Products automatic vending machine

Abstract

 Described is a products automatic vending machine comprising a support structure (2), a plurality of shelves (6) arranged one over the other in the support structure (2), a pull-out door (11) for collecting the products fallen from the shelves (6), a lift (8) vertically movable in a hollow space (7) delimited between the shelves (6) and a partially transparent front wall (5) of the support structure (2). The lift (8) is adjustable in a configuration for collecting the products, in which it delimits internally a collecting compartment (21) closed downwards and open upwards, a configuration for releasing the collected products, wherein it is open downwards and towards the pull-out door (11), and a collapsed and substantially flattened configuration, in such a way as to obstruct as little as possible the viewing of the products on offer.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a products automatic vending machine. Machines of the above-mentioned type are usually but not exclusively used for the distribution of food products (such as snacks, bottles, cans, etc.) in public places or in offices.

[0002] In general, machines of this type comprise a support structure, usually parallelepiped in shape, which delimits internally a compartment containing the products on sale. The products are arranged in a magazine comprising a plurality of shelves, positioned in the compartment one above the other, on which the above-mentioned products on sale are aligned in parallel rows. A hollow space is delimited between the shelves and a front wall of the support structure. Members for moving the products comprise, for example, spirals located on the shelves and the products are positioned between the spirals. The rotation imparted by the spirals pushes the products towards the hollow space, in such a way that the chosen product falls or is carried to a door through which the consumer can collect the chosen product. A transparent portion or display window allowing viewing of the internal compartment for selecting the product is made on the front wall of the structure. Below the display window, close to the floor on which the machine rests, there is a pull-out door for collecting the product. A container/lift is movable in the hollow space on special vertical guides between a position for collecting the product which is transported by the spirals and falls into the hollow space and a lowered position located just above the pull-out door. The container is a box equipped with four lateral walls, open towards the top and equipped with a movable bottom wall. After receiving the product fallen from the shelf, the container is moved to the lowered position and lets the product fall into the door by opening its base wall. In this way, the consumer can collect the product from the door after pulling it out. The container is used to accompany the products into the door in such a way that they do not fall freely from the shelf (thereby avoiding harmful impacts).

[0003] The Applicant has noticed that, due to their size, the containers/lifts of the known type obstruct viewing by the consumer of the products contained on the shelves. More specifically, when the prior art container is in the lowered stand-by position, it remains positioned in front of the lowest shelf thereby making difficult the selection of the products contained therein. There are also substantially flat prior art lifts which do not obstruct viewing when they are positioned low, but, precisely because they are flat, they are not able to collect and hold large products or unstable products (such as cans and small bottles). Also, during the movement to accompany the products, the products often protrude and touch the shelves whilst the lift lowers.

[0004] In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to provide a products automatic vending machine that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0005] The aim of the Applicant is in effect to provide a products automatic vending machine which guarantees the best visibility of the products on sale during all the operating steps and which is, at the same time, able to safely transport the products chosen, even large ones, to the product collection zone.

[0006] This technical purpose and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a products automatic vending machine comprising: a support structure delimiting an internal compartment; a plurality of shelves arranged one over the other in the internal compartment and having moving members for products arranged on the shelves, wherein between the shelves and an at least partially transparent front wall (display window) of the support structure a hollow space is delimited; a pull-out door for collecting products chosen by the user; a lift vertically movable inside the hollow space between at least a position for receiving the products moved by the moving members and a position close to the pull-out door; wherein the lift is adjustable in at least a collecting configuration of the product, in which the lift delimits internally a collecting compartment closed downwards and open upwards, and in a substantially flattened configuration.

[0007] The term flattened or collapsed configuration means a configuration wherein the vertical dimensions of the lift in its entirety are less than the vertical dimensions of the collecting configuration. Preferably, the vertical dimensions of the lift in the flattened configuration are less than half the vertical dimensions of the lift in the collecting configuration, more preferably less than a third of the vertical dimensions of the list in the collecting configuration.

[0008] In this way, the size of the lift can be reduced to a minimum during the operating steps of the machine in which the lift is not used for transporting the product chosen by the consumer. In other words, when the machine is in stand-by and the consumer is choosing the product to be collected, the lift adopts the flattened configuration in such a way as to obstruct as little as possible the visibility of the products on offer. However, during the step of dispensing the products, the configuration of the lift is such as to delimit a sufficiently roomy compartment for collecting large or unstable products (which require a lateral containment, such as cans, small bottles, etc.).

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the lift is adjustable in configuration for releasing the product, in which the lift is open downwards and towards the pull-out door. In this embodiment, the lift accompanies the product to a predetermined position above the pull-out door (which is a pull-out drum) and it then lets it fall into the door.

