EP0207836A1 - Automatic cylindric articles vending machine provided with a linear reciprocating carriage - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic dispenser consists of two juxtaposed hoppers (5a, 5b) comprising storage trays (6) and a lateral chute (7) leading to a unitary dispensing orifice (8). A carriage (14) having a bottomless receptacle (15) is displaced in a guide space (10), being driven in a reciprocating rectilinear movement ensuring that the cylindrical articles (9) are dispensed. The dispenser has a flap (20) serving for the temporary closure of the receptacle (15) and performing a function of agitating the articles (9) in the chute. Shoulders (18,21) are also provided for ensuring a multiple agitation of the cylindrical articles. There can also be a pivoting of the tray (6) to increase still further the number of agitations. This results in a guarantee of uniform dispensing of the articles in complete safety, without jamming, in the chute or on the trays (6). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a distributor of cylindrical objects, in particular tubes containing tennis balls, consisting of at least one store hopper provided at its base with an orifice allowing the evacuation of an object, below which is located a distribution member connected to an outlet counter.

State of the art

It is already known distributors using one or more rotary bodies allowing, due to their partial pivoting, to release an object under the effect of an external stress which is most of the time constituted by a money receiving device or token. Thus, French Patent No. 1,195,269 describes an automatic dispenser of objects, such as beverage bottles comprising a storage member communicating through an orifice with a turnstile, provided with four recesses which, when it rotates 90 °, releases an object.

Likewise, French Patent No. 2,524,178 describes an automatic sales machine comprising a storage unit and a dispensing device comprising a rotary body comprising several compartments in series, one for each of the storage units, arranged at angular divisions. equal on the circumference of the rotating body.

It is also known to distributors using a drawer. Thus, French Patent No. 1,323,364 describes a dispenser comprising a store hopper and a dispensing member comprising a coin drawer comprising a fixed part and a slide, the inner end of which ends in an ejector with a downward angle return . When the slide is pushed back, it expels the lowest item located in front of the return.

It is also known from US Pat. No. 1,548,670 ECHOLS a machine for distributing goods m, comprising two compartments forming a store hopper, each being provided at its base with an orifice allowing the evacuation of this goods m. This machine comprises a distribution carriage 4 comprising two compartments II without bottom, moving horizontally in a guide space defined by a horizontal support plate 12 used to close off the bottom of one of the compartments II of the carriage 4 when a commodity m falls by gravity into one of the compartments 11.

Beyond the horizontal partition 12, there is defined an opening for discharging the goods in the direction of a distribution counter 14.

This carriage 4 moves inside the guide space defined by the horizontal partition 12 according to a back-and-forth movement under the action of a 9-crank 8 rod mechanism, thereby lowering each movement goods m in one of the compartments 11, which is then discharged through the opening 6.

Also known from US Patent 1,821,223 LARAWAY is a similar device for distributing cylindrical objects 9 from a single hopper 7 using a bottomless carriage 11 moving in a reciprocating movement for to coincide with an opening offset laterally relative to the orifice of the hopper, as is clearly visible in FIG. 4. US Pat. No. 1,820,341 also describes a similar dispensing mechanism (Fig. 7,8)

The invention

However, the present inventor has been able to observe that the substantially cylindrical objects which are distributed in such devices can exhibit cylindrical defects by being, for example, deformed by impacts or by comprising closing devices such as caps, with protruding parts. Consequently, in practice, blockages of said substantially cylindrical objects occur at the level of the distribution trolley or drawer, as well as in the storage hopper of said objects.

In addition, the present inventor has also been able to observe that most of the known devices require a relatively large number of moving parts and do not make it possible to operate large capacity tanks without a pre-selection system.

The present invention therefore aims to solve the new technical problem consisting in the provision of an automatic distribution device for substantially cylindrical objects making it possible to achieve and / or ensure a regular distribution of said cylindrical objects, without risk of blockage. , while being of particularly simple design.

The invention also aims to solve a new problem consisting in the supply of such a device having a reduced number of moving parts while making it possible to operate large capacity tanks without a pre-selection system.

