WO1989012873A1

WO1989012873A1 - Vending machine for packaged items

Info

Publication number: WO1989012873A1
Application number: PCT/CH1989/000119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Louis Saussier
Original assignee: Saussier Jean Louis
Priority date: 1988-06-24
Filing date: 1989-06-22
Publication date: 1989-12-28
Also published as: FR2633423A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a machine preferably comprising several substantially vertical channels for packaged items to be individually dispensed after the insertion of a coin, said machine comprising only one single set of control and locking devices for all the channels. The machine comprises a fixed base (1) fitted with the control and locking devices associated with a drive shaft (25) and a dispensing aperture (66). The channels (5), each containing a stack of items (6), are made in a pivoting or movable block (2). The stack containing the item selected by the customer lies on a tray (51) of a support (50) which can be moved vertically by a lowering cam (70) and a return spring. The item to be dispensed (6') is pushed sideways by an arm (84) linked to the same control mechanism as the cam (70) and passing above the lowered tray (51').

Description

PREPAYMENT DISPENSER FOR PACKAGED ITEMS

The present invention relates to a distributor of articles packaged in packages having a lower face and an upper face which are substantially plane and parallel to one another, for delivering one by one said articles stacked in the distributor, this distributor comprising a storage enclosure provided at least one substantially vertical corridor arranged to contain a piece of articles, a distribution mechanism arranged below the storage enclosure and arranged to horizontally evacuate the lower article from the piece towards an opening of distribution, control means of the distribution mechanism, and locking means arranged to release said control means after payment of the price of an article and to lock them after distribution of the article.

Distributors of this type are known which are in the form of a cabinet containing a vertical corridor or a series of vertical corridors juxtaposed above a series of corresponding individual drawers. Each drawer has a housing for an article, as well as a raised bottom behind this housing so as to support the stack of articles when the drawer is pulled forward to deliver the article. This construction involves various drawbacks, the main one being that there must be a drawer for each corridor, as well as locking means for each of the drawers. This results in a relatively complex and expensive construction, as well as an increased risk of breakdowns. In addition, the housing provided in each drawer must have dimensions which correspond to those of the articles to be delivered, that is to say that it must be changed practically every time another type of article is placed in a corridor.

The publication GB-A-2 1 3-V 503 describes a dispenser in which trays of food products are stacked in several lanes - 2 -

stationary verticals, juxtaposed along a conveyor belt. Each lane has its own ejection mechanism, which is an expensive and bulky construction, as well as an increased risk of breakdowns.

Distributors having several vertical corridors in a rotary magazine are described in US Pat. No. 3,651,752 and in EP-A-0 251 199. In the case of the American patent, the stacks of articles are supported on a stationary bottom having an orifice through which the articles fall into a heating station where they are supported by a support. This support is movable horizontally to evacuate the article. The articles must be identical throughout the store, since the article in the heating station is not changed if another corridor is brought above it. For its part, EP-A-0 251 199 comprises a store with several floors, each having an extraction control and several corridors. There too, each corridor is equipped with a particular ejection mechanism, for example with an endless chain.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, by providing a dispenser comprising a simple and safe dispensing mechanism, which can operate with articles having different dimensions. Another object is to provide a dispenser equipped with such a mechanism and capable of having several corridors for articles, but comprising only one set of control and locking members.

For this purpose, the invention provides a dispenser of the type indicated in the preamble, characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises on the one hand, below the storage enclosure, a support movable vertically and provided with a tray for supporting the stack of articles, and on the other hand, in a stationary location opposite the movable support, a member for driving the vertical movement of the tray an ejector arranged to pass over the tray so as to push in the direction from the distribution opening, the article resting on said plate, said drive member and the ejector being actuated by the control means. - 3 -

If several corridors are to be provided, the dispenser comprises a base provided with control means, locking means and the dispensing opening, and a movable block mounted on this base and provided with the storage enclosure, which comprises several corridors each arranged to contain a stack of articles and juxtaposed so as to be brought selectively into a dispensing position by a movement of the movable block. The movable block can be a pivoting block with a vertical axis, or be movable in horizontal translation on the base.

Preferably, said movable support is mounted on at least one vertical slide, so as to slide between an upper position and a lowered position, the support being held in its upper position by at least one return spring. If there are several corridors, the mobile unit can include a mobile support under each corridor, said vertical slides being integral with the mobile unit. In another embodiment, the dispenser may comprise a single mobile support which is arranged in the base in a stationary location corresponding to the distribution position of the corridors, while the base has a fixed horizontal plate at least partially closing the lower end. of all the corridors except the one which is in the distribution position above the mobile support.

