WO2008138354A1

WO2008138354A1 - High volume stack storage and rack dispenser for good packages using it

Info

Publication number: WO2008138354A1
Application number: PCT/EA2008/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikhail Skorik
Original assignee: Mikhail Skorik
Priority date: 2007-05-10
Filing date: 2008-03-06
Publication date: 2008-11-20
Also published as: EA200701024A1; EA010195B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-volume stack storage used in the internal device of single-piece dispensers of good packages and automatic dispensing machines and to a variant of a rack dispenser of packages using said storage. The inventive storage makes it possible to storing a great number of good packages in a small space and continuously supply said packages to a dispensing device until the storage is totally empty. In the preferred manner, the device is designed for dealing with preformed or likely packed goods, for example with packed juices, drinking water bottles, packs of cigarettes etc. The rack dispenser of packages makes it possible to improve the efficiency of use of selling spaces of supermarkets in terms of the number of packages stored per a surface unit of a hall area and simultaneously provide the largest part of the face surface of the dispenser for advertising.

Description

High-capacity stacker and Rack-dispenser of product packaging using it.

The present invention relates to commercial equipment, in particular, the invention is a storage device intended for use in the internal device of packaging dispensers and vending machines, as well as using this storage device, a variant of a rack-dispenser of product packaging. This option of using the drive is not exclusive, therefore, the drive can also be used in the device of other dispensers, vending machines and other equipment. The drive compactly stores a large number of packages of goods and ensures their continuous, up to complete emptying, sequential supply to any delivery device.

The device is best suited for handling briquetted or similarly packaged goods, for example, packaged juices, bottles of drinking water, packs of cigarettes, etc.

A number of storage and dispensing devices of stack type goods are known, for example, a dispensing device for cigarette packs US3858757 (1975), consisting of a structure containing a vertical stack of product packages lying on top of each other and a recess window at the lower end of the stack where goods are delivered to the window due to the natural lowering of the stack of packages as the goods are removed from the window. The disadvantages of the known device are the small capacity of the drive and the inconvenience of using heavy packages for storage, due to possible damage to the lower ones due to the overlying weight.

A number of storage and dispensing packages are also known, where the supply of goods for removal is carried out mechanically by means of a moving selector carriage. For example, the device of the vending machine GB1207567 (1970), consisting of horizontally arranged one above the other rows of shelves and a selector carriage moving in a vertical plane. The disadvantages of such devices are the design complexity and high cost due to the presence of moving parts and

.. i __ the need for electric or other drives to ensure the mobility of the selector mechanism.

A number of devices for storing and dispensing a serpentine type for storing and dispensing bottles of beverages are known. For example, a device for dispensing cans of US2888145 (1959), a container for bottled drinks US4998628 (1991), or a device for storing bottles of drinking water CA2360320 (2002), consisting of rows of shelves located one above the other and forming a kind of serpentine on which the bottles roll freely the window of the recess of the goods at the lower end. The disadvantages of the known devices of this type are their dependence on the shape of the packages, namely on their ability to roll.

There are a number of devices for storing and dispensing goods by type of racks with inclined shelves. For example, shelving dispenser JP10234532 (1998) and display dispenser WO2006012702 (2006). These devices consist of shelves with bumpers located one above the other, tilted towards the customer with the inclined arrays of product packages standing on them. Customers remove packages by pulling extreme packages from the shelves up and onto themselves. The disadvantages of the known devices of this type are their insufficiently large capacity and the need to find all the shelves in the reach zone by the hand of the buyer.

The objective of the invention is to create a simple and capacious design of the drive packaging of goods that can work with briquetted or similarly packaged products, compact storage of a large number of packages of goods and ensure consistent and continuous, up to the complete emptying of the drive, feeding them to the dispenser, where it is made removal of packages by customers.

The main scope of the present invention is intended to be used as a drive in the internal device of vending machines and piece dispensers of product packaging. The invention also allows making available to the buyer, including shelving racks, located at a height significantly greater than the reach of a person’s hand. Moreover, a very significant surface the case of a vending machine or a packaging dispenser, one that is not occupied by dispensing devices, can be used for advertising.

