EP3786910A1 - Ergonomic dispensing of a vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Removal unit for a vending machine, vending machine with removal unit and method for dispensing goods on a vending machine. At least one displaceable panel of the removal unit, which forms part of a cover of a front door of the vending machine, which covers a front side of a housing of the vending machine, is designed and set up to be displaced relative to a further panel of the cover in such a way that a dispensing opening is formed in the cover can be, via which an output compartment of the removal unit of the vending machine is accessible from the outside.

Description

The present invention relates to a removal unit for a vending machine, a vending machine with a removal unit and a method for dispensing goods at a vending machine.

Vending machines or vending machines for short, which are often also referred to as self-sellers, have long been used for the sale of food, beverages, cigarettes or other objects and can be designed in a variety of different configurations, for example as confectionery machines, drinks machines, cigarette machines, general goods machines and like that. A vending machine is a device that is mainly used for the self-service sale of items with a low unit price, by dispensing the appropriately requested goods upon request and payment. Vending machines are usually set up in places with a high level of public traffic in order to offer the goods stored in the vending machine to the largest possible number of potential customers and thus to increase sales success.

Vending machines have a goods receiving device in the interior for receiving the goods. This goods receiving device is designed differently depending on how the individual goods are stored within the vending machine. In a particularly simple embodiment of the goods receiving device, the various goods can be arranged in shafts, one above the other in the interior. Vending machines often have transparent front doors, Via which the goods are presented to a potential buyer (e.g. large front door with glass or transparent front panel on the front door) so that the buyer can see the goods stored therein before making a purchase decision. In vending machines of this type, the goods are usually stored in goods compartments of the goods receiving device that are aligned with the front window, the goods compartments typically being arranged as a number of goods magazines next to one another. Furthermore, a large number of goods magazines are usually provided, which are arranged one above the other. The goods standing or hanging in the goods compartments are thus visible to a potential buyer via the transparent front pane, which has proven to be advantageous for sales reasons, since the supposed buyer can see directly, without any visual obstacles, which product he is actually buying.

The goods can be selected on a control panel attached to the front or on the front door or on a touch-sensitive screen and they can be paid for by inserting coins, inserting banknotes or cashless using an EC card.

For a delivery of the goods arranged one behind the other in the respective goods compartment, they are transported in the direction of an output area. This delivery of the respective goods from the goods compartments takes place, for example, via feed mechanisms provided in the goods compartments, such as slides, conveyor spirals, conveyor belts and the like. The foremost goods in each case then arrive in the output area in an output compartment of a removal device specially provided for this purpose. The movement of the feed mechanism is then stopped and the front of the output tray is locked again.

Particularly in the case of the upper compartments of a vending machine, goods fall comparatively very deeply into the output compartment, which is typically arranged close to the floor. Falling out of the goods from a great height is sometimes accompanied by damage to these goods, especially in the case of goods with a thin, less stable or fragile housing or with flexible packaging. In order to avoid this, some vending machines have a transfer device (e.g. with a lift) specially provided for the transfer of a requested product, which can be moved freely along the front of the various compartments in the x / z direction. Thus, in the event of a goods request, the respective goods compartment which contains the requested goods can be approached in a targeted manner with the transfer unit. The requested goods are now picked up by this transfer device, the requested goods initially falling only from a low height into a shopping cart of the transfer device and no longer, as it were, over the entire height of the vending machine. The goods picked up in this way are transferred (e.g. by means of the lift) to the intended output compartment, which is typically arranged at waist height, so that the buyer can conveniently remove the goods without having to bend down. There is usually no damage to the goods here. Therefore, the transfer device is used for more controlled transfer or transfer of the goods from one of the goods compartments to the output compartment without damaging the goods paid for.

In order to be able to remove the requested and paid goods from the vending machine, the output compartment of the known vending machines is accessible from the outside via a separate access mechanism, such as flaps, doors, etc., which can be locked until the payment is completed.

The separate access mechanism represents an additional component of the vending machine, which is difficult to secure against manipulation and attempts to gain access to the goods in the vending machine. In addition, the output compartment and the associated access mechanism are usually arranged in a lower area of the vending machine, so that the beetle has to bend down to remove the goods.

