EP3314182A1

EP3314182A1 - Apparatus for dispensing beverage containers

Info

Publication number: EP3314182A1
Application number: EP16733867.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Werner Wolf; Johannes Linsbichler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Cuula GmbH
Priority date: 2015-05-11
Filing date: 2016-05-11
Publication date: 2018-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-11
Also published as: WO2016179624A1; DE202016002796U8; AT14984U1; DE202016002796U1; EP3314182B1; ES2900478T3

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for dispensing elongate beverage containers (2), in particular beverage cans, with a housing (3) for receiving the beverage containers (2), with a removal element (6) for the barrier-free removal of a beverage container (2), and with a cooling device (9) for cooling the beverage containers (2), wherein the housing (3) has a guide channel (10) with a sliding surface (11) for the beverage containers (2) that is inclined with respect to the horizontal, wherein the width of the guide channel (10) is less than its height, wherein the beverage containers (2) can slide in the upright state along the sliding surface (11) of the guide channel (10) into the removal element (6), wherein the housing (3) has, on the side remote from the removal element (6), a receiving opening (12) for introducing beverage containers (2) that extends substantially perpendicularly to the sliding surface (11).

Description

Device for dispensing beverage containers

The invention relates to a device for dispensing elongated beverage containers, in particular beverage cans, with a housing for receiving the beverage container, with a removal element for removing a beverage container, and with a cooling device for cooling the beverage container, wherein the housing has a guide channel inclined to the horizontal Has sliding surface for the beverage container, wherein the width of the guide channel is less than its height, wherein the Ge ^¬ beverage container in the stationary state along the sliding surface of the guide channel can slide into the removal element.

From US 2014/0367403 AI a refrigerator for beverage cans is known. The refrigerator has individual modules, each module containing a single row of beverage cans in a standing position. Each module has a dispensing point where the frontmost beverage can can be removed. The modules for the beverage cans are inclined to the horizontal, so that the beverage cans in the densely packed state slip under the influence of gravity to the issuing point, when the vor ^¬ first beverage can is removed. The refrigerator has a cooling device on the back. There is a door at the front.

A disadvantage of this design, however, that the refrigerator has very large footprint. Accordingly, the refrigerator is not suitable to be used in confined spaces. For example, the refrigerator could not be placed on sales counters in supermarkets. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the beverage containers are not made available barrier-free. The user must open the front door to gain access to the beverage cans. Furthermore, the cooling device is merely designed to cool a plurality of modules for the beverage cans in the closed cabinet space. Another disadvantage is that each module for filling with beverage cans must be removed from the refrigerator. The beverage cans are inserted from above into the receiving chamber. The inclination of the modules is exclu ^¬ Lich used for this purpose to enable the moving up of beverage cans chen.

In EP 2 273 461 AI another type of dispenser is described, which has a housing in which a Förderstre ^¬ bridge is formed, along which the beverage cans are transported in the horizontal state by gravity to a removal opening. At the removal opening, an output flap is provided which is pivotable between a closed position, in which it prevents removal of beverage cans through the removal opening, and a removal position. For this purpose, the output door on two transverse to the conveying path lie ^¬ constricting trough-shaped receptacles each for a beverage can. In the closed position, a beverage can is transported into the inner receptacle ^¬ me, wherein the removal of the beverage can is prevented. In the removal position, the beverage can rolls in externa ^¬ ßere recording, whereby at the same time prevents a further beverage can is transported into the inner receptacle. The housing of the dispenser has integrated cooling.

The horizontal transport of beverage cans brings with it in particular the disadvantage that the can dispenser of the prior art has comparatively large dimensions, which are not very suitable for sales counters.

Disadvantageously, further actuation of the output flap is required in order to remove the beverage can from the can dispenser. The consumer therefore has to overcome a barrier for the removal of a Ge ^¬ beverage can, which is an obstacle to the sale of the beverage cans. In addition, it is disadvantageous that the manufacturer identification on the beverage cans is not or only with difficulty recognizable.

WO 2013/106742 describes a different type of device for dispensing cartridges which is brought into an inclined position by means of a stand. Thus, an unused cartridge can be yielded by the Gravitati ^¬ onskraft when a cartridge has been removed. In the figures, a Substituted ^¬ staltung is shown with five channels, which have a front and back voltage Entnahmeöff ^¬ a supply opening into which the Cartridges are inserted before this due to the

Glide gravity into the channel and at the other end, if necessary, can be removed again from the removal opening. In addition, in an alternative embodiment, the front can be opened.

