WO2019008236A1

WO2019008236A1 - Dispensing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2019008236A1
Application number: PCT/FR2017/051864
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Marc Robin; Florent MARCHAND
Original assignee: Nestore Green Technologies
Priority date: 2017-07-07
Filing date: 2017-07-07
Publication date: 2019-01-10

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing machine comprising: inside a housing (2), at least two compartments (11, 12), stacked and separated, individual pods (44) each comprising stacked boxes (45, 46) that are spaced apart vertically and connected to one another and which are each placed in said compartments, and transport means (14) capable of moving said pods, so that said boxes move together in said compartments; said boxes (45, 46) being each provided with at least one side access opening; the side walls of said compartments being provided, at a dispensing station, with at least one through-passage for access (54, 55) and at least one opening leaf for closing/opening said through-passage for access, said access opening providing side access to the boxes of any of the pods, brought to said dispensing station by said transport means.

Description

Distributor of goods

The present invention relates to the field of distributors of goods, especially food products.

In the field of electronic commerce, it is known that a customer places an order through the Internet at a selected store and that the customer comes to withdraw the ordered products at a location adjacent to the store, within a pre-set time, especially if some of the products are frozen.

Attempts have been made to make goods available in places or points of withdrawal closer to the customer. The best known is to provide individual temporary storage lockers, type mailboxes. For this, it is provided to the customer an identification of a specific locker in which the ordered goods will be stored and the opening of this locker will be authorized by reading the credit card of the customer or by a code previously communicated to the customer when of his order. This mode of provision is however not at all suitable particularly for food products to be kept cold or frozen.

An object of the present invention is to provide a goods distributor, able to differentiate the products.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a goods distributor, able to respect, in the case of food products, what is commonly called the cold chain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a goods distributor, able to meet the necessary health and safety conditions, particularly in the case of food products.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a goods distributor, whose manufacturing costs, implementation and use are reduced. According to one embodiment, there is provided a product dispenser which comprises, inside a box, at least two superposed and separate compartments, individual pods respectively comprising superposed goods receiving bins, which are spaced vertically and interconnected and located respectively in said compartments, and transport means adapted to move said nacelles, so that said bins move together in said compartments.

The bins are provided respectively with at least one lateral access opening and the side walls of said compartments being provided, at a dispensing station, with at least one access through passage and at least one closing sash. opening of this through passage of access, this access opening giving access laterally to the bins of any of the nacelles, brought to this distribution station by said means of transport.

The nacelles can be connected to said transport means by arms which pass through a slot of a partition wall separating a compartment receiving the transport means and one of said compartments.

The stacked bins of each nacelle can be connected to each other by means of an arm which passes through a slot of a partition wall separating the superimposed compartments in which these bins are located.

The means of transport may be able to move said nacelles along a closed circuit trajectory.

The nacelles can be suspended on the means of transport. The transport means may comprise guide means and drive means.

The dispenser may comprise displacement means for moving a nacelle supplied to the dispensing station between a position remote from a side wall of the box provided with said access through passage and a position close to this side wall. The nacelles can be connected to the means of transport by means of coupling disengageable and the moving means may comprise means for taking care of a nacelle brought to the dispensing station and uncoupled from the transport means.

The support means may comprise a lift frame slidably mounted on a fixed frame.

The dispenser may comprise at least one refrigeration unit for controlling the temperature inside at least one of said compartments.

A merchandise distributor and his mode of operation will now be described as exemplary embodiments, illustrated by the drawing in which:

- Figure 1 shows an external perspective view of the dispenser;

- Figure 2 shows an internal perspective view of the dispenser, its outer wall being shown partially shown;

FIG. 3 represents a lateral internal view of the dispenser;

- Figure 4 shows an internal perspective view of the dispenser, without its outer wall;

- Figure 5 shows an enlarged partial internal perspective view of a means of transport of the dispenser;

- Figure 6 shows an enlarged inner section of a portion of the dispenser;

- Figure 7 shows a horizontal section of the dispenser;

- Figure 8 shows a partial vertical section of the dispenser at a dispensing station in the circulation position;

- Figure 9 shows a partial vertical section of the dispenser at the dispensing station in the dispensing position;

- Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a moving means in the lowered position; and - Figure 1 1 shows a perspective view of the moving means, in the raised position.

As illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a goods distributor 1 comprises an outer casing 2 which comprises a lower horizontal floor 3, an upper horizontal ceiling 4, vertical lateral walls 5 and 6 arranged longitudinally and side walls. vertical 7 and 8 arranged transversely.

The box 2 is internally provided with intermediate horizontal interior separation walls so as to delimit superimposed and separate compartments. More particularly, the casing 2 is internally provided with two intermediate horizontal interior separation walls 9 and 10, so as to delimit a lower compartment 1 1 between the floor 3 and the intermediate horizontal wall 9, an intermediate compartment 12 between the intermediate horizontal walls. 9 and 10 and an upper compartment 13 between the intermediate horizontal wall 1 0 and the ceiling 4.

The distributor 1 comprises translational transport means 14 which are arranged in the upper compartment 13 and which are supported by a structure 1 5 arranged inside the box 2, this structure 15 comprising pillars 16 fixed to the through and through the floor 3 and the intermediate horizontal walls 9 and 10, longitudinal members 17a and cross members 17b.

As illustrated in particular in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the transport means 14 comprise a taut endless chain 18 extending horizontally and coupled to the vertical axis of the wheels 19 and 20, located at the longitudinal ends of the compartment upper 13, so that the endless chain 1 8 has longitudinal strands between the return wheels 19 and 20.

The transport means 14 comprise means for guiding and supporting the endless chain 1 8 which comprise longitudinal guides 21 and 22 able to guide and support the longitudinal strands of the endless chain 1 8. The endless chain 1 8 comprises links 23 and 24 which follow each other alternately and are connected by universal joints. More specifically, the links 23 comprise opposite parallel branches 25 and 26 arranged horizontally. The links 24 comprise opposite parallel branches 27 and 28 arranged vertically.

The links 23 and 24 are connected by connecting and spacing elements 29 on either side of which are placed the end portions of the branches 25 and 26 and the branches 27 and 28 and by vertical and horizontal axes. and 3 1 which pass through them and which have opposite ends protruding.

On these opposite ends protruding from the vertical and horizontal axes 30 and 31 are respectively mounted lower and upper rollers 32 and 33 and outer and inner side rollers 34 and 35.

The longitudinal support guides 2 1 and 22 comprise opposite inner and outer longitudinal sections 36 and 37 which are carried by stirrups 38 of the structure 15 and which have opposite faces of longitudinal guide between which the rollers 32, 33 and 34, 35 are able to move and which oppose rotation of the endless chain 1 8 on itself.

The deflection wheels 19 and 20 have double plates which have, at their periphery, teeth 39 and 40 capable of coming into lateral engagement with the rollers 32 and 33 of the endless chain 18.

The guiding and supporting means of the endless chain 1 8 further comprise guides in half-arcs of circles 41 and 42 which extend the longitudinal guides 2 1 and 22 along the periphery of the deflection wheels 19 and 20 and support the outer and inner side rollers 34 and 35.

The transport means 14 comprise a motor unit 43 adapted to rotate the return wheel 20 so as to translate the endless chain 1 8 in translation.

The distributor 1 comprises a plurality of individual nacelles 44 which are suspended from the transport means 14. The nacelles 44 respectively comprise lower and upper superposed compartments 45 and 46, for the storage of goods, which are vertically spaced and which are located respectively in the compartments 11 and 12.

The lower and upper bins 45 and 46 are interconnected respectively by intermediate vertical suspension arms 47 which pass through a continuous slot 48, in a closed circuit (FIG. 7), arranged through the lower intermediate wall 9.

The upper compartments 46 are connected to the endless chain 1 8 respectively by upper suspension vertical arms 49 which pass through a continuous closed circuit slot 50 formed through the upper intermediate wall 10.

The upper ends of the upper vertical suspension arms 49 are respectively connected to some of the links 24 of the endless chain 1 8 via suspension means 5 1.

The suspension arms 47 and 49 may advantageously be arranged so that, when empty, they essentially support vertical loads.

When the endless chain 18 travels in translation, along a path in a closed circuit, under the effect of the motor unit 43, the nacelles 44 are displaced and move in translation, on a closed circuit trajectory, to the way of a carousel.

