EP1283507B1 - Goods lock and operation method of such a goods lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The goods delivery gate (1) has a delivery window (12) and a feed space (30) with an opening (10) through which the goods can be removed and a closure element. The feed space is displaced between a goods loading position in which the opening is aligned with the delivery window and closed by the closure element and a delivery position. An Independent claim for an operating method for a goods delivery gate for an automatic vending machine is also included.

Description

The invention relates to a goods lock and a method for operating such a goods lock according to claims 1 and 13, respectively.

Goods locks for the controlled output of goods play an important role, especially in vending machines. The sale or delivery of goods through a vending machine is automatic and therefore not monitored by humans. The problem here is to transfer goods ordered from a non-freely accessible storage area to the customer, but to prevent access to the non-purchased goods inventories.

The DE 23 45 177 describes a lock for the automatic dispensing of goods, in particular crates. The lock has a lock channel, which can be closed on both sides by gates. During the removal of goods each one of the gates is closed. The known lock has various disadvantages. The separating device and the lock principle are not suitable for a wide range of both differently sized and differently packaged goods. There are trapping risks for the user. Finally, it is possible to get from the outside into the lock chamber and through the lock channel to the goods magazine.

The in the DE 36 06 268 described output device is designed for a goods shaft. The underlying Principle is only suitable for size and packaging standardized goods. The locking of the dispensing opening is relatively complicated and thus prone to interference and possibly vandalism.

Above a certain size of goods, the requirements for the lock are more demanding because the discharge opening becomes so large that humans or animals could pass through them. This is for example the case with an automatic beverage terminal according to WO 96/07993 on which beverage containers are issued.

In the non-prepublished international patent application no. PCT / CH01 / 00132 is described a goods lock, which can be discharged with improved abuse resistance and reliability goods of different types, sizes and shapes. It comprises, in addition to the lock channel, which has an inlet and a lockable outlet opening, a closing element which can be introduced into the lock channel and moved to the outlet opening. When the outlet opening is open, the closing element separates the inlet-side section of the lock channel between closing element and inlet opening from the outlet-side section of the lock channel between the closing element and outlet opening in such a way that the lock channel is blocked and it is difficult to act from the outside on the entry-side section. The flow of goods through the lock takes place exclusively from the entrance to the exit opening. The object is conveyed to the output opening with a conveying mechanism, which can also be realized by the closing element.

The problem with this is the relatively long duration of a Ausschleusezyklus. Another object can only be placed in front of the lock entrance and into the lock channel when it is completely emptied.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a goods lock and a method of operation available with the objects of all kinds, especially voluminous or fragile goods can be issued controlled in a fast, easy way. The process flow should be safe for the user (handling safety), simple, fast and reliable (operational safety) and possibilities for external impact on the storage area are reduced, in particular penetration into the storage area can be prevented (abuse resistance).

This object is achieved by a goods lock with the features of claim 1 and by an operating method with the features of claim 13. Advantageous developments of the inventive device and the method are given in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The inventive product lock comprises at least one output window and at least one delivery chamber, preferably two or more delivery chambers for increasing the clock frequency. The output window is located in a wall separating the storage area to be protected from the generally public output area. According to the invention, the delivery space is movable between a loading position and an unloading position. The delivery chamber has at least one opening, which is brought to the discharge in the region of an output window (unloading position). she is preferably closed with a closing element is substantially completely closed and is closed after the discharge and before moving away the delivery chamber. This reduces the risk of interfering from the outside into the delivery room and injuring the user when removing the delivery room. An article is ejected through the opening by means of a suitable conveying mechanism again, wherein the closing element then largely completely closes the opening. Preferably, the closing element is a movable wall of the delivery chamber, for example, the rear wall opposite the opening. When discharging the volume of the pumping chamber is successively reduced in order to prevent the remaining of objects in the pumping chamber or penetration into the pumping chamber. For this purpose, the closing element is preferably movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening, for example in the longitudinal direction of a delivery chamber designed as a delivery channel. To eject a conveyor mechanism, eg a conveyor belt at the bottom of the pump room. This can also be formed by the closing element itself, which pushes out the object, for example. Preferably, the article is introduced through the same opening in the delivery chamber and discharged. The closing element may be directly associated with the delivery space, eg be formed by a displaceable rear wall, or be able to serve several delivery rooms. According to the invention, the delivery chambers are movable between an unloading position and a loading position, with their opening in the unloading position being in the region of the delivery window. It can also be taken intermediate positions. The loading position can be the same or different for different delivery rooms. In the Entladeposition engages the closing element in the delivery chamber and closes its opening after unloading. Preferably, the movement of the pumping chambers between the loading and the unloading takes place in the horizontal direction, since no weight forces must be overcome. Particularly preferably, the at least one delivery chamber is moved by rotating between the different positions. For this purpose, it can be arranged on or in a rotary body which is rotated about a preferably vertical axis.

