FR2488428A1 - Trolley dispenser for dispensing of trolleys in self service-store - requires insertion of coin or token to release lock and start conveyor in tunnel store - Google Patents

Abstract

The customer trolleys for a self service store are kept in a tunnel (1) in the base of which is a rolling conveyor (2). This enables the trolleys to be transported to an issuing point (3) located at one end (4) of the tunnel. A receptacle (5) allows a coin or card to be introduced to power the conveyor and to release a locking bar (6) which slides upwards to free a trolley. The bar slides downwards when a trolley has been removed. On replacement of a trolley an identification system (7) initiates the return of a coin or card which may be different to the one initially introduced. This enables a ticket to be issued for a gift.

Description

The present invention relates to a tape machine "automatic locker specially adapted for the automatic locker of self-service trolleys made available to customers of distribution stores of all surfaces equipped with self-service.

For the moment, this type of store invested in a fleet of trolleys that it makes available to its customers who, very often abandons their trolley after use, either at the location of their vehicle in the parking lot, or outside the car park on the public highway or in the common areas of the buildings located around the store.

These trolleys abandoned outside the store and its parking lots are often the subject of deterioration or disappearance forcing owners to reinvest in this equipment, in order to satisfy its customers, and to ensure its sales.

To limit losses and best satisfy customers, store managers have the carts picked up.

i) In the car parks, by staff employed from the opening to the railway
meture, in order to group the carts in places chosen by
advanced.

2) Outside, by personnel employed from opening to closing
and equipped with specially designed industrial vehicles.

In addition, the abandoned trolleys deteriorate very quickly and require very expensive maintenance.

The present machine, object of the invention, aims to interest customers in this problem and to make significant savings to stores which can eventually pass them on their tent prices
This machine, based on the automatic deposit system requires the introduction of a coin, a token, or a card into a receiving device of the electronic or mechanical type to obtain a carriage.

Conversely, when the user puts his cart back in the machine, the latter returns the coin, the token, or the card after identifying the passage of the cart by optical cell, magnetic reading or other.

The machine, object of the invention, is in the form of a more or less long tunnel depending on the size of the fleet of trolleys and the space available, and is adaptable to all the capacities of trolleys. This tunnel, preferably made of hard plastic of any color, allows the user to realize if one or more carts are inside.

 It is necessary to ensure the operation of this machine, to use a source of electrical energy by sector, batteries or generator.

Over the entire length of the lower part of the tunnel, at ground level, over the width at least equal to the wheelbase of the wheels of the carriage, there is a conveyor belt made of rubber or flexible material intended to convey the carriage to the dispensing orifice.

This treadmill starts when the person wanting a cart has introduced a pre-defined coin or token or card into the device.

At the same time, the bar of steel or very solid material which keeps the first carriage blocked at the level of the handle of the latter is unlocked and slides from bottom to top, in order to release the carriage and falls just behind it, in order to be lock in the lower blocking position for the next carriage.

The blocking system can also be done by a steel bar or very solid material pivoting from rear to front on an axis located at one of its ends and positioned at a height between the basket and the base of the trolley (the blocking takes place against the hoops fixing the basket to the base of the trolley).

After having finished using the cart, the customer replaces it in the machine at the other end, which is equipped, at its entrance, with a cart identification system by optical cell, magnetic reading or other. It is necessary that the trolley is equipped with the part necessary for the identification system adapted on the machine.

In the event of a breakdown, for any reason whatsoever, provision is made for unlocking the part blocking the carriages so that they can be used.

A lockable access hatch is provided about halfway through the tunnel, so that you can intervene inside if necessary.

In order to avoid any accident, a double-leaf door made of flexible material is provided at the end of the tunnel intended for the entry of the trolleys.

As shown, the machine comprises a tunnel (1) at the base of which is a conveyor belt (2) which routes the carriages from the return end (3) to the distribution end (4 ). When the coin, token or card is inserted into the receiving device (5), the treadmill starts operating at the same time as the locking piece (6) which slides from below is unlocked. at the top in order to release the carriage and returns to the low locking position in order to block the following carriage.

When the carriage is returned by the return end, the carriage identification system (7) initiates the process of returning the coin, token or caste to the return device (8), which maybe the same or different from the receiving device.

The machine, object of the invention, while remaining substantially identical, can be modified by eliminating the automatic deposit system which would be replaced by a device distributing, at each carriage return, tickets giving the right to a gift from the store. in exchange for one or more tickets.

This machine, object of the invention, can be put into operation in distribution stores which provide their customers with self-service carts and having a storage area for these carts, one or more parking lots , or located inside a shopping center.

Claims (10)

1.- Device for the distribution of trolleys or the like, characterized in that it comprises a closed storage enclosure (1) provided with an introuction inlet (3) and a distribution outlet (4), advance means (2) capable of advancing said carriages from said inlet (3) to said outlet (4) inside said enclosure (1), carriage distribution means (6) arranged at said outlet ( 4) and controlled by means (5) actuated by the introduction of a coin, a token, a card or the like and means (8) for issuing a coin, a token, d 'a card or the like arranged at said return input (3) and actuated by the introduction of a carriage into said enclosure (1). 2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said storage enclosure (1) is in the form of a tunnel or the like. 3.- Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the advance means comprise a conveyor (2) disposed at ground level and controlled by said actuating means (5) of the distribution means (6). 4.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, upon introduction of a coin, a token, a card or the like, said actuating means (5) control simultaneously the conveyor (2) and the means (6) for distributing carriages. 5.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distribution means (6) of carriages are constituted by means of blocking the carriage located at said distribution outlet (4). 6.- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said locking means are constituted by a movable member (6) between a barring position of the dispensing outlet (4) and a retracted position, and vice versa. 7.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises means (7) of carriage identification, arranged at the return input (3) and controlling said means (8) issuance of a coin, token, card or the like. 8.- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the carriages carry identification marks capable of cooperating with said means (7) of carriage identification. 9.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the coin, the token, the card or the like issued by the means (8) for delivery to the return input (3) is identical to the coin token, card or the like introduced into the actuating means (5). 10.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the coin, the token, the card or the like issued by the means (8) for delivery to the return input (3) is different from the coin, token, card or the like introduced into the actuating means (5).