GB2135292A - Dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus for dispensing drinks from a refrigerator bar particularly in hotel rooms comprises a pigeon hole rack (16) which holds magazines each having a transparent door (23) through which articles are dispensed one by one. Fibre optic detectors comprising fibre optic tubes (45), infra red sources and lenses (43, 43A, 44, 44A) detect when articles are dispensed and supply information to a micro-processor (20) which is connected to a computer to give an indication of articles dispensed and the need to re-stock. One detector (43, 43A) is mounted on the magazine and the transmission of infra red is blocked by the opening of the magazine door (23). Pairs of lenses (46, 46A) mounted respectively on the magazines and on the rack (16) are aligned with one another for transmitting the detector signals via fibre optic tubes (47) to the microprocessor (20). A second detector (44, 44A) detects the presence of an article to provide information that there is at least one or no articles in the magazine. <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 removable 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 bar system which can stock a considerable number of each type of item to be dispensed and a wide range of items and which includes detector means for detecting when an item is removed.

In one form the present invention provides a bar comprising at least one compartment, a plurality of removable magazines for mounting in the at least one compartment, fibre optic detector means associated with the at least one bar compartment and each magazine for assisting in detecting the removal of a magazine from the at least one bar compartment and the removal and/or movement of the contents of the magazine, the fibre optic detector means comprising:: (a) optical fibres secured to each magazine and lenses secured to the optical fibres on each magazine, and (b) lenses on the bar associated with the at least one compartment, some of the lenses on each magazine spaced from and aligned with, some of the lenses on the same magazine for the transmission of light therebetween, and some of the lenses on each magazine spaced from, and aligned with, some of the lenses on the bar associated with the compartment for the transmission of light therebetween, the lenses of each magazine which are spaced from, and aligned with, other lenses of the same magazine forthe transmission of light therebetween, being secured by optical fibres to lenses spaced from, and aligned with, lenses on the bar associated with the at least one compartment for transmission of light therebetween.

Preferably each magazine comprises a housing closed by an access door which permits access to and dispensing of only one item from the magazine at a time.

Preferably the magazines are made from standard panel parts to be in the form of similar boxes, but each has a bottom sloped at an appropriate angle towards the access door so that the articles therein slide or roll towards the door.

Preferably the bar includes a microprocessor in which microprocessor any interference with, or effect on, the light beams transmitted between pairs of spaced and aligned lenses is registered in the form of an electronic signal indicating the removal of a magazine from the at least one bar compartment and the removal and/or movement of the contents of the magazine.

In another aspect the invention provides a magazine for carrying bottles or cans suitable for use for removably securing in a bar, each magazine comprising a bottom, two side walls, a clear access door and a top, the bottom sloping downwardly towards the access door to urge the contents tdwards the access door, the access door being pivotable about a horizontal axis from a position closing the magazine around the leading item carried by the magazine into the magazine, isolating the leading item from the remaining items in the magazine, permitting access only to the leading item, fibre optic detector means carried by the magazine for assisting in detecting the removal and/or movement of the contents of the magazine, the fibre optic detector means comprising optical fibres secured to each magazine and lenses secured to the optical fibres on each magazine, some of the lenses on each magazine spaced from and aligned with, some of the lenses on the same magazine for the transmission of a beam of light therebetween, the transmission of a beam of light beam between the lenses being interruptable or effected, at least upon the opening of the access door isolating the leading item permitting its removal.

In a further aspect the 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 comprising optical fibres and lenses and being capable of detecting the removal of an article from its associated magazine, a micro-processor arranged to receive signals from the detector means 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 thereof 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. 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 micro-processor 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 regrigerator having ice trays 13, a compartment for glasses 13A, an evaporator plate 14 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 18 of substantially twice the size and a further compartment adjacent compartment 1 8 holding a micro-processor 20. Each of the compartments 1 7 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, bourban 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 accommodate 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-fasten- ings so that they can be quickly removed for re-stocking.

