EP0237628A2 - Dispensing device at the article stacks of a vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An output device of a self-seller for bottles or cans should be variable in a compact design between two different types per pair of chutes and high capacity. For this purpose, a common output member (5) is assigned to a pair of manholes (2, 3), which can be moved to the right or left from its rest position.

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser on manholes of a self-seller, in particular for bottles or cans, dispensing members with a blocking surface and support surface are arranged at the lower ends of the commodity shafts and the stack of goods is held by the blocking surface in the rest position of the dispensing member in the product shaft so that no goods arrives at the support surface, and when the blocking surface is pivoted, a product reaches the support surface and this product leaves the support surface during the movement into the rest position towards an output compartment.

Such an output device is described in DE-OS 25 10 500. There is a separate output link for each goods shaft. To increase the capacity, two rows of goods are staggered in each goods shaft, which are only brought together in front of the output link. With such a self-seller, it is not possible to subsequently increase the number of types of goods provided.

In DE-OS 25 10 500, the output member has two cross bars which are driven by an electric motor via an eccentric so that a bottle or can reaches the output compartment. Since the output member must be moved against the weight of the column of goods, the motor must be designed accordingly strong. It is arranged in such a way that it takes up part of the overall depth in the self-seller. The overall depth is therefore for the goods to be kept limited.

In DE-PS 29 16 694 an output device of the type mentioned is also described. Here, too, each goods chute is assigned its own output link. The output link is moved alternately to the right and to the left. There must be as many product chutes or output elements as there are varieties for output.

According to DE-PS 29 16 694 the shaft can be designed so that a baffle narrows it in its front half to one side and in its rear half to the other side. It is thus possible to stack shorter goods, with goods from the rear and the front stack being alternately output.

The object of the invention is to propose an output device of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which, with a compact structure, there is variability between two different types per pair of wells and high capacity of one type in the pair of wells.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved in an output device of the type mentioned at the outset in that a common output member is assigned to a pair of chutes, the shafts (2, 3) of which are next to one another, that the output member can be pivoted from its rest position either to the right or to the left, that in the The rest position of the right and left chutes are locked, so that when the discharge link is swiveled to the right or left, the left or right chute remains locked and goods from the other chute reach the support surface and these goods reach the support surface to the output tray before reaching the rest position leaves there.

With the described output device, one suffices Output link for two product chutes. Two different types can be stacked in the two shafts. Depending on the direction of rotation to the right or left, goods of one sort or another are issued.

The described output device simplifies construction and in particular also saves space. In particular, it is possible to arrange an electric motor for driving the output member below it, so that the motor does not reduce the structural depth that can be used for the stack of goods. It is also favorable that the output member does not have to lift the stack of goods. The weight of the stack of goods acts in the direction of rotation of the motor when goods reach or leave the support surface g.

The product chutes do not have to be vertical. You can also be inclined. The lateral pressure exerted on the shaft walls by the goods is not increased by the output device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is that in the rest position, the blocking surface of the output member blocks the right shaft with its right half and the left shaft with its left half, that when pivoting to the right, the left half of the blocking surface holds the right shaft and one Goods from the left shaft come onto the support surface, these goods leaving the support surface when returning to the rest position towards the output compartment, and that when pivoting to the left, the right half of the blocking surface keeps the left shaft locked and goods from the right shaft reach the support surface , whereby this product leaves the support surface when swiveling back into the rest position towards the output compartment.

Two operating modes of the output element are possible. Either the output member is moved alternately to the right and left with each output operation, or the output member is moved either to the right or to the left with each output operation. In the first case, both wells of the pair of wells contain the same type of goods. In the second case, different types are accommodated in the two manholes of the pair of manholes. With just one output link, the goods issue can be controlled from two product chutes, whereby either the total capacity of the manhole pair is used for one product type or is divided into two product types. To switch from one option to the other, neither the shafts nor the output link need to be converted.

A particularly gentle and low-noise design is characterized in that the output member has a further locking surface forming, pivotable relative to the output member, that in the rest position, the screen shuts off the right and the left shaft that when rotating the output member in one direction of rotation The screen swivels in the opposite direction and keeps one slot locked and the blocking area of the output member blocks the other slot until a product from this slot comes onto the supporting surface, and when this item is turned further, this item leaves the supporting area towards the output compartment and the output member and the screen into the rest position go.

