CA2016040A1 - Card vending machine - Google Patents
Card vending machineInfo
- Publication number
- CA2016040A1 CA2016040A1 CA 2016040 CA2016040A CA2016040A1 CA 2016040 A1 CA2016040 A1 CA 2016040A1 CA 2016040 CA2016040 CA 2016040 CA 2016040 A CA2016040 A CA 2016040A CA 2016040 A1 CA2016040 A1 CA 2016040A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- card
- cabinet
- cards
- upstanding
- dispensing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Invention A pickle card dispenser comprising a cabinet having a front portion adapted to display the pickle cards in a vertically disposed manner with the vertically disposed and displayed cards being in communication with a plurality of upstanding card hoppers provided in the cabinet. A card dispenser is positioned below each of the card hoppers and includes a driven belt which is selectively moved upwardly into frictional engagement with the bottommost card in the associated card hopper to remove the card from its stack to cause the dispensing of the same. The cards are dispensed from the cabinet in response to money being deposited in a bill acceptor.
Description
2 ~
This invention relates to a card vending machine and more particularly to a tab card or pickle card dispensing machine.
Tab cards or pickle cards are commonly referred to as pickles and have become extremely popular the last few years.
The pickles are normally dispensed by an attendant, waitress, bartender, etc. and are simply pulled from a stack of the pickles. The primary problem associated with the commonly employed method of dispensing the picklas is that it is difficult to control the money being handled by the dispensing p~rson.
In an ef~ort to avoid the necessity of the need for manually dispensing the pickles, some card dispensing machines have been previously provided but they do have several shortcomings. One shortcoming of the prior art machines is that they are unable to dispense various priced pickles. Further, a disadvantage in the prior art is that the dispensing means within the dispenser is less than reliable.
Although the card vending machine disclosed in U. S.
Patent No. 4,847,473 does represent a significant advance in the art, it has been found that an improved means for physically moving the cards in their respective slots might be advantageous.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved card dispensing machine including an improved card engagement means.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a pickle dispensing machine which is economical of manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
2~6~
This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the card vending machine of this invention;
Figure 2 is a rear view of the card vending machina with the access door removed:
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the card engagement means of this invention:
Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 except that the card engagement means has been pivotally moved upwardly into its card engaging position; and Figure 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the card engagement means of this invention.
The pickle dispensing machinP of this invention includes a cabinet means having a front portion which is adap~ed to display the pickle cards in a vertically disposed manner. A plurality of card trays or hoppers are provided in the cabinet means and preferably contain pickles or cards of various denominations.
The front portion of the cabinet means has a plurality of vertically disposed channels formed therein which have upper and lower ends and which are adapted to recei~e the pickles therein. The lower end of each of the channels are in communication with one of the card hoppers so that cards may be supplied to the lower end of the channels. ~ bill deposit sensing means or bill acceptor is provided for sensing the deposit of one or more bills of various denominations which are recorded in a credit register means to electronically register a 201~
credit corresponding to the amount deposited in the bill deposit sensing means. An electromechanical vending apparatus is provided in the cabinet means and is operatively connected to the credit register for vending one or more cards from one or more of the caxd hoppers. The card vending means of this invention is somewhat different than the card v nding means of U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473 and comprises an electrically operated drive motor which is operatively connected to a card vending apparatus located below each of the card hoppers. Each of the card vending apparatuses includes a driven belt which is moved upwardly into engagement with the bottommosk card in the respective tray to move the card horizontally therefrom for supply to the respective channel. Movement of the card by the driven belt causes the uppermost card in the respective channel to be dropped into a tray provided at the forward portion of the apparatus. A player inserts the money into the bill deposit sensing means and then selects the desired amount and denominations of the cards to be dispensed. In response to such selection, th~ card vending apparatuses corresponding to the particular denominations are selectively actuated to selectively dispense cards from the channels into the tray.
The card dispenser of this invention is substantially identical to the invention of U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473 except for the card vending apparatus located at the lower ends of the card trays. The disclosure in U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473 is incorporated herein ~y reference.
