ES1238151U - PRODUCT EXTRACTION DEVICE IN VENDING MACHINES - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Product extraction device in vending machines comprising a housing (1) with a storage area (2) of a product line, an entry area (3) of products and an exit zone (4) of products , where, in correspondence with the product exit zone (4), a tray (12) is arranged to receive a product located in the product exit zone (4), characterized in that the exit zone (4) of products comprises: - an opening (10) with predetermined dimensions such that the opening (10) allows the passage of a single product through the opening (10); - a drag surface (15), configured to drag and extract the product located in the tray (12), through the opening (10), when an order to purchase a product is produced in the vending machine; - a retaining surface (14), configured to partially block the opening (10) and prevent the extraction of the product located in the tray (12) until the purchase order of the product in the vending machine.

Description

DESCRIPTION

PRODUCT EXTRACTION DEVICE ON VENDING MACHINES

Technical sector

The present invention aims at a device for extracting products in vending machines. By means of the device of the invention, a reliable extraction maneuver is allowed in the vending machines, which guarantees at the same time the structural integrity of the extracted products, so that they reach the consumer in good condition.

The device for extracting products in vending machines object of the present invention has special application in the field of industry dedicated to the design, manufacture and marketing of vending machines or vending machines, especially those machines in which products stored in soft packages or bags.

State of the art

In vending machines or vending machines known today, there is a problem associated with the risk that, in the case of a purchase order for a single product by a customer, the machine allows two or more products to exit. This is mainly due to errors in the placement of objects inside the machine, or excessive dimensional tolerances in the different elements that are part of each product line within the machine.

To avoid the aforementioned problem, it is usual to use extractor elements between every two products of a product line of the machine, so that when a purchase order for a product occurs and that product goes to the output tray of the machine, the extractor element located behind the product positioned in the first position (outgoing product), advances to the exit line, thus preventing the product that passes from the second to the first position from being able to leave the machine by mistake .

However, although the system described in the previous paragraph solves the problem of the accidental exit of a number of products greater than the number of products corresponding to the purchase order, said system generates an additional problem, related to the decrease of the space available in the product line for the storage of said products. The lower the number of products capable of being stored in a product line, the greater the frequency with which an operator will have to travel to the machine to replace these products and, therefore, the cost of maintaining the machine in service increases

An alternative solution to that of the extractor elements is to use pushers or push levers. This solution is especially useful in machines where the product lines are arranged vertically. The modus operandi of this system is that when a purchase order for a product occurs, a push lever presses the product located in the second position (immediately above the product located in the exit position). When the product located in the second position is pressed against the wall of the corresponding product line, the friction of said product against said wall increases, thus preventing both said product and the products located above it from accidentally leaving the machine.

The solution described in the previous paragraph, despite avoiding the accidental release of products and although it does not involve an occupation of space as considerable as the system of the extractor elements, brings with it a new problem. This new problem refers to the structural deterioration that said thrust levers can produce in the products, especially if the containers of such products are soft, and especially if the content of said containers is delicate and needs to be treated with care, as can be the case of tobacco that is distributed in bags.

Object of the invention

In order to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention relates to a device for extracting products in vending machines.

The device for extracting products in vending machines comprises a housing with a storage area of a product line, a product entry zone and a product exit zone.

In correspondence with the product exit zone the device comprises a tray configured to receive a product located in the product exit zone. In this way, the product placed first in the product line is placed in, or directly on, the tray.

In a novel way, the product exit area includes:

- an opening with predetermined dimensions such that the opening allows the passage of a single product through the opening;

- a drag surface, configured for dragging and extracting the product located in, or directly above, the tray, through the opening, when a purchase order of a product is produced in the vending machine, and;

- a retaining surface, configured to partially block the opening and prevent the removal of the product located in the tray until the purchase order of the product in the vending machine.

