US3616965A

US3616965A - Flexible conveyor belt carried cells for dispensing machine

Info

Publication number: US3616965A
Application number: US849039A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo S Bendl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-11
Filing date: 1969-08-11
Publication date: 1971-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-02

Abstract

A vending machine having an endless, vertical conveyor, formed of flat, separable links and a flexible, resilient productcarrying shelf; each of the conveyor links being associated with a product-carrying shelf and being adapted to be engaged by an adjacent link and shelf such that when there is no product on the shelf (on the return movement), the shelf bends or pivots to thereby require less space between the conveyor and the backwall of the machine than between the conveyor and the front wall of the machine.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Leo S. Bendl 274 Oradell Ave., Paramus, NJ. 07652 [21] Appl. No. 849,039 [22] Filed Aug. 11, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [54] FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR BELT CARRIED CELLS FOR DISPENSING MACHINE 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 221/84, 108/94, 198/154 [51] Int. Cl G07f 11/00 [50] Field of Search 221/76-86; 108/37, 94,136; 198/154 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,823,093 9/19 31 puGrenier 221/84 3,114,473 12/1963 Weber 221/82 3,287,074 1 H1966 Crossley... 22l/77 X 3,303,921 2/1967 Gore 221/78 X Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney- Samuelson & Jacob i when there is no product on the shelf (on the return movement), the shelf bends or pivots to thereby require less space between the conveyor and the backwall of the machine than between the conveyor and the front wall of the machine.

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SHEET 0F 4 INVENTOR. LEO S. BE NDL ATTORNEYS FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR BELT CARRIED CELLS FOR DISPENSING MACHINE The invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to conveyors and shelves which are used in such machines.

Some candy-vending machines usually are made up of one or more vertical endless conveyors each of which is provided with a plurality of shelves on which the articles to be dispensed are carried. The conveyor moves in steps in response, most generally, to the insertion of the proper number of coins into the collecting mechanism. The dispensing chute through which the articles are discharged is usually located near the bottom of the machine to simplify the dispensing operation. Moreover, this location, in combination with the glass front of the machine, permits the prospective purchaser and/or the person servicing the machine to see how many unsold articles are still in the machine.

After the product is dispensed from the shelf, the next shelf moves into position so as to be ready to discharge its article in response to the receipt of the proper number of coins. Since the conveyors are of the endless type, the shelves, which have been emptied of product, are now carried around a ratchet, pulley or similar mechanism at the bottom of the machine to the back of the machine.

The shelves will take up as much horizontal space at the back of the machine as they do at the front unless they are either flexible or pivoted. Most prior art shelves are rigid horizontally so that no space can be saved at the rear of the machine even though no product is being carried during the return movement.

Since the space taken up by the vending machines is generally expensive due to their being located in welltravelled, occupied areas, it is desirable to reduce the dimensions of the machine as much as possible. Logically, this can best be accomplished by reducing the front to back dimension. However, since the shelf is horizontal as it moves downward at the front of the machine and carries the article to be dispensed, the distance between the conveyor and the front of the machine is dictated by the length of the shelf. Accordingly, the saving must be made at the rear or back of the machine.

In order to save space at the rear of the machine, the shelves must either be flexible or pivoted. In either case, the shelves will occupy less horizontal distance and it will then be possible to reduce the distance between the conveyor and the rear or backwall of the vending machine.

Therefore, it is an important object of the invention to provide a flexible shelf for vending machines which is formed of resilient material so that on the return movement when it contacts the rear wall of the machine, it flexes and upon leaving contact with the backwall or the top or bottom of the machine it extends outward from the conveyor in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor and is substantially horizontal during the downward movement. In this horizontal position, the shelf is able to carry product toward the dispensing outlet of the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a suitable link for a vending machine conveyor to cooperate with the shelf and hold the shelfin position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a link which is rigidly fixed to its associated shelf and which may easily be joined to the adjacent links above and below it.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a link which may easily be joined to the adjacent links above and below it and which permits the shelf to be easily affixed thereto and removed therefrom.

These and other objects, features, advantages and uses will be apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofa first embodiment of the conveyor and shelfofthc invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. I ofa second embodiment of the conveyor and shelf of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the shelf and conveyor links used to form the conveyor of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the shelf and conveyor links used to form the conveyor of FIG. 2.

