FR2773361A1 - Automatic distribution for vending of compact discs - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine uses gravity to transport compact disc along variable inclination slope, with locking mechanism attached to release mechanism to ensure single item delivery. The automatic distribution machine has a retainer (3) holding items (5) stored on a slope (2), and an ejector (4) to deliver an item for collection. The ejector is operated by electromagnets (7). The ejector is coupled to the retainer, so operation of the ejector clamps the next item on the stack so it cannot pass to the release position till the ejector returns to the rest position.

Description

 The subject of the invention is an automatic object dispenser by gravity on slides.

 The present invention relates to a device, intended to contain and deliver objects on command of an electronic assembly ensuring management.

 Current automatic dispensing devices use, to our knowledge, drums, baskets, worms, drawers and slides inclined according to the characteristics of the products which can range from 20 to 90 degrees relative to the horizontal.

 The advantages of the latter technique are manifold, especially in the distribution of compact discs, among others, allowing them to move by gravity and position themselves horizontally or vertically, depending on the device chosen, to be ejected towards the mouth of transit of the device, by order of the electronic assembly.

 By using gravity to allow the product to move, to get into position to be released, the risk exists that two or three units of the same product are ejected at the same time, the present invention provides a solution to the problem by its mechanism self-locking.

The state of the art can be defined by the following patents
- EP 0.779.605 A2: the present invention relates to display shelves each comprising several storage compartments for articles arranged vertically and laterally, the article storage compartments each containing several articles arranged inclined forward, the articles in each compartment The storage of articles are held by means of a stop, which can move between an article retaining position making it possible to prevent the articles from falling and a release position allowing the articles to fall free. At the place where the money is paid, a bucket is transported to the position where the selected article must fall from the article storage compartment which retains the article and the position of the stop changes to the position release of the article by an operation performed on the side of the bucket. Therefore, the selected item is placed in the bucket, which is then transported to an outlet port of the item. The sale of the article is thus carried out. In this way, the expensive control system included in the displacement structure of the stop, that is to say the output structure of the selected article of the corresponding presentation shelf is only present on the bucket and it It is therefore possible to provide large and less expensive automatic sales equipment.

 The ejection device described in this patent is very complex and therefore expensive and unreliable. The tilting movement is carried out from below the object to be dispensed.

 - EP-0.343.505 A2: the invention relates to a goods store used for example for the storage of goods in an automatic distributor, which consists of at least one vertical compartment with a retaining means arranged at the lower end compartment. Such a store must allow the goods to be picked up in a controlled manner in the order in which they were introduced. In addition, the construction must be compact and it must be able to store and retrieve suitably objects even of different sizes. The store retaining means according to the invention comprises, for this purpose, a shutter forming the bottom of the compartment as well as a retainer arranged above.

In addition, both the shutter and the stopper are made in the form of flaps which are pivotally arranged on a wall of the compartment and can be folded down inside the compartment.

 - WO 96/10446: Apparatus placed in an automatic machine and intended for the storage of spherical objects, for example golf balls, and used to distribute a certain number of objects as required. Said apparatus comprises a magazine provided with a certain number of tracks of objects placed side by side, said tracks constituting together a bottom to this magazine containing objects; said tracks lead to a distribution channel. Devices hold the objects in the tracks until it is necessary to drop a certain number of objects in the channel for distribution. The retainer is in the form of a tab which extends across a track of objects. I1 has a first blocking part which, in a first position, extends downwards in the track of the objects in order to prevent the latter from leaving the track and in another position, after pivoting of the tab with the first blocking part, allows a number of objects to enter the channel. Said retaining device comprises a second blocking part which, in said first position, allows the movement of objects on the first blocking part and after pivoting the tab with said first blocking part to reach the other position, interferes with the object in the track, said object to be held in the track while said object or the preceding objects are released in the channel.

 - EP-0.647.927 A1: Device for automatic distribution of objects comprising means for storing objects and distribution means, said device comprising a mechanism for sectioning the row of objects, comprising an ejection means traversing a circuit closed, said ejection means acting at each circuit turn on the object located at one end of the row of objects, characterized in that said ejection finger comprises a pusher and at the rear thereof, a caster projecting towards the outside of the closed circuit, beyond the upper plane of said pusher.

 - FR-2.624.637: the present invention relates to an automatic dispenser of objects and in particular of keys comprising means for controlling the distribution of objects, means for retaining and releasing objects, integrated in a frame. The means for retaining and releasing objects comprise at least one rod for attaching objects and means for actuating said rod between two extreme positions, a first position in which the objects are retained, and a second position in which objects are released.

 - FR-2.622.090: vertical storage drum, of unitary objects, by vertical racks, open towards the outside of the drum, provided with an automatic blocking system for the product contained in the racks, by an activated ball system by a spring.

 The automatic object dispenser is of the type using slides of variable size and inclination.

