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
  • A47F7/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials
  • A47F7/28—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles, tins, milk packs
  • A47F7/285—Show stands having fixation means, e.g. hanging means, slidable fixations, frictional retaining means, theft prevention
• • 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
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
  • G07F11/62—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles

Definitions

• This invention relates to the field of the current needs in life and particularly, to the installations for the distribution of goods. More particularly, it is a device for the automated provision of packaged products such as wine bottles, allowing the single and selective dispensing through a selecting device and a control device .
• Patent number GB 1438823 which system is highly complex and only enables the simultaneous release of every housing from the same row, is also known.
• a purpose of the present invention is that it enables the dispensing of beverages such as wines, in the best conditions, for discerning consumers.
• each housing provides its own locking means, which is of great importance to avoid the unnecessary opening of housings adjoining to the used one.
• Every housing provides its own signaling means, which features the following two positive effects: on one hand, it provides the consumer information on a particular housing and, on the other hand, it allows identifying the housing that needs to be filled up by shelf fillers.
• Another advantage is that consumers may choose the product from a selecting device especially provided for that purpose. Unlike traditional and former systems of local application, the present selecting device may be available both on the spot and from a remote location.
• the present device provides a novel control device, especially designed for the present device enabling the centralized operation of every locking and signaling means of the housings.
• the present device may be integrated with an information system to which other ancillary devices may be added, such as selling points and/or control terminals, access controls, climate control devices, alarms, surveillance services, sound systems, etc.
• Another advantage is that the incorporation of an information system enables a wireless connection and communication with every system component through local networks, global networks, the Internet, etc.
• any appropriate electronic device PC, laptop, notebook, netbook, pad, any kind of phone, etc.
• Another advantage is based on the housing structure and the synchronization thereof with the climate control system which jointly allow the present device to provide wines in excellent storage condition evidenced by the provision of the proper temperature (with a controlled 16 °C cooling system) , the right position (preferably horizontally) , the complete absence of unwanted movement (till taken by the buyer) and, if necessary, in complete absence of natural daylight.
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the present device showing the relation among the different components .
• Figure 2 is an upper front view of two housings containing corresponding bottles, where the locking means comprise a clamp. The one on the left provides activated locking means, and the one on the right provides said locking means released and a light signal lit up.
• Figure 3 is an upper front view of two housings containing corresponding bottles, where the locking means comprise a fastening door.
• the one on the left provides locking means activated with the fastening door, and the one on the right shows said locking means released, with the fastening door open and a light signal lit up.
• Figure 4 is an outline of the present device.
• Figure 5 is an outline of the present device in which an information system has been included.
• Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the circuit belonging to the control device.
• FIG 7 comprises drawings A, B and C, where:
• Figure A is a perspective view of the main locking means; in this case, a neck clamp.
• Figure B is a partial cross sectional view showing the lock assembly
• Figure C is another partial cross sectional view showing the releasing of the lock.
• the present device for the automated provision of bottled products intended for the dispensing of products such as beverages in bottles, cans and/or cartons, comprises:
• locking means In each housing, locking means, normally in operation, hinder the opening of said housing and release means of said lock which operation is controlled by a control device;
• a control device capable of selectively activating the lock operation and release means of such housings ;
• a selecting device of the housings on which such control device operates
• the present invention relates to a device for the automated provision of packaged products comprising a plurality of exhibition housings (1) holding corresponding products; certain locking means (2) operate in each housing (1), means which are being controlled by a control device (3) capable of selectively operating them and according to the instructions of a selecting device (4), all this connected to an information system (5) .
• the present device for the automated provision of packaged products is intended for the dispensing of products such as beverages in bottles, cans, cartons, etc.
• This device comprises a plurality of exhibition housings (1) that may be in isolation or grouped together forming one or more assemblies.
