Abstract:
A product dispenser of the type adapted to release articles from vertical stacks is disclosed, which is configured to dispense a variety of articles whether in bulk or singularly. The present vending apparatus provides a main housing that is configured to receive interchangeable release mechanisms, with each mechanism dependent upon whether the dispensed article(s) is generally flat or of the small round type distributed by bulk similar to candies. The bottom surface of the product compartment defined on the top of main housing is configured to allow variability in the type of products released from the vertically mounted product cartridge.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to vending machines that are adapted to dispense vertically stacked articles from top-mounted product cartridges. In particular, a product dispenser is disclosed having a main housing configured to receive and release a variety of stacked articles using interchangeable release mechanisms.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,611 B1 to Clements et al. shows a vending apparatus for containing and releasing generally box-shaped or flat articles. The articles are vertically stacked, and the release mechanisms push the bottommost article out of the cartridge. The above invention is configured to release particular types of articles that are shaped similar to pill packets or box-like shaped packages of candy, as they are pushed rearward from the cartridges.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide a product dispenser of the type adapted to release articles from vertical stacks, which is configured to dispense variable articles, and not solely generally flat products. The above feature is achieved by providing a main housing that is configured to receive interchangeable release mechanisms, with each mechanism dependent upon whether the dispensed article(s) is generally flat or of the small round type distributed by bulk similar to candies.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, what is provided is a product dispenser, with a main housing having a top surface, a housing front, and an interior. A product compartment is defined on the top surface having a bottom surface configured as a pair of flanges either hingedly or fixedly attached to opposing sides of the product compartment, wherein, when attached by a hinge, the flanges are adapted to articulate and define an opening of variable size when the flanges are in an up-position or a down-position.  
           [0007]    Interchangeable release mechanisms are removably mounted on the housing front and positioned underlying the bottom surface. The release mechanisms either comprise a rotating arm configured to be turned by a turning knob, wherein the rotating arm may pass between the flanges when the flanges are in the up-position, or a cylindrical cam is adapted to be rotated by a turning knob. The cylindrical cam has a cam surface and a cup-like trough defined thereon, wherein the trough can move generally small products away from the product compartment when the flanges are in the down-position.  
           [0008]    The product cartridges can either be pre-packaged or refilled with the goods and are vertically mounted to the top surface of the main housing within the product compartment and can also be interchanged accordingly to meet the needs of the consumer. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the main components of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows a perspective broken view of the main housing revealing the interior thereof.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the product compartment with flange in up-position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the product compartment with flange in down-position.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the alternative release mechanism used for bulk-vending.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 shows a top view of the alternative release mechanism.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the product cartridge.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the alternative product cartridge. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    FIGS.  1 - 2  show the main components of the present invention. A generally rectangular product cartridge  1  is adapted to be vertically mounted above a main housing  12 . A pair of cartridge latches  3  are attached on the exterior of opposing sides of the product cartridge  1  located proximate to the cartridge bottom  5   b.  Each latch  3  is configured to be received by a complementary pair of latch openings  11  positioned in opposition on the sides  13   a,    13   b  within the product compartment  16 . Product compartment  16  is defined on the top surface  14  of the main housing  12 , thus allowing the attachment of the product cartridge  1  to the main housing  12 . The product cartridge  1  may be removed by squeezing an area above the cartridge bottom and by snapping the cartridge latches  3  from the latch openings  11 . As is generally known in the art, the product cartridge  1  may further be secured to the main housing by other attachment means including but not limited to a screw mechanism. A flanged bottom similar to that shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,611 may also be used if housing front  51  is hingedly attached as a security door  34 . The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,611 is herein incorporated by reference.  
         [0018]    The product compartment  16  having the latch openings  11  is generally defined by an indentation in the top surface  14  complementary to the shape of the cartridge bottom  5   b.  The bottom surface of the product compartment  16  is configured, in this embodiment, as a pair of opposing flanges  18  that define a channel-like opening  2  through which a rotating arm  22  of release mechanism  20  may pass.  
         [0019]    In operation of this embodiment then, rotating arm  22  rotates through channel-like opening  2 . Arm tab  24  of arm  22  contacts at least one of the products  10  when turning knob  26  rotates axis rod  27  after product cartridge  1  is mounted within product cartridge  16 . Arm  22  is securely mounted on distal end  31  of axis rod  27 , and turning knob  26  is attached to axis rod  27  and mounted on the front face  30  of release mechanism  20 .  