The problem is solved by improving the known design of the stack drive, consisting of a box (1), Fi.1, containing a stack of packages (3), by adding one or more shelves (2) that open ends to the inside of the box through special holes in him. The shelves are located relative to the stack in such a way that the additional packages of goods (4) standing on them are constantly under the action of a force trying to move the entire array of packages along the shelves towards the stack (3), but at the same time they are prevented from falling into it by the stack itself packages until its level drops below the level of any of the shelves. When, as a result of the withdrawal of goods by consumers, the stack level naturally falls below this level, the packages will begin to slide off the stack one by one, settling on free places in it and, thereby, ensuring its automatic replenishment. The specified process is repeated again and again each time when the goods are taken out by the buyers from the dispenser (and, therefore, the next lowering of the stack) and will continue until the shelf is empty first, then the underlying ones, and ultimately the entire drive. In this case, various options for the implementation of the drive design are possible, differing, for example, in the ways of applying force to the packages of goods on the shelves. In particular, the shelves (2) can be slightly inclined relative to the horizon (Figure 2, Figure 7) and the packages (4) will slide off from them under the influence of gravity, or they can be strictly horizontal (Figure 5) and then the sliding of the packages is ensured by the application of force to them using any special device (7), for example, a spring. The position of the box (1) relative to the vertical for the functioning of the device is not so significant and in different design options it can be both strictly vertical (Figure 2, Figure 5), and inclined (Figure 7). The essential distinguishing features of the invention are the introduction of shelves for placing additional packages of goods and their location relative to the stack of packages so that the mechanism for its automatic replenishment described above becomes possible. 105 As additional improvements aimed at improving the operational properties of the drive, it is proposed to make the surface of the shelves from roller grilles (6, Fig. C) to reduce friction, use special smoothing tabs (5, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6) at the ends of the shelves to prevent jamming of packages falling into

On the stack, as they pass by those on the shelves, use a shock-absorbing elevator (Fig. 9), made in the form of a closed tape with shelves covering one of the walls of the box and use longitudinal dividers (12, 13, 11) inside the box as well as on shelves for the possibility of simultaneous, independent storage of several

115 tastes or varieties of goods inside one device as well as adapting it to various packaging formats.

The box can end with a dispensing device, for example, made in the form of a fragment thereof (8, Fig. 8) with a plug or an emphasis in the lower part and a cutout in the side wall, the removal of goods from which is carried out by

120 removal of the packaging in the direction perpendicular to the natural movement of the packages.

Also, the dispensing device can be separate from the drive, for example, it can be one of the shelves of the rack (15, Fig. 14). The indicated two versions of the delivery device

125 are exhaustive and possibly many implementations compatible with the present invention.

Loading and replenishing the drive with goods is carried out by installing packages (4) on the shelves (2) of the drive. Moreover, with an empty stack (3), the packages will first slip into it, and then, as it increases

130 levels, and stay on the shelves, forming inclined arrays on them. It is advisable to fill the shelves sequentially upward, starting from the lowest.

Another objective of this invention is to increase the capacity of 135 known rack-dispenser with inclined shelves, which are usually used in the trading floors of supermarkets for storage and delivery of packages of goods to the buyer. The problem is solved by improving the known design of the rack-dispenser with inclined shelves (Fig) by

140 adding to it the drive described above, while one of the shelves (15) of the rack acts as a device for dispensing packages to the buyer. For this, the outlet of the duct box (1, Fig. 13) of the drive is located relative to the shelf of the rack (15) so that when shifting the entire inclined array of packages (16) on the shelves, due to the notch

145 buyers of the next package from the shelf rack, packaging (3), leaving the drive would be installed in the empty seats formed in the upper part of the shelf shelf. At the same time, the packaging leaving the box (3), the packaging on the shelf (16), the wall of the box (1) and the belt elevator (9) are mutually wedged using special

150 wedge-shaped stops (18) on the tape, which delays the exit of the package from the box, but at the same time, does not prevent the entire array of packages from moving along the shelf of the rack (15) to the place of their removal by customers. When, due to the removal of packaging from the shelf by customers, the array of packages (16) on this shelf is displaced, the new package (3) freely leaves the box

155 drives and is installed on the formed place at the upper end of this shelf shelf. Thus, the replenishment of the indicated shelf of the rack with goods will occur automatically, up to the complete emptying of the drive.

160 The invention gives the effect of a significant increase in the capacity of racks and the usefulness of the use of floor space of the trading floor as it allows access to shelves located at a height significantly exceeding the reach of a human hand. The invention gives a particular effect when, for reasons of convenience and safety,

165 such packages are not even placed at the maximum available height for the buyer, but, as a rule, at a level not exceeding half the human height. This is the case, for example, in the case of bulk or heavy packages of goods, such as bottles of drinking water, diapers, etc.

170 Given the above, the orientation of the drive relative to the shelves of the rack can be different, allowing loading both from the issuing side to the buyer and from the opposite side. In the first In this case, the drive box will be located at the rear of the rack and its shelves will be tilted in the direction opposite to the shelves of the rack. Such an arrangement 175 seems to be the most convenient in practice, since it allows you to place the device close to the wall, but, nevertheless, does not exhaust the possible options for the orientation of the drive relative to the shelves of the rack.

