WO1999008574A1

WO1999008574A1 - A device for automatically turning down a shutter

Info

Publication number: WO1999008574A1
Application number: PCT/SE1998/001460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ann Schymberg; Carl-Gustav Nilsson
Original assignee: Karamellkungen I Sverige Ab
Priority date: 1997-08-15
Filing date: 1998-08-12
Publication date: 1999-02-25
Also published as: SE9702948D0; SE510429C2; SE9702948L; AU8754298A

Abstract

A device for automatically turning down a shutter with a certain delay from a turned-up position comprises an elastically deformable envelope (12), the interior of which communicates with a passage (19) for air. Said passage is delimited by an elastically deformable piece of material which permits that it is powerfully widened when the envelope is compressed and which reduces the air-passing ability of the passage to a minimum when the envelope strives to widen to an expanded state and, in that connection, sucks in air in the interior thereof. The envelope has the purpose of bringing the shutter, during expansion, to pass an unstable state of equilibrium after which it is automatically turned to a turned down position.

Description

A DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY TURNING DOWN A SHUTTER

Background of the Invention

This invention originates from so called pick'n mix dispensers. A preferred and in practice usually occurring embodiment of such dispensers consists of a column-like, vertical container which at the bottom thereof transforms into a trough part projecting from a front wall of the container and has an upwardly directed opening which normally is covered by a shutter. More precisely, the container together with the trough part are delimited by two parallel side walls which permit installation of a plurality of dispensers side by side. Pick'n mix may be refilled through the column- like upper part of the container (via an upper opening which normally is covered by a lid) , the individual articles of sweet by their own weight gradually being fed out in the trough part. The shutter above the reach opening of the trough parts is articulatedly con- nected to the side walls of the dispenser in order to, on one, hand, cover the reach opening when the dispenser is out of use and, on the other hand, allow turning of the same to a turned- up position supporting against the front wall so as to make it possible for the consumer to pick up articles of sweet from the interior of the trough part .

A problem, which is inherent in dispensers for sweets of the above-related type, is that the consumers do not always close the shutter after having picked up the desired articles of sweet. In case the trough part is periodically open by the fact that the shutter unintentionally remains turned up, there is a risk that dust and other impurities permeates in the mass of sweets . This is something which is unhygienic and contrary to general health requirements.

Objects and Features of the Invention

In a narrow aspect, the present invention aims at solving the above-mentioned problems in connection with dispensers for sweets. In a wider aspect, the invention relates to the general problem of automatically turning down a shutter from a turned-up position with a certain delay. Thus, a primary general object of the invention is to provide a device which not only in an automatic way can turn down a shutter or a plate from a turned-up position, but also guarantees such turning only after a certain time of delay. Another object is to provide a device which is structurally simple and thereby inexpensive to manufacture, and which can fulfil the function thereof without cost -demanding supply of energy. It is also an object to provide a device which enables manual turning of the shutter to the turned-up position without appreciable muscular strength. In other words, the shutter should be able to be turned up substantially without any resistance and then automatically be brought back to the turned down position after a certain time. According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained by the features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are furthermore defined in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Appended Drawings In the drawings :

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser for sweets having a device according to the invention, Fig 2 is a schematic side view showing a shutter included in the dispenser for sweets according to fig 1 in a turned down position,

Fig 3 is a side view showing the shutter in a turned-up position, Fig 4 is an analogous side view showing the shutter during the return to the turned down position,

Fig 5 is an enlarged, partly cut side view of the device according to the invention,

Fig 6 is a transparent view from behind of the device according to fig 5,

Fig 7 is a partly cut side view of the device according to the invention showing the function thereof in connection with the turning up of the shutter, Fig 8 is an exploded view showing three separated components, which together form an alternative embodiment of the device,

Fig 9 is a partly cut side view showing the device according to fig 8 in a composed state, and

Fig 10 is a transparent view from behind of the device according to fig 9.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Fig 1 shows a pick'n mix dispenser generally designated 1 of the type that in addition to a vertical, column-like container 2 includes a trough part 3, which is located below and projects in the forward direction from a vertical front wall 4. In addition to the front wall 4, the container 2 is delimited by two plane side walls 5 which are mutually parallel as well as a rear wall 6. In the container 2, there is an upper opening, which is normally covered by a lid 7 and through which pick'n mix may be filled when the lid has been removed. The container part 2 transforms into the trough part 3 by an arched bottom 8. Also the trough part 3 has an upwardly opening opening which is to be covered by a shutter or plate 9 when the dispenser is out of use. This shutter 9 is connected to the side walls 5 by hinges 10 enabling turning of the same from the turned-down position according to fig 1 to a turned-up position against the front wall 4. In this turned-up position, the opening of the trough part is exposed in order to permit reach to the interior of the trough part. In other respects, a carrier 11 for receipt of labels or the like is included in the front wall 4 for stating of the contents of the dispenser. A device according to the present invention is located in association with this carrier.

