EP3696778A1

EP3696778A1 - Automatic vending machine of items

Info

Publication number: EP3696778A1
Application number: EP20156145.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Flisi
Original assignee: Laservideo SRL
Current assignee: Laservideo SRL
Priority date: 2019-02-12
Filing date: 2020-02-07
Publication date: 2020-08-19
Also published as: IT201900002011A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic vending machine (1) of a plurality of items (P), comprising: a plurality of storages (50) for housing the items (P),an automated dispensing apparatus (110), which is configured to move the items (P) with respect to the storages (50), a measuring apparatus (205,210) housed inside the vending machine and configured to detect the value of a parameter indicating the number of items (P) present inside a storage (50), and an electronic control and command unit (200), which is operatively connected to the measuring apparatus (205,210) and is configured to calculate the number of items (P) present in the storage (50), based on the value indicating the number of product detected by the measuring apparatus (205,210).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an automatic vending machine of items.
More specifically, this invention relates to a vending machine for the automatic dispensing and sale of items, for example, packets of cigarettes, packets of fine-cut tobacco, packets of chewing gum, packets of sweets, packets of condoms.

PRIOR ART

As is known, automatic item vending machines are intended for installation outside tobacconists or in any case in areas intended for the passage of users.
These automatic vending machines comprise a plurality of storages, each of which is equipped with an access opening, for access from the outside to the internal volume of the storage, and an automated dispensing device for items, configured to move the items towards the access opening and/or to extract them from the storage making them pass through said opening.
In known automatic vending machines, in particular those with manual loading, to know the number of items inside the storages the operator has to go to the vending machine, and interrupting the service, manually count them, which also has the risk of counting errors.
An object of the present invention is to make available a vending machine that does not require such interruptions of service and which ensures reliable counting, all within a rational and cost-effective solution.
Such object is achieved by the features of the invention indicated in the independent claim. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the aforementioned constraints of the prior art are overcome by the vending machine according to the invention, which comprises:

a plurality of storages for housing the items,
an automated dispensing apparatus, which is configured to move, for example at least extract, the items with respect to the storages,
a measuring apparatus housed inside the vending machine and configured to detect the value of a parameter indicating the number of items present inside a storage, and
an electronic control and command unit, which is operatively connected to the measuring apparatus and is configured to calculate the number of items present in the storage, based on the value indicating the number of product detected by the measuring apparatus.

With this solution, the vending machine is more efficient and safe compared to vending machines of the prior art, as they allow the implementation of an inventory which is free from possible human errors and which does not require the interruption of the vending machine service. For example this also allows an operator to know the number of items present in a given storage and to decide whether to add others, rapidly and without having to stop the vending machine.
According to an aspect of the invention, the electronic control and command unit is configured to compare the calculated number of items present in a storage with a pre-set threshold value of the number of items for such storage and to generate a warning signal when the calculated number of items falls below the pre-set threshold value.
In this way, it is for example possible to warn an operator that the storage must be filled with new items, before these have all been dispensed.
According to another aspect of the invention, the vending machine can be equipped with a casing which comprises a box-shaped body that is equipped with an opening, and a door connected in a movable manner to said box-shaped body between a first position, wherein the opening of the casing is obstructed, and a second position, wherein it allows access to an internal volume of the casing, wherein the storages of the plurality of storages and the dispensing apparatus are housed.
In this way the vending machine is suited to being installed in public places or in any case in areas where there is a passage of a plurality of users.
According to another aspect of the invention, the vending machine may comprise a sensor operatively connected to the electronic control and command unit and configured to detect the position, between the first and the second one, where the door is located, and wherein the electronic control and command unit is configured to calculate the number of items present in a storage each time the door is driven from the second position to the first position, through the activation of the measuring apparatus.
With this solution, the vending machine is safer, in terms of risk of theft, compared to a vending machine of the prior art, as the solution records the effective number of items in the storages when the door is closed. Specifically, with the vending machines of the prior art, a user in charge of inserting new items in the vending machine could steal some of them, not inserting them in the vending machine, an action which the automated item counter, after closing the door, would no longer render feasible.
An aspect of the invention provides for the measuring apparatus to comprise an optical apparatus configured to detect the value of the parameter indicating the number of items present inside a storage.
In this way the system is particularly versatile and not requiring direct contact with the items to count, safeguards the integrity of the items and guarantees high mobility of the dispensing apparatus, as it does not introduce obstacles to its movement inside the vending machine.
Preferable, each storage can be equipped with an internal volume for housing the items, an access opening to access the internal volume of the storage from the outside, and with a pusher device configured to move the items present in the internal volume of the storage, along a direction of movement, towards the access opening.
In this way the vending machine is effective and less inclined to blockages, for example compared to systems without an usher device which exploit the force of gravity to move the items inside.
Another aspect of the invention envisages that the optical apparatus may comprise:

