WO1997017679A1

WO1997017679A1 - Product dispensing machine with discharge through its top

Info

Publication number: WO1997017679A1
Application number: PCT/ES1996/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josephus De Klerk
Original assignee: Josephus De Klerk
Priority date: 1995-11-07
Filing date: 1996-11-07
Publication date: 1997-05-15
Also published as: EP0825569A1

Abstract

Product dispensing machine with discharge of the products through the top part of the machine, comprising under the platform (7) as many telescopic rods (11) as there are platforms, said telescopic rods being actuated by a telescopic elevator (14) which is controlled by a telescopic elevator (14) itself controlled by a microswitch (2) in collaboration with a CPU unit, to stop or raise the platform and to set in motion the drive mechanism comprised of an arm (4) movable in a horizontal direction, to push out the selected product (6).

Description

PRODUCT EXPENDING MACHINE WITH DOWNLOAD UPPER

DESCRIPTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present specification refers to a vending machine for products with discharges from the top, whose obvious purpose is to improve in a taxable way the mechanisms for dragging products incorporated in the main application, as well as effectively and substantially improving the elements ¬ Gradual lifting of the different products incorporated in the pipes installed inside the carrier chassis, having been incorporated marginally and as a secondary embodiment of it the possibility that the product vending machine itself, perform the mobilization in the vertical upward direction of a plurality of beverage container containers constituted by bodies that adopt the configuration of a cylinder, which are gradually extracted punctually according to the user's request from the top, passing through a practicable ramp located in the upper area of the different bucket existing ones or parts in the machine until they are removed by the user through an opening located in the upper part of the machine itself.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention has its application within the field of coin operated product vending machines. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is currently known, most of the machines known so far to sell packaged products, after the introduction of coins that are decanted as a fair price or with exchange, are introduced into a purse, carry out the mobilization of their products with in order to facilitate the acquisition of them in a vertical downward direction, the packaged merchandise requested by the user being removed by the lower part of the chassis or frame, a longitudinal opening located horizontally by means of which the direct acquisition

All these machines known so far as vending machines for coin-operated products, which carry out the issuance of the product from the bottom, take advantage of the well-known law of gravity in their constitution, so the mechanisms for extracting the product are substantially simplified, as it does not require the mobilization of products deposited on supports by means of a device, device or element that acts on the support platform in an upward vertical direction.

When the manufacturers of different products of non-generalized acquisition, such as tobacco, prophylactics, alcoholic beverages, etc., etc., intend to sell their products in automatic coin-operated machines, they consider it very important to issue using a machine that will carry out the shipment of the products from the top, in order to prevent the acquisition of the products from being carried out by minors, generally Short stature, which in many cases prevents them from accessing the upper area of a machine that still has dimensions similar to those established in conventional automatic dispatch machines, has a specific dispatch area located at the top of the same.

However, even knowing the existence of vending machines for products that carry out the unloading of the products contained in the upper part, it has been verified in all cases that the mobilization of the products incorporated inside requires the use of various mechanisms, of great complexity of assembly, performance and a high cost, adding to this problem the inherent failures in them due to the complexity of the mechanisms incorporated, which requires continuous maintenance that results in a substantially high cost of maintenance itself saying.

At the same time, it should be noted that the mechanisms used as horizontally mobilizing elements of products that gradually rise to be definitively sold to the applicant are equally complicated, which results in a problem similar to verified in the mechanisms and lifters.

The obvious solution to the current problem in this area would be to have a product vending machine, which had the particularity of downloading them from the top, inside which Sensibly simplified mechanisms will be incorporated in relation to those known as endless, chain, counter- mechanisms. weights, etc, etc, and that at the same time these mechanisms were directly commanded by a CPU unit installed in the wallet, these mechanisms having a remarkable reduction of breakdowns and consequent maintenance in relation to the mechanisms used so far.

It would also be desirable to have the possibility that the vending machines of products could carry out the shipment of products packaged in different configurations and sizes, being able to use a machine equipped with these characteristics with reduced modifications for the expedition. to the applicant for products, such as alcoholic beverages or not, incorporated in cylindrical containers.