Reference is now made to figures 2 to 7 which closer illustrate the nature and function of the device according to the invention. As may be best seen in figures 5 to 7, the device is in the shape of an envelope or casing in its entirety designated 12, which is composed of two components 13, 14 of which the first-mentioned one is of an elastic, deformable nature, while the last -mentioned one is, in the main, form stiff. In practice, the component 14 may advantageously consist of a simple, plane plate of plastic, e.g. acrylic plastic. The component 13 comprises a cup-shaped part 15 as well as an endless flange 16 surrounding the cup part. In the example shown, the opening of the cup part turned to the plate 14 as well as the flange 16 are of a quadrangular basic shape, the flange including four straight portions or edge pieces 16', 16", 16'" and 16"" oriented perpendicularly to each other. The cup part 15 and the flange 16 are made integrally by a suitable, elastic material, e.g. soft plastic or rubber. The cup part 15 con- verges in the direction to an external tip from the quadrangular opening thereof turned to the plate 14. More precisely, the cup part includes four substantially triangular side walls, which converge in the external tip. Along each one of these four side walls, stiffeners 17 extend which always strive to bring back the cup part to the fully expanded state, which is shown in fig 5.

In the embodiment shown in figures 5 to 7, the elastic component 13 is connected to the stiff plate 14 by means of a layer of adhesive which, in fig 6, is designated 18 and illustrated by means of dotted surface areas. This layer of adhesive extends along the flange portions 16', 16" and 16'", but is interrupted along the entire fourth flange portion 16 "" or parts thereof. Therefore, in the interface between the flange portion 16"" and the plate 14, there is provided a pas- sage designated 19 through which air may pass. More precisely, the passage 19 forms a combined outlet and inlet opening through which air from the interior of the cup part 15 may be evacuated when the cup part is compressed. On the other hand, air may also be led into the interior of the cup part through the passage. For this purpose, it may be sufficient that, for instance, the elastic the material in the flange portion 16"" has a raw or uneven surface so that air may slowly pass into the cavity of the cup part 15 when this, by the inherent elasticity thereof, strives to return to a fully expanded state. However, it is also feasible to apply, in the interface between the flange portion 16"" and the plate 14, particular surface layers having an uneven surface structure which is adjusted to give such a speed to the air flowing in that the cavity of the envelope is filled only after a predetermined time. The function of the device according to the invention is most clearly seen in figures 2 to 4. In fig 2 is shown how the envelope 12 is fully expanded, i.e. has a maximum volume, when the shutter 9 is turned down and covers the upwardly open- ing opening of the trough part 3. When the consumer is to pick up articles of sweet out of the trough part, he/she will manually turn the shutter 9 up to a turned-up position in the immediate vicinity of the front wall 4 of the container, as shown in fig 3. During the final phase of this turning motion, the shutter meets the elastic cup part 15 of the envelope which is then compressed while evacuating the air in the cavity of the envelope. When this takes place, the non-agglutinated, lower flange portion 16"" is freely deformable, whereby the passage 19 between said flange portion and the plate 14 can be fast and powerfully widened, as is shown in fig 7. This means that the air may be evacuated in a powerful flow, whereby the evacuation of air takes place without appreciable resistance, i.e. with a minimal muscular strength. When the shutter 9 has passed an unstable state of equilibrium in which the centre of gravity of the shutter is vertically above the hinge axis 10, the turning motion may continue a further distance in towards the front wall before the elastic cup part 15 entirely collapses and makes further turning impossible. In this state, the consumer leaves hold of the shutter and starts the business of picking up articles of sweet out of the trough part . By the inherent tendency of the cup part 15 to return to a fully expanded state, air will now begin to be sucked into the interior of the cup part through the passage 19. Depending on the surface structure of the flange portion 16"" and the plate 14, respec- tively, this intake operation takes a deliberately long time.

