WO2015126334A1

WO2015126334A1 - Souvenir vending machine

Info

Publication number: WO2015126334A1
Application number: PCT/SK2014/050010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin VIERIK
Original assignee: Visit And Collect, S. R.O.
Priority date: 2014-02-19
Filing date: 2014-03-21
Publication date: 2015-08-27
Also published as: SK500192014A3; SK288805B6

Abstract

The souvenir vending machine consists of a skeleton, the upper part of which is transparent, openable and it is possible to look inside it. In this part there is the supporting part on which there is a large geared wheel with transparent containers filled with souvenirs, as well as souvenir samples offered by the machine. The centre of the geared wheel is filled with a massive decorative cylinder with anchoring. On the supporting plate you can see a small geared wheel and an arrow indicator. In the front part of the machine is the control part of the mechanism which can be a wheel or a crank, a coin acceptor and souvenir dispenser, eventually a transparent counter for advertising material. Almost the whole process of buying a souvenir is carried out by simple turning of the control element. The first step is the selection of a souvenir –turning the control element causes movement the large geared wheel and it shall be turned until the arrow indicator shows the selected souvenir. The second step is inserting the required amount of money into the coin acceptor. In the third step, the control element is turned again actuating several consecutive operations of the mechanism. As a result of these operations, the selected souvenir falls into the souvenir dispenser from which the customer can take it.

Description

Souvenir vending machine

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a vending machine for various kinds of souvenirs. The souvenirs can be magnets, badges, key rings, pendants, commemorative coins or medals. Because of its versatility, appearance, attractive form of selling souvenirs, and a wide range - up to six different possible motives, as well as free operation without power supply, the vending machine offers application in diverse places such as cultural and historical sites, natural wonders, attractions, sport facilities, but it can also be of use in unusual places - as a great advertising or presentation tool for various facilities, companies, music bands, exhibitions, events, etc.

State of the art

Currently, when visiting cultural and historical sites, natural wonders, sport facilities, various attractions and exhibitions, you can usually purchase a memorial souvenir of the place in form of counter transactions, in some cases through vending machines. Currently, there are several types of souvenir vending machines on the market. These are especially machines with the possibility of stamping the souvenirs - this is done by pressing the selected pattern into the original thrown coin, or into a blank non-embossed token. The cost of manufacture of such machines is relatively high, especially due to the price of the stamping die in the machine. Vending machines usually offer a choice of up to four possible motives that usually do not change, which limits their sales possibilities. For this reason, these machines are especially suitable for areas with consistently high visit rates.

Then there are vending machines on the market for sale of commemorative medals. They usually offer the choice of one or two possible motives of souvenirs. Due to the small possibility of choice these motives usually do not change. Vending machines need power supply for their operation. Finally, there is a group of vending machines that sell souvenirs in plastic capsules. There are usually plastic capsules with several kinds of souvenirs in a common container. These are mainly souvenirs with a smaller diameter, without the possibility of choosing one's own motive. Summary of the invention

