EP1320505B1

EP1320505B1 - Arrangement in a device for delivering information sheets

Info

Publication number: EP1320505B1
Application number: EP01972126A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kalevi NIEMELÄ; Aulis HEIKKILÄ
Original assignee: E-City Oy
Current assignee: E-City Oy
Priority date: 2000-09-29
Filing date: 2001-09-28
Publication date: 2004-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-28
Also published as: ATE283227T1; EP1320505A1; DE60107452D1; FI20002145L; AU2001291919A1; FI115767B; FI20002145A0; WO2002026605A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement in apparatus for dispensing information sheets, which comprises a casing having a feeding device in which there is arranged at least on a part of the external surface of the feeding device a friction surface which touches the first sheet of the material to be dispensed. In said casing the material to be distributed is placed as sheets to as folded sheets on top of each other as a bindle. The sheets are suspended by at least one point at their top parts, but preferably at least two points from bars which are supported by the casing, the bars having at their upper part cutting edges which cut the first sheet so that it opens upward at the suspension holes located at the top part of the material as the feeding device pulls the first sheet out from the bundle.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement presented in the preamble of the independent claim 1, in an apparatus for dispensing information, which comprises a casing, in which the material which is to be dispensed is placed as a bundle of sheets or folded sheets, and which casing includes a feeding device obtaining its driving power from a turning means external to the casing, this apparatus dispensing the material one sheet at a time made available to the user.
There are known equipment of varying types for the dispensing or distribution of goods. The publication US 4,469,246 presents a newspaper dispensing apparatus where a newspaper bundle is located horizontally below feeding wheels. The newspaper dispensing apparatus presented in the publication US 3,708,087 has a considerably complicated machinery, and it is obviously expensive to manufacture. From the publication US 4,106,763 there is known a copying paper feeding device in a copying machine, where the copying paper bundle is approximately horizontal in a paper cassette, and a spring presses via a lever the trough upwards from the bottom against the feeding roll. In this solution the spring must all the time push with a considerable force the trough upwards via the lever, and there is a risk of the spring force being reduced in the long run due to the heavy trough and the sheet load, whereby functional troubles are very probable. The publication CH 676 059 presents a newspaper or magazine vending machine where the newspaper bundle is horizontal. A spring-actuated arrangement, which is quite complicated and realised with wires or the like, raises the newspaper bundle upwards during the operation of the apparatus.
The object of the invention is to present a simple apparatus for dispensing information which has a reliable machinery and which would be suitable for dispensing single sheets or sheets most often having folded edges. A further object is to provide a reliable operation outdoors, also in a cold and rainy climate. Additionally, the object of the electrically operated version is to reduce such abuse of the dispensing apparatus where the apparatus is unnecessarily used to dispense excessive material.
The object of the invention is attained by the means presented in the claim 1 and in the other claims. The invention relates to an arrangement in an apparatus for dispensing information sheets, which comprises a casing containing a feeding device where a friction surface is arranged on at least a part of the external surface of the feeding device..This friction surface is in contact with the first sheet of the material to be dispensed. The material to be dispensed is placed as a bundle of sheets or folded sheets on top of each other in the casing. If the top parts of the sheets are suspended by at least one, but preferably at least two holes made in the sheets, from bars which are supported by the casing and which have cutting edges in their upper parts which cut the material so that it opens upward at the suspension holes located at the top part, while the feeding device pulls the first sheet out from the bundle, then the operation to take sheets one at a time from the bundle is secure and reliable. The material bundle is also kept reliably in its place, as the bundle is firmly held in its place due to the suspension holes.
If f a pressing member in the casing operates so that the pressing force between the first sheet and said feeding device is of at least approximately equal magnitude regardless of the thickness of the material bundle, then the dispensing apparatus operates reliably, whether the thickness of the material bundle is large or small or somewhere in between.
The feeding device acts with its friction force expressly on the first sheet, which due to the rotating movement of the feeding device starts to move due to the friction force and is torn open at the cutting surfaces, and thus it can move along towards the opening at the bottom part of the casing. The friction between two sheets is lower than the friction between the feeding device and the first sheet.
If the pressing member contains a spring, which via the support structure acts in a pressing manner on the material bundle, then the arrangement is very simple, and when required the spring, which is quite cheap to purchase, can even be replaced by a new one in a quite convenient way.
If the support arrangement and at the same time the material bundle are at least approximately vertical, then the acting force of said spring does not have to be very strong in order to achieve a suitable pressing force against the sheet. It must be observed that the sheet bundle can in no way slip away from its position, despite the approximately vertical position, because the sheet bundle is supported by the bars, which are located in the holes at the top of the sheet bundle.
If the lower part of the casing is provided with an opening through which the material falls down so that it is available to the user, then the equipment is as simple as possible. No other equipment than minor guiding means is required, as a sheet falls downward under the influence of earth's gravity.
If the casing contains a pushbutton, a lever or the like, which can be acted on so that the feeding device rotates so much that the topmost sheet of the material bundle falls down so that it is available to the user, then the user can easily and effortlessly arrange for him- or herself a sheet from the casing. It is recommendable to use a pushbutton of a robust design, as it is not very easy to break such a button, and the operation of a pushbutton made for professional use is very reliable.
If the casing is provided with a timing device which prevents the feeding device from starting a new rotating movement before a selected period of time has expired, then it is not at least easy to use the device in an abusive way to obtain a multitude of sheets in an obviously unnecessary manner. If the user must wait some time between the sheets, then it will not generally come into mind to stay on the location and unnecessarily use the dispensing apparatus. Such behaviour would even attract interest in public places where this kind of apparatus is generally used.
If said time can be chosen between 4 and 120 seconds, then the adjustment range is obviously sufficient. Somebody, for instance a group, may really need also a second sheet, whereby for instance a pause of about 15 seconds between the sheets is obviously recommendable. Of course also other times can be chosen when required.
If there is a turning means outside the casing, with which the user can make the feeding device to rotate so much that the topmost sheet of the material bundle falls so that it is available to the user, then the arrangement can be made into an embodiment operating without a power supply. The turning means can also be made to operate very reliably.
