EP2221783A1 - Vending machine with removal component in the cooling area and supply storage space - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a shelf (1) with multiple vertical rows of shelf compartments. The shelf is constructed from multiple rows of shelf levels. Each shelf level is constructed from four shelf compartments oriented parallel to each other. A structural arrangement of the parallel shelf compartments is formed in such a manner that four lines laid through a central axis of the shelf compartments do not cut a vertical axis (1.1) of the shelf, where different rotation angles of a column part, a withdrawal unit and the shelf are required for the withdrawal of food portions from the shelf compartments.

Description

The invention relates to a vending machine having a refrigerated area for the storage of chilled or frozen food.

The EP 157245 A2 and the DE 34 12 900 A1 show a vending machine of this kind. In a refrigerated area a carousel-like rotatable shelf with many superimposed compartments is constructed. In a neighboring, separated from the cooled area by a vertical roller slide area a rotatable removal unit is arranged, which consists of a rotatable about a vertical axis, vertical column part and a vertically movable thereon extraction unit, wherein the removal unit includes a horizontally movable receiving surface. To remove parts from the rotatable shelf, the corresponding tray is rotated to the roller shutter, pushed an opening portion of the roller valve to the appropriate height and opened, driven the extraction unit in the appropriate height and turned appropriately and removed the part. Although the extraction unit is not arranged in the cooling area, while the volume of the cooling unit can be kept small, it requires a high roller shutter, through which nevertheless a lot of heat exchange takes place. By can be removed from the storage rack only when the receiving surface of the extraction unit moves exactly radially on the axis of rotation of the storage rack, the storage rack can be equipped only with low surface density.

The EP 1107199 B1 shows a machine in which pizzas, together with their packaging deep-frozen in a wide, flat shelf above the other and can be stored next to each other. The pizzas are removed from one side of the shelf, which is stationary during operation, by a removal device which can be moved in two dimensions and which contains a receiving fork which can be moved into the third dimension. For the purpose of filling the shelf as a whole with the open cooling chamber from this extendable and then rotatable about a vertical axis. The arrangement is simple and clear and easy to fill. The fact that the shelf for the filling process is extended from the cooled area, disturbing heat flow takes place in the cooling area. Based on the volume of the material to be cooled in it, the cooling chamber must be disadvantageously large.

According to the EP 1119831 containers are stored with food in a machine in several, arranged side by side on a carousel stacks in which the individual containers in a vertical arrangement directly abut each other. The bottom surface of the carousel may be rotated relative to the stacks so that a surface having a closable opening can be rotated under a selected stack. Through the closable opening then the lowest container of the selected stack can be removed. With the storage system, an acceptable space utilization is possible. However, the storage system is only applicable to goods that can be stacked directly on top of each other and only as many different goods can be offered as stacks can be arranged.

The JP 2052808 A shows a storage system, wherein goods are arranged on a pivotable about a vertical axis shelf. For removal, a rotatable removal unit is arranged in the vicinity thereof, which consists of a vertical column part which can be rotated about a vertical axis and a removal unit which can be moved vertically thereon and which comprises a horizontally movable receiving surface. To remove goods from a shelf shelf and removal unit are rotated to each other so that the direction of movement of the receiving surface is aligned with the removal direction of the respective shelf. Unlike, for example, the one described above EP 157245 A2 while the removal direction of the shelf does not necessarily have to lie radially to the pivot axis of the shelf. This allows a greater packing density of the shelf. Although the JP 2052808 A already published in 1990 has not yet been proposed to use the system in vending machines.

The JP 4292312 A shows a storage system, wherein goods are arranged on a plurality of vertical axis pivoting shelves. For removal a rotatable removal unit is arranged between such shelves, which consists of a rotatable about a vertical axis, vertical column part and a vertically movable thereon removal unit, which comprises a horizontally movable receiving surface consists. For removal of goods from a shelf shelf and removal unit are rotated to each other so that the direction of movement of the receiving surface of the removal unit is aligned with the removal direction of the respective shelf. However, only arrangements are shown in which the removal direction from the respective shelf is arranged exactly radially to the axis of rotation of the respective shelf. Thus, the volume in which the shelf is located, poorly utilized. For vending machines, this combination of several, each pivoting about a vertical axis shelves and arranged therebetween, a plurality of shelves serving, also pivotable about a vertical axis extraction unit has not been proposed, although the JP 4292312 A already published in 1991.

In the WO 2004075125 A1 A food vending machine is proposed which, in addition to a freezer area for goods, includes one or more microwave ovens. The product is frozen, given by the customer himself in a microwave oven and heated by the microwave oven, the appropriate heating program is called automatically that in the microwave oven only a barcode is read on the packaging, which contains identifying information and then the corresponding Heating program is started.