[0010] Preferably, the lift comprises two half-parts facing each other; wherein each of the half-parts swivels between the collecting configuration, the substantially flattened configuration and (if present) the release configuration.

[0011] Preferably, in the collecting configuration, main walls of the two half-parts delimit an angle smaller than 180°, preferably smaller than 90°, preferably approximately 70°.

[0012] Preferably, in the flattened configuration, main walls of the two half-parts lie substantially horizontal and overlapping.

[0013] In other words, the main walls of the lift, which extend transversely (relative to the vertical direction of movement of the lift) for the width of the internal compartment, are movable and can adopt the following positions:

• in the collecting configuration, they are inclined and converge towards each other, like a hopper closed below;
• in the release configuration, they are parallel, spaced apart and substantially vertical;
• in the flattened configuration, they rest against each other and are substantially horizontal.

[0014] Preferably, the lift also comprises an auxiliary vertical wall mounted above the two half-parts and placed at the display window. The vertical auxiliary wall, if necessary foldable in a horizontal position when the lift is in the flattened configuration, is used to display advertising illustrations and/or wording facing towards the outside of machine and visible to the users. The foldable type wall can also be integrated on traditional lifts, that is, not collapsible or flat, of the type described above as prior art.

[0015] Preferably, in the flattened configuration, the lift lies just above the pull-out door. In the stand-by position, the lift is positioned just below the lowest shelf and above the upper opening of the pull-out door. In this way, the lift also performs the function of anti-theft device, as it closes the bottom of the hollow space and prevents access to the shelves through the pull-out door.

[0016] Preferably, the machine comprises a lock/unlock device of the pull-out door and wherein, in the flattened configuration, the lift works on the lock/unlock device to unlock the pull-out door and to allow pulling out. In other words, when the lift is positioned just above the pull-out door, a part of it interacts with the lock/unlock device (which blocks the pulling out) and releases it, allowing the consumer to collect the product previously released by the lift in the door.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the machine comprises at least one support plate (preferably two, one for each side wall) vertically movable along a side wall of the support structure (using a motor and, if necessary, a belt drive); wherein the two half-parts are hinged, at respective hinges, on the support plate.

[0018] Preferably, each of the two half-parts presents an element spaced from the respective hinge and engaged with a guide of the support structure.

[0019] During the vertical movement of the support plates and of the two half-parts (which are suspended from the support plates), the sliding of the above-mentioned elements in the guides, suitably shaped, determines the swivelling of each half-part about the respective hinge and the passage from one configuration to the other.

[0020] Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment of a products automatic vending machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation and cross-section view of a products automatic vending machine according to this invention;
• Figures 2a, 2b and 2c schematically illustrate a portion of the machine of Figure 1 in various configurations;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of an element of the machine shown in the preceding figures.

[0021] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a products automatic vending machine in accordance with this invention. The machine 1 comprises a support structure 2 defining a closed internal compartment 3. The support structure 2 is generally parallelepiped in shape, and rests on adjustable feet 2a. The support structure 2 is equipped with a transparent portion 4 (display window) positioned on a front wall 5.

[0022] The support structure 2 is also equipped with a door which can be opened that allows access to the internal compartment 3 for replenishing products on sale and/or for maintenance. Preferably, but not exclusively, the door coincides with the front wall 4 of the support structure 2.

[0023] The support structure 2 houses a cooling system "F" located at the base of the support structure 2.

[0024] In the above-mentioned internal compartment 3, which extends above the cooling system "F", there is a magazine which is able to hold a predetermined number of products (not illustrated). More specifically, the products are arranged according to their nature in the various compartments in which the above-mentioned magazine is divided. The magazine comprises a plurality of shelves 6 which are placed over and spaced from each other.

[0025] Between a front edge 6a of each of the shelves 6, facing the transparent portion 4, and the transparent portion 4 there is a hollow space 7 in which a lift 8 slides along a vertical direction "X", using a a special motor not illustrated.

[0026] Each of the shelves 6 is equipped with moving members 9 which are able to move the products on the relative shelf towards the front edge 6a until they are let fall beyond the edge 6a. In the embodiment illustrated, the moving members 9 comprise spirals 10, which house between their turns the products and the longitudinal axis of which lies perpendicularly to the respective edge 6a. The spirals 10 are rotated about their longitudinal axes by special motors. The spiral 10 relative to the row of the chosen product rotates and pushes the product into the hollow space 7, in such a way that the product falls into the lift 8 positioned just below the edge 6a. Below the lift 8, at the base of the support structure 2 and alongside the cooler "F" there is a pull-out door 11, of per se known type. As can be more clearly seen in Figures 2a-2c, the pull-out door 11 is a drum open at the top, that is, towards the hollow space 7 and the lift 8. The pull-out door 11 can be rotated towards the outside of the support structure 2 (Figure 2c) to allow a user/consumer to access inside the door/drum 11.

