Method and apparatus for hose storage in an article handling device

Abstract

An article handling apparatus embodied, for example, as a vending machine, includes a controllably positioned hose dispenser for retrieving articles from an article storage area. A hose is continuous from a first end located within a hose storage area, where the hose receives article securing energy (e.g., suction), to a second end adapted to secure to and extract a selected article from the storage area. A hose positioning mechanism coupled to the hose controllably positions the second end of the hose so as to be aligned with a given article stored in the storage area, for controllably contacting and extracting the selected article from the storage area, and controllably positioning the second end of the hose so as to transport the article to a dispensing area. The hose positioning mechanism imparts both a storage requirement and a retraction requirement on the hose as a result of the controllable positioning. In accordance with the principles of the present invention a single hose storage area is provided in the vending machine for meeting all of the hose storage and retraction requirements.

1 . A vending machine, comprising: 
 a cabinet,    a article storage area located in the interior volume of the cabinet;    a suction hose formed of a substantially continuous material having one end for extracting articles from said storage area and another end connected to a source of suction;    a hose positioning mechanism coupled to said suction hose between said one and said another end, for controllably positioning said one end so as to be aligned with a longitudinal axis along which a given article is stored in said storage area, and    hose drive means co-located with said hose positioning mechanism for controllably driving said hose in a direction aligned with said longitudinal axis so said one end can extract a article from said storage area,    wherein said hose positioning means and said hose drive means both impart storage requirements on said suction hose as a result of said controllable positioning and controllable driving of said hose, and    wherein a single hose storage area is provided in said vending machine for meeting said hose storage requirements.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hose drive means is carried by the hose positioning mechanism, and comprises a controllably driven roller mechanism for frictionally engaging the suction hose so as to cause controlled extension of the one end thereof into and out of the article storage area.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said hose includes corrugations, and wherein the driven roller mechanism comprises a set of opposed contoured rollers, at least one of said rollers being toothed and positioned so as to engage the hose corrugations.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said hose is guided between the hose storage area and the hose positioning mechanism by at least 2 sets of redirecting rollers, one set positioned at an exit for the hose from the hose storage area, and the other set carried by said hose positioning mechanism at an entrance to the hose drive means.  
     
     
         5 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein said hose storage area is located inside said cabinet and adjacent to said article storage area.  
     
     
         6 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein said hose storage area is located parallel to an inside wall of said cabinet.  
     
     
         7 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein said single hose storage area comprises a vertically oriented space located parallel to an inside wall of said cabinet.  
     
     
         8 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , wherein said hose storage area includes a gravity induced loop of said hose, coupled between a source of suction and a point where said hose exits said storage area towards said hose positioning means.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the gravity induced loop includes a deadweight roller which rolls on a loop of hose in the hose storage area, thereby providing a relatively constant amount of hose retraction force.  
     
     
         10 . A vending machine, comprising: 
 a cabinet;    an article storage area located in the interior volume of the cabinet;    a vacuum hose formed of a substantially continuous material having one end for extracting article from the storage area and another end connected to a source of vacuum;    a hose positioning mechanism coupled to the vacuum hose between the one and the another end, for controllably positioning the one end so as to be aligned with a longitudinal axis along which a given article is stored in the storage area; and    hose drive means co-located with the hose positioning mechanism for controllably driving the hose in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis so the one end can extract an article from the storage area,    wherein the hose positioning means and the hose drive means both impart extension and retraction requirements of the vacuum hose from a hose storage area, as a result of the controllable positioning and controllable driving of the hose, and    wherein a single hose storage area is provided in the vending machine for meeting all of the hose extension and retraction requirements.    
     
     
         11 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein the hose drive means is carried by the hose positioning mechanism, and comprises a controllably driven roller mechanism for frictionally engaging the suction hose so as to cause controlled extension of the one end thereof into and out of the article storage area.  
     
     
         12 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , wherein said hose includes corrugations, and wherein the driven roller mechanism comprises a set of opposed contoured rollers, at least one of said rollers being toothed and positioned so as to engage the hose corrugations.  
     
     
         13 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , wherein said hose is guided between the hose storage area and the hose positioning mechanism by at least 2 sets of redirecting rollers, one set positioned at an exit for the hose from the hose storage area, and the other set carried by said hose positioning mechanism at an entrance to the hose drive means.  
     
     
         14 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein said hose storage area is located inside said cabinet and adjacent to said article storage area.  
     
     
         15 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein said hose storage area is located parallel to an inside wall of said cabinet.  
     
     
         16 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein said single hose storage area comprises a vertically oriented space located parallel to an inside wall of said cabinet.  
     
     
         17 . The vending machine of  claim 10 , wherein said hose storage area includes a gravity induced loop of said hose, coupled between a source of suction and a point where said hose exits said storage area towards said hose positioning means.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the gravity induced loop includes a deadweight roller which rolls on a loop of hose in the hose storage area, thereby providing a relatively constant amount of hose retraction force.  
     
     
         19 . An article retrieving apparatus, comprising: 
 a storage volume for storing articles along a plurality of longitudinal axes;    an article extracting device having a free end for selectively extracting an article from the storage volume;    a positioning mechanism coupled to the article extracting device and responsive to control signals for moving the free end of the article extracting device to be in alignment with a selected one of the longitudinal axes;    a drive mechanism coupled to the article extracting device for moving the free end of the article extracting device in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axes in the storage area; and    control apparatus coupled to the positioning mechanism and the drive mechanism for causing controlled movement of the article extracting device so that a selected article is extracted from the article storage area and moved to a predetermined area of the retrieving apparatus, wherein: 
 said article extracting device is formed of a continuous flexible member which has a substantially fixed length from its free end to a point inside a supply volume where said flexible member is coupled to a source of article securing energy;  
 the positioning mechanism and the drive mechanism each impart a requirement of variable length on the flexible member from its free end to a point where it enters said supply volume, as a result of the controllable positioning and controllable driving, respectively, thereof; and  
 at least a portion of the variable length requirements imparted on the flexible member by each of the positioning mechanism and the drive mechanism are met by extension and retraction of the flexible member from a supply of said flexible member which is stored in said supply volume.  
   
     
     
         20 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the article retrieving apparatus is positioned in a cabinet of a vending machine,    the flexible member comprises a hose, and    the source of article securing energy comprises a source of suction.    
     
     
         21 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the variable length requirement is met by extension and retraction of said flexible member from a single supply volume.  
     
     
         22 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the drive mechanism is carried by the positioning mechanism, and comprises a controllably driven roller mechanism for frictionally engaging the flexible member so as to cause controlled extension of the free end thereof into and out of the article storage area.  
     
     
         23 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible member includes corrugations, and wherein the driven roller mechanism comprises a set of opposed contoured rollers, at least one of said rollers being toothed and positioned so as to engage the flexible member corrugations.  
     
     
         24 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said single supply volume is located inside said cabinet and adjacent to said article storage area.  
     
     
         25 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said single supply volume is located parallel to an inside wall of said cabinet.  
     
     
         26 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said single supply volume comprises a vertically oriented space located parallel to an inside wall of said cabinet.  
     
     
         27 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said single supply volume includes a gravity induced loop of said hose, coupled between a source of suction and a point where said hose exits said single supply volume towards said positioning means.  
     
     
         28 . The article retrieving apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the gravity induced loop includes a deadweight roller which rolls on a loop of hose in the single supply volume, thereby providing a relatively constant amount of hose retraction force.