WO1997031358A1 - Panneau indicateur pour distributeur automatique et procede de fabrication - Google Patents

Panneau indicateur pour distributeur automatique et procede de fabrication Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997031358A1
WO1997031358A1 PCT/US1997/002656 US9702656W WO9731358A1 WO 1997031358 A1 WO1997031358 A1 WO 1997031358A1 US 9702656 W US9702656 W US 9702656W WO 9731358 A1 WO9731358 A1 WO 9731358A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
graphics
vending machine
panel
dimensional
sign panel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/002656
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Leonard F. Antao
Tran Q. Minh
George L. Thompson
Robert Purcell
Timothy C. Vernon
Steven A. Vernon
Original Assignee
The Coca-Cola Company
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 The Coca-Cola Company filed Critical The Coca-Cola Company
Priority to AU21325/97A priority Critical patent/AU2132597A/en
Publication of WO1997031358A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997031358A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C51/02—Combined thermoforming and manufacture of the preform
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus
    • G07F9/023—Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/10—Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
    • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
    • G09F13/045—Signs, boards or panels specially adapted for doors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
    • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
    • G09F13/0472—Traffic signs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
    • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
    • G09F13/0481—Signs, boards or panels having a curved shape
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/12—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
    • B29C2791/001—Shaping in several steps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
    • B29C2791/004—Shaping under special conditions
    • B29C2791/006—Using vacuum
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C2795/00—Printing on articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state
    • B29C2795/002—Printing on articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state before shaping

