Abstract:
A vending machine includes a product storage area, a dispensing chamber, a chute zone that interconnects the product storage area with the dispensing chamber, and a self-locking gate assembly having a gate member. The gate assembly is pivotally mounted to a frame member that is positioned at the chute zone. A latch member selectively secures the gate member to the frame member. The latch member is operatively connected to a trigger plate that disengages the latch member when the trigger plate is abutted by a product container such that the gate member shifts from a closed position to an open position, allowing the product container to pass into the dispensing chamber. The gate member then automatically closes and the latch member re-engages so as to prevent unauthorized removal of products from the vending machine.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention pertains to the art of vending machines and, more particularly, to a self-locking anti-pilfer gate for preventing unauthorized removal of products from a vending machine.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Certain types of vending machines include a glass front that covers a storage/display region. The glass front enables a consumer to view various choices available for selection. After currency is deposited into an appropriate receptacle and a selection is made, the selected product is moved from the storage/display region to a dispensing chamber of the vending machine. Typically, the dispensing chamber is accessed through a product delivery opening provided on a front face portion of the vending machine.  
         [0005]     In order to retrieve the selected product, a consumer must access the dispensing chamber. However, in many cases, the dispensing chamber can also be used to gain unauthorized access to the product storage/display region. An individual that does not wish to pay for a product can insert a probe, generally in the form of a wire coat hanger, through the dispensing chamber up into the product storage/display region to withdraw a product without paying. This problem is particularly true in glass front vending machines, as the glass front enables a thief to view, and guide the tool toward a proposed target. Without a barrier to prevent unauthorized access to the product storage/display region, product losses will continue. While there exist several different methods of preventing access to the stored products, many still enable a crafty individual to withdraw products without paying.  
         [0006]     Based on the above, there still exists a need in the art for an improved anti-pilfering device for a vending machine. More specifically, there exists a need for an anti-pilfering device for a vending machine that includes a positive latching mechanism that prevents unauthorized access to stored products while, at the same time, enables selected products to efficiently pass from a product storage/display region into a dispensing chamber.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is directed to a vending machine including a product storage area, a dispensing chamber, a chute zone that interconnects the product storage and dispensing chamber, and an access opening for removing products transferred from the product storage area to the dispensing chamber through the chute zone. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gate assembly including a gate member is movably supported at the chute zone. More specifically, the gate member is movable between a closed position, wherein passage of products between the product storage area and the dispensing chamber and, correspondingly, access to the product storage area from the dispensing chamber, is prevented, and an open position, wherein passage of products between the product storage area and the dispensing chamber is permitted.  
         [0008]     In further accordance with the present invention, the gate assembly preferably includes a frame member arranged at the chute zone and secured to a wall of the vending machine. The frame member includes a peripheral rim having a first edge portion, a second edge portion and a peripheral wall that defines a passage extending between the product storage area and the dispensing chamber. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the frame member includes a plurality of tab members that snap-fittingly attached the frame member to a wall of the vending machine. The gate member is pivotally mounted to and, preferably, positioned entirely within the frame member when in the closed position.  
         [0009]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the gate assembly includes a latch element that engages with the peripheral wall of the frame member. The latch element locks the gate member in the closed position to prevent unauthorized access to the product storage area through the dispensing chamber. Preferably, the latch element is operatively connected to a trigger plate that is movably secured to the gate member. The trigger plate is biased away from the gate member through a spring element. With this construction, a product that is guided from the product storage area abuts the trigger plate, causing the latch element to disengage from the frame member. Once the latch element is disengaged, the gate member is free to shift from the closed position to the open position, allowing the product to transition into the dispensing chamber through the chute zone. Once the product passes into the dispensing chamber, a second spring element causes the gate member to return to the closed position, with the latch element re-engaging with the frame member.  
         [0010]     Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vending machine incorporating a self-locking anti-pilfer gate constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an elevational side view of the self-locking anti-pilfer gate constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the self-locking anti-pilfer gate of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of a latch portion of the self-locking anti-pilfer gate constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in a closed position; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the latch portion of the self-locking anti-pilfer gate constructed in accordance with the present invention shown moving toward an open position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a vending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at  2 . As shown, vending machine  2  includes a cabinet  4  having top, bottom, rear, front and opposing side walls  6 - 11 . Arranged on bottom wall  7  are a plurality of support members, three of which are indicated at  13 - 15 , that support vending machine  2  upon a supporting surface. In the embodiment shown, cabinet  4  includes a divider wall  18  that separates vending machine  2  into a product storage/display zone  20  and a control/product delivery zone  22 . Product storage/display zone  20  is used to hold products in escrow until a vending operation is performed, while control/product delivery zone  22  receives currency, enables product selection and includes an opening for withdrawing selected products.  
