WO1990006885A1 - Distributeur - Google Patents

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Publication number
WO1990006885A1
WO1990006885A1 PCT/GB1989/001503 GB8901503W WO9006885A1 WO 1990006885 A1 WO1990006885 A1 WO 1990006885A1 GB 8901503 W GB8901503 W GB 8901503W WO 9006885 A1 WO9006885 A1 WO 9006885A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
station
turntable
receptacle
receptacles
separator
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1989/001503
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John Ernest Howard
Original Assignee
John Ernest Howard
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by John Ernest Howard filed Critical John Ernest Howard
Publication of WO1990006885A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990006885A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/10—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/50—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using rotary tables or turrets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/06—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof
    • G07F13/065—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof for drink preparation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a metered quantity of a material into receptacles on a repetitive basis, particularly though not exclusively powdered beverage ingredients into vending machine cups.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a compact dispensing apparatus.
  • Dispensing apparatus comprises:- a turntable horizontally mounted in the apparatus for stepwise rotation about a substantially vertical axis, the turntable being adapted to receive receptacles at a purality of reception positions on the turntable and transport the receptacles around a rotary path; a receptacle reception station on the rotary path at which receptacles are delivered onto the turntable; at least one dispensing station on the rotary path downstream of the receptacle reception station at which, or each of which, a respective material is dispensed into one "" of the receptacles " transported from the receptacle reception station by the turntable; and a receptacle ejection station on the rotary path downstream of the dispensing station(s) at which receptacles, having dispensed material and transported from the dispensing station(s) by the turntable, are removed therefrom.
  • the dispensing apparatus includes a further station at which a lid is periodically applied to a receptacle transported thereto.
  • a lid is periodically applied to a receptacle transported thereto.
  • each receptacle may have a lid applied, in the preferred embodiment every twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth receptacle has a lid applied.
  • the receptacle reception station preferably includes a separator for separating a bottom receptacle from a stack of empty receptacles and allowing successive bottom receptacles to fall onto the turntable at each rotational step of-- the turntable and a chute for guiding the stack of empty receptacles to be separated.
  • the receptacle reception station also includes a plurality of the chutes for guiding empty receptacles, means for indexing the chutes successively into register with the separator, means for detecting absense of any receptacle in the chute presently in register with the separator for actuation of the indexing means.
  • the plurality of the chutes are equally radially mounted about a substantially vertical axis on an index plate for rotational indexing about the vertical axis.
  • the separator includes a toothed annular drive ring and a plurality of equally radially arranged separator rotary elements, each having a bottom ledge, a separator wedge, a top surface and an integral drive pinion in mesh with the drive ring, the drive ring being stepwise rotatable for rotation of the elements from a holding position in which the bottom ledge extends into the fall path of the receptacles, to a separating position in which the wedge engages between the bottom receptacle held on the bottom ledge and the next re eptacle to separate them and allow the former to drop past the bottom ledge which is absent beneath an active portion of the wedge, to lift position in which the latter receptacle is lifted onto the top surface, to the holding position at which the top surface has terminated to allow the receptacle to drop onto the
  • each dispensing station preferably comprises an Archimaedes screw powder dispenser for dispensing a predetermined quantity of the material to be dispensed at the station.
  • a funnel is provided at each dispensing station to direct the material from the dispenser to the receptacle carried by the turntable to the station.
  • the receptacles are preferably held by the turntable with their top edges beneath the top surface of the turntable, and a cover or scraper plate is provided to overlie and mate with the top surface, the funnel terminating at its lower end below the top of the cover plate.
  • the dispensing apparatus is preferably actuated by a single motor via clutches to each of the following (where provided) :- turntable, reception station separator, reception station index plate, dispenser(s) , lid station separator, and lift member.
  • the clutches - and associated brakes where required to avoid over-run - are under the control of a computer.
  • the processing unit can be programmed so as to enable selection of the quantity of material to be dispensed.