In this embodiment it is achieved that the goods do not fall freely over small heights onto the supporting surface or the blocking surface, so that the goods are not damaged and the dispensing process takes place with little noise.

• Figur 1 ein Schachtpaar eines Selbstverkäufers mit einem Ausgabeglied, schematisch,
• Figur 2 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Antriebs des Ausgabegliedes,
• Figur 3 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel in Ruhestellung,
• Figur 4 das Ausführungsbeispiel nach Fig.3 in Ubernahmestellung,
• Figur 5 das Ausführungsbeispiel nach Fig.3 kurz vor der Ausgabe,
• Figur 6 ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel mit Ausgabeglied und einem Schirm in Explosionsdarstellung,
• Figur 7 eine Ansicht einer Steuerkurve des Schirms,
• Figur 8 eine schematische Ansicht des Ausführungsbeispiels nach Figur 6 in Ruhestellung,
• Figur 9 eine Zwischenstellung, bei der das Ausgabeglied eine rechte Ware und der Schirm eine linke Ware hält,
• Figur 10 eine Stellung, in der eine rechte Ware auf die Stützfläche des Ausgabegliedes gelangt ist und der Schirm die linke Ware hält und
• Figur 11 die Stellung, aus der die rechte Ware die Stürzfläche zum Ausgabefach hin verläßt.

Further advantageous refinements of the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment. The drawing shows:

• FIG. 1 shows a pair of manholes of a self-seller with an output element, schematically,
• FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a drive of the output member,
• FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment in the rest position,
• FIG. 4 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3 in the takeover position,
• FIG. 5 shows the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3 shortly before delivery,
• FIG. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment with an output element and a screen in an exploded view,
• FIG. 7 shows a view of a control curve of the screen,
• FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6 in the rest position,
• FIG. 9 shows an intermediate position in which the output member holds a right article and the screen holds a left article,
• Figure 10 shows a position in which a right product has reached the support surface of the output member and the umbrella holds the left product and
• Figure 11 shows the position from which the right goods leave the lintel area to the output tray.

In a housing, not shown, of a self-seller, a plurality of output devices (1) are arranged side by side. Each dispensing device (1) has a pair of chutes, consisting of two chutes (2, 3), which are separated and separated by an intermediate wall (4) Shaft walls (2ʹ, 3ʹ) are limited. The depth of the shafts (2, 3) - perpendicular to the drawing plane - extends in the direction of the depth of the self-seller. The shafts (2, 3) are intended to hold bottles or cans (F1, F2).

Under the two shafts (2, 3) there is a common output member (5) pivotable about an axis of rotation (6). The axis of rotation (6) lies in the line of alignment of the partition (4). The output member (5) and its drive are located below the shaft pair (2, 3) and take up no space under a further shaft pair arranged next to them, so that the shaft pairs can be arranged close to one another in the self-seller.

The output member (5) has a blocking surface (7) which extends in a radius (R) around the axis of rotation (6). The radius (R) is smaller than the width of one of the shafts (2,3). The arc length of the blocking surface (7) is such that it prevents the bottles or cans of the left shaft (2) from slipping with its left half in the rest position (cf. FIG. 1) and accordingly the bottles or cans of the right half right shaft (3) prevents slipping. The bottom bottle or can (F1, F2) of the shafts (2, 3) stands on the right or left half of the barrier area (7).

Support surfaces (8, 9) adjoin the blocking surface (7) on both sides. These are dimensioned such that when the dispensing member (5) swivels out of the rest position, the bottom bottle or can from the shaft (2 or 3) on the surface part (8ʹ or 9ʹ) of the support surface (7) facing away from the blocking surface (7). 8 or 9) rests securely and supports the bottles or cans above. The support surfaces (8,9) are further dimensioned so that when the output member (5) goes back in the rest position, the blocking surface (7) engages under the next bottle or can before the lowest bottle or can leaves the supporting surface (8 or 9) to an output compartment (not shown) of the self-seller. It is avoided that the blocking surface (7), when moving under a stack of goods or cans, has to lift it.

