TRAY PRODUCT PUSHER-PULLER DEVICE FOR A VENDING MACHINE AND VENDING MACHINE

Abstract

A tray product pusher-puller device for a vending machine that allows a very high thrust to be achieved in order to move heavy products while at the same time ensuring that the storage surface that constitutes the unitary puller is easily cleanable and removable, in addition to providing the product with a stable base for storage, wherein the invention further relates to the vending machine comprising said pusher-puller device.

Claims

1. A tray product pusher-puller device for a vending machine, wherein the pusher-puller comprises: a base where the products to be dispensed are arranged; a chain comprising a set of links, wherein the chain in turn comprises a first end configured to come into contact with the products to be dispensed; and an actuator of the chain configured to, at least, move the chain in a forward direction of the products towards a dispensing or collection area thereof.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the chain comprises a pusher arranged at the first end of the chain, which pusher is essentially vertical.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the chain comprises a second end arranged below the base where the products to be dispensed are arranged.

4. The device of claim 1, comprising a fairing inside which is arranged the actuator configured to carry out the movement of the first end of the chain and the second end of the chain in an essentially horizontal direction, wherein the first end of the chain and the second end of the chain can be moved in opposite directions.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein inside the fairing there is a toothed drive pinion gear rotatably mounted inside the fairing and configured to contact at least a portion of the links of the chain, wherein the links of the chain comprise at least one curved surface configured to contact a curved surface arranged between each pair of teeth of the toothed pinion gear.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the toothed pinion gear and consequently to, at least, move the chain in a forward direction of the products towards a dispensing or collection area thereof.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the links of the chain comprise a projection configured to be in contact with a stop during the forward movement of said links during the movement of the chain in the forward direction of the products towards a dispensing or collection area thereof.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the links can rotate up to 72 between adjacent links in a first direction around a rotation shaft so that the chain can be rotated 180 while the links engage with the toothed pinion gear.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the stop projection assemblies prevent the chain from rotating in the opposite direction to the first direction.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the projection is coupled to the rotation shaft of a link adjacent to the link where the stop is arranged.

11. The device of claim 1, comprising a gearbox and a clutch, wherein the actuator is configured to perform the engagement of the gearbox with the clutch, such that when the actuator is activated, the clutch engages with the gearbox and the chain and, therefore, the products move.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein when the puller is at rest, if the pusher is manually acted upon forward, the gearbox is disengaged and the pusher can be freely moved backwards to reload the products onto the base.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the base where the products to be dispensed are arranged can be removed from the tray and/or the chain.

14. The device of claim 5, wherein the chain is limited internally by the toothed drive pinion gear and externally by the fairing itself.

15. A vending machine comprising at least one tray comprising at least one device of claim 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] To complement the description made herein and for a better understanding of the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which, for illustrative purposes and not limiting the scope of the invention, the following is shown:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a pusher-puller of the present invention arranged in a tray.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of several pusher-pullers such as the one of the present invention arranged on a tray.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the pusher-puller of the present invention in a working position, where the products arranged on the base are not shown.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view AA of FIG. 2.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows an opposite view to FIG. 4 where only the chain and the fairing with all its components have been represented.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the projections and the stops of adjacent links of the chain of the pusher-puller of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view of the clutch of the pusher-puller in an engaged position.

[0038] FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional view of the clutch of the pusher-puller in a disengaged position.

[0039] FIG. 8A shows the pusher-puller in a working position.

[0040] FIG. 8B shows the pusher-puller in a withdrawn position from the base where the products to be dispensed are arranged.

[0041] FIGS. 9A and 9B show links in position to be joined, viewed from above and below, respectively.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Next, we will proceed to describe in detail the tray product pusher-puller device for a vending machine.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a tray product pusher-puller device for a vending machine according to the invention arranged on a tray (50) of the machine (not shown), wherein the tray product pusher-puller device for a vending machine, wherein the pusher-puller comprises: [0044] a base (1) where the products to be dispensed are arranged; [0045] a chain (2) comprising a set of links (3), wherein the chain (2) in turn comprises a first end (4) configured to come into contact with the products to be dispensed; and [0046] actuating means (5, 6, 7, 8) of the chain (2) configured to, at least, move the chain (2) in a forward direction of the products towards a dispensing or collection area thereof.

[0047] Preferably, the chain (2) comprises a pusher (16) arranged at the first end (4) of the chain (2), which pusher is essentially vertical.

[0048] The chain (2) comprises a second end (9) arranged below the base (1) where the products to be dispensed are arranged.

[0049] The pusher-puller comprises a fairing (19) inside which are arranged the drive means (5, 6, 7, 8) configured to carry out the movement of the first end (4) of the chain (2) and the second end (9) of the chain (2) in an essentially horizontal direction, wherein the first end (4) of the chain (2) and the second end (9) of the chain (2) can be moved in opposite directions, as seen in the arrows included in FIG. 4.

[0050] Inside the fairing (19) there is a toothed drive pinion gear (6) rotatably mounted inside the fairing (19) and configured to contact at least a portion of the links (3) of the chain (2), wherein the links (3) of the chain (2) comprise at least one curved surface (10) configured to contact a curved surface (11) arranged between each pair of teeth of the toothed pinion gear (6).

[0051] The drive means (5, 6, 7, 8) are configured to drive the toothed pinion gear (6) and consequently to, at least, move the chain (2) in a forward direction of the products towards a dispensing or collection area thereof.

[0052] The links (3) of the chain (2) comprise a projection (12), preferably being essentially horizontal, configured to be in contact with a stop (13), preferably being essentially horizontal, during the forward movement of said links (3) during the movement of the chain (2) in the forward direction of the products towards a dispensing or collection area thereof. The links (3) can rotate up to 72 between adjacent links in a first direction around a rotation axis (14) so that the chain (2) can be rotated 180 while the links (3) engage with the toothed pinion gear (6). The stop (13)-projection (12) assembly prevents the chain (2) from rotating in the opposite direction.

[0053] Each link (3) comprises a rotation shaft (14), where the projection (12) is coupled to the rotation shaft (14) of a link (3) adjacent to the link (3) where the stop (13) with which it makes contact is arranged. Preferably, once coupled in the stops (13), the projections (12) form a stepped surface.

[0054] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the pusher-puller comprises a gearbox (7) and a clutch (8), wherein the drive means (5, 6, 7, 8) are configured to perform the engagement of the gearbox (7) with the clutch (8), such that when the drive means (5, 6, 7, 8) are activated, the clutch (8) engages with the gearbox (7) and the chain (2) and, therefore, the products move. Intentionally, when the puller is at rest, if the pusher (16) is manually acted upon forward, the gearbox (7) is disengaged and the pusher (16) can be freely moved backwards to reload the products onto the base (1).

[0055] The base (1) where the products to be dispensed are arranged can be removed from the tray (50) and the chain (2), making it easier to clean.

[0056] Optionally, the base (1) where the products to be dispensed are arranged can have different widths, as shown in FIG. 2, to serve as a support for products of different widths, as well as to be able to prepare the products to be dispensed in each of the trays (50) by varying the width of the bases (1) arranged thereon.