A vending machine apparatus comprising a housing defining an internal cavity and an article storage compartment positioned inside the cavity. The article storage compartment may have a cooling unit associated therewith for cooling the article storage compartment. The article storage compartment is subdivided into a plurality of article storage sub-compartments, each sub-compartment having an opening at a dispensing end thereof for passage therethrough during a dispensing operation of articles stored therein. An air barrier arrangement is positioned so as to be in common with the dispensing end of a plurality of said sub-compartments, for separating the interior of the sub-compartments from the remainder of the interior of the internal cavity, the air barrier arrangement having flaps that operate individually with respective ones of said sub-compartments, so as to allow articles stored in the sub-compartments to pass therethrough during the dispensing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing a displaceable barrier at an open end of an article storage compartment. More particularly, the present invention provides a displaceable barrier, such as a plurality of displaceable flaps, across an access opening of an article storage compartment in a refrigerated (i.e., frozen or merely cooled) vending machine. The flaps help prevent mixing of the thermal environments on opposite sides of the displaceable barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1illustrates front section view of a vending machine10useful for illustrating an environment for the present invention. Machine10has an outer housing11and hinged front door (not shown to aid clarity) for forming a cabinet for the vending machine. Machine10may substantially correspond in structure and operation to the vending machine shown in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,139 (incorporated herein by reference), and includes the conventional components of such as machine, such as a display1, selection keypad2, bill validator3, credit card reader4, coin insert slot5, coin return lever6, and coin return chute7and a control mechanism therefore, not shown. Thus only basic details relating to the vending machine are provided herein.

As described in my prior patent, machine10includes therein a refrigerated insulated compartment12for storing articles to be vended. It is noted that compartment12may be of the “static” type, which has cold generating evaporator coils distributed along and in thermal contact with the inside walls which form the main interior volume of compartment12, and heat dissipating condenser coils thermally insulated from the evaporator coils and distributed along and in thermal contact with the walls which form the outside perimeter of storage compartment12. With this type of freezer, no fans are required for the refrigeration system since the cooling effect of the evaporator coils is directly radiated to the interior of compartment12, and the heat generated by the refrigeration system is directly radiated by the outside walls of compartment12to the external environment. A combined thermocouple and temperature indicator8, of conventional design and operation is used by refrigerated compartment12for maintaining and indicating the set temperature. Such chest freezers are commonly available from any one of many well known sources for appliances. Other techniques for developing a cooled environment in compartment12could just as easily be used with the present invention, such as what is conventionally known as a forced air system, having a separate refrigeration unit for developing cooled air, which cooled air is then directed, using for example air ducts, to the interior of compartment12.

In one embodiment, and as shown in greater detail inFIGS. 2 and 3, refrigerated compartment12has associated therewith a displaceable thermal separating door14positioned over an opening13in one side, in this case the topside, of compartment12. Door14provides a thermal separation at the opening13between the remainder of the interior of the vending machine and the interior of compartment12. My above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,139 shows and describes several different embodiments for door14, including the single-piece hinged door as shown herein, as well as several “sliding” door designs. It is also noted that an “air curtain” can also form a thermal barrier that functions as a door, and in fact a purposefully constructed thermal barrier may not be required and instead merely having an air gap over compartment12may in some situations be sufficient for effective operation of the vending machine, since cold air sinks, and therefore tends to stay within compartment12when left undisturbed.

As shown inFIG. 3, compartment12includes therein a plurality of divider walls15positioned so as to form a plurality of sub-compartments16. Sub-compartments16are adapted for storing articles18that need to be frozen or refrigerated,(such as ice cream or other foods) in the cooled environment of compartment12until they are selected to be dispensed by a user of vending machine10. To aid clarity of illustration, only two of sub-compartments16are shown to be filled with articles18, although in normal operation, the sub-compartments16would be filled to near the top with articles18upon restocking of machine10by an operator, and sub-compartments16would be gradually depleted of the articles as the machine10is used by its customers. The air barrier19of the present invention is shown inFIG. 3in a raised position for restocking of compartment12, and will be described in greater detail later in the description.