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vending machine sign panel for packaged beverages including a shaped translucent panel which simulates the appearance of a bottle related to the packaged beverages within the vendor. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of making the sign panel with creative shapes and product logos which highlights the unique package attributes of beverages which are merchandized by the vendor.
  • the sign panel is fabricated from a durable plastic sheet, and the three-dimensional bottle is thermoformed by vacuum molding techniques in the sheet.
  • the graphics In order to provide the bottle with graphics it is easiest to apply the graphics to the flat sheet before thermoforming the bottle. However, the graphics become distorted when transformed from a flat to a curved 3-D shape resulting in poor quality graphics on the 3-D bottle.
  • the objects of the present invention are fulfilled by providing; a method of making a sign panel with three- dimensional regions of predetermined shapes and graphics thereon for use on the face of a vending machine comprising the steps of: providing a substantially flat sheet of material for forming the panel; selecting the final dimensions and shapes of the graphics to be located in the three-dimensional regions of the panel; comparing the final dimensions and shapes of the graphics with dimensional distortions of the flat sheet incurred by forming said three-dimensional regions into the predetermined shapes in order to determine distortion pattern data; applying initial graphics to the flat sheet, said initial graphics being distorted in accordance with the distortion pattern data such that when the three- dimensional regions are formed the initial graphics are converted into the final graphics; and forming said flat sheet into said sign panel including said three-dimensional regions with said predetermined shapes with said final graphics thereon.
  • the three-dimensional shape in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a bottle associated with products within the vending machine.
  • the three-dimensional bottle has graphics in a selected region thereof which are backlighted through the sign panel from appropriate lighting within the vending machine.
  • the decorative panel is preferably thermoformed with vacuum molding techniques from clear acrylic, polycarbonate or other plastic materials.
  • the plastic chosen is tough and durable to provide security to the vending machine and to be essentially vandal resistant.
  • FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a vending machine illustrating a sign panel on the front face thereof with a three-dimensional shape such as a bottle formed in the sign panel;
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view of a flat plastic sheet including the outline of the bottle to be formed in the three-dimensional bottle on the sign panel of Fig. 1 by vacuum/thermoforming techniques;
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the method steps utilized for applying graphics to the flat plastic sheet of Fig. 2 which are then molded into the three-dimensional bottle shape of Fig. 1 in order to achieve high quality final graphics on the three- dimensional bottle.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates in front elevation the face of a vending machine 10 including a convex plastic sign panel 12' including a substantially continuous curved border region 14 surrounding a three-dimensional bottle-shaped region simulating a bottle 16.
  • Bottle 16 is actually a bottle portion which projects about 4 to 6 inches outwardly from surrounding surfaces 14 of sign panel 12.
  • the bottle 16 includes a central label portion 16A on which a portion of final graphics 18' are formed in accordance with the method of the present invention.
  • the vending machine 10 of Fig. 1 also includes a discharge port 20 through the sign panel 12' in a bottom region of the bottle 16 and a conventional control panel 22 recessed behind a cut ⁇ out 21 in the sign panel.
  • Panel 12' fits into a frame 24 about its periphery and discharge port 20 is surrounded by a frame 21.
  • the sign panel 12' on the vending machine face of Fig. 1 is formed from a flat sheet of plastic 12 illustrated in Fig. 2. While in its flat state the outline of the bottle 16 is defined by printed areas including bottom portion 16C, top portion 16B and cap portion 19. Distorted graphics 18 are provided in the central label region of the bottle 16A. The graphics 18 are distorted because when the sheet 12 of Fig. 2 is vacuum/thermoformed into the curved and three-dimensional shape of the sign panel 12' of Fig. 1 the previously flat graphics are changed into the final graphics 18' and would be distorted in the final graphics if not distorted in order to compensate for the distortion which occurs in the transformation from a flat to the three-dimensional shape.
  • the entire flat panel 12 of Fig. 2 is printed prior to molding with all appropriate colors and graphics.
  • portions 16B, 16C of the bottle are printed a brownish color to simulate a cola beverage, and cap portion 19 is printed white.
  • the border regions 14 are also printed with appropriate background colors or graphics such as graphics depicting a bed of crushed ice for supporting the bottle.
  • the type of ink or paint selected must be able to withstand the temperatures and stretching which occur in the vacuum/thermoform molding process. Cut-out 21 for control panel 22 may be trimmed before or after molding.
  • step I a three-dimensional shape and associated graphics of the sign panel for use on the vending machine 10 in Fig. 1 is selected.
  • step II a mold is fabricated from which the three-dimensional sign panel 12' of Fig. 1 will be vacuum/thermoformed;
  • step III undistorted grid sheets with equally spaced intersecting lines are printed on sheets of plastic of similar materials and dimensions to the plastic sheet 12 to be thermoformed.
  • step IV these undistorted grid sheets are vacuum/ thermoformed in the mold fabricated in step II.
  • step 5 the resulting distortion in the thermoformed grid sheets which are formed in the mold are analyzed to determine distortion pattern data.
  • This distortion pattern data may be obtained by optically scanning the distorted grids. The data is stored in a computer and compared with an undistorted reference grid in order to quantify the distortion data according to regions of the mold.
  • the computer can then determine the specifics of the distorted graphics 18 to be applied to the label portion of the bottle on the flat sheet 12 of Fig. 2. These distorted graphics are prepared and then applied to the sheet 12 of Fig. 2 as illustrated in step VI of the flowchart of Fig. 3.
  • the flat sheet 12 of Fig. 2 is finally placed in the mold and the final panel 12' of Fig. 2 is vacuum/thermoformed to achieve the proper shape of the bottle 16 and the final graphics 18' as illustrated in Fig 1.
  • the final graphics 18' are thus of high quality since they were distorted while the panel 12 was flat, and end up as high quality undistorted images in the final graphics 18' which appear on the sign panel of the vending machine of Fig. 1.
  • the analysis could be done by manually measuring the displacement of the grid lines in the molded grid as compared to the positions of the grid lines on the flat sheet. The displacement could then be used to distort corresponding areas of the initial graphics on a trial and error basis until final graphics of suitable quality are achieved.
  • Fig. 1 is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
  • Other bottles or 3-D shapes may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
  • the invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Un distributeur automatique de boissons conditionnées comporte un habitacle définissant un compartiment de stockage des boissons conditionnées qui sont évacuées à travers un orifice ménagé à l'avant du distributeur automatique, un panneau indicateur disposé à travers la face avant du distributeur et doté d'un panneau translucide rétroéclairé, et une partie convexe en relief d'un contenant fixé à la surface externe du panneau translucide, ladite partie en relief comportant des graphiques haute résolution qui se développent à partir de graphiques déformés disposés sur une feuille plate de matière que l'on a transformée pour obtenir la partie en relief. L'invention concerne un procédé permettant de déformer les graphiques qui apparaissent sur la forme finale en relief, ledit procédé consistant à développer des données d'un modèle de déformation à partir d'une grille non déformée sur une feuille de plastique qui est mise en forme sur un moule de façon à lui donner la même forme convexe en relief que celle du panneau indicateur devant apparaître à l'avant du distributeur. On analyse la déformation résultante de la grille afin de générer les données du modèle de déformation destinées à fournir les graphiques déformés à une feuille plate en plastique à laquelle est donnée la forme finale convexe en relief du panneau indicateur disposé à l'avant du distributeur.
PCT/US1997/002656 1996-02-23 1997-02-21 Panneau indicateur pour distributeur automatique et procede de fabrication WO1997031358A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU21325/97A AU2132597A (en) 1996-02-23 1997-02-21 Vending machine sign panel and method of making