  • the processing unit is programmed to operate the or each dispenser only when a receptacle is expected at the respective dispensing station, as opposed to on each rotational step of the turntable.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of dispensing apparatus according to the invention
  • Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1, partly broken away;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional plan view on the line IV-IV in Figure 2;
  • Figure 5 is a diagrammatic underneath plan view of the apparatus;
  • Figure 6 is a scrap cross-sectional view of a supported cup
  • Figure 7 is a broken away perspective view of a cup separator of the apparatus.
  • Figure 8 is.a scrap side view of a clutch of a variant of the apparatus of Figure 1.
  • the apparatus shown in the drawings is of square plan, having a steel frame with legs 1.
  • the frame supports a lower deck 2 beneath which a drive motor 3 and drive arrangements described below are provided.
  • Spaced above the lower deck 2 is an upper deck 4.
  • a transparent cover 5 is provided over the upper deck 4.
  • Central to the apparatus is a turntable or index plate 6.
  • the apparatus shown in the drawings is for dispensing powdered beverage ingredients - for instance coffee, "creamer", sugar - into plastic cups.
  • the index plate 6 has eight three-quarters circular cut-outs 7 spaced evenly around its periphery. Each cut-out is stepped 8 to hold the cups by their rim beads 9, whereby the top of the r ⁇ m bead of each supported cup is just beneath the top surface 10 of the index plate 6.
  • the index plate is fixed horizontally on a vertically extending index shaft 12 j ⁇ urnalled on the lower deck 2.
  • the scraper plate 11 is supported on studs 13 extending down from the upper deck 4. It should be noted that the scraper plate 11 is fixed and extends at three dispensing stations 14,15,16 only.
  • separator units 32,33 for cups C and lids L are also mounted on the upper deck 4, respectively at 45° up- and down-stream of the anti-clockwise direction of stepwise rotation of the index plate.
  • Each unit comprises five circularly arranged, vertically journalled, separator elements 101, on the top surface of which a cup or lid rim is normally supported.
  • the elements are arranged with an integral drive pinion 102 in mesh with an annular gear 103 so that gaps 104 in top surfaces 105 are brought beneath the rim synchronously around the rim allowing the stack of cups or lids to drop down onto a lower ledge 106 of limited circumferential extent.
  • Circumferentially extending around the element is a wedge 107 which - on further rotation of the element - is moved between the rim of the bottom cup or lid and the next one up in the stack.
  • the wedge 107 is advanced to a position in which it forces the lower cup's rim down from the now terminated lower ledge 106 and lifts the next cup's rim onto the top surface 105.
  • the annular gear is driven by a pinion (not shown) at the top of the shaft 34. Rotation of the annular gear 103 sufficient, to cause one complete rotation of the separator elements 101 and will drop one cup onto the index plate at the cup- reception station incorporating the separator 32 or one lid onto a cup held by the index plate at the lid reception station incorporating the separator 33.
  • the separators 32,33 are driven by shafts 34,35 extending up through the decks 2,4.
  • the lids L are manually stacked in a chute 36 depending from the cover 5, whereby lids L placed in the chute form a stack above the separator
  • a carousel 37 is provided for the cups C.
  • This comprises six chutes 38 extending up through the cover 5 from a small disc 39 having openings in register with the chutes. Cups C stacked in the chutes fall through and rest on a ledge 40 held above the upper deck 4. The ledge does not extend above the separator 32.
  • the disc 39 is driven via a gear box having an output shaft 41 to which the disc is fixed. An input shaft 42 extends up through the decks 2,4. Rotation of the disc brings each chute 38 successively in register with the separator 32 for delivery of its stack of cups C to the separator 32.
  • a cup lift station at which a cup lift rod 43 and cap 44 extending up from the lower deck 2 is liftable for lifting a cup from the index plate.
  • a lift opening 45 is provided in the tipper index plate and has three resilient fingers 46 arranged around its periphery. A lifted cup is pushed past the fingers which spring back under its rim to hold it when the lift rod is withdrawn.
  • a guide tube 46' similar to the chute 36, extends down from the cover 5 to receive the cups as they form a stack up from the fingers 46.
  • Beneath the lower deck is a crank 47 linked to the rod 43 and oscillated by a rotationally moved pin 48 engaging in a slot 49 in the crank.
  • the pin 48 is provided eccentrically of an output shaft 50 of an angle drive 51 mounted beneath the lower deck 2 .
  • the drive motor 3 is connected via a double-sided, toothed drive belt 52 to electro-mechanical clutches 53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60 provided at the lower ends of the shafts 12,29,30,31,34,35,42,61 and on an input shaft 61 to the angle drive 51.
  • the clutches are arranged beneath the lower deck 2, with optical sensors mounted close to at least some of them to detect rotation of their shafts.