These technical problems are solved for the first time by the present invention.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided an automatic dispenser of substantially cylindrical objects consisting of at least one store hopper provided at its base with an orifice allowing the evacuation of an object, a dispensing member being located below of said hopper and being connected to an outlet window, said dispensing member comprising a guide space whose axis is substantially horizontal, defined between an upper wall surrounding said orifice and a lower wall in which an opening is made allowing the evacuation of the object to the exit window, said opening being offset with respect to the hopper evacuation orifice, a carriage, comprising a bottomless housing for collecting a cylindrical object, moving inside the guide space according to a movement back and forth under the action of an appropriate mechanism, so as to pass alternately in coincidence with said orifice and said opening, charac terized in that it comprises means for agitating said cylindrical objects.

Preferably, the means for agitating said cylindrical objects comprises means for lifting said cylindrical objects.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for agitating the cylindrical objects are integral with the carriage.

According to an alternative embodiment, the means for agitating the cylindrical objects comprise a means forming a flap provided on the upper face of the carriage, allowing the housing to be closed when an object has been introduced into said housing and thus preventing the penetration of a new object; and allowing the opening of said housing when an object is evacuated to the counter.

According to a particular embodiment, the aforementioned means for agitating the objects comprise one or more shoulders radially projecting towards the orifice for evacuating objects from the store hopper, arranged parallel to the axis of movement of the carriage and in the passage of the orifice, the said shoulder (s) being either formed on the upper face of the carriage , either still on the upper face of the means forming the aforementioned component, or even both at the same time.

In the latter case of the combination of shoulders made both on the upper face of the carriage and the upper face of the shutter means, the height of the shoulders of the carriage is different, preferably is less than the height of the shoulders of the means forming shutter.

According to a particular embodiment, the shoulders are made continuous, thus forming a rib.

According to yet another particular embodiment, the dispenser according to the invention comprises vertically offset inclined shelves or partitions dividing each store hopper into sub-compartments for storing said substantially cylindrical objects, and is characterized in that said shelves or partitions are articulated to the wall of the store hopper, by horizontal axes, while the opposite free end of the shelves or partitions of each store hopper is secured, preferably also in an articulated manner, to a rod arranged substantially vertically and comprising at its lower end a pusher actuated by means forming a push cam of said pusher, these cam means being preferably produced on the upper face of the carriage.

It can thus be seen that, according to the invention, multiple means of agitation are provided, preferably by lifting substantially cylindrical objects. This leads to multiple agitations guaranteeing a regular distribution of said objects, whatever the circumstances, and in particular even in the case where the substantially cylindrical objects are not perfect cylinders and have deformations, or even include closing devices. such as cap, with protruding part.

• - la figure 1 est une vue générale en coupe longitudinale d'un dispositif distributeur automatique d'objets cylindriques selon l'invention sans que les détails de structure soient figurés ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue détaillée en coupe longitudinale de l'organe de distribution et du guichet ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue en plan, de dessus, du chariot, pourvu selon une variante de réalisation préférée, d'un moyen formant volet de fermeture ;
• - la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale du chariot selon la ligne de coupe IV-IV de la figure 2 ;
• - la figure 5 représente selon les sous-figures 5a à 5d, en coupe longitudinale les différentes étapes successives de distribution des objets cylindriques ;
• - la figure 6 représente un mode de réalisation préféré du distributeur selon l'invention comportant des biellettes de soulèvement des tablettes ou cloisons inclinées subdivisant chaque trémie magasin en sous compartiments ; et
• - la figure 7 représente une vue en coupe transversale au niveau des biellettes de la figure 5.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear clearly in the light of the explanatory description which will follow made with reference to the appended drawings representing several embodiments of the dispenser according to the invention, given simply by way of illustration and which therefore cannot in any way limit the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

• - Figure 1 is a general view in longitudinal section of an automatic dispensing device for cylindrical objects according to the invention without the structural details being shown;
• - Figure 2 is a detailed view in longitudinal section of the dispensing member and the window;
• - Figure 3 is a plan view, from above, of the carriage, provided according to a preferred embodiment, with means forming a shutter;
• - Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage along the section line IV-IV of Figure 2;
• - Figure 5 shows according to sub-Figures 5a to 5d, in longitudinal section the different successive stages of distribution of the cylindrical objects;
• - Figure 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention comprising rods for lifting shelves or inclined partitions dividing each store hopper into sub-compartments; and
• FIG. 7 represents a cross-sectional view at the level of the rods of FIG. 5.