To cooperate with said movable support being in the dispensing position, said drive member preferably comprises a lowering cam, rotatable relative to a substantially horizontal axis, the movable support comprising a rigid arm placed under said cam to be pushed by it down. This arm can be formed by a horizontal plate on which the lowering cam is supported by sliding.

In an advantageous embodiment, the ejector comprises an ejection lever pivoting on a horizontal axis, this lever being provided with a thrust arm parallel to this axis and arranged to pass below the upper position of the plate and in above the lowered position of the plate, the lever being actuated back and forth by the control means between two extreme positions in which the arms of - _> -

thrust is beyond the corresponding end of the tray, allowing vertical movement of the tray and the items resting on it. Preferably, the distribution mechanism comprises a pair of toothed wheels of the same diameter which are meshed with each other, one of these wheels being integral in rotation with the lowering cam, and the other wheel carrying an eccentric finger engaged so sliding in a longitudinal groove of the ejection lever. The control means may comprise a rotary manual button which is integral in rotation with one of the toothed wheels and with a locking cam.

In a preferred embodiment of a rotary block dispenser containing several lanes, the base comprises an enclosure open upwards and provided with a circular edge around its upper opening, as well as a central support for the pivoting block , this block being provided with a lower central element mounted on said central support and with a peripheral rim covering the circular edge of the base. Said vertical slides can be secured to the lower central element of the pivoting block. Preferably, the pivoting block comprises a peripheral wall at least partially made of transparent material, substantially vertical internal partitions delimiting the corridors around a central duct, a cover adapted on an upper edge of the peripheral wall, and fixing means and locking the cover. These means may include a lock mounted in the cover and an axial rod extending in said central duct and connecting the lock to the central element of the pivoting block. The base may include a slot open upwards for the introduction of change, and the peripheral rim of the pivoting block may cover this slot and comprise, facing the position of each corridor, a notch arranged to be located directly above of said slot when the corresponding channel is in the dispensing position, so as to allow the introduction of money into the slot.

In an advantageous embodiment, the peripheral wall of the pivoting block forms a storage enclosure with a square horizontal section comprising four corridors with rectangular section. - 5 -

The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a dispenser according to the invention,

fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view along line 11-11 of f 'g. 1,

fig. 3 is a view in vertical section along line III-III of Ja f'g- 1,

fig. < ^* -. is a vertical sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2,

The f ig. 5 is a plan view of a control mechanism of the distributor illustrated by f ig. 1 to • ^* -. ,

fig. 6 is a view of the rear of this mechanism, according to arrow VI of the fig. 5, and

fig. 7 to 10 are schematic views similar to FIG. 6 and i ll ustrent different phases of the dispenser operation to deliver an item.

With reference to fig. 1 to • V, the distributor shown is an autonomous device for the distribution of food product trays, the device being manually actuated to deliver a tray after introduction of an appropriate coin. The apparatus comprises a stationary base 1 in the form of a circular box provided with feet 1 ′ to be placed on a horizontal surface, and a pivoting block 2 mounted on the base 1 so as to be able to rotate around a vertical axis 3, this block comprising a peripheral wall of transparent synthetic material which surrounds a group of four identical corridors 5 of rectangular section, these corridors being intended to each receive a stack of articles 6 constituted here by trays - 6 -

sealed rectangular, for example transparent trays containing food products.

The base 1 comprises a plastic housing formed of three parts 1 1, 12, 13 superimposed and assembled by means of screws 1, 15 (fig. 3). The lower part 1 1 has a bottom 16 in the form of a bowl for collecting money, an inspection door 17 provided with a lock 18, and a central support 19 supporting the block 2 by means of a pivot 20. On the side of the base visible in fig. I, the three parts 1 1 to 13 together have a protrusion with a flat face 22 provided with a rectangular opening in which is mounted a plate 23 carrying the control members of the apparatus, in particular an external rotary button 2k fixed to a horizontal axis 25. In fact, the plate 23, the button 2k and its axis 25 are part of a known device, marketed for example under the name "GLISS-MONNAIE" by the French company BRABÙ, commonly called coin mechanism and comprising organs locking which allow a single determined rotation of the axis 25 after each introduction of a coin 26 into a slot 27, the coin 26 being ejected to a coin reservoir during the rotation of the axis. It is not necessary to describe here in detail this known mechanism, which is shown simply in FIG. 3 a locking cam 28 and a locking lever 29 provided with a spring 30 for automatically blocking the carne 28 when it is not pushed back by the coin 26. In the present case, the slot 27 extends vertically in the upper part 13 of the base and it has an upper opening 31 for the introduction of money.

