MAGAZINE FOR A VENDING MACHINE

Abstract: A magazine for a vending machine (11) with an assortment of merchandise (13). The vending machine is provided with interacting means (14) for selecting a type of merchandise in the magazine (15), recording means for confirming payment for the merchandise, and discharging means. The magazine (15) comprises a stack of substantially circular magazine levels (18), which are individually rotatable about a common vertical longitudinal axis, each converging upwardly toward said longitudinal axis. The magazine levels (18) are provided with radially directed raised portions (27) with appropriate spacing, so that the spaces between them define compartments (28) for the merchandise (13). The magazine levels are also provided with a peripheral edge (18a) against which the items of merchandise are supported.

Description: Magazine for a vending machine The present invention relates to a magazine for a vending machine with an assortment of merchandise, which is provided with interacting means for selecting a type of merchandise in the vending machine, recording means for confirming payment for the merchandise, and means for discharging the merchandise. Known magazines for vending machines with an assortment of merchandise usually have a relatively complicated discharge mechanism, which increases the risk of malfunctioning. If the items of merchandise are heavy and bulky, the work required for refilling known vending machines is involved and time-consuming. There are also significant problems with theft and vandalism with these vending machines. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a magazine which is simple in construction and fulfills high requirements of reliability in operation, as well as solving the above-mentioned problems. The invention is characterized in that the magazine comprises a stack composed of a plurality of substantially circular magazine levels, which are individually rotatable about a common vertical longitudinal axis, and which each converts upwardly towards said longitudinal axis, and in that the magazine levels are provided with radially directed raised portions with appropriate spacing, such that the spaces between the raised portions define compartments for the merchandise and a peripheral edge against which the items of merchandise are arranged to be supported. One embodiment of the invention is provided with a dislodging means which is located inside the peripheral edge of each magazine level and is directed obliquely downwards towards the topside thereof and countered to the direction of rotation, said dislodging means being arranged to lift up that portion of an item of merchandise which is supported against the peripheral edge, to a level above this edge, when a rotation, prompted by a confirmed payment, of one of the magazine levels moves an item against the dislodging means, whereupon the item can slide by gravity off the magazine level. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the magazine levels is peripherally mounted on at least three supporting wheels, one of which is drivable by means of a motor which is coupled to the recording means for confirmation of payment, and to a sensor which is disposed to sense if an item has slid off the magazine plane. According to another advantageous variant of the invention, the sensor comprises a photocell which is directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magazine levels and is located to one side of the stack of magazine levels and radially outside the dislodging means. The invention will be described below with reference to an illustrative example, which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows schematically in perspective a vending device mounted in a facade, with a magazine according to the invention, Figure 2 is a vertical section through the vending machine, Figure 3 shows in a larger scale a portion of the magazine, and Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of the same portion . The reference numeral 10 in Figure 1 refers to the front wall of a building, a filling station for example. A vending machine cabinet 11 is arranged on the outside of the wall 10. This is provided with discharge openings 12 for items of merchandise 13, a panel of buttons 14 for selecting the type of merchandise, and a device (not shown) for accepting a credit card. On the inside of the wall 10 there is a magazine 15 coupled to the vending machine cabinet 11. In eight "storeys" in the magazine there are eight different kinds of merchandise 13. These can, for example, consist of different qualities of oil packaged in plastic bottles of for instance one liter in volume. As Figure 2 shows, each of the eight "storeys" in the magazine 15 is in communication with the vending machine cabinet 11 via the opening 16 in the wall 10. Parallel plates 17 n the vending machine cabinet 11 run through the opening 16, and constitute the connection between the magazine 15 and the respective discharge opening 12. The magazine 15 consists of a stack of eight essentially circular magazine levels 18, each of which converges upwardly. The stack rests on a frame 19, which can be moved to and from the wall 10 on wheels 20. The frame is provided with four vertical posts 21, on the upper ends of which there is mounted a ring 21a which extends around the magazine level 18 and to which support rollers 22 are mounted on pins 22a which are directed towards the longitudinal axis of the stack. As is more clearly revealed in Figure 3, these support rollers 22 form a peripheral support for the bottom of each magazine level 18, which rests with a peripheral groove 23 on the support rollers 22. In depressions in the ring 21a there is mounted a frame 24, which, as is the frame 19, is provided with vertical posts 21 and a circular ring 21a mounted thereon in which the support rollers 22 for the next magazine level 18 are mounted. The remaining six magazine levels 18 are mounted/stacked in frames 24 in the magazine 15. By virtue of this peripheral mounting on support rollers 22, the magazine levels 18 are individually rotatable about a common longitudinal axis. To achieve this rotation, one of the support rollers 22 in each of the magazine levels 18 is coupled via a gear wheel to a drive motor 26. These are electrically connected to the respective button 14 for selecting the type of merchandise and to the recording unit for credit cards. The magazine levels 18 are provided with radially directed raised portions 27, suitably spaced around the periphery, so that each space between these raised portions 27 defines a compartment 28 for the item 13. In the example shown, compartments 28 for twentyfour bottles 13 can be arranged in each magazine level 18. The magazine 15 thus has room for a total of 192 bottles. Further raised portions 29 are arranged above the groove portion 23 and in line with the raised portions 27. A dislodging means 30 is