EP0339059B1 - Apparatus for automatically distributing objects - Google Patents

Apparatus for automatically distributing objects Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0339059B1
EP0339059B1 EP88908652A EP88908652A EP0339059B1 EP 0339059 B1 EP0339059 B1 EP 0339059B1 EP 88908652 A EP88908652 A EP 88908652A EP 88908652 A EP88908652 A EP 88908652A EP 0339059 B1 EP0339059 B1 EP 0339059B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
objects
pile
ramp
guideway
entrance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP88908652A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0339059A1 (en
Inventor
Roger Cattin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SADAMEL APPAREILS DE MESURE ET DE LABORATOIRE SA
Original Assignee
SADAMEL APPAREILS DE MESURE ET DE LABORATOIRE SA
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Publication date
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Priority to AT88908652T priority Critical patent/ATE78450T1/en
Publication of EP0339059A1 publication Critical patent/EP0339059A1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/52—Friction retainers acting on under or rear side of article being separated
    • B65H3/5207—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article
    • B65H3/5215—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article the retainers positioned under articles separated from the top of the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/56—Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/66—Article guides or smoothers, e.g. movable in operation
    • B65H3/68—Article guides or smoothers, e.g. movable in operation immovable in operation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
    • B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
    • B65H2405/11—Parts and details thereof
    • B65H2405/113—Front, i.e. portion adjacent to the feeding / delivering side
    • B65H2405/1136—Front, i.e. portion adjacent to the feeding / delivering side inclined, i.e. forming an angle different from 90 with the bottom
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1912—Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically dispensing objects, in particular relatively flexible objects, of small thickness compared to their other dimensions, such as for example cards, tickets, tickets or plates, stored in free stack or arranged in a stack inside a suitable container, the apparatus comprising means for exerting a predetermined pressure on the upper object of the stack, at least one rotary friction drive member placed above the stack and arranged to drive said upper object, and guide means for guiding said object thus driven, the guide means comprising a guide passage, a ramp located between the stack and an entrance to the guide passage and means for stopping, before the entrance to this corridor, any other objects entrained with the upper object of the stack, the ramp being inclined so as to raise an anterior edge r of the driven object, and the entrance to the guide corridor comprising a guide element which extends above the ramp.
  • Application DE-A-2′219′912 also shows a sheet dispensing device having a ramp followed by a guide passage significantly higher than the thickness of a sheet.
  • the lower surface of this corridor is crossed by a vertically movable stop, controlled by an electromagnet so as to be applied under each sheet shortly after it has entered the corridor, in order to block any sheet arriving later.
  • This system cannot prevent two sheets from entering the corridor together, even if they are slightly offset longitudinally.
  • the present invention proposes to produce a simple device, operating in a particularly reliable manner which makes it possible to ensure the selective distribution of lotto game cards, lottery tickets, public transport tickets etc.
  • the characteristics of these distributed objects are on the one hand a relative flexibility due in particular to the nature of the materials used which are paper, cardboard, synthetic material or composite materials, and on the other hand the relatively low value of the ratio between the thickness of the object and its other dimensions.
  • the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the entrance to the guide corridor has a first surface which joins the upper part of the inclined ramp and a second surface arranged substantially parallel to this first surface, at a predetermined distance from the latter so that two objects cannot enter the corridor simultaneously, said second surface being defined by said guide element, in that said means for stopping possible other objects include at least one staircase recess between the upper part of the ramp and said first surface, and in that the guide element is arranged so that said second surface deflects the front edge of the upper object by deflecting it at the entrance to the guide passage, so that any other object is pushed by the upper object against said staircase recess .
  • said rotary friction drive member consists of at least one friction wheel driven in rotation, this wheel being mounted at the free end of a lever pivoting about a fixed axis.
  • the distance between the first and second of said surfaces is slightly greater than the thickness of an object and less than the thickness of two objects.
  • the staircase recess may include two successive stops offset in height.
  • the apparatus according to the invention may include means for lifting the objects in such a way that the first object in the stack remains substantially constantly at the same level, these means comprising a mobile platform in height, associated with a rotary screw.
  • the mobile platform is pivotable about a horizontal axis and urged by a spring which presses it against the base of the stack of objects.
  • the device shown essentially comprises a container 10 in which there is a stack 11 of cards, tickets, sheets, plates etc. 12 which are intended to be distributed successively.
