NL2030104B1

NL2030104B1 - Device for issueing or taking in products

Info

Publication number: NL2030104B1
Application number: NL2030104A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Vermunt Franciscus; Ewout Sciarone Sander
Original assignee: Le Marche Beheer B V
Priority date: 2021-12-10
Filing date: 2021-12-10
Publication date: 2023-06-27

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device conﬁgured to issue or intake products, comprising a housing having one or more than one compartment that comprises a buffer section connected with a repository for one or more than one of the products, and an access section conﬁgured to allow a user to remove a product from or place a product in said access section; and a partition arranged between the buffer section and the access section, wherein said partition exhibits a closed state, wherein the partition defines a wall of the access section and shields the supply of products in the buffer section from the access section, and an open state, wherein one or more than one product is displaceable between the buffer section and the access section.

Description

DEVICE FOR ISSUEING OR TAKING IN PRODUCTS

The present invention relates to a device for issuing and/or taking in products. Such devices are known, for example, in the form of vending machines that are used to sell or dispense products, in particular small products such as consumables and foodstuffs. Devices of this type are typically capable of vending one or more of various types of products that are presented to a user from behind a transparent screen. The user may select one or more of these products and optionally complete payment, after which the selected product is dispensed by the device to an accessible area where it may be obtained by the user.

Such devices are known to comprise internal supply for each of the one or more than one types of products. In this supply, the products are typically stacked behind one another in a row with the foremost of these products being placed closest to the transparent screen, so that it is most prominently presented to a user. An actuator may be provided, for example in the form of pair of mechanically operated spirals with products in the row being arranged behind one another within subsequent gaps between these two spirals. Upon selection of a given product. the foremost product is removed from the respective row of products — for example by rotating the two mechanically operated spirals — and is transported to or falls into a section of the device from which it is accessible by the user. Remaining products within the row are simultaneously moved forward, so that the next remaining product in the row is ready to be selected and issued/dispensed.

One limitation of the here above-described types of vending devices, is that they are only suitable for dispensing relatively small types of products, such as snacks and sweets. Pluralities of such products may be displayed and stored within the one or more internal supplies of the device because of their relatively small size, but a storage capacity of the device is reduced when the products comprise relatively large dimensions. Moreover, due to the often relatively simple mechanical means (e.g., a pair of mechanically operated spirals) that are deployed for removing a selected product from its respective supply. only types of products which are at least somewhat resistant to a mechanical impact, which may deform or otherwise damage the product, may be dispensed with the above described vending devices.

An additional limitation of such known devices is that they are susceptible to theft of products other than the product that has been selected by the user and has been paid for. The construction of such known devices may be such that a user is capable of gaining access to unauthorised products in the product supply or is able to interfere with the dispensing action of the device so that more than one of the selected product is dispensed.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a device for issuing or taking in products with which at least some of the above stated, or further, disadvantages of known comparable devices are obviated or abated.

This objective is achieved with a device according to the present invention configured to issue or take in products, comprising a housing having one or more than one compartment that comprises a buffer section connected with a supply for one or more than one of the products, and an access section configured to allow a user to remove a product from or place a product in said access section; and a partition arranged between the buffer section and the access section, wherein said partition exhibits a closed state, wherein the partition defines a wall of the access section and shields the supply of products and/or the buffer section from the access section, and an open state, wherein one or more than one product is displaceable between the buffer section and the access section.

With the device according to the present invention, various types of products including those with relatively large dimensions and products that are vulnerable to mechanical impact may be issued or dispensed. The device according to the present invention also has the capability to take in products and place them (back) into the supply for the products. As such, users may use the device according to the present invention to be issued a product and return the issued product to the device at a later time so that it may be placed back into the product supply, thereby allowing it to be issued again to a (different) user.

Moreover, in the closed state the partition also functions as an appealing backdrop for the product when it is situated in the access section where it is presented to a user. This backdrop is maintained by the partition obscuring the buffer section and/or the product supply from view.

Moreover, the backdrop also prevents the user from gaining access to the buffer section and/or the product supply and any products located therein.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a conveyor that is configured to convey one or more than one product from the buffer section to the access section or vice versa. The conveyor may moreover extend from the buffer section into the access section.

In these embodiments, products issued or taken in by the device may be conveyed to/from the supply without requiring any additional effort from a user. As such. products may be dispensed and/or taken in an efficient and user-friendly manner.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a position of the partition is adjustable to allow a volume of the access section to be optimised for the one or more than one product to be issued therefrom or received therein. As such, an improved degree of versatility regarding the dimensions of items that can be taken in or issued is achieved. The device may moreover comprise a plurality of compartments for issuing or taking in products having various dimensions, with the position of each partition of each respective compartment being positioned so that each volume of each respective access section corresponds to the respective dimensions of the product to be issued therefrom or received therein.

