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EP4280183A1 - Verkaufsautomat zur ausgabe von verpackten produkten und verfahren zur ausgabe eines verpackten produkts aus einem verkaufsautomat - Google Patents

Verkaufsautomat zur ausgabe von verpackten produkten und verfahren zur ausgabe eines verpackten produkts aus einem verkaufsautomat Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4280183A1
EP4280183A1 EP22382468.1A EP22382468A EP4280183A1 EP 4280183 A1 EP4280183 A1 EP 4280183A1 EP 22382468 A EP22382468 A EP 22382468A EP 4280183 A1 EP4280183 A1 EP 4280183A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dispensing
retention
packaged product
vending machine
stack
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP22382468.1A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jordi SANS SERRA
Joan PRAT VILELLA
Eudald Bover Capdevila
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Awayter Sl
Original Assignee
Awayter Sl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Awayter Sl filed Critical Awayter Sl
Priority to EP22382468.1A priority Critical patent/EP4280183A1/de
Priority to ES23173604T priority patent/ES3007989T3/es
Priority to EP23173604.2A priority patent/EP4280184B1/de
Publication of EP4280183A1 publication Critical patent/EP4280183A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/005—Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/10—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/16—Delivery means
    • G07F11/26—Endless bands

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of vending machines and, in particular, to the field of vending machines for dispensing packaged products.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for dispensing a packaged product from a vending machine.
  • the present invention is specially envisaged for dispensing packaged food products.
  • Vending machines are widely used for dispensing different kinds of items, such as food products, beverages, cigarettes, newspapers, prizes, medicines, books, etc. Typically, the items are dispensed upon payment by cash, credit card or any other suitable form of payment.
  • the present invention is specially envisaged for vending machines for dispensing packaged food products, although it could also be used, with or without modification, for dispensing other packaged products.
  • Vending machines commonly store items to be dispensed in vertical or horizontal stacks.
  • the present invention is directed to vending machines storing items to be dispensed in vertical stacks.
  • items to be dispensed are typically lowered by gravity and/or by using more or less complex mechanisms.
  • vending machines that store the items to be dispensed in gravity lowered vertical stacks of items.
  • Said known vending machines comprise relatively complex mechanisms to dispense the lowermost product of said vertical stacks.
  • WO 94/28700 A2 discloses a vending machine that includes a refrigeration compartment which holds a plurality of inventory magazines, each inventory magazine holding several stacks of food packages.
  • the inventory carousel rotates until an inventory magazine which holds the selected food item is positioned over a food delivery door.
  • Retention levers in that inventory magazine are then actuated, and the bottom food package in each stack is released. For all stacks except the lowermost one, the food package drops to the next lower stack.
  • the food package includes a tray which holds the food item and a package sleeve which encloses the tray.
  • the ends of the package sleeve are bevelled to aid the retention levers in holding the food package.
  • an inventory magazine release member has first and second cam surfaces; a first retention lever rotatably mounted on a side of a product chute, the first retention lever including a third cam surface that contacts the first cam surface, wherein: when the inventory magazine release member is positioned in a first position, contact between the first and third cam surfaces causes the first retention lever retracted from the product chute; and when the inventory magazine release member is positioned in a second position, contact between the first and third cam surfaces causes the first retention lever to be extended into the product chute; and a second retention lever rotatably mounted on the side of the product chute below the first retention lever, the second retention lever including a fourth cam surface that contacts the second cam surface, wherein: when the inventory magazine release member is positioned in a first position, contact between the second and fourth cam surfaces causes the second retention lever to be extended into the product chute; and when the inventory magazine release member is positioned in a second position, contact between the second and fourth cam surfaces causes the second retention lever to be retracted from the product chute
  • US 3651752 A discloses a method and apparatus for sequentially heating and dispensing a plurality of individually packaged good products, wherein the products are sequentially moved to, and supported at, a heating dispensing station. While at such station, each product is heated by passing an electrical current therethrough and then dispensed by removing the support therefor so that the product gravitates away from the station.
  • US 3137410 A discloses a coin-operated vending machine comprising a number of vertical guides arranged side by side within a cabinet. At the lower end of each guide there is a drawer slide, adapted to be released by a known type of coin-operated mechanism.
  • the articles to be vended are placed in pallets made from an easily cleaned hygienic material.
