WO2015107245A1

WO2015107245A1 - Device for the multiconnection of interchangeable light panels in vending machines

Info

Publication number: WO2015107245A1
Application number: PCT/ES2015/070017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Torres Lopez
Original assignee: Muxunav, S.L.
Priority date: 2014-01-17
Filing date: 2015-01-15
Publication date: 2015-07-23
Also published as: PT3096408T; ES2873107T3; ES1103855U; EP3096408B1; ES1103855Y; EP3096408A1; EP3096408A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the multiconnection of interchangeable light panels in vending machines, comprising connection points (2) arranged together in a multiconnector block (5) with a plurality of male-female inlets for connecting and disconnecting different light panels (4), allowing them to be interchanged, and a connector element (3)for connecting an electrical outlet to the machine (24) itself, which comprises an electronic microcontroller (13) inserted between the multiconnector block (5) and the electrical outlet connector element (3), which is provided with various connectors (6a,6b,6c,6d,6e) that allow the connection thereof to the Internet or the Intranet and/or electronic storage devices, in order to perform, in the light panels (4), which use OLED, graphene or similar technology for the light source on the light surface (12) thereof, functions other than illumination, such as animation effects, signalling, navigation on the Internet or Intranet and/or tuning and emission of audiovisual content.

Description

MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN

VENDING MACHINES

D E S G l P C S O

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as stated in the present specification, refers to a multi-connection device of interchangeable light panels in vending machines, which contributes, to the function to which it is intended, several advantages and novelty features that will be described in detail later and that represent an improvement against the systems currently known in the state of the art for the same purpose.

More particularly, the object of the invention is focused on a device whose purpose is to allow the connection of multiple and different luminous and / or luminescent panels, of which are incorporated in labels, information plates and / or indicator or selection buttons in Vending machines of the usual type for the sale of products such as tobacco, electronic cigarettes, beverages, food, telephone cards, or any product that can be sold on said type of machine, with the particularity that said panels have OLED technology , G AFENO or analogous, and that said device, in addition to said multi-connection for the lighting of such panels, allow its exchange quickly and easily, and procure its power by taking the power of the machine itself without the need for a voltage controller, incorporates a microcontroller that allows animation, signaling, broadcasting of audiovisual content, possibility s Internet or intranet browsing and / or tuning and broadcasting of modifiable audiovisual content on any of the panels, even remotely due to its network connection, as well as managing sensors and external machine components such as microphone, camera, speaker , motion sensor or light sensor.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The field of application of the present invention focuses on the industry sector dedicated to the manufacture of vending machines, focusing particularly on the scope of their lighting devices. BACKGROUND OF THE I VENCiÓM

At present, in the sector of vending machines, various devices are used to provide luminosity to the labels in order to differentiate some items from others. On some occasions to allow a product to differentiate itself from the other products exposed in the machine, in others to visualize the cast of products in low visibility or light deficiency environments. This type of devices is not exclusive to vending machines, it is also applied in the advertising sector, in the security signaling devices, in the decoration, games, or automotive sectors, among others.

These types of devices or labels can usually come from the factory on the machine itself. These possibilities can simply go from the illumination of one or several labels that will act as a simple light emitter that will be superimposed on a transparency that indicates the product or brand to choose, and that will be located within the selection button of the own machine or in which each product identifies us, with the consequent discrimination of other brands or products that are not illuminated or are in a less brilliant way.

On the other hand, the materials and technologies existing so far for said type of light elements have a series of limitations and disadvantages that the present invention aims to solve. Thus, the duration of existing devices is limited as well as their luminosity. Similarly, the existence of spaces with a certain thickness is necessary for their incorporation, so they cannot be incorporated in very small spaces. However, the biggest drawback they present is the need for the existence of a voltage controller that adapts the current of the machine so that the panels and labels can be illuminated, causing that much of the energy consumed by the machine is destined to said transformation of the voltage and intensity to adapt it to the current that the panels need. Finally, the incorporation of such voltage controllers also implies the need to have space for this, which in turn is another inconvenience, since it constitutes a remarkably bulky element that, on the other hand, implies a cost in the manufacture of the machine . To solve all these inconveniences, the applicant himself, in the utility mode No. ES1087554U, relating to an "Interchangeable label multi-connection device" and in the utility model No. ES1094562U, relating to an "Improved device for multi-connection LED lights interchangeable for vending machines of vending type tobacco, of which he is the owner, discloses two devices that partially achieve the aforementioned objective of improvement of the previously known systems for the illumination of labels in vending machines, focusing particularly on those intended for the sale of tobacco, which, however, have aspects that can be improved, specifically aspects related to the lighting elements or light source used, since they are limited to LED technology, as well as to their functionality that is restricted to the lighting of the labels with the brands of the different products, being the objective of the present invention to improve and improve said type of device so that it can also be implemented with oled, graphene or similar technology panels and allow, in addition to lighting, animation, signaling, broadcasting of audiovisual content, internet browsing possibilities or intranet and / or tuning in the vending machine in all types of labels, plates and buttons that can be incorporated in any part of it.