a reference element associated with a portion of the pusher device, which portion is movable with the items along the direction of movement,
an optical unit configured to detect the value of a parameter indicating the distance of the reference element from the optical unit,

In this way the optical apparatus is particularly versatile and compact.
For example, the optical unit comprises an emitting device emitting a light beam, and a receiving device configured to receive a light beam reflected by the reference element when it is hit by the light beam of the emitting device.
In this way, the optical unit is particularly reliable and precise.
According to another aspect of the invention, the dispensing apparatus may comprise a manipulator robot, configured to move the items with respect to the storages, and wherein the optical unit is single and is connected to said manipulator robot, which moves the optical unit in such a way that said optical unit can detect its distance from the reference element of a pre-set storage.
With this solution, the measuring apparatus is particularly compact and versatile. According to another aspect of the invention, the vending machine may comprise a transmission device configured to convey the calculated number of packets outside of the vending machine.
In this way it is possible to always know the number of items present in the storages, even without being physically near the vending machine, that is the interface means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent after reading the following description provided by way of a non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a vending machine according to the invention.
Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the vending machine in Fig.1 wherein an external casing has been removed in order to render visible an internal environment of the vending machine.
Figure 3 is an enlargement of detail in Figure 2 relating to a manipulator robot of the vending machine.
Figure 4 is a further enlargement of detail in Figure 3 wherein a protective casing has been removed to render more visible the manipulator robot of the vending machine.
Figure 5 shows a side view of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a section view of figure 2, according to the plane of section VI-VI.
Figure 7 schematically shows an enlargement of a detail of figure 6.
Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the operational connections of an electronic control and command unit of the vending machine.

BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to these figures, 1 indicates overall an automatic vending machine for items, for example tobacco items such as packets of cigarettes, packets of fine-cut tobacco, chewing gum or other.
Preferably this is a vending machine wherein the loading of items inside is manual, that is it does not have a device configured to automatically position the items inside the vending machine.
In the illustrated embodiment, the vending machine 1 comprises a casing 15, for example box-shaped and equipped with an opening for access to the internal volume of the casing, the said casing 15 being preferably supported by a support frame 10 which is fitted inside the casing itself.
Preferably, the vending machine 1 of items P is of the cabinet type.
For example, the casing 15 is equipped with a door 20 connected, preferably hinged, to a box-shaped body of the casing 15 and adapted to allow access to the internal volume of the vending machine 1, that is the door 20 is movable between a first position, wherein it occludes the opening of the casing 15, and a second position, wherein it allows access to the internal volume of the casing 15.
The door 20 can be shaped as a plate-shaped body, for example rectangular.
The vending machine 1 may comprise a plurality of interface devices 30 with the user, for example an item selection device (touchscreen), a device for checking payments, etc., preferably housed in the door 20.
In an embodiment that is not illustrated, the vending machine is positioned inside a shop, for example a tobacconist, and does not have interface devices in the box-shaped body. In this embodiment the vending machine can be controlled via a cash register or a PC-POS terminal.
The vending machine also comprises a collection mouth 45 adapted to allow access from the outside from a collection zone of the items placed inside the vending machine 1.
The collection mouth 45 is made in the external box-shaped casing 15, for example in the door 20.
The vending machine 1 comprises a plurality of storages 50, for example horizontal. In practice, each storage 50 is configured to house inside a single type of items P, arranging said items P in a row, next to each other (in contact) along a substantially horizontal direction.
These storages 50 may be fixed, for example rigidly, that is fixed without any degree of freedom, to the support frame 10 and are totally contained within the box-shaped external casing 15.
Said storages may be configured to house both items of a regular shape, for example rectangular packets, and items of irregular shape, for example bags or sachets. Furthermore, each storage 50 can be configured to allow the sliding of the items P present inside along a direction of movement T, for example only along the direction of movement T, Ia which is preferably substantially horizontal.
The direction of movement T is the same direction along which the items P are arranged side by side in the row of items P present in the storage 50.
Each storage 50 can be sized in order to house the items P by measure sideways and guide them along the direction of movement T (and in this way prevent the rotation of the items P during their movement along the direction of movement T).
For example, each storage 50 is shaped as a channel, for example open at the top. Each storage 50 may present an access opening 55, for example a single access opening 55 placed at an end of the storage 50 itself, through which the items P are picked and inserted.
The access opening 55 is preferably configured so that its extension along the horizontal direction is greater than the maximum vertical extension of the items that can be housed inside the storage 50.
In the illustrated embodiment, each storage 50 also comprises a lower wall defining a supporting surface 60, for example substantially planar, which supports the items P present in the storage from the bottom. That is the items are resting on the top of the supporting surface 60.
The supporting surface 60 may be elongated in shape, for example rectangular, and develops (in its largest size) along the direction of movement of the items T inside the storage 50.
Each storage 50 may comprise a pair of opposing side walls, placed at the sides of the lower wall, and which develop along the direction of movement T.
Each side wall defines a guide surface 65 for the items P, which is for example transversal to the supporting surface 60, preferably perpendicular to the supporting surface 60.
Specifically, the distance between the guide surfaces 65 is adapted to fit the items P to measure, or with reduced clearance, in order to prevent the rotation of the items during their movement along the direction of movement T. Or again, the distance between the guide surfaces 65 is substantially equal to the width of the items P in a transversal direction to the direction of movement T.
Each storage may comprise a pusher device adapted to push the items P from an end of the storage opposite to the end wherein the access opening is positioned, towards the access opening, along the direction of movement T.
In the illustrated embodiment, the pusher device comprises an elastic element 70, for example a single elastic element 70, configured to work in the same direction as the direction of movement T.
Said elastic element 70 may be rigidly fixed to an end of the storage, opposite to the access opening 55 of the storage, preferably it is fixed to a plate that rises from an end of the supporting surface 60 opposite the access opening of the storage.
In the illustrated embodiment the elastic element 70 is a helical spring. However it is not excluded that in an equivalent embodiment the elastic element may be a leaf spring.
Furthermore, in the proposed embodiment, the pusher device comprises a mobile portion with the items P along the direction of movement T, that is it comprises a thrust body 75 interposed between the elastic element and the items P, for example fixed rigidly to the end of the elastic element opposite the plate.
This thrust body 75 may be sized to slide along the direction of movement T under the thrust of the pusher device, guided by the guide surfaces 65.
It is not excluded that in an alternative embodiment the pusher device may comprise a helical body, which placed in rotation to its own central axis moves the items P towards the access opening 55.
Each storage 50 may also comprise an end-of-stroke device 80 positioned at the access opening 55 and against which the pusher device is configured to push and hold pressed the items P, that is the row of items P. Furthermore the end-of-stroke device is sized in order to partially occlude the access opening 55.