  • a number of filled pallets are stacked vertically in the aforementioned guides or channels, the lowermost pallet of each stack being engaged by a drawer slide. Side flanges of the lowermost pallet nest upon fixed horizontal guides, the leading ends of said horizontal guides terminating in pivoted, spring-loaded catches.
  • Said drawer slide is arranged to move in fixed horizontal slideways which are extended beyond the aforementioned horizontal guides and spring-loaded catches, said extensions of the horizontal slideways being provided with overhanging lips at their upper edges.
  • the lowermost pallet is carried along the horizontal guides by the drawer slide, depressing the pivoted, spring-loaded catches, and, after passing over the catches, falling onto a horizontal platform affixed to the lower edges of the horizontal slideways.
  • the pallet At the fully withdrawn position of the drawer slide, the pallet therefore rests on the horizontal platform between the horizontal slideways, is restrained against horizontal movement by the drawer slide itself and is restrained against vertical withdrawal by overhanging lips on upper edges of the horizontal slideways. At this point, the contents of the pallet are accessible, and can be removed by the customer.
  • US 3000538 A discloses a food vending machine, a tray adapted to have food items disposed thereon, a platform adapted for supporting the tray, a hinge supporting the rear edge of the platform, means for normally supporting the body of the platform in horizontal position, and means operable for releasing the latter means to cause the tray to drop into inclined position and to allow the tray to slide off the platform, the tray having rear and side flanges only rising therefrom to confine the food items and providing a free front edge allowing said items to slide thereover for final discharge, and the side flanges having inwardly turned tongues to serve as supporting means for additional trays.
  • vending machines known in the art comprise complex mechanisms to dispense the vertically stored food products. Said complex mechanisms, can be expensive and difficult to manufacture, and also can require laborious and expensive maintenance.
  • vending machines in the art are designed and configured for a certain type of product having certain dimensions, being difficult, or even impossible, to adapt to different types of products that might be needed to be dispensed.
  • a vending machine for dispensing packaged products that has a simple and easy to manufacture dispensing mechanism, which can also be easily adapted to different configurations or types of packaged products.
  • a vending machine for dispensing packaged products having opposed edge holding portions
  • a method for dispensing a packaged product from a vending machine is disclosed.
  • the vending machine of the present invention has a housing which comprises: a collection zone for a dispensed packaged product; a structure for storing at least one vertical stack of gravity dischargeable packaged products; a dispensing mechanism for supporting a corresponding stack of gravity lowered packaged products and dispensing the lowermost product of said stack, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises at least two retention units arranged on opposite sides of the vertical stack, each retention unit having a retention position for interfering with an edge holding portion of the lowermost packaged product of the stack and a dispensing position for releasing said holding edge portion of said lowermost packaged product, and wherein the vending machine further comprises a control unit configured to drive the retention units from the retention position to the dispensing position and to return the retention units to the retention position from the dispensing position once at least said lowermost packaged product of the stack has fallen by gravity.
  • the dispensing mechanism of the vending machine object of the present invention is simple, effective and can be easily adapted to different kinds of packaged products as, in most cases, a simple change in the configuration of the control unit driving said dispensing mechanism will suffice to adapt the dispensing mechanism to a different packaged product or to a different format of the same packaged product. In comparison, in order to adapt the vending machines of the known prior art, extensive mechanical changes are necessary.
  • each retention unit may comprise a support body, a movable element and a dispense actuator for moving the movable element from a retention position to a dispensing position and vice versa.
  • the support body may comprise a frontal wall for guiding the at least one edge holding portion of the packaged product.
  • the support body may further comprise a sloped wall adjacent to the frontal wall for guiding the at least one edge holding portion of the packaged product.
  • the frontal wall may comprise at least one opening for the passage of at least part of the movable element.
  • the frontal wall may comprise two or more openings for the passage of two or more parts of the corresponding movable element.
  • adjacent openings may be separated by an intermediate region, each intermediate region interfering with the movable element to define its retention position.
  • the movable element may comprise a recess for each intermediate region of the corresponding opening.
  • said support body may comprise a first U-shaped guide member for guiding the movable element, said U-shaped guide member defining the retention and the dispensing position of the movable element.
  • the support body may comprise a second U-shaped guide member for guiding the movable element, said second U-shaped guide member being located opposite the first one and defining an open area therebetween for the passage of at least part of an edge holding portion of the packaged product, the movable element extending from the first U-shaped guide member to the second U-shaped guide member through said open area.