The object of the present invention is to solve or at least alleviate these problems by providing a removal device for a vending machine according to independent claim 1 and a vending machine with the removal device as well as a method for dispensing goods at a vending machine according to the further independent claims . Advantageous refinements and developments are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a removal device for vending machines comprises an output compartment and at least one displaceable panel. The output compartment can be arranged in an interior of a housing of a vending machine behind a front door of the vending machine. The output compartment is designed and set up to be able to receive goods dispensed from a goods compartment of a goods receiving device of the vending machine. The at least one displaceable panel can form part of a cover of the front door, which covers a front side of the housing. The at least one displaceable panel is designed and set up so that it can be displaced relative to a further panel of the cover in such a way that a dispensing opening can be formed in the cover. The output tray is accessible from the outside via the output opening.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a vending machine comprises a housing with an open front side, a front door, a goods receiving device and the removal device according to the first aspect of the present invention. The front door is arranged on the open front side of the housing. The front door is hinged to the housing. The front door can be locked to the housing. The goods receiving device is arranged in an interior space of the housing and can be attached to the front door. The goods receiving device has at least one goods compartment which is designed and set up to store and deliver goods. The output compartment of the removal device is arranged in the interior of the housing behind the front door. The output compartment is designed and set up to receive goods dispensed from the at least one goods compartment. The at least one displaceable panel of the removal device forms part of a cover of the front door, which covers the front of the housing. The at least one displaceable panel is designed and set up to be displaced in relation to a further panel of the cover in such a way that a dispensing opening is formed in the cover. The output tray is accessible from the outside via the output opening.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for dispensing goods at a vending machine comprises the steps of dispensing at least one product and moving at least one displaceable panel of the removal device. In the step of delivering at least one product a goods from a goods compartment of a goods receiving device of the vending machine delivered into an output compartment of a removal device of the vending machine. In the step of moving at least one displaceable panel, at least one displaceable panel of the removal device, which forms part of a cover of a front door of the vending machine, which covers a front side of a housing of the vending machine, is displaced relative to a further panel of the front door in such a way that a dispensing opening in the cover is formed. The output tray is accessible from the outside via the output opening.

Removal device is used to dispense at least one item from the vending machine. To this end, goods that have entered the output compartment are made accessible for access from the outside in that the at least one displaceable panel is displaced. By moving the panel in relation to the further panel, a dispensing opening is formed in the cover. The output compartment is accessible from the outside via the output opening so that the goods in the output compartment can be removed.

The output compartment receives goods delivered from the at least one goods compartment. The output compartment can be arranged in a lower region near a bottom of the housing in the vending machine. The output compartment can extend over an entire width of the goods receiving device. A deflection device, for example in the form of slideways or slides, can also be provided on the output compartment, which extends over the entire width of the goods receiving device and deflects goods delivered by the goods receiving device into the output compartment. After the dispensing opening by moving the at least one displaceable Panel was formed in the cover, the output compartment is no longer covered by the cover or the sliding panel. For this purpose, the dispensing compartment is arranged in relation to the sliding panel (in the housing of the vending machine) that only the dispensing compartment is accessible from the outside via the dispensing opening (the rest of the interior of the housing of the vending machine cannot be reached from the outside through the dispensing opening). The product (s) that are in the output compartment can then be removed from the output compartment through the output opening.

The at least one displaceable panel is provided in order to bring about an open state by being displaced with respect to at least one further panel of the cover, in which the dispensing opening is formed in the cover. The dispensing opening can also be formed by two or more slidable panels by sliding them against each other or against one or more further, non-slidable panels in the open state. In a closed state, the at least one displaceable panel and the at least one further panel are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the cover, which is formed from the panels, has no dispensing opening. In the closed state, the at least one displaceable panel rests against the at least one further panel or overlaps with it. In the closed state, the interior of the housing is completely covered on the open front side by the front door and the cover, so that the goods in the vending machine cannot be accessed from the outside, regardless of whether they are still in the goods receiving device or already in the output compartment .

The at least one displaceable panel can be disk-shaped and preferably have a rectangular base area with four side edges.

The at least one displaceable panel can be mounted and guided on two of its side edges in guides such as guide rails, dovetail guides, etc., which are attached to a frame of the front door. The displaceable panel is preferably only translationally displaceable in one direction in the guides and accordingly has a translational degree of freedom. All other translational and rotational degrees of freedom are blocked by the guides.

To form the dispensing opening, the at least one displaceable panel is only opened so far that only the dispensing compartment is accessible from the outside. The goods in the goods receiving device are not accessible from the outside in the opened state. In the open state, the at least one displaceable panel is only moved so far that the output opening formed is only so large that the goods that are in the output compartment from the outside, but not the goods that are still in the goods receiving device, are accessible. The at least one displaceable panel can be guided in the front door in such a way that it is guided in an offset manner behind the at least one further panel, which can also be displaceable. Due to the offset, there is no gap between the panels on a front side of the front door when the panels are closed. As a result, there is no point of attack for forcibly opening the at least one displaceable panel, since tools such as a crowbar cannot be used from the outside placed in a gap and the at least one sliding panel can be levered open.

The at least one displaceable panel can be displaced by an actuator such as an electric motor, a servo motor, a linear motor, etc., optionally via a gear unit. The actuator can be controlled by a control unit so that the at least one displaceable panel is displaced from the closed state into the open state in relation to the at least one further panel in order to form the dispensing opening if payment for a selected product was successful and the paid product is in the output tray. As soon as the goods have been removed, which can be checked, for example, via sensors such as scales, light barriers, etc., the control system can cause the actuator to move the at least one sliding panel from the open state to the closed state in relation to the at least one further panel, to close the dispensing opening. The at least one displaceable panel can, for example, be displaced via one or more driven rollers which are arranged in a frame of the front door and have frictional contact with the at least one displaceable panel, in that the panel, for example by guide rails, when the one or more rollers rotate guided in the frame of the front door, is moved accordingly.

