Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BAC~GROUND OF THE: I~VE~TION
- Use o~ helical coil in vending machines as a means
for ~ransporting an item to be vended from a loca~ion within
the machine to a point of discharge fro~ the machine, by rota- :
tion of the vending coil has long been known. See for example
U.S, Paten~ No. 3~269,59S. Typically, the ~ending coil has
b~en used in conjunction wlth a horizontal support tr~y, wher2in
t~e item to be vended is placed within ~he wi~dings o~ ~he
vending coil and is suppor~ed by the tray. By rotating the
L~ vending coil, th~ ite~ to be ven~led is longitudinally advancea ..
.
~long the tray, undex forcq from the win~ings o~ the vending
coil until it reaches the front end of the tra~. Upon further
ro~ation of the vendin~ coil, the i~em to be vended is forced
o~er the eage of the tray and fa~ls into a aischarge bin.
Early prior art ve~din~ machines o~ this ~yp~ were
con~igured to moun~ the support trays within the helical coil.
This conf~gura~ion, however, was particularly susceptible to
.
problems resulting ~hen the packa~e to be v~nded got cau~htbetwee~
~he ~e~di~g ~oiland ~ ~ y. Upon reachin~ the front edge o~
~o ~ ~he ~ra~, rather than falling into ~he discharge bin, the i~ems
so cau~t would hang-up at the ront end of the vending coilJ
~hus jamming the coil di5cha~ge mechani5m. Various techniques -.
have been used to eliminate t~is type of problem~ For ~he ~os~
par~, such techniques ha~e incorporated means ~or supporting
the ~enaing coil ~bove the tray so as to preven~ the items
being ~ended ~rom getting~aughtb~ween the vending co~l and
the tray. Further, to alleviate the jawming proble~ at the
~'' ' ' ,' . '.
'' ' :^ ' . "
,
~\
%
discharge end ~ the coil, most prior art techniques inclu~ed
extending ~he leng~h of the vending coil significantly past
the end o~ the support ~ray~
~ lowever, such prior art techniques have caused.prob-
lems o~ their own. The coil support means have typically taken
up space within the windings of the ~ending coil and have neces-
sitated using large support members~ requiring signi~ican~y
more material, and thus increasing the cost of the machine~
~urther, such ~echni~ues have not to-kally solued the problem
o items being caught, since oftentimes ~he items be.~ng venaed
. will s~ill lodge be~ween the vending coil an~ the support
apparatus itsel~, thus jamming th~ coil discharge appar~tus~
The present in~ention provides apparatus which ~inimizes ~he
above problems associa~ed with prior art vending machines~
- Another aisadvantage to many of ~he helical coil
.. . . . . . . . . ....................... . . . .
~ype vending machines of the prior art is the incapability .
in such machines to interchange their co,ils. If maximum use
is to be made ~ available t~ay area, dlffe~ently sized ~oils
are xe~uired ~or it~ms.ha~i~g di~ere~t package sizes,. Thq
present invention contempla~e the use of a~ least two basic ~-
coil sîzes, one *or items having larger, bulkier pac~ages
such as pastries ana potato chips, and a seco~d for smaller
less bulky packages of items such as candy bars.
S*ill another disadvantage of the hel.ical coil ve~ding
machines of the prior art is that with such devices, up~ . -
reaching the discharge e~d o~ the tray, the item to ~e vend~d
do~s not always fall freely fxom the tra~. This i5 particularly
,
.
troublesome with items having a relatively tall package
dimension. When such packages are slowly pushed forward by
the helical coil and dropped over the edge of the support
shelf, they tend to tip forward, rather than falling straight
down, and oftentimes become wedged between the outer cabinet
of the machine and the leading edge of the support tray.
Such a jam typically requires maintenance and, denies the
purchaser of that item for which he has paid. The present
invention solves the problem by providing a positive item
ejection apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the invention
there is provided an improved support apparatus for rotably
mounting an elongate semi-rigid helical coil, of the type
used for dispensing articles from a dispensing machine,
above a shelf having a front surface, comprising:
a. a first elongate coil support member
characterized by a base portion configured for
mounting in resting engagement upon a shelf
surface and defining a first planar upper
surface disposed to lie above and generally
parallel to the shelf surface adjacent to only
the first edge thereof, said first upper
surface being terminated at first and second
~5 longitudinally opposed ends thereof r wherein
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~ . ~
.
