WO2010130913A1

WO2010130913A1 - Device for automatically dispensing self-service gas cylinders enabling the exchange of an empty cylinder for a full cylinder

Info

Publication number: WO2010130913A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/050821
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard Barneaud; Sébastien LAGADEC
Original assignee: Sudco
Priority date: 2009-05-13
Filing date: 2010-04-29
Publication date: 2010-11-18
Also published as: FR2945653B1; FR2945653A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for automatically dispensing self-service gas cylinders enabling the exchange of an empty cylinder of at least one given type for a full cylinder of the same type as the returned cylinder, wherein said device includes: a cylinder store including as many storage circuits to be filled by a plurality of cylinders of the same type placed one after the other as there are types of cylinders to be exchanged using said device; a recess that is isolated from the store for depositing the empty cylinder and for dispensing the full cylinder; means for identifying or checking the type of returned empty cylinder; payment means for controlling the amount due for acquiring a full cylinder of the same type as the returned empty cylinder; means for mobilizing the empty cylinder for moving said empty cylinder opposite the circuit containing cylinders of the same type as the returned cylinder; means for pushing the empty cylinder towards the circuit including cylinders of the same type as the returned empty cylinder, said pushing force being applied on the first cylinder placed in the storage circuit and triggering the sliding of the cylinders present in the circuit so that the last cylinder placed in the circuit can be pushed outside the store and then dispensed in the recess.

Description

Automatic dispensing device for self-service gas cylinders allowing the exchange of an empty bottle against a full bottle. "

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the general field of automatic dispensing devices for self-service gas cylinders and more particularly to devices for the exchange of gas cylinders.

The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of dispensers for the exchange of bottles of liquefied gas, in particular butane and / or propane.

It is currently known various automatic dispensing devices for the return and exchange of gas cylinders.

Some known systems operate by gravity. In these systems, empty bottles, once placed in a recess with a door, are intended to slide by gravity towards the rear of the dispenser when the door is closed by the user. The activation of the door generates in parallel the arrival of a full bottle at another door.

These devices are particularly bulky since it is necessary to provide two tanks, one for empty bottles and another for full bottles.

There is also a device implementing a swing, that is to say a horizontal main carriage, which fetches bottles and places them one by one in a vertical storage device.

This device that solves the problem of congestion since the empty bottles can be placed in place of a full dispensed bottle.

Nevertheless, these devices are expensive because they require extensive automation of the mechanisms for mobilizing the bottles as well as the management of the storage. These automations are the source of failures or malfunctions of these devices. During such malfunctions, it is impossible to return or exchange bottles. This is very penalizing from the point of view of exploitation.

Finally, there are devices for restitution and recovery of full bottles implementing an automatic control of the refund but with which the distribution of a full bottle is not automatic. It is a recovery device comprising a central management element and tanks able to accommodate the empty bottles. With this device, once an empty bottle is returned and the payment of the gas refill made by a device dedicated to payment, a key is distributed to the user, depending on the returned bottle. This key provides access to a ramp of an auxiliary tank independent of the rendering device and placed next to this rendering device. The user is thus invited to retrieve the key, to go to open the auxiliary storage tank and to retrieve a full bottle.

The management devices for the return of empty bottles operating according to this complex principle are also particularly bulky.

Also, these devices, partially automatic, are unsatisfactory because of the complexity of the operation to be performed by the user as well as the maintenance of the assembly since the two tanks, that of the empty bottles and that of the full bottles , are dependent and are usually filled and emptied precisely independently.

Object and summary of the invention

The invention therefore proposes to provide a device that is simple to use, robust and compact for the automatic storage and dispensing of gas cylinders, this device making it possible to interchange a bottle in self-service without requiring the intervention of a staff. on duty. To achieve these aims, the present invention proposes a device for automatically dispensing self-service gas cylinders allowing the exchange of an empty bottle of at least one type against a full bottle of the same type as the empty bottle returned, the device comprising:

a bottle tank comprising as many storage circuits intended to be filled with a plurality of bottles of the same type placed one after the other as types of bottles that can be exchanged using the device ;

a niche for depositing the empty bottle and delivering the full insulated bottle of the reservoir; means for identifying or verifying the type of empty bottle returned;

- Means of payment to pay the amount due to acquire a full bottle of the same type as the empty bottle returned;

- Means for mobilizing the empty bottle to bring the empty bottle in front of the circuit comprising bottles of the type of the returned bottle; means for pushing the empty bottle towards the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle returned, this thrust acting on the first bottle placed in the storage circuit and triggering the sliding of the bottles present in the circuit so as to to allow the last bottle placed in the circuit to be pushed out of the tank and then delivered into the niche.