The card dispenser of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral lO and includes a cabinet 12 having sides 14 and 16, bottom 18, top 20, hinged back 22, front portion 24 and a lower front portion 24'.
2 ~
The front portion of the cabinet is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart and vertically disposed rectangular channels 26 identical to the rectangular channels 26, 26' 26'' and 26''' in U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473.
Cabinet 12 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed card hoppers or trays 28, 28', 28~' and 28'''. Each of the trays are provided with an elongated slot 30 ormed in its lower end and a slot 32 formed in its lower forward end. The purpose of the openings 32 in the lower forward ends of the trays is to permit the bottommost card in the tray to be pushed forwardly thereErom.
The numerals 36, 36', 36'' and 36''' refer to the card dispensing apparatuses located below trays 28, 28', 28'' and 28''' respectively. Inasmuch as each of the card dispensing apparatuses are identical, only dispensing apparatus 36 will be described in detail.
Apparatus 36 includes a plate 38 having a forward end 40, rearward end 42 and slot 44 form~d therebetween. Plate 38 has a pair of upstanding lugs 46 and 48 at its upper forward end in which is journaled shaft 50. Supports 52 are secured to the underside of support plate 54 upon which the trays 28 rest and have openings 56 formed therein which receive the shaft 50 extending therethrough. Supports 52 are secured to plate 54 by cap screws 58. The dimensions of the lugs 46 and 48 are smaller than the interior of the supports 52 to permit a certain amount of nplay" or pivotal movement therebetween.
Each of the plates 38 is also provided with a pair of upstanding lugs or brackets 60 and 62 having a shaft 64 mounted therein and extending therebetween. Pulley 66 is mounted on 0 shaft 64 and has belt 6~3 extending therearound. As seen in the 2 0 ~
drawings, pulley 66 extends downwardly through the slot 44.
Pulley 70 is mounted on shaft 50 for rotation therewith between lugs 46 and 48 and has the belt 68 extending therearound. As seen in Figure 3, pulley 70 is normally positioned in the forward end of slot 30. Adjustment means 72 is mounted on the plate 38 to limit the upward movement of plate 38 as seen in Figure 4.
Bolt 74 extends downwardly through opening 76 in plate 54 and extends through opening 78 in plate 38 as seen in Figure 3.
Nut 80 is mounted on the lower end of bolt 76. Spring 82 is positioned on bolt 74 between the plates 54 and 38 to return the plate 38 to the position illustrated in Figure 3 after the plate has been pivotally moved upwardly. Solenoid 84 is mounted on plate 54 and has its plunger 86 extending downwardly therefrom.
Plunger 86 is pivotally secured to ]ug 88 which is secured to plate 38 by screw 90.
The forward end of plate 54 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart lugs 92 having shafts 94 mounted therein.
Wheels 96 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 94 between each pair of the lugs as seen in Figure 5~ The lower ends of the wheels 96 extend partially downwardly through slots 98 formed in the forward end of plate 54. A plurality of lugs 100 extend downwardly from the plate 54 and have shaft 102 rotatably extending therethrough. A wheel 104 is mounted on the shaft 102 for rotation therewith beneath each of the wheels 96 so that the card 34 may be gripped therebetween.
Pulley 106 is mounted on the end of shaft 102 and has the belt 108 extending therearound. Belt 108 also extends around pulley 110 which is mounted on the outer end of shaft 50. Belt 108 also extends around pulley 112 of electric motor 114.
~ o ~
Electric motor 114 also drives a fan 116 to aid in cooling the interior of the cabinet.
