Abstract:
The invention concerns a dispensing apparatus ( 1 ) with high refrigerating power, for delivering to users refrigerating elements ( 10 ) capable of diffusing frigories over a relatively great lapse of time so as to avoid interrupting the cold chain, comprising an input and disinfecting module ( 2 ) arranged above the refrigerating and storage module ( 6 ). The input ( 4 ) and output ( 7 ) orifices of the refrigerating and storage module are located substantially in the same plane and in the upper part of the docule which further includes third transfer mechanism ( 9 ) designed to lift the refrigerating elements towards the output orifice.

Description:
TECHNICAL DOMAIN  
         [0001]    The present invention concerns an apparatus for dispensing rechargeable refrigerating elements, especially plates or packets containing a substance formulated to accumulate frigories, comprising at least:  
           [0002]    an input and disinfection module for said refrigerating elements provided with an input opening, an output opening, and a first means for transferring said elements between the two orifices; and  
           [0003]    a refrigeration and storage module for said refrigerating elements provided with an insulated case, a cold generating device for charging said refrigerating elements with frigories, an input orifice corresponding to the output orifice of said input and disinfection module, and an output orifice, said orifices traversing a wall of said insulated case; and with a second transfer means using gravity to transport said refrigeration elements for recycling inside said refrigeration and storage module.  
         PRIOR ART  
         [0004]    It is well known that a regard for maintaining the temperature of frozen products is essential, since health threatening micro-organisms can develop very rapidly. In practice, with sensitive products such as ground beef there should be virtually no health threatening toxins or micro-organisms present, not even in minute amounts. At −10° C., bacteria stops multiplying completely. The risk of finding bacteria and pathogenic toxins is non-existent up to +3° C. Above that level, dangerous salmonella (+5° C.) and staphylococcus aureus (+6° C.) can multiply rapidly. Only scrupulously maintaining the cold chain eliminates these risks.  
           [0005]    In order to maintain the cold chain on the way home over a substantial period of time, even during extreme summer heat, a consumer can currently place one or more refrigerating elements in an insulated container which holds fresh or frozen products just purchased. One or more of these refrigerating elements charged with frigories at −18° C. diffuses frigories throughput the insulated container. This maintains the temperature of the products without disrupting the cold chain. In order for the consumer to buy or obtain a refrigerating element charged with frigories, a dispensing device as defined above and known through Publication No. F.R.-A-2 745 933 is provided at the point of service. It dispenses and recycles these refrigerating elements. This dispensing device is found principally in large stores near the shelves of frozen products. In the realm of this application, a refrigeration temperature of −18° C. is sufficient.  
           [0006]    This particularly simple, economical and non-polluting technology can be used prior to distribution, specifically to eliminate the use of dry ice when transporting frozen products. This application requires refrigerating elements of larger volume as well as a higher charge of frigories. For this purpose, the refrigeration temperature inside the refrigeration and storage module should be as low as −35° C., for example.  
           [0007]    The dispensing apparatus known in the art does not achieve this objective, primarily because of cold escaping at the outlet orifice located on the lower portion of the dispenser.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention proposes overcoming this disadvantage with a dispenser for high capacity refrigerating elements which dispenses and recycles refrigerating elements that can be placed in containers for transporting frozen products and which maintains the cold chain from the dispenser to the consumer&#39;s home.  
           [0009]    To achieve this, the invention concerns an apparatus for dispensing refrigerating elements such as that described in the preamble, characterized:  
           [0010]    in that the inlet and disinfection module is located above said refrigeration and storage module,  
           [0011]    in that the input and output orifices of said refrigeration and storage module are located in the upper portion of said module,  
           [0012]    and in that the refrigeration and storage module comprises a third transfer means for lifting the refrigerating elements to the input orifice.  
           [0013]    Preferably the input and output orifices of the refrigeration and storage module are located in essentially the same plane.  
           [0014]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first transfer means comprises an inclined ramp which uses gravity to transfer the refrigerating elements from said input orifice to said output orifice.  
           [0015]    The input and disinfection module may advantageously comprise a cleaning device comprising two circular brushes arranged symmetrically relative to said inclined ramp along the path of the refrigerating elements, each brush being attached to a motor drive rotating plate.  
