cassette lifting arm 69 that is attached to a ball nut 63 and cooperates with the corresponding side wall sections 31a, 31b to transport one of the selected cassettes as will be described below. The ball nut 63, and therefore the arm 69, are operated so that they move in a vertical direction as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3 when the ball screw 53 is rotated by the gradual speed motor 61.
Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a cassette storage tank 25 in operative relation with a pair of side wall sections 31a and 31b directly above the reservoir and the cassette lifting arm 69 which, in this illustration, is located by under deposit 25. Deposit 25 has a configuration that allows it to support a cassette (such
004 103 as illustrated by dashed lines) at its edge and includes opposite side walls 71 and 73, each of which is preferably flared outwardly in its corresponding portions of upper edges for the reasons that will be seen later. The tank 25 has a terminal wall 75 through which the tank is mounted adjacent to the inside of the front panel of the machine 11. The bottom of the deposit 25 will consist of two flanges 77 and 79 that protrude into the deposit from one of the respective side walls 71 and 73 to form an elongated groove 81. The flanges 77 and 78 have dimensions that allow adequate support of the cassette as illustrated in figure 4. The slot 81 has a width that prevents a cassette from falling through it but allows the passage of the arm 69 in the vertical direction as illustrated by the arrow in Figure 4. Preferably, the end of the reservoir 25 away from the front panel of the The machine also has opposite flanges 83 and 85 that form a groove 87 corresponding to the groove 81 and therefore has a width that allows the passage of the arm 69. The flanges 83 and 85 prevent the cassette from falling out of the tank in case it tilts or violently hits the machine.
As can be seen in Figure 4, the lower edge portions of the side wall sections 31a and 31b, respectively, are flared outward. The end flare out of the lower end portions of the side wall sections 31 and 31b and the flare out of the upper edge portions of the side walls 71 and 73 of the deposit 25 is to allow greater tolerance for error in the alignment of the sections of the side walls of the car with the tank during recovery or storage of a cassette. Thus, when a cassette is removed from a reservoir, the arm 69 rises through the slot 81 in the reservoir 25 to raise the cassette and insert it into the pair of side wall sections 31a and 31b immediately above the deposit. If the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b are not exactly aligned directly above the reservoir, the flare out of the lower edge portions of the side wall sections 31a and 31b will nevertheless force the cassette into the space between the sections of the side walls. Similarly, during the storage of a cassette in the appropriate tank, the carriage moves so that the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b are aligned directly above the corresponding reservoir and the cassette lifting arm 69 together with the cassette that is It will be stored and lowered by inserting them into the tank until the cassette rests on flared flanges 77 and 79. A slight lack of alignment of the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b with respect to the reservoir will not adversely affect the storage operation since the flare outwardly of the portions of the upper edges of the deposit 25 will guide the cassette to the reservoir.
Figure 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the carriage 30 with the cassette lifting arm 69 arranged in the vertical conduit 34. The side walls of the adjacent duct of the reservoirs 34 will preferably be flared at the portions of their upper edges, or provide a false wall (not illustrated) which is flared outwardly in relation to the duct 34, so that The cassette that is transported through the vertical conduit 34 by the arm 69 does not touch an edge of the adjacent conduit of the reservoir walls 34.
With the preceding description of Figures 2 to 5, it can be seen that the mechanical joint comprising ball screws and ball nuts allows the cassette 69 to be lifted through the vertical duct 34 to any of the horizontal ducts 28a-28h. The entire carriage 30 can be moved horizontally so that the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b are aligned with the vertical duct 34 or with one of the selected deposits. Once aligned with a selected deposit, the arm 69 can be controlled to move up or down through the vertical slot of the selected deposit to remove or store a cassette.
Figure 6 illustrates a block circuit diagram of an electronic circuit that can be used to control gradual speed motors that drive the ball screws and ball nuts illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. The computer console 13 is connected, through a series 89 parallel interface, to a gradual speed motor controller 91 to control the vertical movement of the arm 69 and to a horizontal gradual speed motor controller 93 to control the horizontal movement of the car 30. The controller of the gradual speed motor 91 is connected by a driving device 95 to the gradual speed motor 61 and the gradual speed motor controller 93 is connected through a drive device 99 to the gradual speed motor 43.
The 89 series parallel interface can be a large-scale integrated device such as the one built by Cybernetic Microsystems and sold following part number CY232. The serial parallel interface translates the information entered via the keyboard into TTL outputs. The gradual speed motor controllers 91 and 93 can each be constituted by an intelligent positioning gradual speed motor controller such as the one built by Cybernetic Microsystems and sold with the CY512 part number which is also a large-scale integrated device. . The CY512 gradual speed motor controller is a programmable device that can accept an input signal that represents an objective position and controls the direction, position, speed and acceleration of a gradual speed motor. The interconnection between the gradual speed motor controllers 91 and 93 occurs through the interface 89 under the control of an interconnection algorithm that will be recognized by those experienced in the technique. Preferably, a four-phase gradual speed motor is used in com6
004 103 bination with each CY512 gradual speed motor controller. Conductor circuits 95 and 99 each comprise standard power transistors or congregated transistors configured in a known manner to accept the TTL outputs of the gradual speed motor controllers. Other commercially available electronic components can also be used with equal results to establish the control of the gradual speed motors in the realization of the invention and said electronic elements, in themselves, are not part of the present invention. For example, Clifton Precision Litton, Inc. It also manufactures a Programmable Gradual Speed Controller sold with the model number SCC20, and compatible drivers and interfaces could be easily connected and programmed to control the gradual speed motors according to the present invention.
The operation of the automated vending machine according to Figures 1 to 6 would now be described. First, a description of the operation of the machine to remove and dispense a cassette in response to a selection made by a customer would be given, followed by a description of the operation of the machine to accept a cassette that has been returned to the machine and store the returned cassette in the appropriate cassette storage tank.
