SK8980Y1 - Device for store and expenditure of products - Google Patents

Abstract

Technical solution relates to a device (10) for storing and dispensing products (12). The device (10) comprises a storage arrangement (20) with a number of elongate stacking units (14) for storing the stacked products (12), an arrangement (11) for dispensing products (12) from the device (10), gripping means (30) for selecting the highest product (12) from the stack from the stacking unit (14) and a transport device (16) arranged on the gripping means (30) for moving the product (12) from the stacking units (14) to the dispensing arrangement. The transport device (16) is adapted to extend parallel to the stacking units (14), the transport device (16) is adapted to move the gripping means (30) along the stacking units (14), the stacking units (14) comprising an access (25) adapted to be located on the side of the transport device for the gripping means (30). The technical solution also relates to a method of storing and dispensing products (12) from the device (10).

Description

S K 8980 Υ1

Technical field

Technical solution of the equipment storage and dispensing equipment that includes

- a storage tower with a plurality of elongate vertical adjacent stacking units arranged in a circumferential arrangement for storing products stacked in a stacking direction on top of each other in one stack in each of the stacking units,

- arrangements for dispensing products from the establishment,

- gripping means for selecting the uppermost stack product from the stacking unit and equipped with a set of carriages with a radially extending horizontal bar structure for moving the gripping means backwards and forwards along the stacking units in the stacking direction,

- a transport device for gripping means for moving products from stacking units to a dispensing arrangement, the transport device comprising a vertical bar structure running parallel to the vertical stacking units in the stacking direction and a sliding means provided with sliding bars or similar rail arrangements for the gripping means,

- an extended access located on the stacking units on the side of the vertical bar structure in the stacking direction for moving the horizontally extending horizontal bar structure and the gripping means inside the stacking unit in the stacking direction.

Prior art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,782 discloses an automated device for dispensing products. Its basic components include an access opening for dispensing products from the device, a storage tower having several vertical adjacent channels adapted to be placed in a circumferential arrangement, and transport means for moving the products from the channel to the access opening. In the channels, the products are stacked on top of each other.

However, the control mechanism of this design is quite complicated. The products dispensed are located at the bottom of the stacks. This limits the suitability of automated equipment for use with products with special materials and properties. In addition, it complicates the practical implementation of the means of transport and the device is even unreliable.

Another automated device for dispensing products is known from US patent no. 7 240 805 B2. Even in this solution, the products are stored stacked in channels. The channels are now controlled from above. Sliding means for two-dimensional movement are located in the upper part of the gripper device. The product selected by the gripper from the stack of the selected channel is selected from above by a movement along the channel.

Some further references to the prior art are described in International Patent Application WO 98/25240 A2 and in EP Published Patent Applications EP 2378495 A1 and EP 0 249 367 A2.

The essence of the technical solution

The aim of this technical solution is to provide a device for storing and dispensing products, while the device is simple in its construction and operation. The characteristic features of the device according to the technical solution are set out in claim 1.

According to the technical solution, the construction of the device is simple and its operation is reliable. By arranging the transport device next to the stacking units, parallel to them and moving the gripping means along the stacking units, the products are reliably selected. Thanks to the technical solution, the gripping means can be reliably transported close to the tallest product in the stack for retrieval, because the support and the force provided by the transport device by the gripping means affect the entire main storage length of the stacking units. Thanks to the simple and reliably controllable transport device and its position, products that are difficult to handle and dispense can also be stored and dispensed from the device. Examples of such products are unpackaged products.

According to one embodiment, the storage arrangement may comprise at least one storage tower. Several vertical adjacent stacking units can be adapted to be placed in a circumferential arrangement. In this case, the transport device may be composed of a support structure located in the middle of the storage tower, where the gripping means are adapted to move vertically up and down. With the transport device, the gripping means can be arranged to rotate between the stacking units and the dispensing arrangement. Such a storage arrangement is particularly advantageous in terms of space utilization and is therefore suitable, for example, for office and meeting rooms. Also, the transport device in this embodiment is simple, which increases its reliability. Poprivertical motion movement of the west

With K 8980 Υ1 l up / down, only the rotary movement of the gripper needs to be carried out by the transport device. There are several ways to do this.

