HK1068712B - Improved dispensing device for a product vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Improved dispensing device for goods vending machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improved dispensing apparatus for use with vending machines for goods.

Background

For packaged goods with high consumption, such as cans, wine, food, pharmaceutical or similar goods, there are automatic machines that the user selects and dispenses the goods after payment.

Current machines, after a user has selected and paid for a determined available item, identify the selected item placed in the corresponding compartment on the shelf within the machine. The product is then allowed to fall by gravity from the compartment into an underlying collection bag from which the product is manually removed by the user.

The collecting bag is closed by a door which can be opened, for example by pushing it open by hand, and has a simple anti-intrusion system for preventing access to the compartment in the vending machine by hand.

It is apparent from the system described that when dispensing items from the compartment that is highest inside, items, particularly those that are more fragile, can cause considerable dispensing problems.

In addition to the blocking situations that may occur during the fall of the selected goods, there is also a risk of damage to the same goods by the falling height, for example in the case of glass bottles.

Furthermore, even if the carbonated beverage can is capable of withstanding vigorous shaking, as such, when the beverage is subsequently opened, the internal compressed gas causes a portion of the beverage to splash out.

Thus, there has been obtained a vending machine provided with a dispensing device comprising a vertical guide for the sliding of a container which collects selected products close to the respective shelves inside and then transfers them into a collection bag accessible to the user through the door.

In this embodiment, it is important to monitor the collection bag and its access door by means of sensors in order to comply with accident-preventive measures. This means that a certain complexity needs to be added to the production and that such sensors need to be arranged efficiently to ensure their optimal performance.

Disclosure of Invention

The general object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the known art described above and in particular to obtain an improved dispensing device for vending machines of goods which is very simple and economical, yet extremely functional and particularly reliable.

In view of the above-mentioned objects, according to the present invention, there has been obtained an improved dispensing apparatus for a vending machine for goods, said vending machine having at least one shelf for said goods and a collecting bag, said dispensing apparatus comprising a vertically sliding container located in a front region of said at least one shelf, said container being openable at a lower portion by a movable member having a lower portion with an arcuate periphery.

Drawings

The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over the known art, will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an improved dispensing device for vending machines of goods, made in accordance with the inventive principles of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a product vending machine in which an improved dispensing apparatus according to the present invention may be seen;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the article dispenser, showing the improved dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 positioned on a collection bag;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the improved dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the improved dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of FIG. 4;

figure 6 shows the improved dispensing apparatus of figure 1 in a discharge position;

FIG. 7 shows the improved dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 in a delivery state;

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an improved dispensing apparatus for a vending machine 12 of goods, generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

In the vending machine 12, one or more shelves (not shown) are provided, each shelf having at least one compartment (not shown) for receiving goods.

In the construction of the vending machine 12, and more specifically in the area in front of the product placement compartment, there is provided an improved dispensing device 10 for transferring the product from the dispensing point, i.e. the product placement compartment, to a collection bag 101 located generally behind a door 14 in the lower portion of the vending machine 12; the collection bag is accessible through a door 14 associated with the vending machine 12.

The apparatus 10 includes a vertically sliding container 16. The container 16 is moved by (e.g., two) rails 105 secured to the inside walls of the vending machine 12.

On each guide 105, a slide 104 made of, for example, self-lubricating material slides, the side of which is connected to the container 16, for example by a support 103.

A conveyor belt 18 is fastened at both ends to the slides 104 and is connected in a loop between two pulleys 20 located, for example, on opposite ends corresponding to the guide rails 105.

One of the two belts 18 is driven by a motor 109 and associated pulleys, the other belt 18 being moved in a synchronized manner by means of, for example, a rotating shaft. The motor 109 is provided with a rotary transmission or encoder.

The rotation shaft of the motor 109, by means of the movement of the two conveyors 18, causes the two sliders 104 on the guide 105 to move simultaneously, driving the vertical movement of the containers 16. The container 16 is therefore moved in a vertical manner with respect to the vending machine 12 by itself like an elevator and is positioned in correspondence with the various shelves. The movement of the container 16 is driven by, for example, a microprocessor board programmed with corresponding software: the container 16 reaches the uppermost shelf to collect the dispensed product and conveys the product until the product reaches a predetermined position directly above the collection pocket 101.

According to the invention, the lower end of the container 16 can be opened, for example, by means of a movable part 107.

The lower part of the container 16 is normally closed and is opened in the aforesaid predetermined position with respect thereto: in this position, the movable member 107 moves to open the bottom of the container 16. The movable member 107 in the embodiment of the figures has a lower portion 22 with an arcuate periphery.

More precisely, the movable part 107 rotates about a pivot 108 fastened to the container 16, and a pressure lever 111, for example a roller mounted on the pivot, is connected to the movable part 107.

In the illustrated embodiment, the strut 111 is mounted on a bracket 110 that is connected to the movable member 107 in correspondence with the pivot 108.

When the container 16 reaches the upper region of the predetermined position above the collection bag 101, the strut 111 is supported by a stop 112 associated with the vending machine 12.

The container 16 continues to descend and the rollers of the strut 111 rotate and ride on a substantially horizontal surface of the stop 112 causing the bracket 110 to rotate about the pivot 108 so that the movable part 107 of the container 16 is clear of the bottom of the container 16 and the container 16 opens.

The function and most detailed features of the improved dispensing apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and the following brief description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

more specifically, the container 16 is positioned in front of, or more suitably directly beneath, the shelf of the vending machine 12 that contains the goods for dispensing. The goods fall into the container 16 by means of a pushing device known in the art, the container 16 having a movable part 107 for closing the bottom of the container 16.