A person wishing to use the automated video cassette vending machine according to the invention would have to have a magnetic tape containing a personal identification code to be obtained before using the machine. To request a specific video cassette, the person would insert the magnetic card into slot 19 and also enter the personal identification code or key number via keyboard 15. If the identification code entered through the keyboard corresponds to the content on the magnetic card, the visual representation box 17 will indicate this and then order the person to write an order corresponding to the identification code for the desired cassette. After entering the cassette identification code, which would appear in the visual representation box 17, the client would have the opportunity to cancel the order or continue the transaction with the cassette identification code entered by pressing an entry key that Activate the machine to automatically remove and dispense the selected cassette accordingly.
The computer console 15 contains a programmable read only memory (which is not illustrated) which has an inventory file of the location of each cassette in the series of storage tanks. The location data stored in the inventory file memory can be expressed in terms of a Cartesian coordinate system having an origin corresponding to the center of the opening 21 in panel 11 (see Figures 1 and 2), the axis of abscissa (x) corresponding to rows 27d and ordinate axis (y) corresponding to vertical conduit 34. Thus, the ordinate is measured in terms of the row number above or below the origin and the abscissa in terms of the number of depositories to the right and left of the origin. The location data is transmitted through a serial input of the computer console 13 to the parallel serial interface 89, which in turn directs and transmits the appropriate location data to one of the respective gradual speed motor controllers 91 and 93. The gradual speed motor controller 91 contains the program required to effect the vertical movements of the carriage 30 and the cassette lifting arm 69 in the proper sequence to remove the cassette and the gradual speed motor controller 93 contains the program required to effect the horizontal movements of carriage 30 in the proper return sequence. Assume that the cassette selection code identifies the cassette located in the tank with an abscissa of -4 and an ordinate of +2 (that is, the fourth tank to the left of the vertical duct 34 in row 27f). This deposit is identified by an X in Figure 2 and is denoted by reference number 103. Let us also assume that the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b are initially aligned with the vertical conduit 34 (ordinate axis) and that the platform of the cassette carriage was in a vertical position corresponding to the position of coordinates 0,0, is that is, at the vertical level corresponding to the base of the opening 21, which hereafter will be called the base position. Preferably, the cassette carriage and the cassette lifting arm would always return to the base position at the end of a recovery sequence or a storage sequence; however, by proper programming of the computer and gradual speed motor controllers, it is not necessary to place the cassette hoist arm in position 0.0 at the beginning of a sequence.
To recover the cassette from position -4, 2, the gradual speed motor controller 91 provides impulses to the driver 95 so that the gradual speed motor 61 rotates the ball screw 53 in a direction that moves the ball nut 63 upwards to a position in which the cassette lifting arm 69 is vertically positioned immediately below the tanks in row 27f. Then there is a sufficient delay in the operation of the gradual speed motor 61 to allow the gradual speed motor controller 93 to send impulses to the driver 99 to cause the gradual speed motor 43 to advance the ball nut 45 to the left in the figure. 2 until the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b are aligned with the side walls of the tank 103 containing the selected cassette. The program of the gradual speed motor controller 93 is then delayed while the gradual speed motor controller 91 goes into action causing the gradual speed motor 61 to rotate the ball screw 53 to make the ball nut 63 and the cassette lifting arm 69 moves up through the vertical slot in the tank 103, picking up the selected cassette and inserting it into the side wall sections 31a and 31b located in the horizontal duct 28f immediately by en7
004 103 top of the tank 103. As soon as the cassette lift arm 69 leaves the upper edges of the tank 103, the program of the gradual speed motor controller 91 further delays the operation of the gradual speed motor 61 while the gradual speed motor controller 93 goes into action causing the gradual speed motor 43 to rotate the ball screw 39 in one direction that causes the ball nut 45 to move to the right in Figure 2 until sections 31a and 31b are aligned vertically with the surfaces of the side walls of the Deposits to one or other sides of the vertical duct 34. With the ball nut 45 in this position, the cassette lifting arm can be lowered to the base position in the opening 21 to deliver the cassette to the customer. It can be seen that, as the cassette lifting arm 69 is lowered in the vertical duct 34, the side wall sections 31a and 31b and the side walls of the adjacent vertical duct reservoirs 34 alternately provide a guide and lateral support for the cassette Furthermore, the flare out of the upper edge portions of the side wall sections 31a and 31b (Figure 4) ensures that the cassette was not seized on one edge of said side wall sections as the cassette is introduced in the base position. The flare out of the lower edge portions of the side wall sections 31a and 31b will have the same purpose when the cassette is hoisted through the vertical groove 34.
When the cassette lift arm 69 leads to the base position of the opening 21, the door 23 is opened and the cassette can be removed by the customer. Preferably, the door will be opened automatically by means of a control device (not shown) which receives an activation signal from the computer console 13 at the end of the automatic sequence through which the cassette is removed from its storage tank. storage and is taken to the base position. As an alternative, the door 23 can be kept closed by means of an automatotic clamp mechanism (not illustrated) which is opened by a signal from the computer console 13 at the same time that the cassette is delivered to the base position.
A cassette that a customer returns to the machine is automatically stored by the vending machine according to the invention according to the following sequence of operation. The customer reintroduced the magnetic card containing the client's personal identification code in slot 19 and entered his personal identification code. If there is correspondence between the code entered by the keyboard and the personal identification code contained in the magnetic card, an appropriate indication will appear on the visual display box 17. The customer then presses one of the appropriate keys on the keyboard 15 to instruct the machine in the sense that you want to carry out a cassette return transaction. The computer console 13 then responded by sending a signal to open the post 23 so that the client can insert the video cassette that was being returned in the opening 21 and to rest in the arm of raising cassettes 69 that had previously returned to the position base. A bar code reader unit (not illustrated) was properly positioned to read the bar code that appears on the outside of the cassette as indicated above. The barcode corresponds to the identification code of the cassette and therefore identifies the previously assigned deposit in which the cassette is to be stored. As an alternative, the machine can be conveniently programmed to store the cassette that was being returned in any of the storage tanks that are empty when the cassette is returned to the machine. In this case, the file memory will be updated automatically to reflect the new location of the returned cassette.
The sequence of operation of the gradual speed motors 61 and 43 for storing the cassette in the appropriate tank is similar to the sequence of operations described above in relation to the removal of a cassette during the delivery operation. The main difference is that the cassette lifting arm 69 is controlled so that the horizontal duct passes immediately above the row containing the tank in which the cassette is to be stored in order to lower the cassette by inserting it into the tank.