arranged for each magazine level 18 between the raised portions 27 and 29 and is directed obliquely downwards towards the top of each magazine level, counter to its rotational direction. The vending machine 11 can conceivably be placed at a self-s ' erviee filling station or at a filling station which is only manned during the day. At any time during the day or night, a customer who has a credit card valid for the station can use the vending machine service, without having to use any coins. When the customer has presented himself for the card recording device with his credit card and possibly a code, he can then fill up with fuel and obtain lubricating oil from the vending machine 11. The customer selects the desired quality of oil by pressing one of the buttons on the panel 14. The drive motor 26 is then supplied with current from an electric current source (not shown) and begins to rotate the appropriate magazine level 18. The next bottle 13 is thus advanced towards the " dislodging means 30, which pushes the part of the bottle 13 which rests against the peripheral edge 18a of the magazine level 18 to a level above this edge 18a. The bottle 13 then slides by gravity off the magazine level 18. The bottle 13 slides through the opening 16 in the wall 10 on the plate 17 in the vending machine cabinet 11 and can be taken out by the customer through one of the discharge openings 12. A light source 31a and a photo receptor 31b are mounted in the vending machine cabinet 11 and are arranged to break the current to the drive motors 26 when an item 13 has passed through the opening 16 in the wall 10. Since no merchandise is located in the vending machine cabinet 11 at all, the risk of it being broken into is very small, since there is no money in it. To fill the magazine 15, it is moved away from the wall 10. The connection between the drive motors and the vending machine casing can be broken by means of a switch or by pulling out a plug. The bottles 13 can then be placed in the empty compartments 28 or alternatively, the seven uppermost magazine levels 18 can be lifted off the frame 19 and new bottles 13 be placed in the empty compartments 28 in the lowermost magazine level. Then the next magazine level is lifted into place and its empty compartments are filled with bottles until the entire magazine 15 has been filled. With experience it will become apparent which types of oil have the greatest turnover and these should be placed at the top of the stack, thus simplifying the filling of the magazine. Separate magazine levels 18 or an extra complete stack thereof can also be kept available and filled ahead of time, and the entire magazine 15 be changed and then filled at a suitable time. The magazine 15 is suitably made with a base 19, rings 21a, posts 21 and frames 24 of aluminum with the magazine levels 18 of plastic, thereby keeping the weight low. The drive motors 26 can have low power requirements and be small in size since a minimum of torque is required to rotate the magazine levels on the support rollers 22. The height of the magazine can simply be adapted to the assortment of products and to the requirements of the vending station, by using more or fewer magazine levels 18 in the stack. Storing the items 13 in inclined compartments 28 simplifies discharge and the magazine levels 18 can be stacked tightly so that a greater number of bottles can be stored in a given volume. In the example described above, the necessary electrical connections have been left out to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description and because these devices are well known per se in this field. In the example described, the items consist of plastic bottles 13. It is of course also possible to store cans and other types of bottles, e.g. glass bottles, in the magazine. In the example described above, in addition to payment via the credit card reader, a conventional recording unit for paper currency can also be included in the vending machine cabinet 11. The inside of the wall 10 can be provided with guides for centering the magazine 15 in register with the vending machine cabinet 11. The invention is not limited to the example described above; a number of variations are conceivable within the scope of the accompanying patent claims. For example, other sensor devices than the light source-receptor 31a-.b can be used to confirm that an item of merchandise has been discharged. The magazine levels 18 can be designed differently for other types of merchandise, as can the base 19, the rings 21a, the posts 21 and the frames 24.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Magazine for a vending machine (11) with an assortment of merchandise (13) and provided with interacting means (14) for selecting a type of merchandise in the magazine (15), recording means for confirming payment for the merchandise and means (30) for discharging the merchandise, characterized in that the magazine comprises a stack composed of a plurality of substantially circular magazine levels (18), which are individually rotatable about a common vertical longitudinal axis, and which each converge upwardly towards said longitudinal axis, and in that the magazine levels (18) are provided with radially directed raised portions (27) with appropriate spacing, such that the spaces between the raised portions define compartments (28) for the merchandise (13) and a peripheral edge (18a), against which the items of merchandise are arranged to be supported. 2. Magazine according to Claim 1, characterized in that a dislodging means (30) is located inside the peripheral edge (18a) of each magazine level (18) and is directed obliquely downwards towards the top side thereof and counter to the direction of rotation, said dislodging means (30) being arranged to lift up that portion of an item of merchandise (13) which is supported against the peripheral edge (18a) to a level above this edge, when a rotation, prompted by a confirmed payment, of one of the magazine levels (18) moves an item (13) against the dislodging means (30), whereupon the item can slide by gravity off the magazine level. 3. Magazine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the magazine levels (18) is peripherally mounted on at least three supporting wheels (22), one of which is drivable by means of a motor (26), which is coupled to the recording means for confirmation of payment and to a sensor (31a,b) , which is disposed to sense if an item (13) has slid off the magazine level (18). 4. Magazine according to Claim 3, characterized in that the sensor comprises a photocell (31a,b) , which is directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magazine levels (18) and is located to one side of the stack of magazine levels and radially outside the dislodging means (30).

Inventors: HOSPERS MARTIN, HOSPERS, MARTIN
Applicants: BETJAENTEN AB, AB BETJAENTEN
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G07F11
IPC codes: G07F11