ES1073301U - Automatic dispenser clothes clothing garments (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic garment dispensing cabinet, of the type comprising a plurality of vertical compartments (1), each dimensioned to house a stack of packages (p) or bags, each package (p) containing a folded garment, wherein each compartment (1) has associated a dispensing device that includes a lifting device (2) to lift said stack of packages (p) towards the upper part of the corresponding compartment (1), and an ejector device (3) to eject a package upper (ps) located in the upper position of the stack of packages (p) towards a dispensing opening (4) accessible by a user and an interface for reading information of a means identifying users and allowing said dispensing device to operate, characterized in that said ejector device (3) comprises at least one denticulate wheel (5) arranged in an upper region of the compartment (1) to make gripping contact with said paqu this upper (ps) when the stack of packages (p) is raised upwards and ejection drive means for rotating said denticulate wheel (5) in order to drag said upper package (ps) out of the stack of packages (p) and in that said ejector device is associated with at least one position detection sensor (s2) of the upper stack package. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Automatic clothes dispenser cabinet clothes.

Technical field

The present invention concerns a closet garment dispenser, particularly packaged or arranged in some bags, constituting some format units flattened, intended in particular to dispense garments such as disposable pajamas, for hospital settings, garments single-use or reusable work, for production centers, etc., where means are provided to identify the garment to be sold depending on the characteristics of a potential user, who identifies and chooses a size of the garment, introducing individual information to the machine.

Background of the invention

The patent ES-B1-2 320 822 refers to a system for individualized control and monitoring of garments of work clothes, arranged in bags where a garment dispensing device with a series of compartments to house different groups or classes of garments of clean clothes to dispense, a reading device suitable for reading information of some identifying means of some users, a dispensing mechanism adapted to dispense a garment clean selected based on the information received and a computer system in communication with the machine to perform a time tracking of each item of clothing.

Patent application WO-A2-2004086165 is known as an automatic device for dispensing articles of clothing to a plurality of users which comprises a plurality of compartments for storing the stacked articles in superposition, said compartments being arranged in a plurality of levels, at least one dispensing opening and an article delivery system intended to retrieve an article from the top of one of the batteries and transport it to said exit opening, comprising arms provided with holes connected to a vacuum source, and an interface unit for communication with
users.

In both embodiments, the evacuation of garments or articles of clothing, from the pile and its evacuation to an exit zone, having been planned in the first of the cited documents a battery detector 12 arranged in each compartment (see Fig. 3) to detect the presence of at least a closed bag 6 on it as well as a drop detector 13 (see Figs. 2 and 3) arranged on a ramp 14 (see Figs. 2 to 4) in the front of each shelf 5 to detect the passage of a bag closed 6 on it.

The present invention provides against both cited background a simplified embodiment of the means of detection and delivery of packaged garments arranged in overlay and stacked vertically in the different compartments, informing about the load of each garment of them, as well as for including some means of collection and evacuation of the items configured in access doors to the machine that allow a more economical construction of the machine With high performance.

Exhibition of the invention

The automatic garment dispensing cabinet of clothing of this invention consists of a set intended for particular to the hospital sector, the main function of which is supply disposable pajamas, arranged in bags, to different users

The user has an identification card or of a numerical code to identify and be able to choose the size and Number of pajamas desired.

The machine has a touch screen and a card reader where the user identifies and chooses the size Pajamas

This automatic garment dispenser cabinet of clothing, includes, according to structure known per se (see one either of the two cited antecedents) a plurality of vertical compartments, each sized to house a stack of packages or bags, flattened format, containing each package a folded piece of clothing, where each compartment has associated with a dispensing device that includes a device elevator to lift said stack of packages to the top of the corresponding compartment, and an ejector device for eject an upper package located in the upper position of the stack of packages towards a dispensing opening accessible by a Username. The cabinet also incorporates an interface for reading information of some identifying means of some users, and that allows operating the dispensing device.

The invention is characterized by the means specific for dispensing packaged or bagged garments, proposing for this purpose an ejector device comprising some denticulated wheels arranged in a rotating shaft located in a fixed position in an upper region of each compartment and intended to make grip contact with said upper package when the packet stack is lifted upwards, and means of eject drive to rotate said wheels denticulated in order to drag said upper package out of The stack of packages. This ejector device is associated with the minus a detection sensor of a position of the upper package of the battery in a position where the top pack enters contact with denticulated wheels, suitable for your expedition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the ejector device comprises a group of said denticulated wheels spaced apart and connected to a common tree, and said ejection drive means comprise a group ejection motor-reducer ready to drive Said tree Alternatively the ejector device can comprise several groups of said denticulated wheels being the denticulated wheels of each group arranged spaced apart and connected to a respective common tree, and said means of ejection drive comprise several of said groups ejection motor reducers, each arranged to drive one of these trees.

