Stirring stick dispenser for beverage vending machines

Abstract

A stir bar dispenser (1) for a beverage vending machine includes: a stir bar box (3) configured to receive a stack (4) of stir bars (2) arranged to rest on a support surface; and a dispenser (5) disposed below the stir bar box (3) to dispense individual stir bars (2) from the stack (4). The stir bar box (3) includes a blocking member (16) that, together with the support surface (6), defines an outlet (8) of the stir bar box (3) at a height equal to the thickness of the stir bars (2) to allow a single stir bar (2) to pass through the outlet (8) each time it is dispensed. The support surface (6) is sized such that only the central portion (2a) of the stir bar (2) at the bottom of the stack (4) rests on the support surface (6), and the side portion (2b) of the stir bar (2) extends cantilevered from the support surface. The width of the obstruction member (16) is substantially equal to the width of the support surface (6), and the lower end (15) of the stirring rod box (3) is spaced from the support surface (6) by a distance greater than the height of the outlet (8), such that during the extraction of the stirring rod (2), even when the side portion (2b) of the stirring rod (2) bends downward or upward due to the longitudinal deformation of the stirring rod (2), the obstruction member (16) and the lower end (15) of the stirring rod box (3) do not interfere with the side portion (2b).

Description

[0001] Cross-citation of related applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102021000007343, filed on March 25, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a stirring rod dispenser for use in beverage vending machines. Background Technology

[0004] In the field of vending machines, it is known that a stir bar dispenser is installed inside a beverage vending machine. This dispenser is controlled by the machine's electronic control unit to directly dispense the stir bar into the cups containing the beverage being transported at the cup filling station. Typically, the stir bar is released into the cup before the beverage is filled, and the stir bar is only dispensed if the selected beverage requires sugar.

[0005] Typically, known stir bar dispensers include: a stir bar box containing one or more rows of stir bars stacked in an orderly fashion; and an extractor that operates in use to reciprocate and laterally move relative to the stir bar through a lower outlet of the stir bar box, thereby ejecting only the stir bar located at the bottom of the stack by the back-and-forth movement through the lower outlet and causing the stir bar to fall directly into the cup or onto a slider that drives the stir bar to the cup.

[0006] Stirring bar dispensers of the above type are known, for example, from EP 1 586 254 Al, EP 2 345 010 Al, EP 2 563187 Al and EP 1 107 200A2.

[0007] The aforementioned type of stir bar dispenser has been used for decades in a fairly satisfactory manner to dispense plastic stir bars. However, with the recent enactment of environmental protection regulations that have made plastic illegal, this type of stir bar dispenser has shown serious drawbacks, and operators in the field have been forced to adopt alternative "green" solutions, particularly using stir bars made of biodegradable or compostable materials such as wood or paper.

[0008] Problems associated with the use of wooden or paper-type stirring rods in conventional dispensers stem from the fact that in these dispensers, the extractor, stirring rod box, and stack of stirring rods are configured to interact with each other with high precision, such that movement of the extractor enables the extraction of individual rods from the bottom of the stack.

[0009] For plastic stirring rods, this precision can usually be guaranteed over time because the shape and size of the stirring rods stacked in the stirring rod box remain basically stable regardless of the environmental conditions inside the automatic dispenser.

[0010] Conversely, when the stirring rod is made of materials other than plastic (especially wood and paper), the same precision cannot be guaranteed because, as is known, these materials are greatly affected by changes in temperature and humidity, and the stirring rod can deform to the point that the extractor becomes ineffective, leading to blockage of the stirring rod dispenser. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a stirring rod dispenser for beverage vending machines that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0012] This objective is achieved by a stir bar dispenser for a beverage vending machine as claimed in the appended claims. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate examples of non-limiting implementations, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 A perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the stirring rod dispenser according to the present invention is shown, with some parts omitted for clarity;

[0015] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A front view showing details of the stirring rod dispenser;

[0016] Figure 3 and Figure 4 and Figure 2 Similarly, a stir bar dispenser is shown in the case of stir bar deformation arranged at the bottom of the stir bar stack; and

[0017] Figure 5 and Figure 6 They are shown respectively Figure 1 The cross-sectional view and enlarged view of the stirring rod distributor in the static position and the extraction position of the stirring rod. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable those skilled in the art to produce and use it. Various modifications to the described embodiments will readily become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles described may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, the invention should not be considered limited to the described and illustrated embodiments, but is intended to have the widest possible scope of protection according to the described and claimed features.