With such a device, it ensures a completely integrated gas bottle exchange, that is to say independent of any ancillary device, such as for example a device for storing full gas cylinders next to a storage device. empty bottles.

According to the invention, each returned empty bottle pushes the full bottles so as to release one of them of the same type and takes the place of the last bottle of the circuit. The use of the available space is thus optimized, no bottle location being left empty. The simplicity of the mechanism to implement and the low automation required provides great robustness. Indeed, the pushing means are robust devices, little prone to breakdowns.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the mobilization means comprise a mobile main carriage intended to be positioned in the recess to collect the empty bottle and then to be positioned in front of the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle returned to collect. the full bottle when pushed by the empty bottle.

Such a trolley can pool the operations of receiving the empty bottle and recovery of the full bottle for delivery in the niche. With this feature, the same mechanical element is used for carrying out two separate operations.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the circuit or circuits consist of two pairs of parallel rails, one end of which opens on the main carriage when the latter is positioned to collect the full bottle during the pushing of the empty bottle. from this main carriage and the other end comprises means for rotating the bottles so that the empty bottle pushed from the main carriage on a first rail pair of the circuit pushes the full bottle of the second pair of rails to the main carriage. The implementation of two pairs of rails implies the presence of means to accompany the passage of the bottles of a pair of rails to the other pair in end of these. The constitution of the circuits carrying the full and empty bottles according to the invention allows such a transfer and the circulation of the bottles.

In addition, sliding on rails makes it possible to observe reduced friction. With this embodiment, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, at least one circuit is provided with size adjustment means for adjusting the number of bottles filling this circuit.

This characteristic makes it possible not to impose a given number of bottles and predetermined in each of the circuits. Indeed, the very principle of operation of the invention requires that the returned bottle placed in contact with the last bottle of the circuit pushes all the bottles present on the circuit by a direct contact between the successive bottles. In the case where the circuit is not complete, that is to say if it includes spaces between the bottles, the device according to the invention can no longer function. It is thus original to provide means for adjusting the size of the circuit to the number of full bottles that it is desired to introduce into the circuit to ensure a predefined autonomy to the device according to the invention.

In the case where two pairs of rails are used to materialize the bottle circuit, the accompanying means are capable of translating along the rails to change the size of the circuit and thus adjust the number of bottles present on the circuit.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the accompanying means comprise a lateral rail, bent in the horizontal plane, placed at the end of the rails at an intermediate height less than the height of the type of bottles present in the circuit.

Advantageously, the height at which the curved rail is placed is substantially equal to half the height of the bottles of the type stored in the circuit concerned.

According to a particular characteristic, the accompanying means comprise a turnstile, intended to be actuated in rotation by a motor, this turnstile having branches intended to be inserted between each bottle and / or notches intended to receive the sidewalls of the bottles.

Such a characteristic ensures a good circulation of the bottles by forcing their movement at the end of the rails constituting the circuit on which they circulate. According to another characteristic, the accompanying means comprise at least one belt or a chain actuated by a motor and intended to exploit the friction of the belt or chain on the sides of the bottles to drive them in rotational or translational motion to move them from one rail to another.

This characteristic, which is simple to implement, is mainly reserved for cylinders with circular peripheries to ensure that friction is sufficient to drive the bottle in motion.

According to another characteristic, the accompanying means comprise cylinders mounted vertically side by side, in free rotation or actuated by a motor, along a curve at the end of the rails.

This characteristic makes it possible to reduce the friction generated during the movement of the bottles relative to the case where the bottles circulate along the curved rail presented before. According to another characteristic, the accompanying means of a circuit comprise a rotary plate actuated by a motor.

Such a tray can translate the bottles of a pair of rails to each other. Nevertheless it is generally necessary to provide means for moving the bottles of the pair of rails on the turntable. Eventually, it will be the thrust only that will rotate the tray. In the latter case, it is not necessary to provide for moving the bottles one by one on the plate but only to provide means for the movement of the bottles relative to the plate does not generate blockage of the flow of bottles. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the main carriage is of a depth such that it simultaneously allows the thrust of the empty bottle of the main carriage to the circuit and the reception of the full bottle of the circuit to the main carriage.

