AN ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS

Abstract

There is disclosed an article dispensing apparatus (10) comprising: an endless conveyor (18) having a plurality of moveable compartments (24) each defined by a pair of adjacent dividers (22) coupled to the conveyor (18), at least a part of each divider (22) being pivotable between at least a closed position in which it cooperates with an adjacent divider (22) to restrict access to the compartment (24) defined therebetween, and an open position in which it is spaced from the said adjacent divider (22) for dispensing an article received in the said compartment (24); and a guide arrangement (34) capable of causing pivoting movement of each divider (22) between at least the closed position and the open positions.

Claims

1. An article dispensing apparatus comprising: an endless conveyor having a plurality of moveable compartments each defined by a pair of adjacent dividers coupled to the conveyor, at least a part of each divider being pivotable between at least a closed position in which it cooperates with an adjacent divider so that the distal end of the compartment is closed by the dividers and access to the compartment defined therebetween is restricted, and an open position in which it is spaced from the said adjacent divider for dispensing an article received in the said compartment; and a guide arrangement capable of causing pivoting movement of each divider between at least the closed position and the open position.

2. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each divider is pivotably coupled to the endless conveyor.

3. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each divider is articulated so that a distal part of the divider is pivotable with respect to a proximal part of the divider which is coupled to the endless conveyor.

4. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide arrangement is arranged to engage a distal part of each divider.

5. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each divider is provided with at least one engagement portion for engaging with the guide arrangement.

6. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide arrangement comprises a guide track engaged with the distal part of each divider.

7. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide track encircles the endless conveyor.

8. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide track is configured so that a separation distance between the guide track and the endless conveyor in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the endless conveyor varies along the guide track to cause pivoting movement of each divider between at least the closed and open positions.

9. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the guide track is configured so that the separation distance between the guide track and the endless conveyor increases along an expansion portion of the guide track with respect to a normal direction of movement of the endless conveyor, whereby in use at least a part of a divider engaged with the expansion portion of the guide track pivots way from an adjacent divider so that an opening to the compartment defined therebetween is formed or expands for dispensing.

10. An article dispensing apparatus according claim 6, wherein the endless conveyor is arranged to be oriented substantially vertically so that each divider is arranged for pivotable movement about a substantially horizontal axis; wherein the guide track defines a retaining path for the dividers arranged so that compartments defined between dividers on the retaining path retain any articles received therein during operation of the endless conveyor; and wherein the guide arrangement further comprises an actuator configured to selectively cause a divider to depart from the retaining path to a discharging configuration, in which the divider is in the open position relative an adjacent divider and in which an opening to the compartment defined therebetween is formed through which an article received in the compartment can fall.

11. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a portion of the guide track is bifurcated between the retaining path and a discharging path, and wherein the actuator is configured to selectively cause a divider to depart from the retaining path onto the discharging path whereby it moves into the discharging configuration.

12. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to move a portion of the guide track so that a divider departs from the retaining path to a discharging configuration.

13. An article dispensing apparatus according claim 6, wherein a storage portion of the guide track is configured so that each divider engaged with the storage portion is in the closed position relative an adjacent divider to retain an article received in the compartment defined therebetween.

14. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a storage portion of the guide track is configured so that each divider engaged with the storage portion is in the closed position relative an adjacent divider to retain an article received in the compartment defined therebetween and the distal part of each divider engaged with the storage portion pivots to the closed position relative an adjacent divider around an article received in the compartment therebetween.

15. An article dispensing apparatus according claim 6, wherein a loading portion of the guide track is configured so that each divider engaged with the loading portion is in an open position relative an adjacent divider so that the compartment defined therebetween is open for receiving an article and so that the said compartment is configured to retain the article by gravity.