[0027] In order to move the lift 8 vertically, the machine 1 comprises guides 12 positioned on internal lateral walls of the support structure 2. Preferably, on each of the above-mentioned internal lateral walls are positioned two guides 12, defined by as many grooves, extending from an upper portion of the support structure 2 to the pull-out door 11. The guides 12 have upper stretches 12a which are straight and parallel, intermediate stretches 12b which are shaped and lower stretches 12c which are straight and parallel. The shaped intermediate stretches 12b are further apart than the upper stretches 12a and the lower stretches 12c are closer together than the upper stretches 12a.

[0028] Each of the internal lateral walls is associated with a support plate 13 equipped with slides or wheels 14 engaged in the guides 12 (Figure 1). A motor, not illustrated, connected to the support plates 13 (for example by a belt) determines the vertical movement, in both directions, of the support plates 13. The support plates 13 slide at the sides of the transparent portion 4 and do not, therefore, obstruct the view of the shelves 6.

[0029] The lift 8 is hooked to the support plates 13. More in detail, the lift 8 comprises two half-parts 15 facing each other. Each half-part 15 (Figure 3) comprises a main wall 16 formed by a flat plate extending transversely from one internal lateral wall to the other of the support structure 2. Along a larger transversal edge of the main wall 16 there is an auxiliary wall 17 extending at right-angles to the main wall 16. Along the smaller edges of the main wall 16, each running alongside one of the internal lateral walls of the support structure 2, there are auxiliary lateral walls 18 at right-angles to the main wall 16. Each of the auxiliary lateral walls 18 is hinged, at a hinge 19, to the respective support plate 13. Each of the auxiliary lateral walls 18 also comprises an element 20 (for example a wheel) which is spaced from the respective hinge 19 and engaged in one of the guides 12. The half-parts 15 are suspended from the support plates 13 at the hinges 19 and are guided by the elements 20 which slide or roll in the guides 12. The slides or wheels 14 of the support plates 13 can only slide/roll along the upper straight stretches 12a of the guides 12. The elements 20 of the half-parts 15 can slide/roll along the upper stretches 12a, the intermediate stretches 12b and the lower stretches 12c, according to the position of the lift 8.

[0030] When the position of the lift 8 is such that the elements 20 of the half-parts 15 are in the upper straight stretches 12a (collecting configuration, Figure 2a), the two half-parts 15 are near each other and together delimit a collecting compartment 21, that is, they form a container closed downwards and open upwards. More in detail, in that configuration, the auxiliary walls 17 are placed side by side other along the relative edges and define the base wall of the container. The auxiliary lateral walls 18 are placed side by side and form lateral walls of the container. The main walls 16 converge from the top downwards, like a hopper, and form between them an angle of approximately 70°.

[0031] When the position of the lift 8 is such that the elements 20 of the half-parts 15 are in the intermediate stretches 12b (release configuration, Figure 2b), the two half-parts 15 are spaced apart and the lift 8 is open downwards. In other words, the passage of the elements 20 from the upper stretches 12a to the intermediate stretches 12b determines a swivelling of the half-parts 15 about the respective hinges 19 which moves the half-parts 15 away from each other. In the collecting and release configurations the two half-parts 15 are similar to a clamshell bucket for excavators.

[0032] When the position of the lift 8 is such that the elements 20 of the half-parts 15 are in the lower stretches 12c (collapsed or flattened configuration, Figure 2c), the two half-parts 15 penetrate into each other, that is, one is partly housed in the other. For that purpose, the transversal extension of a half-part 15 is slightly different from that of the other half-part 15. In the collapsed or flattened configuration, the auxiliary walls 17 lie in contact with one another in a substantially horizontal position, the auxiliary lateral walls 18 lie overlapping one another, the auxiliary wall 17 of one of the half-parts 15 is close to the hinge 19 of the other half-part 15. In other words, the passage of the elements 20 from the intermediate stretches 12b to the lower stretches 12c determines a swivelling of the half-parts 15 about the respective hinges 19 which moves the half-parts 15 close to each other until they overlap.

