WO1991014241A1 - Machine a distribuer des boissons - Google Patents

Machine a distribuer des boissons Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1991014241A1
WO1991014241A1 PCT/GB1991/000356 GB9100356W WO9114241A1 WO 1991014241 A1 WO1991014241 A1 WO 1991014241A1 GB 9100356 W GB9100356 W GB 9100356W WO 9114241 A1 WO9114241 A1 WO 9114241A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cup
stack
cups
dispensing machine
drink
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1991/000356
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David Edward Charles Alderson
John Paul Johndrow
David Brenton Austin
Original Assignee
Sankey Vending Limited
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 Sankey Vending Limited filed Critical Sankey Vending Limited
Publication of WO1991014241A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991014241A1/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

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with a drinks dispensing machine comprising a cup dispenser operable to dispense cups one-at-a-time from the bottom of a vertical stack of nested cups.
  • cups In a conventional drinks dispensing machine, cups, each of which has a projecting annular rim and a frusto-conical body portion are stored in the compact form of a stack of nested cups.
  • the cups are dispensed one-at-a-time from the bottom of the stack to. be filled with drink.
  • the lowermost cup of the stack is dispensed into a chute which guides the cup along a curved path downwards and sideways to a filling station where the cup comes - to rest beneath one or more spouts which are operable to fill the cup with drink.
  • This arrangement has the disadvantage that the chute has to be of -considerable height to enable the cup to be moved reliably under the spout.
  • the height required for the chute therefore, limits the height of the stack of nested cups and thereby limits the capacity of the machine.
  • the machine has an automatic mechanism for replenishing the stack of nested cups by adding further stacks to the top of the stack from which cups are dispensed
  • the height required for the chute also limits the height of the replenishing stacks.
  • the invention provides a drinks dispensing machine comprising a cup dispenser operable to dispense cups one-at-a-time from the bottom of a vertical stack of nested cups, cup transferring means movable between a cup-receiving position and a drink-receiving position thereof, and moving means operable to move the cup transferring means between its cup-receiving and drink-receiving positions in synchronisation with the operation of the cup dispenser, the cup transferring means comprising a pocket arranged, when the transferring means is in its cup-receiving position to receive a cup dispensed by the cup dispenser, and to retain the cup during movement of the transferring means to the drink-receiving position and while a drink is dispensed into the cup at the drink-receiving position, the cup being removable from the pocket by
  • the aforementioned chute is dispensed with so that a considerable saving in height can be achieved. Furthermore, cups are reliably and rapidly transferred to the filling station.
  • a single motor may operate the cup dispenser and provide said moving means. This arrangement simplifies synchronisation of the operation of the cup dispenser and the cup transferring means.
  • the pocket may, advantageously, be mounted on a horizontal slide for horizontal movement between its cup-receiving and drink-receiving positions.
  • the pocket may be moved by a crank driven by a rotary motor, the crank providing for the pocket to pause at the cup-receiving position.
  • the pocket may provide a U-shaped lip to support the rim of a cup. In this case, the cup is removed from the pocket by lifting it slightly away from the lip of the pocket and moving the cup through the open top of the U.
  • the dispensing means comprises a plurality of cams distributed around the stack, each cam being mounted on a gear which is turnable about a vertical axis and being meshed with an annular gear surrounding the stack so that, when the annular gear is turned about the longitudinal axis of the stack, the cams all turn simultaneously, the cams each providing a spiral lip which supports the rim of the lowermost cup in the stack, the action of turning the cams causing the rim of the lowermost cup in the stack to be released so that it falls away from the stack and introducing the lips of the cams beneath the rim of the lowermost but one cup so that the stack remains supported by the cams.