In the above embodiments of the device according to the present invention, a plurality of different types of products having various dimensions may be issued or taken in. For each of these different types of products, the partition separating the access section from the buffer section may be arranged in consideration of the dimensions of a given product type, thereby achieving the advantages of the present invention for all such types of products.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a drive configured to adjust the position of the partition.

In these embodiments, the position of the partition may be adjusted without requiring an operator of the device to exert himself by manually adjusting the location of the partition.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a first sensor configured to sense a dimension of the product. In addition, the drive may be configured to adjust the position of the partition based on a value obtained through the first sensor.

In these embodiments, the device is capable of automatically adjusting the location of the partition in consideration of the dimensions of a product to be taken in or dispensed as determined by the sensor. As such, adjusting the locations of the one or more partitions with respect to the products to be dispensed or taken in, in particular during installation or maintenance of the device, may be abated. Moreover, products having various dimensions may be issued or taken in by the device in succession, with the partition being automatically appropriately arranged for each subsequent product.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the access section has an access opening. The access opening and the partition may moreover be arranged on opposite sides of the access section. resulting in a particularly compact and therefore space efficient configuration of the device.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the partition comprises a rolling shutter. The rolling shutter may moreover be configured to extend in a longitudinal direction of the at least one compartment in the open state of the rolling shutter, which likewise results in a more compact and therefore space efficient configuration of the device.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor comprises at least one carrier for carrying the product as it is being conveved from the buffer section to the access section or vice versa. Such a carrier may further improve the reliability of the device by ensuring a position of the product to be issued or taken in is fixed relative to the conveyor.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device further comprises a door configured to close the access opening of the access section. The door may optionally be locked to prevent unauthorised access to the access section and any product located therein and may comprise a transparent window to allow a user to inspect the product.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a second sensor configured to sense a location of the product while it is being conveyed by the conveyor.

The second sensor may be disposed on an inner side of the door and be configured to sense the location of the product by determining the distance of the product relative to the door. In these embodiments, the conveyor may moreover be configured to cease conveying the one or more than one product if the location of the product is determined to be at or near a predetermined location within the access section or the buffer section.

In these embodiments, a reliable operation of the device is achieved that ensures that the product in all cases adequately conveyed to either the access section or to the buffer section.

In the following description preferred embodiments of the device according to the present invention are further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2A shows an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in a closed state;

Figure 2B depicts the device of Figure 1 and Figure 2 in an open state in which a product to be issued by the device is made accessible by a user;

Figure 2C depicts the device of the foregoing figures in a conveying state; and

Figure 3 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 and Figure 2A, a device 100 according to the present invention comprises a housing 200 with a front side 210, a back side 220 arranged opposite the front side 210, a top side 230, a bottom side arranged opposite the tope side and two lateral sides 240, 250 arranged opposite of one another.

The housing 200 comprises one or more compartments 300 that are disposed at the front side 210 and accessible via respective access openings 310. Each access opening 310 may be provided with a door 320 that may optionally moreover comprise a window 330 for viewing a product 150 within a corresponding compartment 300. The door 320 may moreover be configured to be selectively locked to allow only authorised users access to an access section 120 of the device 100.

Figure 2A depicts the interior of one compartment 300 in the housing 200 of the device 100 shown in Figure 1. The compartment 300 comprises an access section 120 that is accessible via the access opening 310 of the compartment 300. A product 130 to be issued by the device 100 can be removed from the access section 120 via the access opening 310 by opening the door 320.

The compartment 300 moreover comprises a buffer section 130 adjacent to the access section 120. The buffer section 130 serves as an area for conveying and/or short term storage of products 150 to be issued or taken in. The buffer section 130 is therefore connected with a product supply (not shown), from which the product 159 to be issued may be retrieved or the product 150 to be taken in may be stored. In other words, a product 150 may be displaced from the access section 120 to the buffer section 130 or vice versa, depending on whether the product 150 is to be issued or to be taken in by the device 100.