The method according to the invention for operating such a goods lock provides that a conveying space is positioned in the region of a loading position and loaded there with at least one object, then moved into an unloading position, where the at least one object is unloaded for example by means of the closing element or an additional conveying mechanism is ejected from the delivery room. Preferably, a plurality of delivery chambers are present, which are moved synchronously. For example, the one conveying space is moved from the output window to the loading station and the other conveying space is moved from the loading station to the output window, in particular by a rotary movement with a common drive. But it is also an asynchronous process possible, which makes a somewhat increased control and drive effort necessary.

The inventive product lock and the inventive method for the penetration-resistant dispensing of objects offers a technical solution for the cases in which a wide range of different, especially voluminous objects controlled from a closed or not freely accessible area output, but at the same time to prevent intrusion and access. Relevant is the problem mainly, but not only, in vending machines. The sale or issue of items by a vending machine or similar device is automatic and not supervised by humans. It is also conceivable, however, to install the goods lock at operated output terminals.

Fig. 1

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässe Warenschleuse mit einem in eine aufgeschnittene Wand eingebauten Ausgabefenster;

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch eine Warenschleuse mit zwei drehbaren Förderräumen in Ruhestellung;

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch die Warenschleuse nach Fig. 2 in Bereitschaftsstellung;

Fig. 4, 5

einen Schnitt durch die Warenschleuse nach Fig. 2 während der Einschleusung eines Gegenstands;

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt durch die Warenschleuse nach Fig. 2 im Verlauf der Drehung in die Entladeposition;

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt durch die Warenschleuse nach Fig. 2 während der Ausschleusung eines Gegenstandes;

Fig. 8, 9

einen Schnitt durch eine Warenschleuse während der Aus- und gleichzeitigen Einschleusung eines Gegenstands;

Fig. 10

einen Schnitt durch eine Warenschleuse mit vier Förderräumen.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described below. Here are purely schematic:

Fig. 1

a three-dimensional view of a product lock according to the invention with a built-in a cut wall output window;

Fig. 2

a section through a goods lock with two rotatable delivery chambers in the rest position;

Fig. 3

a section through the goods lock after Fig. 2 in ready position;

Fig. 4, 5

a section through the goods lock after Fig. 2 during the introduction of an object;

Fig. 6

a section through the goods lock after Fig. 2 in the course of the rotation in the unloading position;

Fig. 7

a section through the goods lock after Fig. 2 during the discharge of an object;

Fig. 8, 9

a section through a goods lock during the removal and simultaneous introduction of an object;

Fig. 10

a section through a goods lock with four delivery rooms.

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a goods lock 1, the FIGS. 2 to 9 show sectional views of the same goods lock 1 in different positions when entering and / or ejecting objects 4.

The goods lock 1 forms the connecting element between a protected or closed, i. for the customers or recipients or buyers issues to be issued not accessible, inner area 2 and a freely accessible to the customer or recipient or buyer outside area 6. Both areas are separated by a partition 14, which in the area of a transfer point 7 for auszuschleusenden goods has an output window 12. In the inner region 2 there is at least one loading position 3, are transferred to the auszuschleusende objects 4, 5 to the goods lock 1. They are brought into the loading position 3, for example, with a belt conveyor, not shown here.

The goods lock 1 has a wheel-like rotary body 8 with a continuous, horizontally extending, rectangular cross-section lock channel 15, the ends of which conveyance chambers 30, 31 form. The axis of the rotary body 8 extends vertically. The rotary body may also be formed in other ways, as in Fig. 10 is shown by way of example. The two opposite openings 9, 10 of the sluice channel 15 each serve for the introduction and discharge of objects into and out of the associated delivery chamber 30, 31.