By means of these characteristics of the product exit zone, a device is achieved that prevents each time a purchase order for a single product is produced, the extraction of more than one product occurs. All this without reducing the space available in the product storage area and without mechanisms that deteriorate or endanger the integrity of the products (with their corresponding containers or packaging).

Preferably, the device comprises a rotating carousel, connected to the drag surface, configured to move the drag surface from a rear position of the exit zone, opposite the opening, towards a front position of the exit zone , in correspondence with the opening, and from said front position again towards the rear position.

Through this mechanism based on the carousel with the drag surface, the extraction of a product is allowed each time the purchase order is produced, where the drag surface recovers the initial position it had before the purchase order, after having The product that initially occupied the first position in the product line was extracted, that is, the product that was initially located in the output tray.

The drag surface pushes the product located in the tray by its rear face (opposite to the one arranged in correspondence with the exit opening), dragging it through said opening and forcing its evacuation towards an exit region of the vending machine.

Also preferably, the drag surface and the retaining surface form a single actionable element to be moved and configured as a flange, thus simplifying the design of the device and reducing the number of necessary elements. In this way, when the tab finishes extracting a product, it returns to its initial position (front position of the exit area in correspondence with the opening), and blocks the opening, acting as a retainer.

Thus, as long as a purchase order does not occur, the product located in the tray cannot be extracted or accidentally left the exit area, because it is prevented by the flange or the retaining surface, which is arranged in a position corresponding to the opening until a new purchase order occurs.

When the purchase order occurs, the displacement of the tab occurs, which is moved by the carousel to initiate the push and drag of the product located in the tray for its removal from the device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tray in the exit zone incorporates a plurality of projections. Said projections are configured to decrease the support surface of the product located in the exit zone, thus reducing friction during the extraction of the product located in the exit zone. It is thus possible to reduce the effort required to make a motor that drives the carousel with the tab, in order to extract the product located in the tray.

According to a possible embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a plate with fixing means to the housing, where the plate defines the opening of the exit zone. In this way, when placing the plate in the housing, the opening necessary for the extraction of the product and of a single product is defined.

Preferably, the fixing means of the plate are adjustable, allowing the plate to be placed in different positions with respect to the housing, defining different dimensions of the opening of the exit zone. It is thus possible to regulate the dimensions of the opening according to the dimensions of the product (or the dimensions of the product package) that has to be extracted.

Preferably, the device incorporates a pusher, configured to push the products located in the storage area, such that they advance towards the exit zone each time a product is extracted through the opening. In this way, it avoids that the products remain blocked and do not advance towards the exit zone, because they remain locked somewhere in the middle of the storage area.

According to a possible embodiment, the housing is configured to be arranged in an upright position and the pusher is a plate with a certain weight to ensure the advancement of the products towards the exit zone each time a product is extracted through the opening. This is a useful configuration, since it allows the products to advance by the force of gravity, where the pusher only collaborates to avoid that, when a locked product remains, there is no decrease in products towards the exit zone.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises at least two product storage zones, at least two product entry zones and at least two product exit zones. In this way it is possible to take advantage of the same housing for the storage and extraction of a plurality of product sets, where the products of each of the sets can be the same or different from each other, in addition to the same or different with respect to one or more of the other set of products.

Preferably, the device incorporates a front cover of the housing. This improves the reliability of the housing, preventing the deterioration of the products.

According to a possible embodiment of the device, the front cover of the housing comprises a convergent geometry towards the housing to thus direct the extracted products towards the exit region of the vending machine. This allows a correct guidance of the products, preventing them, in their extraction, from moving towards a different area than the exit region of the vending machine. That is, said front cover acts as a funnel.

According to a possible embodiment, the housing incorporates projections, and the front cover is configured to be fixed to said projections of the housing. This configuration simplifies the operation of mounting the front cover on the housing.

Preferably, the housing comprises a tubular geometry with a "C" shaped section. Thus, the housing comprises a partially open side comprising flaps. This geometry allows observing and accessing, when the front cover is not mounted, to Products stored in the storage area.

