U.S. patent application number 12/735959 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-03 for automatic dispenser.
Invention is credited to Andrea Benetello, Adriano Marin.
Application Number | 20110024441 12/735959 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40292221 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110024441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marin; Adriano ; et
al. |
February 3, 2011 |
AUTOMATIC DISPENSER
Abstract
The present invention relates to an automatic dispenser equipped
with an ejection assembly which includes at least a geared motor,
an ejection device fitted to the output shaft of the geared motor,
and detection means configured to detect the movement of the
ejection device, wherein the detection means includes at least one
magnet associated with the output shaft of the geared motor, and at
least one magnetic sensor positioned in a manner such as to detect
when the magnet passes through a predetermined region; and the
ejection assembly further includes an overcurrent protection device
connected electrically upstream of the geared motor.
Inventors: |
Marin; Adriano; (Este,
IT) ; Benetello; Andrea; (Padova, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ABELMAN, FRAYNE & SCHWAB
666 THIRD AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
40292221 |
Appl. No.: |
12/735959 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
December 22, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2008/003571 |
371 Date: |
October 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/2 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/16 20060101
B65H003/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 25, 2008 |
IT |
MI2008U000073 |
Claims
1. An automatic dispenser equipped with an ejection assembly,
wherein said ejection assembly comprises at least: a geared motor,
an ejection device fitted to the output shaft of said geared motor,
detection means configured to detect the movement of said ejection
device, wherein said detection means comprise: at least one magnet
associated with the output shaft of said geared motor, at least one
magnetic sensor positioned in a manner such as to detect when said
at least one magnet passes through a predetermined region; and
wherein said ejection assembly additionally comprises: an
overcurrent protection device connected electrically upstream of
said geared motor.
2. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising two
magnets associated with the output shaft of said geared motor, said
magnets being positioned in a manner such as to pass through said
predetermined region when said geared motor is rotating.
3. The automatic dispenser of claim 2, wherein said two magnets are
located at such a distance as to form an angle between 30.degree.
and 90.degree. with the axis of said shaft.
4. The automatic dispenser of claim 3, further comprising a third
magnet associated with the output shaft of said geared motor, said
third magnet being positioned in a manner such as to pass through
said predetermined region when said geared motor is rotating, and
wherein said third magnet is located at such a distance from one of
said two magnets as to form an angle of approximately 180.degree.
with the axis of said shaft.
5. The automatic dispenser of claim 2, wherein said geared motor is
configured to rotate in both directions and to reverse its
direction of rotation.
6. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein said magnetic sensor
is a magnetic proximity sensor and comprises a Hall effect sensor
or a Reed contact sensor or an inductive sensor.
7. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein said overcurrent
protection device comprises a fuse or a magnetic switch or a
thermal switch or a PTC.
8. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein said overcurrent
protection device is a resettable one.
9. The automatic dispenser of claim 8, wherein said magnetic sensor
is a magnetic proximity sensor and comprises a Hall effect sensor,
and said overcurrent protection device comprises a PPTC.
10. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein said geared motor
comprises a direct current electric motor.
11. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising: an
electric drive circuitry for driving said geared motor, at least
two electric conductors connected to said electric drive circuitry
at a first end and to said geared motor at a second end; and
wherein said magnetic sensor and said overcurrent protection device
are arranged at said second end.
12. The automatic dispenser of claim 11, further comprising a power
supply circuitry arranged at said second end for supplying power to
said geared motor and/or to said magnetic sensor, and wherein said
overcurrent protection device is connected electrically upstream of
said power supply circuitry.
13. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a
cylindrical or prismatic element fitted to the output shaft of said
geared motor, wherein said at least one magnet is secured onto or
within said cylindrical or prismatic element.
14. The automatic dispenser of claim 1, wherein said ejection
device is either a spiral or a screw.
15. The automatic dispenser of claim 1 being an articles dispenser,
in particular a dispenser configured to dispense foods and/or
beverages.
16. The automatic dispenser of claim 1 by being a doses dispenser,
in particular a dispenser configured to dispense powder or
granulated material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.371 to
international application No. PCT/IB2008/003571, filed Dec. 22,
2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to an
automatic dispenser.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] A typical application of the present invention is the field
of articles automatic dispensers that are commonly called "vending
machines" are used for dispensing, upon payment, various types of
products, in particular foods and beverages. The present
description will refer in particular to the field of articles
dispensers, even though the present invention is not limited to
such an application.