  • the container 10 of suitable shape can of course be replaced by a cassette or by any other device known per se.
  • this container can be equipped with means which automatically supply the height of the stack, that is to say which automatically raise the stack 11 as and when the objects 12 are distributed. Such means are illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 6 and 7.
  • the object 12 to be taken from the top of the stack is constantly brought to the same level, preferably in a substantially horizontal plane
  • the apparatus also comprises a rotary friction drive member which essentially consists of one or more friction wheels 13 consisting for example of rollers provided with one or more peripheral grooves, on which are mounted for example one or more O-rings.
  • This friction wheel is mounted at one end of a bent lever 14, articulated around a pivot 15 mounted on a fixed support 16 and engaged inside a slot 17 which allows the lever 14 to be adjusted in position.
  • the wheel 13 is driven by a belt 18 passing over a drive wheel 19 secured to a drive motor (not shown).
  • the rotary friction drive member can be replaced by a pusher (not shown).
  • the apparatus also comprises a block 20 provided with a ramp 21 inclined relative to the surface of the object 12 disposed at the upper part of the stack 11.
  • This part is provided with a flat upper surface 22 which defines, with the flat bottom surface 23 of a guide element 24, a guide passage 25 which is intended to be crossed by the objects 12 at the time of dispensing.
  • Room 20 is furthermore provided with a staircase-shaped clearance 26 which defines the junction of the upper part of the ramp 21 and the flat upper surface 22 of the part 20.
  • the apparatus operates as follows.
  • the rotary friction drive member 13 exerts a predetermined pressure on the upper surface of the object 12 which defines the head of the stack. Under the effect of this predetermined pressure, the object which generally has a certain flexibility rises slightly at its anterior end.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the cases where two objects 12 are driven simultaneously by the friction wheel 13.
  • the height of the guide passage 25 is determined in such a way that two objects cannot pass through it simultaneously.
  • the staircase-shaped clearance 26 constitutes a stop intended to stop another object accidentally driven with the object 12 which occupies the upper position of the stack and which must be distributed.
  • the position of the guide plate 24 relative to the upper surface 22 of the part 20 is decisive as a function of the thickness of the objects to repel, when an object 12 is in abutment against the surface 23, a second object against the abutment formed by the clearance 26 and prevent this second object from being driven simultaneously with the first.
  • the inclined ramp 21 makes an angle which is substantially between 20 and 70 ° with the surface of the objects 12.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a variant in which the clearance 26 is replaced by two recesses 30 and 31 forming two successive staircases whose vertical sides 32 and 33 constitute stops for objects possibly driven at the same time as the object to be removed from the battery.
  • the apparatus shown in fig. 6 is similar to that of FIG. 1.
  • the bent lever 14, which carries the friction wheel 13, is biased downwards by a leaf spring 50 or any other equivalent means, fixed by a screw 51 to the fixed support 16.
  • the stack of objects 12 to be distributed is stored in the container 10, on a platform 52 which is mounted on a threaded block 53 engaged in a screw 54.
  • the latter can be rotated by means not shown, which has the effect of displacing the plate -form and maintain the top of the stack of objects 12 constantly at the same level.
  • a detector 55 makes it possible to detect the level of the battery and, if necessary, to transmit a control signal to the drive means of the screw 54.
  • This detector can be a mechanical contact, a capacitive sensor etc., known per se . It is mounted on a fixed support 56.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates another device for raising objects 12 which differs from the system described above and illustrated by FIG. 6 in that it is intended to maintain a constant level of objects 12 having uneven thicknesses on one side and the other. This is the case, for example, for linked or bundled bundles whose location results in a arrangement as shown.
  • the platform 52 is in this case inclined and pivoting, mounted on a support 57 carried by a block 53 which cooperates with the rotary screw 54.
  • a spring 58 acts on the platform 52 and keeps it in contact with the object lowest in the stack of items 12.
  • the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but could undergo different modifications and come in various variants obvious to those skilled in the art.
  • the objects were rigid, it would suffice to have a ramp very slightly inclined and a friction wheel exerting a sufficiently low pressure to avoid deterioration of the objects, so that the device can ensure their distribution.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/CH88/00194 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 27, 1989 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 27, 1989 PCT Filed Oct. 17, 1988 PCT Pub. No. WO89/03798 PCT Pub. Date May 5, 1989.The apparatus, according to the invention, comprises essentially a container (10) wherein is arranged a pile (11) of objects (12) to be distributed. A friction drive wheel (13) is mounted at the end of a lever (14) pivoting about an axis (15). An inclined ramp (21) is arranged downstream of the objects to be distributed. The upper part of the ramp is provided with a staircase-shaped recess (26) and is prolonged by a plane surface (22) which defines with a plane surface (23) parallel therewith a guiding channel (25) for guiding the objects (12).