GB 2 247 068 shows a different container for cans, which can be brought to the desired temperature by means of a cooling device, which is accommodated in the rear area of the container. For this purpose, cooled air is transported from the Kühlein ^¬ direction by means of a fan through a duct in a forward region in which the cans are stored. The cans to be cooled are placed on a guide, with which the cans are forwarded with the assistance of gravity and provided in succession. The cans are placed in the container via a lid.

US 4 598 828 discloses a different kind of shelf for dispensing bottles or cans in an upright condition. The shelf has between two side parts on an inclined base surface, wherein sliding points are made of a material with a low coefficient of friction. With flanges, the base surface is attached to the Sei ^¬ tenteilen and thus created a rack assembly. At the ends of the shelf stoppers are mounted, which stop the Gleitbewe ^¬ tion of the can at the end of the base.

EP 2 147 616 describes a different type of storage shelf for dispensing pharmaceutical products which is intended to be stored in refrigerators.

US 8 657 126 shows another, different type of dispenser. The products to be dispensed can be dispensed by opening a lid in the dispenser, whereupon they roll down a ramp and reach the dispensing openings. The removal opening is located on the same side as the lid.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to at least single disadvantages of the prior art to be ^¬ sided or to alleviate. A particular object of the invention is a device for dispensing beverages of the type cited style to create, which combines a small size with a simple Befüllbarkeit.

According to the invention, the housing on the side remote from the removal element on a substantially perpendicular to the sliding surface extending receiving opening for the introduction of beverage containers.

Accordingly, the device according to the invention on the Rücksei ^¬ te, ie, opposite the removal element, a substantially ^¬ perpendicular to the sliding surface extending receiving opening, which is preferably formed according to the cross section of the guide channel ^¬ Füh ^¬ . Advantageously, therefore, the beverage containers can be introduced in the upright or standing state via the receiving opening in the guide channel, wherein the beverage containers can be performed in succession, in the isolated state under the influence of gravity on the sliding surface. For this purpose, the sliding surface is forward, inclined in the direction of the removal element. The angle of the sliding ^¬ surface to the horizontal is between 15 ° and 20 °, in particular substantially 17.5 °. The sliding movement of the beverage containers during filling is stopped by the respective preceding beverage container or - in the unfilled state - by the removal element, which is preferably substantially barrier ^¬ free, in particular without a flap or the like, connected to the housing. Thus, the can dispenser can be individually filled with the beverage containers. Advantageously, the filling can be made in the assembled state of use of the device, with inclined sliding surface. Unlike the prior art, it is therefore not necessary to open the device and to put the beverage containers in the guide channel. In particular, it is not necessary in the embodiment according to the invention to bring the guide channel for introducing the beverage containers in a horizontal position. The beverage container according to the invention can be inserted via the rear receiving opening, wherein the beverage container to slide individually in the intended position within Guide # ^¬ approximately channel and the taking-out member. Accordingly, the device can be refilled continuously in use. The guide channel is preferably elongated in the direction of the sliding surface. stretches, in particular, a single row of Getränkebe ^¬ containers in the guide channel finds room. As a beverage container 250 milliliter doses are preferably provided, which are used for example in energy drinks or iced coffee. The inventive design is characterized by be ^¬ particularly small space requirement, creating a variety of applications, such as an insert at sales counters or the like, is opened. In addition, the refilling of the beverage containers over the prior art can be significantly simplified.

In order to prevent tipping over of a sliding along the sliding surface in the scattered state of the beverage container, it is preferably provided that the guide channel comprises opposite to the sliding surface ^¬ a retaining surface for increased stability of the Getränkebehäl ^¬ ters in the guide channel. Accordingly, the guide ^{channel is} designed to be closed in cross-section. The upper side of the guide channel is designed as a retaining surface with which it is reliably prevented that the beverage container tips over during sliding along the sliding surface in the intended position to the front. Lack of top-side Rückhalteflä ^¬ che would be the state of the art not able to leave the Ge ^¬ beverage container slide in the isolated state in the intended position, since the drinks containers could forward umkip ^¬ pen in particular due to the frictional engagement of the sliding surface. In contrast, the retention surface on the upper side of the guide channel causes the beverage containers to be held in an upright state even when the beverage containers are inserted individually, ie not adjacent to one another, along the guide channel. By the retaining surface in connection with the receiving opening on the back of the housing thus a malfunction during filling can be reliably prevented.