The subject matter of the invention according to the present patent application is a souvenir vending machine consisting of a skeleton with a transparent and openable upper part and a control element in its front part, which can be a wheel, eventually a crank, a coin acceptor and a souvenir dispenser, where also a transparent counter for the information material may be located. Behind the transparent section there is the supporting plate of the mechanism on which there is a large geared wheel with passable holes and a central rod to ensure its firm attachment to the supporting plate, wherein the small geared wheel is in contact with the large geared wheel and arrow indicator, a circular wheel with anchor holes is mounted on the upper surface of the large geared wheel, which together with the holders forms solid stands for transparent containers filled with souvenirs, then there are holders of preview samples of souvenirs around the perimeter of the circular wheel and in the centre there is a massive decorative cylinder, external sliding platforms and internal sliding platforms are attached to the bottom surface of the large geared wheel, underlaid by external and internal in-depth underlays, wherein impinged projections are attached to the internal in-depth underlays, and transition sensors are placed between individual external in-depth underlays, then on the underside of the supporting plate is the control rod of the mechanism, mounted on the supporting plate with help of holders and the control rod, wherein one end of the control rod is connected to the control element, then gearing of the countermovement is located on the control rod, together with the anti-movement latch attached to the holder of the control rod to prevent manipulation with the control element in the wrong direction, wherein the transfer of motion between the control rod and the small geared wheel is secured by gearing, and a steel wire interconnecting the coin acceptor with the sliding draw rod goes through the adductor part attached to the bottom surface of the supporting plate to eject the locking part out of the locked position and to release the souvenir gripper serving to catch souvenirs from containers, the gripper is mounted on the supporting plate by a screw with a compression spring, the projection on the surface of the sliding draw rod is installed to prevent early ejection of the gripper until the sliding draw rod reaches the normal/rest position, then a tension spring and the steel wire released from the coin acceptor are attached to the sliding draw rod, wherein the locking part is connected to the compression spring to move into the locked position, then there is a release arm on the plate to prevent displacement of the locking part towards the locked position and subsequent blockage of the souvenir gripper, before the transition sensor passes through the souvenir, wherein there is a tension spring on the release arm to draw the release arm back, the compression spring is in contact with the locking part to push the locking part back into the locked position, there is a lower bend on the release arm to be hit by the projection of the locking part, then the tension spring of the gripper to push the souvenir gripper into a position in which the contact surface of the gripper touches the bottom surface of the internal sliding platform and the upper projection of the gripper is raised above the external sliding platform and the internal sliding platform, then the lower bend is located on the gripper and is designed to push the guidance flap, wherein the said flap shuts and closes the passage between it and the barrier, then the gripper has a top projection and the transition sensor comprises a projection and a corner so that the transition sensor can be hit by the top bend of the release arm, the locking part has a front inclined surface to jar against the lower projection of the gripper, wherein the lower bend of the gripper leans against the guidance flap to create a passage between it and the barrier of the guidance flap so that the souvenir can fall into the souvenir dispenser.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a view of the machine. Figure 2 shows a view from the top side of the supporting plate. Figure 3 shows a detail view of the lower part of the large geared wheel from below. Figure 4 shows details on the underside of the supporting plate and individual components from below. Figure 5 shows details of the souvenir gripper and the bottom part of the large geared wheel from below. Figure 6 shows details of the souvenir located on platforms of the large geared wheel and the transition sensor from the top. Figure 7 shows details of the locking part and souvenir gripper from below. Figure 8 shows details of the guidance flap and the souvenir dispenser from below.

Example of an embodiment

The souvenir vending machine 4J_ consists of a skeleton I of the machine, the upper part of which is transparent, openable and it is possible to look inside it. In the front part of the machine is a control part 2 of the mechanism, which can be a wheel, eventually a crank, coin acceptor 3 and souvenir 4J_ dispenser There may also be a transparent counter 5 for information material.

Through the upper transparent part of the machine it is possible to see the supporting part 6 of the mechanism, on which there is the large geared wheel 7 with passable holes 8 and a central rod 9 which ensures its firm attachment to the supporting plate_6 of the mechanism, the small geared wheel 10 and the arrow indicator 11. A circular wheel 12 with anchor holes 13 is attached to the upper surface of the large geared wheel 7, which together with the holders 14 forms solid stands for transparent containers 15 filled with souvenirs 41. There are holders 16 of preview samples 16^' of souvenirs 4J_ around the perimeter of the circular wheel 12 and in the centre there is a massive decorative cylinder 7 with anchoring. External sliding platforms 1_8 and internal sliding platforms 19 are attached to the bottom surface of the large geared wheel 7, underlaid by external in-depth underlays 20 and internal in-depth underlays 2J_. Impinged projections 22 are attached to internal in- depth underlays 2J_. Transition sensors 23 are placed between individual external in-depth underlays 20.

On the underside of the supporting plate 6 is the control rod 24 of the mechanism, mounted on the supporting plate 6 with help of holders 25 and 26 of the control rod 24. One end of the control rod 24 is connected to the control element_2 of the mechanism. Gearing 27 of the countermovement located on the control rod 24, together with the anti-movement latch 28 attached to the holder 26 of the control rod 24, prevent manipulation with the control element 2 of the mechanism in the wrong direction. Transfer of motion between the control rod 24 and the small geared wheel 10 zabes secured by gearing 29.

A steel wire 3J_ interconnecting the coin acceptor 3 with the sliding draw rod 32 goes through the adductor part 30 attached to the bottom surface of the supporting plate 6. The role of the sliding draw rod 32 is to eject the locking part 33 out of the locked position, which leads to release of the souvenir 4J_ gripper 34 serving to catch souvenirs 4J_ from containers 15. Vertical movement of the souvenir 4J_ gripper 34 as well as its attachment to the supporting plate 6 is ensured by a screw 35 of the gripper 34 with a compression spring 36 of the gripper 34. Te role of the projection 37 on the surface of the sliding draw rod 32 is to prevent early ejection of the gripper 34 of souvenirs 4J_, until the sliding draw rod 32 reaches the normal/rest position. This is ensured by a tension spring 38 of the sliding draw rod 32 and the steel wire 3J_ released from the coin acceptor 3. Movement of the locking part 33 into the locked position is ensured by the compression spring 39 of the locking part 33. The role of the release arm 40 is to prevent displacement of the locking portion 33 towards the locked position and subsequent blockage of the souvenir 4J_ gripper 34 before the transition sensor 23 passes through the souvenir 4J_. Drawing the release arm 40 back is ensured by the tension spring 42 of the release arm 40.