According to one embodiment, the operation of the gripping means may depend, for example, on the suction. This makes it easier to grip and dispense products that are difficult to handle. The suction effect does not require movable gripping elements, but the suction can be easily regulated, for example by means of valves.

According to one embodiment, the product may be selected in the dispensing arrangement from above. This also simplifies the operation of the device. The product may be released above the dispensing arrangement, and then gravitationally fall onto the dispensing opening, for example to be lifted by the user.

Other remarkable advantages are also achieved by the technical solution. The device contains only a few moving components and the movement mechanisms are also very clear and simple. The device is also suitable for storing and dispensing products with special properties. Adding products to the device is also easy. Further features of the technical solution are set out in the appended claims and further advantages obtainable with the technical solution are described in more detail in the descriptive part.

Overview of figures in the drawings

The technical solution, which is not limited to the following embodiments, is now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1a - 1d show the device viewed from different directions with a gripper located above the dispensing opening, Figures 2a - 2d show the device viewed from different directions with a gripper located above a selected stacking unit ready to remove the product from the stacking unit, Figures 3a - 2d. 3d show the device seen from different directions, with the gripper just gripping the product in the stacking unit, figures 4a - 4d show the device seen from different directions, the gripper is placed above the stacking unit after re-selecting the product, figures 5a - 5d show the device seen from different directions directions 6a - 6d show the device when viewed from different directions with the gripper located above the dispensing opening, and after the product has fallen into the dispensing opening, figures 7 show an embodiment according to the technical solution in the flowchart and o Figure 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a stacking unit consisting of elements with a gripper located inside.

Examples of embodiments

Figures 1c - 6c are oblique side views of examples of an apparatus 10 for storing and dispensing products 12 for the use of unpackaged products. The basic shape of the device 10 may comprise a storage arrangement 20, a dispensing arrangement 11, gripping means 30 and a transport device 16 for moving products with gripping means 30 between the storage arrangement 20 and the dispensing arrangement 11.

In the storage arrangement 20, the products 12 may be stored in a device 10 placed, for example, on top of each other, i. j. stacked in a stack. For this purpose, the storage arrangement 20 may comprise several elongate stacking units 14 for storing products 12 which are stacked on top of each other. In its simplest form, the storage arrangement can even be with the base 15 adapted to be placed inside the device 10, on which the products 12 are firmly stacked on top of each other without lateral support, in at least one stack. If the package of the product 12 is suitably designed, or if the shape and nature of the product itself allow, the products 12 may remain stacked without specific support structures around them. For example, the stacks may be so low that placing them in an upright position is not a problem. In addition, in some cases, the stacks may rest on each other.

The dispensing arrangement may comprise at least one outlet with a adapted shape of the dispensing opening 11, for example according to the dispensed product. From the dispensing opening 11, the product 12 can be taken from the device 10 to its user. The dispensing opening 11 can be located, for example, on the side of the outer casing of the device 10. The dispensing opening can either be open or can even be closed by a flap.

Furthermore, the device 10 also comprises gripping means 30 and a transport device 16 adapted to the gripping means 30. The gripping means 30 can be used to select the highest product 12 in the stack from the selected stacking unit 14.

The product 12 selected by the gripping means 30 can be moved to the dispensing arrangement 11 from the stacking units 14 by means of the transport device 16.

S K 8980 Υ1

For example, in order to simplify and arrange the storage arrangement 20 to suit stacks that are difficult to maintain in an upright position, the storage arrangement 20 according to the proposed embodiment may comprise at least one storage tower 13. Several aforementioned vertical adjacent stacking units 14 are adapted to be placed in storage tower 13 in a circumferential arrangement. The number of rings formed by the stacking units 14 is only one in this embodiment, but the storage tower 13 may also contain several rings. The storage tower 13 is a compact solution in areas where the availability of space, in particular wall space, is limited for the device 10.

