FR2586126A1 - AUTOMATIC DISPENSER OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS DESIGNED TO BE POSTED ON A COUNTER - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS APPLIANCE INCLUDES A ROTARY DRUM MOUNTED IN A BODY 12 AND IS SHARED INTO A NUMBER OF COMPARTMENTS RECEIVING ITEMS. THE COMPARTMENTS SHAPE VERTICAL CROWNS ON THE DRUM AND EACH CROWN IS LOCATED BEHIND A TRANSPARENT SHUTTER 48 OF CURVED SHAPE AND SLIDING MOUNT. THE SHUTTERS CAN BE SELECTIVELY UNLOCKED TO GIVE ACCESS TO A SINGLE COMPARTMENT, AFTER THE MANEUVERING OF BUTTONS 44, 42 AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A COIN 40. THE POTENTIAL CUSTOMER SIMULTANEOUSLY SEES A LARGE NUMBER OF ITEMS THROUGH THE TRANSPARENT SHUTTERS 48. THE ROTATION OF THE DRUM FOR THE CHOICE OF ITEMS AND THE POSITIONING OF THE COMPARTMENTS WITH A VIEW TO EXTRACTION ARE PRODUCED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR WITH THE INTERPOSITION OF A STEP-BY-STEP MECHANISM.

Description

The invention relates to slot machines and more particularly a

  automatic distributor of sweets, food or other consumable items, which has been designed to be placed

  on a counter or similar support.

  Different types of slot machines are known for distributing a variety of articles or consumable products. Most of these devices are fairly large machines, placed on the ground and relatively expensive. They have a large capacity and are particularly suitable for installation in places

  o we can expect a relatively large sales volume.

  Many machines of this type offer a large number of items for the potential customer to choose from. As a rule, these machines are not suitable for places where available space is a key factor and where the expected sales volume is relatively low. They are also not suitable for places where inexperienced people have to load the machine from large stocks or supplies.

  mass, instead of loading by experienced itinerant people

  rhymed. The object of the invention is to provide an automatic distributor of consumable items, of the type designed to be placed on a counter, which is particularly suitable for being installed in a place where space is a primary factor or in a place

  o the expected sales volume is relatively low.

  The invention also aims to provide a dispenser of this type which offers to the view of a potential customer a relatively large percentage of the articles contained in the dispenser, without it being necessary to operate the machine, which is easy to reload. , which allows to sell a wide variety of

  products, the construction and operation of which are relati-

  quite simple and which, in addition, is relatively inexpensive

  compared to large slot machines on the floor.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge more clearly from the following description of a

  nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, as well as the attached drawings, in which:

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  - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a distri-

  automatic counter stopper according to the invention, with the lid closed and with the coin box removed; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser with the cover raised and with removal of certain parts; - Figure 3 is a side view of the dispenser with cutaway; - Figure 4 is a partial section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1; - Figure 5 is a partial plan view, taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4, with removal of certain parts and cutaway of others; - Figure 6 is a partial section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4; - Figure 7 is a partial section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 4; and - Figure 8 is an example of the electrical diagram for

such a distributor.

  If we refer first to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, we see that the counter automatic dispenser which is represented therein is designated as a whole by the reference 10 and comprises a body 12 with a cover 14 which is supported on the body 12 by a hinge 16 and is movable between an open position where the machine can be loaded in the manner described in the following and a closed position. A lock 18 can be provided to lock

  the cover in its closed position.

  The body 12 contains a drum 20 which has flanges 22 and 24 at the ends and a number of partitions 26 spaced from each other between the flanges. The partitions and radial separators 28 share the drum in one

  number of compartments intended to receive merchandise

  say. The drum 20 and its axis 32 are rotatably mounted in a box 30 placed inside the body 12. This box has a curved covering element 34, see FIG. 3, which is placed close enough to the periphery of the drum and s' spans out

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  a sufficiently large part of this perimeter to prevent that

  items, under the effect of their weight, slide out of comparison

  drum drum in the lower part of it.

  A gap provided between one side of the box 30 and a side wall of the body 12 contains the coin mechanism 36 and a coin box and tokens 38. A slot 40 provided for the introduction of the coins into an inclined front part of the cover 14 guides the coins into the coin mechanism 36. A first push button 42 located in this part of the cover, just above the slot 40 for inserting the coins, can be operated for returning the coins to the client deformed in case such a coin is not accepted by the coin mechanism. A second push button 44, mounted in the cover above the push button 42, can be operated, as described below, to rotate the drum 20, in order to allow the potential customer to see all the articles contained in the drum. A cord with an electric plug 46 for insertion into a suitable socket is used for power

distributor 10.

