US 7,063,232 B2 · Method and apparatus for storing articles for use with an article handling device

Abstract

An article storage container, comprising a bin for storing in an a columnar manner, articles to be dispensed from a dispensing end of the bin. A plurality of article supporting intrusions positioned in a spaced manner along at least a portion of the length of the bin function to provide load bearing support for articles stored in the bin. Sectional bins, bin sleeves and macro bins are also disclosed for facilitating rapid, accurate and efficient loading of articles into an article dispenser.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims23

Dependent claims

An article storage container, comprising

a bin for storing in an a columnar manner, articles to be dispensed from a dispensing end of the bin, and
at least one article supporting intrusion positioned inside the bin, and when a plurality of articles are stored in the bin and said bin is vertically positioned so that the longitudinal axis of the bin is substantially parallel to gravity, the dispensing end of the bin is oriented such that movement of the article for dispensing is in a direction opposed to gravity, and said intrusion functioning to provide load bearing support for the weight of the articles.

An article dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a storage area for storing articles along at least one longitudinal axis in an article storage bin;
an article extracting device including an end for selectively extracting an article from a dispensing end of the article storage bin;
and
a drive mechanism coupled to the article extracting device for moving the end thereof into and then out of the dispensing end of the article storage bin and in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis in the article storage bin, in order to extract a selected article from inside the article storage bin;
wherein said article storage bin comprises:
a bin for storing in an a columnar manner, at least two articles to be dispensed from a dispensing end of the article storage bin, said articles being dispensed from inside the article storage bin by passing the dispensing end in a direction opposed to gravity as a result of operation of said article extracting device, and
a hinged article support coupled to the bin at a position so that at least one of said articles is positioned below said article support and one of said articles is positioned above said article support,
said hinged article support being moveable between first and second endpoints of hinged movement, the orientation of said article support when at said first endpoint of hinged movement causing said hinged article support to obstruct the inside of said bin and provide load bearing support for said article which is positioned above said hinged article support, and the orientation of said article support when at said second endpoint of hinged movement causing said hinged article support to not obstruct the inside of said bin and thereby allow said article which is positioned below said hinged article support to pass thereby when being moved by said article extracting device toward the dispensing end of the bin,
wherein said hinged article support is urged to move from said first to said second endpoint of hinged movement as a result of movement of said article extracting device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description12,677 words

Summary2,119 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to improvements in the design and operation of an article containment area, storage area and system therefore, for use with an article handling apparatus, and is particularly useful for storing, containing and/or handling fragile articles, such as bags of potato chips, in a columnar/stacked manner.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a vending machine constructed and operating in accordance with the principles of the invention.

#FIGS. 2 and 3 are front perspective views of the vending machine of FIG. 1, with the front door opened, so as to illustrate the main mechanical and electrical components therein.

#FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the cooperation of the main mechanical and electrical components in the vending machine of FIG. 1.

Detailed description10,268 words

#FIG. 1 illustrates an environment for the inventions described herein, in the form of an article dispenser, such as a point-of-sale (POS) dispenser. Although throughout the following description, reference is made to implementation of the invention in a vending machine environment, it is intended that the environment for the present inventions, and the term “vending machine”, include more generalized article handling, retrieval and/or dispensing apparatus. Such apparatus, if embodied as a portable device may comprise and be about the size of a traditional vending machine or as large as a tractor-pulled trailer, and if embodied as a non-portable device may comprise and be embodied as an automated dispensing room or an area located in a permanent structure, such as in a building (aboveground or underground, and with or without interior walls or an enclosing cabinet). In this regard, the apparatus may comprise a small store, such as a convenience store. Furthermore, it is intended that the term “articles” or “products” include in at least some of the embodiments of the invention described herein, not only goods, but also services and/or information, in either a permanent or temporal form.

#Accordingly, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vending machine 10, comprising one embodiment for an apparatus which is constructed and operates according to the present inventions. Vending machine 10 includes a main cabinet 12 and a front door 14 mounted on a hinge 16 for providing access to the interior of the vending machine for servicing (refilling/filling it with articles, maintenance, etc.). Note, in a further vending machine embodiment, a service door or port could be positioned anywhere on or as a part of cabinet 12. In FIG. 1, front door 14 is shown in a closed position, forming an enclosure with main cabinet 12, within which various components of vending machine 10 are housed, as explained in more detail below.

#Front door 14 includes a convex-shaped section 18 adjacent a flat section 20; however, these particular shapes are not necessary to the invention. The convex-shaped section 18 comprises a translucent plastic display panel 18, which typically has brand name and/or logo graphics displayed thereon, and may even include graphics which illustrate the individual articles that are vendible by vending machine 10, as well as the price and/or selection information for the articles. Panel 18 is typically back-lit using fluorescent bulbs, not shown.

Facts

Application

10/215,101Filed 8 Aug 2002 · continuation

Priority

23 May 2000

Published

US 2004/0026441 A112 Feb 2004

Granted

20 Jun 2006

Term ended

15 Jun 2022

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 388 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

G07F 11/14
In which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other: with means for raising the stack of articles to permit delivery of the…
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus

Timeline

23 May 2000Priority claimedParent application 60/206,363
8 Aug 2002Application filedUS 10/215,101
12 Feb 2004PublishedUS 2004/0026441 A1
12 Jan 2006Assigned to Fastcorp, LLCmemorandum of license
20 Jun 2006GrantedUS 7,063,232 B2
15 Jun 2022Term endedEstimated, includes 388 days of adjustment

Method and apparatus for storing articles for use with an article handling device

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for storing articles for use with an article handling device

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims23

Description12,677 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description12,677 words