180 A number of figures are attached to illustrate all of the above. Figure 1 illustrates the General view of the drive and demonstrates its most significant features, namely the presence of shelves (2) and their location relative to the box (1) and the stack of packages (3). In this figure, a section of the box is cut out to display the elements hidden behind it. Shown here

185 are also smoothing tabs (5) and it can be seen that the surface of the shelves can be made in the form of roller gratings (6). Figure 2, Figure 5 and Figure 7 show some perspective options for practical use of the drive, differing in the position of the shelves (2) relative to the box (1) and the way the packages (4) slide off them onto the stack

190 (3). Figure 2 shows a side sectional view of a variant of the device in which the shelves (2) are located at a slight angle to the horizontal, and the box (1) is made vertical. Here, the packaging (4) slides from the shelves to the stack under the influence of gravity. Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 are local sectional views and serve to illustrate the action.

195 smoothing reeds (5), which in this case are made in the form of wedges suspended by a sharp end, and made so that the wedge fills the space formed by the faces of the packages (4) standing on the shelves and packages in the box (3). In Fig. 3 it is seen that when lowering the level of the stack, the tongue (5) does not prevent the packages (4) from sliding off the shelves inwards

200 boxes, but at the same time, as shown in FIG. 4, it does not allow them to catch on corners when the packages in the box go down passing by the packages on the shelves. Also in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, enlarged fragments of a shelf (2) are visible, the surface of which is made in the form of a roller grill (6) to reduce friction, which facilitates the sliding of packages (4) along the shelves (2)

205 under the influence of its own weight and allows to reduce the angle of their inclination.

Figure 5 shows a variant of the device in which the shelves (2) are horizontal and the box (1) is vertical and the packages (4) slide off the shelves here is ensured by applying an external force using a special device (7), for example, a spring, as shown in

210 figures. Since the shelves and the stack are made mutually perpendicular, the planes of the faces of the packages in the stack and on the shelves will be parallel and the packages will slide off the shelves into the stack with less obstacles. Figure 6 shows an enlarged local view, where it is seen that the smoothing tabs (5) in this embodiment of the device can be flat.

215 Fig. 7 shows another possible arrangement of shelves in which the shelves (2) are perpendicular to the box (1), while the structure itself is tilted relative to the vertical by a certain angle. Thus, the sliding of the packages (4) from the shelves onto the stack here, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, occurs under the influence of gravity. The

The 220 variant has the advantages of the previous two - the parallelism of the faces of the packaging and the simplicity of design and can find application, for example, in hanging wall dispensers.

On Fig shows a variant of the drive, in which the box ends with the issuing device (8), which is a continuation of the box (1), it

225 a small fragment deflected at some angle with a plug or an emphasis in the lower end and a cutout in the side wall. The removal of packages from it is carried out by removing the package in a direction perpendicular to the direction of its natural progress in the box. Fig.9 and Fig.10 shows a device where a shock absorber is applied

230 to ensure smooth lowering of packages in the box and prevent their deformation. The elevator is a closed tape (9) with shelves (10) covering one of the walls of the box and thrown over the rollers (11). At the same time, the shelves of the tape can be made automatically folding during their reverse movement up. Same as shown in

235 Fig. 14, the tape may have additional stops (18) that serve to wedge and, as a result, stop the elevator until the buyer removes the packaging from the dispenser, which in this embodiment is one of the shelves (15) shelving. 11 shows a variant of the drive using longitudinal

240 separators (12) and (13) on the shelves and in the box to realize the possibility of simultaneous storage and independent supply to the dispenser of packages of different formats and with different contents (tastes). With the same the goal is also possible to combine individual drives with the same external overall dimensions by connecting them into blocks. Wherein

245 some of these individual drives, or all at once, can be adapted to work each with its own standard packaging of products - packaging of a certain volume and / or manufacturer of the product. On Fig shows a rack consisting of racks (14) two inclined

250 shelves (15) with restrictive sides (17). In the upper part of the rack is the drive described above, consisting of a box (1) and shelves (2), while the supply of packages (3) of goods from the drive is made to the second shelf (15) of the rack, at its upper end. On Fig shows the same rack in section, side view. In this case

255 shows a variant of a drive with a shock-absorbing elevator consisting of a tape (9) with shelves (10) thrown over the rollers (11). Here, it is assumed that buyers will approach the rack on the left and take out the extreme packages (16) of the goods from the shelves (15) of the rack, pulling them up and onto themselves. Spontaneous dumping of packages with

260 shelves of shelving are prevented by the sides (17). At the same time, only one of them is replenished from the drive, which will serve in this case as a delivery device.

