EP2568453B1 - Product compartment, extraction device, vending machine and method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a goods compartment for or in a vending machine. The invention further relates to a removal device, such a vending machine and a method for operating the vending machine. Vending machines, which are often referred to in the relevant literature as a self-seller, can be formed in a variety of different applications, such as vending machines, confectionery machines and the like. Although applicable in principle to any vending machine, the present invention and the problem underlying it will be explained below with reference to vending machines for dispensing cylindrical products, in particular bottles.

Vending machines have in the interior goods receiving devices for receiving the goods. These goods receiving devices are designed differently depending on how the individual goods are stored within the vending machine. Whereas in the past the various goods were usually arranged in shafts, one above the other in the interior and were not visible from the outside due to a mostly opaque front door, the goods should be readily visible from the outside in modern vending machines. Modern vending machines have glass doors on a large area over the one potential buyer the product should be presented.

In such modern vending machines, the goods are usually stored in goods oriented to the windshield goods compartments, the goods compartments are typically arranged side by side and / or one above the other. The goods standing or hanging in the goods compartments are thus visible on the transparent front screen for a potential buyer, which has proven advantageous for technical reasons. Thus, the alleged buyer can directly, so without obstructions, recognize which product he actually buys.

For a removal of the goods in the respective compartment consecutively arranged goods they are transported in the direction of a discharge area, for example via a slide, a conveyor spiral or a conveyor belt. The foremost commodity product then falls in the output area of the goods compartment into a removal compartment of a specially provided removal device. Subsequently, the movement of the slider or the conveyor belt is stopped and locks the goods compartment front side again.

For this purpose, a goods compartment has a drive device, for example a sensor-controlled stepper motor. By means of the stepping motor, the conveyor belt or the slider can be moved in a transport direction, wherein for this purpose typically gears, deflection devices, belts and the like can be used. In known solutions had to for every department be provided a separate drive, which is technically complex and therefore expensive. In addition, this is due to the large number of drives used also relatively error-prone. If one of these drives fails, then to a certain extent the functioning of the entire vending machine is no longer guaranteed, since goods can no longer be removed from this merchandise compartment.

While in previous vending machines a product taken from such a vending machine has fallen down in a provided for all goods compartments, general goods output tray and could be removed from there, this is avoided in modern vending machines. In particular, in the case of the upper goods compartments, a commodity falls comparatively very deep into the typically arranged near the bottom of the goods output tray. With the falling out of the goods from a great height is sometimes accompanied damage to this product, especially in goods products with a thin, less stable or fragile housing or with a flexible packaging.

In order to avoid this, modern vending machines have a removal device provided specifically for the removal of a requested goods product, which is freely movable along the front side of the various goods compartments in the x / y direction and thus, in the case of a goods request, a respective goods compartment containing the requested goods , can approach specifically. The requested product is now taken directly from this removal device, the requested goods only a small amount falls into the compartment of the removal device and not more or less over the entire Height of the vending machine. This removal device conveys the removed goods after completion of the removal process to a specially provided goods output tray of the vending machine, which is typically located at waist height, so that the seller can conveniently remove the requested goods without having to bend down.

The US 2007/0017928 A1 describes a vending machine with a removal device.

The problem with this form of removal, however, is the direct removal process in which a product located in the goods compartment, when it is conveyed over the conveyor belt or the slider in the direction of removal device, tilts at the front edge of the goods compartment quasi with its upper portion forward, while The bottom portion of this product initially still stands on the bottom of the goods compartment. This removal process leads in conventional vending machines with movable in x / y direction removal devices sometimes to incidents, especially if bulky, wide or large goods to be removed, which thus there is a risk that they fall out of the goods compartment not in the space provided Removal compartment of the removal device falls. This usually leads to a malfunction of this removal device and thus to a malfunction of the entire vending machine.

This is a condition that, understandably, should be avoided.

Against this background, the present invention, the object of a simple and in particular To ensure trouble-free removal process at a vending machine.

This object is achieved by a goods compartment with the features of claim 1 and / or by a removal device with the features of claim 12 and / or by a vending machine with the features of claim 13 and / or by a method having the features of claim 15 ,