If the turning means is provided with a blocking device which prevents rotation in the wrong direction, then the user can not make the dispensing apparatus inoperative, which has an essential effect on the operating reliability of the apparatus. Even a malicious or ignorant action by the user can not cause functional trouble.
No expensive friction surface is required if the friction surface of the feeding device is made by placing a number of O-rings made of rubber-like material or rings with at least approximately a rectangular cross-section on the periphery of the feeding device. Also the replacing of the rings is quite easy when they are worn by extended use.
If the casing contains a counter, which counts the number of material sheets, which the users get, then it is possible to monitor the use of the apparatus, for example on an hourly basis. Then it is possible to anticipate the need for material additions. It would also be important that the user always gets a sheet from the apparatus when he or she wants a sheet.
If the friction surface of the feeding cylinder is obtained by placing O-rings made of a rubber-like material around the feeding cylinder, then it is easy to adjust the friction effect for instance by replacing the rings with rings made of another material. It is also easy to replace worn components.
If said bars being supported by the casing have cutting surfaces which cut the material by the suspension holes located at the upper part of the topmost sheet so that they are cut open upwards, then it is not necessary for the feeding cylinder to act with a very high force on the sheet, as it already begins to move and is cut loose from its top suspension.
The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which
Figure 1 shows schematically an arrangement according to the invention in a side view and as a section of a mechanically operated embodiment;
Figure 2 shows schematically an arrangement according to the invention in a side view and as a section of an electrically operated embodiment; and
Figure 3 shows schematically the electrical circuit diagram of figure 2 and how it is connected to the dispensing apparatus.
The reference number 1 in figure 1 of the drawing represents the casing where a support structure 2 is suspended by the top joint support 3. A bundle 4 of material is placed on the support structure 2 and the holes at the upper part of the sheets are placed on bars 5, the number of bars being two. At their upper part there are cutting edges 6 or corresponding cutting blades, which cut or tear open the top part of a sheet so that it can freely move downwards in an operating situation. The holes of the sheets may be of the magnitude 8 to 15 mm, and the height of the unbroken part above the hole 5 to 15 mm. The spring mechanism 7 presses via the support structure 2 the bundle 4 against the friction surface 9 of the feeding device 8, which is supported at the front part of the casing 1, whereby the friction surface can be made of for instance a number of O-rings next to each other. The feeding device 8 can be made (not shown) also of for instance a few (usually 2 to 10) disks next to each other and mounted on the same shaft. On the outer periphery of the disks there is at least one groove for a friction material, such as an O-ring. With the aid of the turning means 10 the user rotates the feeding device 8, which thus also may be a roll-like uniform cylinder. The blocking device 11 prevents the feeding cylinder 8 from being rotated in the wrong direction. The blocking device 11 may be a common latch-like blocking device, for instance a ratchet wheel, which is supported at the end of the feeding cylinder 8. As the user turns the turning means 10, which may be a quite common crank at the end of a crank arm, the friction surface 9 will tear the first sheet 12, which at that moment is the topmost sheet, off from the bars 5 at the top due to the effect of the sharp cutting edge 6, and then convey the sheet 12 downwards and out from the opening 13 at the lower part of the casing 1, whereby the user can take the sheet 12 from the lower trough 14. The guiding member 15 secures that the sheet 12 will reliably come out from the opening 13. If the user wants another sheet he or she can repeat the above-described actions.
Service measures and addition of material into the casing 1 are most suitably performed if the casing can be easily opened, i.e. if it is divided by hinges into two parts (not shown). The back part can be fastened for instance on the outside of the wall of a building with the aid bolts (not shown) at a public place, and the front part is fastened to the back part with the aid of hinges (not shown) on the side. Recommendable locations are for instance rest areas close to the main roads leading to cities, where there are generally large-sized maps of roads and intersections, or similar driving instructions. Then a user can take with him or her an own leaflet which generally contains a lot of information about sights in the area, tourist attractions, boarding-houses, restaurants, shops, museums and the like. Unauthorized persons can not open the casing 1, because the opening requires a key for a cabinet lock (not shown).
The arrangement in figure 2 is mainly similar to that presented in figure 1, but this is an electrically operated apparatus without any crank 10. In order to rotate the feeding device 8 there is an electrical motor 16 having a reduction gear (not shown) for reducing the speed of rotation. The control of the electrical functions is centralised in a control unit 17. The power supply is arranged from a battery 18. In the control device 19 the length of that time can be selected during which the device will not restart to provide a new sheet of material. Then a person abusing the equipment will not be able to take unnecessary many information sheets within a really short period of time. By pressing the push-button 20 located in the front wall of the casing the user gives an impulse to the control unit 17, and reacting on this pulse the control unit 17 supplies energy to the electrical motor 16 so long that the first sheet from the bundle 4 has fallen into the lower trough 14 due to the action of the feeding device 8. The counter 21 counts the number of material sheets given to users, so that a service man can monitor the counter in order to optimise the addition of material.
Figure 3 shows in more detail the structure of the electrically operated apparatus. With the control device 19 a service man or the like can adjust the length of the pause. If for instance 15 seconds is too short a pause, it is easy to adjust a longer pause within the adjustment range. On the other hand a very long time, e.g. 1.5 minutes, will lower the service level, because a second user after the first one has to wait an unnecessarily long time. The counter 21 can be mechanical or electrical, and it may be connected also in other ways to the equipment. The arrangement according to figure 3 can include also other devices and circuits, which make a reliably working dispensing apparatus in all conventional climatic conditions. The control unit 17 can include an arrangement operating for instance with the aid of a photocell or the like (not shown), which detects when the whole sheet has already passed the feeding device 8. Then the electrical motor 16 can be controlled accurately, so that the sheets move sufficiently accurately during each operation. In order to secure a reliable operation it is even possible to use several securing and safety arrangements (not shown), due to which the apparatus operates as perfectly as possible. For instance, if it can be very cold at the location of the apparatus, sometimes for instance 30 degrees cold, or a particularly humid climate, then it is recommendable to mount electric heating controlled by electrical devices for the internal heating of the apparatus and/or for reducing the humidity, if suitable electric current is available to the apparatus.
The invention is not limited to the enclosed embodiment, but several modifications of it are conceivable within the enclosed claims.

