Machine for dispensing products with delivery at its upper side

Abstract

 A machine for dispensing products (6) through its upper side, within which the products are piled up in a closed channel (1) containing products so that said products cannot go laterally out of the channel. The pile of products rests on a lifting platform (5) which, by means of a conventional gear, lifts, every time coins are introduced into the machine, a height equal to that of the product to be dispensed. The channel is open at its upper side, so that the products, when arriving at their exit position controlled by a conventional gear controlling the height, are dispensed out of the machine by means of other conventional gear pushing (4) the product out of the channel. As a second option, the device pushing the product out can be omitted if the supporting platform is designed in a tilted position, in which case the products will fall by gravity.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a machine dispensing productos to consumers through an opening on its upper side.

[0002] At present, the existing dispensing machines are designed so that the product goes out via an opening located at the upper side of same. Since the slot for introducing coins is arranged in such a position which is comfortable to a consumer, that is to say, so that he/she can introduce coins without the need to lift his/her arm too much, it happens that, then, when the product is dispensed through the lower side of the machine, the consumer is compelled to stoop to pick up the object dispensed, which means to adopt an uncomfortable enough position.

[0003] In order to overcome this drawback, the dispensing machine has been designed with the aim of selling directly products, with delivery of same at the upper part of the machine, with the characteristic that the produt goes out of the machine through the upper part of same, at the most comfortable height, the body of a person being at a normal position remaining upright. This means a great comfort to a consumer with regard to pick up said products, without being compelled to stoop, as it happens at present with the conventional dispensing machines.

[0004] The product is placed in a channel having adequate size to receive the products to be dispensed. Each machine can have as many channels as desired in order to dispense different products.

[0005] In the channel, there is installed a lifting platform on which the products rest, with a capacity for as many units as admitted by the height of channel or channels.

[0006] The platform moves vertically upward by means of a lifting system which can be hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or by a combination thereof. Said lifting system rises the platform every time a product is requested, at a height according to the position of said product (for example, for a product having 25 mm thickness, the platform lifting in that moment will be 25 mm.

[0007] Two outlet systems are possible:

A) The platform is installed tilted, which means that the products are tilted in a same manner, so that when a product arrives at the upper side of the channel, the product falls per se.

B) The platform is installed horizontal, which means that the products, that, due to their package, are not flat, when arriving at the upper part of the machine, are delivered by means of a gear pushing the product toward the outlet.

[0008] The object of the present invention will be better understood through the aid of the following description made on the basis of a practical example of embodiment. Said description is made with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the machine which is the object of the present invention.

[0010] The products are placed piled in a closed channel (1) containing the products so that they cannot go laterally out of the channel.

[0011] The pile of products rest on a lifting platform (5), which, by means of a conventional gear, lifts every time coins are introduced, at a height which is equal to that of the product to be dispensed.

[0012] The channel (1) is open at its upper side (2) so that the products (6), when arriving at the oulet of the machine, which is controlled by a conventional gear controlling the height, are dispensed out of the machine by means of other conventional device (4) pushing the product (6) out of the channel.

[0013] As a second option, the device (4) pushing the product (6) can be omitted if the supporting platform (5) is placed in a tilted position, since then the products will fall by gravity.

[0014] Once the nature of the present invention has been described enough, as well as the way to carry it out in practice, it remains to be said that in its assembly and parts composing it it is possible to introduce variations in shape, materials and arrangement, provided that said variations do not substantially change the features of the invention which are claimed as follows.

Claims

1.- A machine for dispensing products with delivery at its upper side, characterized in that the products are piled in a closed channel containing the products so that the product cannot' go laterally out of the channel, and the pile of products rests on a lifting platform which, by means of a conventional gear, lifts, every time coins are introduced into the machine, a height which is equal to that of the product to be dispensed, and in that the channel is open at its upper side so that the products, when arriving at its outlet position, which is controlled by a conventional gear controlling the height, are dispensed out of the machine by means of other conventional device pushing the product out of the channel.

2.- A machine for dispensing products with delivery at its upper side, according to claim 1, characterized in that the device pushing the product has been omitted because the supporting platform has been arranged in a tilted position, so that the packages will fall by gravity.

Drawing