The at least one displaceable panel is also designed and set up to be able to be displaced with respect to the at least one further panel of the cover in such a way that the dispensing opening in the cover can be closed. For this purpose, the at least one displaceable panel is placed on the at least one if there is a dispensing opening to move further panels until the at least one displaceable panel rests against the at least one further panel. The cover forms a completely closed area.

The vending machine (vending machine or self-seller) is used to sell goods such as food, beverages, cigarettes or other items. The vending machine can be, for example, a confectionery machine, a drinks machine, a cigarette machine, a general goods machine, etc., or a vending machine combined therefrom. One or more goods that have been selected and paid for can be dispensed by means of the removal device. For this purpose, the one or more goods are delivered from one or more corresponding goods compartments of the goods receiving unit into the output compartment and the output opening is formed by moving the at least one displaceable panel in the cover of the vending machine.

The housing of the vending machine has an open front and can have the shape of a box, a cylinder with a triangular, square, polygonal or round base. The interior or the interior of the housing is covered on the open front side by the front door and the cover (in the closed state). The cover is arranged or attached to the front door. In the closed state, in which the at least one displaceable panel and the at least one further panel rest against one another or overlap, the front side of the housing is completely covered by the front door and the cover. In the open state, in which the at least one displaceable panel is displaced with respect to the at least one further panel and does not lie against it or with it overlaps, the housing is accessible on the front via the dispensing opening. The output compartment is arranged in the interior of the housing in such a way that only the output compartment is accessible from the outside via the output opening. The rest of the interior space and in particular the goods in the goods receiving device are not accessible from the outside via the dispensing opening in the open state.

The front door is intended to close off the open front of the housing. The front door is articulated in the area of an edge of the housing on the front side, for example pivotably connected to the housing via two hinges. The front door can be locked to the housing, for example using a lock or security screws, etc. When the front door is locked to the housing, it cannot be moved away from the front of the housing. The front door comprises the cover, which is formed from the at least one sliding panel and the at least one further panel. The cover is arranged or attached to the front door in such a way that it covers the front side of the housing in the closed state and thus protects the interior of the housing from being accessed from the outside. In the open state, when the at least one displaceable panel is displaced with respect to the at least one further panel and does not lie against it or it overlaps, only the output compartment in the interior of the housing is accessible from the outside via the output opening formed. The rest of the interior of the housing remains protected from access from the outside through the front door and the cover, namely through the at least one displaced panel and the at least one further panel, even when it is open. The at least one further panel can also be connected to a frame of the front door, be formed by this or be made integral with this.

The cover is arranged or attached to the front door and is formed from the at least one sliding panel and at least one further panel. The cover can also be formed by two or more sliding panels, optionally also in combination with one or more non-sliding panels. In the closed state, the cover forms a closed surface which completely covers the front side of the housing together with the front door. The at least one displaceable panel is mounted displaceably in the front door. The at least one displaceable panel is preferably only translationally displaceable in one direction and can be mounted in a guide (guide rails, dovetail guide, etc.) on the front door. In the closed state, the displaceable panel can rest against the at least one further panel or overlap it and thereby form the closed surface of the cover. In the open state, the dispensing opening is formed in the cover in that the at least one displaceable panel has been displaced in such a way that it no longer rests against or overlaps the at least one further panel. In this case, optionally only in the open state, the output compartment is arranged in the housing in such a way that the output opening only allows access from the outside into the output compartment, but not into the rest of the interior of the housing.

The goods receiving device comprises at least one goods compartment. The goods receiving device preferably comprises a plurality of goods compartments which are arranged like a matrix in the interior of the housing. In particular, the goods compartments can be arranged next to one another in a plurality as a goods magazine and furthermore a plurality of goods magazines can be arranged one above the other. The at least one goods compartment stores several copies of a product or various goods and delivers them to the output compartment, for example via one or more feed mechanisms (e.g. slides, conveyor spirals, conveyor belts, etc.). The feed mechanism can be actuated by the control unit after at least one product has been selected and paid for, so that the selected (and paid) number of products is delivered from the corresponding product compartment.

In the step of dispensing at least one product, for example, the feed mechanism of the corresponding merchandise compartment is activated by the control unit and the selected goods are thus delivered in the appropriate number from the merchandise compartment of the goods receiving device of the vending machine into the output compartment of the removal device of the vending machine.

After the at least one product has been dispensed into the output compartment, the at least one displaceable panel of the removal device is displaced in the step of displacing at least one displaceable panel. The shifting can take place via an actuator which shifts the at least one displaceable panel away from the at least one further panel. The dispensing opening is formed in the cover by displacing the at least one displaceable panel relative to the at least one further panel. The output compartment is then accessible from the outside via the output opening. However, the rest of the interior of the housing remains inaccessible from the outside even through the dispensing opening.