~,
: said first end of said first support member
defines a first ramp surface forming an
inclined continuum in the longitudinal dir-
ection of said first coil support member
between the shelf surface and said first
upper surface;
b. a second elongate coil support member
characteriæed by a base portion configured for
mounting in resting engagement upon the shelf
surface adjacent to only the front edge
thereof and def ining a second planar upper
: surface disposed to lie above and generally
- parallel to the shelf surface, said second
upper surace being terminated at first and
second longitudinally opposed ends thereof~
wherein said first end of said second support
member defines a second ramp surface forming
an inclined continuum in the longitudinal
direction of said second coil support member
~0 between the shelf surface and said second upper
surface, and wherein the longitudinal length
of said second support member i5 less than
that of said f irst support member; and
c, means for fixedly connecting said first
and second coil support members in spaced,
..
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. ,
generally parallel relationship to one another
such that said first and said second ramp
surfaces lie generally in the same plane,
whereby said first and said second coil
support members are spaced apart from one
another to cooperatively support a helical
coil on and between said first and said second
upper surfaces such that the lower surface of
the supported coil is disposed ~o lie above
and spaced apart from the shelf surface~
The present invention solves the above problems
associated with prior art vending machines. This invention
includes coil support apparatus which minimizes the probability
of an item package getting caught between the coil and its
associated support trayO This invention also provides for
the interchange-
-4b-
`~J``~"
~ .,
ability between coils of various sizes and incorpor~es means
. designed to assure a smooth discharge o~ the vended item from
the tra~
The present invention comprises an improved v2nding
machine of the type utilizing helical vending coils and associa- -
ted support trays or deliverying items to be ~ended from posi~ -
tion5 upon the respective trays within the vending machînes
to the leading or forward edyes of the trays, fro~ edges.the
ite~s fall into a dischar~e bin. ~he invention includes an ..
impro~ed vending coil unit, a plurality of which`units are -.
- placed along side one another within the machinej with each
coil overlying an associated support tray or shel. Each
venaing coil unit comprises a helical vending coil connec~ed
at one end thereof to a cross-bracket member. ~he cross-~racke~ .
. member. i5 secured by a bracket holding device near the back
- . portion of the vending machine. The bracket holding aevice is
connected to.a rotatable sha~t operatively connected for.ro-
tation b~ an.elec~ric motox. The opposite end of the coil
is supported near the front of the machine by a coil support
~0 appara~us which is mounted at thb forward edge o ~ha~ shel
surface d~fined by a tray longitudinally disposPd to un~erly
thè coil. The coil support apparatus is inclined at a~ ~ngle
to the shelf surace for enabling the 5mooth dischar~e o the
item to be vended. The coil support apparatus is con~igure~
to s~pport the vending coil above and out of contact with the
underlyin~ shelf surface. In one preferred embodiment, each
vending coil unit comprises means or positively ej~cting
a vended item from its respective.vendin~ coil to assure~free
fall o~ the vended item frvm the edge of the shelf surface
and into a discharge ~in~
BE~1~3F DE:SCRIPTION OF ~HE DR~:CMG
.
. Reerring to the DrawingO wherein like ~umerals
represent like parts throughout the several views: -
Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a ~endin~machine o the present invention s~owin~ a possi~le arra~ement
- of a plurality o support trays within the vending machine and
a plurali~y of vending coil units overlying the respecti~e
.
support- trays; . . . .
Fiyure 2 is a ~ragmentary top plan view of a portion o
.one of the support trays of the vending machine disclosed in
Fig. 1, as genexally viewed along the plane of the ~ine 2-2
in Fig. l; - . : - -
Figure.3.is a ~iew in side elevation of a portion of
the in~erior of the vending machine disclosed in Flg. 1, viewea
~enerally alon~ the plane of thb Line 3-3 in Fig.. 1,. illustrati~s .
.'0 one of ~he vending coil units in extended position or Ioading
thereof or preparatory to removal thereof from the machine;
Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in ~ront
: eleva~ion of a vending coil unit and its associated underlying
tray~ as disclosed in Fig~ 1, and constructed according to the
principles of this in~ention;
Fi~ure 5 is a fra~mentary sectional view of a por~ion
. of the vending coil unit and underlyin~ support txay disclosed
in Fig. 4, generally taken along the Line 5-5 in Fig. 4;
~igure 6 i5 a fragmentary sectional view o~ the
vending coil u~it and underlying suppor~ tray disclosed in
in ~il 4, generally taken along the L ne 6-6 of Fig. ~;
-6~
Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the
securing mechanism for the rear portion o~ the ve~ding coil
disclosed in Fig. 4, generally as viewed along the Line 7-7
of Fig. 4;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cross-bracke~
holding device dîsclosed in ~ig. 7;
. Figure 9 is a view in rear elevation of cross-bracket
holding device disclosed in Fig. 8;
Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower
O vending coil units and underlying support trays of the
ven~ing machine disclosed in Fig. 1, generally as viewed along
- the Line 10-1~ of Fig. l;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional ~i2W or a.vending
coil unit disclosed in Fig. 10, generally taken along the Line.