EXPLSCATION OF THE JSWENTION

Thus, the multi-connection device of interchangeable light panels in vending machines that the present invention proposes is configured as a novelty within its field of application, since according to its implementation and in a restrictive way the previously stated objective is satisfactorily achieved, being the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it from what is already known, conveniently included in the final claims that accompany the present specification.

Specifically, the muting device proposed by the invention essentially comprises, on the one hand, a set of connection posts located together in a mute connector block that allows to connect and disconnect in a practical, easy and fast way each of the light elements of the machine through the corresponding male-female connection system with which they are equipped with! effect, which, characteristically, consist of panels whose light surface counts as a light source with elements of OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology, such surfaces being able to be designed and sized in different shapes and sizes to be incorporated into the different labels, buttons and / or luminous plates that the machine has. And, on the other hand, the multiconnection device also comprises a power supply connecting element that constitutes a connection that takes the electric current from the machine itself, for which it has a cable that flows into several independent and distinct connectors that they allow to be compatible with the majority of vending machines existing in the market.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the device has the particularity of having an electronic microcontroller that, interposed between the multi-connector block and the connecting element of the power outlet, allows to realize, in said light panels with OLED, GRAPHENE or interchangeable analogs, multiple additional functions to the simple lighting of the panels, such as animation effects, signaling, broadcasting of audiovisual content, internet or intranet browsing and / or tuning and broadcasting of all types of audiovisual content, in addition to managing different sensors and external machine components such as a microphone, a video camera, speakers, motion sensor or light sensor. For this, said microcontroller incorporates the corresponding electronic components, sensors, transmitters and receivers, and is connected in a wireless or wired manner and operated through the controls provided for that purpose therein.

By incorporating the device of said controller, it presents the possibility of changing the message to be displayed on the panels, the possibility of issuing modifiable audiovisual content on any of the panels, even remotely due to its connection to the network, as well as the possibility to display interactive elements on said panels, such as information of all kinds, advertising, games, email, etc. It also allows the possibility of modifying the contents remotely and endless possibilities offered by computer science and communication technologies.

With all this, and taking as reference other devices that allow only the possibility of providing luminescence to the labels or other light elements in the vending machines, the proposed device has several substantial advantages;

- The duration of the devices with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology is far superior to the materials and technologies existing so far. The lifespan of panels with this technology compared to those existing so far is more than 0 times higher.

- In turn, the brightness of these panels is also much higher.

- Similarly, the thickness is much lower than the existing materials applied to these needs, so it can be applied in smaller spaces.

- However, the most remarkable advantage is that within the simple function of illuminating the panels, the recommended device does not need a voltage controller. This is because, unlike other existing systems, the present device, thanks to the incorporation of the power socket connector, works with the same voltage as the machine itself, so a controller that adapts the current is not necessary of the machine so that the panels can be illuminated. This, as a consequence, produces greater energy savings, since most of the energy used in other devices and supplied by the machine itself goes into the transformation of the voltage and intensity by the driver to adapt it to the current that They need panels or devices. Therefore, the system is more energy efficient, and energy can be used to incorporate more panels per machine. It also saves space since the most bulky item, the controller, is suppressed.

On the other hand, the recommended device provides the possibility to emit, animate or tune as if a conventional TV or Computer receiver were in the label itself that will be located inside the product selection or display button or on plates that They can be placed on the front, sides or top of the machine.

This possibility opens a wide range of non-existent possibilities in any current machine, when choosing the message to be transmitted to the potential buyer since it can only be the brand in a static or animated way what is displayed but it can also be any type of audiovisual message

Likewise, different parts of the machine can be covered with the oled, g rafe no or similar technology light panels, due to their small thickness, weight and consumption, and use them with the same properties in the message as the keypads but also adding possibilities of interaction and control with the panel, both tactile, audible with voice control, visual or interconnection with mobile devices, in addition to the logic when dealing with panels that can be larger than the keypads panels. This allows the machine to display useful information such as time, traffic, news, sports surfing via the network or intranet etc., and interact in a tactile, audible or visual way or by means of an electronic device for mobile internet connection with the vending machine as if it were a tablet, smartphone, television or Computer will be.

