WO2007129291A1 - Distributeur automatique - Google Patents

Distributeur automatique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007129291A1
WO2007129291A1 PCT/IE2007/000053 IE2007000053W WO2007129291A1 WO 2007129291 A1 WO2007129291 A1 WO 2007129291A1 IE 2007000053 W IE2007000053 W IE 2007000053W WO 2007129291 A1 WO2007129291 A1 WO 2007129291A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vending machine
machine according
compartment
food product
control unit
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IE2007/000053
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Patrick Gerard Muckian
Original Assignee
Patrick Gerard Muckian
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
Priority claimed from IE2006/0371A external-priority patent/IE85021B1/en
Application filed by Patrick Gerard Muckian filed Critical Patrick Gerard Muckian
Publication of WO2007129291A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007129291A1/fr
Priority to GB0820329A priority Critical patent/GB2451040A/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/62—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/26—Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
    • 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
    • G07F9/026—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a vending machine and, in particular, to a vending machine, which dispenses individual portions of a food product.
  • Vending machines are used for the dispensing of a variety of food products. For items such as chocolate bars, packets of sweets and the like, the customer selects the product that he wishes to purchase, places the appropriate amount of coins in the machine and the product is delivered through a chute to a collection bin at the bottom of the machine. This system is fine for sturdy products but is not suitable for fragile or frangible food products.
  • vending machines are used in a variety of locations. In some cases, such as public houses and shops, the owner/manager of the machine is working in the same location and he can thus keep an eye on the machine and ensure that it is kept topped up with product.
  • vending machine is sited in a location, remote from the owner/manager, management of the machine is more difficult.
  • the vending machine may be positioned in a food outlet, if the personnel on the site are not responsible for it problems can arise. It is particularly important to have in-date product in such a machine at all times, to keep the customer satisfied.
  • the invention provides a vending machine for dispensing individual portions of a food product, the vending machine comprising a housing, a coin input mechanism, a control unit, a communications module, and a plurality of lockable compartments, all arranged within the housing, with each compartment having an associated locking mechanism, the control unit being connected to the coin-input mechanism, the locking mechanisms and the communications module such that, in use, a particular compartment, containing a portion of food, is unlocked when an amount of coins is introduced into the coin-input mechanism, and such that the control unit gathers data relating to the operation of the machine and sends the data to a remote receiver, through the communications module.
  • coin herein is meant all forms of money, namely coins and banknotes.
  • An advantage of the vending machine according to the invention is that it can be used to dispense frangible portions of a food product such as a tray of hen eggs or pastries as the portion can be removed from its individual compartment directly by the user, without it first having to be moved to a collection opening in the machine. This reduces the danger of the portion being damaged before removal by the user.
  • vending machine Another advantage of the vending machine according to the invention is that the data collected by the control unit can be accessed by the machine owner without him having to visit the machine location. This is particularly useful when the owner has a number of machines situated at different locations.
  • the communications module is an SMS (Short Message Service) texting module, which sends the data as a text message.
  • SMS Short Message Service
  • Text messaging is cheap and fast and where the message is sent to a mobile phone the owner of the machine can access the information while on the move, possibly saving time and money thereby.
  • the text message indicates the number of compartments containing food product at a particular time.
  • the ability to receive such a message means that the machine owner can schedule a visit to the machine in order to refill it.
  • the text message indicates the usage of the machine over a given period.
  • the advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the data can be used to manage the machine or a number of machines to ensure, for example, that out of date product does not remain in an active machine.
  • the data can also be used to coordinate visits to a number of sites in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
  • each associated locking mechanism is a spring-loaded solenoid, which, when activated, releases a door on a corresponding compartment, allowing a portion of the food product to be removed by a purchaser.
  • control unit is a programmable logic controller.
  • Having a programmable control unit allows the functioning of the vending machine to be tailored to a particular owner's requirements.
  • means for identifying the particular compartment, which has been unlocked is located on the housing in view of the purchaser.
  • the advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the purchaser is directed to the unlocked compartment where he can access the portion of the food product, for which he has paid.
