EP2230649A1 - Distributeur automatique de popcorn - Google Patents

Distributeur automatique de popcorn Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2230649A1
EP2230649A1 EP10156952A EP10156952A EP2230649A1 EP 2230649 A1 EP2230649 A1 EP 2230649A1 EP 10156952 A EP10156952 A EP 10156952A EP 10156952 A EP10156952 A EP 10156952A EP 2230649 A1 EP2230649 A1 EP 2230649A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lids
vending machine
container
popcorn
containers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10156952A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Claudio Sinico
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sintech Srl
Original Assignee
Sintech Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sintech Srl filed Critical Sintech Srl
Publication of EP2230649A1 publication Critical patent/EP2230649A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/10—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a popcorn vending machine of an improved type.
  • Popcorn vending machines are known which are installed especially in meeting places such as cinemas, game arcades, exhibition spaces, sports facilities and the like.
  • These known machines generally comprise a tank for containing grains of corn, a dosage device for selecting the quantity of corn to be introduced in roasting means, and means for dispensing the corn that has been roasted and converted into popcorn toward suitable mixing means, where the popcorn receives the addition of flavoring substances.
  • flavoring substances are constituted, preferably but not exclusively, by salt or sugar and are contained in appropriately provided tanks, from which they are sent to the mixing means by way of the selection and dosage devices.
  • the salted or sugared or otherwise flavored corn is poured by dispensing means into a container that can be removed manually by the consumer.
  • a first drawback relates to the problems that they have regarding the management of the flavoring substances, which are highly hygroscopic, such as sugar and salt.
  • the dosage of the substance is imprecise or nil, with the consequence that the product is supplied to the consumer without the expected dose of flavoring substance.
  • a further drawback relates to the aggressiveness, especially of salt, with respect to some of the elements that compose the vending machine and with which they come into contact during operation.
  • a further drawback relates to the complexity of these vending machines especially when the number of flavoring substances to be managed is large.
  • the popcorn vending machine according to EP 1 887 533 has been provided in which the dosage of the popcorn flavorings occurs without such flavorings affecting the correct and regular operation of the machine.
  • this machine requires less maintenance than known machines, since the flavoring substances do not come into contact with parts of the machine.
  • the vending machine comprises a lid dispenser for closing the containers into which the popcorn is poured, wherein each lid is provided with a chamber for containing the flavoring substance.
  • the containment chamber is delimited by a film that can be broken by pressing and is directed toward the inside of the container when the lid is applied to the container.
  • the user takes the container with the popcorn, associates the lid with it and, by means of pressure applied thereon, breaks the breakable film, making the flavoring substance fall into the container.
  • Shaking of the container on the part of the user entails the mixing of the flavoring substance with the popcorn prior to consumption.
  • the vending machine according to the cited patent also has, together with the advantage of absolutely not having to manage the dosage of the flavoring substances, the acknowledged drawback of having to take the container manually from a dispenser and equally manually placing it at the dispensing means for filling.
  • the aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above noted drawbacks, by providing a popcorn vending machine that does not require handling of the container on the part of the user during preparation and dispensing of the product but only the removal of the container once dispensing of the product has occurred.
  • an object of the machine according to the invention is to allow better protection of the containers.
  • Another object of the machine according to the invention is to have such characteristics as to make it less vulnerable to vandalism on the part of ill-intentioned individuals.
  • the machine comprises an enclosure constituted by a box-like body which accommodates internally the means for containing the lids, the means for containing the containers, the means for gripping and transporting each individual lid to the pick-up position at the disposal of a user, and the means for transferring the container to move it from the vending machine to the pick-up region, where filling occurs.
  • the presence of all the listed elements makes the operation of the machine completely automatic, so that the user is only required to insert the amount that corresponds to the cost of the product and to pick up the container and the lid once dispensing has occurred.
  • the machine according to the invention is therefore simpler to use than known machines.
  • the containment of all the elements of the machine within the box-like body increases the degree of hygiene of the vending process and also constitutes a deterrent for any vandalism on the part of ill-intentioned individuals.
  • a popcorn vending machine according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 1.
  • the machine 1 comprises a box-like body 2, which is visible in particular in Figure 1 , and contains internally a tank 3 for corn grains, a dosage device 4 for selecting the quantity of corn to be introduced in roasting means 5 to be converted into popcorn, and dispensing means 6 for transferring the prepared popcorn into a container 7 that can be removed manually by a consumer.