This feature consists of providing the device with a main trolley having a large depth to be both a support for the empty bottle being pushed and a support for the full bottle being in the process of being brought on the main carriage.

This feature ensures that neither of the two cylinders are cantilevered over the void and may fall or get caught. It also makes it possible to limit the number of mechanical elements implemented in the device. According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage circuits being linear, the mobilization means further comprise a transfer pad in front of which the main carriage is intended to be positioned after collecting the empty bottle, this transfer range being able to circulate, parallel to the circuits, the empty bottle returned between the main carriage and a secondary carriage also movable to be positioned in front of the transfer pad to collect the empty bottle at the end of its journey on the transfer range and opposite the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle restored on the opposite side of the storage circuit with respect to the main carriage.

This embodiment avoids any jamming of the bottles during their journey on the storage circuit which is linear here. In the absence of a non-linear circuit portion, the bottles follow a rectilinear path which favors the thrust. In addition, the features of the invention make it possible to place empty bottles on the opposite side of the circuits with respect to the main carriage. As it is necessary that the empty bottles are regularly removed in order to be replaced by full, this allows that the supply is made on the opposite side to the main carriage. This makes it possible to use the main carriage for two blocks of storage circuits placed on either side of the main carriage. It is thus possible to change the distribution device by multiplying its storage capacity.

Nevertheless, the variant of using the transfer range to transport the full bottle, the empty bottle being directly pushed from the main carriage so as to get the full bottle to the other end of the storage circuit on the front secondary carriage that the full bottle is transferred to the main carriage by the transfer range is to be considered as an embodiment equivalent to that described above even if it does not have all the advantages of the preferred embodiment. According to this variant, the storage circuits being linear, the mobilization means further comprise a transfer pad in front of which the main carriage is intended to be positioned to collect the full bottle after it has been pushed by the empty bottle, from the main carriage placed opposite the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle returned, on a secondary carriage also movable to be positioned in front of this circuit on the opposite side of the storage circuit relative to to the main carriage to collect the full bottle pushed by the empty bottle and in front of the transfer pad to bring the full bottle, this transfer pad being adapted to circulate, parallel to the circuits, the full bottle between the secondary carriage and the main carriage. Advantageously, the main carriage and the secondary carriage are movable vertically and horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the storage circuits.

This characteristic makes it possible to arrange the storage circuits on one side or, depending on the variant, on both sides of the main carriage by aligning them side by side in a horizontal plane and / by superposing them vertically while allowing the use of only two trolleys on either side of the storage circuits.

According to advantageous features of the invention, the main carriage comprises motorized rollers or operates in association with motorized turnstiles placed at the exit of the circuits or works in association with rollers placed vertically side by side at the end of the circuits and motorized or combination with a gripper hook capable of grasping the last bottle of the circuit at the end of the circuit and placing this bottle on the main carriage. These features make it possible to ensure a reliable passage of the bottles of the main carriage to another means of mobilization or vice versa. They make it possible to control the passage of the last bottle of the bottle circuit towards the main carriage without leaving the only push responsible for this passage. Advantageously, the transfer range comprises motorized rollers. This feature is an interesting embodiment of the transfer range.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the secondary carriage comprises a pusher associated with free rollers. The use of a pusher allows a robust embodiment of the invention since these components are not fragile. We note here that, in the context of the variant of the invention, it may be the main carriage that is, instead provided with a pusher associated with free rollers and the secondary carriage that will include motorized rollers or that will work in association with motorized turnstiles placed at the exit of the circuits or which will work in association with rollers placed vertically side by side at the end of the circuits and motorized or in combination with a gripper hook capable of grasping the last bottle of the circuit at the end of the circuit and placing this bottle on the main carriage.

Advantageously, the bottle circuits comprise means for assisting thrust mobilization.

According to a particular embodiment, the mobilization assistance means consist of a linear conveyor belt extending under the bottles along the rails.

Such a feature greatly facilitates the circulation of bottles and ensures the absence of any blockage of the bottles in the circuit.

The mobilization assistance means may also be constituted by a belt actuated along the wall by a motor to drive the bottles in translation.

