EP2378495A1

EP2378495A1 - Vending machine for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general

Info

Publication number: EP2378495A1
Application number: EP11162089A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Allegretti; Fulvio Genova; Carlo Cassanelli
Original assignee: Multi-Tech Srl
Current assignee: MULTI-TECH S.R.L.
Priority date: 2010-04-15
Filing date: 2011-04-12
Publication date: 2011-10-19
Also published as: ITMO20100114A1; IT1399524B1

Abstract

A vending machine (1) for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general, comprising a box-like containment structure (2); at least one station (3) for dispensing a picked-up product (P'), which is associated with the box-like structure (2) and can be accessed from the outside; at least one compartment (8), which is arranged within the box-like structure (2) to accommodate a plurality of products (P) which are mutually homogeneous and are arranged on top of each other so as to form at least one stack; and at least one assembly (11) for picking up and transferring the product (P') arranged on top of the stack toward the dispensing station (3), that is provided with suction means (12) for lifting the product (P') to be picked up.

The invention is characterized in that the pickup and transfer assembly (11) comprises at least one pair of elements (13) for gripping the product (P') to be picked up, an upper one (13a) and a lower one (13b), and at least one (13a) of the two is movable toward and away from the other one (13b), alternately, for fastening and releasing the product (P') to be picked up, and means (14) for moving the grip elements (13) with an alternating translational motion along at least one vertical axis (Z) and at least one first horizontal axis (X) in the direction toward and away from the stack, the suction means (12) being adapted to lift a flap of the product (P') to be picked up so as to allow, in the pickup configuration, the approach of the grip elements (13) to the product (P') to be picked up along the first horizontal axis (X) and the positioning of the grip elements (13) on opposite sides of the flap for the fastening and transfer of the product retained between the grip elements (13) at the dispensing station (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general.
It is known that in workplaces, communities, hospitals and the like, the need exists to vend clothes, work uniforms or textile items in general to authorised users or upon payment of a preset sum.
A typical application of this type is the vending of uniforms for medical personnel in hospitals, which are periodically collected, disinfected and made available again to the healthcare operators.
To this end different types of machines have been developed for automatically dispensing these articles, which make possible, by means of electronic management units, the quantitative and qualitative checking of the garments inserted and dispensed.
A first type of known vending machine for this application consists of a box-like structure for containing a system (for example a carousel or a chain) for moving a plurality of drawers along a closed path that passes a dispensing outlet which is accessible from the outside. Along this path, each drawer is individually and temporarily positioned at the dispensing outlet.
When the machine is loaded, the operator has to place individual items of clothing in each drawer according to the parameters stored in the management unit, which associates each position with the size, colour, model etc. of the garment placed in it.
At withdrawal time, the user chooses the type of garment he or she wants and the management unit identifies the corresponding drawer and actuates the movement means in order to transfer that drawer to the dispensing outlet in order to allow the garment to be withdrawn.
This type of vending machine is not without drawbacks, among which is the fact that the loading step involves considerably lengthy time periods, given the necessity to individually insert the products into the drawers according to preset parameters. Also, at withdrawal time the waiting times vary perceptibly depending on the position of the drawer from which to make the withdrawal with respect to the dispensing outlet. Furthermore, the encumbrance of these vending machines grows rapidly with the increase in the number of products which they have to contain, and in a limited space they allow a very limited variety of articles to be handled. Furthermore, in the event of a failure of the machine the products inside it are not available for withdrawal and therefore the vending service must necessarily be interrupted.
A second type of vending machine is also known which partially overcomes these drawbacks and which consists in a structure for containing a shelving with a plurality of shelves for accommodating items of clothing that are homogeneous and arranged stacked on top of each other, inside which a pickup assembly can move and has suckers that are combined with a suction system, capable of lifting and transferring the garment lying on the top of the stack to a dispensing outlet.
However, in order to allow a correct gripping and movement of the items of clothing by the pickup assembly, they have to be individually packaged in plastic bags.
This aspect gives rise to a series of drawbacks linked to the cost and time of packaging the garments to be inserted in the vending machine, as well as the cost and environmental impact owing to the disposal of the plastic bags.