The rotary body 8 comprises a with the exception of the openings 9, 10 full-surface lateral surface 11, partially through the output window 12 protrudes. The output window 12 is laterally provided with scrapers 13. The lock channel 15 extends through the center of the rotary body 8. Its lateral boundary is formed by surfaces 16, 17. In the lock channel 15 is a piston member 18 which is displaceable by means of a suitable, not shown here drive in the lock channel 15 in the horizontal direction. The piston member 18 has the function to lock the lock channel 15 permanently, but at variable positions, and thus to release the delivery chambers 30, 31 for receiving an item or to close it to the outside and optionally eject the item. The two arranged in the channel direction sides of the piston member 18 have the function of closing elements 32, 33. They serve to close the opening 9, 10 after unloading an article at the unloading position 7 and the subsequent turning away the opening 9, 10 and so on Prevent objects from the outside area 6 enter the goods lock 1 or that the user injured when turning away. The lock channel 15 is not released continuously. In the simplest variant, the piston element 18 separates the lock channel into two delivery chambers 30, 31 which, depending on their position, can each have a volume of 0 to 100 percent of the lock channel minus the space requirement of the piston element 18. The openings 9, 10 facing, acting as closing elements 32, 33 sides are curved according to the radius of the rotary body in order to close the openings in the lateral surface 11 of the rotary body 8 as perfect as possible.

The piston member 18 has a length which is slightly larger than the radius of the rotary body 8. This has the Advantage that the piston member 18 can be moved with a single, arranged within the piston member 18 in the region of the center of rotation arranged drive, which among other things, the handling and reliability is increased. The drive comprises, for example, a toothed wheel which engages in a toothed rail integrated in the piston element 18. In another variant, not shown, the piston element is as narrow as possible. This has the advantage that in a rotary body with a given radius, a larger pumping space is formed.

The partition 14 has protective walls 36, which, starting laterally from the output window 13, conform to the lateral surface 11 of the rotary body. By this substantially wedge-shaped or circular arc segment-like shape of the protective walls 36, the risk of injury when rotating the rotary body is avoided, which otherwise exists when gripped by the output window.

The inventive goods lock 1 is preferably operated as follows: In the ready position ( Fig. 3 ) is one of the delivery chambers 30 at the loading position 3 and the opposite delivery chamber at the unloading 7. The delivery chamber 31 is completely filled in the example shown by the piston member 18, its opening 10 is closed. However, the piston element 18 can also close the opposite opening 9 and completely release the delivery chamber 31. In the Fig. 3 shown position is particularly useful when the object to be inserted 4 is moved with a conveying mechanism in the channel direction, which is independent of the drive of the piston member 18.

As in Fig. 4 shown, a slider 35 pushes the article 4 in the delivery chamber 30. Alternatively, the piston member 18 may be connected to conveyor belts 29 and driven by these. The conveyor belts 29 may for example be integrated into the walls of the lock channel and at the same time support the infeed and outfeed. When inserting the article 4, the piston member 18 moves toward the center of rotation and gradually releases the delivery chamber 30. In this case, the piston element 18 is in the standby position on the opposite side of the rotary body, wherein initially the delivery chamber 31 is free.

Once the infiltration as in Fig. 5 is completed, the rotary body 8 is rotated, so that the delivery chamber 30, the in Fig. 6 shown intermediate position to the output window 12 passes ( Fig. 7 ). When this position of the rotary body 8 is reached, the piston member 18 is moved by the lock channel 15 to the other side. The object 4 or the objects in the relevant delivery chamber 30 are discharged and the opening 9 of the delivery chamber 30 is closed. At the same time, in the other delivery chamber 31, the next goods to be rejected 5 'can already be brought into the lock channel 15 ( Fig. 8 and 9 ). If no further goods are to be discharged, the rotary body 8 can be rotated into a rest position, so that the lateral surface of the rotary body blocks the output window 12 (FIG. Fig. 2 ).

The delivery chambers are not necessarily formed by a continuous lock channel, but can also be realized by individual, not necessarily interconnected recesses in the rotary body or by intersecting channels. Along the circumference of the rotary body can also be arranged three or more delivery rooms. More than two delivery rooms allow an increase in the number of cycles and rejection variants.

An example of a goods lock with four delivery chambers 19, 20, 21, 22 shows FIG. 10 , The closing elements 23, 24, 25, 26 close the delivery chambers 19, 20, 21, 22 either in the region of the lateral surface of the rotary body 8 or form the rear of the delivery chamber facing the center of rotation. Depending on the position of the closing elements 23, 24, 25, 26, objects can thus pass into a conveying space 19, 20, 21, 22, respectively, but not further into the rotating body. The closing elements 23, 24, 25, 26 of opposite delivery spaces are preferably connected to each other, for example by rods 27, 28, and are moved in pairs by the same drive. However, it is also possible, the closing elements 23, 24, 25, 26 to make independently movable. There are also several unloading positions conceivable ( Fig. 10 ). Also, a change in direction between loading and unloading can be realized.

