WO1994025942A1

WO1994025942A1 - Automatic distribution store

Info

Publication number: WO1994025942A1
Application number: PCT/FR1994/000504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guy Gonnet
Original assignee: Guy Gonnet
Priority date: 1993-05-03
Filing date: 1994-05-02
Publication date: 1994-11-10
Also published as: EP0698260A1; FR2704962B1; FR2704962A1; AU6723894A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic distribution store for products arranged in a storage assembly and accessible in a free service mode by a user. The storage assembly (A) is comprised of at least one series of tubular casings (19) arranged horizontally. A servo-controlled pusher arm (22) provides for the extraction of the selected product which is directed towards a fixed receptacle (23) accessible by the user.

Description

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTION STORE

The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device for various products. These are arranged in an internal storage unit and are accessible to self-service by a user according to a precise choice.

Already known are such devices generally intended for food products, drinks, sweets or pastries. These products have standardized packaging to which the distribution devices are particularly suitable.

Of course, one can easily imagine replacing these food products with any other type of industrial or agricultural product, but it has never been envisaged to transform these devices, of limited use, into real retail stores for various products. consumer goods, generally provided by small businesses before the advent of large retail outlets.

The products which are targeted here, are very diverse and concern as well non-perishable foodstuffs, such as oil, salt, sugar, flour, etc ..., as perishable foodstuffs, such as fruits, vegetables , or even the meat provided that it is previously conditioned.

In fact, according to a first object of the invention, it has been sought to create an autonomous distribution unit capable of satisfying the daily needs of the housewife, in particular in rural centers, from which petty trade has almost disappeared.

The invention also makes it possible to provide a complementary service operating even after the closure of traditional stores or of large surfaces in stores. urban centers. In this case, the distribution device can be integrated into a building, the user interface being accessible from the outside.

The device of the invention can also advantageously be placed on a parking area, in stores, at strategic points in urban areas, on vacation spots (campground, etc.).

The present invention aiming at this objective makes it possible to fill a commercial void and to meet a need of the clientele which has not been satisfied until now.

To this end, it relates to an automatic distribution store of products arranged in a storage assembly accessible to a user, comprising: - a user interface allowing the acquisition of the customer's choice and the recognition of a means of identification or of payment,

- a receptacle for the provision of products,

- a product extraction device, - a control unit receiving information from the user interface and controlling the extraction device.

The storage assembly consists of at least one set of horizontal tubular racks each intended to receive the products of a determined category, and the product extraction device comprises at least one horizontal pusher arm, capable of being placed in position. in front of a selected locker, depending on the user's choice. The present invention also relates to the characteristics below, considered in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations.

The pusher arm of the extraction device is placed in position by a first magnetic cylinder without rod, horizontal and fixed, on which a second moves rodless, vertical and movable magnetic cylinder, both located at the rear of the tubular boxes along a plane parallel to them.

Still according to the invention, the pusher arm is constituted by a telescopic so-called thrust cylinder which is arranged perpendicular to the magnetic cylinder without vertical rod and which, once positioned on the abscissa and on the ordinate, is capable of deploying along a corresponding horizontal axis substantially like that of a tubular rack corresponding to a selected product.

The pusher arm can also be constituted by a cable or a rack driven between two rollers by a motor; such a cable advantageously has a diameter of the order of 10 mm, which makes it possible to give it sufficient rigidity so that it can push the products. This cable can be bent when it is outside the lockers so as to reduce its bulk.

The store according to the invention also has at least one air conditioning system ensuring that at least part of the store or the storage assembly is kept at a storage temperature chosen according to the products contained in the tubular racks, part of these being insulated in a separate enclosure refrigerated at a lower temperature, according to a storage temperature specific to certain products.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the extraction device comprises a fixed receptacle and an elevator arranged in front of the front plane of the tubular racks and slaved to position vertically at the level of the tubular rack concerned, then once the product has been collected, come place it in the receptacle.

According to an additional improvement, the elevator consists of at least one series of conveyor rollers, or by a flat sheet, arranged on a horizontal plane inclined towards the front and controlled in vertical displacement by means of at least one elevator cylinder situated on at least one of the sides of the storage set. Advantageously, the elevator can be provided with at least one shock-absorbing conveyor belt, fixed to the elevator below the plane of the rollers.