For example, consider a cassette to be returned to the tank 103 with the coordinates -4, 2 as illustrated in Figure 2. The identification number on the outside of the cassette is read by the bar code reader unit and wrapped to the computer that locates in the file to invent it to the storage tank assigned to said cassette, which in this example is the tank -4 in row +2. The computer transmits the location data through a serial output to the series 89 parallel interface controller which in turn transmits the location data to one of the corresponding gradual speed motor controllers 91 and 93 that are programmed to effect the horizontal and vertical movement of the carriage 30 and the cassette hoist arm 69 is required in order to store the cassette in the previously assigned tank 105 and return the cassette hoist arm to the base position. Accordingly, the gradual speed motor controller 91 initially sent impulses to the conductor 95 to cause the gradual speed motor 61 to rotate the ball screw 53 in a direction that raises the ball nut 63 until the arm of Raising cassettes 69 reaches a position in the vertical duct 34 which is immediately above the row 27f in which the tank 103 was located. The stepper motor controller 93 then enters into action by sending impulses to the driver 99 to cause the motor 43 to move the ball nut 45 and, therefore, the entire carriage 30 to the left in Figure 2, until the sections sides 31a and 31b are aligned with the side walls of the tank 103. Then, the stepper motor controller 91
004 103 activates the gradual speed motor 61 to rotate the ball screw 53 in a direction that moves the cassette lift arm 69 down through the vertical slot in the tank 103 so that the cassette rests on the bottom flanges of the deposit. The cassette lifting arm 69 continues its downward motion until it is in the space of the horizontal conduit 28e immediately below the tank 103 at which time the gradual speed motor controller 93 activates the gradual speed motor 43 which causes the nut ball 45 moves horizontally to the right of Figure 2 until the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b are aligned with the vertical conduit 34. The stepper motor controller 91 then activates the stepper motor 61 to vertically move the cassette lift arm 69 down to the base position in preparation for the next transaction.
Thus, it can be seen in the preceding description that the arrangement of the tanks in horizontally stacked horizontal rows, with horizontal ducts above and below each row connected by a vertical duct, and with each tank configured to have a groove vertical through which the cassette hoist arm can pass the mechanical joint to move the carriage, including the cassette hoist arm, It can be relatively simple since it only requires two-dimensional movement. In addition, although the mechanical connection described above to perform the required horizontal and vertical movements is composed of interlocking ball screws and ball nuts, those skilled in the art will recognize that other kinds of mechanical connections can be used to effect the required movements. It should also be noted that the central location of the opening 21 creates the shortest distance between the base position and any selected deposit.
In Figures 7 and 8, a modification of the incorporation presented in Figures 2 and 3 is illustrated by means of which the number of storage tanks in the machine is almost doubled. In the incorporation illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 there are two sections of depots 103 and 105. The tank 103 is adjacent to the front panel 11 and includes the tanks 25 which are arranged in horizontal rows vertically stacked in the same way as the tanks of equal numbers illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The tank section 105 was located behind the tank section 103 in relation to the front panel 11, at a distance sufficient to accommodate the movement behind the tank section 103 of the carriage including the support 33, the side wall sections 31a and 31b, the linear support rod 51, the ball screw 53, etc., which have been described in relation to the incorporation illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
The deposit section 105 comprises tanks 25 'that are attached to the support member 107 which in turn is conveniently secured to the side panels 108a and 108b of the machine frame. The tanks 25 'are organized in horizontal rows vertically stacked in the same way as the tanks 25 and therefore form horizontal ducts above and below each tank and a vertical duct 109 connecting the horizontal ducts above and below each horizontal row of deposits 25 '.
In the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8, the end piece 47 of the carriage 30 was connected to a ball nut 111 that was operatively attached to the ball screw 113 having an end connected for operation with the gradual speed motor 115 and the another end rotatably connected to a linear support means 117. The linear support means 117 was slidably connected with a linear support rod 119. The gradual speed motor 115 was attached to a ball nut 112 that was operatively attached to a ball screw 114. The ball screw 114 is activated by the gradual speed motor 43.
The lower end piece 49 of the carriage 30 is secured to a linear support means 121 that is mounted so that it slides with a linear support rod 123 that is connected to both ends of the respective linear support means 124 and 127 which They are also installed so that they can slide with linear support rods 129 and 131, respectively.
The mechanical connection of Figures 7 and 8 was thus configured to provide three degrees of movement. The cassette lifting arm 69 can move in a vertical direction by virtue of its connection to the ball nut 63 which is activated by the ball screw 53 in response to the gradual speed motor 61 as described above in relation to figures 2 and 3. According to the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8, the entire carriage 30 together with the cassette lifting arm 69 moves between the operating positions in relation to sections 103 and 105 by the controlled movement of the ball nut 111 together with the ball screw 113 in response to the gradual speed motor 115. To allow movement of the support 33 from a position between sections 105 and 103 as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, at a position behind the tank 105, the vertical conduit 109 must be made wide enough to accommodate the support 33 . The movement of the carriage 30 in a horizontal direction parallel to the front panel 11 which caused the movement of the sections of the side walls 31a and 31b through the horizontal ducts formed by the horizontal rows stacked vertically of each of the sections 103 and 105 It is provided by ball nut 112 through ball screw 114 and stepper motor 43.
The motors 61 and 43 in Figures 7 and 8 are controlled by the gradual speed motor controllers 91 and 93 in the same manner as described above. The gradual speed motor 115 is controlled by an additional gradual speed motor controller 135 through the impeller 137 as indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 6, to move the carriage 30 between the tank sections 103 and 105 followed the deposit location that stores a selected cassette that will be removed or in which a returned cassette will be stored.
