WO2008141396A1 - Appareil de distribution de gobelets - Google Patents

Appareil de distribution de gobelets Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008141396A1
WO2008141396A1 PCT/AU2008/000733 AU2008000733W WO2008141396A1 WO 2008141396 A1 WO2008141396 A1 WO 2008141396A1 AU 2008000733 W AU2008000733 W AU 2008000733W WO 2008141396 A1 WO2008141396 A1 WO 2008141396A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cup
support
opening
dispensing apparatus
support member
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2008/000733
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Brian Carroll
Original Assignee
The Hot Chips 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
Priority claimed from AU2007902754A external-priority patent/AU2007902754A0/en
Application filed by The Hot Chips Company filed Critical The Hot Chips Company
Publication of WO2008141396A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008141396A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
    • A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
    • A47F1/08—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom
    • A47F1/10—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom having mechanical dispensing means, e.g. with buttons or handles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
    • A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
    • A47F1/08—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom
    • A47F1/085—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom for nested articles, e.g. cups, cones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G59/00—De-stacking of articles
    • B65G59/10—De-stacking nested articles
    • B65G59/107—De-stacking nested articles by means of rotary devices or endless elements
    • B65G59/108—De-stacking nested articles by means of rotary devices or endless elements the axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the axis of the stack

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cup dispenser particularly, but not exclusively, for dispensing disposable cups in a vending machine.
  • a cup dispensing apparatus for dispensing cups, the apparatus comprising: a support system having an upper surface and a lower surface, the support system arranged about an opening which is dimensioned to allow a cup to pass there through, the support system being movable to sequentially move the upper and lower surfaces into and out of the opening, wherein a first motion of the support system moves the upper surface from the opening and extends the lower surface into the opening whereby a cup initially supported on the upper surface drops to the lower surface, and a second motion of the support system moves the lower support surface from the opening allowing the cup to pass through the aperture and moves the upper support surface into the opening to support a next cup.
  • the support system comprises at least two rotatable support members and wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the support system are distributed amongst the support members wherein each support member comprises a portion of both upper and lower surfaces.
  • the upper and lower support surfaces may be circumferentially offset from each other.
  • a cup dispensing apparatus for dispensing cups, the apparatus comprising: at least two rotatable support members, each support member having an upper surface and a lower surface; the support members retained about an opening which is dimensioned to allow a cup to pass there through; the upper and lower surfaces progressively moved into and moved from the opening when the support members are rotated, wherein a first rotary motion of the support members progressively moves the upper surface from the opening and moves the lower surface into the opening whereby a cup initially supported on the upper surface drops to the lower surface, and a second rotary motion of the support member progressively moves the lower surface from the opening, allowing a cup previously supported thereon to pass through the aperture and progressively moves the upper surface into the opening to support a next cup.
  • Each support member may further comprise a cam surface on an underside of the upper surface, the cam surface configured to engage a cup supported on the lower surface and push that cup through the aperture when the lower surface is moved from the opening.
  • the upper and lower support surfaces may be circumferentially spaced from each other to form a gap in a circumferential direction between the upper and lower surfaces .
  • the cup dispensing apparatus further comprises a drive system for moving with support members by way of a rotary motion in opposite directions.
  • the drive system may comprise a drive member located below the opening and defining an aperture through which a cup passing through the opening also passes, the drive member engaging each of the support members whereby the motion of the drive member imparts rotational motion to the support members.
  • the drive member comprises a drive pin for each support member, each drive pin engaging a respective support member at a location offset from an axis of rotation of that support member .
  • each support member is provided with a radially extending slot for receiving a respective drive pin.
  • the drive system further comprises a motor for rotating the drive member in the opposite directions.
  • the drive system may further comprise a reciprocating transmission converting rotary motion of the motor to an oscillatory motion of the drive member.