Description

La présente invention concerne un appareil pour distribuer automatiquement des objets, en particulier des objets relativement souples, de faible épaisseur par rapport à leurs autres dimensions, tels que par exemple des cartes, des tickets, des billets ou des plaquettes, stockés en pile libre ou disposés en pile à l'intérieur d'un conteneur approprié, l'appareil comportant des moyens pour exercer une pression prédéterminée sur l'objet supérieur de la pile, au moins un organe d'entraînement rotatif à friction disposé au-dessus de la pile et agencé pour entraîner ledit objet supérieur, et des moyens de guidage pour guider ledit objet ainsi entraîné, les moyens de guidage comprenant un couloir de guidage, une rampe située entre la pile et une entrée du couloir de guidage et des moyens pour arrêter, avant l'entrée de ce couloir, d'éventuels autres objets entraînés avec l'objet supérieur de la pile, la rampe étant inclinée de façon à soulever un bord antérieur de l'objet entraîné, et l'entrée du couloir de guidage comportant un élément de guidage qui s'étend au-dessus de la rampe.The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically dispensing objects, in particular relatively flexible objects, of small thickness compared to their other dimensions, such as for example cards, tickets, tickets or plates, stored in free stack or arranged in a stack inside a suitable container, the apparatus comprising means for exerting a predetermined pressure on the upper object of the stack, at least one rotary friction drive member placed above the stack and arranged to drive said upper object, and guide means for guiding said object thus driven, the guide means comprising a guide passage, a ramp located between the stack and an entrance to the guide passage and means for stopping, before the entrance to this corridor, any other objects entrained with the upper object of the stack, the ramp being inclined so as to raise an anterior edge r of the driven object, and the entrance to the guide corridor comprising a guide element which extends above the ramp.

On connaît déjà divers dispositifs permettant d'assurer la distribution automatique de billets, de tickets ou d'autres objets tels que précisés ci-dessus. Ces dispositifs comportent habituellement des systèmes à poussoirs relativement complexes dont le but est d'isoler un des objets et de l'amener dans une position dans laquelle il peut être prélevé par l'utilisateur.Various devices are already known for ensuring the automatic distribution of tickets, tickets or other objects as specified above. These devices usually include relatively complex push systems whose purpose is to isolate one of the objects and bring it to a position in which it can be removed by the user.

Un appareil tel que défini dans le préambule est décrit dans la demande DE-A-1′955′528, correspondant au brevet U S No. 3′588′094. Dans ce cas, l'entrée du couloir de guidage a une forme en entonnoir dont la surface inférieure forme ladite rampe inclinée et présente ensuite une courbe vers le bas. Peu avant la fin de la rampe, une paire de butées saillantes juxtaposées sert à bloquer le bord antérieur de chaque feuille à distribuer, soulevée par la rampe. La feuille ainsi retenue ne peut aller plus loin que si elle est entraînée assez fort pour se gondoler de façon que son bord antérieur puisse sauter par-dessus les butées. Une deuxième feuille éventuellement entraînée avec la première est supposée ne pas pouvoir sauter ainsi en même temps que la première, mais cela dépend évidemment des conditions d'adhérence entre les deux feuilles.An apparatus as defined in the preamble is described in application DE-A-1′955′528, corresponding to US patent No. 3′588′094. In this case, the entrance to the guide corridor has a funnel shape, the lower surface of which forms said inclined ramp and then has a downward curve. Shortly before the end of the ramp, a pair of juxtaposed projecting stops serves to block the anterior edge of each sheet to be dispensed, raised by the ramp. The sheet thus retained can go no further than if it is driven hard enough to curl so that its front edge can jump over the stops. A second sheet possibly entrained with the first is assumed not to be able to jump thus at the same time as the first, but this obviously depends on the conditions of adhesion between the two sheets.