  It emerges from what has just been described that the

  drum 20 occupies part of the interior space of the body

  series 12 located next to the space under the inclined front part of the cover. According to the invention, the part of the cover situated to the left of this inclined front part is provided with means for supporting sliding curved and transparent shutters, designated by 48, the number of which corresponds to that of the crowns.

  compartments (groups of compartments arranged in circles).

  Each of the flaps 48 has a width which corresponds to the width of the compartments of the ring of drum compartments that this flap covers. Each of the flaps 48 is provided with a lever 50 by which the flap can be raised, along a curved path, as described in more detail below. The underside of a substantially horizontal part of the cover 14, located behind the flaps 48, carries plates 52 which are mutually spaced and serve as supports for mechanisms

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  control; the number of these plates corresponds to the number of

  wreaths of drum commodity compartments.

  A drive motor 54, supported on the outer side of one of the side walls of the cabinet 30, is connected to be supplied for the rotation of the drum 20 in a number of steps equal to the number of cargo compartments in each ring , which is 24 in the exemplary embodiment

  particular of the invention shown in the drawings. More precise

  The axis or shaft 32 of the drum carries a Maltese cross 56 designed to be turned by a driving element 58 on the output shaft of the motor 54. In such a mechanism, as is known in the art , the driven member, in this case the drum 20, is advanced step by step, in a given number of identical steps for each revolution, with a relatively precise positioning at the end

of each step.

  According to the invention, the cover 14 is equipped with a locking mechanism which is indicated overall by the reference 60 and which serves to maintain the cover in the open position for loading. Two arms 62, one on each side of the

  machine, are articulated on axes 64 carried by the body 12.

  Each arm 62 has an oblong hole 66 receiving a tenon 68 carried by a crutch 70 for supporting the cover, which is articulated by an axis 72 on the cover 14. A neutral spring 74 is mounted between the tenon 68 and the cover 14 When the latter is raised to its open position, the stand 70 takes a position where it is supported by a notch 76 on a support 78 provided in the body 12, thus maintaining the cover in the raised position. To fold the cover, it is first lifted beyond its open position, so that the spring 74 can disengage the crutches 70 from the support 78; then the

cover can be closed.

  Referring now to FIG. 4, each flap 48 is combined with a spiral spring with almost constant torque, designated by 80 and mounted on a support 52, which returns the flap to its closed position where it prohibits access to a compartment of

  the crown of compartments located behind the shutter in question.

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  To open the shutter 48, grip the handle 80 and move it up, thereby lifting the shutter. The upper end of the flap is thus moved to the right in the representation of FIG. 4. Each flap 48 has a slot 82 near its upper end for receiving a lobe of an actuating element 84 which is mounted tilting on an axis 86 carried by

  the support plate 52 associated with the flap and the comparison crown

  timents. A spring not shown recalls the action element-

  84 at a position where this element is applied against a stop 90 on a support 92 fixed to the plate 52. A number of sliding blocking pieces 94 are supported in a

  housing 96. When a flap 48 is open, its action element

  84 is pushed up and tries to slide between two sliding parts 94 located one next to the other, according to an arrangement known in the art. As will be described more

  completely thereafter, this system prevents the simul-

  two or more shutters.

  During the rotation of the actuating element 84 anticlockwise, when the flap with which it is associated is open, a rod 98 carried by

  the actuating element controls a switch 100.

  The mechanism associated with each of the components 48

  carries a locking bar 102 oscillatingly mounted on an axis 104

  carried by the plate 52. A spring 106 tends to rotate the

  blocking bar 102 anticlockwise in the representation of FIG. 4. When the bar 102 occupies the position shown, it limits the opening movement of the corresponding flap 48 due to the application

  a foot 108 of the shutter against the end of the bar 102.

  An electromagnet 110 carried by the plate 52 comprises a frame 112 with a lug 114 which is received in an oblong hole 116 in the bar 102. The electromagnet 110 is excited by the closing of the switch 100 when a sufficient quantity of

  currency has been inserted into the machine. The excitement of electro-

  magnet oscillates the locking bar 102 at a position where its end shown on the left in FIG. 4 is located outside

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  of the movement path of the foot 108, so that the flap can be opened completely. At the same time, a curved tab 118 at the other end of the bar 102 releases the control element.

  of a switch 120, which causes the opening of this interrup-

  of the electromagnet, as described in this

who will follow.

  A locking pawl 122 for the bar

  blocking is mounted oscillating on an axis 124 carried by the support 92.