• Ein Warenfach in oder für einen Verkaufsautomaten, mit einem Ausgabebereich zum Ausgeben eines angeforderten Warenproduktes, mit einer Transporteinrichtung, welche dazu ausgelegt ist, das auf einem Bodenabschnitt des Warenfachs angeordnete, angeforderte Warenprodukt mit einer ersten Transportgeschwindigkeit in Richtung des Ausgabebereiches zu befördern, und mit einer Ausgabeeinrichtung, welche unmittelbar in dem Ausgabebereich angeordnet ist und welche zumindest einen Federabschnitt aufweist, wobei die Ausgabeeinrichtung einen Kontaktabschnitt aufweist, der dazu ausgelegt ist einen unteren Bereich des Warenproduktes zu kontaktieren, und einen Stützabschnitt aufweist, der dazu ausgelegt ist einen oberen Bereich des Warenproduktes zu kontaktieren, und
  wobei die Ausgabeeinrichtung dazu ausgelegt ist, durch das mit der ersten Transportgeschwindigkeit beförderte angeforderte Warenprodukt vorgespannt zu werden und bei Erreichen einer vorbestimmten Ausgabekraft das angeforderte Warenprodukt im unteren Bereich zu beschleunigen und mit einer zweiten Transportgeschwindigkeit aus dem Ausgabebereich zu befördern.
• Eine Entnahmeeinrichtung zur Entnahme eines Warenproduktes aus einem derartigen Warenfach, mit einem zumindest nach oben hin offenes Gehäuse, durch das ein Entnahmefach definiert ist, mit einem Antrieb, mit einer von dem Antrieb angetriebenen Kopplungseinrichtung, die dazu ausgelegt ist, bei einer Entnahme eines Warenproduktes aus einem Warenfach eine Antriebsankoppeleinrichtung des Warenfaches anzutreiben.
• Ein Verkaufsautomat, mit einem Gehäuse, das eine verschließbare Tür zum Befüllen des Verkaufsautomaten aufweist, mit einem Innenraum, mit einer Vielzahl von derartigen Warenfächern, die in dem Innenraum nebeneinander und/oder übereinander angeordnet sind.
• Ein Verfahren zum Betreiben eines derartigen Verkaufsautomaten, bei dem die Warenprodukte in einem Warenfach hintereinander angeordnet sind und bei dem auf eine Warenausgabeanforderung hin ein angefordertes Warenprodukt mit zwei unterschiedlichen Transportgeschwindigkeiten in Richtung eines Ausgabebereichs des Warenfaches transportiert wird.

Accordingly, it is provided:

• A goods compartment in or for a vending machine, having a dispensing area for dispensing a requested goods product, having a transport device which is designed to convey the requested goods product arranged on a bottom section of the goods compartment at a first transport speed in the direction of the dispensing area, and having a dispenser A dispenser disposed directly in the dispensing area and having at least one spring portion, the dispenser having a contact portion adapted to contact a lower portion of the merchandise and having a support portion adapted to an upper portion of the merchandise contact, and
  wherein the output device is adapted to be biased by the requested commodity product conveyed at the first transport speed, and to accelerate the requested commodity product in the lower region upon reaching a predetermined output force and to convey it from the output region at a second transport speed.
• A removal device for removing a commodity product from such a goods compartment, with an at least upwardly open housing, through the one Removal compartment is defined with a drive, with a driven by the drive coupling device which is adapted to drive at a removal of a commodity from a goods compartment a Antriebsankoppeleinrichtung the goods compartment.
• A vending machine, comprising a housing having a closable door for filling the vending machine, with an interior, with a plurality of such goods compartments, which are arranged in the interior next to each other and / or one above the other.
• A method for operating such a vending machine, in which the goods products are arranged in a goods compartment one behind the other and in which a goods issue request, a requested goods product with two different transport speeds is transported in the direction of an output area of the goods compartment.

The idea underlying the present invention is to provide a transport device and an output device in a goods compartment with goods arranged in a row behind one another, which provide two different transport speeds. In the case of removal, the individual goods products are pushed or transported in the direction of the output area of this product compartment. The transport takes place for example via a conveyor belt, a slide or transport rollers or rollers. A cylindrical commodity product is transported here by a first transport speed in the direction of the output area of the goods compartment. In the output area the goods compartment, the output device is provided, which provides a second transport speed. The output device is biased and triggered by the cylindrical product itself. Here, the commodity product is accelerated to the second transport speed. In the output area, the requested and to be dispensed commodity product to a specially provided removal device, which is movable in a known manner, for example in the x / y direction to be passed.

It is essential that the second transport speed of the output device is at least greater than the first transport speed of the transport device. It is also essential that the transport directions of the transport device and the output device are the same. A product initially transported by means of the first transport speed over the transport device into the delivery area is taken over at the front by the output device arranged in the exit area. Since the output device accelerates the commodity product to a higher transport speed, thus the bottom of the product is accelerated in the transport direction. As a result of inertial forces, the bottom of the goods to be removed is effectively pulled away, as a result of which the upper region of the goods to be removed is prevented from tipping forward, that is to say in the direction of the front removal device. Rather, it is ensured by providing two different transport speeds and their suitable positioning within the goods compartment that a removed goods always first with the ground in a specially designated removal compartment within the Removal device can slide. An obstruction of the removal compartment by an undesirable tipping out of the goods from the goods compartment is prevented.

Preferably (but not necessarily), the commodity products are formed as cylindrical commodity products, such as bottles, cans or the like. In this case, the predetermined force is reached when the spring portion abuts against the largest circumference of the cylindrical commodity product. However, it is also possible to output parallelepiped-shaped goods products, such as commodity products with Tetrapak packaging or Vitel bottles, if they have a radius at the edges or are rounded.

The particular advantage of the vending machines according to the invention is that the removal device drives the goods product directly to the dispenser, where the customer can remove the goods product. There is thus no intermediate movement, umtransportieren, turn, handle, pass and the like.

Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention will become apparent from the other dependent claims and from the description in conjunction with the figures of the drawing.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dispensing device projects from a wall section of the goods compartment into a goods receiving area of the goods compartment. As a result, biasing of the output device and thus achievement of the predetermined one becomes reliable Output power achieved by the commodity product. This increases the reliability of the goods compartment.

In a further preferred embodiment, the dispensing device is adapted to at least partially contact a scope of the requested goods product during the pretensioning of the at least one spring section. This embodiment has the advantage that it is possible to dispense with a specially provided locking in the front-side dispensing area of the goods compartment, since the individual goods products are reliably retained by the dispensing device in the goods compartment when the transport device is switched off. Retention of the goods by an additional bar, a strap or a flap is therefore not required.

In a preferred development, the dispensing device has a contact section, which is designed to contact a lower region of the product, and a support section, which is designed to contact an upper region of the product. As a result, a reliable guidance of the goods product is ensured, whereby the operational reliability of the goods compartment is increased.

In a further preferred embodiment, the goods compartment according to the invention has a device for retaining the rear goods products (that is to say the goods products that have not yet been issued). This means for restraint may be formed, for example, by further springs, wherein the retaining springs exert a lower spring force on the product, as the output of the product product provided spring section. As a result, a separation function is realized.

In a preferred embodiment, the second transport speed is greater than the first transport speed, the second transport speed being, in particular, at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, and more preferably at least twice the first transport speed. As a result, the lower, compared to the upper portion of the cylindrical product product more accelerated, the range of the cylindrical product product is reliably output from the goods issue area first, thereby increasing the reliability of the goods compartment.

In a further preferred embodiment, the transport device has a slide which is designed to push the goods products located in the goods compartment at the first transport speed to the delivery area. As a result, the transport of the same is reliably ensured by the positive contact of the slider with the product of the product to the dispensing area. The risk of jamming of the product in the goods compartment is reduced.

In an alternative, but also preferred embodiment, the transport device has a conveyor belt tensioned about two rotatable or stationary rollers, which is designed to transport the goods products located in the goods compartment at the first transport speed to the delivery area. As a result, a particularly simple and inexpensive construction of the product compartment is guaranteed.

In a further, likewise preferred embodiment, the goods compartment does not have its own drive. Preferably, a drive coupling device is provided for coupling at least one external drive. To drive the transport device, the goods compartment on the specially provided Antriebsankoppeleinrichtung, which can be brought into engagement with an external drive. Thus, the transport device of a goods compartment can be driven via the external drive and the drive coupling device. The advantage of this embodiment is that the goods compartment no longer has to have its own drive, which is advantageous from a cost point of view and also less sensitive to maintenance.

It is particularly advantageous if only a single, central drive is provided here, which can be used for all goods compartments within a vending machine.

In a further embodiment, the drive coupling device has at least one toothed wheel. The gear is preferably arranged in the output area of the goods compartment, in particular under a floor area of the goods compartment. As a result, a particularly space-saving construction of the goods compartment is guaranteed.

A particular embodiment provides that the direct recording of the reaction forces from the gears of the coupling device directly from the gear of the goods compartment is introduced directly into the coupling device via a suitable claw-like connecting element.

In an alternative but equally preferred embodiment, the commodity products are pulled over one or more straps or cords attached to a slider. As a result, a traction device is realized. This embodiment has the advantage that the goods products can stand on the traction devices or one or more profile struts of the goods compartment.

Figur 1

im Querschnitt eine schematische Seitendarstellung eines bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Warenfaches für einen Verkaufsautomaten;

Figur 2

im Querschnitt eine schematische Seitendarstellung eines weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Warenfaches für einen Verkaufsautomaten;

Figur 3

eine Vorderansicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Warenfach von der Frontseite;

Figur 4

in einer Draufsicht eine schematische Seitendarstellung eines bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Warenfaches für einen Verkaufsautomaten;

Figur 5

in einer Draufsicht eine schematische Seitendarstellung eines weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Warenfaches für einen Verkaufsautomaten;

Figur 6A - 6F

schematische Darstellungen zur Erläuterung der erfindungsgemäßen Funktion des Warenfachs gemäß der Figuren 1 bis 5;

Figur 7

eine frontale Draufsicht auf einen erfindungsgemäßen Verkaufsautomaten mit einer Vielzahl erfindungsgemäßer Warenfächer;

Figur 8

eine frontale Darstellung auf den Innenraum des Verkaufsautomaten entsprechend Figur 7 im Bereich der Warenfächer;

Figur 9

eine seitliche Darstellung des Innenraums des Verkaufsautomaten aus Figur 8;

Figur 10

eine frontale Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Entnahmeeinrichtung für einen Verkaufsautomaten; und

Figur 11

eine Draufsicht von oben auf die erfindungsgemäße Entnahmeeinrichtung aus Figur 10,

