WO1995024145A1 - Vending and/or dispensing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A vending machine (2) for dispensing selected articles (4), the articles being stacked in an array of magazines (24), the magazines including elevating means (96, 100) for elevating a selected product (4a) to be dispensed, the selected product being picked up by a transfer assembly (28, 110, 112) and delivered to a delivery station (32), the stack of products in the magazine then being lowered.

Description

VENDING AND/OR DISPENSING MACHINE

This invention relates to a vending and/or dispensing machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel dispensing and/or vending machine which can be used for dispensing articles such as items of food, containers having drinks, solid products, or products in solid packaging.

According to the present invention there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing selected articles stored therein, means for defining a plurality of stacks of articles, lifting means for selectively elevating a selected stack of articles so that an uppermost article therein is a predetermined distance above a datum, and transfer means for engaging said uppermost article and transferring said uppermost article to a delivery station.

The invention also provides a method of dispensing articles comprising the steps of: storing the articles in a plurality of stacks; elevating a selected stack of articles so that the top of an uppermost article in the selected stack is a predetermined distance above a datum level; engaging the uppermost article by transfer means; operating the transfer means to move said uppermost article laterally relative to said stacks to a delivery station; and lowering said selected stack so that the new uppermost articles in the selected stack is below said datum level.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view through a vending machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the vending machine; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing the location of product magazines;

Figure 4 is another plan view showing half of the product transport assembly;

Figure 5 is a schematic end view of part of the product transport assembly;

Figures 6 to 9 illustrate parts of the product transport assembly; Figures 10 to 15 schematically illustrate the transport assembly dispensing a product;

Figure 16 is a schematic side view of a magazine of the invention;

Figure 17 is a plan view of the magazine;

Figure 18 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figures 19 and 20 are schematic views of part of the product transfer assembly of the second embodiment;

Figure 21 is a schematic view showing part of the product transfer assembly;

Figures 22 to 25 schematically illustrate the operation of the product transfer mechanism of the second embodiment; and Figure 26 is a block diagram of the control system for the vending machine.

Figures 1 to 17 diagrammatically illustrate a vending machine 2 which is suitable for dispensing solid products 4 such as packaged icecreams or the like. It is to be understood that the principles of the invention are applicable to dispensing many different types of solid articles, either hot, cold or at ambient temperature.

The vending machine 2 includes a housing 6 which includes a rear panel 8, front panel 10, top and bottom 12 and 14 and sidewalls 16. The top 12 is pivotally connected to the panel 8 so as to provide access to the interior of the housing. Alternatively the front panel may comprise a drawer which can be opened so as to provide access to and/or removal of various components for servicing and/or replacement and/or restocking with new products 4. As best seen in Figure 2, the front panel 10 includes a display panel 18, input keys 20, a slot 21 into which coins can be inserted and a slot 22 into which credit cards can be inserted for activating the vending machine. In the illustrated arrangement, the products 4 to be dispensed comprise icecreams and a refrigeration unit (not shown) is located within the housing. Also located within the housing are various control components which may include a computer (not shown). The products 4 to be dispensed are arranged in magazines 24. In the illustrated arrangement, there are twenty magazines arranged in a 5x4 array as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3. The array of magazines is located in a refrigerated chamber 26 and are supported at the bottom of the chamber and are individually removable therefrom. As best seen in Figure 12, the products 4 are stacked vertically on top of each other in the respective magazines. Each magazine may include a different product which can be selected by the customer pressing the appropriate keys 20. As will be described in more detail below, when a product is to be dispensed, it is elevated above the top edges 25 of the magazines which lie in a common plane 27 so that the selected product can be engaged by a product transfer assembly 28 which conveys the selected product towards the front of the vending machine. It then passes through an airlock mechanism 30 where it is passed to an outlet shelf 32 which is adjacent to an outlet opening 34 in the front panel 10 of the machine. Because of this arrangement, the transport mechanism 28 is able to deliver the products at a relatively high level. This is an advantage because the customer does not need to bend or stoop in order to pick-up the product which has been dispensed onto the outlet shelf 32.

