WO1999061328A1 - Container for vending machine - Google Patents

Container for vending machine Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999061328A1
WO1999061328A1 PCT/GB1999/001591 GB9901591W WO9961328A1 WO 1999061328 A1 WO1999061328 A1 WO 1999061328A1 GB 9901591 W GB9901591 W GB 9901591W WO 9961328 A1 WO9961328 A1 WO 9961328A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
container
end caps
weight
vending machine
cylindrical body
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1999/001591
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David John Lines
Ian Cawthorne
Original Assignee
Phonevending 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 Phonevending Limited filed Critical Phonevending Limited
Priority to EP99922362A priority Critical patent/EP1089914A1/en
Priority to AU39461/99A priority patent/AU3946199A/en
Publication of WO1999061328A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999061328A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
    • B65D43/0214—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity
    • B65D43/022—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured only by friction or gravity only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
    • B65D11/02—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of curved cross-section
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
    • B65D2543/00074—Shape of the outer periphery curved
    • B65D2543/00092—Shape of the outer periphery curved circular
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
    • B65D2543/00296—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00518—Skirt
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00546—NO contact

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the packaging of items to be dispensed from vending machines and in particular to a vending capsule or container in which goods to be dispensed can be located.
  • Conventional vending machines are adapted for dispensing drinks and the like in bottles, cans and cartons, and can also dispense packaged items such as confectionery, films and some sports goods such a balls.
  • the criteria which enable an item to be dispensed are its dimensions and its weight. Light-weight items or those of an irregular shape are usually unable to be dispensed by conventional gravity-feed vending machines.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a container which can be used for dispensing a variety of items from a conventional gravity-feed vending machine regardless of the item's weight and shape and subject only to it being capable of fitting within the container.
  • a container for use in the dispensing of an item from a vending machine comprising a cylindrical container with an empty weight of at least 50 g.
  • the container comprises a cylindrical body with weighted end caps.
  • the weight of each end cap is at least 20 g.
  • the end caps comprise push-fit end caps.
  • these are made from a heavy-gauge polymer and preferably from barium-filled polypropylene.
  • the container comprises a translucent plastics cylindrical body.
  • this is made from transparent unplasticized polyvinyl chloride film.
  • the body of the container could comprise a cylindrical tube of any other suitable material, such as stiffened paper, card or cardboard.
  • the length of the container is at least 140 mm and its diameter is at least 65 mm.
  • the container of the invention is not intended to be used for dispensing liquids directly, such as drinks. These are usually dispensed in either sealed ring-pull cans or cardboard cartons, the weight of the liquid itself providing the impetus used in a gravity-feed vending machine to achieve successful vending of the full can.
  • liquid items which are prepackaged in their own sealed container for example in plastics sachets or sealed envelopes, could be placed inside the container of the present invention to be dispensed from a conventional vending machine. In this way, light-weight liquid items such as sachets of shampoos, cosmetics and the like can be dispensed as well as heavier items.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 are side and plan views of the container.
  • the container comprises a cylindrical tubular body 1 made by folding and sealing a transparent unplasticized polyvinyl chloride film into a cylindrical shape using a conventional welding technique to make a longitudinal seam.
  • the length of the body 1 is 140 mm and has a diameter of 65 m .
  • Each end cap is moulded from a heavy-gauge polymer and preferably from barium-filled polypropylene such that it weighs at least 20 g. As the body weighs at least 10 g, the weight of the empty container is in excess of 50g and, when made of the materials as aforesaid, is designed within manufacturing tolerances to be 52.6 g.
  • caps 2 and 3 are dished and provided with annular rib-like projections 4 around their outer circumferential surface which bears against the body 1.
  • An annular projection 5 is also provided around the inner rim of each of the caps 2 , 3 to facilitate its manual removal from the body 1.
  • caps 2 and 3 To prevent the caps 2 and 3 from being inadvertently pushed into the body 1, they are each provided with a rim 6 which overlies the circular edges of the body 1. This rim 6 and the pushfitted attachment of the end caps 2, 3 into the body 1 protects the latter and prevents it from being crushed and damaged during handling and its passage through a vending machine.
  • a conventional vending machine such as the N-7R model manufactured by Azkoyen
  • any item located inside the container as described above will fulfil the weight requirement.
  • the invention therefore provides the means whereby items which could previously not be dispensed by a conventional vending machine can now be so dispensed simply by packaging them in the container.
  • items such as swimming goggles, golf tees, golf gloves, shuttlecocks and other lightweight and irregularly shaped items can be dispensed from the conventional vending machines already located in many outlets worldwide.
  • a machine such as the N-7R machine of Azkoyen requires a conventional modification to adjust the number of paddles in each vending column to provide compartments in its scoop wheel mechanism adapted to the size of the container. In the N-7R machine this involves reducing the number of paddles to 20. A container will then locate lengthwise in the scoop wheel prior to it being dispensed.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

A container (1) is provided which can be used for dispensing a variety of solid items, as opposed to liquids, from a conventional gravity-feed vending machine regardless of the item's weight and shape and subject only to it being capable of fitting within the container (1). The container comprises a cylindrical container with a weight of at least 50 g. Preferably, the container comprises a translucent plastics cylindrical body (1) with weighted end caps (2, 3) which are made from a heavy-gauge polymer such as barium-filled polypropylene.