Figur 12

im Querschnitt eine schematische Seitendarstellung eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Warenfaches für einen Verkaufsautomaten.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments specified in the figures of the drawing. Showing:

FIG. 1

in cross section a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a product compartment according to the invention for a vending machine;

FIG. 2

in cross section a schematic side view of another preferred embodiment of a product compartment according to the invention for a vending machine;

FIG. 3

a front view of an inventive merchandise compartment from the front side;

FIG. 4

in a plan view of a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a product compartment according to the invention for a vending machine;

FIG. 5

in a plan view of a schematic side view of another preferred embodiment of a product compartment according to the invention for a vending machine;

FIGS. 6A-6F

schematic representations for explaining the inventive function of the goods compartment according to the FIGS. 1 to 5 ;

FIG. 7

a frontal plan view of a vending machine according to the invention with a variety of invented goods compartments;

FIG. 8

a frontal representation corresponding to the interior of the vending machine FIG. 7 in the field of goods subjects;

FIG. 9

a side view of the interior of the vending machine FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 10

a frontal plan view of a removal device according to the invention for a vending machine; and

FIG. 11

a plan view from above of the removal device according to the invention FIG. 10 .

FIG. 12

in cross section a schematic side view of another embodiment of a product compartment according to the invention for a vending machine.

In the figures of the drawing, the same and functionally identical elements, features and signals, unless otherwise stated, provided with the same reference numerals.

The FIGS. 1 to 5 , to which reference will be made hereinafter, illustrate preferred embodiments of a vending machine compartment 10.

The goods compartment 10 is adapted to receive a plurality of cylindrical commodity products 11. The in the FIG. 1 formed as cans or bottles cylindrical commodity products 11 are preferably arranged in a designated goods receiving area 12 of the goods compartment 10 and are here preferably upright on a bottom portion 17 of the goods compartment 10. This so-called goods receiving area 12 is laterally typically on dedicated wall sections 14, 15, such as For example, sidewalls, grids, webs or the like limited to prevent the goods products 11 can fall laterally out of the goods compartment 10. Down the goods receiving area 12 is preferably limited by the bottom portion 17. A front side 13 of the goods compartment 10 designates an end face of the goods compartment 10, which in its intended use points to a front door of a vending machine with such a compartment 10.

To remove a foremost commodity product 11 'from the goods compartment 10, this has an output area 20 on the front side 13 of the goods compartment 10. Now to the foremost commodity product 11 'on the output area 20, the means to be able to remove in the direction 19, the goods compartment 10 has a transport device 30 and an output device 31.

The goods compartment 10 has according to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 as transport means 30 preferably a bottom side provided on the goods compartment 10, circulating conveyor belt 32. Furthermore, a rotatable roller or roller 33, 34 are provided at the front and at the back, respectively, over which the conveyor belt 32 is tensioned. The upper horizontal region of the conveyor belt 32 forms the bottom portion 17 of the goods compartment 10. The conveyor belt 32 is driven here via at least one of these rollers 33, 34, preferably via the front-side roller 33. These two rollers 33, 34 are designed to allow a movement of the conveyor belt 32 and thus the cylindrical commodity products 11 thereon with a first transport speed v1 towards the discharge area 20 and thus in the z-direction 21, ie in the direction 19. The z-direction 21 corresponds to an output direction or transport direction of the cylindrical commodity products 11.

Preferably, the conveyor belt 32 is made of plastic, for example of a plastic with a relatively high Haftreibwiderstand. If the conveyor belt 32 is moved, then the respective cylinder-shaped commodity products 11 standing on the conveyor belt 32 are moved by static friction to the front-side discharge area 20.

The rollers 33, 34 can be driven for example by specially provided electric motors. It is also particularly advantageous if the transport device 30 via an external drive, that is, an outside of the goods compartment 10 provided drive, which is therefore not part of the goods compartment 10, is driven. This drive can preferably be provided via a specially provided removal device. This removal device couples for the removal of a commodity, for example, to a specially provided Antriebsankoppeleinrichtung the goods compartment 10 and drives, for example via corresponding gears and belts the drive roller 33 at.

When removing the cylindrical product 11 'from the goods compartment 10 this falls into a specially provided removal compartment of the removal device. The removal device detects this removal of the cylindrical commodity product 11 ', for example, by a provided at the bottom of the removal tray pressure or weight sensor and then closes, for example, only after a time required for the Nachschieben the further commodity products 11 to the front page 13 time, the removal process. As a result, the transport device 30 is stopped. The removal device then moves to a goods delivery shaft of the vending machine, from which the product just taken out of the goods bay can be removed from the buyer. The advantage of this embodiment is that the goods compartment 10 does not have to have its own drive device in this case, which is advantageous in particular for cost reasons.

A goods compartment 10 also preferably has at the lateral areas of a goods compartment 10 or in the lower Area guide elements, such as guide rails or insertion aids on, by means of which a goods compartment 10 can be pushed into corresponding slide rails or guide aids in the space provided slot of the vending machine into it.