According to a possible embodiment, the plate is configured to be fixed to the housing flaps. This configuration allows to fix the position of the plate in a comfortable way, thus having a longitudinal surface (the flaps) for fixing and adjusting the position of the plate.

Preferably, the device comprises a drive module in which the carousel with the drive surface is located. Said drag module comprises, on an upper surface, the tray of the product exit zone. This configuration allows to have, in a single module, the essential elements for the extraction of the product located in the exit zone.

Description of the figures

The following figures have been included as part of the explanation of at least one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1: Shows a perspective view of the device housing, with a single storage area for storing a single product line.

Figure 2: Shows a partial perspective view of a drag module, with a drag surface, a carousel and a tray with protrusions.

Figure 3: Shows a sectional view of the product exit zone, where the product located in the exit zone and the products located in the second and third position of the product line are observed, and where a tab is preventing the Product outlet located in the exit zone through the opening.

Figure 4: Shows the drag surface located in a posterior position with respect to the product located in the exit zone.

Figure 5: Shows the drag surface by pushing the product located in the exit zone, in such a way that said product is extracted through the opening of the exit zone.

Figure 6: Shows the evacuation of the extracted product and the advance towards the exit zone of the product that was in second position in the product line.

Figure 7: Shows a perspective view of the device housing, with two storage areas for storing two product lines.

Figure 8: Shows the device of Figure 7, covered by the front cover.

Figure 9: Shows a perspective view of the exit zone, where a detail of the plate that defines the opening of the exit zone is observed.

Figure 10: Shows a sectioned perspective view, corresponding to the view shown in Figure 9, where a detail of the pusher can be seen.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates, as mentioned above, to a device for extracting products in vending machines.

The device comprises a tubular housing (1) with a product storage area (2), an product entry area (3) and an output area (4) of products.

The device is configured for the introduction of products by the product entry area (3), and their accumulation in the form of a product line located in the product storage area (2).

The products to be stored are provided with a container, preferably soft, although products whose container has a certain stiffness can also be stored.

The device is configured to evacuate the products in accordance with said containers, from the outlet area (4) of products of the housing (1), to an outlet region of the vending machine (not shown in the Figures).

Preferably, as shown in the figures, the housing (1) is arranged vertically and the products are stored vertically, one above the other (as seen in Figures 3 to 6), and are evacuated from the exit zone (4) of products located in the lower part of the housing (1) (see Figure 1) towards the exit region of the vending machine.

According to a possible embodiment of the device, in the same housing (1) there may be two or more product storage areas (2) (respectively configured for two or more same or different product lines), respectively with their corresponding areas of entry (3) of products and exit zones (4) of products, at different heights along the housing (1).

Figure 7 shows a housing (1) configured for the storage of two product lines, where said housing (1) comprises two product storage areas (2), two product entry zones (3) and two zones output (4) of products, at different heights along the housing (1).

o de rectángulo parcialmente abierto en uno de sus lados. En la Figura 1 y en la Figura 7 se observa dicha geometría de la carcasa (1).According to the embodiment shown in the Figures, the housing (1) has a geometry with section in the form of

or of a partially open rectangle on one of its sides. In Figure 1 and in Figure 7, said carcass geometry (1) is observed.

Having a partially open side, two flaps (5) are arranged on said side of the housing (1). According to a possible embodiment, a front cover (6) can be attached to the housing (1) through said flaps (5).

The housing (1) can also have front projections (7) in correspondence with the partially open side. According to a possible embodiment, the front cover (6) can be attached to the housing (1) through said front projections (7).

Figure 8 shows said front cover (6) coupled to the housing (1) through the front projections (7).

