IT202000012757A1 - VENDING MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE FOR SANITIZING THE PRODUCT PICKING COMPARTMENT - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the Italian Patent for Industrial Invention entitled:

?VENDING MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE OF

SANITIZATION OF THE PRODUCT SAMPLE COMPARTMENT?

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the sector of vending machines for the automatic dispensing and sale of products. Pi? in particular, the present invention relates to an automatic vending machine equipped with a device for sanitizing the product collection compartment, and a related sanitizing method.

PRE-EXISTING TECHNIQUE

As ? It is known that vending machines for products, such as, for example, packets of cigarettes, packets of cut tobacco, packets of chewing gum, packets of sweets, packets of condoms, packaged food, pharmaceuticals or beverages, are intended to be used by a plurality ? of users where it is not possible, or convenient, to use a human operator.

Generally vending machines include a plurality? of warehouses sized to accommodate a multiplicity? of products of a single product type. Each warehouse ? equipped with an access opening, for accessing the internal volume of the magazine from the outside, and an automated product dispensing device configured to extract the products from each magazine by letting them exit through said opening. The automated dispensing device can be designed to drop the products on a chute, underneath the warehouses and connected to a dispensing mouth, for example built in a warehouse door, or can it? be configured in such a way as to bring the products to be dispensed directly to a collection compartment from where the user can? pick up the product. Vending machines are generally positioned in an external environment, for example built into the shutter of a tobacconist's or a pharmacy, or in stand-alone locations such as in stations, stadiums, schools or other environments with a high flow of users.

Vending machine warehouses are usually isolated from the external environment, as they are contained within a supporting frame, and the products to be picked are always packaged. However, the access of a user to the sampling compartment to pick up a product makes it possible for atmospheric particulates to enter the vending machine, and, consequently, unwanted particles such as dust, dirt, pollutants, allergens, or even pathogens . Similarly, every time a user inserts his hand into the withdrawal compartment, he can inadvertently release similar unwanted particles present, for example, on the epidermis of your hand.

Any particles introduced into the sampling chamber accumulate over time, creating a potentially hazardous environment for users.

Purpose of the present invention? to eliminate these risks, making sure that users can withdraw the objects acquired from the vending machine in extreme safety.

That purpose? achieved by the characteristics of the invention reported in the independent claim. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

EXHIBITION OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the invention makes available a vending machine of a plurality? of products, of the type including:

- a warehouse designed to house a plurality? of products, and at least

- a product picking compartment located inside the vending machine, communicating with said warehouse and able to make one or more products available for picking from the outside products from said warehouse,

characterized in that said sampling compartment comprises a sanitizing device equipped with a source of ultraviolet radiation.

Thanks to this solution ? made available a vending machine that provides the user with an environment, the collection compartment, sanitized from any pathogens, pollutants or allergens, to safeguard the health of users.

One aspect of the invention provides that the source of ultraviolet radiation emits ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength between 100 - 280 nm.

Thanks to this solution ? possible to exploit the?germicidal? effect? of ultraviolet rays for the elimination of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that were present inside the sampling compartment.

Another aspect of the present invention provides that the automated vending machine can comprise a casing supported by a bearing frame, a withdrawal opening made in the casing and able to allow access from the outside to the product withdrawal compartment, an engaged door movable to the casing and adapted to close the withdrawal mouth and separate the withdrawal compartment from the outside of the vending machine, and a movement sensor, located inside the withdrawal compartment, capable of determining when the door passes from a closed position to an opening position, and vice versa.

Thanks to this solution ? It is always possible to determine whether a user is accessing the pickup area by opening the flap or leaving the pickup area by closing the flap.

Another aspect of the present invention provides that the automated vending machine comprises a unit control electronics operatively connected to the ultraviolet radiation source and configured to turn the ultraviolet radiation source on and off.

Thanks to this solution ? It is possible to selectively activate the source of ultraviolet radiation at a specific stage in the process of purchasing an item.

A further aspect of the present invention provides that the automated vending machine comprises a locking system able to selectively lock the door to the casing.

