Abstract:
A machine for vending floral arrangements is described including stack of generally circular carousels each for supporting a plurality of floral arrangements; and a generally cylindrical exterior housing surrounding the carousels.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
         [0001]    The present application claims priority to Australian Application No. 2003901349 filed Mar. 25, 2003, which application is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law.  
         TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a machine for vending floral arrangements.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In a first aspect the present invention provides a machine for vending floral arrangements including a stack of generally circular carousels each for supporting a plurality of floral arrangements; and a generally cylindrical exterior housing surrounding the carousels.  
           [0004]    By providing a combination of both cylindrical carousels and a cylindrical exterior housing, the space within the machine is utilised efficiently. Further, use of a circular housing provides a machine which makes efficient use of floor space in the location in which it is situated.  
           [0005]    The carousels may be stacked together in a modular arrangement.  
           [0006]    Each carousel may include a rotary shelf.  
           [0007]    The rotary shelf may be perforated to allow air to flow through the shelf.  
           [0008]    The exterior housing may further include a transparent dome mounted over the uppermost carousel.  
           [0009]    The exterior housing may be substantially air-tight.  
           [0010]    The inside of the housing may be refrigerated.  
           [0011]    The machine may further include a sensor that is arranged to activate a sound reproduction device when a person is sensed near to the machine.  
           [0012]    In a second aspect the present invention provides a machine for vending floral arrangements including a stack of carousels each supporting a plurality of floral arrangements; and each of the plurality of floral arrangements supported on each carousel are vended at the same price.  
           [0013]    This arrangement allows for a simplified vending operation. Because each carousel supports floral arrangements of the same price, the machine allows vending from a particular carousel when payment has been made that matches the price of the floral arrangements on a particular carousel.  
           [0014]    The carousels may be stacked together in a modular arrangement.  
           [0015]    At least one of the carousels may include a rotary shelf.  
           [0016]    At least one rotary shelves may include steel dividers that allow removal of only one floral arrangement during a single vending operation.  
           [0017]    In a third aspect the present invention provides a machine for vending floral arrangements including at least one carousel for supporting a plurality of floral arrangements; the machine has a front and a back and includes at least one viewing window associated with the carousel, each viewing window being arranged to permit viewing of only one floral arrangement; the at least one viewing window is positioned towards either one or both of the front or back of the machine; and light from outside the machine may reach the floral arrangements on the carousel only by passing through the at least one viewing window.  
           [0018]    In this way, the level of light reaching the floral arrangements from outside of the machine is kept to a minimum, whilst still allowing viewing of the contents of the machine.  
           [0019]    A light may be provided at an edge of at least one viewing window.  
           [0020]    Lights may be provided about four edges of at least one viewing window.  
           [0021]    The machine may further include a spotlight arranged to illuminate a floral arrangement viewable through the viewing window.  
           [0022]    At least one viewing window may be arranged to allow for vending of floral arrangements through the viewing window. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a machine for vending floral arrangements according to the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a rear and partially cut away view of the machine of FIG. 1; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a top view of one of the modules of the machine of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a machine  10  is shown for vending floral arrangements. Machine  10  includes a generally circular exterior housing  12  formed by the exteriors of a number of stacked modules  14 . Each module  14  houses a carousel in the form of rotary shelf  16  for supporting a number of floral arrangements. Housing  12  further includes dome  18  and base  20 .  
         [0028]    Housing  12  is substantially air-tight to resist the ingress of gases harmful to the floral arrangements such as ethylene gas that might be encountered at a vehicle service station.  
         [0029]    Machine  10  further includes refrigeration coil  22 . This coil operates to remove heat from the interior of machine  10 . In combination with a thermostat, it is used to control the internal temperature of machine  10  to prolong the storage life of floral arrangements held within the machine.  