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US60653496A 1996-02-23 1996-02-23
US08/606,534 1996-02-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997031358A1 true WO1997031358A1 (fr) 1997-08-28

Family

ID=24428361

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/002656 WO1997031358A1 (fr) 1996-02-23 1997-02-21 Panneau indicateur pour distributeur automatique et procede de fabrication

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2132597A (fr)
ID (1) ID16351A (fr)
WO (1) WO1997031358A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA971524B (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2402379A (en) * 2003-06-02 2004-12-08 Orb Packaging Uk Ltd Graphics-bearing covering for part of a container
WO2005106825A1 (fr) * 2004-04-28 2005-11-10 Regency Design & Print Limited Machines distributrices
WO2008111000A1 (fr) * 2007-03-14 2008-09-18 The Gillette Company Procédé de fabrication d'un article thermoformé faisant appel à une distorsion de pré-impression
WO2010012752A1 (fr) * 2008-07-31 2010-02-04 Gerd Ecker Image déformée dans l'espace
AT515641A1 (de) * 2014-03-25 2015-10-15 Schnurrer Anton Flächige Licht- bzw. Beleuchtungseinrichtung

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4414768A (en) * 1981-03-17 1983-11-15 The Coca-Cola Company Display panel for vending machines
GB2192180A (en) * 1984-06-22 1988-01-06 Coca Cola Co Beverage can vending machine, advertising and illuminating
US5015312A (en) * 1987-09-29 1991-05-14 Kinzie Norman F Method and apparatus for constructing a three-dimensional surface of predetermined shape and color
US5345705A (en) * 1992-05-20 1994-09-13 Lawrence Gary L Lightweight, three-dimensional sign
WO1996004639A1 (fr) * 1994-07-29 1996-02-15 The Coca-Cola Company Ensemble panneau interchangeable de type publicitaire pour armoire de distribution de produits

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4414768A (en) * 1981-03-17 1983-11-15 The Coca-Cola Company Display panel for vending machines
GB2192180A (en) * 1984-06-22 1988-01-06 Coca Cola Co Beverage can vending machine, advertising and illuminating
US5015312A (en) * 1987-09-29 1991-05-14 Kinzie Norman F Method and apparatus for constructing a three-dimensional surface of predetermined shape and color
US5345705A (en) * 1992-05-20 1994-09-13 Lawrence Gary L Lightweight, three-dimensional sign
WO1996004639A1 (fr) * 1994-07-29 1996-02-15 The Coca-Cola Company Ensemble panneau interchangeable de type publicitaire pour armoire de distribution de produits

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2402379A (en) * 2003-06-02 2004-12-08 Orb Packaging Uk Ltd Graphics-bearing covering for part of a container
WO2005106825A1 (fr) * 2004-04-28 2005-11-10 Regency Design & Print Limited Machines distributrices
WO2008111000A1 (fr) * 2007-03-14 2008-09-18 The Gillette Company Procédé de fabrication d'un article thermoformé faisant appel à une distorsion de pré-impression
JP2010520829A (ja) * 2007-03-14 2010-06-17 ザ ジレット カンパニー プレプリント歪みを用いる熱成形物品の製造方法
WO2010012752A1 (fr) * 2008-07-31 2010-02-04 Gerd Ecker Image déformée dans l'espace
US8904679B2 (en) 2008-07-31 2014-12-09 Gerd Ecker Spatially distorted image
AT515641A1 (de) * 2014-03-25 2015-10-15 Schnurrer Anton Flächige Licht- bzw. Beleuchtungseinrichtung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA971524B (en) 1997-09-22
ID16351A (id) 1997-09-25
AU2132597A (en) 1997-09-10

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