DE102013012763A1 - Method for outputting water bottle packages from vending machine, involves storing products in compartment of machine, and interrupting output operation of products when maximum acceptance capacity of products reaches part of compartment - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves removing products e.g. water bottle packages (C), by using a retaining component, and loading products on the height of a proximal end of the retaining component, where the retaining component is mounted on a material transport vehicle (3). The products are moved to a distal end of the retaining component. The products loaded on the proximal end are stored in a compartment of a vending machine (100), and output operation of the products is interrupted when maximum acceptance capacity of the products reaches a part of the compartment. An independent claim is also included for a vending machine.

Description

The present patent application for industrial invention is concerned with a vending machine for packages of 6 water bottles or similar products.

Various vending machines are known in the trade, which issue products at the request of the user after prior payment.

The vending machines of the prior art comprise a series of superimposed planes carrying the product to be dispensed and a front panel interfacing with the user.

The patent application US 2010/032022 describes a vending machine for dispensing individual bottles.

The patent application FR 2964230 describes a vending machine for dispensing packages containing folded clothes.

The patent application EP 0691293 describes a vending machine for cans.

It is apparent that these documents do not provide any teachings regarding the automatic dispensing of increased weight and increased size products, such as water bottle packages.

Such machines are also capable of dispensing one product at a time, which inevitably increases dispensing times while simultaneously purchasing multiple products.

The simultaneous release of several products (in this case, the courses of a meal) is in the French document FR 2 718 624 provided that fills a tray with several courses before it makes the tray itself to the requestor available; however, this does not shorten the execution times of the output.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the shortcomings of the prior art and to devise a vending machine capable of dispensing products of considerable dimensions and weight.

Another purpose of the present invention is to devise a vending machine which, in addition to fulfilling the above purpose, is capable of transporting the selected product from a magazine in which the product is stored to a front panel completely automate.

Another purpose of the present invention is to devise a vending machine which, in addition to serving the above-mentioned purposes, includes displacement devices capable of simultaneously moving more than one product from the magazine to the front panel.

Another purpose of the present invention is to devise a vending machine whose devices are suitable for the particular case in which these products consist of packages of 6 water bottles (also called packs).

These other purposes are achieved according to the invention with the properties listed in the independent appended claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

The vending machine subject of the invention will be described in accordance with versions adapted to issue water bottle packages upon request by the user. Nothing denied obvious that this (perhaps with possible slight and obvious dimensional adjustments) may be able to spend more related products, such as beverage in the can and / or in Tetrapak ^© -Behältern and / or individual products or packaging, packets, bags or cartons (also with significant weights and dimensions).

The vending machine for packages of 6 water bottles according to the invention comprises a magazine adapted to receive water bottle packages to be dispensed at the request of the user and a front plate adapted to function as a user interface of the vending machine.

The magazine comprises a plurality of superimposed slideways adapted to carry the available water bottle packages.

The front panel includes a compartment adapted to receive at least one water bottle pack and accessible after moving a front door.

The peculiarity of the vending machine for water bottle packages according to the invention is that it comprises a rack conveyor set between the magazine and the front panel and adapted to convey the water bottle packages from the slideways of the magazine to the compartment of the front panel.

Other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed A description, by way of example only and not limitation, of an embodiment thereof, and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

1 is an axonometric view of the vending machine according to the invention, comprising a magazine, a rack conveyor and a front panel;

2 a side view of the vending machine according to the invention;

3 an axonometric view of the vending machine of the vending machine of 1 is;

4 an axonometric view of the front panel of the vending machine of 1 according to a possible mode of operation;

5 a side view of the front panel of the vending machine according to another mode is;

6 a constructive detail of the slides of the magazine of 1 shows;

7 schematically a loading sequence of water bottle packages on the receiving assembly of the forklift of 3 shows;

8th schematically a conveying and discharging sequence of water bottle packages to the front panel of the vending machine of 1 shows.

With reference to the 1 and 2 includes the vending machine 100 a magazine 1 suitable to receive water bottle packs C to be issued at the request of the user, a front panel 2 , suitable as a user interface of the vending machine 100 to act, and a forklift 3 , between the magazine 1 and the front panel 2 set.

The magazine 1 of the vending machine 100 includes a variety of slides 10 (preferably one above the other and parallel to each other and suitable to run through to be dispensed to the user water bottle packs C). By way of example, the package C comprises six water bottles of 2 l, 1.5 l, 1 l, 0.5 l arranged without any intention of restriction in two rows of three elements each.