Thanks to this solution ? Unintentional access to the sampling compartment can be prevented.

Another aspect of the present invention foresees that the unit? control electronics is operationally connected to the motion sensor and is configured for:

- determining access to the withdrawal compartment by a user via the movement sensor, when the door passes from the closed position to the open position;

- determine the abandonment by the user of the withdrawal compartment, through the movement sensor, when the door passes from the open position to the closed position;

- activate the UVC source if the door ? in closed position; And

- deactivate the UVC source if the door ? in the open position.

Thanks to this solution ? It is possible to increase the safety of the vending machine, preventing a user's hand from being accidentally subjected to ultraviolet radiation.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides that the unit? control electronics is configured for:

- determine a moment of sale of a product,

- activate a timer for a first predetermined interval of time after determining that the user leaves the withdrawal compartment after the moment of sale,

- stop and/or reset the timer after having determined that a user has access to the collection compartment.

- activating the UVC source for a second predetermined time interval at the end of said first predetermined time interval,

- deactivate the UVC source and interrupt and/or reset the timer after having determined that a user has access to the sampling compartment.

This solution allows the user to safely complete the removal of the products from the sampling compartment and, at the same time, adequate sanitization of the sampling compartment is guaranteed.

A further aspect of the present invention provides that the unit? control electronics is operationally connected to the motion sensor and to the locking system and ? configured for:

- determine a moment of sale of a product,

- determining access to the withdrawal compartment by a user via the movement sensor, when the door passes from the closed position to the open position;

- determine the abandonment by the user of the withdrawal compartment, through the movement sensor, when the door passes from the open position to the closed position;

- activating the locking system to lock the door to the casing after a first predetermined time interval from the user leaving the withdrawal compartment after determining the moment of sale; - activate the ultraviolet radiation source while the blocking system locks the flap to the casing.

Thanks to this solution ? possible to further increase the safety of the sanitization process of the automated vending machine.

Another aspect of the present invention provides that the automated vending machine comprises a user interface device and in which the unit? control electronics? configured to send a warning signal via the interface device when the locking system locks the door to the casing.

Thanks to this solution ? is it possible to inform a user so that? avoid trying to access the pickup area during the sanitization process.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the unit? control can? make available a plurality? of seconds preset time intervals and be configured to make available the selection of a second preset time interval of the plurality? by means of an interface device with the user of the vending machine. Alternatively or in addition, the unit? control can? allow selection of the duration of the second preset time interval using the user interface device.

According to another aspect of the invention, the distributor can understand a bulkhead that ? movable between a closed position, in which it isolates the withdrawal compartment from an internal volume of the vending machine in which the magazines are contained, and an open position, in which it allows communication between the withdrawal compartment and the internal volume of the vending machine.

In this way ? possible to prevent the rays generated by the ultraviolet ray source from using the internal components of the vending machine (plastics, electronic components, etc.).

According to another aspect of the invention, the motion sensor can be configured to autonomously interrupt the power supply to the ultraviolet ray source when it detects a passage of the door from the open position to the closed position.

In this way ? guaranteed greater safety in the event of malfunctions of the unit? control that manages the activation of the ultraviolet ray source. Preferably, according to this aspect of the invention, the motion sensor comprises a mechanical switch (micro-switch) which is? positioned in series along a power supply line of the ultraviolet ray source and ? configured in such a way that when contacted by the door during its passage from the closed position to the open position, the switch switches from a first position, in which it allows the passage of an electric current from a source of electric energy to the source of ultraviolet rays, to a second position in which it interrupts the continuity? of the power supply line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent. evident from the following description, given by way of example with reference to the attached figures in which:

- figure 1 ? a front view of a vending machine according to the invention;

- figure 2 ? an axonometric view of the vending machine of fig.1 sectioned along the vertical plane II-II;

- figure 3 ? a sectional view of the withdrawal compartment in a first operating condition thereof;

- figure 4 ? a ? a sectional view of the withdrawal compartment in a second operating condition thereof; And

- figure 5 ? a ? a sectional view of the withdrawal compartment in a third operating condition thereof.