         [0020]    Release mechanism  20  is removably mounted on housing front  51  of main housing  12  using any type of rivets or screws inserted through holes  33   a,    33   b  of integral mechanism flange  32 . In the preferred embodiment, security door  34  is unlocked and/or opened and release mechanism is interfitted through housing opening  17   b  of housing front  51  with mechanism flange  32  attached within housing interior  17  on the backside of security door  34 . In an alternative embodiment, release mechanism  20  may also be removably attached to the exterior of main housing  12  on main housing front  51  if security door  34  is not present. Release mechanism  20  may include any type of coin slot  29  and activation mechanism as is generally known in the art.  
         [0021]    Products  10  may be prepared for dispensing after a tab  4  or other similar cap is removed from a slot  6  near cartridge bottom  5   b.  Thus, one of products  10  rests on bottom surface of product compartment  16  when product cartridge  1  is mounted on top surface  4  of main housing  12 . At least one of products  10  is now ready to be released.  
         [0022]    Within the housing interior  17  of main housing  12 , a declining ramp  70  is positioned indirectly underlying flanges  18 , adjacent to product compartment  16  situated at the bottom of housing interior  17 . A product exitway  50  defines an opening through which product  10  will approach.  
         [0023]    In operation, upon manual rotation of turning knob  26 , at least one of products  10  is pushed horizontally off of flanges  18  as arm  22  travels through opening  2  and falls to ramp  70 . Product  10  then proceeds to slide down by gravity to product exitway  50  and can be retrieved. In one embodiment, a pair of flange tips  18   b  may be integrally attached to and angle down from flanges  18  to facilitate the downward fall of product  10  to ramp  70 .  
         [0024]    Furthermore, a vertical channel disposed within ramp  70  defines an arm pathway  72 . If ramp  70  is situated proximate to the arm tab  24  when rotation of arm  22  occurs, arm pathway  72  will assure travel through ramp  70 . Otherwise, the ramp is generally integral throughout and shaped in any particular way that can assure passage of product  10  to product exitway  50 .  
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment and with further reference to FIGS.  1 - 4 , flanges  18  of product compartment  16  are attached to opposing compartment sides  13   a , 13   b  by an underlying hinge  95  or similar device. Hinge  95  provides a enough resistance to allow flanges  18  to be articulated within a ninety degree range, whereby when in its up position, flange  18  is situated perpendicular and can seat generally flat products  10 . When in its down position, each flange  18  is positioned at an approximate 180-degree angle relative to the opposing compartment sides  13   a,    13   b . Opening  2  is then defined to be of equal area as product compartment  16  and allows for the dispensing of alternative products that are not generally rectangular and do not require a platform means.  
         [0026]    Furthermore, these alternative products are dispensed using a different embodiment of the release mechanism  20  (FIG. 1) as is further described. Thus, main housing  12  is configured to allow the release of a variety of stacked products when the release mechanisms  20  are switched.  
         [0027]    Referencing now FIGS.  1 - 5 , FIGS. 4 and 5 show the alternative release mechanism, termed herein bulk release mechanism  80 , for releasing products which are smaller, and generally distributed by bulk similar to small candies (not shown).  
         [0028]    A generally cylindrical cam  83  is connected to and is adapted to be rotated by turning knob  26 . A trough  82  is defined by a cup-like indentation on the cam surface  81 . Bulk release mechanism  80  is attached to housing front  51  in a similar manner as release mechanism  20  using mechanism flanges  32  (exteriorly or interiorly). Thus trough  82  is positioned underlying product compartment  16  of top surface  14  of main housing  12  and below flanges  18  when flanges  18  are in down position. In this manner, flanges  18  may also serve to retain the position of and guide any type of small products into trough  82  when falling from product cartridge  1 . As described previously, the small products will proceed to fall out of trough  82  upon rotation of cam  83  and be emptied onto ramp  70 . Any type of modification may be made to ramp  70  to assure passage of any products to product exitway  50 , such as a raised lip  73   a  on the interior edge  73  of ramp  70 . As rotation of cam  83  continues, remaining small products falling from product cartridge  1  will contact cam surface  81  until trough  82  completes rotation for next product containment and release. As is generally known in the art, rotation activation may proceed upon deposition of a coin through coin slot  29 .  
         [0029]    It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the type of product cartridge  1  (FIG. 1) used in conjunction with main housing  12 . A generally rectangular product cartridge  1  is used for illustration purposes. Accordingly, the product cartridge  1  may be transparent or be made of any type of material such as cardboard or plastic.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of the product cartridge  1  (FIG. 1) of the present invention. A generally cylindrical product cartridge  1  may be used to store the dispensed products  10 , and if the products  10  are generally flat and rectangular, the cartridge top  5   a  may be embossed with projections to secure the corners of the uppermost product  10 . As would be known, product compartment  16  (FIG. 1) would be modified accordingly to allow product cartridge  1  attachment. Also, in this embodiment, a peel-away cap  100  is shown and is removably attached to the cartridge bottom  5   b.