The control unit or controller can control the dispensing unit according to the first aspect of the present invention or the vending machine with the dispensing unit according to the second aspect of the present invention by the method for dispensing goods according to the third aspect of the present invention. The control unit can be a computer or the like and / or data processing equipment such as microcontrollers (pC), integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), application-specific standard products (ASSP), digital signal processors ( DSP), field programmable (logic) gate arrangements (Field Programmable Gate Arrays, FPGA) and the like. Furthermore, the control unit can comprise a memory which is a data memory such as a magnetic memory (e.g. magnetic core memory, magnetic tape, magnetic card, magnetic strip, magnetic bubble memory, drum memory, hard disk drive, floppy disk or removable disk), an optical memory (e.g. holographic memory, optical tape, adhesive tape, laserdisc, phase writer (Phasewriter Dual, PD), compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), high definition DVD (HD DVD), Blu-ray disc (BD) or ultra density optical ( UDO)), a magneto-optical memory (e.g. MiniDisc or Magneto-Optical Disk (MO-Disk)), a volatile semiconductor memory (e.g. Random Access Memory (RAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM) or Static RAM (SRAM)), a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g. Read Only Memory (ROM), Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), Electrically EPROM (EEPROM), Flash EEPROM (e.g. USB stick), Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) or phase-change RAM) or a data carrier or S. can be storage medium.

With the removal device according to the invention, the vending machine according to the invention and the method according to the invention for dispensing goods, no separate access mechanism has to be provided on the vending machine in order to be able to remove the dispensed and paid goods from the output compartment. In addition, the output compartment is very well secured against manipulation and attempts to gain access to the goods in the vending machine, since the at least one sliding panel can only be opened with difficulty from the outside with external forces.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the removal device further comprises a transfer device. The transfer device is designed and set up to transfer goods dispensed from the goods compartment of the goods receiving device of the vending machine into the output compartment.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the step of transferring goods dispensed from a goods compartment of the goods receiving device. In the step of transferring goods delivered from a goods compartment of the goods receiving device, goods delivered from a goods compartment of the goods receiving device are transferred into the output compartment by means of the transfer device of the removal device.

The transfer unit is arranged behind the front door and the cover in the interior of the housing. The transfer unit picks up the goods that are delivered from the at least one goods compartment of the goods receiving device. The transfer device then transfers the goods to the output compartment. The output compartment of the transfer unit can also do this be moved so that the output compartment is located directly in front of the corresponding goods compartment when goods are delivered from it.

In the step of transferring goods dispensed from a goods compartment of the goods receiving device, either the goods after they have been dispensed into the output compartment or the output compartment can be moved to the corresponding goods compartment (before delivery).

The transfer unit prevents goods from being damaged by falling into the output compartment after they have been released from a goods compartment.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the transfer device and the output compartment form an output component. The output component comprises a positioning device and a shopping cart. The transfer unit is designed and set up to position the shopping cart by means of the positioning device either at the same height as the dispensing opening or at the same height as a goods compartment of the goods receiving device of the vending machine.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of positioning a shopping basket at the same height as the goods compartment and positioning the shopping basket at the same height as the dispensing opening. In the step of positioning a shopping cart at the same height as the goods compartment, a shopping cart of the output component of the removal device, which is formed from the transfer device and the output compartment, is at the same height as the goods compartment by means of a positioning device of the output component before the dispensing step positioned at least one product. In the step of positioning the shopping basket at the same height as the dispensing opening, the shopping basket is positioned at the same height as the dispensing opening by means of the positioning device after the step of dispensing at least one product.

The positioning device can be moved or shifted or positioned. The positioning device moves, shifts or positions the shopping cart accordingly. The positioning device can comprise a lift which can be moved in a z-direction vertically in front of the goods receiving device up to in front of each goods compartment of the goods receiving device. In addition, depending on the design, the lift can also be moved horizontally in an x-direction in front of each goods compartment of the goods receiving device. In addition, the lift can move vertically in the z-direction and, depending on the configuration, also horizontally in the x-direction in front of the dispensing opening or the point at which the dispensing opening is formed by moving the at least one displaceable panel relative to the at least one further panel become.

The shopping cart is part of the output compartment and, after it has been moved by the positioning device (e.g. the lift) to the level of the corresponding goods compartment or in the z-direction and optionally in the x-direction in front of the corresponding goods compartment, takes the goods from the corresponding Goods compartment delivered goods. Then, after the shopping cart has been moved by the positioning device to the level of the dispensing opening or in the z-direction and optionally in the x-direction in front of the dispensing opening or the point at which the dispensing opening is formed by moving the at least one displaceable panel, he makes the delivered goods available for removal. The shopping basket can have essentially the same horizontal extent as the output tray. In addition, the shopping cart can be adapted to the shape of the goods (e.g. bottles, beverage cans, cigarette boxes, cups, etc.) so that these are securely held by the shopping cart when the positioning device is moved.

In the step of positioning the shopping cart at the same height as the goods compartment, the positioning device is controlled, for example by the control unit, in such a way that it moves the shopping cart in front of the corresponding goods compartment from which requested and paid goods are to be delivered. After the goods have been transferred from the corresponding goods compartment to the shopping cart, the positioning device is activated (e.g. by the control unit) in such a way that it moves the shopping cart in front of the dispensing opening. Then, as soon as the dispensing opening has been formed by moving the at least one displaceable panel with respect to the at least one further panel, the goods can be removed from the outside of the shopping cart.

