EP4346512A1

EP4346512A1 - Device for dispensing cutlery items

Info

Publication number: EP4346512A1
Application number: EP22728975.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philippe Caraveo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-05-25
Filing date: 2022-05-24
Publication date: 2024-04-10
Also published as: FR3123187B1; WO2022249058A1; FR3123187A1

Abstract

A device for dispensing cutlery items (1), comprising at least one compartment (10) provided to house one type of cutlery items (1) arranged in a stack per compartment (10), comprising, per compartment (10), a mechanism (20) for extracting the upper cutlery item (1) from the stack, which is rotated in the direction of a region (24) for dispensing the cutlery item (1) extracted from the stack and then separated from the extraction means (20) and transferred to a dispensing region (24).

Description

Cutlery dispensing device

The present invention generally relates to a dispenser for kitchen utensils of the cutlery type, and it relates in particular to a dispenser which separates by distributing them the different types of cutlery used at the table, such as knives, forks, spoons, etc. The need for a mechanized or even automated distribution of cutlery implies that there is a certain number of them, and the destination of the device of the invention is therefore quite naturally the medium and large catering, that is to say establishments that provide meals on a large scale.

In most cases, nowadays, these establishments provide cutlery in large distribution bins made available to customers at the entrance to the premises, and customers each serve themselves by drawing from the various bins, specialized in this sense. that the various types of cutlery are not mixed there. In other words, everyone puts their hand in the different bins to retrieve a knife from the bin containing the knives, a fork from the bin that contains the forks and so on. The bins are regularly replenished with clean dishes, which employees bring as soon as they leave the industrial dishwashers they own.

This distribution by bins is generally and preferably implemented when metal cutlery is provided, as opposed to prepackaged plastic cutlery which contains a complete set of cutlery per package, wrapped in a paper towel, and therefore does not require any choice from the user. In this case, no question relating to hygiene arises, whereas with the bins open the utensils are in the open air and therefore subject to the vagaries of the surrounding atmosphere (dust, aerosols in suspension, etc. ) and the successive contacts to which they are in practice subjected due to the many manipulations of customers rummaging through said bins in order to choose their cutlery.

Nothing prevents us from thinking that, depending on the individual hygiene of the users, or even according to the pathologies they carry, bacteria, viruses, etc. present on the hands of individuals can spread from one utensil to another in the bin, and then potentially to another customer. It should also be noted that it is not uncommon for customers to pick a first cutlery, then release it for various reasons, further increasing the risk of pathogen transmission. In an environment post-pandemic which is already raising new questions and/or will not fail to induce changes in behavior among customers, and especially among restaurateurs who are responsible for the level of hygiene in their establishment, the distribution of cutlery in the restaurants, public or corporate, will give rise to needs and/or regulations that will clearly evolve.

In an attempt to respond to concerns in particular relating to hygiene, it has been proposed to use closed dispensers in which a stack of cutlery is placed in a compartment, the cutlery being dispensed one by one, for example by action on a operation of the distribution lever type. This type of device, however, offers a limited storage capacity, except to have an unreasonable height, and they also require manipulation of a lever which is not suitable for the contactless use sought after a pandemic such as that that we are currently experiencing.

Document EP 2 365 769 describes a dispenser with compartments each filled with a stack of cutlery of the same type and which are actuated with a lever or a contactless control means engaging a mechanism for releasing a single cutlery. per stack, resulting in cutlery coming out of the bottom of each compartment. In essence, this system works through the force of gravity applying to each cutlery, which causes it to move down a notch when the lowest cutlery has been ejected from the stack.

The present invention proposes a technically completely different system in that the cutlery, also stacked in compartments, is evacuated from these from above, which involves forces generated against gravity. The device of the invention is also designed to be mechanically simple and robust, and it is finally provided to allow a high degree of automation.

