GB2609008A

GB2609008A - Vending machines

Info

Publication number: GB2609008A
Application number: GB2110247.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williams Luke; Hiles Peter; Knowles Stephen
Original assignee: Rollover Ltd
Current assignee: Rollover Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-16
Filing date: 2021-07-16
Publication date: 2023-01-25
Also published as: GB202110247D0; WO2023285777A1

Abstract

A vending machine comprises a ramp 18 that slopes downwards from a rear section 38 of the machine to a front section 34. A first stack 32 of articles 6 may be placed on the front section of the ramp and a second stack 36 of articles may be placed on a trolley 40 on the rear section of the ramp. Articles in the first stack are dispensed through an opening 30 in the front of the vending machine until, when there are no articles remaining in the first stack, the trolley becomes free to roll under gravity from the rear section to the front section of the ramp. Afterwards, articles in the second stack on the trolley may continue to be dispensed from the front of the vending machine. The articles may be hot food items and the machine may be operable to circulate hot air around stored items, with the ramp having perforations for hot air flow. The ramp may have a track for guiding movement of the trolley, which may have an upstanding rear wall.

Description

TITLE

Vending machines

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The invention relates to vending machines for dispensing individual articles from a stack. It is particularly applicable to dispensing hot food items.

Background of the invention

Vending machines for hot food items such as burgers and hot dogs are well known.

They typically store the items or articles in a stack. A given stack nomially contains articles of a single type but the machine may hold multiple stacks that contain different types of articles to be dispensed alongside each other: for example, burgers and burger buns. In order to maintain a consistent dispensing position, a restricted opening in the front of the machine may guide the customer to remove the bottom article from each stack. The weight of the higher articles in the stack applies pressure to the bottom article, which may make it difficult to remove. Excessive pressure from the overlying stack may also cause undesirable deformation of certain types of article. These two factors limit the height of the stacks that can be provided in a practical vending machine, and therefore the capacity of the machine. Additional stacks could be provided in a wider machine but many venues have limited space to accommodate increased width.

A vending machine for hot food items must maintain at least the bottom article in each stack at a suitable temperature to be dispensed, while minimizing the risk that the customer may burn themselves through contact with hot surfaces of the machine when removing the article. The machine must also maintain the remaining articles at a safe temperature for the period that they are intended to be stored in the machine. It may therefore comprise heaters, temperature sensors and control mechanisms, the details of which do not form part of the present invention.

The vending machine should be easy to refill and to clean.

Vending machines typically further include a customer interface, which may comprise a display for showing available items, prices, credit, etc.; input means for the customer to make a choice of itcm; means for accepting payment by cash or electronically; and means for dispensing change and/or a payment receipt. The details of such interfaces do not form part of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a vending machine as defined in claim 1.

The invention further provides a method of using a vending machine as defined in claim II.

Aspects of the invention that are preferred but not essential arc defined in the dependent claims.

A vending machine according to the invention has an increased capacity because it can accommodate two stacks of articles, which can be dispensed successively from a single location, namely, the front section of the ramp. Because the trolley moves the second stack from the rear section to the front section, the articles in the second stack are easy to see and to access. The customer does not need to reach into the rear of the machine to retrieve the articles and thereby risk burning themselves on hot internal surfaces of the machine Allowing the trolley to roll down a sloping ramp under gravity is simple and, if the slope of the ramp is constant, the force acting on the trolley is constant throughout its motion This solution avoids the need to provide another source of energy such as a spring, which would cause difficulties in managing the non-uniform tension in the spring and also the speed of the trolley. A spring and the associated mechanism would also be more difficult to keep clean. The trolley may simply be removed for cleaning or if the ramp is to be used to dispense articles such as hot dogs that cannot easily be stacked.