Said lifting device comprises a horizontal platform that supports said packet stack and about lifting drive means to move said platform vertically along said compartment. In one embodiment, said lifting actuation means comprise a second motor-reducer group ready to do turn a vertical spindle, and the platform is fixed to a nut coupled to said spindle. Each platform is guided to move vertically inside the corresponding compartment.

The dispensing cabinet has one or more doors on a front side, and said dispensing opening is arranged in said door or doors, in a region halfway up the same to prevent the user from having to bend over to pick up the dispensed garment. When the door is closed, a drop passage is formed between the door and said plurality of compartments, and for this passage the packages ejected from the corresponding stack of packages by said ejector device. The dispensing opening has a collection tray associated with interference with said drop passage where the packages that fall for it, so that they are available of the user through the dispensing opening. In a embodiment, the door comprises a front panel and the tray collection consists of a portion of the panel material itself of the door cut to form the delivery opening and conveniently folded.

The cabinet can comprise two or more of said compartments superimposed vertically and mutually aligned, in in which case the ejector device of the lower compartment it is obviously located at a higher level than said tray of collection associated with the dispensing opening. The closet too can comprise a number of compartments or columns of laterally adjacent compartments, in which case, if the closet has two or more of these doors, each door will have a corresponding dispensing opening 4. The provision of two or more narrow doors instead of a wide door has the advantage to facilitate opening in narrow places, such as hallways, etc.

If the closet has an odd number of compartments or columns of compartments laterally adjacent and an even number of doors of uniform width, two of the doors can share a dispensing opening for a compartment or column of central compartments bearing formed a half of the dispensing opening in each door.

Each compartment also has a sensor indicator that the motor-reducer group of expulsion has completed a complete cycle, a garment sensor dispensed that at the same time will act on the motor-ejector reducer causing the shutdown of same, one or more cell capacity sensors responsible for send information regarding the remote control center portion, in percentile format (for example, 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%), of the total capacity of the compartment that is occupied by packages, as well as an empty compartment sensor, level 0%.

Each compartment also includes at least one load sensor the function of which is to level the compartments and Prepare them for an upcoming dispensation. This step is part of charging process, at the beginning of which and before the opening of the door, the platforms go down to the loading point compartment empty, level 0%, then the operation of the engines of the compartments and a total stoppage of the machine for safety.

The aforementioned interface comprises, for example, a card reader and a touch screen arranged on the front of the machine, associated with the door or one of the two doors of the dispensing cabinet To operate the machine the user enters a identification card, for example a card with magnetic stripe (this type of medium is preferably chosen for its low cost) in the aforementioned card reader or enter a numerical code in the Touch screen found in the aforementioned interface. The user choose the size by interaction with the touch screen and the quantities you want from the garment, and the machine sends to Remote control center request for validation purposes. Yes the request is validated the order is sent to the compartment that It contains the selected garment and proceeds to the dispensation.

Brief description of the drawings

The above and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, which should be taken as a title illustrative and not limiting, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes dispenser cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention, with its doors open;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view side of the cabinet of Fig. 1 with the doors closed;

Fig. 3 is a sectioned plan view upper cabinet with open doors;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the compartments contained in the closet including a lifting device and an ejector device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the compartment of Fig. 4 but from a rear orientation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ejector device;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view in perspective showing a front part of the dispenser cabinet automatic with sensors of a control system; Y

Fig. 8 is a schematic view in perspective showing a front part of the dispenser cabinet automatic with other sensors of said control system.

Detailed description of an embodiment example

In Fig. 1 a closet can be seen automatic clothing dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a plurality of 1 vertical compartments, each sized to house a packet stack P. Each package located in compartment 1 has a flattened shape and comprises, for example, a garment folded into a bag made for example of plastic, paper or similar material, or wrapped in a flexible sheet, by example of plastic, paper or similar material. In the realization shown, the cabinet comprises two front doors 12, each of which has a corresponding part of an opening formed of dispensing 4 associated with a collection tray 14. Alternatively, the dispensing cabinet could comprise a single door with said dispensing opening 4 and said tray of Pickup 14, or more than two doors.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the aforementioned closet clothes dispenser in a sectioned way to visualize the elements contained within it. In the embodiment shown, The clothes dispenser cabinet comprises three columns of 1 laterally adjacent compartments and each column comprises two compartments 1 superimposed vertically and mutually aligned, so that there are a total of six compartments 1. Without However, a subject matter expert will come up with different arrangements for different numbers of compartments without leaving of the scope of the present invention.