16. (canceled)

Description

[0042] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective cutaway view of an article dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 schematically shows a plurality of magazines disposed within the article dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 schematically shows two configurations of a divider for a magazine of the FIG. 2;

[0046] FIG. 4 schematically shows dividers of a magazines in the region of an expansion portion of a guide track for the magazine;

[0047] FIG. 5 schematically shows dividers of a magazine in the region of a discharging path of the guide track;

[0048] FIG. 6 schematically shows dividers of a magazine in the region of a movable discharging portion of the guide track; and

[0049] FIG. 7 schematically shows a cutaway view of a magazine including a sensor for determining whether a compartment is empty.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a cutaway view of an article dispensing apparatus in the form of a freestanding automatic cabinet 10. The cabinet has four dispensing doors 12 through which articles may be manually withdrawn from the cabinet, and a chute opening 14 for discharging articles from within the cabinet 10 for a user to retrieve.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, within the automatic cabinet 10 there are four magazines 16 arranged side-by-side for storing and dispensing a plurality of articles. Each magazine 16 comprises a vertically-oriented link-type endless conveyor 18 formed over two horizontal-axis rollers 20, and a plurality of dividers 22 defining movable compartments 24 on the conveyor 18.

[0052] One of the rollers 20 of each conveyor 18 is provided with a stepper motor (not shown) to cause the respective conveyor 18 to rotate. The rollers 20 for each conveyor 18 are vertically separated so that each endless conveyor 18 comprises an elongate front side towards the dispensing doors 12 (FIG. 1) and an opposing elongate rear side. Each conveyor 18 comprises two chains 26 extending around the rollers 20 and supporting a plurality of regularly spaced link rods 28 extending therebetween. Link plates 30 are coupled to the rods 28 to form a base or proximal end of each compartment 24.

[0053] The dividers 22 are pivotably coupled to each endless conveyor 18. In this embodiment, a divider 22 is coupled to each conveyor at every other link rod 28 of the conveyor 18, although in other embodiments the spacing between dividers 22 may be larger or smaller, or may be variable around the conveyor 18.

[0054] Briefly referring to FIG. 3, in this embodiment each divider is articulated between a proximal part 39 that is pivotable coupled to an endless conveyor 18 (FIG. 2) and a distal part 40. The proximal and distal parts 39, 40 are coupled at a hinge 42, but in other embodiments the divider 22 may be formed from a scored sheet of material.

[0055] Each divider 22 is provided with an engagement portion towards its distal end for engaging with a guide track 34 (FIG. 2), as described in detail below. In this embodiment, the engagement portion of each divider is in the form of a pair of guide tabs 36 provided on opposite sides of the distal end of the divider. The opposing tabs 36 ride are arranged to ride within guide tracks 34 in side walls on either side of the divider 22.

[0056] Referring back to FIG. 2, each pair of adjacent dividers 22 defines a compartment 24 therebetween on the conveyor 18. Each compartment 24 is additionally bounded on the sides by vertical side walls 32 disposed between the magazines 16 and at its proximal end by one or more link plates 30 coupled to the conveyor. The distal end of each compartment 24 can be opened and closed by pivoting movement of the dividers 22. In particular, each divider can pivot towards an adjacent divider 22 to a closed position in which the dividers cooperate to restrict access to the compartment defined therebetween, and can pivot away from the adjacent divider 22 to an open position in which an article within the compartment 24 can be accessed.

[0057] Each vertical side wall 32 comprises a guide track 34 that extends around the conveyor. In this embodiment the guide track 34 is a groove, but in other embodiments may be a slot extending through the side wall 32 or a rail coupled to the side wall 32 or another part of the magazine 16 or apparatus 10. The guide track 34 is configured to engage with an engagement portion of each divider 22.

[0058] The guide track 34 defines a path for the dividers 22 to follow as each conveyor 18 rotates around the rollers 20. At all points on the path, a separation distance between the endless conveyor 18 and the guide tracks 34 is less than the length of a fully extended divider 22 so that the dividers 22 are required to trail from the pivotable connection with the conveyor 18 with respect to a normal direction of motion of the conveyor (the clockwise direction in the drawings, i.e. downward on the front side and upward at the rear). The separation distance relates to the distance in a plane perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the rollers (i.e. a plane parallel with the side walls 32). The conveyor 18 is configured to rotate in one direction only, and therefore the dividers 22 will always trail from the attachment point with the conveyor 18, rather than be pushed by the conveyor, which could result in jamming.

