[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic dispenser, of the type consisting of
a wheel mechanism which is used for storage and transport of the products to be dispensed
to the outlet. The dispenser of the invention can be used, for example, as a vending
machine for packaged products or articles.
[0002] Dispensers of the type mentioned consist of generally flat scoops which on their
back side are provided with means of latching to the adjacent scoop in front and behind
it, thus making up the links of the drive chain. That is, each scoop and the adjacent
links of the drive chain make up a single piece.
[0003] With this arrangement, the relative position of the scoops with respect to the chain
links is fixed, and therefore the separation between consecutive scoops is constant.
This means the scoops must be designed for transporting the largest possible products
or packages, which requires a maximum separation between the scoops.
[0004] The object of the present invention is a wheel-type automatic dispenser, with scoop
positions which can be adjusted at will, between set limits, so that the separation
between consecutive scoops may vary, thus allowing transport of products of different
sizes.
[0005] Another object of this invention is to obtain a dispenser of the above mentioned
type where the wheel can be used with a duplicated transport capacity with respect
to traditional wheels.
[0006] According to the present invention, each of the wheel scoops consists of an independent
chain link and transportation pallet.
[0007] The link is provided with means for its articulation with adjacent links. In addition
the link is provided with anchoring points for attaching the pallet at different points
in it. This allows selection of the anchoring point for the pallet on the link, and
thus of the separation or distance between the pallets of consecutive scoops.
[0008] The pallet of the links of the dispenser of the invention consists of a plate which
may be introduced and attached by one of its edges on any of the link anchoring points.
[0009] The means of attaching the pallets to the link anchoring points can be any whatsoever.
For example, the link anchoring points can consist of transverse recesses, as grooves,
on the outer face of the links, of a width approximately the same as the thickness
of the pallet edges to be introduced in these recesses. Both the link recesses and
the pallet edge which is introduced can be provided with additional means of retention,
in order to avoid an accidental separation of the pallets during the operation of
the unit.
[0010] According to another characteristic of the invention, the wheel made according to
the invention can have a duplicated storage and transport capacity. For this, the
pallets are provided at their free transverse edge with a longitudinal groove, which
is situated on the same plane for all scoops. A partition passes through this groove
defining two separate transport columns in the unit. The outlet of these columns is
controlled by independent trapdoors with alternating opening, which may consist of
independent tabs, each of which crosses the outlet of one of such columns at a different
height, so that during operation of the first mechanism the product or article will
be released which is placed on the part of the pallet in the path of the shorter tab,
with the article on the other side of the partition being retained by the longer tab
for the following service.
[0011] With the above mentioned structure a wheel-type dispenser is obtained where the separation
between scoops can be adjusted at will, allowing storage and transport of products
of different sizes.
[0012] In addition, the dispenser of the invention allows using the wheel in a duplicated
capacity when the size of the products dispensed allows so.
[0013] The characteristics and advantages of the dispenser of the invention can be better
understood with the following description, made with reference to an attached set
of drawings where a non-limiting example of an embodiment is shown.
[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automatic dispenser, wheel-type, constructed
according to the invention.
[0016] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the transport chain of the dispenser of figure
1 including the scoops and links of the drive chain.
[0017] Figure 3 is a side elevation of the set of scoops and links shown in figure 2.
[0018] Figure 4 is a plan view of a scoop, constructed according to the invention.
[0019] Figure 5 is a side elevation of the scoop of figure 4.
[0020] Figure 6 is a cross section of the scoop along the VI-VI line of figure 4.
[0021] Figure 7 is an enlarged section along the VII-VII line of figure 4, in a greater
scale, of the anchoring elements of the scoop.
[0022] Figure 8 is a front elevation of one of the links which make up part of the wheel
of the dispenser of the invention.
[0023] Figure 9 is a top plan view of the link of figure 8.
[0024] Figure 10 is a cross section of the link along the 10-10 line of figure 6
[0025] Figures 11 and 12 are front and rear perspective views showing the relative positions
of the shovels which control the outlet of the last pallet of the wheel.
[0026] Figure 13 is a view similar to figure 11, showing two packages or objects on the
pallet placed in front of the outlet opening.
[0027] Figure 14 is a view similar to figure 12, showing two packages or articles on the
last pallet and with the partition which passes through the pallet groove.
[0028] Figure 1 shows a dispenser which consists of a case (1), within which is a wheel
mechanism (2), with scoops which store and transport the articles or products to be
dispensed until they reach outlet opening (3), controlled by trapdoors.
[0029] The wheel which makes up the dispenser of the invention consists of scoops, made
from independent pallets (4) and links (5) which make up the drive chain.
[0030] The scoops consist of a pallet of an approximately rectangular outline in the example
shown in the drawings, which is provided with lateral reinforcement ribs, as can be
seen in figures 4 to 7. Pallet (4) which makes up the scoop is attached by one of
its side edges (6) to links (5). For this, this edge has anchoring tabs (7) with half-arrow
tips, which can be introduced in the recesses made in link (5), as is later described
with reference to figures 8 and 10.