11 of Fig. 10; . . ~--~~ - ~-~
, .,. .. - .
- . Figurè 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a por~ion
o~ the venaing coil unit of Fig. 11, illustratin~ a product to
gui~earm, and generally taken along the Line 1~-12 o Fig. 11;
Figure 13 is ~n e~larged fragmentary sectional view
) o~ a br~cket and pivot arm portion of the vending coil unit of
Fig~ 11, taken general~y along the Line 13-13 of Fig~ 11;
Fig~re 14 is a fragmentary view in front elev~tion o~
several of the vending coil units and under~ying trays ~isclosed
in Fig. 10;
Figure 15 is a ragmentary sectional Yiew of ~ support
ramp membex fox the vending coil of the vending coil disclosed
in Fig. 14, generally taken along khe Line 15-15 of Fig. 14; and
.
~ igure 16 is a sectional view .in rear elevation of
the support ramp member disclosed in ~ig. 15, generally taken
alons -the Line 16-16 of Fig. lS~
DESCRIPTION QF THE PREFER~ED E~ODI~NT
.... _ . .. . _ .. . . . .
Referring to the Drawing, wherein like numerals xe-
present like elements ~hroughout the several YieW5 ~ there is
shown in Fig. 1 a dispensing machine 1 having an outer housing
2 with a pluralit~ of dispensing trays 3 siidably mounted therein_
The venaLns machine 1 also has a front door m~mber 2~a) (illus-
.3 ~rated în open position in ~ 1) pi~otally mounted to.the
ou~er housing 2, which door member is normally positioned to
enclose ~he trays within the internal cavity of the housing 2 0 - ..
Since the sup~ort appara~us for each of the trays 3 is o~ gen-
erally iden~ical construction~ only one tray will be described,
. it being unders~ood that the remaining trays 3 are o like
cons~ruc~ion and ~unction. Referring to ~ig~ 3~ each dis-
pensing tra~ 3 is mounted within ~he housing 2 ~y means o~:
a plurality of xollers 5ta)-5(c3 respectively that travel
.
wi~hin a pair o~ channels 4 attached to the lnterior ffl tha .
outer housing 2~ On each side o~ the trays 3 the*e is a front
xoller 5(a) locat~a near the front ~or~ion 6 of the tra~ 3,
a ~irst rea.~ardly disposed roller 5~b) and a second re~rwardly~
disposèa roller 5(c) located near the back por~ion 7 of the
tray 3~ The firs~ xear.xoller 5(b3 is located fo~Jard oF the
second rear roller 5~c). Each guide channel 4 includes ~ top
support surface 8 and a bottom support s~rface 9. The bottom
:
?
support sur~ace 9 o~ the channel ~ extends sener211y horizon-
t~ along its en-tire length, ~lhile ~he top support sur~ace
8 includes an elonga~e horizontally dispos~d portion lO.located
rea~ard of an inclined ramp poxtion 11~ ~7hich is disposed
~oward the fo~ard por~ion of the channel 4. The inclin~d
ram~ portion 11 enables the second rear roller 5~c~ to verti-
call~ lift upward when the tray is pulled surficiently forwara,
resulting in a pivo~ing o~ the fo~ward portion 6 of the tra~
- /axis of t~,e
3 in a downward direction about the first rear roller 5
.
0. Loaaing o~ articles ~o be dispensed is facili~ated when the
tray is pulled in i~s outermost ~o~waraly tipped position,
as illustratea in Fig. 3. A pair o~ stop membe~s 12 and 13,
mounted to- the ~uide channel 4, engage the ~irst and second
. rear rollers 5(~) ana Stc~ respectively when the tray 3 is
ul1y extended in its ~ipped-down position, to prevent xe-
.. : ..... - .. . . . . . .
mo~al of the tray from the gui~e channels 4 (see Fig. 3).
S'op member ~3 also engages the front xoller 5~a) when ~he
txay 3 is positioned in fully inserted position withln the
housing 2 to retain the tray 3 in ~ts norm~.lly opera~e posi-
.0 tion,
. The prefexred e~bodiment of the present inv~ntion
con~ains ~ive ~rays 3 loca~ed within the outer housing 2~ -
In th2 preerred embodimentrit has been ~ound.tha~ ~he most
ad-~anta~eous arrangement o~ the tra~s 3 ~s to provide all .
except the middle tra~ 3(aJ with th~ above-described tip-~own
mechanism. The middle tray 3(a) (Figs~ 1 and 33 is supported
in side chann~ls 14 having both the top 5uppo_t 5u~face 15 ana
~9
, .
khe bottom support surface.16 thereo~ disposed generally hori-
zontally along the entire leng~h.o~ the channels 14. ThereforeO
the middle tray 3(a) will not tip down when pulled forwaxd in
its fully extended position.