The front cover (6) preferably has a convergent geometry towards the housing (1) at the end of the housing (1) closest to the outlet region of the vending machine. In this way, it is possible to direct the products from more than one of the exit zones (4) towards the exit region when they are evacuated from the casing (1) of the device. That is, said front cover (6) acts as a funnel.

The flaps (5) of the housing (1) are also configured to, by means of fixing means (8), fix a plate (9) in proximity to an outlet area (4) of products. Said fixing means (8) allow to regulate the position of said plate (9), such that the product exit zone (4) has a greater or lesser opening (10), according to the length of the housing ( 1), depending on the position to which the plate (9) is regulated.

Figure 9 shows in detail said plate (9) with its fixing means (8) to the flaps (5) of the housing (1). Preferably, the fixing means (8) are projections arranged adjusted in grooves.

According to a possible embodiment of the invention, the device also comprises a pusher (11) configured to exert a certain pressure on the products stored in the storage area (2), where said pressure is sufficient to force an advance towards the area of exit (4) of the products located in the storage area (2), after the product that is in the exit zone (4) has been evacuated to the exit region of the vending machine, after an order has occurred shopping. Preferably, the pusher (11) is arranged to exert said pressure only by gravity.

Thus, when the product of the product line that is located in the exit zone (4), that is the product located in the first position in the product line, is evacuated, the product located in the second position becomes the first position, that is to say it occupies the exit zone (4). This displacement can be achieved by simple gravity and, optionally, with the collaboration of the mentioned pusher (11).

If the housing (1) is arranged in an upright position, said pusher (11) can it is a plate deposited on the product located last in the product line. Said plate, by its own weight, is forcing the advance of vertically stored products, so that said products are moving towards the exit zone (4) every time the product is evacuated. In this way, it is avoided that the products of the product line can remain locked at some point along the storage area (2), and prevent the exit position (4) from being occupied by a new product after evacuation of the product that was previously located in said exit zone (4).

If the housing (1) of the device is not arranged in an upright position, it is possible that the pusher (11) is equipped with a spring, for example interposed between the pusher (11) and the housing (1), in such a way that the spring produces a certain pressure sufficient to force an advance of the products in the storage area (2).

In Figure 10 a sectioned perspective view is observed, corresponding to the view shown in Figure 9. In said Figure 10 a detail of the pusher (11) described above is observed.

In the product exit zone (4) there is a tray (12) configured to support the product located in the first position (in the exit zone (4)) in the product line.

According to a possible embodiment, said tray (12) has a set of projections (13), configured so that the product located in the exit zone (4) is arranged on said projections (13), thus reducing the area of product contact with the tray (12) and, thereby, reducing friction and facilitating the product evacuation operation.

As can be seen in the different Figures, the product exit zone (4) has, in correspondence with the tray (12), a retaining surface (14) configured to prevent the exit of the product located in the exit zone (4), as long as a purchase order has not been produced. According to this impediment, the retaining surface (14) occupies a frontal position with respect to the product located in the exit zone (4), a frontal position that is in correspondence with the opening (10) determined by the plate (9) . Figure 3 shows a sectional view showing the retaining surface (14) in said front position.

Preferably, a drag surface (15) and said retaining surface (14) form a single actionable element to be moved and configured as a flange. Said single driven element is configured to drag the product located in the exit zone (4) in the process of evacuation of the product towards the exit region of the vending machine by contact of the drag surface (15).

For this purpose, the retaining surface (14) and the trailing surface (15) are connected to a carousel (16), which produces a rotation of the retaining surface (14) and the trailing surface (15). In this rotation, the retaining surface (14) and the drag surface (15) go from occupying a frontal position to occupying a posterior position with respect to the product located in the exit zone (4). Figure 4 shows a view of the drag surface (15), after rotation, where the drag surface (15) is located in the rear position with respect to the product located in the exit zone (4).