The mode of operation of the described device according to FIG. 1 is approximately as follows:

If a bottle or can (F1) of the left shaft (2) is to be dispensed, then the dispensing member (5) is moved in the direction of the arrow (r) to the right about the axis of rotation (6) until the dispensing member (5) is approximately the same as in Figure 1 occupies the position shown in dashed lines. The locking surface (7) has shifted under the bottom bottle or can (F2) of the right shaft (3) until its left half is in the right shaft (3). In the left shaft (2), the bottom bottle or can (F1) reaches the support surface (8), the other bottles or cans moving along. Immediately afterwards, there is a reversal of movement, so that the blocking surface (7) now, contrary to the direction of the arrow (r), passes under the next bottle or can of the shaft (2) and thus supports this and the bottles or cans above it. The bottle or can lying on the support surface (8) simultaneously rolls off the support surface (8). The output member (5) remains in the rest position.

If a bottle or can (F2) is to be dispensed from the right shaft (3), then the dispensing member (5) is pivoted in the direction of the arrow (l). The right half of the blocking surface (7) gets under the bottles or cans (F1) of the left shaft (2) and in the right shaft (3) the bottom bottle or box slides onto the support surface (9). After reversal of movement, this is output.

Obviously, goods are delivered alternately or alternatively from the shaft (2) or (3), depending on whether the output member (5) is moved alternately to the left and right, or alternatively to the left or right from the rest position.

The arrangement of the output member (5) below between the vertical shafts (2 and 3) and the design of their support surfaces (8 and 9) as convex shells, creates a space (10) below the output member (5) for rolling the bottles or cans from the support surfaces (8 or 9) are not required. An electric motor (11) (see FIG. 2) for driving the output member (5) can be arranged in this space (10). This does not claim any depth of the self-seller, so that the depth for the bottles or cans is available. The motor (11) also does not take up any space between the shafts, which are to be arranged as close as possible to one another, in order to make the self-seller's capacity for goods or different types of goods as large as possible with regard to certain external dimensions.

According to Figure 2, an eccentric lever (12) is articulated on the output member (5). This engages a disc (13) which can be driven by the motor (11). If, for example, the disc (13) is rotated by the electric motor (11) in the direction of the arrow (S), starting from the rest position shown in FIG. 2, the output member (5) pivots in the direction of the arrow (1). If the eccentric lever (12) is moved past its dead center when the disk (13) rotates in the direction of the arrow (S), then the movement of the output member (5) is reversed. The electric motor (11) stops when the disc (13) reaches position (Sʹ). A product is then output from the right shaft (3). Is from the position (Sʹ) the disc (13) in the direction of arrow (T) against Moved in the direction of the arrow (S), goods are again released from the right shaft (3). If, on the other hand, the disc (13) is moved from the position (Sʹ) in the direction of the arrow (U) to the position (Uʹ), the goods are dispensed from the left goods shaft (2). To control the direction of rotation of the electric motor (11), a switching lug (14) or switching groove (15) can be provided on the disc (13).

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5, the output member (5) has only one support surface (16). As in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the support surface (16) on the output member (5) is concave, whereas the locking surface (7) is convex. The radius of the support surface (16) corresponds approximately to that of a bottle or can (F1, F2). Flattenings (17) are provided on both sides of the support surface (16).

A gear (18) is seated on the axis of rotation (6) into which an output pinion (19) of the motor (11) engages. The motor (11) is under the output member (5) under a cover (20).

The mode of operation of the output device according to FIGS. 3 to 5 is approximately as follows:

In Figure 3, the output member (5) is shown in its rest position. The blocking surface (7) blocks the shafts (2, 3).

By means of the motor (11), the output member (5) can be rotated alternately to the right or to the left via the driven pinion (19) and the gear (18). If, starting from the rest position, the dispensing member (5) is rotated in the direction of arrow (r) by approximately 120 °, then the dispensing member (5) reaches the takeover position shown in FIG. 4. In this position, the blocking surface (7) still blocks the right shaft (3). A Bottle or can (F) from the left shaft (2) reaches the support surface (16). Then, for example controlled by a sensor, the direction of rotation is reversed, so that the output member (5) rotates back in the direction of the arrow (I) (cf. FIG. 5). Then the bottle or can lying on the support surface (16) is dispensed and the blocking surface (7) also blocks the left shaft (2) again. The output member (5) is then in the rest position.

