Goods discharge mechanism and goods storage and discharge system of automatic vending machine

An arrangement is disclosed for reducing the overall effective size of the goods storage and discharging system in an automatic vending machine. The solenoid and transmission mechanism of each goods discharging mechanism are so disposed that the discharging mechanisms of adjacent goods storage shelves may be arranged in a back-to-back relation with the solenoids and transmission mechanisms thereof laterally adjacent each other. The overall size of the vending machine may thus be substantially reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
The present invention relates generally to a goods discharging mechanism 
and goods storage and discharging system of an automatic vending machine 
having a serpentine type goods storage shelf, and more particularly, to a 
goods discharging mechanism and a goods storage and discharging system of 
an automatic vending machine having a plurality of goods storage shelves 
arranged in parallel rows, and for diminishing the space required for the 
mounting of the goods storage shelves. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In a conventional arrangement of an automatic vending machine having goods 
storage shelves of a serpentine type, a plurality of goods storage shelves 
are disposed from the front to the back of the machine and in parallel 
relationship. Each storage shelf has a winding (serpentine) goods passage 
for receiving and storing a multiplicity of cylindrical goods in a rolling 
condition. A goods discharging mechanism is generally disposed at the 
lower end of each goods discharging passage. The combination of the goods 
storage shelves and the goods discharging mechanisms are sometimes 
referred to as the goods storage and discharging system. 
The goods discharging mechanism as a constituent of the goods storage and 
discharging system generally includes a solenoid, a transmission mechanism 
and first and second retainer members which are adapted to be alternately 
extended into and retracted from the associated goods passage. The first 
and second retainer members are adapted to retain the lowermost good and 
the good second from the lowermost good, respectively, when they are 
extended. 
There is an increasing demand for automatic vending machines capable of 
accomodating a large quantity of goods. To this end, recently, it is 
required to add one more row of goods storage shelves, i.e. to mount 4 
(four) shelves in one vending machine. Also, it is desirable to keep the 
size of the automatic vending machine to a minimum, due to a restriction 
of the installation space. To this end, it is effective to reduce the 
overall thickness of the goods discharging mechanism disposed in adjacent 
rows of the goods storage shelf to thereby diminish the space required for 
the mounting of the storage shelves. 
Among the constituents of the goods discharging mechanism installed between 
adjacent rows of goods storage shelves, the solenoid occupies a 
comparatively large space. However, if the solenoid is to achieve its 
required function, there is a practical limit to which the size of the 
solenoid may be reduced. Therefore, usually, the thickness of the goods 
discharging mechanism is determined by the height of the solenoid, which 
imposes a limit in diminishing the installation space of the goods storage 
shelves and, hence, the size of the automatic vending machine as a whole. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In light of the foregoing, the major object of the present invention is to 
provide a goods discharging mechanism and a goods storage and discharging 
system which do not require substantial installation space even when the 
solenoid is rather large. 
According to the invention, the solenoid and transmission mechanism of each 
goods discharging mechanism are disposed at one side, with two goods 
discharging mechanisms arranged in the space between two adjacent goods 
storage shelves. Accordingly, space is saved for installation of goods 
storage shelves which in turn reduces the overall size of the automatic 
vending machine. 
Numerous other advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
from the following detailed description of the invention and embodiments 
thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows the general arrangement of a typical automatic vending machine 
having goods storage shelves of a serpentine type. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the body 1 of an automatic vending machine has three 
parallel goods storage shelves 3 disposed from front to back and each 
having a winding goods passage 2. A multiplicity of cylindrical goods are 
stored in a rolling condition in each goods passage 2. A reference numeral 
6 denotes a goods discharging mechanism disposed at the lower end of each 
goods discharging passage. 
The combination of the goods storage shelves and the goods discharging 
mechanisms will be referred to as a goods storage and discharging system 
to which the present invention pertains. 
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be 
described with reference to FIGS. 2-5 in which the same reference numerals 
are used to denote the same parts or members as those of FIG. 1. 
First, the construction of each goods discharging mechanism will be 
explained with specific reference to FIGS. 2A and 3, which show the goods 
discharging mechanism in a stand-by state. In these Figures, the goods 
discharging mechanism 6 is illustrated to include a solenoid 7, a 
transmission mechanism 8, a first retainer member 9 and a second retainer 
member 10. These constituents are carried by a base plate 4 which serves 
also as the goods transfer surface 4a (See FIG. 2A) of the goods passage. 
The solenoid 7 and the transmission mechanism 8 are disposed at the left 
side of the central axis A of the base plate 4. (See FIG. 3) The first and 
second retainer members 9 and 10 are disposed to extend across the central 
axis A and over the entire width of the base plate 4. A reference numeral 
7a designates the movable core of the solenoid. 
The transmission mechanism 8 includes a connecting plate 13 connected at 
one end to the movable core 7a by a pin 12, and a push-up piece 15 is 
connected to the other end of the connecting plate 13 by a pin 14. 