This embodiment makes it easier to move the bottles thanks to the friction of the belt on the sides of the bottles.

It should be noted here that these different means of assistance for mobilization can also constitute an achievement for the transfer range.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the main carriage is able to move back towards a centering device which centers the full bottle, after it has been placed on the main carriage, this centralizer having the shape of a V in the plane horizontal.

This feature is a purely mechanical solution and simple to implement to ensure that the bottle to be delivered to the user is positioned on the main carriage. It can also be implemented at the level of the secondary carriage.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the device being also able to deliver a full bottle without restitution of an empty bottle, the pusher is associated with adaptation means to adapt its stroke.

This feature allows the pusher to return to stand at the level of the empty bottle to push on the storage circuit after simply pushing the row of full bottles without return empty bottle. This also allows the pusher to be able to push the empty bottle a greater distance than observed when the row of bottles, whether empty or full, is complete. Indeed, if the device can deliver a full bottle without return empty bottle, whether with the help of the pusher or by other means such as the use of motorized rollers on the storage circuits, some rows of bottles are lacunary on the side of the pusher. These adaptation means can in particular be telescopic.

Also, the storage circuits may include free rollers or motorized rollers depending on the intended use. If a simple device allowing only the exchange is aimed, the rollers will be free. If other functions are provided, it will be useful to provide that the storage circuits are equipped with motorized rollers.

The invention furthermore relates to a method of automatically dispensing self-service gas cylinders enabling the exchange of an empty bottle of at least one given type with a full bottle of the same type as the returned empty bottle, the method comprising the steps of:

placing bottles of the same type one after the other in a storage circuit in a bottle tank comprising as many storage circuits intended to be filled with bottles of the same type;

- Engage an isolation occlusion step a niche of deposit of the empty bottle and delivery of the full bottle of the tank;

- welcome the empty bottle into the niche,

- place the empty bottle on a main cart to receive the empty bottle and the full bottle;

- identify or verify the type of empty bottle returned;

- pay the amount due to acquire a full bottle of the same type as the empty bottle returned;

mobilize the empty bottle from the main carriage to the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle returned,

pushing the empty bottle towards the storage circuit by exerting a thrust on the first bottle placed in the storage circuit and triggering the sliding of the bottles present in the circuit in order to place the last bottle placed in the circuit on the main carriage; - deliver the bottle placed on the main carriage in the niche.

Preferably, the storage circuits being linear, the step of mobilizing the empty bottle comprises, a sub-step of positioning the main carriage opposite a transfer pad, a sub-step of removing the empty bottle on the transfer range, a sub-step of circulation, parallel to the circuits, of the empty bottle returned, a sub-step of positioning a secondary carriage opposite the transfer range of the side opposite the storage circuit relative to the main carriage to collect the empty bottle at the end of its path on the transfer pad, a substep of positioning in front of the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle restituted the side opposite of the storage circuit relative to the main carriage.

Finally, according to an advantageous characteristic, the device being also able to deliver a full bottle without restitution of an empty bottle, the pushing step comprises a substep of adaptation of the stroke of a pusher. The adaptation of the race is advantageously performed electronically using a history of the delivery of the full bottles on the storage circuit concerned. Nevertheless, it can be provided to perform it mechanically by providing that the pusher detects its contact or that of the empty bottle that it pushes with the row of bottles disposed on the storage circuit. In any case, such a characteristic allows a versatility of the device according to the invention which then allows the exchange but also the simple purchase of full bottle. Furthermore, it should be noted here that the device can be provided, in parallel and without interaction with the means implemented with the invention, with an empty storage circuit at the beginning in which empty bottles can be stored and returned by their users without taking back a full bottle.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment having no limiting character. In the figures:

- Figure 1 shows in perspective a device for automatically dispensing self-service gas cylinders according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a boneless front view of the device of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a top view of the device of Figure 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram describing the principle of the invention; - Figure 6 shows a central frame of the device of Figure 1;

- Figure 7 shows a side frame of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 8 shows a storage frame of the device of Figure 1;

FIG. 9 shows in perspective a second embodiment of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a view from above of the device of FIG. 9; FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14A, 14B and 15 show embodiments of support means that can be implemented at various locations in a device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for dispensing self-service gas cylinders according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

This device 1 comprises a central management element 11 placed above a niche 13 in which the user of the dispensing device 1 is invited to place an empty bottle and then after having paid by means of payment means 14 placed on the central management element 11, to recover a full bottle, in exchange for the empty bottle returned.