           [0016]    The input orifice may also comprise a presence detector designed to transmit a signal to the motorized element of the cleaning device when a refrigerating element is detected, said presence detector comprising an articulated angled finger subjected to a recall spring designed so that its free extremity is located at the rear of said input orifice on the trajectory of the refrigerating elements, and at least one micro switch.  
           [0017]    Preferably, the input orifice of the refrigeration and storage module comprises a sealed door consisting of a flexible spline which opens under the weight of a refrigerating element.  
           [0018]    In the preferred embodiment, the second transfer means consists of a helicoidal rail extending inside the case from the input orifice at the upper portion to the lower portion, the purpose of said rail being to receive said refrigeration elements which are generally vertical and in overlapping arrangement on its upper generatrix. In this case the input orifice of the storage and refrigeration module is located along an essentially vertical axis and the inclined ramp of the first transfer means forms an acute angle with the axis of said input orifice.  
           [0019]    According to the preferred embodiment, the third transfer means comprises a guide tube extending inside the case from the lower portion thereof to its output orifice at the upper portion, and which receives the superimposed, vertical refrigerating elements with the lower portion of this guide tube comprising a window located opposite the lower extremity of the rail, as well as a lifting device for lifting the superimposed refrigerating elements inside said guide tube in order to accommodate a new refrigerating element arriving from the helicoidal rail; the lower extremity of the helicoidal rail is rectilinear and essentially perpendicular to the window in said guide tube.  
           [0020]    The lifting device may comprise a retractable projecting element articulated to the extremity of a runner located in a support that is parallel to and behind the guide tube, said runner moving in a back-and-forth translational motion alternating between a lowered position and a raised position, with the projecting element moving between two positions, an exit position where it extends inside the guide tube while moving forward, and a returned position where it is retracted inside the support; and the lifting device comprises a stop which limits rotation by the articulated projecting element in its projecting position.  
           [0021]    In the preferred embodiment, the articulated projecting element is essentially triangular in shape such that when it is extended, its upper surface is essentially horizontal, and when it retracts its lower surface is essentially vertical; the two surfaces together form an acute angle.  
           [0022]    Advantageously, the outlet orifice comprises a sealed door designed to open when pushed by a refrigerating element stored in the guide tube, said sealed door sliding within an inclined support located outside said sealed case and comprising, at the extremity that blocks said output orifice, a bisected surface that generates a backward motion when pushed by said refrigerating element. In this case the output orifice is preferable disposed on a vertical axis and the inclined support forms an acute angle with the axis of this output orifice.  
       
    
    
     SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    The present invention and its advantages will be more apparent from the following description of one non-limiting embodiment, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of the dispensing apparatus of the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is lateral cross-section of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the input and disinfection module;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 4A and 4B are detailed views of the input orifice of the refrigeration and storage module shown closed and open, respectively;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the storage rail in the refrigeration and storage module;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 6A, 6B and  6 C are detailed views of the third transfer means;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 7A and 7B are detailed views of the output orifice of the refrigeration and storage module shown closed and open, respectively; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a surface view of the refrigeration element according to the invention. 
     
    
     THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, dispensing apparatus  1  of the invention, designed to dispense refrigerating elements  10  and to recharge recycled refrigerating elements with frigories, comprises the following two superimposed modules:  
         [0033]    in the upper portion, an input and disinfection module  2  for said refrigerating elements equipped with an input orifice  3 , an output orifice  4  and a first transfer means  5  for transferring said elements between the two orifices; and  
         [0034]    in the lower portion, a refrigeration and storage module  6  for said refrigeration elements having an insulated case  60 , a cold generating device (not shown) for charging said refrigerating elements  10  with frigories, an input orifice  4  corresponding to the output orifice of said input and disinfection module  2 , an output orifice  7 , said orifices traversing a wall of said insulated case  60  a second transfer means  8  for transporting said refrigerating elements  10  to be recycled inside said refrigeration and storage module  6  by means of gravity, and a third transfer means  9  for lifting said refrigerating elements  10  from second transfer module  8  to the output orifice  7 .  