In order to secure the beverage container when sliding along the sliding surface in the isolated state against tipping, it is advantageous if the height of the guide channel between the sliding surface and the retaining surface to the 1.004 to 1.007-fold, preferably ^¬ substantially to the 1, 0055 -fold, greater than the height of the beverage container arranged therein. In this version tion is therefore at least a beverage container part of the device. The height of the guide channel, ie its extension perpendicular to the sliding surface, is in said ratio to Hö ^¬ he or longitudinal extent of the beverage container. As a result, a small clearance between the beverage container and the retaining surface is created, with which on the one hand the sliding of the beverage container is not hindered and on the other hand reliably ensures that the retaining surface returns a tilting forward beverage container in the fully applied to the sliding surface state.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the height of the guide channel between the sliding surface and the retaining ^¬ surface of 135.5 mm to 136 mm, in particular substantially 135.75 mm, and the height of the beverage container arranged therein between 134.75 mm and 135, 25 mm, in particular substantially 135mm, and the width of the guide channel between two sides ^¬ surfaces preferably from 54 mm to 55 mm, in particular in ^¬ We sentlichen 54.5 mm, and the diameter of the beverage container arranged therein from 52.75 mm to 53 , 25 mm, in particular in ^¬ We sentlichen 53 mm.

In order to keep the cooling losses through the receiving opening as low as possible, a closure element for closing the receiving opening is preferably provided, which is preferably designed as a flap which is pivotable between a recording opening closing the use position and the receiving opening releasing loading position. The flap is preferably pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis to release selectively ^¬, the receiving opening extending perpendicular to the sliding surface or to close.

In order to achieve a compact device with sufficient cooling power, it is advantageous if the cooling device has a cooling element which has a first cooling surface parallel to the sliding surface and / or a second cooling surface parallel to a first side surface of the guide channel and / or a third cooling surface parallel to a second side surface having the guide ^¬ channel. Preferably, the first, second and third cooling surfaces are provided, so that the cooling element the guide channel surrounds essentially U-shaped

According to a first preferred embodiment, the first cooling surface of the cooling device extends along the sliding surface and / or the second cooling surface of the cooling device along the first side surface and / or the third cooling surface along the second side surface of the guide channel. In this embodiment, therefore, the first cooling surface is part of the sliding surface, the second cooling surface part of the first side surface and the third Kühlflä ^¬ che part of the second side surface of the guide channel. From this ^¬ execution is particularly suitable for an embodiment of the cooling device having a Peltier element.

According to a second preferred embodiment, the first cooling surface of the cooling device adjacent to the sliding surface and / or the second cooling surface of the cooling device adjacent to the first side surface and / or the third cooling surface Benach ^¬ extends the second side surface of the guide channel. In this embodiment, the first, second and third cooling surfaces are arranged at a distance from the sliding surface, the first and second side surface of the guide channel. This embodiment is suitable in ^¬ particular in an embodiment of the cooling device with a compressor cooler, wherein preferably a U-shaped evaporator is provided, which surrounds the separately formed guide channel with the sliding surface and the side surfaces. As a result, icing of the guide channel is prevented.

In order to form the sliding surface with the required inclination, it is favorable when the housing put on an upright member for at ^¬ is supported on a flat Absteilfläche, wherein the Ge ^¬ housing is arranged by means of the upright member in the angle to the horizontal. The upright element may, for example, have a bracket which can be placed flat on the abutment surface.

In order to bring the beverage containers individually in the removal position, it is favorable when the housing is connected via a substantially to the sliding surface extending perpendicularly dispensing opening with the Ent ^¬ pickup element having a contact area for egg ^¬ NEN beverage containers and an upper-side extraction opening. If a beverage container is removed from the extraction element men, the behind arranged beverage container slides into the sampling element. The contact surface of the removal member preferably forms an extension of the sliding surface Guide # ^¬ approximately channel. In use, the beverage container is preferred over an upper edge of the taking-out member, so that the Ge ^¬ beverage container can be removed accessible.

To simplify the maintenance of the device, the housing preferably has an upper housing part and a lower housing ^¬ part, which are preferably connected to each other via a detachable connection, in ^¬ particular via a plug connection, wherein the guide channel preferably each a section in the Obe ^¬ ren housing part and a portion in the lower housing part. The upper housing part is preferably formed substantially cylindrical. The portion in the upper housing part and the portion in the lower housing part in cross-section in each case are preferred ^¬ rectangular, the portions talk ent ^¬ together in cross-section substantially the shape of the beverage container.

The invention will be explained below with reference to a preferred Ausfüh ^¬ tion example, to which it should not be limited, however. In the drawing shows:

1 is a perspective view of an inventive device for dispensing beverage cans.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device according to FIG. 1; FIG. and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the device according to Fig. 1, 2, wherein a guide channel with a sliding surface for the Getränkedo ^¬ sen and a retaining surface at the top of the guide channel is visible.