         [0030]    Dome  18  is transparent to provide increased illumination at the top of the machine. This area of the machine is also warmer than the bottom due to the tendency for warm air to rise. The dome  18  area provides conditions suitable for tropical plants and when stocking the machine tropical plants are preferably positioned at the top of the machine  10 .  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 3, a top view of one of the modules  14  of FIG. 1 is shown. Module  14  includes a rotary shelf  16  arranged to support a number of floral arrangements  23 . Shelf  16  rotates about hub  25 . The shelf is divided into segments by steel dividers  26  and one floral arrangement is positioned in each segment. The dividers in the uppermost module extend upwards to conform to the inside profile of the dome. Module  14  is provided with two viewing windows  24  which allow a person to view one floral arrangement and which also operate as vending hatches. In one embodiment, only one of the viewing windows may operate as a vending hatch.  
         [0032]    In use, rotation of shelf  16  is controlled so that it stops only when a floral arrangement positioned in a segment of shelf  16  is aligned with the viewing windows  24 . Shelf  16  is perforated to allow air to flow through it.  
         [0033]    Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, machine  10  is of modular construction. For instance, the two lower modules  14  have been combined to form double height module  30 . As a further alternative, half height module  32  could be incorporated into the machine. The height of a viewing window or access door associated with ae module may be altered to conform to the desired modular arrangement. For instance, a double height access door may span two normal height modules. The modular configuration of the machine allows for re-configuration to provide for storage of floral arrangements of different heights.  
         [0034]    Each viewing window  24  is provided with four lights  28  around its edges. These lights  28  serve to illuminate the floral arrangement  23  visible through window  24  and the heat from the lights serves to inhibit fogging of window  24  due to the refrigerated interior. A spotlight may also be provided mounted to illuminate the viewable floral arrangement to make it more visible to potential purchasers.  
         [0035]    Machine  10  is stocked so that each rotary shelf  16  carries the same type of floral arrangement  23 . A person wishing to purchase a floral arrangement chooses which type of arrangement  23  they wish to purchase by looking in viewing window  24  of each module  14 . To purchase, they either make payment by inserting cash at payment panel  34 , or instruct payment from a financial account such as by swiping a credit card and interacting with touch screen  40 . The person then presses the selection button  36  on the module  14  that houses their desired floral arrangement  23 . This causes viewing window  24  to slide sideways, allowing the person access to remove one floral arrangement from machine  10 . After removal of the arrangement, viewing window  24  closes and the appropriate rotary shelf  16  rotates to bring into view through viewing window  24  the next floral arrangement of the type that was purchased. In an alternative arrangement, the person is allowed to remove one floral arrangement through an access door that may be provided adjacent to the viewing window  24 .  
         [0036]    A receipt printer is provided adjacent to payment slot  34  that also serves to print message cards for use with floral arrangements purchased from machine  10 . By entering their desired message at touch screen  40  the person can obtain a printed message card from the receipt printer. This card may then be inserted into a card holder provided with the purchased floral arrangement  23 .  
         [0037]    By using telephone  38 , or touch screen  40 , a person can place orders with florists for them to deliver floral arrangements to other locations.  
         [0038]    Machine  10  includes a modem that allows machine to communicate with remote computer systems. This allows remote determination by the operator of the machine of sales transaction history, clearing funds, stock levels, and the age of the stock in the machine.  
         [0039]    Machine  10  includes a CD player activated by a motion sensor. The motion sensor activates the CD player if movement is detected near to the machine. This automatically provides sound that can be used to motivate a person near to the machine to purchase from the machine.  
         [0040]    A motion sensor can detect tampering of the machine which activates an internal siren and contacts a security service to alert them to investigate the tampering.  
         [0041]    The machine may be provided with a secure attachment point for example at the base of the machine so that the machine may be securely fixed to the floor or a sturdy object to resist theft of the machine.  
         [0042]    Machine  10  is generally circular. It does not need to be placed against a wall and hence people can approach the machine from any angle. Providing a viewing window  24  in both the front and back of the machine allows people to determine the contents of the machine when standing either to the front or to the back of the machine.  
         [0043]    It is to be understood that floral arrangements include floral arrangements consisting of a single flower, a basket of fruit or a single fruit.  
         [0044]    Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.  
         [0045]    Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.