This invention relates to a unit for separating a tubular article from a stack of such articles nested together, each article having a rim or ether enlargement in cross-section at or adjacent its top. The invention relates particularly but net solely to a unit for dispensing rimmed cups or other vessels in a vending machine.

It is common in vending machines for rimmed cups or other vessels to be stacked in a vertical column, each cup nesting into the one below. In use, each time a cup is required, the lowermost cup is separated from the stack and dispensed. Hitherto, the separation mechanisms for achieving this have been generally complex and assembled from a large number of parts and limited in their effectiveness and reliability. Also they have occupied considerable space within the vending machine.

We have now devised a separation unit which is simple in construction and use and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art mechanisms.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a separation unit for separating a tubular article from a stack cf such articles nested together, each article having a rim at or adjacent its top, the separation unit comprising a slide element which is mounted for linear sliding movement between first and second positions, the slide element having a first support surface on which the rim of the lowermost article rests to support the stack when the slide element is in its first position, a second support which bounds two inclined edges to an aperture through the slide member and which moves to below the rim cf the next lowest article as the slide element moves tc its second position, and a wedging surface formed on an j underside of the slide element adjacent said two inclined edges t _k and inclined tc the support surfaces to bear en the tcp of the lowermost article to seυarate it from the stack as the slide

element moves to its second position.

Normally the slide element occupies its first position and the stack is supported by the rim cf the lowermost article resting on the first support surface cf the slide element. Then in order tc separate and dispense the lowermost article, the slide element is moved linearly to its second position: in so doing, the second support surface moves to below the rim cf the next lowest article in the stack; also the first support surface is displaced from below the rim of the lowermost article and the wedging surface bears on the top cf the lowermost article in a wedging action so as to separate it from the stack. This lowermost article, once separated from the stack, now falls to a collection point, and the stack becomes supported by the rim of next article resting on the second support surface. The slide element can now be slid back to its first or rest position, causing the support for the stack to be transferred from the second support surface to the first support surface, i.e. the rim of the article which is now lowermost comes to rest en the first support surface.

The slide element preferably comprises a one- piece member en which the first and second support surfaces and the wedging surface are formed.

Preferably each of the first and second support surfaces supports the rim of an article around part only of the periphery cf the article/ the first support surface offering support from one side cf the stack and the second support surface offering support from the other side cf the stack.

Preferably the second support surface lies generally parallel to but spaced above the first support surface. The first support surface preferably bounds a semicircular portion of the aperture through the slide element.

Preferably the wedging surface, which bears on the toe of the lowermost article to effect its separation from the stack, rises from below to above the irst support suface.

Each of the support and wedging surfaces may be continuous or discontinuous but still serve the purposes described above.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic showing cf a separation unit for a vending machine;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the slide member of the separation unit;

FIGURE 3 is a section through the slide member on the line III - III of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a separation unit for separating a tubular article from a stack of such articles nested together, each article having a rim or ether enlargement in cross-section at or adjacent its top. Typically the articles may comprise plastics cups in a vending machine, each cup having a continuous rim at its top, but the separation unit may be used for other articles and in general the rims may be continuous or discontinuous.

The unit which is shown ciagramroatically in Figure 1 comprises a base plate 1 formed with a circular aperture 2. A cylindrical feed tube 3 is mounted over the base plate 1, with the lower end of the feed tube 3 registered with the aperture 2 through the base plate 1. A pair of angle members 4 are mounted to the underside of base plate 1 to provide a slideway for a slide member 1C. A collection or delivery tube 5 is mounted below the base plate 1 with its axis aligned with the axis of the feed tube 1.

In use, the stack of e.g. plastics cups is disposed within the feed tube 1 and is supported by the rim cf the lowermost cup resting on the slide member 10, as will be described below. Each time that a cup or other article is required from the stack, the slide member 10 is slid in tr.e direction of the a__ow A f.υin a first or rest position to a

second position, and is then slid back again: this action serves to separate the lowermost cup from the bottom of the stack, and this separated cup falls down through the delivery tube 5. The reciprocal sliding movement of the slide member may be effected manually or a drive unit may be provided, e.g. a solenoid. A return spring may be provided to return the slide member to its rest position.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the slide member is a generally flat, rectangular member which is profiled as follows. The member has an aperture formed through it from its upper surface tc its lower surface: this aperture comprises a narrow rectangular portion 12 extending across the width of the slide member and itself having a width W, a semicircular portion 14 of radius R and having its centre on the centre of one side of the rectangular portion 12, and a trapezoidal shape portion 16 having its longer side along the opposite side of the rectangular portion 12. The distance between the opposite inclined edges 16a, 16b of the portion 16 is, at one end of these edges, greater than the diameter (2R) of the portion 14 and indeed greater than the diameter of the cup 30 across its rim, whilst the distance between these inclined edges at tneir other end is substantially less than the diameter of the portion 14. The upper side of the slide member is recessed to a depth C around the periphery of the semicircular portion 12 cf the aperture, to form a first support surface 20 which is parallel to the top of the slide member but a distance D below it. The top cf the slide member around the trapezoidal portion 16 cf the aperture forms a second support surface 22. The bottom cf the slide member to either side of the trapezoidal portion 16 of the aperture is formed with an inclined surface 24, which rises from the shorter side of the trapezium towards its longer side, and adjacent the longer side is above the level cf the first support surface 20.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 when the slide meniber 13 is in its first or rest position, the stack of e.g.

cups is supported with the rim of the lowermost cup 30 resting on the first support surface 20 of the slide member: the cup itself extends through the aperture in the slide member. Because the lowermost cup is supported around only 130° of its circumference, there may be a tendency for the stack of cups to tilt but the feed tube 3 serves to maintain the stack upright. As the slide member is displaced in the direction of arrow A, the second support surface 22 ccmeε below the rim of the lowest- but-one cup 32: the first support surface 20 moves away from below the rim of the lowermost cup, and also the opposite inclined edges 16a, 16b engage opposite side wall regions of the cup 30 and the advancing inclined surface 24, adjacent the edges 16a, 16b, bears onto the top of the lowermost cup 30, at the opposite sides of the latter, exerting a wedging action which separates the lowermost cup from the stack. The lowermost cup then falls from the stack and through the delivery tube 5, and the stack becomes supported by the rim of the cup 32 resting on the second support surface 22. The slide member is then returned to its rest position, causing the stack to drop until the rim of the cup 32, which is now the lowermost cup, rests on the first support surface 20.

When the stack has become short in height (i.e. few cups are remaining), the feed tube 3 may be unable to maintain the stack upright, particularly when the wedging surface 24 is bearing upon the top cf the lowermost cup curing a separation cycle therefore tending to tilt the stack. However, the delivery tube 5 abuts the lowermost cup to prevent such tilting: a stop member such as a transverse bar can be provided instead cf the delivery tube 5 for this purpose.

It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the aperture through the slide member (particularly the width W, depth D, radius R and angle θ between the inclined sides of the trapezium and the angle 0 of the wedging surface) are chosen in dependence upon each other to suit the particular size and shape of the CUDS or otner articles to be dispensed from thp unit-.

It will be appreciated that the separation unit serves to dispense the e.g. cups one-at-a-t i e by means cf a simple linear reciprocation of the one-piece slide member 10. Because of the arrangement of the inclined edges 16a, 16b and wedging surface 24 which engage the lowermost cup to separate it from the stack, the distance through which the slide member moves is very small. The separation unit is therefore cf simple and compact construction and is effective and reliable in operation.