[0005] Articles automatic dispensers equipped with an articles
ejection assembly are currently available on the market; said
assembly comprises at least a "geared motor" (i.e. a unit
incorporating an electric motor and a motion reduction mechanism),
a metal spiral fitted to the output shaft of the geared motor, a
cylindrical element fitted to the output shaft of the geared motor,
and a microswitch arranged close to the cylindrical element.
[0006] The articles to be dispensed are inserted between the coils
of the metal spiral and generally consist of bottles or packaged
snacks; as the spiral makes one full revolution, all products
advance axially by a distance corresponding to the spiral pitch,
and the article which arrives at the free end of the spiral thus
becomes ready to be dispensed, for example, by letting it fall by
gravity into a collection cavity.
[0007] An ejection device like the one described above is shown
schematically in FIG. 1, wherein 1 is the geared motor (10 being
the external housing thereof), 11 is the output shaft thereof
having an axis of rotation 11A, 2 is the spiral, 3 is the
cylindrical element, and 4 is the microswitch (40 being the
external housing thereof); the cylindrical element 3 and the
microswitch 4 are shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in two
different reciprocal positions.
[0008] As can be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the cylindrical element
3 has a radial recess 31; the microswitch 4 is arranged close to
the cylindrical element 3 in a manner such that, when the shaft 11
of the geared motor 1 is rotating, the actuator 41 of the
microswitch 4 is pressed and released cyclically by the cylindrical
element 3; the microswitch 4 is held pressed (FIG. 3) for almost
one full revolution and is then released (FIG. 2) for a short time;
by detecting the opening and closing actions of the microswitch 4
it is possible to control the geared motor 1 and obtain the
delivery of one article at a time.
[0009] This microswitch-based electromechanical solution has been
used in "vending machines" for a long time.
[0010] A first drawback of such a solution is that the microswitch
may bounce back to some extent when abruptly pressed and released,
thus causing wrong detections of the rotation of the geared motor
and therefore of the advance of the articles, hence leading to
article delivery problems.
[0011] These problems are generally overcome by using special
high-quality microswitches and/or by making the pressing/releasing
action less abrupt; in spite of these corrective steps, problems
may still arise which require a call to the "vending machine"
service technician.
[0012] A second drawback of such a solution is that the ejection
assembly sometimes gets stalled or braked due to an anomalous
positioning of the articles to be delivered; such anomalous
positioning may occur when the articles are being loaded into the
dispenser or, more often, during the operation of the dispenser, in
particular during the actuation of the ejection assembly; this
causes article delivery problems as well as damage to the electric
motor of the geared motor, which is stalled or braked just when
power is being supplied to it--this anomalous condition of the
electric motor may cause even worse material and personal
damage.
[0013] These problems can be prevented by checking that the article
is delivered correctly every time the ejection assembly is
actuated, e.g. through a sensor detecting that the article has
fallen or is present in the collection cavity; if delivery has not
taken place, the dispense stops, awaiting an intervention by a
service technician. However, if the ejection assembly is not
stalled, but is only braked, the fault will not be detected and
risks of damage will result.
[0014] It is the general object of the present invention to provide
a solution which is alternative to the prior art and which
overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks, in particular as far as a
regular and reliable articles delivery is concerned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] These and other objects are achieved through the automatic
dispenser having the features set out in the appended claims, which
are intended as an integral part of the present description.
[0016] The present invention is based on the innovative concept of
detecting the mechanic operation of the ejection device through a
magnetic sensor and the electric operation of the ejection device
through an overcurrent protection device.
[0017] In particular, the present invention advantageously employs
at least one magnet (preferably two or three magnets) mechanically
associated with the output shaft of the geared motor, and a Hall
effect sensor as well as a PPTC [Polymeric Positive Temperature
Coefficient, i.e. a particular type of PTC] connected electrically
upstream of the geared motor.
[0018] As an alternative to the Hall effect sensor (but less
advantageously), a different type of magnetic proximity sensor may
be used: for instance, a Reed contact sensor or an inductive
sensor.