A goods compartment 10 preferably also has a corresponding latching device 24, by means of which the goods compartment 10 can be latched to corresponding latching points on the housing of the vending machine or in an insertion slot of the vending machine and thus fixed there.

The goods compartment 10 also has a rear wall 23 on its rear side 16.

The individual goods compartments 10 within a vending machine are flexible with regard to their size, depending on which cylindrical commodity products 11 are to be sold with them. Thus, within the vending machine, goods compartments 10 can be specifically adapted to the goods to be sold, in particular with regard to their lateral expansions. In addition, these goods compartments 10 are also removable by pulling out of the interior of the vending machine.

The FIG. 2 shows a side view of another preferred embodiment of a merchandise compartment 10 for a vending machine.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 Here, the transport device 30 of the goods compartment 10 has a slider 38 movable in the z-direction 21. This Slider 38 may be optional or alternative to the conveyor belt 32 and the rollers 33, 34 may be provided. The slider 38 is mounted on a bottom part 37 of a housing of the goods compartment 10, for example a continuous sheet 37, movable in the z direction. A cylindrical product 11 facing surface of the bottom portion 37 forms the bottom portion 17 of the goods compartment 10. The slider 38 thus nestles against the last, located in the goods compartment 10 cylindrical product 11 'and pushes it in the Z direction 21 and thus in the direction of the dispensing area 20. As a result, all the cylindrical goods 11 located in the goods compartment 10 are pushed in the direction of the dispensing area 20. The slider 38 preferably moves the cylindrical commodity products 11 at the first transport speed v1 in the direction of the delivery area 20. In a further embodiment of the merchandise compartment 10, the transport device 30 may have transport rollers and / or transport rollers.

The FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the goods compartment 10 according to the FIGS. 1 or 2 , A front panel 42 is provided, which is arranged, for example, immediately in front of the drive roller 33 of the conveyor belt 32 - for example, to protect them. Furthermore, the goods receiving area 12 laterally delimiting wall sections 14, 15 are provided on both sides. At these wall portions 14, 15, the output device 31 of the goods compartment 10 is preferably mounted. In particular, the goods issue device 31 is arranged directly in the issue area 20. Alternatively, the dispensing device 31 in any way, for example by means of corresponding mounting elements, in the goods issue area 20 be mounted. Preferably, the dispenser 31 protrudes from the wall sections 14, 15 into the goods receiving area 12.

In particular, the output device 31 has two plate-shaped elements 43, 44. The plate-shaped elements 43, 44 are preferably each connected to one of the wall sections 14, 15. Each plate-shaped element preferably has a support portion 45 and a contact portion 46. The plate-shaped elements 43, 44 furthermore preferably each have a fastening section 47 mounted on the respective wall section 14, 15. The particular finger-shaped support portion 45, the contact portion 46 and the mounting portion 47 may be integrally formed. The support section 45 is preferably arranged slightly in front of the contact section 46 with respect to the z-direction 21. In particular, the support section 45 preferably projects further into the goods receiving area 12 than the contact section 46. The attachment section 47 is preferably angled relative to the contact section 46 at an angle α. The attachment portion is in particular also angled relative to the attachment portion 47 by an angle β. The angles α, β can be made the same size.

The contact section 46 is preferably pivotably connected to the attachment section 47 via a, in particular first, hinge section 48. The hinge portion 48 may, as in FIG. 4 illustrated, be designed as a hinge 48. In this embodiment of the goods compartment according to FIG. 4 have the plate-shaped Elements 43, 44 and their attachment portions 47 and their contact portions 46 preferably have a high inherent rigidity. Furthermore, the dispensing device 31 preferably has at least one, in particular a first, spring section 49. The spring portion 49 may, as in FIG. 4 illustrated, be designed as a spring element 49, which pivots the contact portions 46 respectively via the hinge 48 laterally into the goods receiving area 12 and in an in FIG. 4 illustrated initial position spends. The support portion 45 is preferably analogous to the contact portion 46 via a, insbesondre second, hinge portion 39 connected to the mounting portion 47 and provided with a, in particular second, spring portion 41. The hinge portions 39, 48 may be identical, wherein in this embodiment, the angles α, β are preferably different.

In an alternative embodiment of the goods compartment 10 according to FIG FIG. 5 For example, the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 may be elastically deformable at least in sections, wherein the joint sections 39, 48 are not formed as hinges but as elastically deformable regions of the plate-shaped elements 43, 44. The spring portions 41, 49 may also be formed as integral components of the plate-shaped elements 43, 44, wherein the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 are at least partially formed with an elastic, in particular a resilient material. Preferably, the support portion 45 and the contact portion 46 form the spring portion 41 and 49, respectively. In particular, the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 with an elastically deformable plastic material or with formed an elastically deformable metal material. Preferably, the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 are formed with a transparent plastic material.

In the supervision of the goods compartment 10 according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 or the contact sections 46 and the support sections 45 project obliquely into the goods receiving area 12 in the direction of the discharge area 20. The plate-shaped elements 43, 44 can touch or touch approximately in the middle.

