Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for selectively dispensing a selected
one of a plurality of packages. More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention
utilizes a constant negative air pressure picker for picking up packages of frozen
food having heterogeneous shapes and sizes from a thermally isolated storage compartment.
Background Art
[0002] Until recent years, most of the mechanisms used in various package and product dispensing
machines relied on a multitude of motors, switches and solenoids for moving various
machine parts and otherwise handling the package to be dispensed. Most such machines
required one motor, switch and/or solenoid for each row, column or type of product
or package dedicated to kicking out or otherwise ejecting the desired package or product
therefrom. Therefore, a machine having an arrangement of nine racks of product would
typically require nine motors, switches and/or solenoids for ejecting one product
from each rack.
[0003] Such machines generally suffer from numerous disadvantages. One disadvantage lies
in the fact that any machine having such an arrangement will commonly experience numerous
mechanical failures due to such factors as age, exposure, poor maintenance, poor assembly,
misalignment, etc. Furthermore, the tendency to malfunction can be greatly increased
when the mechanical parts must operate in a frozen environment such as that created
in a frozen food or ice cream vending machine.
[0004] Additionally, each motor, switch and/or solenoid can be expensive and therefore can
contribute to increasing the overall cost of a machine, i.e., either in capital or
assembly costs. Elimination of any such mechanical parts will usually result in a
lowered cost of production and future maintenance and repair.
[0005] Moreover, extraneous machinery uses up valuable space which could be occupied by
product. The loss of product storage space means that the machine location must be
visited by the operator more frequently for restocking, thereby increasing operating
costs and reducing profitability.
[0006] For the above reasons and others not expressly discussed herein, numerous attempts
have been made to develop package and product dispensing machines which have as few
motors, switches, solenoids and other mechanical devices as possible.
[0007] As one example of such a package and product dispensing machine, consider the apparatus
disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,787,533 to Haroutel et al. The dispenser disclosed
by Haroutel et al. dispenses postal packets of differing sizes and types. The device
utilizes individually controlled and motorized horizontal and vertical carriages for
positioning a product holding device in front of the desired article. However, this
device still has a relatively large number of electro-mechanical parts which are relatively
intricate to assemble and expensive to operate and maintain. Furthermore, the disclosed
mechanism is not designed for cold temperature operation and therefore is not suitable
for cold food dispensing.
[0008] U.S. Patent No. 5,025,950 to Trouteaud et al. discloses an apparatus for storing
and dispensing ice cream packaged in uniform containers which are stored in rotatable
transporters or revolving racks. However, this apparatus does not solve the above-mentioned
problems. Firstly, each rotatable transporter requires its own motor drive. Secondly,
this arrangement has a very limited capacity. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly,
all of the mechanics of the disclosed apparatus are exposed to the cold environment.
[0009] As was mentioned briefly above, mechanical failures are common with vending machines
that refrigerate their products, especially with vending machines that employ motors
or solenoids to dispense their products from the refrigerator. Because the motors
and solenoids are located within the refrigerator, they are subjected to cold temperatures
and condensates. Such harsh operating conditions increase the likelihood that the
motors and solenoids will malfunction. The apparatus of Trouteaud et al. is as susceptible
as the other prior art machines and furthermore suffers from the other disadvantages
discussed hereinabove.
[0010] German Application No. 2,455,673 discloses a machine for vending frozen food packages
which utilizes a motorized sliding carriage to position a suction device over the
package to be dispensed. The entire suction device is then lowered by a motorized
drum and cable system until contact is made between the suction device and the package.
The suction device is then activated and withdrawn to a dispensing position along
with the package. However, this device still suffers from the disadvantage that the
entire mechanism is still subject to the cold environment of the freezer, thereby
inviting increased mechanical failures as well as having the inefficiency of expending
a good deal of energy cooling large volumes of non-storage space.
Disclosure of the Invention
[0011] Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for
dispensing products which are stored in a refrigerated or frozen condition having
fewer moving parts than known apparatus.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing
frozen products in which cold-susceptible moving parts are exposed to the cold environment
only during the dispensing process.
[0013] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing
frozen products wherein the storage capacity of the refrigerated area is much greater
than that of known frozen food dispensers.
[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing
frozen products having heterogeneous shapes, weights and sizes.