  • each retention unit further comprises a frontal wall for guiding the at least one edge holding portion of the packaged product to the open area defined between the first and second U-shaped guide members.
  • each retention unit may further comprise a frontal wall for guiding the at least one edge holding portion of the packaged product.
  • the dispense actuator may be a magnetic linear actuator.
  • said dispense actuator is a bistable linear moving magnet.
  • the dispense actuator is a spring return actuator.
  • other kinds of actuators can also be used, as long as they are suitable for this purpose.
  • the vending machine may further comprise an insulated chamber which houses therein the store structure and the corresponding dispensing mechanism.
  • the insulated chamber is an insulated cooling chamber configured to keep the packaged products below a predetermined temperature or an insulated heating chamber configured to keep the packaged products above a predetermined temperature.
  • the insulated chamber may comprise: an insulated door; a transport element for conveying the dispensed lowermost packaged product of a stack to a location outside the insulated chamber; and at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a packaged product on the transport element; and the control unit may be configured to open the insulated door when a packaged product is sensed on the transport element and to close the insulated door when no packaged product is sensed on the transport element.
  • the transport element may be, for example, a conveyor belt and/or a chute.
  • the store structure may be configured to store at least two rows of stacks following a first direction.
  • the store structure may be configured to store at least two rows of stacks following a second direction, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction.
  • the vending machine may comprise a dispensing chute for conveying the dispensed lowermost product of a stack to the collection zone.
  • the vending machine may comprise a conveyor belt for conveying the dispensed lowermost product of a stack to the collection zone.
  • the collection zone may be accessible through an aperture in a front outer wall of the housing, and the aperture may be closed by an access door.
  • the vending machine may comprise an input unit for selecting the packaged product to be dispensed and a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal for paying said selected packaged product.
  • POS Point-Of-Sale
  • the vending machine may comprise at least one stack sensor for sensing the number of packaged products in the at least one vertical stack.
  • a method for dispensing a packaged product from a vending machine comprising the steps of: providing a vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention; loading at least one packaged product having opposed edge holding portions on a store structure for storing at least one stack of gravity lowered packaged products so that the opposed edge holding portions of the packaged product rest on corresponding retention units arranged in a retention position; moving the retention units from the retention position to a dispensing position in which the opposed edge holding portions of the packaged product no longer rest on the retention units; letting at least the lowermost packaged product fall by gravity past the retention units; moving the retention units from the dispensing position to the retention position; optionally resting the opposed edge holding portions of the following lowermost packaged product of the stack on the retention units in the retention position.
  • the method may further comprise the step of conveying the dispensed packaged product to a collection zone with a dispensing chute.
  • the method may further comprise the step of transporting the dispensed packaged product with a conveyor belt to the collection zone or to an intermediate location.
  • the method may further comprise the step of sensing the presence of the dispensed packaged product on the conveyor belt or on the dispensing chute and open an insulated door of an insulated chamber which houses therein the store structure.
  • the method may further comprise the step of closing said insulated door once the dispensed packaged product is not sensed on the conveyor belt or on the dispensing chute.
  • the method may further comprise the step of opening an access door closing an aperture through which the collection zone is accessible once a packaged product is sensed in the collection zone.
  • references to geometric position such as parallel, perpendicular, tangent, etc. allow deviations up to ⁇ 5° from the theoretical position defined by this nomenclature.
  • the vending machine for dispensing packaged products comprises a housing 50 having a front outer wall 51 where one or more access openings 52 are formed. Each access opening 52 gives access to a collection zone 7 from which a user can take a packaged product 40 once it has been dispensed by a dispensing mechanism 22 located inside the housing 50.
  • An access door 6 is manually operable to open and close the access opening 52.
  • an actuator is configured and arranged to automatically open and close access door 6 when a packaged product 40 is detected in the collection zone 7 by a sensor.
  • the front outer wall 51 of the vending machine housing 50 further comprises an input unit 53 for enabling the user to select the kind of packaged product 40 to be dispensed and a Point-Of-Sale terminal 54 for enabling the user to pay the selected packaged product 40.
