Classifications

• • 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
  • G07F11/045—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 for sheet shaped or pliable articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
  • B65H2402/30—Supports; Subassemblies; Mountings thereof

Definitions

• the invention relates to the technical sector of product dispensing devices in general, and in particular in their applications to newspapers and other magazines of the same type.
• the aim sought after according to the invention was to design an automatic newspaper dispenser device which is simple to operate, has a low cost price and which allows easy loading.
• the automatic newspaper dispenser according to the invention satisfactorily meets these different criteria and needs.
• the automatic vending machine for newspapers and similar magazines is remarkable in that it comprises:
• a chassis having a protective casing which is arranged with a horizontal window for the passage and exit of newspapers • inside the chassis, a platform for receiving a stack of newspapers guided in vertical position by means and mounted in elastic suspension on means allowing its positioning and its contact against an upper platform for extracting newspapers one by one; • said extraction platform being arranged with means allowing temporary support on the stack of newspapers, said means being associated with means allowing extraction of the upper newspaper towards an exit window of the casing of the device • said means being mounted with a flexible clearance capacity with respect to said platform as a function of the volume of the stack of newspapers.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a newspaper dispenser exploded view and before mounting of its various components
• Figure 2 is a perspective view, schematic, of the dispensing apparatus
• Figure 3 is a side view of the dispensing apparatus according to Figure 2, the housing being removed;
• Figure 4 is a plan view in section along line 4-4 of Figure 3, the housing not being shown;
• Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating the picking phase of a newspaper
• Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating the phase of movement of the newspaper picking device for its orientation towards the dispensing window of the device
• Figure 7 is a view of the dispensing apparatus in the rest position.
• Figure 8 is a front view schematically illustrating an alternative embodiment of the mounting of the platform.
• Figure 9 is a bottom view corresponding to Figure 8.
• Figure 10 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the platform braking device.
• Figure 11 is a bottom view corresponding to Figure 10 ..
• Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the newspaper ejection device.
• Figure 13 is a front view corresponding to Figure 12.
• Figure 14 is a bottom view of the ejection carriage according to Figures 12 and 13.
• Figures 15, 16, 17 respectively illustrate the position at rest, the position of start of ejection of the last log with blocking of the penultimate, and the position of complete ejection of the last log.
• the automatic newspaper vending machine is referenced as a whole by (D). It comprises a chassis (1) defining a parallelepiped configuration and receiving an outer and protective casing forming a casing (2). This has, on one side, a door (2a) allowing access to the interior of the chassis for loading a stack of newspapers (J) or similar products. In its upper and front part, the casing has a horizontal window (2b), of great length, allowing the passage and the exit of the newspapers (J), in view of their user levy. Said window can alternatively be established on the door.
• the dispensing device comprises, in its volume, a platform (4) for receiving the stack of newspapers (J).
• This platform (4) has a parallelepiped configuration with a dimension corresponding to the surface of the newspaper in the unfolded position or, preferably, in the folded position ready for sale.
• This platform (4) is of suitable height to receive a stack of newspapers sufficient to allow a certain autonomy of the dispensing device.
• Said platform (4) has a front face (4a) open to facilitate its loading and is located opposite the door (2a) of the casing.
• Said newspaper receiving platform (4) can be moved vertically, from bottom to top, in order to allow the positioning of the upper newspaper towards an extraction device (5) having the function of picking up the newspapers one by one. , then evacuate them through the window forming the letterbox of said casing.
• the platform (4) receiving newspapers is mounted vertically guided on columns (6).
• Said platform (4) has, for this purpose, several lateral guide plates (4b) established in the extension of its lateral sides (4c) of the platform, and arranged with openings (4d) for the passage of said columns guide.
• Said guide columns (6) are preferably arranged near the rear of the platform (4), and are fixed, in any suitable manner, relative to the frame (1) of the dispensing device in point high and low point.