The object underlying the invention is to improve existing storage systems for chilled or frozen food portions in a vending machine under strict consideration of economic efficiency to the effect that both a high packing density can be achieved in the warehouse, as well as a wide variety of different goods stored and can be removed freely selectable, as well as a good thermal insulation of the cooled area should be possible, so a rapid filling of the bearing should be possible.

To solve the problem is proposed to accommodate a shelf in the refrigerator or freezer area of the vending machine, which is rotatable as a whole about a vertical axis, wherein the individual food portions to be stored are arranged in a respective shelf, the individual shelves in several vertical rows one above the other are arranged and a plurality of such rows are arranged side by side. For the removal of food portions from the individual shelves a rotatable about a vertical axis so-called removal assembly is provided, which consists of a vertically arranged column and a movable thereon in the vertical direction. Removal unit. The removal unit has a mechanically movable in a horizontal direction bearing surface, which drive under appropriate orientation of shelf and removal unit, the goods in a shelf, lift and move from the shelf. According to the invention, it is proposed to accommodate not only the shelf but also the removal assembly in the refrigerator or freezer. It is also proposed to arrange the shelves so that the removal directions are aligned parallel to each other in two or more rows of vertically stacked shelves, wherein in at least one row of vertically stacked shelves the lines along which can be removed from the subjects to the lead the shelf over, so do not cut them.

By using a rotatable shelf and the described individual removal assembly for all shelves, costs can be saved over a design in which a separate conveyor unit is used for each individual shelf. Compared to an arrangement in which the individual food portions are stacked directly on each other, a higher variety of products can be offered, since not only for rows individual goods can be assigned, but for all individual shelves.

By also the removal assembly is placed in the refrigerator or freezer, compared to a design in which this must access from outside to the individual shelves, with a smaller closable opening in the refrigerator or freezer area Auslangen be found, which for reasons of heat flow is advantageous.

By arranging the extraction directions of the individual vertical rows of shelves in the described manner parallel to each other, a high packing density can be achieved in the shelf, which is advantageous in terms of the total space requirement and the heat flow.

By the shelf is already rotatable in the refrigerator or freezer area, and by a plurality of rows of shelves is accessible at a rotational position, it is not only comfortable but also very quickly filled. By the shelf during the filling process remains in the refrigerator or freezer, takes place during the filling less heat exchange with the warmer environment than in a construction in which the shelf for filling extra is extended.

Fig. 1:

zeigt in Seitenansicht ein erfindungsgemäß im Kühlbereich angeordnetes Regal einschließlich Entnahmebaugruppe.

Fig. 2:

zeigt ein erfindungsgemäß im Kühlbereich angeordnetes Regal einschließlich Entnahmebaugruppe in Ansicht von oben.

Advantageous details and further developments are explained with reference to simplified drawings for an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1:

shows a side view of an inventively arranged in the cooling area shelf including removal assembly.

Fig. 2:

shows an inventively arranged in the cooling area shelf including removal assembly in top view.

The shelf 1 is, driven by a motor 1.4, pivotable about a vertical axis 1.1. It consists of a, a vertical plane defining frame 1.2 and attached thereto L-profiles 1.3, which are aligned horizontally, normally and symmetrically to said frame level. The mutually facing horizontally lying profile legs of two adjacent L-profiles 1.3 form the bearing surface for the resting on a carrier plate, such as typically a rectangular piece of cardboard, to be stored Good. At each such pair of L-profiles 1.3 two carrier plates can be arranged one behind the other. In the illustrated example, therefore, eight shelves are on one level next to each other and thirty-one such levels one above the other, so that 248 shelves are available for just as many food portions.

Compared to a shelf in which the bearing surfaces in the individual compartments are continuous surfaces is the shelf described here, in which the support surfaces are only two narrow strips with intervening void, advantageous because it can pollute much less, is faster to clean , and easier to maneuver during filling and removal. Dirt hardly remains in individual shelves back, but always falls completely down on the surface under the shelf.

The removal assembly consists of a pivotable about a vertical axis 2.1 column part 2 and a movable vertically in the vertical direction removal unit 3. With the rotation of the column part 2 about its vertical axis of rotation 2.1, which is driven by the motor 2.4, the removal unit 3 to rotated the rotation axis 2.1.

There are several variants for the interaction of rotating shelf 1 and removal assembly:

The required rotation of the shelf 1 and the removal assembly can each be driven by a separate motor.

But it is also possible to connect the shelf 1 and column part 2 of the removal assembly, for example by means of a toothed belt and gears so that they must forcibly always rotate the same and you need to drive only a single engine. So that shelf 1 and removal assembly could still be built very close to each other and access to the removal unit 3 from opposite sides on the shelf is possible, you can save at a certain shelf height located on the edge shelves, so at least at this level shelf and removal unit at weiter Do not collide rotation. Furthermore, it is then necessary that the removal unit from two opposite sides, must be able to remove goods.

