EP0424580A1 - Distributeur de récipients - Google Patents

Distributeur de récipients Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0424580A1
EP0424580A1 EP89310947A EP89310947A EP0424580A1 EP 0424580 A1 EP0424580 A1 EP 0424580A1 EP 89310947 A EP89310947 A EP 89310947A EP 89310947 A EP89310947 A EP 89310947A EP 0424580 A1 EP0424580 A1 EP 0424580A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
store
container
support member
containers
stores
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP89310947A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Malcolm Geoffrey Worthington
Robert Bruce Worthington
Stanley Noel Crank
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0424580A1 publication Critical patent/EP0424580A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/10—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to container dispensing apparatus comprising at least one store for containers, a release mechanism associated with the or each store and operable to release a container from a store, and transport means operable to move a released container from a store to a location remote from the store and at which the container may be removed from the transport means, the transport means comprising a member which is rotatably mounted for transporting containers and has formations for engaging and supporting a container.
  • Drink vending machines which comprise a store of cups containing a range of beverage powders.
  • the cups are stacked, each stack containing powder for a different beverage.
  • the stacks are held in a rotatable carousel.
  • the carousel revolves until the stack containing that beverage is located over a delivery station and a mechanism is then operated to release one cup from the bottom of the stack.
  • the cup falls to the delivery station where it may be filled with hot water, or removed by the user for filling elsewhere.
  • Apparatus according to the present invention is characterised in that the support member has sufficient formations so located on the support member that when the support member is positioned with any formation at the remote location, there is a formation at the or each store.
  • the support member of the transport means is a plate member having the formations formed therein.
  • the said formations may comprise re-entrant portions in the periphery of the plate member.
  • the apparatus may further comprise retaining means which retains containers in engagement with the support member except at the remote location.
  • the retaining means may extend around and adjacent to the periphery of the plate member to close the months of the re-entrant portions, there being a gap in the retaining means at the remote location, whereby a container may be removed through the gap from a re-entrant portion.
  • the stores each hold a generally vertical stack of containers, the support member being located beneath the stores, whereby a released container may fall from a store until arrested by the support member.
  • the support member is preferably a disc mounted for rotation about its centre.
  • the apparatus is preferably so formed as to allow the stores to contain stacks of cups containing beverage powder for dispensing at the remote location.
  • the apparatus preferably further comprises manually operable selection means by which a user may select a store, the selection means being operable to cause a container to be released from the selected store by operation of the associated release mechanism.
  • FIG. 1 show container dispensing apparatus 10 comprising a plurality of stores 12 for containers, a release mechanism 14 associated with each store 12 and operable to release a container 16 from that store, and transport means 18 operable to move a released container 16 from a store 12 to a location 20 remote from the store and at which the container 16 may be removed from the transport means.
  • Each store 12 stores a stack of containers 16 which are plastic or cardboard cups.
  • the cups 16 are nested, and contain powder for forming a beverage when mixed with water.
  • the stack of cups is housed in a protective tubular housing 22 for reasons of hygiene.
  • the lowermost cup of each stack is supported by a conventional release mechanism 14 which can be operated to release the lowermost cup and allow it to fall from the stack.
  • a release mechanism 14 is located at the bottom of each store 12 and the release mechanisms 14 are controlled by operator controls which allow a user to select which release mechanism operates, and therefore to select which flavour or type of drink is dispensed.
  • the transport means 18 comprises a horizontal disc mounted below the stores 12 for rotation about its centre. There are a plurality of formations around the periphery of the disc 18 which allow a cup to be supported by the disc. Each formation is a re-entrant portion 24 of the disc periphery, around which a ledge 26 is located to engage the rim of a cup, to prevent the cup falling through the re-entrant portion 24.
  • the machine shown in Fig. 1 uses a disc with 6 re-entrant portions.
  • the disc shown in Fig. 2 is for a larger machine, and has twelve re-entrant portions.
  • the disc 18 is mounted on suitable bearings, not shown in detail, and an electric motor is provided for rotating the disc.
  • a circular retaining bar 28 (not shown in Fig. 1) extends around almost the whole periphery of the disc 18 and serves to close the open mouths of the re-entrant portions 24, in order to prevent a cup moving outwardly as the disc revolves.
  • a cup may only move horizontally from a re-entrant portion through a gap in the bar 28 at the remote location 20, to which cups are delivered when the apparatus is in use.
  • a drip tray 30 is provided at the remote location (or delivery station) 20, and the delivery station 20 may also have filling apparatus for filling cups with hot water, sugar or other additives which may be required. These may operate automatically, or under the control of the user to allow him to mix a drink according to taste.
  • the stores 12 are initially filled so that each store contains a stack of cups, and the cups of each store contain powder for respective beverages.
  • the flavour or type of drink is selected by operator controls such as push buttons.
  • the push buttons and associated control circuitry are shown schematically at 32 in Fig. 1.
  • the control circuitry responds to the selection by operating the release mechanism 14 at the store 12 containing cups and powder for forming the selected beverage.
  • the associated release mechanism 14 then releases one cup, which falls down into the re-entrant portion 24 of the disc 18, until the rim of the cup engages the ledge 26 and the cup is arrested and thereafter supported.
  • the control circuitry 32 then causes the disc to be driven round until the cup arrives at the delivery station 20.
  • the dispensing of hot water and other additives will then be controlled, before the user removes the cup and drink from the disc 18 through the gap between the ends of the retaining bar 28.
  • the cup and powder may be removed from the delivery station 20, for filling with water elsewhere.
  • the disc 18 has sufficient formations so located around the periphery of the disc that whenever a formation is located at the delivery station 20, other formations 24 are located one under each store 12. Thus, once a cup has been delivered to the delivery station 20 and removed by the user, no further rotation of the disc 18 is required because a formation is ready to receive the next selected cup, whichever store 12 may contain it.
  • the stores 12 may all be located away from the remote location, in which case the disc 18 will have at least one more formation than there are stores. Alternatively, a store may be located directly above the delivery station 20 to deliver a cup into the formation located at the delivery station 20. When that store is selected, the disc 18 is not required to rotate.
  • the stores 12 remain stationery during use and this allows the structure to be simpler and smaller, because problems associated with the movement of a heavy carousel are avoided. Only the disc 18 revolves, and during its movement, it will be supporting only one cup, so that bearings and motors are not greatly stressed and do not need to be so robust as the bearings and motors of known apparatus which use rotating carousels.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
EP89310947A 1988-04-29 1989-10-24 Distributeur de récipients Withdrawn EP0424580A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888810265A GB8810265D0 (en) 1988-04-29 1988-04-29 Container dispensing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0424580A1 true EP0424580A1 (fr) 1991-05-02

