RO119033B1 - Article vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A vending machine (108) of the kind comprising a store of articles or products to be dispensed, user operated means (137) for selecting the article or product to be dispensed, means, e.g. a coin freed mechanism authorising dispensing, and a dispensing outlet (142), characterised by a distributed mode acoustic radiator (2) and a transducer (9) mounted wholly and exclusively on the radiator to vibrate the radiator to cause it to resonate.

Description

The invention relates to an automatic for the sale of products.

It is known from the patent application GB-A-2262861 the solution for making a panel-shaped speaker, comprising:

- a radiant element in various ways, resonant, in the form of sandwich panel, forming a unitary cellular construction consisting of two film layers of a material, separated by a core highlighted by the cross-section of the cell construction, the panel having, independently of steering, a coefficient of resistance to bending (B) equal to the mass of the panel at power 3, per unit of surface (μ), of minimum value 10;

- a mounting device that supports the panel or secures it to a support body, freely and without cushioning;

- an electromechanical actuator device coupled to the panel and which is used to excite the resonant panel, radiant in various modes, in response to the application of an electrical signal corresponding to the working frequency band of the speaker.

In order to achieve the present invention, elements of a certain type, structure and configuration are used, which can be obtained routinely and / or in particular, by applying the knowledge from the publication of PCT patent application no. WO97 / 09842 whose applicant is the same as that of the PCT patent application which was the basis for the opening of the national phase of the present patent application. Such elements have the capacity to support and propagate, by means of flexural waves, vibration energy of entry, in the operational area or zones, which, as a rule, extend transversely on thickness, and not necessarily to the edges of the respective element or elements; it is configured with or without anisotropy of flexural rigidity to have resonant type vibration components, advantageously distributed, in the respective or respective areas, for achieving acoustic coupling with the environment; and which occupy predetermined, preferential positions or positions within the respective area of the transducer, in particular in that part or operationally active or movable parts thereof, effective in terms of acoustic vibration activity in the respective zone or areas and in what regards the signals, usually electrical, corresponding to the acoustic content of such a vibrational activity. in the publication of PCT patent application no. WO97 / 09842 mentioned, the uses of such elements are presented, within devices, such as passive acoustic devices without a translator, such as, for example, for reverb, for acoustic filtering or for achieving acoustic harmony in a space or in -a room; and in active acoustic devices with the transducer, such as, for example, those in the very wide range of acoustic or loudspeaker sources, when they are provided with input signals, to be converted. respectively, into an audible signal, or as they are, microphones when exposed to an audible signal to be converted to another signal.

This invention relates in particular to automatic machines that incorporate active acoustic devices, for example, in the form of loudspeakers for the purpose of providing information on the operation mode of the machine and its contents. The term "automatic car" is intended to include not only food and beverage distributors or the like but also ticket distributors, sound banking machines, cash dispensers and the like.

Elements of the above are known, such as, for example, radially distributed radiant elements, the characteristics of which are in accordance with the solution described in the aforementioned PCT patent application and / or in accordance with the specific features of of the invention herein.

RO 119033 Β1

The invention relates to an automatic of the type comprising stored articles or the product to be distributed, means operated by the user for selecting the article or product to be distributed, means, for example, a mechanism triggered by the currency that authorizes the distribution and a way distribution, the ability to maintain and propagate, by means of flexural waves, vibrational energy of entry, in at least one active area that extends transversely on thickness, to have vibrational components of resonant type, distributed over the respective area, and for having preferential locations or locations, predetermined, within that area, for arranging in one of said locations or locations, a transducer mounted integrally and exclusively, on said radiant element, 55 to determine the vibration of said radiant element, thus, so that it resonates, thus forming an emitter acoustic generator that generates acoustic radiation when it resonates.

The machine can comprise a panel with a visual screen formed by the transmitter. The transmitter may comprise a light rigid panel having a cellular core layered between a pair of 60 outer layers, the panel being surrounded by a frame and mounted in the frame by means of an elastic suspension.