In operation, each of the trays 28 will he filled with the cards 34 of the predetermined denomination. Each of the channels 26 and the connecting channel 26 extending rearwardly therefrom are filled with the cards in an end-to-end relationship until the uppermost card is positioned at the upper end o~ the hopper H. When the circuitry of the inventiion has determined that a particular card is to be dispensedl motor 114 is energized. Actuation of the motor 114 causes the shafts 50 and 102 to be rotated. Rotation of shaft 50 causes the upper portion of the belt 68 to move forwardly beneath the associated slot 30. At the same time, solenoid 84 is energized to withdraw the plunger 86 thereinto which causes the rearward end of the plate 3~ to pivotally move upwardly against the resistance of the spring 82. The upward pivotal movement of the xearward end of plate 38 causes the moving belt 68 to be brought into frictional engagement with the lowermost card 34 in the associated tray. The frictional engagement of the moving belt will cause the lowermost card in the associated tray to be moved forwardly towards the rotating pairs of wheels 96 and 104 which grip the card therebetween to move the card *orwardly and upwardly in its resp~ctive channel 26. The cards, when exiting the up~er ends of the respective channels will drop downwardly into the receiving tray as seen in Figure 1.
As soon as the proper number of cards have been dispensed from the proper tray, solenoid 84 is de-energized so that the spring 82 pivotally moves the rearward end of the plate 38 downwardly to the position of Figure 3 so that the moving belt 68 is no longer in engagement with the lowermost card in the respective tray thereby discontinuing the dispensing of cards from that tray.
Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
This invention relates to a card vending machine and more particularly to a tab card or pickle card dispensing machine.
Tab cards or pickle cards are commonly referred to as pickles and have become extremely popular the last few years.
The pickles are normally dispensed by an attendant, waitress, bartender, etc. and are simply pulled from a stack of the pickles. The primary problem associated with the commonly employed method of dispensing the picklas is that it is difficult to control the money being handled by the dispensing p~rson.
In an ef~ort to avoid the necessity of the need for manually dispensing the pickles, some card dispensing machines have been previously provided but they do have several shortcomings. One shortcoming of the prior art machines is that they are unable to dispense various priced pickles. Further, a disadvantage in the prior art is that the dispensing means within the dispenser is less than reliable.
Although the card vending machine disclosed in U. S.
Patent No. 4,847,473 does represent a significant advance in the art, it has been found that an improved means for physically moving the cards in their respective slots might be advantageous.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved card dispensing machine including an improved card engagement means.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a pickle dispensing machine which is economical of manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
2~6~
This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the card vending machine of this invention;
Figure 2 is a rear view of the card vending machina with the access door removed:
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the card engagement means of this invention:
Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 except that the card engagement means has been pivotally moved upwardly into its card engaging position; and Figure 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the card engagement means of this invention.
The pickle dispensing machinP of this invention includes a cabinet means having a front portion which is adap~ed to display the pickle cards in a vertically disposed manner. A plurality of card trays or hoppers are provided in the cabinet means and preferably contain pickles or cards of various denominations.
The front portion of the cabinet means has a plurality of vertically disposed channels formed therein which have upper and lower ends and which are adapted to recei~e the pickles therein. The lower end of each of the channels are in communication with one of the card hoppers so that cards may be supplied to the lower end of the channels. ~ bill deposit sensing means or bill acceptor is provided for sensing the deposit of one or more bills of various denominations which are recorded in a credit register means to electronically register a 201~
credit corresponding to the amount deposited in the bill deposit sensing means. An electromechanical vending apparatus is provided in the cabinet means and is operatively connected to the credit register for vending one or more cards from one or more of the caxd hoppers. The card vending means of this invention is somewhat different than the card v nding means of U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473 and comprises an electrically operated drive motor which is operatively connected to a card vending apparatus located below each of the card hoppers. Each of the card vending apparatuses includes a driven belt which is moved upwardly into engagement with the bottommosk card in the respective tray to move the card horizontally therefrom for supply to the respective channel. Movement of the card by the driven belt causes the uppermost card in the respective channel to be dropped into a tray provided at the forward portion of the apparatus. A player inserts the money into the bill deposit sensing means and then selects the desired amount and denominations of the cards to be dispensed. In response to such selection, th~ card vending apparatuses corresponding to the particular denominations are selectively actuated to selectively dispense cards from the channels into the tray.
The card dispenser of this invention is substantially identical to the invention of U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473 except for the card vending apparatus located at the lower ends of the card trays. The disclosure in U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473 is incorporated herein ~y reference.