In particular, if the output compartment is moved by the positioning device up to in front of the corresponding goods compartment before the goods are delivered, damage to the goods when they are delivered into the output compartment can be prevented particularly effectively.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the shopping cart comprises a drum. The drum is designed and set up to rotate an opening of the shopping basket either in the direction of the dispensing opening or in the direction of a goods compartment of the goods receiving device of the vending machine.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of rotating an opening of the shopping basket in the direction of the goods compartment and rotating the opening in the direction of the dispensing opening. In the step of rotating the opening of the shopping cart in the direction of the goods compartment, an opening of the shopping cart is rotated by means of a drum of the shopping cart in the direction of the goods compartment before the step of delivering at least one goods. In the step of rotating the opening in the direction of the dispensing opening, the opening of the shopping basket is rotated by means of the drum in the direction of the dispensing opening after the step of dispensing at least one product.

The shopping cart can have a U-shaped cross-section with two essentially parallel side walls and a straight or concave base, a V-shaped cross-section with two side walls arranged at an apex angle, preferably 20 ° to 90 °, or a circular segment-shaped cross-section with a circular side wall and with an opening over a certain range, preferably 20 ° to 90 °. The opening of the (U-shaped, V-shaped or circular segment-shaped) shopping basket essentially only points in one direction and preferably occupies a range from 20 ° to 90 °, so that at least 270 ° in the cross section of the shopping basket is enclosed by its side wall .

The drum of the shopping cart can rotate it via an actuator such as an electric motor, a stepping motor, a servo motor, etc. The actuator can be controlled by the control unit.

After the shopping cart is at the height of the goods compartment or in the z-direction and optionally in the x-direction in front of the goods compartment to which the requested and paid goods are to be delivered, has been moved by the positioning device (e.g. lift), the opening of the shopping basket is rotated by the drum in the direction of the goods compartment so that the goods from the goods compartment directly via the opening of the (U -shaped, V-shaped or circle segment-shaped) shopping cart can be delivered into this. The shopping cart is then moved by the positioning device to the level of the dispensing opening or in the z-direction and optionally in the x-direction in front of the dispensing opening or the point at which the dispensing opening is formed by moving the at least one displaceable panel. Before, at the same time or afterwards, the basket is rotated by the drum in the direction of the dispensing opening or the point at which the dispensing opening is formed by moving the at least one displaceable panel, so that the opening of the shopping basket essentially coincides with the dispensing opening and the goods can be removed from the outside through the dispensing opening and the opening of the shopping cart.

The drum and the shopping cart with the opening can ensure that only the shopping cart of the output compartment but not the rest of the interior of the vending machine is accessible from the outside via the output opening. The goods in the goods receiving device are thus effectively protected against unauthorized access.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one sliding panel and / or the further panel comprise a glass pane and / or a pane made of polycarbonate (PC) and / or a sheet metal and / or a monitor and / or a touch-sensitive screen ).

The glass pane and a first layer of the monitor and / or the touch-sensitive screen can be made of safety glass, so that damage caused by the effects of force can be effectively prevented.

The monitor and the touch-sensitive screen can be controlled via the control unit in order to display information, for example about the goods for sale. The touch-sensitive screen can also pass on control commands to the control unit in accordance with a selection of goods by a buyer.

Through the glass pane or the PC pane, the goods can be viewed directly from the outside before buying, which makes the purchase decision easier. Additional information about the goods can be provided via the monitor or the touch-sensitive screen, which additionally supports the purchase decision. The touch-sensitive screen means that a separate control panel for selecting goods can be omitted, which simplifies the operation of the machine and reduces the number of components in the vending machine.

Information (e.g. advertising) can also be attached (e.g. printed or in the form of a poster) to the glass pane and / or the pane made of polycarbonate (PC) and / or the sheet metal.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one displaceable panel and / or the further panel comprises a glass pane with a liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal layer being designed to represent patterns on the glass pane.

The glass pane can have the liquid crystal layer on one of its surfaces or, if the glass pane is composed of several layers, in its interior between two of its layers.

The liquid crystal layer can, for example, be controlled by the control unit. The liquid crystal layer can be used to generate patterns on or in the pane of glass, and thus shading or opacity or opacity of certain areas can be set. In addition, information can be displayed directly on the goods or superimposed on them.

Through the glass pane with a liquid crystal layer, both the goods themselves and additional information about the goods can be displayed to the buyer with a particularly small number of components, which particularly simplifies the purchase decision.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the displaceable panel is arranged below the further panel and is further configured and set up to be lowered down to form the dispensing opening.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, in the step of displacing at least one displaceable panel, the at least one displaceable panel is lowered down to form the dispensing opening.

The cover here comprises a lower slidable panel and at least one further panel, which can also be designed to be slidable. The lower sliding panel is used to form the dispensing opening downwards towards the floor of the housing moves. The sliding panel can be lowered behind a panel on the front door.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing opening is formed in a central region of the cover.

The middle area of the cover can in particular be a middle area in the vertical direction. The cover preferably extends essentially over the entire height of the front door or the housing of the vending machine.

In particular with conventional vending machines with an overall height between 150 cm [centimeters] to 220 cm, the dispensed goods can be delivered at about waist height by forming the dispensing opening in the area that essentially corresponds to the vertical center of the cover and thus the vertical center of the vending machine Can be removed from the buyer through the dispensing opening. This enables a particularly ergonomic issue, since the buyer does not have to bend down to remove the goods.

