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EP 0 551 284 A1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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Date of publication: |
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21.07.1993 Bulletin 1993/29 |
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Date of filing: 07.08.1991 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G07F 11/10 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/ES9100/052 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 9303/462 (18.02.1993 Gazette 1993/05) |
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Designated Contracting States: |
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BE DE FR GB GR IT |
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Applicant: AUTOREFRE, S.A. |
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E-50001 Zaragoza (ES) |
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Inventor: |
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- CATALAN DIEZ, Florencio, Pablo
E-50001 Zaragoza (ES)
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Representative: Urizar Anasagasti, José Antonio et al |
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URYAS
P.O. Box 61051 28080 Madrid 28080 Madrid (ES) |
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MACHINE FOR SUPPLYING BEVERAGE-CONTAINING CUPS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES |
(57) The machine is comprised of a cabinet with thermo-insulating protection (1) wherein
is housed a refrigerating unit (3) and a plurality of compartments (7, 7a, 7b) inside
which are provided tracks where the products to be supplied may slide by gravity,
said products being intercepted towards the end of the travel by two devices (12,
12a and 12b) adapted for different types of containers, the above-mentioned mechanisms
being actuated by introducing in the machine the appropriate coins. The solution of
adapting to each type of container the appropriate supply device avoids the risk of
damaging the containers or cups and, as a consequence, results in a considerable reduction
of the width size of the machine.
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[0001] The present description relates, as indictaed in the title, to a machine for supplying
beverage-containing packages and similar articles, of the type employed for selling
refrigerated products such as beverages, water, drinks in general and other products,
said machines generally working in automatic form by means of introducing the required
coins.
[0002] The machines known at present for the distribution of the above-mentioned products
incorporate mechanisms that act by means of coins which once introduced, they send
the releasing order so that a retention mechanism supplies one package.
[0003] This type of machines have the inconvenience that their regulating mechanism for
starting and retaining requires large spaces for their location which would require
considerable dimensions for the machine especially in relation to their width.
[0004] Another inconvenience which said known machines usually present is that the cans
or bottles of products which are stored inside the machine in the form of a pile,
suffer important deterioration and sometimes breakages when the supplying command
is activated due to the fact that the lowermost packages bear the weight of the entire
pile.
[0005] Another kind of inconvenience which said machines usually present is that their supplying
mechanisms are only able to act upon packages of the same dimension although the packages
may contain different products.
[0006] In order to overcome said inconveniences the machine for supplying beverage-containing
packages and similar articles, as the object of the present invention, is hereby proposed
in which a plurality of interior compartments is provided said compartments comprising
of multiple guides in the form of zig-zag which allow the container packages to slide
down until a releasing device which is activated when the required coins are introduced.
Additionally a variety of releasing devices are provided which are able to control
the supply of container packages of different volumes.
[0007] The machine herein presented has the advantage, with respect to the known machines,
that the storage arrangement of the products in compartments with sliding guides in
the form of tracks in zig-zag provides that the packages to be released do not support
the weight of the pile with which the risk of breakages and deformations of packages
is eliminated.
[0008] Another advantage of this invention is that by incorporating the appropriate mechanism
of distribution for each type of package, space is saved which allows for a smaller
width of machine for the same capacity of products.
[0009] Another advantage of our machine consists of making possible, by means of the above-mentioned
mechanisms, for the machine to sell container packages of different characteristics
and volumes.
[0010] The machine comprises a cabinet with thermo-insulating protection in which a refrigerating
unit, of the type used for this kind of aparatus,is located.
[0011] The interior of said cabinet is divided into compartments inside of which a plurality
of inclined guides are situated in form of zig zag which form a track over which the
container packages slide due to their weight or the force of gravity. The guides which
form the aforementioned tracks are constituted by a number of flanges secured on facing
sides of the parallel walls that divide the cabinet into compartments.