According to a particular embodiment, the elevator consists of two vertical uprights each connecting, between them, two inclined arms spaced vertically at a distance corresponding substantially to half the height of the storage assembly and which comprise, on their front parts, two series of parallel conveyor rollers and two shock-absorbing conveyor belts and, on their rear parts, a yoke connected to the end of the lifting cylinder, in the case of the upper arm, and a guide roller vertical along the barrel of said cylinder, with respect to the lower arm, so that a control in vertical movement of said elevator, by means of the cylinder, makes it possible to bring the upper or lower conveying rollers, respectively in front of a selected locker, located in the upper or lower half of the storage assembly, thus reducing the stroke and, consequently, the temp s of movement of the elevator.

Still according to the invention, the user interface comprises: a table for designating the products contained in the storage assembly with their prices and / or their bar codes, and / or product numbers,

- a selection device,

- a payment system in cash and / or by credit card, and / or by private card. - an access flap to the receptacle in which the selected and paid goods are located,

- a device for issuing a sales receipt,

- a distributor of packaging bags. According to another characteristic, the store is part of an isolated rigid self-supporting external structure forming an armored fairing placed on adjustable pads, themselves in connection with a frame sealed to the ground. According to another particular embodiment, the tubular racks of the separate enclosure, refrigerated according to a storage temperature specific to certain products, are closed, in a removable manner, by doors made of insulating materials, mounted sliding on the front and rear faces. of the shop.

The invention will be illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 represents a general schematic perspective view of a store according to the invention

.

;

- Figure 2 shows a rear internal view of a store according to Figure 1, the rear panel has been removed; - Figure 3 shows a side internal view of a store according to Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows, in side view, a storage assembly according to Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of a store according to the previous Figures; 6 shows, in front view of the store, the receptacle for providing products and the treadmills according to an alternative embodiment of the store of the invention. As shown overall in Figure 1, the store ₁ , according to the invention, is constituted by a rigid and self-supporting external structure 2 formed by two side walls 3 and 4, one of which 4 has low ventilation 5. On the roof 6 of the structure, is placed in place an air conditioning unit 7 intended to maintain an overall room temperature, for example around 15 °, inside the entire store 1. Certain internal zones can be maintained at different temperatures, generally lower, depending the nature of the products they contain.

Of course, the air conditioning unit and the refrigeration unit or groups can be located anywhere on the faces of the store, for example on one side.

The bottom 8 of the structure includes an access door 9 allowing the installation of the products to be distributed, or any possible maintenance or repair intervention. The front panel 10 constitutes, for its part, a user interface, offering it a certain number of means, which will be described later, allowing it to interact in some way with the store. The latter also includes a floor 11 resting on a chassis 12 by means of silentblocks 13 or rollers 111, distributed around the periphery of the floor 11 in an arrangement ensuring the balance of the assembly that they support. If casters 111 are used, the chassis 12 is provided with rails 112, intended to receive the casters [see Figure 6].

Said frame 12 is itself placed on the ground by means of six adjustable feet 14.

To improve user comfort, a rain shelter 15, rigid or in canvas, overhangs the front panel 10 of the structure. Finally, it should be noted that the assembly thus formed and constituting the store 1, is an autonomous module and requires only an electrical connection to be operational, once brought to the site by any means of transport. In order to avoid any risk of vandalism or burglary, the structure 2 is armored.

The store 1 includes a storage assembly, generally designated by the letter A, which is isolated from the entire store, and a part B of which is air-conditioned by the group 7 mentioned above, while a part C , reserved for products whose conservation requires a lower temperature, is refrigerated by a second refrigeration unit 16 fixed on the bottom 4 of the structure 2. ^ To avoid loss of cold, the storage assembly A is isolated overall by a first insulating coating 17 and in addition by a second insulating coating 18, intended more particularly for the refrigerated enclosure C. In certain embodiments, the entire store is thermally insulated. In this case, the first coating is not necessarily insulating.

The storage assembly A, thus defined, comprises a series of tubular racks 19, of square or rectangular section, defining housings whose volume and shape are adapted to the products of various sizes which they must contain, pending of an order from a user. These tubular racks 19 are arranged horizontally side by side and are of a length adapted to the number of the same product to be stored linearly in the same rack.

Each locker 19 contains products belonging to the same category. Tilting flaps 20, 21 contribute to ensuring the thermal insulation of said compartments by removably closing off the ends respectively back of product loading, and before delivery of the same product.

This delivery is made by means of a pusher arm 22 controlled by two vertical and horizontal positioning axes, respectively XX 'and YY'. The coordinate point of these axes corresponds to the position of a rack 19 containing the selected product and which, after being driven out by the pusher arm 22, is directed towards a receptacle 23 fixed and accessible to the user from the outside.

