EP2565853B1

EP2565853B1 - Vending apparatus for dispensing beverages in cups

Info

Publication number: EP2565853B1
Application number: EP12006017.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Zonelli; Marco Zavatti
Original assignee: Bianchi Industry SpA
Current assignee: Bianchi Industry SpA
Priority date: 2011-09-02
Filing date: 2012-08-23
Publication date: 2018-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-23
Also published as: EP2565853A1; ES2694566T3; ITMI20111580A1

Description

The present invention relates to a vending apparatus for dispensing beverages in cups.
Vending machines capable of dispensing various types of beverage into containers having different shapes and dimensions are known.
For example, a typical vending machine for coffee, tea, chocolate, etc. must be able to supply all the beverages, with various additives, such as sugar, milk, etc., and in different cups; for example, small cups for coffee and larger cups for cappuccino, tea, etc.
The need to handle different cups entails a complicated construction of the devices for storing and handling the cups.
The dispensing stations also are complicated due to the need to pour one or more products into cups that can have variable dimensions.
Conventional apparatuses capable of dispensing a plurality of beverages into containers having variable shapes and dimensions are therefore expensive to manufacture and maintain and are more liable to possible malfunctions.
WO90/06885 discloses an apparatus for repetitively dispensing a metered quantity of particulate material into cups. The apparatus comprises a stepwise rotating turntable adapted to receive cups at a plurality of reception positions, on the turntable, and transport the cups around a rotary path. The turntable is a plate provided with three-quarters circular cut-outs. Each cut-out is stepped to hold the cup at its rim bead. The turntable may handle only one type of cup. Cups or other receptacles of different size and shape may not be handled by the same turntable.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a vending apparatus, for dispensing beverages in cups, that is more compact and structurally simpler than conventional machines.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is capable of dispensing a plurality of beverages into cups having different shapes and dimensions, more reliably than conventional systems.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is constituted by a small number of components and is cheaper to manufacture and manage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure which, by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
This aim and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a vending apparatus for dispensing beverages in cups, comprising a cup dispensing means adapted to feed a rotating drum; said rotating drum being movable between at least one position for dispensing a beverage in a cup and at least one pickup position for picking up the cup containing the dispensed beverage; said apparatus being characterized in that said rotating drum comprises at least two seats, respectively a first seat and a second seat, each of said seats being adapted to receive a cup; said drum rotating about its own central axis, driven by motorized means, so as to alternately place each of said seats in at least five positions, which correspond to five operating stations: a resting station; a first dispensing station, in which a cup is inserted in said seat; a second dispensing station, in which a beverage is dispensed in said cup; a third dispensing station, in which an additional dispensing operation for aesthetically finishing the beverage is performed; and a pickup station, in which said cup containing the finished beverage is picked up by the user.
Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vending apparatus for dispensing beverages in cups, according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view, in an enlarged scale with respect to the preceding figure, which shows in detail the region of the drum;
Figure 3 is a perspective view, taken from the opposite side with respect to the preceding figure, of the region of the drum;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus;
Figure 5 is a longitudinally sectional front view of the apparatus;
Figure 6 is another longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the drum;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the front part of the drum;
Figure 9 is a bottom perspective view of the drum.

With reference to the cited figures, the vending apparatus for dispensing beverages in cups, according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, is mounted in a vending machine for dispensing beverages, not shown in the figures, which includes a means for dispensing one or more beverages, also not visible in the figures.
The apparatus 1 has cup dispensing means, for dispensing cups 33, 34, and adapted to supply a rotating drum 22.
The rotating drum 22 has at least two seats for accommodating the cups, respectively a first seat 44 and a second seat 55.
The cup dispensing means comprises a first cup release device 12 and a second cup release device 13, which are adapted to feed the cups 33 and 34 to the rotating drum 22.
Each seat 44 and 55 has a fork 45, which is adapted to accommodate and support a cup 33 or 34.
Each seat 44 and 55 includes a grille 4, which is arranged below the cup, to discharge any leakages of beverages.
Each seat 44 and 55 is provided with means for detecting the presence of a cup, which in the specific case are constituted by a mirror 5 and a reflex reflector 6, which are oriented suitably and are capable of reflecting a beam of light 7 of a photocell 8 in order to detect the presence of the cup 33 or 34 in the pickup station.
The drum 22 rotates about its own axis by means of a system which is constituted by an electric gear motor 9 and gears 10 and 11, so as to arrange a seat in at least five positions, which correspond to five operating stations.
With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, the operating stations include a station 0, termed inactive station, which is detected by means of a magnets 18, which is integral with the drum 22, and a Reed sensor 14.
A first dispensing station 15, in which the following events occur in sequence: discharge of the cup 33 or 34, by means of the cup release devices 12 and 13 and the respective conveyance chutes 16, checking of the descent of the cup, by means of a jammed-cup presence photocell 17, dispensing of sugar and stir-stick, by means of adapted dispensing elements of which Figure 1 shows the stir-stick dispenser 19 and Figure 3 shows the sugar dispenser 37.
In a second dispensing station 20, the beverages, such as coffee and soluble products, are dispensed and are made to descend into the cup 33 or 34 through a nozzle support 21.
A fan 23, by means of tubes 24 and the nozzle support 21, aspirates the vapors produced while pouring into the cup and conveys them outside the system in order to avoid unwanted condensation.
A third dispensing station 25 allows an additional dispensing for the aesthetic finishing of the beverage by means of an auxiliary system and a conveyor 26.
A pickup station 27 is used by the user to pick up the beverage, where the cup is lit by an LED 28.
The drum 22 can be removed without the aid of tools to be cleaned or be replaced for maintenance.
In order to disassemble the drum from the operating position, shown in Figure 2, it is sufficient to pull a locking knob 29 to make the movable support 30 of the drum 22 and the drum itself descend, as shown in Figure 6.
The drum 22 disengages automatically from the traction pins of the gear 11.
The pivot 31 of the drum 22 is then disengaged, lifting the drum itself.
At this point it is possible to manually remove also a liquid collector 32, adapted to collect the liquids that arrive from a drain 35 of a collection tray 36 and any liquids that have passed through the grilles 4.
The tray 36 can be an integral part of the drum 22 or can be a removable separate part.
Any liquids dispersed by the beverage dispensing means converge in the collection tray 36.
The drum 22 is reassembled by performing the disassembly operations in reverse.
In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing an compact apparatus that is capable of distributing several beverages in cups of different sizes.
Contrary to the conventional handling systems, such as the one disclosed by WO90/06885 , the drum 22 of the present invention can handle cups and other receptacles of different sizes and shapes, because the seats 44 and 55 can accommodate any object. Jamming is very unlikely and the present apparatus ensures a reliable operation.
The apparatus according to the invention is also constituted by a reduced number of components.