With special reference to 1 includes each slideway 10 two mounting rails 11 and two side railings 12 ,

The side railings 12 include casters with vertical axes, the passage of the water bottle packs C along the support rails 11 conduct.

The mounting rails 11 on the other hand, rollers with horizontal axes to facilitate the movement of the water bottle packs C, which by gravity on the slide 10 run through.

For the latter purpose is indicated. that every slideway 10 of the magazine 1 is inclined at an angle α between 10 ° and 40 °, preferably more than 20 °, anyway so that the component of gravity of each water bottle C, which is on the inclined plane, the friction due to the passage of each water bottle C on the rollers or the like of the mounting rails 11 can overcome. Moving the water bottle packs C on each slide 10 therefore happens by gravity.

The slides 10 may be replaced by other devices, either passive or active, such as known conveyor belts, given minor "adjustments" in the skill of the art. In this case, the slideways can 10 even without inclination, substantially horizontal lie.

From now on, the term "slideway" is to be understood to mean, without distinction, both the slideways in the strict sense of the word and also those sliders or other suitable devices in order to advance the packs C, as required in the present invention.

Each slide 10 of the magazine 1 includes a distant end 13 and a near end 14 ,

Below the far end 13 is to understand where the water bottle packages are charged to be issued one after the other.

The near end 14 every slideway 10 is that from which the packs C are removed, and it includes a barrel end plate 15 (or an equivalent device) suitable for the water bottle packages at the end of the pass along the slide path 10 to stop, and two openings 16 whose purpose will become clearer below.

At the near end 14 The rollers with vertical axes can also be omitted (in 6 shown), since it is only intended to support the first package C ready and available for removal, provided that devices and / or ways are provided in each case to the first package C to to stop the run end plate 15 to get to.

With special reference to 3 is the shelf truck 3 an anthropomorphic robot with three axes, suitable, the water bottle packs C of the front panel 2 near end 14 every slideway 10 to the front panel 2 to transport yourself.

The stacker crane 3 includes a car 4 at the four wheels 41 are provided on two guide rails 42 to run. Two wheels 41 of the car are by means of a motor 43 driven, these wheels 41 set in motion to move the car 4 along a horizontal axis x parallel to the guide rails 42 to enable.

The stacker crane 3 also includes a pick-up assembly 5 and a motor 50 , on the cart 4 arranged, as well as transmission devices of the engine ( 6 . 63 . 7 ), suitable, the receiving assembly 5 to allow to perform vertical strokes when the engine 38 is operated.

• – eine vertikale Säule 6, an der eine Schiene 60 verlegt ist; wobei die vertikale Säule ein fest mit dem Wagen 4 verbundenes unteres Ende 61 und ein oberes Ende 62 aufweist;
• – mindestens eine Seilscheibe 63, angeordnet am oberen Ende 62 der vertikalen Säule 6;
• – ein Seil 7, das auf der Schiene 60 der vertikalen Säule 6 und auf der mindestens einen Seilscheibe 63 läuft; wobei das Seil 7 ein Ende, das mit dem Motor 50 verbunden ist, und ein Ende 71 aufweist, das mit der Aufnahmebaugruppe 5 verbunden ist.

In the present case, these gear mechanisms of the engine ( 6 . 63 . 7 ):

• - a vertical column 6 at the one rail 60 is relocated; the vertical pillar being stuck with the car 4 connected lower end 61 and an upper end 62 having;
• - at least one pulley 63 , arranged at the top 62 the vertical column 6 ;
• - a rope 7 that on the rail 60 the vertical column 6 and on the at least one pulley 63 running; being the rope 7 an end to the engine 50 connected, and an end 71 having that with the receiving assembly 5 connected is.

Operating the engine 50 moves the cable 7 that on the rail 60 the vertical column 6 runs and partly around the pulley 63 winds, making it the recording assembly 5 raises or lowers.

Of course, the vertical pillar points 6 of the stacker crane 3 a height at least equal to that of the last slideway 10 is to the recording assembly 5 of the stacker crane 3 to allow water bottle packs C of all slides 10 decrease by moving vertically along the vertical column 6 running.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the receiving assembly 5 of the stacker crane 3 suitable for removing the water bottle packs C from the near end 14 every slideway 10 , from a "lifter" 5 , the two support arms 51 includes.

The two mutually parallel support arms 51 the recording module 5 lie horizontally and are transverse to the guide rails 42 mounted, and they are set up from below into the corresponding openings of the near end 14 the slideway 10 as shown, to lift the bottle package C thereon (see 6 ).

The two support arms 51 have respective proximal ends 52 and respective distal ends 53 concerning the magazine 1 of the vending machine 100 on.