When the empty bottle is placed in the niche 13, the type and the volume of the empty bottle returned are identified by identification means. These identification means are for example sensors operating by recognition of the shape and color of the empty bottle presented by the user. These sensors avoid any possible fraud, such as the introduction into the niche 13 of another container that empty gas bottle. Mass control sensors of the empty bottle can also be implemented. A gas detector can also detect if the bottle is leaking. The central management element 11 comprises an electronic data processing unit and automatic control connected in particular to the identification means and operating in cooperation with visual and / or audio communication means of data to the user, for example a screen 12. This electronic unit is also connected to all the functional members of the device 1 according to the invention in order to control them.

The device 1 further comprises an access side door 15. It is seen that this door is placed on the opposite side to the management element 11 and the niche 13. It will be seen in the following the usefulness of this location.

FIG. 2 shows a boneless view of the device 1 of FIG. 1. It should be noted that the device is mainly composed of two frames: a central 100 and a lateral 101 between which a transfer range 110 extends. and at least one storage circuit 120. The central frame 100 supports the management element 11 and the recess 13.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, which is a view from above of the deboned device 1, the central frame 100 also includes a main carriage 130. This main carriage 130 is able to move along a rail 131.

The side frame 101 includes, meanwhile, a secondary carriage 140. This secondary carriage 140 is able to move along a rail 141. As can be seen in Figure 2, the main and secondary carriages are also suitable for move vertically along pairs of rails 132 and 142 which are integral with these carriages during their horizontal movements along the rails 131 and 141.

FIG. 3 also shows the transfer range 110 and two storage circuits 120 and 121. FIG. 4 is a left side view of the device 1. Four storage circuits 120, 121, 122 and 123 are shown. set of storage circuits materialize a bottle tank. The circuits are indeed intended to be filled with full bottles at the beginning of operation of the device 1.

Figure 5 shows the operation of the device according to the invention schematically. In this figure, are represented the essential elements of the invention, namely the niche 13, the main carriage 130, the transfer range 110, the secondary carriage 140 and two storage circuits 120 and 121.

Dotted is the path of an empty bottle, denoted V, restored in the niche 13. Full bottles marked P are, in turn, stored in the circuits 120 and 121.

Thus, the customer opens the door of the niche 13 and deposits the empty bottle V directly on the main carriage 130, placed in the niche 13. Then the main carriage 130 places the empty bottle V in front of the transfer pad 110 on which the bottle transits, passing from the central frame 100 to the side frame 101 where it is accommodated on the secondary carriage 140. The secondary carriage 140 is then placed facing a storage circuit, here 121, on which are placed full bottles of the same type than the bottle returned.

The empty bottle V is then pushed by pushers 143 mounted on the secondary carriage 140, the secondary carriage 140 to the storage circuit

121 where it comes to take the place of the last full bottle P of the row.

Therefore, the first full bottle P of the row is pushed onto the main carriage 130 which has meanwhile been placed opposite the storage circuit 121. The main carriage 130 is then placed in the niche 13 so that the customer retrieves the full bottle P placed there.

Note that the empty bottles are then stored on the side of the side frame 101, which allows to place the access of an operator on the side frame as shown in Figure 1 by the door 15. This is advantageous since it allows placing a second tank of bottles and a second side frame on the other side of the central frame 100 also provided with a secondary carriage to double the capacity of the device without impairing the simplicity of supply. However, there are variants of the invention of pushing the empty bottle directly from the main carriage 130 so that a full bottle is pushed on the secondary carriage 140 which is then placed in front of the transfer range 110 which carries the bottle full to the main carriage 130 which then comes into the niche 13 to deliver the full bottle to the customer. In this case, the empty bottles are stored on the side of the central frame 100. Consequently, either the supply is complicated if the access door is placed on the side of the side frame, or it is not possible to place tanks on both sides of the central frame 100. Nevertheless, such an embodiment is concerned with the invention. Figures 6, 7 and 8 are detailed the central frame 100, lateral 101 and the storage frame noted 103 in perspective. We see in Figure 6, the central management element 11, the main carriage 130 which can move in the niche 13 closed by a door. The main carriage 130 also moves backwards and upwards in order to be placed on the one hand in front of the transfer area 110 visible in FIG. 8 representing the storage frame 103 and in front of the storage circuits 120, 121, 122 and 123 represented. in Figure 8 also.