[0012] There exists the possibility of having only one set of guides on one side which is
formed by wings the width of which exceeds at least half-way over the lenght of the
guided articles said wings are transversally inclined in sloped position towards the
respective wall.
[0013] At the end of each guide, and situated on the front side of a collecting box, the
regulating mechanism both for supply and for retaining of products is located in an
inaccessible manner form the outside. The machine herein proposed may be equipped
by one or multiple mechanisms of different nature as to the characteristics and volume
of the products to be supplied by the vending machine.
[0014] The object of the present invention will be better understood by means of the accompanying
drawings representing a prefered practical embodiment of the same is which:
Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of the machine.
Figure 2 shows a transversal cross-section of the machine.
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the machine.
Figure 4 shows a detail of the front elevation view of the inclined guide.
Figure 5 shows a perspective of a device for releasing and retaining products with
lateral driving arrangement.
Figure 6 shows a detail of the front elevation view of the device for releasing and
retaining products with lateral driving arrangement.
Figure 7 shows a detail of a lateral elevation of the mechanism of lateral driving
of the limiting rods in standby position.
Figure 8 shows a view similar to the previous one but with the limiting bars at the
moment of releasing the article.
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a device for releasing and retaining the products
with the driving arrangement located on the front upper side of the product to be
released (similar to the device shown in figure 5).
Figure 10 shows a detail of lateral elevation of the mechanism for releasing and retaining
articles with front-upper driving arrangement in position of blocking the article
ready to be sold.
Figure 11 shows a view similar to that of figure 10 with said mechanism in the position
of releasing the product situated in the first place while at the same time blocks
the way to the one situated immediately after.
Figure 12 shows an upper view of the mechanism of figures 9, 10 and 11 partially cross-sectioned.
Figure 13 shows a perspective of a device for releasing and retaining articles with
the driving arrangement situated underneath the product ready to go out.
Figure 14 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the device of figure 13 in position
of blocking or standby.
Figure 15 shows a view similar to that of the previous one adopting the position for
releasing the package while the one immediately after remains intercepted.
[0015] The machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, object
of the present invention, incorporates a cabinet (1) with walls protected by a thermo-insulating
material. The cabinet has a lower compartment (2) in which a refrigerating unit (3)
is located.
[0016] On the front part, the cabinet is equipped with a large window (4) in which information
may be placed in relation to the articles that the machine supplies. Additionally
tile cabinet (1) is equipped with a front opening (5) on the lower part which provides
access to a tray (6) on which the supplied articles will fall.
[0017] The inside of the cabinet is divided into three compartments (7), (7a) and (7b) in
which packages (8) of beverages or any other similar article with different volume
and form are stored.
[0018] The compartment (7), intended to contain packages of smaller dimensions than those
of compartments (7a) and (7b) is formed by walls (11) and is divided in two vertical
racks by means of a partition (9) which separates said racks having on facing walls
thereof a plurality of inclined tracks (10) which descend in zig zag on which tracks
the articles (8) (packages, bottles, cans and other articles of similar form) are
situated which are capable of sliding over the tracks (10) due to the action of the
force of gravity. The lower end (10a) of tracks (10) lead to trays (6).
[0019] The compartments (7a) and (7b) intended to be used for placing packages or articles
(9) of larger dimensions than those placed in compartment (7) are formed by walls
(11) and vertical racks which form theaforementioned compartment (7).
[0020] For the type of articles (8a) which are not completely cylindrical (Fig. 4), guiding
wings are provided which are inclined in descending position towards wall (11), only
one wing being necessary when articles (8a) rest on wing (10a) and the wall itself.
[0021] All tracks (10) included in different compartments lead at their lowermost end and
before reaching the tray (6) have respective devices (12), (12a) and (12b) whose characteristics
will be described hereinbelow.