When doors 12 are closed, enter a inner part of the doors 12 and a front part of the plurality of compartments 1 is formed a space that constitutes a fall passage 13 (see Fig. 2) that is intercepted by said collection tray 14 associated with said opening of dispensing 4, which is located halfway up the doors 12 to prevent the user from having to duck in excess.

Each compartment 1 has an associated lifting device 2 for raising said stack of packages P towards the upper part of the corresponding compartment 1, and a device ejector 3 to eject a superior package Ps located in the upper position of the packet stack P towards said passage of fall 13, where the P packet falls until it is deposited in the collection tray 14 associated with the dispensing opening 4. Then, a user can withdraw the package P dispensed through of the dispensing opening 4 (Fig. 2). Yes, as in the embodiment shown, the cabinet has several compartments 1 vertically superimposed, the ejector device 3 of the lower compartment 1 is located at a higher level than the collection tray 14 associated with the dispensing opening 4.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 individually show one of compartments 1 with a stack P packages of clothes housed inside, as well as lifting devices 2 and of ejection 3 associated with this compartment 1. The device elevation 2 comprises a horizontal platform 8 that supports said packet stack P. Said platform 8 moves guided vertically along compartment 1 by means of lifting drive, comprising a group lifting gear reducer 9 ready to do turn a vertical spindle 10 and a nut 11 fixed to the platform 8 and coupled to said spindle 10. The rotation of spindle 10 driven by said lifting gearmotor group 9 in a first direction causes linear upward displacement of said nut 8, which drags the platform 8 and the stack of P packages arranged on it.

The said ejector device 3 is located in a fixed position in an upper region of compartment 1, and it comprises, as best shown in Fig. 6, a group of denticulated wheels 5 spaced apart and connected to a common tree 6, which is powered by a group ejection motor reducer 7. In realization shown, the ejector device 3 of each compartment 1 it comprises two of the groups of denticulated wheels 5 shown in the Fig. 6, coaxially arranged and operated by respective groups ejection motor-reducers 7. Alternatively, the ejector device 3 could have a single denticulated wheel 5 arranged in a central position with respect to the compartments one.

When platform 8 ascends to a height predetermined by the action of the lifting device 2, the package top Ps of the packet stack P make a grip contact with denticulated wheels 5 of ejector device 3 (confirmed by a sensor or position detector). So the group lifting gear reducer 9 of the device elevator 2 stops and moto-reducer group of ejection 7 of the ejector device 3 is activated to eject the upper packet Ps of the packet stack P and thus cause the fall thereof through the drop passage 13 and towards the opening of dispensing 4.

Operation is explained below. operating of the dispensing cabinet described for a case of application to dispensing pajamas in a hospital setting.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet dispenser comprises a touch screen 15 and a band reader magnetic 16 (or other interface, if known) located in one of Doors 12 (Figs. 1 and 2) where the user identifies and chooses Pajama size.

The usual work scenario for Pajamas dispensing by a user is as follows:

?

 the user identifies by inserting a magnetic stripe card into said reader of magnetic stripe 16;

?

 the system checks that the user is authorized (or has a permit) to use the system and shows on said touch screen 15 some options about of pajamas or other clothing items available in the wardrobe;

?

 the user chooses the size and number of pajamas interacting with the touch screen fifteen;

?

 the system checks the balance of pajamas or other garments available (per period);

?

 in the correct case the closet Dispenses one or more items and records consumption.

For pajamas replacement operations and machine maintenance the system allows interaction by entering a numerical code that is managed remotely

The scenario for replacement or maintenance by part of an operator is as follows:

?

 the operator enters the code numeric on touch screen 15;

?

 the system shows in the 15 touch screen maintenance options (display of levels or alarms, cell configuration or opening of machine);

?

 the operator chooses opening of the machine and the doors 12 of the same are unlocked allowing access to compartments 1;

?

 the operator replenishes pajamas in each compartment 1 according to the assigned size and then close of new doors 12.

Next the cabinet control system it automatically initializes and sends status information, by example to a remote control center.

It is also planned that the system of control send alarm messages according to minimum level percentages configured by sizes, depending on the information collected by the mentioned sensor / detector means.

Figs. 7 and 8 schematically show the arrangement of sensors that are part of a system of control of the automatic dispenser cabinet of the present invention.

