Sectional serpentine dispensing column having means preventing article jamming

[57]

ABSTRACT

[73] Assignee: The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1970

[21] Appl.No.: 31,605

[52] U.S. Cl................................................................211/49

[51] Int. Cl............................................................A47f7/00

[58] Field of Search....................211/49; 221/116, 150,312,

221/92

[56] References Cited

UNITED STATES PATENTS

3,393,808 7/1968 Chirchill..................................211/49

3,085,712 4/1963 Skumawitz.........................221/312 X

2,969,152 1/1961 Hennion..................................211/49

3,055,293 9/1962 Lariccia...............................211/49 X

3,286,846 11/1966 Brandes...................................211/49

3,379,294 4/1968 Van Liew...........................221/312 X

3,404,927 10/1968 Mellion................................211/49 X

3,477,774 11/1969 Atwood...............................211/49 X

3,498,497 3/1970 Baxencale.............................221/116 άθ

A sectional, double-depth serpentine column for a dispensing or vending machine has a pair of spaced vertical walls provided with inclined rails on their inner surfaces arranged to support the ends of cylindrical articles, such as canned beverages, in a serpentine stack for gravitational movement in unison as individual articles are delivered from the bottom of the column. Inwardly projecting, narrow beads on the inner wall surfaces extend in the direction of inclination of the respective rails and are spaced thereabove less than one-half the diameter of the articles for engagement by the ends of the articles below the center thereof in order to prevent such ends from contacting the wall surfaces and to provide minimum resistance to rotation of the articles as they engage the beads during downward travel. The column is a sectional assembly comprising an uppermost, a lowermost, and one or more intermediate sections, each of the three types of sections having different wall, rail and bead configurations designed to permit the number of intermediate sections to be varied in accordance with the desired article capacity, or permit complete elimination of intermediate sections if it is desired to provide a shorter column of reduced article capacity.

Claims, 7 Drawing Figures

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PATENTEDMAY 16 1972

3,862,898

SHEET 1 OF 2

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PATENTED MAY 16 1972

3,662,898

SHEET 2 OF 2

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3,662,898

SECTIONAL SERPENTINE DISPENSING COLUMN HAVING MEANS PREVENTING ARTICLE JAMMING This invention relates to improvements in serpentine column dispensing Or vending machines of the general type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,497, granted Mar. 3, 1970, and owned by the assignee herein.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an articlereceiving, serpentine column wherein such column comprises a sectional assembly having an uppermost, a lowermost, and one or more intermediate sections designed to permit the intermediate sections to be varied in number or entirely eliminated from the assembly in accordance with the desired article capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an articlereceiving column as above, wherein free movement of the articles along the serpentine path that continues through the various sections of the assembly is assured by preventing article contact with the inner wall surfaces of the sections. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the ²⁰column assembly shown within the cabinet of a vending machine, such cabinet being broken away in the illustration;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the column partitions;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of a portion of the partition of FIG. 2, showing the rails and an associated bead with a can resting on the lower rail;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 2, on the same scale as FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken alone line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged view looking in the direction of the arrows associated with the line 6—6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged view looking in the direction of the arrows associated with the line 7—7 of FIG. 2.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 the insulated cabinet 10 of a vending machine is shown in FIG. 1 housing a sectional, article-receiving column assembly 12 which consists of a number of side-by-side, serpentine columns 14, all of which are functionally identical. In FIG. 2, it may be seen that each of the columns 14 is a double-depth structure of serpentine configuration, cylindrical articles A such as canned beverages being illustrated therein.

An article delivery station 16 is presented at the bottom of each of the columns 14, the lowermost articles A in FIG. 2 being shown held by a pair of article delivery units 18 which are illustrated in partially diagrammatic form. Each of the units 18 is of the paddle wheel release type, one of the paddle members 20 of the paddle wheel being shown holding the adjacent article A against gravitation from the delivery station 16. The actuating arm 22 of the sold-out switch (not shown) of the lower unit 18 is shown released since the rear track of the double-depth column 14 is depleted except for the single article A. Since the front track is partially stocked, the soldout switch actuating arm 22 of the upper unit 18 is held in a retracted position by the presence of the adjacent article A. The delivery units 18 may be selectively operated by suitable coin controlled means as is well known in the vending ( machine art.

As is clear in FIG. 1, the column assembly 12 includes a plurality of upright partitions 24 which define the columns 14 of the assembly 12 between the two end columns 14 thereof. The left end column 14 is shown in FIG. 1 and is defined by an 65 upright end wall member 26 and the adjacent partition 24. In FIG. 1 the delivery units for the second column 14 are removed for clarity.