[0059] The separation distance varies around the endless conveyor in order to control pivoting motion of the divider 22. In particular, the separation distance dictates the pivoting motion of one divider 22 with respect to its adjacent dividers between the closed and open positions. The separation distance between the guide track 34 and the endless conveyor 18 is generally greater over the elongate front side of the endless conveyor than over the elongate rear side. In particular, the guide track 34 has a storage portion 37 at the rear side of the conveyor where the separation distance is relatively small so each divider 22 engaged therewith pivots to the closed position relative an adjacent diver so as to retain any articles contained in the compartment 24 defined therebetween.

[0060] Conversely, at the front side of the conveyor above the dispensing doors 12, the guide track 34 has a loading portion 38 where the separation distance is relatively large so that each divider 22 engaged therewith pivots to the open position relative an adjacent divider so that articles can be loaded into the compartment 24 defined therebetween. In particular, front-side cabinet doors (not shown) are provided which can be opened to insert articles into compartments 24 defined by dividers 22 engaging the loading portion of the guide track 34.

[0061] The dividers 22 are configured to extend obliquely upwards over the front side of the conveyor 18, as shown in FIG. 2 and as will be described below. Therefore, despite being open over the front side of the conveyor, articles within compartments 24 on the front side of the conveyor 18 are held by gravity. In particular, the proximal end of the proximal part 39 of each divider 22 is configured to engage with the conveyor 18, in particular the link plates 30, so that the angle between the conveyor 18 and the proximal part 39 (FIG. 3) is limited. Specifically, the proximal part 39 of each divider 22 is configured so that, when the divider is on the front elongate portion of the conveyor 18, the maximum angle between the conveyor and the vertically extending conveyor 18 is 60°. Accordingly, the dividers 22 will bear the weight of and retain articles when they extend along an upwardly inclined direction, rather than pivoting downwardly.

[0062] The guide track 34 therefore defines a retaining path for the dividers 22, whereby dividers 22 following the retaining path serve to retain articles within the compartments 24 defined therebetween at all points around the conveyor 18, either by virtue of the compartments being closed (the storage portion 37 of the guide track 34), or open but arranged to retain an article by gravity (the front side of the guide track 34, including the loading portion 38). The conveyor 18 can therefore be continuously rotated without necessarily dispensing an article.

[0063] Three dispensing arrangements for the article dispensing apparatus 10 and their operation will now be described. The dispensing arrangements include door access (FIG. 4), chute access guided by a guide track (FIG. 5), and chute access by movement of the guide track (FIG. 6).

[0064] FIG. 4 shows the first dispensing arrangement in the region of the dispensing doors 12.

[0065] At the front side of the conveyor 18 the guide track 34 comprises the loading portion 38, a contraction portion 48 and an expansion portion 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the separation distance between the loading, contraction and expansion portions of the guide track 34 and the endless conveyor is such that each divider 22 engaged therewith is in the open position relative a following divider 22. Therefore the respective compartments 24 are open and extend obliquely upwardly to hold articles by gravity.

[0066] In normal use, the cabinet doors in front of the loading portion are locked and manual access to the compartments 24 is only provided via the selectively openable dispensing doors 12 and an access chute 46 extending towards the distal ends of the compartments 24 that move past the doors 12. In order to improve access to a compartment 24 located behind the dispensing doors 12, the guide track 34 includes an expansion portion 44 configured to widen an opening to the compartment 24.

[0067] The expansion portion 44 of the guide track extends away from the conveyor 18 so that the separation distance between the conveyor 18 and the guide track 34 increases along the expansion portion 44 with respect to the normal direction of rotation of the conveyor 18. Accordingly, as the guide pins 36 of a leading divider 22″ engage with the expansion portion 44, the already-extended leading divider 22″ tends to pivot downwardly and away from a following divider 22′ so as to form or increase the size of the opening between them, thus widening the compartment so that a user may reach around an article disposed therein to withdraw it.

[0068] Prior to the expansion portion 44 of the guide track, there is a contraction portion 48 over which the separation distance decreases with respect to the normal direction of rotation of the conveyor 18. The contraction portion 48 is arranged so that a leading divider engaged with the contraction portion pivots towards a following divider as it moves along the contraction portion 48, so that the leading divider moves towards a closed position.