For displacing a product 150 from the access section 120 to the buffer section 130, or from the buffer section 130 to the access section 120, a conveyor 400 configured to convey one or more than one product 150 is provided in the compartment 300. As 1s best illustrated in Figure 2B, the conveyor 400 comprises a timing belt 410 and two guide plates 420 arranged on opposing sides of the timing belt 410. The timing belt 410 is configured to rotate in either direction towards and away from the access opening 310 to thereby convey a product 150 in either direction parallel to the guide plates 420. As is best illustrated in Figure 2C, the conveyor 400 additionally comprises a carrier 430 connected with the timing belt 410 and configured to engage the product 150, so that said product 150 may be conveyed while sliding along guide plates 420.

The conveyor 400 1s configured to convey a product 150 from the product supply, through the buffer section 130, to a presentation location within the access section 120 when issuing a product 150; and from the access section 120, via the buffer section 130, to the product supply when taking in a product 150. As such, the conveyor 400 preferably extends into the access section 120 up to a presentation location for the product 150 within this access section 120.

It is emphasised here that whereas the drawings depict the conveyor 400 having a timing belt 410, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Alternatively, or in addition, the conveyor 400 may comprise any one of conveyor belt, a plurality of conveying rollers, a robotic arm and a conveying carousel that is vertically arranged in the compartment 300. Moreover, certain components of the conveyor 400 may be comprised in common with the product supply (not shown).

The product supply may be located behind the buffer section 130 and opposite the access section 120. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, the product supply may be constituted by a product repository. wherein one or more products 150, as well as means for placing these one or more products on a section of the conveyor 400 within the buffer section 130, are provided.

In accordance with various embodiments of the description, a robotic arm or similar technical means — of which the skilled person is well aware — for placing a product 150 on the conveyor 400 within the buffer section 130 or taking said product 150 therefrom may be provided.

Alternatively, the product supply may be constituted by a living person (i.¢., a worker or operator that manually places one or more products 150 on the conveyor 400 within the buffer section 130 or takes said product 150 therefrom.

The compartment 300 is divided into the access section 120 and the buffer section 130 by a partition 500. The partition 500 is configured to exhibit a closed state as illustrated in Figure 2A and an opened state as is illustrated in Figure 2B.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, the access opening 310 and the partition 500 of the device 100 are arranged on opposite sides of the access section 120. As a result, in the closed state, the partition 500 defines a wall of the access section 120 that is disposed behind the product 150 when the product 150 is viewed by a user through the access opening 310. In this closed state. the partition 500 provides an aesthetically pleasing background for the product 150 that shields any components of the device 100. such as the supply of products and/or the buffer section 130, situated behind the partition 500 from view. As such, the product 150 may be presented to a user in a more aesthetically pleasing manner relative to prior-art devices.

The partition 500 is configured selectively transition from the closed state to the open state and subsequently transition back into the closed state when a given product 150 is conveyed into or out of the access section 120. In the closed state, the partition 500 shields the supply of products and the buffer section 130 from unauthorised access by a user. In particular when a given product 150 is placed into or taken out of the access section 120, the partition 500 may remain in the closed state to thereby prevent a user from reaching through the access section 120 to thereby reach the buffer section 130 and/or the product supply and any products 150 located therein.

The buffer section 130 of the device 100 according to the present invention may be restocked or refilled via a back side, or alternatively via the access opening 310. A supplier may be authorized to control the device 100 to maintain the partition 500 in an open state during a filling or restocking procedure. wherein products 150 are consecutively placed viathe access section 120 into the buffer section 130.

In the embodiments of the device 100 illustrated in the appended drawings, the partition 500 comprises a rolling shutter 510. The rolling shutter 510 comprises the advantage that it can retract in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction(s) of the products 150 through the compartment 300 to extend in a direction parallel to these conveying direction(s). As such, the rolling shutter 510 is particularly space efficient, because it does not require any additional space to perform a swinging motion when transitioning from the closed state to the open state or vice versa.

A frame 520 is provided to support the partition 500 over the conveyor 400. The frame 520 comprises two guide rails 580 disposed on either side of the rolling shutter 510 to guide and support the rolling shutter 510 when during opening and closing.

The position of the partition 500 and/or the frame 520 is preferably adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the device 100 (i.e. in the direction defined by the access section 120 and the buffer section 130). Because the partition 500 defines the boundary between the access section

120 and the buffer section 130 in the compartment 300, a volume of the access section 120 may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the partition 500. The device 100 may thus be configured to issue and take in a large variety of different products 150 with corresponding varying dimensions.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the device 100 depicted in Figures 2A to 2C, an adjustment of the position of the partition 500 may be performed manually by an operator of the device 100, for example during installation, maintenance or restocking of the device 100.