In this configuration, the positioning axes XX 'and YY' of the pusher arm 22 are constituted by a first magnetic cylinder without rod 24, horizontal and fixed, on which moves a second magnetic cylinder without rod 25, vertical and mobile, the one and the other being located at the rear of the tubular racks 19 along a plane parallel to these.

The first rodless cylinder 24 is therefore arranged, horizontally, above the storage assembly A by means of the plates 26 and 27.

The second rodless cylinder 25 is, for its part, suspended vertically by its upper end on a carriage 28 capable of sliding in translation on said aforementioned horizontal rodless cylinder 24. Also, the second cylinder without vertical rod 25 is guided, at its lower end, by a roller 29 rolling in a rail 30, or slide, arranged horizontally under the storage assembly A.

Preferably, the pusher arm 22 is constituted by a so-called telescopic thrust cylinder which is arranged perpendicular to the magnetic cylinder without vertical rod 25, by means of a carriage 31 movable thereon, and which, once positioned on the abscissa and on the ordinate, is capable of deploying along a horizontal axis ZZ 'corresponding substantially to that of a tubular rack 19 corresponding to a selected product.

Alternatively, the pusher arm can be constituted by a rodless cylinder on which a double-acting cylinder is superimposed. This latter arrangement makes it possible to obtain a reduced bulk for a determined thrust distance.

In another variant, the pusher arm can be constituted by a advancement device which essentially comprises a cable driven between two rollers by a motor. The cable, the end of which is oriented towards the product to be selected, is preferably provided with a push plate, has a diameter of the order of 10 mm and has sufficient rigidity so as not to bend too many coils at inside a rack 19 from which the product is to be taken out.

The part of the cable which is upstream of the rollers, is free to bend down from the magazine.

Thus, this variant makes it possible to reduce the size of the advancement device compared to, for example, a rod jack.

It is understood that, in this variant, the cable can still be replaced by a flexible rack. The thrust system 22 is fixed to the mobile carriage 31 by a clamping adapted to the half-shell system 32.

The control of the thrust system 22, along the axes XX ′ and YY ′, is carried out by means of two displacement sensors 33 and 34 coupled to a processing unit 35.

The receptacle 23 mentioned above is fixed and is accessible via a hatch 36 arranged on the front panel 10 of the store 1. This receptacle is supplied with selected products by means of an elevator 37 placed in front of the front plane of the tubular compartments 19 and slaved to position vertically at the level of the tubular compartment 19 concerned, then once the product has been collected, come and deposit it in the receptacle 23.

This control is obtained by a second cylinder 38 which we will call elevation cylinder, to distinguish it from the thrust cylinder 22 mentioned above.

The elevator 37 is constituted by two vertical uprights, of which Figure 3 shows only the upright 39 located on the right side, seen from the front face 10, of the magazine. The vertical upright 39 connects, between them, two inclined arms 40, 41 spaced vertically by a distance d corresponding substantially to half the "height H of the storage assembly A. The upright not shown, located on the left side of the store , is designed accordingly.

The inclined arms comprise, on their front parts, two series of parallel conveying rollers 42 and 43 and, on their rear parts, a yoke 44 connected to the end of the lifting cylinder 38, as regards the upper arm 42 , and a vertical guide roller 45 along the barrel of said cylinder 38, with respect to the lower arm 43. As a variant, each of the series of conveyor rollers 42, 43 can be replaced, independently of the other or in at the same time as the other, by a folded sheet serving as a guide for the product during its delivery into the receptacle 23. The control of the elevator 37 is effected by a displacement sensor 46.

In this way, a control in vertical displacement of said elevator 37, by means of the jack 38, makes it possible to bring the upper conveyor rollers 42 or lower 43 or one or the other of the sheets, respectively in front of a selected rack 19, located in the upper or lower half of the storage assembly A, thereby reducing the travel and, consequently, the travel time of the elevator 37. Each of the inclined arms 40, 41 supports respectively a photoelectric cell 47 and 48 allowing the detection of the output of a product, depending on whether the elevator 37, in fact two-stage, is located in the upper or lower part of the storage assembly A. The position of the receptacle 23 with respect to the elevator 37, and more particularly to its conveyor rollers 42, 43, is such that, whatever the position of the elevator, high or low, the rollers, respectively 43 or 42, are facing each other. opposite an opening 49 made in an internal panel 50. In fact, the internal panel 50 forms a double partition 51 with the front panel 10 and delimits therewith the receptacle 23.

