Abstract
A dispenser (1) for dispensing elongate beverage containers (2), in particular beverage cans, having: a housing (3) with a cylindrical housing part (4), a rear-side insertion opening (12) for inserting beverage containers (2) and a front-side removal element (6), open at the top, for removing the frontmost beverage container (2); a guide channel (10) with a sliding surface (11) sloping downwards towards the front for conveying the upright beverage containers (2) from the rear-side receiving opening (12) into the front-side removal element (6); a chiller device (9) for chilling the beverage containers (2); a clamping device (34) for clamping in place an edge region (35) of an advertising film (33) on the exterior of the cylindrical housing part (4), the clamping device (34) having, on a long side of the cylindrical housing part (4), a clamping strip (36) comprising at least one ventilation opening (37) for dissipating heated air from the chiller device (9) to the surroundings.
Claims
1: A dispenser (1) for dispensing elongate beverage containers (2), comprising: a housing (3) with a cylindrical housing part (4), a rear-side insertion opening (12) for inserting beverage containers (2) and a front-side removal element (6) open at the top, for removing the frontmost beverage container (2); a guide channel (10) with a sliding surface (11) sloping downwards towards the front for conveying the beverage containers (2) in an upright state from the rear-side receiving opening (12) into the front-side removal element (6); a chiller device (9) for chilling the beverage containers (2); and a clamping device (34) for clamping in place an edge region (35) of an advertising film (33) on the exterior of the cylindrical housing part (4), the clamping device (34) comprising on a long side of the cylindrical housing part (4) a clamping strip (36) comprising at least one ventilation opening (37) for dissipating heated air from the chiller device (9) to the surroundings.
2: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device (34) comprises two clamping strips (36) on opposite long sides of the cylindrical housing part (4) for clamping in place two opposite edge regions (35) of the advertising film (33), wherein respectively at least one ventilation opening (37) is formed at the two clamping strips (36).
3: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein a joint (34a) is provided for pivoting the clamping strip (36) from a releasing position releasing the edge region (35) of the advertising film (33) into a clamping position clamping in place the edge region (35) of the advertising film (33).
4: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation opening (37) on the clamping strip (36) is directed obliquely upwards in the clamping position.
5: The dispenser (1) according to claim 4, wherein the clamping strip (36) in the clamping position is arranged at an angle of 45° to 65°, or 50° to 60°, or substantially 55°, to the horizontal.
6: The dispenser (1) according to claim 3, wherein a detent device is provided for engaging the clamping strip (36) in the clamping position.
7: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein the clamping strip (36) extends substantially over the entire length of the cylindrical housing part (4).
8: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein on the inner side of the clamping strip (36) a rubber strip (39) is provided for securing the edge region (35) of the advertising film (33).
9: The dispenser (1) according to claim 8, wherein the rubber strip (39) comprises individual rubber lips (40) on the side facing the advertising film (33).
10: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein the clamping strip (36) comprises a number of ventilation openings (37).
11: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein lighting elements (41) are arranged beneath the clamping strip (36).
12: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one temperature sensor is provided for measuring the exterior temperature of a beverage container.
13: The dispenser (1) according to claim 12, wherein the temperature sensor for measuring the exterior temperature of the frontmost beverage container (2) is arranged in the removal element (6).
14: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chiller device (9) comprises two lateral chilling surfaces (28) substantially parallel to the lateral surfaces (20, 21) of the guide channel (10), and a curved chilling surface (29) substantially parallel to a curved abutment region (30) for the frontmost beverage container (2) on an inner wall (31) of the removal element (6).
15: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an advertising film, which is held on the cylindrical housing part (4) by means of the clamping device (34).
16: The dispenser (1) according to claim 14, wherein the advertising film (33) is formed at least partially from a light guide film.
17: The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein an elongate beverage container (2) is present, which is arranged in the removal element (6).
18: The dispenser (1) according to claim 10, wherein the ventilation openings (37) comprise ventilation slits provided at regular intervals along the clamping strip (36).
19: The dispenser (1) according to claim 11, wherein the lighting elements (41) comprise LEDs.
Description
[0039] The invention is explained further below by a preferred example embodiment, not limiting the invention.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a can dispenser according to the invention.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the can dispenser according to FIG. 1.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the can dispenser according to FIG. 1, 2.
[0043] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2.
[0044] FIG. 5 shows the detail Z of FIG. 4.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2.
[0046] FIG. 7 shows the detail Y of FIG. 6.
[0047] FIGS. 8 to 12 show successive steps on changing an advertising film of the can dispenser according to the invention.