In fact, the cutlery dispensing device of the present invention, comprising at least one compartment provided to accommodate the same type of cutlery arranged in a stack per compartment, is such that it comprises, per compartment:

- means for lifting a stack of cutlery in their compartment, said lifting means being actuated by first motorized drive means controlled by first control means and capable of move the stack of cutlery vertically according to predetermined constant steps p,

- a mechanism for extracting the top cover from the stack,

- second motorized drive means of the extraction mechanism controlled by second control means to move the upper cover of the pile in rotation by a predetermined angle in the direction of a distribution zone of the cover extracted from the pile,

- separation means for separating said upper cover from said extraction means;

- means of transfer of cover to the distribution area,

- sensors on the one hand for extracting a cover from a pile and on the other hand for the presence of the cover in the distribution area, and

- an electronic central unit for processing control signals from the first and second motorized drive means emitted by the first and second control means and signals from the sensors.

The device of the invention therefore implements two successive movements for the cutlery of each compartment: a first upward movement to attach the upper cover of the stack to the extraction mechanism, then a rotation to release it with a view to release it so that it becomes accessible to the user. The sensor and/or actuator type means (motorized drive means) are also managed by an electronic central unit which receives/sends signals to automate the device, when desired.

According to one possible configuration, the lifting means may consist of a slider, for example of a shape resuming the external profile of the type of cutlery to be moved, on which the stack of cutlery rests, said slider being guided between two rails placed at the axial ends of the slider, the compartment then consisting of at least said rails and the slider. The two rails, for example U-shaped, can be provided such that the ends of the cutlery are retained laterally in the compartments by walls facing said rails, making other lateral protections not essential. The compartments, the design of which was then very simplified, left the cutlery partially in the open air, but as they are enclosed in a casing of the dispensing device, it is not necessary to further protect them from contact with users.

Preferably, the slider can be driven by a stepper motor, which moves it, and therefore moves the stack of cutlery, with a constant upward step. We will see in more detail later the steps leading to the extraction and release of a cover.

In fact, more specifically, the extraction mechanism may comprise cutlery gripping means placed above the compartment containing the stack of cutlery and making the upper cover of the stack integral with a part of the extraction mechanism which is provided to be movable vertically according to a predetermined deflection relative to said extraction mechanism, return means being provided to urge said movable part in the proximal position of the compartment. In other words, the gripping means placed just above the stack of cutlery must be able to absorb a shock at the moment of contact of the stack of cutlery moving upwards with said gripping means, and return to their initial position. for the rest of the process, in particular for gripping the following cutlery, the return means mentioned can simply be gravity or consist for example of a spring.

So that the device of the invention can implement the extraction and release of the cutlery taken from above the stack, it comprises means for detecting the position of the gripping means, which give it an indication of the phase in which the system finds itself at least at certain key points in the distribution process.

In practice, according to a possible configuration of the invention, the mobile part of the extraction mechanism mentioned above may comprise a rod sliding vertically in a housing of said mechanism, the lower free end of which located outside of said housing is provided with gripping means. According to an optional possibility, the upper end of the rod can cooperate with a compression spring interposed between said upper end and a wall of the casing. In the absence of this spring, according to the simplest and most immediate configuration, it falls by gravity as soon as it is no longer urged upwards, and therefore resumes its initial position. This rod is therefore driven by a vertical sliding movement in particular actuated at the moment of contact with the upper cutlery of the stack against the gripping means, when the slider raises the stack of cutlery.

According to a simplified alternative solution, the mobile part of the extraction mechanism may consist of a support sliding vertically with respect to a rotation shaft connecting the extraction mechanism and its motorized means, the lower free end of the sliding support being provided with gripping means. This configuration makes it possible to replace three parts, necessary for the previous solution, with a single part, and it is therefore economically attractive.

Preferably, these gripping means can consist of at least one magnet. For the lightest cutlery such as forks, which have a natural balance between their front part and their back part due to their configuration, a single magnet is generally sufficient. For knives, there may be a noticeable mass imbalance between the handle and the blade, and in this case two magnets may be required.