If a bottle or can is to be removed from the shaft (3), the dispensing member (5) is rotated from the rest position in the direction of the arrow (l) to the reversal point and then back to the rest position.

In the shafts (2,3) webs (21,22) are inserted on the outside. These create a desired contact point of the bottom bottle or can on the output member (5). If a bottle or can lies on the support surface (16), it is free from the web (21 or 22), so that it can easily get to the output compartment.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5, the structure is even more compact than in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, the dispenser has a low overall height. This increases the goods receiving capacity of the self-seller.

The output member (5) can also be assigned to a pair of chutes in which four stacks of goods are accommodated. The shaft (2) is then designed such that it steers a front stack of goods to the right and a rear stack of goods to the left, as is known per se. The shaft (3) is then also designed.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 11, a screen (23) is provided in addition to the output element (5). This is via tabs (24 and 25) on the axis of rotation (6) the output member (5) pivotally mounted. The screen (23) has a partially cylindrical shape. Its radius is only slightly larger than that of the blocking surface (7) (see FIGS. 8 to 11), so that the screen (23) can be pivoted relative to it without touching the blocking surface (7). Edge edges (26 and 27) of the screen (23) are chamfered so that there is a flat transition between the blocking surface (7) and the screen (23).

The output member (5) is mounted between two carriers (28 and 29). The pinion (19) of the motor engages in the gearwheel (18). A bearing journal (30) for a cam eccentric (31) is provided on the carrier (28) below the pinion (19).

A drive pin (33) is arranged on the tongue (23) on a tongue (32) and extends through a part-circular slot (34) in the carrier (28). The cam eccentric (31) has a layer hole (35) in which the drive pin (33) engages.

An eccentric bolt (36) is arranged on the gear wheel (18) to drive the cam eccentric (31). This engages in a recessed curve (37) of the curve eccentric (31).

The curve (37) has a rest position curve piece (38), an adjustment curve piece (39), a dwell curve piece (40) and a reset for driving the eccentric when the gear wheel (18) rotates clockwise (r). Curve section (41). A corresponding adjustment curve piece (42), dwell curve piece (43) and return curve piece (44) is provided for driving the curve eccentric (31) when the gearwheel (18) rotates counterclockwise (l).

Two switch tongues (45 and 46) are pivotably mounted on the cam eccentric (31). The switch tongue (45) prevents when the bolt (36) rotates clockwise, it reaches the return curve piece (44). It therefore slides along in the adjustment curve piece (39). The switch tongue (45), however, allows the pin (36) to enter the return cam piece (44) into the rest position cam piece (38) when the pin is rotated counterclockwise. The same applies to the switch tongue (46). It prevents the bolt from getting into the return cam piece (41) when the bolt (36) is turned counterclockwise.

The screen (23) is driven by the gear wheel (18) by means of the cam eccentric (31). In the rest position (FIGS. 6 and 8), the bolt (36) lies in the rest position cam piece (38). If the gear (18) and thus the output member (5) is rotated clockwise by 360 °, then the bolt first moves in the adjusting curve piece (39), so that the screen (23) is pivoted to the left. While the bolt (36) is moving in the dwell curve section (40), the screen (23) remains (see FIGS. 9 and 10). If the bolt (36) then moves in the reset curve piece (41), then the screen (23) swings back clockwise (see FIG. 11) until it then returns to the rest position. When the gearwheel (18) is driven counterclockwise, the screen (23) is pivoted accordingly in reverse.

In the rest position shown in Figure 8, the bottles (F1 and F2) of both shafts (2 and 3) rest on the screen (23). The shafts (2 and 3) are securely closed, so that no goods can fail due to unauthorized manipulation.

If the output member (5) rotates clockwise (r), then the screen (23) pivots to the left, so that it only supports the goods (F1) of the left shaft (2). In this position, the screen (23) initially stops. The goods (F2) of the right shaft (3) are now from the Locked surface (7) of the output member (5) held (see FIG. 9).

If the delivery member (5) rotates further into the position shown in FIG. 10, the goods (F2) of the right shaft (3) reach the support surface (16) of the delivery member (5). It is particularly favorable that during this movement the goods (F2) are immediately supported by the support surface (16) after they have left the blocking surface (17), so that the goods are not free, not even by a small distance falls on the support surface (16). On the one hand, this reduces the noise generated during the dispensing process. On the other hand, the risk of damage to the goods is reduced. The development of noise and the risk of damage would be particularly great in cases where the stack of goods on the goods (F2) is high.