[0048] The figures show a device, designated as dispenser 1, for dispensing elongate, at least partially substantially cylindrical beverage containers 2, which in the embodiment which is shown are formed by 250 ml beverage cans. The dispenser 1 has a housing 3 for receiving the beverage containers 2. The housing 3 has an upper, partially cylindrical housing part 4 and a lower, parallelepiped-shaped (or cuboid-shaped) housing part 5, which can be detachably connected with one another. On the front side, the device 1 has a removal element 6 in the form of a platform, at which a single beverage container 2 can be removed. For this purpose, the removal element 6 has a flat standing surface 14 (cf. FIG. 4), on which the beverage container 2 stands. The removal element 6 has on the upper side a removal opening 7, from which the beverage container 2 can be lifted out in a barrier-free manner, i.e. without removal of a cover or releasing of a closure device. The beverage container 2 projects upwards over a horizontal upper edge 8 of the removal element 6, in order to facilitate the removal of the beverage container 2. The dispenser 1 has, furthermore, a chiller device 9 (cf. FIG. 4), by which both the beverage containers 2 arranged within the housing 3 and also the beverage container 2 arranged within the removal element 6 can be chilled.
[0049] As can be seen from FIG. 3, a display element 44, e.g. a light-emitting diode, is arranged on the rear side of the housing 3, which emits a signal, in particular a light signal, when no beverage container 2 is situated in the dispenser 1. The presence of the beverage containers 2 is monitored by presence sensors (not shown).
[0050] As can be seen from FIG. 4, 6, the housing 3 has a conveying- and guide channel 10, extended in longitudinal direction of the housing 3, within the housing 3, with a sliding surface 11, inclined forward to the horizontal, in the direction of the removal element 6, on the underside. The width of the guide channel 10, i.e. its shorter extent in cross-section perpendicularly to the conveying direction, is less than the height of the guide channel 10, i.e. its extent perpendicularly to the sliding surface 11. Thereby, the beverage containers 2 can slide in upright or respectively vertical state along the sliding surface 11 of the guide channel 10, in contrast to a rolling bearing as in many known can dispensers. Accordingly, a beverage container 2, in (still) unfilled state of the device 1, can slip into the removal element 6 under the influence of gravity. In so doing, the base surface of the beverage container 2, facing away from the drinking opening, slides on the sliding surface 11 of the guide channel 10. As soon as the beverage container 2 is removed, the beverage container 2 arranged therebehind slips along from the guide channel 10 into the removal element 6. For this purpose, the housing 3 has at the side of the removal element 6 a delivery opening, extended substantially perpendicularly to the sliding surface 11, which delivery opening is shaped substantially in accordance with the beverage container 2. The lateral faces 20, 21 of the guide channel 10 extend partially in the lower housing part 5 and partially in the upper housing part 4.
[0051] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the housing 3 has on the side facing away from the removal element 6 a receiving opening 12, extended substantially perpendicularly to the sliding surface, for the inserting of beverage containers 2 into the guide channel 10. For closing the receiving opening 12, a closure element 13 is provided, which in the embodiment which is shown is configured as a flap which is pivotable between a position of use, closing the receiving opening 12 (cf. FIG. 3), and a loading position (not shown), freeing the receiving opening 12.
[0052] In the embodiment which is shown, the housing 3 is connected with a stand element 16, which is placed on a flat placement surface, wherein the housing 3 is arranged with the sliding surface 11 at an angle to the horizontal, which enables an automatic sliding of the beverage containers 2 over the sliding surface 11. In the embodiment which is shown, the stand element 16 has a bracket 17 resting in a flat manner on the placement surface. Thereby, a free space is created between the upper side of the bracket 17 and the underside of the lower housing part 5.
[0053] As can be seen from FIG. 6, the guide channel 10 has on the upper side, i.e. opposite the sliding surface 11, a flat retaining surface 19, extended parallel to the sliding surface 11, to secure the beverage containers 2 in the guide channel 10 against tipping over. Furthermore, the guide channel 10 has in each case a first lateral surface 20 and a second lateral surface 21, which are extended substantially perpendicularly to the sliding surface 11. The height of the guide channel 10, i.e. the extent between the sliding surface 10 and the retaining surface 19 is 1.0055 times greater in the embodiment which is shown, than the height of the beverage container 2 arranged therein. In the case of the 250 ml beverage can, the height of the guide channel 10 amounts to substantially 135.75 mm, and the height of the beverage container 2 arranged therein amounts to substantially 135 mm. The width of the guide channel 10 between the first lateral surface 20 and second lateral surface 21 amounts to substantially 54.5 mm.
[0054] As can be seen from FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the chiller device 9 in the embodiment which is shown has a chiller element 22, which is connected with two Peltier elements 24 via two cold transmission elements 23 in the form of metal blocks. The Peltier elements 24 are connected with cooling fins 26 via heat conductors 25. In the lower region of the housing 3, a fan 27 is arranged, in order to transport the heated air out from the housing 3.