The access flap 36 of the receptacle 23 is of a height Hl greater than the width L of the receptacle 23, hence the double partition 51, so that, when the flap 36 is opened, it this comes into abutment on the panel 50 and thus prohibits fraudulent access to the lockers 19, via the opening 49. In addition, in its lower part, the double partition 51 which is separated from the receptacle 37 by its own bottom 52, contains a distributor of plastic bags 54 constituted by a distributor roller 53 driven in unwinding by a motor 55, in connection with a driving roller 56 and a driven roller 57.

As a variant of the embodiment described so far, the automatic vending store can include elements represented schematically in FIG. 6. More specifically, these are first of all doors

101 made of insulating materials which are slidably mounted on the front and rear faces of the magazine so as to be able to removably close off the ends, respectively front and rear, of the part of racks 19 which are grouped in a specially refrigerated compartment D, corresponding in principle to enclosure C of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The doors 101, of which FIG. 6 only shows that arranged on the front face of the magazine, are mounted on rails

102 arranged above the storage assembly A and actuated by at least one jack 103.

Then, this variant embodiment also relates to the arrangement of the receptacle 23. It is located on the right side of the store and is accessible by the customer through a hatch (not shown) arranged on the front panel of the store, extended for this purpose, or fitted on a right side panel of the store.

The bottom of this receptacle 23 is advantageously formed by a net 71 which absorbs the fall of the products and prevents any retention of liquid.

A sliding and insulating shutter 72 obstructs access to the interior of the store when it is not in use. It improves thermal insulation and protects it from vandalism.

It is understood that the arrangement of the elevator 37 and the arrangement of the receptacle 23 can be reversed.

Finally, this alternative embodiment relates to the insertion of two conveyor belts 120 and 122 between the conveyor rollers 42, 43 and the receptacle 23. They bring the products to the receptacle 23 and improve the handling of the selected products, in particular bottles and products fragile for which shocks must be avoided. To this end, the conveyor belts 120, 122 which are arranged on the front face 10 of the magazine 1, spaced vertically at a distance corresponding approximately to that of the two series of conveyor rollers 42, 43, are made of rubber, in order to constitute shock absorbers, and provided with pins to improve the handling by the conveyor belts of the selected products, when they come out of the conveyor rollers and when they are transferred to the receptacle 23. The conveyor belts 120, 122 are each mounted on the at least two rollers, of which Figure 6 shows only one, referenced respectively 121 and 123, and one of which is driven by a motor (not shown). Each of the conveyor belts 120, 122 can be supported between its ends, either by a plurality of support rollers whose diameter is less than that of the rollers 121, 123, or by a sheet fixed to the arms 40 and 41 of the elevator. 37.

The treadmill principle can also be applied when the receptacle is placed on the front of the store. In such a case, each of the two conveyor belts is approximately the width of the conveyor rollers. It can also be replaced by two or more rubber bands with spikes, of smaller width, and be moved by, and around, rollers arranged parallel to the corresponding conveying rollers. The front panel 10 includes:

- an operating description 58,

- a table 59 for the designation of the products by photos, symbols, etc., contained in the storage assembly A with the prices and / or the bar codes, and / or the product numbers, of each of them . An indication of their availability may also be provided. - a selection device which can be, for example example, consisting of a pencil 60 barcode reader, or simply by keys or touch screen, computer menu or voice command, etc.

- a display or screen 61, possibly supplemented by voice assistance,

- a banknote reader 62,

- a coin mechanism 63,

a bank card reader 64, and / or private card reader, a device for issuing a receipt 65 from a printer 66 located behind the front panel 10,

- a dispenser 67 of sachets 54.

The operation of the store 1 which has just been described is as follows.

The payment systems 61, 62, 63 exchange information with the processing unit 35 via the cards of the assembly 69. When the user uses a means of payment, the display 61 displays the amount of available credit and the user selects the product with the barcode reader 60. This selection can also be made using a keyboard or a touch screen. The processing unit 35 actuates, by the card of the assembly 69, the hydraulic unit or air compressor 68 which allows the horizontal and vertical movement of the thrust system 22 by means of the magnetic rodless cylinders 24 and 25.

The output of the thrust system 22 is carried out quickly until the proximity sensor 70 has detected the proximity of the product, the processing unit 35 then regulates the flow rate of the hydraulic unit or of the air compressor 68. The product is pushed by the system 22 and its output is detected by the photoelectric cell 47 or 48. Then it is received on the elevator 37 by means of the rollers 42 or 43 then, depending on the embodiment or its variant, by the corresponding conveyor belt 120 or 122, and is conveyed towards the receptacle 23. The user pushes, according to the particular configuration of the store, the side hatch or the flap 36 and recovers the purchased product. If he selects the end-of-purchase procedure using the pencil 60 or a keyboard or touch screen, the coin mechanism 63 gives change or the bank card reader 64 returns the card. The printer 66 issues a sales receipt. The plastic bag dispenser 67 distributes a bag 54 by unrolling the roller 53 through the driving rollers 56 and led 57 driven by the motor 55.