According to Figure 1, the distributor 1 consists of a housing 2 or frame whose front face 3 is provided with an opening, for example rectangular 4, where the window 12 opens. The casing envelops a device comprising at its upper part two hopper stores 5a and 5b juxtaposed which comprise vertically offset inclined shelves or partitions 6, preferably equidistant, fixed to each of the side walls against a front or rear wall and of length less than the width of the side walls of each hopper 5a, 5b and leading to a vertical chute 7 located between the ends of the shelves 6 and the front or rear wall of each hopper 5a, 5b, leading to an evacuation orifice_8.

Since the shelves 6 are tilted downwards, in the direction of the chute, the cylindrical objects 9 which are carried by the shelves have a natural tendency to roll in the direction of the chute due to gravity.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hoppers 5a, 5b, are placed one behind the other with respect to the front face of the casing 2 and in such a way that the respective orifices 8 are adjacent to the to each other as is clearly visible in FIG. 1. These orifices open out at the center of a horizontal guide space 10 situated below the hoppers.

It is observed that this space 10 has the shape of an elongated parallelepipedal cavity defined between an upper wall 10a surrounding the orifices 8 and a lower wall 10b in which is made a transverse opening 11 leading to the window 12 and therefore allowing evacuation of the object to the exit counter 12.

It is thus observed that the opening It is offset relative to the orifice 8 for evacuating the hopper.

The bottom wall 10b is provided with longitudinal rails 13 which allow the movement of a carriage 14 along the guide space in a reciprocating movement under the action of an appropriate mechanism 32, so to pass alternately in coincidence with the orifice 8 for evacuating an object 9 and the opening II communicating with the outlet counter 12.

According to an essential characteristic of the present invention, this dispenser 1 is characterized in that it comprises means 18, 20, 21, which are clearly visible in FIGS. 2 to 5, for agitating the cylindrical objects 9.

Preferably, the means for agitating the cylindrical objects comprise means for lifting the cylindrical objects 9.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means 18, 21, for agitating the cylindrical objects 9 are integral with the carriage 14.

This carriage 14 is a mass of any material of parallelepiped shape, of a width slightly less than the guide space and of a length substantially equal to half the length of the guide space increased by the width of an orifice. The carriage 14 has a transverse housing 15 of a size such that it accommodates a cylindrical object coming from one of the two orifices 8. The housing 15 is also open on the underside 16 of the carriage so that the object cylindrical can be evacuated when the housing arrives due to the movement of the carriage at the opening I1.

According to an alternative embodiment, the means for agitating the cylindrical objects comprise a means forming a flap 20 provided on the upper face of the carriage 14, allowing the housing 15 to be closed when an object has been introduced into said housing as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and thus prohibiting the penetration of a new object 9; and allowing the opening of said housing 15 when an object is evacuated towards the window, as will be explained below with reference to FIG. 5.

According to a particular embodiment, the aforementioned means for agitating the objects 9 comprise one or more shoulders 18, 21, radially projecting in the direction of the orifice 8 for evacuating objects from the store hopper 5a or 5b, arranged parallel to the axis of movement of the carriage and in the passage of the orifice as is clearly visible in Figures 3 and 4.

According to an advantageous alternative embodiment, one or more shoulders 18 are produced on the upper face of the carriage 14.

According to another variant, one or more shoulders 21 are made on the upper face of the means forming a shutter 20. Preferably, these shoulders, forming means for agitating, and preferably lifting, objects 9, are made both on the upper face of the carriage 14 and the upper face of the flap means 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

In the latter case of the combination of shoulders 18, 21, produced both on the upper face of the carriage 14 and the upper face of the flap means 20, it is preferred according to the invention that the height of the shoulders 18 of the carriage is different from the height of the shoulders 21 of the shutter means 20. Advantageously, the height of the shoulders 18 of the carriage 14 is less than the height of the shoulders 21 of the shutter means 20, as is clearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 4.

According to yet another particular embodiment, the shoulders 18, 21 are made continuous, thus forming ribs having a stirring function, preferably by lifting objects 9.

It will be observed that the shoulders forming the ribs 18 of the carriage are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage 14 and extend over the entire length of the carriage, being simply interrupted by the opening of the housing 15 passing through.