The product transfer assembly 28 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 4 to 9. The assembly includes a transport beam 36 and shifting beam 38. The transport beam 36 includes a tray portion 40 and an upwardly extending flange 42. The shifting beam 38 includes an upper web 44 and a front leg 46, middle leg 48 and rear leg 50. The beams 36 and 38 may comprise aluminium or plastic extrusions. The transport beam 36 is mounted for sliding movement on a pair of guide brackets 52 which are mounted on the sidewalls 16 (or a framework, not shown) adjacent to the sidewalls 16. Friction bearing strips 54 are located on the brackets 52 so as to provide smooth sliding movement of the transport beam 36 therealong with the lost motion described below. Figure 8 shows the manner in which the beams 36 and 38 are interconnected. It will be noted that the flange 42 of the beam 36 is located between the front and middle legs 46 and 48 of the beam 38. The beams 36 and 38 are capable of relative movement to one another from a position as shown in Figure 8 where the flange 42 is adjacent to the front leg 46 to a position where the flange 42 is adjacent to the middle leg, as seen in Figure 7. The assembly includes a drive system 56 which is arranged to move the beam 38 in a controlled way in directions toward or away from the front panel 10 of the machine. More particularly, the drive system 56 includes a motor 58 which is mounted on the web 44 of the beam 38. The motor has a sprocket which is coupled by means of a first belt 60 to a sprocket 62 located within a bearing housing 64. The sprocket 62 is internally threaded and is threadably mounted on a stationary threaded shaft 66 which extends across the top of the machine, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The drive system includes a second belt 68 which is coupled between the sprocket 62 and a further sprocket 70 which in turn is mounted within a bearing housing 72. The second sprocket 70 is threadably mounted on a stationary threaded shaft 74 which is parallel and spaced from the first shaft 66. The bearing housings 64 and 72 are also mounted on the web 44 of the beam 38, the arrangement being such that, when the motor 58 is operated, the sprockets 62 and 70 will be rotated causing sliding movement of the beam 38 either towards the front of the machine or the rear, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 58. The beam 36 will move with the beam 38 except for the lost motion caused by the particular way in which the beams are coupled together. Because a single motor is used to drive both sprockets 62 and 70, the beam 38 will always remain perpendicular to the threaded shafts 66 and 74.

The operation of the product transfer assembly 28 is as follows. The rest position of the transfer assembly is adjacent to the front panel 10 of the machine and when a customer selects a product to be dispensed, the drive system 56 moves the shifting beam 38 rearwardly towards the back of the machine until the legs 48 and 50 are above the magazine 24 from which the product is to be dispensed, as shown in

Figure 10. During this movement the beam 36 will be moved with the beam 38 but its position will be as shown in Figures 8 and 10. This permits the selected product 4a to be elevated to a transfer chamber 59 between the legs 48 and 50, as seen in Figures 8 and 11. The motor 58 is then operated in the reverse direction so that the beam 38 moves towards the front panel 10. The selected product 4a will be engaged by the rear leg 50 and moved on to the tray portion 40 of the beam 36. During this initial movement the tray portion 40 will remain stationary because of friction generated by the strips 54. The product 4a will be moved until it is fully supported on the tray portion 40, as illustrated in Figure 12. Further movement of the beam 38 will cause the middle leg 48 to engage the flange 42 of the beam 36 and thereafter the beams 38 and 36 will move in unison. The movement continues until the beams 36 and 38 are adjacent to the front panel 10 of the machine, as shown in Figure 13. The motor 58 is then driven in the reverse direction so that the beam 38 will move in the reverse direction, the beam 36 remaining stationary. This causes the selected product 4a to be displaced from the tray portion 40 by the middle leg 48 of the beam 38. Once the selected product 4a is shifted onto the tray portion 40, the products in the magazine from which the selected product came are lowered to below the common plane 27, as described below.

The airlock mechanism 30 includes a rotatable member 80 having three vanes 82, the vanes extending across the front of the machine and being located in an airlock chamber 84 which extends across the front of the machine above the outlet opening 34 as shown in Figure 1. When the beam 38 moves in the reverse direction, the selected product 4a located on the tray portion 40 will be moved in a rearward direction by the middle leg 48 to a point where it is free to fall from the tray portion 40 onto the vane 82 as shown in Figure 14. The member 80 is now rotated in an anticlockwise direction (as seen in Figures 10 to 15) so that the selected product 4a falls from the vane 82 to the outlet shelf 32.

In the illustrated arrangement, an enclosure flap 86 is hinged to the inner surface of the front panel 10 and is located beneath the vanes 82. The flap 86 normally prevents access through the opening 34 to the vanes and chamber 84. The flap 86 also assists in maintaining temperature control within the machine. A linkage 90 is pivotally connected to the free end of the flap 86 and to the end of one of the vanes 82. The arrangement is such that when the vanes are rotated, the linkage 90 causes the flap 86 to move from its closed position shown in full lines in Figure 15 to its transfer position shown in broken lines in Figure 15. Movement of the flap 86 enables the product 4 to fall onto the tray portion 40 and also blocks the outlet opening 34 during this part of the operating sequence.

After the selected product 4a has dropped to the shelf 32, the member 80 is rotated back to its original position. This causes the linkage 90 to open the flap 86 so that the customer can retrieve the selected product 4a from the shelf 32. The vane 82 will be returned to a generally horizontal position in readiness for accepting the next selected product to be dispensed. Also the flap 86 closes the chamber 84, as before.