The automaton may comprise a body and the frame may be attached to or formed by the body.

The machine may comprise a second transducer coupled to the transmitter to produce a signal in response to the transmitter's resonance due to incidental acoustic energy. Preferably, at least two translators are provided, in specialized locations on the transmitter.

Another transducer may be provided on the transmitter to produce a signal in response to the transmitter's resonance due to the incident acoustic energy and a means for comparing the signal generated by the second transducer may be provided. The comparison means may comprise a signal receiver and means for conditioning and signal output.

The machine for selling the products, according to the invention, has the advantage of using, within its composition, a radiated element in the form of a panel, thus acquiring all the advantages related to it: 75

- has a simple, lightweight construction;

- it is easy to make and integrate into an automatic for the sale of products;

- allows to obtain a uniform distribution of the resonance throughout the panel. 80 below, an embodiment of the invention is shown, in connection with FIG. 16, which represents:

- fig.1, the constructive diagram of a distributed type diffuser, according to the description of the invention from the publication of PCT patent application no. WO97 / 09842;

- Fig. 2a, view through a partial cross-section, along the section line A-A 85 of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 2b, view through a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of a radiant element with a distributed operation, of the type of the one in fig. 2a, presented in two embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a machine for selling the products according to 90 of an embodiment of the invention;

- Fig. 4, a cross-sectional view, partially, of a detail of the automaton of Fig. 3;

- Fig. 5, perspective view of a variant of the radiant element used in the automaton for the sale of products; 95

- fig.6, constructive diagram of a translator.

RO 119033 Β1 in Fig. 1 is presented a speaker 81 in panel form, of the type described in the publication of PCT patent application no. WO97 / 09842, whose applicant is the same as the PCT patent application, which was the basis for the opening of the national phase of the present patent application, the diffuser 81 having a rectangular frame 1, of which some means of super-pension are fixed. elastic 3 arranged around its internal peripheral contour, supporting a radiant element 2, acoustic, panel-shaped, distributed type (with distributed operation). A translator 9, for example, of the type presented at large in the publications of PCT patent applications no. WO97 / 09859, WO97 / 09861 and WO97 / 09859 having the same date and the same applicant as the PCT patent application, is integrally and exclusively mounted on, or within, the radiant element 2 in the form of a panel, in a predetermined location, defined by the x and y coordinates, and whose location is calculated according to those presented in the publication of PCT patent application no. W097 / 09842, mentioned above, in order to produce, in the panel, a bending wave that would cause its resonance to enter, in order to generate an acoustic output emission.

The transducer 9 is controlled by a signal amplifier 10, for example, an audio frequency amplifier connected to the transducer by means of conductors 28. The signal amplifier load 10 and the power requirement may be the normal ones, similar to those of conventional conical speakers, and the sensitivity is of the order of 86-88 dB / W when used in a furnished room. The load impedance of the signal amplifier 10 is largely resistive, being 6 ohms, it dissipates with a power of 20-80 W. When the core and / or the film layers of the panel are metallic, they can be made so that to act as a heat radiator of the transducer, to evacuate the heat from the coil of the translator-motor assembly of the transducer and thus to improve the energy balance.

Figure 2a and 2b show partial cross-sections, typical for the speaker 81 of Figure 1. Fig. 2a shows how the frame 1, the elastic suspension means 3 and the radiant element 1 in the form of a panel, are connected together, using some adhesive jointing means 20. As suitable materials for realizing the frame 1 we mention the light structures of type frames made of extruded metal, aluminum or plastic alloy. For the elastic suspension means 3 it is advisable to use elastic materials such as, for example, rubber or plastic, both of foam type. As suitable materials for adhesive bonding means 20, we mention epoxy, acrylic, cyanoacrylate adhesives, etc.

