Self-service distribution device for liquid foodstuffs

Abstract: The self-service device provides the distribution of the product from the original container (1) by means of a level sensor consisting of a photoelectric cell (6) connected on line (7) with a computer (8) also connected with a keyboard (10) and with an electronic valve (12). To draw the product, the customer digits the quantity of product to buy on the keyboard (10) so causing the going out of the same through the electronic valve (12) and its discharge, through an output device, into a carry-way container (17) placed in station (18). Said output device provides on a fixed frame (19) an air cylindr (20) controlled by an electronic valve for the vertical translation of the mobile part of the frame with two pipes with a 90° angle of which the horizontal pipe (23) gets into the other vertical pipe (25) with a larger diameter stabilized in a coaxial guide (26) of the fixed frame and providing a servomotor (27) to translate inside itself an axial pipe (28). When in non-delivery condition, the axial pipe (28) obstructs with its lower blocking end (31) with hole (35) the delivery mouth (33) sets between the inside wall (30) of the coaxial pipe (25) and the outside wall (34) of the axial pipe (28). On receiving of the delivering order of the product (13), the electronic valve (22) actuates the coming of the mobile part of the frame (23-25) to the lower limit stop with introduction into the container (17) of the lower tract (40) of the pipe (25) with blocking end (31) and conic gasket (42). The computer (8) then starts the servomotor (27) bringing in downward sliding the axial pipe (28) so opening, through the lowering of the blocking end (31), the delivery mouth (33) so that the product (13), through the horizontal duct (45) and vertical duct (46), comes out to the mouth (33) to fill up the container (17).

Description: The present invention refers to a self-service device for the retail distribution of loose liquid foodstuffs and of liquid products in general for home consumption to be distributed, from the original container, by means of a computerized system with a digital process into a take-away container. Automatic dispensing machines for liquids are known which are used for example in grocery stores. Those are especially suited for carry-away containers. Such dispensers are described for example in US5339874 and US4469150. The beverage dispensing apparatus described in US5339874 is suitable for mixing and filling soft drinks. The dispensing nozzle is equipped with 3 concentric ports - a syrup port, a carbonated water port and a relief port - to fill recyclable bottles in a way which prevents foaming of dispensed liquids. The filling station is constructed to receive a bottle from an operator or customer and move that bottle to said dispensing nozzle. Such dispensing apparatuses are mostly designed in a way to keep labour and equipment costs down in order to minimize costs for soft drinks purchased in a grocery store or similar facilities. Principally the invented device ensures the following advantages: a) a reduction of operational times as both the phases for the control and acquisition of the product and the issue of cash vouchers are completely automatic and no vending staff's presence is needed; b) the same original container is reusable for several times; c) a selling method which prevents all risks of forgery as the present system with its computerization can issue a printed form of the discharged product; e) the best hygienic conditions of the delivering part as the product flows inside pipes. The distribution device is illustrated in schematic way in the attached drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the gravitation system to fill up the carry-away container 17. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the output device of the product 13 with the frame movable parts 23-25 during the rising phase. Fig. 3 is a detailed longitudinal section view of the output device of the product 13 with the frame movable part lowered inside the carry-away container 17. Fig. 4 is a side detailed view of the output device of the product 13 with the delivery part lowered into the carry-away container 17 seen from a section view and with the delivery mouth 33 during its lowering phase. In order to achieve all the above stated advantages the self-service device here described features a completely automatic order and drawing of the product according to control and withdrawing sequences which take place mnemonically without the presence of the selling staff. The invented self-service device features the distribution of the product directly from its original packing, consisting of a original container 1, with a volumetric compensation actuated by an inert gas contained inside a bottle 2 with a valve 3, a pressure gauge 4 and an inlet