  A spring 126 returns the pawl 122 to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. When the locking bar oscillates

  in the flap release position, under the action of the electro-

  magnet 110, the nose 124 of the pawl 122 passes under the bar 102 and

  keeps it in its flap release position. -

  The support plate 52 forms at the same time a stop 130 for the end of the shutter travel, against which the

  foot 108 when the flap 48 is fully open.

  The sliding blocking pieces 94, see FIGS. 4 to 6, are returned to their normal positions, which they occupy in the absence of the insertion of any actuating element 84 between two neighboring sliding pieces, by two leaf springs 131 and 132. When an actuating element 84 has been inserted between two sliding parts 94, the other sliding parts are positioned so as to prevent a corresponding insertion movement from any other

actuating element.

  The dispenser according to the invention also comprises a reset or reset bar 134 slidably mounted on tenons 136 of a plate 137 by oblong holes 138. The bar 134 is provided with an offset wing 139 which form mutually spaced shoulders 140 in front of which pass the upper ends of the pawls 122. When the bar 134 is moved downward, in the representation of FIG. 5, as described below, the shoulders 140 are applied against the pawls 122 and rotate them in the

  counterclockwise, in the representation

  feeling of Figure 6, which causes the release of all

  locking bar 102 which had been locked.

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  A wing 141 directed downwards on the other side of the rearming bar 134, relative to the wing 139, forms a number of shoulders 142. In the event that any actuating element 184 has been locked to its flap open position, any attempt to move the sliding reset bar 134 downward, in the representation of FIG. 5, will be made impossible by the application of a shoulder 142 against

  the actuating element 84 raised.

  In the embodiment shown, see Figures 3 and 5, the bar 134 is returned to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 5 by a spring 143. A piece of wire or rope 144 connects the reset bar 134 to the arm 146

  directed upwards of a bent lever rotatably mounted on an axis 148.

  The other arm 150 of this lever is connected by a wire or a rope 152 to an arm 154 directed upwards of a second bent lever. The latter is rotatably mounted on an axis 156. The other arm 158 of the

  second bent lever is arranged to be operated by the push-

cementation of the push button 44.

  When the reset bar 134 is moved to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5, it closes a switch 160 which is normally open. When the sliding blocking pieces 94 are moved from their normal positions, by the introduction of an actuating element 84 between two neighboring sliding pieces, the leaf spring 132 opens a

  normally closed switch 162.

  As can be seen in Figure 8, the switches 100 and 120, the electromagnet 110 and the coin mechanism 36 are connected in series between the terminals 164 and 166 of the machine power supply. Between these same terminals are connected in series the switches 160, 162 and the motor

transport 54.

  When a potential customer approaches the distributor in service and presses the transport button 44, the reset bar 134 is moved down, in the representation of FIG. 5, which displaces all the locking pawls 122

  at positions where they release the locking bars 102 correspond-

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  to allow them to take up shutter locking positions. It should be noted that the machine according to the invention comprises mechanical and electrical safety. If an actuating element 84 has been pressed between two sliding blocking pieces 94, the resetting bar cannot be lowered. At the same time, the movement of a sliding blocking piece controls the switch 162, thus preventing the excitation of the transport motor. Assuming that all the flaps 48 have been brought to their closed positions, so that no actuating element 84 is between the sliding blocking pieces 94, the reset bar 134 will be moved downwards, from the described manner, thus releasing all the locking bars 102 and actuating the switch 160 to start

the transport motor 54.

  This motor continues to run until the customer releases the button; at this time, the Maltese cross mechanism will precisely position the drum 20 so that the compartment containing the desired item occupies the position where this item can

  be removed at the opening of the shutter across the compartment.

  The customer having released the button 44 and the desired article having been turned to the desired position, the customer grasps the lever 50 of the flap located in front of the article concerned and raises the flap. As a result of this movement of the shutter, the actuating element 84 rises and is inserted between two neighboring sliding parts 94, which prevents another shutter from being opened at the same time. Simultaneously, the rod 98 controls the switch 100, which closes the excitation circuit of the electromagnet 110 at

  through the coin mechanism 36 and the switch 120. The electro-

  magnet 110 then causes the bar 102 to oscillate in the flap release position. The pawl 122 goes under the bar and the

  locks in the flap release position then interrup-

  tor 120 is open, so that the electromagnet is de-energized.

  Now the shutter can be opened completely, even against

  the stopper 130, and the article can be removed. The machine is main-

  ready for the next operation.