Family

ID=10636163

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89310947A Withdrawn EP0424580A1 (fr) 1988-04-29 1989-10-24 Distributeur de récipients

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0424580A1 (fr)
GB (2) GB8810265D0 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0577293A1 (fr) * 1992-07-01 1994-01-05 Kraft Jacobs Suchard Ltd. Méthode et appareil pour la distribution de gobelets dans des machines de vente de boissons
DE29515553U1 (de) * 1995-09-29 1996-02-22 Laux, Joachim, 63110 Rodgau Halterung und Spender von Milchtasseneinmalportionsbehältnissen u.dgl.
CN103612834A (zh) * 2013-12-05 2014-03-05 苏州骏熠纺织有限公司 一种方便取杯的纺织车间用储杯桶
EP4177856A3 (fr) * 2021-11-09 2023-08-02 Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc. Distributeur de boissons avec distributeur de gobelets

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8810265D0 (en) * 1988-04-29 1988-06-02 Worthington M G Container dispensing apparatus
GB2241695B (en) * 1990-03-08 1993-09-01 Sankey Vending Ltd Drinks dispensing machine
FR2845504B1 (fr) * 2002-10-08 2005-01-28 Ernest Jenner Systeme de convoyage de gobelets dans un automate de distribution de boissons
WO2009089583A1 (fr) * 2008-01-15 2009-07-23 Kent Paper Co Pty Ltd Procédé et appareil pour réaliser un insert de plateau

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE85794C (fr) *
NL120414C (fr) *
GB2066797A (en) * 1980-01-03 1981-07-15 Vendops Ltd Beverage dispensing machine
EP0166832A2 (fr) * 1983-08-03 1986-01-08 City Link Group Limited Distributeur de gobelets
GB2217698A (en) * 1988-04-29 1989-11-01 Worthington M G Dispenser with fixed stacks of containers and movable container carrier

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB899068A (en) * 1957-10-14 1962-06-20 Gunter Muhletaler Improvements in or relating to automatic vending installations
GB1482031A (en) * 1975-07-09 1977-08-03 Bergstedt H Vending machine for heat treatment and dispensing of food portions
GB1576950A (en) * 1977-06-30 1980-10-15 Brooke Bond Vending Syst Cup selection apparatus for beverage vending machine of the in-cup type
GB1546312A (en) * 1978-01-16 1979-05-23 Mars Ltd Beverage dispensing apparatuses
GB2042482B (en) * 1979-02-09 1982-11-24 Vgl Ind Ltd Cup dispense assembly
GB2090821B (en) * 1981-01-07 1985-02-06 Gen Foods Ltd Vending apparatus

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE85794C (fr) *
NL120414C (fr) *
GB2066797A (en) * 1980-01-03 1981-07-15 Vendops Ltd Beverage dispensing machine
EP0166832A2 (fr) * 1983-08-03 1986-01-08 City Link Group Limited Distributeur de gobelets
GB2217698A (en) * 1988-04-29 1989-11-01 Worthington M G Dispenser with fixed stacks of containers and movable container carrier

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0577293A1 (fr) * 1992-07-01 1994-01-05 Kraft Jacobs Suchard Ltd. Méthode et appareil pour la distribution de gobelets dans des machines de vente de boissons
DE29515553U1 (de) * 1995-09-29 1996-02-22 Laux, Joachim, 63110 Rodgau Halterung und Spender von Milchtasseneinmalportionsbehältnissen u.dgl.
CN103612834A (zh) * 2013-12-05 2014-03-05 苏州骏熠纺织有限公司 一种方便取杯的纺织车间用储杯桶
EP4177856A3 (fr) * 2021-11-09 2023-08-02 Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc. Distributeur de boissons avec distributeur de gobelets
EP4303840A3 (fr) * 2021-11-09 2024-05-29 Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc. Distributeur de boissons avec distributeur de gobelets

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8810265D0 (en) 1988-06-02
GB2217698B (en) 1991-11-13
GB8909375D0 (en) 1989-06-14
GB2217698A (en) 1989-11-01

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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