In practice, the intake time should thus be within the range of 20-60, suitably 25-40 seconds. As the cup part is again filled with air, the shutter 9 approaches the unstable state of equilibrium thereof and when this position is passed, the shutter falls, by its own weight, back to the turned down position thereof. In other words, the shutter is turned down with a suitable delay without the consumer needing to take any particular action and without energy, e.g. electricity, needing to be supplied to the device. In figures 8 to 10 an alternative embodiment of the device is shown in which the cup part 15 of the envelope is connected to the plate 14 being behind by means of a particular frame 20 instead of by means of adhesive. On the back side thereof said frame 20 has a number of projecting fingers 21 which at free ends has hook-like thickenings 22. In the flange 16 as well as the plate 14, holes 23 and 24, respectively, are recessed, the numbers and placement of which correspond to the fingers 21. On the back side thereof, the frame 20 has an edge fillet 25 extending along the top edge and side edges of the frame, but not along the bottom edge. When the hook portions 22 of the fingers 21 are snap-in fastened in the holes 24 in the plate 14, while pressing the flange 16 therebetween, the edge fillet 25 will sealingly press three of the four edge portions of the flange 16 against the plate 14. However, the lower flange portion 16"" will remain freely movable or deformable as in the earlier embodiment. Thus, between this lower flange portion and the plate 14, a passage 19 is provided through which air may quickly pass out when the elastic cup part 15 is brought to collapse and through which, in a slow pace, air may again be sucked in.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

The invention is not solely restricted to the embodi- ments described and shown in the drawings. Thus, it is possible to make the envelope in another way than by the composition of a flange-provided cup part having a stiff plate. The envelope could, for instance, consist of an elastic bladder having an air flow passage which is delimited by elastically deformable lips which, on one hand, may be widened powerfully and, on the other hand, be closed so that the intake air only passes slowly through the passage.

Claims

1. Device for automatically turning down a shutter with a certain delay from a turned-up position, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the same comprises an envelope (12) which is elasti- cally deformable between an expanded state and a collapsed state and the interior of which communicates with a combined outlet and inlet passage (19) for air, said passage being, at least partly, delimited by a likewise elastically deformable piece of material (16""), which, by the elasticity thereof, on one hand, permits that the passage is powerfully widened when the envelope in a manual way is compressed to the collapsed state during evacuation of air therefrom, and, on the other hand, reduces the air-passing ability of the passage to a minimum when the envelope, by the inherent elasticity thereof, strives to widen itself towards the expanded state and in that connection sucks in air in the interior thereof, the envelope having the purpose of, during the expansion thereof, bringing the shutter (9) to pass an unstable state of equilibrium after which the same is automatically turned to a turned down posi- tion.

2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the envelope (12) , in addition to a cup-shaped part (15) , comprises an endless flange (16) which is integral with the cup part and surrounds the same, and that the cup part together with the flange are connected to a base part or plate (14) , more precisely by the fact that the flange (16) is sealingly applied against the plate with the exception of a deformable portion (16"") defining the air flow passage (19) .

3. Device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the flange (16) is connected to the base plate (14) by means of a layer of adhesive (18) in which there is an interruption for forming the air flow passage.

4. Device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the flange (16) is connected to the base plate (14) by means of a frame (20) having a plurality of fingers (21) which are brought through holes (23) in the flange (16) and snap-in fastened in analogously placed holes (24) in the base plate, the frame having an edge fillet (25) intended for sealingly pressing the elastic flange (16) against the base plate, which fillet is interrupted a distance along which the flange (16) may be distanced from the base plate and which defines said air flow passage (19) .

5. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, c h a r a ct e r i z e d in that the cup part (15) comprises a number of stiffeners (17) which always strive to bring back the cup part to the expanded state .

6. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, c h a r a ct e r i z e d in that the cup part (15) as well the surrounding flange (16) are of a quadrangular basic shape, three of four straight portions of the flange sealing against the base plate, while the fourth portion (16"") is deformably movable in relation to the base plate.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the same being included in a container, e.g. a pick'n mix container, of the type that includes a lower trough part (3) projecting forwards from a front wall (4), which trough part opens upwards and co-operates with a shutter (9), which is articulat- edly connected to the container in order to be able to be turned between a turned down position in which the shutter covers the opening of the trough part and a turned-up position towards the front wall (4) in which the interior of the trough part is within reach via said opening, c h a r a c t e - r i z e d in that the envelope (12) is placed on the front wall of the container and is of a height which, on one hand, in the expanded state is at least somewhat larger than the horizontal distance between the shutter and the front wall when the shutter passes the unstable state of equilibrium thereof, and, on the other hand, in the collapsed state is less than this distance .