In operation, after a user of the vending machine has inserted the proper payment and made a valid selection of an item stored in the vending machine (usually based on a graphical display illustrated on the front door of the machine, not shown), a control mechanism26of machine10, of conventional design, generates control signals which cause freezer door14to become raised, via a rack27which is raised/lowered by a reversible motor28for pivotally engaging, and correspondingly raising/lowering, door14. Further details of the freezer door opening/closing mechanism can be found in my published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/402,174 filed Mar. 27, 2003, incorporated herein by reference. The control mechanism then causes an article pickup carriage20having a suction hose22and pickup head24hanging therefrom, to be laterally positioned over a predetermined one of the sub-compartment16in which at least one of the selected articles18have been stored. Next, the control mechanism26causes a motor (not shown) in carriage20to operate a drive roller arrangement in contact with hose22, so that the article pickup head24is controllably lowered into the selected compartment22, suction generated by a blower motor (not shown) is conducted thereto via hose22, and an article18stored in the selected sub-compartment16thereby becomes secured to the article pickup head24. The motor in carriage20is operated again, this time in a reverse direction, so as to extract article pickup head24with the selected article from compartment16, and then deposit the selected article18in a customer retrieval area (not shown, but customarily an area near the bottom of the front door of machine10), by removing the suction force from pickup head24when the pickup head24is in positioned over the open top of the customer retrieval area.

In view of the public availability of my above-noted US patent and my more recent embodiments of robotic vendors such as shown in my PCT/US01/16894 (Publication No. WO 01/95276), filed in English, designation the United Sates, and also incorporated herein by reference), no further description of how to make and use a vending machine of the type described so far, is considered necessary.

An important function of freezer door14is to provide a thermal barrier between the inside of freezer12, and the remaining area inside of housing11. The thermal barrier helps keep the cool/dry conditioned air that is inside the freezer separate from the ambient air, which is both inside and outside of the housing11. However, during normal machine operation, thermal barrier provided by door14between the cooled and unconditioned ambient areas, is opened and closed many times in order to dispense the articles stored in compartment12. Each opening and closing causes/allows air currents to repeatedly introduce unconditioned air from housing11into the cooled and conditioned air environment of compartment12. Although cold air is heavier than warm air, and tends to stay in the storage compartment12when the door14is opened, typically there is some unwanted mixing of the ambient air with the conditioned air at the top of the storage compartment12and near access opening13. This unwanted mixing is at least partially due to air currents caused by the opening and closing of door14(especially if it comprises a single piece hinged lid), as well as movements of the picker head, and other parts of machine10, thereby introducing unwanted heat and moisture into the freezer compartment.

The introduction of warm air into compartment12is obviously undesirable, since its contact with the stored articles will incrementally raise their temperature, as well as the overall temperature in compartment12, and can thereby over time degrade the quality the stored articles. The introduction of humid or moist air is also undesirable, since the moisture in that air tends to form frost (ice) that will incrementally build-up on the internal wall dividers15of compartment12, and can thereby offset proper positioning of dividers15and the stored articles18, and consequently improper operation of machine10. Additionally, the formation of the frost reduces the thermal and operational efficiency of the freezer, as well as reducing the internal size of compartment12. Although most of this unwanted hot and/or humid air comprises, and therefore changes with, the ambient air conditions at the location of machine10, even on days when the ambient air condition at the location is favorable, unwanted hot and/or humid air is necessarily being generated by the normal operation of the above described compressor and condenser components of the freezer12.

Accordingly it is one object of the present invention to reduce this unwanted mixing of the unconditioned ambient air into compartment12, irrespective of whether a physical door is used over the access opening13of the freezer.

FIG. 2illustrates one embodiment of the present invention, where a displaceable thermal barrier19is provided at the dispensing end, i.e., access opening15of the freezer12. It is noted that this displaceable thermal barrier would be useful in addition to the thermal barrier function provided by the door14. Alternatively, in some embodiments, a door14may not be required.

FIG. 2shows barrier19in the closed, i.e., normal operational position. As shown inFIG. 4, barrier19comprises an outer ring-shaped portion42, and an inner sheet like portion44having a plurality of uniformly distributed opposed pairs of flexible flaps or fingers46formed therein.

In the illustrated embodiment the shape of the opposed flaps46is rectangular, but other shapes could be used. It is also noted that the width of the rectangular flaps44could be made much narrower (so as to almost approach a string-like shape) or wider (so as to approach the width of a single article storage sub-compartment16). Other orientations of the flaps are also possible, such as a perpendicular arrangement (i.e., one shifted ninety degrees from the arrangement shown herein), or even a radial arrangement of the flaps, located in one or more sections of portion44, as may be appropriate for the location and shape of a corresponding sub-compartment aligned thereunder.

Additionally, although in the illustrated embodiment the flaps are arranged in opposed pairs, since this arrangement results in the opposed ends of the flaps meeting at the center of the article storage sub-compartments16that are aligned thereunder, other arrangements are possible and may be particularly advantageous in some environments, such as a single longer flap in place of each opposed pair of flaps.