[0069] It will be appreciated that for arrangements in which the dividers are already extended and limited by pivot stops prior to an expansion portion 48, for example over the loading portion 38 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a preceding contraction portion allows for an opening to a compartment 24 to ultimately be widened over the expansion portion 48. In contrast, if the dividers are not fully expanded or the compartments therebetween are not fully open prior to an expansion portion 48, a contraction portion may not be necessary.

[0070] In use, a user operates the controls 100 of the apparatus 10 to select an article to be dispensed. A control system for the apparatus 10 determines the location of the article within one of the magazines and rotates the respective conveyor 18 so that the compartment 24 in which the article is retained is disposed behind one of the dispensing doors 12. The apparatus 10 unlocks the respective dispensing door 12 and the user reaches into the compartment 24. The opening to the compartment 24 is expanded relative to the openings to the compartments 24 above, since the leading divider 22″ of the compartment 24 has moved over the expansion portion 48 to pivot away from the following divider to an expanded position.

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a second dispensing arrangement for the apparatus 10 which is arranged to selectively dispense an article from a magazine by deflecting a divider 22 from the retaining path onto a discharging path.

[0072] In this second dispensing arrangement, the guide track 34 comprises a bifurcated portion towards the lower end of the conveyor 18 including an upper portion 50 which forms part of the retaining path of the guide track 34, and a lower portion 52 which defines a discharging path for one or more dividers 22.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 5, the separation distance between the guide track 34 and the endless conveyor increases over the discharging path so that a leading divider 22″ pivots away from a following divider 22′ to open the compartment 24 defined therebetween. Further, the discharging path is defined so that the leading divider 22″ pivots to extend downwardly towards the chute 54 so that an article within the respective compartment slides outwardly over the divider 22 onto the chute 54. The discharging path converges again with the retaining path towards the rear side of the conveyor.

[0074] The apparatus 10 further comprises an actuator (not shown) for selectively directing a divider 22 to follow the discharging path. For example, the actuator may be arranged to cause a pivotable gate defining a portion of the guide track 34 to pivot so that an engaging pin of a divider 22 follows the discharging path rather than the retaining path.

[0075] In use, the control system of the apparatus 10 determines the location of a compartment containing an article to be dispensed, and rotates the respective magazine so that the compartment approaches the bifurcated portion of the guide track 34. The control system controls the actuator (not shown) so that the leading divider 22″ of the compartment containing the article to be dispensed follows the discharging path, rather than the retaining path, of the bifurcated portion of the guide track 34. As the leading divider 22″ for the compartment follows the discharging path, the article contained in the respective compartment slides out over the leading divider into the chute 54 to the chute opening 14 formed in the front of the apparatus 10 for collection by a user.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a third dispensing arrangement for a second embodiment of the apparatus 10. In the third dispensing arrangement, a movable portion of the guide track 34 is provided for selectively dispensing an article from the rear of the conveyor 18.

[0077] The second embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 10 differs from the first embodiment in that the conveyor 18 is of lesser height, and there are no dispensing doors (the first dispensing arrangement) and no bifurcated portion of the guide track 34 (the second dispensing arrangement). In the second embodiment, the dispensing apparatus 10 comprises the third dispensing arrangement only, as described in detail below.

[0078] In the third dispensing arrangement, a movable portion 56 of the guide track 34 is provided at the rear of the conveyor and partly defines the storage portion 37 of the guide track 34. The movable portion 56 of the guide track 34 comprises a pivotable member provided with a groove that defines a portion of the guide track 34. The movable portion 56 is pivotably attached at its upper end to the vertical side member. An actuator (not shown) is provided for selectively pivoting the movable portion 56 between a retracted position in which it is aligned with the adjacent portions of the guide track 34 and a discharging position in which the lower end of the movable portion 56 moves rearwardly away from the conveyor 18. The movable portion 56 is arranged so that, when it moves to the discharging position, a leading divider 22″ engaged with the movable portion 56 moves away from the retaining path to a discharging position in which it is in the open position relative to the following divider 22′ of the compartment.