The structure of the pivoting block 2 consists of several parts which are preferably made of synthetic material. A tubular central element 33 rests at its lower end on the central support 19 and it is centered by the pivot 20. At its upper end, the element 33 comprises a square flange 3k on which is fixed a central part 35 of one piece circular 36 forming a sort of rotary cover on the base 1. In fact, the part 36 has an outer rim 37 which is supported by sliding on a corresponding shoulder 38 on the upper edge of the base, and which is arranged to close off the opening 31 of slot 27. - -

However, four regularly spaced notches 39 are provided in the rim 37 to allow the introduction of money into the slot 27 in four corresponding positions of the block 2, offset by 90 ° relative to each other.

The circular part 36 of the pivoting block 2 has an upper opening kl of square shape, in which is fitted the transparent peripheral wall k which forms a square tube slightly flared upwards. Inside this tube, the four corridors 5 are delimited by four flat walls k2 preferably formed by a single piece of molded synthetic material and also defining a central duct 43 of square section, the lower part of which is fitted onto the part central 35 of the circular part 36. A square cover kk, provided with a groove 45 on its periphery, is fitted on the upper edge of the peripheral wall k and is detachably held by means of a lock 46 s' hanging on a vertical rod kl housed in the conduit 3 and fixed to the part 35 by means of a threaded bush.

Each corridor 5 is open downwards, but this opening is generally closed by a horizontal plate 51 of a mobile support 50 corresponding to the corridor, that is to say that the dispenser shown here has four identical mobile supports 50 offset horizontally 90 ° between them and mounted on the pivoting block 2. Each support 50 comprises a sheet metal part folded twice at right angles to form the tray 51, a vertical upright 52 and a horizontal arm 53. dosu the back of the upright 52 are fixed two juxtaposed pairs of brackets 55, 56 carrying two pairs of cylindrical sockets 57, 58 arranged to slide on two parallel slides formed by vertical rods 60 fixed to the flange 34 and to a lower plate 61 secured to the central part 33. Each rod is surrounded by a helical return spring 62 which bears on the plate 61 to push up the bracket 55 of the support 50. The pair of springs 62, corresp undulating at each, support 50, is precompressed to an extent sufficient to maintain the support in its upper position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4, even when the tray 51 is loaded with a complete stack of articles 6. In this way, if the support 50 is lowered by compressing the springs 62 - S -

until the plate 51 is in its low position 51 ^f shown in broken lines in FIGS. 3 and 4, the springs are then capable of pushing up the support and the stack of articles.

In fig. 2, the articles 6 are not shown, so that one can better see the symmetry of rotation of 90 ° that presents the pivoting block 2, in particular from the point of view of the passages 5 and the corresponding supports 50. When one of four notches 39 is located vertical to the axis 25 of the control mechanism, a passage 5 and the corresponding support 50 are in a position called distribution which is that of passage 5 located at the bottom left in FIG. 2. In this position, the plate 51 of this support is located opposite a downward slide 65 (fig. 4) leading to a distribution opening 66 formed laterally in the upper part 13 of the base. In addition, the support 50 is then located opposite the control mechanism actuated by the button 24 and illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The mechanism seen in plan in fig. 5 is shown in rear view on the f ^' tg. 6 in order to better show the elements of this mechanism which cooperate with the mobile support 50 located in the dispensing position. These elements include a rotary cam 70 fixed to the axis 25 and intended to rotate in the direction of the arrow Λ to cooperate with the lower arm 53 of the plate 50, and an ejector 71 intended to push the tray to be delivered in the direction of the dispensing opening 66. FIG. 5 shows that the plate 23 carries, by struts 72, a second plate 73 on which is fixed a andR ^'ter 74 supporting the shaft 25 near the cam 70. Behind the plate 73, the shaft 25 carries a toothed wheel 75 meshed on a second toothed wheel 76 of the same diameter, rotating in the direction of arrow B on a horizontal axis 77 fixed to the plate 73. On the second wheel 76 is fixed an arm 7S whose free end is provided with a finger 79 parallel to the axes 25 and 77, that is to say substantially horizontal. This finger cooperates with an ejection lever S0 which is pivotally mounted on an axis SI at its lower end, and which has a longitudinal groove S2. The finger 79 is inserted into a rotary sleeve 83 arranged to slide along the groove 82. The upper end of the lever 80 is bent at right angles - -

to form a thrust arm 84 parallel to its pivot axis 77. With reference to Ja fig. 6, it is understood that the lever 80 will pivot back and forth for each revolution of the toothed wheels 75 and 76 and of the cam 70. In this figure, the mechanism is shown in its rest position between two successive distributions d 'articles, position shown in solid lines in Figs. 3 and 4. Figs. 7 to 10 schematically show other positions, during a dispensing operation which will be described below.

