US3647026A

US3647026A - Automatic drive-in store

Info

Publication number: US3647026A
Application number: US889502A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gilbert L Alexander; Arthur W Neaville; William A Mayfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-12-31
Filing date: 1969-12-31
Publication date: 1972-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-07

Abstract

An automatic drive-in store structure having in its upper portion a warehouse for storing a multiplicity of diverse retail items within individual dispenser units, and in its lower portion a plurality of parking stalls for vehicles, each stall being provided with a console control apparatus which is equipped with a plurality of item selector panels for use by a motorist whereby a selective list of retail items may be ordered and thence dispensed from the respective dispenser unit responsive to electronic control means and delivered through a system of conveyors to the automobile; said console control apparatus also being supplied with a closed circuit television which is in circuit with a video camera for transmitting a picture of a selected item onto a television screen, and a moneychanger unit which returns the correct change after registering the amount submitted and subtracting the total price of the items selected.

Description

United States Patent Alexander et al.

[ 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC DRIVE-IN STORE [72] lnventors: Gilbert L. Alexander, Bloomington, 111.;

[22] Filed:

Arthur W. Neaville; William A. Maylield, both of Webster Groves, Mo.; Gilbert L. Alexander, 1114 E. Taylor Street, Bloomington, 111. 61701; Arthur W. Neaville, 912 S. Rock Hill Road; William A. Mayfield, 813 N. Forest, both of Webster Groves, M0. 631 19 Dec. 31, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 889,502

3,541,309 11/1970 Cutter ..186/l.2

Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Homsby Attorney-Robert J. Eck

[57] ABSTRACT An automatic drive-in store structure having in its upper portion a warehouse for storing a multiplicity of diverse retail items within individual dispenser units, and in its lower portion a plurality of parking stalls for vehieles,each stall being provided with a console control apparatus which is equipped with a plurality of item selector panels for use by a motorist whereby a selective list of retail items may be ordered and thence dispensed from the respective dispenser unit responsive to electronic control means and delivered through a system of conveyors to the automobile; said console control apparatus also being supplied with a closed circuit television which is in circuit with a video camera for transmitting a picture of a selected item onto a television screen, and a moneychanger unit which returns the correct change after registering the amount submitted and subtracting the total price of the items selected.

16 Claims, 59 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHAR 1 I972 SHEET 0211f 26 ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 3.647, 028

SHEET 0 OF 26 z/ /26 FIG. 5 /27 PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 SHEET GSBF 26 mw w H. 5

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ATTORNEY PATENTEUMAR 7 I972 sum 08 0F 26 PATENTEDMAR 7 1972 SHEET OSOF 26 w. A. MAYFIELD BY 6 ATTORNEY PAIENTEDMIIR H972 SHEET IUIIF 26 FIG. 2|

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PATENTEDHAR 7 m2 SHEET 130? 26 FIG. 27

FIG. 30

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PAIENTEUMAR 7 I972 SHEET NM 26 ATTORN PATENTEB MAR 7 I972 SHEET ISUF 26 SHEET 16 0F 26 PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 FIG. 37

0 0 o o o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ATTORNEY FIG. 38

PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 SHEET 17UF 26 fu $532 xdoa ruin in .545 viommnuiZoo N? OE ATTORNEY PAIENIEDMAR 7 I972 .SHEET 19UF 26 INVENTORS GILBERT L. ALEXA A ARTHUR W. NEAVI 8. WI AM A. MAYFI BY W ATTORN

Claims

1. An automatic drive in store comprising means defining a structure; said structure having a delivery zone having at least one parking stall located at a distance remote from said product storage zone and a product storage zone; a supply of various types of products within said structure product storage zone; a plurality of dispensers in said product storage zone for each type product; release means operatively engaged to each product dispenser; a console control unit located in said delivery zone; product selector means located on said console control unit; conveyor means communicating each dispenser with the console control unit in said delivery zone; and electronic control means housed within said console control unit for effecting actuation of said release means responsive to the operation of said product selector means to dispense selected products onto said conveyor means and to transport the selected products to said delivery zone; said electronic control means including product recording means; price recording and tabulating means; currency reading and accepting means for accepting currency toward payment of said selected products; said currency reader and acceptor means including a credit registering means for maintaining a cumulative total of currency received; currency change return means for returning the difference between the total price of the selected products and the credit registered; and means releasing said product recording means after payment has been made and the change returned thereby actuating selected dispenser release means.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by one of said dispensors comprising an endless track mounted on an incline within said structure, upper and lower rails on said track presented in aligned spaced apart relationship; a plurality of articulated trolleys riding within said upper and lower rails around the perimeter of said track; and an arm pivotally mounted to each trolley; a guide bar mounted to said structure spacedly, axially parallel to said track; each arm of said trolley slideably engaging said guide bar; said product supply including a plurality of bag products; said bag product having aperture means for slideably receiving same over each arm; said release means comprising a detent positioned in abutment with the free end of said guide bar; actuator means connected to said detent for alternatively removing and returning said detent responsive to said electronic control means whereby upon removal of said detent, said arm will fall by gravity for dispensing a bag product upon said conveyor means.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said dispensers being prearranged in rows; said conveyor means including a first conveyor located spacedly below each dispenser row to receive dispensed products; a second conveyor disposed in downwardly parallel relationship with each first conveyor and normally moving in an opposite direction than said first conveyor; a third conveyor disposed in axial normal relationship in a plane located between said first and second conveyors communicating each of said first conveyors with said second conveyor; and means for channeling the dispensed products traveling on said second conveyor to the delivery zone.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by said channeling means comprising a delivery chute having end portions, one end portion of said delivery chute being pivotally connected to said structure in immediate adjacency to said second conveyor; the other end portion of said delivery chute being movably mounted on said console control unit.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said product selecting means comprising a plurality of leaves hingedly mounted on said console control unit; each of said leaves having a front and rear panel portion; product indicia means for each product disposed on said front and rear panel portions; a contact button located adjacent each product indicia means; circuit means connecting each contact button to said electronic control means whereby upon engagement of each button corresponding release means will be actuated for discharging the selected product onto said conveyor means.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by one of said dispensers comprising a downwardly inclined rack; said product supply including a plurality of cylindrical products provided in said rack; said release means comprising a body having a downwardly opening arcuate portion presented upwardly of said rack and formed on substantially the same radius as said cylindrical products; a rounded leading edge formed integrally with said arcuate portion for normally retaining said cylindrical products within said rack; a rounded trailing edge formed integrally with said arcuate portion presented overlyingly of the lowermost cylindrical product and adapted for forcibly ejecting the lowermost cylindrical product onto said conveyor means and maintaining the immediately adjacent cylindrical products within said rack; an extension having upper and lower end portions, the lower end portion being integrally formed with said arcuate portion and the upper end portion projecting upwardly of said arcuate portion; means provided intermediate said upper and lower end portions for rockably mounting said extension; actuator means connected to the upper end portion of said extension for effecting rockable movement of said body responsive to energization of said electronic control means; said actuator means operating to swing said leading edge of said arcuate portion away from said rack, and the trailing edge into forcible engagement against the lowermost cylindrical product for ejecting same and into engagement against the immediately adjacent cylindrical product for maintaining same within said rack.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said stall is defined by parallel spaced apart walls; there being an opening within one of said stall walls; a console control unit disposed within said opening and said product selector means located on said console control unit.