On these carrying arms 51 run respective conveyor belts 54 (or equivalent devices) for moving the water bottle packages C along a transverse axis z parallel to the two support arms 51 , Two engines 55 operate drive rollers 56 to the conveyor belts 54 to move.

With reference to the 4 and 5 has the front panel 2 of the vending machine 100 a front mask 20 (also called "cash register") comprising: a keypad 21 In order to allow the user to enter, for example, the code associated with the desired product, the number of packs to be purchased, etc., a display 22 indicating, for example, the amount to be dispensed for dispensing the product and / or the instructions to be followed step by step for its correct dispensing and / or the waiting time for processing the purchase and / or remaining time of dispensing and / or remaining credit indicating (on the basis of which the user can decide whether to make another purchase by possibly charging the shortfall if the remaining credit is insufficient, or to reclaim the remainder by pressing a corresponding key), a coin slot 23 (or similar devices, such as credit, debit and / or ATM card readers) and a leftover withdrawal slot 24 ,

The front 2 Also includes at least one speaker (not shown) above, in combination with or as an alternative to what may already be on the display 22 is displayed, voice messages can be output that describe the above instructions and procedures. Suitable hardware and software devices track or implement these operations and instructions.

One or more indicator lights (not shown) may indicate the completion of the issue of the amount of purchased product (eg, green light) and the opportunity to retrieve the issued one.

The front panel 2 also includes a compartment V suitable to receive at least two water bottle packs C and accessible only after moving a front door.

With special reference to 5 In the present case, said compartment V is that of a tiltable cassette 8th that a floor plate 81 and a front plate 82 includes, which coincides with the front door.

The bottom plate 81 and the front plate 82 the tilting cassette 8th are hinged and perpendicular to each other.

The tiltable cassette 8th is mounted on a horizontal journal P, and about the horizontal journal P is a pinion 83 appropriate.

As an alternative to the tiltable cassette 8th The compartment V can also consist of a cavity that is accessible after lifting a slider or opening a door.

In order to better understand the operation of the vending machine according to the invention, the description will continue with reference to the "dispensing of a water bottle package", from now on called "dispensing cycle".

The recording module 5 of the stacker crane 3 sits down by being vertical along the pillar 6 running, in line with the slide 10 from which, as you can see, she wants to take at least one water bottle pack C from. The concerning the magazine 1 proximal ends 52 the two support arms 51 the recording module 5 in the openings 16 the mounting rail 11 are introduced lift from the bottom at the near end 14 the slideway 10 Water bottle package C so that it is the run end plate 15 overcomes that stops them.

The one of the two support arms 51 the recording module 5 from the magazine's 1 proximal ends 52 upscale water bottle pack C runs on the respective conveyor belts 54 (or rollers) of the support arms 51 the recording module 5 in the direction of the magazine 1 distal ends 53 the support arms 51 ,

The recording module 5 of the stacker truck runs vertically after removing the water bottle pack along the vertical column 6 in that they are in connection to the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th the front panel 2 of the vending machine sets. A sensor measures the positioning of the pickup assembly 5 of the stacker crane 3 in connection to the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th the front panel 2 and the water bottle pack gets off the carrying arms 51 the recording module 5 to the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th the front panel 2 promoted.

How clearly in 4 shown is on the front panel 2 a sensor assembly S is provided, which is suitable for the presence of the water bottle pack on the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th capture.

If the number of water bottle packs C purchased by the user is the same as the only one on the tiltable cassette tray 8th is loaded, the sensor assembly S releases to open the cartridge 8th and makes the dispensed product removable.

On the other hand, with multiple orders of two or more water bottle packs C, nothing prevents the stacker 3 of the vending machine 100 repeats the above-described "delivery cycle" over a number of consecutive times equal to that of the packages C that the user wishes to purchase effectively, with a single package C from the magazine in each "cycle" 1 to the front panel 2 is transported.

In the present case, these water bottle packs C on the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th be placed next to the other in a number tolerated by their dimensions, as in 4 shown where now the vending machine 100 a bottom plate 81 the cassette 8th sufficient width to accommodate two or more packages C side by side.

But these packs C can be on the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th be put in column one behind the other, as in 5 shown where now the vending machine 100 a bottom plate 81 the cassette 8th sufficient depth to accommodate two or more packs so arranged.

However, the invention provides a faster way to the vending machines 100 as in 5 with these two or more in column one after the other arranged packs C to fill.