[0055] As can be seen from FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the chiller element 22 has two lateral chilling surfaces 28, along the lateral surfaces 20, 21 of the guide channel 10. The lateral chilling surfaces 28 preferably extent over at least half the height of the guide channel 10. In addition, the chiller element 22 has a curved chilling surface 29 (cf. in detail FIG. 5) in the removal element 6, which in the embodiment which is shown has the same height as the lateral chilling surfaces 28. The curved chilling surface 29 extends along a curved abutment region 30 on an inner wall 31 of the removal element 6, which stands up from the standing surface 14 of the removal element 6. In the embodiment which is shown, the curved chilling surface 29, viewed in longitudinal section through the dispenser 1 (parallel to the sliding surface 11) is configured in a substantially semi-circular manner. The curved chilling surface 29 at the abutment region 30 of the removal element 6 is connected with the lateral chilling surfaces 28 at the lateral surfaces 20, 21 of the guide channel 10 via flat connecting chilling surfaces 32. For the formation of the chiller element 22, a plate part made of a material having good heat-conducting properties, here metal, for example aluminium, is provided, on which the lateral chilling surfaces 20, 21 along the guide channel 10, and the front chilling surfaces 29, 32 along the inner wall 31 of the removal element 6, are formed in one piece. In the embodiment which is shown, the removal element 6 has an insulation 15. Furthermore, at least one temperature sensor (not shown) can be provided for measuring the exterior temperature of a beverage container 2. To measure the exterior temperature of the frontmost beverage container 2 at least one temperature sensor is arranged in the removal element 6.
[0056] As can be seen from FIG. 1 (cf. also FIG. 10), an advertising film 33 is arranged on the exterior of the cylindrical housing part 4. In order to enable a changing of the advertising film 33, a clamping device 34 (cf. in detail FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) is provided for the clamping of opposite edge regions 35 of the advertising film 33 against the exterior of the cylindrical housing part 4. The clamping device 34 has on each long side, therefore on the sides extended in longitudinal direction of the guide channel 10, of the cylindrical housing part 4, a clamping strip 36 which extends respectively substantially over the entire length (i.e. extent in longitudinal direction of the guide channel 10) of the cylindrical housing part 4. The clamping strips 36 are arranged pivotably on the housing 3 via joints 34a (cf. FIG. 6). For changing the advertising film 33, the clamping strips 36 can be pivoted from a clamping position clamping the opposite edge regions 35 of the advertising film 33 (cf. FIG. 1) into a releasing position releasing the edge regions 35 of the advertising film 33 (cf. FIG. 9). In the position of use of the dispenser 1, the clamping strips 36 are fixed in the clamping position via in each case a detent device (not shown).
[0057] As can be seen furthermore from FIG. 1, the clamping strips 36 have respectively a plurality of ventilation openings 37 in the form of ventilation slits, which are arranged at regular intervals along the clamping strips 36. Via the ventilation openings 37 the heated air from the operation of the chiller device 9 can be dissipated substantially better to the surroundings than would be possible only with conventional ventilation openings 38 at the lower housing part 5. The ventilation openings 37 at the clamping strips 36 are directed obliquely upwards in the clamping position. The angle of the clamping strips 36 (and hence of the ventilation openings 37) is arranged in the clamping position at an angle of 45° to 65°, preferably of 50° to 60°, in particular substantially 55°, to the horizontal.
[0058] As can be seen from FIG. 6 (and in the detail from FIG. 7), on the inner side of the clamping strip 36 a rubber strip 39 is fastened for securing the edge region 35 of the advertising film 33. The rubber strip 39 has at the side of the advertising film 33 individual rubber lips 40 which improve the hold on the advertising film 33.
[0059] As can be seen from FIG. 6, lighting elements 41, here LEDs, are arranged beneath the clamping strip 36. The advertising film 33 is illuminated by the lighting elements 41, said advertising film being preferably configured here as a light guide film for this purpose.
[0060] The sequence during changing of the advertising film 33 can be seen from FIGS. 8 to 12. Firstly, a tool 42 is brought into engagement with the ventilation openings 37 on the clamping strip 36 (FIG. 8). Subsequently, the clamping strip 36 can be pivoted outwards into the releasing position by means of the tool 42 (FIG. 9). Also on the opposite long side, the clamping strip 36 is released. Thereafter, the advertising film 33 can be removed and replaced by another advertising film. The new advertising film is fixed by the clamping strips 36 again (FIG. 11). In use of the dispenser 1, the exhaust air of the chiller device 9 flows obliquely upwards out of the ventilation slits of the clamping strips 36 (cf. arrow 43 in FIG. 12).