  • an insulated chamber 16 which houses therein a store structure 15 configured for storing one or several vertical stacks of gravity dischargeable packaged products 40, the corresponding dispensing mechanism 22 which is configured for supporting the stacks of packaged products 40 and for dispensing the lowermost packaged product 40 of a selected one of the stacks, and a conveyor belt 10 located below the dispensing mechanism 22 to receive the dispensed packaged products 40.
  • the conveyor belt 10 is driven by a conveyor actuator 21 (shown in Fig. 3 ) for conveying the dispensed lowermost product 40 to a location outside the insulated chamber 16.
  • the insulated chamber 16 is an insulated cooling chamber configured to keep the packaged products 40 below a predetermined temperature.
  • the insulated chamber 16 is an insulated heating chamber configured to keep the packaged products 40 above a predetermined temperature.
  • the housing 50 comprises a first insulating chamber 16 being an insulated heating chamber as previously described, and a second insulating chamber 16 being an insulated cooling chamber, as previously described.
  • Such kind of arrangements are especially useful for dispensing packaged food products, as food products typically need to be stored in a cool or warm environment. However, such arrangements are also suitable for dispensing other types of packaged products, for example, medicines.
  • the insulated chamber 16 comprises an insulating inner wall 2 parallel to and spaced apart from the front outer wall 51.
  • the collection zone 7 is provided by a tray 20 arranged in a space between the insulating inner wall 2 and the front outer wall 51.
  • the insulating inner wall 2 has an insulated door 4 adjacent to one end of the conveyor belt 10.
  • the insulated door 4 is movable, for example by pivoting about a hinge 19, between a closed position and an open position.
  • a door actuator (not shown) is operatively arranged to open and close the insulated door 4.
  • the insulated door 4 has a passage opening with a downwards and outwards inclined bottom edge that forms an intermediate chute 18.
  • the tray 20 in the collection zone 7 extends from the intermediate chute 18 to slightly below the access opening 52 in the front outer wall 51 of the housing 50 and is preferably also inclined downwards and outwards.
  • a control unit of the machine sends a control signal to the dispensing mechanism 22 to drop the lowermost packaged product 40 of the corresponding stack while retaining the remaining packaged products 40 in the stack. So, the dropped packaged product 40 falls by gravity on the conveyor belt 10.
  • the control unit sends a control signal to the door actuator to open the insulated door 4 and to the conveyor actuator 21 to make the conveyor belt 10 to convey the packaged product 40 outside the insulated chamber 16 through the intermediate chute 18 and to the tray 20 in the collection zone 7.
  • the user can then take the dispensed packaged product 40 accessing the collection zone 7 through the corresponding access opening 52 in the front outer wall 51 of the housing 50.
  • the conveyor actuator 21 of the conveyor belt 10 can be activated by the same control signal that activates the dispensing mechanism 22.
  • the control unit sends a control signal to the door actuator to close the insulated door 4 and to the conveyor actuator 21 to stop the conveyor belt 10 when no packaged product 40 is sensed on the conveyor belt 10.
  • the conveyor belt 10 is replaced by a dispensing chute inclined downwards to the insulated door 4, or directly to the access opening 52 if no insulated chamber is provided, with an equivalent result since the dispensed packaged product 40 slips down the dispensing chute by gravity to the insulated door 4 or to the access opening 52 and thereby no conveyor actuator is needed.
  • the store structure 15 may be configured to store a single stack of packaged products 40 (not shown) or an array of stacks of packaged products 40, as can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3 in combination, and in Figs. 10 and 11 .
  • the store structure 15 is configured to store three rows of stacks following a first direction ( Fig. 2 ) and two rows of stacks following a second direction ( Fig. 3 ), with the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.
  • Fig. 10 also shows an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention comprising three rows of stacks following a first direction and two rows of stacks following a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.
  • the number of rows in either direction may be varied according to the dimensions of the packaged products 40 to be stored and/or to the dimensions of the housing 50.
  • the packaged products 40 in each stack are the same kind and have the same dimensions.
  • the different kinds of packaged products 40 can have different dimensions provided that they have opposed edge holding portions 41.
  • the dispensing mechanism 22 of each stack will be adapted to the dimensions of the packaged products 40 in that stack.
  • the dispensing mechanism 22 comprises two retention units 11 arranged on opposite sides of each vertical stack of packaged products 40.
  • Each retention unit 11 comprises a support body 30 fixed to a machine frame (not shown), a movable element 31 and a dispensing actuator 32 configured and arranged for moving the movable element 31 between a retention position and a dispensing position.