Figures 16 and 17 diagrammatically illustrate one of the magazines 24. The magazine includes a rectangular housing 91 which is fabricated from or extruded from aluminium or plastic. Within the housing are mounted first and second threaded shafts 92 and 94. A product support plate 100 is located within the housing. Connected to the product support plate are two bearing housings 101 and 103. The magazine includes an elevating motor 96 which is coupled to sprockets 102 and 104 threadably mounted on the shafts 92 and 94. The sprockets are coupled to the motor 96 by belts 98 and 99 so that when the motor 96 is operated, the plate 100 will be raised or lowered in accordance with the direction of rotation, and the sprockets 102 and 104 will move axially relative to the threaded shafts 92 and 94. It will be appreciated that other configurations are possible for the construction of the magazines 24. The products 4 to be loaded into the magazines may be individually stacked in the magazines from above. Alternatively, they may be placed in the magazine in the form of a clip comprising a stacked column within a cardboard or paper package.

Each magazine 24 is a fully self contained module which plugs in to the machine when the top panel 12 is removed. A magazine may be quickly changed in the field without necessitating the removal of the contents of the remaining magazines.

The plate 100 elevates the bottom of the dispensed product above the upper edge

25 of the magazine 24 by a distance in the range .1 to .5 and preferably .25 of the thickness of the product. This enables the product to be engaged by the beam 38 to be transferred to the tray portion 40. The motor 96 is then operated in the reverse direction so that the plate 100 is lowered to a position whereby the next topmost product is at a level below the top edge 25 of the magazine. This ensures that the uppermost products in the magazines 24 do not interfere with the operation of the transfer assemblies 28. It is important to note that at no stage during the sequence of operation do either of the beams 36 and 38 engage the product immediately below the selected product 4a. It is also important to note that because the next uppermost product is still about 25-50% of its height below the top edge 25 of the magazine, it cannot be dispensed even if it is temporarily glued or adhered to the selected product 4a.

It will be also appreciated by a person skilled in the art that alternative drive methods are available. For instance rack and pinions can be spinning sprockets on the threaded shafts. This applies to the shafts 92 and 94 within the magazines 24 as well as the shafts 66 and 74 of the assembly 28.

It will be further appreciated that the machine will work satisfactorily even though products 4 in the respective magazines 24 have different thicknesses as long as all of the products within a particular magazine have the same thickness which is known so that the stack can be elevated by the predetermined height. The predetermined height can be inputted to the CPU 160 which is described later in relation to Figure 26. Alternatively and/or in addition, sensors (not shown) could be provided to sense the heights of the product being elevated and appropriate signals given to the lifting motors 96 of the magazines 24 in order to obtain the correct elevation and lowering of the stacks.

The horizontal positioning of the transfer assembly 28 can be controlled with or without the use of sensors. If sensors are employed, they could be disposed to control horizontal positioning of the beams 36 and 38 relative to the magazines 24. In this case sensors 200 are located adjacent to the four rows of magazines, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 8. The sensors may comprise microswitches, opto-transistors coupled with LEDs, magnetic reed switches and others. Alternatively the motor 56 may comprise a stepper motor or one rev motor which is precisely controlled from inputs from the CPU 160. Similarly, if sensors are used to sense the heights of the products which have been elevated, they can be positioned within the assembly 29. In Figure 9, four sensors 202 are arranged in a vertical column at one end of the beam 38 so as to receive light emitted from respective LED devices 204 at the other end of the beam 38. The sensors 202 are therefore able to detect the height to which a selected product 4a enters the transfer chamber.

Figures 18 to 21 illustrate an alternative product transfer assembly 110 which can be used as an alternative to the assembly 28. This assembly may be suitable for products having a greater depth than those used with the assembly 28. Further, the modified arrangement is capable of operating in a modified machine which has a second assembly 112 arranged to deliver products to a rear tray 148 in the rear panel 8, if desired. The second assembly 112 is essentially a mirror image of the first assembly 110 and therefore need not be described in detail.

The assembly 110 is shown in more detail in Figures 19, 20 and 21. It comprises a transfer tray 114 preferably formed from sheet metal and having downturned flanges 116 and 118 at its forward and rear sides. The end of the tray 114 is formed with upturned flanges which provide a mounting for a pivot pin or bolt 122. The forward parts of the flanges also support friction blocks 124. The assembly 112 also includes a product transfer housing 126 which has a front face 128, top face 130, rear face 132 and open bottom 134. The housing 126 has end walls 136 provided with upper rollers 138 and a lower roller 139. Located near the bottom of the end walls 136 are elongate slots 140 through which the pins or bolts 122 of the tray 114 pass, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 21. The arrangement is such that the housing 126 can move laterally relative to the tray 114 for the length of the slots 140 to provide lost motion between the tray 114 and the housing 126. Also, the tray 114 is capable of rotational movement about the pin 122 relative to the housing 126.