The card dispenser of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral lO and includes a cabinet 12 having sides 14 and 16, bottom 18, top 20, hinged back 22, front portion 24 and a lower front portion 24'.
2 ~
The front portion of the cabinet is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart and vertically disposed rectangular channels 26 identical to the rectangular channels 26, 26' 26'' and 26''' in U. S. Patent No. 4,847,473.
Cabinet 12 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed card hoppers or trays 28, 28', 28~' and 28'''. Each of the trays are provided with an elongated slot 30 ormed in its lower end and a slot 32 formed in its lower forward end. The purpose of the openings 32 in the lower forward ends of the trays is to permit the bottommost card in the tray to be pushed forwardly thereErom.
The numerals 36, 36', 36'' and 36''' refer to the card dispensing apparatuses located below trays 28, 28', 28'' and 28''' respectively. Inasmuch as each of the card dispensing apparatuses are identical, only dispensing apparatus 36 will be described in detail.
Apparatus 36 includes a plate 38 having a forward end 40, rearward end 42 and slot 44 form~d therebetween. Plate 38 has a pair of upstanding lugs 46 and 48 at its upper forward end in which is journaled shaft 50. Supports 52 are secured to the underside of support plate 54 upon which the trays 28 rest and have openings 56 formed therein which receive the shaft 50 extending therethrough. Supports 52 are secured to plate 54 by cap screws 58. The dimensions of the lugs 46 and 48 are smaller than the interior of the supports 52 to permit a certain amount of nplay" or pivotal movement therebetween.
Each of the plates 38 is also provided with a pair of upstanding lugs or brackets 60 and 62 having a shaft 64 mounted therein and extending therebetween. Pulley 66 is mounted on 0 shaft 64 and has belt 6~3 extending therearound. As seen in the 2 0 ~
drawings, pulley 66 extends downwardly through the slot 44.
Pulley 70 is mounted on shaft 50 for rotation therewith between lugs 46 and 48 and has the belt 68 extending therearound. As seen in Figure 3, pulley 70 is normally positioned in the forward end of slot 30. Adjustment means 72 is mounted on the plate 38 to limit the upward movement of plate 38 as seen in Figure 4.
Bolt 74 extends downwardly through opening 76 in plate 54 and extends through opening 78 in plate 38 as seen in Figure 3.
Nut 80 is mounted on the lower end of bolt 76. Spring 82 is positioned on bolt 74 between the plates 54 and 38 to return the plate 38 to the position illustrated in Figure 3 after the plate has been pivotally moved upwardly. Solenoid 84 is mounted on plate 54 and has its plunger 86 extending downwardly therefrom.
Plunger 86 is pivotally secured to ]ug 88 which is secured to plate 38 by screw 90.
The forward end of plate 54 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart lugs 92 having shafts 94 mounted therein.
Wheels 96 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 94 between each pair of the lugs as seen in Figure 5~ The lower ends of the wheels 96 extend partially downwardly through slots 98 formed in the forward end of plate 54. A plurality of lugs 100 extend downwardly from the plate 54 and have shaft 102 rotatably extending therethrough. A wheel 104 is mounted on the shaft 102 for rotation therewith beneath each of the wheels 96 so that the card 34 may be gripped therebetween.
Pulley 106 is mounted on the end of shaft 102 and has the belt 108 extending therearound. Belt 108 also extends around pulley 110 which is mounted on the outer end of shaft 50. Belt 108 also extends around pulley 112 of electric motor 114.
~ o ~
Electric motor 114 also drives a fan 116 to aid in cooling the interior of the cabinet.