[0031] Pallet (4) which makes up the scoop is also provided, in its free transverse edge,
with a longitudinal groove (8) which nearly reaches the back edge.
[0032] As one can see, pallet (4) could have a different make-up, with anchoring points
in its rear side for attaching the link.
[0033] Links (5) which make up the drive chain of the wheel shown in the drawings also have
a basically flat shape and an approximately rectangular outline, as shown in figures
8 to 10. These links (5) are provided along their longitudinal edges with latching
means to other links which consist of two end tubular bushings (9), which are placed
on one of the longitudinal edges, and by a complementary longitudinal central bushing
(10) placed on the opposite edge. Coupling of consecutive links is achieved by inserting
central bushing (10) of a link between end bushings (9) of the following link, with
both ending aligned axially in order to receive an articulation shaft.
[0034] The front face of link (5) has pairs of transverse partitions (11) leaving from it,
defining recesses or grooves (12) of a width approximately equal to the thickness
of the rear edge (6) of pallets (4), so that this edge is tightly fitted in them.
In each pair of partitions (11) the upper one has a rear window (13) of a size which
can receive the half-arrow tip end of anchoring tabs (7) of pallets (4).
[0035] With the described structure, in order to attach pallet (4) of a scoop to the corresponding
link, the rear edge of this pallet is introduced in groove (12) made in partitions
(11), by gently pressing the pallet against the link. Anchoring tabs (7) of pallet
(4) which makes up the scoop will be slightly deformed, due to their structure, when
they enter the pair of partitions (11), until they reach rear window (13) of the upper
partition, at which time they elastically regain their position and partially enter
window (13), making up retention elements which prevent an accidental separation of
the scoop.
[0036] As each link (5) of the chain has two or more anchorings for pallets (4), the attachment
position for the scoop may be selected and therefore so can the separation between
consecutive scoops, adapting it to the size of the products to be dispensed.
[0037] Link (5) can be provided with reinforcement means (14) on the outer surface of partitions
(11).
[0038] With the structure described, when the different pallets (4) are mounted, their longitudinal
groove (8) is left in a co-planar location. In the path, at least when the wheel moves
forward, a partition (15) can be placed between grooves (8), figure 1, defining two
independent transportation columns. Outlet (3) of each column will be controlled by
an independent trapdoor of alternating opening, labelled as (16) and (17) in figures
11 to 14.
[0039] For this, trapdoors (16) and (17) can consist of two independent tabs of different
length, each of which will intercept the outlet of one of the above mentioned columns
at a different height.
[0040] Figures 13 and 14 show pallet (4) in the lower position in the forward motion of
the wheel, in front of trapdoors (16) and (17). Each pallet (4) carries two identical
articles or packages, labelled (20) and (21), which will be separated by partition
(15). When the machine is activated, in its initial forward motion article or package
(20) opposite lower trapdoor (16) will be free to fall on the dispensing chute and
opening, while package (21) will be retained by higher trapdoor (21). In the following
activation this package (21) will be freed while package (20) of the following scoop
is placed opposite trapdoor (16), in the position shown in figure 3, ready to be freed
when the machine is next activated.
[0041] With the structure described, according to the invention, the traditional, fixed-position
scoops are replaced by an independent shovel-and-link unit, so that the shovel, which
makes up the scoop, can be set several positions with respect to the link, allowing
to select the separation between consecutive scoops.
[0042] In the dispenser of the invention, in addition to adjusting the height or separation
between the shovels the wheel capacity may be doubled by setting partition (15) through
groove (8) of pallets (4).
1. Automatic dispenser, consisting of a wheel mechanism whose scoops carry the products
to be dispensed towards an outlet (3) where said products meet a retention trapdoor,
characterised in that each scoop consists of a link (5) of the chain and an independent
transport pallet (4); whose link (5) is provided with means of articulation with adjacent
links (5) and with anchoring points (11, 12, 13) to attach the pallet (4) at different
points along link (5), in order to select the distance between pallets (4) of consecutive
scoops; and whose pallet (4) is made up of a plate which can be inserted and attached
by one of its edges to one of the anchoring points of links (5).
2. Dispenser as in claim 1, characterised in that the anchoring points of links (5) for
pallets (4) consist of transverse recesses or grooves (12) made in these links (5)
on their outer face, of a width similar to the thickness of the edge of pallets (4)
which are inserted in these recesses.
3. Dispenser as in claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the above mentioned recesses
(12) of links (5) and the edge of pallets (4) which is inserted in these recesses
are provided with complementary means of retention to prevent an accidental separation
of these pallets (4).
4. Dispenser as in claim 1, characterised in that pallets (4) are provided, from their
free transverse edge, with a longitudinal groove (8) which nearly reaches the opposite
transverse edge.
5. Dispenser as in claim 4, characterised in that it contains a partition (15) which
passes through the longitudinal grooves (8) of pallets (4) and defines two independent
transportation columns, whose outlet is controlled by independent trapdoors (16, 17)
which open alternately.
6. Dispenser as in claim 5, characterised in that independent trapdoors (16, 17) opening
alternately consist of two independent tabs, each of which intercepts the outlet of
one of the above mentioned columns at a different height.