Container dispenser

Abstract

 The device is basically made of up two identical pairs of triggers (11, 12), set at the front on either side of the two columns of containers (2) which are stacked up in conventional coin-operated vending machines. The triggers (11, 12) in each pair are out of phase in angle and in relation to their horizontal plane, so that through a series of parts which are activated progressively and which are inserted between an initial lever (19) activated through the internal mechanism of the machine, and the triggers (11, 12) themselves. They rotate partially to release the bottom con­tainer (2) which was held by one of the two triggers (11, 12), while the other trigger (11, 12) which was free, in the said partial rotation, places itself under the next container directly above the one released, retaining the rest of the stacked up containers.

Description

[0001] The invention is about a mechanism to supply products placed inside containers whose tops have a protruding rim all the way round forming a lip, a device appliable to coin-operated vending machines, and containers stacked in set columns in these machines.

[0002] Everybody is familiar with the vending machines located in public places, commercial outlets and many other public service centres; these machines store certain kinds of goods which the consumer can obtain simply by placing the coins which will operate the internal mechanism of the machine, so that it will release the item. Of these machines we can mention cigarette vending machines, drinks, packets of coins as change for banknotes, and many others which we shall not mention at the moment.

[0003] Nevertheless, although there are different kinds of vending machines, which dispense different kinds of items or products, it is also true that these machines are not designed to dispense products inside containers whose tops have a protruding rim or lip, this container could keep any kind of product, food items, goods or small articles, etc., in order to enable the sale of any product or article kept in the above mentioned type of container.

[0004] To summarize we can say that there are no vending machines designed to fill the gap that exists because many small products and/or products cannot be obtained by the consumer anytime anywhere.

[0005] The mechanism of the invention has been devised for this. The said mechanism is appliable to conventional coin-operated vending machines, and its aim is for the machine to supply or dis­pense products kept in a container whose top has a protruding rim, so that these containers are stacked up in piles or columns which are set up inside the machine, so that by introducing the right coins, they will activate conventional devices such as electro­magnets or such like, which activate the mechanism of the invention, thus dispensing the container and, therefore, the product or item inside it, in the same way as, for example, with cigarette or drink vending machines.

[0006] To be more precise, the mechanism being announced has two pairs of triggers set at the corners of the front rim of the con­tainer, taking it to have a back rim, a front rim and two side rims. These pairs of triggers are mounted in their respective axles which are activated via their respective levers. These levers are swung through respective "U" shape profiles which, linked to a frame, are activated via a lever which in turn is activated through the internal mechanism (electromagnet or similar) of the machine, when this mechanism is activated by coins.

[0007] Each pair of trigger is devised so that one of the triggers is set at a higher level than the other one, and they are also out of phase in angle. This design permits when these triggers are made to rotate around their mounting axle - a rotation which is only in part and reversible,- that, while one trigger is ho the containers, the other one is releasing or free from the con­tainers, so that the said rotation forces the release of the lower container by the respective trigger, making the other trigger place itself under the next container, thus holding the stacked up pile of containers in that column. Therefore, the triggers act alter­natively each time they are activated, always holding the contai­ners by resting the protruding lip on one or other of the two triggers of each pair.

[0008] Naturally, the mechanism is aided, although independently, by the positioning and alignment profiles of the containers, so that they can be properly ejected without any problem.

[0009] To provide an easier understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a detailed description based on a set of plans will be made and attachached to the present description as an in­tegral part of it whereby in a merely orientative and not limita­tive way the following has been shown.

In fig. 1 can be seen a front view of a vending machine that has the device of the invention, although it cannot be seen. In this vending machine you can see the containers to be dispensed in stacks forming columns.

In fig. 2 we show a diagram of the cross section II-II in fig. 1.

In fig. 3 we show a front view of the device.

In fig. 4 we show a front view of the side of a column of containers, with the device of the invention.

In fig. 5, we show a detail of one of the pairs of tri­ggers in the retaining position of the containers, viewed from a position as per indicated by arrow "A" in fig. 4.

In fig. 6 we show a front view of the side of a column of containers with the retaining mechanism in the release position for the containers.

Finally, in fig. 7 we show a detail of the retaining tri­ggers in position of releasing the bottom container and retaining the rest of the column. This detail corresponds to the view in the direction indicated by arrow B in fig. 6.

[0010] As these figures show, and especially fig. 1, the s device is appliable to coin -operated vending machines (1), in­side which the containers (2) are stacked up in columns, with some front plates (3) which can be tilted, allowing the loading of the containers (2) in the machine.