Fig. 1:

zeigt eine schematische Frontansicht eines Verkaufsautomaten gemäß dem zweiten Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung mit einer Entnahmevorrichtung gemäß dem ersten Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Fig. 2A-2B:

zeigen schematische isometrische Ansichten des Verkaufsautomaten in einem geschlossenen Zustand und in einem geöffneten Zustand.

Fig. 3A-3H:

zeigen Querschnittsdarstellungen des Verkaufsautomaten während verschiedener Schritte beim Ausgeben von Waren.

Fig. 4:

zeigt ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Ausgeben von Waren gemäß dem dritten Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It is pointed out that the invention is not intended to be restricted by the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the facts explained in the figures and to combine them with other components and findings from the present description and / or figures. In particular, it should be noted that the figures and in particular the size relationships shown are only are schematic. The same reference symbols denote the same objects, so that explanations from other figures can be used as a supplement, if necessary.

Fig. 1:

shows a schematic front view of a vending machine according to the second aspect of the present invention with a removal device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

2A-2B:

show schematic isometric views of the vending machine in a closed state and in an open state.

Figures 3A-3H:

show cross-sectional views of the vending machine during various steps in the dispensing of goods.

Fig. 4:

shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for dispensing goods according to the third aspect of the present invention.

In Fig. 1 a vending machine 10 is shown schematically in a front view. The vending machine 10 can be designed and set up to dispense bottles, beverage cans, cigarettes and / or other goods. The vending machine 10 generally comprises a housing 11 or a cabinet with an interior 12 and a front door 14 articulated on the housing 11 via hinges 13. The front door also comprises a cover 15 made of two panels 15A, 15B, the lower panel being a sliding panel 15A is. A control panel 16 with payment options (z. B. coin insertion, bill collection, card reader, etc.) and a coin return 17 are on the front door 14 is arranged. Alternatively, a touch-sensitive screen (touch screen) can also be provided as the control panel.

The front door 14 closes off the interior 12 of the housing 11. The cover 15 of the front door 14 formed by the lower sliding panel 15A and the further panel 15B covers the interior 12 of the front side. The two panels 15A, 15B rest against one another in the illustrated closed state. The panels 15A, 15B are designed to be transparent (for example glass panes or transparent plastic panes) so that the interior space 12 and in particular goods in the vending machine 10 can be viewed from the outside.

The control panel 16 comprises product selection input devices and money and credit processing devices which, like the coin return device 17, are generally known.

Furthermore, a locking unit (e.g. lock) is provided which enables the front door 14 to be opened and closed in a secure manner for purposes of maintenance, filling the vending machine and the like.

The vending machine 10 has in the interior 12 a plurality of goods compartments 18 of a goods receiving unit arranged in a matrix-like manner. The goods compartments 18 are arranged as a plurality of goods magazines next to one another and, furthermore, the goods magazines are arranged in a plurality one above the other. The individual merchandise compartments 18 each have the same size here, but this is not absolutely necessary. It is also advantageous if these goods compartments 18 can be variably adjusted in terms of their width, number and / or height in order to be able to accommodate different types of goods.

An in Figure 1 Removal device not shown in full is provided. The removal device comprises the displaceable panel 15A and an output compartment (not shown here) which, together with a transfer unit, forms an output component. The transfer unit can transfer goods that have been dispensed from a goods compartment 18 into the output compartment or, alternatively, move the output compartment to the dispensed goods. The displaceable panel 15A can be displaced or lowered into an open state relative to the further panel 15B by means of a mechanism or actuator (not shown). By sliding / lowering the sliding panel 15A with respect to the further panel 15B downwards, a dispensing opening (not shown here) is formed in the cover 15. The output tray is accessible from the outside via the output opening.

In Figures 2A and 2B the vending machine 10 is off Fig. 1 in the closed state ( Figure 2A ) and the open state ( Figure 2B ) shown schematically.

In the in Figure 2A In the closed state shown schematically, the displaceable panel 15A rests against the further panel 15B and the cover forms a closed surface which completely covers the interior 12 together with the front door 14. An output compartment 19 with a shopping cart (not shown here) is arranged in a lower area of the vending machine 10 in a waiting position.

In the in Figure 2B In the open state shown schematically, the displaceable panel 15A is displaced downward relative to the further panel 15B, so that a dispensing opening 20 is formed in the cover. The output compartment 19 has been positioned at the level of the output opening 20 via a positioning device (not shown here). Goods that are located in the output compartment 19 can be removed from the output compartment 19 from the outside through the output opening 20 in the open state.

In Figures 3A to 3H is the vending machine 10 from the Figures 1 to 2B or its interior 12 shown schematically in cross section.

The displaceable panel 15A is guided in guide rails 21 which are attached to the front door 14, so that the displaceable panel 15A can be displaced vertically in the z-direction. In addition to the displaceable panel 15A and the output compartment 19, the removal device comprises a transfer device (not shown), which is formed here by a positioning device (not shown) such as a lift. The output compartment 19 is also equipped with a shopping basket 22 which can be rotated over a drum (not shown).