Thus, each of the compartments 1 of the cabinet incorporates a series of level sensors N1, N2, N3 for detect the charge level of each compartment 1. These sensors Level N1, N2, N3 are in charge of sending to a center of remote control an information in percentile format of the level of load in relation to the total capacity of compartment 1, per example 25%, 50%, 75%, as well as a full compartment sensor A6 (100%) and an empty compartment sensor A7 (0%). Cabinet dispenser also includes in each compartment some sensors A4, A5 load, the function of which is to level the compartments and prepare them for an upcoming dispensation. It is also planned an S2 sensor indicating that the top garment in the stack is in a suitable position for shipment and a second S3 sensor indicator that the motor-reducer group of expulsion 7 has completed a complete cycle. Finally an A2 sensor interspersed in the mouth of issue of the garment indicates that it has been expended

The motor-reducer assembly 9 and spindle 10 together with the S2 sensor, guarantee an extraction of each garment bagged correctly. In addition the extraction of each unit It is confirmed by the set of sensors S3 and A2 mentioned.

A subject matter expert could introduce changes and modifications in the embodiment described without out of the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims (14)

1. Automatic clothing dispensing closet, of the type comprising a plurality of vertical compartments (1), each sized to house a stack of packages (P) or bags, each package (P) containing a folded garment, where each compartment (1) is associated with a dispensing device that includes a lifting device (2) to lift said stack of packages (P) to the top of the corresponding compartment (1), and an ejector device (3) to eject a package upper (Ps) located in the upper position of the packet stack (P) towards a dispensing opening (4) accessible by a user and an interface for reading information of some identifying means of users and allowing said dispensing device to operate, characterized in that said ejector device (3) comprises at least one denticulated wheel (5) disposed in an upper region of the compartment (1) to make grip contact with said package upper (Ps) when the packet stack (P) is lifted upwards and ejection drive means to rotate said denticulated wheel (5) in order to drag said upper packet (Ps) out of the packet stack ( P) and because said ejector device is associated with at least one sensor (S2) for detecting the position of the upper battery pack. 2. A dispensing cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the ejector device (3) comprises at least one group of said denticulated wheels (5) spaced apart and connected to a common shaft (6), and said ejection drive means comprise a group ejection motor reducer (7) arranged to drive said shaft (6). 3. Dispensing cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that the ejector device (3) comprises several groups of said denticulated wheels (5), the denticulated wheels (5) of each group being arranged spaced apart and connected to a respective common shaft (6) , and said ejection drive means comprise several of said ejection motor reducer groups (7), each arranged to drive one of said axles (6). 4. Dispensing cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting device (2) comprises a horizontal platform (8) supporting said stack of packages (P) and lifting actuating means for moving said platform (8) vertically along said compartment (1). 5. A dispensing cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that said lifting actuating means comprise a lifting motor-reducer group (9) arranged to rotate a vertical spindle (10), and the platform (8) is fixed to a nut (11) coupled to said spindle (10). 6. Clothing dispensing cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cabinet has at least one door (12) on a front side, said dispensing opening (4) is arranged in said door (12), in a region halfway up it. A dispensing cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that, when the door (12) is closed, a drop passage (13) is formed between the door (12) and said plurality of compartments (1) through which the packages ( P) ejected from the corresponding packet stack (P) by said ejector device (3), and the dispensing opening (4) has associated a collection tray (14) in interference with said drop passage (13) where they are deposited the packages (P) that fall through it. A dispensing cabinet according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least two of said compartments (1) superimposed vertically and mutually aligned, and the ejector device (3) of the lower compartment (1) is located at a level higher than said collection tray (14) associated with the dispensing opening (4). A dispensing cabinet according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises at least two of said compartments (1) arranged laterally adjacent, and at least two of said doors (12), each with a corresponding dispensing opening (4 ). 10. A dispensing cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that each compartment also has an indicator sensor that the motor-ejection reducer group (7) has completed a complete cycle. 11. A dispensing cabinet according to claim 10, characterized in that each compartment also has a dispensed garment sensor that at the same time will act on the ejection motor-reducer (7) causing it to stop. 12. Dispensing cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the compartments also incorporates at least one level sensor (N1, N2, N3) to detect the load level of each compartment (1), in charge of sending to a central remote control information in percentile format of the load level in relation to the total capacity of the compartment (1), as well as a full compartment sensor (A6) and an empty compartment sensor (A7). 13. Dispensing cabinet according to claim 12, characterized in that each compartment further includes a load sensor (A4, A5) the function of which is to level the compartments and prepare them for a next dispensation. 14. A dispensing cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that said interface comprises a card reader (15) and a touch screen (16) arranged in said door (12) of the dispenser.