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  It should be noted that the drum 20 and its contents are visible on a sector of 90 of the drum, through the flaps 48, without it being necessary to rotate the drum. In the particular embodiment shown, this means that a potential customer can see six compartments of each crown, ie 24 compartments in all. In addition to exhibiting a large number

  compartments, the transparent shutters allow sufficient entry

  enough light inside so that the goods are clearly visible without the need to provide lighting to

the interior.

  To load or reload the drum 20, the lock 18 is opened and the cover is raised until the crutches 70 are placed by their notches 76 on the support 78. The drum can then be loaded fairly easily. After loading or reloading, the cover is simply lifted a little more so that the neutral spring 74 spreads the crutches 70 and allows

thus the folding of the cover.

  Thanks to the machine design, a wide variety of items can be dispensed. The only condition to respect is that all the articles contained in the same crown

  of compartments are at the same price.

  It appears from the above that the invention meets the objectives mentioned at the start. The automatic countertop dispenser is particularly suitable for use in places where space is a key factor. The dispenser according to the invention is also very suitable in places where the expected demand is relatively low. The construction and operation of the device are relatively simple. It presents the customer with a fairly large selection of articles without the need to activate the dispenser. It is relatively inexpensive compared to the large automatic dispensers of the prior art, placed freely on the ground. In addition, it is easy to charge and recharge and it allows to distribute a

wide variety of items.

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and those skilled in the art may make various modifications thereto,

  without going beyond its framework.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, the flaps are replaced by a transparent part mounted reLevable

  or otherwise movable in an opening of the cover.

  This opening extends in particular from the top of the bodywork 12 downward, from the rear side of the bodywork to the front.

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Claims (12)

  1. Automatic dispenser for treats, food or other consumable items, intended to be placed on a counter   or similar support, including bodywork and comparisons   materials for receiving articles, characterized in that the compartments are arranged in at least one substantially vertical crown in a drum (20) or a support for goods   similar which is rotatably mounted about a substantially horizontal axis   zontal (32), the bodywork (12) carries at the front at least one transparent flap or a transparent part (48) allowing a potential customer to simultaneously see several compartments of the crown or of each crown of compartments and the dispenser comprises means for mounting the movable flap (48), in front of the corresponding crown of compartments, between an open position o a compartment of the crown is accessible and a closed position, a locking device (102) for normally preventing the opening of the flap and means (110), comprising   a device (36) actuated by money, to make available blocking signal (102) inoperative.   2. Dispenser according to claim 1, comprising means (54, 56) for turning the drum selectively for the positioning of the compartments of a crown behind a corresponding flap (48).   3. Dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, comprising means (122) for locking the locking device in the inoperative position and a reset device (134) for resetting   the initial state of the locking means (122).   4. Dispenser according to claim 3, comprising means (94) sensitive to the presence of an open flap to prevent   actuation of the reset device (134).   5. Dispenser according to claim 3 or 4, comprising a transport motor (54) for rotating the drum (20) and   means (160) sensitive to the actuation of the reset device   ment (134) to operate the transport motor. 258 6 126   6. Dispenser according to claim 4 or 5, comprising means (162) sensitive to the presence of a flap (48) open for   prohibit the operation of the transport engine.   7. Distributor according to any one of the claims   previous, o the flap or each transparent flap (48) is mounted sliding longitudinally and vertically in an opening in the front of the body (12) and giving access to the interior, the opening extending over several compartments d '' at least one crown and part of the drum or similar merchandise support (20) projecting through the opening, the length of the flap or of the transparent part (48) corresponding at least to the length of the opening in the vertical direction, means (130) being provided to limit the movement of the flap or   from the transparent part to the extent of a single compartment.   8. Dispenser according to claim 7, o the flap and the opening have curved shapes adapted to the curvature of the drum (20).   9. Distributor according to any one of claims   1 to 8, o the opening or each opening is formed in a cover (14), in which is disposed the transparent shutter or   the transparent part corresponding to a comparison crown   timents, the cover being connected by a hinge (16) to the rest of the bodywork and being movable between an open position o the drum or similar support (20) is accessible through the opening and a closed position o the crown or   each ring of compartments is visible through the flap.   10. Distributor according to any one of the claims   1 to 9, where the opening extends from the top of the body to the   bottom, from the rear side of the bodywork to the front.   11. Distributor according to any one of the claims   1 to 10, o the transparent flap or the transparent part covers   an area of about 90 of the drum.   12. Distributor according to any one of the claims   1 to 11, o the transport motor (54) can be started by means (44) maneuverable by the customer for positioning selective compartments.