Referring to Figure 1, a plurality of compartments 300 may be provided in the housing 200 of the device 100. Each one of these compartments 300 may be configured as is depicted in one or more of the Figures 2A — 2C and 3 for issuing or taking in products 150 having varying dimensions. A respective position of each partition 500 in each compartment 300 may differ from one compartment 300 of the device 100 to another. so that a volume of each respective access section 120 of each compartment 300 corresponds to the respective dimensions of the product 150 to be issued from, or received in, said respective compartment 300.

In contrast to the embodiments of Figures 2A — 2C wherein the partition 500 may be adjusted manually, the embodiment of the device 100 illustrated in Figure 3 moreover comprises a drive 530 for adjusting the position of the partition 500 (e.g. the rolling shutter 510) and/or the frame 520. As illustrated in Figure 3, the drive 530 comprises a pinion 531 fixedly connected with the partition 500 or the frame 520, and a rack 532. The pinion 531 is configured to be driven to rotation and engages the rack 520, thereby displacing the partition 500 and/or the frame 520 relative to the rack 532 that remains stationary. The pinion 531 may be rotated in either direction to enlarge or decrease the volume of the access section 120.

It is emphasised here that the drive 530 having the pinion 531 and the rack 532 is only exemplary in nature. and that the skilled person is well aware of alternative mechanisms with which the drive 530 may be realised. A worm drive and a belt drive are mentioned here merely as exemplary alternatives for the pinion 331 and rack 532 assembly constituting the drive 530 in the embodiment of Figure 3.

Still referring to Figure 3, the device 100 may moreover comprise a first sensor 540, 540° configured to sense a dimension of the products 150. The drive 330 is configured to adjust the position of the partition 500 based on a value obtained through the first sensor 540, 540°,

In Figure 3, two of such first sensors 540, 540° are disposed at, respectively. the access section 120 and the buffer section 130. When a given product 150 is taken in by the device 100, the first sensor 540 disposed at the access section 120 senses the physical dimensions of the product 150 and its dimension with respect to the direction of the access section 120 and the buffer section 130. When a user inserts the product 150 into the access section 120, the first sensor 540 senses the physical dimension(s) of the product 150 and communicates the obtained sensor value to the drive

530. The drive 530, in response, appropriately adjusts the location of the partition 500 so that the product 150 can be entirely placed within the access section 120 of the device 100.

Likewise, the other first sensor 340° disposed at the buffer section 130 may sense the physical dimension(s) of a product 150 located within the buffer section 130. before said is conveyed to the access section 120 or the product supply. The first sensor 540° then communicates the obtained sensor value to the drive 530, which in response adjusts the position of the partition 500 based on the obtained sensor value, to thereby adjust the volume of the access area 120 in consideration of the products 150 dimensions.

The two first sensors 540, 540° may be optical sensors, such as cameras configured to

IO capture one or more images of the product 150. These images may be processed further by means of a state of the art image processing algorithm configured to deduce the product’s 150 physical dimensions from the one or more captured images.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the two first sensors 540 and 540° are only capable of determining the physical dimensions of a product 150 when said product 150 is, respectively, located within the access section 120 and the buffer section 130. When the product 150 has relatively elongate physical dimensions. the first sensors 540, 540° may, on account of their respective arrangements, be unable to adequately sense the entire physical dimensions of the product 150, when said product 150 is located only partially into the access section 120 or the buffer section 130. As such, the two first sensors 540, 540° may be configured to obtain a plurality of values — each of which representing the product’s 150 dimension(s) — and communicate these values as they are obtained to the drive 530 over a period of time. In response to receiving each one of these plurality of values in succession, the drive 530 is continuously updated with respect to the desired position of the partition 500 based on the received sensor values and in consideration of the product’s 150 dimensions.

While the embodiment of the device 100 depicted In Figure 3 comprises two first sensors 540 and 540°, it is envisioned that a greater number of first sensors 540, 540” may be present.

Alternatively, the device 100 may comprise only a single first sensor 540 capable of sensing the product’s 150 dimensions when it is located in either one, or both, of the access section 120 and the buffer section 130. According to certain embodiments of the device 100, the first sensor 540 may be movable and/or capable of tracking the product 150 as it is conveyed through the compartment 300 in either direction.

In further alternative embodiments of the device 100, the device 100 may instead comprise a memory in which an exhaustive list of different products and their physical dimension(s) are stored. In these embodiments, the device 100 may additionally comprise an input device (not shown) with which a user may select one product 150 on the list to be taken in or issued. with the device 100 being configured to displace the partition 500 based on the physical dimensions of the selected product 150 according to the list.