[0019] Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly used by one of ordinary skill in the art of this invention. In the event of any dispute, this specification, including the definitions provided, shall be binding. Furthermore, the examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting.

[0020] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments described herein, reference will be made to specific embodiments, and specific language will be used to describe them. The terminology used in this document is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0021] In the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 generally indicates a stir bar dispenser typically housed within a beverage vending machine (not shown), which operates the vending machine to automatically supply the stir bar 2 into cups of beverages to be filled.

[0022] The stirring rods 2 described in this specification and the examples shown in the accompanying drawings are in the form of elongated, flat elements, each having a longitudinal axis A and including two rounded end portions and a middle portion defined by two larger planes and two straight, thin side portions. While this is the most commonly used shape for stirring rods (stirring rods of this shape are often also referred to as stirrers), the stirring rod dispenser of the present invention is also configured to dispense stirring rods having a different proportion or shape than those of the stirring rods in the illustrated examples. For example, the stirring rods may have a circular cross-section or a similar shape.

[0023] The stir bar dispenser 1 is designed to dispense any type of stir bar 2, but it is particularly suitable for situations where the stir bar 2 to be dispensed is made of materials such as wood or paper, and deformation (especially longitudinal warping) occurs in the stir bar 2 after a period of time and / or under certain environmental conditions.

[0024] The stir bar dispenser 1 includes: a stir bar box 3 configured to accommodate a stack 4 of orderly stacked stir bar 2; and an extractor 5 disposed below the stir bar box 3 and having an upper support surface 6, on which the stack 4 of stir bar 2 in the stir bar box 3 rests when the extractor 5 is in a stationary position.

[0025] In addition, the extractor 5 includes a pusher 7, which is mounted to move back and forth relative to the stirring rod box 3 to engage laterally with the stirring rod 2 resting on the support surface 6, so as to push the stirring rod laterally through the outlet 8 of the stirring rod box 3 until the stirring rod 2 is completely removed from the stack 4 and falls freely downwards.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the support surface 6 and the pushing part 7 are integral and both are formed on the extractor 5. In this case, the extractor is in the form of a rotating member that is hinged to pivot about a fixed axis 9 about the longitudinal axis A of the stirring rod 2 in the stirring rod box 3.

[0027] Specifically, the rotating member 5 includes: an arm 10 directly hinged to pivot about axis 9; and a head portion 11 connected to the free end of the arm 10.

[0028] In particular, such as Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the head portion 11 includes: a descending portion or support portion 12, the upper surface of which forms the support surface 6; and a rising portion 13, arranged on the side of the stirring rod box 3 opposite to the outlet 8 in the rest position of the extractor 5. The descending portion 12 and the rising portion 13 are connected to each other by a stepped portion that extends parallel to the axis 9 and the longitudinal axis A of the stirring rod 2, and the height of the stepped portion is less than or at most equal to the thickness of the stirring rod 2.

[0029] The step portion between the descending portion 12 and the ascending portion 13 forms the pushing portion 7, which is adapted to eject the stirring rod 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 in response to the swing of the rotating member 5 about the axis 9.

[0030] Therefore, the beverage vending machine includes an electric actuator (not shown), which is preferably connected to the rotating member 5 via a cam drive (not shown) and is electronically controlled and configured by the electronic unit of the beverage vending machine such that the rotating member 5 is in the stationary position ( Figure 5 ) and extraction location ( Figure 6The stirring rod 2 moves between the resting and extraction positions. In the resting position, the stirring rod 2 rests on the support surface 6, with the stepped portion (i.e., the pushing portion 7) facing the stirring rod 2 at the bottom of the stack 4. In the extraction position, the rotating member 5 rotates forward, causing the pushing portion 7 to be positioned outside the outlet 8 of the stirring rod box 3. When moving between the resting and extraction positions, the pushing portion 7 engages the side of the stirring rod 2 resting on the support surface 6 and pushes the stirring rod through the outlet 8 of the stirring rod box 3 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A until the stirring rod 2 is ejected from the stack 4. When the extraction position is reached, the rotating member 5 preferably returns to the resting position under the action of a spring force.

[0031] During the extraction of the stirring rod 2, the stack 4 is supported by the rising portion 13 of the extractor 5, and when the rotating member 5 returns to the stationary position, the stack returns to rest on the falling portion 12.