 It is made up of means for holding or releasing the products or objects stored on the slides and means for ejecting said objects. Said means are actuated by electromagnets managed electronically.

 According to one embodiment, said means for holding or releasing and ejecting objects are lugs.

 According to one embodiment, said legs are mounted coaxially integral with a pivoting axis.

 Said legs according to their function are arranged in different planes to act alternately.

 According to another embodiment according to their function, the legs are each mounted on a different pivoting axis.

 The pivoting axes are in the same plane.

 The pivoting axes actuating the retaining and release tabs are arranged in two perpendicular planes.

 According to another embodiment, one or more time-delay means are put in place so that the tabs according to their function act with a time lag relative to the first action of the first type of tabs to prevent several objects from engaging or be ejected.

 The ejection means are L-shaped tabs, the small L-bar of which is used to hold the objects placed on the inclined slide.

 The tab is oriented so that the small bar of the L is directed downwards.

 According to another embodiment, the ejection means is a tab which ends in a vertical wall, the objects being arranged vertically on the inclined slide, the inclined slide opens onto a window arranged in a plane below said slide, said window is cut in a horizontal plane which acts as a transition support, the movable vertical wall by moving comes to position, at the appropriate moment, the object to be distributed opposite said window so that it is ejected by this window by simple gravity.

 According to another embodiment, the ejection means is a tab forming an ejection lug in the end part of the inclined plane of the slide, said lug protrudes in said plane to tilt the object to be dispensed out of the slide and above its front edge.

 In this embodiment, the means for maintaining the release of the object in the slide is a lateral lug arranged on one of the longitudinal edges of the inclined slide.

 The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser mechanism where the objects to be delivered are arranged flat in the inclined slide and where the holding or release tabs are coaxial with the ejection tabs mounted in a different plane, the together forming a seesaw.

The assembly is actuated by an electromagnet and a return spring which maneuver the pivoting axis.

 Figure 2 is a schematic view according to Figure 1 showing the rocker with its legs which hold in place the objects in the inclined slide.

 Figure 3 is a view according to Figure 1, where the scale ejects a single object to distribute and retains the other objects.

 Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment.

 Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the kinematics.

 Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the pivot axes of the legs are arranged in perpendicular planes.

 Figure 7 is a schematic view of the ejection tab and the tab for holding or releasing the object to be dispensed.

 Figures 8, 9, 10 highlight the kinematics of the tabs according to the different phases of the operation of the dispenser.

 The distributor 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is of the type using an inclined slide 2.

 It is made up of holding or release means 3 for objects or products 5 stored on the slide 2 and ejection means 4.

 These means 3 and 4 are legs.

 According to this embodiment, the legs 3, 4 are mounted coaxially integral with a pivoting axis 6.

 The legs 3 are arranged in a plane different from the plane of the legs 4.

 The internal angle a can for example be 1500 and this, so that the tabs 3 for holding or releasing the objects act alternately with the tabs 4 for ejection.

 As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the legs 3, 4 have an L shape, the small bar of the L is oriented down against the objects 5 to be distributed.

 The means or tabs for holding or releasing 3 and the ejection means 4 are actuated by an electromagnet 7 and a return spring 8 secured to a lever 9 fixed to the pivoting axis 6.

 According to the objects 5 to be distributed, the slide 2 is of variable size and inclination.

 The set of legs 3 and legs 4 and the pivoting axis 6 forms a rocker actuated by the electromagnet 7 and the return spring 8.

 The operation of this embodiment is as follows.

 In FIG. 2, the object 50 is retained by the legs 4, while the legs 3 are raised and therefore do not touch the object 51 which is the penultimate to be distributed in the slide 2.

The electronic management (not shown) by the electromagnet 7 pivots the pivoting axis 6;
As shown in arrow F1, the tabs 3 come into contact with the penultimate object 51 to hold it and prevent it from sliding, the tabs 4 are raised to release the product 50 which is to be dispensed and which falls by gravity according to the arrow F2.

 The electromagnet 7 is deactivated, the return spring 8 rotates the pivoting axis 6, the tabs 3 release the product 51 which comes into place in place of the product 50 which has already fallen and the device is found at the initial state shown in Figure 2.

 Depending on the shape and weight of the objects to be distributed, when the scale is operated, the weight of the objects can force the passage of the legs 3 (holding or releasing).

In this case, the scale can pause to retain the next product.

 To this end, a time delay means is set up in relation to the electromagnet 7.

 In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the products or objects 10 to be distributed are stored in the slide 9 on the edge 11.

 The pivoting axis 12 is actuated by an electromagnet 13.

 On this pivoting axis, a T-shaped rod 14 seen from the front holds or releases the objects 10 with its horizontal fingers 15 and 16.

 On this same rod 14 is mounted a pin 17 on which is fixed by two cheeks 18 and 19, a vertical wall which acts as ejection means 20.