         [0035]    Refrigeration and storage module  6 , which is generally cube shaped, rests on the floor with feet  61  and comprises a cold generating device (not shown) consisting of a conventional compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and a recovery container. The input and disinfection module  2  are located above said module  6 , thus forming a compact apparatus. Input module  2  is covered by an angled metal piece  20  defining a desk  21  on the front surface. On this desk  21  are located the input orifice  3  at the top right, the output orifice  7  at right median portion, and a communication and control post  22 , which may comprise control buttons and indicator lights relating to the operation of dispensing apparatus  1 , indicating the location of input orifice  3  with an arrow, and other information useful to the person operating dispensing apparatus  1 .  
         [0036]    In FIG. 2 it is very clear that input orifice  4  and output orifice  7  of the refrigeration and storage module  6  are located in essentially the same plane and at the upper portion. They traverse upper wall  61  of insulated case  60  along generally vertical axes. This particular arrangement of input orifice  4  and output orifice  7  at the upper part of insulated case  60 , combined with the cubic shape of the case, advantageously prevents cold from leaking and consequently is conducive to increasing refrigeration temperature to as low as −35° C.  
         [0037]    Likewise, with reference to FIG. 3, the input and disinfection module  2  comprise a first transfer means  5  consisting of an inclined ramp  50  forming a U-shaped rail that is generally equivalent in width to refrigerating elements  10 . This inclined ramp  50  extends from input orifice  3  at the upper portion to the area of output orifice  4 , at the lower portion, and forms an acute angle, for example a 45° angle, with the axis of said orifice  4 . Thus, refrigerating elements  10  are transferred between these two orifices by simple gravity, sliding along this inclined ramp  50 . The lower extremity of this inclined ramp  50  comprises two lateral flanges  51  designed to guide refrigerating elements  10  laterally when they leave inclined ramp  50  for introduction into input orifice  4 , passing from an inclined position to an essentially vertical position by means of simple gravity.  
         [0038]    On the trajectory of refrigerating elements  10 , along said inclined ramp  50 , there is a cleaning and disinfection device  52 . This device  52  comprises, in the example shown, two circular brushes  53  that are symmetrically disposed relative to inclined ramp  50 , each brush  53  being attached to a revolving plate  54  driven in synchronization by motorized means  55 . Refrigerating elements  10  are displaced along inclined ramp  50  on the one hand by gravity and on the other hand due to the rotation of brushes  53 . A reservoir of liquid disinfectant  56  is also provided for spraying said refrigerating elements  10  by means of nozzle  57  directing its stream toward brushes  53 . Obviously any other cleaning and disinfection mechanism may be used.  
         [0039]    Inlet orifice  3  has an opening that is equivalent in section to the transverse section of horizontally introduced refrigerating elements  10  This transverse section is intentionally not symmetrical in relation to the median axis of refrigerating elements  10  in order to orient them correctly inside apparatus  1 . At the rear of said input orifice  3  there is a presence detector  30  comprising an angled finger  31 , articulated and disposed so that its free extremity is situated on the trajectory of refrigerating elements  10 , as well as a micro-switch  32   a  which transmits a signal to the actuating means for the runner of the lifting device described below in order to effect the exchange of refrigerating elements  10 . For this reason, FIG. 31 extends into an activating rod  33  which engages micro-switch  32   a  only when finger  31  is pushed by a refrigerating element  10  according to the invention and located in the right direction, i.e., in a forward facing U. Obviously other detection means could be used, such as optical detectors, for example.  
         [0040]    A second micro-switch  32   b  is also provided for transmitting a signal to motor  55  of cleaning device  52  when a refrigerating element  10  is detected.  
         [0041]    With particular reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, input orifice  4  of refrigeration and storage module  6  comprises a parallelepiped chamber  40  located in an opening of corresponding shape in upper wall  61  of insulated case  60 . This chamber  40  extends beyond either side of said wall  61  and comprises a sealed door  41  at the extremity located inside insulated case  60 . This sealed door  41  consists of a flexible spline, one edge of which is connected to chamber  40  and the opposite edge of which closes chamber  40  in resting position, shown in FIG. 4A. This flexible spline  41  is inclined relative to the vertical axis of chamber  40  at an acute angle, for example, a 45° angle, and it opens under the weight of a refrigerating element  10  introduced inside chamber  40 , as shown in FIG. 4B.  