With particular reference to figure 7, the end-of-stroke device 80 comprises a rotating wall 85 in respect of the supporting surface 60, for example rotating on a parallel axis to a lying plane of the supporting surface, and which presents an abutment surface 90 against which the items P are pushed by the pusher device.
The end-of-stroke device may also comprise an abutment body 95 associated to the wall 85 and adapted to prevent a rotation of the wall itself from a position in which the abutment surface 90 lies on a substantially perpendicular to the direction plane to the supporting surface 60, in a direction moving away from the items P or from the pusher device.
In other words, the end-of-stroke device 80 is configured so that the wall 85 can rotate only between a locking position, wherein the abutment surface lies on a plane substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface, and a position of access to the storage, in which the abutment surface faces onto the supporting surface 60, for example it is parallel to it, and is facing the items P.
The end-of-stroke device 80 may comprise a stabilisation element (not illustrated), configured to move and hold the wall 85 in the locking position in the absence of external forces.
This stabilisation element may for example be an elastic element.
Alternatively the stabilisation element may be a counterweight associated to the wall 85 in opposition to it in respect of the hinge between the wall 85 and the rest of the storage. In the illustrated embodiment, the end-of-stroke device 80 comprises an edge 100 which rises from the lower wall at the end of the wall near the access opening 55, to which the edge 100, in an intermediate portion, the wall 85 is hinged, so that an axis of rotation of said hinge divides the wall into a first stretch and a second stretch, wherein the first stretch present the abutment surface 90 for the items P, and the second stretch on the other hand defines the abutment body 95, which is adapted to come into contact with the edge 100 from an opposite side to a side of the edge facing the items P in order to limit the rotation of the wall.
The storages 50 of the plurality of storages 50 may be arranged in a plurality of groups of storages A superposed in a plan view with each other, wherein each group of storages A is formed of a certain number of storages 50 alongside each other along a transversal side-by-side direction, for example perpendicular, to the direction of movement T of each storage.
For example the storages 50 vertically superimposed in a plan view with each other are spaced along a vertical axis so that between the items P of a storage 50 and storage superimposed to it there is an interspace, of for example between 0.5 cm and 5 cm.
The storages 50 of each group of storages A are preferably positioned so that all the supporting surfaces 60 are coplanar with each other. The supporting surfaces 60 of the storages of the different groups of storages A are positioned in order to be parallel to each other.
For example, all the storages 50 are oriented so that the access openings 55 of the storages 50 of each group of storages A are superposed in a plan view to the access openings 55 of the storages 50 of the other groups of storages A, thus defining a single continuous area, substantially lying on a vertical plane, of access to all the storages 50. The vending machine 1 may comprise a slide 105 (or equivalently, a hopper) directly connected to the collection mouth 45.
Said slide 105 is preferably placed laterally side by side in the plan view to the storages 50 so that they are not directly in communication with the access openings of the storages 50. The slide does not intersect the access area to the storages.
The vending machine 1 comprises an automated dispensing apparatus for items, which is configured to move, for example at least extract, the items P from the storages, that is to move the items P from the storages towards the collection mouth 45.
The movement apparatus is configured to access the single storages 50 through the access openings 55.
The automated dispensing apparatus comprises preferably a manipulator robot 110 configured to grip the items and move them at least from a pre-set storage 50 to the collection mouth 45.
Said manipulator robot 110 may comprise a gripper unit of the items configured to directly grip and release the items P.
The manipulator robot 110 may comprise a first actuator 130 configured to move the gripper unit along a substantially horizontal sliding axis X, for example parallel to the direction of movement T.
In practice, the first actuator 130 is configured to move the gripper unit through the access openings 55 of the storages 50.
The first actuator 130 comprises a first element 135, for example a rod, rigidly fixed to the gripper unit, and a second element 140 in respect to which the first element 135 is slidably associated according to the sliding axis X.
The manipulator robot 110 may also comprise a second actuator 145, which is configured to move the gripper unit, that is to move the first actuator 130, along a substantially horizontal sliding axis Y perpendicular to the sliding axis X.
In particular, the second actuator 145 comprises a first element 150, for example a mobile platform, to which the second element 140 of the first actuator 130 is rigidly fixed (without any degree of freedom), and a second element 155 in respect of which the first element 150 is slidably associated according to the sliding axis Y.
Furthermore, the manipulator robot 110 may comprise a third actuator 160, which is configured to move the suction cups 115, that is to move the second actuator 145, along a substantially vertical sliding axis Z perpendicular to the sliding axes X and Y.
In particular, the third actuator 160 comprises a first element 165, for example a pair of carriages, to which the second element 155 of the second actuator 145 is rigidly fixed (without any degree of freedom), and a second element 170, for example a pair of guides fixed to respective uprights of the support frame 10 of the vending machine, in respect of which the first element 165 is slidably associated according to the sliding axis Z.
In the illustrated embodiment, the gripper unit is equipped with a suction cup 115, preferably a plurality of suction cups 115, adapted to come into contact with the items P to move.