• Each housing (1) comprises at least one partially open structure (la) through which the bottle (100) can be observed inside.
• each housing (1) provides certain normally active locking means (2) keeping the product inside the housing (1) recess (lb).
• these locking means (2) comprise some clamps (2a) affecting the neck (101) of such bottle (100).
• bottles (100) may be kept horizontally or at an angle and with their neck (101) facing the front part of the exhibition housing (1); or vertically, with their neck (101) facing the upper part; or on their side, both horizontally or upright, in such a way they may be seen throughout their length.
• locking means (2) provide operation and release means (2b) for such lock (2), which may be electromagnetic or pneumatic and operated through a control device (3) to which they are connected by means of an operation circuit (36) .
• the locking means (2) feature signaling means (2c) such as lights or displays indicating the availability of the housing (1) where they have been fitted to.
• signaling means (2c) such as lights or displays indicating the availability of the housing (1) where they have been fitted to.
• LEDs may be provided, showing the locking means (2) position changes when they are on, off and/or flashing.
• the selecting device (4) is a data input/output device capable of selectively enabling the operation of the locking means (2) in each housing (1) .
• this selecting device (4) may consist in a touch-sensitive screen (4a) by means of which the convenient housing (1) is selected so the locking means (2) can be released and the clamps (2a) can facilitate the removal of the bottle (100) from the housing (1) .
• the use of devices such as keyboards is also posible .
• control devices (3) also comprise a power source (30), a main processing phase (31), a communication phase (32), a signaling phase (33) and an operation phase (34).
• the power source (30) may rely on a switching voltage regulator providing a regulated voltage for the following phases (31) (32) (33) (34).
• the function of the communication phase (32) is to guarantee the proper reception and transmission of data. Thus, components such as level converters for communications may be used.
• This phase (32) receives data through the corresponding input and forwards data through its outputs. It is also related to the main processing phase (31) .
• the main processing phase (31) allows for the processing of data and generation of control indicators for the signaling (33) and operation (34) phases.
• Components such as 8-bit general purpose microcontrollers may be used to such effect.
• the signaling phase (33) is directed by the above mentioned main processing phase (31) and controls the housing (1) signaling means (2c) .
• the operation phase (34), however, is also directed by the main processing phase (31) and controls the operation means (2b) of the locks (2) of the housings (1).
• Components such as power transistors may be used.
• a climate control system (6) may become available in the vicinity of the housing (1) locations, such system comprising air conditioning, ventilation, extraction, cooling, heating and/or humidifying devices.
• This climate control system (6) may be integrated with the information system (5) for their synchronous operation.
• an authorization terminal (7) enabling the later use of the selecting device (4); an access control (8) to a location with the present device of automated provision; alarm systems (9); surveillance systems (10); sound systems (11), etc.
• the exhibition housings (1) may be opened allows the system user to see the products (bottles (100)) before making a choice.
• the selecting device (4) available by which he can select the housing (1) he prefers. Under these conditions, the selecting device (4) operates through the control device (3) in which main processing phase (31) the necessary signals so that the operation phase (34) may operate by means of the operation circuit (36) are generated.
• the lock operation and release means (2b) release the clamp (2a), which allows the bottle (100) to be removed from the exhibition housing (1) .
• the signaling phase (33) acts together with the operation phase (34), which changes the status of the signaling means (2c) corresponding to the exhibition housing (1) selected by the user (for example, switching it on and/or making it flash) by means of the signaling circuit (35) . Under these conditions, the user may remove the bottle (100) from the exhibition housing (1) .
• externally visible identification means such as codes, characters, etc. can be provided to identify the exhibition housing (1) which identification is provided by a tag or "ticket" that the computer system (5) prints by an identification printer (12a).
• This identification printer (12a) and other printing devices (12) (for example, fiscal printers (12b)) operate connected to the computer system (5) through the computer network (51).
• the restocking of the empty exhibition housing (1) with a new bottle (100) may be made and the locking means (2) are enabled once more. Both this activation and the loading of restocking data in the information system (5) may be done in a manual, automatic or semiautomatic way (for instance, by means of sensors, microswitches , etc.).

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=44993630

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (2)

Citations (9)

• 2010
  • 2010-10-08 AR ARP100103703 patent/AR079192A1/es unknown
• 2011
  • 2011-10-06 WO PCT/IB2011/054405 patent/WO2012046203A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (9)

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