For ease of understanding, identical reference numerals have been used wherever possible to identify identical commonalities in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further clarification.

BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

Will it be done? now reference in detail to the various embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Each example ? provided merely as an illustration of the invention and not ? understood as a limitation of the same. For example, the technical features illustrated or described as forming part of one embodiment may be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce a further embodiment. It is understood that the present invention will be inclusive of such modifications and variations.

It is further reiterated that this description does not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components as described below using the accompanying figures. This description can provide for other embodiments and be made or put into practice with other technically equivalent characteristics. The terms used below are for descriptive purposes only and should not be considered as limiting.

With particular reference to these figures, yes? indicated globally with 1 a vending machine for products, for example tobacconists' items such as packets of cigarettes, packets of shredded tobacco, chewing gum and the like.

The vending machine 1 comprises a bearing frame 10, for example equipped with a base for resting on the ground.

The distributor can then comprising a casing 15 supported by the bearing frame 10. For example, the carter 15 ? box-shaped and equipped with an opening for access to an internal volume of the casing 15 itself. Furthermore, the supporting frame 10 is housed inside the casing 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, the distributor 1 of products P ? cabinet type. In particular, the carter 15 ? equipped with a door 20 connected, preferably hinged, to a box-shaped body of the casing 15 and able to allow access to the internal environment of the vending machine 1, i.e. the door 20? movable between a first position, in which it blocks the opening of the casing 15, and a second position, in which it allows access to the internal volume of the casing 15.

The port 20 can? be shaped like a plate-like body, for example rectangular.

Distributor 1 can? understand a plurality of interface devices 30 with the user, for example an article selection device (touch-screen), a payment verification device, etc., preferably housed in the door 20. In an embodiment not shown, the distributor ? placed inside a shop, for example a tobacconist's, and has no interface devices in the box-like body. In this embodiment the distributor can? be controlled via a cash register or PC-pos. The distributor can also be connected to a wireless/contact-less payment device.

The distributor can also comprise a withdrawal mouth 45 suitable for allowing access from the outside to a product withdrawal compartment located inside the vending machine 1. The withdrawal mouth 45 ? made in casing 15, for example in door 20.

The distributor 1 comprises a plurality? of warehouses 50, each configured to house within it a single product P of a plurality? of products P, or only a single unit? of a product P. In particular, each warehouse 50 ? equipped with a P product housing volume configured in such a way that only a single unit can be housed? of a product P. For example the housing volume ? configured to house a custom?unit? of a product P shaped like a parallelepiped, preferably a parallelepiped in which all faces are rectangles. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing volume ? configured to fit a single standard pack of cigarettes.

Naturally ? It is possible to provide different geometric conformations of the product P, for example cubic, cylindrical, prismatic, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, each warehouse 50 pu? be configured to allow the sliding of the product P present inside it along an advancement direction T, for example only along the advancement direction T, which ? preferably substantially straight.

The automated vending machine 1 can? also include one or more automated means for dispensing a product, for example able to move the product towards the sampling mouth 45.

Distributor 1 can? then include further magazines 100, each able to contain a plurality? of products and equipped with automated means for dispensing a product. These further magazines are of the type known to those skilled in the art and therefore not further described.

Distributor 1 can? comprise a chute 105 (or equivalently a hopper) directly or indirectly connected to the sampling mouth 45.

The magazines 50 are preferably superimposed on said chute 105 in plan so that an access/exit opening of each magazine is directly in communication with the chute. In particular, the access/exit openings are at least partially superimposed on the chute 105 in plan view.

Chute 105 overlooks a product pick-up compartment. As illustrated in the embodiments of figures 3 and 4, the sampling compartment can be delimited by at least one support wall 40 capable of supporting a product P coming from the chute 105 at the bottom, by a rear wall 42 engaged with the casing 15, by a pair of side walls 44 and by a portion of the front wall of the casing 15, in particular the portion in which ? obtained the sampling mouth 45.

A door 46 closes the withdrawal mouth 45 and separates the withdrawal compartment from the outside of the vending machine 1.