Furthermore the capacity of these machines is limited by the need to maintain, between one shelf and the next, a free space for the insertion of the pickup assembly and the positioning over the stack from which to perform the pickup.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks in the background art by providing a vending machine for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general, which makes it possible to contain the preparation and loading times of the products in the machine, as well as the waiting times for the dispensation of the chosen garment.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is that of not necessitating the individual packaging of the articles to be dispensed and, therefore, reducing the costs associated with the preparation of the same and not causing polluting waste.
Another object of the present invention is to enable the storage of a wide variety of articles in contained spaces.
Another object of the present invention is to enable the manual access to, and withdrawal of, the articles by authorised operators, even in the event of a failure, so as to avoid interruptions of the service.
Another object of the present invention is to be capable of being engaged and interfaced with a management system for checking and counting the garments inserted and dispensed.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure, that is easy and practical to implement, safe to use and effective in operation, and relatively inexpensive.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better evident hereinafter, are all achieved by the present vending machine for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general, comprising a box-like containment structure, at least one station for dispensing a picked-up product, which is associated with said box-like structure and can be accessed from the outside, at least one compartment, which is arranged within said box-like structure to accommodate a plurality of products which are homogeneous and arranged over each other so as to form at least one stack, and at least one assembly for picking up and transferring the product arranged at the top of said stack toward said dispensing station, provided with suction means for lifting said product to be picked up, characterized in that said pickup and transfer assembly comprises at least one pair of elements for gripping said product to be picked up, an upper one and a lower one, and at least one of the two is movable toward and away from the other one, alternately, for fastening and releasing the product to be picked up, and means for moving said grip elements with an alternating translational motion along at least one vertical axis and at least one first horizontal axis in the direction toward and away from said stack, the suction means being adapted to lift a flap of said product to be picked up so as to allow, in the pickup configuration, the approach of the grip elements to the product to be picked up along the first horizontal axis and the positioning of said grip elements on opposite sides of said flap for the fastening and transfer of the product itself retained between said grip elements at the dispensing station.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a vending machine for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a transparent schematic lateral view of the vending machine according to the invention, open before loading of the products;
Figure 2 is a transparent schematic lateral view of the vending machine in Figure 1, closed and with the products loaded into it;
Figures 3 to 16 are transparent schematic lateral views of the vending machine in the previous Figures in successive steps of a withdrawal cycle of a product.

With particular reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a vending machine for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general.
For the purposes of example, reference shall be made hereinbelow to the use of the vending machine 1 for dispensing clothes that are folded and stacked on top of each other, but alternative applications are not ruled out for flexible products that have a substantially flat shape (laid out or folded on themselves) and are, therefore, stackable such as, for example, newspapers, magazines, and paper articles in general.
The vending machine 1 comprises a box-like containment structure 2 able to be opened and at least one station 3 for dispensing a picked-up product P', which is associated with the box-like structure and can be accessed from the outside.
In the embodiment shown, the box-like structure 2 is provided with a door 4 that is hinged about a vertical axis and located at the front, and the dispensing station 3 is defined at an opening 5 formed in the door and is confined by a drawer 6 associated with the inside of the door 4, open in an upper region and associated with an oscillating door 7 that, in the open position (Figures 14 and 15), acts as a slide for assisting the fall of the product P' picked up inside the drawer 6.
The vending machine 1 has at least one compartment 8 that is arranged within the box-like structure 2 for accommodating a plurality of products P arranged on top of each other so as to form at least one stack and that is open on at least one side so as to allow the insertion and withdrawal of the products P. The products P inserted in each compartment 8 are homogeneous; if the vending machine 1 is used for dispensing clothes, for example, then articles of the same model, color and size can be inserted in each compartment 8.
The compartment 8 is delimited in a lower region by a supporting surface 9 on which the corresponding stack of products P is arranged, and the access to the compartment 8 occurs from the open side at the door 4.
Preferably, the vending machine 1 extends vertically and has a plurality of compartments 8 arranged one beneath the other so as to define at least one column. However, the possibility is not ruled out that the vending machine 1 can be shaped differently and extend horizontally, and have a plurality of single compartments 8 or of columns of compartments 8 arranged side-by-side.