[0015] The foregoing objectives and others not specifically enumerated herein are accomplished
by the present invention which relates generally to a vending apparatus for selectively
dispensing one of a plurality of packages. More particularly, the vending apparatus
of the present invention is especially well-suited for dispensing frozen and refrigerated
foods such as ice cream, for example. The vending apparatus comprises an outer cabinet
having storing means for storing the plurality of packages disposed therein. The storing
means is provided with a displaceable thermal barrier and refrigeration means for
refrigerating the interior of the storing means to a selected temperature. The thermal
barrier is displaceable by opening means provided for opening the thermal barrier.
[0016] The apparatus is provided with package removing means for selectively removing the
selected package from the storing means. The removing means are located outside the
storing means between operating cycles and enter the storing means only for the purpose
of removing one of the packages during the dispensing operation. The dispensing operation
is governed by controlling means for automatically controlling the package removing
means and opening means in response to a customer's selection, as well as maintaining
an inventory map and sensing operating conditions.
[0017] The removing means includes a picker for contacting the package to be removed,
x-y positioning means for positioning said picker over the package, and
z positioning means for selectively raising and lowering the picker above the package.
The lifting is accomplished by constant air blower means for creating a constant negative
air pressure which is connected to the picker by an air hose. The air blower means
and
z positioning means are controlled by the controlling means which sequentially actuates
them in response to signals sent by sensing means on the picker for sensing contact
between the picker and the package. The package is then lifted up and deposited into
a dispensing area, by which time the thermal barrier has been replaced, thereby conserving
the cold environment of the storage area and protecting the apparatus' cold-susceptible
moving and electromechanical parts.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
[0018] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be had
to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment taken in conjunction
with the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a vending apparatus for selectively dispensing
one of a plurality of packages in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a vending apparatus for selectively
dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance with FIG. 1, having the front door removed;
FIG. 3 is a left-side elevational view of one embodiment of a vending apparatus for selectively
dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance with FIG. 1, having the left wall of the outer cabinet removed and shown in partial cross-section
for purposes of clarity and discussion;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cartridge to be utilized with one embodiment of a vending
apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a cartridge to be utilized with one embodiment of a vending
apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention according to FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another cartridge to be utilized with one embodiment of a vending
apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention according to FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another cartridge to be utilized with one embodiment of a vending
apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention according to FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view in detail of a portion of a vending apparatus for selectively
dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance with FIG. 1, a portion thereof being shown in partial cross-section;
FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view in detail of a portion of a vending apparatus for selectively
dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance with FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in detail of a portion of a vending apparatus for selectively
dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance with FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view in detail of a portion of a vending apparatus for selectively
dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance with FIG. 1;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view in detail of another embodiment of a portion of a vending
apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance
with FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view in detail of another embodiment of a portion of a vending
apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance
with FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view in detail of another embodiment of a portion of a vending
apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages in accordance
with FIG. 1; and
FIG. 15 is a front elevational view in detail of another embodiment of a vending apparatus
for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages constructed in accordance
with the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0019] With reference to
FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a vending machine
2 having an outer housing
3 with a main door
4. A customer retrieval door
5 is disposed in a lower part of door
4 while the upper part is dominated by a viewing glass
6. Inset near viewing glass
6 there is a currency receiver
7 and labelled selection switches
8.
[0020] Referring now more particularly to FIGS.
2 and
3 machine cabinet
10 is shown having a freezer compartment
12 disposed in a bottom portion thereof. Freezer compartment
12 has an open top which is covered by sliding panels
14, positioned in sliding door tracks
15, which provides a thermal barrier for maintaining a cooled environment between 0°
and -20°F in freezer compartment
12. The cooled environment is provided by refrigeration system
16 located in a bottom portion of machine cabinet
10.
[0021] An
x-y beam
18 is suspended above sliding panels
14 and outside freezer compartment
12 between y rails
20 which are attached opposite one another near the top of cabinet sides
22. Beam
18 has ball-bearing rollers
22 which rest on
y rails
20 at either end thereof. There are
x-guide rails
24 provided on either long edge of
x-y beam
18 on which ride additional ball-bearing rollers
26 which are attached to
x-y carriage
28. The side to side movement of
x-y carriage
28 is accomplished by
X motor
30 which is suspended in a stationary position on the underside of
x-y beam
18.
