EP0632917B1 - Multiple-choice vending machine for newspapers and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR93/00301 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 28, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 28, 1994 PCT Filed Mar. 25, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO93/20540 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 14, 1993.Vending machine (1) for newspapers, in the form of a cabinet capable of automatically delivering into a receptacle one copy of a newspaper which a purchaser has selected from a plurality of other newspapers and paid for with a payment device incorporated in the vending machine. The cabinet comprises fixed and movable shelves on which the newspapers are stored in various stacks each of a same newspaper. On each of the stacks is provided an individual discharge assembly for the upper newspaper of the stack of newspapers. There are two columns of fixed horizontal shelves (56) secured at each side to two vertical supports (61, 62) welded at their ends to the upper and lower parts of the cabinet and at least one movable shelf for each column. Each discharge assembly for the upper newspaper from a stack of newspapers is displaceable relative to the shelf supporting that stack. There is a guide for guiding the newspaper forming a guide path from the edge of the stack from which it is removed, to the receptacle of the cabinet.

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine for newspapers or magazines with multiple choices.

Its purpose is to extend to press products the automatic and impersonal distribution formula from a coin mechanism or from a credit or payment card already existing in many fields: food, drinks, cigarettes ...

Newspaper distribution is generally carried out through four separate channels.

For the first, this is home delivery, according to which a courier deposits the daily newspaper that is the subject of the subscription in the mailbox of each subscriber's house each morning.

The second concerns the postal distribution made by the administrative services and the employees of the post office.

The third covers all commercial distribution through points of sale, whether kiosks in public places: stations, squares, squares ... or whether shops, boutiques or specialized departments in the press: bookshops, press houses, specialized departments of hypermarkets ...

The fourth way concerns the automatic distribution of newspapers and magazines.

In this area, automation has not yet penetrated well, unlike other areas such as food, tobacco, drinks ...

There are only single-machine, single-machine dispensers, in which the newspapers are previously individualized in separate racks in the manner of drinks or portions of sweets.

This shortage situation is not surprising due to the various and numerous difficulties associated with rapid and harmless evacuation. a journal of a stack of several overlapping copies.

• . saisir à chaque fois un seul journal, sans entraîner le ou les journaux suivants ;
• . éviter le déchirement, le froissement ou toute autre détérioration du papier ;
• . conserver l'unité du fascicule à feuillets multiples ;
• . maintenir la pile etéviter notamment son écroulement dans le sens du déplacement du journal supérieur ; . adapter l'ensemble d'évacuation aux différents formats et poids des fascicules.

As an indication, some of these important and numerous difficulties will be cited below:

• . enter a single journal each time, without causing the following journal (s);
• . avoid tearing, creasing, or other deterioration of the paper;
• . maintain the unity of the multi-leaflet;
• . maintain the stack and avoid in particular its collapse in the direction of movement of the upper log; . adapt the evacuation assembly to the different formats and weights of the booklets.

A vending machine is in the general form of a cabinet capable of automatically delivering to a receptacle a copy of the newspaper that a buyer has selected and paid for in a payment device incorporated in the vending machine. The different newspapers are stored by title in stacks on shelves inside the machine. An exhaust assembly rests on each stack. It allows pushing the logs from the stack one after the other, accompanying the top log which slides out of the stack by leaning on the log below without driving the following logs, and directing the log to a hopper vertical followed by a chimney corridor guiding it to a receptacle accessible to the applicant.

We already know some machines of this type, but they have known little development, because their pusher systems have proven to be not very adaptable to the wide variety of formats and weights of newspapers. Furthermore, their poor reliability and their tendency to cause tears constitute all the additional disadvantages.

To this end, FR-A-2 089 943 and FR-A-2 081 975 describe apparatuses in the form of cupboards for the distribution of newspapers, of which the lower part of the cupboard is occupied by the space of reception of the newspapers or any other document sold or distributed using these devices. This results in a significant loss of space or volume which is commercially unusable.

In addition, the output level, therefore the gripping of the newspaper or document by its buyer, being located in the lower part of the device, that is to say near the ground level, the buyer is obliged to bend down to take your purchase, so that certain categories of buyers, such as the physically handicapped and the elderly, may have difficulty accessing it.

The problem with the present invention is to use the lower space of the cabinet, while allowing a level of output of newspapers or other documents further from the ground, so that the space lost in the devices known to date can be profitable commercially and that, due to the positioning of the outlet for newspapers or other documents at a level further from the ground, buyers experience better comfort.

• deux colonnes d'étagères horizontales fixes fixées de chaque côté, à deux montants verticaux soudés par leurs extrémités en haut et en bas de l'armoire et au moins une étagère mobile pour chaque colonne ;
• des moyens de maintien de chaque pile de journaux sur son étagère ;
• des moyens de déplacement relatifs et guidage de chaque ensemble d'évacuation de journal supérieur d'une pile de journaux par rapport à l'étagère supportant ladite pile ;
• des moyens de guidage du journal formant chemin de guidage depuis le bord de la pile de laquelle il est évacué, jusqu'au réceptacle de l'armoire, et en ce que chaque colonne d'étagères comporte au moins une étagère fixe réglable en hauteur par une pluralité de trous de fixation prévus sur les montants verticaux fixes et une étagère mobile disposée en bas de la colonne, se déplaçant depuis une position basse de chargement, jusqu'à une position haute d'épuisement de la pile de journaux.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an automatic distributor of sheets, bundles, or superimposed booklets, hereinafter called newspapers, in the general form of a cabinet capable of automatically delivering a copy of a a newspaper that a buyer has selected from a plurality of other newspapers and paid for in a payment device incorporated in the vending machine, characterized in that the cabinet has fixed shelves and movable shelves on each of which the newspapers are stored in different stacks of the same log and in that on each of the stacks is provided an individual set for evacuating the upper log from the stack of logs, the automaton also comprising in combination:

• two columns of fixed horizontal shelves fixed on each side, with two vertical uprights welded by their ends to the top and bottom of the cabinet and at least one mobile shelf for each column;
• means for holding each stack of newspapers on its shelf;
• means for relative movement and guidance of each upper newspaper discharge assembly of a stack of newspapers relative to the shelf supporting said stack;
• means for guiding the newspaper forming a guide path from the edge of the stack from which it is discharged, to the receptacle of the cabinet, and in that each column of shelves comprises at least one fixed shelf adjustable in height by a plurality of fixing holes provided on the fixed vertical uprights and a movable shelf disposed at the bottom of the column, moving from a low loading position, to a high position of exhaustion of the stack of newspapers.

• . les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en élévation de deux variantes de façade relatives à l'automate-distributeur de journaux selon l'invention ;
• . la figure 3 est une vue simplifiée en perspective d'ensemble de l'automate-distributeur portes ouvertes selon une de ses variantes ;
• . la figure 4 est une vue en élévation de l'automate-distributeur de journaux, étagères de droite enlevées ;
• . la figure 5 est une vue de profil de l'automate-distributeur de journaux avec réceptacle horizontal ;
• . les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues de détail en coupe transversale du clapet de sortie des journaux propre à une colonne respectivement lors du passage d'un journal venant des étagères supérieures et de l'étagère adjacente ;
• . la figure 8 est une vue de profil de l'automate-distributeur, avec réceptacle vertical ;
• . la figure 9 est une vue en plan de l'automate distributeur au niveau des étagères fixes ;
• . la figure 10 est une vue en perspective d'une étagère fixe et de son ensemble de joues réglables ;
• . la figure 11 est une section horizontale partielle de la figure 10 au niveau du micro-contact ;
• . la figure 12 est une vue en perspective d'une étagère mobile ;
• . la figure 13 est une vue en coupe partielle montrant l'avant de deux vérins et les déflecteur ;
• . la figure 14 est une vue de face d'un vérin équipé de déflecteurs de chute ;
• . la figure 15 est une vue d'ensemble en perspective de l'organe d'évacuation conforme à l'invention ;
• . la figure 16 est une vue mixte en coupe et en perspective du vérin électromécanique horizontal utilisé pour l'entraînement-évacuation du journal ;
• . la figure 17 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du vérin électromécanique utilisé ;
• . la figure 18 est une vue en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation des patins d'entraînement ;
• . la figure 19 est une vue en perspective d'un deuxième mode de réalisation des patins d'entraînement ;
• . la figure 20 est une vue de profil du patin d'entraînement selon le deuxième mode de réalisation ;
• . la figure 21 est une vue en élévation arrière correspondant au patin de la figure 17 ;
• . les figures de 22 à 28 illustrent, sous la forme d'une suite de schémas correspondant à des vues en coupe, le travail d'un des patins d'entraînement équipant l'ensemble d'évacuation selon l'invention, conformément à la séquence suivante :
  • figure 22 : vue multiple des patins en position de repos et à environ mi-parcours ;
  • figures 23, 24, 25 : patin dans trois phases successives lors du passage de l'arrondi du bord de la pile ;
  • figure 26 : patin en prise sur un seul couple de griffes juste avant le lâcher du fascicule ;
  • figure 27 : patin en cours de relevage juste après le lâcher de prise du fascicule ;
  • figure 28 : vue multiple des patins en positions de relevage puis de relevage-cabrage, cabrés à mi-parcours et cabrés au repos.

The technical characteristics and other advantages of the invention are set out in the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example on an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• . Figures 1 and 2 are elevational views of two variants of the facade relating to the newspaper vending machine according to the invention;
• . Figure 3 is a simplified overall perspective view of the open door vending machine according to one of its variants;
• . Figure 4 is an elevational view of the newspaper vending machine, right shelves removed;
• . Figure 5 is a side view of the newspaper vending machine with horizontal receptacle;
• . Figures 6 and 7 are detail views in cross section of the newspaper outlet valve specific to a column respectively when passing a newspaper from the upper shelves and the adjacent shelf;
• . Figure 8 is a side view of the vending machine, with vertical receptacle;
• . Figure 9 is a plan view of the vending machine at the fixed shelves;
• . Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fixed shelf and its set of adjustable cheeks;
• . Figure 11 is a partial horizontal section of Figure 10 at the microswitch;
• . Figure 12 is a perspective view of a movable shelf;
• . Figure 13 is a partial sectional view showing the front of two cylinders and the deflectors;
• . FIG. 14 is a front view of a jack fitted with fall deflectors;
• . Figure 15 is an overall perspective view of the discharge member according to the invention;
• . FIG. 16 is a mixed view in section and in perspective of the horizontal electromechanical cylinder used for driving-evacuating the newspaper;
• . Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electromechanical cylinder used;
• . Figure 18 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the drive shoes;
• . Figure 19 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the drive shoes;
• . Figure 20 is a side view of the drive shoe according to the second embodiment;
• . Figure 21 is a rear elevational view corresponding to the skate of Figure 17;
• . Figures from 22 to 28 illustrate, in the form of a series of diagrams corresponding to sectional views, the work of one of the drive pads fitted to the evacuation assembly according to the invention, in accordance with the sequence next :
  • Figure 22: multiple view of the skates in the rest position and about halfway through;
  • Figures 23, 24, 25: pad in three successive phases during the passage of the rounding of the edge of the pile;
  • Figure 26: skate engaged on a single pair of claws just before the release of the booklet;
  • Figure 27: skid being lifted just after the release of the fascicle;
  • Figure 28: multiple view of the skids in the lift-up and lift-up positions, nose-up mid-way and nose-up at rest.