  • This is a known cup dispenser which is reliable in operation.
  • the machine also comprises stack replenishing means operable to add stacks to the stack from which the cups are dispensed when a predetermined number of cups remain in the stack.
  • Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical view of the door of a drinks dispensing machine, showing those mechanisms which are mounted on the door, looking from the inside of the machine and showing cup transferring means of the machine in its drink-receiving position;
  • Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the cup transferring means in a cup-receiving position
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the mechanisms shown in Figures 1 and 2, showing a pusher thereof in a first position;
  • Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the pusher in a second position thereof.
  • Figure 1 shows mechanisms of a drinks dispensing machine to the invention according which are supported on the inside of a front door of the machine.
  • the door supports a rectangular framework 10 which comprises two vertically-extending side walls 12, a horizontally-extending top plate 14 interconnecting upper ends of the side walls 12, a horizontally-extending bottom plate 16 interconnecting the lower ends of the side walls 12, and a horizontally-extending intermediate plate 18.
  • the machine comprises a cup dispenser 20 mounted on the upper surface of the intermediate plate 18 coaxially with a circular hole (not shown) through the intermediate plate 18.
  • the cup dispenser 20 is of the type which comprises a plurality of cams distributed around a vertical stack SI of nested cups (the details of the dispenser 20 are not shown in the drawings).
  • Each of the cams is mounted on a gear which is turnable about a vertical axis and is meshed with an annular gear surrounding the stack so that when the annular gear is turned about the longitudinal axis of the stack, the cams all turn simultaneously.
  • Each cam provides a spiral lip which supports the rim of the lowermost cup in the stack.
  • the action of turning the cams causes the rim of the lowermost cup in the stack to be released so that the lowermost cup falls away from the stack.
  • the rarning action also introduces the lips of the cams beneath the rim of the lowermost but one cup so that the stack remains supported by the cams.
  • Turning the annular gear in the reverse direction lowers the lowermost but one cup to the position formerly occupied by the lowermost cup ready to be dispensed in the next operation of the dispenser 20.
  • the cup dispenser 20 is operable to dispense cups from the bottom of a vertical stack SI of nested cups received thereby, the cups being dispensed one-at-a-time.
  • the stack SI extends through a circular hole (not shown) in the top plate 14 which is vertically aligned with the hole in the intermediate plate 18.
  • the cup dispenser 20 is operable by operation of an electric motor 22 which is mounted on the underside of the intermediate plate 18.
  • the motor 22 has an upwardly-extending driveshaft 24 which extends through a hole (not shown) in the intermediate plate 18.
  • a crank 26 is mounted on the driveshaft 24 to be turned by the motor 22.
  • the crank 26 is pivotally connected to a link 28 which is also pivotally connected to the annular gear of the dispenser 20. The arrangement is such that one complete turn of the crank 26 causes a back-and-forth movement of the annular gear of the dispenser 20 so that a cup is dispensed.
  • the drinks dispensing machine also comprises a cup transferring means movable between a cup-receiving position (in which it is shown in Figure 2) and a drink-receiving positon thereof (in which it is shown in Figure 1).
  • the cup transferring means comprises a carriage 30 which is slidable between the cup-receiving and drink-receiving positions along a horizontal slideway formed by two facing grooves 32 formed in upstanding edge portions 34 of the plate 16 (the edge portion 34 nearer to the viewer of Figures 1 and 2 has been omitted).