004 103
Thus, if the cassette identification code provided by a customer via the keyboard 15 identifies a cassette stored, in one of the deposits contained in section 105, the position control signals provided by the computer will cause the control of the 135 gradual speed motors execute a program that will move carriage 30 to a position behind section 105, after which the gradual speed motor controllers 91 and 93 will execute the appropriate programs to remove the cassette from the appropriate storage tank and return the hoist arm 69 to the coordinates 0.0. The gradual speed motor controller 135 then controls the gradual speed motor 115 to move the carriage 30 forward so as to deliver the cassette to the base position directly behind the door 23 where the cassette can be delivered to the customer.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which the vertically stacked horizontal rows of cassette reservoirs have a rectilinear configuration. Moreover, the tanks are arranged analogously to the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3, whereby they form horizontal ducts above and below each row of tanks with a vertical duct connecting the horizontal ducts. In addition, each deposit in Figures 9 and 10 includes a vertical groove as illustrated in Figure 4. The embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 includes a carriage 139 comprising a support 141 on which side wall sections are mounted. 143a and 143b analogously to that described in relation to the support 33 and side wall sections 31a and 31b of Figures 2 and 3. For ease of illustration, the side wall sections 143a and 143b are not illustrated in Figure 10 . The support 141 has a lower end piece 149 that supports a gradual speed motor 151 that is connected so as to activate a ball screw 153 to move a ball nut 155 and a cassette lifting arm 157 connected in a vertical direction similar to described above in relation to the motor 61, the ball screw 53, the ball nut 63 and the cassette lifting arm 69. To this end, the ball nut 155 prevents it from rotating its joint to a linear support means 156 which is guided so that it slides on a linear support rod 158. The upper end 159 of the support 141 is connected to a gear 161 which is operatively connected to a pin 163 which in turn is connected to the shaft 165 of a gradual speed motor 167. The upper end 159 of the support 141 is centered on a gear diameter 161. The carriage 139 rests on the upper and lower part of the machine frame by means of support blocks 169 and 171 on which the carriage pivots 139. The rotation axis defined by bearings 169 and 171 passes through the center of the gear 161.
The operation of the circularly cylindrical configuration of Figures 9 and 10 is similar to the operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 except for the horizontal movement of the cassette lifting arm and the pairs of cross-sectional sections 143a and 143b which are circular in instead of linear. The gradual speed motor 167 therefore corresponds to the gradual speed motor 43 in Fig. 6 and is controlled by a gradually programmed motor controller that is properly programmed to make the transport device 139 pivot about the axis of the support blocks 169 and 171 between the base position and the circumferential position of one of the desired cassette storage tanks.
Figures 11 to 13 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which cassette storage tanks are arranged in a circularly cylindrical configuration. In another embodiment, the reservoirs will be arranged, again, so that it constitutes horizontal ducts above and below each row of depositories and a vertical duct is also provided that connects the horizontal ducts for the vertical movement of the cassette lifting arm; however, the storage tanks of this mode of the invention are each configured so that they support the cassettes at their wide end instead of their narrow end as described above in relation to other modes of the invention. With the storage and transport of the cassettes with the cassettes located on the side instead of at their ends, the need for equally wide sections of the side walls of the carriage is provided, which is mainly provided to prevent the cassette from falling from the arm of lifting cassettes transport.
Referring first to Figure 13, an example of the configuration of a cassette storage tank and a cassette lifting arm for storing and transporting the cassette on its wide side is illustrated. The cassette storage tank 173 illustrated in Figure 13 has a lower surface 175 which is provided with an elongated groove 177 which, according to the principles of the invention, allows the cassette hoist arm 179 to pass in a vertical direction through from the reservoir to lift a cassette by removing it from the deposit to insert a cassette into the reservoir. As can be seen, the cassette lifting arm 179 has a main carrier portion 181 with opposite pairs of fingers 183 and 188 that extend perpendicularly from the main section 181 to provide stable support to the cassette during transport. Preferably, at least some of the opposite correspondence fingers protruding from the main section 181 will have flanges extending outwardly as illustrated by flanges 189 to 192. The slot 177 in the tank 173 is configured to correspond to the configuration of the arm 179 to allow the arm to pass through it, but in such a way that stable support is provided to the cassette. Preferably, 173 projections, such as those illustrated in 193 to 198, which extend outward from the surface 175 are also provided to the storage tank to keep the cassette centered in the storage tank. Different configurations are possible for the storage tank and the lifting arm for storage and transport10
004 After taking the cassette on its wide side and the specific incorporation illustrated in Figure 13, illustration paraffins are given only. The essential feature is that the storage tank has an elongated groove to allow the cassette arm to pass in a vertical direction through the tank to raise a cassette by removing it to insert it into the tank.
Figure 12 illustrates a plan view of a circular row of storage tanks, each configured according to Figure 13. The cassette lift arm 179 is shown located in the vertical groove 201 connecting the horizontal ducts above and below each row of cassette deposits.
Figures 11 and 12, in combination, illustrate how the cassette hoist arm moves in vertical and horizontal directions in this mode. Referring to FIG. 11, a ball screw 203 is illustrated which is operatively connected to a gradual speed motor 205 to activate a ball nut 207 in the vertical direction. The engine 205 is connected to the lower panel 209 of the machine frame. The upper end of the ball screw 203 is rotatably connected to a support block 211 that is fixedly mounted on the upper panel 213 of the frame. The ball nut 207 is connected by bars 215 and 217 to the linear supports 219 and 221, respectively, which are mounted so that they can slide along the corresponding linear support rods 223 and 225.
The ball nut 207 is provided with a plate 227 to support a gradual speed motor 229 having a pinion 231 secured to its axis 233. A bearing 235 is provided which surrounds the ball screw 203 and has an outer wall 237. which is attached to a platform 227 by means of a clamp 239 and bolts 241. The bearing 235 has an inner wall 243 that is secured to an adjacent cylinder 245 although spaced from the ball screw 203. The cassette lifting arm 179 is secured to the cylinder 245. The cylinder 245 is also provided with a gear 247 that is mounted so that it activates the teeth of pinen 231.
It can be seen that the gradual speed motor 205 provides vertical movement to the cassette hoist arm 179 through the ball nut 207 and ball screw 203, and the circular horizontal movement of the cassette hoist arm 179 is provided by a motor gradual speed 229 through the arrangement of pinion and gear 231, 247 which rotates arm 179 in relation to ball nut 207 by virtue of bearing arrangement 235.