The present invention relates to a newspaper vending machine using a plurality of functional units called sets or evacuation organs, a copy of which will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 15 to 28.

The term newspaper will be adopted below for designate the booklet drawn out of the stack by the evacuation assembly. It is understood that this can be used on many other similar objects multi-sheet plans such as flyers, printed matter, bundles, magazines ...

The evacuation assembly in general, shown in FIG. 15, has the essential function of coming into grip contact with a first newspaper 1 of a stack 2 of newspapers, for example by gripping it, then slide over the immediately lower newspaper 3 to a transverse edge 4 of the stack, without creasing or damaging it, and without causing the following newspapers. It then forces it into angular deviation by accompanying it in its rounded curvature from the edge 4 of the stack 2 to cross it before releasing it for its fall against and along a deflector 5 towards and up to a receptacle. The evacuation assembly then returns to the initial position.

The essential means represented in FIG. 15 show an electro-mechanical actuator 6 disposed horizontally and fixed from the rear on a slide 7 actuator carrier which can move vertically along two vertical slides not shown in FIG. 15.

The cylinder 6 is preferably of the electromechanical type, for example such as that described below.

It has a tubular cylindrical hollow body 8 containing a central screw 9 arranged longitudinally and bearing on two end bearings. It drives a motor element in the form of a motor nut 10 of suitable shape and dimensions to move inside the tubular body 8. The motor nut 10 has two lateral outlets on each of which is fixed an axis transverse 11 or 12 shoe holder extending perpendicularly through two slots 13 and 14 or longitudinal lateral slots that the body 8 comprises to allow the travel of the engine nut 10 fitted with its axes.

The tubular body 8 has at its front end a longitudinal opening or recess downwards in the form of a notch 15 used, as will be seen below, for the release of the end of the newspaper.

The central screw 9 is coupled by any means suitable for an electric motor 16 by its output shaft 17 preferably placed inside the body 8 and at its rear end. The central screw 9 and motor 16 assembly makes it possible to drive the motor nut 10 in a horizontal back-and-forth movement between two limit switches or proximity detectors 18 and 19 fixed, on the one hand on a bearing plug 20 at the end of the body, and on the other hand on a coupling ring 21 on the side of the electric motor 16. The central screw 9 carries at its ends on the bearing plug 20 on the one hand, and on the coupling ring 21 on the other hand. The bearing plug 20 and the coupling ring 21 are made of self-lubricating material, and each provided on their front with an O-ring 22 or 23 acting as a shock absorber.

The coupling can also be carried out simply by a socket which joins the adjacent end of the central screw 9 and the output shaft 17 of the motor 16. In this case, the coupling ring 21 only plays a role of maintenance of the damper O-ring 22 or 23.

Each axis 11 or 12 pad holder carries, with free pivoting, at its end a pad 24 or 25 movable.

The body of each shoe 24 or 25 has a general parallelepiped shape with a rectangular trapezoid profile. The front face 26 is flat while the rear part is bevel shaped, providing it a nose shape 27 placed in the upper part and directed towards the rear of the stack 2 of newspapers.

Each shoe has on the underside a main support base 28, planar and substantially rectangular, and a rolling base 29 also planar and substantially rectangular. This rolling base is inclined upward in continuation of the main base when the shoe rests on a surface by its support base. It constitutes the rear front of the skate body.

Each skate has rolling means at each end of its rolling surface 29.

More particularly, each shoe 24 or 25 has on its rear front a slot 30 crossed by an axis of rotation 31 for the passage and mounting of a rear roller 32, and in the lower part of the shoe a middle roller 33 mounted for rotation running on a tilting axis 34 parallel to the shoe holder axis 11 or 12 transverse to the body of the shoe and offset longitudinally from the shoe holder axis by a distance "D".

Each shoe 24 or 25 has four gripping or gripping elements such as 35, for example two front claws such as 36 and two rear claws such as 37, in the form of oblique needles directed towards the front of the shoe each mounted in an oblique groove such as 38 that each of the side faces of the body of each shoe has. The front and rear hands will have the same references 36 and 37. They are immobilized in these grooves at a predetermined length beyond the plane of the bearing face by a preferably adjustable locking means, that is to say allowing to modify the protruding length. This locking means is, in the embodiment shown in the figures, constituted by a screw and a support washer 39 forcing and laterally wedging the needle at the bottom of the groove. The direction of the grooves 38 is tilted forward so as to provide the needles with an effective grip for log training.

According to one embodiment, the washers 39 slightly protrude from the support base 28, so that the general support of the pad on the log is effected by means of these washers.

The evacuation assembly also comprises at the rear of the body of the jack a press block 40, for example flat and rectangular, freely mounted at the rear of the body of the jack and maintained in the lateral position. The press block 40 carries, on the one hand on its upper part a bridge of abutment-twinning 41, and on the other hand on its lower part two lateral support rollers such as 42, whose axes of rotation are perpendicular to the cylinder body and placed so that the rear of the evacuation assembly rests on the stack of newspapers by these support rollers 42 and keeps it pressed locally for its end retention for the duration of drive-evacuation of the upper log.

The rollers of the press block also allow the rear of the newspaper to escape properly.

The abutment-twinning bridge 41 is produced for example in the form of a U-shaped bracket 43, the two ends 44 and 45 of which are lowered at right angles according to bearing and abutment surfaces whose spacing is substantially equal to the distance between the two pads.