         [0042]    Above this input orifice  4  the upper extremity of a helicoidal rail  80  is located, forming the second transfer means  8  for transporting and storing said refrigerating elements  10  inside storage and refrigeration module  6 . This helicoidal rail  80 , flat in shape and with regular steps, extends inside the case from top to bottom, from its input orifice  4  to the bottom of insulated case  60 . The spires that comprise this helicoidal rail  80  form an angle with the horizontal ranging from about 18° to 25°. To support said helicoidal rail  80 , a support tube  82  is attached inside insulated case  60  coaxial to said rail and supporting shelves  83  attached to the interior generatrices of helicoidal rail  80 , for example, every 90 degrees. Obviously it is possible to use other attachment means. Helicoidal rail  80  is made of metal and a defrosting system (not shown) may be installed in certain cases to prevent frost formation.  
         [0043]    The upper extremity of helicoidal rail  80  is rectilinear and it is located below input orifice  4  in order to receive refrigerating elements  10  as the elements fall due to gravity, position themselves in overlapping arrangement on upper rail generatrix  81 , and are guided laterally by lateral chamber walls  40  extending from either side of rail  80 . The lower extremity of helicoidal rail  80  is also rectilinear in order to properly position refrigerating elements  10  in relation to the third means of transfer  9  which will be described below.  
         [0044]    Said helicoidal rail  80  permits refrigerating elements  10  to be stored in an essentially vertical position, one after the other, and to be displaced by gravity. FIG. 8 shows a plane view of refrigerating element  10 . A detailed description of it appears in Publication No. FR-A-2 745 933. It takes the form of a generally parallelepiped plate and comprises, in particular, a slot  11  defining two branches  12  and  13 , said slot being generally wider than the thickness of helicoidal rail  80  and tapering at the bottom. Said slot  11  is located beneath a traversing orifice  14  where the area of contact  15  with upper generatrix  81  of helicoidal rail  80  is located. The particular design of refrigerating elements  10  places the center of gravity of that element below this contact point  15  and it is axially offset near the wider branch  13  of the refrigerating element so as to equalize the distribution of the substance contained within refrigerating element  10  between branches  12  and  13 . This substance is a eutectic mixture with a melting point of about −23° C.  
         [0045]    With reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B and  6 C, the third transfer means  9  comprises a guide tube  90  extending inside insulated case  60  from bottom to top, from the base of the insulated case to output opening  7 . It defines a rectangular interior passageway  91 , the dimensions of which correspond to at least the largest section of refrigerating elements  10 , for receiving these elements in vertical position, overlapping one another. The lower portion of this guide tube  90  comprises a window  92  perpendicular to the lower extremity of helicoidal rail  80 . Said third transfer means  9  also comprises a lifting device  93  which lifts refrigerating elements  10  superimposed inside guide tube  90  in order to accommodate another refrigerating element  10  arriving from helicoidal rail  80  through window  92 .  
         [0046]    Lifting device  83  comprises a retractable projecting element  94  articulated to the end of a runner  95  located in a support  96  that is parallel to and at the rear of guide tube  90 . This runner  95  is activated to move in alternate translation back and forth between a lower position, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, and an upper position, shown in FIG. 6B. Projecting element  94  moves between two positions, an extended position shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, where it moves forward to project inside guide tube  90 , and a retracted position shown in FIG. 6C, where it returns to retract inside support  96 . A stop  97  consisting of a rod is attached to runner  95  behind projection  94  to limit its rotation in the extended position. This articulated projection  94  is generally triangular in shape so that when it is extended, it upper surface is generally horizontal and when it is retracted, its lower surface is generally vertical, with the two surfaces together defining an acute angle. Runner  95  may be moved by a cylinder (not shown) or any other equivalent means regulated by a control device such as a push button or a touchpad located on table  22  of desk  21 , or by the microcomputer  32   a  of presence detector  30  when refrigerating elements  10  are exchanged.  