duct 5 and where said container is operated by a level sensor consisting of a photoelectric cell 6. Said photocell 6 connected on a line 7 with a computer 8, which is also connected on line 9 with a keyboard 10 and on a line 11 with an electronic drive valve 12. To draw the product, the customer digits his request of the quantity of product to buy on the keyboard 10 so causing the emission of the product 13 through an electronic drive safety valve 14 into a duct 15, and a further electronic valve 12 and relative discharge, through an output duct 16, into a carry-away container 17 featured in station 18. To dispense the product 13 on a fixed frame 19 an air cylinder 20 controlled by an electronic inlet valve 21 and a return electronic valve 22 is provided to get the vertical translation of the mobile part of the frame with two rectilinear communicating pipes with a 90° angle. The said rectilinear communicating pipes consist of the horizontal pipe 23 fixed up by a holding ring 24 onto the stem of the cylinder itself, the said pipe 23 gets into the vertical pipe 25 having a larger diameter stabilized with the device movement through a coaxial guide 26 of the fixed frame. On the vertical pipe 25 a servomotor 27 is provided to vertically translate inside the vertical pipe itself a pipe 28 with an axial arrangement set by a series of stabilizers 29 with a drilled circular bearer, the said stabilizers are held by the inside wall 30 of the vertical pipe 25. When in non-delivery condition, the axial pipe 28 obstructs with its lower blockin end 31, to be provided with an O-ring 32, the delivery mouth 33 formed between the inside wall 30 of the coaxial pipe 25 and the outside wall 34 of the axial pipe 28. The blocking end 31 features a hole 35 leading to the inside duct 36 of the axial pipe 28. As a procecution of the inside duct 36, a duct tract 37 is featured fixed to the body 38 of the servomotor 27, on which a sensor 39 is operating to sense the presence of the product 13. The product outlet device features a part to be introduced into the carry-away container 17, such part to be introduced consists of an outside wall tract 40 of the pipe 25 with at the bottom the blocking end 31 and at the top a relief 41 with circular bearer that acts as a support of a conic gasket 42. On receiving the corresponding order the computer 8 sets the electronic valve 22 thus -for the reentering of the stem of the cylinder 20- the mobile part of the frame 23-25 can reach the lower limit switch. When the frame mobile part is in the said lower position, if a sensor 43 does not check the presence of a carry-away container 17 in the station 18, it orders -by operating the electronic valve 21- the back movement of the upper limit end of the frame mobile part 23-25 while, with a carry-away container 17 in station. 18, the coming of the mobile part 23-25 towards the lower limit end thus determining the positioning of the delivery mechanism inside the carry-away container 17 with a seal ensured by the gasket 42 provided that the piston has not reached the limit stop. Then the computer 8 activates the servomotor 27 and causes the downward sliding of the axial pipe 28 in the series of stabilizers 29, thus through the lowering of the blocking end 31 it determines the opening of the delivery mouth 33. By means of the electronic valve 12, the product 13 flows both through a homologated liter-counter 44, where the liquid quantity to be dispensed is measured, and the horizontal duct 45, then it reaches the vertical delivery duct 46 and comes out of the mouth 33 to fill up the carry-away container 17. At the same time the downflow air reascend through the duct 36 through the hole 35. The invented delivery system prevents the forming of foam on the product 13 as it fills up the container by producing a thin liquid film which flows along the container walls. In case of an over-delivery of liquid into the carry-away container 17, the product 13 -through the hole 35 and the duct 36- comes into contact with the measurement sensor 39 which controls the filling cycle break. The computer 8 on line 47 activates a printer 48 which releases a cash voucher with the order data. Customers can use the said self-service machine by operating a keyboard 10 provided that a carry-away container 17 of a suitable capacity has been placed into station 18. Said keyboard 10, through line 9, controls the computer which, by means of line 11, activated the electronic valve 12. Through the safety valve 14 and the duct 15, the liquid reaches the electronic valve 12 and the outlet 16 with device A. By adjusting the manometer 4 on line 49 through the computer 8, the gas pressure for the delivery of the product 13 can be charged, thus changing the speed of the delivery phase. The sealed original container 1 can be reusable for several times for its filling up by means of valve 50.

