DE102021124608A1 - vending device - Google Patents

Abstract

Sales device comprising: a selection and payment module (4), a removal box with a removal flap (1) and a transport unit (7) for transporting goods, in particular a beverage crate (10), the transport unit (7) having a front section (12) and a rear section (13) which are not rigidly connected, the front section (12) being located in the extraction box.

Description

The present invention relates to a vending device and a system comprising a vending device.

From the state of the art is the document DE 10 2004 063 665 A1 known, which describes a vending device for the automated vending of beverages. The sales device includes an output device, a transport device for the goods logistics within the sales device, a selection device for selecting the desired beverages and a payment device. In particular, complete crates of drinks can be sold with the sales device. The customer can also determine the composition of his drinks crate individually. For example, he can choose between beer, water, cola, Sprite, Fanta and mineral water and receive a crate of drinks of any composition.

Also, the document WO 2018/137933 A1 be taken to provide a ticket machine with a security surface. The security surface is designed in such a way that the machine is burglar-proof. The security interface can also be partially used as a touchscreen.

The document DE 19617279 A1 also shows a vending machine for dispensing complete crates of drinks. Here, in particular, two conveyor belts arranged one behind the other are disclosed, with a smaller one being arranged inside a removal box of the vending machine. This can enable the removal box to be separated.

The DE 4232833 A1 describes an automatic issue of beverage crates, whereby the system presented is not a compact vending machine, but an extensive system. The document DE 20201758 U1 has a similar revelation.

The need for supplying food, especially beverages, after closing time exists and is at least partially satisfied by vending machines.

However, there is a particular desire to purchase complete beverage crates, for which there is currently hardly any offer or where only machines are available that are technically very complicated or require a lot of space.

One object is therefore to provide a vending device that offers crates of drinks and can be produced inexpensively or adapted to the available space.

As a first aspect of the invention, a sales device is provided, comprising: a selection and payment module, a removal box with a removal flap and a transport unit for transporting goods, in particular a crate of drinks, the transport unit having a front section and a rear section which are formed integrally, wherein the front portion is not rigidly connected to the rear portion, wherein the front portion is arranged in the removal box.

By dividing the transport unit into two, a mechanically simple separation of a beverage crate in the front section of the transport unit from the remaining beverage crates can be achieved. The front section is arranged in the removal box.

As a second aspect of the invention, a system is provided, comprising a sales device according to one of claims 1 to 9, the system comprising: exactly one selection and payment module, any number of removal boxes, the number of removal boxes being increased by removal or addition can be scaled as required and walls to close off the system at the sides.

Due to any number of removal boxes, the system can be adapted to any spatial conditions. The walls serve in particular to protect against vandalism and theft,

Exemplary embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a vending device is provided, wherein the transport unit has a front section and a rear section, wherein in a first situation the front section is level with the rear section and wherein in a second situation the front section is at least partially or .

The front section can be raised by electrically controlled pneumatic cylinders, in particular only one side of the front section being lifted, as a result of which the front section is tilted.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a vending device is provided, wherein in the second situation the front section is inclined so that one side of the front section is suitable as a stop for drinks crates in the rear section.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a vending device is made available, wherein the front section has a spacer roller for separating a beverage crate in the front section from beverage crates in the rear section.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a vending device is made available, a movable partition wall, in particular a roller shutter partition, being provided for separating the beverage crate in the front section from the beverage crate in the rear section.

A mechanically simple separation of the beverage crate in the removal box from the remaining beverage crates in the transport unit can be achieved by means of a movable partition wall, as a result of which theft can be prevented.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, a sales device is provided, the sales device comprising a roof to protect customers of the sales device and/or the roof having a solar collector and/or a photovoltaic system and/or a lamp on the roof for illuminating the Selling device are arranged.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, a sales device is made available, the removal flap being suitable as an advertising space and/or the removal flap being transparent.

By using the removal flap as an advertising space, the sales device can be used extensively as an advertising medium. With a transparent removal flap, the customer can advantageously see the goods before they buy them.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a vending device is provided, wherein the vending device is provided for selling groceries, in particular ready meals, and/or wherein the vending device has air conditioning for heating the goods in winter and/or for cooling the goods in summer .