The slope of the ramp is not necessarily constant along its length. For example, the slope could be steeper in the rear section to ensure that any initial resistance to movement of the trolley is overcome, then shallower in the front section to limit the final speed of the trolley. The ramp may be horizontal over part of the front section: provided the rear wheels of the trolley remain higher than the front wheels, there will remain a component of force urging the trolley forwards. The ramp may even be horizontal over the whole of the front section, relying on momentum to carry the trolley to the end of its travel. This would allow the articles to be stacked on a horizontal surface. If the slope of the ramp is not constant, the angle of the second stack will change as the trolley rolls forwards so car must be taken that the stack does not topple over.

There is preferably a dispensing opening of a predetermined height in the front of the vending machine and adjacent to the first section of the ramp and a space above the front section of the ramp sufficient to accommodate a first stack of articles that has a height greater than the predetermined height. Accordingly, the dispensing opening restricts access to the stack so that a customer can only remove items that are within the predetermined height above the front section. in particular, when the stack is sufficiently high, the customer cannot remove items from the top of it. Preferably, the articles in the first stack have a substantially uniform article height that is less than the predetermined height and greater than half of the predetermined height. Accordingly, the dispensing opening restricts the customer's access such that they can only remove the lowest article from the stack. This ensures that dispensing is done from a known location, which can be maintained at a controlled temperature. It also ensures that articles are removed in sequence from the bottom of the stack, thereby enabling the order in which the articles are dispensed to be managed.

Because the trolley will have a certain height above the ramp, when the trolley is on the front section of the ramp, the lowest article in the second stack may sit at a higher position than the lowest article in the first stack. The height of the dispensing opening must be sufficient to accommodate removal of the lowest article from either stack, while being gripped in the customer's hand. The vending machine may comprise a lip that defines the lower edge of the dispensing opening and prevents articles sliding out of the opening in case friction between them and the ramp is not sufficient.

The vending machine preferably comprises a front panel that defines the height of the dispensing opening, the front panel being capable of removal or displacement to permit access from the front of the machine to the space above the front section of the ramp. By opening the front panel, preferably on hinges, the operator of the machine (i.e. the vendor) can access the interior space to clean it or to replenish the stacks of articles. The top of the dispensing opening may be defined by a lower edge of the front panel. If the type and, more specifically, the height of the articles to be dispensed from the machine is known, the height of the dispensing opening may be chosen accordingly. Alternatively, it may be chosen at a typical height that is suitable for most types of article. In some embodiments of the invention (not illustrated here) the height of the opening could be made adjustable, e.g. by a sliding panel on the back of the front panel. In some embodiments of the invention (not illustrated here), the opening could remain closed by a gate until an article is ready to be dispensed, e.g. when the customer has selected it or paid for it or the article has been brought to the desired temperature, whereupon the gate could be opened automatically or be unlocked so that it can be opened by the customer.

The trolley preferably comprises an upstanding rear wall to prevent articles in the second stack falling off the back of the trolley. It may also comprise side walls for a similar purpose, provided they do not impede the customer removing an article from the bottom of the second stack.

The ramp preferably comprises a track for guiding the path of the trolley as it rolls from the rear section to the front section. The track may comprise a set of rails that are engaged by wheels of the trolley or it may comprise a recess or a pair of side walls to constrain sideways movement of the trolley.

A vending machine according to the invention may further comprise means for circulating hot air around articles in at least the first stack. Such means may include any or all of a heater for generating hot air, a fan for driving movement of the hot air, a system of ducts for channelling the hot air to where it is needed, temperature sensors, and a controller for regulating the temperature and airflow within the machine. The ducts preferably form a circuit, whereby the hot air can pass multiple times through the heater and fan, as well as an air inlet for introducing fresh air and an air outlet for exhausting used air to the environment. In accordance with the invention, the ramp may be perforated by apertures through which the circulating hot air can flow to pass around articles in the first or second stack, In a vending machine according to the invention preferably comprises at least one further ramp disposed in parallel with the first ramp. In other words, two or more ramps are arrayed side by side across the width of the vending machine, each with its own dispensing opening. The different ramps may be filled with different types of item or with multiple stacks of the same type of item. Each ramp is suitable for receiving a trolley but any of the trolleys may be omitted if the ramp is to be used for items such as hot dogs that do not need to be provided in stacks. Internal walls are preferably provided to separate the adjacent ramps and to support the articles on the respective stacks. The side walls may be perforated by apertures through which the circulating hot air can flow.