Likewise, in the current machines there is the problem of being able to access to illuminate the labels choosing the degree of luminosity or the intensity of the light, especially in tobacco vending machines, where the environment in which the machine is located can be fully illuminated , so in many cases a normal fluorescence light is not enough. A very high degree of lighting would be necessary, exceeding 100 cd / m2. By incorporating panels with OLED technology, GRAPHENE or analogous to the light elements of the vending machines, you can choose the light intensity so that the machine changes its lighting automatically or manually and make it adapt to the ambient light based on the parameters chosen previously.

Said controller or brain of the device that can allow from a simple flashing in the lighting, to the emission of messages in the panels and audiovisual content, change and remote control of the message to be transmitted via internet, bluetooth or analog wireless systems, or intranet, to control the tactile, audible or visual interaction of the user with the panel of both the buttons that dispense the product and the exterior panels. In this way you can regulate the appearance and / or final message that the label will have on the panel or label with the product brand as well as the exterior panels. This controller is small in size, allowing greater versatility to be able to locate it in any available space inside the vending machine.

This improved multi-connection device of panels with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology, for vending machines, provides multiple advantages and advances over the devices currently available, being some of the most important that allows the exchange of the panels themselves or the message shown on them, the claim that the consumer supposes the possibility of interacting with the machine and finding additional information to the product that the potential consumer is interested in or interested in, thus attracting more consumers. The possibility of dynamic and audiovisual information both in the keypads that supply the product and in the external panels, the energy saving by consuming the panels the same type of energy as the machine itself and optimizing that way the consumption of the panels when not using external power supplies, getting a perfect and highly defined brand image, compatibility both with machines already present in the market and with machines of new designs regardless of the sector for which it is used the vending machine, incorporating elements of very small size both in the panels and in the connectors and dildos of the device.

Another important advantage is that, a! Being equipped with independent and different power connection devices, the multi-connection device can be used in any vending machine vending type products.

Another advantage of the present invention is that its manufacture is very simple and economical, in addition to having an easy and simple installation and replacement of the panels with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology. In addition these materials are very resistant, much more than those currently available to shock, humidity, heat etc ...

The described multi-connection device of interchangeable light panels in vending machines, therefore, represents an innovation of structural and constitutive characteristics unknown until now for the purpose to which it is intended, reasons that together with its practical utility, provide it with sufficient basis to obtain the privilege of exclusivity that is requested.

DESCRSPC5ÓN OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is attached, as an integral part thereof, of a set of drawings, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, has been represented as follows: Figure number 1- Shows a schematic perspective view of an example of embodiment of the multi-connection device of interchangeable light panels in vending machines, object of the invention, being appreciated therein. the main parts and elements that it comprises, the device having been represented with various examples of the panels that the machine can incorporate, showing one already connected to a multi-connector block connection post and the rest not connected. Figure number 2.- Shows a schematic perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the muiticconnection device, according to the invention, in this case equipped with a microcontroller to enable additional options to the simple illumination of the panels, having again represented the device with the various examples of the panels that a machine contemplates, one already connected to the multi-connector block and the rest without connecting, and having also represented an enlarged detail of the microcontroller to show the different controls and connectors that it incorporates.

Figure number 3.- Shows a schematic front perspective view of an example of a vending machine to which the device of the invention has been incorporated, showing the different configuration and location possibilities of the light panels that the device controls as well as different External components that you can also control.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, according to the numbering adopted, a preferred, but not limiting, example of the muiticconnection device of interchangeable light panels in vending machines can be observed, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and describe in detail below.

Thus, as observed in 1, the recommended muiticconnection device (1) is provided with several connection posts (2), located together in a multi-connector block (5) with multiple male-female inputs to connect and disconnect different panels (4) in an easy and simple way _* as well as an electrical outlet connector element (3) to the machine itself (24) for feeding the device (1).

This power connector (3) is connected to the multi-connector block (5) through the power input connection post (7) of the device, and has a power cable (8) that, in turn, leads in several independent connectors (9a, 9b, 9c ....) and compatible, each of them, with most of the vending machines on the market, allowing the light panels (4) to supply the electric power of the machine itself to its operation

These panels (4) have a light source on their light surface (12) with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology, and are interchangeable in the different connection points (2), for which they are equipped with a male-female connection system (10) that allows said connection easily and simply. Also, for their installation they have an extension wiring (11) of sufficient length to be able to arrive from the connection posts (2) to the location of the panel in the part of the machine (24) that corresponds, and that can be well in the product dispensing buttons (14) or in compartments located near said buttons, in or near the dispensing control (15), as well as in any other part of the machine, as shown in figure 3. The dimensions of The light surface (12) of each of the panels (4) are very specific to be able to be located in each of their locations, for example within the product dispensers (14) of the vast majority of vending machines or in the compartments that show the products. Likewise, said light surfaces (12) must be flexible, light and very thin in order to pane the machine.