  • the movable elements 31 of the corresponding two retention units 11 interfere with the two opposed edge holding portions 41 of the lowermost packaged product 40.1 of the stack so that this lowermost packaged product 40.1 is retained and the remaining packaged products 40 of the stack rest on one another and on the lowermost packaged product 40.
  • the movable elements 31 are returned back to the retention position quickly enough to interfere with the opposed edge holding portions 41 of the next packaged product 40.2 of the stack so that only one packaged product 40.1, namely the lowermost one, is delivered.
  • control unit of the vending machine is configured to send control signals to the dispensing actuator 32 so as to drive the movable elements 31 of the retention units 11 from the retention position ( Fig. 4 ) to the dispensing position ( Fig. 5 ) and to quickly return the movable elements 31 of the retention units 11 back to the retention position from the dispensing position ( Fig. 6 ) in order to interfere with the edge holding portions 41 of the next packaged product 40.2 in the stack.
  • the time interval lapsed from the dispensing position back to the retention position of the movable elements 31 is selected to be less that the time spent for the next packaged product 40.2 in the stack to fall by gravity a distance equivalent to its own height, thereby the next packaged product 40.2 in the stack is retained then in the lowermost position by the movable elements 31.
  • the time interval lapsed from the dispensing position back to the retention position of the movable elements 31 may be regulated in order to enable the delivery of more than one packaged product 40 of the stack in a single dispensing operation.
  • each support body 30 comprises first and second U-shaped guide members 33, 34 configured for guiding the movable element 31 between the retention position and the dispensing position.
  • the first and second U-shaped guide members 33, 34 are located, for example, at opposite sides of the support body 30 and are spaced apart from one another so as define an open area therebetween large enough for allowing the passage of one of the edge holding portions 41 of the packaged product 40 when the movable elements 31 is in the dispensing position.
  • the dispensing actuator 32 is arranged below the support body 30 and the movable element 31 is an elongated body that is connected at its middle section to the dispensing actuator 32 by a shank 36 (see, for example, also Figs. 4-6 ).
  • the movable element 31 extends from the first U-shaped guide member 33 to the second U-shaped guide member 34 through said open area.
  • Each one of the first and second U-shaped guide members 33 has a horizontal stretch spanning between two stops 29 and the movable element 31 has opposite ends that extend over the horizontal sections of the first and second U-shaped guide members 33, 34.
  • each retention unit 11 further comprises a frontal wall 35 configured for guiding the corresponding edge holding portion 41 of the packaged product 40 into the open area defined between the first and second U-shaped guide members 33, 34 when the packaged product 40 is fallen by gravity onto the conveyor belt 10.
  • the opposite ends of the movable element 31 slide over the horizontal sections of the first and second U-shaped guide members 33, 34 and interfere with the stops 29 in the retention position and in the dispensing position, so that the stops 29 define the retention position and the dispensing position for the movable element 31.
  • the movable element 31 passes below the frontal wall 35 when moves between the retention position and the delivery position.
  • the support body 30 includes only one U-shaped guide member at one side thereof interacting with only one end of the movable element 31.
  • Fig. 9 shows another alternative embodiment for the support body 30 which includes the frontal wall 35 but does not include any U-shaped guide member.
  • means to prevent rotation of the shank 36 about its own axis are preferably provided.
  • Fig. 10 shows the store structure 15 for storing at least one vertical stack of gravity lowered packaged products 40 and the dispensing mechanism 22 for supporting a corresponding stack of gravity lowered packaged products 40 and dispensing the lowermost packaged product 40 of said stack, of a second exemplary embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention.
  • the store structure 15 of this second exemplary embodiment is configured to store three rows of stacks following a first direction and two rows of stacks following a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.
  • the store structure 15 of this exemplary embodiment comprises four guides 63 for each stack, each guide 63 having a substantially cylindrical shape.
  • the guides 63 can have a different shape, for example, can be of a substantially quadrangular prismatic shape, planar, etc.
  • Other embodiments can comprise a different number of guides 63 for each stack, although at least one guide for each side of the packaged product 40 is preferred.
  • Each guide 63 can be easily attached or removed from the store structure 15 in order to, for example, ease maintenance operations.