Description

CONTAINER FOR VENDING MACHINE
The present invention relates to the packaging of items to be dispensed from vending machines and in particular to a vending capsule or container in which goods to be dispensed can be located.
Conventional vending machines are adapted for dispensing drinks and the like in bottles, cans and cartons, and can also dispense packaged items such as confectionery, films and some sports goods such a balls. The criteria which enable an item to be dispensed are its dimensions and its weight. Light-weight items or those of an irregular shape are usually unable to be dispensed by conventional gravity-feed vending machines.
The object of the present invention is to provide a container which can be used for dispensing a variety of items from a conventional gravity-feed vending machine regardless of the item's weight and shape and subject only to it being capable of fitting within the container.
According to the present invention there is provided a container for use in the dispensing of an item from a vending machine comprising a cylindrical container with an empty weight of at least 50 g.
It has been found that problems can occur if the container is cuboid as the corners of container tend to inhibit the container's passage through the dispensing mechanism of the machine. Hence the requirement that the container is cylindrical.
Preferably, the container comprises a cylindrical body with weighted end caps. Advantageously, the weight of each end cap is at least 20 g. Preferably also, the end caps comprise push-fit end caps. Advantageously, these are made from a heavy-gauge polymer and preferably from barium-filled polypropylene.
Preferably also, the container comprises a translucent plastics cylindrical body. Advantageously this is made from transparent unplasticized polyvinyl chloride film. However, the body of the container could comprise a cylindrical tube of any other suitable material, such as stiffened paper, card or cardboard.
Advantageously, the length of the container is at least 140 mm and its diameter is at least 65 mm.
It will be appreciated that the container of the invention is not intended to be used for dispensing liquids directly, such as drinks. These are usually dispensed in either sealed ring-pull cans or cardboard cartons, the weight of the liquid itself providing the impetus used in a gravity-feed vending machine to achieve successful vending of the full can. However, liquid items which are prepackaged in their own sealed container, for example in plastics sachets or sealed envelopes, could be placed inside the container of the present invention to be dispensed from a conventional vending machine. In this way, light-weight liquid items such as sachets of shampoos, cosmetics and the like can be dispensed as well as heavier items.
An example of a container according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are side and plan views of the container.
The container comprises a cylindrical tubular body 1 made by folding and sealing a transparent unplasticized polyvinyl chloride film into a cylindrical shape using a conventional welding technique to make a longitudinal seam. The length of the body 1 is 140 mm and has a diameter of 65 m .
Push-fitting into each of the ends respectively of the body 1 are identical end caps 2 and 3. Each end cap is moulded from a heavy-gauge polymer and preferably from barium-filled polypropylene such that it weighs at least 20 g. As the body weighs at least 10 g, the weight of the empty container is in excess of 50g and, when made of the materials as aforesaid, is designed within manufacturing tolerances to be 52.6 g.
It is possible to make the weighted end caps 2 and 3 by moulding plastics material around metal discs or similar inclusions which will provide the necessary weight. However, such end caps would be more costly to produce than end caps manufactured as aforesaid.
In order to ensure a tight push-fit to prevent the contents of the container from bursting out during the dispensing process, the caps 2 and 3 are dished and provided with annular rib-like projections 4 around their outer circumferential surface which bears against the body 1. An annular projection 5 is also provided around the inner rim of each of the caps 2 , 3 to facilitate its manual removal from the body 1.
To prevent the caps 2 and 3 from being inadvertently pushed into the body 1, they are each provided with a rim 6 which overlies the circular edges of the body 1. This rim 6 and the pushfitted attachment of the end caps 2, 3 into the body 1 protects the latter and prevents it from being crushed and damaged during handling and its passage through a vending machine. In order to be dispensed by gravity feed from a conventional vending machine such as the N-7R model manufactured by Azkoyen, it is necessary for an item to have a minimum total weight of around 50g. Hence, any item located inside the container as described above will fulfil the weight requirement. The invention therefore provides the means whereby items which could previously not be dispensed by a conventional vending machine can now be so dispensed simply by packaging them in the container. As a result, items such as swimming goggles, golf tees, golf gloves, shuttlecocks and other lightweight and irregularly shaped items can be dispensed from the conventional vending machines already located in many outlets worldwide.
In order to dispense a container according to the invention a machine such as the N-7R machine of Azkoyen requires a conventional modification to adjust the number of paddles in each vending column to provide compartments in its scoop wheel mechanism adapted to the size of the container. In the N-7R machine this involves reducing the number of paddles to 20. A container will then locate lengthwise in the scoop wheel prior to it being dispensed.