The distributor shown operates in the following manner to distribute one of the articles 6 to a buyer. The latter can examine the articles through the transparent wall 4 and, if for example four different types of articles are contained in the respective lanes 5, he selects the type of articles desired by rotating the block 2 until that the corresponding corridor is located opposite the control members, in the dispensing position described above. It then slides into the slot 27 the appropriate coin 26 (or a corresponding token), which i moves the locking lever 29 to the unlocking position shown in solid lines in f ig. 3. On the one hand this lever raises a bil the 86 which engages in a notch in the part 36 to lock the pivoting block 2 in the dispensing position, and on the other hand it releases the locking cam 28. The the buyer then orders the distribution by turning the knob 24 a full turn clockwise, which corresponds to the direction Λ in f ig. 6 to 10 which are seen from the rear.

In the initial rest position, illustrated in particular by f ig. 4 and 6, the support 50 is in the upper position and the arm 84 of the ejector is located in front of the entry of the slide 65 (located on the right in the case of FIGS. 6 to 10) and beyond the corresponding end of the plate 51.

In f ig. 7 to 10; the plate 51 and the lower arm 53 of the movable support 50 are drawn in solid lines in the position they occupy at the stage shown, and in broken lines to indicate their other position. The arrows indicate the movements made to reach the position shown. At the stage of fig. 7, the lowering cam 70 - 10 -

begins to touch the arm 53, that is to say that the support 50 is always in the upper position. The lever 80 has pivoted practically to its opposite extreme position, its arm 84 passing under the plate 51 until it is beyond the opposite end of the plate. The latter can then descend to its lowered position 51 ′ illustrated in FIG. 8, under the effect of the cam 70 pushing the lower arm to its lowered position 53 '. During this time, the lever 80 hardly changes position because the arm 78 is approximately perpendicular to it at this stage. With the lowering of the plate 51, the entire stack of articles 6 descends, the lower article 6 '(FIG. 4) then being located in front of the entrance to the slide 65.

Beyond the stage of fig. 8, the cam 70 maintains the support at a constant level thanks to its profile in an arc of a circle S7, while the lever 80 returns to its rest position so that its arm S4 passes over the lowered plate 51 ', as shown in fig. 9, and pushes the article 6 ′ in the direction of the dispensing opening 66. The stack of articles 6 resting on the ejected article 6 ′ is retained by the side walls of the corridor 5, then it falls on the tray 51 '.

Fig. 10 shows that, as soon as the lever 80 has reached its initial position, the carne 70 can allow the movable support 50 to rise under the effect of the springs, so that the lowered plate 51 ′ causes the articles 6 to go up in the corridor 5. The dispensing cycle is finished when the cam 70 has returned to its position in FIG. 6, and the locking members then block the control mechanism.

The foregoing description shows that the invention makes it possible to produce a dispenser provided with a single control mechanism capable of delivering all the articles stacked in several juxtaposed corridors. In addition, as the article to be delivered is simply placed on a tray and does not need to be inserted into a housing having its size, the articles can have different dimensions and in particular quite different heights, which can vary from simple to doubles without the second item from the bottom of the stack being ejected at the same time as the first. We can provide, in the same rotary block, corridors - 1 1 -

having different sections, associated with respective movable supports which have plates of different sizes, but which are all actuated by the same control members. The articles can also have various shapes, provided that they have a lower face and an upper face which are parallel to each other. The example described above refers to trays of food products, but the same distributor is applicable to the distribution of a wide variety of products or packaging, for example cigarette packs, products packaged in rectangular or cylindrical boxes , articles of clothing packaged in a flat package such as tights, etc. Being autonomous, the device can be easily placed in a favorable location, for example on the counter of a cafe.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example, but it extends to any modification or variant obvious to a person skilled in the art. In particular, in the example described, the four supports 50 mounted on the pivoting block could be replaced by a single similar support, mounted in the base 1 opposite the control members, its upper plate being adapted in an opening in a bottom. stationary plate on which the articles 6 rest by sliding when the block 2 pivots. The stack of selected articles slides on the tray of the mobile support and can then be lowered with it during the distribution. Another embodiment consists in replacing the pivoting block 2 by a block movable in translation, containing juxtaposed vertical corridors, the number of which may be any.

