EP3352149A1 - Machine with a spindle mount for goods - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vending machine (10) having a plurality of individual spindle rods (1) on each of which a plurality of individual goods (3, 3 ') are mounted, wherein the vending machine (10) has a stationary goods issue area (12), wherein the individual Spindle rods (1) via a suitable drive to the stationary goods issue area (12) are mobile wherein the vending machine (10) in the vicinity of the goods issue area (12) has a stationary spindle drive, whereby the individual spindle rods (1) can be brought into a rotational movement.

The invention also relates to a method for dispensing a product (3, 3 ') in a vending machine (10), wherein the vending machine (10) comprises a plurality of spindle rods (1), each attached to a conveyor chain (11) in each case a plurality of goods (3, 3 ') are mounted on the individual spindle rods (1), wherein the spindle rods (1) by means of the conveyor chain (11) to a stationary goods issue area (12) are driven, wherein the spindle rods (1) by an am stationary goods issue area (12) arranged central spindle drive can be brought into a rotary motion.

Description

The invention relates to a vending machine according to the preamble of independent claim 1. The invention relates in a further aspect to a method for dispensing a product in a vending machine according to the preamble of independent claim 10.

Such vending machines are used for dispensing goods in the vicinity of a checkout zone.

State of the art

The DE 38 02 399 C2 shows a vending machine, which has a series of goods shafts, all of which have their own goods issue area.

Since the individual goods issue areas must be reachable for a customer, a housing of such a vending machine has limited design freedom. As a result, in particular, the storage volume for goods stored in the vending machine is limited.

task

The object of the invention is to propose a vending machine, which is structurally flexible adaptable to its location and at the same time has a large storage volume of goods.

The object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The automatic vending machine according to the invention is equipped with a plurality of individual spindle rods. On the respective spindle rods each have a plurality of individual goods stored. These are, for example, razor blade packages that are suspended on a respective Euroslot recess on the respective spindle rod.

The vending machine has a fixed goods issue area. This stationary goods issue area is at the same time the only goods issue area that the vending machine has. All goods are issued here. The goods issue area is assigned to the customer. Stationary in this case means that the goods stored in the vending machine are always issued in the same dispensing area, regardless of the area in which the goods are stored in the vending machine. The customer can thereby orient himself better. In addition, the vending machine can use space that is suitable for the placement of a further goods issue area, for example according to the DE 38 02 399 C2 would not be suitable.

The individual spindle rods can be moved by a suitable drive to the stationary goods issue area. The drive here is preferably a conveyor chain, consisting of individual mutually movably mounted chain links used. The individual spindle rods are preferably each attached to a chain link. The type of drive allows particularly flexible travel paths.

The vending machine has in the vicinity of the goods issue area a central stationary spindle drive. Thus, the individual spindle rods can be brought into a rotational movement. As a result, it is unnecessary to equip each individual spindle rod with its own spindle drive. This saves weight, what a high conveyor chain speed allows. The customer does not have to wait long for the desired product, even if the required spindle rod is still relatively far away from the stationary goods issue area.

In an advantageous variant of the invention, the individual spindle rods each have a drive disk. The drive pulley extends in the radial direction of the spindle rod and is aligned perpendicular to the spindle rod. About the drive pulley, the spindle rod can be brought into the desired rotational movement. The peripheral surface of the drive pulley is preferably covered with a rubber material. In the case of a mechanical contact with the drive disk, this results in high coefficients of friction with the body being attacked.

Advantageously, the stationary spindle drive has at least one drive roller which can be brought into operative or contact contact with the drive disk of the respective spindle rod.

In a particularly preferred variant of the invention, two such drive rollers are provided. The drive roller or the drive rollers are pressed against the drive pulley of the respective spindle rod with a defined force. An electric motor drives at least one drive roller. The second drive roller serves only to stabilize a rotational movement. The drive rollers are placed in a rotational movement, which is transmitted to the drive pulley. As a result, the respective spindle rod is set in a rotational movement. By a decentralized spindle rod assembly and a central drive arrangement, a particularly compact and inexpensive construction of the vending machine according to the invention can be achieved.