The positioning device can be positioned variably in the z-direction and can thus be moved to any front side of a goods compartment 18 or a goods magazine. The positioning device can, for example, have guide rails on which it can be moved in the z-direction. The positioning device moves the output compartment 19 with the shopping cart 22 so that the output compartment 19 with the shopping cart 22 can optionally be positioned in front of a goods compartment 18 or a goods magazine or the output opening 20.

In Figure 3A is shown schematically how the output compartment 19 with the shopping cart 22 is moved by the positioning device from the waiting position in the lower region of the vending machine 10 in front of a goods compartment 18 or goods magazine in the upper region of the vending machine 10. An opening of the shopping basket 22 is rotated vertically upwards over the drum and aligned with the goods compartment 18 or goods magazine.

In Figure 3B is shown schematically how goods from the goods compartment 18, in front of which the output compartment 19 with the shopping cart 22 is located, into the output compartment 19 or the shopping cart 22 is conveyed. The goods can be moved by a feed mechanism (not shown) of the goods compartment 18 and delivered into the output compartment 19 or the shopping cart 22.

In Figure 3C is shown schematically how the output compartment 19 with the shopping cart 22 is moved by the positioning device away from the goods compartment 18 or the goods magazine to a point at which the output opening in the cover will be formed by moving / lowering the sliding panel 15A downwards .

In Figure 3D is shown schematically how the dispensing opening 20 is formed in the cover, in which the sliding panel 15A is shifted / lowered downwards with respect to the further panel 15B (e.g. by an actuator such as an electric motor with a corresponding gear). The output opening 20 is just large enough that the output compartment 19 is accessible via the output opening 20, but not the rest of the interior 12, in particular the goods in the goods compartments 18 of the goods receiving device of the vending machine 10.

In Figure 3E it is shown schematically how the basket 22 is rotated by the drum in such a way that its opening points essentially horizontally in the horizontal y-direction towards the dispensing opening 20. The product (s) in the shopping basket 22 of the output compartment 19 can now be removed from the outside via the output opening 20. The horizontally rotated shopping basket 22 prevents the rest of the interior space 12 or the goods in the goods compartments 18 of the goods receiving device of the vending machine 10 from being accessible from the outside.

In Figure 3F is shown schematically how the sliding panel 15A is moved back into the closed state. For this purpose, the displaceable panel 15A is moved or lifted from below from the open state towards the further panel 15B until the displaceable panel 15A rests against the further panel 15 again and the cover forms a completely closed surface.

In Figure 3G is shown schematically how the basket 22 in the output compartment 19 is rotated by the drum into a position in which the opening of the basket 22 again points vertically upwards.

In Figure 3H it is shown schematically how the output compartment 19 with the shopping basket 22 is moved back into the waiting position by the positioning device from the point at which the output opening can be formed in the cover.

In Fig. 4 FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a method for dispensing merchandise at a vending machine, such as the vending machine of FIG Figures 1 to 3H , shown schematically.

With an optional positioning 1 of the shopping cart at the same height as the goods compartment, the shopping cart of the output component (or the output compartment) of the removal device is positioned at the same height as the goods compartment from which the goods are to be output by means of a positioning device of the output component.

With an optional rotation 2 of the opening of the shopping cart in the direction of the goods compartment, the opening of the shopping cart is rotated by means of the drum of the shopping cart in the direction of the goods compartment from which the goods are to be dispensed.

Steps 1 and 2 can also be carried out in the reverse order or at the same time.

When at least one product is dispensed 3, at least one product is dispensed from a compartment of the goods receiving device of the vending machine into the output compartment of the removal device of the vending machine. For example, the goods can fall from the goods compartment into the output compartment.

In the case of an optional transfer 4 of goods delivered from a goods compartment, the goods delivered from a goods compartment are transferred into the output compartment by means of the transfer device of the removal device. For transferring the goods, the goods themselves can be moved to the output compartment or, alternatively, the output compartment can be moved towards the delivered goods.

With an optional positioning 5 of the shopping cart at the same height as the dispensing opening, the shopping cart is at the same level Height as the dispensing opening positioned by means of the positioning device.

When moving 6 at least one displaceable panel, at least one displaceable panel of the removal device, which forms part of the cover of the front door of the vending machine, which covers the front of the housing of the vending machine, is displaced in relation to another panel of the front door in such a way that the dispensing opening in the Cover is formed. The output compartment is accessible from the outside via the output opening.

With an optional rotation 7 of the opening in the direction of the dispensing opening, the opening of the shopping basket is rotated by means of the drum in the direction of the dispensing opening.

Steps 6 and 7 can also be carried out in the reverse order or at the same time.

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are a variety of alternatives and / or equivalent implementations. It is to be appreciated that the exemplary configurations or embodiments are only examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the above summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with sufficient instructions for implementing at least one preferred embodiment, it being understood that various changes in the function and arrangement of the elements described in an exemplary embodiment are not different from that in the attached claims and their legal the equivalent scope outlined above. Typically, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

In the preceding detailed description, various features have been summarized in one or more examples in order to keep the disclosure concise. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, changes and equivalents that may be included within the scope of the invention. Many other examples will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the above disclosure.