Each of the dispensing trays 3 con~ains a plural~ty .
of dispensing coil units 200 Each dispensing coil unit 20
contains an el~nga~e ~enerally rigid helical dispensing coil
21 h~ving a senerall~ circular cross-section and a fxont por~ion.
terminatin~ in a firs~ tenminal 23 and a rear por~ion termina-
ting at a second terminal 25~ A con~inuous coil 21 conkainsa plurality o~ regularly spaced convoluti~ns or windings 2~-
. The inter-convolution spacing between the windinss 2~ of the. ~is-
pensins coil5 ~1 toward the rear portion ~hereof are rapidly
decreased such ~hat the last windin~ ~8 ~irectly abuts the
next-~o-the-last winding 29 tsee ~igs. 2, 10, and.ll~.
A cross-bracket 30 is welded or other~ise fixedly
attacted to the rear portion ~f each ven~.ins.coil 21.across
the inner aiameter of the last winding 28 o~ the co~l Isee . -.
Figs~ 2, 4, 7, 10 and 15). The cross-bracke~ 30 has a planar
central portion generally aesignated at 31 and tw-o end portions
32, p~ojecting ge~erally perpendicularly to ~he cen~ral por.-.
tio~ 31. The length o the middle portion 31 o ~he cross~
~racket 30 e~uals ~he inner ~iameter of the last wînding 28
of`the coil 21 ana has a hole 35 positioned a~ its longitudi- -
- nal cen~er~ The end por~ions 32 of the cross-bracl;et 30 are
of sufficient length to permit attac~ment thereof to at least
the last winding 28 of the vending coil 21, by ~Jeldin~ or other
.
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:
~J
means, and preferably are of su~ficient lPng~h to e~ end in~o
the inner diame~er o~ the coil 21 so as to eng,a~e and be con-
nected to several windings thereof ~see ~ig. 10). When moun~ed
to a coil 21; th~ longi~udinal axis o the coil passes throu~h
~he center o~ the hole 3~ in the cross-bra~ket 30.
~ ppropriate mo~or means, generally designated a~ 40,
are provided ~or rotating the vending coil 21. In ~he prefer- '
red embodiment, the motor means 40 includes an electric mo~or
41 w~ich rotates a sha~ 42 either ~irectl~ or throu~h an. . .
appropria~e gear reducing apparatus 43. T~e shaft 42 has a ' '
rounded protruding kn'ur~ed end 44'~Fig. 7) to provide a
ric~ional,compression enyagemen~ ~it wi~ a cross-hracket
holding aevice 50. Re~erring to Figs~ 7~9 the cross~bracke~ `
holding device 50 comprises a disc-like outer portion 51 '~ :`
h'a'ving a fron~`la~eral surface 52 and a reax lateral surface
53. A hole 54 passest~ough the ce~er ~ the,cross-bra~ket
holdi~g ~evi~e 50 so as to receive and to ~ritionally engage ,
the knurled end 44 oE the shaft 42, The fr~nt la~eral sur~ace
S2 o~ the cross-brackek holding device ls recessea to ~orm a ~
channel S5 ha~ing a width equal to that of the cross-bracket . ~.
30 such that when the cro5s-bracket holdi~ dev~ce 50 is mounted
to the s~a~ 42, t~e end 44 ~f the shaft ~2 will be aligne~
wi~h and will matingly engage the hole 35 located in the middle
portion 31 of the cxoss-bracket 30, enabling the central por~
tion 31 of the cross-bracket to cooperatively engage the
channel 55 of the cross-br~cket holding device 50 and to be
'
--].1--
seated therein
The cross-bracket holding device 50 is provided wi-th
~wo re~aining clips 56 mounted adjacent to the channel 55 on
diametrically opposed sides thereof. Each of the retaining
clips 56 is operable between a. first and a second position,
and is normally biased toward opera-tion in i~s first position
to retaina~l~ engaye ~he cross-bracke.t member 30 within ~he
channel 55 and îs movable ~o its second position for releasing
andJor for accepting the cross-bracket member 30 respecti~el~ -
from and into retention within the channel 55. . . :
. . The motor means 40 for each tray 3 are mounted.~oa support wall 60 disposed across and forming a rear portion
7 o each tray 3~ ~he motor means 40 are mounted to the.sup- .
port walls 60 such tha~ the shaft 42 projects ~here~hroug~ at
a posi~ion.sufficient to suppor, the rear poxtion o~ a ve~in~ `
coil 21 ~which is properely mounted to the cross-brac~et holding
device 50 as above-~escribed), above and spaced apart rom the .
lower shel surace 61 of ~he tray 3, (see Fi5s~ 4-~.. The - .
orwar&1y disposed portion of each coil 21 i5 also suppor~e~
- .in a ma~ner such that the lower portion of the coil 21 overli~s
and is spaced apart from the tray shelf surface 61.- Suppor~ of .