Still referring to Figure 3, the device 100 may comprise a second sensor 550 configured to sense a location of the product 150 while it is being conveyed, by the conveyor 400, in either direction through the compartment 300. In the depicted exemplary embodiment. the second sensor 550 is disposed at an inner side of the door 320 and configured to measure a distance from the inner side of the door 320 to the product 150, when said product 150 is disposed on the conveyor 400 inside the compartment 300.

The second sensor 550 may be an optical sensor, for example an infrared based distance meter, and is communicatively connected with the conveyor 400. The conveyor 400 is configured to perform its conveying operation on the product 150 based on a sensor value indicating the location of the product 150 obtained from the second sensor 550.

For example, when a product 156 is conveyed from the product supply, through the buffer section 130 and into the access section 120 so that it may be issued to a user, the conveyor 400 ceases operation when it is determined that the product 150 is located at a desired location within the access section 120 based on the value received from the second sensor 550. Similarly, when the device 100 takes in a product 150, the conveyor 400 may determine that the door 320 is closed based on the value obtained through the second sensor 550. Subsequently, the conveyor 400 may then start its conveying action of the product 150 out of the access section 120 and towards the buffer section 130.

It is noted here that while in the depicted embodiments the second sensor 550 is disposed on an inner side of the door 320, it is conceivable that the second sensor 550 may alternatively be disposed at any other location where it may adequately determine the position of a product 150.

Moreover, it is envisioned that the position of the product 150 may be determined based on the value provided by the here above described first sensor 540, 540°, in addition to said first sensor first sensor 540, 540° being configured to determine the physical dimensions of the product 150. In these embodiments, the here above-described advantages may thus be achieved with only two or even a single first sensor 540.

It should be self-evident to the skilled reader that the above-described embodiment is not the only one possible within the bounds and limitations of the scope of protection for embodiments of the present disclosure according to the appended claims. For instance, as described here above the number of sensors 540, 540° and 550 may be selected by the skilled person based on the sensors’ capabilities and desired functionality of the device 100 without departing from the broader technical scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the type of the conveyor 400 may any one of the types of conveyors the skilled person is familiar with, and be selected in consideration of certain characteristics of the products 150 (e.g., whether the products 150 are fragile or not). Other alterations and adaptations can also be contemplated and will lie within the borders and boundaries of the scope of protection defined to the appended claims, unless such additional and/or alternative embodiments deviate from the unitary inventive concept underlying the specifically defined features of the claims.

Claims

Conclusions

Apparatus configured for dispensing or taking in products, comprising - a housing with one or more compartments, comprising a buffer section connected to a supply for one or more of the products, and an access section which is configured to enable a user to remove a product from, or place a product in, said access section; and - a partition placed between the buffer section and the access section, said partition exhibiting a closed state, in which the partition defines a wall of the access section and shields the feed for products and/or the buffer section from the access section, and an open state, in which one or more than one product is movable between the buffer section and the access section.

2. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyor arranged to transfer one or more products from the buffer section to the access section or vice versa.

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor extends from the buffer section into the access section.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a position of the partition is adjustable to allow the volume of the access section to be optimized for the one or more products dispensed from or received therein.

The device according to claim 4, wherein the device comprises a number of compartments for dispensing or taking in products of different sizes, and wherein a position of each partition of each respective compartment is positioned such. that each volume of each respective access section corresponds to the respective dimensions of the product dispensed from or received therein.

An apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a drive configured to adjust the position of the partition.

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a first sensor configured to sense the dimensions of the product.

An apparatus according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the drive is configured to adjust the position of the partition based on a value obtained by means of the first sensor.

9. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the access section has an access opening.

The device of claim 9, wherein the access opening and partition are located on opposite sides of the access section.

11. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the partition comprises a roller shutter.

The device of claim 11, wherein the roller shutter is configured to extend in a longitudinal direction of the at least one compartment in the open position of the roller shutter.

13. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor comprises at least one carrier for carrying the product while it is being transported from the buffer section to the access section or vice versa.

An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, when dependent on at least claim 9, further comprising a door configured to close the access opening of the access section.

15. Device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a second sensor, which is configured to detect a location of the product as it is being transported by the conveyor.

16. Device as claimed in claims 14 and 15, wherein the second sensor is arranged on an inner side of the door and is preferably adapted to detect the location of the product by determining the distance of the product relative to the door.

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the conveyor is configured to stop conveying the one or more product if it is determined to be at or near a predetermined location within the access section or the buffer section.