The central frame 100 also advantageously has a maintenance door 16 to access the main carriage 130 in particular.

Figure 7 shows the frame 101. There is shown the secondary carriage 140 which receives the empty bottle from the transfer range 110 before being placed in front of a storage circuit for pushing the empty bottle. The secondary carriage 140 is also able to move backwards and upwards. We also see the side access door 15.

In the following figures 9 and 10, a second embodiment is shown. The device 1 according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 9 comprises two lateral reservoirs 10g and 10d capable of receiving and storing empty or full gas cylinders placed to the left and right respectively of a central management element 11.

FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the device 1. In this embodiment, each of the sides 10g and 10d includes a storage circuit 21 carrying a chain of bottles of the same type and the same volume in contact with each other. . Behind the management element 11 runs a main carriage

130.

Here, each circuit 21 comprises thirteen bottles placed one after the other. So that it is possible to deliver a full bottle during the return of an empty bottle, at least the last bottle of the circuit 21 is a full bottle P.

In fact, when the circuit 21 has just been recharged by an employee managing the device, all the circuits 21 are filled with full bottles.

It is only as the delivery of these full bottles P after the return of empty bottles V that the circuit 21 then comprises a portion of empty bottles V and a portion of full bottles P.

FIG. 10 also illustrates the process according to the invention where an empty bottle

V was restored by a user of the dispensing device 1. When the bottle V is in the position shown in Figure 10, it is advantageously an identification of its type and volume or a verification of its type and volume if these data were previously entered by the user.

Advantageously, each reservoir 10g and 10d comprises several stages on each side of the central management element 11, each stage comprising a circuit 21. In this case, the main carriage is movable in height.

It is also envisaged that several circuits are placed one behind the other in the same horizontal plane. In this case, the main carriage 130 is also movable in translation towards the rear of the device.

Once the bottle V is placed in front of the bottle circuit 21 corresponding to its type of bottle and to its volume, pushing means move the bottle V towards the circuit 21 so as to push the whole of the bottle circuit 21, either thirteen bottles of gas, at least one of which is full of gas. These thrust means are controlled by the electronic processing and control unit. The thrust means are advantageously implemented, within the central management element 11 or directly on the main carriage 130, under the shape of a jack placed on a movable element in vertical translation and allowing the thrust to the left or to the right of the empty gas cylinder V. It is in particular possible to implement two cylinders arranged symmetrically in the element of central management 11 and suspended above the main carriage 18.

A training bar can also be used. This bar, parallel to the front of the central management element 11 at rest, moves in the horizontal plane by turning in the direction of the needles or in the opposite direction depending on the side 10g or 1Od where must be stored the empty bottle V. It is also possible to provide that the empty gas bottle V is mobilized using a hook that can move over the main carriage 130.

Another embodiment would implement a treadmill system directly placed on the main carriage 150. With such a treadmill that can roll in one direction or the other so as to be able to distribute the empty bottle V, or to the tank 1Od right as shown in Figure 10 or to the left tank 10g. The operation of such a treadmill is implemented in combination with means for assisting the mobilization of the bottles of the circuit 21. In fact, the force generated by the treadmill may not be sufficient, alone, to move the set of bottles on the circuit 21. It is found that, under the effect of the thrust on the bottle V, the last bottle P of the bottle circuit 21 is again pushed from the circuit 21 to the main carriage 130 also facing the pair of rails 150b of the second linear portion of the circuit 21. The bottles circuits 21 are such that bottles are distributed along parallel linear parts, materialized by two pairs of rails 150a and 150b on which the bottles 20 circulate.

Any other geometry is conceivable, for example, with a distribution of bottles on a circular circuit, oval, elliptical, etc. In the case where two parallel linear parts are used, as is the case in the embodiment of FIG. 10, it is necessary to allow the gas bottles to circulate in rotation at the end of the pairs. rails 150a and 150b opposite the central management element 11. For this, the dispensing device according to the invention is provided with accompanying means bottles. In Figure 2, these means accompanying are constituted by a curved slide 19 placed at the end of the course of the pair of rails 150a and 150b.