Figure 2b shows, on a larger scale, the radiant element 2 in the form of a lightweight, rigid panel, comprising a core 22 made of a rigid foam 97, made of plastic, for example, cross-linked polyvinyl chloride , or a cell matrix 98 having a honeycomb structure made of metal foil, plastic or other similar material, and whose cells are arranged transversely, relative to the plane of the panel, being closed by two opposing film layers 21, made, for example, of paper, cardboard, plastic or sheet or sheet metal. When the film layers 21 are plastic, for growth of its (Young) module, they may be fiber reinforced, in a manner known per se, the fibers being, for example, carbon, glass, Kevlar ® or the like.

Proposed materials for the coating and curing film states include carbon, glass, Kevlar®, Nomex® meaning aramid fibers, etc., of various structures and textures, such as, paper, laminated pressed paper, melamine and various films. made of high modulus (Young) synthetic plastics, such as Mylar®, Kaptan®, polycarbonate, phenol, polyester or associated plastics, and fiber-reinforced plastics, etc. and sheets and sheets of metal. Studies and researches carried out on the Vectra class

RO 119033 Β1

145 polymeric thermoplastic materials with liquid crystals have shown that they can be used with good results for the injection molding of the coating film layers or of the ultra-thin coatings of relatively small size, for example, with diameters up to about 30 cm. This material itself forms a structure with crystals oriented in the direction of injection, offering a preferential orientation for better propagation of acute energy, from the point of action to the edges of the panel.

In addition, such a technique for forming thermoplastics of the aforementioned or other types allows the assembly of forming machines to transport positioning and centering pieces, such as, for example, grooves or rings for precisely placing the parts of the transducer, such as the motor coil assembly and the magnetic suspension. Moreover, for some types of materials, less resistant, used in the preparation of the core, it is considered that it would be advantageous to increase locally, up to 150% of the diameter of the transducer, the thickness of the covering film state, for example, on a portion or on a circular surface, in order to increase the resistance of the respective portion or surfaces and to advantageously couple the vibrational energy in the panel. In this way, by using softer sponge materials, the high frequency response is improved.

The materials used to make the core used as a core are honeycomb shaped or have a corrugated appearance, being made from sheets or sheets made from aluminum alloys or Kevlar ®, Nomex ®, plain or pressed paper, and from different types of layers. films made of synthetic plastics, such as expanded or spongy plastics, or even pastes, including metal aerogels, if they are of sufficiently low density. Some of the materials suitable for making the core used as a core have practically the property of automatically forming their coating film states at the time of manufacture and / or may have an inherent rigidity sufficient to be used between the coating film layers without require rolling. Another material that can be used to make the core used as a core and having the trade name 'Rohacell', is known for its high performance, being of the type without a covering film layer, the material can be used as a radiant panel. Basically, the aim is to obtain a material of low weight and overall rigidity corresponding to a particular application, assuming including the optimization in particular, of the layers used as core, of the covering film layers and of the portions between them.

Some of the preferred embodiments of such a panel use metal sheets or sheets of metal alloys, or as an alternative, use a carbon fiber reinforcement. Both of the above solutions, as well as other metal or aerogel honeycomb structures (Kevlar and carbon alloy), used as a core, have special radio frequency shielding properties, which is an element of particular importance in different EMC applications. Conical type speakers or conventional panels do not have such inherent EMC shielding properties.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that in the preferred embodiments of the invention, piezoelectric and electrodynamic transducers have electromagnetic radiation or magnetic fields of dispersion, of negligible intensities. Conventional loudspeakers have large magnetic fields, which can be up to one meter apart, unless specific countermeasures are taken.

In the case of applications where good shielding is required, electrical connections can be made to the electrically conductive parts of a corresponding type DML panel or to an electrically conductive foam, or an interface similar to those used for mounting the edges can be used. .

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RO 119033 Β1

The elastic suspension means 3 provide the damping of the edges of the panel 2 to prevent excessive displacement of the edges of the respective panel. In addition or as a displacement variant, it can also be used as a damping, for example applying patches fixed to the panel in certain preselected positions to mitigate excessive movements in order to ensure uniform distribution of the resonance throughout the panel. . Such patches can be made of material made of bitumen, usually used in the enclosures of conventional speakers, or they can be made of a polymeric, laminated, elastic or rigid material. Some materials, especially paper and cardboard, as well as some materials used as a core, may exhibit self-attenuation properties. When desired, when making the panel, the damping can be increased by using adhesives whose hardening is elastic, instead of using some rigid hardening.