X-y carriage
28 and
X motor
30 may be connected in a variety of ways such as by an endless chain which engages toothed
sprockets (not shown) provided on both
x-y carriage
28 and
X motor
30. Movement of
x-y beam
18 is similarly accomplished by providing
Y motor
32 for driving
Y axle
34.
Y axle
34 has one gear
35 at each end thereof, enmeshed with toothed rack
37. The positions of
x-y carriage
28 and
x-y beam
18 are determined by
X position sensor
36 and
Y position sensor
38, respectively, which feed distance measurements to an automatic control system
40 located adjacent to freezer compartment
12 which governs and coordinates all the operations of the present invention. The preceding
arrangement for positioning the
x-y carriage
28 over the correct dispensable product may be referred to collectively as the
x-y positioning means.
[0022] A blower motor
42 is housed between machine cabinet
10 and freezer compartment
12. Blower motor
42 has connected thereto a flexible air hose
44, which air hose
44 is connected at its other end to
x-y carriage
28 which comprises an air conduit
46.
X-y carriage
28 has a picker guide tube
48 extending down therefrom which houses a longitudinally-compressible hose
50, which preferably self-retracts to a normally compressed position. Picker guide tube
48 has mounted on an outer surface thereof a
z-origin sensor
51 for a purpose which will be more fully discussed hereinbelow.
[0023] Hose
50 connects at its upper end with air conduit
46 and has a picker head
52 at its lower terminus. Picker head
52 comprises a counterweight against sudden closed-end vacuum pressure and has a generally
cylindrical upper portion
53 with a frustum-shaped lower end
55 for a reason which will be disclosed hereinbelow. A
Z motor
54 mounted to
x-y carriage
28 is attached to a
Z reel
56 which has wrapped thereon two
Z cables
58. Cables
58 are wound around
Z reel
56 which is rotated by
Z motor
54, and then pass over centering
Z pulleys
60 which align cables
58 so they are equidistant from one another and parallel with the longitudinal axis
of guide tube
48. Cables
58 are attached to the top of picker head
52 and may be provided with a cable slack removal system utilizing a counterweight or
a spring attached to a slidable pulley. Rather than employing two cables external
to the air hose
50, a single cable could be employed, running coaxially within the air hose
50.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS.
8-10, picker head
52 has a central bore
62 therethrough. Bore
62 tapers from a wide diameter interior conical guide
63 near the top of picker head
52 to a diameter slightly greater than that of hose
50. Hose
50 is secured to the inside of bore
62 by any of a number of suitable means including clamping, friction, screw threads
or glue. In the terminal end of picker head
52 and circumscribing the mouth of bore
62, there is installed a package sensor ring
64. Attached to the outer portion of sensor ring
64 there is a flexible circular rubber gasket
66 which provides for greater conformance to package contours during the operation of
the present invention. The sensor ring
64 can be substantially rigid. Alternatively, the sensor ring
64 could be made from a flexible air hose in order to perform a shock-absorbing function
during a product removal operation, thereby promoting the integrity of an air seal
formed between a product and the rubber gasket
66 even when the product is jostled or jolted by, for instance, sudden motion or inadvertent
contact with adjacent objects. In this alternate embodiment, the sensing function
normally performed by the sensor ring
64 could be performed by a movable plunger switch located coaxially within the bore
62 of the picker head
52 and extending below the rubber gasket
66.
[0025] Referring now back to FIGS.
2 and
3,
x-y carriage
28 is securely fixed to sliding panel cables
68 which are closed-loop cables. Cables
68 pass around a series of sliding door pulleys
70 and are securely fixed to sliding panels
14. Cables
68 are arranged together with pulleys
70 so that sliding panels
14 slide from a closed position back and up tracks
15 when
x-y carriage
28 is moved towards the rear of cabinet
10. When
x-y carriage
28 is moved back towards a starting position near the front of cabinet
10, sliding panels
14 is similarly moved back into a closed position.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS.
4-7, there is shown one embodiment of a cartridge
72 which may be used in conjunction with the present invention. Cartridge
72 has generally rectangular walls
73 and a floor
75 with one open end into which frozen food packages
74 are placed. With particular reference to FIGS.
5 and
7, packages
74 of different sizes can be held centered in a standard size cartridge
72 by using package positioners
76, which may be locked into place or removably inserted into receiving means (not shown)
in cartridge
72. The use of cartridges
72 for holding packages
74 provides numerous advantages such as enabling easy preloading at a central location
in an assembly line fashion, quicker restocking, and proper positioning of packages
74 having many shapes and sizes in the same basic outer unit.