La demande DE-A-2′219′912 montre aussi un appareil distributeur de feuilles ayant une rampe suivie d'un couloir de guidage nettement plus haut que l'épaisseur d'une feuille. La surface inférieure de ce couloir est traversée par un arrêt mobile verticalement, commandé par un électro-aimant de façon à s'appliquer sous chaque feuille peu après qu'elle soit entrée dans le couloir, afin de bloquer toute feuille arrivant postérieurement. Ce système ne peut pas empêcher deux feuilles d'entrer ensemble dans le couloir, même si elles sont légèrement décalées longitudinalement.Application DE-A-2′219′912 also shows a sheet dispensing device having a ramp followed by a guide passage significantly higher than the thickness of a sheet. The lower surface of this corridor is crossed by a vertically movable stop, controlled by an electromagnet so as to be applied under each sheet shortly after it has entered the corridor, in order to block any sheet arriving later. This system cannot prevent two sheets from entering the corridor together, even if they are slightly offset longitudinally.

La présente invention se propose de réaliser un appareil simple, fonctionnant d'une manière particulièrement fiable qui permet d'assurer la distribution sélective des cartes du jeu de loto, de billets de loterie, de tickets de transports publics etc. Les caractéristiques de ces objets distribués sont d'une part une relative souplesse due en particulier à la nature des matériaux utilisés qui sont le papier, le carton, la matière synthétique ou des matériaux composites, et d'autre part la valeur relativement faible du rapport entre l'épaisseur de l'objet et ses autres dimensions.The present invention proposes to produce a simple device, operating in a particularly reliable manner which makes it possible to ensure the selective distribution of lotto game cards, lottery tickets, public transport tickets etc. The characteristics of these distributed objects are on the one hand a relative flexibility due in particular to the nature of the materials used which are paper, cardboard, synthetic material or composite materials, and on the other hand the relatively low value of the ratio between the thickness of the object and its other dimensions.

Dans ce but, l'appareil selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que l'entrée du couloir de guidage comporte une première surface qui rejoint la partie supérieure de la rampe inclinée et une deuxième surface disposée sensiblement parallèlement à cette première surface, à une distance prédéterminée de cette dernière de telle manière que deux objets ne puissent pas entrer simultanément dans le couloir, ladite deuxième surface étant définie par ledit élément de guidage, en ce que lesdits moyens pour arrêter d'éventuels autres objets comportent au moins un évidement en escalier entre la partie supérieure de la rampe et ladite première surface, et en ce que l'élément de guidage est disposé de manière que ladite deuxième surface déforme par déflection le bord antérieur de l'objet supérieur en le déviant à l'entrée du couloir de guidage, de sorte que l'éventuel autre objet est repoussé par l'objet supérieur contre ledit évidement en escalier.For this purpose, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the entrance to the guide corridor has a first surface which joins the upper part of the inclined ramp and a second surface arranged substantially parallel to this first surface, at a predetermined distance from the latter so that two objects cannot enter the corridor simultaneously, said second surface being defined by said guide element, in that said means for stopping possible other objects include at least one staircase recess between the upper part of the ramp and said first surface, and in that the guide element is arranged so that said second surface deflects the front edge of the upper object by deflecting it at the entrance to the guide passage, so that any other object is pushed by the upper object against said staircase recess .

Selon un mode de réalisation préféré, ledit organe d'entraînement rotatif à friction se compose d'au moins une roue à friction entraînée en rotation, cette roue étant montée à l'extrémité libre d'un levier pivotant autour d'un axe fixe.According to a preferred embodiment, said rotary friction drive member consists of at least one friction wheel driven in rotation, this wheel being mounted at the free end of a lever pivoting about a fixed axis.

De préférence la distance entre la première et la deuxième desdites surfaces est légèrement supérieure à l'épaisseur d'un objet et inférieure à l'épaisseur de deux objets.Preferably the distance between the first and second of said surfaces is slightly greater than the thickness of an object and less than the thickness of two objects.

L'évidement en escalier peut comporter deux butées successives décalées en hauteur.The staircase recess may include two successive stops offset in height.