Each suction cup 115 may comprise a concave portion 120, for example flared, at least partially adapted to come into direct contact with the items P, for example a portion of a face of an item P.
The concave portion 120 may have an external perimeter B, that is facing the outside of the suction cup, which is entirely adapted to come into direct contact with the item. Said concave portion 120 presents an axis of symmetry S lying on a horizontal plane.
The axes of symmetry S of the suction cups 115 are preferably parallel to each other. The suction cups 115 may be rigidly fixed to a single support plate 125 of the gripping unit.
In the illustrated embodiment, the suction cups 115 are arranged at the vertex of an imaginary square lying on a vertical plane, that is the axes of symmetry of the concave portions 120 each intersect a different vertex of an imaginary square lying on a vertical plane.
Furthermore, the suction cups 115 are arranged with axes of symmetry S parallel to the feed axes T of the storages
The gripping unit also comprises a pneumatic circuit (not shown) connected to each suction cup 115 and configured to generate a depression in each one of them, that is configured to generate a depression inside the concave portion 120 of each suction cup 115.
The manipulator robot 110 comprises a protective casing 175 adapted to protect the first actuator 130 and the second actuator 145.
The manipulator robot 110 is entirely housed in a portion of internal volume of the vending machine between a plane on which the access openings 55 of the storages lie and the portion of external box-shaped casing facing said access openings 55.
The vending machine comprises an electronic control and command unit 200, operatively connected to the automated dispensing apparatus and to the interface means 30 to actuate the automated dispensing apparatus, that is the manipulator robot 110, to move a chosen item P present in a pre-set storage 50 towards the collection mouth 45, according to a command given via the interface means 30.
The vending machine 1 comprises a measuring apparatus, which is housed inside the vending machine 1, that is inside the casing 15, and is configured to selectively detect, for example autonomously, that is without the aid of an operator, the value of a parameter indicating the number of items P present inside a (chosen) storage 50, for example inside each storage 50 of the plurality of storages 50.
For example, the measuring apparatus comprises a sensor apparatus housed inside the casing 15, which is configured to detect the value of the parameter indicating the number of items P present inside a (chosen) storage 50.
The measuring apparatus, that is the sensor apparatus, may comprise an optical apparatus configured to detect the value of the parameter indicating the number of items P present inside a (chosen) storage 50. For example, the measuring apparatus consists of the optical apparatus.
In the illustrated embodiment, with particular reference to figure 7, the optical apparatus comprises a reference element 205, which is associated to a (pre-set) portion of the pusher device which is mobile with the items along the direction of movement T. That is, it comprises a plurality of reference elements 205, each associated to a (pre-set) portion of the pusher device of a respective storage 50.
In particular, each reference element 205 is fixed, for example without any residual degree of freedom, to the thrust body 75 of the pusher device, preferably in order to protrude vertically with respect to the thrust body, for example at a height greater than a maximum height of the items P present in the storage 50.
In practice, the vertical extension of the reference element 205 is substantially equal by default to the vertical extension of each storage 50, that is to the distance between the supporting surface 65 of a storage and the storage 50 superimposed to it on a plan view.
Or again, in other words, the reference element 205 extends at least partially into the interspace present between the items P of a storage and the storage superimposed to it.
The reference element is made in an optically reflecting material, that is it is able to reflect a light beam. The reference element is for example a plate-shaped body.
It is not excluded that in an alternative embodiment, not shown, wherein the pusher device comprises a helical body, the reference element may be dragged in rotation by a pre-set spiral of the helical body.
The optical apparatus also comprises an optical unit 210, for example a single optical unit, which is configured to detect the value of a parameter indicating the number of items present in a storage, where said indicating parameter is a parameter indicating the distance of the optical unit 210 from the reference element 205.
In other words, the optical unit 210 is configured to detect the distance of the reference element 205 from the optical unit itself.
The optical unit 210 may comprise: an emitting device 215 configured to emit a light beam, for example a laser beam, hitting the reference element 205, and a receiving device 220, which is configured to detect a light beam reflected by the reference element when it is hit by the light beam emitted by the emitting device 215.
The emitting device and the receiving device are for example coplanar.
In this embodiment of the optical unit, the value indicating the distance measured from the optical unit is therefore the distance of the emitting device and the receiving device from the reference element 205.
It is not excluded that in an alternative embodiment not shown, the optical unit may comprise a video-camera, for example configured to detect the value of a parameter indicating the distance by detecting the size (in pixels) of the items or of the reference element in an image box.
The emitting device is oriented so that it emits a light beam substantially parallel to the direction of movement T, for example with an inclination of between +3° and -3° in respect of the direction of movement T, preferably between +1 ° and -1 °.
In the embodiment illustrated in the figures the optical unit 210 comprises a box-shaped casing 225, for example a single box-shaped casing 225, to which the emitting device 215 and the receiving device 220 are fixed.
The optical unit 210, that is the single optical unit 210, may be associated to the automated dispensing apparatus, that is to the manipulator robot 110, and is moved by it at the storage (or storages) for which one wishes to know the number of items P contained.