When used in this description and claims:

top" means the upper surface of the shelf or the upper por tion of the link when the shelf and/or the link is in position during the downward movement of the conveyor (toward the dispensing outlet);

top," when applied to the machine means the upper portion thereof when in place for normal operation;

bottom means the lower surface of the shelf or the lower portion of the link when the shelf and/or the link is in position during the downward movement of the conveyor;

bottom, when applied to the machine means the lower portion thereof when in place for normal operation;

above" refers to elements higher than the reference element during downward movement of the conveyor;

below refers to elements lower than the reference element during downward movement of the conveyor;

dispensing or downward movement" means the direction of motion of the shelves of the conveyor as they proceed toward the discharge exit of the machine;

return movement means the direction of motion of the shelves of the conveyor as they proceed after passing the discharge exit;

front wall means the surface of the machine which faces and is closer to the user during normal operation; and

backwall" or rear wall" means the surface of the machine further from the user in normal operation.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, are shown two particular embodiments of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a conveyor of the invention. Since the drive mechanism and the coin-operated, actuating mechanism do not form a part of this invention, they are not illustrated. However, it should be understood that the conv yors and shelves of the invention may be used severally or in groups in vending machines and with any type of such mechanisms which are well known in the art so long as they meet the desired requirements of the particular use to which the machine is to be put.

Conveyor 10 (FIG. I) is seen to comprise a plurality of flat, separable links 12 and a plurality of flexible, resilient shelves 14. Conveyor 10 is mounted in a manner well known in the art in cabinet 16 which has a top 18, a bottom 20, a front wall 22, which is usually provided with a viewing glass, and a back wall 24. The discharge opening or exit is located in the area designated 26. As can be seen from the construction of ratchet 28 and latch 30, the conveyor 10 moves in steps so that only one shelf 14 is discharged of its product 32 at a time.

As the conveyor 10 continues to move in response to actuation, the shelves 14, which have passed the discharge or dispensing exit, are flexed when they come into contact with the bottom 20, backwall 24 or top 18. Shelves 14 are formed in one piece of any sturdy, flexible resilient material such as spring steel. Thus, the shelf will return to its expanded position, perpendicular to the link upon losing contact with a confining surface ofthe machine.

Link 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided with an elongated hook 34 at the top and with an elongated, lateral slot 36 near its bottom. The slot and hook are sized so that they may be cooperatively engaged to form the endless conveyor 10. The hook of the lower link cooperates with the slot of the next adjacent link above it. Shelf 14 is permanently affixed to its associated link 12 by any well-known means such as is shown at 38.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. I ofa second embodiment of the invention. Conveyor 50 is mounted in vending machine 16 which is the same as machine 16 of FIG. I and the conveyor is moved as determined by ratchet 28 and latch 30 and operates in the same manner as conveyor 10.

As the shelves 54, which are formed in one piece of the same material as shelves 145, pivot due to the force of gravity and as they contact bottom 20, rear wall 24 and top I8, they are flexed as shown in FIG. 2. When they lose such contact, they extend outward from the links as shown and are substantially perpendicular to their associated links during the downward movement.

Link 52 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is provided with elongated lateral slot 56 near its bottom which cooperates with hook 58 which is at the top of the next adjacent lower link. A pair of tabs 64 is provided to hold the ends of resilient wire 68 in position. Wire 68 is threaded through openings 70 so that its two vertical portions are at the back of the link and its horizontal portion is at the front of the link.

Upstanding tab 62 is a part of elongated hook 58 and cooperates with opening 60 for ease of assembly and disassembly and with the horizontal run of wire 68 to serve to keep the conveyor intact. Shelf 54 is provided with a pair of hooks 72 which are inserted through openings 66 and are latched behind the vertical portions of wire 68.