Its role is to simultaneously prevent the two pads 24 and 25 from tilting down when the cylinder body is raised.

A slightly different version of the training shoe is shown in Figure 19.

It is a training shoe which could equip the evacuation assemblies intended for thicker newspapers, therefore heavier, or for bundles formed of several fascicles.

These pads have a different rear configuration equipped with a pusher device 46 accompanying the newspaper or magazine by pushing it on its rear transverse edge.

This pusher device must disappear or at least slide or roll on the immediately lower log 3 during the return movement.

The pusher device shown comprises a pendulum finger 47 pivotally mounted on a part with a longitudinal axis 48 perpendicular to the rear face of the body of the skate. This axis part is held longitudinally by any means, for example by the axis of rotation-rolling of the rear roller, which will preferably be produced, according to this variant, in the form of two separate rollers 49 and 50 mounted at the rear on the lateral surface of the body, on either side of the part of axis 48.

According to this variant, the withdrawal is carried out by rolling on the immediately lower log 3. For this purpose, the end of the pendulum finger is provided with a head in the form of a semi-spherical roller 51 of a mass sufficient to constitute an effective recall by the force of gravity alone.

According to another alternative embodiment, the cylinder carrier and vertical slide assembly is replaced by another vertical guide means, for example a system with ball socket (s) moving along one or two columns ( s). In this case, the slight movement of the actuator body around its horizontal position is eliminated, and the notch provided on the underside of the body can be extended to the other end of the body, thus reducing the assembly of evacuation.

Finally, the evacuation assembly is controlled by any appropriate circuit or automaton.

We will now refer to Figures 1 to 14.

The vending machine according to the invention is in the general form of a cabinet with two leaves 52 and 53 and pivoting on side hinges (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

The body of the vending machine preferably includes, but is not limited to, two columns of shelves adjustable in height, a left column 54 and a right column 55. Each shelf 56 of the same column, with the exception of the shelf the lowest which will be the subject of a later description, is in the form of a lower support plate 57, for example made of sheet metal, the left edges 58 and right 59 of which are folded and raised, these edges each having at at least one fixing hole 60. Thus, each shelf 56 can be fixed on each side by at least one bolt or equivalent, on two vertical uprights 61, 62 equipped with a plurality of height adjustment holes. The uprights are fixed or welded by their ends respectively to the base and the top of the body of the vending machine. Each shelf is designed to receive a stack 2 formed of a plurality of overlapping sheets, bundles or fascicles, already called newspapers 1, and is equipped with lateral stops 63, 64 and rear stops 65 and 66 adjustable and adaptable to the dimensions of stack 2 and / or log formats.

More particularly, the two leaves of the vending machine according to the invention pivot on side hinges 67 made non-removable when the leaves are closed.

The shutters are locked in place by a three-point lock 68 which controls two steel rods 69 fitting respectively at the top and bottom of the cabinet body, and a steel blade fitting in the middle of the one of the leaves in the middle of the other leaf, the latter having an inner rebate preventing any opening.

By way of example, an automaton of the type shown in the figures can be constructed, with eight choices of newspaper titles, comprising two columns each of four shelves, including three fixed upper shelves and a movable lower shelf.

It is also possible to provide variants with a single column of shelves and comprising a single leaf.

As indicated, each column is composed of two profiled uprights 61, 62 made of sheet metal folded in the shape of a U, one of the wings of which is extended by a lateral extension 70 or 71 outside and parallel to the base of the U (FIG. 9).

The two profiled uprights 61 and 62 are mounted vertically opposite, and fixed at the top and bottom of the cabinet. Each lateral extension 70 or 71 of the uprights has regularly spaced adjustment holes for fixing the shelves at the desired height.

Thus, each fixed shelf 56 can be immobilized laterally by a bolt or equivalent on the vertical uprights, at variable height, thanks to the adjustment holes, depending on the size of the stack.

Each fixed shelf 56 is designed to receive a stack 2 of newspapers 1 and equipped with lateral stops 63, 64 and rear stops 65, 66 adjustable and adaptable to the dimensions of the stack, or to the formats of newspapers.

The lateral stops 63, 64 are in the form of two sheet metal cheeks 72 and 73, folded in the shape of an L, facing one another (FIG. 10). The two horizontal returns 74 and 75 of the cheeks are applied to the lower support plate 57 and held by a counter plate 76 so that the spacing of the cheeks 72 and 73 corresponds substantially to the width of the stack of newspapers, the assembly being locked in position for example by butterfly nut bolts (Figure 10).

The rear stops 65 and 66 are produced by vertical angles fitted at least in part to the rear vertical inner edge of each of the cheeks, and are adjustable to the depth of the stack of newspapers by means of a set 77 or 78 with horizontal light and nut provided respectively on each of the cheeks and its corresponding angle.

There is provided in the counter plate 76 and in the plate 57 a light 79 intended for the passage of a micro-contact 80 for battery depletion fixed under the lower plate, for example at the front and in the center thereof. (Figures 10 and 11).

The two horizontal returns 74 and 75 of the cheeks are cut in the form for example of teeth such as 81 arranged in staggered rows (FIG. 9) to allow adjustment of the spacing of the cheeks from a minimum spacing for which the teeth overlap in the others, up to a maximum spacing for which the horizontal part of each cheek remains fixed by the end of its teeth. A graduated scale 82 is provided on the front of the plate 57 of the shelf in order to facilitate the width adjustment of the cheeks 72 and 73.