~he on~ardly disposea portions o~ the-dispensing coils 21 is .-
~ccomplished ~y use of novel coil support apparatus of this
in~en~ion,~wo preferred embodLments of which are described
. . .
below.
Referring to Figures 4~6, a ~irs~ preferred em- - -
bodiment of a coil support ap~aratus for ~he fv~7ardl~ disposed
-12-
portion oE a coil 21 is disclosed at 70. T~e coil support
appaxatus ,0 is configurea for mounting upon tne shelf surface
61 and for engagement to and against the ~ront edge 62 o~
the shelf 61. The coil support apparatus 70 includes a ~irst
elongate coil support member ~1 having a base portion de~ini~g
-a ~irst planar upper surface 72 disposed -~o lie above and
~enerally parallel to the shelf sur~ace 61. The ~irst co
suppoxt member 71 is mounte~ in ~ixed engagemen~ to the shel~
surace 51 by means of a mounting stud 73 which projec~s through
the shel~ sur~ace and into coopexatively matiny engagement
with the base portion o~ the irs~ coil suppoxt member 71D -
The ~irst coil support member 71 has a xamp surface 74 re~r- : -
war~l~ extending from ~he planar upper surface 72 of ~he sup~
port memher 71 to the shelf surface.61, forming a smoot~ con-
tinuous path bet~een ~he shelf surace 61 and the pianar upper;
surface 72 o~ the support member 71. The forwar~ end of ~h~
support member 71 .i5 termina~e~ at an ~nd portion 75 ~tsposed
forwar~ o the front edge 6Z of.~he shelf 61 a-~ a:distance - ~.
appro~Lma~ely e~ual to the longitudinal dis~ance be~ween con
secutive convolutions of the helical coil 21 to be supported
by the suppor~ apparatus 70.
- .
The coil support apparatus 70 further has a
second coil suppoxt mem~er 81 confi~ured lor mounting upon- - / .
. the shelr surface 61 and aligned parallel with and spaced.
apart from t~e first coil support member 71. The second coil
su~port member 8!1 ~ abase por-tion definlng a second planar
upper sur~ace 82 disposed to lie above and generally parallel
-13-
,
. . ,
to the shelf surace 61, and at a hei5h~ such that the planar
upper sur~aces 72 and 82 of the ~irst and second coil suppor~
mem~er 71 and 81 respecti~ely are generally co-planar. The
second coil support member 81 is mounted.in fixed engagement
.to ~he shelf surace 61 by means of a mounting stud-73 which
projec~ through the shel su~face 61 and into cooperative
mating engagement with the base portion o~ the second coil
support member 81. The seoond coil support member 81 has
a ramp surface 84 rearwardly extending from the planar uppPr
surace 82 of the suppor~ me~ber.81 and down to the shel sur- -
face 61, forming a smooth continuous pa~h between the shelsurace 61 and thq planar uppPr surface 82 of the support mem-
ber 81. The first ana second support member 71 and ~l o~;~he .
coil support apparatus 70 are disposed such that their resp~c-
tiv~ ra~p suraces 74 and 84 are generally co-planar. The
forward end of the support member 81 is terminated a~ a lea~ing
end poxtion 85 disposed to lie slightly forwara o ~ut adjacent~
.. . .
t~e fron~ edge 62.of the shel~ 61~ and lon~itudinally space~
back rom the leadiny end portion 75 of the firs~ support mem- -
~ ber 71 by approximately the.longitudinal spaclng be~ween suc- .
cessive con~olu~ions o~ ~he coil 21.
` The firs~ and second coil support members 7i an~ :
.
81 respectivel~ are fi~edly connectea in parallel spaced-apar~
alignment with one another by means o a beam member ~7 lateral-
ly disposed between the first and second support members 71
:- and 81 respectively. The back sur~ace of the beam mer~er 87
is configured to matingl~ engage the front edge 62 ~f ~he
.
.
.
.