The various columns 14 of the assembly 12 are of sectional 24 illustrated in FIG. 2. The partition 24 comprises an uppermost wall 28, an intermediate wall 30, and a lowermost wall 32 joined together to form the composite partition 24. The uppermost wall 28 is shown in detail in the cross-sectional view _lclllo of FIG. 4, where it may be seen that the wall 28 presents a pair 75 teroftirearticleor canA.

of opposed, vertical, major surfaces 34 which extend upwardly from a pair of integral rails 36, one of which is shown supporting the rim of a can A. Thus, it may be appreciated that each of the surfaces 34 is an inner surface of a respective column 1.4 since each of the partitions 24 is common to two adjacent columns 14.

A pair of opposed rails 38 are also integral with the uppermost wall 28 and project therefrom in vertically spaced relationship to the lower rails 36. Viewing FIG. 1, the upper rails 38, in cooperation with horizontally aligned rails 38 of adjacent partitions 24 (or an adjacent partition 24 and an adjacent end member 26), define an inclined portion of the rear serpentine tracks of two adjacent columns 14. Accordingly, the lower rails 36 shown in FIG. 4 similarly cooperate with corresponding rails 36 to define an inclined portion of the front serpentine tracks of the two adjacent columns 14. A pair of vertically spaced loading openings 40 (designated in FIG. 2) are provided above the inclined rails 38 and the inclined rails 36 of each column 14 to permit the tracks thereof to be stocked with the articles or cans A.

Referring to FIG. 2 and following the front serpentine track from the top of the partition 24 to the delivery station 16 at the bottom thereof, an inclined rail 42 is spaced below the lower end of the rail 36 and is inclined in the opposite direction, an inclined rail 44 is spaced below the rail 42 and is inclined in the direction of the rail 36, an inclined rail 46 is spaced below the rail 44 and is inclined in the same direction as the rail 42, an inclined rail 48 below the rail 46 again reverses the direction of inclination, and finally an inclined rail 50 beneath the rail 48 terminates at the delivery station 16. Similarly, for the rear serpentine track, rails 52,54,56,58 and 60 are arranged in succession beneath the rail 38 with adjacent rails oppositely inclined.

Looking again at the top of the tracks, the rails 38 and 42 are presented by a continuous, integral flange in order to guide the articles around the first bend in the front track at the upper end of the serpentine. This continuous flange continues downwardly half of the vertical distance through the next bend and terminates at the lower edge 62 of the uppermost wall 28. The edge 62 abuts the upper edge of the intermediate wall 30, the aforesaid flange being aligned with a continuous flange integral with the wall 30 which presents the rails 54 and 46. The lower edge 64 of the intermediate wall 30, in turn, abuts the upper edge of the lowermost wall 32, the flange defining the rails 54 and 46 being aligned with a continuous flange integral with the lowermost wall 32 which presents the rails 58 and 50. It may be appreciated, therefore, that the three successive integral flanges just discussed separate the front and rear tracks of the column throughout the length thereof. Furthermore, FIG. 2 reveals that the front and rear margins of the walls 28, 30 and 32 are also formed with integral flanges to contain the articles within the tracks as well as present the rails 36,52,44,56,48 and 60. Accordingly, the various walls of the partitions 24 may advantageously be diecast with a multitude of circular openings 66 through the walls to decrease the weight of the structure, effect a saving in material, and facilitate the circulation of refrigerated air around the articles A. It is to be understood that the end member 26 is identical to each of the partitions 24 except that the flanges project from only one side of the uppermost, intermediate, and lowermost walls 28α, 30α and 32α thereof.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wall 28 has a pair of integral beads 68 projecting from its surfaces 34 and spaced equal distances from the respective rails 36. Each of the beads 68 is transversely narrow and extends longitudinally in parallelism with the rail 36 therebeneath. Similarly, the upper edge of the wall 28 in the region of the section line 4—4 ’ ' . .. . ________ _____.J spaced equal distances above respective rails 38, each of the beads 70 extending longitudinally in parallelism with the rail 38 therebeneath. As is clear in FIG. 3, the spacing of the beads above the rails therebeneath is less than one-half of the diame. , · * * O~ — · — VJl HIV OVVUUU 1111C *♦ *♦ constructton as is best understood from viewing the partition 70 in FIG. 2 terminates in a pair of opposed, narrow beads 70

3,662,898

Referring to the front track of the partition 24 shown in FIG. 2, a second bead 68α on the wall 28 is disposed above the rail 42 in the same manner as discussed above; accordingly, beads 68*, 68c, 68d and 68e are likewise located above the rails 44, 46, 48 and SO respectively. The various beads are interconnected by straight and arcuate integral bead segments between the adjacent rails at the bends in the serpentine track, and thus the beads and interconnecting segments are in the nature of an elongated continuous projection on the surfaces of the walls 28,30 and 32 except, of course, for discontinuities at the lower edges 62 and 64 of the walls 28 and 30 caused by the sectional wall construction. In like fashion, beads 70α, 70*, 70c, 70d and 70e are spaced above the rails 52,54,56,58 and 60 respectively of the rear serpentine track and are interconnected by straight and arcuate integral segments at the bends in the serpentine path.