However, until now there is no knowledge of the existence of a product vending machine for downloading from the top that is equipped with the characteristics indicated as suitable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The vending machine of products with unloading by the upper part that the invention proposes, constitutes by itself an evident novelty within the field of action of the same, since when incorporating a unitary mechanism of product drag, with the possibility of eliminating the and being channeled out of gravity by way of a practicable ramp and having a lifting element of the products constituted as a telescopic lift substantially reduces the problems inherent in the mechanisms used so far in machinery similar performance. More specifically, the vending machine for products with discharge from the upper part of the invention is constituted from the incorporation as mobilization elements in a vertical upward direction of a simplified mechanism constituted as a hermetically sealed closed body fed by electrical energy from an outlet at a certain voltage, which has the relevant motor inside that acts on a telescopic rod that has sufficient power in order to gradually increase according to the user's request for the incorporated products inside the compartment, bucket or guide, getting that once the product is in the upper part in a position to be sent outside, a general drag arm performs a total sweep through the upper area of the mouth area where in a timely manner is the product to be extended, the arm Stre that performs its mobilization on two continuous occasions, in order to obviate the possibility that during the first drag, the product to be extended is not ideally positioned to be mobilized horizontally and routed to the outside.

Or, as a second embodiment of the invention in question, the dragging mechanism can be eliminated, and consequently the vending machine will not produce any movement on its part to carry out the requested products, replacing the dragging mechanism with a height deformation in the upper part of the guides, compartments or canons in an incident angle towards the central area, in which a compartment will be provided, intended to receive the requested product, provided that the machine in question only and exclusively sells coughs packed in cylindrical bodies, for which each of the upper parts of the buckets, guides or compartments will have an access door that will rise automatically when the product makes a vertical upward movement, being located at a height from which the body of the cylindrical container itself will be mobilized gradually by the ramp formed by the different upper doors of the buckets, departments or guides until in its rotation movement it reaches the central area from which the previous extraction will be made. It is available to the requesting user.

The doors attached to the side of the upper part of the guides or compartments, can optionally be elements that act on the different relays or microswitches that the machine may have, indicating its opening for the accounting of products sold, but which unquestionably they can be simply configured as practicalbes doors joined by lateral abyss, which will form a product extraction ramp in a timely manner, the containerized cylindrical bodies of the requested product sliding on its surface, or they will be raised according to the mobilization carried out by the elevator telescopic through its telescopic rod, opening the upper part of the compartment and allowing the subsequent sliding of the requested product.

Obviously this machine will operate through a CPU unit, incorporated inside in collaboration with the wallet, a unit as well as the wallet that can be regulated according to the characteristics of the point of exposure and sale that is configured with the machine in question constituted by a chassis of sensitive height It is considerably larger than the stocks currently in order to originate a storage significantly higher than those used so far and at the same time ensure that the area of extraction of the products is located at a height of difficult access for a large number of consumer public, as can be children, when in these machines, trained to reduce their height, the shipment of products that have special characteristics not recommended for this type of user is made.

The invention has a coin purse, as previously mentioned connected to the CPU unit incorporated inside a chassis, in which there is a microswitch, which has a direct action on a height control device and at the same time disposing in the upper part of the relevant drag arm, which is slides in the first embodiment of the invention and in the event that it requires it on the mouth of the channels or buckets, inside which the product is located, located on a platform, which is mobilized vertically upwards by a telescopic rod operated by a telescopic elevator, while the drag arm is mobilized from a mechanism constituted by a cam, which has the action of an eccentric electro-troman or motor that, in collaboration with a spring, mobilizes a telescopic rod that has a suitable turning point to mobilize the b drag line, there is a turning point on the cam.