[0032] Therefore, in the above embodiment, the extractor 5 includes a descending portion 12 and a rising portion 13, which move as a whole as part of a swing member.

[0033] In different embodiments (not shown), the descending portion 12 is fixed, while the ascending portion 13 is movable and part of the swing member (as in the aforementioned case). The fixed descending portion 12 and the movable ascending portion 13 are configured such that the ascending portion 13 can move relative to the descending portion 12 during movement from the rest position to the extraction position, and vice versa. Preferably, the descending portion 12 and the ascending portion 13 are shaped such that they intersect in a comb-like manner during movement of the ascending portion 13.

[0034] In a variation of this embodiment, the rising portion 13 does not oscillate, but is configured to have a reciprocating translational motion.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), when the extractor 5 is in the stationary position, the stack 4 rests on the upper surface of the rising portion 13, rather than on the falling portion 12, and the extractor 5 is controlled to eject the stirring rod 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 during its return stroke, rather than during its forward stroke. Also in this embodiment, the falling portion 12 may be integral with the rising portion 13, thus allowing it to move together with the rising portion, or the falling portion may be fixed. When the rising portion 13 moves from its stationary position supporting the stack 4, the stack falls and rests on the falling portion 12; therefore, when the rising portion 13 returns to the stationary position, the pushing part 7 causes the stirring rod 2 resting on the falling portion 12 to be extracted, and the stack 4 returns to rest on the rising portion 13. Also in this embodiment, the rising portion 13 may be actuated to perform a swinging or translating motion.

[0036] Regardless of the configuration of the extractor 5, the dimensions of the support surface 6 are designed to engage only the central portion of the agitator 2 arranged at the bottom of the stack 4. That is, the width of the support portion 6, measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the agitator 2, ensures that the agitator 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 contacts the support surface 6 only at its central portion 2a, and not along its entire length. The remaining portion of the agitator 2 is made of two side portions 2b arranged on opposite sides of the central portion 2a, such that they do not contact the support surface 6.

[0037] Preferably, the central portion 2a has a predetermined length, which is typically associated with common variations of the stirring rod 2 mounted in the stirring rod box 3.

[0038] The pusher 7 may have the same width as the support surface 6, which is measured parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the stirring rod 2, or the pusher may have a predetermined width, which is generally related to common variations of the stirring rod 2 mounted in the stirring rod box 3, such as a width greater than the width of the support surface 6, and in particular, a width equal to or less than the length of the stirring rod 2.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the stirring rod box 3 includes a shell defining an internal cavity sized to precisely accommodate the stack 4, and the internal cavity has a substantially horizontal transverse axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the stirring rod 2 and a substantially vertical longitudinal axis.

[0040] The outer casing can have any shape suitable for laterally guiding the stack 4 to maintain its order as the stack descends along the casing due to the gradual removal of the stirring rod 2 from the bottom of the stack 4. Typically, a weight (not shown) is provided on top of the stack 4 to keep the stack 4 secure and to allow the stack to descend along the inner cavity as the stirring rod 2 is removed.

[0041] In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the housing includes: two U-shaped shoulders 14 arranged around both ends of the stirring rod 2; and a rear plate that connects the two shoulders to each other and extends along the side of the stack 4 opposite to the outlet 8.

[0042] Preferably, one of the two shoulders 14 is movable, so as to be able to move closer to or away from the other shoulder 14, so that the size of the outer shell is adapted to the length of the stirring rod 2.

[0043] The outer shell has a lower edge or lower end 15, which is spaced from the support surface 6 in a direction perpendicular to the support surface 6 by a distance greater than the thickness of the stirring rod 2, preferably by a distance at least twice the thickness of the stirring rod 2.

[0044] Finally, the stirring rod box 3 includes a counteracting member 16, which is arranged on the same side of the outlet 8 relative to the housing, and is used to prevent other stirring rods 2 from being dragged across the outlet 8 when the stirring rods 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 are pushed out of the stack 4 by the pusher 7.

[0045] For this purpose, the obstruction member 16 extends at least forward of the lower portion of the stack 4 and has a lower edge 17 parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the stirring rod 2 and facing the support surface 6. This lower edge is spaced from the support surface at a predetermined distance, which is a function of the thickness of the stirring rod 2, specifically 1.5 times the thickness of the stirring rod 2, thereby defining the aforementioned outlet 8 of the stirring rod box 3 together with the support surface 6. The obstruction member 16 can be mounted to or integrally formed with the outer shell of the stirring rod box 3.