The stacking units 14 are adapted here to form so-called channel structures in which the products 12 can be arranged in stacks. From now on, the stacking units 14 may also be referred to as channels. By means of the transport device 16, the product 12 is able to be moved from the stacking unit 14 to the dispensing arrangement 11. In this embodiment, the transport device 16 is adapted to be located in the middle of the storage tower 13, more generally, the storage arrangement 20. The entire circumferential storage arrangement 20 can be managed with single transport facility 16.

In the case according to the embodiment, the transport device 16 is adapted to be located in the middle of the storage tower 13 included in the storage arrangement 20 or more generally in the central area of the storage arrangement 20 which is without stacking units 14. In this way all stacks of the storage arrangement 20 can be operated by The transport device 16 is adapted to extend parallel to the stacking units 14. In addition, the transport device 16 is adapted to move the gripping means 30 up and down along the stacking units 14. When the transport device 16 is placed parallel to the stacking units 14. units 14, can be placed next to the stacking units 14, which extend over their entire main storage length.

The transport device 16 comprises a supporting support structure 17 provided with a track for the gripping means 30. In said embodiment, the supporting structure is formed by a vertical bar structure 17. The vertical bar structure 17 may extend from the base 15 of the storage arrangement 20 to the top of the device 10. a support structure 24 located transversely to the device 10. The track for the gripping means 30 arranged on the vertical bar structure 17 can be realized by means of sliding bars adapted to be placed in the vertical bar structure 17 or a similar rail arrangement where the gripping means 30 can move backwards. and forward along the stacking units 14.

According to one embodiment, the gripping means 30 may be provided with a carriage device 18 or similar displacement mechanism by which they are adapted to move vertically backwards and forwards along the vertical bar structure 17. Thus, the carriage device 18, more generally the gripping means 30, is adapted to be movable along a vertical bar structure 17. For example, the sled device 18 may be provided with a radially extending horizontal bar structure 19 or similar protrusion. It can be integral, but of course its telescopic design is also possible. It should be noted that the bar structure 19 does not necessarily have to be completely horizontal, but is sufficient to have a dimension allowing it to slide in the area of the stacking units 14 in the radial direction of the storage arrangement 20. The horizontal bar structure 19 may also be curved downwards. In the horizontal bar structure 19, the gripping means 30 are adapted so that the god is located at its end to remove the highest product 12 in the stack from the storage arrangement 20. Depending on the degree of integration, the boundary between the subassemblies may be quite vague. For example, the sled device and the horizontal bar structure may form an integral single structure.

In addition, in the case of the embodiment, the transport device 16 also comprises a rotating mechanism for rotating the gripping means 30 between the dispensing arrangement 11 and the stacking units 14. The rotating mechanism can be implemented in several different ways. According to one embodiment, the vertical bar structure 17 is adapted to rotate by motor around the circumferential axis of the storage arrangement 20. It can be supported at the bottom of the device 10, by means of which it is rotatably mounted by means of a bearing. According to another embodiment, the gripping means 30 can rotate on their own, while the vertical rod structure 17 remains in place. In this case, the rotating mechanism can be located, for example, in the sled device 18. There are also several other possibilities for this.

The operation of the gripping means 30 may, for example, be based on suction or vacuum. The suction effect can be created by suction or alternatively with compressed air (ejector principle). The suction is simple to make and provides a simple means for gripping and releasing the product 12. A suction device (not shown) may be located in conjunction with the device 10. Compressed air producing the suction effect may also be taken from the operating environment of the device 10 (e.g. compressed air network in an industrial plant). ).

In the case according to the proposed embodiment, the gripping means comprise a suction head 30 adapted to be located at the end of the air hose. The material of the suction head can be, for example, plastic. For example, the nozzle of the suction head 30 may be round and may be sized according to the product 12 to be gripped.