According to FIG. 3 a gear 40 is fixed in the lower region of the goods compartment 10 at the bottom thereof. The gear 40 is slightly from the goods compartment 10 from. If a corresponding, suitable for this gear 40 gear, for example via an external drive, brought into engagement with this gear 40, then the gear 40 undergoes a rotational movement. This rotational movement then forms the drive of the goods compartment 10, with which the transport device 30 in the form of the conveyor belt 32 and / or the slider 38 can be driven. This is done by appropriate deflection devices, such as gears and belts, in a conventional manner. The goods compartment 10 thus requires no independent drive.

Hereinafter, the operation of the goods compartment 10 and thus the interaction of the transport device 30 and the output device 31- based on Figures 6A-6E for a removal operation of a cylindrical commodity product 11 from the goods compartment 10 explained in more detail.

FIG. 6A shows a standing on the bottom portion 17 cylindrical commodity product 11 '. The cylindrical commodity product 11 'is transported by means of the transport device 30, for example by means of the conveyor belt 32 and / or the slider 38, with the first transport speed v1 in the direction of the discharge area 20, ie in the direction of the output device 31. In FIG. 6A is the cylindrical commodity product 11 'just in contact with the contact portions 46 of the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 of the output device 31. Preferably, only a lower portion of the cylindrical commodity product 11' in contact with the contact portions 46. The cylindrical commodity product 11 'touches the support portions 45 of the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 preferably not yet. In the further movement of the cylindrical commodity product 11 'with the first transport speed v1 in the direction of the discharge area 20, the contact portions 46 of the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 through the cylindrical commodity product 11' in the direction of the respective wall sections 14, 15 moves toward them, as by means of Arrows 93 illustrates. The contact portions 46 pivot about the hinge portions 48 relative to the mounting portions 47. As a result, the spring portions 48 are biased toward the cylindrical commodity product 11 'down and exerts on this a spring force. The dispenser 31 is thus spring-biased by the requested cylindrical product 11 'itself. The further the cylindrical goods product 11 'is moved in the direction of the goods issue 20 at the first transport speed v1, the further the contact portions 46 are moved in the direction of the goods Wall sections 14, 15 moves and the greater the force acting on the cylindrical commodity product 11 'spring force. The cylindrical commodity product 11 'touches in this operating state of the biasing of the contact portions 46, the support portions 45 of the plate-shaped elements 43, 44 already or is still slightly spaced from these.

The largest spring force of the contact portions 46 is achieved when a circumference u of the cylindrical commodity product 11 'according to the contact sections FIG. 6B as far as possible in the direction of the wall sections 14, 15 has moved. In this operating state of the goods compartment 10, the contact sections are preferably located only at the outermost peripheral points 94, 95 of the circumference u of the cylindrical product 11 '. The outermost circumferential points 94, 95 are the points of the circumference u closest to the wall portions in a transverse direction 97 of the goods compartment 10. The maximum achievable spring force corresponds to a predetermined output force A of the merchandise dispensing device 31. This predetermined dispensing force A depends, for example, on the geometry and the material of the plate-shaped elements 43, 44, on the spring properties of the spring sections 49 and on the circumference u of the cylindrical product 11 '.

Immediately after reaching the predetermined output force A, that is, as soon as the predetermined output force A is reached, contact portions 46 contact FIG. 6C the circumference u no longer at the outermost circumferential points 94, 95 but the contact portions 46 slide on the circumference u of the cylindrical product 11 ', which is still in the direction of the output area 20 moves, off. That is, the spring-biased output device 31 is triggered by the requested cylindrical commodity product 11 '. The spring bias of the output device 31 causes an acceleration of the cylindrical commodity product 11 'to a second, also acting in the direction of the output area 20, transport speed v2. Since the contact portions 46 preferably only contact the lower region of the cylindrical goods product 11 ', in particular this lower region is accelerated. At the latest as soon as the predetermined output force A is reached, the support sections 45 touch the circumference u of the cylindrical product 11 '. Preferably, the finger-shaped support portions 45 only touch an upper portion of the cylindrical commodity product 11 '.

While the contact portions 46 slide on the circumference u the cylindrical commodity product 11 'according to FIG. 6D contacted in its upper region by the support portions 45 and thus braked relative to the accelerated lower portion of the cylindrical commodity product 11 '. As a result, tilting of the cylindrical product 11 'towards the front of the dispensing area 20 is prevented when it is accelerated to the second transport speed v2. The support portions 45 thus support the function of the contact portions 46, through which the lower portion of the cylindrical commodity product 11 'is accelerated relative to the upper portion thereof. The support portions 45 are pivoted against a spring bias of the spring portions 41 about the hinge portions 39 to the wall portions 14, 15 out. The product is in accordance with figure 6E tilted slightly backwards and reliably issued with an end associated with the bottom portion 17 first. The contact portions 46 and the support portions 45 move back into their in FIG. 6A illustrated initial position back.