  • the dispensing means 6 comprise an accumulation vessel 8, which is connected in input to means 9 for transferring the prepared popcorn into the roasting means 5; such vessel is provided in output with an inclined plane 10, which is directed toward the corresponding container 7 that is provided in a region 11 for picking up the containers 7 after they have been filled with the popcorn.
  • a dispenser 12 of containers 7 In the front part of the dispensing means 6 there is a dispenser 12 of containers 7 and in the lower part of the box-like body 2 there is a dispenser 13 of lids 15, which is provided with means 14 for gripping and conveying each lid 15 into a pickup region 16 at the user's disposal.
  • each one is of the per se known type, and as can be seen in Figure 10 , is provided with a chamber 15a for containing the flavoring substance, which is delimited by a film 15b that can be broken by pressing and is directed toward the inside of the container 7, when the lid is applied to the container 7.
  • the lid dispenser 13 comprises containment means 17, which are arranged mutually side-by-side, for at least two stacks 18a, 18b of lids 15 and means 20 for lifting each one of the stacks 18a, 18b toward the grip and conveyance means 14, which are arranged in the upper part of such stacks of lids.
  • the lifting means 20 which are visible in detail also in Figure 10 , comprise two lifting pans 21a, 21b, each of which supports one of the stacks of lids 18a, 18b and is coupled to a transmission belt 22, which is wound in a closed loop between two pulleys 23, 24, which are aligned along a vertical axis Y, which defines the vertical lifting direction Y of the lifting pans 21a, 21b, designated by the arrow 25.
  • One of the pulleys is turned by first motor drive means constituted by an electric motor 26.
  • grip and conveyance means 14 comprise a clamp device 27, which is visible in detail in Figure 11 , and is associated with translational motion means 28 arranged above the stacks of lids 18a, 18b, which define a horizontal direction of translational motion X of the lifting pans 21a, 21b.
  • the clamp device 27 comprises two mutually opposite grip elements 40, which can slide along guiding bars 42 elastically by contrast with springs 43 which are coaxial to the guiding bars 42.
  • Each grip element 40 is provided with a pair of protruding pins 41 for contrast and grip of the lids 15.
  • the translational motion means 28 comprise a transmission belt 29, which is wound in a closed loop between two pulleys 30, 31 which are aligned along the horizontal direction of translational motion X of the grip and conveyance means 14.
  • One of the pulleys, and in particular the pulley designated by the reference numeral 30, is turned by second motor drive means constituted by an electric motor 32.
  • the motor drive means which in the described embodiment are constituted by electric motors, respectively the electric motor 26a for lifting the lifting pans 21a, 21b and the electric motor 32a for the translational motion of the grip and conveyance means 14, they can be of any type, for example of the step type or brushless type and the like.
  • an electronic central control unit which controls and monitors their operation and also the operation of the additional elements that compose the machine.
  • the transfer means 33 as can be seen also in detail in Figure 5 , comprise a contoured bracket 35, which is arranged in contact with the container 7 and is associated with the grip and conveyance means 14 of each one of the lids 15.
  • contoured bracket 35 has a concave region 36 whose profile 36a can be mated with the outer lateral surface 7a of the container 7.
  • the cycle for preparing and dispensing popcorn begins with the machine arranged in the configuration shown in Figure 4 , after the user has inserted the required amount in a slot 1a provided on the front of the machine that can be seen in Figure 1 .
  • the cycle begins after the user has selected the type of popcorn that he/she intends to consume, therefore salted or sugared, by means of one of the buttons 1b arranged on the machine front that can be seen in Figure 1 .
  • the first operation of the cycle provides for picking up one lid 15 by means of the clamp device 27 of the grip and conveyance means 14, which, as can be seen in Figure 6 , lift it so as to separate it from the respective stack.
  • a container descends by gravity from the dispenser 12 of the containers 7 and arranges itself, as can be seen in Figure 6 , at the transfer means 33 and particularly at the contoured bracket 35 that is associated with the grip and conveyance means 14 of the lid 15.
  • the container 7 is arranged below the inclined plane 10 of the dispensing means 6 in a position adapted to receive filling with popcorn.
  • the cycle ends when the machine is arranged in the configuration that can be seen in Figure 8 , in which the container 7 is filled with popcorn and the lid 15 is released in the pickup region 38 of the lids 15.
  • the container 7 and the lid 15 therefore can be both picked up by the user.
  • Consumption of the popcorn occurs after applying the lid 15 to the container 7 and breaking the film 15b that delimits the chamber 15a for containing the salt or sugar.
  • the presence of the transfer means 33 allows to arrange the container 7 in the pickup region 34 of the containers 7 at the dispensing means 6 of the popcorn automatically without user intervention.
  • vending machine according to the invention can also be provided with shapes that are different from the ones described above.
  • all the mechanical or electromechanical devices that compose the functional assemblies of the machine may be provided in any form, even ones which are different from the ones that are shown and described.
  • the lid dispenser can be structured to receive more than two stacks of lids so as to be able to flavor the popcorn with more than two substances.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Outside Dividers And Delivering Mechanisms For Harvesters (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
EP10156952A 2009-03-18 2010-03-18 Distributeur automatique de popcorn Withdrawn EP2230649A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000061A ITVI20090061A1 (it) 2009-03-18 2009-03-18 Macchina automatica perfezionata per la distribuzione di pop-corn