[0019] As an alternative to the PPTC (but less advantageously), a
different type of overcurrent protection device may be used: for
example, a fuse (electric fuse, thermal fuse, . . . ) or a magnetic
switch (magnetothermal switch, relay, . . . ) or a thermal switch
(with a bimetallic foil) or a traditional PTC.
[0020] With this solution, the detection of the movement of the
ejection device becomes simple, accurate and reliable; it follows
that the automatic dispenser can determine accurately and reliably
if an article, for example, has been delivered correctly in a
manner substantially independent of the weight and size of the
article itself, while preparing itself accurately and reliably for
the next delivery operation as well.
[0021] Furthermore, with this solution the automatic dispenser can
determine if the electric motor of the geared motor of the ejection
assembly is operating in proper conditions, and therefore if
delivery can continue regularly.
[0022] A first important advantage offered by the present invention
is that it does not require the presence of long, complex and
awkward wirings inside the vending machine.
[0023] A second important advantage offered by the present
invention is that, should anomalous electric conditions arise, the
operation of the ejection device will be automatically stopped
electrically; also, when a PPTC (which is a resettable device) is
used, the operation of the ejection device can be restored simply
by switching off and on the power to the ejection assembly (in
particular to the geared motor) without having to replace any
component.
[0024] A third important advantage offered by the present invention
is that the overcurrent protection device provides protection
against anomalous electric conditions due not only to the electric
motor of the geared motor getting stalled or braked, but also to
any anomalous absorption of electric current (e.g. short
circuits).
[0025] The present invention applies to articles dispensers, in
particular for foods and/or beverages, as well as to doses
dispensers, in particular for powder material (e.g. powder coffee)
or granulated material (e.g. granulated coffee or combustible
pellets).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The present invention, and in particular the technical
features and advantages thereof, will become more apparent from the
following description referring to the annexed drawings,
wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a much simplified mechanic diagram of an
article ejection assembly according to the present invention; this
is a general diagram which is applicable, to a large extent, to
prior-art assemblies as well as to assemblies according to the
present invention,
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a cylindrical element and a microswitch
according to the prior art, in a first reciprocal position,
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a cylindrical element and a microswitch
according to the prior art, in a second reciprocal position,
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a cylindrical element and a magnetic sensor
according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a first
reciprocal position,
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a cylindrical element and a magnetic sensor
according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a second
reciprocal position,
[0032] FIG. 6 shows a cylindrical element and a magnetic sensor
according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a third
reciprocal position,
[0033] FIG. 7 shows a cylindrical element and a magnetic sensor
according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a fourth
reciprocal position, and
[0034] FIG. 8 is a simplified mechanic/electric diagram of an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] Said description and said drawings are explanatory only and
non-limiting; additionally, they are schematic and simplified.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] The present invention will now be described with reference
to FIG. 1 as well as to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG.
8.
[0037] The automatic dispenser according to the present invention
is equipped with an ejection assembly; said assembly comprises at
least:
[0038] a geared motor (1 in FIG. 1),
[0039] an ejection device (2 in FIG. 1) fitted either directly or
indirectly to the output shaft (11 in FIG. 1) of the geared motor
(1 in FIG. 1),
[0040] detection means (3 and 5 combined together in FIG. 1)
configured to detect the movement of the ejection device (2 in FIG.
1); the detection means comprise:
[0041] at least one magnet (32 and/or 33 in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6
and FIG. 7) associated with the output shaft (11 in FIG. 1) of the
geared motor (1 in FIG. 1),
[0042] at least one magnetic sensor (5 in FIG. 1) positioned in a
manner such as to detect when said at least one magnet (32 and/or
33 in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) passes through a
predetermined region (51A in FIG. 1),
[0043] an overcurrent protection device (8 in FIG. 8) connected
electrically upstream of said geared motor (1 in FIG. 8).
[0044] According to this solution, the detection of the movement of
the ejection device is simple, accurate and reliable; it follows
that the automatic dispenser can determine accurately and reliably
if an article has been delivered correctly in a manner
substantially independent of the weight and size of the article
itself, while preparing itself accurately and reliably for the next
delivery operation as well. An important advantage offered by the
present invention is that it does not require the presence of long,
complex and awkward wirings inside the vending machine.
