Abstract:
A dispensing apparatus having a refrigerated compartment for receiving a plurality of bottle cartridges containing bottle container. A bottle latching mechanism holds the bottles within the cartridge as the cartridge and bottle containers are inserted into the refrigerated compartment. A bottle lifting mechanism located proximate the end of the rows of multiple cartridges lifts the bottles upward until the top bottle rolls onto a sloped dispensing platform where a person can remove the bottle from the dispensing apparatus by pressing a lever to allow a bottle to roll past a flexible window and out of the bottle dispenser to a position where a person can pick up the bottle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to dispensing systems and more particularly to a bottle dispensing system for quickly dispensing a bottle from a refrigerated compartment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The concept of a dispensing mechanism for dispensing metal beverage containers is known in the art and generally comprise a refrigerated compartment and a mechanism for on demand delivering one beverage container at a time. In one type of beverage container the beverage containers, which are usually made of aluminum, are stacked in a winding tray. 
     In another embodiment, the beverages container roll from a series of trays into a dispensing mechanism. The handling of beverage containers is facilitated by the uniform cylindrical shape of the beverage containers. 
     The present invention comprise a dispensing apparatus capable of handling bottle containers that lack the uniform cylindrical shape of metal beverage containers. Typically, the bottle containers are made of plain or colored glass and are used to hold beer. Because of the unusual shape of the bottle containers and the use of glass in the bottle containers it makes it difficult to use the apparatus for dispensing metal beverage container for dispensing bottle containers. The present invention provides a bottle container dispenser that quickly dispenses a refrigerated bottle on demand making it suitable for use in bars or the like where a bartender must quickly serve a number of patrons. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises a dispensing apparatus having a refrigerated compartment for receiving a plurality of bottle cartridges containing bottle containers. A bottle latching mechanism holds the bottles within the cartridge as the cartridge and bottle containers are inserted into the refrigerated compartment. A bottle lifting mechanism located proximate the end of the rows of multiple cartridges lifts the bottles upward until the top bottle rolls onto a sloped dispensing platform where a person can remove the bottle from the dispensing apparatus by pressing a lever to allow a bottle to roll past a flexible window and out of the refrigerated compartment to a position where a person can pick up the bottle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective and cut-away view of a bottle cartridge for holding a plurality of bottle containers; 
     FIG. 2 shows an end view of the open end of the bottle cartridge of FIG. 1 with a pair of bottle retainers located in the non-bottle retaining condition, 
     FIG. 2 a  shows an end view of the closed end of the bottle cartridge of FIG. 1 with the hand levers of the bottle retainers rotated into the bottle retaining condition; 
     FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional view of a bottle dispenser holding a plurality of bottle cartridges; 
     FIG. 3 a  shows a partial cutaway view of the bottle cartridge and the bottle dispenser showing a bottle bar stop for forcing a bottle back into the cartridge when the bottle containers are elevated within the dispensing apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial view of a pair of parallel spaced bottle lifting rails and the hinged bottle shelves of FIG. 3 prior to lifting the bottles upward toward the dispensing position; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial view of the bottle lifting rails and the hinged bottle shelves of FIG. 4 illustrating that the bottle lifting rails are moving downward; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial view of the bottle lifting rails and the hinged bottle shelves of FIG. 4 illustrating that the bottle lifting rails are in the downward condition with the lifting dogs in a position to lift the bottles upward 
