EP0755032A2 - Distributeur automatique, en particulier pour la vente d'emballages de glace alimentaire ou de produits surgelés - Google Patents

Distributeur automatique, en particulier pour la vente d'emballages de glace alimentaire ou de produits surgelés Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0755032A2
EP0755032A2 EP96111104A EP96111104A EP0755032A2 EP 0755032 A2 EP0755032 A2 EP 0755032A2 EP 96111104 A EP96111104 A EP 96111104A EP 96111104 A EP96111104 A EP 96111104A EP 0755032 A2 EP0755032 A2 EP 0755032A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flaps
supporting
pin
machine according
release position
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP96111104A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0755032B1 (fr
EP0755032A3 (fr
Inventor
Vincenzo Di Rosa
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.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
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 Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP0755032A2 publication Critical patent/EP0755032A2/fr
Publication of EP0755032A3 publication Critical patent/EP0755032A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0755032B1 publication Critical patent/EP0755032B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0064—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for processing of food articles
    • G07F17/0071—Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/06—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other supported individually on pivotally-mounted flaps or shelves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/46—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports
    • G07F11/58—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vending machine, particularly for vending packages of ice-cream or of deep-frozen products in general.
  • Conventional machines for vending packages of ice cream are substantially composed of a thermally-insulated and sealed compartment that is kept at a low temperature (approximately -20 o C), with a door for resupplying the machine and a door for the exit of the vended product. In some types of machine, a same door performs both functions. These machines are furthermore provided with a device that holds the various products and dispenses them when the buyer inserts a token, a coin, or the like, in a coin box that activates the product release device.
  • ice-cream vending machines can be divided mainly into four groups: a first group, which is constituted by machines that operate with rotating chains, to which flaps are rigidly coupled, the ice creams being arranged on said flaps; a second group, which is constituted by machines with a drum that rotates about a horizontal or vertical axis and in which the product to be vended is deposited on circular segments, from which it is removed through a recess; a third group, which includes machines with a rotating spiral, in which the product, deposited in the "turns" of the spiral, is made to advance and allowed to drop at each rotation of the spiral, which is in turn actuated by an electric motor; and a fourth group, which includes machines in which the device for holding and delivering the products is constituted by a plurality of flaps that are pivoted about horizontal axes and are arranged one above the other in a vertical alignment.
  • the flaps can rotate individually substantially through 90 o about the corresponding pivoting axis, so as to pass from a supporting position, in which the corresponding flap is arranged substantially horizontally so as to correctly support the product to be vended, to a release position, in which the flap is arranged substantially vertically so as to let the product drop below by gravity into an appropriately provided compartment that can be accessed by the buyer.
  • the machines of the fourth group are undoubtedly those that have less problems as regards bulk.
  • Machines that belong to the fourth group that is to say, machines in which the device for supporting and releasing the products to be vended is constituted by a plurality of flaps that are individually pivoted about horizontal pivoting axes and are mutually superimposed along a vertical direction, have the drawback that they require relatively long loading times.
  • the aim of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem by providing a vending machine, particularly for packages of ice cream or deep-frozen products in general, that requires a very short time to load it.
  • an object of the invention is to provide a machine in which it is possible to automatically or semiautomatically position the flaps for supporting the products to be vended, so as to make the loading operation particularly quick.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a machine that is structurally simple and can be manufactured with competitive costs.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a vending machine that ensures high reliability in operation.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a machine that offers adequate assurances of safety as regards the correct preservation of the products to be vended.
  • a vending machine particularly for packages of ice cream or of deep-frozen products in general, which comprises a supporting structure and a plurality of flaps that are individually pivoted to said supporting structure about a substantially horizontal pivoting axis, actuation means being provided which act on said flaps for their rotation about the corresponding pivoting axis from a position for supporting the product to be vended to a position for releasing said product, characterized in that it comprises elastic return means that act on said flaps to keep them in said supporting position and in said release position and to make them pass automatically from said release position to said supporting position when they move beyond an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium between said release position and said supporting position.