         [0017]     In a manner known in the art, vending machine  2  includes a door  30  that extends across and selectively closes product storage/display zone  20 . Door  30  is provided with a transparent zone or window  31  that enables a consumer to view various products available for selection in vending machine  2 . Toward that end, a plurality of shelves  34 - 38  are arranged within product storage/display zone  20  so as to hold products in escrow prior to being selected by a consumer. As shown, shelves  34 - 38  are filled with a plurality of product containers, such as bottles  40  and cans  42 . Once selected by a consumer, a product container  40  or  42  is transported to control/product delivery zone  22  by a product delivery system  48 . In accordance with the embodiment shown, product delivery system  48  is vertically movable between adjacent bottom wall  7  and top wall  6  of cabinet  4  in front of shelves  34 - 38 . Thus, depending upon the particular shelf  34 - 38  upon which the selected product container  40 ,  42  resides, product delivery system  48  moves to a required vertical position so as to receive the selected product container  40 ,  42 . Once product delivery system  48  is adjacent the requisite shelf  34 - 38 , a dispensing system (not shown) moves the selected product container  40 ,  42  onto product delivery system  48 . At this point, product delivery system  48  shifts to a delivery position whereupon a conveyor belt  49 , provided as part of product delivery system  48 , carries the selected product container  40 ,  42  to an opening  52  formed in divider wall  18 .  
         [0018]     As further shown by way of example in  FIG. 1 , control/product delivery zone  22  includes a currency input/product selection portion  63  having a bill receiver  65 , a keypad  66  and a display  68 . Also arranged on currency input/product selection portion  63  is a lock mechanism  72 . Arranged below currency input/product selection portion  63  is a product dispensing chamber  80  having an upper access opening  82  and a lower, closed section  83 . In the embodiment depicted, product dispensing chamber  80  is shown to take the form or shape of a typical beverage bottle. However, it should be understood that various other shapes and/or configurations could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. In any event, extending between product dispensing chamber  80  and opening  52  in divider wall  18  is a chute zone  90  that interconnects product storage/display zone  20  with control/product delivery zone  22  and, more particularly, product dispensing chamber  80 . Also shown in connection with the present embodiment is an illuminated panel  94  which can be used to present various advertising or other information to a consumer in a manner known in the art. In general, the structure described above has been provided for the sake of completeness and to enable a better understanding of the overall invention. The present invention is particularly directed to a gate assembly  120  provided within opening  52  that prevents unauthorized access to product storage/display zone  20  through product dispensing chamber  80 .  
         [0019]     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to  FIGS. 2-4 . Initially, referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , gate assembly  120  includes a frame member  123 , a gate member  128  and a trigger plate  130 . As shown, frame member  123  includes a plurality of side walls  138 - 141  that collectively define a product opening  144 . Side walls  138 - 141  include a first inner peripheral rim portion  147  that extends to a second peripheral rim portion  148 . In the embodiment shown, arranged on first peripheral rim  147  are a plurality of tab members, two of which are indicated at  154  and  155 , that snap-fittingly engage with corresponding structure (not shown) on divider wall  18  so as to fixedly mount frame member  123  within cabinet  4 . Extending about and partially spaced from second peripheral rim  148  is a flange member  160  that sets an overall depth of frame member  123  within divider wall  18  so as to properly position gate member  128 .  
         [0020]     In further accordance with the embodiment shown, gate member  128  is shiftable between a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to an open position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . More specifically, gate member  128  includes a first end section  170  that is pivotally mounted to frame member  123  through a pivot or hinge pin  172 . Actually, side walls  138  and  140  of frame member  123  are provided with a pair of openings, one of which is indicated at  174 . Pivot pin  172  extends through gate member  128  and is positioned within openings  174  in frame  123  so as to enable gate member  128  to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis relative to frame member  123 . In any event, first end  170  of gate member  128  extends to a second end  176  through a substantially planar portion  179 . As shown, arranged at second end  176  of gate member  128  are a plurality of mounting ears, one of which is indicated at  182  in  FIG. 3 . As will be discussed more fully below, mounting ears  182  are adapted to cooperate with associated structure on trigger plate  130 . In any event, extending across planar portion  179  of gate member  128  are a plurality of raised ribs  184  that act as stiffening elements for gate member  128 . Finally, gate assembly  120  is provided with a spring, such as a torsion spring  185  arranged at first end  170  of gate member  128  which biases gate member  128  toward the closed position.  