S K 8980 Υ1

The stacking units 14 comprise an access 25, located on the side of the transport device 16 along the stacking unit 14, for the gripping means 30 (Figures 1d and 8). One way to arrange the access 25 is to cut the channels in their vertical direction. Thus, the channels have at least one vertical access slot 25 which divides the channel longitudinally, starting at least from its upper part. The access slot 25 allows the articles 12 to be removed from the channel 14 through the upper part by vertically moving gripping means 30, hereinafter also referred to as the gripper 30. With the horizontal bar structure 19, the gripper 30 can be lowered into the channel along the longitudinal access slot 25. formed by cutting from the bottom to the top, to the highest product 12 in the stack. The product 12 is selected by the gripper 30 by suction. Correspondingly, the horizontal bar structure 19 can be used to lift the gripper 30 and the product 12 adhered to it upwards along the access slot 25 formed by the adapted cut-out in the channel, and thus away from the channel. In other words, a horizontal rod 19 adapted for placement in the transport device 16 and more generally the gripper 30 enters the channel through the access slot 25.

The described transport device 16 is reliable, fast and simple to operate. The rotational movement of the gripping means 30 ensures its precise positioning with respect to the stacking units 14 arranged in a circumferential arrangement and the dispensing arrangement 11. The vertical movement of the gripping means 30, i.e. movement along the stacking units 14, is provided by a conveying device 16 adapted to be placed next to the stacking units 14. is reliable. Thus, the gripper 30 is affected by a force that moves it along the entire main storage length of the stacking unit 14. In addition to ensuring contact of the gripper 30 with the product 12, it also speeds up the operation of the device 10. This is an advantage compared to operating the storage unit 20 over the top. .

One way of carrying out the access 25 to the channel is to arrange the channels to be formed from two opposite profile elements 14.1, 14.2, the channel thus being formed in the region between them. The profile elements 14.1, 14.2 are now C profiles of the elements 14.1, 14.2 and can be made, for example, of sheet metal plates. The construction is very simple and economical. In addition, it allows easy resizing of channels, the appearance of which is discussed in more detail later in this application. The storage tower 13 is located on a base 15, which may have installation openings for the elements 14.1, 14.2 forming the channel 14. The installation openings may also partially allow dimensional change of the stacking units 14.

The following is a sequential description of the operation of the device 10 for storing and dispensing products 12 from the device 10 serving as a warehouse. For the sake of clarity, the device 10 is shown in the figures without the outer casing. Figures 1a to 6a are front views of the device seen from the direction of the dispensing opening 11, Figures 1b to 6b are side views, Figures 1c to 6c are oblique side views and Figures 1d to 6d are top views. Figure 7 shows a flow chart of an example of a method of storing and dispensing products 12.

Figures 1a to 1d show an example of the initial state of withdrawal of the product 12. The gripper 30 arranged in the transport device 16 can be located above the dispensing opening 11 in its home station. When the user of the device 10 has provided information about the desired product through the user interface (not shown) of the device 10 - as an example there are glove products 12, it follows that the product 12 is dispensed from the device 10 by moving it from the selected stacking unit 14 to the dispensing opening 11.

Upon receipt of the order for the product, the vertical bar 17, which is part of the transport device 16, rotates the horizontal bar 19, which is connected to it above the correct channel 14 (step 701). During the rotation process, the horizontal rod 19 is in its upper position above the channels 14, so that it is able to rotate freely and unobstructed around the circumference above the storage arrangement 20. This action leads to the arrangement shown in Figures 2a to 2d. Here, the gripper 30 above the channel is ready to lift the product 12 from the stack arranged in the channel in which the stacked products 12 are stored in the device 10.

Figures 3a to 3d show a third sub-step. The gripper 30 is lowered down the channel to remove the top glove 12 from the stack (step 702). The lowering is now carried out by means of a carriage 18 adapted to be placed on a vertical rod 17, to which an arm 19 and a gripper 30 placed at its end are attached. This action leads to the arrangement shown in Figures 3a to 3d. The access opening 25 in the channel, more generally the access, on the side of the inner edge, i. j. of the transport device 16 allows the gripper 30 to lower into the channel 14. Thus, when the product 12 is gripped, the gripper 30 is moved to the highest product 12 in the stack to the side relative to the stacking unit 14.