In doing so, the lower and upper bins 45 and 46 are displaced and circulate in translation, along closed circuit paths, respectively in the lower compartment 11 and in the intermediate compartment 12, along and away from the side walls 5, 6, 7 and 8, the suspension intermediate arms 47 circulate in the continuous slot 48 of the lower intermediate wall 9 and the upper suspension arms 49 circulate in the continuous slot 50 of the upper intermediate wall 10.

Therefore, by activating the motor unit 43, the pods 44 can be selectively and respectively brought to a station distribution located at a specific location relative to the side walls 5, 6, 7 and 8.

According to an alternative embodiment, illustrated in the figures, this dispensing station is located in the vicinity of the lateral wall 7.

The compartments 45 and 46 are for example of parallelepipedal shapes and comprise horizontal bottoms and ceilings and respectively three lateral sides, so that they have, in their fourth lateral sides, lateral openings 52 and 53 facing outwards relative to each other. to their translation in a closed circuit.

Lockers 45 and 46 advantageously have the same horizontal sections and are located, for example, exactly one above the other.

As illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9, at the location of this dispensing station, the side wall 7 has upper and lower access passages 54 and 55 located one above the other. the other and which are arranged so that these passages respectively allow access to the lockers 45 and 46 of a selected nacelle 44 fed to the dispensing station 5 1, through their front openings 52 and 53. The side wall 7 is equipped with doors 54a and 55 able to close the access through passages 54 and 55. These doors 54a and 55a may be casement or sliding doors.

At the location of this dispensing station, displacement means 56 are furthermore provided which, combined with the transport means 14, make it possible to move a selected pod 44 placed at the dispensing station between a so-called circulation position. wherein it is remote from the side wall 7 (Figure 8) and a so-called dispensing position in which it is close to the side wall 7 (Figure 9). In the dispensing position, the peripheral edges of the lateral openings 52 and 53 of the nacelle 44 placed at the dispensing station can come into contact with the inner face of the lateral wall 7, around the access access through passages 5. and 55. An embodiment of the suspension means 5 1 and the displacement means 56 will now be described.

As illustrated in particular in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the suspension means 51 comprises a first fastening member 57 of the corresponding link 24.

This first attachment member 57 comprises a vertical plate 58 which has an upper portion 59 engaged between the branches 27 and 28 of the corresponding link 24 and fixed to these branches 27 and 28 and which have wings 60 and 61 opposite which extending below and away from the endless chain 1 8.

The attachment member 57 further comprises parallel horizontal bars 62 and 63 which are attached to the opposite ends of the wings 60 and 61, which extend perpendicular to the vertical plate 58 and the corresponding link 24 and which are located at below and away from the endless chain 1 8 and at a distance from each other in the direction of the corresponding link 24.

According to the example shown, the lower bins have several boxes arranged next to and above the others so as to store goods of different sizes and the access through passage 54 is subdivided into two through passages located therein. one above the other and equipped with doors. The upper bins 55 have a single box.

Each of the suspension means 5 1 further comprises a second attachment member 64 integral with the upper end of the upper vertical suspension arm 49 of the corresponding nacelle 44 and hooked to the first attachment member 57.

This second attachment member 64 comprises a horizontal central bar 65 which is parallel to the horizontal bars 62 and 63 and two parallel horizontal bars 66 and 67 which are fixed on the ends of the horizontal bar 65 and which are perpendicular to the horizontal bars 62 and 63, so that the horizontal bar 65 and the parallel horizontal bars 66 and 67 form an H.

The ends of the parallel horizontal bars 66 and 67 are capable of being hooked to the parallel horizontal bars 62 and 63. For this, the horizontal bars 66 and 67 have pairs of orifices 68 and 69 which are traversed by the bars 62 and 63.

When the nacelles 44 are in their aforementioned circulation position, the first attachment member 57 and the second attachment member 64 of the suspension means 5 1 are coupled and hooked to one another by the fact that the bars of the second attachment member 64 are, in their orifices, supported from above downwards on the horizontal bars 62 and 63 of the first attachment member 57 under the effect of the weight of the pods 44, bars 66 and 67 of the second fastening member 64 being in a first position along the bars 62 and 63 of the first fastening member 57.

The displacement means 56 are installed on the floor 3 at the dispensing station. When the nacelles 44 are in their circulating position, coupled to the transport means 14, and are displaced and circulate in translation, in a closed circuit, they pass over and away from the displacement means 56.