1 to 3 show a device 1 for dispensing elongated, in cross-section substantially cylindrical beverage containers 2, which are formed in the illustrated embodiment by 250 ml beverage cans. The device 1 has a housing 3 for receiving the beverage containers 2. The housing 3 consists of an upper housing part 4 and a lower housing part 5, which are releasably connected together in the embodiment shown. At the front, the device 1, a removal ^¬ element 6, on which a single beverage container 2 can be removed. For this purpose, the removal element 6 on a flat footprint (not shown), on which the beverage container 2 stands up. The withdrawal member 6 has upper ^¬ other on a removal opening 7 from which the container can be Getränkebe ^¬ 2 lifted. The beverage container 2 is above an upper edge 8 of the sampling element 6 upwards to facilitate the removal. The device 1 further comprises ei ^¬ ne (only schematically apparent) cooling device 9, with which both the arranged inside the housing 3 beverage container 2 and within the removal element 6 ^¬ arranged beverage container 2 can be cooled. The cooling device 9 can be a per se known Peltier element (not ge ^¬ shows) or a compressor cooler (not shown). Furthermore, the cooling device may have insulation on the housing 3 in order to reduce the cooling losses during operation. With the aid of the cooling device 9, the interior of the housing 3 is cooled, wherein on the removal element 6, a cooling sump is formed for cooling the beverage container 2 placed there.

As seen from Fig. 3, the housing 3 has a longitudinally extending guide channel ^¬ device 10 to a forward inclined to the horizontal, in the direction of taking-out member 6 sliding ^¬ surface 11. The width of the guide channel 10, ie, its shorter dimension, in cross-section perpendicular to the conveying direction, is less than the height of the guide channel 10, that is, its can He ^¬ stretching perpendicular 11 to the sliding surface As a result, the Ge ^¬ beverage container 2 in the stationary or on-end state along the Sliding surface 11 of the guide channel 10 slide, in contrast to a rolling bearing as in many known can donors. Accordingly, a beverage container 2 in the unfilled state of the device 1 slip under the influence of gravity in the sampling element 6. In this case, the bottom surface of the beverage container 2 facing away from the drinking opening slides on the sliding surface 11 of the guide channel 10. As soon as the beverage container 2 is removed, the beverage container 2 arranged behind slides into the removal element 6. For this purpose, the housing 3 on the side of the removal element 6 has a substantially vertical to the sliding surface 11 extending discharge opening 15, which is shaped substantially corresponding to the beverage container 2.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the housing 3 on the side facing away from the taking-out member 6 side has a substantially extended perpendicular to the sliding surface receiving opening 12 for a lead ^¬ beverage containers 2 into the conveying channel 10. For closing the receiving opening 12, a closure element 13 is provided, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a flap which can be pivoted between a use position (see FIG. 2) closing the receiving opening 12 and a loading position releasing the receiving opening 12. In Fig. 2 are also various ventilation slots 14 of the Kühlvor ^¬ direction 9 can be seen, which may have per se known fans.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 further be seen, the housing 3 is connected to an upright element 16, which footprint on a level waste is turned off, the housing 3 is placed with the sliding ^¬ surface 11 at an angle to the horizontal, wel ^¬ cher an automatic sliding of the beverage container 2 via the sliding surface 11 allows. In the embodiment shown, the upright element 16 has a bracket 17 which lies flat on the abutment surface and which is connected to the lower housing part 5 via sections 18 which are angled therefrom. As a result, a clearance is created between the top of the bracket 17 and the bottom of the lower Ge ^¬ housing part 5. As a pillar element 16 may alternatively be provided a further housing part in which a compressor radiator of the cooling device 9 may be arranged (not shown). In this embodiment, the housing 3 is on the further housing part on the Absteilfläche.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 3, the guide channel 10 at the upper side, ie opposite the sliding surface 11, has a flat retaining surface 19 extending parallel to the sliding surface 11 for tilt-securing the beverage container 2 in the guide channel 10. In addition, the guide channel 10 each have a first side surface 20 and a second side surface 21, which are substantially perpendicular to the sliding surface 11. The height of the guide channel 10, ie the extension between the Sliding surface 10 and the retaining surface 19, in the embodiment shown to the 1, 0055-fold greater than the height of the arranged therein beverage container 2. In the case of 250 ml beverage can, the height of the guide channel 10 is in Wesentli ^¬ chen 135.75 mm and the height of the beverage container 2 arranged therein is substantially 135 mm. The width Guide # ^¬ approximately channel 10 between the first 20 and second side surface 21 is 54.5 mm substantially.