[0046] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the width of the obstruction member 16 is substantially the same as the width of the support surface 6, at least near its lower edge 17, such that the obstruction member faces the stack 4 only at the central portion of the other plurality of stirring rods 2 located on the stirring rod 2 resting on the support surface 6, at least near its lower edge 17.

[0047] The fact that the size of the obstruction member 16 is designed to laterally engage the stack 4 only at the central portion of the stirring rod 2, the fact that the size of the support surface 6 is designed to engage the stirring rod 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 only at the central portion 2a of the stirring rod 2, and the fact that the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 is arranged such that the distance between it and the support surface 6 is greater than the thickness of the stirring rod 2, ensures that even if the bottom stirring rod 2 is deformed, especially if the bottom stirring rod loses its flatness, for example, due to the stirring rod 2 absorbing moisture in the beverage vending machine, the extractor 5 can always extract the bottom stirring rod.

[0048] In fact, the dimensions of the supporting surface 6, the obstruction member 16, and the distance between the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 and the supporting surface 6 are selected according to the length and thickness of the stirring rod 2, so that the side portion 2b of the stirring rod 2 extends from the supporting surface 6 in a cantilever manner and is not constrained by the supporting surface 6 at the bottom, or by the obstruction member 16 or the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 at the top. Therefore, it can freely deform upward or downward without affecting the flatness of the central portion 2a of the stirring rod 2 and its stable contact with the supporting surface 6.

[0049] In addition to the length and thickness of the stirring rod 2 to be dispensed, the dimensions of the support surface 6, the dimensions of the obstruction member 16, and the distance between the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 and the support surface 6 are selected according to the material of the stirring rod 2. The material of the stirring rod 2, together with other characteristics of the stirring rod including its length and thickness, helps to determine the deformation that the stirring rod 2 undergoes when it remains in the environment in which the stirring rod dispenser 1 operates for a relatively long time.

[0050] The deformation of the stirring rod 2 is typically represented by upward or downward warping relative to the surface on which the stirring rod 2 rests, which causes the total lateral occupied area of ​​the stirring rod 2 to increase to the predetermined maximum lateral occupied area.

[0051] The maximum deformation (and therefore the ultimate maximum lateral occupancy area experienced by stir bar 2) was experimentally determined through a static characterization process that allowed the deformation characteristics of stir bar 2 to be determined under different temperature and humidity conditions, which are characteristic of the environment in which stir bar 2 may be located.

[0052] Figure 3 The deformation represents the case where the stirring rod 2 is bent longitudinally to form a downward concave portion (i.e., towards the extractor 5). If the side portion 2b of the stirring rod 2 rests on the support surface 6 as in known stirring rod dispensers, this deformation will cause the central portion 2a to rise from the support surface 6. This central portion will interfere with the obstruction member 16 under the action of the pusher 7 during extraction, and may also interfere with the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3, thereby preventing the stirring rod 2 from passing through the outlet 8 and causing the stirring rod dispenser 1 to become clogged.

[0053] Since in the stir bar dispenser 1 of the present invention, the side portion 2b of the stir bar 2 does not rest on the support surface 6 and is freely bent downward, the central portion 2a remains resting on the support surface 6 and aligned with the outlet 8, thereby allowing the stir bar 2 to be correctly extracted from the stack 4.

[0054] on the contrary, Figure 4 The deformation represents the case where the stirring rod 2 is bent longitudinally to form an upward concave portion (i.e., towards the obstruction member 16). If the distance between the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 and the support surface 6 is equal to the thickness of the stirring rod 2, and if the width of the obstruction member 16 also extends in front of the side portion 2b of the stirring rod 2 as in known stirring rod dispensers, this deformation will cause the side portion 2b to rise from the support surface 6. During extraction, this side portion will interfere with the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 under the push of the pusher 7, and may also interfere with the obstruction member 16, thereby preventing the stirring rod 2 from passing through the outlet 8 and causing the stirring rod dispenser 1 to become clogged.

[0055] Since the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 is designed to maintain a certain distance from the support surface 6 in the stirring rod dispenser 1 of the present invention, and the obstructing member 16 is designed to extend only in front of the central part of the stack 4, the lifting of the side part 2b caused by deformation will not cause any interference with the lower end 15 of the stirring rod box 3 or with the obstructing member 16, thereby allowing the stirring rod 2 to be correctly extracted from the stack 4.