  • the carriage 30 comprises a pocket 36 which is open at the top to receive a cup and provides a U-shaped lip(not shown) arranged to support the rim of a cup.
  • a cup supported by the pocket 36 can be removed through the open portion of the U which points away from the viewer of Figures 1 and 2.
  • the motor 22 provides moving means of the machine operable to move the cup transferring means between its cup-receiving position and its drink-receiving position. This movement is in synchronisation with the operation of the cup dispenser 20, the synchronisation being assured as the motor 22 operates both mechanisms.
  • the motor 22 has a further driveshaft 38 extending downwardly therefrom.
  • the driveshaft 38 has a crank 40 mounted thereon which is pivotally connected to a link 42 which is also pivotally connected to the carriage 30. The arrangement is such that operation of the motor 22 to turn the crank 40 through one revolution also turns the crank 26 through one revolution.
  • the pocket 36 is arranged, when the carriage 30 is in its cup-receiving position, to receive a cup dispensed by the dispenser 20, i.e. the lowermost cup in the stack SI.
  • the pocket 36 is also arranged to retain the cup during movement of the carriage 30 to the drink-receiving position, beneath the spouts 44, and while a drink is dispensed into the cup at the drink-receiving position.
  • the cup containing the drink is removable from the pocket 36 as aforementioned. Between operations of the . motor 22, the carriage 36 rests at the drink-receiving position.
  • the drinks dispensing machine also comprises stack replenishing means operable to add cups to the stack SI of nested cups from which the cup dispenser 20 dispenses cups.
  • the stack replenishing means comprises a spring-loaded pusher 46 which is L-shaped in plan view (see Figures 3 and 4) having a first leg 46a and a second leg 46b projecting at right angles to the leg 46a.
  • the pusher 46 is pivotally mounted above the top plate 14 on hinges 48 located at the juncture of the legs 46a and 46b.
  • the pusher 46 is pivotally movable about the hinges 48, by the action of a spring (not shown) which acts between the leg 46a and a panel 50 of the door of the machine.
  • the pusher 46 pivots from a first position in which its leg 46a extends parallel to the plate 50 and its leg 46b projects between the stack SI and a second stack S2.of nested cups which rests on the upper surface of the top plate 14.
  • the pusher 46 is normally retained in its first position against the action of the spring by a latch 52 which hooks around the leg 46a.
  • the latch 52 is pivotally mounted on the plate 50 and can be pivoted out of engagement with the leg 46a by operation of a solenoid 54.
  • the solenoid 54 is arranged to be operated when a microswitch (not shown) associated with the cup dispenser 20 indicates that a predetermined small number, e.g. one or two, of cups remain in the stack SI.
  • Operation of the solenoid 54 allows the spring to pivot the pusher 46 through 90 degrees into a second position thereof (shown in Figure 4) in which the leg 46b extends parallel to the plate 50 and the leg 46 occupies the position formerly occupied by the leg 46b.
  • the leg 46a pushes the stack S2 across the top surface of the top plate 14 until it falls through the hole in the top plate into the remainder of the stack SI, the stack S2 being prevented from escaping in a direction away from the plate 50 (downwardly in Figures- 3 and 4) by a guide surface (not shown) supported by the interior of the machine.
  • Figure 4 shows the pusher 46 in its second position.
  • the pusher 46 is located to the right of the stack SI (viewing the drawings) and a further pusher 56 is located to the left of the stack SI to replenish the stack with a further stack S3 when the microswitch indicates that only one or two cups remain in the stack S2.
  • the pusher 56 and associated mechanisms are mirror images of the pusher 46 and its associated mechanisms, there being a first leg 56a, a second leg 56b, hinges 58, a latch 60 and a solenoid 62 (only the first position of the pusher 56 is shown in the drawings).
  • the stack S2 is added thereto and, when the stack S2 is nearly exhausted, the stack S3 is added thereto.
  • the pushers 46 and 56 are manually returned to their first positions in which they are retained by the latches 52 and 62.