It is noted that the use of longer flaps in the place of opposed pairs of flaps would result in a deflection depth during dispensing that is greater than the deflection depth of an opposed pair of flaps. Additionally, due to the flexibility of the flaps44, even in their stead state condition they will have a normal tendency to droop, and the greater the length of the flap, the greater the depth of the droop. Having a short deflection depth is generally advantageous since it leaves more space under the barrier for the articles to be stacked higher in the article storage sub-compartments16. For at least these reasons, longer flaps may not be desirable in some situations. Thus, some “dead space” between the underside of barrier and the top of sub-compartments16is desirable so as to provide for the deflection of the flaps44during dispensing, as well as for establishing a substantially trapped, and therefore stagnant air gap above the article storage sub-compartments16. This air gap tends to isolate and insulate the conditioned air environment inside compartment12from the ambient and unconditioned air environment inside the remainder of housing11.

In operation, when the picker head24is lowered into a selected sub-compartment16to retrieve a selected article, only those flaps46which are in that portion44that are in the downward path of the picker head24will be deflected inward by the weight of the picker head24, while the remainder of the flaps are not deflected. Similarly, when the selected article18is removed from the sub-compartment16, only those flaps that are positioned over that sub-compartment16holding the selected article18will be deflected outward to allow for the passage therethrough of the picker head and selected article secured thereto. The flexibility of the flaps46is adapted to be sufficient so that the suction force holding article18to the picker head24is not overcome. After the pickup head and secured article have been fully removed from the sub-compartment16, the flaps46are pre-biased so as to return to their normally closed position over the access opening13, thereby quickly and effectively preventing unwanted air currents from entering that storage sub-compartment16. Additionally, the flaps46positioned over the open tops of the other ones of storage sub-compartments16are not displaced, and these flaps also are useful for preventing the introduction of ambient air into these other sub-compartments16. Thereafter, a common door14, if one is used, would be positioned over the top of compartment12, for providing even further thermal isolation for the refrigerated articles stored therein.

With the present arrangement, each time the door14is opened or closed, air currents created thereby, or which are merely present in the area, are substantially prevented from entering any of the sub-compartments16inside compartment12by the air barrier, yet, the flaps46in the barrier allow the picker head24and the selected articles to easily pass therethrough when it is time for dispensing an article from a particular sub-compartment16.

FIG. 2ashows a detail of a retaining clip48, wherein a spaced pair of said clips48are glued to an inside lip of opening13for retaining an outer edge of portion42of barrier19in the closed position. This will prevent the upward force exerted on barrier19during the dispensing operation by the removal of articles from inside sub-compartments16, from undesirably lifting the barrier19from its closed position over opening13.

However, in order to quickly and easily refill sub-compartments16with fresh articles18to be dispensed, a rear portion of barrier19is provided with flexible hinge/tab portions49and50. Hinges49and50can be secured to a rear portion of the inside lip of opening13using screws (not shown), in order the barrier19can be easily replaced if it becomes damaged.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, and in detail inFIG. 3A, a hook52secured to the underside of door14is positioned so as to be able to releasable engage a front portion of barrier19when the barrier19is raised by the operator so as to provide unencumbered access to the inside of freezer12for refilling it with fresh articles to be dispensed. For releasing barrier19from hook52, slight pressure is merely applied to the barrier so as to deform it's perimeter enough to disengage the front portion thereof from its engagement with hook52.

FIG. 5shows one embodiment for forming barrier19, and comprises an outer frame portion42, and a sheet-like inner portion44having the flaps46formed therein. In one embodiment, frame42could be formed using low-cost vacuum thermo-forming techniques, and comprise, for example 0.035″ thick clear PVC, and portion44could also be formed using low-cost vacuum thermo-forming techniques, and comprise, for example 0.010″ thick clear PVC. It would also be desirable that the PVC be of the type designed for use in low temperature environments, and as such, PVC designed for use at minus 40 degrees F. is commonly available. In an alternative embodiment, it may be desirable to form barrier19out of a single sheet of material, instead of two pieces.

FIG. 6Aillustrates a cross-section view (with hidden lines not shown) of the barrier19shown as comprising the assembled two portions42and44. Note that the hinges49and50are formed using the more flexible and thinner material that forms portion44, and that portion42has a cross-sectional shape that is intended to provide structural rigidity to the assembled barrier19. Other cross-sectional shapes could just as easily been provided, and any specific shape is merely a matter of design choice. For example,FIG. 6Billustrates an alternative embodiment for the air barrier of the present invention, where the hinges49and50are formed by compressing a portion of portion44during its vacuum thermoforming, so as to provide the desired flexibility for forming the hinge areas. Additionally, in theFIG. 6Bembodiment, a simpler portion44is used, in that it it does not require any vacuum thermoforming, and merely comprises a flat sheet of PVC having the desired shape and distribution of flaps cut therein, and then combined with frame portion42by, for example, using an adhesive in commonly aligned flat areas54.