Claims

1. A container for use in the dispensing of an item from a vending machine characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical container (1) with an empty weight of at least 50 g.
2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical body (1) with weighted end caps (2 , 3) .
3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the weight of each end cap (2, 3) is at least 20 g.
4. A container as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized in that the end caps (2, 3) comprise push-fit plastics end caps.
5. A container as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the end caps (2, 3) are each provided with a rim (6) which overlies one of the circular edges of the body (1) respectively to protect same.
6. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5 , characterized in that the end caps (2, 3) comprise a heavy- gauge polymer.
7. A container as cla.imed in any one of Claims 2 to 6 , characterized in that the end caps (2, 3) comprise a barium-filled polypropylene.
8. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 , characterized in that it comprises a translucent plastics cylindrical body (1) .
A container as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 , characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical body (1) made from a transparent unplasticized polyvinyl chloride film.
10. A container as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that the length of the container is at least 140 mm and its diameter is at least 65 mm.
PCT/GB1999/001591 1998-05-22 1999-05-19 Container for vending machine WO1999061328A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99922362A EP1089914A1 (en) 1998-05-22 1999-05-19 Container for vending machine
AU39461/99A AU3946199A (en) 1998-05-22 1999-05-19 Container for vending machine

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9810981.2A GB9810981D0 (en) 1998-05-22 1998-05-22 Improvements relating to packaging
GB9810981.2 1998-05-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999061328A1 true WO1999061328A1 (en) 1999-12-02

Family

ID=10832506

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1999/001591 WO1999061328A1 (en) 1998-05-22 1999-05-19 Container for vending machine

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1089914A1 (en)
AU (1) AU3946199A (en)
GB (2) GB9810981D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1999061328A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN203173062U (en) * 2013-01-09 2013-09-04 新协力包装制品（深圳）有限公司 Soft plastic packaging box

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7614527U1 (en) * 1976-05-07 1977-07-28 Saul Franz J packaging
EP0089395A1 (en) * 1982-03-23 1983-09-28 The Continental Group, Inc. Closure having means for retention in tubular container
FR2540547A1 (en) * 1983-02-04 1984-08-10 Stoever Adolf Bautex Kg Venetian blinds weighting strips
US4503987A (en) * 1984-05-29 1985-03-12 Rubin Potoff Screw cap construction
JPH03663A (en) * 1988-11-28 1991-01-07 Sugawara Tsusan:Kk Wet towel container, its manufacture, vending machine and method for selling thereof
JPH07165226A (en) * 1993-12-10 1995-06-27 Suehiro Shoji Kk Cylindrical can-shaped container for vending machine

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1534177A (en) * 1976-02-03 1978-11-29 Bell Prod Ltd Tubular packaging
US4051992A (en) * 1976-04-30 1977-10-04 Bergstein Packaging Trust Cylindrical display container formed from a flat blank
GB2137952B (en) * 1983-04-14 1987-03-25 Howard John Watts Packing storing and dispensing of shuttlecocks
CA2260056A1 (en) * 1996-07-12 1998-01-22 Goodvest Corporation Method and apparatus for forming, packaging, and vending clothing articles

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE7614527U1 (en) * 1976-05-07 1977-07-28 Saul Franz J packaging
EP0089395A1 (en) * 1982-03-23 1983-09-28 The Continental Group, Inc. Closure having means for retention in tubular container
FR2540547A1 (en) * 1983-02-04 1984-08-10 Stoever Adolf Bautex Kg Venetian blinds weighting strips
US4503987A (en) * 1984-05-29 1985-03-12 Rubin Potoff Screw cap construction
JPH03663A (en) * 1988-11-28 1991-01-07 Sugawara Tsusan:Kk Wet towel container, its manufacture, vending machine and method for selling thereof
JPH07165226A (en) * 1993-12-10 1995-06-27 Suehiro Shoji Kk Cylindrical can-shaped container for vending machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2337510A (en) 1999-11-24
GB9902980D0 (en) 1999-03-31
GB9810981D0 (en) 1998-07-22
AU3946199A (en) 1999-12-13
GB2337510B (en) 2002-07-17
EP1089914A1 (en) 2001-04-11

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