The first transport speed v1 of the transport device 30 is preferably less than the second v2 of the output device 31. Preferably, the transport speed v2 is greater by at least 50% and preferably twice as large as the transport speed v1.

The output by means of the transport speed v2 in the example shown depends on whether the springs 43, 44 have exceeded the center of the bottle.

Fig. 6F shows a further embodiment of a goods compartment, in which the goods compartment according to the invention comprises a device for retaining the rear goods products 11, 11 '' (that is, the goods currently not issued). These means 49 'for restraint are here as further springs 49''be formed, wherein the retaining springs 49''exert a lower spring force on the commodity product 11 than the output of the commodity product 11' provided spring portion 46. This is very effective Way realized a separation function.

The FIG. 7 shows a frontal plan view of a vending machine 50 with a plurality of goods compartments 10th In FIG. 7 reference numeral 50 generally indicates a vending machine for dispensing bottles and cans of various shapes, sizes, shapes, and liquid capacities. The vending machine 50 generally comprises an outer housing 51 or a cabinet and a front door 53 hinged typically to this housing 51 via hinges 52. The front door 53 and the housing 51 together form an interior space 54 for storing the cylindrical commodity products 11 to be sold. and to accommodate refrigeration functions of the vending machine 50 and other vending machine functions. In the present embodiment, the front door 53 comprises a transparent glass or clear plastic disk 55, which, when the front door 53 is closed, for a clear view into the interior 54 of the vending machine 50 and thus to the cylindrical commodity products 11 accommodated therein of the vending machine 50 are kept sorted in goods compartments provides. In the area of the front door 53 or, alternatively, in the housing 51, a suitable control panel 56 is provided, which comprises product selection input devices and money and credit processing devices, which are well known as well as a coin return device 57.

Further, a lock unit 58 is provided which allows the front door 53 to be safely opened and closed for maintenance, filling of the vending machine and the like. The vending machine 50 also includes a goods issue opening or bin 59 from which a sold cylindrical commodity product 11 can be removed by a buyer.

The vending machine 50 has a plurality of arraymäßig in the interior 54 arranged goods compartments 10. The FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of these goods compartments 10 in the interior 54 of the vending machine 50th

The individual goods compartments 10 are arranged here in five different product lines 60 and eight different product compartments 61 side by side or one above the other. The individual goods compartments 10 each have the same size here, although this is not absolutely necessary. As has already been described in detail above, it is also advantageous if these goods compartments 10 are variably adjustable in their width, number and / or their height.

For the removal of the cylindrical goods 11, which are in FIG. 8 are not shown, from the various goods compartments 10 is a dedicated removal device 62 is provided. This removal device 62 can be moved variably in the y-direction 63 and x-direction 64 and can thus be moved to any front side of a goods compartment 10. This is done via a not shown here, in each case in the x / y direction variable movable transport device to which the removal device 62 is attached. This transport device may, for example, contain guide rails on which the removal device 62 can be moved in y-direction 63 and x-direction 64.

The FIG. 9 shows a side view of the interior 54 of the vending machine 50 from FIG. 8 , Here are the individual goods compartments 10 not completely horizontally, that is horizontal, aligned. Rather, the goods compartments 10 are slightly lowered towards the front door side. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that the goods compartments 10 are aligned completely horizontally

The FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment of a removal device 80 for a vending machine 50 in two different views, in which FIG. 10 a frontal view from the front and FIG. 11 a top view of the removal device 80 shows.

The removal device 80 essentially comprises a cuboid container, with four side walls and a bottom. The removal device 80 is designed to remove a single cylindrical product 11 and is designed to be open at the top. Thus, a removal compartment in the interior of the housing 81 is defined by the cuboid housing 81 of the removal device 80, which serves to receive a cylindrical commodity product 11.

On the frontal housing wall 82, a gear designated by reference numeral 83 is fastened via a fastening device 84. To drive this gear 83, a drive 85, in particular an electric motor 85, is provided which is fastened to a right side wall 86 of the housing 81. Via a gear belt 87, the gear 83 is driven by the electric motor 85, wherein the gear belt 87 in corresponding gears, which are coupled via shafts with the gear 83 and the electric motor 85 engages.

If the removal device 80 is moved to one of the goods compartments 10 of a vending machine 50, then the gear 83 engages in a corresponding gear 40 (see FIG. 3 ) of the sampling compartment 10 and drives this. In this way, the transport device 30 can be driven via the electric motor 85 of the removal device 80 and by means of the gear belt 87, the gear 83 and the single-sided gear 40, as already described with reference to FIG Figures 1-6 has been shown and described.

If the removal device 80 is moved to an output compartment of the vending machine, then the goods product 11 located in the removal compartment 90 can enter the goods issue compartment. Preferably, the commodity is brought in this transport in the removal device in an inclined position. This has the advantage that the bottle is visible by the inclination to the right in the removal opening of the goods output tray .. The goods product can then be removed by a customer directly from the goods output tray.