The sidewalls 16 of the housing of the modified machine include an upper track

142 and a lower cam surface 144, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 18. The upper rollers 138 engage the top of the track 142 and the lower rollers 140 engage the underside of the track. The housing 126 can therefore be moved forwardly and rearwardly by means of a drive system 56 as described above. The friction blocks 124 of the tray 114 engage the cam surface 144. Generally speaking, the tray 114 will follow movement of the housing 126 subject to the lost movement owing to the interconnection through the slot 140. It will be appreciated that the relative movements of the tray 114 and housing 126 are functionally equivalent to those of the first and second beams 36 and 38.

When it is desired to dispense a product, the drive system 56 is operated so that the housing 126 is moved to a position above the magazine from which the product is to be dispensed. The elevating motor 96 of the selected magazine is operated so as to raise the product into the housing 126 through the open bottom 134. The drive system 56 is then operated to move the housing 126 towards the front of the machine and this will carry the product onto the tray 114 and thereafter the tray and housing 126 will move in unison towards the front of the machine, as indicated in Figure 24. This will continue until the friction blocks 124 encounter downwardly inclined portions 146 of the cam 144. The blocks 124 will follow the downwardly inclined portions 146 so that the tray will pivot downwardly, as indicated in Figure 25 whereupon the product will fall onto the vane 82 of the airlock 30. The product then passes to the outlet shelf 32 in the same way as described previously.

Where the machine has a rear outlet tray 148, the second transfer assembly 112 operates in an analogous way. The cam 144 includes an oppositely directed downwardly inclined portion 150 which performs a similar function to the downwardly inclined portion 146.

The transfer assemblies 110 and 112 may include sensors 200 and 202 as in the previous embodiment.

The sequence of operation of the machine is preferably controlled by means of a computer and the necessary control steps could readily be carried out by a person skilled in the art. Some details are, however, set out below by way of example which describes some enhanced features which may be provided in the machine.

The machine may be controlled by an onboard computer. The machine may be equipped with a socket as an input for a plug-in barcode reader or a data-capture device. In the preferred embodiment the machine may be also fitted with an auto-dial auto answer modem. The machine may also contain a pair of stereo speakers. In the preferred embodiment, the entire machine is powered by a 12V battery which is charged by means of a battery charger and all motors are 12V DC motors. Models may be built utilising 240V or 100V AC.

The machine may include a credit card reader and/or a coin acceptor, which are intelligent devices communicating with the controller via a serial link. Alternatively, it is possible to control such devices through the controller. In the preferred embodiment the coin acceptor will reject all bad coins and slugs as well as identify the denomination of each coin to the controller. In the preferred embodiment the credit card reader will read the cards and transmit the credit card number to the controller.

The display panel 18 may comprise a video screen which is utilised for displaying prices and communicating with the customer. The video screen together with the speakers may be used to provide an incentive to client to purchase from a vending model by playing a music video or the like each time a predetermined number of units are purchased. The speakers may be also utilised in applications where the machine is located in an area frequented by the visually impaired.

The barcode reader is utilised as input for implementation of the security measures. The barcode reader can also be utilised as input for the loading and cash clearing operation. The modem is utilised for communications between the machine and a remote computer or between the machine and a portable computer.

Lifting of product may be both timed by the CPU and limited by the sensors

202. The program maintains a table, in non volatile memory, of times required to travel in respect of each operation. The table is constantly maintained. In the unlikely event that all four limits are inoperable, the system continues to run on time base and reports the fault. Under ordinary circumstances should one set of limits fail the program will report the failure and continue running on the remainder. Any one set is sufficient to run the system. Current to the motor is switched through a series of FETs and polarity is reversed through two fused failsafe circuited sets of relays. The machines could be interrogated nightly by a remote computer system which could prepare a sales report, a stock report and banking report. Banking report will allow banking of all credit card transactions the following working day. The sales history and stock reports will enable efficient restocking of all machines in the field. Coin collection and restocking of optional change dispensers may be carried out by the person stocking the machine or another person. The lifting of the lid preferably will not automatically provide access to cash or change dispenser (not shown). This also enables individuals to purchase and locate their own machines which they will collect money from whilst having their machine(s) stocked by the supplier or an independent contractor.

The machines would be stocked with product which may be packed in recyclable cardboard "clips" each containing say 20 units. The delivery driver would lift open the top 12 and insert the product into the correct magazine 24. In order to avoid the possibility that the wrong product will be loaded into a given machine, the van driver could use a barcode reader which will drop the support plate 100 of the correct magazine following a swipe of the barcoded clip. The barcode reader also provides added security. It prevents access to a machine with a lost or duplicated key. As a new operator ID may be downloaded via the phone, a lost key, or even a lost ID card, would not result in the deterioration of the security system which protects access to the machine.

Similarly a cash collector or an owner operator would also be issued with a barcode reader and an access ID card.

