GB2101982A - Dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing device mainly for dispensing drinks from a refrigerator cabinet (12) particularly in hotel rooms. A pigeon hole rack mounting means (16) holds magazines each having a transparent door (23) through which articles are dispensed one by one. The magazines are removable from the rack (16) when a locking system (23) is released and the refrigerator door (15) is open, for re-stocking. Detectors detect when articles are dispensed and supply information to a micro-processor which in turn is connected to a computer to give an indication of articles dispensed and the need to re-stock. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing apparatus This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus suitable for use in dispensing articles one by one as in a vending machine. The invention is concerned to provide dispensing apparatus which is suitable for mounting in a refrigerator so that it can dispense articles such as bottled and canned drinks which are cold. For this purpose it is necessary for the dispensing apparatus to be compact.

One particular use for the dispensing apparatus of the invention is in the rooms of hotels, motels or offices, for example.

Most existing automatic room bar systems stock only a single item of each type. The bar requires frequent re-stocking, which is done by opening the vending door and placing a fresh can or bottle in the space behind the door. In the few known systems where more than one item of a type is stocked, the cabinet has removal panels or opening panel doors through which magazines holding the articles can be re-stocked.

An object of the present invention is to provide a room bar system which can stock a considerable number of each type of item to be dispensed and a wide range of items in a small space, and which can be re-stocked through the normal cabinet door opening.

In one form the present invention provides: A dispensing device comprising a mounting means, preferably in the form of a pigeon hole rack, defining a plurality of compartments, the mounting means being locateable in a refrigerator so that the compartments are accessible when the refrigerator door is opened, a plurality of magazines each capable of holding a plurality of articles to be dispensed, dispensing means for dispensing articles, one by one, from the magazines, the magazines being insertable into the compartments, locking means for retaining the magazines in the compartments, the locking means being releaseable so that each magazine is removable from it's compartment when the locking means is released for re-stocking with said articles.

The pigeon hole rack and magazine system gives a completely modular design allowing a large number of articles to be accommodated in a small space and be accessible through the door of a conventional refrigerator. The dispensing device can be re-stocked by a simple removal and replacement of the magazines.

In a preferred form each dispensing device comprises a magazine door which is part cylindrical of curved section and is pivotable substantially about it's horizontal axis, such that as the front end opens to allow access to the first article in the magazine, the back end moves in front of the second article and prevents it from being removed.

Preferably the magazines are made from standard panel parts to be in the form of similar boxes, but each has a ramp sloped at an appropriate angle so that the articles therein slide or roll to the front end and a door of an appropriate shape and height for the articles therein.

In a preferred form at least one of the compartments and magazines is substantially twice the size of the other compartments and magazines and shaped to accomodate half bottles of champagne or wine.

While the apparatus can be coin operated, it is often desirable to have dispensing apparatus arranged to dispense articles one by one from selected magazines, but which does not require the insertion of a coin or token before it will dispense. In this situation it may be necessary to keep a record of what has been dispensed so that a bill can be compiled for the user when appropriate. This system is particularly useful when the dispensing apparatus is intended to dispense drinks in the room of a hotel or the like. Dispensing apparatus is known which is capable of counting the total value of drink dispensed but it cannot itemize which items have been dispensed so that daily checking is necessary.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an article dispenser comprising a plurality of magazines each containing a plurality of articles to be dispensed, mounting means for the magazines, detector means, one associated with each magazine, the detector means being capable of detecting the removal of an article from its associated magazine, a micro-processor arranged to receive signals from the detectors and to store information concerning the number of articles dispensed from each magazine, and computer means for connection to the micro-processor and arranged to provide an output of the information stored in the micro-processor whereby the details of how many of which articles have been dispensed and, if desired, the cost thereo is obtained at the computer output.

Preferably the detector means are mounted so that they have no physical connection connecting the magazines and mounting means to interfere with removal of the magazines. The connections may be by optic tubes with the signals jumping small gaps between lenses on the magazines and mounting means. Such a system is particularly useful in hotels where dispensing devices are located in the rooms of users and their associated microprocessors continually inform a common computer. When a user comes to pay his bill and check out of the hotel the computer can be asked for the information on what articles have been dispensed by his dispensing device. Each microprocessor will also be able to signal the computer when it's dispensing apparatus runs out of any article.

One embodiment of dispensing apparatus, in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a refrigerator containing the dispensing apparatus.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one magazine of the dispensing apparatus.

Figure 3 is a side view of the front end of the magazine of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the locking system for the magazines, and Figure 5 is a side view of the magazine showing the detector system.