The container 16 is therefore lowered until the contact between the strut 111 and the stop 112 causes the movable part 107 to rotate about the pivot 108, the bottom of the container 16 progressively opening, thereby allowing the product to fall into the collection bag 101. A particular feature of the device 10 is that the container 16 does not reach the bottom of the collection bag 101 (which can present great difficulties in the management of accident prevention measures); the container 16 rests above the pocket 101 and opens and releases the merchandise from a lower position.

The apparatus 10 allows the collection bag 101 and its access door 14 to be monitored without the use of sensors; in fact, the access passage is limited to the collection bag 101, with absolute access to the container 16 in motion, since it is positioned above and protected by the mechanical anti-intrusion systems known in such vending machines.

It is emphasized that the apparatus 10 has a genuine module or kit that can be subsequently installed on an existing vending machine.

The stops 112 are secured to the inside walls of the vending machine 12, one on each side. Here also a cam which, during the lowering of the container 16, comes into contact with the roller of the presser bar 111, causing the movable part 107 to rotate.

The lowering of the container 16 is controlled at the lower part by an adjustable limit switch sensor 113 and at the upper part by height limiting software derived from the reference height of the limit switch 113. Can be programmed through an operating menu.

Such vending machines are provided with a dispensing compartment divided into zones equipped with an ejector, which is a motorized coil device embedded with the dispensed goods.

Substantially horizontal sliding guides are fastened to the inner side walls of the vending machine 12 for pulling out and loading shelves with goods-resting compartments, these guides being adjustable in height by means of threaded holes 114 of fixed distance on the inner walls.

Knowing that the distance between the holes is fixed, the step of the motor encoder 109 moving from one hole to another is calculated so that each hole can be given an accumulated number. The user thus determines the height at which the container 16 is to be brought directly below the shelf, and the program automatically counts the number of pulses that the encoder must output in order to reach the predetermined height.

For example, if the shelf to be reached is inserted into a rail fastened in the 48 th hole counted from the bottom and the container 16 is in the 3 rd hole counted from the bottom, then it is set by the program instructions to go up, the container on the 3 rd hole goes up by 44 holes, and the container 16 stops directly below the point of dispensing of the goods.

The container 16 is then lowered until it approaches the cam of the opening 112, where it is slowed by means of an electronic command proportional to the "PWM" modulation, causing the roller of the plunger 111 to rise in a simply supported manner, causing the container 16 to open as the product is dispensed.

From the above description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is apparent that an improved dispensing device for vending machines of goods according to the present invention is very useful and advantageous. In this way the objects mentioned in the foregoing description can be achieved.

Naturally, the shape of the improved dispensing device for vending machines of goods according to the invention may differ from that described only as a non-limiting example in the figures, as may the materials used in the construction.

The scope of protection sought is therefore defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims (26)

1. An improved dispensing apparatus (10) for use with a vending machine (12) for articles, said vending machine (12) having at least one shelf for said articles and a collection bag (101), said dispensing apparatus (10) comprising a vertically slidable container (16) located in a front region of said at least one shelf, characterized in that: the container (16) is openable at the lower part by a movable member (107), the movable member (107) having a lower part (22) with an arcuate periphery.

2. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein: the lower part of the container (16) is normally closed and opened at a predetermined position corresponding to the position directly above the collecting bag (101).

3. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 2, wherein: in the predetermined position, the movable member (107) moves to open the bottom of the container (16).

4. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein: the movable part (107) rotates about a pivot (108) secured to the container (16).

5. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 4, characterized in that a plunger (111) is connected to said movable member (107).

6. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 5 wherein said plunger (111) is a roller mounted on a pivot.

7. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 5, wherein said plunger (111) is positioned on a bracket (110) that is connected to said movable member (107) in correspondence with said pivot axis (108).

8. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 5 wherein said plunger (111) is supported by a stop (112) connected to the structure of said vending machine (12) when said container (16) reaches an area above said predetermined location above said collection bag (101).

9. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 8, wherein said stop (112) has a substantially horizontal surface.

10. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein each of said shelves has at least one merchandise-holding compartment.

11. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the collection bag (101) is located behind a door (14).

12. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 11, wherein the door (14) is located in a lower portion of the vending machine (12).

13. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that said collecting bag (101) has a mechanical anti-intrusion system.

14. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the container (16) moves along a guide track (105) secured to an interior side wall of the vending machine (12).

15. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that on each of said guides (105) a slider (104) is slid, the sides of which are connected to said container (16) by means of supports (103).

16. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises two conveyor belts (18), each fastened at both ends to the slides (104), connected in a loop between two pulleys (20) arranged in correspondence of the opposite ends of said guide (105).

17. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 16, wherein one of said two belts (18) is driven by a motor (109) and associated pulley.

18. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that the further conveyor belt (18) is moved synchronously by a rotary shaft.

19. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 18, characterized in that said motor (109) is provided with a rotary transmission or encoder.

20. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 19, characterized in that the movement of said container (16) is driven by a microprocessor board programmed with corresponding software.

21. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 8, wherein said stops (112) are secured to an interior side wall of said vending machine (12), one on each side.

22. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 8, wherein said stop (112) is a cam.

23. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lowering of said container (16) is controlled at the lower part by an adjustable limit switch sensor (113) and at the upper part by a height limit software originating from the reference height of the adjustable limit switch sensor (113).

24. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 23, characterized in that the programming is performed by means of an operating menu.

25. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 1, characterized in that a substantially horizontal sliding guide is fastened to the inner side walls of the vending machine (12) for pulling out and loading the shelves with the goods-resting compartments, said guide being adjustable in height by means of a fixed-distance screw hole (114) made in said inner side walls.

26. The dispensing apparatus (10) of claim 2, wherein said container (16) is slowed down as it approaches said predetermined location by an electronic command proportional to a "PWM" modulation.