It is envisaged that cash collectors would carry a small printer which will produce a cash report as well as a cash required (for change dispenser) report. A copy of same will be transmitted. Alternatively, a data capture device may be used by cash collectors or service personnel.

As mentioned above, the products are preferably supplied in packaged stacks referred to as clips. A clip may comprise an elongated cardboard or plastic box with relatively thin walls. The length of the clip is determined by the specific use, i.e. how many units it is required to hold. Its cross section is that of the product that it holds. A clip for holding 20 units of a rectangular product whose outside dimensions are 200x100x20 would have an internal cross section of approximately 200x100 and a length of approximately 400 (20 times 20). The dimensions have been approximated for clarity. A practical application would require the clip to be say 201x101x401 to enable the product to slide freely. The clips is used for the purpose of loading a magazine 24 in a short period of time. The clip is positioned on top of the magazine which is then lowered thereby enabling the product to be loaded.

Figure 26 is a block diagram of a typical control system for the vending machine. It is to be understood however that other types of control system are possible and that many of the enhanced features shown in the control system are optional.

Figure 26 shows a central processing unit 160 having a plurality of inputs from various parts of the machine. For instance, the CPU has inputs from the keyboard 20, a coin validator 162 which receives coins inserted through the slot 21. The CPU 160 may include inputs from temperature sensor 164 which are located to monitor the temperature in the chamber 26 so that the CPU 160 can generate appropriate serial outputs on line 166 for controlling such things as the compressor, evaporator fans, condenser fans, etc. The line 166 preferably comprises an optical communications link to provide electric isolation from the mains supply 188. The CPU may also include a door sensor 165, vent sensor 168 and a battery condition sensor 170. The front panel 10 may include a refund button 23 which can be pressed to refund coins or to cancel input to the credit card reader which is coupled to the card slot 22. The CPU may also include a passive infrared (PIR) sensor to sense the presence of a person in proximity of the machine to initiate selected functions such as voice command procedures for visually impaired users.

Apart from the output controls on line 166, the CPU may generate serial outputs

174 for data-capture, serial outputs 176 for a modem, serial outputs 178 for the display 18. The CPU 160 can also produce output signals to activate indicator lamps (not shown) which would be located on the front panel 10. For instance the front panel may include a NO CHANGE LED 180 to indicate that the machine does not have any change or a PRODUCT LED 182 to indicate that the machine is temporarily out of supply of a particular product. The CPU 160 also has outputs coupled to vend motor relays 184 which in turn are coupled to the motor 58 and to the various motors 96 of the magazines. The CPU 160 also includes outlet lines to operate change release solenoids 186 which can dispense appropriate cash change to a customer. The block diagram also shows the mains input supply 188 coupled to power various components of the machine as indicated generally by the block 192 via a circuit breaker/earth leakage detector circuit 190.

The following pseudo code is included to demonstrate how some of the more important control sequences could be programmed into the onboard computer of the machine. It is to be understood, however, that this pseudo code is given by way of example only. Routines for handling time slices, data time and interrupt servicing are not included because these are well known in the art.

100 SCAN BARCODE READER IF INPUT PRESENT GOTO BARCODE

200 SCAN KEYBOARD IF INPUT PRESENT GOTO KEYBOARD 300 SCAN CARD READIER IF INPUT PRESENT GOTO CARD

400 SCAN COIN ACCEPTOR INPUT PRESENT GOTO COIN

500 SCAN DATACOMM PORT

600 DO SELFTEST

700 DISPLAY MESSAGE n 800 INCREMENT n

900 IF n > LAST_DISPLAY LET n=l

1000 GOTO 100

BARCODE 1100 IF INPUT = SOFT_KEY GOTO SOFTKEY ELSE GOTO 200 (Remark SOFT_KEY = any one of several valid entry codes) SOFTKEY

1200 ENABLE MECHANICAL LOCK

1300 RECORD DATE AND ΗME AND SOFT_KEY FOR ACCESS REPORT 1400 SCAN MECHANICAL LOCK IF SHUT GOTO TRANSEND 1500 SCAN BARCODE READER IF NO INPUT GOTO 1400 1600 IF INPUT = PRODUCT_CODE GOTO PRODUCTCODE

(Remark PRODUCT_CODE = any one of several valid product codes) 1700 IF INPUT = CASH GOTO CASH 1800 IF INPUT = MAINTENANCE GOTO MAINTENANCE 1900 IF INPUT NOT VALID GOTO 1400

PRODUCTCODE

2000 IF PRODUCT_CODE = DELIVERY_CODE GOTO DELIVERY

(Remark DELIVERY_CODE = any one of several valid product codes on a list of products ordered for this machine on this delivery run).