On the rear side of the carriage, situated to the right of FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper face of the carriage 14 comprises a middle zone, between the shoulders forming ribs 18, situated at the edge of the housing 15, formed by a rectangular recess 19 occupied by the means forming a movable flap 20 which, as previously described, is also provided with shoulders forming ribs 21, preferably over its entire length as shown in FIG. 3.

The underside of each flap means 20 is provided according to the example shown with a longitudinal central rack 22 which ensures the movement of the flap 20 by means of a pinion 23 housed in a location 24 provided for this purpose in the lateral zone . The pinion 23 is actuated by a motor 25 located under the location of the pinion 23.

The motor 25 is connected to two contact points. A first contact point 26 opening a coin acceptance circuit, thereby in fact determining whether the dispenser is empty or even able to dispense an object 9.

Thus, when one or more coins are introduced to obtain the distribution of an object, the introduction of these coins actuates a point of contact of the money acceptance mechanism (not shown), so as to actuate d 'First the motor 25 for closing the shutter means 20 while avoiding the annoying action of a cylindrical object 9' disposed above it.

The movement of this flap 20 ensures, by pushing back the cylindrical object 9 'situated above the object 9 introduced into the housing 15, agitation of all the cylindrical objects located in the chute and also of those located in the under - compartments defined by tablets 6.

According to this embodiment shown, which is not limiting, the arrival in front of the shutter 20 triggers the actuation of a motor 32 for translational driving of the carriage 14 according to a back-and-forth movement by the drive d a pinion 31 meshing on a rack 30. The advance movement of the carriage 14 is limited by stops 29.

Thus, the actuation of the motor 32 results in advancing the carriage 14 from the position of FIG. 5a to the intermediate position of FIG. 5b and then to the position of FIG. 5c for which the housing 15 of the carriage 14 coincides with the opening II communicating with the exit counter 12.

It will be observed that during this movement, effects of agitation of the cylindrical objects 9 are obtained by lifting them in the chute, as symbolized by the arrows.

In the position of FIG. 5c, it can be seen that the fall of the cylindrical object 9 releases the contact 26 and actuates a second contact point 27 located directly above the opening II at the start of the outlet window 12, and which allows to actuate the movement in the opposite direction of the flap to clear the entrance to the housing 15, position which is obtained in Figure 5d.

Then, when the shutter is closed, the motor 32 is triggered in the opposite direction to bring the carriage 14 to the right of the figure, in the retracted position.

During this return movement, agitation movements will again be obtained by the fall of a cylindrical object 9 in the housing 15 and by the action of the flap 20 having shoulders 21 of thickness greater than that of the shoulders 18 of the carriage 14. The fall of the object 9 into the housing 15 actuates the contact point 26 and then the shutter 20 closes again by obtaining the position of FIG. 5a. And the cycle begins again.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown a currently preferred embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention.

According to this preferred embodiment, the shelves or partitions 6 are articulated to the rear wall of each store hopper 5a or 5b, by horizontal axes A, while the opposite free end of the shelves 6 of each store hopper 5a, 5b, is secured, preferably also in an articulated manner by also horizontal articulation axes A1 to a link B disposed substantially vertically and comprising at its lower end a pusher P actuated by means forming a cam C for pushing said pusher P, these means forming a cam C being preferably produced on the upper face of the carriage 14.

It will be observed with reference to FIG. 7 that two connecting rods B are provided located at the lateral edges of the shelves 6, so as not to impede the movement of the cylindrical objects 9, while allowing a simultaneous and identical pivoting movement of the shelves 6 from the same store hopper 5a or 5b. Thus, two cam paths C are also provided in the vicinity of the longitudinal lateral edges of the carriage 14 as is clearly understandable with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

It will further be observed that these cam-forming means C can be discontinuous or continuous. In the latter case they are in any case interrupted by the opening of the housing 15 as can be seen in FIG. 6.

Thus, one obtains several movements of agitation of the cylindrical objects contained in the hopper store by several actions of lifting of the shelves 6 by the rods B.

All this results in guaranteeing a regular distribution of the cylindrical objects 9 in complete safety.

This movement of agitation of the tubes is accentuated by the descent into the initial position of the shelves during the abrupt interruption of the cam path C.

On the other hand, according to another more preferred variant embodiment, the drive of the flap 20 and of the carriage 14 is simplified by replacing the separate rack, pinion and motor system by the use of a single electric actuator or electric motor coupled to a connecting rod connected to the flap 20.