With help of the control element 2 of the mechanism the customer selects a souvenir 4J_ which he is interested in. By turning the control element 2 he controls the movement of the large geared wheel 7 with transparent containers 1_5 filled with souvenirs 4J_. In the position when the arrow indicator 1 1 shows the selected motive of the souvenir 4J_, the customer proceeds to the next step, i.e. he inserts money into the coin acceptor 3. After entering the desired amount of money and carrying out the necessary action on the coin acceptor 3 (pushing, turning the coin acceptor) the steel wire 3J_ pulls the sliding draw rod 32 from its normal/rest position. At the same time, this action pushes the locking part 33 into the locked position, by which the gripper 34 of souvenirs 4J_ is released. After subsequent release of the steel wire 3 L, the sliding draw rod 32 returns into its normal/rest position. Compression spring 39 of the locking part 33 pushes the locking part 33 back into the locked position, but this is prevented by the lower bend of the release arm 43, which is caught by the projection of the locking part 44. The tension spring 36 of the gripper 34 pushes the souvenir 4J_ gripper 34 into a position in which the contact surface 45 of the gripper 34 touches the bottom surface of the internal sliding platform 19 and the upper projection 46 of the gripper 34 is raised above the external sliding platform 1_8 and the internal sliding platform 19. At the same time, the lower bend 47 of the gripper 34 pushes the guidance flap^8 which shuts and closes the passage between it and the barrier 49 of the guidance flap 48.

After this step the customer turns the control element 2 of the mechanism, until the souvenir 4J_ falls into the souvenir 4J_ dispenser 4. During this step the large geared wheel 7 starts to move. The souvenir 4J_ placed on the sliding platforms 1_8 and 19 is hit by the o extended upper projection 46 of the gripper 34 and subsequently it starts sliding on them. During this it is hit by the transition sensor 23. By pushing away the projection 50 of the transition sensor 23, the corner 5 of the transition sensor 23 hits the upper bend 52 of the release arm 40 and pushes it away. The pushed away release arm 40 subsequently releases the locking part 33. The front inclined surface 53 of the locking part 44 subsequently hits the lower projection 54 of the gripper 34· In the next phase of turning, the souvenir 4J_ falls from the sliding platforms 1_8 and 19 through the dropping opening 55 of the supporting plate 6 to the inner surface of the guidance flap 48, where it remains blocked for a certain time. During the last phase of turning, the contact surface 45 of the gripper 34 gets on the level of the highest point 56 of the impinged projection 22 and this causes pushing of the souvenir 41 gripper 34 downwards. This movement the compression spring 39 of the locking part 33 pushes the locking part 33 into the locked position above the level of the lower projection 54 of the gripper 34 and it blocks the souvenir 4J_ gripper 34 in this position. The upper projection 46 of the gripper 34 goes under the level of the sliding platforms 1_8 and 19, to a level at which it will not hit the souvenir 4J_ during subsequent turning of the control element 2 of the mechanism. When the souvenir 4J_ gripper 34 is in the pressed position, the lower bend 47 of the gripper 34 releases the guidance flap 48, due to which a passage is formed between it and the barrier 49 of the guidance flap 48, through which the blocked souvenir 4J_ falls into the souvenir dispenser 4 from which the customer can take it. List of reference marks