Of course, the magnet is not the only solution, and one can for example consider a variant with an aeraulic system with aspiration by establishing a venturi in an organ located above the pile of cutlery, instead of the magnet. In this case, the aforementioned rod could be provided hollow and convey the air from the aeraulic system.

According to one possibility, the means for detecting the position of the gripping means may consist of a part secured to the rod, at a location fixed between the gripping means and the housing, said part being able to obstruct an optical beam emitted by an optical radiation emitter intended for an optical radiation receiver placed above the compartment and in the longitudinal axis of the latter, the emitter and the receiver being connected to the electronic central unit.

In the simplified alternative solution, the means for detecting the position of the gripping means then consist of a protrusion protruding from the support, said protrusion being capable of obstructing the optical beam emitted by the optical radiation emitter intended for the radiation receiver optics placed above the compartment and in the longitudinal axis of the latter, the transmitter and the receiver being again connected to the electronic central unit. In essence, the optical beam is present between the two ends of the compartment, above it, almost permanently except in the case where the part comes to interpose to cut it, which first indicates a particular position of the rod and the gripping means, and then potentially involves the triggering of one or more subsequent actions for the system, taken over by the electronic central unit in the manner indicated below.

Thus, cutting the beam first means that a cutlery is in contact with the gripping means, and therefore able to be extracted from the stack of cutlery. This break in the beam then indicates that the rotation of the extraction mechanism can be started (see below). It also means that a signal can be sent by the electronic central unit to the stepper motor to lower the slide supporting the stack of cutlery, so as to properly detach the one supported by the gripping means.

When the cover is attached to the gripping means, these release it from the top of the compartment before the intervention of the separation means which detach it from the gripping means: in the case of one or more magnets, the cover must be torn attraction exerted by the magnetic field. In the invention, the separation means may comprise at least one arm placed in the rotary path of the extraction mechanism, which blocks the cutlery still secured to the extraction mechanism and thus separates it from said mechanism which continues its rotary path, from so that said cover falls by gravity.

Then, the cover transfer means to the distribution area consist for example of a ramp whose upper part is placed under the arm or arms of the separation means, said ramp having a negative slope towards the distribution area placed at the bottom of the ramp. After its fall which sees it fall in the upper part of the ramp, the cover slides on it and descends towards the distribution area, from where it can be grabbed by the user.

According to a preferred configuration, the dispensing zone can be equipped with a sensor for the presence of at least one cutlery, able to detect the removal of the cutlery or cutlery from said zone, so as to be able to initiate a new dispensing cycle. This sensor can also be of optical technology, and operate in a similar way to the previous one, by sending as soon as a cover is removed a signal electronics to the central management unit of the entire automated process of the device of the invention.

In practice, in most cases, the dispensing device of the invention comprises a plurality of compartments to deliver a complete set of cutlery. In this case, according to the invention, the extraction mechanisms of each compartment can, according to an optional possibility, be joined mechanically, and the first and second control means respectively of the first and second drive means are then synchronized.

The invention also relates to a method for distributing cutlery by means of a device as explained above, which mainly manages the following cycles:

- Control of the lifting of each slide by a pitch p;

- Upon receipt by the central unit of a signal from the optical radiation receiver placed above the compartment indicating the cut of the optical beam, control of the first motorized drive means of the lifting means of a stack of cutlery in the direction of a descent from a predetermined height of said lifting means, and control of the second motorized drive means of the extraction mechanism;

- Upon receipt by the central unit of a signal from the presence sensor of at least one cutlery indicating the absence of cutlery, control of the first motorized drive means of the lifting means of a stack of cutlery in each compartment for step elevation p.