Fig. 1 shows the cabinet 1 2 of a refrigerator having ice trays 13, a compartment for glasses 13A, an evaporator plate 1 4 and a door 1 5. The main volume of the cabinet is filled with a mounting means 1 6 in the form of a pigeon hole rack defining fifteen equal sized compartments 17, one compartment 1 8 of substantially twice the size and a further compartment adjacent compartment 1 8 holding a micro-processor 20. Each of the compartments 17 holds a magazine 21 containing a plurality of articles to be dispensed.For example, the magazines in compartments 1 7 may hold fifteen different types of article, for example, scotch, dry ginger, martini, gin, tonic water, lager, cola, orange juice, mineral water, bacardi, vodka, peanuts, cognac, bourbon and tomato juice. The magazine in the larger compartment 1 8 is capable of holding half bottles of champagne.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3 each magazine comprises a generally rectangular sectioned box 22 at the front end of which there is a transparent door 23 in the form of a part cylindrical curved member mounted to pivot about it's horizontal axis 24. The magazine base is formed by a ramp 25 extending from the rear downwardly towards the front. Articles 26, for example, cans of drink, to be dispensed are located on the ramp 25, the front article 26A being in the access position.

A delivery tray 27 extends forwardly from the base of the magazine beyond the door and a security plate 28 closes the front end of the magazine above the door. The door has a lifting handle 30 and when the door is lifted it pivots about the axis 24 with it's lower front edge 29 moving upwardly and rearwardly to leave space through which the article 26A can be removed from the magazine and with it's rear edge 31 moving rearwardly and downwardly so that it extends in front of the second article 26B in the magazine and prevents that article being removed while the door is open. Fig. 3 shows the door in both it's open and closed positions (the latter being shown in chain-dot line). When the door is closed again after removal of article 26A the remaining articles roll down the ramp so that the second article (previously 26B) is then in the access position.The boxes 22 for location in each of the compartments 1 7 are made from standard top, bottom and side panels but are capable of receiving ramps 25 at different angles. Two further positions for ramps suitable for receiving other articles such as small bottles or peanuts are shown in chain-dot lines marked 25A. The security plates and doors are also available in other sizes to accomodate other articles and ensure that as the door is opened it provides access to only one article. A similar magazine and door is provided for the compartment 1 8 but of a larger size to accommodate and dispense half bottles of champagne or other wine. The magazines slide in and out of the compartments through the front openings and locate therein with easily-released snap-fastenings so that they can be quickly removed for restocking.

A locking bar system 33, shown in Fig. 4, is provided for retaining the magazines in the mounting means unless the locking system is released by an authorised personnel having the key. Fig. 4 shows only one locking bar and magazine for clarity, but it will be appreciated that the same locking system locks and releases all the magazines together.

The locking system comprises a series of six horizontal locking bars 34, one passing across each row of magazines, all having their ends connected to a pair of vertical bars 35 recessed into the vertical sides of the pigeonhole rack. A common operating bar 36 connected to the lower ends of the bars 35 is biassed upwardly by springs 37 around the lower parts of screws 38. The screws 38 are mounted in the base of the pigeonhole rack (only a small portion of which is shown at 1 6A in Fig. 4 with their heads 39 above and the rest extending below that base but spaced from the base 1 2A of the refrigerator cabinet.

Vertically movable plates 40 transfer the load between the springs and the operating bar 36. In the locked position the locking bars 34 locate in recesses 41 in the bases of the magazines. A security door 42 (Fig. 1) having a lock 42A, prevents access to the operating bar until it is removed by an authorised personnel with a key who can then insert wedges between the plates 40 and the underside 1 6A of the pigeonhole rack. The operating bar 36 is then held down and the locking bars 34 are dropped into recesses in the horizontal plates of the pigeonhole rack underneath the magazines. All the magazines are then released and can be removed individually for re-stocking.

Each magazine has an associated detector system. Each detector system comprises two pairs of optic sensing devices, 43, 43A and 44, 44A, one detecting door open and thus a sale and one sensing the presence and ab sence of an article 26B in the magazine so that after the last article is sold the microprocessor will signal that the magazine is empty.

Detector 43 focusses on device 43A and indicates door shut until the beam is broken by a tag 43B on the door in the door open position giving a SALE signal.

These detectors are mounted on the right hand side of the magazine adjacent to the door. Detectors 44, 44A are focussed on one another through apertures in the side and lower partitions of the magazine and view along a line diagonally and angled fore and aft of the magazine and give signals indicating absence and presence of an article at position 26B. The first absence signal given by sensors 44, 44A after a SALE signal will indicate 1 more for SALE only while the second absence signal after a SALE signal will indicate EMPTY. If the door is not closed for more than a predetermined time a warning signal may be issued.