In a further embodiment according to the invention, a vending device is provided, wherein the transport unit has rollers and is inclined.

Due to the design of the transport unit with rollers arranged in parallel, a drive for the beverage crates can be dispensed with by tilting the transport unit, since these can roll down the incline to the removal box. In this way, the vending device can be manufactured in a mechanically simple manner.

An idea of the invention can be seen as making available a vending device that can be produced inexpensively and that can be adapted to the respective spatial conditions due to a modular design. For this purpose, the vending device includes a selection and payment module on which any number of removal boxes for removing crates of drinks are arranged. The beverage crates are stored on transport units, which are designed as an arrangement of rollers, so that a respective filling of a removal box is ensured by an inclined position.

The individual features can, of course, also be combined with one another, which in some cases can also result in beneficial effects that go beyond the sum of the individual effects.

• Weitere Einzelheiten und Vorteile der Erfindung werden anhand der in den Zeichnungen dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiele deutlich. Es zeigen
  • 1 eine Verkaufsvorrichtung mit nicht-transparenten Entnahmeklappen 1, die als geschlossene Werbefläche genutzt werden,
  • 2 eine Verkaufsvorrichtung mit einem Glasdach 2 über die gesamte Länge der Verkaufsvorrichtung,
  • 3 eine Verkaufsvorrichtung mit einem verkürzten Glasdach 2,
  • 4 eine Verkaufsvorrichtung mit einem Dach 3, das ein Solarkollektoren und/oder ein Photovoltaikanlage umfasst,
  • 5 die Verkaufsvorrichtung von oben,
  • 6 eine Explosionsdarstellung einer Verkaufsvorrichtung mit drei Modulen, die jeweils sechs Entnahmeboxen mit eigenen Entnahmeklappen 1 aufweisen, einem Auswahl- und Bezahlmodul 4 und abschließenden Wänden 8.
  • 7 die Befüllung einer Verkaufsvorrichtung, wobei Hecktüren geöffnet werden und die Transporteinheiten 7 im hinteren Abschnitt 13 befüllt werden.
  • 8 eine Ansicht von hinten mit den einzelnen Transporteinheiten 7, auf denen Getränkekisten 10 aufliegen.
  • 9 eine Verkaufsvorrichtung mit Leuchtanzeigen 6,
  • 10 eine Verkaufsvorrichtung mit einem Display 14,
  • 11 eine Verkaufsvorrichtung mit transparenten Entnahmeklappen 1,
  • 12 eine Anordnung mit drei Transporteinheiten 7 übereinander,
  • 13 einen Ausschnitt einer Transporteinheit 7 mit einer Getränkekiste 10, die in einem vorderen Abschnitt 12 angeordnet ist,
  • 14 die Transporteinheit 7, wobei der vordere Abschnitt 12 an einer Seite angehoben ist, sodass die Getränkekiste 10 nach vorne, zur Entnahmeklappe hin, sich bewegt,
  • 15 die Situation nach der Entnahme einer Getränkekiste 10, wobei der vordere Abschnitt 12 abgesenkt wird, damit eine Getränkekiste 10 in den vorderen Abschnitt 12 der Transporteinheit 7 rutschen kann,
  • 16 die Situation nachdem gerade eine Getränkekiste 10 in den vorderen Abschnitt 12 gerutscht ist und
  • 17 die Situation, dass eine Seite des vorderen Abschnitts angehoben ist, um ein Nachrutschen weiterer Getränkekisten 10 zu vermeiden.

The drawings are described in more detail below:

• Further details and advantages of the invention become clear from the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Show it
  • 1 a sales device with non-transparent removal flaps 1, which are used as a closed advertising space,
  • 2 a vending machine with a glass roof 2 over the entire length of the vending machine,
  • 3 a vending device with a shortened glass roof 2,
  • 4 a sales device with a roof 3, which includes a solar collector and/or a photovoltaic system,
  • 5 the vending machine from above,
  • 6 an exploded view of a sales device with three modules, each having six removal boxes with their own removal flaps 1, a selection and payment module 4 and closing walls 8.
  • 7 the filling of a sales device, with rear doors being opened and the transport units 7 in the rear section 13 being filled.
  • 8th a rear view with the individual transport units 7 on which crates 10 lie.
  • 9 a vending device with indicator lights 6,
  • 10 a vending device with a display 14,
  • 11 a vending device with transparent removal flaps 1,
  • 12 an arrangement with three transport units 7 one above the other,
  • 13 a section of a transport unit 7 with a beverage crate 10, which is arranged in a front section 12,
  • 14 the transport unit 7, with the front section 12 being raised on one side, so that the beverage crate 10 moves forwards towards the removal flap,
  • 15 the situation after the removal of a beverage crate 10, with the front section 12 being lowered so that a beverage crate 10 can slide into the front section 12 of the transport unit 7,
  • 16 the situation after a beverage crate 10 has just slipped into the front section 12 and
  • 17 the situation that one side of the front section is raised in order to avoid further crates 10 sliding down.

The embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

1 shows a sales device with flat and flush removal flaps 1 for removing a crate of drinks, on which advertising can be attached, since the entirety of the removal flaps 1 forms a large continuous surface that can be printed or glued on, which protects the sales device from vandalism, since there is no surface to attack.

2 shows a glass roof 2 with optional, additional lighting to protect against rain and thus allow operation and removal of the sales device in the dark. The glass roof 2 is arranged over the entire length of the sales device.

3 shows a sales device with a roof 2, which is arranged only over the selection and payment module 4.

4 1 shows a sales device with removal flaps 1 and a protruding roof 2 to protect customers from the effects of the weather, the roof 2 being able to have solar collectors and/or a photovoltaic system 3 .

5 shows the sales device in a view from above with the solar cells of the solar collectors or the photovoltaic system 3.

6 shows an exploded view of a sales device with three modules 5, each comprising six boxes for crates of drinks. In addition, the vending device includes a selection and payment module 4 and closing walls 8 that prevent vandalism and theft.

7 shows a vending device that is filled with crates 10 from behind.

8th shows a sales device from behind with the beverage crates 10. The beverage crates 10 are on transport units 7, which lead to a separation, with each individual beverage crate 10 entering a removal box and the individual beverage crate 10 opposite the remaining beverage crates 10 on the transport unit through a roller shutter - Partition 9 is separated to prevent theft.

9 shows a vending machine with six removal boxes, the contents of which can be reached by actuating a removal flap 1 . So that the customer knows where he can remove his goods, a display 6 is arranged as lights above the removal boxes, which shows the location of the removal box in question.

10 FIG. 13 shows another vending machine/vending device with six removal boxes, with a display 14 showing the customer his removal box. The display 14 can preferably be arranged directly above the removal boxes. The display 14 can also give the customer instructions, for example "Please remove the box" or "Please close the door".

11 shows a sales device with six removal boxes with removal flaps 1, the customer being shown where his goods are by lighting up the removal box. In addition, the removal flap 1 can be transparent in order to make the goods visible to the customer. The remaining removal boxes can remain dark.

The removal flap 1 can be used as advertising space or be transparent to show the goods. The removal flap 1 can open up, down, to the right or to the left. The removal flap 1 can alternatively be divided into two. In addition, the removal flap 1 can be opened manually or automatically and/or closed manually or automatically.

12 shows three transport units 7, which are arranged one above the other and represent part of a sales device. In particular, rollers 15 are mounted on the transport units 7 in order to be able to move the beverage crates 10 . Alternatively, the transport units have 7 belts.

13 shows a section of a transport unit 7 with a rear section 13 and a front section 12, the front section 12 being able to be inclined. For this purpose, electrically controllable pneumatic cylinders can be used, which lift one side of the front section 12 so that a beverage crate 10 lying on it slides forward.

14 shows the transport unit 7 with a raised front section 12. By raising a spacer roller 11 can be transported upwards, which can serve as a stop for subsequent beverage crates 10. The front section 12 can be understood as the removal area of the transport unit 7, which is located within the removal box of the sales device. The removal box can be reached by opening the removal flap 1.

15 shows the situation in which a beverage crate has just been removed from the removal box. In this case, the front section 12 is lowered again in such a way that the transport unit 7 can transport crates 10 from the rear section 13 into the removal area 12 .