As illustrated in particular in FIGS. 10 and 11, the displacement means 56 comprise a fixed frame 70 and a mobile frame 71 mounted on the fixed frame 70 via horizontally spaced parallel runners 72, arranged so that the mobile frame 7 1 is movable horizontally and perpendicular to the side wall 7, in one direction and in the other, under the effect of an actuating member 73 such as a cylinder.

The displacement means 56 comprise a lift frame 74 mounted on the movable frame 71 and an actuator 75 able to move the lift frame 64 between a low position and a high position.

For example, the lift frame 74 comprises two parallel shafts 76 spaced horizontally, extending perpendicularly to the slideways 72 and rotatably mounted on the movable frame 71. The shafts 76 are provided with radial arms 77 on which are rotatably mounted parallel bars 78, for example three, spaced horizontally and extending parallel to the slideways 72. The actuating member 75, such as a jack, is mounted so as to rotating one of the shafts 76, so that the bars 78 are movable between a low position and a high position.

The operation can be the following.

The means of transport 14 being activated, a nacelle 44, selected, is brought to the distribution station. The transport means 14 are deactivated so that the nacelle 44 selected is immobilized at the dispensing station. As indicated above, the selected shuttle 44 is in a remote position, illustrated in particular in FIG. 8, in which its end face presenting the lateral access openings 52 and 53 is at a distance from the lateral wall 7.

The actuating member 75 can then be activated to move the elevator frame 64 from its low position (FIG. 10) to its upper position (FIG. 11).

In doing so, the lift frame 64, via the bars, comes into contact beneath the selected nacelle 44, ie below its lower rack 45, and then supports this nacelle. lifting it up to a high position, in order to uncouple and release the nacelle 44 selected relative to the transport means 14. In doing so, the bars 66 and 67 of the second attachment member 64 leave their supports and move to the top relative to the bars 62 and 63 of the first attachment member 57, the bars 62 and 63 sliding vertically in the orifices 68 and 69.

The selected platform 44 being supported by the elevator frame 74, the actuating member 73 is activated so as to translate the movable frame 71 in translation relative to the fixed frame 70 in the direction of the wall 7 in order to move the nacelle 44 selected towards the side wall 7, to its aforementioned distribution position in which the end face having the openings 52 and 53 of the selected shuttle 44 is moved closer to the side wall 7 (Figure 9).

In doing so, the bars 66 and 67 of the second attachment member 64 slide horizontally along the bars 62 and 63 of the first latching member 57, in the orifices 68 and 69, and move from their first aforementioned position to a second position.

The horizontal partitions 9 and 10 have slots 79 and 80 opening into the slots 48 and 50, so that the suspension arms 47 and 49 can move in these slots 79 and 80 during the movements of the nacelle 44 selected between its circulation position and its distribution position.

For example, the front face having the openings 52 and 53 of the nacelle 44 is brought into contact with the inner face of the side wall 7, possibly via buffers or deformable seals.

Thus, the accessibility of the bins 45 and 46 from the outside is facilitated and the accessibility of the other nacelles 44 through the access through passages 54 and 55 of the side wall 7 is made impossible.

In addition, a cylinder 8 1 capable of acting on the nacelle 44 selected in the direction of the side wall 7 may be provided in order to keep the nacelle 44 selected in its dispensing position.

Advantageously, in the dispensing position, the openings 52 and 53 of the selected nacelle 44 coincide with the access through passages 54 and 55 of the side wall 7.

The doors 54a and 55a, initially closed, can then be opened, for example one independently of the other, so that a user has access to the interior of the bins 45 and 46.

After the doors 54a and 55a have been closed, by the user or automatically, the operation described above is then reversed to return the platform 44 to its circulating position, the lift frame 74 releasing the nacelle 44 selected for it is again supported by the means of transport 14.

The dispenser 1 may be equipped with a programmed management computer (not shown), able to select a nacelle 44 to be brought to the distribution station and able to manage the operating operations described above. To do this, the distributor 1 can be equipped with detection means adapted to identify the pods 44 and detection means adapted to detect the positions of the pods 44, said detection means being connected to said computer.

According to an alternative embodiment, the identification of the nacelles

44 and their position along the flow path can be obtained by means for detecting the angular position of one of the deflection wheels 19 and 20 or the angular position of one of the rotary members of the power unit 43 .