According to the invention, the first water bottle pack C, after having passed through the receiving assembly in the above ways 5 of the stacker crane 3 from a slideway 10 of the vending machine 100 instead of directly into the tilting cassette 8th to be unloaded on the conveyor belts 54 the support arms 51 to their distal ends 53 to obtain a gap Q sufficient to accommodate a subsequent package (C1, C2 ... Cn). Namely, these operations are over a number of times which is equal to that of the packages C to be dispensed.

Once the desired and selected by the user number of packages C or the maximum is reached on the recording assembly 5 can be loaded, limited only by the depth P of their support arms 51 , they are inside the tilting cassette 8th unload, where they are placed in column, made available to the user (see 5 ).

Now, the main advantage of the invention is clear: To meet orders of multiple quantities, it is not necessary that the receiving assembly 5 constantly from each slideway 10 to the vending machine 100 moves to remove and deposit a pack C at once, but removes several packs C one at a time from a single slideway 10 or moves to multiple slides 10 and continues to extract until she has exhausted her holding capacity, and only then does she deposit her load on packs C in tray V, which greatly shortens the time for collection and delivery to the customer.

It is clear that, although not essential to the gist of the invention, it is understood that the storage capacity of the compartment is not below the capacity of the receiving assembly 5 lies.

The entire output sequence of these water bottle packs C on the receiving assembly 5 is in 7 in the temporal sequence of the images a), b), c) etc. shown schematically (in particular, the loading phase of a second and a third bottle pack is shown), during the subsequent transfer into the interior of the cassette 8th and her tipping in 8th are shown, always in the temporal sequence of the pictures a), b), c) etc.

With respect to these figures, note how the receiving assembly 5 is dimensioned to carry even different water bottle packs C, which are able to always be removed from the same slide and / or other slides.

For example, the vending machine 100 Output 1 to 9 water packs (or water packs) per cycle with dispensing times ranging from 20 to 120 seconds.

It seems obvious that after the multiple issue modes described above, the issue process usually needs to be repeated several times until the entire order is placed on user requested packages.

The sensor module S of the front panel 2 of the vending machine 100 gives the opening of the tilting cassette 8th only free if the number of water-bottle packs C located inside it is equal to the chosen and acquired or the maximum that it is able to contain due to its dimensions.

More specifically, the sensor assembly S activates to open the tiltable cassette 8th an engine 84 ,

This engine 84 is with a wave 85 fitted; the motor shaft 85 activated by turning a chain transmission 86 into which the pinion 83 engages that about the journal P of the tilting cassette 8th is set and the rotation of the journal P and therefore the opening of the tiltable cassette 8th certainly.

By opening the tilting cassette 8th slides on the bottom plate 81 the tiltable cassette set water bottle C by gravity and attaches to the front plate 82 the tilting cassette.

Opening the tilting cassette 8th the front panel 2 has an end position in which the front plate 82 the tilting cassette is inclined by about 45 ° with respect to the horizontal (see 5 ).

They are also on the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th preferably rollers 9 arranged with horizontal axes (or equivalent devices, such as conveyor belts), which are suitable, the movement of the water bottle pack C along the bottom plate 81 the tilting cassette 8th towards the front plate 82 the tilting cassette 8th to favor.

In the present embodiments of the invention, numerous other modifications and detailed modifications can be made within the skill of a person skilled in the art, which in any case fall within the scope of the invention, which is expressed by the appended claims.

It is clear that the recording assembly described 5 and the way they do with the slideways 10 of the magazine 1 of the vending machine 100 cooperates with the invention, only one among the multiple possibilities in the field of ability of the skilled person.

In particular, the support arms 51 the recording module 5 which perform the functions of taking out, shifting by the distance Q and the shelf in shelf V can be replaced by equivalent devices each capable of performing one or more of these three functions.

The described recording module 5 can z. B. devices of the type "with slider" or provide those that consist of a conveyor belt or a roller conveyor or from tongs that lift the packs C and the two support arms 51 place in the position provided for in the variants of the present invention.

Although in the 1 and 2 the magazine 1 and the front panel 2 in opposite position with respect to the stacker crane 3 are shown, this is only the preferred position, as nothing prevents them from being placed on the same side; in this case, unload the support arms 51 the recording module 5 the water bottle pack C from their same end on which they have loaded them.

It will then be understood that the invention has been described for simplicity only with reference to the handling and dispensing of water bottle packages C, while it may be applied to a variety of products C, C1, C2, Cn which are dimensionally different from one another have known dimensions and are substantially undeformable during the extraction and dispensing, and provided that each slideway 10 obviously contains a single type of product C.