[0056] In the example shown, the arm 10 of the rotating member 5 is wider than the head portion 11, but the size of the upper portion of the arm 10 is designed in any way to prevent interference with the side portion 2b of the stirring rod 2, which is arranged to rest on the support surface 6, when the stirring rod 2 is deformed and the side portion 2b bends downward.

[0057] In different embodiments, the upper part of the arm 10 does not protrude laterally beyond the head 11, and preferably, the arm 10 and the head portion 11 are made as a single piece.

Claims

1. A stir bar dispenser (1) for a beverage vending machine, comprising a stir bar holder (3) configured to receive a stack (4) of stir bars (2), the stack being arranged to rest on a support surface (6); wherein, Each stirring bar (2) can be affected by upward or downward warping relative to the support surface (6), thereby causing the total lateral occupied area of ​​the stirring bar (2) to increase to a predetermined maximum lateral occupied area; The stir bar dispenser (1) also includes an extractor (5) arranged below the stir bar box (3) to extract a single stir bar (2) from the stack (4); The extractor (5) is operable to move from a rest position and to a rest position transverse to the longitudinal axis (A) of the stirring rod (2), in which the stack (4) is arranged to rest on the support surface (6), and the extractor is operable to extract the stirring rod (2) arranged on the bottom of the stack (4) during each round trip. The stirring rod box (3) includes a barrier member (16), the lower edge (17) of which, together with the support surface (6), defines an outlet (8) of the stirring rod box (3), the height of which is the same as the thickness of the stirring rod (2) to allow a single stirring rod (2) to pass through the outlet (8) each time it is withdrawn. The characteristic is that the dimensions of the support surface (6) are designed such that only the central portion (2a) of the stirring rod (2) at the bottom of the stack (4) rests on the support surface (6), while the side portion (2b) of the stirring rod (2) extends from the support surface (6) in a cantilever manner. Furthermore, the width of the obstruction member (16) at least at the lower edge (17) of the obstruction member is substantially equal to the width of the support surface (6), and the stirring rod box (3) includes a lower end (15) spaced apart from the support surface (6) by a distance in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (A) of the stirring rod (2), the distance being greater than the height of the outlet (8), such that during the extraction of the stirring rod (2), even if the total lateral occupancy area of ​​the stirring rod (2) resting on the support surface (6) increases within a predetermined maximum lateral occupancy area due to the warping effect, the obstruction member (16) and the lower end (15) of the stirring rod box (3) do not interfere with the side portion (2b) of the stirring rod (2).

2. The stirring rod distributor (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The extractor (5) includes a rising portion (13) arranged at a level higher than the support surface (6), and in the rest position of the extractor (5), the rising portion is arranged on the side of the stirring rod box (3) opposite to the outlet (8); the rising portion (13) together with the support surface (6) defines a step portion, the step portion defining a pushing portion (7) designed to laterally push the stirring rod (2) arranged at the bottom of the stack (4) through the outlet (8).

3. The stirring rod distributor (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The rising portion (13) is configured such that during the extraction of the stirring rod (2), the stack (4) remains resting on the rising portion (13), and when the extractor (5) returns to the resting position, the stack returns to resting on the support surface (6).

4. The stirring rod distributor (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The extractor (5) is mounted to swing about a fixed axis (9) that is parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the stirring rod (2).

5. The stirring rod distributor (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The extractor (5) is mounted to reciprocate along the axis transverse to the longitudinal axis (A) of the stirring rod (2).

6. The stirring rod dispenser (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, The supporting surface (6) can move as a whole with the rising part (13) or the supporting surface is fixed.

7. The stirring rod dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The support surface (6) has a width measured parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the stirring rod (2), which is related to the deformation that the stirring rod (2) can withstand.

8. The stirring rod dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The obstruction member (16) extends at least near the lower edge (17) only in front of the central portion of the stack (4), which is the central portion of the other stirring rods (2) located above a stirring rod (2) resting on the support surface (6).

9. The stirring rod dispenser (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The stirring rod box (3) includes a shell defining an internal cavity sized to accommodate the stack (4), and the internal cavity having a substantially horizontal transverse axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the stirring rod (2) and a substantially vertical longitudinal axis (A); the shell has a lower edge facing the support surface (6) and defining the lower end (15) of the stirring rod box (3).

10. A beverage vending machine comprising a stir bar dispenser (1) according to claim 1.

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