,:
shel~ 61, and the ~op surface oE the connecting beam member
87 is aligned co-planar with the shel~ surface 61 ~o -Form ~
continuous sliding surface thexewith. In the prererxed embo-
diment, the fo~lard edge of the connecting beam 87 is co-planar
with the forward end surface 85 of ~he second coil suppor~ mem-
ber Bl. The back edge of the beam member 87 continuously
. la~erally projects across and under the b~se portians of both
the firs~ and second coil support members 71 and 81 respect~ ely,
to provide continuous alignment engagement Of the su~port beam
87 with the fron~ edge 62 o~ the shelf 61 across ~he entire
la~er~l. dimension of the coil suppor~ apparatus 70. The
first and secona support members 71 and 81 respectivel~-are `
. .
laterally spaced apart from one a~other so as to coopera~i~ely.
support by means o~ the inwardly disposed edges of ~heir upper
pla~ar surfaces 72 ana 82 respectively one of the helical - ~'
:: . coils 21 such that the lowex.:surface of the supported coil is
disposed to lie above and spaced apart from the shel~ surface
61 In the preferred em~odiment, the coil support apparatus
7n is constructea of aurable plastic ~texial, hQwever~ an~
other sultable material could be e~uall~ weli emplo~ed wi~hin
~he spirit a~d inten~ o~ this inven~ion~
~ The ~orward end porti~n 75 o the first coil sup-
port member 70 includes a display panel 76. In the pre~er~ed
embodiment, the display panel 76 includes a firs~ generally
~ex~ica~ly oriented slot 77 and a 5econd generally vertically
~` oriented slo~ 78~ suitable ~ox accepting plastic or paper tab
inserts (not illustrated) on which visual informat~on such as -
-15-
produc~ iden~i~ica~ion or price information can be visually
displayed
~ he above-described coil suppor~ apparatus.70 is -
particularly well suited for use in the dispensing of items
ha~ing large, bulky packages such as potato chips and pas~xies.
It s~ould be noted that ~he coil support appara~us 70 ne d nQt
extend over the entire length of the coil 21 which i~ supportsr-
hu~ is disposed to suppor~ the coil 21 onl~ along ~ relativel~ :
shoxt leng~h thereo~ near its ~orwaxdly disposed end. Side
io p~nels 89 ar~ placed ~etween each of the dispensing coil un~ts
20 and are mounted to the underl~lng shelE 61, and extend from
the front portions 6 to the rear poxtio~s 7 o~ ~he respectiVe
t~ays 3. The side panels 89 functio~ to provide-laterial
~ui~e support for items to be dispensed in a fo~ard directio~
upon the ro~a~ion o~ ~he vending coil 21 about ~s longi~udi-
- nal axis, and main~aih separation ~æ dispensible items betwëen
adiacent ones o the dispensing coil units,
Whe~ the dispensing machine 1 is i~ operative user
- ~he it~ms to be dispensed, generally aesignated at ~O in Fig~-l,
are loaded into ~he dispensing coil uni~s for disposition be-. :
tween consecutive ron~olutions ~f the aispen5ing coils, as
illustra~ed in Fig~ purchaser selects that item he desi~es
: dispensed, by electrical control apparatus not.disclosed her~in~
but of any ~ype well known in the ~r~ of vending ~n~ dispensin~
mac~ines, which control apparatus efEects an` ener~iza-t1on o~
the motsr means of ~he dispensing coil 21 ~Jhich con~ains ~hat
selectea dispensable item . The mo~or ~eans 40 causes rota~ion
- -16~ .
.
.
o~ the selected coil 21 a predetermined number o~ rotational
degrees (generall~ one full revolution~ to e~fect a disp~nsing
discharge or ve~d o~ ~he selec~ed item ~o the purchaser. In
operation of the pre-ferred embodiment of the dispensing coil
unit above described, as the dispensing coil 21 is rotated,
the ite~ to be dispensed travels in a for~lard direction along
the ~inding 26 o~ the dispensing coil 21. Until reaching the
coil support apparatus.70, the item to ~e ~isp~nse~ is - - -
vertically supported by the underlyin~ shelf surface 61.. Upo~
reachi~g the cQil support member 70 the item ~o be dispensed -
engages ana is guided upwar~ly by ~he ~irst and second xamp
. . su~faces 74 and 84 respectively of ~he first and second coil
support mem~ers 71 and 81, and is thPreafter longi~udinally
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guide~ along the upper planar surfaces 72 and 82 respectivel~
thereo. ~hen the item ~o be dispensed reaches the foxwaxd
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end portion 85 o~ the second coil suppor~ apparatus 81t the
item package is caused to be tipped in the direc~ion of the . .
second coil suppor~ member 81, ~nd falls by action o~ ~ravity
from the re-taining convolution of the support coil 21 and fro~ ~..
the ~ray 3 into a disch~rge bin 91 o the machine 1, where i~ ~ -
is retrieveaby the purchaser. -. . -
R~ferri~g ~o Figures 14, 15 and 16, a second pre.-
ferred embodimen~ of a coil support apparatus for supportin~
the ~o~aral~ disposea por~ion of ~he aispensiny coil 21, is
generally illustrated at 100~ The coil suppor~ apparatus 100
includes a base member lOL havin~ a t~p planar surface 102 and
configured ~or mountin~ to the forward ena of ~h~ tray 3 such
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tha~ the base ~ember 101 laterall~ extenas across the fron~
e~ge 62 of the tray.shelf 61 with the top planar surface 102
o~ ~he base member 101 and ~he shelf sur~ace 61 of the tray 3
forming a continuous sliding surface. ~he base mem~?x lGI
further has a forward, generally vertically disposed end 103.