Engines 205 and 229 are controlled by appropriate gradual speed motor controllers as described above in relation to Figure 6 to cause the cassette hoist arm 179 to move from a base position to the position of a tank. in which there is a cassette that has to be withdrawn or to which a cassette returned by the customer has to be returned. As in previous embodiments, to remove a cassette from a deposit, the cassette lifting arm is moved vertically through the vertical conduit 201 to the horizontal conduit immediately below the row containing the reservoir; the cassette lifting arm is then rotated in a position below the deposit containing the selected cassette, is raised through the deposit by raising the cassette until it is placed in the horizontal duct immediately above the deposit after which the lifting arm Cassettes return to vertical conduit 201 and pass vertically to the base position to deliver the cassette to the customer.
The sequence of horizontal and vertical movements for storing a returned cassette is similar to the one just described for removing a cassette, except for the fact that the cassette hoist arm is passed to the horizontal duct immediately above the reservoir in the one to be stored on the cassette and the arm to raise cassettes, it is then lowered through the vertical slot in the tank to place the cassette on the lower surface of the tank after which the cassette hoist arm is passed in the horizontal duct immediately below the row containing the tank in the tank. that the cassette has just been stored in the vertical duct where the cassette can be relocated vertically back to the base position.
Figures 14 and 15 illustrate modifications to the tanks and carriage according to the principles of the invention whereby the cassette is inserted and removed from a tank in a horizontal direction instead of in a vertical direction as described above in related to the other modalities of the invention. The cassette storage tank, according to Figures 14 and 15, stores the edge cassette and has side walls 301 and 303 respectively connected to the lower flanges 305 and 307 forming a slot 309. The side walls 301 and 303 each have an elongated portion 311 and 313, respectively, which are connected to a terminal clamp 315 to which openings 317 are provided for the screws 319 or other fastening means to secure the deposit to the panel. front 11 of the automatic vending machine. The elongated portions 311 and 313 are closed at their bottom by an element 321 that forms a support of an inner angular corner 323. The other support of the corner 323 comprises an embedded end of the storage tank which is constituted by two flanges 325 and 327. The flanges 325 and 327 form vertical extensions of the flanges 305 and 307, respectively, and constitute a groove 329 that communicates with slot 309. Preferably, the vertical end edges of the side walls 301 and 303 at the open end of the tank have flared portions 328a and 328b to account for small mismatches between a tank and the carriage, as explained above. A series of storage tanks as constructed are connected to the front panel 11 of the machine in vertically stacked horizontal rows, two of which are illustrated in Figure 14 so that horizontal ducts are constituted below each row
004 103 and a vertical duct that communicates with each horizontal duct. As can be seen, a horizontal channel 331 is formed between the front panel 11 and the inlaid ends of each tank.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a carriage 332 includes a cassette hoist arm 333 at whose free end a first upward extension 335 is provided that can move in a horizontal direction in the channel 331 as explained below. The cassette lifting arm 333 is provided with a second upwardly extended extension 337 spaced from the first upwardly extending 335 for a distance greater than the length of the side walls between the embedded end formed by the flanges 325 and 327 and the end of the side walls away from the front panel 11. At the end of the lifting arm cassette 333 opposite the free end thereof with an upwardly extending 335, a support 339 extending downwardly connected which is connected in an intermediate portion to a ball nut 341 and having an end is connected free connected to a linear support means 343 that was mounted to slide on a linear support rod 345. The ball nut 341 was operatively connected to the ball screw 347 which was connected for operation with a gradual speed motor 349. The gradual speed motor 349 is controlled by a programmable gradual speed motor controller such as illustrated and described in related to Figure 6 to impart movement to the ball nut 341 and, therefore, to the lifting arm cassettes 333 in a horizontal direction indicated by arrow 351 in Figure 14.
The motor 349 is supported by a frame 353 that was secured to a ball nut 355 that was operatively connected with a vertical orientation ball screw 357 to effect the vertical movement of the carriage 332 under the control of a gradual speed motor and a controller of gradual speed motors as described above in relation to other embodiments of the invention. The carriage 332 illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 also includes cross-sectional sections 359 and 361 that are connected to the respective lower flanges 363 and 365 that form a groove 367. The flanges 363 and 365 form a platform that provides support for a cassette as described below. Preferably, the side wall sections 359 and 361 are provided with flared outward end portions 368a and 368b, respectively, which again compensate for mismatches between the carriage and a cassette tank.
To remove a cassette from a selected storage tank according to the incorporation of Figures 14 and 15, the ball nut 355 is moved by the ball screw 357 so that the cassette lifting arm 333 goes vertically to the vertical conduit that connects the horizontal ducts between the horizontal rows of the tanks until the cassette lifting arm 333 is located at the horizontal duct below the row of cassette deposits in which the tank containing the selected cassette was stored. The carriage 332 illustrated in Figure 14 is then moved horizontally, for example, by means of a ball screw, ball nut and gradual speed motor arrangement (not illustrated in Figure 14) similar to that illustrated in Figures 2 to 5. The cassette hoist arm 333 was then moved horizontally below the row with the extension up 335 moving to channel 331 and the second extension upward moving behind the tank as illustrated in Figure 14. When the upward extensions 335 and 337 of the arm 333 are aligned with the slots 309 and 329 of the tank containing the selected cassette, the lifting arm cassette 333 is retracted by means of the ball nut 341, the ball screw 347 and the motor of gradual speed 349. In this process, the upward extension 337 passes through the slot 367 of the carriage platform and the upward extension 335 passes through the slots 329 and 309 of the tank and partially traversed the slot 367 of the carriage as The cassette is placed in the carriage until it reaches the position indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 14. At that time, the cassette rests on the edges 363 and 365 of the carriage.