These cycles are automated, and make it possible to link the steps to ultimately lead to the supply of cutlery in the distribution area. The automation results in particular from the existence of sensors which detect specific moments in the operating phases of the device of the invention. It is thus necessary to be able to detect when a cutlery is extracted from its pile to trigger its release according to a rotary movement, or to detect that there are no more cutlery(s) in the distribution zone, because seized by a user, to restart a distribution cycle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which will follow, relating to embodiments which are not given only as indicative examples. The understanding of this description will be facilitated in particular by reference to the drawings attached in the appendix and for which:

FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a possible configuration of a cutlery dispensing device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the upper part, and in particular the cutlery extraction mechanism and the location of their distribution, enlarged and therefore more detailed.

Referring to Figure 1, the cutlery dispensing device 1 of the invention, a compartment 10 containing a stack of knives 1 is shown, very generally comprises an "elevator" for lifting 11 of the stack of cutlery 1 in the compartment 10 with a view to bringing the upper cover 1 closer to a magnet 21 of an extraction device 20. The lift of the lifting means in this case takes the form of a slider 11 moved in the direction of the arrow vertical F by a motor block 12 which constitutes the drive means and preferably comprises a stepper motor whose control signals come from an electronic central unit (not shown). These signals make it possible to move the stack of cutlery 1 vertically, in particular according to constant pitches p when the movements are controlled in the direction of an elevation of the slider 11 .

The mechanism 20 for extracting the upper knife from the stack, which will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2, is connected to a motor unit 22 making it possible to move the upper cover 1 of the stack according to a rotation R which the kind of horizontal axis. During this rotation, the cutlery is driven upwards, towards arms 23 which it hits, the shock caused being sufficient to detach it from the magnet 21 and cause it to fall in the direction of a distribution zone 24. The knife 1 is in fact attached to a magnet 21, the force of attraction of which is provided so that the connection is well established in the absence of any obstacle or shock during the rotation.

In the system of the invention, during the rotary movement, the knife 1 is however prevented from advancing by the two obstacles formed by the arms 23 which are in its path. The knife 1, due to the shock with the arms 23, detaches and falls under the effect of its weight towards the zone located under it at the moment of the shock, that is to say the distribution zone 24. it can be located remotely and from the place where the detachment of the knife 1 occurs, and require transfer means of the inclined guide ramp type (see in FIG. 2).

The compartment 10 is delimited by two vertical rails 13, 14 placed at the axial ends of the cutlery 1, which form a container for the latter in combination with the slider 11, and if necessary at least one side wall 15. The assembly is provided to take the shape of the cutlery of the compartment 10, that is to say that the interior horizontal profile of such a compartment 10 takes up more or less precisely the configuration of the cutlery 1, which are therefore well guided in their movement vertical. The stepping motor 12 moves the stack of cutlery 1 by a predetermined height, so that at each step p driven by said motor 12, the upper cutlery 1 comes into contact with the magnet 21 which attracts it and extracted from the stack according to methods that will be explained with reference to Figure 2.

This figure 2 indeed shows more precisely the different components participating in a possible, but not limiting, configuration of the extraction mechanism 20. Thus, the magnet 21 is placed at the lower end of a rod 25 whose upper part is slidably housed in a housing of the housing 26, with or without a return compression spring interposed between said upper end of the rod 25 and the bottom of the sliding housing. Due to the existence of this spring, when the slider 11 pushes the stack of cutlery 1 upwards, the one placed at its top comes into contact with the magnet 21 which absorbs the pressure exerted and is pushed back towards the case. 26, thereby driving rod 25 against the restoring force of the spring. This is only one possible example of configuration, the possibility of a more economical solution has been mentioned in which the housing 26 and the rod 25 are replaced by a single support driven by the shaft 31 at the output of the motorized means 22 , said shaft 31 being slidable in an oblong orifice of the support.