In this specification, terms such as "height", "lower", "sloping" and "horizontal" refer to the orientation of the machine in normal use. The "front" of the machine is the face of it from which articles are dispensed to a customer and the "rear" is the opposite face, which may optionally be placed against a wall. The "sides" are generally in horizontal directions perpendicular to the front and rear. It will be understood that the machines may be manufactured, transport and stored in any orientation when not in use and will still fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

The drawings Figure I is a perspective view of the front of a vending machine according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the vending machine of Figure 1, showing a trolley on a ramp.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through a ramp of the vending machine of Figure 1, showing two stacks of articles and the trolley on a rear section of the ramp.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a ramp of the vending machine of Figure I, showing one stack of articles and the trolley on a front section of the ramp.

The drawings show a vending machine 2, which comprises a chamber 4 in which articles 6 may be stacked for dispensing to customers. A base 8 of the vending machine 2 provides feet 10, by which the machine may be supported on a generally horizontal surface. Means (not shown) may be provided for adjusting the feet 10 to level the machine. The base 8 may also comprise a power switch 12, a heater (not shown) for generating hot air and a fan (not shown) for circulating the hot air through the chamber 4, as well as the necessary electronic circuits and control means for operating the vending machine, all of which may be conventional and are not discussed further, An optional top unit 14 may be provided and comprises a display 16 that serves as a customer interface, e.g. for showing available items, prices, customer credit, etc. The display 16 may be a touch screen to accept input from the customer, e.g. to make a choice of item or to make payment. Other input means such as buttons (not shown) could be provided in addition to or instead of a touch screen.

On the floor 17 of the chamber 4 are a number of ramps 18, arranged side-by-side across the width of the vending machine 2. In the illustrated example the number of ramps 18 is three but it could be as low as one, with the upper limit determined by the maximum desired width of the machine 2. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the ramps 18 may be supported slightly above the floor 17 of the chamber 4 to leave a void in between, through which hot air can circulate. The ramps 18 may be pierced by apertures 20, through which hot air can pass between the void and the chamber 4. The ramps 18 may be formed as the floor of a cage 22, having side walls 23 that are similarly spaced from the internal walls of the chamber 4 to form further voids 24 through which the hot air can circulate. The cage 22 may further be provided with internal walls 26 to separate adjacent ramps 18. The side walls 23 are also pierced by apertures 27 to allow the hot air to enter and leave the chamber 4. Thus the circulation of hot air can maintain the interior of the cage 22 at a desired temperature. Temperature sensors (not shown) may provide feedback so that the control means of the vending machine can regulate the flow of hot air.

In use, the front of the chamber 4 is substantially dosed by a front panel 28. When the vending machine 2 is not in use, the front panel may be opened, e.g. by pivoting it along a hinge (not shown) at the top edge or one of the side edges, to provide access to the interior of the chamber 4 so that the vendor may clean it or replenish a supply of die articles 6. The front of the chamber 4 is not fully closed by the front panel 28, its lower edge being located at a predetermined height above the front edges of the ramps 18 to leave a dispensing opening 30 that extends across at least part of the width of the vending machine 2 close to the front edges of the ramps 18.

Each ramp 18 slopes gently downwards towards the front of the vending machine 2.

The ramp 18 is sufficiently long to accommodate a first stack 32 of articles 6 in a front section 34 of the ramp and a second stack 36 of articles in a rear section 38 of the ramp. As shown in Figure 3, the first stack 32 may rest directly on the front section 34 of the ramp and extend upwards into the space in the chamber 4 above ramp 18. The lowest article 6 in die stack is adjacent to the dispensing opening 30 and is available to be removed through the opening 30 by a customer. Preferably the height of the dispensing opening 30 is such that only a lower part of the first stack 32 is accessible to the customer, whereby the customer is constrained or encouraged to remove the lowest article 6 from the stack 32.