16 shows the situation that a crate 10 has arrived in the front section 12. The fact that a beverage crate 10 is present in the front section 12 can be determined by a light barrier. In this case, the rear area of the front section 12 is raised, as a result of which the crate 10 in the front section 12 slides forward and spacer rollers 11 also act as stoppers for the crates 10 in the rear section 13 .

17 shows the raised section 12.

As an alternative to lifting a front section and using rollers as stops, pins can be used to separate each crate.

The advantage of the transport unit 7 is that the beverage crates 10 can automatically move up after a beverage crate 10 has been removed due to a slight inclination, without a drive being required for this purpose, for example by a conveyor belt. The device according to the invention therefore has low energy consumption.

The vending machine makes it possible to buy entire crates of drinks. The customer can select their drinks on site or place a pre-order via the app so that the desired crate of drinks can be prepared and is therefore available.

Payment can be made via app. Additionally or alternatively, a payment module can be arranged on the vending machine.

The beverage crates can be returned using a special module, in particular a return machine that can be integrated into the vending machine.

The vending device can have air conditioning, so that it can be cooled in summer and/or heated in winter. The vending device according to the invention can be suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

In particular, the sales device can have sensors that determine the inventory of the goods. If a reorder level is reached or fallen below, a replenishment can be initiated by a notification.

The removal flaps can only be opened after payment for the desired goods and/or age query, for example when selling alcohol.

The vending device can be filled with foodstuffs, for example assortments of goods for cooking meals or snacks, instead of with drinks crates.

In an alternative embodiment, the transport unit may not be flat, but curved upwards, so that the upper levels of the crates are spaced apart, which makes it easier to separate the crates.

It is noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, just as the terms "a" and "an" do not exclude multiple elements and steps.

Reference List

1

removal flap

2

roof, glass roof

3

Solar collectors/photovoltaic system

4

Selection and payment module

5

a module of a sales device with 6 removal boxes

6

display unit

7

transport unit

8th

final wall

9

Partition wall, shutter partition

10

beverage crate

11

spacer roll

12

front section of transport unit 7

13

rear section of transport unit 7

14

Display for customers of a vending machine

15

Rollers of the transport unit 7

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102004063665 A1 [0002]
• WO 2018/137933 A1 [0003]
• DE 19617279 A1 [0004]
• DE 4232833 A1 [0005]
• DE 20201758 U1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Vending device comprising: a selection and payment module (4), a removal box with a removal flap (1) and a transport unit (7) for transporting goods, in particular a beverage crate (10), the transport unit (7) having a front section (12) and a rear section (13) which are designed to be connected, the front section (12) is not rigidly connected to the rear section (13), the front section (12) being arranged in the extraction box. Vending device after claim 1 , wherein the transport unit (7) has a front portion (12) and a rear portion (13), wherein in a first situation the front portion (12) is level with the rear portion (13) and wherein in a second situation the front portion (12) is at least partially or partially higher. Vending device after claim 2 , In the second situation, the front section (12) is inclined so that one side of the front section (12) is suitable as a stop for beverage crates (10) in the rear section (13). Vending device after claim 3 , wherein the front section (12) has a spacer roller (11) for separating a crate (10) in the front section (12) from crates (10) in the rear section (13). Vending device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a movable partition (9), in particular a roller shutter partition, is provided for separating the beverage crate (10) in the front section (12) from the beverage crate (10) in the rear section (13). . Sales device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sales device comprises a roof (2) to protect customers of the sales device and/or the roof (2) has solar collectors and/or a photovoltaic system and/or the roof (2) has a light are arranged to illuminate the sales device. Sales device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the removal flap (1) is suitable as advertising space and/or in which the removal flap (1) is transparent. Vending device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vending device is provided for the sale of groceries, in particular ready meals, and/or wherein the vending device has air conditioning for heating the goods in winter and/or for cooling the goods in summer, A vending device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport unit (7) has rollers (15) and is inclined. A system comprising a vending device according to any one of the preceding claims, the system comprising: exactly one selection and payment module (4), any number of removal boxes, whereby the number of removal boxes can be scaled as desired by removing or adding, and walls (8) for laterally closing off the system.

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