In a further embodiment, the rotary body is annular and arranged in its center a stationary closing element which is capable of accessing each of the delivery chambers brought into the unloading position. Finally, it is also possible to arrange the delivery chambers in a row next to each other and to move linearly parallel to the output window. In this case, the delivery spaces preferably have two openings, one of which is for loading and the other for unloading. The inventive goods lock can also have several different loading positions to further increase the clock.

The advantages of the goods lock according to the invention are a reduced expenditure of time per infeed and outfeed operation as well as the possibility to handle several infeed and outfeed operations at the same time. At the same time, the closing element serves as a front door which secures the pumping room against external interference. A structurally and functionally complex separate element can be omitted. Furthermore, the conveying mechanism used for the injection must move goods only over short distances, in particular only push it into the delivery space. It can thus be chosen a simple and lightweight construction, the short ways allow a higher timing. The inventive goods lock has a high level of operational reliability, since the discharge opening is closed by the closing element before the rotary body rotates. The risk of trapping is thus reduced.

Claims (15)

1. Goods delivery gate (1) for discharging objects (4, 5), having at least one output window (12), at least one feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) and at least one closing element (23, 24, 25, 26, 32, 33), the feed space having at least one opening (9, 10), through which an object (4, 5) can be discharged from the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31), the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) being movable between at least one unloading position (7) and at least one loading position (3), its opening (9, 10) in the unloading position (7) being located in the region of the output window (12), and it being possible for the opening to be closed by the closing element, at least in the unloading position.
2. Goods delivery gate according to Claim 1, characterized in that the closing element can be moved within the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening (9, 10).
3. Goods delivery gate according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the unloading position and before the discharge, the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) is closed, at most with the exception of one opening (9, 10), in that the object can be discharged from the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) through this opening (9, 10), and in that, at least before the discharge, the closing element (23, 24, 25, 26, 32, 33) forms the side of the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) opposite the opening (9, 10) and closes the opening (9, 10) after the object has been discharged and before the opening (9, 10) has been moved away from the relevant output window.
4. Goods delivery gate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one and the same opening (9, 10) is used to put and discharge at least one object into and from the feed space.
5. Goods delivery gate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a rotating body (8), in which or on which the at least one feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) is arranged and which can be rotated about a preferably vertical axis by means of a drive.
6. Goods delivery gate according to Claim 5, characterized in that there are at least two feed spaces (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31), which are formed by the ends of a delivery gate channel (15) arranged in the rotating body.
7. Goods delivery gate according to Claim 6, characterized in that the closing elements (23, 24, 25, 26, 32, 33) are formed by two sides of a piston element (18) arranged in the delivery gate channel (15) such that it can be moved.
8. Goods delivery gate according to Claim 7, characterized in that the piston element (18) interacts with a drive unit arranged in the delivery gate channel (15), by means of which drive unit it can be moved linearly in the direction of the delivery gate channel (15).
9. Goods delivery gate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing element (23, 24, 25, 26, 32, 33) is able to close the opening of the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) in such a way that it is not possible to reach into the feed space from outside, the closing element preferably having an opening matched to the shape of the opening.
10. Goods delivery gate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the region of the loading position (3), there is at least one conveying element (35) which is able to convey an object into the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31).
11. Goods delivery gate according to one of Claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the region of the output window that faces the interior of the goods delivery gate has protective walls (36), the shape of which is preferably matched to the rotating body with an accurate fit.
12. Goods delivery gate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the feed space is equipped with a conveyor belt (29).
13. Method for operating a goods delivery gate according to one of the preceding claims, at least one feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) being positioned in the region of a loading position (3) and being loaded there with at least one object, subsequently being moved with its opening to the output window (12), where the at least one object is discharged from the feed space (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31), the opening being closed by the closing element after the discharge and the feed space then being moved away from the output window with the opening closed.
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that there are two feed spaces (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31), which are moved synchronously.
15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the closing elements (23, 24, 25, 26, 32, 33) assigned to the feed spaces (19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31) are moved synchronously.

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