Specifically, the optical unit 210 is moved by the movement apparatus to the chosen storage and at a height at which the optical unit 210 can detect the reference element 205.
In the illustrated embodiment, the optical unit, that is the box-shaped casing 225, is integral (that is fixed without residual degrees of freedom) to the first actuator 130, for example al second element 135 of the first actuator 130, and is mobile with it.
The measuring apparatus, that is the optical unit 210, is operatively connected to the electronic control and command unit 200, which is configured to calculate the number of items P present in a given storage 50 according to the value indicating the number of items P detected by the measuring apparatus, that is according to the value indicating the distance of the optical unit 210 from the reference element 205.
Preferably, the electronic control and command unit 200 is connected to a database 201 containing (in addition to the type of item P present in each storage 50) the thickness of the type of item P present in each storage 50. Where thickness refers to the extension of the item P along the direction of movement T.
Alternatively the thickness could be considered as the distance between two identical portions of two items side by side in the storage along the direction of movement T.
The database 201 can also contain the spatial coordinates of each storage 50, that is of the access opening 55 of each storage 50, for the movement of the manipulator robot 110 and the spatial coordinates of the optical unit when it is at each storage 50, in particular the distance of the optical unit from the access opening of each storage 50 when the optical unit is at the storage.
The electronic control and command unit 200 can therefore calculate the number of items P present in a storage 50 according to the parameter indicating the distance of the optical unit 210 from the reference element 205, at the value of the thickness of the items and at a distance from the optical unit 210, that is of the emitting device 215 or the receiving device 220, from the access opening 55 of the storage 50.
For example, the distance of the optical unit 210, that is of the emitting device 215 or the receiving device 220, from the access opening 55 of the storage 50 is fixed, as the optical unit is connected to the manipulator robot 110 in order to move only along the Y and Z axes.
The electronic control and command unit 200 can be configured to be operatively connected to at least an interface device, for example an interface device 230 included in the vending machine 1 or an interface device 235 external to the vending machine 1. For example, the electronic control and command unit 200 may receive from the interface device, for example that inside or outside the vending machine, a command to count the items present in the vending machine.
The vending machine 1 may comprise transmission means 240 operatively connected to the electronic control and command unit 200, for communicating with the receiving means 245 operatively connected to the external interface device 235.
The transmission and receiving means are not further described as they are known to those skilled in the art.
The electronic control and command unit 200 can be configured to store the number of packets calculated in a storage device, for example a storage device 250 housed in the vending machine included in the vending machine or a storage device 255 external to the vending machine and connected to the receiving means 245.
In addition or alternatively, the electronic control and command unit 200 can be configured to send, for example by transmission means, the calculated number of packets to at least a receiving device 220, which is connected to at least one of either the interface device and the storage device.
In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic control and command unit 200 is configured to actuate the automated dispensing apparatus, that is the manipulator robot 110, in order to position the optical unit 210 opposite the access opening 55 of the storage 50 from which the number of items P is requested, substantially at the height between the items P of the storage 50 and the storage 50 superimposed thereon, that is at the height of the interspace between said storages 50.
Or in other words, at a height at which there are no obstacles between the reference element 205 and the optical unit 210.
The electronic control and command unit 200 can be configured to actuate the measuring apparatus in order to calculate the number of items P present in each storage 50 of the vending machine 1.
For example the electronic control and command unit 200 is configured to actuate the automated dispensing apparatus, that is the manipulator robot 110, in sequence in order to position the optical unit 210 opposite the access opening 55 of each storage 50 of the vending machine 1 and, when the optical unit 210 is in position, to calculate the number of items present in each storage 50.
The vending machine 1 may comprise a sensor 260 (shown only in the diagram in figure 8) operatively connected to the electronic control and command unit 200 and configured to detect if the door 20 is in the first position or in the second position. The sensor 260 may be any type of sensor suited to the purpose, for example a mechanical switch or a hall effect switch or an optical sensor.
This sensor 260 is operatively connected to the electronic control and command unit 200, which can be configured to calculate the number of items P present in a storage 50, for example to calculate the number of items P present in each storage 50 of the plurality of storages 50, each time the sensor 260 detects a passage of the door 20 from the second position to the first position.
In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic control and command unit 200 performs this operation by means of the activation of the optical unit 210, and the manipulator robot 110 for positioning the optical unit 210, each time the sensor detects a passage of the door 20 from the second position to the first position.
The electronic control and command unit 200 can also be configured to indirectly calculate the number of items inside a storage 50, that is in each storage 50, by subtracting from the number of items calculated by the value of the parameter indicating the number of items detected by the measuring apparatus, the number of items P dispensed subsequently from the time of reading of said parameter.
In this case the electronic control and command unit can be configured to:

store in the storage device 230,235 the number of packets present in each storage when the sensor 260 detects a variation in the position of the door 20 from the first position to the second position, for example this number of packets is the number of packets calculated indirectly,
add to this stored number the number of items P declared by an operator when inserting new items in the vending machine, for example communicated to the electronic control and command unit 200 by the interface device, and
compare the sum obtained by this addition with the number of items calculated by the measuring apparatus after the sensor 260 has detected a switch in the door 20 from the second position to the first.

If from this comparison it is found that the number of items P calculated by the measuring apparatus is less than said obtained sum, the electronic control and command unit 200 is configured to generate an alarm signal, for example also to store said alarm sign in the storage device 230,235 or to send it to the interface device 250,255.
The aforesaid comparison is done preferably considering separately the number of items in each storage 50, in respect of the items in the other storages P.
That is, the number of items calculated indirectly for each single storage 50 added to the number of declared items inserted by the operator using the interface device is compared with the number of packets calculated using the measuring apparatus in that storage.
For example, the electronic control and command unit 200 is configured to calculate the number of items present only in the storages for which the operator has declared to have inserted items, for example using the interface device, in that storage. In this way the operation for calculating the number of packets is energetically more efficient and possibly faster.
The operation of the item vending machine according to the invention is as follows. Normally a row of items P is found inside the storages 50, compressed by the elastic element 70 against the end-of-stroke element 80.
Therefore whatever the number of items P present in the storage 50, there is always an item P at the access opening 55, pressed against the end-of-stroke element 80.
When a user selects an item P using the interface devices 30, the electronic control and command unit 200 actuates the manipulator robot 110 so that it positions the suction cups 115 opposite the access opening 55 of the storage 50 containing the selected item.
In particular, during this positioning operation opposite the access opening 55, the electronic control and command unit actuates only the second actuator 145 and the third actuator 160.
Subsequently the electronic unit actuates the manipulator robot 110, that is the first actuator 130, so that it slides the suction cups 115 inside the storage 50 through the access opening 55 and presses the suction cups 115 against the item P positioned in contact with the end-of-stroke element 80.
During this operation the elastic element 70 delicately opposes the thrust of the first actuator 130 and the suction cups adhere to the item P.
Once the suction cups 115 have adhered to the item P the pneumatic circuit is actuated, which, generating a depression in the suction cup 115, guarantees a firm grip on the item P.
At this point the electronic control and command unit actuates the third actuator along the sliding axis Z in order to free the item P seized by the end-of-stroke element. That is the whole item P is brought to a height just above the maximum height of the end-of-stroke element 80.
Having reached this height the manipulator robot 110 is actuated to move the item to the collection mouth 45.
For example the manipulator robot moves the picked item P above the slide 105, so that it is superimposed in a plan view to it, and subsequently it is stopped by the pneumatic circuit to drop the item into the slide, from where it reaches the collection mouth.
The vending machine according to the invention is also able to calculate the number of packets contained inside a pre-set storage or inside each storage 50.
In particular, the electronic control and command unit 200, following a signal sent via an interface device or via the sensor 260 adapted to detect the position of the door, actuates the manipulator robot 110 to position the optical unit at the storages wherein the number of items are required, at a height at which the optical unit 210 intercepts the reference element 205.
Having detected the parameter indicating the distance between the optical unit 210 and the reference element 205, the electronic control and command unit 200 receives from the manipulator robot 110 the position in space of the optical unit 210, that is the distance of the optical unit from the access opening 55 of the storage 50 opposite which the optical unit was positioned, and retrieves from the database the thickness of the items present in that storage 50, in order to calculate the number of items.
If the calculated number of items is less than a threshold value, the electronic control and command unit sends a warning signal, for example to a remote device.
When the activation signal of the measuring apparatus comes from the sensor 260 positioned on the door 20, the measuring apparatus proceeds to calculate the number of items P present in each storage 50 of the vending machine 1.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.
Moreover, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims

Automatic vending machine (1) of a plurality of items (P), said vending machine comprising:
- a plurality of storages (50) for housing the items (P),

- an automated dispensing apparatus (110), which is configured to move the items (P) with respect to the storages (50),

- a measuring apparatus (205,210) housed inside the vending machine and configured to detect the value of a parameter indicating the number of items (P) present inside a storage (50), and

- an electronic control and command unit (200), which is operatively connected to the measuring apparatus (205,210) and is configured to calculate the number of items (P) present in the storage (50), based on the value indicating the number of product detected by the measuring apparatus (205,210).
Vending machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control and command unit (200) is configured to compare the calculated number of items (P) present in a storage (50) with a pre-set threshold value of the number of items for such storage and to generate a warning signal when the calculated number of items (P) falls below the pre-set threshold value.
Vending machine (1) according to claim 1, equipped with a casing (15), which comprises a box-shaped body that is equipped with an opening, and a door (20) connected in a movable manner to said box-shaped body between a first position, wherein the opening of the casing (15) is obstructed, and a second position, wherein it allows access to an internal volume of the casing (15), wherein the storages (50) of the plurality of storages (50) and the dispensing apparatus (110) are housed.
Vending machine (1) according to claim 3, comprising a sensor (206) operatively connected to the electronic control and command unit (200) and configured to detect the position, between the first and the second one, where the door (20) is located, and wherein the electronic control and command unit (200) is configured to calculate the number of items (P) present in a storage (50) each time the door (20) is driven from the second position to the first position, through the activation of the measuring apparatus (205,210).
Vending machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring apparatus comprises an optical apparatus (205,210) configured to detect the value of the parameter indicating the number of items (P) present inside a storage (50).
Vending machine according to claim 1, wherein each storage (50) is equipped with an internal volume for housing the items (P), an access opening (55) to access the internal volume of the storage from the outside, and with a pusher device (70,75) configured to move the items (P) present in the internal volume of the storage (50), along a direction of movement (T), towards the access opening (55).
Vending machine according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the optical apparatus comprises:
- a reference element (205) associated with a portion (75) of the pusher device, which portion is movable with the items (P) along the direction of movement (T),

- an optical unit (210) configured to detect the value of a parameter indicating the distance of the reference element from the optical unit,
and wherein the parameter indicating the number of items (P) present in a storage (50) is the parameter indicating the distance of the reference element (205) from the optical unit (210).
Vending machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein the optical unit (210) comprises an emitting device (215) emitting a light beam, and a receiving device (220) configured to receive a light beam reflected by the reference element when it is hit by the light beam of the emitting device.
Vending machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing apparatus comprises a manipulator robot (110), configured to move the items (P) with respect to the storages (50), and wherein the optical unit (210) is single and it is connected to said manipulator robot, which moves the optical unit in such a way that said optical unit can detect its distance from the reference element (205) of a pre-set storage (50).
Vending machine (1) according to claim 1, comprising a transmitting device (240) configured to transmit the calculated number of packets (P) outside the vending machine.