[0045] Furthermore, with this solution the automatic dispenser can
determine if the electric motor of the geared motor of the ejection
assembly is operating in proper conditions, and therefore if
delivery can continue regularly. An important advantage offered by
the present invention is that, should anomalous electric conditions
arise, the operation of the ejection device will be automatically
stopped electrically; also, another important advantage of the
present invention is that the overcurrent protection device
provides protection against anomalous electric conditions due not
only to the electric motor of the geared motor getting stalled or
braked, but also to any anomalous absorption of electric current
(e.g. short circuits).
[0046] The overcurrent protection device is preferably a PPTC; as a
matter of fact, said component increases very much its resistance
quickly when a current above a predetermined threshold flows
through it, and then such high resistance is maintained until power
is cut off; the thermal inertia of the PPTC is sufficient to
prevent any short current peaks from cutting off the power supply
to the geared motor, in the absence of any dangerous
conditions.
[0047] In the example of FIG. 1, the ejection device is a metal
spiral 2 fitted to the output shaft 11 of the geared motor 1
through a flange 6.
[0048] In the example of FIG. 1, the magnetic sensor 5 is connected
electrically to an electronic control unit 7 configured to, among
other things, control the rotation of the geared motor 1 and cause
the articles to be delivered.
[0049] In the example of FIG. 1, the magnetic sensor 5 comprises a
small electronic board 50 and a Hall effect sensor 51 fitted to the
board 50 (as can be seen only in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG.
7); the sensor 51 has a detection region 51A within which the
sensor 51 can detect a magnetic field.
[0050] In the example of FIG. 1, two magnets 32 and 33 are
associated with the output shaft 11 of the geared motor 1 (as can
be seen only in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7); the magnets 32
and 33 are arranged in a manner such as to pass through the
detection region 51A of the sensor 51 when the geared motor 1 is
rotating. In FIG. 4 no magnet is within the detection region 51A of
the sensor 51; in FIG. 5 the magnet 32 is within the detection
region 51A of the sensor 51; in FIG. 6 no magnet is within the
detection region 51A of the sensor 51; in FIG. 7 the magnet 33 is
within the detection region 51A of the sensor 51.
[0051] In the example of FIG. 1, the two magnets 32 and 33 are
located at such a distance as to form an angle between 30.degree.
and 90.degree. with the axis 11A of the shaft 11 (as can be seen
only in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7); in particular, said
angle is approximately 45.degree..
[0052] In the example of FIG. 1, as well as in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG.
6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the geared motor 1 is configured to rotate in
both directions and to reverse its direction of rotation; as a
consequence, this also applies to the shaft 11 and to the device 2;
it should be noted that the direction of rotation associated with
the normal operation of the ejection assembly is indicated in FIG.
4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.
[0053] Said possibility of reversing the direction of rotation is
very useful should any articles become trapped in the ejection
device; in fact, if the dispenser detects a jam while rotation in
the normal working direction is taking place in the ejection
assembly, the dispenser can reverse the direction of rotation of
the geared motor.
[0054] Advantageously, the reversal of the direction of rotation
lasts for a short time and can be controlled by using the two
magnets 32 and 33; in fact, between two successive detections of
the magnet 32 or magnet 33 by the sensor 51 the shaft 11 and the
device 2 make one revolution, whereas between the detection of the
magnet 32 and the detection of the magnet 33 the shaft 11 and the
device 2 make only a small portion of a revolution, in particular
about one eighth of a revolution.
[0055] The article ejection assembly according to the illustrated
example may operate as follows. The dispenser receives a request
for an article by a user and causes the articles ejection device 2
to make one full revolution by means of the geared motor 1; the
rotation of the geared motor 1 takes place in the time interval
between two successive detections of the magnet 32; if the
dispenser realizes that the article has not been delivered, it will
reverse the direction of rotation of the geared motor 1 for a time
interval between the detection of the magnet 32 and the detection
of the magnet 33, and then it will reverse the direction of
rotation of the geared motor 1 again for a time interval between
the detection of the magnet 33 and the detection of the magnet 32;
such a sequence of two consecutive reversals may even be repeated
several times; it may also be provided that, if the article is
still not delivered after three repetitions, for example, the
dispenser will generate a visual and/or audible error signal.