[0027] Referring to FIGS.
11-14, there are shown alternate embodiments for covering the open top of freezer compartment
12. One embodiment seen in FIG.
11 has a multi-part cover
78 constructed with numerous panel members
80 which slide over or under adjacent members
80. The cover
82 of FIG.
12 is constructed of a plurality of hinged members
84 so that the members
84 fold up against one another. The cover
86 of FIG.
13 is a single unit which is connected by at least one hinge
88 to freezer compartment
12. In this embodiment, the cover
86 opens in a vertically arcing motion, which can be initiated by a separate motor only
or by a separate motor acting to partially open the cover
86 and then by a mechanical linkage (not shown) depending from the
x-y beam 18 and movable conjointly therewith. The cover
90 of FIG.
14 is a single flexible member which slides in track
15.
[0028] In use, a customer inserts money into currency receiver
7 and makes a selection from selection switches
8. Automatic control system
40 locates the correct stack of packages and activates
X motor
30 to move
x-y carriage
28 left or right to a position in line with the stack. When
x-y carriage
28 reaches the correct position,
X motor
30 is turned off and
Y motor
32 which moves the entire
x-y beam
18 carrying the
x-y carriage
28 frontward or rearward is activated. Sliding panels
14, which is attached by cables
68 to
x-y carriage
28, opens up in proportion to the rearward travel of
x-y beam
18. At the end of the completed operating cycle sliding panels
14 will close in tandem with the frontward motion of
x-y beam
18. When
x-y beam 18 reaches the
x, y coordinates of the selected package
Y motor
32 is turned off and
Z motor
54 is activated. This turns
Z reel
56, thereby unwinding Z cables
58, lowering picker head
52 down into freezer compartment
12. As picker head
52 enters into the predetermined cartridge
72 it is guided by the frustum-shaped lower end
55 coming in contact with cartridge walls
73. Therefore, while
X motor
30 and
Y motor
32 act to position picker head
52 over the cartridge
72, the frustum-shaped lower end
55 accurately positions picker head
52, compensating for misalignments in cartridge position. Similarly, the upper end
53 of picker head
52 has a uniform cross-section for a determined length sufficient to prevent tipping
of picker head
52 to one side because of contact with cartridge walls
73 as it is lowered down. When any part of rubber gasket
66 contacts the package, package sensor ring
64 is activated and
Z motor
54 is turned off. Blower motor
42 is turned on, sucking the package up against rubber gasket
66. Z motor
54 is then reversed, thereby winding up
Z cables
58 on
Z reel
56 and raising picker head
52 along with the package out of freezer compartment
12. Picker head
52 is pulled up around guide tube
48 aided by the tapered interior conical guide
63 until
Z origin sensor
51 is activated and
Z motor
54 is turned off.
[0029] Y motor
32 is then activated in reverse until
x-y beam
18 is returned to its origin position and sliding panels
14 are simultaneously closed.
Y motor
32 and blower motor
42 are deactivated thereby releasing the package, which drops down behind customer retrieval
door
5.
X motor
30 is reversed until
x-y carriage
28 is returned to its origin position, thereby completing a full operating cycle.
[0030] Should a cartridge
72 be empty, then automatic control system
40, which monitors the descent of picker head
52 from signals received from descent measuring means (not shown), excludes the empty
cartridge from the inventory, recalls picker head
52 by reversing
Z motor
54, relocating picker head
52 above another cartridge
72, and continuing the procedure as detailed above. The contents of the inventory, from
which a package location is determined, is stored in automatic control system
40. The data concerning which cartridges
72 correlate with which selection switches
8 is programmed by an operator during a weekly load up, for example. After the load
up is completed, or after any machine shut down, the automatic control system
40 sends picker head
52 down into each and every cartridge
72 to determine, by signals sent or not sent by sensor ring
64, if it has any contents.
[0031] It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary
and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, blower motor
42 could be mounted on
X-Y carriage
28, as shown in FIG.
15. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope
of the invention. Features of the invention are recited in the following paragraphs:
A. A frozen confection vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality
of packages, characterized by an outer cabinet; storing means for storing the plurality
of packages, said storing means including a freezer compartment disposed within a
portion of said outer cabinet, said freezer compartment having displaceable means
for thermally separating the interior of said freezer compartment from the ambient
air in the remainder of said outer cabinet's interior, said thermal separating means
being operative to prevent heat transfer from said freezer compartment to said outer
cabinet interior between package removal operating cycles; opening means for alternately
activating and deactivating said thermal separating means immediately before and after,
respectively, a package removal operating cycle; package removing means for selectively
removing the selected package from said freezer compartment, said package removing
means being separated from said freezer compartment by said thermal separating means
between removal operating cycles and entering said freezer compartment for removing
the selected package from said freezer compartment only during the removal operating
cycles after said thermal separating means is deactivated; and controlling means for
automatically controlling said package removing means and opening means in response
to a customer's selection.
B. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A characterized in that said package
removing means includes a picker head for contacting the package to be removed; x-y positioning means for horizontally positioning said picker head over the package;
z positioning means for selectively raising and lowering said picker head above the
package; constant air blower means for creating a constant negative air pressure,
said air blower means being connected to said picker head by an air hose; and sensing
means for sensing contact between said picker head and said package.
C. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph B characterized in that said opening
means is driven by said x-y positioning means.
D. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph B characterized in that said z positioning means includes at least one cable equipped with slack removal means.
E. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph B characterized in that said picker
head includes a flexible tubular element which terminates in a package-engaging tip.
F. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph E characterized in that said at
least one cable extends coaxially within said air hose.
G. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph B characterized in that said air
hose is self-retracting.
H. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A further characterized by automatic
inventory taking means for keeping inventory of the packages.
I. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A characterized in that said package
removing means includes adjustable x-y positioning means to position said package
removing means above the selected package.
J. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A characterized in that said thermal
separating means includes at least one panel section which is slidably mounted on
said storage means.
K. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A characterized in that said thermal
separating means includes at least one panel, said panel being hingedly mounted on
said storage means, whereby said at least one panel describes a vertically arching
motion when opened by said opening means.
L. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A, characterized in that said
thermal separating means includes at least one panel, said at least one panel being
compressible in an accordion-like manner, whereby said thermal separating means is
opened by the action of said opening means in compressing said at least one panel.
M. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A, characterized in that said
thermal separating means includes a plurality of rectangular plates, said plates being
slidably connected to one another adjacent to their long edges such that said opening
means may optionally fan out said plates to seal said storing means or compressively
stack one atop the other thereby exposing the packages to said package removing means.
N. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A, characterized in that said
thermal separating means is made from a flexible material.
O. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A, characterized in that said
thermal separating means is visually transparent.
P. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A, characterized in that said
thermal separating means is opened by motion of said removing means.
Q. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph A, characterized in that said
thermal separating means includes an air curtain.
R. A vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages,
characterized by an outer cabinet; a thermally insulated freezer compartment for storing
the plurality of packages, said freezer compartment being disposed within said outer
cabinet and further having displaceable means for thermally separating the interior
of said freezer compartment from the ambient air in the remainder of said outer cabinet's
interior, said thermal separating means being operative to prevent heat transfer from
said freezer compartment to said outer cabinet interior between package removal operating
cycles; opening means for alternately activating and deactivating said thermal separating
means immediately before and after, respectively, a package removal operating cycle;
package removing means for selectively removing the selected package from said freezer
compartment, said removing means being located outside said storing means between
removal operating cycles and entering said storing means for removing one of the packages
from said storing means only during the removal operating cycles; and controlling
means for automatically controlling said package removing means and opening means
in response to a customer's selection, said vending apparatus having no mechanical,
electro-mechanical or electronic parts contained within said storing means between
successive removal operations.