This curved slide 19 is advantageously secured to a door 15 making it possible to remove the empty bottles V from the circuit of the dispensing device 1 once the bottle circuit is completely or partially filled with empty bottles V and to load full bottles P in order to return the device 1 to operating capacity.

In this regard, according to the invention, the central management element 11 comprises means for making a count of the bottles returned between two recharges of the circuits in full bottles in order to stop the exchange proposal when there is no has more room.

In addition, it is useful to provide in the tank 10 an empty circuit of bottles for restitution without exchange of bottles of all types. This makes it possible to continue to receive empty bottles even when all the full bottles have been dispensed. This prevents users of the device from returning home with their empty bottle and set up a deposit system.

The placement of the full bottle on the main carriage 130 can be provided by several means. In the case of Figure 10, where the full bottle, once pushed by the empty bottle V, is not entirely carried by the main carriage 130, the bottle P will be advantageously mobilized with a hook that will come grab the full bottle and bring it to the middle of the main cart 130.

Nevertheless, other configurations are possible, for example a conveyor belt placed on the main carriage 130 and which drives the bottle towards the middle of the main carriage 130. Motorized rollers can also be used.

Another solution envisaged is specifically dimensioning the circuit 21 and the main carriage 130 to ensure that the full bottle is well placed on the main carriage 130.

Once the full bottle on the main carriage 130, it can be moved back to the bottom of the central management element 11 in which is advantageously practiced a V which allows to refocus the bottle on the main carriage 130 by contact with the V. To allow such an embodiment, it is necessary that the main carriage 130 has flanges on its front part so that the bottle does not fall when it is pushing in the V at the bottom of the central element 11 instead of focusing on the main carriage 130. Then, the main carriage 130 is mobilized to deliver the bottle in the recess 13.

The user of the dispensing device 1 can then recover the full bottle in the niche 13 since he has paid for the gas refill using payment means 14 implemented on the central management element. These means of payment are advantageously a payment terminal by credit card. But other means of payment, by tokens, currency, private card or other may be considered. The following figures represent possibilities of means of accompaniment placed at the end of the pairs of rails 150a and 150b of FIG. 10. In the second embodiment, these means of accompaniment are advantageously implemented in combination with a slide Curved 19. They may also be used, in the preferred embodiment, at the end of linear storage circuits between them and the main carriage to facilitate the transfer of the full bottle on the main carriage.

Figure 11 shows another embodiment of the accompanying means. This is a belt 51 mobilized during the pushing of the bottles in the circuit 21. This belt 51, which can also be a vertical treadmill or a chain bearing friction elements, maintains contact with the bottles during their movement and drag them from one portion to the other of the circuit 21. This embodiment of the accompanying means may be used on one side or both sides of the end of the storage circuit in the frame of the preferred embodiment. Figure 12 shows another embodiment of the accompanying means which then consist of a set of rollers 61 placed vertically along a curved line at the end of the rails 150a and 150b. These rollers are used to reduce the friction of the bottles with respect to, for example, a displacement along the curved slide 16. FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the support means composed of a simple right-handed belt 71. in a horizontal plane at the end of the rails 150a and 150b. This particularly simple embodiment can be implemented only to assist the movement of the bottles when this mobilization is not difficult or delicate. Vertical rollers 61 or such a belt 71 may also be implemented at the end of the linear storage circuits of the preferred embodiment.

Figure 14 shows yet another embodiment where a turntable 81 is placed at the end of the rails 150a and 150b. The use of this rotating main carriage 81 involves pushing means of the bottle 20b on the main rotating carriage 81 and the bottle 20a to the circuit portion carried by the rails 150b. This embodiment is therefore demanding in terms of mechanical and motorized means to provide. In Figure 15, the accompanying means consist of a tourniquet 31 having branches 310 for insertion between each bottle. Each branch is advantageously provided at its end with a curvature / broom to accompany by a sweeping each bottle engaged in the turnstile 31. Alternatively, each branch may be provided with a notch for accommodating the sides of the bottles. The turnstile may also include a different number of branches, for example three branches, intended to be inserted between each bottle.

It also happens that the configuration with three branches is particularly suitable for mobilization on a rotating path of elements having a circular circumference, such as bottles. In fact, the effect of the branches on keeping each bottle away from the center of the turnstile when it is engaged in the turnstile is avoided to a maximum.