When the second embodiment is carried out, that is, when the machine is intended for the sole and exclusive dispatch of cylindrical containers containing different products, the drag or arm mechanism of drag will be eliminated, and consequently the installation of the different elements that originate the mobilization of the same will not be necessary, incorporating in substitution of the drag arm the upper doors that blind in ramp configuring a practicable ramp the upper zone of the channels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, two descriptive sheets are attached to the present specification, in which they are illustrative and not limiting. The following has been represented:

Figure number 1.- Shows a front elevational view of the internal area of the object of the invention, relative to a vending machine of products with discharge from the top.

Figure number 2.- Corresponds to a side elevation view of the mechanism that acts directly on the drag arm located at the top of the mouth of the channels in order to make the requested product available to the user .

Figure number 3.- Finally shows a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the invention, when the machine in question is intended solely and exclusively for the shipment of products contained in cylindrical containers.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of these figures, it can be seen how the vending machine of products with unloading by the upper part that is recommended, is constituted from the incorporation of all its components inside a chassis, frame or similar (1), which has an access door to the interior, a door that can be configured in any way deemed appropriate, carrying conventional elements of decoration, ornamentation and lighting, and on which different texts and legends can be incorporated for the use and proper functioning of it.

In the first place, the invention has a wallet (16), with an access slot from the outside, and a CPU unit (17), connected directly to the wallet, from which the function is established. general basis of the invention.

Once the introduction of the coins has been made, using the access slot that communicates with the wallet (16), the CPU unit (17), allows the user to make a previous selection of the product, indicating in the In case of not having the requested product the lack of stocks of the same and giving the user the option to make a second choice or to make the request for the devotion of the money incorporated as a previous step to the selection of the product.

Once the product selection has been made, the telescopic elevator (14) is put into operation, and it should be noted that the telescopic elevator (14) acting at that time is the one corresponding to the one located in the lower area of the channel, bucket or departa- Lied where the selected product is located.

Subsequently, the telescopic rod (11) driven by the telescopic elevator (14) pushes the platform (7) on which the products (6) are located.

Once the platform (7) pushed vertically upwards by the telescopic rod (11), actuated by the telescopic elevator (14) reaches the ejection height, which is controlled by a device (2) constituted by a microswitch, this activates a height control device (3), which has two functions, the first one being to stop the operation of the lifting mechanism constituted by the telescopic rod (11), after stopping the telescopic lift (14), putting on immediately starting the dragging mechanism (4) constituted by the above-mentioned drag arm, which when activated as will be mentioned later, performs a first drag by pushing the product (6) outwards, to subsequently reiterate the action of the same in a similar action, if the height control device (2) constituted by the microswitch detects that the product has not been ejected.

Once the product (6) has been ejected, the telescopic rod (11) descends a section at a predetermined height operated by the telescopic elevator (14), in order to avoid the possibility of a jam in the upper part of the channel (5) of products (6).

When the products stacked in the different channels (5) have a similar shape, the device height control (3) is completely straight, but otherwise the said height control device will adapt to the shape of each of the products to be sold.

The drag mechanism that acts on the drag arm (4), is constituted by an electromagnet or eccentric motor (9), which acts on a cam (8), equipped with a turning point (15), which mobilizes the arm of drag (4) by acting on it of a pivot point (12) there being a spring (10) to maintain in a continuous position and tension the context of the mechanism of the drag arm.

Once the lifting operation is completed, the microprocessor (17) sends the expulsion order to the electromagnet or eccentric motor (9), indicating that if an electromagnet is incorporated, it will be governed by the microprocessor (17), while If an eccentric motor is incorporated, it will be mobilized in cycles.

The electromagnet (9) mobilizes a cam (3) that pushes the drag arm (4), while the small arm of the cam is multi-perforated in order to achieve the modification of the force and the travel of the drive mechanism itself.

The section of the drag arm takes the form of a "U" plan view, such that the major arm of the cam (8) pushes the drag arm (4), sliding inside.

The spring (10), located between the main arm of the cam (8) and the drag arm (4), has the mission as stated above to keep the cam stable and facilitate the return of the drag arm.