S. A vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality of packages,
characterized by an outer cabinet; a thermally insulated freezer compartment for storing
the plurality of packages, said freezer compartment being disposed within said outer
cabinet and further having displaceable means for thermally separating the interior
of said freezer compartment from the ambient air in the remainder of said outer cabinet's
interior, said thermal separating means being operative to prevent heat transfer from
said freezer compartment to said outer cabinet interior between package removal operating
cycles; opening means for alternately activating and deactivating said thermal separating
means immediately before and after, respectively, a package removal operating cycle;
package removing means for selectively removing the selected package from said freezer
compartment, said removing means including a picker head for contacting the selected
package, x-y positioning means for positioning said picker head over the selected package, z positioning means for selectively raising and lowering said picker head above the
selected package, constant air blower means for creating a constant negative air pressure
in said picker head, said air blower means being connected to said picker head by
an air hose, and sensing means for sensing contact between said picker head and the
package, said removing means being located outside said storing means between removal
operating cycles and entering said storing means for removing one of the packages
from said storing means only during the removal operating cycles; and controlling
means for automatically controlling said package removing means and opening means
in response to a customer's selection, said vending apparatus having no mechanical,
electro-mechanical or electronic parts contained within said storing means between
successive removal operations.
T. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
picker head has a frustum-shaped lower section.
U. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
picker head includes counterweight means for countering upward vertical force applied
to said picker head by sudden closed-end vacuum pressure.
V. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
picker head is connected to said z positioning means by a longitudinally compressible air hose, whereby said picker
head is displaceable without interrupting said connection.
W. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, further characterized by a
gasket made from a flexible sealing material attached to said picker head for sealing
air gaps between said picker head and the selected package.
X. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, further characterized by a
cartridge for containing at least one stack of the packages, said cartridge being
located inside said storing means.
Y. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, further characterized by measuring
means for measuring the vertical distance traveled by said picker head, whereby said
controlling means can determine when no more packages remain in said stack.
Z. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
opening means is driven by said x-y positioning means.
AA. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, further characterized by at
least one containment cartridge for containing the packages, said containment cartridge
being located inside said storing means, said containment cartridge having a chamber
with inner dimensions at least as large as the maximum cross-sectional dimension of
said picker head.
BB. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph AA, characterized in that said
containment cartridge is removable and has a bottom floor for supporting said packages
during the loading and unloading of said cartridge into said apparatus.
CC. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph AA, further characterized by
removable redimensioning means for redimensioning said chamber.
DD, A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
z positioning means includes at least one cable equipped with slack removal means.
EE, A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
picker head includes a flexible tubular element which terminates in a package-engaging
tip.
FF. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
at least one cable extends coaxially within said air hose.
GG. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
air hose is self-retracting.
HH. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph S, characterized in that said
thermal separating means includes an air curtain.
II. A frozen confection vending apparatus for selectively dispensing one of a plurality
of packages, characterized by an outer cabinet; storing means for storing the plurality
of packages, said storing means including a freezer compartment disposed within a
portion of said outer cabinet; package removing means for selectively removing the
selected package from said freezer compartment, said removing means including a picker
head for contacting the package to be removed, x-y positioning means for positioning said picker head adjacent to the selected package,
z positioning means for selectively positioning said picker head in contact with the
selected package, constant air blower means for creating a constant negative air pressure
in said picker head, said air blower means being connected to said picker head by
a self-retracting compressible hose, said picker head having a flexible tubular element
which terminates in a package-engaging tip; and controlling means for automatically
controlling said removing means in response to a customer's selection.
JJ. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph II, characterized in that said
z positioning means includes at least one cable equipped with slack removal means.
KK. A vending apparatus in accordance with Paragraph JJ, characterized in that said
at least one cable extends coaxially within said hose.
1. A vending apparatus for dispensing a selected one of a plurality of packages (74),
comprising:
an outer cabinet (10);
storage means including a refrigerated compartment (12) within the outer cabinet (10);
thermal separating means (14) for selectively separating the refrigerated compartment
(12) from the remainder of the interior of the outer cabinet (10);
package removal means (30, 32, 42, 44, 50, 52, 54, 66) for performing a package removal
cycle in which a selected package (74) is removed from the refrigerated compartment
(12), the package removal means comprising a picker head (52) adapted to be releaseably
secured to a package to be removed, and drive means (30, 32, 54) for moving the picker
head into and out of the refrigerated compartment (12);
opening means (32, 68, 70) for deactivating and activating the thermal separating
means (14) before and after a package removal cycle, respectively, and
control means (40) for controlling the opening means (32, 68, 70) and the drive means
of the package removal means in response to a customer's selection, characterised
in that:
the drive means (30, 32, 54) for moving the picker head (52) is disposed and remains
outside the refrigerated compartment (12) at all times.
2. A vending apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the thermal separating
means (14) is disposed on top of the refrigerated compartment (12).
