Card type structures
AssigneeAsahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorTakahito Yamamiya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing apparatus module for a vending machine is provided that enables stacked articles to be lifted off of the stack and translated from a loading station to a discharge station. An elevator apparatus is provided for progressively moving articles to a load station. A conveying apparatus with a linkage assembly for supporting a section nozzle can contact the uppermost article and lift it off the stacked array. The conveying apparatus can move the article to a discharge station for releasing the article to the user. A self-contained suction source is provided in the dispensing apparatus to provide low atmospheric pressure to the suction nozzle.
Claims19
In a dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles in a stack array in a vending machine, the improvement of an elevator apparatus for movingly supporting the stack array of articles comprising:
- a rack member extending vertically in the dispensing apparatus;
- a housing structure for supporting the stack array of articles;
- a drive member for engaging the rack member;
- a drive shaft extending from the housing structure and connected to the drive member;
- a drive source connected to the drive shaft;
- and
- a clutch member that can disconnect the driving of the drive member to enable the housing structure to be positioned at a lower portion of the rack member for loading articles on the housing structure.
A dispensing apparatus module for dispensing articles in a stacked array and mountable in a vending machine, comprising:
- a rack member;
- an elevator apparatus for supporting the articles and lifting them to a load station including a drive member on the elevator apparatus for engaging the rack member and a clutch member that can disengage the drive member;
- an openable cover member for permitting an operator to load articles to be dispensed on the elevator apparatus;
- a conveying apparatus for removably engaging an uppermost article to lift it off of the elevator apparatus at the load station and to translate the article to a discharge station;
- and
- a controller circuit for causing the conveying apparatus to removably engage the uppermost article at the load station and to disengage the article at a discharge station, wherein the article is delivered to a discharge tray for the user.
A dispensing apparatus module for dispensing articles in a stacked array and mountable in a vending machine, comprising:
- an elevator apparatus for supporting the articles and lifting them to a load station;
- an openable cover member for permitting an operator to load articles to be dispensed on the elevator apparatus;
- a conveying apparatus for removably engaging an uppermost article to lift it off of the elevator apparatus at the load station and to translate the article to a discharge station further including a suction nozzle for engaging an article and a source of below atmospheric pressure connected to the suction nozzle including a cylinder and a spring biased piston;
- and
- a controller circuit for causing the conveying apparatus to removably engage the uppermost article at the load station and to disengage the article at the discharge station, wherein the article is delivered to a discharge tray for the user.
A dispensing apparatus module for dispensing articles in a stacked array and mountable in a vending machine, comprising:
- an elevator apparatus for supporting the articles and lifting them to a load station;
- an openable cover member for permitting an operator to load articles to be dispensed on the elevator apparatus;
- a conveying apparatus for removably engaging an uppermost article to lift it off of the elevator apparatus at the load station and to translate the article to a discharge station including a suction nozzle for engaging an article and a source of below atmospheric pressure connected to the suction nozzle, and a belt conveying mechanism for driving the conveying apparatus from the load station to a discharge station;
- and
- a controller circuit for causing the conveying apparatus to removably engage the uppermost article at the load station and to disengage the article at a discharge station, wherein the article is delivered to a discharge tray for the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.