In a second embodiment of the invention, which can be seen in Figure 3, it is observed as cylindrical containers (19) and (20) containers of different products, especially drinks, located on the platforms (7) actuated by the telescopic pushers (11) constituted as telescopic rods, perform their action in a similar way, with the difference that in the upper area of the guides or channels (5), a gate (21) has been established, which together with one of the partitions by hinges (22), allow the elevation of the doors or gates (21), up to a height in which the container (19) - (20), container of the requested product, is at a height at which performs the mobilization of the container itself by being the upper area of the channels (5), provided with the gates (21) on the ramp, on which the container with the requested product gradually slides until it falls into a receptacle (23 ), from which it is to withdraw Adopted by the applicant, this receptacle being in an area close to the end of the machine, but indisputably slightly lower than the extraction opening incorporated in the first embodiment.

In this way it is achieved on the one hand to obviate the drag mechanism, consequently eliminating the drag arm that pushes the container outwards and at the same time with the characteristics of the location of the container receptacle (23), they are eliminated when in the inside a container (19) - (20), a liquid or beverage with carbonic acid is incorporated, which is consequently agitated resulting in its mobilization generating an indiscriminate outward exit of the drink when the sealing tongue is removed.

Claims

1.- Vending machine of products with discharge from the top, of those destined to carry out the shipment of different packaged products, in packages of different types, regardless of whether they are parallelepipedic, cylindrical or of any type, incorporated in the inside a machine configured from a chassis (1), which has a coin purse (16) connected to a CPU unit (17), counting the machine with a microswitch, as well as a height control device , the product (6) being incorporated in batteries inserted in channels or the like (5) on a platform (7), characterized in that the products (6) located on the platform (7), are moved vertically upwards to tenor of the action on the lower part of the platform (7) of a telescopic rod (11), which is activated and moved by a telescopic lift (14), commanded by the microswitch (2) in collaboration with the unit The CPU, which acts at the moment in which the coins introduced into the wallet (16), are admitted and the selection of the product is carried out, which, if there are stocks, starts the telescopic elevator (14) on the telescopic rod (11) incorporated in the channel (5), corresponding to the selected product, pushing the platform (7) on which the products rest (6) and once it reaches the height of expulsion, controlled in a certain way, stops the elevator and the drive mechanism constituted by the drag arm (4), which moves the selected product (6) outwards horizontally.

2.- Vending machine for products with discharge from the top, according to the first claim, characterized in that once the expulsion height in the product (6) has been reached, if the height control device detects that the product (6) has not been expelled outwards, through the ramp connected with the longitudinal opening existing in the upper frontal area of the chassis (1), specifically in the door, the drag mechanism constituted by the drag arm (4), and other elements that form it makes a second attempt, and once it has been established that The product has been ejected, the lifting device formed by the telescopic elevator (14), acts on the telescopic rod (11) attached to the platform (7), descends a predetermined height, leaving the upper area of the channels (5) free .

3.- Vending machine for products with discharge from the top, according to the first and second claim, characterized in that when the products with stacks in the different channels have a similar shape, the height control device is straight , but otherwise the height control device will adapt to the shape of each product.

4.- Vending machine for products with discharge from the top, according to the previous claims, characterized in that once the lifting operation is finished, the microprocessor sends the expulsion order to the electromagnet for time, while the eccentric motor It acts by cycles, mobilizing the electromagnet or the eccentric motor (9), the cam (8), which pushes the drag arm (4), arranging the cam (8) of a smaller arm equipped with a multi- multi perforation by means of the which changes the path of the drive mechanism and consequently the force of it.

5.- Vending machine of products with discharge from the top, according to the previous claims, characterized in that the section of the drag arm (4), adopts the configuration of a "U", seen in plan, so that the major arm of the cam (8) pushes the drag arm (4), sliding inside, collaborating in the mobilization of a spring.

6.- Vending machine for products with discharge from the top, according to the previous claims, characterized in that optionally the upper part of the channels (5) can be provided with hatches (21) or similar doors, which joined to one of hinged partitions (22), ensure that cylindrical bodies (19) and (20), mobilized inside the channels (5), containing products (6), are mobilized by inertia towards an extraction point (23).