3. A vending apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, characterised in that
all of the mechanical, electro-mechanical or electronic parts of the package removal
means (30, 32, 42, 44, 50, 52, 54, 66) remain outside said storage means between successive
package removal cycles.
4. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said package
removal means includes:
x-y positioning means (18, 28, 35, 37) for horizontally positioning said picker
head over the selected package;
5. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said package
removal means includes:
z positioning means (58) for selectively raising and lowering said picker head
(52) above the selected package.
6. A vending apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that said opening
means (32, 68, 70) is driven by said x-y positioning means (18, 28, 35, 37).
7. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the package
removal means includes a blower motor for generating a package securing force for
the picker head (52) of the package removal means.
8. A vending apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the package
removal means includes a suction means for generating a package securing force for
the picker head (52) of the package removal means.
9. A vending apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the package
removal means includes a tube operatively coupling the package securing force to picker
head (52).
10. A vending apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the tube is longitudinally-compressible.
11. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said package
removal means includes at least one cable (58) equipped with slack removal means.
12. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said package
removal means has at least one cable (58) extending coaxially within a portion of
said package removal means.
13. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised in that a portion
of said package removal means is self retracting.
14. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a portion
of said package removal means is longitudinally compressible.
15. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised in that said picker
head (52) includes a flexible tubular element (64) which terminates in a package-engaging
tip (66).
16. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising automatic
inventory taking means (40) for keeping inventory of the packages.
17. A vending apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 16, characterised in that the
thermal separating means (14) is displaceable between a closed position in which it
is disposed to cover an open top of the refrigerated compartment (12) and an open
position in which the open top of the refrigerated compartment (12) is at least partially
unobstructed.
18. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said thermal
separating means (14) includes at least one panel section (14) which is slidably mounted
on said storage means.
19. A vending apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that said
thermal separating means includes at least one panel (86), said panel being hingedly
mounted on said storage means, whereby at least one panel describes a vertically arching
motion when opened by said opening means.
20. A vending apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that said
thermal separating means (14) includes at least one panel (84), said at least one
panel being compressible in an accordion-like manner, whereby said thermal separating
means is opened by the action of said opening means in compressing said at least one
panel.
21. A vending apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that said
thermal separating means (14) includes a plurality of rectangular plates (80), said
plates being slidably connected to one another adjacent to their long edges such that
said opening means may optionally fan out said plates to cover said storage means
or compressively stack one atop the other thereby exposing the packages to said package
removal means.
22. A vending apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that said
thermal separating means (14) is made from a flexible material.
23. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said thermal
separating means (14) is visually transparent.
24. A vending apparatus according to any ofclaims 1 to 17, characterised in that said
thermal separating means includes an air curtain.
25. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said thermal
separating means (14) is opened by a motion of said package removal means (42, 44,
50, 52, 66).
26. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said picker
head has a frustum-shaped lower section (55).
27. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said picker
head includes counterweight means (52) for countering upward vertical force applied
to said picker head by sudden closed-end vacuum pressure.
28. A vending apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that said picker head is
connected to said z positioning means by a longitudinally compressible air hose (50),
whereby said picker head is displaceable without interrupting said connection.
29. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, further characterised by a gasket
(66) made from a flexible sealing material attached to said picker head (52) for sealing
air gaps between said picker head (52) and the selected package.
30. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said package
removal means further includes sensing means (64) for sensing contact between said
picker head (52) and said package (74).
31. A vending apparatus according to any preceding claim, further characterised by a cartridge
(72) for containing at least one stack of the packages (74), said cartridge being
located inside said storage means.
32. A vending apparatus according to claim 31, further characterised by at least one containment
cartridge (72) for containing the packages, said containment cartridge being located
inside said storage means said containment cartridge (72) having a chamber with inner
dimensions at least as large as the maximum cross-sectional dimension of said picker
head (52).
33. A vending apparatus according to claim 32, further characterised by removable redimensioning
means (76) for redimensioning said chamber.
34. A vending apparatus according to claim 32 or claim 33, characterised in that said
cartridge is removable and has a bottom floor (75) for supporting said packages during
the loading and unloading of said cartridge into said vending apparatus.
35. A vending apparatus according to any of claims 32 to 34, further characterised by
measuring means for measuring the vertical distance travelled by said picker head,
whereby said control means (40) can determine when no more packages remain in said
stack.