The push-up piece 15 is V-shaped with its central portion supported by a 
stationary hub 16 fixed to the base plate 4 so as to rotate around the 
axis of the hub 16. The push-up piece 15 carries at its end opposite to 
the pin 14 an engaging pin 17 for engagement with the second retainer 
member 10. 
A tension spring 18, which is retained at its one end by the pin 14 and at 
its other end by the base plate 4, serves to bias, through the medium of 
the connecting plate 13, the movable core 7a in the direction opposite to 
the direction of attraction by the solenoid 7. 
The first retainer member 9 is supported at its one end by a stationary hub 
19 fixed to the base plate 4, so that member 9 can rotate around the axis 
of the hub 19 and move into and out of the lower portion of the goods 
passage 2, designated as the space 11 adjacent the goods transfer surface 
4a of the base plate 4. The first retainer member 9 has an engaging piece 
20 formed integrally therewith and adapted for engagement with the 
engaging pin 14 of the push-up piece 15. 
The engaging piece 20 is provided with two engaging surfaces 20a, 20b 
adapted for engagement with the pin 14. In the stand-by state shown in 
FIG. 2A, the engaging surface 20a engages the pin 14 so as to support the 
first retainer member 9 while the latter is projected beyond the goods 
transfer surface 4a into the space 11. A curve B illustrates the locus of 
movement of the pin 14. The engaging surface 20b is disposed at an 
inclination to the vertical when engaged by the pin 14. (See FIG. 2B.) 
The second retainer member 10 is supported at its one end by a stationary 
hub 21 fixed to the base plate 4, so that member 10 can rotate around the 
axis of the hub 21, and move into and out of the space 11. The second 
retainer member 10 is provided with a projection 22 adapted for engagement 
with the engaging pin 17 of the push-up piece 15. 
Reference numerals 4b, 4c denote openings formed in the base plate 4 to 
permit the first and the second retainer members 9, 10 to be projected 
into the space 11 beyond the goods transfer surface 4a. The lowermost good 
and the good second from the lowermost good are designated by reference 
numerals 23 and 23a, respectively. 
In operation, when the selling command is issued during the state shown in 
FIG. 2A, the solenoid 7 is energized to attract the movable core 7a and 
overcome the force of the tension spring 18. As the movable core 7a is 
attracted, the connecting plate 13 is moved accordingly to cause a 
rotation of the push-up piece 15. As a result of the rotation of the 
push-up piece 15, the engaging pin 17 of the push-up piece 15 lifts up the 
second retainer member 10 to project the same into the space 11 beyond the 
goods transfer surface 4a into engagement with the good 23a, which is 
second from the lowermost good. (See FIG. 2B.) 
The pin 14 of the connecting plate 13 slides on the engaging surface 20a of 
the engaging piece 20 of the first retainer member 9 and leaves the 
engaging surface 20a. Consequently, the first retainer member 9 loses its 
support so that it is rotated as it is pushed by the good 23 behind the 
goods transfer surface 4a. Meanwhile, the lowermost good 23 is discharged 
in the direction of the arrow C. 
In this state, the first retainer member 9 is prevented from being further 
rotated behind the surface 4a because the engaging surface 20b is adapted 
to be engaged by the pin 14 of the connecting plate 13. 
After the completion of the discharge of the lowermost good 23, the 
solenoid is de-energized to permit the movable core 7a to be retracted by 
the force of the tension spring 18 back to the position illustrated in 
FIG. 2A. Consequently, the first retainer member 9 is moved to the 
position beyond the goods transfer surface 4a as it is pushed by the pin 
14 of the connecting plate 13, while the second retainer member 10 is 
returned to the position beneath the goods transfer surface 4a as the 
support provided by the pin 17 is removed. 
Consequently, the second good 23a is released by the second retainer member 
10 to be pushed by the following goods into contact with the first 
retainer member 9. The good 23a then becomes the lowermost good. 
In the goods discharging mechanism 6 thus constructed, the solenoid 7 and 
the transmission mechanism 8 are disposed at one side (left side in FIG. 
3) of the central axis A of the base plate 4. Therefore, even when two 
goods discharging mechanisms are arranged in a back-to-back relation as 
illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, the second mechanism being shown by broken 
line and numerals in (), both mechanisms can accomplish the discharging 
operation without fail. 
FIG. 4 shows a plan view of such a back-to-back arrangement. For ease of 
understanding, one of the goods discharging mechanisms is hatched and the 
parts of the hatched mechanism are denoted by reference numerals in (). 
Thus, in the goods storage and discharging system of the invention, two 
goods discharging mechanisms 6 are arranged in a back-to-back relation 
between adjacent rows of goods storage shelves, such that the transmission 
mechanisms 8 and the solenoids 7 of two mechanisms are laterally adjacent 
to each other. 