[0033] When the half-parts 15 are in the collapsed or flattened configuration (Figure 2c), an element 22 which moves with the lift 8 enters into contact with a lever 23 for actuating a device for locking/unlocking the movement of the pull-out door 11 and causes the unlocking of the movement. In the embodiment illustrated, the element 22 is integral with the support plates 13. Preferably, as illustrated, the lever 23 rotates about a pin 24 and has a first end 25 engageable in a housing 26 of the pull-out door 11 and an opposite end 27 designed to come into contact with the element 22. The lift 8 illustrated also comprises a foldable wall 28 positioned above the two half-parts 15 and placed at the front wall 5 of the support structure 2. The foldable wall 28 is hinged to the the support plates 13. When the machine 1 is operating, the foldable wall 28 is positioned vertically and slides against the transparent portion 4. Advertising illustrations and/or wording facing towards the outside of machine and visible to the users can be applied on the outer face 28a of the foldable wall 28. When the machine 1 must be replenished, the door which can be opened (part of the front wall 5 of the machine 1) which carries the transparent portion 4 is opened and the foldable wall 28, which is no longer held and guided by the front wall 5, falls outwards swivelling about its hinge (Figure 2c), making possible extraction without interference of the lowest shelf 6 and replenishment. The foldable wall 28 can also be integrated on traditional lifts, that is, not collapsible or flat, of the type described above as prior art, that is, in products automatic vending machines comprising: the support structure 2 delimiting the internal compartment 3; the plurality of shelves 6 arranged one over the other in the internal compartment 3 and having the moving members 9 for the products arranged on the shelves 6, wherein between the shelves 6 and the at least partially transparent front wall 5 of the support structure 2 a hollow space 7 is delimited; the pull-out door 11 for collecting products chosen by the user; a lift 8 of the traditional type vertically movable in the hollow space 7 between at least a position for receiving the products moved by the moving members 9 and a position close to the pull-out door 11.

[0034] In use, when the machine 1 is waiting for the user to chose the product, the lift 8 is in the collapsed or flattened configuration and is positioned just below the lowest shelf 6 (Figure 2c).

[0035] The element 22 rests against the second end 27 of the lever 23 keeping the first end 25 spaced from the housing 26. The door 11 can be pulled out but access to the internal compartment 3 is prevented by the lift 8.

[0036] After choosing the product, the lift 8 moves upwards positioning itself in the collection position and just below the shelf 6 from which the chosen product will fall (Figure 2a). The first end 26 of the lever 23 is inserted into the housing 25 and locks the door 11. After the product has fallen into the collecting compartment 21 of the lift 8, the latter moves downwards, moves along the intermediate stretches 12b so that it is positioned in the release configuration making the product fall into the pull-out door 11 (Figure 2b), then proceeds until positioning itself again in the collapsed or flattened configuration (Figure 2c) and unlocks the door 11. The products of the last shelf 6 (or of the lowest shelves 6) fall directly into the door 11 and are not collected in the lift 8. In that case, the lift 8 moves upwards before the moving members 9 of the shelves 6 enter into operation.

Claims

1. A products automatic vending machine comprising:

a support structure (2) delimiting an internal compartment (3);

a plurality of shelves (6) arranged one over the other in the internal compartment (3) and having moving members (9) for products arranged on said shelves (6), wherein between the shelves (6) and an at least partially transparent front wall (5) of the support structure (2) a hollow space (7) is delimited;

a pull-out door (11) for collecting products chosen by the user;

a lift (8) vertically movable inside the hollow space (7) between at least a position for receiving the products moved by the moving members (9) and

a position close to the pull-out door (11);

wherein said lift (8) is adjustable in at least a collecting configuration of the product, in which said lift delimits internally a collecting compartment (21) closed downwards and open upwards, and in a substantially flattened configuration; said lift (8) comprising two half-parts (15) facing each other,

each of which is able to swivel between the collecting configuration and

the substantially flattened configuration, in which main walls (16) of the two half-parts (15) lie substantially horizontal and overlapping.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the lift (8) is adjustable in configuration for releasing the product, in which said lift is open downwards and towards the pull-out door (11).

3. The machine according to claim 2, wherein each of said half-parts (15) swivels between the collecting configuration, the substantially flattened configuration and the release configuration.

4. The machine according to the preceding claim, wherein, in the collecting configuration, main walls (16) of the two half-parts (15) delimit an angle smaller than 180°.

5. The machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, in the release configuration, main walls (16) of the two half-parts (15) lie substantially parallel and spaced apart.

6. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the substantially flattened configuration, the lift (8) lies just above the pull-out door (11).

7. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a lock/unlock device (23) of the pull-out door (11) and wherein, in the substantially flattened configuration, the lift (8) works on said lock/unlock device (23) to unlock the pull-out door (11) and to allow pulling out.

8. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a support plate (13) vertically movable along a side wall of the support structure (2); wherein the two half-parts (15) are hinged, at respective hinges (19), on said support plate (13).

9. The machine according to the preceding claim, wherein each of the two half-parts (15) presents an element (20) spaced from the respective hinge (19) and engaged with a guide (12) of the support structure (2).

10. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the lift (8) comprises a foldable wall (28) placed at the front wall (5) of the support structure (2); wherein said foldable wall (28) is movable between a vertical position and a folded position.

Drawing