As shown in Figure 3, the second stack 36 rests on a trolley 40, which rests in turn on the rear section 38 of the ramp 18. The trolley 40 may be provided with an upstanding rear wall 42 and side walls 44 to prevent articles 6 falling from the second stack 36. The trolley 40 comprises two pairs of wheels 46, each pair being connected by a transverse axle 48, so that the trolley 40 is capable of rolling down the slope of the ramp 18. The ramp 18 may comprise a track 50 to guide the path of the trolley 40 as it rolls. In the illustrated embodiment the track 50 is in the form of a pair of grooves that the wheels 46 can follow.

When a first stack 32 is present on the front section 34 of the ramp (Fig. 3), the trolley 40 on the rear section 38 of the ramp rests against it and is prevented from rolling further down the ramp 18. As soon as the final article 6 has been removed from the first stack 32, the trolley 40 becomes free to roll under gravity down the ramp 18, following the track 50, until it reaches the front section 34. Means are provided to stop the trolley 40 rolling further once it has reached the front of the ramp 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wheels 46 of the trolley 40 drop into cavities 52 at the ends of the track 50 but alternatively a simple stop could be provided for the trolley 40 to butt against. The movement of the trolley has now delivered the second stack 36 to the front section of the ramp 18, whereby it has replaced the empty first stack 32 and articles 6 at the bottom of the second stack 36 are now accessible for removal by a customer through the dispensing opening 30.

Because the second stack 36 rests on the trolley 40, it is positioned slightly higher than the first stack 32 and the predetermined height of the dispensing opening 30 should be chosen to allow for this.

Claims

CLAIMSA vending machine for dispensing articles, comprising: a ramp haying a rear section and a front section, the ramp sloping downwards from the rear section to the front section; and a trolley that rests on the ramp and is capable of rolling between the rear section and the front section of the ramp; wherein: the front section of the ramp is suitable for supporting a first stack of articles, such that at least the lowest article in the first stack is accessible to be dispensed from the front of the vending machine; the trolley is suitable for supporting a second stack of articles, the trolley being disposed initially on the rear section of the ramp; and whereby, when there are no articles remaining in the first stack, the trolley will roll under gravity from the rear section to the front section of the ramp, such that at least the lowest article in the second stack becomes accessible to be dispensed from the front of the vending machine.
2. A vending machine according to claim 1, comprising a dispensing opening of a predetermined height in the front of the vending machine and adjacent to the first section of the ramp; and a space above the front section of the ramp sufficient to accommodate a first stack of articles that has a height greater than the predetermined height.
3. A vending machine according to claim 2, having a first stack of articles on the front section of the ramp, wherein the articles in the first stack have a substantially uniform article height that is less than the predetermined height and greater than half of the predetermined height.
4. A vending machine according to claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising a front panel that defines the height of the dispensing opening, the front panel being capable of removal or displacement to permit access from the front of the machine to the space above the front section of the ramp.
-10 -S. A vending machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the trolley comprises an upstanding rear wall.
6. A vending machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the ramp comprises a track for guiding the path of the trolley as it rolls from the rear section to the front section.
7. A vending machine according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for circulating hot air around articles in at least the first stack.
8. A vending machine according to claim 7, wherein the ramp is perforated by apertures through which the hot air can flow.
9. A vending machine according to claim 8, wherein, disposed in parallel with the said ramp, there is at least one further ramp, each further ramp being suitable for receiving a further trolley.
I 0. A vending machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the articles are food items.
11. A method of using a vending machine, the machine having a ramp sloping downwards from a rear section to a front section, the method comprising: placing a second stack of articles on a trolley on the rear section of the ramp; placing a first stack of articles on a front section of the ramp, such that the presence of the first stack of articles prevents the trolley rolling down the ramp; dispensing articles in the first stack from the front of the vending machine until, when there are no articles remaining in the first stack, the trolley rolls under gravity from the rear section to the front section of the ramp; then dispensing articles in the second stack from the front of the vending machine.