[0022] Device (12) (Fig. 5) with lateral driving arrangement (Fig. 5) is proposed for packages
of considerable dimensions whithin the type of products which generally are dealt
with, and is formed by a pair of transversal rods (13 and 14), parallel to the longitudinal
axis of bodies (8) to be supplied, the ends of said rods pass through arched openings
(15) provided on walls (11) being connected to oscillating plates (16) around axis
(17). The rods (13) and (14) are set at a distance with respect to each other.
[0023] Close to one of the plates (16) a plaque (18) is mounted which oscillates around
an axis (19) having an extension or a lever (20) situated between either of the ends
of rods (13) and (14) (Figures 7 and 8) pushing them alternatively. Plaque (18) is
joined to the end of a cross-bar (21) activated by means of an electro-magnetic (22)
mechanism the operation of which is bound by a conventional coin-receiver of the kind
commonly known for this type of machines. Moreover, plaque (18) is urged by a spring
(23) which forces plaque (18) to remain stable at its two possible positions at which,
as indictaed before, pushes one rod and the other by means of lever (20) (Figures
6, 7 and 8).
[0024] It is thus evident that if through the coin-receiver the electro-magnetic mechanism
(22) is activated, the cross-bar (21) activates the plaque (18) which was maitained
resting against rod (13) and displaces said plaque towards the opposit direction against
rod (14), which is displaced towards the rear side in such a form that rod (13) releases
the first article (8) and retains the one immediatly after (Fig. 8). In the second
movement of the electro-magnetic mechanism (22) the whole assembly returns to the
position of figure 7 and all articles descend one space. Rods (13) and (14) permit
the retaining of articles of larger length such as bottles, but they can also retain
and supply smaller aticles such as cans and small bottles.
[0025] The release and retaining device (12a) (Fig. 9), located on the front upper part
of the package to be taken out, is similar as to its principles of operation to the
device (12) described above and is intended to use for packages of medium and small
size. This mechanism consists of a pair of rods (24) and (25) horizontally situated
in fornt of an exit opening (26) of a compartment (7a) located between two particular
walls (11).
[0026] The ends of rods (24) and (25) pass through arched openings (27) provided on walls
(11) of compartment (7a). Said ends are joined with two plates (28) which oscillate
around pivots (29).
[0027] In the drawings only one plate is represented on one end of the rods, however there
is one plate on the exteranl side of each wall.
[0028] In a position higher than that occupied by plates (28) plaques (30) are situated
which oscillate around an axis (31), at least one of which being equipped with an
extension (32) in the form of a lever situated between either one of the ends of (24)
and (25).
[0029] Plaques (30) are connected to each other by means of a horizontal rod (33) parallel
to rods (24) and (25) having their ends guided into respective arched openings (27a).
[0030] Rod (33) is attached to a moving arm (35) which is activated by means of an electromegnetic
mechanism (36) mounted inside compartment (7a).
[0031] The elctromagnetic mechanism (36) is activated once the required coins have been
deposited in a conventional coin-receiving mechanism (not shown) in such a form that
arm (35) pulls the oscillating plaque (30) and the extension thereof (32) pushes rod
(25) so that the whole assembly of the two rods (24) and (25) together with plates
(28). Rod (24) releases the first article (8) which goes out through tile opening
(26) of compartment (7a), while at the same time rod (25) blockes the second article
(8b). When the the action ofthe electromagnetic mechanism (36) is ceased, spring (34)
returns rod (33), plaque (30) and the assembly of rods (24) and (25) and plate (28)
to its original position.
[0032] The device for releasing and retaining products (12b) (Fig. 13) with the driving
arrangement located on the lower part of article (8) ready to be released is proposed
with resepect to handling adequately products such as cans of drinks, small bottles
and similar packages having in mind the saving of space in order to confer the machine
a smaller width.
[0033] The device shown with the general reference number (12b) is located close to the
end of tracks (10a) (Fig. 2) and below said tracks in which an opening (37) has been
formed through which only the limiting rods (42) or (43) pass.