  • the cup dispensing apparatus may further comprise a body defining the opening and wherein the drive member is coupled to the body in a manner whereby the drive member can rotate relative to the body.
  • the support members may be located between the body and the drive member.
  • the cup dispensing apparatus may further comprise an axle for each support member, wherein each support member is mounted on and rotatable about a respective axle, each axle forming the axis of rotation for that support member, the axles extending between the body and the drive member.
  • a third aspect of this invention provides a support member for use in a system for dispensing nested articles each article having a protruding lip, the support member comprising: a body having an upper surface and a lower surface where the lower surface is circumferentially offset from the upper surface, the body being rotatable about an axis wherein a lip of an article supported on the upper surface drops to the lower surface when the support member is rotated about the axis.
  • the support member may further comprise a cam surface located below the upper surface, the cam surface being circumferentially offset from the lower surface and configured to engage the lip of an article supported on the lower surface.
  • the cam surface may have a lowest point which is disposed below the lower surface. Further, the upper and lower surfaces may be circumferentially spaced apart to form a gap there between.
  • this invention provides a cup dispensing apparatus comprising: a plurality of support members according to the third aspect of this invention where the support members are retained about an opening dimensioned to allow a cup to pass therethrough; and, drive system coupled with the support member to rotate the support members about their respective axes, wherein a first rotary motion of the support members progressively moves the upper surface from the opening and moves the lower surface into the opening whereby a cup initially supported on the upper surface drops to the lower surface, and a second rotary motion of the support member progressively moves the lower surface from the opening, allowing a cup previously supported thereon to pass through the aperture and progressively moves the upper surface into the opening to support a next cup.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a portion of a cup dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of a support member incorporated in the cup dispensing apparatus depicted in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3a is a top view of the support member shown in Figure 2;
  • Figure 3b is a partial cut away view from the side of the support member shown in Figure 2 ;
  • Figure 3c is a bottom view of the support member shown in Figure 2 ;
  • Figure 4 is a top view of a portion of a drive system incorporated in the cup dispensing apparatus;
  • Figure 5 is a section view through the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the cup dispensing apparatus view from above.
  • FIGS. 7a and 7b are schematic representations of a portion of the apparatus in operation. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
  • a cup dispensing apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a support system 12 having an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 16. As explained in greater detail below, the upper surface 14 and lower surface 16 is distributed amongst individual support members 18.
  • the support system 12 is arranged about an opening 20 which is dimensioned to allow a cup 22 to pass therethrough. More particularly, the support system 12 is movable to sequentially move the upper surface 14 and lower surface 16 into and out of the opening 20 to thereby allow a cup 22 to pass through the opening 20 and thus be dispensed from the dispensing apparatus 10.
  • a first motion of the support system 12 which in this instance is a rotary motion in a first, and more particularly a clockwise, direction moves the upper surface 14 from the opening 20 and the lower surface 16 into the opening 20 so that a cup 22 initially supported on the upper surface 14 drops to the lower surface 16.
  • a second motion of the support system 12 in this instance being a rotary motion a second, and more particularly an anticlockwise, direction moves the lower surface 16 from the opening 20 so that the cup previously supported on the lower surface 16 is now free to fall through the opening 20 while the upper surface 14 is moved into the opening 20 to support the next cup.
  • the motion of the upper and lower surfaces 14, 16 into and out of the opening 20 may be considered to be or equated with extension into and retraction from the opening 20.
  • Figures 2 - 3c depict in greater detail a support member 18 incorporated in the support system 12.
  • the support member 18 comprises a body in the form of a profiled wheel 24 provided with a central axial bore 26 and an upper radial face 28 a part of which constitutes the upper surface 14.
  • a landing 30 is recessed into a quadrant 32 of the upper radial face 28 in an axial direction to expose and form the lower surface 16.
  • the upper and lower surfaces 14 and 16 are circumferentially spaced from each other to form a gap 34 between radial edges 36 and 38 of the upper and lower surfaces 14 and 16 respectively.
  • a cam surface 40 is formed on an undersurface of the upper support surface 14.
  • the cam surface is circumferentially offset from the lower surface 16 and also extends to a point 41 which is disposed below the lower surface 16.