Abstract

La machine décrite comprend un distributeur de gobelets (20) ayant pour objet la distribution de gobelets gerbés verticalement, des moyens de transfert de gobelets (30, 36) qui se déplacent entre une position de réception de gobelets au-dessous du distributeur (20) et une position de réception de boissons au-dessous des becs (44) de la machine à distribuer les boissons, ainsi que des moyens de déplacement (22) pour déplacer les moyens de transfert de gobelets entre ses différentes positions en synchronisme avec le fonctionnement du distributeur (20). Un seul moteur (22) constitue le moyen d'entraînement et actionne également le distributeur (20).
PCT/GB1991/000356 1990-03-08 1991-03-06 Machine a distribuer des boissons WO1991014241A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9005207A GB2241695B (en) 1990-03-08 1990-03-08 Drinks dispensing machine
GB9005207.7 1990-03-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1991014241A1 true WO1991014241A1 (fr) 1991-09-19

Family

ID=10672239

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1991/000356 WO1991014241A1 (fr) 1990-03-08 1991-03-06 Machine a distribuer des boissons

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7444291A (fr)
GB (1) GB2241695B (fr)
WO (1) WO1991014241A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1000627C2 (en) * 1995-06-22 1996-10-11 Koninklijke Olland Groep Bv Automatic drink-dispensing machine

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5390711A (en) * 1992-09-02 1995-02-21 Murphey; James D. Method and apparatus for making snow cones
ITPN20000024A1 (it) * 2000-04-20 2001-10-20 Necta Vending Solutions Spa Distributore automatico di bevande con meccanismo perfezionato di sgancio dei bicchieri
JP6394122B2 (ja) * 2014-07-03 2018-09-26 富士電機株式会社 カップ飲料提供装置のカップ供給装置
US11884437B2 (en) * 2021-08-10 2024-01-30 Rennco Llc Packaging machine and apparatus and method for feeding cups for packaging

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3119519A (en) * 1961-12-15 1964-01-28 Internat Vending Machines Inc Cup dispensing mechanism
FR2200568A1 (fr) * 1972-09-20 1974-04-19 Mars Ltd
GB2042482A (en) * 1979-02-09 1980-09-24 Vgl Ind Ltd Cup dispense assembly
EP0084695A1 (fr) * 1982-01-18 1983-08-03 General Foods Limited Convoyeur mobile de sélection
EP0097593A1 (fr) * 1982-06-21 1984-01-04 Muriel Renée Munier Dispositif de distribution de gobelets pour distributeur automatique de boissons
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
US4840291A (en) * 1986-08-18 1989-06-20 Hillwell Manufacturing Inc. Container dispensing system
EP0339946A2 (fr) * 1988-04-29 1989-11-02 General Foods Limited Procédé et dispositif pour distribuer des gobelets et automate de vente pour boissons

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2013622B (en) * 1977-12-14 1982-03-10 Vgl Ind Ltd Vending machines
GB2090821B (en) * 1981-01-07 1985-02-06 Gen Foods Ltd Vending apparatus
CA1220457A (fr) * 1983-08-03 1987-04-14 Manfred Garbe Automate vendeur de breuvages chauds, et son fonctionnement
GB8810265D0 (en) * 1988-04-29 1988-06-02 Worthington M G Container dispensing apparatus

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3119519A (en) * 1961-12-15 1964-01-28 Internat Vending Machines Inc Cup dispensing mechanism
FR2200568A1 (fr) * 1972-09-20 1974-04-19 Mars Ltd
GB2042482A (en) * 1979-02-09 1980-09-24 Vgl Ind Ltd Cup dispense assembly
EP0084695A1 (fr) * 1982-01-18 1983-08-03 General Foods Limited Convoyeur mobile de sélection
EP0097593A1 (fr) * 1982-06-21 1984-01-04 Muriel Renée Munier Dispositif de distribution de gobelets pour distributeur automatique de boissons
US4840291A (en) * 1986-08-18 1989-06-20 Hillwell Manufacturing Inc. Container dispensing system
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
EP0339946A2 (fr) * 1988-04-29 1989-11-02 General Foods Limited Procédé et dispositif pour distribuer des gobelets et automate de vente pour boissons

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1000627C2 (en) * 1995-06-22 1996-10-11 Koninklijke Olland Groep Bv Automatic drink-dispensing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2241695B (en) 1993-09-01
AU7444291A (en) 1991-10-10
GB9005207D0 (en) 1990-05-02
GB2241695A (en) 1991-09-11

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