2100 GOTO ERROR [DELIVERY] (Remark [DELIVERY] = Argument)

DELIVERY

2200 LOWER RELEVANT MAGAZINES BY DISTANCE = ONE_CLIP (Remark ONE_CLIP = any one of several lengths equal to one product clip)

2300 RECORD DATE, ΗME, SOFT EY, PRODUCT_CODE FOR DELIVERY REPORT, REMOVE DELIVER_CODE FROM LIST AND GOTO 1400

CASH 2400 IF CASH CLEARING IS SCHEDULED GOTO CLEAR 2500 GOTO ERROR [CASH_SCHEDULE]

CLEAR

2600 IF SOFTJCEY = CASH_KEY GOTO OPEN 2700 GOTO ERROR [CASHJD] OPEN

2800 RECORD DATE ΗME SOFT_KEY AND AMOUNT FOR REPORT

2900 ENABLE MECHANICAL LOCK ON CASHBOX

3000 SET COUNTER1 = 0 COUNTER2 = 0 3100 BEEP

3200 INCREMENT COUNTER1

3300 IF COUNTER 1 < 1000 GOTO 4100

3400 INCREMENT COUNTER2

3500 IF COUNTER 2 > SET_VALUE GOTO ERROR [ALARM] (Remark SET_VALUE = value set by central control as acceptable time period for removal of cash)

3600 SCAN MECHANICAL LOCK ON CASH BOX IF SHUT GOTO 1400

3700 SET COUNTERl = 0 GOTO 3100

KEYBOARD

3800 DISPLAY PRICE AND GRAPHICS CORRESPONDING TO DEPRESSED

KEY 3900 SET COUNTERl = 0 4000 INCREMENT COUNTERl 4100 IF COUNTERl > PRICE_DISPLAY_VALUE GOTO 500 (Remark set time for display of price) 4200 GOTO 4000

CARD 4300 IF CARD INVALID GOTO ERROR [INVALID_CARD] 4500 IF CARD_NO = BAD_LIST GOTO ERROR [BAD_CARD]

(Remark CARD_NO = Credit card number; BAD_LIST = any one of several values on credit card "bad list") 4550 DISPLAY "PLEASE MAKE YOUR SELECTION" 4600 SCAN KEYBOARD

4700 IF NO INPUT AND CARD STILL PRESENT GOTO 4600

4800 IF NO INPUT AND CARD REMOVED GOTO CARDTRANSEND 4900 DISPLAY SELECTION AND ITEM_PRICE

4950 IF PRODUCT IN STOCK GOTO CARDINSTOCK

4955 DO NOSTOCK

4960 GOTO 4600

CARDINSTOCK

5000 DO CARDDISPENSE

5100 GOTO 4600

COIN

5200 ADD COIN TO COIN_VALUE AND DISPLAY 5300 SCAN COIN ACCEPTOR IF INPUT PRESENT GOTO 5200 5400 SCAN KEYBOARD IF INPUT PRESENT GO TO CHECKCOIN 5500 GOTO 5300

CHECKCOIN

5600 IF COIN RETURNED NOT PRESSED GOTO COUNTCOIN 5700 IF COIN RETURNED PRESSED REFUND COIN_VALUE 5800 SET COIN_VALUE = 0 GOTO 500

COUNTCOIN

(NOTES: INVALID COINS AND SLUGS ARE AUTOMAΗCALLY REJECTED

COIN MECHANISM FAILURES ARE REPORTED

AUTOMAΗCALLY)

5810 DISPLAY "PLEASE MAKE YOUR SELECTION"

5850 DISPLAY SELECTION AND ITEM_PRICE

5855 IF PRODUCT IN STOCK GOTO COININSTOCK

5860 DO NOSTOCK 5865 GOTO 5400 COININSTOCK

5900 IF COIN_VALUE NOT < ITEM_PRICE GOTO COINDISPENSE

6000 GOTO ERROR [INSUFHCIENTFUNDS]

CARDDISPENSE

6050 RECORD DATE ΗME CARD_NO ITEM_CODE AND ITEM_PRICE 6055 GOTO DISPENSE [CARD] 6060 RETURN

COINDISPENSE

6100 RECORD DATE ΗME ITEM_CODE AND ITEM_PRICE 6200 GOTO DISPENSE [COIN]

6300 IF COIN_VALUE > ITEM PRICE GOTO CHANGE 6400 GOTO 500

CHANGE

6500 LET CHANGE = COIN_VALUE - ITEM_PRICE

6600 LET CHANGE = COIN_VALUE

6700 GOTO 5300

DISPENSE *

6800 POSITION TRAY (40 OR 114) ABOVE MAGAZINE 24 IF FAILED GOTO

CARRIER 6900 RAISE PRODUCT 4 TO DELIVERY LEVEL IF FAILED GOTO MAGAZINE 7000 LOAD PRODUCT ON TRAY (40 OR 114) IF FAILED GOTO CARRIER 7100 MOVE PRODUCT TO DISPENSING POINT IF FAILED GOTO CARRIER 7200 MOVE BEAM 38 OR HOUSING 126 BACK ONE STEP IF FAILED GOTO

CARRIER 7300 TURN AIRLOCK 30 AND RETURN IF FAILED GOTO AIRLOCK 7350 IF [CARD] GOTO 6060 7355 GOTO 6300

* For clarity specific physical operations such as testing of infrared limits for purpose of accurate travel OR detection of failures have been assumed and not described in detail.