The vending machine 1 comprises an electronic management unit, of the type of a conventional programmable processor, not shown, provided with memory means for information about the spatial position of each compartment 8 and about the type of products P inserted in it, and connected to user interface means (a keyboard or the like) for updating this information as the characteristics of the products P accommodated in the single compartments 8 vary, and for the input of new information.
Also, there are selection means, not shown, that can be operated by a user to select the product P' to be picked up, which can be of the type of a keyboard with which to key in a code corresponding to the article of interest, a port for reading data stored in a user's identification device, or of another type. These selection means are connected in input to the electronic processing unit for sending information about the product P' to be picked up; instructions are input in the memory means for associating the type of product P selected by the user with the position of the compartment 8 from which to perform the pickup, and also with regard to the current stock on hand for that specific product.
Indeed, advantageously, the vending machine 1 can be equipped with a conventional RFID system, not described in detail, connected to the electronic management unit to check the products P accommodated in the compartments 8 and/or the product P' picked up and released at the dispensing station 3. This RFID system has one or more antennae 10 for sending the read signal to the electronic processing unit, and RFID tags applied to each product P loaded in the vending machine 1. In particular, for checking the products P both incoming to and outgoing from the vending machine 1, two antennae 10 can be provided of which one is inside the box-like structure 2 to perform the scanning of the products P accommodated in the compartments 8 at the end of loading and one is integral with the door 7 for recognition of the product P' dispensed at each withdrawal cycle.
The electronic management unit processes, according to programmed processes, the data transmitted by the antennae 10, so as to update the quantitative information about the stock of products P in each compartment 8.
The vending machine 1 furthermore comprises an assembly 11 for picking up and transferring the product P' lying on the top of the stack from which to perform the picking up toward the dispensing station 3. This assembly 11 has suction means 12 for lifting the product P' to be picked up.
Advantageously the assembly 11 has at least one pair of elements 13 for gripping the product P' to be picked up, an upper one 13a and a lower one 13b, and at least one of the two is movable toward and away from the other one, alternately, for fastening and releasing the product P' to be picked up.
Also, the assembly 11 comprises means 14 of moving the grip elements 13 along at least one vertical axis, designated by the arrow Z in the figures, and at least one first horizontal axis, designated by the arrow X in the figures, in the direction toward and away from the stack of products P from which to perform the picking up.
The grip elements 13 are positioned between the compartments 8 and the door 4 so as to be inserted in the compartments through the above-mentioned access side.
According to the present invention the suction means 12 are adapted to lift a flap of the product P' to be picked up so as to allow, in the pickup configuration (Figure 9), the approach of the grip elements 13 to the product along the first horizontal axis X and the positioning of the grip elements on opposite sides of the flap for the fastening and transfer of the product P' to be picked up which is retained between the grip elements 13 at the dispensing station 3.
Advantageously, the holding of the product P' during the transfer toward the dispensing station 3 is ensured by the grip elements 13, while the suction means 12 serve solely to detach a flap of the product from the underlying product or from the supporting surface 9 in order to be able to position the lower grip element 13b under it.
Furthermore, executing the gripping of the product P' to be picked up on both of the opposite sides prevents the product P' from opening out, if folded, without the need of packaging the products individually.
The at least one movable grip element 13 can be translational or rotating with respect to the other.
In the embodiment shown the lower grip element 13b is fixed, while the upper grip element 13a is pivoted at the distal end with respect to the compartments 8 and is actuated in rotation with respect to the upper grip element 13a by a conventional electric motor, not shown in the figures, activated by the electronic management unit.
In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the grip elements 13 can be integrally rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis, so as to perform a clockwise rotation with respect to the figures so as to be brought to a substantially vertical configuration in the step of releasing the picked-up product P'.
Preferably the suction means 12 are integrally associated with the upper grip element 13a. In particular, the suction means 12 can be defined integrally with the upper grip element 13a.
In the embodiment shown, for example, the upper grip element 13a is longer than the lower grip element 13b, so as to be capable of being positioned with the end proximal with respect to the compartments 8 above the product P' to be picked up without the lower grip element 13b interfering with the underlying products P, and it is contoured at the proximal end so as to define a suction inlet, not shown in the figures, that is opened downward and connected to a suction unit, either dedicated to the vending machine 1 or external.