It can be seen that by removing a selected cassette from the tank, the flanges 363 and 365 are located only slightly below the flanges 305 and 307 of the tank so that the cassette does not catch on one edge of the flanges 363 and 365 as It is introduced into the car. The carriage is controlled to return to the base position where the cassette hoist arm is extended to place the selected cassette in a position directly behind the door 23 (Figure 1) so that the customer can remove the cassette through the opening 21. The space immediately behind the opening 21 can be occupied by a tank similar to that illustrated in Figure 5, unless it would be configured so that it has the end adjacent to the panel 11 fully open so that the cassette can be removed by the customer through of the opening 21.
To store a cassette that is returned to the machine by a customer, the carriage 332 is placed beforehand in the base position with the arm 333 extended so that the customer can insert the returned cassette through the opening 21 by resting it between the extensions to arria 335 and 337. Then, impulses are sent to the engine 349 to retract the arm to a position between the sections of the side walls 359 and 361 of the car, after which the car is moved to a vertical position in which the flanges 361 and 363 of the car are only above the flanges 305 and 307 of the tanks in the row of the previously assigned tank in which the cassette was to be stored. The car is then passed horizontally to a position where the projections up 335 and 337 are aligned with the slots 309 and 329 of the previously assigned tank after which the arm 333 is controlled by the engine 349 to enter the tank horizontally of cassettes, when the upper projection 337 pushes the cassette towards the tank until it is in a position as illustrated in Figure 14. Then arm 333 folds slightly so that the ex12
004 103 tension upwards 337 pass through the flared edges of the side walls 301 and 303 and the carriage returns to the base position ready for the next transaction.
Figure 16 illustrates a modification of the components in Figures 14 and 15 whereby the cassette is stored on its wide side analogously to that illustrated in Figures 11 a
13. For this purpose, the storage tank 371 is configured with two elongated slots 373 and 375 to receive respective arms 377 and 379 that together comprise the cassette lifting arm 180 in this mode. The arms 377 and 379 are provided with extensions upwards 381 and 383, respectively, at their free ends to remove the cassette from the tank 371 and extensions upwards 384 and 385, respectively, to push the cassette by introducing it into the tank anaologically to the one described in relation to figures 14 and 15. The tank 371 was also constructed to present a channel 386 for the horizontal passage of the extensions 381 and 383 for the same purpose analyzed in relation to the channel 331 illustrated in Figure 14. The upward extensions 354 and 385 are connected to a support 387 that is connected through a ball nut 389 to a ball screw 391 and a linear support 393 that slides along the linear support rod 395 in the same way as described in relation to figures 14 and 15. The mode of Figure 16 operates in the same way as the mode of Figures 14 and 15, the main difference being that the cassette lies on its side so that the horizontal rows of storage tanks can be vertically spaced apart between itself. For simplicity of illustration, Figure 16 does not present a grooved platform such as that provided by flanges 363 and 365 constituting slot 367 in Figure 15. However, in practice, a slotted platform having a configuration corresponding to the tank 371 would be mounted in operative relationship with the hoist arm 180 and provide the same function as the platform constituted by the flanges 363 and 365 illustrated in Figures 14 and 15. The space 396 between the extensions upward 384 allowed the passage of the intermediate support of the carriage platform (not illustrated).
Various modifications of the foregoing are possible in accordance with the principles of the invention. For example, in Figure 4, instead of flareing the upper edges of the side walls 71 and 73 of the tank 25 and the upper and lower edges of the side wall sections 31a and 31b of the carriage 30, each cassette can be housed in a appropriate design box 401 that can be removed, having beveled edge 403 on its upper and lower sides as illustrated in Figure 17. The beveled edges 403 of the box 401 then overcome the effects of a slight bad alignment between the tank and the carriage in an equivalent manner to that provided by the flare of the edges of the side walls of the tank and the side wall sections of the carriage when the cassette, containing in the box 401, is advanced in the direction of the arrow 405 between the tank and the sidewall sections of the carriage. A corresponding box with beveled edges could be used in the incorporation of Figure 13 in which the storage tanks are configured to provide support for a cassette on its wide side. In Figure 13, the beveled edges cooperated with the upward projections 193-198 to center the cassette case as it is introduced into a tank 173.
Similarly, in relation to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, in which the cassette moves horizontally between the tank and the car instead of the flared edge portions 328a, 328b and 368b, each cassette can have a box 407 with beveled edges 409 as illustrated in Figure 18. Preferably, the four edges of each vertical end of the box are bevelled to correct possible small mismatches in both the vertical and horizontal directions when the box is moved horizontally in the direction of arrow 411 between the tank and the carriage. Obviously, the same box407 could be used in the incorporation of Figure 16, in which the box would be supported on one of its wide sides to compensate for possible mismatches between the tank and the car.
Figures 19-26 present another embodiment of the invention having a general configuration analogous to that of the mode illustrated in Figures 1-3. Figures 19 and 20 are, respectively, rear and side elevational views in which the components corresponding to those illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 have been identified using the same numbers. The embodiment of Figures 19 and 20 also is similar to that of Figures 14 and 15 in the sense that a cassette is inserted and removed from a tank in the horizontal direction. As illustrated in Figures 19 and 20, a series of storage tanks is connected to the front panel 11 of the machine in vertically stacked horizontal rows to form horizontal ducts above each row and a vertical duct that communicates with each duct horizontal in an anaologous way to the modality illustrated in figures 2 and 3. The embodiment of Figures 19 and 20 differs from that of Figures 2 and 3, in the use of the storage tank mounting brackets 501 to support the cassette storage tanks 503, and in the specific carriage assembly generally illustrated in 507.
Figure 21 is a perspective view showing the carriage assembly 507 adjacent to the storage tank 503. The tank 503 was provided with side walls 508 and 509 respectively connected to the bottom 511. The bottom 511 is secured to a mounting bracket of the deposit 501 or other means of securing the deposit to attach the deposit to the front paper 11 of the automated vending machine.
Attached to the bottom 511 there is an orthicle element 513 that provides a stop there beyond which a cassette 505 cannot pass. Preferably the side walls 508 and 509 are lower than the top of the cassette 505 stored therein when the cassette was des13
004 103 getting tired at the bottom 511 of a deposit 503. When the cassettes are located in the tanks, a horizontal channel 515 (see Figure 20) is formed between each row of deposits. This channel is constituted by the front panel 11, the adjacent ends of the cassettes and the upper edges 516 of the deposits. The horizontal channel 515 allows the horizontal movement of a vertical extension of the transverse cassette transfer arm as described below.