  • Figure 5 show the run of the belt 52.
  • the clutches 53,59 for the index plate 6 and the lift rod 43 incorporate brakes to prevent overrun.
  • the clutches and brakes are under control of a computer 62.
  • the apparatus operates as follows:- on switching on of the apparatus, the cup drop clutch 57 is operated by the computer 62 and switched off when an optical sensor 63 detects that shaft 34, at a 1:1 ratio with the separator elements 101, has made one rotation. Thus one cup C is dropped at the cup reception station onto the index plate 6.
  • a further optical sensor 64 detects correct dropping of the cup and if so the clutch 53 is engaged for rotation of the index plate.
  • the clutch is released and the corresponding brake applied when another optical sensor 65 in conjunction with a slotted index disc 66 detects 45 rotation of the index plate. Should the desired rotation not occur within a specified time, the clutch and brake are released until reset to enable clearance of any possible jam.
  • the first cup arrives at the first dispensing station and the clutch 54 is operated for the desired length of time to dispense the desired amount of the first powder.
  • the next cup is dropped and the plate 6 indexed again.
  • the second material is dispensed as required into the first cup by operation of clutch 55 and the first material into the second cup.
  • the third cup is dropped and the plate is indexed again. Now the clutch 56 is operated for the first time dispensing the third material into the first cup. The second and first materials are dispensed into the second and third cups. The fourth cup is dropped and the first cup reaches the lid station. Clutch 58 is operated to drop a lid onto the first cup in similar manner to that of cup dropping with an optical sensor 67 detecting one rotation of the shaft 35.
  • the fifth and sixth cups are dropped and the first cup arrives at the cup ejection station.
  • the clutch 59 is operated until one entire rotation of the output shaft 50 for the lift rod 43 is detected by optical sensor 68. Then the associated brake is applied. Should the detection be delayed, both clutch and brake are released to allow manual clearance until resetting.
  • the sequence is now repeated with a cup drop every second i.e. the cycle time is one second within which each of the mentioned operations occurs. Lid dropping will normally occur only every 24 or 25 cycles, to provide stacks of 24 or 25 cups with a lid on the top cup.
  • optical sensor 64 detects it prior to cup drop from separator 32 i.e. before clutch 57 is operated. This is detected as a fault and displayed on a display panel 69, along with other faults should they occur.
  • An optical sensor 70 is provided above the cup separator 32. If no cup is detected, the clutch 60 is operated to rotate the carousel 37 and allow more cups to drop from the next chute 38 to be brought into register above the separator. If no fresh cups are detected within a specified time an error signal is generated and a "carousel empty" signal is displayed.
  • the display enables various detected faults to be displayed by the computer. Also the count of cups having dispensed ingredients can be displayed. On the end of a run . being reached - for instance because all the cups have been used from the carousel - the first and second dispensers are s successively not operated after the last cup has passed them.
  • the quantity of material to be dispensed can be set with touch switches incorporated in the display 69.
  • the setting varies the length of time for which clutches 54,55,56 are operated.
  • mains switch 71 and an emergency "off" switch 72 are provided adjacent the display 69.
  • Ingredients can be fed to the dispensers 17,18,19 via apertures in the cover 5 from non-shown hoppers.
  • FIG 8 there is shown an alternative clutch arrangement, in which the cup drop clutch 57 and sensor 63 are replaced by a single rotation clutch 157, of the type sold by Warner Electric Corporation of Ohio and having a solenoid-actuated, wrap spring.
  • the clutch's solenoid 201 When the clutch's solenoid 201 is energised, the spring (not shown) is released and rotates with the input drive until being automatically retensioned after one rotation.
  • the cup drop separator, the lid drop separator, the cup lift crank, the index plate, and the carousel can be rotated by the desired amount without need for detection of the rotation.
  • reduction drives can be arranged to provide 1/8 and 1/6 rotation respectively, or the respective clutches can be adapted to provide the required rotation.
  • the belt 152 continuously drives a pulley 202 mounted on a shaft 134 of the separator.
  • the clutch is mounted beneath the lower deck 102 and its stationary parts are held by a peg 203.
  • the bottom end 204 of the shaft 134 is jourhalled in a bearing 205 fixed with respect to the lower deck.
  • Receptacles other than cups may be filled.
  • the filled receptacles may not be stacked where another removal mechanism is provided above the ejection station.
  • Each receptacle can be lidded. For .this a lid carousel may be provided. Alternatively lids may not be provided at all if not required. More or less dispensers may be provided.
  • the index plate may have outer and inner rings of receptacle cutouts if the other means are duplicated on the outer and inner receptacle tracks thus provided.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)