The movement means 14, for actuating the translational movement along the vertical axis Z, comprise a first endless screw 15 arranged vertically, supported so that it can rotate about its own axis within the box-like structure 2 and actuated in rotation by a first electric motor 16, and a first female screw element 17 engaged with the first endless screw 15 and coupled so as to perform a translational motion along a first vertical bar 18.
Also, the movement means 14, for the actuation of the translational movement along the first horizontal axis X, comprise a second endless screw 19 parallel to this axis, supported so that it can rotate about its own axis by the first female screw element 17 and actuated in rotation by a second electric motor 20, and a second female screw element 21 engaged with the second endless screw 19 and coupled so as to perform a translational motion along a second bar 22 parallel to it and integral in translational movement along the vertical axis Z.
The second female screw element 21 supports the grip elements 13 and the motor for the actuation in rotation of the upper grip element 13a.
Also, the antenna 10 arranged within the box-like structure 2 is supported by the second female screw element 21 at the back wall of the structure itself and is integral in translational movement along the vertical axis Z with the grip elements 13.
If the vending machine 1 has a plurality of compartments 8 or a plurality of columns of compartments 8 arranged side by side, then the movement means 14 include means for actuation of the grip elements 13 with an alternating translational motion also along a second horizontal axis, perpendicular to the first, along which the compartments are arranged side by side.
However, it is not ruled out for the movement means 14 to have a different structure and involve, for example, the use of fluid-operated actuators or other means.
As a function of the stored position for the product P' to be picked up, the electronic processing unit actuates the movement means 14 to position the grip elements 13 in the pickup configuration.
Advantageously, the vending machine 1 comprises means 23 for detecting the product P' to be picked up, which are connected in input to the electronic management unit. The memory means are, therefore, accompanied by instructions for processing the signal received from the detection means 23 so as to activate the movement means 14, the suction means 12 and the motor for actuation in rotation of the upper grip element 13a to perform the pickup.
In particular, the detection means 23 can comprise a conventional proximity sensor, for example of the laser type, integrally associated with the grip elements 13 in translational movement along the axes Z and X, the detected signal of which is processed by the electronic management unit so as to activate the first electric motor 16 for the rapid approach of the grip elements 13 until they are in proximity to the product P' to be picked up (Figure 4).
Furthermore, the detection means 23 can comprise a conventional distance sensor, for example of the laser type, or the like, also integrally associated with the grip elements 13 in translational movement along the axes Z and X, which enables recognition of the profile of the product P' to be picked up. The signal sent by this device is processed by the electronic management unit so as to activate the first and the second electric motor, respectively 16 and 20, in the final step of positioning the grip elements 13 (Figures 5 and 6) so as to enable the positioning of the proximal end of the upper grip element 13a provided with the suction inlet above the product P' to be picked up (Figure 7).
Alternatively, the detection means 23 could include a device for the three-dimensional scanning of the product P' to be picked up.
Conveniently, if there are compartments 8 arranged one on top of the other, each supporting surface 9 is associated with the box-like structure 2 and is movable in alternating translational movement in the direction toward and away from the vertical axis Z, along an axis parallel to the first horizontal axis X, between a rest position and a pickup position that is further forward than the rest position.
In particular, each supporting surface 9 is associated with the box-like structure 2 by actuator means 24 in alternating translational movement with endless screw, of the type described above and not described in detail here, controlled by the electronic processing unit.
The supporting surface 9 at the compartment 8 from which to perform the pickup is actuated in the direction of approach to the Z axis (Figure 3) before or at the same time as the translational movement of the grip elements 13 along that axis.
In this way the compartment 8 from which to perform the pickup moves forward with respect to the others and the grip elements 13 can access the product P' to be picked up without having to be inserted between the compartments.
This obviates the necessity of maintaining a free space between the compartments 8 in order to allow the access of the grip elements 13 and it makes it possible to reduce the encumbrance of the vending machine 1 or, for the same space available, to insert a larger number of products P in the vending machine 1 than in traditional vending machines.