The various partitions 24 and end members 26 are secured together and held in proper spaced relationship through the use of vertically spaced, horizontal cross rods 72 which extend through tabs 74 and webs 75 integral with the wall sections of the partitions 24 and end members 26. Proper spacing is assured by spacer sleeves 76 telescoped over the rods 72 which abut the tabs 74 or webs 75, as is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. An upper support bracket 78 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is secured to the cabinet 10 (FIG. 1), the bracket 78 receiving two of the rods 72 and associated spacers 76 that are adjacent the top of the column assembly 12. A lower support bracket 80 is secured to the column assembly 12 and extends downwardly therebeneath, the bracket 80 being slotted at 82 ; to receive a support rod 84 rigidly secured to the cabinet 10.

From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that each of the columns 14 as illustrated comprises an uppermost, an intermediate, and a lowermost column section. With reference to the second column 14 in FIG. 1 for example, the uppermost section thereof is defined by the walls 28 of the two partitions 24, the intermediate section is defined by the walls 30 of the partitions 24, and the lowermost section is defined by the walls 32 of the partitions 24. The significance of this may be appreciated from viewing the partition 24 in FIG. 2 where it may be seen that the two article exits at the lower edge 62 of the wall 28 are in register with the two article entrances at the abutting upper edge of the wall 30; likewise, the two article exits at the lower edge 64 of the wall 30 are in register with the two article entrances at the abutting upper edge of the wall 32. ⁴⁵Furthermore, the entrances at the upper edge of the wall 32 are in vertical alignment with the exits at the lower edge 62 of the wall 28; therefore, any practical number of intermediate walls 30 could be added to the partition 24 to increase the capacity of the column. Alternatively, if a shorter column of reduced capacity is desired, the intermediate wall 30 may be completely eliminated and the uppermost and lowermost walls 28 and 32 brought together and mounted with their exits and entrances in register. In this manner, the flexibility of modulized construction is provided so that the column construction of the present invention may be adapted to vending machines having various article capacity requirements.

In operation, as the stacks of articles gravitate downwardly ♦Ι-,λ ----- - : _ . _ . units 18, an important action is obtained by virtue of the provision of the beads 68 and 70 on each of the wall surfaces of each of the columns. Referring for example to FIGS. 3 and 4 where one of the beads 68 is shown in relationship to a can A illustrated in phantom lines, it may be seen that the end of the can A is prevented from contacting the adjacent wall surface 34. Note that the rim of the can A rests on the inclined rail 36 but that the inwardly projecting bead 68 positively precludes contact of the end of the can A with any part of the surface 34. Accordingly, the only significant contact of the can A with the 70 column is the engagement of the rims with the underlying rails 36, thereby minimizing the possibility of a jam condition occurring.

Furthermore, the beads 68 are spaced above the rails 36 a distance less than one-half the diameter of the can A, and thus 75

.. . °-----------------V wncn cm through the columns m response to actuation of the delivery ₆₀ tionship thereof units 1« □ n imnnrtnnt I- ___1 i. . - . ~ are below the center of the can A. Viewing FIG. 3, it may be appreciated that if the bead 68 there shown were disposed above the center of the can A, the moment arm from the point of engagement of the forward edge of the rim of the can A and the bead 68 to the point of tangency of the can A with the rail 36 could cause a significant clockwise moment to be developed tending to resist the normal counterclockwise rotation of the can A down the rail 36. However, the disposition of the bead 68 below the center as illustrated in FIG. 3 locates the moment arm such that the moment created is substantially reduced, thus the bead 68 provides minimum resistance to the normal rotation of the can A down the inclined rail 36. Additionally, the openings 66 in the column walls inherently define circular edges at the wall surfaces which, if the ends of the cans A were not held out of contact with the surfaces, could induce sufficient drag to cause the cans A to jam in the track.

It should be understood that the spacing between opposed beads of a given column is slightly greater than the length of the individual cans A in order to prevent binding from occurring. Therefore, the ends of the cans, as the latter traverse a given stretch of a track, will engage first one bead and then the other as they progress downwardly through the column.