[0011] The containers (2) have a protruding rim (4) through which the stacked up packets are retained, until the supply mechanism comes into operation.

[0012] The said containers (2) are stacked up between a back plate (5) of the vending machine (1) and some tubular side pro­files (6); these profiles are fixed to supporting beams (7). In front of the back plate (5) an omega profile (8) has been devised to mark the back position of that column of containers (2), as well as a small positioning ramp (9) for the bottom container of the column of containers, forcing this bottom container into the right position to be dispensed easily, all of this in such a way that in front of the lower part of the said ramp (9) a horizontal pro­file (10) has been devised to hold the back of the container (2) by the lip (4), ready to be dispensed. This profile (10) also supports the beams (7).

[0013] As for the device itself, it is made up of two pairs of identical triggers, set up so that each pair is in an area corres­ponding to the corners of the containers (2), as can be seen in fig. 2. Each of the said pairs includes two triggers (11) and (12); firmly held in a common axle (13); these triggers (11) and (12) are out of phase in angle and out of phase horizontally with each other, so that trigger (11) is set higher than trigger (12), while the unit is supported on a horizontal plane (14).

[0014] The mounting axle (13) of each pair of triggers (11) and (12), is extended downwards, in order to join, individually, to a lever (15) from which a stub (16) comes out which is set between the side parts of a plane (17) or slotted piece, which is firmly held to a rotating slotted part (18) to which a lever (19) with its axle (20) is linked.

[0015] With this structuration, when the right coins are intro­duced in the vending machine (1), the respective mechanism (electro-­magnet or similar) will be activated, and through it a lever is activated, making it swing abd thus making the slotted part (18) rotate on the axle (20). The rotation of this slotted part causes the swinging of the plane (17) or slotted piece, making its internal part butt against the stub (16) of the lever (15), driving it and, therefore, rotating the axle (13). The said rotation, which will only be in part, will also cause the rotation of the pair of tri­ggers (11) and (12), so that trigger (12), which was holding the bottom container (2) by its lip (4) comes away in this partial ro­tation and allows the bottom container (2) to fall; its lowest support on the profile (10) will be freed by gravity and so the next container will fall in the said plane (10), thus avoiding the need of a second set of triggers, which would make the whole device rather more complicated. At the same time, the other trigger (11), will have turned as well and will have placed itself under the container inmediately above it, so that this container will be the bottom one when the previously mentioned container falls, being held by the other trigger (11). So, each time a different trigger acts to hold or support the pile of containers (2).

[0016] Naturally, the reason for just mentioning one pair of triggers and the parts attached to it is because the device is repeated on both sides (right and left) and both work in syn­chroni, in the same way and simultaneously.

Claims

1º.- Device to supply products inside containers with a top which has a protruding rim forming a lip, which has been devised to be applied in coin-operated vending machines where the containers will form units piled up in columns properly guided by profiles which hold the said column of containers, both by the back and by the sides, and which is mainly characte­rized because it is made up of two identical pairs of triggers set in the positions corresponding to the front angle of the container, containers which have a protruding lip which is su­pported by one of the two triggers of each pair, with the pecu­liarity that these triggers are out of phase in angle and hori­zontal, thus one of the triggers is higher than the other one, so that when the former holds and retains the pile of containers the latter is free from that pile or column, while the fall of the bottom container causes the other trigger to become of retention of the column of containers; it has been devised means so that each pair of triggers is simultaneously activated by the action of a lever which is itself activated by a conventional mechanism or gadget (electromagnet or silmilar) activated by the introduction of coins, having intermediate means which link the said lever to the pair of triggers.

2º.- Device to supply products held in containers whose tops have a protruding rim all the way round forming a lip, as said in claim 10, characterized because the axle to which the two triggers from each pair are linked, is extended downwards to join a lever with a stub freely inserted between the two side parts of a "U" shape profile or slotted piece,which is linked to a rotating part on a rotating axle; it is from this slotted part that the initial actuation lever stems from.

3º.- Device to supply products held in containers whose tops have a protruding rim that form a lip, as said in the previous claims, characterized because the back guidance of the column of containers is done through an omega shape profile, while the sides are guided through their respective tubular profiles supported on horizontal beams; a positioning ramp has also been devised to position correctly the bottom container, before it is ejected, supporting the said bottom container by its lip on a higher horizontal plane which is also a support for the supporting beams of the tubular profiles to guide the sides.

Drawing