CARDTRANSEND 7400 RECORD DATE ΗME AND CARD_NO

7500 RECORD TOTAL FOR THIS TRANSACTION 7600 GOTO 400

TRANSEND 7700 IF DELIVERY_LIST = 0 GOTO 200

7800 GOTO ERROR [INCOMPLETE_DELIVERY]

ERROR

8000 BEEP AND IF ARGUMENT = [DELIVERY]

8001 DISPLAY "NOT FOR THIS MACHINE"

8002 BEEP AND GOTO 1400

[CASH_SCHEDULE] 8003 DISPLAY "CASH CLEARING NOT SCHEDULED FOR THIS

MACHINE" 8004 BEEP AND GOTO 1400

[CASHJD] 8005 DISPLAY "CASH CLEARING NOT SCHEDULED FOR THIS

MACHINE" 8006 BEEP AND GOTO 1400

[ALARM] 8007 DISPLAY "CASH BOX UNLOCKED"

8008 BEEP AND GOTO 1400 [INVALID_CARD]

8009 DISPLAY "UNABLE TO READ CARD"

8010 BEEP AND GOTO 400

[BAD_CARD]

8011 DISPLAY "UNABLE TO READ CARD"

8012 BEEP AND GOTO 400

[INSUFΠCIENTFUNDS] 8013 DISPLAY "INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT PRICE IS "UNIT_PRICE"

8014 DISPLAY ITEMS WHOSE UNIT_PRICE NOT LESS THAN COIN_VALUE

8015 BEEP AND GOTO 5300

[INCOMPLETE_DELIVERY]

8016 DISPLAY "INCOMPLETE DELIVERY"

8017 BEEP AND GOTO 100

NOSTOCK 8100 BEEP

8200 DISPLAY "ITEM OUT OF STOCK" 8300 BEEP AND RETURN

MAGAZINE 9000 IF ITEM NOT AVAILABLE IN ANOTHER MAGAZINE GOTO NOITEM

9100 GOTO 6800

9300 DO NOSTOCK

9350 DO DATACOMM [MAGAZINE]

9400 IF [CARD] GOTO 4600 9500 GOTO 5400 CARRIER

9600 GOTO SHUTDOWN [CARRIER]

AIRLOCK 9650 GOTO SHUTDOWN [AIRLOCK]

SHUTDOWN

9700 BEEP

9750 DISPLAY "MACHINE FAILURE NO SALES POSSIBLE" 9755 BEEP

9760 DO DATACOMM [SHUTDOWN]

9765 IF [CARD] GOTO ENDLOOP

9770 REFUND COIN_VALUE

9775 GOTO ENDLOOP

DATACOMM

9800 SEND [ARGUMENT1] [ARGUMENT2] AND RETURN

ENDLOOP 9998 SCAN BARCODE READER IF INPUT PRESENT GOTO BARCODE 9999 GOTO 9998

The system may be programmed to accept data from an auto answer/auto dial modem. When datacomm is initiated from an external source the system will identify the source, accept the source's PIN and hang up. Following this action the system will dial up a number, corresponding to the sources PIN in an internal table, and stand by to accept data.

Data may be transmitted in packets each containing a header (preamble), a data section and a trailer (postamble). The header must contain valid local and remote IDs as well as a valid instruction code which identifies the type of data following the header.

This is followed by two bytes defining the message length. The types of data following the header may be any data that is known to the system. The system may also accept data which defines other data (program blocks). The following are typical examples of valid data:

1. Price list item(s) 2. New Product(s)

3. Oρerator(s) ID(s)

4. Operation schedule (e.g. cash clearing time etc..)

5. Delivery list and delivery date

6. Weather report (for efficient operation of the freezer unit) 7. A new section of program

8. A new set of datacomm codes

9. Music video and video (AV) advertising

The machine itself only initiates communications when it has failed to function, when it had no power for predetermined period of time or when it is being tampered with. The cutting of the phone line or its disconnection will automatically result in an alarm.

The SELFTEST subroutine examines a number of variables following which the machine will either record the data, report the data, make adjustments or shutdown. These may vary from location to location but generally fall into three categories:

The following would cause the machine to initiate communications:

Mains power loss for over a preset period.*

Drop in Freezer temperature greater than preset degrees.* Rise in ambient temperature greater than preset degrees.* Sales exceeding preset number of units* per minute. Problem with operation of delivery mechanism. Problem with operation of coin dispenser.