Nevertheless, the choice between a three-branched turnstile and a four-branched turnstile will depend on the circumference of the bottles handled in each of the bottle circuits 21 of the dispensing device according to the invention. In the context of the preferred embodiment, the only role of the tourniquet is to assist the thrust of the full bottle by accompanying it in its path between the storage circuit and the main carriage.

Finally, we note that various implementations can be made according to the principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for automatically dispensing self-service gas cylinders enabling the exchange of an empty bottle of at least one type against a full bottle of the same type as the empty bottle returned, the device comprising:

a niche for depositing the empty bottle and delivering the full insulated bottle of the reservoir;

means for identifying or verifying the type of empty bottle returned; - Means of payment to pay the amount due to acquire a full bottle of the same type as the empty bottle returned;

- Means for mobilizing the empty bottle to bring the empty bottle in front of the circuit comprising bottles of the type of the returned bottle; means for pushing the empty bottle towards the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle returned, this thrust acting on the first bottle placed in the storage circuit and triggering the sliding of the bottles present in the circuit so as to to allow the last bottle placed in the circuit to be pushed out of the tank and then delivered into the niche, the mobilization means comprising a movable main carriage to be positioned in the niche to collect the bottle empty then to be positioned in front of the circuit comprising bottles of the same type as the empty bottle returned to collect the full bottle during the push by the empty bottle and finally to be positioned in the niche for the full bottle to be delivered there.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the circuit or circuits consist of two pairs of parallel rails, one end of which opens on the main carriage when it is positioned to collect the full bottle during the thrust of the bottle. empty from this main carriage and the other end includes accompanying means in rotating the bottles so that the empty bottle pushed from the main carriage on a first pair of rail of the circuit pushes the full bottle of the second pair of rails towards the main carriage.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the storage circuits being linear, the mobilization means further comprise a transfer pad in front of which the main carriage is intended to be positioned after collecting the empty bottle , this transfer range being able to circulate, parallel to the circuits, the empty bottle restored between the main carriage and a secondary carriage also movable to be positioned in front of the transfer pad to collect the empty bottle at the end of its journey on the transfer range and in front of the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle restored on the opposite side of the storage circuit relative to the main carriage.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the main carriage and the secondary carriage are movable vertically and horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the storage circuits.

5. Device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the main carriage comprises motorized rollers or works in association with motorized turnstiles placed at the output of the circuits or works in combination with rollers placed vertically side by side at the end of the circuits and motorized or in combination with a gripper hook capable of grasping the last bottle of the circuit at the end of the circuit and placing this bottle on the main carriage.

6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the transfer range comprises motorized rollers.

7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the secondary carriage comprises a pusher associated with free rollers.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the device is also capable of delivering a full bottle without restitution of a empty bottle, the pusher is associated with adaptation means to adapt his race.

9. Device according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the storage circuits comprise free rollers.

10. A method of automatically dispensing self-service gas cylinders for exchanging an empty bottle of at least one type with a full bottle of the same type as the returned empty bottle, the method comprising the steps of:

- welcome the empty bottle into the niche,

- identify or verify the type of empty bottle returned; - pay the amount due to acquire a full bottle of the same type as the empty bottle returned;

pushing the empty bottle towards the storage circuit by exerting a thrust on the first bottle placed in the storage circuit and triggering the sliding of the bottles present in the circuit in order to place the last bottle placed in the circuit on the main carriage;

- deliver the bottle placed on the main carriage in the niche.

11. The method of claim 10, characterized in that, the storage circuits being linear, the step of mobilizing the empty bottle comprises a sub-step of positioning the main carriage in front of a transfer range, a sub-step of removing the empty bottle on the transfer pad, a substep of circulation, parallel to the circuits, of the empty bottle returned, a sub-step of positioning a secondary carriage opposite the transfer pad on the opposite side of the storage circuit with respect to the trolley main to collect the empty bottle at the end of its path on the transfer range, a substep positioning in front of the circuit comprising the bottles of the same type as the empty bottle restored on the opposite side of the storage circuit relative to the trolley main.

12. The method of claim 11, characterized in that, the device being also able to deliver a full bottle without restitution of an empty bottle, the pushing step comprises a substep of adaptation of the stroke of a pusher.