Door 46? preferably movably engaged with the casing 15, so as to be able to assume two operating positions in use: a first operating position in which it closes the sampling mouth 45 (illustrated in Figure 3), or a closed position, and a second operating position in which allows a user to access the sampling compartment (illustrated in Figure 4), i.e. an open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the door 46 is hinged at one end? to the carter 15 cos? to be mobile in rotation. Door 46? substantially shaped like an elongated plate and for example bent at one end thereof. The main portion 47 of the door 46 closes the withdrawal mouth 45 and faces towards the outside of the vending machine 1, while its end portion? 49 rests against a supporting wall 43 of the containment compartment and faces towards the inside of the vending machine 1. In this way, the door can? be rotated from the closed position to the open position and vice versa, but it cannot? never be placed completely outside the casing 15.

The vending machine 1 according to the present invention comprises a device for sanitizing the air and surfaces arranged inside the withdrawal compartment. In particular, the sanitizing device comprises a source of ultraviolet rays (UV), preferably a generator and irradiator of short-wave ultraviolet rays (UVC), even more preferably a source of ultraviolet radiation 80 with a wavelength between 100 and 280 nm.

The UVC 80 source? fixed to the frame 10 and arranged facing the sampling compartment in such a way that the UVC radiations can reach the entire surface of the sampling compartment, in particular the support surface of the products.

The vending machine 1 according to the present invention also comprises a movement sensor 90, arranged inside the withdrawal compartment and close to the vending machine. of the door 46, particularly suitable for determining when the door 46 passes from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa. The sensor can? be a photocell, or a proximity sensor?, or a switch, or any other sensor of the known type, provided that? capable of detecting the movement of the door 46 from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. In the illustrated embodiment the motion sensor ? a photocell, which allows a? High versatility? of use.

The motion sensor can be configured to autonomously cut off the power supply to the ultraviolet ray source when it detects a passage of the door 46 from the open position to the closed position. Preferably in this case, the motion sensor comprises a mechanical switch, not shown, (micro-switch) which ? positioned in series along a power supply line of the ultraviolet ray source and ? configured in such a way that when contacted by the door 46 during its passage from the closed position to the open position, the switch switches from a first position, in which it allows the passage of an electric current from a source of electric energy to the source of ultraviolet rays, to a second position in which it interrupts the continuity? of the power supply line.

In practice, the switch ? placed along a power line that goes from? unit? control electronics at the source of ultraviolet rays and ? configured to bypass the on and off command of the ultraviolet ray source managed by the unit? control.

In this embodiment, the? switch ? still configured to send a signal to the? unit? indicative control electronics of the movement of the door between the closed position and the open position. This signal? in essence what can? be used to start, stop, restart the first preset time interval and the second preset time interval.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vending machine 1 comprises a door locking system 46. The locking system ? capable of selectively locking the door 46 to prevent it from being opened by a user. The locking system can including, for example, but not limited to, an electromagnet 150 arranged in correspondence with the support wall 43. In this way, if the electromagnet is ? energized the electromagnetic field generated by? electromagnet holds the portion of extremity? 49 anchored to the support wall 43 preventing any movement of the door 46.

The vending machine 1 then comprises a unit? control electronics 115, operatively connected to the movement sensor 90 and to the UVC radiation source 80. According to the further embodiment described above, the unit? control electronics? operationally also connected to the locking system of the door 46. The unit? control electronics 115 ? then configured to activate and deactivate the UVC radiation source.

Alternatively or in addition, the unit? control electronics 115 pu? be configured to detect when the door 46 moves from its closed position to the open position by the motion sensor 90.

Alternatively or in addition, the unit? control electronics 115 pu? be configured to detect when the door 46 moves from the open position to the closed position by the motion sensor 90.

In particular, the unit? control electronics 115 pu? be configured for:

- monitor the delivery device,

- determine a moment of sale,

- determining access to the withdrawal compartment by a user via the movement sensor 90, when the door 46 passes from the closed position to the open position;

- determining the abandonment by the user of the withdrawal compartment, by means of the movement sensor 90, when the door 46 passes from the open position to the closed position;

- activate the UVC source if door 46 ? in closed position; And

- deactivate the UVC source if the door 46 ? in the open position.