  • the dispensing mechanism 22 of this second exemplary embodiment comprises two retention units 11 arranged on opposite side of each vertical stack. Similar to the first exemplary embodiment previously shown, each retention unit 11 comprises a support body 30, a movable element 31 and a dispense actuator 32 for moving the movable element from a retention position to a dispensing position and vice versa.
  • the support body 30 is common for each row of retention units 11. However, in other embodiment each retention unit 11 could have its own support body 30.
  • the support body 30 shown comprises a frontal wall 35 for guiding the at least one edge holding portion 41 of the packaged product 40 and further comprises a sloped wall 38 adjacent to the frontal wall 35. Said sloped wall 38 is optional and is configured to guide the packaged products 40 to the frontal wall 35.
  • Said frontal wall 35 comprises at least one opening 60 for the passage of at least part of the movable element 31, so that said movable element 31 can move from its retention position to its dispensing position, and vice versa.
  • Movable elements 31 are driven by associated dispensing actuators 32.
  • the support structure 15 shown further comprises two lateral guides 64 arranged on the lowermost part of the support structure 15 to further guide the major lateral sides of the lowermost packaged product 40 of the stack so that the retention units 11 can effectively support the stack of packaged products 40 and dispense the lowermost packaged product 40 of said stack.
  • Said lateral guides 64 are optional and at least one guide 64 for each lateral major side of the stack would suffice.
  • the frontal wall 35 guides the lateral minor lateral sides of the stack of packaged products 40.
  • Figs. 11 and 12 show a detail perspective view of the dispensing mechanism 22 of the exemplary embodiment of a vending machine shown in FIG. 10 .
  • the at least one opening 60 for the passage of at least part of the movable element 31 is defined by three separate openings 60A, 60B, 60C adjacent one another and arranged in a linear manner.
  • the openings 60A, 60B, 60C are separated by corresponding intermediate regions 61, which, in this exemplary embodiment, interfere with the movement of the movable element 31, acting as a stop defining the retention position of the corresponding movable element 31.
  • the at least one opening 60 further to allowing passage of at least part of the movable element 31 so that it can reach its retention position wherein it interferes with an edge holding portion 41 of the lowermost packaged product 40 of the stack, can also act as a support of said movable element 31, preventing the movable element 31 and the shank 36 of the associated dispensing actuator 32 to flex excessively, as the movable element 31 and/or the shank 36 can rest on the edge of the at least one opening 60.
  • An excessive flexion of the movable element 31 and/or of the shank 36 of the dispensing actuator 32 should be avoided as it could break them or, at least, reduce its lifespan. This also applies when said at least one opening 60 is divided into two or more separate openings 60A, 60B, 60C.
  • the movable element 31 comprises one notch or recess 39 for each intermediate region 61 of the corresponding opening 60, thereby allowing passage of at least part of the movable element 31 through the openings 60A, 60B, 60C so that the movable element 31 can reach its retaining position.
  • Said recesses 39 act as a stop against the corresponding intermediate region 61, thereby limiting the travel of the movable element 31 defining its retention position. Said recesses 39 do not affect the retention ability of the movable element 31.
  • the central opening 60B comprises a substantially cylindrical indentation 62 for the passage of the shank 36 of the dispensing actuator 32.
  • said indentation 62 may have a different shape or may not be present, depending, among others, on the shape of the shank 36 and the attachment of the movable element 31 to the corresponding shank 36.
  • Fig. 11 also shows in great detail the lateral guides 64, as well as the fastening of the guides 63 to the chassis of the store structure 15.
  • the dispensing actuator 32 in both exemplary embodiments shown is a magnetic linear actuator which is able to impart a quick movement to the movable element 31.
  • Examples of useful magnetic linear actuators are a bistable linear moving magnet and a spring return actuator comprising, for example, an electromagnet arranged to perform the movement of the movable element from the retaining position to the dispensing position in cooperation with a spring arranged to return the movable element back to the retaining position.
  • the present invention provides a method for dispensing a packaged product 40 from a vending machine comprising the essential features of the vending machine described above.
  • the method comprises the following steps:
  • the method then comprises resting the opposed edge holding portions 41 of the following lowermost packaged product 40 of the stack on the movable elements 31 of the retention units 11 which are back in the retention position.
  • Also envisaged with the method is the optional step of conveying the dispensed packaged product 40 either with a dispensing chute or with a conveyor belt 10 to a collection zone 7 or to an intermediate location.
