FR2581224A1 - Automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic dispenser in which the insertion of a coin or of a token brings about the delivery of merchandise, characterised in that the apparatus is provided with an animal model 6 and means for reproducing a voice which are designed to operate after the said insertion so as to simulate words spoken by the animal on the subject of the merchandise delivered.

Description

VENDING MACHINE
The present invention relates to automatic dispensers.

According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic distributor in which the insertion of a coin or a token causes the delivery of goods, and in which the device is provided with a model of animal and means for reproducing the voice designed to operate during said insertion in order to simulate words spoken by the animal about the goods delivered.

 Preferably, the animal is a bird of a species recognized as being capable of imitating the human voice, such as a parrot.

 The animal model will normally be presented in a cage, and the items for sale will be visible at the base of the cage. If the animal is a bird, it will preferably look like a classic bird cage, and the bird can be mounted on a swing or perch.

 The animal model can also be designed to make movements, such as nodding a tail.

 The device can also be equipped with an attractive mode in which the animal model speaks words and / or makes movements without a coin or token being inserted.

 The means for reproducing the voice will generally call upon a speech processing machine having in memory words or elements of words in the form of a voice code, and there may be an extensive and living vocabulary, such as that which you can expect a well entrained parrot. Thus, the animal can make, in series, different remarks at each sale, which avoids frequent repetition.

For a better understanding, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an automatic dispenser, and
Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the vending machine.

 The apparatus has a chest-shaped cabinet 1 resting on four short legs 2. On top of the cabinet, above a circular well 3 formed in its upper plate 4, is placed a bird cage 5. It can have many different shapes, but it will preferably look like the ones commonly used to house real birds. In this case, however, a parrot model 6 is perched on a bar 7. The model can be completely inanimate, or designed to make certain movements like a puppet, such as nodding its tail, moving its beak, or flap its wings. This would be triggered from inside the cabinet 1 using an invisible wire connected to a mechanism hidden inside the parrot.

 On the outside, the cabinet has a coin insertion hole 8 and a control button 9. The latter may be superfluous, since the insertion of a coin can be designed to launch the sales operation instead simply switch on the device for this purpose.

There is also a speaker grille 10 and a box il in which the sold item is delivered, and from which one can easily extract it. Preferably, the device will deliver the articles in egg-shaped boxes, which can be stored in the well 3 in a visible manner for the user of the dispenser and allowing the owner to know the level of the stock. These boxes can consist of two halves intended to fit into molded plastic. In general, the device will offer "a surprise package rather than a specific item or a specific range of items.

 Inside, the cabinet 1 contains a speech processing machine and a mechanism reacting to the insertion of a part into the insertion hole 8 and to the pressing of the button 9 to convey an article from the well 3 to box 11. Speech processing machines are known, as are these automatic distribution mechanisms, and they will therefore not be described in detail.

 The device can be designed to simulate the words of a parrot, and the parrot can periodically make movements and seem to speak even if no one is actually using the device: this is in order to attract attention and encourage use of the device. When a coin is inserted, other words and other movements are simulated, and when the 9i button is pressed, there could be other words and other movements while the article is issued.

 A parrot has been chosen as the reputed human voice simulator, but any other bird or animal can be used instead.

Claims (8)

 1. Automatic dispenser in which the insertion of a coin or a token causes the delivery of goods, characterized in that the device is provided with an animal model (6) and means for reproducing the voice designed to operate during said insertion in order to simulate words spoken by the animal about the delivered goods.  2. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the animal is a bird of a species recognized as being capable of imitating the human voice.  3. Automatic dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the bird is a parrot.  4. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the animal model (6) is in a cage (5).  5. Automatic dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the articles for sale are visible at the base of said cage.  6. Automatic dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the animal model (6) is also designed to make movements.  7. Automatic dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that said movements are those of a tail.  8. Vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is doubtful of an attractive mode in which the animal model (6) speaks words and / or makes movements without a piece or a token is inserted.