• the parallel side plates (4b) contribute to the maintenance of the platform. In addition, this is compensated by its weight, as well as the load resulting from the stack of newspapers, using damping means (7) constituted by four return springs positioned around several centering columns (8).
• the platform (4) for receiving newspapers is mounted in elastic suspension on the centering columns (8), against the abovementioned return means.
• the centering columns (8) are also arranged vertical with respect to the legs (4b) arranged laterally on the platform and arranged with appropriate openings (4e), and means of connection and fixing. These centering columns (8) are also fixed relative to the chassis in high point and low point.
• said springs (7) are subjected to a compression effect. They tend, by elastic relaxation effect, to raise the receiving platform from the stack of newspapers towards the extractor device.
• the platform (4) is mounted in elastic support on a helical spring (21) which itself takes support in the lower part of the casing on a plate (22), and the upper coil is arranged under the platform (4).
• articulated systems (23) including three assemblies allowing the raising or lowering of the platform as required. More specifically, the articulated systems (23) are of the deformable parallelogram type (23a) having upper (23a 1) and lower (23 a2) fixed points secured to the platform and the chassis, and having upper mobile points (23a3) and lower (23a4) sliding along slides (24) provided for this purpose.
• the receiving platform (4) for newspapers is controlled in position by a braking means (9) which acts in certain operating phases of the dispenser.
• This braking means is constituted in a first implementation by a cable brake.
• a pin (4f) is arranged from one of the lateral faces of the platform (4), in a substantially horizontal plane.
• This journal receives on winding part of the cable brake (9a) of which a lower end (9b) is fixed to the base of the chassis, and the other end (9c) is associated with a connecting spring (10) fixed to the upper part of the device chassis.
• An actuator device (11) makes it possible to act on the unwinding of the cable brake (9a) in one direction or another, to ensure the braking or non-braking function.
• the latter is arranged in accordance with FIGS. 10 and 11.
• the latter comprises a cable (25) defined with two strands (25a-25b) and passing through a pulley (26) integral with the face bottom of the platform (4).
• One of the strands (25a) is secured at the end to an operating handle (27) which is mounted apparent on the front face of the casing of the device.
• the other end (25b) of the cable is mounted on a reel (28) fixed on the plate (22).
• This cable reel is rotatably mounted at the end (29a) of an arm (29) articulated on the plate (22) and pivotally mounted relative to a fixed jaw (30) also integral with the underside of said plate.
• the fixed jaw (30) of semi-circular configuration can come into contact with the reel in certain operating phases.
• the other end (29b) of the arm (29) is associated with a pneumatic or electromechanical actuator (31), which in the event of stress ensures the tilting of the arm and thus the braking or not of the reel.
• the platform In the low position the platform is mechanically locked by an appropriate means and simultaneously the reel is actuated to wind the cable.
• the platform is unlocked, said means being deactivated.
• the platform is urged upwards by the rebound effect of the spring (21) and braked by the jaw. The stress on the actuator releases the brake and therefore the platform.
• the upper part of the platform (4) for receiving newspapers is arranged opposite a device (5) for extracting them.
• the upper part of the chassis is arranged to receive an extraction platform (12) which is fixed to the chassis by any suitable means.
• This extraction platform (12) has a U-shaped configuration, with a first horizontal wing (12a) of great length, integral with the upper plane of the chassis, a bottom wing (12b) arranged vertically and a lower wing (12c ) of short length forming a flap.
• the latter wing (12c) is capable of authorizing the fixing of a profiled frame (13) using any suitable connection means.
• This frame (13), of closed configuration, has a first side (13a) fixed to said wing (12c), thus having, by this single connection, an elastic displacement capacity.
• Spring spacers (14) provide the flexible connection between the frame (13) and the small wing (12c) of the extraction platform.
• An actuator (20) connects the free end of the frame with the upper end of the wing (12a) of the extraction platform. This actuator (20) has a function of lifting the frame using its flexible attachment.
• This frame (13) has a central opening (13b). Its peripheral periphery (13c) is likely to partially constitute a raceway.