     FIG. 7 is a partial view of the bottle lifting rails and the hinged bottle shelves of FIG. 4 illustrating that the bottle lifting rails are lifting the bottles upward with the hinged bottle shelves are pivoted to a vertical out-of-the-way condition; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the bottle lifting rails and hinged bottle shelves of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial view of the bottle lifting rails and the hinged bottle shelves of FIG. 4 illustrating that the bottle holding flaps are in the bottle supporting condition. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective and partially cut-away view of a bottle cartridge  10  for holding a plurality of bottle containers  11  therein. The cartridge  10  comprises a rectangular shaped container having a top  12 , a bottom  14 , a first side  13  and a second side  15 . One end of the cartridge  10  is open to permit insertion and removal of bottles  11  from the cartridge  10 . In order to prevent bottles  11  from falling out of the open end of cartridge  10  there is provided a first bottle latching mechanism comprising an elongated member  17  that has an extension  18  for engaging one end of a bottle container  11  and a hand lever  19  on the opposite end for rotationally engaging or disengaging the extension  18 . The elongated member  17  is held in axially rotational position on the side of cartridge  10  by supports  20  and  21 . Supports  20  and  21  can include some type of indent so that the latching rod  17  remains in position until the cartridge is ready for use. FIG. 1 shows latching rod  17  in the bottle holding position with bottle stop  18  extending inward to prevent one end of the bottle container  11  from falling out of cartridge  10 . Similarly, a second bottle latching member  23  is located on the opposite side of cartridge  10  with bottle stop  24  extending inward to prevent the other end of the bottle container from falling out of cartridge  10 . Bottle latching members  17  and  23  are identical and can be axially rotated to allow for removal or insertion of bottles into the compartment within cartridge  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown an end view of the bottle cartridge  10  of FIG. 1 with the bottle latching members  17  and  23  shown in the open condition wherein a bottle can be dispensed from cartridge  10 . In the open condition, extension  18  and extension  24  are in a vertical position. In the vertical position, the extensions  18  and  24  do not protrude into the compartment  30  within cartridge  10  so that a bottle  11  within cartridge  10  is free to be discharged through the open end of the cartridge  10 . On the other hand if the extensions were rotated to the condition as shown in FIG. 1 a bottle could not be inserted or removed from bottle cartridge  10 . 
     FIG. 2 a  shows an end view of the opposite end of bottle cartridge  10  showing hand lever  19  and  19   a  in the closed condition and in position for axial rotation to allow bottle stop extension  18  and  24  to be rotated to the open condition shown in FIG.  2 . An end section  10   e  on cartridge  10  prevents the bottles  11  therein from accidentally falling out of cartridge  10  during the process of loading cartridge  10 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional view of the bottle dispenser apparatus  40  having a cabinet  39  with a compartment  66  therein. A plurality of bottle cartridges  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are mounted at an angle so that gravity will normally allow the bottle containers therein to roll toward a vertically positioned bottle rack  41  having a plurality of spaced hinged bottles shelves  42  thereon for receiving and supporting an individual bottle container thereon. Each of bottle shelves  42  are hinged to vertical bottle rack member  42   a  though a hinge (not shown). FIG. 3 shows bottle shelves  42  in the bottle holding condition with the hinged bottle shelves  42  extending perpendicularly outward from member  42   a  to form a vertically oriented bottle rack. 
     FIG. 3 shows a first rotatable bottle stop bar  51  proximate one end of cartridge  10   c  with bottle stop bar  51  in the open condition to allow bottle  9  to roll out the open end of cartridge  10   c . Similarly, FIG. 3 shows a second rotatable bottle stop bar  52  proximate one end of cartridge  10   b  also with bottle stop bar  52  in the open condition to allow bottle  9  to be roll out the open end of cartridge  10   c . A third rotatable bottle stop bar  53  is located proximate one end of cartridge  10   a  with bottle stop bar  53  in the closed condition to prevent bottle  9  from rolling out the open end of cartridge  10   a . Similarly, a fourth rotatable bottle stop bar  54  is located proximate one end of cartridge  10  with bottle stop bar  54  in the closed condition to prevent bottle  9  from rolling out the open end of cartridge  10 . The rotateable bottle stop bars  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  are rotateable mounted in dispenser  40  and are controlled by the dispenser control mechanism  65 . The bottle stop bars are positioned so that counter clockwise rotation will force the bottles back into the their respective cartridges. Consequently, as the bottles held by the hinged bottle shelves  42  are elevated upward they do not come in contact with the bottles in the bottle cartridges thus eliminating excessive bottle noise and possible accidentally breakage of a bottle as the bottles are lifted upwards past the bottles in the cartridges. Thus the bottle stop bars form a set of bottle stoppers that prevent the bottles from rolling free of the bottle cartridge. 