Selon une autre forme de réalisation particulièrement avantageuse, l'appareil selon l'invention peut comporter des moyens pour soulever les objets de telle manière que le premier objet de la pile reste sensiblement constamment au même niveau, ces moyens comportant une plate-forme mobile en hauteur, associée à une vis rotative. De préférence, la plate-forme mobile est pivotante autour d'une axe horizontal et sollicitée par un ressort qui l'appuie contre la base de la pile d'objets.According to another particularly advantageous embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention may include means for lifting the objects in such a way that the first object in the stack remains substantially constantly at the same level, these means comprising a mobile platform in height, associated with a rotary screw. Preferably, the mobile platform is pivotable about a horizontal axis and urged by a spring which presses it against the base of the stack of objects.

la présente invention sera mieux comprise en référence à la description d'une forme de réalisation préférée et du dessin annexé dans lequel :

  • la fig. 1 illustre schématiquement une forme de réalisation préférée de l'appareil selon l'invention,
  • la fig. 2 représente schématiquement la première phase du procédé selon l'invention,
  • la fig. 3 représente schématiquement la deuxième phase du procédé selon l'invention,
  • la fig. 4 représente une troisième phase du procédé selon l'invention,
  • la fig. 5 illustre une variante de réalisation de la rampe et du couloir de guidage de l'appareil selon l'invention,
  • la fig. 6 illustre une forme de réalisation particulière de l'appareil selon l'invention, et
  • la fig. 7 illustre une variante de l'appareil représenté par la fig. 6.
the present invention will be better understood with reference to the description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawing in which:
  • fig. 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention,
  • fig. 2 schematically represents the first phase of the method according to the invention,
  • fig. 3 schematically represents the second phase of the method according to the invention,
  • fig. 4 represents a third phase of the method according to the invention,
  • fig. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the ramp and of the guide corridor of the apparatus according to the invention,
  • fig. 6 illustrates a particular embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, and
  • fig. 7 illustrates a variant of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

En référence aux figures et plus particulièrement à la fig. 1, l'appareil représenté comporte essentiellement un conteneur 10 dans lequel se trouve une pile 11 de cartes, tickets, feuilles, plaquettes etc. 12 qui sont destinés à être distribués successivement. Le conteneur 10 de forme appropriée peut bien entendu être remplacé par une cassette ou par tout autre dispositif connu en soi. D'une manière générale, ce conteneur peut être équipé de moyens qui assurent de façon automatique l'approvisionnement en hauteur de la pile, c'est-à-dire qui remontent automatiquement la pile 11 au fur et à mesure que les objets 12 sont distribués. De tels moyens sont illustrés à titre d'exemple par les fig. 6 et 7. L'objet 12 à prélever au sommet de la pile est constamment ramené au même niveau, de préférence dans un plan sensiblement horizontalWith reference to the figures and more particularly to FIG. 1, the device shown essentially comprises a container 10 in which there is a stack 11 of cards, tickets, sheets, plates etc. 12 which are intended to be distributed successively. The container 10 of suitable shape can of course be replaced by a cassette or by any other device known per se. Generally, this container can be equipped with means which automatically supply the height of the stack, that is to say which automatically raise the stack 11 as and when the objects 12 are distributed. Such means are illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 6 and 7. The object 12 to be taken from the top of the stack is constantly brought to the same level, preferably in a substantially horizontal plane

L'appareil comporte par ailleurs un organe d'entraînement rotatif à friction qui est essentiellement constitué d'une ou plusieurs roues à friction 13 constituées par exemple de galets pourvus d'une ou plusieurs gorges périphériques, sur lesquels sont montés par exemple un ou plusieurs joints toriques. Cette roue à friction est montée à une extrémité d'un levier coudé 14, articulé autour d'un pivot 15 monté sur un support fixe 16 et engagé à l'intérieur d'une fente 17 qui permet le réglage en position du levier 14. La roue 13 est entraînée par une courroie 18 passant sur une roue d'entraînement 19 solidaire d'un moteur d'entraînement (non représenté).The apparatus also comprises a rotary friction drive member which essentially consists of one or more friction wheels 13 consisting for example of rollers provided with one or more peripheral grooves, on which are mounted for example one or more O-rings. This friction wheel is mounted at one end of a bent lever 14, articulated around a pivot 15 mounted on a fixed support 16 and engaged inside a slot 17 which allows the lever 14 to be adjusted in position. The wheel 13 is driven by a belt 18 passing over a drive wheel 19 secured to a drive motor (not shown).

Selon un autre mode de réalisation, l'organe d'entraînement rotatif à friction peut être remplacé par un poussoir (non représenté).According to another embodiment, the rotary friction drive member can be replaced by a pusher (not shown).