  • the method optionally comprises the step of sensing the presence of the dispensed packaged product 40 on the dispensing chute or on the conveyor belt 10 and open an insulated door 4 of an insulated chamber 16 which houses therein the store structure 15, and a further step of closing said insulated door 4 once the dispensed packaged product 40 is no longer sensed on the dispensing chute or on the conveyor belt 10.
  • the method further comprises the step of opening an access door 6 closing an access opening 52 through which the collection zone 7 is accessible from the outside once a packaged product 40 is sensed in the collection zone 7.
  • vending machines for dispensing packaged products as well as the methods for dispensing a packaged product, previously described are specially envisaged for dispensing packaged food products, but any other suitable packaged product could also be dispensed.
  • the vending machines and the method object of the present invention can also dispense non packaged products by previously placing said non packaged product in a package 40 having opposed edge holding portions 41as the ones shown in Fig. 10 , for example.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
EP22382468.1A 2022-05-16 2022-05-16 Verkaufsautomat zur ausgabe von verpackten produkten und verfahren zur ausgabe eines verpackten produkts aus einem verkaufsautomat Withdrawn EP4280183A1 (de)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22382468.1A EP4280183A1 (de) 2022-05-16 2022-05-16 Verkaufsautomat zur ausgabe von verpackten produkten und verfahren zur ausgabe eines verpackten produkts aus einem verkaufsautomat
ES23173604T ES3007989T3 (en) 2022-05-16 2023-05-16 Vending machine for dispensing packaged products and method for dispensing a packaged product from a vending machine
EP23173604.2A EP4280184B1 (de) 2022-05-16 2023-05-16 Verkaufsautomat zur ausgabe von verpackten produkten und verfahren zur ausgabe eines verpackten produkts aus einem verkaufsautomaten

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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EP22382468.1A EP4280183A1 (de) 2022-05-16 2022-05-16 Verkaufsautomat zur ausgabe von verpackten produkten und verfahren zur ausgabe eines verpackten produkts aus einem verkaufsautomat

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EP4280183A1 true EP4280183A1 (de) 2023-11-22

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EP23173604.2A Active EP4280184B1 (de) 2022-05-16 2023-05-16 Verkaufsautomat zur ausgabe von verpackten produkten und verfahren zur ausgabe eines verpackten produkts aus einem verkaufsautomaten

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Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3000538A (en) 1956-08-06 1961-09-19 Haller Jacob Food-vending machine
US3137410A (en) 1962-07-26 1964-06-16 Rank Precision Ind Ltd Coin-operated vending machines
US3651752A (en) 1970-01-26 1972-03-28 Nat Electro Cook Corp Method and apparatus for heating and dispensing individually packaged food products
GB2177075A (en) * 1985-06-15 1987-01-14 Sankey Vending Ltd Dispensing flanged containers from a stack
US5285041A (en) * 1991-01-16 1994-02-08 Wright Food Systems, Inc. Automated food vending system
WO1994028700A2 (en) 1994-04-21 1994-12-22 Krh Thermal Systems Vending machine including refrigeration and oven compartments
WO1997039431A1 (en) * 1996-04-12 1997-10-23 Giuseppe Biffarella An automatic distributor of hot foods in trays

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3000538A (en) 1956-08-06 1961-09-19 Haller Jacob Food-vending machine
US3137410A (en) 1962-07-26 1964-06-16 Rank Precision Ind Ltd Coin-operated vending machines
US3651752A (en) 1970-01-26 1972-03-28 Nat Electro Cook Corp Method and apparatus for heating and dispensing individually packaged food products
GB2177075A (en) * 1985-06-15 1987-01-14 Sankey Vending Ltd Dispensing flanged containers from a stack
US5285041A (en) * 1991-01-16 1994-02-08 Wright Food Systems, Inc. Automated food vending system
WO1994028700A2 (en) 1994-04-21 1994-12-22 Krh Thermal Systems Vending machine including refrigeration and oven compartments
WO1997039431A1 (en) * 1996-04-12 1997-10-23 Giuseppe Biffarella An automatic distributor of hot foods in trays

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4280184B1 (de) 2024-10-30
EP4280184C0 (de) 2024-10-30
EP4280184A1 (de) 2023-11-22
ES3007989T3 (en) 2025-03-21

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