A moment of sale can be determined by the electronic control unit 115 according to various and different methods. For example, the moment of sale can be determined by means of a photocell placed in the product picking compartment, operationally connected to the unit? control electronics 115 and adapted to detect the passage of a product P from a magazine 50 to the support wall 40 of the withdrawal compartment. In addition or alternatively, the moment of sale can? be determined by the activation of automated means for the delivery of a product. In addition or alternatively, the moment of sale can? be determined at the end of the correct completion of the purchase procedure carried out by the user.

Preferably the moment of sale ? determined when all the following actions take place in succession within a predetermined time interval: the automated means are activated to dispense a product, the photocell arranged in the product pick-up compartment detects the passage of a product P from a magazine 50 to the supporting wall 40 of the withdrawal compartment, access to the withdrawal compartment by a user is determined through the movement sensor 90 and subsequently the abandonment by the user of the withdrawal compartment is determined through the movement sensor 90.

The final moment of the moment of sale can? therefore be determined by the last phase of the sequence described above, i.e. the user?s abandonment of the withdrawal compartment via the movement sensor 90.

The distributor can include a bulkhead 200 that ? movable between a closed position, in which it isolates the withdrawal compartment from an internal volume of the vending machine in which the magazines are contained, and an open position, in which it allows communication between the withdrawal compartment and the internal volume of the vending machine.

For example the bulkhead 200? can be operated between these positions by means of an actuator controlled by the unit? control so that when the source of ultraviolet rays? switched on, the bulkhead is brought or held in the closed position by the actuator.

Preferably, the bulkhead acts downstream, for example immediately downstream, of the chute 105. In particular, in the closed position, a portion of the bulkhead 200 is contacted at one end of the gate. bottom of the chute 105.

The operation of one of the preferred embodiments of the device for sanitizing the product collection compartment according to the invention ? the following.

When a user selects, by means of the interface devices 30, a product housed in a magazine 50 of the plurality of warehouses 50, and completes the purchase procedure correctly, this product P is dispensed from a warehouse 100 and, passing on the chute 105, reaches by gravity the support wall 40 of the withdrawal compartment. The unit control electronics 115 determines a moment of sale.

The user opens the flap 46 by taking it from the closed position to the open position, and inserts his hand into the sampling mouth 45 to access the sampling compartment. The sensor detects the passage of the door 46 from the closed position to the open position.

Once the product P has been withdrawn, the user extracts the product P from the withdrawal compartment by bringing the door 46 from the open position to the closed position and closing the withdrawal mouth 45. The sensor detects the passage of the door 46 from the open position to the closed position.

So, the unit? control electronics 115 activates a timer for a first predetermined time interval. If during this first predetermined interval of time, the unit? control electronics 115 detects the passage of the door 46 from the closed position to the open position through the sensor 90, the unit? control electronics 115 interrupts and/or resets the timer.

When the unit? control electronics 115 detects the passage of the door 46 from the open position to the closed position through the sensor 90, the unit? control electronics 115 activates the timer again for the first predetermined time interval.

The first predetermined time interval starts from the moment of sale, for example from the end of the moment of sale.

At the end of said first predetermined interval of time, the unit? control electronics 115 activates the UVC source for a second predetermined time interval. If during this second predetermined interval of time, the unit? control electronics 115 detects the passage of the door 46 from the closed position to the open position through the sensor 90, the unit? control electronics 115 deactivates the UVC source and interrupts and/or resets the timer.

When the unit? control electronics 115 detects the passage of the door 46 from the open position to the closed position through the sensor 90, the unit? control electronics 115 activates the timer again for the residual time interval and/or for the second predetermined time interval.

In addition, when the unit? control electronics 115 activates the UVC source for a second predetermined time interval, the unit? control electronics 115 pu? also disabling the sale procedure by not accepting a new sale request until the end of the second predetermined time interval, for example by displaying a waiting warning message via the user interface devices 30.