         [0021]     As further shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , trigger plate  130  includes a first end  190  that extends to a second end  192  through a paddle portion  194 . Trigger plate  130  is actually pivotally attached to gate member  128 . A first spring keeper  195  is provided on gate member  125  and a second spring keeper (not shown) is provided on trigger plate  130 . A compression spring  196  extends between gate member  128  and trigger plate  130 , with compression spring  196  being located by spring keeper  195  and functioning to bias trigger plate  130  away from gate member  128 . In any event, second end  192  of trigger plate  130  is provided with first and second hinge knuckles  197  and  198  that pivotally connect trigger plate  130  to gate member  128 . As each of hinge knuckles  197  and  198  is identical, a discussion will made with reference to hinge knuckle  198  with an understanding that hinge knuckle  197  has commensurate structure.  
         [0022]     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , hinge knuckle  198  includes first and second side portions  202  and  203  provided with respective pivot pins  204  and  205  ( FIG. 2 ). Pivot pins  204  and  205  are received in openings (not separately labeled) in mounting ears  182  which actually provide the overall pivot point for trigger plate  130 . Provided between first and second side portions  202  and  203  of first and second hinge knuckles  197  and  198  are corresponding latch members  210  and  211  that retain gate member  128  in the closed position. As each latch member  210 ,  211  is similarly constructed, a detailed description of latch member  210  will be made with an understanding that latch member  211  has corresponding structure.  
         [0023]     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , latch member  210  includes a first end  212  pivotally mounted relative to gate member  128  through respective pivot pins  204  and  205 . First end  212  extends to a second end  213  through an intermediate hook portion  214 . Hook portion  214  is, in accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, received in an opening or slot  220  formed in side wall  141  of frame member  123  when gate member  128  is in the closed position. In order to cause gate member  128  to shift from the closed or latched position as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , to an open or release position as represented in  FIG. 2 , latch members  210  and  211  must be deflected so as to clear openings  220  in frame member  123 . Toward that end, latch members  210  and  211  are attached to or formed integral with second end  192  of trigger plate  130 . Thus, when trigger plate  130  is engaged by a product container  40 ,  42  as indicated by arrow A in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the product container  40 ,  42  causes trigger plate  130  to pivot about pins  204 ,  205  as represented by arrow B. Latch members  210  and  211  pivot along with trigger plate  130  as indicated by arrow C such that hook portions  214  are shifted out of openings  220 , thereby clearing frame member  128  (see  FIG. 5 ) and allowing gate member  128  to open.  
         [0024]     With this overall construction, once a product container  40 ,  42  is transported onto product delivery system  48 , conveyor belt  49  carries product container  40 ,  42  toward opening  52 . As the selected product container  40 ,  42  reaches opening  52 , the selected product container  40 ,  42  abuts or engages trigger plate  130 , causing latch members  210 ,  211  to deflect or disengage from frame member  123  in order to allow gate member  128  to open. At this point, the selected product container  40 ,  42  is transported through product opening  144  and guided through chute zone  190  into product dispensing chamber  80  so that a consumer can reach into access opening  82  and withdraw the selected product. After the selected product container  40 ,  42  passes into chute  190 , gate member  128  automatically shifts back to the closed position under the biasing force of torsion spring  185 , with latch members  210 ,  211  projecting into openings  220  and re-engaging with frame member  123 . In any event, incorporating gate assembly  120  in opening  52  will prevent unauthorized access to products arranged on shelves  34 - 38  while, at the same time, enables products to be effectively transported from product storage/display zone  20  into product dispensing chamber  80 .  
         [0025]     Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the particular location of gate assembly  120  as presented is but one example. Other examples could include other vertical locations on divider wall  18  or in a lower portion of vending machine  2 . Also, it should be noted that, while vending machine  2  includes a conveyorized delivery system, other types of product delivery systems could also be employed. In addition, it should be understood that front end  170  of gate member  128  could be hingedly connected directly to divider wall  18 . With this modification, divider wall  18  actually defines the discussed frame member and would include the required structure to directly support gate assembly  120 . Furthermore, trigger plate  130  may be formed by other structure, such as one or more fingers or rods, rather than by the plate shown. Finally, it should be realized that latch members  210  and  211  could take various forms, while being integrally formed with or separate from trigger plate  130 . For instance, latch members  210  and  211  could be spring biased relative to trigger plate  130 , while still performing the desired latch and release functions described above. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited to the scope of the following claims.