L'appareil comporte par ailleurs un bloc 20 pourvu d'une rampe 21 inclinée par rapport à la surface de l'objet 12 disposé à la partie supérieure de la pile 11. Cette pièce est pourvue d'une surface supérieure plane 22 qui définit, avec la surface inférieure plane 23 d'un élément de guidage 24, un couloir de guidage 25 qui est destiné à être traversé par les objets 12 au moment de la distribution. La pièce 20 est en outre pourvue d'un dégagement 26 en forme d'escalier qui définit la jonction de la partie supérieure de la rampe 21 et de la surface supérieure plane 22 de la pièce 20.The apparatus also comprises a block 20 provided with a ramp 21 inclined relative to the surface of the object 12 disposed at the upper part of the stack 11. This part is provided with a flat upper surface 22 which defines, with the flat bottom surface 23 of a guide element 24, a guide passage 25 which is intended to be crossed by the objects 12 at the time of dispensing. Room 20 is furthermore provided with a staircase-shaped clearance 26 which defines the junction of the upper part of the ramp 21 and the flat upper surface 22 of the part 20.

Pour distribuer des objets 12, l'appareil fonctionne de la façon suivante. L'organe d'entraînement rotatif à friction 13 exerce une pression prédéterminée sur la surface supérieure de l'objet 12 qui définit la tête de la pile. Sous l'effet de cette pression prédéterminée, l'objet qui présente en général une certaine souplesse se relève légèrement à son extrémité antérieure.To distribute objects 12, the apparatus operates as follows. The rotary friction drive member 13 exerts a predetermined pressure on the upper surface of the object 12 which defines the head of the stack. Under the effect of this predetermined pressure, the object which generally has a certain flexibility rises slightly at its anterior end.

Au cours de la deuxième phase du procédé, qui est illustrée par la fig. 2, l'objet 12, entraîné par la roue à friction 13, est poussé contre la rampe inclinée 21 et son bord antérieur se soulève, guidé par cette rampe.During the second phase of the process, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, the object 12, driven by the friction wheel 13, is pushed against the inclined ramp 21 and its front edge is raised, guided by this ramp.

Comme le montre clairement cette figure, dans un premier temps le bord antérieur de l'objet 12 bute contre la plaque de guidage 24, puis se déforme et est dévié de manière à s'engager dans le couloir de guidage 25.As this figure clearly shows, first the front edge of the object 12 abuts against the guide plate 24, then deforms and is deflected so as to engage in the guide passage 25.

La fig. 3 illustre les cas où deux objets 12 sont entraînés simultanément par la roue à friction 13. La hauteur du couloir de guidage 25 est déterminée de telle manière que deux objets ne puissent pas le traverser simultanément. Le dégagement 26 en forme d'escalier constitue une butée destinée à arrêter un autre objet entraîné accidentellement avec l'objet 12 qui occupe la position supérieure de la pile et qui doit être distribué. La position de la plaque de guidage 24 par rapport à la surface supérieure 22 de la pièce 20 est déterminante en fonction de l'épaisseur des objets pour repousser, lorsque un objet 12 est en butée contre la surface 23, un deuxième objet contre la butée formée par le dégagement 26 et empêcher ce deuxième objet d'être entraîné simultanément au premier.
Par ailleurs, la rampe inclinée 21 fait un angle qui est sensiblement compris entre 20 et 70° avec la surface des objets 12.Fig. 3 illustrates the cases where two objects 12 are driven simultaneously by the friction wheel 13. The height of the guide passage 25 is determined in such a way that two objects cannot pass through it simultaneously. The staircase-shaped clearance 26 constitutes a stop intended to stop another object accidentally driven with the object 12 which occupies the upper position of the stack and which must be distributed. The position of the guide plate 24 relative to the upper surface 22 of the part 20 is decisive as a function of the thickness of the objects to repel, when an object 12 is in abutment against the surface 23, a second object against the abutment formed by the clearance 26 and prevent this second object from being driven simultaneously with the first.
Furthermore, the inclined ramp 21 makes an angle which is substantially between 20 and 70 ° with the surface of the objects 12.