On Fig shows in detail how the wedging occurs, namely: the lower edge of the package (3) emerging from the box (1) abuts against the side

265 face of the outermost packaging (16) on the shelf of the rack, while the packaging (3), packaging (16), the box wall (1) and the belt elevator (9) are mutually wedged with special wedge-shaped stops (18) on the tape, which delays the exit packaging (3) from the box, but at the same time, does not prevent the shift of the entire array of packages (16) along the shelf to

270 place of their removal by buyers. When, due to the removal of the package by the buyer, the array of packages (16) is shifted down and to the side, a new package (3) freely leaves the drive and is installed in the formed place at the upper end of this array. In Fig. 12, the shelves of the drive (2) and the rack (15) are inclined in different

275 sides. The surfaces of all shelves are made in the form of roller gratings (6). Also, the shelves and box of the drive are made wide enough to accommodate several rows of packages of goods, while on the shelves and in the box any of the previously mentioned improvements can be applied, such as longitudinal dividers on the shelves, tongues, shock-absorbing elevator and their 280 combinations.

Bibliographic data.

US3858757, A47F1 / 08; Langdon Jr Ricard H, 1975.

Patent GB1207567, G07F11 / 06, Schuller J Thomas; Shorth Williams Nudsop, 1970.288 Patent US2888145, A47F1 / 08H, Fred Kött Joserh, Simop Neselov, 1959.

Patent US4998628, A47F1 / 08H, Ross E Ricard, 1991.

Patent CA2360320, A47F1 / 08H, A47F7 / 28, Laeu-pesse, Voorboppais, 2002.

Patent JP10234532, Sakai, Tapiguchi, 1998.

Patent Application WO2006012702, Masquepe, Mippisi, 2006.290

Claims

CLAIM

1. A stacked drive of increased capacity, carrying out storage and delivery of packages of goods to the dispenser, consisting of a box (1), comprising a stack (3) of packages of goods, characterized in that one or more shelves (2) are additionally inserted for placement additional packages (4) of goods on them, perpendicular to the box or at an angle to it and extending open ends inside it through special openings in it, with the shelves located relative to the stack of packages so that when lowering the level with ESA levels below next shelf is its automatic replenishment by sliding new packs (4) from the shelves in the stack.

2. The drive according to claim 1., Characterized in that the shelves are located at an angle to the horizon and the packaging slides from the shelves to the stack spontaneously, under the action of gravity.

3. The drive according to claim 1., Characterized in that the shelves are horizontal and the packaging slides from the shelves to the stack under the action of an external force applied to them by means of a special device (7).

4. The drive according to any one of claims 1 to 3., Characterized in that in order to reduce friction, the surfaces of the shelves are made in the form of roller gratings (6).

5. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4., Characterized in that special smoothing tongues (5) are used to prevent jamming of packages of goods in the stack (3) when they are lowered down and passing by packages (4) standing on shelves.

6. A drive according to any one of claims 1 to 5., Characterized in that the shelves and the stack can have one or more longitudinal dividers (12, 13) to enable simultaneous storage and independent delivery to the dispensing devices of packages of various formats and variations of product tastes .

7. A drive according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the box ends with a unit delivery device (8), which is a continuation of the box or a fragment deviated at an angle, with a stop at the lower end and a cutout in the side wall, allowing the removal of the package from it in the direction perpendicular to the natural movement of the packages.

8. The drive according to any one of claims 1 to 7., Characterized in that to prevent deformation and damage to the packages in the stack under the action of the weight of the superiors, the packages are lowered using a special shock-absorbing elevator made in the form of a closed tape (9) with shelves (10 ) thrown over the rollers (11) and located along one of the walls of the box.

9. Rack-dispenser of product packages, consisting of one or more inclined shelves (15) located one above the other with product packages (16) standing on them, characterized in that at least one drive is located in the upper part of the rack according to any one p. 1-8. and the supply of packages from which is made to one of the shelves of the rack, while the stack (3) of packages in the drive and the array of packages (16) on the shelf of the rack are located in such a way that when removing packages from the shelf of the rack, the array of packages on this shelf is automatically replenished by supply of new packages from the drive and their installation on free places in it.

10. Rack-dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the surface of the shelves of the rack is made in the form of roller grilles.

11. Dispenser rack according to any one of p. 9-10., Characterized in that the drive is located so that its shelves (2) are tilted in the direction opposite to the shelves of the rack (15) and the product is loaded with the same side as and packing removal by customers.

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