Article dispensing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10210695-B2
Application number	US-201514600845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2014
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

An article dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing repeatedly the lowest-positioned article from a stack of articles while keeping the second lowest-positioned article in a stable situation is provided. A retainer for retaining the stack of articles is formed in a storing space of a storing section. In a dispensing section for dispensing the lowest-positioned article from the stack through the dispensing opening, a pusher includes an article placement portion on which the remainder of the articles is placed after the lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack. During the dispensing operation, the remainder of the articles is received temporarily on the article placement portion of the pusher in such a way that a lowest-positioned article of the remainder (i.e., the second lowest-positioned article in the stack) keeps its ordinary attitude in the storing space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article dispensing apparatus comprising:
a storing section for storing a stack of articles in a storing space, wherein a retainer for retaining the stack of articles is formed in the storing space, and a dispensing opening through which a lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack in a dispensing direction is formed to communicate with the storing space;
a dispensing section for dispensing the lowest-positioned article from the stack through the dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing section comprises a driving device, a first U-shaped slider which is moved by the driving device, a second U-shaped slider which is moved in conjunction with the first U-shaped slider, and a pusher which is moved in conjunction with the first U-shaped slider; and
a controlling section for controlling operation of the driving device of the dispensing section;
wherein the pusher comprises an article placement portion on which a remainder of the articles is placed after the lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack;
during a dispensing operation, the pusher pushes forward the lowest-positioned article from its back, thereby dispensing the lowest-positioned article through the dispensing opening in the dispensing direction, and the pusher receives temporarily a remainder of the articles on the article placement portion in such a way that a lowest-positioned article in the remainder keeps its ordinary altitude in the storing space, the pusher causes the remainder placed on the article placement portion to be supported by the retainer of the storing section before the pusher retreats from the storing space, and
a pusher restraining member for moving the pusher to a position at which the article placement portion of the pusher is lower than the retainer of the storing section in height when the pusher causes the remainder on the article placement portion to be supported by the retainer,
wherein the pusher restraining member is a flap-like member rotably mounted on a horizontal shaft fixed in the storing section; and
rotatable in a forward direction but not rotatable in a backward direction, thereby allowing the pusher to move forward and restraining the pusher from moving backward.

2. An article dispensing apparatus comprising:
a storing section for storing a stack of articles in a storing space, wherein a retainer for retaining the stack of articles is formed in the storing space, and a dispensing opening through which a lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack in a dispensing direction is formed to communicate with the storing space;
a dispensing section for dispensing the lowest-positioned article from the stack through the dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing section comprises a driving device, a first U-shaped slider which is moved by the driving device, a second U-shaped slider which is moved in conjunction with the first U-shaped slider, and a pusher which is moved in conjunction with the first U-shaped slider; and
a controlling section for controlling operation of the driving device of the dispensing section;
wherein the pusher comprises an article placement portion on which a remainder of the articles is placed after the lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack;
during a dispensing operation, the pusher pushes forward the lowest-positioned article from its back, thereby dispensing the lowest-positioned article through the dispensing opening in the dispensing direction, and the pusher receives temporarily a remainder of the articles on the article placement portion in such a way that a lowest-positioned article in the remainder keeps its ordinary altitude in the storing space, the pusher causes the remainder placed on the article placement portion to be supported by the retainer of the storing section before the pusher retreats from the storing space, and
a pusher restraining member for moving the pusher to a position at which the article placement portion of the pusher is lower than the retainer of the storing section in height when the pusher causes the remainder on the article placement portion to be supported by the retainer,
wherein the pusher restraining member is a leaf spring fixed in the dispensing section in such a way that the second U-shaped slider abuts on the leaf spring; and wherein by setting a force for moving the second U-shaped slider backward applied from the driving device not to exceed a predetermined value, the second U-shaped slider is restrained from getting over the leaf spring, thereby restraining the pusher from moving backward.

3. An article dispensing apparatus comprising:
a storing section for storing a stack of articles in a storing space, wherein a retainer for retaining the stack of articles is formed in the storing space, and a dispensing opening through which a lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack in a dispensing direction is formed to communicate with the storing space;
a dispensing section for dispensing the lowest-positioned article from the stack through the dispensing opening, wherein the dispensing section comprises a driving device, a first U-shaped slider which is moved by the driving device, a second U-shaped slider which is moved in conjunction with the first U-shaped slider, and a pusher which is moved in conjunction with the first U-shaped slider; and
a controlling section for controlling operation of the driving device of the dispensing section;
wherein the pusher comprises an article placement portion on which a remainder of the articles is placed after the lowest-positioned article is dispensed from the stack;
during a dispensing operation, the pusher pushes forward the lowest-positioned article from its back, thereby dispensing the lowest-positioned article through the dispensing opening in the dispensing direction, and the pusher receives temporarily a remainder of the articles on the article placement portion in such a way that a lowest-positioned article in the remainder keeps its ordinary altitude in the storing space; and
the pusher causes the remainder placed on the article placement portion to be supported by the retainer of the storing section before the pusher retreats from the storing space wherein the pusher is movably connected to the first and second U-shaped sliders by way of a V-shaped linking mechanism, which comprises:
pins supported commonly by the first and second U-shaped sliders in such a way that the first and second U-shaped sliders are relatively movable;
first rocking shafts provided on the second U-shaped slider in such a way that the second U-shaped slider and the pusher are relatively movable;
second rocking shafts provided on the pusher in such a way that the second U-shaped slider and the pusher are relatively movable; and
V-shaped link members provided at each side of the pusher and having elongated holes; and
wherein the pins and the first rocking shafts are rotably engaged with the elongated holes of the V-shaped link members, so that the pusher is not only reciprocally moved along the dispensing direction but also rotably moved around the pins; and
due to a reciprocating motion of the first U-shaped slider by way of the V-shaped linking mechanism, the pusher is moved to a position at which a pushing portion of the pusher is higher than the retainer of the storing section and lower than a top of the lowest-positioned article in height, or a position at which the article placement portion of the pusher is lower than the retainer of the storing section in height; and
a base for supporting the first and second U-shaped sliders and the pusher;
wherein the base comprises a first guide for guiding the first U-shaped slider, and a second guide for guiding the second U-shaped slider; and
wherein the first U-shaped slider is moved reciprocally by the driving device along the first

Assignees

• Asahi Seiko Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamamiya Takahito

Classifications

• G07F11/16 Primary

  Delivery means · CPC title

• G07F11/005

  Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time · CPC title

• G07F11/04

  in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other · CPC title