In the first case, the rod 25 carries a piece 27 which is secured to it, and which cuts, when it rises, an optical beam established between the photoelectric components 28, 29, one of them being a transmitter of beam and the other a receiver, together forming for example a photoelectric cell connected by a wired electrical connection to the electronic central unit managing the entire device of the invention. In the second case, it is an outgrowth of the vertically sliding support which cuts the beam. When the beam is cut, the binary signal sent to the address of the electronic central unit changes state, and the motor means 11 of the slider are then controlled by said central unit to reverse the direction of movement of the slider 11, which is controlled to go down a few mm, until 'until the signal returns to its initial state, that is to say that the part 27 or the protrusion is found in a position of non-cutoff of the optical beam. The upper cover 1 remains alone in contact with the magnet 21, it is therefore detached from the rest of the stack and ready for subsequent movements of the extraction mechanism 20.

The second change of state of the signal obtained when, on the descent of the slider 11, the optical beam between the components of the photoelectric cell 28, 29 is restored, induces the triggering of another control of the system: the unit central sends a control signal to the motorized means 22 so that the extraction mechanism 20 begins its rotation according to the arrow R. The shaft 31 of horizontal appearance at the output of said motorized means 22 rotates and drives the housing 26 or the single support sliding, and therefore also drives in one case the rod 25 supporting the part 27 and in the other case the protrusion, and in all cases the magnet 21 to which the knife 1 is attached. The shaft 31 is disposed at a height greater than that of the separation arms 23, and the extraction mechanism 20 is placed between said arms 23 so that during rotation R, the housing 26, the sliding rod 25, the part 27 and the magnet 21 are free to turn, or alternatively the s sliding support, without ever interacting with the arms 23.

The same does not apply to the knife 1, which collides with said arms 23 if it rotates in the direction and direction of the arrow R for pivoting the extraction mechanism 20. In this case, as soon as 'it detaches, it falls on an inclined plane 32 placed immediately below the knife 1/arm 23 collision zone, and slides by gravity towards the dispensing zone 24. A sensor 30 is placed above and, for example , between said separation arm 23, which detects the presence of an object in said distribution zone 24. It is connected to the central electronic unit, which manages its binary signals, the two distinct states of which respectively signify the presence of a cover 1 in the distribution area or, conversely, the absence of such cover 1 . As soon as a cutlery is seized by a user, and consequently disappears from the dispensing zone 24, the signal emitted by the sensor or detector 30 changes state, and the electronic central unit in turn emits a control signal means of motorization 12 of the slider, in the direction of an elevation of a pitch p of said slider and therefore of the stack of cutlery 1.

The cycle can begin again, as described above. The above description applies to a single compartment 10, provided for a single type of cutlery 1. In reality, this kind of cutlery distribution device 1 obviously applies to several cutlery 1, those which are traditionally used, and it comprises a plurality of compartments 10. In this case, there may be a mechanical connection between the extraction mechanisms 20, which results in mechanically synchronizing the operation between the compartments 10 and, in principle, in synchronizing the different control signals seen before, so that the different cutlery 1 are distributed at the same time. Depending on the configuration of the device of the invention, it is of course possible to juxtapose the different dispensing zones, so that users can serve themselves comfortably.

The configuration example which is the subject of the figures should not be considered as exhaustive of the invention, which on the contrary encompasses variants of shape and configuration, for example for the extraction mechanism, the sensors, the compartments , etc. !

Claims

[Claim 1] Cutlery dispensing device (1), comprising at least one compartment (10) provided to accommodate a type of cutlery (1) arranged in a stack per compartment (10), characterized in that it comprises, for compartment (10):

- lifting means (11) for a stack of cutlery (1) in their compartment (10), said lifting means (11) being actuated by first motorized drive means (12) controlled by first control and capable of vertically moving the stack of cutlery (1) according to predetermined constant pitches p,

- a mechanism (20) for extracting the top cover (1) from the stack,

- second motorized drive means (22) of the extraction mechanism (20) controlled by second control means for moving the upper cover (1) of the pile in rotation by a predetermined angle in the direction of an area distribution (24) of the cutlery (1) extracted from the stack,

- separating means (23) for separating said top cover (1) from said extraction means (20),

- transfer means (32) of the cover (1) to the distribution area (24),

- sensors on the one hand for extraction (28, 29), of a cutlery (1) from a pile and on the other hand for the presence (30) of the cutlery (1) in the distribution zone (24) , and

- an electronic central unit for processing control signals from the first and second motorized drive means (12, 22) emitted by the first and second control means and signals from the sensors (28, 29, 30).