  • the compartment, which has been unlocked can have an external appearance which is the same as all the other compartments and yet the purchaser will be able to find the open compartment with the aid of the identifying means.
  • the identifying means is a display screen.
  • a display screen such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) can be used to display the number of the compartment, which has been unlocked following the insertion of the appropriate amount of coins into the coin-input mechanism.
  • LCD Liquid Crystal Display
  • the identifying means is an individual illuminating indicator associated with each compartment.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine in accordance with the invention
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, from the front, of part of the unlocked compartment of the vending machine, illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig, 3 is a schematic representation of the components of the vending machine of Fig. 1.
  • a vending machine for dispensing individual portions of a food product, such as standard trays of hen eggs, containing thirty eggs in an array of 5x6.
  • the vending machine 10 consists of a housing 11 with a front section 12 in which a plurality of lockable compartments 13 are arranged in two vertical columns 14 and 15 one on either side of a central elongate panel 16.
  • a coin-input mechanism 17 is centrally mounted in panel 16.
  • a control unit in the form of a programmable logic controller and an SMS texting module (not shown) are mounted behind a lockable access door 18 located below panel 16. The access door 18 is locked by a pair of locks 19, 19'.
  • An antenna 20, for the SMS texting module is mounted at position
  • An LCD screen 23 is mounted in panel 16, above the coin-input mechanism 17, on which screen 23 the currently unlocked compartment is identified.
  • Vending machine 10 is illustrated in Fig. 1 with one compartment, shown generally at 24, in an unlocked and empty state.
  • compartment 24 is illustrated in more detail, and has a front door 25, shown in a raised position.
  • a hinge 26 together with a similar hinge (not shown) connect door 25 to the housing 11.
  • a bracket 27 is attached to a side 28 of the door 25.
  • a circular hole 29 in the bracket 27 cooperates with one of a plurality of spring-loaded solenoids 30, one per compartment 13, the spring-loaded solenoid 30 being located in a side 31 of the compartment 24.
  • the solenoid 30 engages in hole 29, in the locked position.
  • the hub of vending machine 10 is a programmable logic controller 40, which is connected to the coin-input mechanism 17 and a switch unit 41.
  • the controller 40 is also connected to the LCD screen 23 and the plurality of spring-loaded solenoids 30.
  • the SMS texting module 42 is connected to the controller 40.
  • a standard tray, containing thirty hen eggs is loaded into each compartmentl3 and each door 25 is moved to the locked position with the solenoid 30 engaged in the corresponding hole 29.
  • the programmable logic controller 40 is reset using the switch unit 41 and the machine 10 is now ready for the first customer.
  • the first customer places an appropriate amount of coins in the coin-input mechanism 17 and this triggers the programmable logic controller 40 to energise the spring-loaded solenoid 30 of a first compartment 13, in a preset sequence of compartments 13 to be opened.
  • the location of the first compartment 13 is indicated on the LCD screen 23.
  • the customer now has a set time, which is programmable, e.g. thirty seconds, in which to remove the tray of eggs from the first compartment 13.
  • the spring-loaded solenoid 30 will revert to the locked position. If the tray of eggs has been removed the door 25 can be returned to the locked position, as the bracket 27 will ride over the solenoid 30 until the solenoid 30 engages the hole 29.
  • the solenoid 30 relocks the first compartment and the coins are returned to the customer.
  • the programmable logic controller 40 When there are only a preset number of compartments 13 containing a tray of eggs, left, e.g. four, the programmable logic controller 40 will initiate the sending of a text message, through the SMS texting module 42, to alert the owner to the situation.
  • the programmable logic controller 40 also gathers and records data on the usage of the machine 10, which is forwarded to the owner, as a text message, at preset times.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un distributeur automatique (10) distribuant des portions individuelles d'un produit alimentaire fragile, tel que des œufs, est doté d'un boîtier (11) dans lequel une pluralité de compartiments verrouillables (13) sont disposés. Un mécanisme d'introduction de pièces (17) et un écran à cristaux liquides (23) sont montés dans un panneau (7) sur la partie avant (12) du boîtier (11). Lorsque de l'argent est introduit dans le distributeur (10) en utilisation, un contrôleur programmable (non représenté) déverrouille le compartiment suivant (13) suivant qui contient une portion du produit alimentaire. Lorsque de l'agent est à nouveau introduit dans le distributeur (10), le compartiment (13) suivant est déverrouillé dans une séquence prédéterminée. Lorsqu'il ne reste plus que quelques compartiments (13) contenant des produits alimentaires, le contrôleurprogrammable (non représenté) envoie un message texte au propriétaire l'avertissant de la situation.
PCT/IE2007/000053 2006-05-09 2007-05-08 Distributeur automatique WO2007129291A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0820329A GB2451040A (en) 2006-05-09 2008-11-06 Vending machine