Preferably, a support plate is disposed below each of the spindle rods. The support plate stabilizes the suspension of the goods on the spindle rods and at the same time supports the guidance of the goods on the spindle rod.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the vending machine has a camera which is arranged on the stationary goods issue area. The camera can be used to record the individual goods and their position on the spindle rod. The camera can detect, for example, when a goods suspended on the spindle rod goods, was promoted by the rotational movement of the spindle rod, to the end of the spindle rod or falling from the spindle rod. The camera can also detect whether it is the goods requested by the customer.

The output of a requested by the customer goods proceeds as follows: First, the spindle rod carrying the desired goods is driven by means of the conveyor chain to a fixed goods issue area. The spindle rod is then brought into rotation by a central spindle drive arranged on the stationary goods delivery area. Due to the rotational movement of the spindle rod, the goods or the goods are conveyed axially forward in the direction of the free end of the spindle rod. There, the customer can then remove, for example, one or more desired goods from the spindle rod.

Advantageously, as a result of the rotational movement of the spindle rod, the goods or goods are conveyed axially forward in the direction of the free end of the spindle rod until a product falls off the spindle rod or several goods fall off the spindle rod. The output area can be designed so that the fallen goods or the falling goods of a Catch container to be caught. The customer can then reach only the goods contained therein and has no direct access to the respective spindle rod. This can prevent thefts. The number of falling goods can be limited accordingly.

embodiment

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung in einen Antriebsbereich einer Spindelstange eines erfindungsgemäßen Warenautomaten,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der Spindelstange mit angehängten Waren,

Fig. 3

eine Prinzipskizze einer Förderbahn einer Förderkette mit Spindelstangen und

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Spindelstange und des zugehörigen Spindelantriebs.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view in a drive region of a spindle rod of a vending machine according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a side view of the spindle rod with attached goods,

Fig. 3

a schematic diagram of a conveyor track of a conveyor chain with spindle rods and

Fig. 4

a perspective view of the spindle rod and the associated spindle drive.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In part, identical reference numerals are used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

The FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the drive range of a spindle rod 1. The drive area is located directly on the central goods issue area 12 of a vending machine 10. Below the spindle rod 1, a support plate 2 is arranged. By the support plate 2 on the one hand, the load of the spindle rod 1 is increased. On the other hand, the goods 3, 3 'suspended on the spindle rod 1 are guided by the support plate 2 when the goods 3 are conveyed axially forward in the direction of the arrow 4. The spindle rod 1 projects beyond the support plate. 2

On the spindle rod 1, a drive pulley 5 is formed or attached. The drive pulley 5 is made of metal. The peripheral surface of the drive pulley 5 is covered with a rubber ring 6 to increase the coefficient of friction with a friction partner accordingly. Alternatively, the drive roller 5 could also be made of plastic. The surface of this drive roller 5 could be roughened accordingly for friction optimization. In the drive region of the vending machine 10, two drive rollers 7, 7 'are arranged, which can be brought into contact or active contact with the drive pulley 5 of the spindle rod 1 via a magnet 8 which can be moved mechanically. The drive rollers 7, 7 'are made of metal. If the magnet 8 is moved towards the drive rollers 7, 7 ', the drive rollers 7, 7' are pressed onto the drive disk 5 of the spindle rod by the force resulting from the magnetic field. The spindle rod 1 is set in a rotational movement. If the magnet 8 is moved in the opposite direction, ie away from the drive rollers 7, 7 ', the drive rollers 7, 7' are pulled away from the drive disk 5 of the spindle rod 1 by the force resulting from the magnetic field. As a result, the drive rollers 7, 7 'and the drive pulley 5 come out of contact contact. The rotational movement of the spindle rod 1 ends. This type of contacting of drive pulley 5 and drive rollers 7, 7 'is particularly wear-resistant, because the pressing force between the two friction partners is only just so high that no slip is formed.

The above-described contact between the drive rollers 7, 7 'and the drive pulley 5 of the spindle rod is non-positively. Such a compound has proven to be less weary here. Of course, a positive connection, for example by gears, also possible.