A selective and efficient cushioning implies a specific application on the panel and also on the laminated material which is an integral, permanent part thereof. The edges and corners may prove particularly important for low frequency vibration modes of the panels, which are dominant and of lower dispersion. Fixing the edges, for a cushioning element, can usefully lead to obtaining a panel whose material, in laminated form, is completely trapped on the edges, even though its corners will remain relatively free, for example to allow for possible extension of operation at relatively low frequencies. The fixing can be done with the help of adhesive or even self-adhesive materials. Other useful forms of depreciation, in particular, when pursuing certain special effects and / or medium and high frequencies, may be in the form of one or more appropriate weights, fixed by the laminate in certain predetermined positions, practically located medially within the respective area.

An acoustic panel of the type described above is bidirectional. The energy of the sound coming from the rear speaker is not very correlated with that of the sound coming from the front speaker. consequently, the advantage of a global summation of the acoustic power in the room is obtained, a uniformly distributed sound energy in terms of frequencies, reduced stationary wave effects and with the advantage of better reproduction, in the reproduction of sound, space and environment. naturally registered.

If the radiation emitted by an acoustic panel is largely non-directional, it must be taken into account, however, that the percentage correlation of the acoustic information increases outside the axis. For a better focus on artificially created stereo images, the layout of the speakers, as well as the images, at the height of a person standing has the advantage of an easy off-axis position for listeners who are usually seated, which leads to optimization of the stereo effect. Similarly, the left / right triangular geometry that includes the listener provides an additional angular component. In this way, a good stereo effect can be obtained.

For a group of listeners there is an advantage, compared to playing using a conventional speaker. By the nature of dispersion that intrinsically characterizes the sound emission made by the acoustic panel, a volume of sound is produced that does not satisfy the dependence law inversely proportional to the square of the distance, for an equivalent point source. Due to the fact that the intensity reduction with the distance is much smaller than the one determined by applying the dependence law inversely proportional to the square of the distance, it will result that for the non-centrally located listeners, who occupy disadvantaged places, the intensity of the field for the panel type speaker will produce a stereophonic effect. superior to that of conventional speakers. This is due to the fact that the non-centrally located listener is no longer subject to double shortcomings due to the proximity of the speaker in the immediate vicinity: firstly the excessive increase of the volume of the nearby speaker, and secondly the corresponding reduction of the volume for the farther speaker.

RO 119033 Β1

There is also the advantage of a flat panel, low weight, nice looking, good looking sound quality speaker, requiring only a translator, without producing sound translations for a whole range of sounds from each diaphragm of the panel.

FIG. 3 shows an automatic 108, for example a beverage dispenser incorporating a speaker 81 in which the speaker is part of the front part 109 of the automatic. Speaker 81 is arranged to provide audio information on the content of the vending machine and / or on the manner in which it can be operated. The front part 109 of the machine carries the normal coin release mechanism or the like 143, the product selector panel 137 and a dispensing hole 142.

The speaker 81 comprises a transmitting panel with distributed, rigid, lightweight, rectangular operation comprising a cell core 22 having outer film layers 21 on both sides, the panel being supported around its periphery on elastic suspension means 3, for example, a foam rubber. The suspension is mounted in a rectangular frame 1 mounted on the front side 109 of the machine 108. Thus, the speaker is of the type described in figs. 1 and 2. The visual information, for example, in the form of graphics and text, can be applied to the panel. 2 as desired.

The radiant element 2 in the form of a panel supports a transducer 9, for example, of the type described with reference to the mentioned international application having the same recording date, through which the panel can be vibrated to allow it to resonate to produce an acoustic emission. The machine will incorporate the required signal generator to produce the messages and the amplification means necessary (not shown) for the operation of the transducer 9.