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IE2006/0371 2006-05-09
IE2006/0371A IE85021B1 (en) 2006-05-09 Vending machine

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007129291A1 true WO2007129291A1 (fr) 2007-11-15

Family

ID=38294255

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IE2007/000053 WO2007129291A1 (fr) 2006-05-09 2007-05-08 Distributeur automatique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2451040A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007129291A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202014010265U1 (de) 2014-10-16 2015-08-14 Ktl Beteiligungs- Und Beratungsgesellschaft Mbh Waren- oder Dienstleistungsautomat sowie Baugruppe und Steuerung für einen solchen Automaten
CN106683273A (zh) * 2016-07-14 2017-05-17 合肥人和节能环保设备制造有限公司 一种无人配餐系统
CN106683282A (zh) * 2016-07-14 2017-05-17 合肥人和节能环保设备制造有限公司 一种配餐车快速配餐方法
CN108346222A (zh) * 2018-03-07 2018-07-31 浙江佑昌电力技术有限公司 便餐自动售卖系统及方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6131399A (en) * 1997-12-04 2000-10-17 Hall; Donald M. Refrigerated vending machine
US20020128932A1 (en) * 2001-03-12 2002-09-12 Yung Hon Ching Wireless purchase and on-line inventory apparatus and method for vending machines
WO2004019289A1 (fr) * 2002-08-16 2004-03-04 Deutsche Post Ag Procede permettant de faire fonctionner un distributeur automatique et systeme de vente associe
GB2414473A (en) * 2004-05-24 2005-11-30 Whitecastle Invest Ltd Automatic vending machine

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6131399A (en) * 1997-12-04 2000-10-17 Hall; Donald M. Refrigerated vending machine
US20020128932A1 (en) * 2001-03-12 2002-09-12 Yung Hon Ching Wireless purchase and on-line inventory apparatus and method for vending machines
WO2004019289A1 (fr) * 2002-08-16 2004-03-04 Deutsche Post Ag Procede permettant de faire fonctionner un distributeur automatique et systeme de vente associe
GB2414473A (en) * 2004-05-24 2005-11-30 Whitecastle Invest Ltd Automatic vending machine

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202014010265U1 (de) 2014-10-16 2015-08-14 Ktl Beteiligungs- Und Beratungsgesellschaft Mbh Waren- oder Dienstleistungsautomat sowie Baugruppe und Steuerung für einen solchen Automaten
WO2016058702A1 (fr) 2014-10-16 2016-04-21 Klrs Innovation Gmbh Distributeur automatique de marchandises ou de services ainsi que module et commande pour un tel automate
DE102014015216A1 (de) 2014-10-16 2016-04-21 Klrs Innovation Gmbh Waren- oder Dienstleistungsautomat sowie Baugruppe und Steuerung für einen solchen Automaten
CN106683273A (zh) * 2016-07-14 2017-05-17 合肥人和节能环保设备制造有限公司 一种无人配餐系统
CN106683282A (zh) * 2016-07-14 2017-05-17 合肥人和节能环保设备制造有限公司 一种配餐车快速配餐方法
CN108346222A (zh) * 2018-03-07 2018-07-31 浙江佑昌电力技术有限公司 便餐自动售卖系统及方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0820329D0 (en) 2008-12-17
IE20060371A1 (en) 2008-02-06
GB2451040A (en) 2009-01-14

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