Also, each supporting surface 9 has a notch, not shown in the figures, along the side facing the grip elements 13 so as to allow the picking up of the product P arranged directly on it.
The operation of the present invention is as follows.
During the step of loading the products P the door 4 of the vending machine 1 is opened (Figure 1) and the operator places stacks of mutually homogeneous products P into each compartment 8. The characteristics of the products inserted in each compartment 8 can be predefined, or varied in each case and updated in the electronic processing unit by the operator or automatically if the vending machine 1 is equipped with an RFID system.
In the latter case, when loading is completed, the electronic management unit actuates a complete translational movement along the Z axis of the antenna 10 which is integral with the second female screw element 21 so as to perform a scan and check of the loaded products P provided with RFID tags.
It should be noted that the operator can load stacks of products P, and not individual products, with considerable savings in replenishment times.
The execution of a withdrawal cycle occurs as follows.
The user selects the product P' to withdraw; the electronic processing unit identifies the compartment 8 from which to perform the pickup and actuates the forward movement of the corresponding supporting surface 9 (Figure 3).
Also, the electronic processing unit actuates the movement means 14 to move the grip elements 13 and the suction means 12 from the initial configuration to the pickup configuration. In a first step, there is a rapid approach of the grip elements 13 and of the suction means 12 to the product P' to be picked up, by actuation of a translational movement downward along the Z axis guided by the signal read from the distance sensor (Figure 4) and, subsequently, there is a precision positioning along the X (Figure 5) and Z (Figure 6) axes, guided by the laser scanner device so as to achieve the positioning of the proximal end of the upper grip element 13a equipped with a suction inlet above the product P' to be picked up.
The upper grip element 13a is, therefore, actuated in rotation, in a clockwise direction with respect to the figures, and brought into contact from above with the product P' to be picked up and the suction unit is actuated (Figure 7), so that by actuating the rotation of the upper grip element 13a again, in an anti-clockwise direction with respect to the figures, a flap of the product is lifted (Figure 8).
Subsequently the electronic management unit deactivates the suction means 12 and commands the second electric motor 20 to actuate the translational movement of the grip elements 13 along the first horizontal axis X in the direction of approach to the product P' to be picked up so as to achieve the forking of the raised flap, the lower grip element 13b being positioned below this flap (Figure 9).
By actuating the rotation of the upper grip element 13a, in a clockwise direction with respect to the figures, the fastening of the grip elements 13 to the flap that was previously lifted of the product P' to be picked up (Figure 10).
At this point the electronic management unit commands the first electric motor 16 to actuate the translational movement upwards along the vertical axis Z of the grip elements 13 and of the product P' retained between them (Figure 11), the second electric motor 20 to actuate the translational movement of the grip elements 13 along the first horizontal axis X in the direction away from the compartment 8 from which the pickup has been made (Figure 12), and the return of the corresponding supporting surface 9 to the rest position (Figure 13).
The second electric motor 20 is activated so as to actuate the translational movement of the grip elements 13 along the first horizontal axis X toward the door 4 so as to position them above the drawer 6; the electronic management unit actuates the opening of the door 7 and the opening of the grip elements 13 to release the picked-up product P' at the dispensing station 3 (Figures 14, 15). As an alternative to the aforementioned translational movement along the first horizontal axis X, the grip elements 13 fastened to the picked-up product P' could be rotated in a clockwise direction, with respect to the figures.
The antenna 10 connected to the door 7 reads the signal of the RFID tag associated with the picked-up product P' and transmits the related data to the electronic processing unit.
The door 7 is closed again and the grip elements return to the initial configuration (Figure 16); the vending machine 1 is, therefore, ready to perform another withdrawal cycle.
It should be noted that in the event of a failure in the vending machine 1 it is sufficient to open the door 4 in order to make the products P therein accessible to and withdrawable directly by the users, without suspending the dispensing service.
In practice it has been found that the invention described achieves the set aim and objects and, in particular, attention is drawn to the fact that the vending machine according to the invention can be replenished by operators in a simple and quick manner and it makes it possible to handle a high number of products of different varieties in contained spaces.