Claims

An arrangement in an apparatus for dispensing information sheets, which comprises a casing (1) having a feeding device (8) in which there is arranged at least on a part of the external surface of the feeding device a friction surface (9) which touches the first sheet of the material to be dispensed, and in which casing the material to be distributed is placed as sheets (12) or as folded sheets on top of each other as a bundle (4), characterised in that the sheets (12) are suspended by at least one point at their upper parts, but preferably at least two points from bars (5) which are supported by the casing (1), the bars having at their upper part cutting edges (6) which cut the first sheet so that it opens upward at the suspension holes located at the top part of the material as the feeding device (8) pulls the first sheet out from the bundle (4).
An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that a pressing member (7) in the casing acts so that the pressing force between the first sheet and said feeding device is of at least approximately equal magnitude regardless of the thickness of the material bundle.
An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the pressing member has a spring which via the supporting structure acts in a pressing manner on the material bundle.
An arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that the supporting arrangement and at the same time the bundle of material are at least approximately vertical.
An arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that there is an opening (13) at the lower part of the casing, through which opening the material falls so that it is available to the user.
An arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that the casing contains a pushbutton (20), a lever (10) or the like, which can be acted on so that the feeding device rotates so much that the topmost sheet of the material bundle falls down so that it is available to the user.
An arrangement according to claim 6, characterised in that the casing is provided with a timing device (17, 19) which prevents the feeding device from starting a new rotating movement before a selected time has expired.
An arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that said time can be chosen between 4 and 120 seconds.
An arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that there is a turning means outside the casing, with which the user can make the feeding device to rotate so much that the topmost sheet of the material bundle falls so that it is available to the user.
An arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that the turning means is provided with a blocking device (11) which prevents rotation in the wrong direction.
An arrangement according to any previous claim, characterised in that the friction surface of the feeding device is made by placing a number of O-rings made of rubber-like material or rings with at least approximately a rectangular cross-section on the periphery of the feeding device.
An arrangement according to any previous claim, characterised in that the casing contains a counter (21) which counts the number of material sheets which the users get.