 This vertical wall 20 is therefore mobile and makes it possible to vertically move the last object to be dispensed, this displacement makes it possible to adjust said last object in front of an ejection window 21 cut out in the horizontal plane 22 which acts as a transition support 22 before the ejection of the last object to be distributed.

 The arrows shown in Figures 4 and 5 make it easy to understand the operation of this mechanism.

 In this embodiment, timing means can also be implemented.

 Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show another embodiment.

 In this embodiment, the ejection means 32 is a tab 32 forming an ejection lug in the end part 33 of the inclined plane of the slide 23, said ejection lug 32 protrudes in said plane of the end part 33 to tilt the object to be dispensed out of the slide 23 and above its front edge 34.

 The means for holding and releasing the object in the slide 23 is a lateral lug 24 disposed on one of the longitudinal edges 25 of the inclined slide 23.

 The ejection tab or lug 32 and the lateral lug 24 are each secured to their own pivoting axis 26 and 27.

 The two pivoting axes 26, 27 are not in the same plane.

 The two axes 26 and 27 are in planes perpendicular to each other.

 They are actuated by an electromagnet 28 which acts by an axis 29 on two rods 30 and 31 which each act on a pivoting axis 26 and 27.

 The arrows shown in the figures highlight the action of the axes and links.

 Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show the distribution of the products or objects to be distributed.

 The object 60 is the one which is the first to be ejected and which is against the front edge 34.

 While the ejection lug 32 lifts the object 60 to tilt it, the lateral lug 24 retains the object 61.

 Then the lateral lug 24 releases the object 61 which takes the place of the object 60 which has been ejected, the ejection lug 32 descends below the plane of the slide 23.

REFERENCES 1. Distributor 2. Inclined slide 3. Means for holding or releasing objects 4. Means for ejecting objects 5. Product or object to be dispensed 6. Pivoting axis 7. Electromagnet 8. Return spring 9. Slide 10. Object to be distributed 11. Slice of the object to be distributed 12. Pivoting axis 13. Electromagnet 14. Rod 15, 16. Horizontal fingers 17. Axis 18, 19. Cheeks 20. Vertical wall acting as ejection means 21. Window ejection 22. Transition support 23. Slide 24. Lateral pin 25. Longitudinal edge 26. Swivel axis of the ejection tab 21 27. Swivel axis 28. Electromagnet 29. Electromagnet axis 30. Tie rod axis 26 31. Axle 27 link 32. Ejection means or ejection tab 33. Terminal part 34. Front edge 50. Object 51. Penultimate object 52. Front edge 60. Object 61. Object
F1, F2. Arrows

Claims (11)

 1.Automatic object dispenser of the type using slides of variable size and inclination characterized by the fact  that it is made up of means for holding or releasing (3, 14, 24) products or objects (5, 10, 60, 61) stored on the slides (2, 9, 23) and ejection means ( 4, 20, 32) of said objects (5, 10, 60, 61); said means are actuated by electromagnets (7, 13, 28) managed electronically.  2. Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that  that said means for holding or releasing (3) and ejecting (4) objects (5) are lugs.  3. Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that  that said tabs (3, 4) are mounted coaxially integral with a pivoting axis (6).  4. Distributor according to claim 2 characterized in that  that said legs (3, 4) according to their function are arranged in different planes to act alternately.  5. Distributor according to claim 2 characterized in that  that the pivot axes (6, 12, 17) are in the same plane.  6. Distributor according to claim 4 characterized in that  that the pivoting axes (26, 27) actuating the retaining and release tabs (24) are arranged in two perpendicular planes.  7. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that  that one or more time delay means are put in place so that the tabs according to their function act with a time lag with respect to the first action of the first type of tabs to prevent several objects from engaging or being ejected.  8. Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that  that the ejection means (4) are tabs in the form of L whose small bar of L is used to hold the objects (5) arranged on the inclined slide (2)  9. Distributor according to claim 8 characterized in that  that the tab (3, 4) is oriented so that the small bar of the L is directed downwards.  10. Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that  that the ejection means (20) is a tab which ends in a vertical wall (20), the objects (10) being arranged vertically on the inclined slide (9), the inclined slide (9) opens onto a window ( 21) disposed in a plane lower than said slide, said window (21) is cut in a horizontal plane which acts as a transition support (22), the movable vertical wall (20) by moving comes to position, at the appropriate moment, the object (10) to be distributed opposite said window (21) so that it is ejected from this window (21) by simple gravity.  11. Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that  that the ejection means is a tab (32) forming an ejection lug in the end portion (33) of the inclined plane of the slide (23), said lug (32) protrudes in said plane to tilt the object (60) to be dispensed out of the slide (23) and above its front edge (342); the means for maintaining the release of the object in the slide (23) is a lateral lug (24) disposed on one of the longitudinal edges (25) of the inclined slide (23).