AN AUTOMATIC DISPENSER FOR COMMODITIES PACKAGED IN BOXES OF PARALLELEPIPED OR SIMILAR SHAPE

Abstract: The dispenser falls within the art field of high speed stock-handling equipment controlled and operated by all-electronic systems and suitable for packaged commodities, and features a high-density modular magazining frame comprising a longitudinal rail (4) with equispaced sockets (4a) that support vertical walls (5) matched to the width of the package; these same walls afford equispaced grooves (6) designed to accept further upright walls (7) set at right angles to the first and matched to the depth of the package in such a way as to create a vertical channel in which the packaged commodities can be stacked. The packages are ejected by a system of push rods (9) mounted slidably in a table beneath the vertical channels, which are actuated selectively by solenoids (10) and returned as one by a single cam mechanism.

Description: The invention relates to an automatic dispenser for commodities packaged in boxes of parallelepiped, or essentially parallelepiped shape. The prior art embraces various types of automatic dispensers designed for installation in stockrooms to the end of automating stock control. One such dispenser utilizes a plurality of channels of given cross section substantially matching that of the containers or boxes to be put into stock and subsequently retrieved. The dispenser in question is beset by certain drawbacks, namely, it does not offer a high storage capacity, and the time required to retrieve boxes is somewhat lengthy, especially when retrieving in multiple quantities as might be the case in the stockroom of a resaler of pharmaceutical products. An automatic dispenser is known from EP-A-0 192 206, comprising a plurality of adjustable vertical channels provided with means for the ejection of the boxes. Said dispenser is rather complex and the variation of the vertical channels is not too efficient. The object of the present invention is to create a dispenser that will afford ample storage capacity and which is easily converted and adapted to take different sizes of container or box, in terms both of capacity and of dispensing speed. The stated object, and others besides, are realized comprehensively according to the invention with an automatic dispenser as characterized in the claims appended, intended for for commodities packaged in boxes of essentially parallelepiped shape. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which: fig 1 is a perspective from above, showing part of the automatic dispenser, and in particular, of the walls making up the vertical channels in which the boxes are stacked; fig 2 is a perspective of the automatic dispenser viewed from one side, intended especially to illustrate the means by which boxes are ejected. With reference to the drawings, 1 denotes each of the upright members of a parallelepiped frame of lattice construction, which are interconnected by cross members 2 and two longitudinal members 3. 4 denotes a horizontally disposed longitudinal rail associated with the outer face of each longitudinal member 3, affording sockets 4a for the retention of first vertical walls denoted 5; each such wall 5 in turn affords grooves 6 into which to fit further vertical walls 7 disposed at right angles to the first wall 5. The first walls 5 can be positioned selectively in the sockets 4a in such a way as to establish the width of a relative vertical channel, whereas the depth of the channel is determined by appropriate selection of the grooves 6 for insertion of the second walls 7. Needless to say, the two dimensions in question will be dependent upon the dimensions of the box or container to be stacked in the channel. In short, the section of a vertical channel created by assembly of the walls 5 and 7 will correspond to the dimensions of the box put into stock. 8 denotes a slotted table located beneath the cross members 2 and the longitudinal members 3 of the frame, each slot 8a of which slidably accommodates a push rod 9 consisting essentially in a prismatic bar, the thickness of which is such as enables its passage through a space existing between the bottom edge of the vertical walls and the top surface of the table 8. Each rod 9 carries a metal plate 15 at one end, disposed in alignment with a solenoid 10 carried by a longitudinal beam 11. The longitudinal beams 11 are rigidly associated with a plate 12, slidably supported by a rail 16 rigidly associated with the frame of the machine and capable of movement therealong in the direction as indicated by the arrow 20. 13 denotes a cam disk offered in tangential contact to two freely revolving followers 18 carried by the plate 12; the disk is keyed eccentrically to a rotatable shaft 14 driven by a geared motor 17. Reciprocating motion of the two beams 11 serves to return the push rods to an initial at-rest position following ejection. The solenoids are excited by a central processing unit by way of which operation of the push rods is selected according to the commodities that are to be dispensed. Following operation, the rods 9 are returned to the at-rest position by rotation of the cam disk 13, which in turn produces the necessary movement of the longitudinal beams 11. Boxes engaged and ejected by the push rods 9 will drop out onto a conveyor belt (not illustrated), located beneath the frame and coaxial with the slotted table 8, by which they are transferred to a convenient point at the front of the dispenser.

Claims: An automatic dispenser for commodities packaged in boxes of parallelepiped or similar shape, comprising a plurality of vertical channels created in modular fashion from vertical walls (5) adjustable for position according to the dimensions of the boxes, the bottom ends of which are enclosed by a slotted table (8) comprising slidably mounted means (9) for the ejection of the boxes, characterized in that it further comprises: parallel longitudinal rails (4), each of which affording a plurality of sockets (4a); first vertical walls (5), positioned to match the width of the boxes, which are insertable in the sockets and in turn afford grooves (6); second vertical walls (7), insertable in the grooves (6) at right angles to the first walls and positioned to match the depth of the boxes. A dispenser as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two parallel longitudinal rails (4), and in that the sockets (4a) and the grooves (6) are equispaced. A dispenser as in claim 1, comprising a plurality of ejection means (9) traversed by respective solenoid controlled means (10) when ejecting and returned by mechanical means (11, 13) to an at-rest position.

Inventors: CARBONI, GIANCARLO
Applicants: S.A.I.A. S.R.L.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65G59
IPC codes: B65G59, B65G1