At the end of said second predetermined interval of time, the unit? control electronics 115 deactivates the UVC source and re-enables the vending procedure.

According to one of the embodiments of the present invention, the unit? control electronics 115 pu? be configured to activate and deactivate the door locking system 46.

The operation of this further embodiment of the device for sanitizing the product collection compartment according to the invention alternatively or additionally provides that at the end of the first predetermined time interval, the unit? control electronics 115 activates the door locking system 46 and activates the UVC source for a second predetermined time interval.

At the end of said second predetermined interval of time, the unit? control electronics 115 deactivates the UVC source and deactivates the locking system of the door 46.

All the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. Similarly, the materials used, as well as? the contingent shapes and dimensions may be any according to requirements without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. Vending machine of a plurality? of products, of the type comprising: - a warehouse (50,100) capable of housing a plurality? of products (P), and at least - a product withdrawal compartment located inside the vending machine (1), communicating with said warehouse (50,100) and able to make one or more products available for withdrawal from the outside products (P) coming from said warehouse (50,100), characterized in that said withdrawal compartment comprises a sanitizing device equipped with a source of ultraviolet radiation (80). 2. Automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a casing (15) supported by a bearing frame (10), a delivery mouth (45) made in the casing (15) and able to allow access from the external to the product withdrawal compartment, a door (46) engaged movable to the casing (15) and suitable for closing the withdrawal mouth (45) and separating the withdrawal compartment from the outside of the vending machine (1), and a sensor of movement (90), arranged inside the withdrawal compartment, able to determine when the door (46) passes from a closed position to an open position, and vice versa. 3. Automatic vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a unit? control electronics (115) operatively connected to the ultraviolet radiation source (80) and configured to turn on and off the ultraviolet radiation source. 4. Automatic vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a locking system (150) capable of selectively locking the door (46) to the casing (15). 5. Automatic vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the unit? control electronics (115) ? operationally connected to the motion sensor (90) and ? configured for: - determining access to the withdrawal compartment by a user via the movement sensor (90), when the door (46) passes from the closed position to the open position; - determine the abandonment by the user of the withdrawal compartment, by means of the movement sensor (90), when the door (46) passes from the open position to the closed position; - activate the UVC source if the flap (46) ? in closed position; e - deactivate the UVC source if the flap (46) ? in the open position. 6. Automatic vending machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the unit? control electronics (115) ? configured for: - determine a moment of sale of a product (P), - activate a timer for a first predetermined interval of time after determining that the user leaves the withdrawal compartment after the moment of sale, - stop and/or reset the timer after having determined that a user has access to the collection compartment. - activating the UVC source for a second predetermined time interval at the end of said first predetermined time interval, - deactivate the UVC source and interrupt and/or reset the timer after having determined that a user has access to the sampling compartment. 7. Automatic vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the unit? control electronics (115) ? operationally connected to the motion sensor and locking system and ? configured for: - determine a moment of sale of a product (P), - determining access to the withdrawal compartment by a user via the movement sensor (90), when the door (46) passes from the closed position to the open position; - determine the abandonment by the user of the withdrawal compartment, by means of the movement sensor (90), when the door (46) passes from the open position to the closed position; - activating the locking system to lock the door (46) to the casing (15) after a first predetermined time interval from the user leaving the withdrawal compartment after determining the moment of sale; - activate the ultraviolet radiation source while the blocking system locks the flap to the casing. 8. Automatic vending machine according to claim 3 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a user interface device and in which the unit? control electronics? configured to send a warning signal via the interface device when the locking system locks the door (46) to the casing (15). 9. A vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a bulkhead (200) which is? movable between a closed position, in which it isolates the withdrawal compartment from an internal volume of the vending machine in which the magazines (50,100) are contained, and an open position, in which it allows communication between the withdrawal compartment and the internal volume of the distributor. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the motion sensor (90) is configured to autonomously interrupt the power supply to the source of ultraviolet rays (80) when it detects a passage of the door (46) from the open position to the closed position.