     FIG. 3 a  shows an enlarged partial cutaway view of the bottle cartridge  10   c  and the bottle shelf  42  with bottle stop bar  51  rotated to an upward angle to prevent bottle  9  in cartridge  10   c  from rolling out of cartridge  10   c  and into bottle  9  on lowest hinged bottle shelve  42 . To illustrate the bottle retraction capability of the bottle stoppers  51  reference should be made to FIG. 3 a  which shows a partial sectional view of bottle cartridge  10 c and bottle rack  41 . In the condition shown the bottle stopper  51  has been rotated upward to about the two o&#39;clock position so that the bottle stopper  51  pushes bottle  9  back in the cartridge  10   c  while thus preventing bottle  9  in bottle cartridge  10   c  from being transferred to shelf  42  in bottle rack  41 . That is, because there already is a bottle  9  in shelf  42  there is no need to transfer a bottle to bottle rack  41 . In addition it is desired to lift the bottles upward the bottles  9  in the cartridge can be held free of the bottles in the bottle rack  41  so the bottles in the lifting rails can be lifted upward without clinking against the bottles in the bottle rack  41 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the hinged shelves  42  for holding the bottles  9  in a horizontal condition. In addition to the hinged shelves  42  there is also proved a pair of bottle lifting rails having lifting dogs thereon. The bottle lifting rails which are located on opposite ends of the bottle container are movable between a lower position and an upper position to lift bottles upward to ramp  59 . FIG. 3 shows only a portion of one rail  50  which supported by a two way power cylinder  61  having a retractable rod  63  for elevating and lowering rail  50 . A first fluid line  61   c  a connects to power source  45 , which is preferably pneumatic, and a second fluid line  61   b  connects to power source  45  to permit raising and lower of rail  50 . Power source  45  can comprise a source of pressurized air  45  controllable by a switch on the dispensing mechanism to causes retractable rod  63  to be extended or contracted thorough supply of air into lines  61   c  and  61   d . Preferably cylinder  43  is a two-way powered pneumatic cylinder although a one-way power cylinder could also be used. Similarly, a second rail is located on the opposite end of bottle  9  to lift the bottle upward. In order to appreciate the bottle lifting rails reference should be made to FIGS. 4 to  9  which show both the bottle lifting rails positioned in conjunction to the hinged bottle shelves  42  during different portions of the bottle lifting cycle where the bottle lifting rails movable vertically between a first filling position and a second bottle delivery position. 
     FIG. 4 shows a partial elevation, partial schematic view of the hinged bottle shelves that support the bottles  9  thereon. For ease in understanding the operation the other components of the dispensers are not included in FIGS. 4-9. Located on one end of bottles  9  is rail  50  that has a first hinged dog  50   a , a second hinged dog  50   b  and a third hinged dog  50   c  that are spaced from each other. Similarly located on the opposite end of bottles  9  is a second rail  60  that has a first hinged dog  60   a , a second hinged dog  60   b  and a third hinged dog  60   c  that are also spaced from each other. In the condition shown the lower hinged shelf  42  extends perpendicularly outward to support the bottle container  9  thereon and the dogs  60   a  and  50   a  support opposite ends of lower bottle  9 . Similarly, middle hinged shelf  42  supports second bottle  9  while the dogs  60   b  and  50   b  support opposite ends of lower bottle  9 . The dogs  60   c  and  50   c  are shown in the extended condition but are not supporting a bottle thereon. 
     Referring to FIG. 5 the bottle containers  9  are shown being supported solely by their hinged shelves  42  as the end rail  50  and  60  are being lowered by cylinders  61  and  61   a . Note, as rail  50  moves downward in the direction indicated by the arrow the dogs  50   b  and  50   c  pivot upward so that the dogs can slide past the ends of the bottle containers  9 . Similarly, as rail  60  moves downward the dogs  60   b  and  60   c  pivot upward to slide past the other ends of bottle container  9  while the bottle containers  9  are being supported by the hinged shelves  42 . 