[0079] Since the movable portion 56 of the guide track 34 is located at the rear of the conveyor 18 where the dividers 22 extend obliquely downwardly from the conveyor, the divider 22″ is arranged so that upon moving to the open position, an article in the compartment defined by the leading divider 22″ falls from the compartment into a chute 54 extending down the rear side of the conveyor 18 and is thereby dispensed to the chute opening 14.

[0080] In use, the control system for the apparatus 10 determines that an article within a specific compartment is to be dispensed based on instructions from a user. The control system rotates the respective magazine so that the leading divider 22″ of the compartment is engaged with the movable portion 56 of the guide track. The control system then causes the actuator (not shown) to move the movable portion 56 to the discharging position so that the article within the compartment falls through an opening formed at the distal end of the compartment, and travels through the chute 54 to the chute opening 14 for collection by the user.

[0081] The article dispensing apparatus 10 is configured to maintain a database of available articles and their location within the magazines 16. A user can select an article, or the control system may select an article for the user, depending on the user's inputs to the controls 100 or identification of the user to the apparatus 10, such as by presenting a user identification card.

[0082] In an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the article dispensing apparatus is configured to determine whether a compartment is empty or contains an article. Each link plate 30 is provided with a window 58 of transparent plastic, and a photo sensor 60 is disposed within the conveyor 18 and aligned with the windows 58 of the link plates 30 so that, as the window 58 of a link plate 30 passes the photo sensor 60, light from the respective compartment is detected by the photo sensor 60. In this embodiment, each divider 22 is provided with a reflective strip 62 on the proximal part 39, positioned so that if the compartment is empty, light reflected by the reflective strip 62 will be detectable by the photo sensor 60 as the divider 22 (and respective compartment) passes the photo sensor 60. The photo sensor 60 may also be provided with a light source. A processing means is configured to interpret a signal from the photo sensor 60 corresponding to the light received at the sensor, and to determine, on the basis of the signal, whether light from a reflective strip 62 is received and therefore whether the respective compartment is empty.

[0083] The apparatus may be configured so that each compartment is associated with a specific type of article, and therefore the database mapping of articles to compartments need not be updated except for indicating whether an article is present or absent in each compartment. Alternatively, the apparatus may be configured so that each compartment may accept two or more different types of articles. For example, an operator may scan an RFID tag or barcode on an article before or whilst loading it through a dispensing door into an empty compartment. The control system may then associate the compartment with the details of the article for later retrieval.

[0084] Further, the control system may locate empty compartments that are suitable for an article presented to the apparatus for loading by an operator. For example, an operator may scan the RFID tag or barcode on an article, and the control system may, on the basis of information about the article, select an appropriate empty compartment, rotate the corresponding conveyor and unlock or illuminate a dispensing door through which the article can be loaded.

[0085] Further, articles may be loaded into the compartment by opening the cabinet doors to expose the open compartments defined by dividers engaged with the loading portion of the guide track. The compartments may be loaded according to a pre-determined layout, or the control system may indicate which articles are to be loaded into which compartments. The dividers may be marked so that the operator can determine the appropriate compartments for loading each article.

[0086] Further, the compartments could be loaded in an unorganised manner, and an RFID scanner within the apparatus may be provided to detect an RFID tag associated with an article and associate the article with the corresponding compartment in the database.

[0087] A manual control may be provided for rotating the conveyor for a loading operation. The manual control may comprise two buttons located on opposite sides of the conveyors and behind the cabinet doors. The manual control may be configured so that both buttons must be pressed to cause rotation of the conveyors, so as to ensure that an operators hands are both clear of the open compartments during rotation.

[0088] It will be appreciated that where each divider is provided with engagement portions on opposing sides it is arranged to engage with a pair of opposing guide tracks having equivalent storage, loading, expansion, contraction, discharging (dispensing path) and/or movable portions.

[0089] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in which each divider is articulated between a proximal part and a distal part, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the dividers may not be articulated. In particular, the dividers may have a fixed-angle bend between a proximal part and a distal part, and be pivotable only at the attachment to the endless conveyor.