According to the preferred nonlimiting embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the height of the lateral stops 63, 64 is adjustable by adding flanges 83 and 84 made of sheet metal comprising lights. These flanges are fixed to the cheeks, for example by sets such as 85, each composed of a welded stud receiving a washer and a wing nut. The angles of the rear vertical stops 65 and 66 are then replaced by telescopic stops 86, 87 of U-shaped iron each sliding in a square tube, these square tubes coming to be fixed behind the cheeks thanks to the assemblies 77, 78.

Each row has in the lower part a movable lower shelf 88, for example in accordance with that shown in FIG. 12. Each of the movable shelves is constructed of folded sheet metal identical to the fixed shelves.

It comprises four housings such as 89 in its lower plate 57 for the passage of four vertical lateral guides such as 90 and the fixing of the position heels of these guides.

These vertical guides 90 are produced for example in the form of flat bars fixed in the upper part on inverted adjustable cheeks left 91 and right 92 fixed under the lower plate 57 of the lowest fixed shelf 56. These inverted adjustable cheeks 91, 92 are similar to those of the fixed shelves already described but directed downward, and tightened by a counterplate 93 using for example butterfly nuts such as 94. Two rear guides, for example in the form of rods such as 94, have their ends respectively passing through the clamping counter-plate 93 of the immediately upper fixed shelf 56 and the counter-plate 76 of the mobile shelf 88 through lower parallel longitudinal slots 96, 97 and upper 98, 99. These rear guides are held in place by a movable heel-bar of position 100 along the lower runners.

In addition, the mobile shelf 88 comprises, between its plate 57 and its counter plate 76, a thickness plate 101 also having teeth such as 81 allowing it to remain fixed by the counter plate 76 in the case of large formats. .

The mobile shelf 88 is mounted on the uprights 61, 62 by means of sockets 102, 103, for example of square section, which each come in an upright 61, 62 of a column. Two vertical return springs 104, 105 are hooked on the one hand to the sockets 102, 103 and on the other hand to the uprights 61, 62 by any appropriate means (Figure 12).

The movable bushings 102, 103 slide vertically along the U-shaped profiles of the uprights 61, 62 under the action of the springs 104, 105.

The loading of the fixed shelves 56 or mobile 88, as well as the lowering system of the mobile shelves will be described later.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 by way of nonlimiting example, the opening front face is made up of the right leaf 52 and the left leaf 53 and corresponding storm doors 106, 107 pivoting relative to each leaf from door 108.

Each storm door 106, 107 has an exposure face 109, 110 (FIGS. 1 and 2) with frames such as 111, 112 separated by crosspieces such as 113, 114. Behind the face of each storm door a copy of each available newspaper is hung or maintained by any suitable means, for example by horizontal spacers, according to a variant not shown.

Each door 106, 107 is formed by receiving compartments such as 115 and 116 delimited by two lateral and vertical rails 117, 118 and 119, 120 joined by transverse oblique planes such as 121, 122. Each oblique plane 121, 122 is placed substantially at the level a fixed shelf 56 of the vending machine, so that the smooth assembly, storm door and oblique plane forms a guide hopper then a chimney leading each newspaper discharged from a stack 2 to an exit slot or a receptacle 123, 124 of any suitable shape. In addition, an appropriate means of holding each door against each leaf is provided.

According to the variant shown in Figures 4 and 5, the vertical rails are fixed in the upper and lower parts of the cabinet and the oblique planes transverse are replaced by deflectors such as 125 guide-damping with two guide planes 126, 127 forming between them a predetermined fixed angle. Each guiding-damping deflector 125 is pivotally mounted around a horizontal axis 128 provided at the front of each fixed shelf 56 (FIG. 5) and secured to a damping means 129 with elastic return. This damping-return means can be composed for example without limitation of a lever 130 integral with the deflector, the end of which stretches a return-damping spring fixed on one of the beams when the deflector pivots downwards. The pivot axis 128 of the deflector can be fixed on the shelves or on the rails. When a newspaper or an article falls on a deflector guide-damping 125, the latter pivots down by absorbing the fall of the newspaper, then directs it towards the door. This cushioning prevents it from being opened under an umbrella. Figure 8 illustrates well the work sequences of this deflector during the descent of the log.

According to the variant shown in Figures 5 to 7, the deflector guide-damping, fixed in front of the lowest fixed shelf, directs the newspaper to an exit slot 131. If the newspaper comes from the stack placed on the movable shelf, it is directed towards the same slot 131 by an inclined plane 132 installed opposite the bottom part of the outlet slot 131 and the top part of the stack.

The outlet slot 131, rectangular and horizontal, is closed by a protective flap 133 which may have on its internal face a small slowing flap 134 whose weight is sufficient to slow the output of the newspaper. Two log output indicator micro-contacts can be provided respectively for a newspaper coming from a fixed shelf and for a newspaper coming from a mobile shelf.

According to the variant shown in Figure 8, the newspaper falls into one of the vertical receptacles 123, 124 where the buyer can remove it by lifting a protective flap 135 from the outlet.

Furthermore, each shelf is equipped with an evacuation assembly described above based on the upper newspaper of the stack of newspapers placed on the shelf.

The main function of each evacuation assembly is to enter into gripping contact with a first newspaper 1 of a stack 2 of newspapers, to enter into gripping contact with it for example by gripping it, then sliding it on the lower newspaper to the edge of the stack, without creasing or damaging it, and without causing the following newspapers. It then forces it in angular deviation, accompanying it in its rounded curvature of the transverse edge 4 of the stack 2 before releasing it for its falling movement to a receptacle. The evacuation assembly then returns to the initial position.

It is also possible to provide a discharge deflector 136 on the front of the stack of newspapers, for example fixed to the front of the jack 6, or on the storm door which faces it, to force the heavier newspapers or less flexible. This exhaust deflector does not appear in FIG. 4 for the sake of simplification, it is visible in FIGS. 5, 8, 13, 14.