     FIG. 6 shows that when the rails  50  and  60  are in the lower condition a bottle  9 ′ from a bottle cartridge has been allowed to roll out of the cartridge until one end of the bottle  9 ′ come into contact with dog  60   a  and the other end of bottle  9 ′ comes into contact with dog  50   a . The three bottles  9 ,  9  and  9 ′ are now in a condition to be moved vertically upward. In this condition each of the dogs have been lowered and placed in position to elevate a bottle upward. 
     FIGS. 7 shows the front schematic view of the lifting rails and hinged bottle shelves  42  while FIG. 8 shows the corresponding side schematic view of the lifting rails and hinged bottle shelves  42 . Note, in the condition shown, the hinged bottle shelves  42  have been folded upward as the bottles  9 ,  9  and  9 ′ are lifted upward by the respective bottle dogs on the rails. By allowing the hinged bottle shelves to fold upward all the bottles can be simultaneously lifted upward. 
     FIG. 9 shows the lifting rails  50  and  60  in the up condition with the hinged bottle shelves having pivoted downward so that the bottle hinges can now support the bottles  9 ,  9  and  9 ′ as the rails are lowered. 
     Thus the combination of the lifting rails with their respective dogs allows one to lift the bottles upward while the hinged shelves allow the bottles to be held in place for upward movement. Once the bottles are lifted upward the top bottle rolls from hinged shelf  42  and onto the ramp  59  in the dispensing mechanism, which is shown in FIG.  3 . That is bottles  9   a ,  9   b  and  9   c  are all shown on ramp  59  that slopes forward so that bottles roll toward the left. A flap  62  extends downward to maintain the cold air within the dispensing machine. 
     The flap  62  which comprises a flexible door that flexes to allow passage of a bottle therethrough while minimizing the loss of cool air from the refrigerated compartment. A pivotal member  81  is pivotable between a first position indicated by solid lines and a second condition indicated by dashed lines. In the first position, the pivotal member  81  prevents bottles from being dispensed from the container while in the second condition member  81  allows a bottle to roll over member  81  and out of the dispenser onto ramp  64 . Dispenser  40  is shown with bottle  9   d  rolling down toward a stop  163  where the bottle can be picked up by the operator. 
     In the embodiment shown the bottle dispenser  40  includes a refrigeration unit  65  for directing cooling air through the interior compartment  66  of the bottle dispenser  40  and a bottle dispenser  68  so in order that cold bottles can be dispensed one at a time from the bottle dispenser apparatus  40 . 
     In the operating condition the bottle cartridges  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b  and  10   c  are placed on supports within the dispenser apparatus in order to hold the bottle cartridges in position to allow bottles from the bottle cartridge to roll onto the bottle rack  42 . For example, bottle cartridge  10   c  is supported by member  40   a  and  40   b . A set of bottle stop bars are is located in dispenser  40  and is activateable through a control module. The use of bottle cartridges allows one to quickly load a plurality of bottles into the dispensing machine. 
     It will be envisioned that with the present invention the bottle containers are lifted vertical to a ramp where they are allowed to roll down into engagement of a bottle holder. Once member  81  is depressed the bottle is free to roll down ramp  64  to a position where a person can grasp the bottle. 
     While the operation of the individual components of bottle dispenser has been shown the bottle dispenser apparatus components are normally controlled by switches so that when one sequence is completed another sequence can be activated. For example, a sensor-switch (not shown) on the ramp  59  can detect when the number of bottles on ramp  59  is less than the desired number. Once the sensor-switch detects that another bottle needs to be delivered to ramp  59  a signal is sent to power source  45  to raise the lifting rails  50  and  60  which elevates another bottle onto the ramp while lifting all the other bottles in the bottle rack up one position. When the lifting rails arc lowered a further sensor-switch (not shown) activates a drive mechanism to rotate bottle stops  51 ,  52   53  and  54  to the open position so that bottles from the bottle cartridges  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b  and  10   c  can roll onto the hinged shelves  42  in the bottle rack thus readying the unit for the next cycle. A further sensor-switch (not shown) connected to a visual indicator (not shown) on the front of the dispenser can alert the user to the condition that cartridges with bottles therein need to be inserted into the bottle dispensing apparatus.