Finally, the invention is not limited to a dispenser with manual actuation: for example, the axis 25 of the control mechanism can be driven by an electric motor slaved to electronic controls, as well as to an electronic locking device. .

Claims

- 12 - Claims

1. Distributor of articles packaged in packages having a lower face and an upper face which are substantially flat and parallel to one another, for delivering one by one said articles stacked in the distributor, this distributor comprising a storage enclosure provided with at least one substantially vertical corridor arranged to contain a stack of articles, a distribution mechanism arranged below the storage enclosure and arranged to horizontally evacuate the lower article from the stack towards a distribution opening, means for controlling the distribution mechanism, and locking means arranged to release said control means after payment of the price of an article and to lock them after distribution of the article, characterized in that the distribution mechanism comprises on the one hand, at below the storage enclosure, a support (50) movable vertically and provided with a plate (51) for supporting the a stack of articles (6), and on the other hand, in a stationary location opposite the soft support (50), a member (70) for driving the vertical movement of the plate, an ejector (71) arranged to pass above the tray so as to push in the direction of the dispensing opening (66) the article resting on said tray, said drive member and the ejector being actuated by the control means (24, 25).

2. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a base (1) provided with control means, locking means and the distribution opening, and a movable block (2) mounted on this base and provided with the storage enclosure, which comprises several corridors (5) arranged to each contain a stack of articles (6) and juxtaposed so as to be brought selectively into a position αe distribution by a movement of the movable block (2).

3. Distributor according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable block (2) is a pivoting block with vertical axis (3).

4. Dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the block mobile is mobilized in horizontal translation on the base.

5. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable support (50) is mounted on at least one vertical slide (6u) so as to slide between an upper position and a lowered position, the support being held in its upper position by at least one return spring (62).

6. Distributor according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the mobi block (2) comprises a mobi support (50) under each lane, said vertical gl issières being idaries of the movable block.

7. D istributor according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a single mobile support (5Û) which is disposed in the base in a stationary location corresponding to the distribution position of the corridors (5), and in that the base has a fixed horizontal plate closing at least partially the lower end of all the corridors except that which is in the dispensing position above the mobile support.

8. Distributor according to claim 5, characterized in that said drive member comprises a lowering cam (70), rotatable relative to a substantially horizontal axis, and in that the movable support (5û comprises a rigid arm (53) placed under the said cam to be pushed downwards by it.

9. A dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that the ejector (71) comprises an ejection lever (S0) pivoting on a horizontal axis, this lever being provided with a thrust arm (S4) parallel to this axis and arranged to pass below the upper position of the plate (51) and above the lowered position (51 ') of the plate, the lever (80) being actuated back and forth by the control means between two positions extremes in which the pushing arm (84) is beyond the corresponding end of the plate (5 1).

10. Distributor according to claim 9, characterized in that the - 14 -

distribution mechanism comprises a pair of toothed wheels (75, 76) of the same diameter which are meshed with each other, one (75) of these wheels being rotatably integral with the lowering cam (70), and the other wheel (76) carrying an eccentric finger (79) slidably engaged in a longitudinal groove (82) of the ejection lever.

1 1. A dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the base (1) comprises an enclosure open upwards and provided with a circular edge (3S) around its upper opening, as well as a central support (19 ) for the pivoting block (2), and in that the pivoting block (2) is provided with a lower central element (33) mounted on said central support (19) and with a peripheral rim (37) covering the edge base circular.

12. A dispenser according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the pivoting block comprises a peripheral wall (4) at least partially made of transparent material, internal partitions (42) substantially vertical defining the corridors (5) around a central duct (43), a cover (44) fitted on an upper edge of the peripheral wall, and means for fixing and locking the cover.

1 3. A dispenser according to claim 1 2, characterized in that the means for fixing and locking the cover (44) comprise a lock (46) mounted in the cover and an axial rod (47) extending in said central duct and connecting the lock to the central element (33) of the pivoting oloc.

14. A dispenser according to claim 11, characterized in that the base (1) has a slot (27) open upwards for the introduction of money, and in that the peripheral reoord (37) of the pivoting block covers this slot and comprises, facing the position of each lane, a notch (39) arranged to lie directly above said slot (27) when the corresponding lane is in the dispensing position, so as to allow insertion money in the slow. .