The discharge deflector 136 shown by way of example is a folded sheet inclined downwards, it is carried by a movable cross member 137 positioned at a fixed distance below the nose of the jack so as to always be placed in front of the second stack log. This movable cross member 137 is itself carried by two vertical tie rods 138 and 139 (FIGS. 13 and 14) fixed at the two ends of a support cross member 140 welded to the front of the jack. The movable cross member 137 is for example a folded sheet, or an aluminum profile, the rear face of which acts as a stop for the second stack log and the following ones, thus preventing the stack from collapsing, it plays the role of a battery holding deflector. The discharge deflector 136 may extend over the entire length of the movable cross member or only over a part of it. FIG. 13 shows that when two successive cylinders are in extreme positions, there is no possible collision between the deflectors 127, 136 or between deflectors 136 and cylinders 6.

Furthermore, the vending machine also has means for vertically moving each evacuation assembly relative to its corresponding shelf, or vice versa.

Preferably, the two lower evacuation assemblies located at the exit slots are fixed and the corresponding lower shelves mobile, the situation being reversed in other cases.

The vertical displacement means is for example manual. In this case (not shown), it consists of deflection pulleys appropriately attached to the body of the cabinet, and of a cable, one end of which is integral with the slide 7 of the evacuation assembly, or the movable low shelf, the other end being able to be hooked to maintain either the sliders 7 in the maximum high position, or the shelves in the maximum low position.

The movable slides 7 return alone to their low positions under the effect of the weight of the evacuation assembly while, for the return of the mobile shelves to the high position, an appropriate return means must be provided, for example a mechanical system simple spring loaded.

Automatic displacement and return means can be provided by lifting-lowering assemblies such as those shown in Figure 4.

One of the leaves, for example the left wing, is substantially wider than the other, so as to have a free surface for mounting a selection-payment module 141.

• . une platine 142 portant autant de boutons poussoirs de sélection 143 que d'étagères ;
• . un voyant lumineux 144 associé à chaque bouton 143 pour indiquer l'épuisement d'une pile de journaux ;
• . un monnayeur rendeur de monnaie 145 avec une fente 146 d'introduction de pièces et un réceptacle 147 de rendu de monnaie ;
• . une fente 148 d'introduction d'une carte pour le paiement par carte bancaire.

In FIG. 1, for example, the selection-payment module comprises:

• . a plate 142 carrying as many selection push-buttons 143 as there are shelves;
• . an indicator light 144 associated with each button 143 to indicate the exhaustion of a stack of newspapers;
• . a coin changer 145 with a slot 146 for inserting coins and a receptacle 147 for returning coins;
• . a slot 148 for introducing a card for payment by bank card.

The electromechanical cylinder 6 fixed vertically to the bottom of the cabinet is the driving element of the evacuation assembly. The maneuver is controlled by selection pushbuttons such as 143 placed on the plate of the coin mechanism 141 fixed on one of the leaves of the automatic machine.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 4 for the description of the lifting-lowering assemblies of the movable lower shelves.

Two lifting-lowering cables 149, 150, one per column of shelves, are used to transmit the tensile force necessary for lifting the upper evacuation assemblies and lowering the lower mobile shelves 88. Upper pulleys 151, intermediate 152, middle 153 and upper side 154 make the necessary referrals.

• . dans les trous 155 des coulisseaux 7,
• . sur la poulie de renvoi latérale supérieure 154 située en haut de l'armoire à l'aplomb des coulisseaux,
• . sur la poulie intermédiaire 151 située au même niveau que la précédente et à l'aplomb d'un vérin vertical central 157 moteur de l'ensemble de relevage-abaissement,
• . sur les poulies médianes de traction 153 attelées au vérin vertical.

The cable 149, 150 passes freely through vertical holes 155 (FIG. 15) provided in the movable slides 7. Under each slide 7, at a distance equal to the height of the stack of newspapers admissible on the shelf, a steel nut 156 is fixed on the ends of each of the lifting cables 149 and 150. Each of the lifting cables passes:

• . in the holes 155 of the slides 7,
• . on the upper lateral deflection pulley 154 located at the top of the cabinet directly above the slides,
• . on the intermediate pulley 151 located at the same level as the previous one and plumb with a central vertical jack 157 motor of the lifting-lowering assembly,
• . on the median traction sheaves 153 coupled to the vertical cylinder.

• . dans une poulie 158 fixée au fond vertical de l'armoire,
• . dans une poulie 159 fixée à l'aplomb de la poulie précédente, au fond et au bas de l'armoire.

Lorsque le vérin central 157 est commandé, il tire sur le câble, l'étagère mobile 56 s'abaisse, les noix 156 fixées sur les câbles entraînent les ensembles d'évacuation supérieurs vers le haut.The same cable is used to lower the mobile shelf. It passes:

• . in a pulley 158 fixed to the vertical bottom of the cabinet,
• . in a pulley 159 fixed directly above the previous pulley, at the bottom and at the bottom of the cabinet.

When the central jack 157 is controlled, it pulls on the cable, the mobile shelf 56 lowers, the nuts 156 fixed on the cables drive the upper evacuation assemblies upwards.