The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
In practice the materials employed, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements, but without for this reason abandoning the scope of protection of the appended claims.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. M02010A000114 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A vending machine (1) for flexible products, particularly of the type of clothes and textile items in general, comprising
- a box-like containment structure (2),

- at least one station (3) for dispensing a picked-up product (P'), which is associated with said box-like structure (2) and can be accessed from the outside,

- at least one compartment (8), which is arranged within said box-like structure (2) to accommodate a plurality of products (P) which are mutually homogeneous and arranged on top of each other so as to form at least one stack and

- at least one assembly (11) for picking up and transferring the product (P') arranged at the top of said stack toward said dispensing station (3), provided with suction means (12) for lifting said product (P') to be picked up,
characterized in that said pickup and transfer assembly (11) comprises at least one pair of elements (13) for gripping said product (P') to be picked up, an upper one (13a) and a lower one (13b), and at least one (13a) of the two is movable toward and away from the other one (13b), alternately, for fastening and releasing the product (P') to be picked up, and means (14) for moving said grip elements (13) with an alternating translational motion along at least one vertical axis (Z) and at least one first horizontal axis (X) in the direction toward and away from said stack, the suction means (12) being adapted to lift a flap of said product (P') to be picked up so as to allow, in the pickup configuration, the approach of the grip elements (13) to the product (P') to be picked up along the first horizontal axis (X) and the positioning of said grip elements (13) on opposite sides of said flap for the fastening and transfer of said product retained between said grip elements (13) at the dispensing station (3).
The vending machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said suction means (12) are jointly associated with said upper grip element (13a).
The vending machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said suction means (12) and said upper grip element (13a) are mutually integrated, the upper grip element (13a) being longer than the lower grip element (13b) and contoured, at the end that is proximal with respect to said compartment (8), so as to form a suction inlet that opens downward and is associated with a suction unit.
The vending machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electronic management unit, which is connected in input to means (23) for detecting said product (P') to be picked up and provided with memory means that contain instructions for processing the signal received from said detection means (23) so as to activate said suction means (12) and said movement means (14) for the positioning of said grip elements (13) in the pickup configuration.
The vending machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said detection means (23) comprise at least one proximity sensor which is associated with said grip elements (13), the detected signal of said sensor or sensors being processed by said electronic management unit to activate said movement means so as to actuate the translational motion along said vertical axis (Z) of said grip elements (13) to the proximity of said product to be picked up (P').
The vending machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said detection means (23) comprise a distance sensor which is jointly associated with said grip elements (13), the detected signal of said sensor being processed by said electronic management unit so as to activate said movement means (14) to actuate the translational motion of said grip elements (13) along said vertical axis (Z) and said first horizontal axis (X) for the positioning of said grip elements (13) in the pickup configuration.
The vending machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compartment (8) comprises a supporting surface (9) for the corresponding stack of products (P) provided with a notch that faces said grip elements (13) so as to allow the picking up of the product (P) arranged so as to rest directly on said surface.
The vending machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said compartments (8), each of which is provided with a supporting surface (9) for the corresponding stack of products (P), the memory means containing information related to the position of each compartment (8) and associated with the type of product (P) inserted therein and the electronic management unit being connected to user interface means for updating said information and/or entering new information.
The vending machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises selection means that can be operated by a user to select the product (P') to be picked up and are connected in input to said electronic management unit to send information related to the product (P') to be picked up, the memory means containing instructions for associating the type of product selected with the position of the corresponding containment compartment (8) and for the actuation of said movement means (14) for the transfer of said grip elements (13) at said compartment (8) that corresponds to the product (P') to be picked up.
The vending machine (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said compartments (8) are arranged one below the other so as to form at least one column of compartments (8).
The vending machine (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the supporting surface (9) of each one of said compartments (8) is associated with said box-like structure (2) that can move with an alternating translational motion toward and away from said vertical axis (Z).
The vending machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said columns of compartments (8) which are arranged mutually side by side, the movement means (14) being adapted to actuate the alternating translational motion of said grip elements (13) also along a second horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the first one (X).
The vending machine (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an RFID system connected to said electronic management unit to monitor the products (P) accommodated in said compartments (8) and/or the product (P') to be picked up, which is released at said dispensing station (3), the individual products (P) being provided with respective RFID tags.