In this example of Figure 1, the panels (4) of the multi-connection device (1) are preferably labels that are inserted or coupled in the product dispensing buttons (14) or in compartments located near the product dispensing buttons, acting the luminous surfaces (12) as mere producers of luminosity. On these panels a transparency that will identify each product would be incorporated a posteriori, acting the panels as mere light emitters.

According to figure number 2, it is observed how, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-connection device (1) incorporates an electronic microcontroller (13) interposed between the multi-connector block (5) and the power socket connector element (3 ) for which it has a connection entry post (7). This microcontroller (13) is operated with several controls (6) located in it, also having several connectors (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) that allow its connection, conventional or wireless, to the Internet or Intranet and / or devices electronic memory with audiovisual content, as well as to different internal or external devices of the machine (24) such as a video camera (19), light sensor (20), microphone (21), speakers (22) and / or motion sensor (23) to perform, in the light panels (4), additional functions to simple lighting, such as animation effects, signaling, internet or intranet browsing and / or tuning and broadcasting of all types of audiovisual content.

In the example of figure 2, the panels (4) have luminous surfaces (12) consisting of labels that are inserted or collected in the product dispensing keypads compartments located near the product dispensing buttons, but incorporating a microcontroller (13) allows the issuance of dynamic or non-dynamic messages that can be in motion or not, and that can be changed in a simple way from said controller. Said controller also allows us to change said messages wirelessly or with a normal connection, remotely or in person. Therefore, in this case the panels (4) can be provided with surfaces (12) with touch technology. The controller also incorporates multiple connectors and wireless connections for a quick and easy change of the audiovisual or static messages to be emitted on the panels, as well as multiple elements of internet connectivity, intranets, connectors for coupling memory devices such as Flash cards, disks hard, etc. with information that can be issued in said panels.

In accordance with Figure 3, an example of a vending machine (24) provided with the recommended multi-connection device (1), in which panels (4) with different surface arrangement options (12) with OLED, GRAPHENE or analogous that consist both of labels to be located inside the product dispensing buttons (14) or in the buttons that indicate the product to choose near the dispensing control (15) of the products, as well as in plates intended to be located on the front of the machine (18), on top (16) and / or on the sides (17) of the machine.

The incorporation of a camcorder (19), a light sensor (20), a microphone (21), speakers (22) and a motion sensor (23) connected to the electronic microcontroller (13) in a conventional or wireless manner is also observed.

Describing sufficiently the nature of the present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any person skilled in the art understands its scope and the advantages that derive therefrom, stating that , within its essentiality, may be implemented in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, and to which it will also achieve the protection that is sought provided that it is not altered, changed or modified its principle fundamental.

Claims

CITIZENS 'REIVINDICA

1. - MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN EXPENDING MACHINES which, being of the type of device comprising connection posts (2), located together in a multi-connector block (5) with multiple male-female inputs to connect and disconnect different panels (4) luminaires allowing exchange, and a plug-in element (3) to the machine itself (24), is characterized in that it incorporates an electronic microcontroller (13), interposed between the multi-connector block (5) and the connecting element of power socket (3), which is equipped with several connectors (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) that allow its connection, to the Internet or Intranet and / or electronic memory devices to perform, on the panels (4) lights, which have as a light source on their light surface (12) with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology, additional functions to lighting, such as animation effects, signaling, navigation ation by internet or intranet and / or tuning and broadcasting of audiovisual content.

2. - MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN EXPENDING MACHINES, according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller (13) has conventional cable connectors.

3. - MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN VENDING MACHINES, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the microcontroller (3) has wireless connectors.

4. MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN VENDING MACHINES, according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the microcontroller (13) manages machine devices (24) such as a video camera (19), sensor light (20), microphone (21), speakers (22) and / or motion sensor (23).

5.- MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN EXPENDING MACHINES, according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the panels (4) connecting the device have light surfaces (12) with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology, consisting of labels to be placed inside the product dispensing buttons (14) or in the buttons that indicate the product to choose close to the dispensing control (15) of the products,

6. MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN EXPENDING MACHINES, according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the panels (4) connecting the device have luminous surfaces (12) with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology, consisting of plates intended to be located on the front of the machine (18), on the top (16) and / or on the sides (17) of the machine (24).

7. MULTICONNECTION DEVICE OF INTERCHANGEABLE LIGHTING PANELS IN EXPENDING MACHINES, according to claim 6, characterized in that the panels (4) connecting the device have luminous surfaces (12) with OLED, GRAPHENE or similar technology, with touch technology.