In the situation shown in Figures 3a to 3d, the top product 12 from the stack is selected from the respective stacking unit 14 by the gripper 30. The gripper 30 is used to create a suction effect acting on the product 12 which adheres the glove 12 to the gripper 30 (step 703). .

As soon as the product 12 is firmly held by the gripper 30, the product 12 selected from the stack is dispensed by moving it from the stacking unit 14 to the dispensing arrangement 11. There the product 12 is moved to a dispensing station adapted to be placed in the dispensing arrangement 11. Dispensing begins by lifting the gripper 30. in the channel (step 704). Lifting is performed again by means of a carriage 18 adapted for attachment to a vertical bar 17, to which a arm 19 and a gripper 30 located at its end are attached. The access opening 25 in the channel, more generally the access, on the side of the inner edge, i. j. of the transport device 16, allows lifting

S K 8980 Υ1 pulling grippers 30 from the channel. This leads to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4a to 4d, where the gripper 30 has pulled the product 12 from the stack of channel and is now located above the channel. When the gripper 30 is away from the channel, the gripper 30 itself rotates freely circumferentially around the storage arrangement 20.

In the next step of dispensing the product 12, the gripper 30 is rotated over the chute 11, which serves as a dispensing arrangement, using a vertical bar 17 by means of which it returns to its home station, which may also be referred to as a "dispensing station" (step 705). This leads to the arrangement shown in Figures 5a to 5d. When the gripper 30 is placed above the chute 11, the suction effect can be disconnected to release the product 12. It follows that the grip of the glove 12 by the gripper 30 is released and the glove 12 falls down into the chute 11 for dispensing; that is, the product 12 is moved to the dispensing arrangement 11 by gravity (step 706). Thus, the product 12 can be moved into the dispensing arrangement 11 from its top, which makes it safe, because the transport device 16 does not work in the area of the dispensing opening 11. This leads to the arrangement shown in Figures 6a to 6d. The user of the device can take the glove 12 from the trough 11, which can be opened, and thus the operation can be carried out without hindrance. Subsequently, the device 10 is immediately ready to remove the next glove 12 from the selected channel.

If necessary, add device 10; t. j. that additional gloves need to be added to the channels of the storage tower 13, which can be achieved, for example, by opening the front wall, which may be in the shape of a door, of the device housing 10. The device housing 10 is thus adapted to open and replenish. For example, the front wall may be the wall of the device 10 which is provided with a dispensing opening 11a by the user interface of the device 10. When the wall is opened, the storage tower 13 exposed behind it may rotate, for example manually, as a carousel. Thus, the storage tower 13 is adapted to rotate when filling the channels. The products 12 can be placed in the desired selected channels, one channel at a time. To fill the channels, the stacking units 14 may comprise accesses 21 adapted longitudinally in the stacking units 14 on the opposite side with respect to the transport device 16. This access is formed by a cut-out arranged in the channel, with the access opening 25 formed substantially facilitating refilling. The elongate access opening 21 is on the outside of the channel 14, on the outer edge (Figure 1d). By means of the access opening 21 formed by the cut-out, the products 12 can be placed, for example, in stacks in large bundles, and the state of filling and emptying the channels can be easily visualized at the same time. The housing of the device 10 can be provided with sound insulation.

The rotation of the vertical rod 17 can be controlled, for example, by a motor, which can be located, for example, in the lower part of the device 10. The vertical movement of the horizontal rod 19, more generally the gripping means 30, can be controlled by a motor 22, for example by a belt drive 23. the upper part of the device 10 (Figure 2a).

Figure 8 shows a more detailed view of one way of implementing the elements 14.1, 14.2 of the modular stacking unit, which form the channel 14, as well as the access 25 to the channel 14 arranged on the gripper 30. Now both elements 14.1, 14.2 of the stacking unit are adapted to consist of several parts 31 to 36. The parts are connected to each other in such a way that they are adapted to move relative to each other so as to change the dimensions of the stacking unit 14 and to suit, for example, products of different sizes.