Comme le montre la fig. 4, lorsqu'un premier objet 12 est engagé dans le couloir de guidage 25, l'objet suivant 12a est amené dans une position d'attente. Au cours de son déplacement vers cette position d'attente, l'objet 12a glisse sur la rampe 21 et son extrémité aval vient en butée contre la surface inférieure du premier objet 12. Le déplacement en translation de cet objet engendre une déformation de cette extrémité aval qui se courbe légèrement et bute contre le flanc vertical du dégagement 26. Dès que le premier objet 12 est évacué, tiré manuellement depuis l'extérieur du distributeur, l'extrémité aval de l'objet suivant 12a se redresse pour s'engager dans le couloir de guidage 25 à la suite du premier objet.As shown in fig. 4, when a first object 12 is engaged in the guide passage 25, the next object 12a is brought into a waiting position. During its movement towards this waiting position, the object 12a slides on the ramp 21 and its downstream end abuts against the lower surface of the first object 12. The displacement in translation of this object generates a deformation of this end downstream which curves slightly and abuts against the vertical flank of the clearance 26. As soon as the first object 12 is evacuated, pulled manually from outside the distributor, the downstream end of the next object 12a straightens up to engage in the guide lane 25 following the first object.

La fig. 5 illustre une variante dans laquelle le dégagement 26 est remplacé par deux évidements 30 et 31 formant deux escaliers successifs dont les flancs verticaux 32 et 33 constituent des butées d'arrêt pour des objets éventuellement entraînés en même temps que l'objet à prélever de la pile.Fig. 5 illustrates a variant in which the clearance 26 is replaced by two recesses 30 and 31 forming two successive staircases whose vertical sides 32 and 33 constitute stops for objects possibly driven at the same time as the object to be removed from the battery.

L'appareil représenté par la fig. 6 est semblable à celui de la fig. 1. Le levier coudé 14, qui porte la roue à friction 13, est sollicité vers le bas par un ressort à lame 50 ou tout autre moyen équivalent, fixé par une vis 51 au support fixe 16. La pile d'objets 12 à distribuer est stockée dans le conteneur 10, sur une plate-forme 52 qui est montée sur un bloc fileté 53 engagé dans une vis 54. Cette dernière peut être entraînée en rotation, par des moyens non représentés, ce qui a pour effet de déplacer la plate-forme et de maintenir le haut de la pile d'objets 12 constamment au même niveau. Un détecteur 55 permet de détecter le niveau de la pile et, le cas échéant, de transmettre un signal de commande aux moyens d'entraînement de la vis 54. Ce détecteur peut être un contact mécanique, un capteur capacitif etc., connu en soi. Il est monté sur un support fixe 56.The apparatus shown in fig. 6 is similar to that of FIG. 1. The bent lever 14, which carries the friction wheel 13, is biased downwards by a leaf spring 50 or any other equivalent means, fixed by a screw 51 to the fixed support 16. The stack of objects 12 to be distributed is stored in the container 10, on a platform 52 which is mounted on a threaded block 53 engaged in a screw 54. The latter can be rotated by means not shown, which has the effect of displacing the plate -form and maintain the top of the stack of objects 12 constantly at the same level. A detector 55 makes it possible to detect the level of the battery and, if necessary, to transmit a control signal to the drive means of the screw 54. This detector can be a mechanical contact, a capacitive sensor etc., known per se . It is mounted on a fixed support 56.

La fig. 7 illustre un autre dispositif de montée des objets 12 qui diffère du système décrit précédemment et illustré par la fig. 6 en ce qu'il est prévu pour maintenir à niveau constant des objets 12 ayant des épaisseurs inégales d'un côté et de l'autre. Ceci est le cas par exemple pour des liasses reliées ou brochées dont l'emplacement aboutit à une disposition telle que représentée. La plate-forme 52 est dans ce cas inclinée et pivotante, montée sur un support 57 porté par un bloc 53 qui coopère avec la vis rotative 54. Un ressort 58 agit sur la plate-forme 52 et la maintient en contact avec l'objet le plus bas dans la pile des objets 12.Fig. 7 illustrates another device for raising objects 12 which differs from the system described above and illustrated by FIG. 6 in that it is intended to maintain a constant level of objects 12 having uneven thicknesses on one side and the other. This is the case, for example, for linked or bundled bundles whose location results in a arrangement as shown. The platform 52 is in this case inclined and pivoting, mounted on a support 57 carried by a block 53 which cooperates with the rotary screw 54. A spring 58 acts on the platform 52 and keeps it in contact with the object lowest in the stack of items 12.