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 samelocking 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 lead 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 per sonnel 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 absence 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 indicated door shut until the beam is broked 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 angles 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 infrared 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 1 6. 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 con nected 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 particulars and number of articles 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 bar comprising at least one compartment, a plurality of removable magazines for mounting in the at least one compartment, fibre optic detector means associated with the at least one bar compartment and each magazine for assisting in detecting the removal of a magazine from the at least one bar compartment and the removal and/or movement of the contents of the magazine, the fibre optic detector means comprising:: (a) optical fibres secured to each magazine and lenses secured to the optical fibres on each magazine, and (b) lenses on the bar associated with the at least one compartment, some of the lenses on each magazine spaced from and aligned with, some of the lenses on the same magazine for the transmission of light therebetween, and some of the lenses on each magazine spaced from, and aligned with, some of the lenses on the bar associated with the compartment for the transmission of light therebetween, the lenses of each magazine which are spaced from, and aligned with, other lenses of the same magazine for the transmission of light therebetween, being secured by optical fibres to lenses spaced from, and aligned with, lenses on the bar associated with the at least one compartment for transmission of light therebetween.

2. The bar of Claim 1, wherein each magazine comprises a housing closed by an access door which permits access to, and dispensing of, only one item from the maga zine at one time when the door is opened.

3. The bar of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the bar is a refrigerated bar comprising at least one refrigerated compartment.

4. The bar of Claim 2 or Claim 3 as dependent thereon wherein the access door is transparent and is pivotable about a horizontal axis thereby rotating from a position closing the magazine, around the leading item carried by the magazine, and into the magazine behind the leading item, isolating the leading item from the remaining items in the magazine permitting access only to the leading item.

5. The bar of Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the bottom of each magazine is sloped downwardly from a position remote the access door towards the access door causing the items in the magazine to roll towards the access door.

6. A bar according to any of the proceeding claims further including a microprocessor, in which microprocessor any interference with, or effect on, the light beams transmitted between pairs of spaced and aligned lenses is registered in the form of an electronic signal indicating the removal of a magazine from the at least one bar compartment and the removal and/or movement of the contents of the magazine.

7. A bar according to Claim 6 including a central computer means arranged to receive signals from the microprocessor and to provide an output of the information registered by the microprocessor to give details of articles dispensed.

8. A magazine for carrying bottles or cans suitable for use for removably securing in a bar, each magazine comprising a bottom, two side walls, a clear access door and a top, the bottom sloping downwardly towards the access door to urge the contents towards the access door, the access door being pivotable about a horizontal axis from a position closing the magazine around the leading item carried by the magazine into the magazine, isolating the leading item frorn the remaining items in the magazine, permitting access only to the leading item, fibre optic detector means carried by the magazine for assisting in detecting the removal and/or movement of the contents of the magazine, the fibre optic detector means comprising optical fibres secured to each magazine and lenses secured to the optical fibres on each magazine, some of the lenses on each magazine spaced from and aligned with, some of the lenses on the same magazine for the transmission of a beam of light therebetween, the transmission of a beam of light beam between the lenses being interruptable or effected, at least upon the opening of the access door isolating the leading item permitting its removal.

9. A magazine according to Claim 8, wherein light transmission between at least a pair of other spaced and aligned lenses may be affected during the movement of an item in the magazine.

10. A magazine according to Claim 9 wherein said last mentioned lenses are disposed so that the transmission of the light is blocked by an item moving into position after the leading item has been removed and the access door closed to its original position.

11. A bar containing a plurality of magazines according to any of claims 8 to 10 wherein some of the lenses of the magazines are secured to receive light from, or transmit light to the bar.

1 2. 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 comprising optical fibres and lenses and being capable of detecting the removal of an article from its associated magazine, a microprocessor arranged to receive signals from the detector means and to store information concerning the number of articles dispensed from each magazine, and computer means for connection to the microprocessor and arranged to prpvide an output of the information stored in the microprocessor whereby the details of how many of which articles have been dispensed and, if desired, the cost thereof is obtained at the computer output.