  • the cam surface 40 acts to assist in detaching a cup from a stack 82 of cups and forcing or otherwise pushing the cup through the opening 20.
  • a radially extending slot 42 is formed in each support member 18 and opens onto a lower radial face 44 of the support member 18.
  • the cup dispensing apparatus 10 also comprises a drive system 46 for moving the support system 12, and more particularly the support members 18, in opposite directions.
  • the drive system 46 includes a motor 48, a drive member in the form of a plate 50 and a transmission 51 converting rotary motion from the motor 48 to an reciprocating oscillatory motion that is imparted to the drive member, i.e. plate 50, and subsequently transmitted to the support system 12 and support members 18.
  • the plate 50 is located below the opening 20 and defines an aperture 52 coaxial with the opening 20 through which a cup 22 that passes through the opening 20 can also pass .
  • the plate 50 engages each of the support members 18 in a manner whereby reciprocating oscillatory motion of the plate 50 is imparted to the support members 18. This is achieved by providing a plurality of upright drive pins 53 on the plate 50 where each pin 53 rides the slot 42 and engages a respective support member 18 at a location offset from an axis of rotation 54 of each support member 18.
  • the axis of rotation 54 is parallel with the axial bore 26.
  • Each of the support members 18 is mounted on a respective axle 56 that extends through the axial bore 26 and is attached at an upper end to a body 58 of the apparatus 10.
  • the body 58 forms part of a cup receptacle (shown in Figure 6) for holding a stack 82 of cups 22 to dispensed.
  • the opening 20 is formed in the body 58.
  • the body 58 supports the motor 48 of the drive system 46.
  • the plate 50 is supported or suspended from the body 58 in a manner allowing the plate 50 to rotate relative to the body 58. This is achieved in this embodiment by providing a plurality of rollers 60 each provided with circumferential grooves 62 for seating an outer edge of the plate 50.
  • the rollers 60 are supported by stems 64 attached to and depending from an underside of the body 58.
  • the transmission 51 comprises a gearbox 66 having an output shaft 68 which in turn is locked by a screw 70 to one end of a lever arm 72.
  • An opposite end of the lever arm supports a roller 74 that is coupled in a longitudinal slot 76 formed in a radially extending lug 78 of the plate 50.
  • Torque from the motor 46 is transferred through the gearbox 66 to the shaft 68 causing the lever arm 72 to rotate.
  • the rotation of the lever arm 72 causes a reciprocating oscillatory motion of the plate 50 by virtue of the engagement of the roller 74 in the slot 76.
  • a stack 80 of cups 22 is loaded into the cup dispensing apparatus 10 and the support system 12 is in an initial position where the upper surface 14 extends into the opening 20. Accordingly a lower most one of the cups 22 in the stack 80 is supported on the upper surface 14. This is depicted in particular in Figure 7a which shows an upper rim or lip 82 of the cup 22 being supported on the upper surface 14 of a support member 18.
  • the drive member 50 When the drive system 46 is operated, the drive member 50 is rotated in the clockwise direction causing the support system 12 and in particular each support member 18 to also rotate in the clockwise direction. As this occurs, the upper surface 14 is progressively moved or retracted from the opening 20 while the lower surface 16 is progressively moved or extended into the opening 20. Eventually during this cycle, the upper support surface 14 will be retracted from beneath the lip 82 and the cup 22 will fall a short distance through the opening 20 so that the lip 82 is now supported on the lower surface 16. The dropping of the cup between the upper surface 14 and lower surface 16 is assisted by the provision of the gap 34.
  • the drive system 46 will commence to rotate the drive member 50 in the opposite, i.e. anticlockwise direction.
  • the lower surface 16 is progressively rotated out of or retracted from the opening 20 and more particularly retracted from beneath the lip 82.
  • the cup 22 is unsupported and therefore is free to fall through the opening 20 and thus can be dispensed.
  • the cam surface 40 may abut an upper surface of the lip 82 thereby further pushing the cup 22 from the opening 20. This may be of assistance in overcoming any electrostatic forces that may otherwise hold the lowermost cup 22 to the next cup in the stack 80.
  • the upper surface 14 is progressively- extended into the opening 20 so as to support the underside of the lip 82 of the next cup in the stack 80.
  • the support system 12 is depicted as comprising a plurality of, and in particular six, support members 18. However different numbers of support members 18 may be incorporated. Further, the support system 12 which sequentially moves vertically displaced upper and lower surfaces into and out of an opening 20 can be functionally reproduced to produce the same effect as the present embodiment in various ways including for example the provision of an upper and lower (i.e.
  • irises which can be operated to sequentially increase and decrease their respective inner diameters so that a cup supported on the upper iris can be dropped to a lower iris by increasing the inner diameter of the upper iris and subsequently, a cup that has dropped onto the lower iris can be dispensed by increasing the inner diameter of the lower iris while simultaneously decreasing the inner diameter of the upper iris so as to support the next cup and indeed the stack of cups .

