EP2787492A1 - Dispositif amelioré de stockage et distribution - Google Patents

Dispositif amelioré de stockage et distribution Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2787492A1
EP2787492A1 EP20140163604 EP14163604A EP2787492A1 EP 2787492 A1 EP2787492 A1 EP 2787492A1 EP 20140163604 EP20140163604 EP 20140163604 EP 14163604 A EP14163604 A EP 14163604A EP 2787492 A1 EP2787492 A1 EP 2787492A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
storage
dispensing apparatus
compartment
section
compartments
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP20140163604
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Noel O'Donnell
Richard Rossiter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rossodonnell Ltd
Original Assignee
Rossodonnell Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from IE2013/0115A external-priority patent/IES86513Y1/en
Application filed by Rossodonnell Ltd filed Critical Rossodonnell Ltd
Publication of EP2787492A1 publication Critical patent/EP2787492A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
    • G07F7/0609—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/62—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/001—Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved storage and dispensing apparatus and in particular to an improved storage and dispensing apparatus for use in the retail trade for large bulky items such as propane and butane domestic gas cylinders, bags of coal and other such fuel, bales of peat briquettes, large bags of animal food, vegetables and many other bulky items which may be stored outside of a shop.
  • large bulky items such as propane and butane domestic gas cylinders, bags of coal and other such fuel, bales of peat briquettes, large bags of animal food, vegetables and many other bulky items which may be stored outside of a shop.
  • this type of arrangement of storing and dispensing bulky items occurs with retail premises located on the forecourts of garages and filling stations where the products are stored on the garage or filling station forecourt.
  • a particular problem occurs with the storage and sale of domestic gas cylinders, including the storage and retention of empty gas cylinders.
  • gas cylinders are large and expensive items, they are generally stored in outdoor cages or chained to one another to prevent their theft. Therefore, when a customer purchases a replacement gas cylinder, a shop assistant must stop dealing with other customers, leave the shop area, collect the empty cylinder from the customer, unsecure the full cylinder and give it to the customer. All of these actions are time consuming while removing the shop assistant from their main area of responsibility within the shop. With other large bagged items, there is also a large risk of theft occurring which can cause a great deal of loss of income to the shop.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a storage and dispensing apparatus for bulky items which alleviates the above problems.
  • the present invention provides a storage and dispensing apparatus, including at least one section for storage and dispensing gas cylinders, said section having a plurality of compartments for storing individual gas cylinders, each compartment having a lockable and releasable door and means for detecting the presence of a gas cylinder in the compartment, the apparatus including means for releasing the door for an empty compartment for the receipt of an empty cylinder which when detected by the detection means releases the door of a compartment having a filled cylinder.
  • the means for releasing the doors of the compartments comprises a code entry means or a payment receiving means such as a credit/debit card reader.
  • the apparatus includes a section for storing and dispensing gas cylinders, a section for storing and dispensing large items and a section for storing and dispensing smaller items.
  • the apparatus includes means for accessing each section, including a controller in conjunction with the code input means which operates the controller to allow access to a compartment in each section.
  • the gas cylinder section comprises a plurality of compartments each of which can accommodate a gas cylinder and has a lockable and releasable door
  • the section for large items has a plurality of compartments each of which has a lockable and releasable door
  • the section for smaller items has a plurality of compartments each of which has a lockable and releasable door.
  • each of the large compartments is provided with a bin into which the large item, such as a bag of coal, is placed, the bin being pivotable forward about a pivot point under the action of a spring, so as to make it easier for a customer to remove the bag of coal or the like from the bin.
  • the large item such as a bag of coal
  • the compartments are provided with individual slam latch locks, each of which has a cam lock which is engageable against a striker bolt located on each door, and in which an electric signal to a specific lock releases the associated cam lock through the operation of an electric motor with the lock.
  • the apparatus has a power supply means which may include a solar panel.
  • the code entry means comprises a key pad for inputting a code or a bar code reader for reading the bar code.
  • the means for detecting the presence of a gas cylinder comprises a pivot switch or lever moveable by the gas cylinder on insertion into the compartment and thereby indicate the presence of a cylinder.
  • the means for detecting the presence of a gas cylinder comprises at least two electrical contact rails in the compartment with a cylinder in the compartment making electrical contact between the rails and thereby indicating the presence of a cylinder in said compartment.
  • the application includes a code issuing terminal apparatus adapted to print or display a unique entry code or bar code for releasing a selected compartment door, a receiving terminal associated with the issuing terminal for reading the unique entry code or bar code, and an electronic point of sale (POS) apparatus linked to the code issuing terminal and the receiving terminal and to control the sale of products from the storage and dispensing apparatus and to record the successful vending of the products.
  • POS point of sale
  • the application includes means for generating stock control and reports of sales of products contained in the storage and dispensing apparatus.
  • the application includes a plurality of transport wheels and means for securely locating the apparatus in a desired location.
  • the first configuration 100 of the embodiment of a storage and dispensing apparatus comprises a section 120 for storing and dispensing domestic gas cylinders A, a section 130 for storing and dispensing large items and a section 140 for storing and dispensing smaller items.
  • each section is controlled by a code input key pad 110 which operates a controller (not shown) to allow access to a compartment in each section.
  • the gas cylinder section 120 comprises six compartments 122 each of which can accommodate a domestic size gas cylinder A and is closed by a lockable and releasable door 124.
  • the section 130 for large items has eight compartments 132 each of which is closed by a lockable and releasable door 134 and the section 140 for smaller items has sixteen compartments 142 each of which is closed by a lockable and releasable door 144.
  • Each of the large compartments 132 is provided with a bin 136 into which the large item, such as a bag of coal, is placed.
  • the bin 136 pivots forward about the pivot point 137 under the action of a spring, so as to make it easier for a customer to remove the bag of coal or the like from the bin 136.
  • Each of the smaller compartments 142 is suitable in size to accommodate an item, such as a bale of peat briquettes or a bag of kindling.