Abstract

Appareil pour distribuer de manière répétitive dans des récipients (C) une quantité dosée de matériau particulaire et comprenant: une platine (6) montée horizontalement dans l'appareil en vue d'une rotation incrémentielle autour d'un axe sensiblement vertical, la platine étant adaptée pour recevoir des récipients (C) en une pluralité de positions de réception (7) sur ladite platine et pour transporter les récipients autour d'une trajectoire rotative; un poste de réception de récipients (32) sur la trajectoire rotative, auquel les récipients sont déposés sur la platine; au moins un poste de distribution (17, 18, 19) sur la trajectoire rotative en aval du poste de réception de récipients, au niveau duquel, ou de chacun desquels, un matériau particulaire respectif est distribué dans un des récipients transportés par la platine (6) depuis le poste de réception de récipients; et un poste d'éjection de récipients (43, 44) sur la trajectoire rotative en aval du ou des postes de distribution, au niveau duquel les récipients, ayant distribué le matériau et ayant été transportés par la platine depuis le ou les postes de distribution, sont retirés de ladite platine.
PCT/GB1989/001503 1988-12-17 1989-12-14 Distributeur WO1990006885A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8829526.6 1988-12-17
GB888829526A GB8829526D0 (en) 1988-12-17 1988-12-17 Dispensing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1990006885A1 true WO1990006885A1 (fr) 1990-06-28

Family

ID=10648702

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1989/001503 WO1990006885A1 (fr) 1988-12-17 1989-12-14 Distributeur

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB8829526D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1990006885A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009080383A1 (fr) * 2007-12-20 2009-07-02 Christian Marek Machine de remplissage mécanique
ITMI20111580A1 (it) * 2011-09-02 2013-03-03 Bianchi Vending Group S P A Apparecchiatura per la distribuzione di bevande in bicchiere
EP2821477A1 (fr) * 2012-02-29 2015-01-07 JTEC Corporation Dispositif de culture de cellules possédant une fonction de remplacement de milieu de culture
RU2710351C2 (ru) * 2015-04-30 2019-12-25 Н ЭНД В ГЛОБАЛ ВЕНДИНГ С.п.А. Машина для продажи напитков

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB710659A (en) * 1951-04-21 1954-06-16 G D Societa Anonima Apparatus for wrapping and piling articles
AU464055B2 (en) * 1971-09-08 1975-08-14 Genera I, Foods, Limited Dispensing apparatus and method
GB2018288A (en) * 1978-04-07 1979-10-17 New Brunswick Scientific Co Method and apparatus for filling petri dishes
US4282698A (en) * 1979-08-20 1981-08-11 Guenter Zimmermann Liquid filling machine
EP0045146A1 (fr) * 1980-07-29 1982-02-03 Roboserve Limited Distributeur de gobelets
FR2514176A1 (fr) * 1981-10-02 1983-04-08 Wittenborgs Automatfab Distributeur de gobelets contenant des boissons fraichement preparees
EP0303881A1 (fr) * 1987-08-18 1989-02-22 Wittenborg A/S Procédé pour la fabrication de boisson en portions, par exemple de café fraîchement préparé et dispositif pour la réalisation du procédé

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB710659A (en) * 1951-04-21 1954-06-16 G D Societa Anonima Apparatus for wrapping and piling articles
AU464055B2 (en) * 1971-09-08 1975-08-14 Genera I, Foods, Limited Dispensing apparatus and method
GB2018288A (en) * 1978-04-07 1979-10-17 New Brunswick Scientific Co Method and apparatus for filling petri dishes
US4282698A (en) * 1979-08-20 1981-08-11 Guenter Zimmermann Liquid filling machine
EP0045146A1 (fr) * 1980-07-29 1982-02-03 Roboserve Limited Distributeur de gobelets
FR2514176A1 (fr) * 1981-10-02 1983-04-08 Wittenborgs Automatfab Distributeur de gobelets contenant des boissons fraichement preparees
EP0303881A1 (fr) * 1987-08-18 1989-02-22 Wittenborg A/S Procédé pour la fabrication de boisson en portions, par exemple de café fraîchement préparé et dispositif pour la réalisation du procédé

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009080383A1 (fr) * 2007-12-20 2009-07-02 Christian Marek Machine de remplissage mécanique
ITMI20111580A1 (it) * 2011-09-02 2013-03-03 Bianchi Vending Group S P A Apparecchiatura per la distribuzione di bevande in bicchiere
EP2565853A1 (fr) 2011-09-02 2013-03-06 Bianchi Vending Group S.P.A. Appareil distributeur permettant de distribuer des boissons dans des tasses
EP2821477A1 (fr) * 2012-02-29 2015-01-07 JTEC Corporation Dispositif de culture de cellules possédant une fonction de remplacement de milieu de culture
EP2821477A4 (fr) * 2012-02-29 2015-02-11 Jtec Corp Dispositif de culture de cellules possédant une fonction de remplacement de milieu de culture
RU2710351C2 (ru) * 2015-04-30 2019-12-25 Н ЭНД В ГЛОБАЛ ВЕНДИНГ С.п.А. Машина для продажи напитков

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8829526D0 (en) 1989-02-01

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