According to particular embodiments: the energy can be oleohydraulic, pneumatic or electric,

- Linear displacement systems can be hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical or electrical, that is to say by drive of the pinion-chain type, gears, ball screws, belts or linear rulers with toothed belt. They can be driven by motors, continuous or stepping, controlled by the control unit.

By way of nonlimiting example, the reinforced concrete or streamlined metal structure will have dimensions of the order of 2.50 m for the width, 2.50 m for the height and 3.60 m for the length.

The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims, have the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of the latter, and in no way limit their scope.

Claims

1. Store (1) for automatic distribution of products arranged in a storage assembly (A) accessible to a user, comprising: a user interface (10) allowing the acquisition of the customer's choice and the recognition of a means of 'identification or payment,

- a receptacle (23) for making products available, - a product extraction device (22),

- a control unit receiving information from the user interface and controlling the extraction device (22), characterized in that the storage assembly (A) consists of at least one set of tubular racks (19) horizontal intended to each receive the products of a determined category, and in that the product extraction device comprises at least one pusher arm (22) horizontal, able to be placed in position opposite a selected rack, in depending on the user's choice.

2. Store according to claim 1, characterized in that the pusher arm (22) of the extraction device is placed in position by a first magnetic cylinder without rod (24), horizontal and fixed, on which moves a second magnetic cylinder without rod (25), vertical and movable, both being located at the rear of the tubular boxes (19) in a plane parallel to these.

3. Store according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the pusher arm (22) consists of a telescopic cylinder capable of deploying along a horizontal axis (ZZ ') corresponding substantially to that of a tubular rack (19) corresponding to a selected product.

4. Store according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has an air conditioning system (7) ensuring the maintenance of at least part of the storage assembly (8, A) at a storage temperature chosen as a function of the products contained in the tubular racks (19), part of these being insulated in a separate enclosure (C, D)) refrigerated at a lower temperature, according to a specific specific storage temperature certain products.

5. Store according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extraction device comprises a fixed receptacle (23) and an elevator (37) disposed in front of the front plane of the tubular racks (19) and slaved to position vertically at the level of the tubular rack (19) concerned, then once the product has been collected, come and place it in the receptacle (23).

6. Store according to claim 5, characterized in that the elevator (37) comprises at least one series of conveyor rollers (42, 43) arranged on a horizontal plane inclined towards the front and controlled in vertical displacement by the at least one elevator cylinder (38) located on at least one side of the storage assembly (A).

7. Store according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one conveyor belt (120, 122) of rubber and spikes is arranged in front of at least one series of conveyor rollers (42, 43) so as to ensure, by its shock absorbing effect, improved transfer of selected products.

8. Store according to claim 7, characterized in that the elevator (37) is constituted by a vertical upright (39) connecting between them two inclined arms (40, 41) spaced vertically at a distance (d) corresponding substantially to half the height (H) of the storage assembly (A) and which comprise, on their front parts, two series of parallel conveying rollers (42 and 43) and two shock-absorbing conveyor belts (120 , 122) and, on their rear parts, a yoke (44) connected to the end of the lifting cylinder (38), as regards the upper arm (42), and a roller (45) for vertical guidance along the barrel of said jack (38), with respect to the lower arm (43), so that a control in vertical movement of said elevator (37), via at least one jack (38) , allows to bring the upper (42) or lower (43) conveying rollers, respectively in front of a selected rack (19), located in the upper or lower half of the storage assembly (A), thus reducing the stroke and, consequently, the travel time of the elevator (37).

9. Store according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user interface comprises:

- a table of designation of the products contained in the storage unit with their prices and / or their bar codes, and / or the product numbers,

- a selection device, - a payment device in cash and / or by credit card, and / or by private card,

- an access flap (36) to the receptacle (23) in which the selected and paid goods are found, - a device for issuing a receipt

(65),

- a distributor (67) of packaging bags (54).

10. Store according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is part of a rigid self-supporting external structure (2) forming a armored fairing placed on silent blocks (13), themselves in connection with a chassis (12) sealed to the ground.

11. Store according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the tubular racks (19) of the separate enclosure (D), refrigerated according to a storage temperature specific to certain products, are closed, removably , by doors (101) of insulating materials, slidingly mounted on the front and rear faces of the magazine (1).