In the embodiment shown, the cooling device 9 has a cooling element 22 which has a first cooling surface 23 parallel to the sliding surface 11, a second cooling surface 24 parallel to the first side surface 20 of the guide channel 10 and a third cooling surface 25 parallel to the second side surface 21 of the guide channel 10. In this embodiment, the first cooling ^¬ surface 23 of the cooling device 9, the second cooling surface 24 of the cooling device 9 along the first side surface 20 and the third cooling surface 25 along the second side surface 21 of the guide channel extends along the sliding surface 11, 10. The cooling device 9 comprises in the embodiment shown on a Peltier element. Alternatively, a compressor cooler (not shown) may be used. In this case, the first cooling surface 23 of the cooling device 9 adjacent to the sliding surface 11, the second cooling surface 24 of the cooling device 9 adjacent the first side surface 20 and the third cooling surface 25 adjacent the second side surface 21 of the guide channel 10 are arranged.

Claims

Claims :

1. Device (1) for dispensing elongated beverage containers (2), in particular of beverage cans, with a housing (3) for

Receiving the beverage container (2), with a removal element (6) for removing a beverage container (2), and with a Kühlvor ^¬ direction (9) for cooling the beverage container (2), wherein the housing (3) has a guide channel (10) a sliding surface (11) inclined to the horizontal for the beverage containers (2), the width of the guide channel (10) being smaller than its height, the beverage containers (2) standing in the standing position along the sliding surface (11) of the guide channel (10) into the removal element (6), characterized in that the housing (3) on the side remote from the removal element (6) a substantially perpendicular to the sliding surface (11) he stretched ^¬ receiving opening (12) for introducing beverage containers (2) having.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide channel (10) opposite the sliding surface (11) ei ^¬ ne retaining surface (10) for tilt protection of the beverage container (2) in the guide channel (10).

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the height of the guide channel (10) between the sliding surface (11) and the retaining surface (19) by the 1.004 to 1.007-fold, preferably before ^¬ substantially the 1, 0055 times larger than the height of the beverage container (2) arranged therein.

4. Device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the height of the guide channel (10) between the sliding surface ^¬ (11) and the retaining surface (19) of 135.5 mm to

136 mm, in particular substantially 135.75 mm, and the height of the beverage container (2) arranged therein is between 134.75 mm and 135.25 mm, in particular substantially 135 mm, the width of the guide channel being between two side surfaces (20 , 21), preferably of 54 mm (up to 55 mm, in particular in Wesentli ^¬ chen 54.5 mm, and the diameter of the beverage container disposed therein 2) from 52.75 mm to 53.25 mm, in particular in ^¬ We sentlichen 53 mm, is.

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a closure element (13) for closing the receiving opening (12) is provided, which is preferably designed as a flap which between a Aufnahmeöff ^¬ tion (12) closing position of use and a receiving opening (12) releasing loading position is pivotable.

6. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cooling device (9) has a cooling element (22) which has a first cooling surface (23) parallel to the sliding surface ^¬ (11) and / or a second Cooling surface (24) parallel to ei ^¬ ner first side surface (20) of the guide channel (11) and / or a third cooling surface (25) parallel to a second ^{Seitenflä ¬} che (21) of the guide channel (10).

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first cooling surface (23) of the cooling device (9) along the sliding surface (11) and / or the second cooling surface (24) of the cooling device (9) along the first side surface (20)

and / or the third cooling surface (25) extends along the second side surface (21) of the guide channel (10).

8. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first cooling surface (23) of the cooling device (9) adjacent to the sliding surface (11) and / or the second cooling surface (24) of the cooling device (9) adjacent to the first side surface (20) and / or the third cooling surface (25) adjacent to the second Be ^¬ th area (21) of the guide channel (10).

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing (3) is supported on a upright element (16) for placement on a flat Absteilfläche, wherein the housing (3) by means of the upright element (16) is arranged at the angle to the horizontal.

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the housing (3) via a substantially perpendicular to the sliding surface (11) extending discharge opening (15) is connected to the removal element (6) having an up - Stand area for a beverage container and a top removal opening has.

11. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing (3) has an upper housing part (4) and a lower housing part (5), which preferential ^{¬ way} via a detachable connection, in particular via a

Plug connection, are interconnected, wherein the guide channel (10) preferably each a portion in the upper housing ^¬ part (4) and a portion in the lower housing part (5) has on ^¬ .