[0034] The device (12b) consists of a support box (38) with two wings (39) in which an axis
(40) is loctaed for the rotation of a swinging device (41) of bi-stable position which
comprises to transversal rods (42) and (43) joined to the lateral walls (41a) said
rods being loctaed transversally with respect to the direction ofthe tracks (10).
Rod (42) is in a closer position to the end (10a) of tracks than rod (43).
[0035] On lateral walls (41a) of swinging device (41) a transverdsal axis (44) is mounted
on which two elbow levers (45) are articulated by one end (45a) thereof and situated
next to the lateral inside walls of box (38), while an end (45b) opposite to the one
articulated to axis (44) is articulated to a transversal rod (46). The ends of the
rod (46) are guided in extended openings (47) of lateral walls of box (38).
[0036] On the elbows of levers (45) roller sets (48) are mounted resting on waved tracks
(49) such as a cam having an upper concave track (49a) which forms seating in order
to stablilize the position of levers (45).
[0037] On rod (46) the end of a spring (50) is attached which tends to maintain the device
in a stable position of standby, wherein rod (42) passes over the plane on which the
end (10a) of track (10) is located.
[0038] Rod (46) is joined to the end of a braket (51) displaceable by longitudinal movements
in relation to the direction of the ends of tracks (10), being activated through rod
(52) by an electro-magnet (53) or a similar electro-mechanical mechanism, which in
turn is activated by depositing the coins corresponding to the price of the package
(8) which is to be bought in a conventional coin-receiver installed in the cabinet
(1) itself. The displacement transmitted form the electro-magnet to braket (51) is
in a direction opposite to that of restitution of spring (50).
[0039] In fornt of opening (37) of tracks (10) and on an upper plane, wings (54) are situated
which are parallel to tracks (10) and ends (10a) having the particularity that the
distance measured between wings (54) and tracks (10) is somewhat larger than the diameter
of packages (8) which move on the tracks.
[0040] In the position of standby of device (12b) rod (42) extends over through opening
(37) of track (10) in such a form that package (8) which is situated at the end of
the track is intercepted between said extension and the upper wings (54) (Fig. 14
ofthe drawings). When the elctro-magnet (53) is activated by depositing the required
coins in the coin-receiver, rod (52) pulls braket (51) and by means of transversal
axis (46) the elbow arms (45) are displaced the rollers sets (48) of which leave housings
(49a) of waved tracks (49). Arms (45) perform a double movement since in addition
to displacement on tracks (49), they oscillate supported by their roller sets (48)
and urge the swinging device (41) to tilt around its axis (40) in such a form that
the front rod (42) is hidden beneath opening (37) and releases package (8) located
at the end of tracks (10) descending from the end (10a) and reaching the corresponding
tray (6). At the same time, rod (43) is lifted and intercepts the package (8c) situated
immediately after the released package (Fig. 15). When the swinging device (41) recovers
the initial standby position activated by the return spring (50), rod (42) intercepts
the package that follows the released package and the standby position represented
in Figure 14 is restored.
[0041] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, together with
one way of putting it into practice, it is to be understood that it is possible to
introduce changes in form, materials, and disposition over all the invention orover
the parts that it is composed of, as long as such alterations do not vary substancially
the characteristics of the invention claimed as follows:
1. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, characterized
in that it is composed of a cabinet with thermo-isolating protection equipped with
a refrigerating unit, said cabinet being divided in a plurality of compartments of
different dimensions, inside which multiple guides are arranged being independent
with respect to each other and inclined in a descending position in form of tracks
over which the packages are displaced by gravity until the end of their path where
there are devices adequate for each type of package, said packages being capable to
retain the articles until they are released one by one by means of introducing the
required coins into the machine.
2. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 1, characterized in that the general releasing and retaining device (12)
has a bi-stable plaque articulated around an axis and attached to a transmission means
which is activated by an electro-magnetic device an extension of which pushes alternatively
two rods in order to locate them at the positions of holding and releasing the articles
said plaque being urged bya spring which tends to be stabilized in one position or
the other which it can adopt.