The sensing devices 43, 43A and 44, 44A in the form of infra-red sources and lenses are connected by fibre optic light conducting tubes 45 located along the sides of the magazine to small injection moulded lenses 46 at the back of the magazine which lenses are located immediately opposite similar lens 46A on the pigeonhole rack 16. When the magazine is in position the gap is small enough for the signals to jump the gap. The lenses 46 may be designed to boost the strengths of the infra-red light signals. Lenses 46A are connected by further fibre optic tubes 47 to the micro-processor 20. Each detector system thus has no physical connection between the pigeonhole rack and the associated magazine and does not interfere with magazine removal and replacement.The detectors could be wholly mounted in the mounting means and scan the door and articles in the magazines through appropriate apertures. However, each detector is capable of detecting the removal of an article from the associated magazine and supplying this information to the micro-processor 20. The micro-processor is arranged to store information as to how many of each article has been dispensed and is connected by a line 48 to a computer 49 available, for example, at the hotel reception desk. The computer is supplied by the micro-processor with the information stored therein and can provide an output which will detail the parti culars and number of article dispensed and may also provide a complete itemised bill for the user.The detectors might alternatively work on a capacitative system and be positioned to detect the presence and absence of an article in the access position and to supply a signal to the micro-processor that an article has been dispensed each time it goes through a cycle of detecting absence of an article in the access position. In a situation of continued absence it will indicate that the magazine is empty.

The fridge cabinet may have an electronically controlled lock operated from the reception desk.

With the dispensing apparatus described it is possible to stock over one hundred articles of the type specified in a refrigerator having a cubic capacity of 145 litres. The sensing system allows the computer operator at a central location to have immediate access to information concerning the state of stock in the dispensing apparatus and provide an analysis of drink rates for the management. The system allows for replenishment at comparatively spaced intervals rather than requiring daily checking and re-stocking.

Claims (11)

1. A dispensing device comprising a mounting means, preferably in the form of a pigeon hole rack, defining a plurality of compartments, the mounting means being located ble in a refrigerator so that the compartments are accessible when the refrigerator door is opened, a plurality of magazines each capable of holding a plurality of articles to be dispensed, dispensing means for dispensing articles, one by one, from the magazines, the magazines being insertable into the compartments, locking means for retaining the magazines in the compartments, the locking means being releaseable so that each magazine is removable from it's compartment when the locking means is released for re-stocking with said articles.

2. A dispensing device according to Claim 1 in which the dispensing means for each magazine comprises a door which can be opened to allow access to one article within the magazine, but which in the open position prevents access to other articles therein.

3. A dispensing device according to Claim 2 in which each door is part cylindrical of curved section and is pivotable substantially about it's horizontal axis such that as the front end opens to allow access to the first article in the magazine, the back end moves in front of the second article and prevents it from being removed.

4. A dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which each magazine has a ramp on which articles are supported, down which ramp the articles slide or roll towards the access position.

5. A dispensing device according to Claim 2 or any Claim dependent thereon in which the magazines are made from standard panel parts to be in the form of similar rectangular sectioned boxes and each has a door and a ramp on which articles are supported therein of an appropriate shape, height and slope for the article to be contained therein.

6. A dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 5 in which the locking means comprises a plurality of locking bars carried by the mounting means, engageable with the magazines in the locked position and movable by a common operating member to an unlocked position in which they do not engage the magazines.

7. A dispensing device according to Claim 6 in which the operating member is operable only after undoing a lock.

8. A dispensing device according to any of Claims 1 to 7 including detector means, one associated with each magazine, each detector means being capable of detecting the removal of an article from it's associated magazine, a micro-processor arranged to receive signals from all the detector means and to store information concerning the number and type of articles dispensed, the microprocessor being connectable to display means to provide an output of the information stored therein.

9. A dispensing device according to Claim 8 in which the micro-processor is connected to a computer capable of giving an output showing how many of which articles have been dispensed and the total cost thereof.

10. A dispensing device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the microprocessor is also arranged to give an indication when each magazine needs re-stocking.

11. A dispensing device according to Claim 8 or any Claim dependent thereon in which the detector means are mounted so that there is no physical connection forming part of the detector means connecting the magazines and mounting device.

1 2. A dispensing device according to Claim 11 in which each detector means comprises lenses mounted adjacent the front of it's magazine connected via light conducting optic tubes mounted in the magazine to a further lens situated opposite a lens mounted on the mounting means whereby the signals from the lenses on the magazines jump the gaps to the lenses on the mounting means which in turn are connected via further light optic tubes to the micro-processor.

1 3. A dispensing device according to Claim 11 or Claim 1 2 in which the detector means are arranged to detect when a door is open and when an article is present and/or absent from a position adjacent the front of the magazine.

1 4. A dispensing device substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.