  • the machine according to the invention comprises a supporting structure 2 and a plurality of flaps 3 that are individually pivoted to the supporting structure about pivoting axes 3a that are substantially horizontal.
  • the supporting structure comprises a front post 4 and a rear post 5 that rise vertically and support the flaps 3 so that they can rotate about their respective pivoting axes 3a.
  • Each flap 3 can rotate individually about the corresponding pivoting axis 3a to pass from a supporting position, in which it is arranged substantially horizontally so as to support the product to be vended, to a release position, in which it is arranged substantially vertically to let the product fall by gravity, and viceversa.
  • Each flap 3 is fixed to a shaft 8 that is supported by the front post 4 and by the rear post 5 so that it can rotate about its own axis, which forms the axis 3a.
  • the rear end 8a of the shaft 8 is crank-shaped.
  • the machine comprises elastic return means that act on the flaps 3 to keep them in the supporting position and in the release position and to produce their automatic passage from the release position to the supporting position, or viceversa, when an intermediate position of unstable equilibrium of the flaps 3, between the release position and the supporting position, is passed.
  • Said elastic means are constituted, for each flap 3, by a spring 9 that connects the crank-shaped end 8a of the shaft 8 to a pin 10 that is fixed to the rear post 5.
  • the spring 9 is stretched between a portion of the corresponding flap 3, constituted by the crank-shaped end 8a of the shaft 8, which is spaced from the pivoting axis 3a of the flap, and the supporting structure. Said spring 9, when the corresponding flap 3 is in the supporting position, is arranged on one side of the plane that passes through the pivoting axis 3a and through the point where the spring 9 is connected to the supporting structure, whereas when the corresponding flap 3 is in the release position, said spring 9 is located on the opposite side with respect to said plane.
  • the spring 9 has the effect of causing the passage of the flap 3 into the supporting position or into the release position as soon as the flap 3 has passed beyond the point of unstable equilibrium that is constituted by the position in which the flap is aligned with the plane that passes through the pivoting axis and through the point where the spring 9 couples to the supporting structure.
  • the various flaps 3 are pivoted to the supporting structure with a portion thereof that is located proximate to one of their perimetric sides, and are mutually spaced so that each one of said flaps 3, in the release position, except of course for the last lower flap, overlaps the underlying flap, and so that each one of the flaps 3, in passing from the release position to the supporting position, acts on the overlying flap 3 until it has passed beyond the point of unstable equilibrium in its oscillation toward the supporting position.
  • the passage of the last lower flap from the release position to the supporting position automatically causes the passage of all the overlying flaps from the release position to the supporting position.
  • the machine comprises actuation means that act on the flaps 3 to cause their rotation about the corresponding pivoting axis 3a from a position for supporting the product 6 to be vended to a position for releasing the product 6.
  • the actuation means that act on the flaps 3 to achieve their passage from the product supporting position to the product release position can also be used to achieve the automatic passage of the flaps from the release position to the supporting position.
  • each flap 3 is provided, proximate to a longitudinal end of the shaft 8, with a lever 12 that is also rigidly coupled to the flap, or to the shaft 8, and has two arms, respectively 12a and 12b, that are mutually angularly spaced about the pivoting axis 3a of the corresponding flap 3.
  • Said actuation means comprise an element 13 that can move on command along a vertical direction and can engage, in each instance, the levers 12 that are connected to the flaps 3 to perform, in combination with the action applied by the springs 9, the passage of the flaps 3 from the supporting position to the release position or viceversa.
  • the element 13 is constituted by a pin that is parallel to the axes 3a and is fixed to a chain 15 that is arranged so that one of its portions, to which the pin 13 is indeed fixed, is vertical proximate to the region of the flaps 3 that is pivoted to the post 4.
  • the chain 15 is stretched between two pinions 16 that have horizontal axes; only the lower pinion is shown, and said pinions are supported so that they can rotate about the respective axes by the front post 4; one of these pinions, the lower pinion in the illustrated case, is connected, by means of a shaft 7, to a drive unit 17, whose actuation causes the upward or downward movement of the portion of the chain 15 to which the pin 13 is connected.
  • the chain 15 is accommodated in the front post 4 and the pin 13 is fixed to a block 31 that protrudes from a vertical slot 18 that is formed on the inner side of the post 4.
  • the arms 12a and 12b of the levers 12 form, respectively, a first abutment 20, which can engage the pin 13 during upward motion and so as to cause the passage of the corresponding flap 3 from the supporting position to the release position, and a second abutment 21, which can be engaged by the pin 13 during downward motion to achieve the passage of the corresponding flap 3 from the release position to the supporting position.
  • the levers 12 of two contiguous flaps can be appropriately mutually offset in a direction that is parallel to the pivoting axis 3a, so as to avoid interferences between said levers during the actuation of the flaps 3 by means of the pin 13.
  • the flaps 3 are appropriately provided, on their upper face, with an abutment 19 that can engage a side of the rear post 5, so as to ensure the correct horizontal position of each flap 3 in the supporting position.