The dispenser 1 can be intended for storage in the lockers

45 and 46 nacelles 44 and the distribution of any products and more particularly foodstuffs to be maintained at storage temperatures.

As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the distributor 1 comprises cooling groups 82 and 83 able to maintain different regulated temperatures in the compartments 11 and 12.

For example, the cooling unit 82 can be adapted to maintain in the compartment 1 1 a refrigeration temperature, for example between -2 and +10, and the cooling unit 82 can be adapted to maintain in the compartment 1 1 a freezing temperature, for example between -12 and -22 degrees Celsius. Other products than foodstuffs can be stored in bins 45 and / or 46.

The walls of the compartments 1 1 and 12 are constructed to include thermal insulation means.

In order to constitute a thermal insulation, the partition walls 9 and 10 may be equipped with deformable lip seals (not shown) obstructing the slots 48, 79 and 50, 80, while allowing the translation movements of the suspension arms 47 and 49 in these slots as previously described.

The air cooled respectively in the compartments 1 1 and 12 can enter the compartments 45 and 46 of the nacelles 44, in circulation position, through their front openings 52 and 53. Nevertheless, the The walls of the compartments 45 and 46 of the nacelles 44 may advantageously be perforated so as to allow a better circulation of the cooled air around the stored products.

According to an alternative embodiment, only one of the compartments 1 1 and 12 could be subjected to a refrigeration unit.

In a relationship between a distribution store and a customer, the dispenser 1 can be used in the following manner.

A customer places an order for merchandise, for example on the internet, at the store, using his credit card.

The computer selects an empty basket 44 and associates an identification code with this basket 44 with the codes of the payment card.

An operator activates the dispenser management computer 1 so that he can deposit the selectively controlled goods in the racks 45 and 46 of this assigned nacelle 44, through the passages 54 and 55 or through other dispenser passages. 1 provided specifically for this purpose.

At a time that he wishes, the customer can come to the distributor 1 to recover his ordered goods.

The distributor 1 is equipped with a payment card reader connected to the management computer.

The customer presents his credit card to the payment card reader for his recognition.

This being done, the computer performs the commands to bring the nacelle 44 assigned to its distribution position.

Doors 54a and 55a being opened, the customer recovers his goods.

This being done, the doors 54a and 55a are closed.

The computer manages subsequent operations.

For each customer, the above operations can be repeated.

Claims

1. Distributor of products, comprising:

inside a box (2), at least two compartments (1 1, 12) superimposed and separated,

individual nacelles (44) respectively comprising superposed goods receiving bins (45, 46) which are vertically spaced and interconnected and which are respectively located in said compartments,

and transport means (14) adapted to move said nacelles, so that said bins move together in said compartments;

said bins (45, 46) being provided with at least one lateral access opening (52, 53) respectively;

the side walls of said compartments being provided, at a dispensing station, with at least one access through passage (54, 55) and at least one opening (54a, 55a) for closing / opening this passage through access, this access opening giving access laterally to the bins of any of the nacelles, brought to this distribution station by said means of transport.

2. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said nacelles are connected to said transport means (14) by arms which passes through a slot (50) of a partition wall (10) separating a compartment (13) receiving the means of transport (14) and one (12) of said compartments.

3. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said superimposed bins (45, 46) of each nacelle are interconnected by at least one arm (47) which passes through a slot (48) of a partition wall (9) separating said superimposed compartments (1 1, 12) in which these bins are located.

4. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport means (14) are adapted to move said nacelles (44) along a closed circuit path.

5. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nacelles (44) are suspended from the transport means (14).

6. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transport means (14) comprise guide means (21, 22) and drive means (1 8).

7. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising displacement means (56) for moving a nacelle (44) brought to the dispensing station between a position remote from a side wall (7) of the box provided with said passage passing through and a close position of this side wall.

8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the nacelles (44) are connected to said transport means by disengageable hooking means (57, 64) and said moving means (56) comprise means (74) for gripping. loading a nacelle brought to the distribution station and uncoupled from the transport means (14).

9. Dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said support means comprise a lift frame (74) slidably mounted on a fixed frame (70).

10. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one cooling unit (82, 83) for controlling the temperature inside at least one of said compartments (9, 10).