Claims: Self-service distribution device for liquid foodstuffs providing the distribution of the product directly from its original container (1) with a volumetric compensation actuated by an inert gas contained inside a bottle (2) with a valve (3), a pressure gauge (4) and an inlet duct (5), where said original container (1) is operated by a level sensor consisting of a photoelectric cell (6) connected on a line (7) with a computer (8) also connected on line (9) with a keyboard (10) and on a line (11) with an electronic drive valve (12); and in that to draw the product the customer digits his request of the quantity of product to buy on the keyboard (10) so causing the emission of the same product through an electronic drive safety valve (14) with passage into a duct (15), a further electronic valve (12) and discharge, through an output device, into a carry-away container (17) featured in station (18); characterized in that : the output device of the product (13) provides on a fixed frame (19) an air cylinder (20) controlled by an electronic inlet valve (21) and a return electronic valve (22) to get a vertical translation of a mobile part (23, 25, 28) of the frame with two rectilinear communicating pipes (23, 25) with a 90° angle, of which the horizontal pipe (23) is fixed up by a holding ring (24) onto a stem of the cylinder itself and it gets into vertical pipe (25) having a larger diameter stabilized with the device movement through a coaxial guide (26) of the fixed frame and providing a servomotor (27) to vertically translate inside the vertical pipe itself a pipe (28) with an axial arrangement set by a series of stabilizers (29) with a drilled circular bearer held by the inside wall (30) of the vertical pipe (25); in non-delivery condition of the product (13) the axial pipe (28) obstructs with a lower blocking end (31), provided with a hole (35) leading to the inside duct (36) of the axial pipe (28) and equipped with an O-ring (32), a delivery mouth (33) formed between the inside wall (30) of the coaxial pipe (25) and the outside wall (34) of the axial pipe (28); on receiving the order of delivering the product (13), given by the computer (8), the electronic valve (22) is set so determining, for the reentering of the stem of the cylinder (20), the coming of the mobile part of the frame (23-25) to the lower limit stop, so to introduce into the carry-away container (17) the outside wall tract (40) of the pipe (25) with at the bottom the blocking end (31) and at the top a relief (41) with circular bearer that acts as a support of a conic gasket (42); with the lower tract of the axial pipe (25) inserted into the carry-away container (17), the computer (8) activates the servomotor (27) bringing in downward sliding the axial pipe (28) in the series of stabilizers (29), thus through the lowering of the blocking end (31) opening the delivery mouth (33) so that the product (13), through the horizontal duct (45), reaches the vertical delivery duct (46) and comes out to the mouth (33) to fill up the carry-away container (17), Self-sevice distribution device, according to claim 1), characterized in that on receiving the delivering order a sensor (43), not taking the presence of a carry-away container (17) in the station (18), orders by operating the electronic valve (21) the back movement to the upper limit stop of the frame mobile part (23-25). Self-service distribution device, according to claim 1), characterized in that between the electronic valve (12) and the horizontal duct (45) a liter counter (44) is provided which measures the quantity of product (13) to be dispensed. Self-service distribution device, according to claim 1), characteriized in that during the delivering of the product (13) the downflow air reascends through the inside duct (36) of the axial pipe (28) through the hole (35). Self-service distribution device, according to claim 1), characterized in that in case of an over-delivery of liquid into the carry-away container (17), the product (13) through the hole (35), the inside duct (36) and a further duct tract (37) comes into contact with a measurement sensor (39) which controls the filling cycle break. Self-service distribution device, according to claim 1), characterized in producing a thin liquid film which flows along the carry-away container walls during the filling up prevents the forming of foam on the product (13). Self-service distribution device, according to claim 1), characterized in that it is started by a customer, without vending staff's presence, by a keyboard (10) of a computer (8) after having placed in station (18) a suitable carry-away container (17). Self-service distribution device, according to claim 7), characterized in that at the end of the delivering the computer (8) activates (47) a printer (48) which releases a stamp with the product indications and the fiscal data. Self-service distribution device, according to claim 1), in that through the computer (8) the manometer (4) is to be adjusted (49) to change the gas pressure for the delivery of the product (13), thus changing the speed of the delivery phase. Self-service distribution device, according to claim 1), characterized in that the sealed original container (1) is to be reusable for several times for its filling up by means of a valve (50).

Inventors: NANNI NORBERTO, SCOCCO ROBERTO, NANNI, NORBERTO, SCOCCO, ROBERTO
Applicants: NANNI NORBERTO, SCOCCO ROBERTO, NANNI, NORBERTO, SCOCCO, ROBERTO
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G07F13
IPC codes: G07F13