The carriage 507 includes a pivotable lower platform 561, two outer side walls 549 and 551 and a terminal section 553 on which the hinges 555, 558 and 559 are mounted. The outer side wall 549 is attached to the ball nut 63 which is operatively connected to the vertically oriented ball screw to effect a vertical movement of the carriage under the control of the variable speed motor 61 and the variable speed motor controller 91 (figure
6). The side wall 549 is also connected to a linear support means 67 that acts so that it can slide with the linear support rod 51 as described in relation to Figure 3.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the carriage 507 includes a transverse cassette transport arm 521 which has at one end a downward extension (first vertical surface) 523. Near the other end, the arm 521 has an upward extension 527 which is connected to a pistoan (not illustrated) of a 533 pneumatic cylinder without a connecting rod, such as the ORIGA rodless cylinder manufactured by the ORIGA Corporation of Elmhurst, Illinois, USA. The pneumatic cylinder 533 is connected to an electrically controllable source of pressurized air (not illustrated) to move its piston and, therefore, the arm 521 in a horizontal direction as indicated by arrow 543 in Figure 21.
One end of the platform 561 is connected to pivot an hinge 555. An electrically operated hydraulic air cylinder 557 is coupled to a pressurized air supply anchored to the side wall 551. An activator 563 of the cylinder 557 is connected to a platform 561 so that the movement of the activator 563 swings at the free end of the platform 561 adjacent to the reservoir in an arc around the axis of the hinge 555.
Similarly, two inner side wall members 565 and 567 each have an end secured to respective hinges 558 and 559 so that they pivot. The member of the walls 565 is connected to an electrically operated hydraulic air cylinder 569 having an activator 571 that swings the member 565 in an arc around the axis of the hinge 558, and the inner side wall member 567 is connected to an electrically operated hydraulic air cylinder 575 having an activator 576 that swings the member 567 in an arc around the axis of the hinge 559. The cylinders 569 and 575 are secured to the outer side walls 549 and 551, respectively, and are preferably connected by pipes (not illustrated) to the same source of pressurized air that supplies the cylinder 557 and the pneumatic cylinder
533.
An electrically operated air cylinder 579 is conveniently secured, for example, by projections 580 and 582, below the arm 521 at its bent end of the extension down 523. When compressed air is applied to the cylinder 579 through a pipeline of air (not illustrated), the activator 583 of the cylinder 579 moves to the right towards the storage area of the cassette tanks. On the front of the activator 583 a flat member (second vertical surface) 585 is secured that comes into contact with a cassette and pushes it towards the deposit as the activator extends.
Referring further to Figures 22 to 24, to remove a cassette from a selected storage tank, the ball nut 63 is moved by the ball screw 53 so that the carriage 507, with the arm 521 fully extended, goes vertically through the vertical duct in the set of deposits until the arm 521 is located above the row of deposits in which the deposit containing the selected cassette is stored. Gradual speed motor 43 is activated to horizontally move ball nut 45 and carriage 507 with extension 523 moving through horizontal channel 515 until arm 521 is centered above the reservoir in which the desired cassette is located . Then the arm 521 is retracted so that the extension 523 pulls the cassette horizontally, making it go towards the platform pivoted down 561 (Figure 22).
When the carriage is in the position of receiving a cassette, activators 571 and 576 are retracted as illustrated in Figure 21 so that the members of the inner side walls 565 and 567, respectively, are at their greatest distance between sa, this width being greater than that of the space between the side walls 508 and 509 of the deposit in which the cassette 505 is stored. As illustrated in Figure 22, the platform 561 is lowered by activating the cylinder 557 below the level of the bottom 511 of the reservoir so that the cassette 505 falls slightly as it is pushed between the separate members of the inner side walls 565 and 567. This prevents the cassette from engaging at one edge of the platform 561 when it is being retracted to the carriage by the transverse movement arm 521 as it is activated by the pneumatic cylinder 533. Then, near the end of the pistol stroke that retracts the arm 521, the cylinders 557, 569 and 575 are activated to place the platform 561 in a horizontal position (figure 23) and to pivot the members of the inner side walls 565 and 507 inwards (figure 24), in order to center the cassette laterally on the carriage. After the arm 521 is fully retracted, the carriage 507 is transported horizontally by the ball nut 45 and the ball screw 39 to the base position adjacent to the door 23 of the opening 21 (Figure 1) on the front of the machine.
When the carriage 507 reaches the base position, the trans14 movement arm is extended
004 103 versal 521 at a position directly behind the door 23 and the platform 561 was in an elevated position such that the platform 561 was above the base plate in the base position (which will be described below) so that the Cassette does not catch on the edge of the base plate and so that the customer can remove the cassette through the opening 21.
To return a cassette to its storage tank, the carriage 507 was initially placed in the base position with the platform 561 in its lowered position, that is, with the trigger 563 of the cylinder 557 in its lowest position so that the platform 561 is below the base plate in the base position and the members of the side walls 565 and 567 are separated. A cassette returned to the machine through the opening 21 is retracted by the arm 521 introducing it into the carriage 507 after which the platform 561 is placed in a horizontal position and the members of the side walls 565 and 567 are placed in parallel position to the center of the cassette in the car analogously to that described above when explaining the operation of removing a cassette from the storage tank. Then the carriage moves horizontally and vertically so that it is in front of the desired storage tank with the platform 561 in the elevated position so that it is above the level of the bottom 511 of the tank where the cassette is to be stored. Thus, when the cassette is moved from the carriage of a tank, it would not catch on the edge of the bottom of the 511 tank. Anailogately, the cassette is inserted into the carriage so that it does not come into contact with the edges of the side walls 508 and 509 of the tank. Cylinder 579 is activated to bring the cassette closer to the designated storage tank. The arm 521 is controlled by the pneumatic cylinder 533 so that it enters horizontally in the tank with the member 585 pushing the cassette in order to introduce it into the tank until the tail end of the cassette passes from the front edges of the cassette tank. Then, the activator 583 of the cylinder 579 is retracted so that the member 585 passes from two ends of the tank. The arm 521 then advances horizontally over the storage tanks to the vertical duct, after which it is retracted back to the carriage. After this, the car returns to the base position to be ready for the next transaction.