If desired, the device can be manufactured to be proactive by arranging it so that the radially distributed panel-shaped element 2 is capable of use, both as a speaker and as a sound or microphone receiver, as shown in Fig. 5.

The radiant element 2 in the form of a panel is excited, being determined to resonate, so as to produce an acoustic signal through a transducer 9 of the type described in the publications of the patent applications PCT no. WO97 / 09859, WO97 / 09861 and WO97 / 09859 having the same date and the same applicant as those of the PCT patent application which was the basis of the opening of the national phase of this patent application, the transducer 9 being connected and excited, on the return path, with an amplifier 10.

The radiant element 2 in the form of a panel is also provided with a pair of vibration transducers 63 which can be piezoelectric transducers of the type shown in Fig. 6, which are coupled in parallel to activate some means of receiving and conditioning signals. 65, which connects to some signal output means 66. An additional vibration transducer 63, of the type shown in Fig. 6, disposed within the radiant element 2 in the form of a panel, is coupled to activate a filter / correlator 64 from the output of which the means for receiving and conditioning the signals 65 are supplied to perform the correction of the signal and / or the cancellation of the noise signal.

FIG. 6 shows a transducer 9 for use within a radiant element 2 in the form of a panel with distributed operation, the transducer 9 being made as a piezoelectric exciter 27 of crystalline disc type, which is mounted on a disc 118 , of brass, which is attached to a face of the radiant element 2 in the form of a panel, by means of adhesive connection means 20. During operation, the acoustic signal applied, by means of conductors 28, to the transducer 9, produces the flexion of the piezoelectric exciter 27 of crystalline disk type, thus producing a local, elastic deformation of the radiant element 2 in the form of a panel, which causes the propagation in the panel, of the bending waves.

Thus, the device is configured in such a way that it can be given verbal instructions to the vending machine.

Claims (10)

claims 1. Automatic for the sale of products of the type that store a variety of articles or products for distribution, the automatic comprising means (137) operated by the user to select the article or product to distribute, means of authorization (143) for authorizing the distribution , for example, a mechanism released by a coin, a dispensing hole (142) and a diffuser (81), characterized in that the diffuser (81) comprises a radiant element having the capacity to maintain and propagate, through the waves of flexion, vibrational input energy, in at least one active area that extends transversely on thickness, to have resonant type vibrational components distributed over the respective area, and to have preferential locations or locations, predetermined, within that zone, for the arrangement, in one of the respective sites or locations, of a translator (9) fully and exclusively mounted, on said radiant element, to determine the vibration of said radiant element so that it enters the resonance, thus forming an acoustic transmitter (2) that generates an acoustic radiation when it resonates. Automatic according to claim 1, characterized in that the acoustic transmitter (2) is made in the form of a display means. Automatically, according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the acoustic transmitter (2) comprises a panel, light and rigid, having a cell core (22) sandwiched between layers (21) pair. Automatic according to claim 3, characterized in that the panel is surrounded by a frame (1). 5. An automatic device according to claim 4, characterized in that the acoustic transmitter (2) is mounted in the frame (1) by means of elastic suspension means (3). 6. Automatic according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a construction (108), the frame (1) being placed on the respective construction (108) or integrated therewith. Automatic according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a second transducer (63), disposed on the acoustic transmitter (2) for producing a signal, in response to the resonance of the acoustic transmitter (2) due to the acoustic energy. incidents. 8. The automatic device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises at least two transducers (63) seconds, spaced apart within the acoustic transmitter (2). Automatic according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises an additional transducer (63), disposed on the acoustic transmitter (2) for producing a signal, in response to the resonance of the acoustic transmitter (2) due to the incident acoustic energy, the article machine further comprising comparison means (64) for comparing the signal that is produced by the additional translator (63), with those produced by the translator or translators (63) seconds. 10. Automatic according to claim 9, characterized in that the comparison means (64) contains a signal receiver, the article automatic further comprising conditioning means (65) and signal output means (66).