The peripheral surface of the drive rollers 7, 7 'was coated in each case with a rubber ring. The drive rollers 7, 7 'can via a Electric motor 9 are driven. The rotational movement of the drive rollers 7, 7 'is transmitted by friction to the drive pulley 5, whereby the spindle rod 1 is set in a rotational movement. Due to the rotational movement of the spindle rod 1, the goods 3, 3 'located thereon-in the direction of the arrow 4-are transported to the free end of the spindle rod 1. This process can continue until a product 3 falls from the spindle rod 1.

The falling of the goods 3 can be detected by a camera (not shown). The product 3 then falls into a receptacle accessible to the customer (not shown).

In FIG. 3 the delivery principle of a vending machine 10 according to the invention can be seen. The goods 3, 3 ', 3 ", ... suspended on a spindle rod are conveyed through the vending machine 10 by means of a conveyor chain 11 along the arrows 12, 12', 12",. The conveyor chain 11 is driven by a gear 13. The conveyor chain 11 can also backwards, so opposite to the direction of the arrow 12, 12 ', 12', ... promoted. This makes it possible to choose the shortest route for the desired products. The goods 3 requested by a customer, for example via an operator terminal (not shown), are conveyed to a central, stationary goods issue area 12. Only this issue area 12 must be accessible to the customer in this case. The remaining vending machine can, for example, by attachments to a checkout counter, zugebaut. As a result, for example, a vending machine integrated in a cashier counter 10 take advantage of unused space in the counter.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

spindle rod

2

gusset

3

Would

4

arrow

5

sheave

6

rubber ring

7

drive roller

8th

magnet

9

electric motor

10

Vending Machine

11

conveyor chain

12

arrow

13

gear

Claims (11)

Vending machine (10) with a plurality of individual spindle rods (1) on each of which a plurality of individual goods (3, 3 ') are mounted, wherein the vending machine (10) has a fixed goods issue area (12), wherein the individual spindle rods (1) can be moved by a suitable drive to the fixed goods issue area (12), wherein the vending machine (10) in the vicinity of the goods issue area (12) has a fixed spindle drive, whereby the individual spindle rods (1) for outputting the individual goods 3, 3 'in a rotational movement can be brought. Vending machine according to claim 1
in which
the individual spindle rods (1) each have a drive disc (5). Vending machine according to the preceding claim
in which
the stationary spindle drive has at least one drive roller (7) which can be brought into operative contact with the drive disk (5) of the respective spindle rod (1). Vending machine according to claim 2
in which
the stationary spindle drive has at least two drive rollers (7, 7 ') which can be brought into operative contact with the drive disc (5) of the respective spindle rod (1). Vending machine according to the preceding claim
wherein only one of the two drive rollers (7, 7 ') is driven by an electric motor. Vending machine according to one of the two preceding claims
in which
in the vicinity of the goods issue area (12), a magnet (8) is arranged, which leads to the individual drive roller (7) or to the two drive rollers (7, 7 ') and / or from the individual drive roller (7) or from the two Drive rollers (7, 7 ') is movable away. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims
in which
below the individual spindle rods (1) each have a support plate (2) is arranged. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims
in which
the vending machine (10) has a conveyor chain (11) to which the individual spindle rods (1) are attached. Vending machine according to one of the preceding claims
in which
the vending machine (10) has a camera which is arranged on the stationary goods issue area (12). Method for dispensing a product (3, 3 ') in a vending machine (10), wherein the vending machine (10) has a plurality of Spindle rods (1) which are each attached to a conveyor chain (11),
wherein in each case a plurality of goods (3, 3 ') are mounted on the individual spindle rods (1),
wherein the spindle rods (1) are driven by means of the conveyor chain (11) to a stationary goods issue area (12),
wherein the spindle rods (1) are caused to rotate by a central spindle drive arranged on the stationary goods issue area (12),
wherein a product (3) is conveyed axially forward in the direction of the free end of the spindle rod (1) by the rotational movement of the spindle rod (1). A method for dispensing a product in a vending machine according to claim 10
wherein by the rotational movement of the spindle rod (1) a product (3, 3 ') as long axially forward toward the free end of the spindle rod (1) is conveyed until the goods (3, 3') from the spindle rod (1) falls.

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