  • the posts 4 and 5 can support, laterally and on mutually opposite sides, two rows of flaps 3 that are arranged one above the other in vertical alignment, as shown in particular in figures 3, 4, 5, and 6.
  • the flaps 3 of one row are vertically offset with respect to the flaps 3 of the other row, and the levers of the flaps of one row are offset with respect to the levers of the flaps of the other row in a direction that is parallel to the axes 3a, to avoid interferences between the levers, as already described.
  • the levers 12 of the flaps of the two rows are arranged proximate to the post 4 in order to be actuated by means of a same pin 13.
  • a same vending machine it is possible to provide a plurality of vertically-stacked rows of flaps, or a plurality of pairs of rows of flaps that are arranged vertically, according to the requirements and according to the capacity of the machine.
  • the row or rows of flaps 3 are arranged inside a compartment 22, which is appropriately refrigerated in the case of machines for vending ice creams or deep-frozen products in general.
  • One or two doors 23 can be provided on one of the sides of the cabinet-like structure 29 that forms the compartment 22, or on two sides; said doors allow access to the compartment 22 to load the machine with the products to be vended.
  • the compartment 22 has an opening 24 that is appropriately closed by a door 25 for unloading the product, which is actuated, in a per se known manner, so as to free the opening 24 when the product is being vended, as will become apparent hereinafter.
  • An opening 26 for taking the vended product is also provided on the front side of the machine.
  • the activation of the drive unit for delivering the vended product is preferably achieved by means of a conventional token- or coin-operated control device 27, whereas its activation during the loading of the products to be vended can be achieved by means of a button or pedal that is located outside the compartment 22, as will become apparent hereinafter.
  • the various products 6 to be vended are arranged on the flaps 3, which are kept in horizontal position by the action applied by the springs 9. In this position, the horizontal arrangement of the flaps 3 is ensured by the engagement of the abutment 19 of the various flaps against the rear post 5.
  • the drive unit 17 When a buyer activates the machine by means of the token- or coin-operated device, the drive unit 17 is activated and moves upward the portion of the chain 15 on which the pin 13 is mounted by an extent that is substantially equal to the distance between two contiguous levers 12. In this manner, the pin 13 engages the abutment 20 of a lever 12, causing the rotation of the corresponding flap 3, which passes from the horizontal supporting position to the vertical release position, allowing a product to drop.
  • the actuation of the drive unit 17 also causes the actuation of the door 25, so that the falling product ends in a product delivery compartment 28 that is located downward and can be picked up easily by the buyer through the opening 26.
  • the pin 13 is below the first abutment 20 of the first lower flap that supports an unvended product 6, or is located at the upper end of the row of flaps if the products 6 have been vended completely.
  • the operator By operating the button located outside the refrigerated compartment, the operator lowers the pin 13, which by engaging in succession the levers of the various flaps arranged below, causes the passage of the flaps from the release position to the supporting position. More particularly, the chain 15, by moving the pin 13 downward, causes said pin 13 to act on the abutments 21 of the levers 12, so that the flaps 3, which are normally kept in vertical position by the springs 9, begin their upward rotation about the corresponding pivoting axis. The pin 13, by continuing to engage the levers 12, causes the flaps 3, by passing beyond the unstable equilibrium position, to rearrange horizontally, thus forming the product supporting rack again. The flaps 3 returned to the supporting position remain horizontal due to the action applied by the springs 9.
  • An electric sensor of a known type not shown for the sake of simplicity, controls the repositioning process, stopping the drive unit 17 when the flaps 3 are all in the supporting position. At this point the operator can open the refrigeration door to load the products.
  • the operations for loading the machine according to the invention can be performed in an automatic stepwise manner instead of automatically and continuously, for example by means of a pedal-operated actuation that activates the drive unit 17, lowering the pin 13 by an extent that corresponds to the distance between two levers 12 of contiguous flaps 3 and then stopping to allow the operator to load, in each instance, the flap 3 that has been returned to the supporting position.
  • the pin 13 is pivoted, about a horizontal axis 33 that lies at right angles to the extension of the pin 13, to the block 31, which is fixed to the chain 15 so that the pin 13 can oscillate upward in contrast with the action applied by a return spring 32 to be moved below the lever 12 of the flap 3 that is arranged at the lower end of the row of flaps, despite the presence of the levers 12 of the flaps 3 that have been returned to the supporting position.
  • the downward oscillation of the pin 13 is prevented by a stop element 34 that is arranged on the block 31 and with which the pin 13 engages when it reaches the horizontal position.
  • the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
EP96111104A 1995-07-21 1996-07-10 Distributeur automatique, en particulier pour la vente d'emballages de glace alimentaire ou de produits surgelés Expired - Lifetime EP0755032B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI951591 1995-07-21
IT95MI001591A IT1275597B1 (it) 1995-07-21 1995-07-21 Macchina per la distribuzione automatica,particolarmente per la distribuzione automatica di confezioni di gelato o di prodotti