It can readily be seen that the distances between the conveyor and the backwall of the machine and between the conveyor and the top and bottom of the machine can be made smaller than could be done if the shelves were not formed of flexible, resilient material. Consequently, vending machines using conveyors and shelves of the invention will occupy less floorspace and height than do other machines whose shelves are not flexible.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A vending machine for dispensing articles therefrom and having front and backwalls and a top and bottom comprising:

an endless vertical conveyor comprising:

a plurality of flat, separable links;

each of said links having means for engaging the links adjacent thereto;

a one-piece shelf associated with each of said links and connected thereto for carrying an article to be dispensed by the vending machine while it is closer to the front wall;

the vending machine being arranged such that the article to be dispensed is discharged from the shelf at or near the bottom of the front wall so that there is no article thereon during the return movement of the shelf while it is closer to the backwall;

the shelf being formed of flexible, resilient material so that the top and the bottom and the backwall of the machine may be closer to the conveyor than the front wall to thereby permit the shelf to be horizontal when it is carrying an article While it is adjacent the front wall and to contact the top, bottom and backwall and to flex sufficiently so as to accommodate to the lesser space between each of them and the conveyor.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

each of the flat, separable links is permanently affixed to the shelf associated therewith; and

each such link is perpendicular to the shelf to which it is affixed during the downward movement of the shelf.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein:

the link has a slot therein near the bottom thereof; and including:

an elongated hook at the top of the link to engage the slot of the adjacent link immediately above the link.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

each of the flat, separable links is provided with a slot near the lower edge thereof, an elongated hook at the upper edge thereof sized and shaped to engage the slot of the adjacent link above the link and cooperating means on the link and the associated shelf for engaging the link to the shelf such that the link is perpendicular to the shelf as the shelf passes near the front wall of the machine and is capable of carryin an article. 5. The invention of c arm 4 wherein the cooperating means are shaped such that shelves pivot downward during the return movement of the conveyor.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein the cooperating means comprises:

a pair of openings in the link;

a pair of hooks affixed to the shelf; and

means for holding the hooks locked in the openings.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the means for holding the hooks locked in the openings comprises:

a pair of tabs on the rear of the link near the top thereof;

a pair of holes near the bottom of the link and near the edges thereof; and

a wire threaded through the holes and held in position by the tabs;

the wire being shaped and biased such that the force thereof holds the hooks on the shelf in position with respect to the link and thereby prevents the link and shelf from becoming disengaged.

8. The invention of claim 7 including a third tab upstanding from the elongated hook to engage the wire of the adjacent link above the link and to thereby prevent the links from being separated.

Claims

1. A vending machine for dispensing articles therefrom and having front and backwalls and a top and bottom comprising: an endless vertical conveyor comprising: a plurality of flat, separable links; each of said links having means for engaging the links adjacent thereto; a one-piece shelf associated with each of said links and connected thereto for carrying an article to be dispensed by the vending machine while it is closer to the front wall; the vending machine being arranged such that the article to be dispensed is discharged from the shelf at or near the bottom of the front wall so that there is no article thereon during the return movement of the shelf while it is closer to the backwall; the shelf being formed of flexible, resilient material so that the top and the bottom and the backwall of the machine may be closer to the conveyor than the front wall to thereby permit the shelf to be horizontal when it is carrying an article while it is adjacent the front wall and to contact the top, bottom and backwall aNd to flex sufficiently so as to accommodate to the lesser space between each of them and the conveyor.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein: each of the flat, separable links is permanently affixed to the shelf associated therewith; and each such link is perpendicular to the shelf to which it is affixed during the downward movement of the shelf.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein: the link has a slot therein near the bottom thereof; and including: an elongated hook at the top of the link to engage the slot of the adjacent link immediately above the link.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein: each of the flat, separable links is provided with a slot near the lower edge thereof, an elongated hook at the upper edge thereof sized and shaped to engage the slot of the adjacent link above the link and cooperating means on the link and the associated shelf for engaging the link to the shelf such that the link is perpendicular to the shelf as the shelf passes near the front wall of the machine and is capable of carrying an article.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the cooperating means are shaped such that shelves pivot downward during the return movement of the conveyor.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein the cooperating means comprises: a pair of openings in the link; a pair of hooks affixed to the shelf; and means for holding the hooks locked in the openings.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the means for holding the hooks locked in the openings comprises: a pair of tabs on the rear of the link near the top thereof; a pair of holes near the bottom of the link and near the edges thereof; and a wire threaded through the holes and held in position by the tabs; the wire being shaped and biased such that the force thereof holds the hooks on the shelf in position with respect to the link and thereby prevents the link and shelf from becoming disengaged.