[Claim 2] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lifting means consist of a slider (11) on which the stack of cutlery (1) rests, said slider (11) being guided between two rails (13, 14) placed at the axial ends of the slider (11), the compartment (10) consisting of at least said rails (13, 14) and the slider (11). [Claim 3] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the slider (11) is driven by a stepper motor (12).

[Claim 4] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extraction mechanism (20) comprises gripping means (21) of the upper cover (1) of the stack placed above the compartment (10) containing the stack of cutlery (1) and making the cutlery (1) integral with a part of the extraction mechanism (20) which is provided to move vertically according to a predetermined movement with respect to said mechanism of extraction (20), return means being provided to urge said movable part in the proximal position of the compartment (10).

[Claim 5] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises means (27, 28, 29) for detecting the position of the gripping means (21).

[Claim 6] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the movable part of the extraction mechanism (20) comprises a rod (25) sliding vertically in a housing (26 ) of said mechanism (20), the lower free end of which located outside of said housing (26) is provided with gripping means (21).

[Claim 7] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the movable part of the extraction mechanism (20) consists of a support sliding vertically with respect to a rotating shaft (31) connecting the extraction mechanism (20) and its motorized means (22), the lower free end of the sliding support being provided with gripping means (21).

[Claim s] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the gripping means consist of at least one magnet (21).

[Claim 9] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of Claims 6 and 8, characterized in that the means for detecting the position of the gripping means (21) consist of a part (27) secured to the rod (25), at a location fixed between the gripping means (21) and the housing (26), said part (27) being capable of obstructing an optical beam emitted by an emitter (28, 29) of optical radiation intended for a receiver (29, 28) of optical radiation placed above the compartment (10) and in the longitudinal axis thereof, the transmitter (28, 29) and the receiver (29, 28) being connected to the electronic central unit.

[Claim 10] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the means for detecting the position of the gripping means (21) consist of a protrusion projecting from the support, said protrusion being capable of obstructing an optical beam emitted by an optical radiation emitter (28, 29) destined for an optical radiation receiver (29, 28) placed above the compartment (10) and in the longitudinal axis thereof, the transmitter (28, 29) and the receiver (29, 28) being connected to the electronic central unit.

[Claim 11] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating means comprise at least one arm placed (23) in the rotary path of the extraction mechanism (20), which blocks the cover (1) secured to the extraction mechanism

(20) and separates it from said mechanism (20) which continues its rotary path, so that it falls by gravity.

[Claim 12] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the transfer means consist of a ramp (32) the upper part of which is placed under the arm or arms (23) of the separating means , said ramp (32) having a negative slope towards the distribution zone (24) placed at the bottom of the ramp (32).

[Claim 13] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing zone (24) is equipped with a sensor (30) for the presence of at least one cutlery (1 ).

[Claim 14] Cutlery dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of compartments (10) whose extraction mechanisms (20) are mechanically joined together, and whose first and second control means respectively of the first and second drive means (12, 22) are synchronized.

[Claim 15] Method of distributing cutlery (1) by means of a device according to the preceding claims, characterized by the following cycle:

- Control of the lifting of each slide (11) by a step p; - Upon receipt by the central unit of a signal from the optical radiation receiver (28, 29) placed above the compartment (10) indicating the cutoff of the optical beam, control of the first motorized drive means (12) lifting means (11) of a stack of cutlery (1) in the direction of a descent from a predetermined height of said lifting means (11), and controls second motorized drive means (22) of the mechanism extraction (20);

- Upon receipt by the central unit of a signal from the presence sensor (30) of at least one cover (1) indicating the absence of cover (1), control of the first motorized drive means (12) lifting means (11) of a stack of cutlery (1) in each compartment (10) for a step elevation p.