A detailed description will be made with reference to FIG. 5A, in which the 
same reference numerals are used to denote the same parts or members as 
those used in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the automatic vending machine shown in 
FIG. 5A, there are provided 4 (four) rows of goods storage shelves 3a, 3b, 
3c, 3d disposed from front to back within the body 1 of the vending 
machine. 
Two goods discharging mechanisms 6a, 6b are disposed between the goods 
passages 2 of two adjacent goods storage shelves 3a, 3b in a back-to-back 
relation. Also, two goods discharging mechansims 6c, 6d are disposed 
between the goods passages 2 of two adjacent goods storage shelves 3c, 3d 
in a back-to-back relation. The goods discharging mechanism 6a is 
positioned in the vicinity of the goods passage 2 of the goods storage 
shelf 3a, while the goods discharging mechanism 6b is positioned in the 
vicinity of the goods passage 2 of the goods storage shelf 3b. The 
mechanisms 6c and 6d are disposed in the vicinity of the goods passages of 
the goods storage shelves 3c, 3d, respectively. 
A reference numeral 24 denotes a chute common for all goods storage shelves 
3 and is adapted to guide the goods discharged by the discharging 
mechanisms 6 toward the outlet 5 provided in the front panel. 
The automatic vending machine further has an inner door 26, a thief-proof 
door 27, a cooler 28 and a blower 29 for circulating chilled air. 
In the goods storage and discharging system Z for automatic vending machine 
constructed in accordance with the invention, the storage shelves occupy a 
much smaller space as compared with the conventional arrangement. 
Namely, in the conventional automatic vending machine, the goods storage 
shelves are mounted in a manner shown in phantom, so that only one goods 
discharging mechanism 6 is disposed between two adjacent goods storage 
shelves. In this case, it is necessary to provide a mounting space D 
corresponding to the depth H of the goods discharging mechanism 6 in each 
of the spaces between adjacent goods storage shelves 3. Therefore, if the 
conventional arrangement of the goods discharging mechanisms is used, it 
is necessary to provide an additional installation space as denoted by E, 
resulting in a correspondingly increased overall size of the automatic 
vending machine. 
FIG. 5B-1 shows a conventional arrangement in which the conventional goods 
discharging mechanisms are arranged in a back-to-back relation. 
FIG. 5B-2 shows the arrangement of the goods discharging mechanisms of the 
invention disposed in a back-to-back and laterally adjacent relation. It 
will be seen that the additional space E is required in the conventional 
arrangement. In other words, the goods storage and discharging system of 
the invention requires a smaller installation space for the goods storage 
shelves than do conventional systems. 
The goods discharging mechanism of the goods storage and discharging system 
of the invention may also be constructed in the manner shown in FIGS. 6A, 
6B, and 7, in which the same reference numerals are used to denote the 
same parts or members as those in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3. 
In FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, the solenoid 7 and the transmission mechanism 8 are 
arranged at one side of the central axis A of the base plate 4, as in the 
case of the goods discharging mechanism shown in FIG. 3. (See FIG. 7) 
The transmission mechanism connected to the movable core 7a includes a 
T-shaped connecting plate 13. A reference numeral 30 designates a guide 
plate for the connecting plate. This guide plate is fixed to the base 
plate 4 and slidably holds the connecting plate. 
The first retainer member 9 is formed by two plates 9a, 9b. The plate 9a is 
pivotally connected at its lower edge to a stationary hub 31 fixed to the 
base plate 4, while its upper edge is pivotally connected to the lower 
edge of the other plate 9b by a common pin 32, such that the first 
retainer member 9 may be flexed about the pin 32. The upper edge of the 
plate 9b is pivotally connected to a pin 33 which is carried by the 
connecting plate 13. The second retainer member 10 is formed by two plates 
10a, 10b which are assembled between the pin 33 and a stationary hub 34 
with a common pin 35 in the same manner as the plates 9a, 9b of the first 
retainer member 9. 
According to this arrangement, when the solenoid is energized during the 
state shown in FIG. 6A, the movable core 7a is attracted as shown in FIG. 
6B to cause an upward movement of the connecting plate 13. 
As the connecting plate 13 moves, the pin 33 is moved correspondingly to 
make the second retainer member 10 project into the space 11 beyond the 
goods transfer surface 4a while retracting the first retainer member 9, to 
thereby permit the lowermost good to be discharged. After the dispensing 
or discharging of the good, the solenoid is de-energized so that the state 
shown in FIG. 6A is resumed due to the action of the spring 18. This goods 
discharging mechanism can be used in the same manner as that in the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 5A. 
As has been described, according to the invention the solenoid and the 
transmission mechansim of each goods discharging mechanism are disposed at 
one side, and two goods discharging mechanisms are arranged in the space 
between two adjacent goods storage shelves. It is therefore possible to 
reduce the space for installation of the goods storage shelves which in 
turn contributes to the reduction of the size of the automatic vending 
machine as a whole. 
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and 
modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and 
scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that 
no limitation herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, 
intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall 
within the scope of the claims.