Limits failure. Freezer failure. Checksum errors. Machine being tampered with. Illegal attempt to gain entry into cash box. If flag set, completion of a delivery. If flag set, completion of cash box clearing.

* All variables may be changed during a datacomm download.

The following would cause the machine to record information for reporting purposes:

Every sales transaction.

Each delivery.

Each clearing of cash box. Each interruption to mains power.

Each even that would cause the machine to initiate datacomm.

Freezer temperature and ambient temperature on a half hourly basis.*

All operations of the freezer unit.*

Each operation of each magazine.** Each operation of the delivery mechanism.**

Each operation of the airlock.**

* These are recorded for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the freezer's operation. The freezer management section of the program takes into account the season, time of day, ambient temperature and weather report.

** These are recorded as a back-up for operation of limits. As limits may fail at some point the system's drive management section of the program keeps track of the time each operation takes as well as changes in same due to temperature and ageing. The system is programmed to override lack of signal from a limit or sensor after 2% of the required time has elapsed. As a result, the machine can continue operating in this manner for several days.

The machine of the invention is capable of being programmed to handle various products in accordance with specific requirements of manufacturers or health authorities. For instance, permanent or temporary inhibiting of products could be made following a detected change in temperature of the product or the like.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus (2) for dispensing selected articles (4) stored therein, means (24) for defining a plurality of stacks of articles (4), lifting means (96, 100) for selectively elevating a selected stack of articles so that an uppermost article therein is a predetermined distance above a datum (27), and transfer means (28, 110, 112) for engaging said uppermost article and transferring said uppermost article to a delivery station (32, 34).

2. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including control means for controlling the sequence of operation of said lifting means (96, 100) and said transfer means (28, 110 and 112).

3. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the control means is operable to operate the lifting means so that the selected stack of articles is elevated so that the top of the uppermost article is located above said datum by a distance which is in the range of .1 to .5 of the height of the articles.

4. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said distance is .25 of the height of the articles.

5. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the transfer means includes a tray (40, 114) and shifting means (38, 126) for said uppermost article onto said tray.

6. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the control means is operable to cause the lifting means to lower the selected stack of articles so that the new uppermost article therein is at or below said datum prior to causing moving the tray (40, 114) to said delivery means.

7. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tray is mounted for sliding movement on guide means (52, 144).

8. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transfer means includes drive means (57) coupled to move said shifting means, the shifting means being coupled to move said tray therewith after a predetermined amount of lost motion.

9. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the shifting means includes first and second legs (46, 48) which are selectively engagable with a flange (46) on the tray (4) provide said lost motion.

10. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the shifting means includes a slot (140) and the tray (114) includes a pivot (122) which passes through the slot and movement of the pin relative to the slot provides said lost motion.

11. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said means (24) for defining stacks comprise magazines, each containing, in use, a stack of articles.

12. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the top edges (25) of the magazines lie in a plane (27) which constitutes said datum.

13. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein each magazine has lifting means (96, 110) associated therewith.

14. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein each lifting means includes a lifting motor 96, support means (100) for supporting the lowermost article in the stack and a pair of rotatable threaded shafts (92, 94), the support means being coupled to the shafts by nuts (102, 104) whereby rotation of the motor (96) causes raising or lowering of said support means (100).

15. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein each magazine (24) includes an elongate housing (91) having an open top defined by said top edge (25) and wherein said shafts are located within said elongate housing, and wherein the lifting motor is located at the bottom of the housing.

16. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes a housing (6) and wherein the delivery means includes an access opening (34) in said housing and delivery tray (32) located within the housing (6).

17. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the plurality of stacks of articles are located within an insulated chamber (26) and wherein airlock means (30) is provided between said access opening and said chamber.

18. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the airlock means includes rotatable vanes (82) and wherein said transfer means is operable to pass said selected article to one of said vanes.

19. A method of dispensing articles (4) comprising the steps of: storing the articles in a plurality of stacks (24); elevating a selected stack of articles so that the top of an uppermost article in the selected stack is a predetermined distance above a datum level (27); engaging the uppermost article by transfer means (28, 110, 112); operating the transfer means to move said uppermost article laterally relative to said stacks to a delivery station (32, 34); and lowering said selected stack so that the new uppermost articles in the selected stack is below said datum level.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein said articles are provided in magazines (24) which define said stacks and wherein said datum level is a plane (27) including top edges (25) of said magazines.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 or 20 wherein the predetermined distance is in the range 1.1 to 1.5 times the height of the articles and then lowering the stack by a second predetermined distance which is equal to the first predetermined distance minus the height of an article.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 including the step of providing lifting means (96, 100, 102, 104) in each magazine to enable selective elevation of said stacks.