• phase de chargement en journaux qui consiste à :
  • . ouvrir la porte,
  • . relever les ensembles d'évacuation des étagères supérieures et abaisser l'étagère inférieure 56, soit manuellement, soit par la commande du vérin central vertical 157 en appuyant sur le bouton poussoir correspondant à la porte,
  • . effacer les déflecteurs 125,
  • . charger les journaux sur les étagères,
  • . commander par le bouton poussoir ou manuellement l'abaissement des ensembles d'évacuation supérieurs et le relevage des étagères mobiles.
• phase d'utilisation commerciale selon laquelle :
  • . le choix du journal s'opère par l'un des boutons poussoirs 143 ou touches situés sur la porte,
  • . l'information est donnée au monnayeur qui commande l'affichage des prix,
  • . après paiement, l'information est transmise à la carte électronique qui autorise l'alimentation du moteur électrique 16 de l'ensemble d'évacuation du journal choisi,
  • . les patins 24, 25 de l'ensemble d'évacuation accompagnent le journal 1 dans sa chute dans la trémie,
  • . le contact de fin de course avant 18 de l'ensemble d'évacuation provoque le retour des patins,
  • . le contact de fin de course 19 arrière provoque la coupure de l'alimentation du moteur et informe la carte électronique du retour des patins.

The different phases of operation can be detailed as follows:

• log loading phase which consists of:
  • . to open the door,
  • . raise the evacuation assemblies of the upper shelves and lower the lower shelf 56, either manually or by controlling the vertical central cylinder 157 by pressing the push button corresponding to the door,
  • . delete the deflectors 125,
  • . load the newspapers on the shelves,
  • . control by push button or manually the lowering of the upper evacuation assemblies and lifting the mobile shelves.
• commercial use phase according to which:
  • . the choice of newspaper is made by one of the push buttons 143 or keys located on the door,
  • . the information is given to the coin acceptor who orders the display of prices,
  • . after payment, the information is transmitted to the electronic card which authorizes the supply of the electric motor 16 of the evacuation assembly of the selected newspaper,
  • . the pads 24, 25 of the evacuation assembly accompany the newspaper 1 as it falls into the hopper,
  • . the front limit switch 18 of the evacuation assembly causes the pads to return,
  • . the rear limit switch 19 causes the power supply to the engine to be cut off and informs the electronic card of the return of the pads.

The operation and use of the evacuation assembly will be described below with reference to Figures 22 to 28.

The evacuation assembly is first lifted manually or automatically by sliding or rolling movement of the slide 7 along the slides or columns, then immobilized and blocked by any suitable means in a high horizontal position of the actuator body. so that you can fill the space for this purpose with newspapers.

In this raised position, the two pads 24 and 25 are kept horizontal by virtue of the abutment ends of the folded wings of the abutment-twinning bridge 42, and the assembly releases sufficient space for the stack 2 of newspapers to be formed in its support.

The evacuation assembly is then lowered and placed on the first newspaper of the stack, it rests there by the two rollers of its press-block support 40 and by the front claws 36 and rear 37. Any adjustments depending on the type of logs can be made at this stage.

During the first setting in motion of the discharge member and following the start of the engine 16, the longitudinal force is transmitted to the two pads 24 and 25 which are driven towards the transverse edge of the stack. The front 36 and rear 37 claws sink successively into the first log 1 which is driven by the movement of the pads. The support and retention rollers 42 of the press block 40, which are free to rotate, allow the first newspaper 1 to be released, the end of which escapes their grip and, under the effect of the weight of the evacuation assembly, these support rollers 42 are applied to the newspaper 3 immediately below and thus prevent the stack 2 from falling apart.

In this phase of the movement, the drive shoe rests on its support base 28 according to the half-way position shown in FIG. 22 and up to the phase of approaching the edge 4 of the stack shown in FIG. 23.

The driving pads 24 and 25 continue their movement of driving the newspaper which slides on the lower newspaper 3 used as sliding support until the front needles 36 exceed the edge 4 of the stack 2 (FIG. 24). Then the front of the drive pads begin to tilt down, accompanying the log in the rounding curve of edge 4 of the stack (Figures 24 and 25). The two front needles 36 emerge, thanks to their inclination, from the newspaper which is still maintained by the two rear needles 37 (Figures 26 and 27).

The shoe-holding axes 11 and 12 continue their movement to an end-of-travel position shown in FIG. 13. In this position, the shoes are completely in front of the edge of the stack and rotate almost vertically around their axes which are free from a length of the order of a few centimeters, relative to the upper front edge of the stack. The rear claws 37, due to their inclination, also emerge from the newspaper which is released over a deflector towards a receptacle, or from an equivalent means of recovery for delivery.

It will be understood that, in order not to interfere with the curvature of the newspaper in the phases corresponding to those shown in the figures from 25 to 28, there is provided, on the lower front part of the cylinder body, the notch-shaped recess 15 to prevent the lower part of the cylinder body from obstructing the curvature and the discharge of the log due to its cylindrical shape.

The limit switch or front sensor 18 controls the return movement of each shoe which rises on the stack by pressing on the median roller 33. As soon as the pad holder axes arrive at the edge of the stack, the pads are subjected to a tilting torque caused by the offset of the distance "D" existing between the axis of rotation 34 of the median roller 33 and the pivot axis 11 or 12 of each shoe.

This tilting torque causes the skids to pitch up from the start of the withdrawal movement, which movement ends when the end roller contacts the lower journal. This rearing allows the total erasure of the hands. This movement is transformed into rolling of the pads on the plane of the immediately lower log 3 carried by the rollers 32 and 33, or 49, 50 and 33.

When the rear limit switch 19 is actuated, the motor stops, the drive shoes stop in their nose-up position and the evacuation assembly is ready for next cycle. The skids will not switch back to their support base until the next start.

All these phases of movement are clearly illustrated in Figure 28.

In the case of the pusher device, the pendulum finger 47 pivots upward during the rearward movement of the rearward movement and rolls on the immediately lower log, as shown in FIG. 21. It constitutes an additional mobile support for the stability of the movement.