The following modified operation is then obtained: The carriage 14 is in abutment at the rear, the flap 20 being open and a cylindrical object 9 located inside the housing 15.

The contact point 26 allows under the action of the cylindrical object 9 hanging over him to open the coin acceptance circuit, in the same manner as previously described.

The mechanism for accepting money, during the introduction of money, then triggers the single motor which will (with a push rod connected to the flap 20) first actuate the flap 20 and its shoulders 21 then lift in passing objects in tank 5a.

The shutter 20 coming into abutment with the housing! 5 in the carriage 14 then begins to push the carriage itself which will distribute the object 9 in the orifice 8.

In its fall, the object 9 actuates the contact point 27 which causes the engine to reverse.

The latter then causes the shutter 20 to be withdrawn from above the housing 15, again obtaining a lifting movement of the objects 9 from the magazine hopper 5b until arriving at the rear stop in the housing 15 of the carriage 14.

The flap 20 is then secured to the carriage 14 and drives the latter with it to the starting position where the stop 29 cuts its action.

In this return movement, the shutter being open, a new object 9 is introduced automatically by falling into the housing 15 of the carriage 14.

It is thus understood that the invention includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their various combinations.

Claims (11)

1. Vending machine for substantially cylindrical objects (9), consisting of at least one store hopper (5a, 5b) provided at its base with an orifice (8) allowing the evacuation of an object (9), a distribution member being located below said hopper and being connected to an outlet window (12), said distribution member comprising a guide space (10) whose axis is substantially horizontal, defined between an upper wall (l0a ) surrounding said orifice (8) and a bottom wall (10b) in which an opening (11) is formed allowing the evacuation of the object (9) towards the exit window (12), said opening being offset with respect to the discharge opening (8) of the hopper, a carriage (14), comprising a bottomless housing (15) making it possible to collect a cylindrical object (9), moving inside the guide space ( 10) in a back and forth movement under the action of an appropriate mechanism (30-31-32) so as to pass alternately in coincidence nce with said orifice (8) and said opening (11), characterized in that it comprises means (18, 20, 21) for agitating said cylindrical objects (9). 2. Dispenser according to claim I, characterized in that the means (18, 20, 21) for agitating said cylindrical objects comprise means (18, 21) for lifting said cylindrical objects. 3. Dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforementioned means (18, 20, 21) for agitating the cylindrical objects are integral with the carriage (14). 4. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (18, 20, 21) for agitating the cylindrical objects include a flap means (20) provided on the upper face of the carriage (14), allowing the housing (15) to be closed when an object has been introduced into said housing and thus preventing the penetration of a new object (9 '); and allowing the opening of said housing (15) when an object is evacuated to the window (12). 5. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the aforementioned means (18, 20, 21) for agitating the objects (9) comprise one or more shoulders (18, 20, 21) radially projecting in the direction of the orifice (8) for evacuating objects from the store hopper (5a, 5b), arranged parallel to the axis of movement of the carriage (14) and in the passage of the orifice (8). 6. Dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that the abovementioned shoulder (s) (18) are produced on the upper face of the carriage (14). 7. Distributor according to claim 5, characterized in that the shoulder (s) (21) are formed on the upper face of the flap means (20). 8. Dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the abovementioned shoulder (s) are produced both on the upper face of the carriage (14) and the upper face of the flap means (20), the height of the shoulders (18) of the carriage (14) is different from the height of the shoulders (21) of the flap means (20). 9. A dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that the height of the shoulders (18) of the carriage (14) is less than the height of the shoulders (21) of the flap means (20). 10. Distributor according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the shoulders (18, 21) are made continuous thereby forming a rib. 11. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising vertically offset inclined shelves or partitions dividing each store hopper into sub-compartments for storing said substantially cylindrical objects, characterized in that said shelves (6) or partitions are articulated to the wall of the store hopper, by horizontal axes (A), while the opposite free end of the shelves (6) of each store hopper is secured, preferably also in an articulated manner (in Al), to a link (B) disposed substantially vertically and comprising at its lower end a pusher (P) actuated by cam means (C) for pushing said pusher (P), these cam means (C) preferably being produced on the upper face of the carriage (14 ).

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