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2230649A1 true EP2230649A1 (fr) 2010-09-22

Family

ID=41228837

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10156952A Withdrawn EP2230649A1 (fr) 2009-03-18 2010-03-18 Distributeur automatique de popcorn

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2230649A1 (fr)
IT (1) ITVI20090061A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202014102864U1 (de) 2014-06-24 2014-07-03 Goodster GmbH Vorrichtung und System zur Erzeugung und Ausgabe von an einer Vorrichtung einlösbaren Coupons

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH05174243A (ja) * 1991-07-01 1993-07-13 Fuji Electric Co Ltd カップミキシング式自動販売機
FR2692459A1 (fr) * 1992-06-19 1993-12-24 App Automatiques Ste Indle Perfectionnements aux dispositifs de distribution de gobelets empilés.
US5771778A (en) * 1996-10-15 1998-06-30 Maclean, Iv; John A. Marketing system
EP1887533A2 (fr) 2006-08-11 2008-02-13 Claudio Sinico Distributeur automatique de popcorn
EP2017800A2 (fr) * 2007-07-06 2009-01-21 Jakob Gerhardt Automatische Verkaufsanlagen GmbH Module de distributeur de couvercles, automate de boissons chaudes équipé du module de distributeur de couvercles et procédé de réception d'un gobelet avec la boisson chaude et d'un couvercle provenant d'un ou de l'automate de boissons chaudes

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH05174243A (ja) * 1991-07-01 1993-07-13 Fuji Electric Co Ltd カップミキシング式自動販売機
FR2692459A1 (fr) * 1992-06-19 1993-12-24 App Automatiques Ste Indle Perfectionnements aux dispositifs de distribution de gobelets empilés.
US5771778A (en) * 1996-10-15 1998-06-30 Maclean, Iv; John A. Marketing system
EP1887533A2 (fr) 2006-08-11 2008-02-13 Claudio Sinico Distributeur automatique de popcorn
EP2017800A2 (fr) * 2007-07-06 2009-01-21 Jakob Gerhardt Automatische Verkaufsanlagen GmbH Module de distributeur de couvercles, automate de boissons chaudes équipé du module de distributeur de couvercles et procédé de réception d'un gobelet avec la boisson chaude et d'un couvercle provenant d'un ou de l'automate de boissons chaudes

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202014102864U1 (de) 2014-06-24 2014-07-03 Goodster GmbH Vorrichtung und System zur Erzeugung und Ausgabe von an einer Vorrichtung einlösbaren Coupons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITVI20090061A1 (it) 2010-09-19

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