When the drive member (5) is turned further from the position shown in FIG. 10 into the position according to FIG. 11, the goods (F2) are carried downwards, initially being supported on the side wall (3ʹ) of the shaft (3). The goods on her are also reduced. In the course of the movement, the screen (23) is then pivoted to the right (see FIG. 11). He gets under the goods (F4) without releasing the goods (F1). The goods (F4) settle on the screen (23). The goods (F4) therefore do not fall on the screen (23), which also has the associated advantages of reducing noise and protecting the goods.

When turning further, the goods (F2) then leave the support surface (16) and reach the output compartment. The output member (5) and the screen (23) continue to rotate until the rest position (FIG. 8) is reached again.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 11, a rotation through 360 ° in the clockwise direction means one Output goods from the right shaft (3). Correspondingly, goods are to be dispensed from the left shaft (2) with a rotation of 360 ° counterclockwise. Providing a rotation of 360 ° - without reversing the movement - is cheap because it is easy to control.

If bottles of particularly large diameter are to be dispensed, the intermediate wall (4) is removed. The bottles - of the same type - are then stacked on top of each other in staggered rows. In this case too, the exemplary embodiments according to FIG. 3 or FIG. 6 achieve a bumpless - soft - output of these large bottles with a rotation of 360 °. With the device, cans or bottles of different diameters can be dispensed safely and without problems.

Claims (10)

1.Delivery device on goods chutes of a self-seller, in particular for bottles or cans, dispensing members with a blocking surface and support surface being arranged at the lower ends of the product chutes and the stack of goods in the rest position of the output member in the product shaft being held by the blocking surface in such a way that no goods reach the support surface arrives, and when the blocking surface is pivoted, a product reaches the support surface and this product leaves the support surface during the movement into the rest position toward an output compartment, characterized in that a common output member (5) is assigned to a pair of chutes (2, 3), whose shafts (2, 3) stand next to each other, that the output member (5) can be pivoted from its rest position either to the right or left, that in the rest position of the output member the right and left shafts are blocked, that when the output member is pivoted to the right or the left or right shaft is blocked on the left b rests and a product of one or the other shaft reaches the support surface (8, 9; 16) and this product leaves the support surface to the output compartment before reaching the rest position. 2. Output device according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis of rotation (6) of the output member (5) runs under the intermediate wall (4) separating the two shafts (2, 3). 3. Output device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking surface (7) extends on a circle around the axis of rotation (6) of the output member (5). 4. Output device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a support surface (8, 9) is provided on both sides of the locking surface (7) on the output member (5). 5. Output device according to one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that a support surface (16) is formed on the output member (5) opposite the locking surface (7). 6. Output device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking surface (7) on the output member (5) is convex and the support surface (8,9,16) is concave. 7. Output device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the rest position, the blocking surface (7) with its right half blocks the right shaft (3) and with its left half the left shaft (2), that when pivoting to the right the left half of the blocking surface (7) keeps the right shaft (3) blocked and a product of the left shaft (2) reaches the supporting surface (8,16), this product carrying the supporting surface (8,16) when returning to the rest position Leaves the output tray, and that when pivoting to the left, the right half of the blocking surface (7) keeps the left shaft (2) blocked and a product of the right shaft (3) reaches the supporting surface (9, 16), this product being the supporting surface (9,16) leaves when swiveling back into the rest position towards the output tray. 8. Output device according to one of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that the output member (5) has a further blocking surface forming, relative to the output member pivotable screen (23) that the screen (23) in the rest position right and left shaft (2, 3) blocks that when the output member (5) rotates in one direction of rotation, the screen (23) pivots in the opposite direction and keeps one shaft locked and the blocking surface (7) of the output member (5) the other The shaft locks until a product of this shaft reaches the support surface (16), and when turning further, this product leaves the support surface (16) towards the output compartment and the output member (5) and the screen (23) go into the rest position. 9. Output device according to claim 8, characterized in that the screen (23) about the axis of rotation (6) of the output member (5) is pivotable. 10. Output device according to one of the preceding claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the screen (23) is driven by a cam eccentric (31) which is coupled to a wheel (18) which rotates the output member (5).

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