FIG. 12 shows in cross section a schematic side view of another embodiment of a product compartment according to the invention for a vending machine. Here, the commodity products 11, 11 'are pulled over a pulley 100 via one or more drawstrings 101 or cords attached to a slider 102. As a result, a traction device is realized. This embodiment has the advantage that the goods products 11, 11 'on this type of draw gear or one or more profile struts 103 of the goods compartment direct can stand, which means a better stability of the commodity products 11, 11 '.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a beverage vending machine for dispensing bottles and beverage cans, it is not limited thereto, but can be extended with appropriate modification to the output of any commodity products, for example, cuboidal or arbitrary forms (regular or freeform surfaces) of packaging Beverages and other liquids and commodities, cigarette packs, packaged confectionery products, sandwiches, miscellaneous items such as cameras, spectacles and the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

were trade

11, 11 ', 11' '

cylindrical goods products

12

Goods receiving area

13

front

14

wall section

15

wall section

16

back

17

bottom section

19

direction

20

output area

21

z-direction

23

rear wall

24

latching

30

transport means

31

output device

32

conveyor belt

33

roller

34

roller

37

the bottom part

38

movable slide

39

hinge section

40

gear

41

spring section

42

cover

43

plate-shaped element

44

plate-shaped element

45

support section

46

Contact section

47

attachment section

48

hinge section

49

spring section

49 '

Retention device

49 ''

feathers

50

vending machine

51

casing

52

joint

53

front door

54

inner space

55

disc

56

operating device

57

coin dispenser

58

locking device

59

output tray

60

Were trade row

61

Were trade gaps

62

Unloader

63

y-direction

64

x-direction

80

removal device

81

casing

82

front housing wall

83

gear

84

fastening device

85

electric motor

86

Side wall

87

gear belt

90

withdrawal compartment

91

swiveling flap

92

joint

93

arrow

94

peripheral point

95

peripheral point

97

transversely

100

idler pulley

101

tieback

102

pusher

103

profile struts

A

output power

u

scope

v1

first transport speed

v2

second transport speed

z

Transport direction along the goods compartment

Claims (14)

1. Product compartment (10) in or for a vending machine (50),
   comprising an output region (20) for outputting a requested product (11), in particular a cylindrical product (11),
   comprising a transport device (31) which is configured to convey the requested product (11) arranged on a base section (17) of the product compartment (10) at a first transporting speed (v1) towards the output region (20), and
   comprising an output device (31) which is arranged directly in the output region (20) and which has at least one spring section (49), wherein the output device (31) has a contact section (46) which is configured to contact a lower region of the product (11), and has a support section (45) which is configured to contact an upper region of the product (11), and
   wherein the output device (31) is configured to be pre-stressed by the requested cylindrical product (11) conveyed at the first transporting speed (v1) and, when a predetermined output force (A) is reached, to accelerate the requested product (11) in the lower region and to convey same at a second transporting speed (v2) out of the output region (20).
2. Product compartment as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the output device (31) protrudes from a wall section (14, 15) of the product compartment (10) into a product-receiving region (12) of the product compartment (10).
3. Product compartment as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the output device (31) is configured to contact, at least in sections, a periphery (u) of the requested product (11) when the at least one spring section (49) is being pre-stressed.
4. Product compartment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second transporting speed (v2) is greater than the first transporting speed (v1), wherein the second transporting speed (v2) is greater than the first transporting speed (v1) in particular by at least 30%, preferably by at least 50% and even more preferably by at least twice.
5. Product compartment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transport device (30) has a slide (38) which is configured to push the products (11), located in the product compartment (10), to the output region (20) at the first transporting speed (v1).
6. Product compartment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transporting device (30) has a transport belt (32) which is tensioned around two rotatable rollers (33, 34) and is configured to transport the products, located in the product compartment (10), to the output region (20) at the first transporting speed (v1).
7. Product compartment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the product compartment (10) is formed in a drive-less manner.
8. Product compartment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a drive coupling device for coupling at least one external drive is provided.
9. Product compartment as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the drive coupling device has at least one toothed wheel (40).
10. Product compartment as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the toothed wheel (40) is arranged in the output region (20) of the product compartment (10), in particular below a base region of the product compartment (10).
11. Removal device (80) for removing a product (11) from a product compartment (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10,
    comprising a housing (81) which is open at least at the top and by means of which a removal compartment is defined,
    comprising a drive (85),
    comprising a coupling device which is driven by the drive (85) and is configured to drive a drive coupling device of a product compartment (10) when a product (11) is being removed from the product compartment (10).
12. Vending machine (50),
    comprising a housing (51) which has a closable door (53) for filling the vending machine (50),
    comprising an interior space (54),
    comprising a plurality of product compartments (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, which compartments are arranged next to each other and/or one above the other in the interior space (54).
13. Vending machine as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that a removal device (80) as claimed in claim 12 is provided.
14. Method for operating a vending machine as claimed in claim 12,

    - wherein the products (11) are arranged one behind the other in a product compartment (10), and

    - wherein a requested product (11), in response to a product output request, is transported at two different transporting speeds (v1, v2) towards an output region (20) of the product compartment (10).

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