~he rearwardly disposed portion of the base me~ber 101 has a
mounting flange 10~ rearwardl~ projecting ror engagement with ..
the lower side of the shelf 61, and is securely fastened to
the ~on~ard end 6 of the tray 3 by means.of mounting s~uds
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Ti1e coil support apparatus 10~ further has an up- .
right side panel 108 ha~ing a firs~ generally plan-~r side 109
ana a second generally planar side 110. The upright siae panel .
108 is mounted to the shelf 61 and ex~ends from. ~he ~ron~ por- ..
tion 6 of the tray 3 to the rear por~ion 7 ~hereof The coil
support apparatus 100 further has a coil support member 11~. -
mounted to and projec-~ing generall~ ver~icall~ upward ~rom the
upper surface 102 ~ ~he base member 101 and extending ~rom
t~e fo~ard-end 103 o~ the base member 101 in a ~earwaxd direc-
tion generall~ parallel to the upri~ht side panel 108. ~he
coil suppo~ membex 112 comprises a ~irst generally ver~
cally extending side portion 113 and a second generally vexti-
cally extending siae poxtion 114, termina~ing at an elonga~e
ramp surfare 115 disposed above the shelf surEace 61 and in-
clin~ed obliquely thereto. The rea~ardly disposed ~railing
e~ge of the coil support member 112 is also incl.i~ed ~o form.
a ramp 116 extending at an angle from the first vertically dis-
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posed side 113 ~o the second vertlcally disposed side 114 oE
the coil support member 112 and forming a continuous sliding
surface with the e:longate ramp sur~ace llS. .
The upright side panel 108 and the elon~ate ram~
surface llS of ~he coil support member 112 are spaced apar-t a
dis~ance relative to one another which is less than ~he outer -
diclme~er o~ the helical coil 21 to be supported ~hereby, such
that the vending coil 21 is cooperatively supporte~ by the
elangate ramp surfa_e 115 and the.firs~ side - 109 of ~he . .
upxight side panel 108 such that the lower surface of the coil .
21 is disposed above and spaced apart rom ~he underlying shel
sur~ace 61. In the preferred embodiment, ~he first ~erticall~.
~lisposed side 113 o:E the coil support member 112 s:f orle 1~i5~~
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pensing coil unit 20 abu~s in suppor~ive manner the second
planar sur:Eace 110 o:E the upright side panel lOB o the ~mmedi- ;
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ately adjacent dispensing coil unit 20.
The :Eorward end 103 of ~he sec~ d coil suppor.~ - .
apparatus 100 inc:ludes a display panel 117. In the pre:Eerred . :.
embodIment/ the display panel 117 includes a plurality o~ ~en- .
erally ver~ically oriented slo~ 8 suitable or acceptin~ -
plastic or paper tab inserts (not illustrated) ~n which ~isual
info~mation such as pxoduck identiflcatlon or pxice in~orma~ion
can be visually displayed. . ~-
~he coil support apparatus 100 above described
is particularl~ suitable for accommodatin~ a-helical coil 21
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having ~ diame~er less than that o~ the coils supported by ~he
coil support apparatus 70, and is pa~ticularly ~Jell adapted
~o~ use in dlspensing sm~ller items such as candy bars a~d
the like which have packases less bulky ~han potato- ch~ps an~
pas~eries. In operation, -~he items to be dispensea 1~0 by
means of coils supported by the coil support apparatus 100
would generall~ be loaded into ~he dispensing coil 21, b~
placing t~e items betweèn the convolutions ~hereof, în an u~-
right position. To maintain the dispensable ite~s 120 i~ their
upright posi~io~s, a panel-like produc~ guide member 130 is . .
used to late~ally support the dispensable i~ems between ~he
Eirst side 109 of the upxight side panel and the Froduct guide
. .
member 130. .. - - -
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The product guide 130 is adjus~abl~ mounted ~o : -
accommoda~e various widths of items to be ¢arrie~ by the coil -. .