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0755032A2 true EP0755032A2 (fr) 1997-01-22
EP0755032A3 EP0755032A3 (fr) 1997-10-01
EP0755032B1 EP0755032B1 (fr) 2000-03-15

Family

ID=11372033

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96111104A Expired - Lifetime EP0755032B1 (fr) 1995-07-21 1996-07-10 Distributeur automatique, en particulier pour la vente d'emballages de glace alimentaire ou de produits surgelés

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0755032B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE190745T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69607080T2 (fr)
DK (1) DK0755032T3 (fr)
ES (1) ES2145955T3 (fr)
IT (1) IT1275597B1 (fr)
PT (1) PT755032E (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0903704A3 (fr) * 1997-09-19 1999-11-10 Isa SpA Colonne de stockage pour distributeur de produits alimentaires
US6929149B2 (en) 2002-06-20 2005-08-16 Royal Vendors, Inc. Frozen product vending machine
WO2017025537A1 (fr) * 2015-08-13 2017-02-16 R. Weiss Verpackungstechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg Unité de distribution de produits de boulangerie

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102014106360B4 (de) 2014-05-07 2022-01-20 R. Weiss Verpackungstechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg Ausgabeeinheit für Backprodukte

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1431437A (en) * 1921-04-28 1922-10-10 Reginald D Raphael Ice-cream-vending machine
US2073698A (en) * 1935-01-12 1937-03-16 E Gloo Corp Vending machine
US2827200A (en) * 1956-10-12 1958-03-18 Eugene J Lux Vending apparatus
US3126123A (en) * 1964-03-24 Machine for vending packaged products
US3767081A (en) * 1972-03-24 1973-10-23 F Wittern Article storing and dispensing device
US3813005A (en) * 1973-07-19 1974-05-28 T Ross Vending machine module
DE2646099A1 (de) * 1976-10-13 1978-04-27 Sielaff Gmbh Co Automaten Fallklappenschacht fuer selbstverkaeufer
EP0585699A1 (fr) * 1992-08-19 1994-03-09 Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. Magasin de produits pour une machine automatique de vente de produits surgelés

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3126123A (en) * 1964-03-24 Machine for vending packaged products
US1431437A (en) * 1921-04-28 1922-10-10 Reginald D Raphael Ice-cream-vending machine
US2073698A (en) * 1935-01-12 1937-03-16 E Gloo Corp Vending machine
US2827200A (en) * 1956-10-12 1958-03-18 Eugene J Lux Vending apparatus
US3767081A (en) * 1972-03-24 1973-10-23 F Wittern Article storing and dispensing device
US3813005A (en) * 1973-07-19 1974-05-28 T Ross Vending machine module
DE2646099A1 (de) * 1976-10-13 1978-04-27 Sielaff Gmbh Co Automaten Fallklappenschacht fuer selbstverkaeufer
EP0585699A1 (fr) * 1992-08-19 1994-03-09 Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. Magasin de produits pour une machine automatique de vente de produits surgelés

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0903704A3 (fr) * 1997-09-19 1999-11-10 Isa SpA Colonne de stockage pour distributeur de produits alimentaires
US6929149B2 (en) 2002-06-20 2005-08-16 Royal Vendors, Inc. Frozen product vending machine
WO2017025537A1 (fr) * 2015-08-13 2017-02-16 R. Weiss Verpackungstechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg Unité de distribution de produits de boulangerie
US10897911B2 (en) 2015-08-13 2021-01-26 R. Weiss Verpackungstechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg Dispensing unit for baked products

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0755032B1 (fr) 2000-03-15
DE69607080T2 (de) 2000-11-02
ITMI951591A0 (it) 1995-07-21
EP0755032A3 (fr) 1997-10-01
DK0755032T3 (da) 2000-08-21
IT1275597B1 (it) 1997-08-06
DE69607080D1 (de) 2000-04-20
ES2145955T3 (es) 2000-07-16
ITMI951591A1 (it) 1997-01-21
PT755032E (pt) 2000-08-31
ATE190745T1 (de) 2000-04-15

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