Opposing elements 14.1, 14.2 adapted to form the stacking unit 14 comprise plate components 31, 32 adapted to form the vertical side wall of the stacking unit 14, which are arranged radially so as to form a storage arrangement 20 in the folded and installed state. A connection is placed between them to allow the components 31, 32 to move relative to each other. The connection is now made by means of pairs of guide holes and pins 40 arranged at the top and bottom of the components 31, 32. The board component 31 can thus be provided with a pin adapted to fit into a longitudinal horizontal position of the guide hole arranged in the second plate component 32. The pair of guide hole and the pin 40 allow the length of the stacking unit 14 to vary radially depending on the storage tower 13.

The bend 42 may be located at the rear edges of the plates 31 of the elements 14.1, 14.2, on which the bends of the inner end plates 36 limiting the stacking unit 14 are mounted with respect to the central direction of the storage tower 13. A mutual connection may also be present between the plates 36 and 31. implemented in a similar manner, using pairs of guide holes and pins 41 arranged in the upper and lower parts of the plate components 36, 31. The bend 42 of the plate 31 may be provided with a pin adapted to be inserted into a longitudinal horizontal guide hole arranged at the end of the plate 36. of the guide hole and the pin 41 make it possible to adjust the width of the stacking unit 14 to be changed in the circumferential direction of the storage tower 13.

Similarly, the front edge of the side wall plates 32 of the elements 14.1, 14.2 may also be provided with a bend 43 to which the outer end plates 33 are arranged, delimiting the stacking unit 14. A connection allowing mutual movement may also be present between the plates 32, 33. using pairs of guide holes and pins 39 arranged in the upper and lower part of the components of the plates 32, 33. The plate 33 may be provided with a pin adapted to be inserted into a longitudinal horizontal guide hole arranged in the bend 43 of the plate 31. Here too the guide hole pins and pins

It is possible to change the width of the stacking unit 14 in the circumferential direction of the storage tower 13 in a manner similar to the rear edge of the stacking unit 14. The width (in the circumferential direction of the base 15) and length (in the radial direction) of the base 15 of the stacking units 14 can be independently to change. The stacking unit 14 is thus adaptable to products of different sizes. The size of the elements 14.1, 14.2 can be locked with locking screws (not shown) adapted to be placed in pairs of guide hole and pin 39 - 41.

In their lower parts, the elements 14.1, 14.2 are connected to each other by means of a connecting piece 37 which is adapted to be located at the lower part of the rear edge of the stacking unit 14 and a similar connecting piece which is adapted to be located at the lower part of the front edge of the stacking unit 14 is shown in Figure 8. The connecting pieces do not affect the relative movement of the elements 14.1, 14.2. The bends 35 projecting outwards from the stacking unit 14 can be located on the lower walls of the profiles of the elements 14.1, 14.2 at the lower edge of the part 32 against the base 15 of the storage tower 13 and allow dimensioning of the stacking unit 14 with respect to its length and width.

In addition, the embodiment of the profiles of the elements 14.1, 14.2 shown in Figure 8, which form the stacking unit 14, allows intelligent connection of adjacent stacking units 14, where for example a center line extends radially from the units 14, even though the dimensions of the units 14 vary. For this purpose, the elements 14.1, 14.2 of the adjacent units 14 of the storage tower 13 can be synchronously connected to one another. An exemplary way of realizing this synchronization is to arrange an arc 34 which extends laterally outwards from the unit 14 at the upper edge of the side wall component 32 of the elements 14.1, 14.2. In the assembled state of the storage tower 13, these bends 34 remain between the units 14. An elongated guide hole 38 is arranged in the bend 34.

When the units 14 on the base 15 are in a circumferential arrangement, the elements 14.1, 14.2 of the adjacent units 14 are connected to each other by openings 38. Therefore, the guide holes 38 in the bends 34 are crossed and a connecting element such as a pin is adapted to be located at the intersection of the guide holes 38. , synchronizes the dimensional changes of the units 14 in such a way that the center line of the units 14 is maintained despite their dimensional changes. Synchronization thus facilitates and speeds up dimensional variations of the units 14 because it does not require relocation of channels 14 at base 15 or reprogramming of transport equipment 16 or component changes.