         [0047]    With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, output opening  7  comprises a chamber  70  traversing upper wall  61  of sealed case  60  from side to side as well as a sealed door  71  designed to open under pressure from a refrigerating element  10  when it is pushed by the other refrigerating elements stored in guide tube  90  and lifted by lifting device  93 . Sealed door  71  slides inside inclined support  72  located outside sealed case  60 . At the end which blocks output opening  7 , door  71  has a bisected surface  73  so it can be pushed back by a refrigerating element  10 . Output opening  7  is located on a generally vertical axis and inclined support  72  forms an acute angle with the axis of output opening  7   
         [0048]    It is especially simple to operate and use device  1  for dispensing refrigerating elements  10 . Before the device is placed into service, refrigeration and storage module  6  is filled with refrigerating elements  10  charged with frigories that have been previously stored on palettes in freezers. Using an access door (not shown), these refrigerating elements  10  can be placed directly on helicoidal rail  80  and in guide tube  90 .  
         [0049]    Next, when the user needs one or more refrigerating elements  10 , he or she pushes one or more times on the button or touchpad corresponding to table  22  of desk  21  and the dispensing device automatically ejects one or more refrigerating elements  10  through output orifice  7 . The button ortouchpad sends signals to the cylinder which generates alternate displacement by runner  95 . In the resting position (FIG. 6A), the runner is lowered. When it is displaced, it executes one cycle comprising an upward movement to the top followed by a downward movement to the bottom. During the upward movement from the lowered position (FIG. 6A) to the upper position (FIG. 6B), with projecting element  94  extending from guide tube  90 , it lifts with it the column of refrigerating elements  10  contained in the tube by pushing it out the top through output opening  7 . Simultaneously, window  92  is engaged and ready to receive another refrigerating element  10  automatically and by gravitational force from helicoidal rail  80  (FIG. 6B). Projecting element  94  is disposed so that it lodges in slot  11  of refrigerating element  10  located in window  92  of guide tube  90 . When raised, projecting element  94  comes into contact with traversing orifice  14  in said refrigerating element  10  on contact area  15 . Its upper surface is essentially horizontal so it can exert a lifting force in the axis of guide tube  90 . The extended position of projection  94  is defined by rod  97  which limits its rotation by forming a back stop. When runner  95  reaches the upper position (FIG. 6B), its movement is reversed and it redescends to the lowered position. During its return trip (FIG. 6C), the lower surface of projection  94  abuts refrigerating elements  10  contained in guide tube  90 , automatically causing projection  94  to rotate into its collapsed or retracted position inside support  96  so as to disengage the projection from guide tube  90 . Once in the lowered position, runner  95  may, if necessary, begin another cycle to eject another refrigerating element  10 . Since this transfer device  9  is located within refrigeration and storage module  6 , refrigeration elements  10  stored in guide tube  90  remain at the same temperature.  
         [0050]    To recycle refrigerating elements  10  when the frigories have been discharged, the user introduces them into input orifice  3  after having positioned them correctly. Refrigerating elements  10  descend one by one, by gravity, along inclined ramp  50  to output opening  4 . Simultaneously, presence detector  30 , located at the back of input orifice  3 , automatically sends signals to the cylinder of runner  95  to effect the exchange of refrigerating elements  10 , as well as to motor  55  which controls the cleaning and disinfection mechanism, that is, brushes  53  and the simultaneously sprayed liquid disinfectant. Thus, refrigerating elements  10  are cleaned and disinfected before being introduced into refrigeration and storage module  6  through input orifice  4 . This prevents any contamination of the refrigeration zone. Input and disinfection module  2  is completely separated and isolated from refrigeration and storage module  6 . Thus, the electric and electronic equipment provided in this module can be standard equipment.  
         [0051]    When refrigerating elements  10  pass from one module to the other through orifice  4 , they fall directly by gravity onto helicoidal rail  80  where they overlap one another, an arrangement which allows a considerable number of refrigerating elements to be stored one behind the other while they are recharged with frigories. This transfer means  8  is advantageous because it requires no drive means, since refrigerating elements  10  are displaced by simple gravitational force.  
         [0052]    From this description it is apparent that the invention achieves all its objectives and in particular, that the specific design of the two modules  2  and  6 , as well as the positioning of input and output orifices  4  and  7  at the upper part of insulated case  60 , increases refrigeration power considerably.  
         [0053]    It would also be possible to replace third transfer module  9  by some other equivalent means of transfer that is not sensitive to low temperature.