2I. The product guide 130 comprises a channel shaped member
having a side ~oxtion 13i, a top portion 132 ana a bo~om
; portion 133, and extends in overlying ma~ner alo~g the entire
leng~h of the dispensing coil ~1. The product gui~e m ~ e~ 130
is pi~o~ally supported ~tho pl~ot polnts 13~ and 135 a~ longi~ -
~udinally spaced positions along the guide 130~ Plas~ic
sleeve membex~ 136 and 137 are ~ositioned between ~he
~op and bottom portions 132 and 133 respectively o~ ~e guide
a~ ~he pivot points 134 and 135 re5pectiv21y, and have ~ertical-
-ly extenaing aperture~ 13~ and 13~ respec~ivel~ exten~ing
there~hrough ~see Figs. 11-13). .
~ach of the product guide mem~ers 130 is supportea
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b~ means o a plurality of pivo~ ~rms 140, having an upper
vertical portion 1~1, a horizontally disposed middle portion 142
and a lower vertically disposed portion 143. Th~ lo~er verti-
cal por~ion 143 of the pivot arms 140 are mounted to pivotally
ride in bracket members 145 moun~ed t~etXhtens~c~orndmside wall s
lla oftha~ upright side panel 108 of the immediateiy aajacent
coil support apparatus. The upper vertical portions 141 of
the pivot arms 140 are inser~ed thxough the ver~ically aligned .
apertures 138 an~ 139 of the plastic slePve support me~bers
l~0 . 136 and 137 respectivaly in the product guide 130.and friction-
-~ ally enga~e the inner aperture surfaces of the plastic sleeve.
members 136 and 137~ such tha~ the product guide membex 130
can ~e pivotally rotated to the.desired lateral spacing from
the first side 109 o~ the upright side panel 108 by rotating
the-product guiae 13~ about its pivot p~ints 134 and 135 to
/see Fias 1~ 130
~he desire~ location~- Once ~he desired location has been
attained, the rictional fit between th~pivot arms 140 and-
the sleeve member~ 136 and 137 will maintain the lateral posi-
` tioning o~ the product guide panel 130 until re-adjusted by
O an operator o the machine.
~ach u~right side panel 108 has moun~ed at its
fo~ward edge a tab member 150 pxojectIng outwardly ~herefrom
at an angle toward the coil support member 112; In the pre~erred
embodiment, this angle i5 approx~na~ely 30 ~ut may be any other
suitable anyle. The tab member 150 is preferably vertiGally
p~sitionea at that vertical hei~ht where the dispensing cvil
21 contacts the side panel 108. The ~ab me~ber 150
proiects outwardly from t~e side panel 108 a dis~
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tance suf~icient to engage the .Lorward edge o~ the ~ror~t winding
ol ~h~ dispensing coil 21, at a posi~ion therealong spaced back
~rom the first terminal 23 thereo~. As the dispensing coil Zl
is rotated duxing a dispensing opera-kion~ the tab m~mbex 150
will come into sliding engagement with the firs~ winaing o~
the vending coil 21. In normzl operation, the dispensing-coil
is rotate~ abou~ its longitudinal axis in a direction opposi~e
to ~he direc~ion o~ the coil windings. Therefore~. onc~ the
coil has come in~o sliding engagement with the tab member 150,
lC t~e tab member 150 will impart compressive foxces ~o the dis-
`~ pensing coil 21 in the longituainal direc~ion o~ ~he coil such
that further xotation o~ the coil causes a slight compression .
of ~he generally rigid coil 21. Whe~ the point o~ con~act
.between the ~ab member i50 and the first wlnding of ~he coil 21
reaches and passes the ~ixst terminal 23 or the ~en~ing ooil . .
21, the coil 21 disengages from the tab member 150~ xelieving
the compression and the vending coil 21 rapidly expands to
its normal len~h. The rapid e~pansion o~ thé dispen~ing coil.
to i~s normal length provides a positi~e dispensing ~p~sh" ..
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~o tha~ article to be di5pensed which is positione~ within ~he; .first con~olution o~ the di5pen5ing coil~ at the for~Jard edge
of the tray 3. Upon rapidly e~panding, there~ore, the dispen-
sing coil 21 ef~ects a vend o~ the item within its fixst con-
volu~ion by positively e]ec~ing that item ~ver the ~dge of.
.
.the top planar surface 102 ~f -the base member 101~ from whence
: it falls into the discharge bin 91 of the machine l by force
of gravity~
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t~hile preferred configurations and em~odiments
o~ the invention have been disclosed herein, o~her modifica-~ions
of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art
in ligh~ of the ~oregoing desc.rip-tion. This description is
intended to provide concrete examples of specific embodime~ts
which clearly disclose the presPnt inver.tion. Accordin~
the invention is no~ limited to any particular embodIment,
All alternatives, modi~ications an~ variations of the present
invention which ~all within the spîrit and broad scope o~ the
appended claims are ccvered~ . -
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