Landscapes

  • Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de distribution de gobelets (10) comprenant un système de support (12) constitué d'une pluralité d'éléments de support individuels (18). Chaque élément du support (18) présente une surface supérieure (14) et une surface inférieure (16). Les éléments de support (18) sont disposés autour d'une ouverture (20) dimensionnée pour pouvoir faire passer un gobelet (22). La rotation de chaque élément de support (18) dans une première direction permet de déplacer la surface supérieure (14) ou de la faire se retracter par rapport à l'ouverture (20) tandis que la surface inférieure (16) s'étend progressivement dans l'ouverture (20) de sorte que le gobelet (22) soutenu à l'origine par la surface supérieure (14) tombe sur la surface inférieure (16). La rotation des éléments de support (18) en sens opposé fait que la surface inférieure (16) se rétracte par rapport à l'ouverture de sorte qu'un gobelet soutenu par la surface supérieure (16) puisse tomber librement par l'ouverture (20). Pendant ce déplacement, la surface supérieure (14) se replace dans l'ouverture (20) pour servir de support au gobelet suivant (22).
PCT/AU2008/000733 2007-05-23 2008-05-23 Appareil de distribution de gobelets WO2008141396A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2007902754A AU2007902754A0 (en) 2007-05-23 Cup dispensing apparatus
AU2007902754 2007-05-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008141396A1 true WO2008141396A1 (fr) 2008-11-27

Family

ID=40031333

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2008/000733 WO2008141396A1 (fr) 2007-05-23 2008-05-23 Appareil de distribution de gobelets

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2008141396A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2769943A1 (fr) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-27 TVI Entwicklung & Production GmbH Dispositif et procédé de séparation de produits empilés
ITUB20153155A1 (it) * 2015-08-18 2017-02-18 N&W Global Vending S P A Unita' di distribuzione di bicchieri in un distributore automatico di bevande
FR3064793A1 (fr) * 2017-03-30 2018-10-05 Ced'in Dispositif d'ejection de recipients et distributeurs associes
WO2019077564A1 (fr) * 2017-10-19 2019-04-25 Evoca S.P.A. Dispositif de distribution d'articles à partir d'une pile d'articles emboîtés, en particulier de couvercles de tasses
IT201800006044A1 (it) * 2018-06-05 2019-12-05 Distributore di articoli da una pila di articoli annidati, in particolare coperchi per bicchieri
WO2021244965A1 (fr) 2020-06-04 2021-12-09 Wmf Gmbh Appareil permettant de séparer des tasses dans un empilement de tasses et utilisations de celui-ci

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB798615A (en) * 1955-09-01 1958-07-23 American Can Co Improvements in or relating to container dispensing mechanism
US2925196A (en) * 1955-12-07 1960-02-16 Vendo Co Cup dispensing mechanism
EP0045146A1 (fr) * 1980-07-29 1982-02-03 Roboserve Limited Distributeur de gobelets
GB2173777A (en) * 1985-01-23 1986-10-22 Roboserve Ltd Cup dispenser
GB2394468A (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-28 Kwai Kun Wong A rotatable cam element for dispensing stacked cups

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB798615A (en) * 1955-09-01 1958-07-23 American Can Co Improvements in or relating to container dispensing mechanism
DE1148789B (de) * 1955-09-01 1963-05-16 American Can Co Vorrichtung zur Sicherung gegen Beraubung an Selbstverkaeufern mit Abgabe von Papierbechern od. dgl.
US2925196A (en) * 1955-12-07 1960-02-16 Vendo Co Cup dispensing mechanism
EP0045146A1 (fr) * 1980-07-29 1982-02-03 Roboserve Limited Distributeur de gobelets
GB2173777A (en) * 1985-01-23 1986-10-22 Roboserve Ltd Cup dispenser
GB2394468A (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-28 Kwai Kun Wong A rotatable cam element for dispensing stacked cups