1 skeleton of the machine 29 gearing

2 control element of the mechanism 30 adductor part

3 coin acceptor 31 steel wire

4 souvenir dispenser 32 sliding draw rod

5 transparent counter 33 locking part

6 supporting plate of the mechanism 34 souvenir gripper

7 large geared wheel 35 screw of the gripper

8 passable openings 36 compression string of the gripper

9 central rod 37 projection

10 small geared wheel 38 tension spring of the sliding draw rod

11 arrow indicator 39 compression string of the locking part

12 circular wheel 40 release arm

13 anchoring hole 41 souvenir

14 container holder 42 tension rod of the release arm

15 transparent container 43 lower bend of the release arm

16 holder of preview samples of souvenirs 44 projection of the locking part

17 massive decorative cylinder with 45 contact surface of the gripper

anchoring 46 upper projection of the gripper

18 external sliding platform 47 lower projection of the gripper

19 internal sliding platform 48 guidance flap

20 external in-depth underlay 49 barrier of the guidance flap

21 internal in-depth underlay 50 projection of the transition sensor

22 impinged projection 51 corner of the transition sensor

23 transition sensor 52 upper bend of the release arm

24 control rod 53 front inclined surface of the locking part

25 holder of the control rod 54 lower projection of the gripper

26 holder of the control rod 55 dropping opening of the supporting plate

27 gearing of the countermovement 56 the highest point of the leading projection

28 anti-movement latch

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Souvenir vending machine (41) consisting of a skeleton (1), the upper part of which is transparent and openable and has a control element (2) of the mechanism in its front part can be a wheel, eventually a crank, coin acceptor (3) and a souvenir dispenser (4), there can be also a transparent counter (5) for information material, characterized in that behind the transparent part is the supporting plate (6) of the mechanism, on which there is a large geared wheel (7) with passable holes (8) and a central rod (9) to ensure its firm attachment to the supporting plate (6), where the small geared wheel (10) is in contact with the large geared wheel (7) and the arrow indicator (11), a circular wheel (12) with anchor holes (13) is attached to the upper surface of the large geared wheel (7), which together with the holders (14) forms solid stands for transparent containers (15) filled with souvenirs (41), then there are holders (16) of preview samples (16^') of souvenirs (41) around the perimeter of the circular wheel (12) and in the centre there is a massive decorative cylinder (17), external sliding platforms (18) and internal sliding platforms (19) are attached to the bottom surface of the large geared wheel (7), underlaid by external in-depth underlays (20) and internal in-depth underlays (21), wherein impinged projections (22) are attached to internal in-depth underlays (21) and Transition sensors (23) placed between individual external in- depth underlays_(20), then on the underside of the supporting plate (6) is the control rod (24) of the mechanism, mounted on the supporting plate (6) with help of holders (25) and (26) of the control rod (24), where one end of the control rod (24) is connected to the control element (2), then the gearing (27) of the countermovement is located on the control rod (24), together with the anti-movement latch_(28) attached to the holder (26) of the control rod (24) to prevent manipulation with the control element (2) in the wrong direction, wherein the transfer of motion between the control rod (24) and the small geared wheel (10) is secured by the gearing (29), then a steel wire (31) interconnecting the coin acceptor (3) with the sliding draw rod (32) goes through the adductor part (30) attached to the bottom surface of the supporting plate (6) to eject the locking part (33) out of the locked position and to release the souvenir gripper (34) serving to catch souvenirs (41) from containers (15), the gripper (34) is attached to the supporting plate (6) by a screw (35) with a compression string (36), the projection (37) on the surface of the sliding draw rod (32) is installed to prevent early ejection of the gripper (34), until the sliding draw rod (32) reaches the normal/rest position, then a tension spring (38) and a steel wire (31) released form the coin acceptor (3) are attached to the sliding draw rod (32), wherein the locking part (33) is connected with the compression spring (39) to ensure movement into the locked position, then there is a release arm (40) on the supporting plate (6) to prevent displacement of the locking portion (33) the locked position and subsequent blockage of the souvenir gripper (34) before the transition sensor (23) passes through the souvenir (41), where a tension spring (42) is located on the release arm (40) to draw back the release arm (40), the compression spring (39) is in contact with the locking part (33) to push the locking part (33) beck into the locked position, on the release arm (40) is the lower bend (43) to hit against the projection of the locking part (44), then the compression spring (36) of the gripper (34) to push the souvenir gripper (34) into a position in which the contact surface (45) of the gripper (34) touches the lower surface of the internal sliding platform (19) and the upper projection (46) of the gripper (34) is above the level of the external sliding platform (18) and the internal sliding platform (19), then the lower bend (47) is situated on the gripper (34) and is designed to push the guidance flap (48), wherein this flap (48) shuts and closes the passage between it and the barrier (49), then the gripper (34) has an upper projection (46) and the transition sensor (23) has a projection (50) and a corner (51) to hit the transition sensor against the upper bend (52) of the release arm (40), the locking part (44) has a front inclined surface (53) to hit the lower projection (54) of the gripper (34), where the lower bend (47) of the gripper (34) leans against the guidance flap (48), to forma passage between it and the barrier (49) of the guidance flap (48) to enable the blocked souvenir (41) to fall into the souvenir dispenser (4).