At an L-profile of the shelf 1 1.3 two shelves are arranged one behind the other. It can be provided that each of the two shelf spaces can be approached from the respective closer end of the L-profile ago by the removal unit, whereby maximum flexibility is achieved, or it can provide that is approached only from one end of an L-profile ago, and then the rear shelf is approached only when the front shelf space is empty. In the second variant, with a much smaller required pivoting range of the shelf, you can endure and build with better volume utilization. However, flexibility is lost in terms of accessibility to the rear shelf space.

Essential longitudinal parts of the column part 2 are a toothed belt axis 2.2 and an energy chain 2.3. In the longitudinal direction of the toothed belt axis 2.2, ie in the vertical direction, the removal unit 3 is movably guided. This vertical movement is driven by the motor 2.5.

On the base frame 3.1 of the removal unit 3, a receiving surface 3.2 driven in a horizontal direction 3.4 is guided. The drive can in turn be done by a - not shown - engine. Power supply and data lines are routed from the fixed ground via the energy chain 2.3 to the extraction unit.

To remove the goods from a shelf, the removal unit moves to the height of this shelf and on the axes 1.1 and 2.1, the shelf and the extraction unit are rotated so that the removal direction 1.5 from the shelf, which runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the L-profiles 1.3 and the direction of movement 3.4 of the receiving surface 3.2 parallel and on the same line. The receiving surface 3.2 is extended by the removal unit so that it passes under the goods to be taken in the shelf. Then the receiving surface 3.2 is slightly raised, so that the good comes to rest on her. Then the receiving surface is withdrawn with the lying on her, removed from the shelf Good again in the extraction unit. The upward movement of the receiving surface 3.2 may be a guided in the extraction unit 3 movement or carried out by an upward movement of the entire extraction unit. Finally, the extraction unit moves to that altitude at which the discharge opening from the cooling or freezing chamber is located, rotates in the appropriate angular position to meet the discharge opening and gives the entrained Good through this opening to the outside.

In order for the material removed from the shelves to lie correctly on the removal unit, it is equipped with lateral guide walls 3.3.

If the removal assembly would not pivot, shelves could only be arranged radially aligned with the pivot axis 1.1 of the shelf, so that the shelf could be occupied only with much lower density.

In the storage system can be accessed in any order and regardless of how other shelves are occupied, the individual shelf spaces. This can theoretically be done on everyone Place a different good be arranged and you can at any time select each of these different goods for removal.

It is advisable to arrange a code reader, typically a bar code reader, on the removal unit and to provide a code on the support plates for the goods to be stored, which identifies the respective good. After filling the shelf - which is done by a side wall to be opened - then passes in a Initialisierungsdurchgang the sampling device all shelf positions and reads the respective identification codes in a data storage. Afterwards, after a product has been selected by a customer, it can be fed directly to the relevant shelf without further search.

Due to the achievable with the storage system low heat flow in the cooled area, the storage system is particularly advantageous for vending machines for refrigerated or frozen goods to be stored applicable. The larger the temperature difference to the ambient temperature has to be, the more the storage system is advantageous. Therefore, compared to other storage systems, the greatest advantages are achieved when goods are to be stored frozen and then heated in an adjacent heat area, typically baked.

The most important applications are therefore the frozen ready and hot spending of baked goods. The most important application of this is the sale of pizzas.

Due to the geometric conditions, it is recommended to spend not circular pizzas or other baked goods, but goods with a rectangular base.

Claims (6)

Vending machine for food portions, which are stored in a refrigerator or freezer area of the machine in shelves of a vertical axis pivoting shelf having a plurality of vertical rows of stacked shelves, wherein the food portions are removable from the shelves by a removal assembly, the Removal assembly consists of a rotatable about a vertical axis column and a vertically displaceably guided removal unit, wherein the removal unit has a horizontally extendable support surface, the extension direction of the support surface on removal of a good from a shelf with the removal direction of the shelf aligned on the same line to bring is, characterized in that
in addition to the shelf (1) and the removal assembly (2, 3) is arranged in the refrigerator or freezer area of the vending machine and the shelf (1) is composed of two or more rows of shelf levels, wherein a shelf level in turn from at least four parallel aligned Shelves is constructed and the structural arrangement of these parallel shelves is designed such that at least four of the lines laid through the central axis of the shelves do not intersect the axis of rotation (1.1) of the shelf (1), wherein for the removal of the food portions of the shelves different rotation angle of Take-off assembly (2, 3) and different angles of rotation of the shelf (1) are necessary. Vending machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that a reading device for a code assigned to the item to be removed is carried along at the removal unit (3). Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that food is stored deep-frozen therein. Vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that it contains an area for baking food in addition to the freezing area. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is intended for the sale of food portions, which have a rectangular base. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is intended for the sale of pizza pieces.

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