In the case where the evacuation assembly is fixed, it is the lower shelf which moves automatically thanks to the return device, from a low starting position where it has been driven manually or automatically by means of a vertical movement as previously described and where it can be loaded, up to a high position by exhaustion of the stack of newspapers. In this case, all the operating phases of the evacuation assembly and of its shoes which have just been described remain identical.

Claims (14)

1. Vending machine (1) for individual, multiple or bound sheets that are stacked, hereafter called newspapers, in the general form of a cabinet capable of automatically delivering into a receptacle one copy of a newspaper which a purchaser has selected from a plurality of other newspapers and paid for with a payment device incorporated in the vending machine, characterised in that the cabinet comprises fixed and movable shelves on which the newspapers are stored in various stacks each of a same newspaper and in that on each of the stacks is provided an individual discharge assembly (76) for the upper newspaper of the stack of newspapers, the machine also comprising, in combination:

   two columns of fixed horizontal shelves (56) secured at each side to two vertical supports (61, 62) welded at their ends to upper and lower parts of the cabinet and at least one movable shelf for each column;

   means for supporting each stack of newspapers on its shelf;

   means for relative displacement and guidance of each discharge assembly (76) for the upper newspaper from a stack of newspapers relative to the shelf supporting said stack;

   means for guiding the newspaper forming a guide path from the edge of the stack from which it is removed, to the receptacle of the cabinet, and in that

   each column (54 or 55) of shelves comprises at least one fixed shelf (56) adjustable in height by a plurality of securement holes provided on the fixed vertical supports (61, 62), and a movable shelf (88) disposed at the base of the column, displaceable from a lower loading position to an upper position in which the stack of newspapers is exhausted.
2. Vending machine according to claim 1, characterised in that each fixed shelf is formed from a horizontal plate (57) and mutually facing adjustable L-shaped lateral flanges (72, 73), horizontal portions of the flanges bearing on the horizontal plate (57) by a counter plate (76), the vertical portions of the flanges comprising at least one hole for securement to the adjacent vertical support.
3. Vending machine according to claim 2, characterised in that each shelf comprises moreover vertical corner members provided on at least one portion of the internal vertical rear edge of each of the flanges (72, 73) and adjustable in position by screw means movable along an opening.
4. Vending machine according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the horizontal portions of the flanges are cut out in the form of staggered teeth (81).
5. Vending machine according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the counter plate (76) and the horizontal plate (57) of the shelf comprise an opening for the passage of a micro-contact (80) disposed below the horizontal plate.
6. Vending machine according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the lateral flanges (72, 73) comprise vertical extensions that are adjustable in height.
7. Vending machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a movable shelf also comprises:

   four recesses in its plate for the passage of four vertical lateral guides (90) fixed at the top on inverted adjustable flanges (91, 92) turned downwardly and applied to the plate of the fixed shelf immediately above by a gripping counter plate;

   two vertical rear guides (94, 95) held by heels and passing through the gripping counter plate and the counter plate (76) of the movable shelf;

   a thickness plate (101) disposed between the counter plate (76) and the lower plate of the movable shelf;

   means for securement on bushes (102, 103) movable longitudinally relative to the vertical supports (61, 62) of the columns;

   return springs (104, 105) automatically to raise the shelf again into the upper position upon exhaustion of the stack.
8. Vending machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it also comprises, in combination with each stationary shelf (56), an assembly for discharge of the upper newspaper (76) of the stack of newspapers, arranged horizontally and secured on a slider displaceable vertically along a vertical guide means.
9. Vending machine according to claim 8, characterised in that it also comprises an automatic displacement and return means comprising a central electromechanical control actuator (157), one cable per column of shelves which on the one hand passes freely through holes (155) in the sliders, combined with return pulleys and drive members (156) secured on the cable at a distance equal to the allowable height of the stack of newspapers and which, on the other hand, is secured at its end to a movable shelf (88) for lowering the movable shelf (88).
10. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one door (52, 53) for opening the cabinet, each having a counter door (106, 107) fixed to the latter, the counter door having a surface for display of the available titles, and each door having a transparent surface facing a display surface used to present the newspapers.
11. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each counter door has two lateral vertical wings (117 to 120) forming a guide hopper connected by oblique transverse planes (121, 122) disposed substantially at the level of the shelves and fixed to the counter-door.
12. Vending machine according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it comprises vertical wings fixed to the cabinet combined with cushioning-guiding deflectors (125) movable about a horizontal axis of rotation (128) provided in front of each fixed shelf (56) and secured to a cushioningreturn means (129).
13. Vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each discharge assembly (76) comprises:

    rear guide means for its displacement relative to the stack;

    a horizontal actuator (6) whose body is secured to said rear guide means and having two lateral outlets perpendicular to the axis of the actuator, which are carried by a drive element displaceable along the body of the actuator;

    an electric motor (16) driving a screw (9) extending along the longitudinal axis of the body of the actuator to drive the drive element in its reciprocating movement within the body;

    two drive shoes (24, 25) mounted pivotally at the ends of the lateral outlets of the body of the actuator;

    a press block secured to the body of the actuator at its rear end to support the stack of newspapers by bearing on the immediately lower copy.
14. Vending machine according to the preceding claim, characterised in that each drive shoe (24, 25) has:

    a rectangular trapezoidal profile at its rear portion with a bevel directed rearwardly of the stack;

    a principal bearing base (28) operative during movement to drive the multiple sheet objects, from which extend individually adjustable gripping elements;

    a rolling base (29) operating during the return movement and inclined relative to the principal base (28) in the direction of the rear portion.

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