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2769943A1 (fr) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-27 TVI Entwicklung & Production GmbH Dispositif et procédé de séparation de produits empilés
US10395464B2 (en) 2015-08-18 2019-08-27 Evoca S.P.A. Cup dispensing apparatus in a beverage vending machine
CN108140279B (zh) * 2015-08-18 2020-07-28 埃沃咖股份公司 饮料自动售货机中的杯子分配设备
CN108140279A (zh) * 2015-08-18 2018-06-08 埃沃咖股份公司 饮料自动售货机中的杯子分配设备
WO2017029638A1 (fr) * 2015-08-18 2017-02-23 N&W Global Vending S.P.A. Appareil de distribution de gobelets dans un distributeur automatique de boissons
ITUB20153155A1 (it) * 2015-08-18 2017-02-18 N&W Global Vending S P A Unita' di distribuzione di bicchieri in un distributore automatico di bevande
FR3064793A1 (fr) * 2017-03-30 2018-10-05 Ced'in Dispositif d'ejection de recipients et distributeurs associes
US11180329B2 (en) 2017-10-19 2021-11-23 Evoca S.P.A. Device for dispensing items from a stack of nested items, in particular cup lids
CN110520852A (zh) * 2017-10-19 2019-11-29 埃沃咖股份公司 用于从嵌套物品特别是杯盖的堆叠件分配物品的装置
RU2727979C1 (ru) * 2017-10-19 2020-07-28 Эвока С.П.А. Устройство для выдачи предметов из стопки вложенных друг в друга предметов, в частности крышек стаканчиков
WO2019077564A1 (fr) * 2017-10-19 2019-04-25 Evoca S.P.A. Dispositif de distribution d'articles à partir d'une pile d'articles emboîtés, en particulier de couvercles de tasses
CN110520852B (zh) * 2017-10-19 2023-04-28 埃沃咖股份公司 用于从嵌套物品特别是杯盖的堆叠件分配物品的装置
IT201800006044A1 (it) * 2018-06-05 2019-12-05 Distributore di articoli da una pila di articoli annidati, in particolare coperchi per bicchieri
WO2021244965A1 (fr) 2020-06-04 2021-12-09 Wmf Gmbh Appareil permettant de séparer des tasses dans un empilement de tasses et utilisations de celui-ci
DE102020207032A1 (de) 2020-06-04 2021-12-09 Wmf Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Vereinzelung von Bechern eines Becherstapels und Verwendungen hiervon

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7487886B2 (en) Article separating and dispensing device
WO2008141396A1 (fr) Appareil de distribution de gobelets
US5064093A (en) Product cup denester
TWI359648B (en) Device for selection of capsules contained in a st
US10035321B2 (en) Method for manufacturing a conical sleeve and/or a paper cup
US3996851A (en) Container printing apparatus
EP0979731B1 (fr) Machine à imprimer à supports porte-objet montés rotatifs
US10679455B2 (en) Item dispensing device
EP3440643B1 (fr) Mécanisme de distribution
CN105431069A (zh) 片材产品分配器
EP1693317B1 (fr) Distributeur automatique de produits
EP3089126B1 (fr) Dispositif de stockage et de distribution de consommables
JPH06505688A (ja) 回転ホッパ移送機構
US4618073A (en) Cup dispensing apparatus
EP1575006A1 (fr) Dispositif pour avancer des godets
CN109377659A (zh) 自动落杯/落盖机构及现冲饮品售卖机
CN100542469C (zh) 一种用于易碎食品的容器式磨碎器
US4327843A (en) Cup dispensing mechanism
CN114341958B (zh) 用于饮料自动售卖机的杯分配器
ITBO20000084A1 (it) Metodo e dispositivo per il prelievo e il trasferimento di compact disc e simili a una linea di confezionamento in macchine per confezionare
EP0045146B1 (fr) Distributeur de gobelets
WO1984000230A1 (fr) Dispositif de distribution de conteneurs, notamment pour machines automatiques de distribution de produits alimentaires
JP6708846B2 (ja) 物品取出装置
BE1012432A5 (fr) Came multiple ajustable automatiquement pour des machines a forger.
US20230226794A1 (en) Apparatus and method for bending tubular products

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 08747999

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 08747999

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1