8. The combination as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by said console control unit comprising a mobile lower frame; means for alternatively extending and retracting said lower frame for projecting console control unit into and away from said stall; an upper frame movably mounted on said lower frame for movement normal to the movement of the latter; and means for effecting forward and rearward movement of said upper frame within said stall when said lower frame is in an extended position.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by said means for alternatively extending and retracting said mobile lower frame comprising a fluid cylinder; first switch means for effecting extension of said cylinder to project said console control unit within said stall; second switch means provided on said console control unit for stopping the extension of said control unit at a predetermined location; actuator means on said console for moving said upper frame forwardly and rearwardly within said stall; third switch means for energizing said actuator means for adjusting the position of said upper frame relative to said lower frame.

10. The combination as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by a closed circuit television system comprising a tElevision screen mounted on said console unit; a plurality of television cameras provided within said structure proximate predetermined product dispensors; first circuit means connecting said television camera and said television screen; product indicia means for each product disposed on said product selector means; a contact button located adjacent each product indicia means, second circuit means connecting each contact button with the related television camera whereby upon engagement of a contact button the picture of said product will be presented on said television screen.

11. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said means for change returning means comprising: a plurality of spools rotatably mounted within said console; a roll of sheet material wound around each spool; each roll having a plurality of pockets formed therein, said pockets containing a predetermined unit of paper money; means for advancing said roll a distance slightly greater than the length of a pocket; a knife blade mounted within said console in the path of each roll; circuit means for simultaneously energizing said roll advancing means and elevating said knife blade upon closing, and deenergizing said roll advancing means and permitting said knife to fall by gravity upon opening to sever a pocket; a chute having a discharge end for receiving severed pockets; a retractable drawer in said console unit in communication with said chute discharge end for receiving said pocket.

12. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said change returning means comprising a plurality of coin tubes; a mounting block having recesses for receiving the lower end of each coin tube; said block having a transverse slot in the region below each coin tube; each slot being substantially the same height as the coin denomination dispensed; a retractable drawer mounted within said console immediately beneath said coin tubes; a plurality of plungers, each having a length for extension into and through a related transverse slot; and solenoid operated means for alternatively extending and retracting selected plungers to dispense a coin into said retractable drawer.

13. The combination as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by said structure having a plurality of transversely spaced apart stalls, a plurality of product dispensors mounted within said structure storage zone spacedly above said stall and in longitudinally spaced-apart rows; said conveyor means comprising a plurality of minor endless conveyor belts moving longitudinally in one direction; said minor conveyor belts being presented spacedly below the related rows of product dispensors to receive dispensed products; a major conveyor belt moving in a longitudinally opposite direction of said minor conveyor; at least one feeder conveyor disposed transversely within said structure being positioned to deliver products travelling on said minor conveyors to said major conveyor; means for channelling the dispensed products traveling along said major conveyor to a predetermined stall.

14. The combination as defined in claim 13 and further characterized by said channeling means comprising a plurality of delivery chute means, one end of each chute means being pivotally connected to said structure in immediate proximity with said major conveyor; the other end of the respective chute means extending downwardly from said major conveyor belt within the related stall; gate means provided within said structure adjacent each chute means for selectively directing the products traveling along the major conveyor to predetermined delivery chute means for delivery to the related parking stall.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 and further characterized by said electronic control means including circuit means for energizing a preselected gate means for directing dispensed products to the related stall.

16. The combination as defined in claim 4 and further characterized by gate means mounted within said strucTure at the conveyor adjacent end portion of said delivery chute for swingable movement between delivery chute occluding position and conveyor occluding position; said electronic control means including circuit means for energizing said gate means into said conveyor occluding position for directing the products traveling on said second conveyor into said delivery chute.