• This frame (13) is arranged to allow the articulated fixing of a rod (15) of great length fixed at one end (15a) on the zone of connection with the extraction platform (12), while the other end (15b) of the connecting rod is arranged with rolling means (16) which are capable of moving on the rolling path (13c) established on the frame.
• the connecting rod receives a support (17) of suction cup (18) oriented downwards and allowing the gripping of the newspapers one by one. This gripping is carried out near the folding area when the newspaper is in the folded position on the platform.
• the suction cup (18) is associated with an actuating device (21) making it possible to perform the vacuum extraction or non-extraction functions.
• Said connecting rod (15) is articulated in rotation, in a horizontal plane, in a sweeping movement which makes it possible to position it opposite the central part of the journal for sampling, then by rotary angular displacement by orienting the journal entered towards the window ( 2b) of distribution.
• the gripping device (5) can include one or more suction cups (18) arranged along the connecting rod, to ensure appropriate removal of the newspaper.
• the movement of the connecting rod is established by means of an actuator (19) produced in any suitable manner and which allows the horizontal scanning movement of said connecting rod.
• FIG. 12 to 17 An alternative embodiment of the log ejection device is shown in Figures 12 to 17.
• the gripping system by suction cup is replaced by a motorized roller drive device.
• the extraction platform (12) is capable of receiving flexible movement through the spacer (14) a support (32) of carriage (32a) arranged to receive a couple of driving wheels (33) associated with the shaft (34) and geared motor group (35) constituting the driving drive axle on the one hand and a idler wheel (36) associated with an accompanying axle (37).
• said trolley (32a) with three wheels allows to suit suitably the top of the stack of newspapers whatever the deformations thereof.
• a freewheel system (38) is incorporated in one of the drive wheels mounted on the drive axle which enables the newspapers to be extracted by scrolling when the gearmotor is loaded, and the associated drive wheel is disengaged. coasting when the user pulls the newspaper.
• the gearmotor is controlled at the time of order by collecting a journal.
• the device for extracting a newspaper by motorized carriage can be arranged with complementary means (39) for retaining the newspaper underlying the one taken.
• said complementary means (39) includes a swan neck support (40b) which is associated with the carriage (32a) and oriented on the side of the drive wheels.
• the swan neck support is capable of receiving an electromagnet (40b) including a shoe (40a) movable upwards.
• the automatic operation of the newspaper dispensing apparatus can be carried out in various possible ways, either with the aid of a coin mechanism or with the aid of a push-button device in the case of free distribution.
• the log receiving platform In the rest position illustrated in FIG. 7, the log receiving platform is in a position such that the frame (13) of the extraction platform is in contact with the upper log of the stack.
• the extraction device In the event of distribution of a newspaper, the extraction device is supplied with power.
• the suction cup or suction cups arranged on the connecting rod are actuated with a vacuum effect and thus allow entry of the journal at one or more points.
• the next movement consists in moving the connecting rod (15) in a horizontal scanning movement under the control effect of the actuator (19). By this movement, the newspaper is presented towards the device's distribution window. At this time, the suction cup (s) are deactivated and the newspaper released for collection by the customer.
• the next phase consists in removing the connecting rod (15) and the suction cup (s) associated.
• the actuator (20) is released allowing the repositioning of the frame on the stack of newspapers.
• the raising of the log receiving platform is carried out if necessary by an action on the brake cable allowing the log receiving platform to be leveled.
• the filling of the newspaper dispenser is as follows:
• the extraction of the logs is carried out using the motorized carriage which is actuated under the conditions mentioned above.
• the newspaper receiving platform (4) can optionally be arranged with variable side and bottom walls in position to adapt to all formats of newspapers or similar products.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Packaging Of Special Articles (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9543717

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1999
  • 1999-03-24 FR FR9903848A patent/FR2791334B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2000
  • 2000-03-23 WO PCT/FR2000/000737 patent/WO2000057371A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-03-23 EP EP00914244A patent/EP1163648A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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