InFIGS. 6A and 6B, portions shown as54illustrate positions where substantially flat surface areas in the two portions42and44are aligned when assembled, thereby providing locations for using, for example an adhesive, for joining these portions together. In one embodiment, a UV curable glue could be used, so as to allow time for the portions42and44to be properly aligned before the UV curing light is provided for curing the adhesive.

Thus, one aspect of the invention is to provide a displaceable separator which is common to the open dispensing end of a plurality of the article storage compartments in an article storage area, which displaceable separator may be in addition to a further separator function, such as provided by door14. This will allow access to selected articles in a given sub-compartment16of the article storage compartment12when the separating door, if one is used, is displaced, without exposing the remainder of the storage sub-compartments16to the ambient environment. Additionally, such an arrangement minimizes egress of warm air into the selected sub-compartment before, during and after the article pickup head24passes therethrough.

It is noted that article storage bins (not shown, but described in my above-referenced US patent) having a shape corresponding to the shape of sub-portions16could be individually removable from compartment12. Furthermore, compartment12itself could be wholly or partially removable from inside of housing11in order to facilitate reloading of compartment12will fresh articles to be vended. More specifically, compartment12can be mechanically mounted and electrically connected within housing11so as to be at least partially removable therefrom, such as by the use of sliding tracks mounted between a bottom portion of compartment12and a floor portion of housing11, so as to assist repositioning of compartment12to be at least partially outside of housing11, thereby facilitating access to the interior of compartment12during re-loading of compartment12with fresh articles to be vended. If necessary, any electrical connection to compartment12required for operating the cooling equipment associated therewith, could be selectively disconnectable, so as to facilitate the repositioning of compartment12.

Many variations of this invention are possible, both in the manner of forming/attaching the displaceable thermal barrier19in the opening of the article storage compartment12, as well as the dimensioning, structure, shape and choice of materials for the thermal barrier19.

For example, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the displaceable thermal barrier of the invention could be provided redundantly, so as to possibly further improve the thermal separation of the stored articles from the ambient environment. As shown inFIG. 3, the top portion of the sub-compartments16are recessed below the open top of compartment12. If the recess is great enough, two thermal barriers spaced one above the other could be used in place of the one described above. In this embodiment, the gap between the upper and lower barriers defines an air space which improves the thermal separation function provided to the articles stored inside the compartment, as compared to the thermal separation function provided by only one thermal barrier19. The vertical spacing between each barrier could be such that the inward deflection of flaps in the upper barrier will not contact the upper side of the lower set of flaps, i.e., each set will operate independently and the upper set can substantially close before the lower set is opened. Alternatively, the barriers can be positioned relatively close to one another so that their flaps may operate in unison, yet still advantageously defining a thermally separated barrier and air gap between the inside of compartment12and the inside of the remainder of the housing11.

It is also noted that the invention described herein is not limited to any specific type of article retrieving device (such as the illustrated pickup head24). For example, it may be desirable for the robotic positioning mechanism to include a rotary device (R, θ) of the type including an I beam of fixed length (or telescopic sections), for establishing an “R” movement for pickup head24, and where pivoting of the I beam establishes a “θ” movement. Alternatively, in other environments for the invention, the pickup head positioning mechanism may include an articulated arm or scissor system, or use a totally different dispensing technique, such a the more conventional spiral wire dispenser mechanism. Other types of suitable pickup devices include a mechanical claw or scoop, a magnetic attracting device, a portable suction generator, etc.

Furthermore, other types of storage compartments are usable in the environment of the present invention, such as article storage compartments including horizontally oriented stacks of stored articles, wherein the storage area has one or more vertically oriented openings at the dispensing end thereof. Even furthermore, in some environments, the invention may be useful with an article storage compartment that is not refrigerated, that is, the air barrier may be useful for other reasons, such as keeping dust and dirt out of the interior of compartment12during the times that the lid14is open. All that is required of the storage/dispensing arrangement is that the selected article requires passage through the dispensing end of an article storage compartment.

As noted above, while the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but be given the full scope defined by the above language, drawings and the claims which follow, as well as equivalents thereof.