Figure 25 shows a mechanism for controlling the door 23 covering the opening 21 through which the cassettes are removed and returned to the machine. The position open to the door 23 is illustrated with soilid lines and the closed position with dashed lines. A pneumatic cylinder 601 with an activator 603 is secured to the door by a support 605. The door is also secured to a linear support means 607 that moves on an axis 609.
The activation of the pneumatic cylinder 60, which is secured to the automatic vending machine 611, causes the activator 603 to move horizontally which causes the door 23 to move horizontally to the left of the location indicated by the dashes. Linear support means 607 provides support and guidance to the door.
When a cassette is returned, it must be transported to the end of the receiving platform so that the door 23 is not partially blocked by a partially inserted cassette. In addition, a coidigodebarras (which is not illustrated) in the cassette has to reach a place where it can be read by a bar code reading unit (not illustrated). At the same time, the cassette must be in the proper position so that the downward extension of the arm comes into contact with the cassette to remove it from the base position and take it to the carriage.
When a customer indicates that he is returning a cassette, the cylinder 601 causes the door 23 to move from a closed position on the left, illustrated by dashed lines, to an open position on the right, illustrated by solid lines. This can be achieved by means of a call spring in the cylinder 601, oi, also, by the use of a double-acting cylinder.
Figure 26 shows a pivotable base plate 615 connected to a hinge 617 in the base position according to an additional aspect of the invention. Cylinders 613 and 625 are secured to the machine 611 by means of a support 612 and have activators 626 and 627, respectively. Each activator has a free end provided with a roller 628, 629, for frictionless contact with the base plate 615. When the cylinder 613 is activated, the base plate 615 passes from position AB to position AC. When the cylinder 625 is activated, the base plate 615 moves from an AB position to an AD position. The locations of the cylinders and pivot points are such that gravity helps to place the base plate 615 in its horizontal position AC and its inclined position AB.
When door 23 is opened, both the pneumatic cylinder 613 and 625 are fully retracted, placing the base plate 615 in its inclined position AB. The hinge 617 acts as a pivot point for the base plate 615. Therefore, a cassette placed on the base plate 615 would slide forward until it reaches a retainer 623 secured the machine arm.
A bar code reading unit (not illustrated) reads a film that is located on the cassette. A photosensitive switch (not illustrated) indicates that a cassette has been inserted by transmitting a signal to the computer through a programmable input of a motor controller (not illustrated) to control the passage of pressurized air of the 601 pneumatic cylinder. Thus, when a cassette is inserted, the computer sends a signal to close the door. After the door closes, the computer sends a signal to the 615 base plate to return it to its horizontal AC position. After the bar code label has been read, the computer sends the program for the storage of the cassette in the storage tank. If a returned cassette is inserted in the base position, but the bar code label has not been read due to a defective label or the missing label, the computer will send instructions to store the
004 103 cassette in a temporary storage tank. Also, if after opening the door, the customer does not insert a cassette, the sensor will verify that the planned return did not take place. After a reasonable time delay, the computer sends a signal to close the door and return the base plate 615 to its horizontal AC position.
When a cassette is delivered to the customer, the arm 521 pushes the cassette to the base plate 615. After a bar code reading unit reads the label on the cassette, it is desirable to move the cassette near the delivery door for ease of collection by the customer. The cylinder 625 is then activated, causing the base plate 615 to adopt an inclined position AD-. This causes the cassette to slide forward, towards door 23. Then the base plate 615 is returned to the AC level position and the computer sends signals to the door 23 to open it. After the client removes the cassette, a photosensitive switch (not illustrated) produces a signal indicating the absence of the cassette and this signal is sent to the computer. If after a reasonable period of time this signal is not received, the computer sent the program for the cassette in order to return it to its storage tank.
It would be understood that the foregoing description of the present invention is susceptible to various other modifications, changes and adaptations, and that it is only intended to be understood in accordance with the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the appended claims.
Describing sufficiently the nature of the invention, as well as the manner of carrying it out in practice, it should be noted that the provisions indicated above and represented in the attached drawings are subject to modifications in detail as long as they do not alter its fundamental principle.
004 103
21 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13 Sheet 14 Sheet 15 Sheet 16 Sheet 17 Sheet 18 Sheet 19 Sheet 20 Sheet 21
8 members in 6 offices
Priority claims5
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19860927585 | United States of America | – | |
| 92758586 | United States of America | A | |
| 92758586 | United States of America | A | |
| 86927585 | – | – | – |
| US19860927585 | – | – | – |
Members8
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US4668150A | United States of America | A | |
| US4734005A | United States of America | A | |
| WO8803506A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| AU6629086A | Australia | A | |
| EP0289495A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| ES2004103A6This record | Spain | A6 | |
| EP0289495A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| CA1276916C | Canada | C |
1 legal event, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Events
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Patent lapsedLapsedFD1A | FD1A |
Numbers
- Publication
- 2004103
- Publication, DOCDB
- 2004103
- Publication, EPODOC
- ES2004103
- Application
- 878700448
- Application, DOCDB
- 8700448
- Application, EPODOC
- ES19870000448
Titles2
- Spanish
- MAQUINA PARA EXPENDER AUTOMATICAMENTE UN ENVASE SELECCIONADO DE UNA SERIE DE ENVASES Y PARA ALMACENAR AUTOMATICAMENTE UN ENVASE DEVUELTO A LA MAQUINA
- English
- MACHINE TO AUTOMATICALLY EXPAND A SELECTED CONTAINER FROM A SERIES OF PACKAGING AND TO AUTOMATICALLY STORE A CONTAINER RETURNED TO THE MACHINE
Classification
- CPC, 6
- G11B17/225
- B65G1/0421
- B65G1/0435
- G07F7/069
- G07F11/62
- Y10S194/906
- IPC, 4
- B65G1 04
- G07F7 06
- G07F11 62
- G11B17 22