  • All of the compartments 122, 132 and 142 are provided with individual slam latch locks 150 of each of which has a cam lock 151 which engages against a striker bolt 152 located on each door, 124, 134 and 144.
  • An electric signal to a lock 150 releases the cam lock 151 through the operation of an electric motor with the lock 150.
  • a customer goes into a shop and pays for an item such as a gas cylinder refill, a bag of coal or a bale of peat briquettes.
  • the shop assistant then prints off and gives to the customer a slip of paper with a specific code number on the slip.
  • the customer then takes the slip and inputs the code number into the code input key pad 110.
  • the controller opens a door 124 of an empty compartment 122 so that the customer can insert an empty cylinder into the compartment 122 until it contacts a pivot switch or lever and pushes it forward to make a contact thus indicating that the compartment is no longer empty.
  • the customer then closes the door 124 and a second door 124 of a different compartment 122 opens to allow the customer to remove a full cylinder.
  • the customer inputs the given code into the key pad 100 and the controller opens a door 134 of a full compartment 132 so that the customer can withdraw the bag of coal or whatever item is in the bin 136 of the compartment.
  • the customer inputs the given code into the key pad 110 and the controller opens a door 144 of a full compartment 142 so that the customer can withdraw the item from the compartment.
  • the shop assistant or operator When it is desired to restock the apparatus, the shop assistant or operator inserts a restocking code into the key pad 110. The controller then opens all the doors of the sections being restocked in a sequential manner, thus reducing the power required to open all doors.
  • Figures 11 to 14 show four additional configurations 200, 300, 400 and 500 having different numbers of gas cylinder compartments 122, large item compartments 132 and smaller item compartments 142.
  • the second embodiment 600 of a storage and dispensing apparatus comprises a module 620 for storing and dispensing domestic size gas cylinders, and a module 630 having a section 631 for storing and dispensing large items and a section 633 for storing and dispensing smaller items.
  • each section is controlled by a control unit 610 which operates a controller (not shown) to allow access to a compartment in each section or module.
  • the gas cylinder section or module 620 comprises six compartments 622 each of which can accommodate a domestic size gas cylinder and is closed by a lockable and releasable door 624.
  • the section 630 for large items has eight compartments 632 each of which is closed by a lockable and releasable door 634 and the section 640 for smaller items has seven or eight compartments 642 each of which is closed by a lockable and releasable door 644.
  • Each of the large compartments 632 is suitable to accommodate a large item, such as a bag of coal and each of the smaller compartments 642 is suitable in size to accommodate a smaller item, such as a bale of peat briquettes or a bag of kindling.
  • All of the compartments 622, 632 and 642 are provided with individual slam latch locks 50 of each of which has a cam lock 151 (as in the first embodiment) which engages against a striker bolt 152 located on each door, 624, 634 and 644.
  • An electric signal to a lock 150 releases the cam lock 151 through the operation of an electric motor with the lock 150.
  • a customer goes into a shop and pays for an item such as a gas cylinder refill, a bag of coal or a bale of peat briquettes.
  • the shop assistant then prints off and gives to the customer a slip of paper with a specific bar code on the slip.
  • the customer then takes the slip and scans the bar code into the control unit pad 610.
  • the controller opens a door 624 of an empty compartment 622 so that the customer can insert an empty cylinder into the compartment 622 until it contacts a pair of electrical contact rails in the compartment with the cylinder making the electrical contact between the rails to make a contact thus indicating that the compartment is no longer empty.
  • the customer then closes the door 624 and a second door 624 of a different compartment 622 opens to allow the customer to remove a full cylinder.
  • the customer scans the bar code into the control pad 100 and the controller opens a door 634 of a full compartment 632 so that the customer can withdraw the bag of coal or whatever item is in the compartment.
  • the customer scans the given bar code into the controller 610 and the controller opens a door 644 of a full compartment 642 so that the customer can withdraw the item from the compartment.
  • the shop assistant or operator When it is desired to restock the apparatus, the shop assistant or operator inserts a restocking code into the controller 610. The controller then opens all the doors of the sections being restocked in a sequential manner, thus reducing the power required to open all doors.
  • the fuel locker dispensing system consists of a WF-1000 issuing terminal, which produces a unique encrypted coded number in numerical and barcode format, either to be read off screen or printed on a receipt via a compatible RS232 printer.
  • This code can then be inputted either via a keypad or through a bar code scanner, into a paired WF-1000 receiver terminal. When it is decrypted and once criteria are met, it will control an output in order to allow a predetermined action to take place.
  • the code is time sensitive, date sensitive, site sensitive and product sensitive. The code may be either a single use or multi use within the time period. Once inputted and a valid transaction has taken place, the code will then become void.
  • the receiving terminal is attached to the fuel locker system. This can receive codes issued by the issuing terminal by either manual input through the keypad or via a bar code scanner. The inputted code is decrypted and its validity is confirmed. Once valid the required locker door is opened. The user is stepped through the procedure on the alphanumeric display. Should the transaction be successful, the code will be invalidated and the system will be ready for next code. Should there be a problem with the transaction, the unit will proceed to the next available locker until a valid vend is made. Should the unit be empty of that product the transaction will be cancelled and the code will be kept valid for use again.
  • the apparatus has the following elements:
  • a 30W solar panel will be used in conjunction with a backup battery and voltage regulator that will allow ample capacity for the unit to operate during daytime and nighttime conditions.
  • the apparatus is operational in accordance with the following steps:
  • the apparatus is provided with a service mode.
  • Service mode the user can re-configure the terminal via the 4x3 keypad arrangements. Within service mode the user can view/modify the following. Service mode is accessible by entering a unique password or by pressing the red service button located on the main circuit board.
  • button 1 is used to scroll through the various options
  • button 7 is used to enter the displayed option
  • * is used to exit service mode.
  • the unit will also time-out of service mode after a preset time of inactivity is expired.
  • sections or modules of the application may be provided with transport wheels to enable the apparatus to be moved from one location to another and means to secure the apparatus in the desired location.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
EP20140163604 2013-04-05 2014-04-04 Dispositif amelioré de stockage et distribution Withdrawn EP2787492A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IE2013/0115A IES86513Y1 (en) 2013-04-05 Improved storage and dispensing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2787492A1 true EP2787492A1 (fr) 2014-10-08