[0056] The dispenser can be made to operate as described above
under the control of the electronic control unit 7, in particular
thanks to a program of a microcontroller internal to the unit
7.
[0057] A third magnet associated with the output shaft 11 of the
geared motor 1 may additionally be employed, arranged in such a
position as to pass through the detection region 51A when the
geared motor 1 is rotating; in this case, the third magnet is
located at such a distance from one of said two magnets 32 and 33
as to form an angle of approximately 180.degree. with the axis 11A
of said shaft 11; thus the unit 7 can detect half-turn rotations of
the shaft 11 and of the device 2.
[0058] In the example of FIG. 1 there is a cylindrical element 3,
which may alternatively be a prismatic one, fitted either directly
or indirectly to the output shaft 11 of the geared motor 1; the
magnets 32 and 33 are secured onto or within said element 3; this
fixing may be realized through only or also the use of glue.
[0059] As aforementioned, the present invention is also applicable
to doses dispensers, in particular for powder material (e.g. powder
coffee) or granulated material (e.g. granulated coffee or
combustible pellets).
[0060] A doses ejection assembly suitable for this application may
be, for example, similar to the one shown in FIG. 1, provided that
the spiral is replaced with a screw; the (rotary) screw is used for
creating and ejecting the doses.
[0061] In this case as well, there may be jamming problems (e.g.
jammed pellets or coffee grains) and/or problems of incorrect or
irregular dose ejection (e.g. due to powder of the material to be
delivered getting compacted/cemented in the screw).
[0062] The diagram of FIG. 8 shows the geared motor 1 and an
electric drive circuitry 71 connected electrically to each other by
means of at least two electric conductors C1 and C2; the geared
motor thus receives the electric power it needs to operate from the
circuitry 71 through the conductors C1 and C2.
[0063] The circuitry 71 is arranged at a first end E1 of the
conductors C1 and C2, and belongs to the electronic control unit
7.
[0064] The geared motor 1 (which comprises a direct current
electric motor) is arranged at a second end E2 of the conductors C1
and C2, together with the magnetic sensor 51 (which is a Hall
effect sensor) and an overcurrent protection device 8 (which is a
PPTC); the output signal of the sensor 51 then arrives at the unit
7 (this is not shown in FIG. 8).
[0065] At the second end E2 there is also a circuitry 9 for
supplying power to the geared motor 1 and to the sensor 51; in
particular, the circuitry 9 comprises a sub-circuitry 91 for
supplying power to the geared motor 1 and a sub-circuitry 92 for
supplying power to the sensor 51; the sub-circuitry 91 may
comprise, for example, a diode (connected along the conductor C1)
or a diode bridge, and possibly a capacitor (connected across the
conductors C1 and C2); the sub-circuitry 92 may comprise, for
example, a series connection of a resistor and a Zener diode whose
intermediate tap is used for supplying power to the sensor 51.
[0066] With reference to the example of FIG. 8, at the end E2 the
device 8 is placed first across the conductors C1 and C2, followed
by the circuitry 9 and the geared motor 1.
[0067] It is also conceivable that the operation of the PPTC is
detected by the dispenser (e.g. by its electronic control unit) and
that the dispenser itself generates a visual and/or audible error
signal.
[0068] The geared motor 1 is a unit incorporating an electric motor
and a motion reduction mechanism; according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the geared motor comprises a
direct current electric motor, which is small and inexpensive; as
an alternative to the direct current motor (but less
advantageously), a synchronous motor, an asynchronous motor or a
brushless motor may be used instead.
[0069] The component combination of the example shown in FIG. 8
(PPTC, Hall effect sensor, direct current electric motor) and the
spatial grouping of said components (forming a single
electromechanical component) represents an optimal solution
especially for (without being limited to) applications in the field
of vending machines; in fact, this is a functionally complete,
effective and low-cost solution.
[0070] Furthermore, the simultaneous presence in the dispenser of
an overcurrent protection device and of the possibility of
reversing the direction of rotation of the geared motor is very
useful for solving at best any problems related to the operation of
the ejection assembly of the dispenser.
* * * * *