Claims

A vending apparatus for dispensing beverages in cups, comprising a cup dispensing means adapted to feed a rotating drum (22); said rotating drum (22) being movable between at least one position for dispensing a beverage in a cup (33, 34) and at least one pickup position for picking up the cup (33, 34) containing the dispensed beverage; said rotating drum (22) comprising at least two seats (44, 55), respectively a first seat (44) and a second seat (55), each of said seats being adapted to receive a cup; said drum (22) rotating about its own central axis, driven by motorized means (9, 10, 11), so as to alternately place each of said seats (44, 55) in at least five positions, which correspond to five operating stations: a resting station (0); a first dispensing station (15), in which a cup (33, 34) is inserted in said seat (44, 55); a second dispensing station (20), in which a beverage is dispensed in said cup (33, 34); a third dispensing station (25), in which an additional dispensing operation for aesthetically finishing the beverage is performed; and a pickup station (27), in which said cup (33, 34) containing the finished beverage is picked up by the user; said apparatus being characterized in that it comprises means for removing said drum (22) from said apparatus without the aid of tools, said means comprising a locking knob (29) which can be actuated in order to cause the descent of a movable support (30) on which said drum (22) is fitted, in order to disengage a pivot (31) of the drum (22) from a gear (11) of said motorized means (9, 10, 11) that is integral with said apparatus.
The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each seat (44, 55) comprises a grille (4), which is arranged below the cup (33, 34), to discharge any leakage of beverages; said drum (22) further comprising a liquid collector (32), which collects the liquids that arrive from a discharge (35) of a collecting tray (36) provided in said drum (22), and any liquids that have passed through said grille (4); any liquids lost by the beverage dispensing means gather in said collecting tray (36).
The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said seats (44, 55) comprises a means (5, 6, 7, 8) for detecting the presence of a cup (33, 34).
The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said means for detecting the presence of a cup (33, 34) comprises a mirror (5) and a reflex reflector (6), which are oriented so as to reflect a beam of light (7) of a photocell (8), in order to detect the presence of a cup (33, 34) at least when said seat (44, 55) is in said pickup station (27).
The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drum (22) rotates about its own axis by means of a system constituted by an electric gear motor (9) and gears (10, 11), so as to arrange one of said seats (44, 55) in said five functional stations (0, 15, 20, 25, 27); the position of said drum (22) with respect to said stations (0, 15, 20, 25, 27) being detected by means of a magnet (18) which is integral with the drum (22) and cooperates with fixed sensors (14).
The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the following events occur in sequence in said first dispensing station (15) insertion of a cup (33, 34) in said seat (44, 55), checking of the descent of said cup (33, 34) by means of a cup presence sensor (17), and optional dispensing of sugar and stir-stick; in said second dispensing station (20), beverages, such as coffee and soluble products, are dispensed and are made to converge into said cup (33, 34) through a nozzle support (21); in said third dispensing station (25), an additional dispensing for aesthetically finishing the beverage is performed by means of an auxiliary system and a conveyor (26); in said pickup station (27) the user picks up said beverage, said pickup station comprising a lighting device (28).
The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a fan (23) that, by means of pipes (24) and said nozzle support (21), aspirates the vapors produced during the step of dispensing into the cup (33, 34), in said second dispensing station (20), said vapors being conveyed outside.