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20140163604 Withdrawn EP2787492A1 (fr) 2013-04-05 2014-04-04 Dispositif amelioré de stockage et distribution

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP2787492A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108280742A (zh) * 2018-01-19 2018-07-13 深圳正品创想科技有限公司 一种取袋的方法、装置及取袋机
WO2019238147A1 (fr) * 2018-06-14 2019-12-19 HUNSGAS s.r.o. Dispositif de stockage et d'échange en libre-service de bouteilles de propane-butane vides contre des bouteilles de propane-butane pleines
EP4036878A1 (fr) * 2021-01-28 2022-08-03 Sielaff GmbH & Co. KG Automatenbau Herrieden Conteneur interchangeable pour marchandises, dispositif automatique de distribution et/ou de reprise de marchandises et procédé de vidage et/ou de remplissage d'un conteneur interchangeable pour marchandises
US11847880B2 (en) * 2016-06-22 2023-12-19 Anytime Enterprises, Llc Semi-automated canister distribution system and method

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2853438A1 (fr) * 2003-04-01 2004-10-08 Joel Torra Systeme automatise de reception-distribution
FR2963543A1 (fr) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-10 Siraga Sa Dispositif automatique pour le stockage et la distribution de bouteilles de gaz

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2853438A1 (fr) * 2003-04-01 2004-10-08 Joel Torra Systeme automatise de reception-distribution
FR2963543A1 (fr) * 2010-08-03 2012-02-10 Siraga Sa Dispositif automatique pour le stockage et la distribution de bouteilles de gaz

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11847880B2 (en) * 2016-06-22 2023-12-19 Anytime Enterprises, Llc Semi-automated canister distribution system and method
CN108280742A (zh) * 2018-01-19 2018-07-13 深圳正品创想科技有限公司 一种取袋的方法、装置及取袋机
WO2019238147A1 (fr) * 2018-06-14 2019-12-19 HUNSGAS s.r.o. Dispositif de stockage et d'échange en libre-service de bouteilles de propane-butane vides contre des bouteilles de propane-butane pleines
EE01546U1 (et) * 2018-06-14 2021-10-15 HUNSGAS s.r.o. Seade propaani-butaani balloonide ladustamiseks ja tühjade propaani-butaani balloonide iseteeninduslikuks väljavahetamiseks täidetud propaani-butaani balloonide vastu
EP4036878A1 (fr) * 2021-01-28 2022-08-03 Sielaff GmbH & Co. KG Automatenbau Herrieden Conteneur interchangeable pour marchandises, dispositif automatique de distribution et/ou de reprise de marchandises et procédé de vidage et/ou de remplissage d'un conteneur interchangeable pour marchandises

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