The considerable speed of delivery of the ordered products C, C1, C2, Cn and the possibility of receiving among themselves very different products C, C1, C2, Cn, encourages the buyer to carry out orders with much higher quantities than those which may be included in the subject V. Advantageously, it is now provided that the vending machine 100 accept such orders by filling them with multiple sequences of filling the tray V, each of which is activated as soon as manual devices such as buttons or automatic devices controlled by sensors indicate that the tray V has been emptied.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• FR 2964230 [0005]
• EP 0691293 [0006]
• FR 2718624 [0009]

Claims (7)

Method for dispensing products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) from a vending machine ( 100 ) of the type comprising: - a magazine ( 1 ) with a plurality of slideways ( 10 ), each capable of containing one type of product (C; C1, C2 ... Cn), - a vending machine ( 100 ), capable of receiving the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) and making them accessible to the purchaser, - a receiving assembly ( 5 ), - mounted on a forklift truck ( 3 ), - with one to this variety of slideways ( 10 ) proximal end ( 52 ), And suitable, the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) of the plurality of slideways ( 10 ) and then in compartment (V) of the vending machine ( 100 ), characterized in that it provides for the following steps in sequence: a) removing, by means of the receiving assembly ( 5 ), a product (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) and loading it at the level of the proximal end ( 52 ) of the recording assembly ( 5 ) even; b) if removal of another of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) is provided, shifting the product (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) being loaded to the distal end ( 53 ) of the recording assembly ( 5 ), near the proximal end ( 52 ) of the recording assembly ( 5 ) an at least sufficient gap (Q) is obtained to accommodate the subsequent product (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) whose removal is intended; c) repeating steps a) and b) up to the maximum absorption capacity of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) by the receiving assembly ( 5 ); d) placing on the pick-up assembly during the previous steps ( 5 ) loaded products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) in the compartment (V) of the vending machine ( 100 ); e) repeating steps a) to d) until in the compartment (V) of the vending machine ( 100 ) all requested products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) are stored or interrupting the dispensing process when the maximum capacity of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) is determined by the compartment (V) of the vending machine ( 100 ) is reached. Process for the dispensing of water bottle packages (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the compartment (V) for the purchaser to take away the products deposited there (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) is only accessible if it is stored in an amount of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn), which - is equal to the maximum to be included in the compartment (V) or - equal to the amount of products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn), which completes the requested total. Method for dispensing water bottle packages (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the process itself, when reached by reaching the maximum capacity of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) is interrupted in the compartment (V), is reactivated when manual or automatic devices indicate the completed emptying of the compartment (V). Vending machine ( 100 ) for products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) suitable for carrying out the dispensing method of claims 1 to 3, comprising: - a magazine ( 1 ) containing a plurality of slideways ( 10 ), suitable for carrying the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) and equipped with devices ( 15 ), the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) at the level of a near end ( 14 ) to stop where the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) are taken; - a front panel ( 2 ), comprising a compartment (V), - suitable to receive the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn), - and accessible after moving a front door, - a forklift ( 3 ), the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) from the slideways ( 10 ) to the tray (V) and equipped with a pick-up assembly ( 5 ) provided with devices ( 51 ) suitable for removing the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) from the slideways ( 10 ), and with devices ( 51 ) which are suitable for being deposited in the compartment (V), characterized in that - in the receiving module ( 5 ) - the depth is sufficient to accommodate at least two of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn), one after the other; - for removing the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) from the slideways ( 10 ) suitable devices ( 51 ), the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) at the level of the near end ( 14 ) of the slideways ( 10 ) of the proximal end ( 52 ) to position; - Devices ( 51 ) for displacing the received products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) by a gap (Q) from the proximal end (C) 52 ) to an opposite distal end ( 53 ), wherein the gap (Q) is at least sufficient to accommodate a further, previously loaded, subsequent product (C; C1, C2 ... Cn), - the tray (V) being suitable, one Number of one behind the other lined up products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) equal to the one 3 ) is able to record. Vending machine ( 100 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the devices ( 51 ) suitable for removing the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) in order to displace a space (Q) and finally deposit them in the compartment (V), from a single device ( 51 ), the two to the slideways ( 10 ) parallel and with conveyor belts ( 54 ) equipped support arms ( 51 ), and in that the support arms ( 51 ) from below into corresponding seats ( 16 ) of the near ends ( 14 ) each of the slideways ( 10 ) so as to make it stand out from that of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) at the level of the device ( 15 ) is stopped. Vending machine ( 100 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises devices which are at least capable of indicating step by step the dispensing of the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) of instructions and operations to be followed. Vending machine ( 100 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the products (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) which it is able to store and dispense comprise water bottle packages (C; C1, C2 ... Cn) ,

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