The device 10 can be equipped with an intelligent system, data connections and the necessary sensors and detection switches, on the basis of which it is always possible, for example, to monitor the refilling needs of the device 10. The transport device 16 may have its limit switches to control its movements. The number of products 12 present in the channel shafts can also be determined based on the impulse signal information of the motors of the transport device 16. The adhesion of the product 12 to the gripper 30 can be ensured by vacuum and if the product 12 is released from the gripper 30, it can also be determined by changing pressure.

Instead of gloves 12, the product can be practically anything. The method using the suction and selection of products 12 from above is very efficient because it does not impose restrictions on the type of product, as may be the case in solutions where the lowest product in the container is dispensed. For example, the device 10 is particularly useful for products that are not packaged, and therefore may be difficult to grasp with a gripper. Thus, from a technical point of view, the device 10 is for storing and dispensing unpackaged products 12, but without in any way excluding other means and types of products from the scope of protection of the application.

The above description and the figures relating thereto are intended only to illustrate this technical solution. Thus, the technical solution is not limited to the described embodiments or to those stated in the protection claims, but many different variations and modifications of the technical solution will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, which are possible within the idea of the technical solution specified in the appended claims.

Claims (8)

S K 8980 Υ1 PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS An apparatus for storing and dispensing products, comprising a storage tower (13) with a plurality of elongate vertical adjacent stacking units (14) arranged in a circumferential arrangement for storing products (12) stacked on top of each other in a stack in each of the stacking units. (14), an arrangement (11) for dispensing products (12) from the device (10), gripping means (30) for lifting the uppermost stack product (12) from the stacking unit (14) and equipped with a sled device (18) connected to a radially extending by a horizontal bar structure (19) for moving the gripping means (30) backwards and forwards along the stacking units (14) in the stacking direction, a transport device (16) adapted to gripping means (30) for moving products (12) from the stacking units (14) into the dispensing arrangement (11), the transport device (16) comprises a vertical bar structure (17) which extends parallel to the vertical stacking units (14) in the stacking direction and provided with a track formed by sliding bars or a similar rail arrangement for the gripping means (30), an elongate access (25) arranged on the stacking units (14) on the side of the vertical bar structure (17) in the stacking direction, for sliding the radially extending horizontal rod structure (19) and gripping means (30) inside the stacking unit (14) in the stacking direction, characterized in that the vertical rod structure (17) is located in the central area of the storage tower (13) and comprises a motorized rotating mechanism for rotating radially of a running horizontal bar structure (19) and gripping means (30) located at its end in the circumferential direction of the storage tower (13) between the dispensing arrangement (11) and the stacking units (14), the action of the gripping means (30) for lifting the product (12) is based on suction, on the adhesion of the product (12) to the gripping means (30) formed by the suction head, horizon The rear bar structure (19) with gripping means (30) is adapted to enter the stacking unit (14) through the top of the stacking unit (14), descending along the access (25) down to the top of the highest stored product (12) in the stacking unit stack. (14) and lifting the gripping means (30) and the product (12) adhered to it by suction, upwards along the access (25) and away from the stacking unit (14) over the top of the stacking unit (14). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking units (14) comprise an access (21) adapted to extend along the stacking units (14) on the side opposite the transport device (16). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stacking units (14) are adapted to be assembled from two stacking elements (14.1, 14.2). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the elements (14.1, 14.2) of the stacking unit (14) are adapted to be assembled from several parts (31-36) connected to each other in such a way that the parts (31-36) are adapted to move against each other for a variable change in the dimensions of the stacking unit (14). Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the elements (14.1, 14.2) of the adjacent stacking units (14) are synchronously connected to one another in the storage tower (13). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing of the device (10) is adapted to open sideways for filling stacking units (14), the storage tower (13) is adapted to rotate for filling stacking units (14). Use of a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for storing and dispensing unpackaged products (12). 8 drawings