3. machine forsupplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 1, characterized in that the releasingand retaining device of general reference
-12a-, is formed by a pair of rods parallel with respect to each other, being attached
at their ends to oscillating plates, situated close to the external side of the walls
of the compartment which stores the packages, the displacement or the rotation of
the mentioed rods is performed in relation to the guiding provided by arched openings
provided on the walls of the compartment in which the device is located, said rods
being activated by means of an oscillating plaque in form of a lever situated close
to one of the oscillating plates and mounted at one end between the rods in order
to push one or the other rod according to the required movement, be it in standby
due to the urging of the spring or in the product releasing; the movement of the lever
plaque which activates the rods in order to serve an article is performed by means
of an axis secured thereto which is activated by a cross-bar attached to a electro-magnet,
the latter being activated when the required coins are introduced in the coin-receiver.
The guiding of the axis which activates the lever plauqe is carried out by means of
arched openings inside the walls of the compartment.
4. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 1, characterized in that the releasing and retaining device of general reference
number (12b) is formed by two transversal limiting elements with respect to the direction
of the guides, displaced with respect to each other in such a form that one of them
occupies a position closer to the lower end of the guide than the other, capable of
adopting two positions, one for interception and the other for releasing the packages,
alternating one after the other, said limiting elements are related to a swinging
device which tends to maintain itself in a standby position in which the limiting
element closer to the lower end of the guide intercepts the passage of the packages,
said swinging device being activated by an electro-mechanic mechanism in connection
to a coin-reciver device capable of situating the limiting elements in working position
in which the limitng element closer to the lower end of the guide release the first
package which is ready to fall on the tray, while the other limiting element immobilizes
the immediately next product, esentially characterized in that the devices of general
reference number (12b) regulating the exit of the products and the corresponding electro-mechanic
mechanisms are situated below the lower end of the corresponding guide with the particularity
that the transversal limiting elements (42) and (43) of said devices pass over on
the upper side with respect to the guides (10) when they are in the position of interception
and they hide below said guides when they are in the position of releasing the apckages.
5. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 4, characterized in that over the ends (10a) of the guides for products and
facing the limiting elements (42) and (43) of the respective regulating device there
are fixed salients (54) located at a distance from the guides somewhat larger than
the diameter of packages (8) while the distance measured between said fixed salients
and any one of the limiting elements, when they are in the interception position,
is smaller than the diamete of the package to be supplied.
6. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the fixed salients (54) situated over the
ends of guides (10) areformed by flat wings parallel to said ends.
7. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 4, characterized in that the swinging devices (41) on which limiting elements
(42) and (43) of the devices for regulating the exit of the products are mounted,
are articulated each one to, at least, one elbow lever (45) guided in a support (38)
over which the swinging device is mounted, said lever being activated by an electro-mechanic
mechanism (53) in connection to the coin-receiver of the machine and urged elastically
by means of a spring (50) which tends to maintain the lever in stable standby position.
8. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claims 4 and 7, characterized in that the elbow lever (45) is equipped with an
elbow that rests on a track (49) such as a cam secured on the support of the swinging
device, which has a seating (49a) on which the elbow of the lever rests when the regulating
device for the exist of products is in the standby position.
9. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claims 4, 7 and 8, characterized in that the electro-mechanic mechanism (53) attached
to the coin-receiver activates an element in form of braket (51) axially displaceable
on each branch of which there is a transversal axis (40) mounted elastically urged
by a spring (50) in opposite direction to that of the displacement of the braket when
activated by the electro-mechanic mechanism, the axis of which has its ends guided
into extended openings (47) provided on the sides of a fixed box (38) which constitutes
the support of the swinging device (41) which is articulated around a transversal
axis (40) sustained on thesides of the support box, while on the transversal axis
(46) mounted on the branches of the braket (51) two elbow levers (45) are articulated
at one of each respective end, having at each elbow a respective supporting roller
set (48) over tracks (49) in form of cam provided in the box that supports the swinging
device, said elbow levers are articulated at opposite ends to the ones that are articulated
to the mentioned transversal axis, to the swinging device (41) carrying the transversal
limiting elements (42) and (43) of the regulating device for the exit of the products.
10. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 1, characterized in that optionally the guides for articles to be supplied,
formed by wings attached to the two lateral walls or partitions, being matched the
wing of one wall with resepct to that of the opposite wall, situated at the same hight
the wings of each pair, have widths that are different in the wings of one side with
respect to the opposite side.
11. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 1, characterized in that according to a prefered embodiment the walls on
which the guiding wings are mounted form an easy dismountable assembly, being muontable
in one single aparatus, and an assembly of walls of different distances between each
other for article of different dimensions.
12. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles, according
to claim 1, characterized in that it is possible for the machine to have one single
set of guides on one side, formed by wings, the width of which passes , at least,
half-way over the length of the guided articles, the wing of which are transversally
inclined in descending position towards the resepctive wall.
13. Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar articles.
Amended claims under Art. 19.1 PCT
1. (Claim is amended). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, of the type which comprises of a plurality of vertical compartments, characterized
in that it is composed of a cabinet with thermo-isolating protection equipped with
a refrigerating unit, said cabinet being divided in a plurality of compartments of
different dimensions wherein packages of different dimensions are stored in such a
way that in the interior of said compartments multiple guides are arranged being independent
with respect to each other and inclined in a descending position in form of tracks
in zig zag over which the packages are displaced by gravity until the end of their
path where there exist releasing and retaining devices each of which adequate for
packages of different characteristics and volumes, said packages being capable to
retain the articles until they are released one by one by means of introducing the
required coins into the machine.
2. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the general releasing and retaining
device (12) has a bi-stable plaque articulated around an axis and attached to a transmission
means which is activated by an electro-magnetic device an extension of which pushes
alternatively two rods in order to locate them at the positions of holding and releasing
the articles said plaque being urged bya spring which tends to be stabilized in one
position or the other which it can adopt.
3. (Claim is not changed). Machine forsupplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the releasingand retaining device
of general reference -12a-, is formed by a pair of rods parallel with respect to each
other, being attached at their ends to oscillating plates, situated close to the external
side of the walls of the compartment which stores the packages, the displacement or
the rotation of the mentioed rods is performed in relation to the guiding provided
by arched openings provided on the walls of the compartment in which the device is
located, said rods being activated by means of an oscillating plaque in form of a
lever situated close to one of the oscillating plates and mounted at one end between
the rods in order to push one or the other rod according to the required movement,
be it in standby due to the urging of the spring or in the product releasing; the
movement of the lever plaque which activates the rods in order to serve an article
is performed by means of an axis secured thereto which is activated by a cross-bar
attached to a electro-magnet, the latter being activated when the required coins are
introduced in the coin-receiver. The guiding of the axis which activates the lever
plauqe is carried out by means of arched openings inside the walls of the compartment.
4. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the releasing and retaining
device of general reference number (12b) is formed by two transversal limiting elements
with respect to the direction of the guides, displaced with respect to each other
in such a form that one of them occupies a position closer to the lower end of the
guide than the other, capable of adopting two positions, one for interception and
the other for releasing the packages, alternating one after the other, said limiting
elements are related to a swinging device which tends to maintain itself in a standby
position in which the limiting element closer to the lower end of the guide intercepts
the passage of the packages, said swinging device being activated by an electro-mechanic
mechanism in connection to a coin-reciver device capable of situating the limiting
elements in working position in which the limitng element closer to the lower end
of the guide release the first package which is ready to fall on the tray, while the
other limiting element immobilizes the immediately next product, esentially characterized
in that the devices of general reference number (12b) regulating the exit of the products
and the corresponding electro-mechanic mechanisms are situated below the lower end
of the corresponding guide with the particularity that the transversal limiting elements
(42) and (43) of said devices pass over on the upper side with respect to the guides
(10) when they are in the position of interception and they hide below said guides
when they are in the position of releasing the apckages.
5. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 4, characterized in that over the ends (10a) of the guides
for products and facing the limiting elements (42) and (43) of the respective regulating
device there are fixed salients (54) located at a distance from the guides somewhat
larger than the diameter of packages (8) while the distance measured between said
fixed salients and any one of the limiting elements, when they are in the interception
position, is smaller than the diamete of the package to be supplied.
6. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the fixed salients (54)
situated over the ends of guides (10) areformed by flat wings parallel to said ends.
7. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 4, characterized in that the swinging devices (41) on
which limiting elements (42) and (43) of the devices for regulating the exit of the
products are mounted, are articulated each one to, at least, one elbow lever (45)
guided in a support (38) over which the swinging device is mounted, said lever being
activated by an electro-mechanic mechanism (53) in connection to the coin-receiver
of the machine and urged elastically by means of a spring (50) which tends to maintain
the lever in stable standby position.
8. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claims 4 and 7, characterized in that the elbow lever (45)
is equipped with an elbow that rests on a track (49) such as a cam secured on the
support of the swinging device, which has a seating (49a) on which the elbow of the
lever rests when the regulating device for the exist of products is in the standby
position.
9. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claims 4, 7 and 8, characterized in that the electro-mechanic
mechanism (53) attached to the coin-receiver activates an element in form of braket
(51) axially displaceable on each branch of which there is a transversal axis (40)
mounted elastically urged by a spring (50) in opposite direction to that of the displacement
of the braket when activated by the electro-mechanic mechanism, the axis of which
has its ends guided into extended openings (47) provided on the sides of a fixed box
(38) which constitutes the support of the swinging device (41) which is articulated
around a transversal axis (40) sustained on thesides of the support box, while on
the transversal axis (46) mounted on the branches of the braket (51) two elbow levers
(45) are articulated at one of each respective end, having at each elbow a respective
supporting roller set (48) over tracks (49) in form of cam provided in the box that
supports the swinging device, said elbow levers are articulated at opposite ends to
the ones that are articulated to the mentioned transversal axis, to the swinging device
(41) carrying the transversal limiting elements (42) and (43) of the regulating device
for the exit of the products.
10. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 1, characterized in that optionally the guides for articles
to be supplied, formed by wings attached to the two lateral walls or partitions, being
matched the wing of one wall with resepct to that of the opposite wall, situated at
the same hight the wings of each pair, have widths that are different in the wings
of one side with respect to the opposite side.
11. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 1 , characterized in that according to a prefered embodiment
the walls on which the guiding wings are mounted form an easy dismountable assembly,
being muontable in one single aparatus, and an assembly of walls of different distances
between each other for article of different dimensions.
12. (Claim is not changed). Machine for supplying beverage-containing packages and similar
articles, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is possible for the machine
to have one single set of guides on one side, formed by wings, the width of which
passes , at least, half-way over the length of the guided articles, the wing of which
are transversally inclined in descending position towards the resepctive wall.
13. (Claim is cancelled).
Statement under Art. 19.1 PCT
In order to amend the claims of the above international application, and on the basis
of the international serach report mailed June 24, 1992 new pages 13, 14, 15, 16,
17(1) and 17(2) are attached that substitute pages 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the claims
of the original application.
Claim 1 is amended in order to include in the same thetechnical aspects of the invention
with more detail, and specifically describe the possibility of storing products ofdifferent
dimensions, the fact that independent guides are inclined in form of tracks in zig
zag, and that the releasing and retaining devices are each adequate for packages of
different characteristics and volumes. Clims 2 to 12 are not amended. Claim 13 iscancelled.
With these amendments the invention is described with more detail in order to show
that the claimed characteristics of the same are not contemplated in none of the patents
cited in the International Search Report.