La présente invention n'est pas limitée aux formes de réalisation décrites mais pourrait subir différentes modifications et se présenter sous divers variantes évidentes pour l'homme de l'art. En particulier, si les objets étaient rigides, il suffirait de disposer d'une rampe très faiblement inclinée et d'une roue à friction exerçant une pression suffisamment faible pour éviter un détérioration des objets, pour que l'appareil puisse en assurer la distribution.The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but could undergo different modifications and come in various variants obvious to those skilled in the art. In particular, if the objects were rigid, it would suffice to have a ramp very slightly inclined and a friction wheel exerting a sufficiently low pressure to avoid deterioration of the objects, so that the device can ensure their distribution.

Claims (6)

1. An apparatus for automatically dispensing objects (12), in particular objects which are relatively flexible and are relatively thin when their thickness is compared with other dimensions, such as, for example, cards, tickets of all types or booklets, which are stored in a free pile (11) or disposed in a pile inside a suitable container (10), the apparatus comprising means (14, 50) for exerting a predetermined pressure on the object (12) at the top of the pile, at least one rotary friction drive unit disposed above the pile and provided to drive said upper object, and guiding means (20-26) to guide said so driven object (12) the guiding means comprising a guideway (25), a ramp (21) situated between the pile (11) and an entrance of the guideway (25) and means (26, 30-33) for arresting, in front of the entrance to this guideway, any other objects (12a) carried with the upper object (12) of the pile, the ramp (21) being inclined so as to raise a front edge of the carried object (12), and the entrance of the guideway (25) comprising a guiding means (24) which extends above the ramp (21), characterized in that the entrance of the guideway (25) comprises a first surface (22) which connects the upper part of the inclined ramp, and a second surface (23) which is disposed substantially parallel to this first surface, at a predetermined distance from the latter in such a manner that two objects (12) cannot simultaneously enter the guideway, said second surface (23) being defined by said guiding means (24), in that said means for arresting any other objects (12a) comprises at least one step-like recess (26,30,31) between the upper part of the ramp and said first surface (22), and in that the guiding means (24) is disposed so that said second surface (23) deforms by deflection the front edge of the upper object by deviating it at the entrance of the guideway (25), so that the any other object (12a) is pushed back by the upper object against said step-like recess (26, 30, 31).
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotary friction drive unit comprises at least one rotated friction wheel (13) this wheel being mounted on the free end of a lever (14) pivoting about a fixed axis (15).
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance separating the first surface (22) and the second surface (23) is slightly greater than the thickness of one object (12) and less than the thickness of two objects.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the step-like recess (30,31) comprises two successive stops (32,33) which are staggered in height.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (52-56) for raising objects (12) in such a way that the first object in the pile (11) to a great extent remains constantly at the same level, these means comprising a height-adjustable platform (52) which is connected to a rotary screw (54).
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the adjustable platform (52) pivots around an horizontal axis and is pulled by a spring (58) which leans it against the base of the pile of objects (12).
EP88908652A 1987-10-27 1988-10-17 Apparatus for automatically distributing objects Expired - Lifetime EP0339059B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88908652T ATE78450T1 (en) 1987-10-27 1988-10-17 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC DISPENSING OF OBJECTS.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8715033 1987-10-27
FR8715033A FR2622182B1 (en) 1987-10-27 1987-10-27 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISPENSING OBJECTS

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0339059A1 EP0339059A1 (en) 1989-11-02
EP0339059B1 true EP0339059B1 (en) 1992-07-22

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EP88908652A Expired - Lifetime EP0339059B1 (en) 1987-10-27 1988-10-17 Apparatus for automatically distributing objects

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US (1) US5044622A (en)
EP (1) EP0339059B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH02501919A (en)
AT (1) ATE78450T1 (en)
AU (1) AU613679B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1307546C (en)
DE (1) DE3873075T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2622182B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1989003798A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE78450T1 (en) 1992-08-15
JPH02501919A (en) 1990-06-28
WO1989003798A1 (en) 1989-05-05
FR2622182B1 (en) 1991-11-15
EP0339059A1 (en) 1989-11-02
AU613679B2 (en) 1991-08-08
DE3873075D1 (en) 1992-08-27
FR2622182A1 (en) 1989-04-28
CA1307546C (en) 1992-09-15
DE3873075T2 (en) 1993-02-11
AU2534388A (en) 1989-05-23
US5044622A (en) 1991-09-03

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