Once located in the rear area, the carousel (16) forces the advance of the retaining surface (14) and the drag surface (15) towards the opening (10) of the exit zone (4). In this advance, the drag surface (15) pushes the product located in the exit zone (4), that is the product located in the first position, forcing its evacuation through the opening (10) of the exit zone (4). Figure 5 shows a view during the aforementioned.

When the retaining surface (14) and the drag surface (15) reach again the position corresponding to the opening (10) of the exit zone (4), that is to say in the frontal position, the evacuation process is completed, and the evacuated product falls towards the exit region of the vending machine, and the product occupying the second position in the product line advances towards the exit zone (4), becoming the first position. This advance is facilitated by the pusher (11) described above. Figure 6 shows a view of the aforementioned.

According to a possible embodiment, the retaining surface (14) and the drag surface (15), with its carousel (16), are located in a groove that crosses, or divides in two, the tray (12) of the area output (4).

Also, the carousel (16) is located in correspondence with a drive module (17) where a motor that allows the movement of the carousel (16) is located.

Preferably, the tray (12) is located on one side of the drive module (17).

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of one half of the drag module (17), where the carousel (16) and the drag surface (15) are observed. A part of the tray (12) of the output area (4) with its projections (13) is also observed.

Claims (15)

1. - Device for extracting products in vending machines comprising a housing (1) with a storage area (2) of a product line, an entry area (3) of products and an exit zone (4) of products, where, in correspondence with the output zone (4) of products, a tray (12) is configured to receive a product located in the output zone (4) of products, characterized in that the output zone (4) of products includes: - an opening (10) with predetermined dimensions such that the opening (10) allows the passage of a single product through the opening (10); - a drag surface (15), configured to drag and extract the product located in the tray (12), through the opening (10), when an order to purchase a product is produced in the vending machine; - a retaining surface (14), configured to partially block the opening (10) and prevent the extraction of the product located in the tray (12) until the purchase order of the product in the vending machine. 2. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a rotating carousel (16), connected to the drag surface (15), configured for displacement of the drag surface (15) from a rear position of the exit zone (4), opposite the opening (10), towards a frontal position of the exit zone (4), in correspondence with the opening (10), and from said frontal position again towards the position later. 3. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining surface (14) and the drag surface (15) form a single actionable element to be moved and configured as a flange. 4. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tray (12) comprises a plurality of projections (13) configured to decrease the support surface of the product located in the exit zone ( 4), so that the friction during the extraction of the product located in the exit zone (4) is minimized. 5. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plate (9) with fixing means (8) to the housing (1), where the plate (9) defines the opening (10) from the exit zone (4). 6. - Product extraction device in vending machines according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing means (8) of the plate (9) are adjustable, allowing to place the plate (9) in different positions with respect to the housing (1), defining different dimensions of the opening (10) of the exit zone (4). 7. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pusher (11), configured to push the products located in the storage area (2), so that they move towards the exit zone (4) every time a product is extracted through the opening (10). 8. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing (1) is configured to be arranged vertically and the pusher (11) is a plate with a certain weight to ensure the advance of the products towards the exit zone (4) each time a product is extracted through the opening (10). 9. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (1) comprises at least two product storage areas (2), at least two product entry areas (3) and at least two output zones (4) of products. 10. - Product extraction device in vending machines according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a front cover (6) of the housing (1). 11. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to claim 10, characterized in that the front cover (6) of the housing (1) comprises a convergent geometry towards the housing (1) to direct the extracted products towards the same region Vending machine outlet. 12. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the front cover (6) is configured to be fixed to front projections (7) of the housing (1). 13. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (1) comprises a tubular geometry with a section in the form of

where the housing (1) comprises a partially open side comprising flaps (5). 14. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to claim 13, characterized in that the plate (9) is configured to be fixed to the flaps (5) of the housing (1). 15. - Device for extracting products in vending machines according to any of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a drive module (17) in which the carousel (16) is located with the drive surface (15), wherein said drag module (17) comprises, on an upper surface, the tray (12) of the product exit zone (4).