In order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention, specific nomenclature is used that has been used in the above disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art, in light of the specification contained therein, that the specific details are not required to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for the purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed above; Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, and thus to enable others skilled in the art to best practice the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as appropriate to their particular use apply. Throughout the specification the terms "including" and "in which" are used as equivalents of the respective terms "comprising" and "in which" respectively. In addition, the terms "first / first / first", "second / second / second", "third, third, third" etc. are only used as a designation and are not intended to impose numerical or specific requirements on the objects To specify precedence. In connection with the present description and the claims, the connection “or” is to be understood as a recording (“and / or”) and not exclusive (“either ... or”).

Claims (14)

Removal device for vending machines, comprising: - An output compartment (19), which can be arranged in an interior (12) of a housing (11) of a vending machine (10) behind a front door (14) of the vending machine (10) and is designed and set up, from a goods compartment (18) a goods receiving device of the vending machine (10) to be able to receive dispensed goods; and - At least one sliding panel (15A) which can form part of a cover (15) of the front door (14) which covers a front side of the housing (11), wherein the at least one displaceable panel (15A) is designed and set up to be able to be displaced with respect to a further panel (15B) of the cover (15) in such a way that a dispensing opening (20) can be formed in the cover (15),
wherein the output compartment (19) is accessible from the outside via the output opening (20). Extraction device according to claim 1, further comprising: - A transfer device which is designed and set up to be able to transfer goods dispensed from a goods compartment (18) of a goods receiving device of the vending machine (10) into the output compartment (19). Removal device according to claim 2, wherein the transfer device and the output compartment (19) form an output component which comprises a positioning device and a shopping cart (22) and is further designed and configured to use the positioning device to move the shopping cart (22) optionally to be positioned at the same height as the dispensing opening (20) or at the same height as a goods compartment (18) of a goods receiving device of a vending machine (10). Removal device according to claim 3, wherein the shopping basket (22) comprises a drum which is designed and set up to rotate an opening of the shopping basket (22) either in the direction of the dispensing opening (20) or in the direction of a goods compartment (18) of a goods receiving device of a vending machine (10) to be able to rotate. A vending machine (10) comprising: - A housing (11) with an open front side; - A front door (14) which is arranged on the open front side of the housing (11) and is articulated to the housing (11) and can be locked to it; - A goods receiving device which is arranged in an interior (12) of the housing (11) and has at least one goods compartment (18) which is designed and set up to store and deliver goods; and - a removal device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output compartment (19) of the removal device is arranged in the interior (12) of the housing behind the front door (14) and is further designed and set up to receive goods dispensed from the at least one goods compartment (18),
wherein the at least one sliding panel (15A) of the removal device is part of a cover (15) of the Forms the front door (14) which covers the front side of the housing (11),
wherein the at least one displaceable panel (15A) is designed and set up to be displaced in relation to a further panel (15B) of the cover (15) in such a way that a dispensing opening (20) is formed in the cover (15),
wherein the output compartment (19) is accessible from the outside via the output opening (20). Vending machine (10) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one displaceable panel (15A) and / or the further panel (15B) comprise a glass pane and / or a monitor and / or a touch-sensitive screen. Vending machine (10) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one sliding panel (15A) and / or the further panel (15B) comprises a glass pane with a liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal layer being designed to display patterns on the glass pane. Vending machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding panel (15A) is arranged below the further panel (15B) and is further configured and arranged to be lowered down to form the dispensing opening (20). Vending machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing opening (20) is formed in a central region of the cover (15). A method for dispensing goods at a vending machine (10), comprising the steps of: - Dispensing (3) at least one product from a product compartment (18) of a product receiving device of the vending machine (10) into an output compartment (19) of a removal device of the vending machine (10); and - Displacement (6) of at least one displaceable panel (15A) of the removal device, which forms part of a cover (15) of a front door (14) of the vending machine (10), which covers a front side of a housing (11) of the vending machine (10), opposite a further panel (15B) of the front door (14), such that a dispensing opening (20) is formed in the cover (15), wherein the output compartment (19) is accessible from the outside via the output opening (20). The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of: - Transfer (4) of goods dispensed from a goods compartment (18) of the goods receiving device into the output compartment (19) by means of a transfer device of the removal device. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein in the step of sliding at least one sliding panel (15A) the at least one sliding panel (15A) is lowered to form the dispensing opening (20). A method according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising the steps of: - Positioning (1) a shopping basket (22) of an output component of the removal device, which is formed from the transfer device and the output compartment (19) is at the same height as the goods compartment (18) by means of a positioning device of the output component before the step of dispensing at least one goods; and - Positioning (5) of the shopping basket (22) at the same height as the dispensing opening (20) by means of the positioning device after the step of dispensing at least one product. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: - Rotating (2) an opening of the basket (22) in the direction of the goods compartment (18) by means of a drum of the basket (22) before the step of delivering at least one product; and - Rotation (7) of the opening in the direction of the dispensing opening (20) by means of the drum after the step of dispensing at least one product.

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