In operation, each of the trays 28 will he filled with the cards 34 of the predetermined denomination. Each of the channels 26 and the connecting channel 26 extending rearwardly therefrom are filled with the cards in an end-to-end relationship until the uppermost card is positioned at the upper end o~ the hopper H. When the circuitry of the inventiion has determined that a particular card is to be dispensedl motor 114 is energized. Actuation of the motor 114 causes the shafts 50 and 102 to be rotated. Rotation of shaft 50 causes the upper portion of the belt 68 to move forwardly beneath the associated slot 30. At the same time, solenoid 84 is energized to withdraw the plunger 86 thereinto which causes the rearward end of the plate 3~ to pivotally move upwardly against the resistance of the spring 82. The upward pivotal movement of the xearward end of plate 38 causes the moving belt 68 to be brought into frictional engagement with the lowermost card 34 in the associated tray. The frictional engagement of the moving belt will cause the lowermost card in the associated tray to be moved forwardly towards the rotating pairs of wheels 96 and 104 which grip the card therebetween to move the card *orwardly and upwardly in its resp~ctive channel 26. The cards, when exiting the up~er ends of the respective channels will drop downwardly into the receiving tray as seen in Figure 1.
As soon as the proper number of cards have been dispensed from the proper tray, solenoid 84 is de-energized so that the spring 82 pivotally moves the rearward end of the plate 38 downwardly to the position of Figure 3 so that the moving belt 68 is no longer in engagement with the lowermost card in the respective tray thereby discontinuing the dispensing of cards from that tray.
Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
Claims (3)
1.
A card vending machine, comprising, a cabinet means having a front portion, a plurality of upstanding card hoppers in said cabinet means for temporarily holding a plurality of cards therein, said cabinet means having a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart channels formed therein, each of said channels comprising an upstanding channel portion and a substantially horizontally disposed channel portion which extends rearwardly from the lower end of said upstanding portions, said upstanding channel portions of said channels being positioned at the front portion of said cabinet means so that cards therein will be visible to the player, a card dispensing means positioned below each of said card hoppers for selectively removing the bottommost card in the associated card hopper and moving the same forwardly into the rearward end of the associated horizontally disposed channel portion in response to a signal generated by the introduction of money into the machine, each of said card dispensing means comprising a driven belt means which is selectively moved upwardly into frictional engagement with said bottommost card in the associated card hopper, so that the said card is moved forwardly into the associated channel portion, said cabinet means having a card discharge opening formed therein which is in communication with the upper ends of said upstanding channel portions, and selectively operable control means for actuating one or more of said dispensing means.
A card vending machine, comprising, a cabinet means having a front portion, a plurality of upstanding card hoppers in said cabinet means for temporarily holding a plurality of cards therein, said cabinet means having a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart channels formed therein, each of said channels comprising an upstanding channel portion and a substantially horizontally disposed channel portion which extends rearwardly from the lower end of said upstanding portions, said upstanding channel portions of said channels being positioned at the front portion of said cabinet means so that cards therein will be visible to the player, a card dispensing means positioned below each of said card hoppers for selectively removing the bottommost card in the associated card hopper and moving the same forwardly into the rearward end of the associated horizontally disposed channel portion in response to a signal generated by the introduction of money into the machine, each of said card dispensing means comprising a driven belt means which is selectively moved upwardly into frictional engagement with said bottommost card in the associated card hopper, so that the said card is moved forwardly into the associated channel portion, said cabinet means having a card discharge opening formed therein which is in communication with the upper ends of said upstanding channel portions, and selectively operable control means for actuating one or more of said dispensing means.
2.
The machine of claim 1 wherein each of said card dispensing means is pivotally mounted in said cabinet means, and means operatively connected to each of said card dispensing means for pivotally moving said driven belt into frictional engagement with the said bottommost card.
The machine of claim 1 wherein each of said card dispensing means is pivotally mounted in said cabinet means, and means operatively connected to each of said card dispensing means for pivotally moving said driven belt into frictional engagement with the said bottommost card.
3.
The machine of claim 2 wherein said means connected to said card dispensing means comprises an electric solenoid means.
The machine of claim 2 wherein said means connected to said card dispensing means comprises an electric solenoid means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US45145789A | 1989-12-15 | 1989-12-15 | |
| US451,457 | 1989-12-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2016040A1 true CA2016040A1 (en) | 1991-06-15 |
Family
ID=23792294
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2016040 Abandoned CA2016040A1 (en) | 1989-12-15 | 1990-05-03 | Card vending machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2016040A1 (en) |
-
1990
- 1990-05-03 CA CA 2016040 patent/CA2016040A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |