Stirring rod dispenser for beverage vending machines and method for dispensing stirring rods

Abstract

A stirring bar dispenser (1) and method for dispensing a stirring bar (2) in a beverage vending machine (A), wherein the stirring bar (2) is drawn from a stack (4) of stirring bars (2) and supplied into a drop chute (19) toward a beverage cup (B), and the stirring bar (2) is temporarily stopped at the midpoint of the drop chute (19) by the free swing of a swing member (26) about a reciprocating hinge axis (29) before entering the beverage cup (B).

Description

[0001] Cross-citation of related applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 21174407.3, filed on May 18, 2021, and Italian Patent Application No. 102021000028712, filed on November 11, 2021, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a stir bar dispenser for a beverage vending machine and a method for dispensing the stir bar. Background Technology

[0004] In the field of vending machines, it is known that in order to dispense the stirring stick directly into the cups delivered to receive the beverage at the cup filling station, a stirring stick dispenser controlled by the electronic control unit of the beverage vending machine is arranged inside the vending machine.

[0005] The stir bar is typically released into the cup before it is filled with the beverage, and can be dispensed only when sugar is required in the selected beverage.

[0006] Generally, a known stir bar dispenser includes: a stir bar box containing one or more rows of orderly stacked stir bars; and an extractor, operated in use to reciprocate and move laterally relative to the stir bars, such that only the stir bars at the bottom of the stack are ejected from the lower outlet of the stir bar box via the reciprocating movement through the lower outlet, and such stir bars fall directly into a cup or onto a slider that drives the stir bars into the cup.

[0007] The aforementioned types of stir bar dispensers are known, for example, from EP 1586 254 A1, EP 2345 010 A1 and EP 2563 187 A1.

[0008] The aforementioned types of stir bar dispensers have been used quite satisfactorily for dispensing plastic stir bar dispensers for decades, but with the recent enactment of environmental protection regulations, as long as plastics are banned, these types of stir bar dispensers have exposed serious shortcomings, and operators in this field are obligated to adopt alternative "green" solutions, particularly using stir bar dispensers made of biodegradable or compostable materials such as wood or paper.

[0009] The problems associated with the use of wooden or paper stirring rods in traditional dispensers stem from the fact that in these dispensers, the extractor, stirring rod box, and stirring rod stack are configured to interact with each other with high precision, such that movement of the extractor allows individual rods to be drawn from the bottom of the stack.

[0010] For plastic stirring rods, this precision is usually guaranteed over time by the fact that the shape and size of the stirring rods stacked in the stirring rod box remain essentially stable regardless of the environmental conditions within the automatic dispenser.

[0011] 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 well known, these materials are greatly affected by changes in temperature and humidity, and the stirring rod may warp to a certain extent, rendering the extractor ineffective and causing the stirring rod dispenser to become clogged.

[0012] The problem of stir bar deformation is at least partially solved by the dispenser described in Italian patent application No. 102021000007343 filed by the current applicant, in which a reciprocating extractor can extract a single stir bar each time, regardless of whether the stir bar is deformed.

[0013] In known dispensers, regardless of the material, geometry, or size of the stirring rods, each stirring rod is discarded once it is pulled out, allowing it to fall into the delivery tube under gravity. The outlet of the delivery tube guides the stirring rod into the cup.

[0014] In some cases, the stirring rod descends smoothly, thus ensuring that one end of the stirring rod rests correctly at the bottom of the cup. In other cases, the descent of the stirring rod is irregular and unpredictable, which often results in the stirring rod bouncing and / or clogging at the delivery tube and / or the mouth of the cup.

[0015] The aforementioned situation is mainly due to the fact that it is impossible to control the downward movement of the stirring rod along the delivery tube and the downward movement when the stirring rod engages with the cup in the known dispenser.

[0016] The above problems are more severe with particularly heavy stirring rods (such as wooden stirring rods), but also more severe with particularly light stirring rods (such as paper stirring rods), and in some cases, more severe with stirring rods made of plastic.

[0017] Furthermore, when the stirring rod is heavy, it reaches the outlet of the delivery tube and thus, depending on the trajectory or path it follows during its descent, it strikes the bottom or side of the cup relatively violently at a continuous speed, producing a noise that can sometimes be unpleasant. Summary of the Invention

[0018] The purpose of this invention is to provide a stirring rod dispenser for beverage vending machines that can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0019] This objective is achieved by a stir bar dispenser for a beverage vending machine as defined in the appended claims. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate examples of non-limiting implementations of the invention, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A beverage vending machine is schematically and partially shown equipped with a stirring rod dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0022] Figure 2 and Figure 3 This shows two different operating states. Figure 1 The image shows a side perspective view of the stirring rod dispenser, with some parts removed for clarity;

[0023] Figure 4 and Figure 5 This shows two different operating states. Figure 1 A magnified cross-sectional view showing details of the stirring rod distributor; and

[0024] Figure 6 A variation of the stirring bar dispenser according to the invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This shows two different operating states. Figure 6 A magnified partial cross-sectional view showing details of the stirring rod distributor; and

[0026] Figure 9 and Figure 10 This shows two different operating states. Figure 6 A perspective view showing details of the stirring rod dispenser. Detailed Implementation

[0027] 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 variations of the described embodiments will immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles described can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of protection 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 broadest possible scope of protection according to the described and claimed features.

[0028] 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 to which this invention pertains. In the event of any dispute, this specification (including the limitations provided) shall be legally binding. Furthermore, the examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and thus should not be considered restrictive.

[0029] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments described herein, reference will be made to specific embodiments, and they will be described using specific language. The terminology used in this document is intended to describe only particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0030] Figure 1 A beverage vending machine is shown, but only partially shown, and is marked with reference numeral A in its entirety.

[0031] The beverage vending machine A includes a stir bar dispenser 1, which is operable to automatically dispense a single stir bar 2 into a cup B to be filled with beverage.

[0032] The examples of stirring rods 2 described in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings are in the form of elongated, flat elements, each having a longitudinal axis 2' and including two rounded end portions 2A and a middle portion 2B, the middle portion being defined by two larger flat surfaces 2B1 and two straight, thin side surfaces 2B2. While this is the most common shape of stirring rod 2 (stirring rods of this shape are often also referred to as stirrers), the stirring rod dispenser 1 of the present invention is also configured to dispense stirring rods having a different size or shape than the examples shown. For example, the stirring rod 2 may not be flat, or may only be partially flat and / or have a circular cross-section, etc.

[0033] The stirring rod dispenser 1 includes a fixed attachment frame T and a stirring rod box 3, in which stirring rods 2, which are stacked in an orderly manner and loaded with weight, are arranged in a stack 4.

[0034] The stirring rod dispenser 1 also includes an extractor 5 disposed below the stirring rod box 3 and having an upper support surface 6, wherein when the extractor 5 is in the resting position, the stack 4 of stirring rods 2 in the stirring rod box 3 rests on the upper support surface.

[0035] The extractor 5 includes a pusher 7, which is mounted to move back and forth relative to the stirring rod box 3 to laterally engage the stirring rod 2 resting on the support surface 6, thereby laterally pushing the stirring rod through the outlet 8 of the stirring rod box 3 until the stirring rod 2 is completely extracted from the stack 4 and falls freely downwards.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the support surface 6 and the pusher 7 are integrally formed and both are formed on the extractor 5. In this case, the extractor 5 is in the form of a rotating member that is hinged to the frame T and pivots reciprocally about a fixed axis 9 parallel to the longitudinal axis 2' of the stirring rod 2 in the stirring rod box 3.

[0037] Specifically, the extractor 5 includes an arm 10, the lower end portion of which is hinged to the frame T to pivot about a fixed hinge axis 9, and the upper head portion 11 of which is connected to the upper end of the arm 10.

[0038] In particular, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the head portion 11 includes: a lowering or supporting portion 12, the upper surface of which forms the supporting surface 6; and a raising portion 13, which is arranged on the opposite side of the stirring rod box 3 relative to the outlet 8 when the extractor 5 is in the resting position.

[0039] The lowering portion 12 and the raising portion 13 are connected to each other by a step portion that extends parallel to the axis 9 and the longitudinal axis 2' of the stirring rod 2, and the height of the step portion is less than or at most equal to the thickness of the stirring rod 2.

[0040] The step portion between the lowering portion 12 and the raising portion 13 forms the pusher 7, which can be operated to eject the stirring rod 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 in response to the swinging of the rotating member 5 about the axis 9.

[0041] For this purpose, the rotating member 5 is operated by an electric actuator (not shown), which is preferably connected via a swing cam drive (not shown) and electronically controlled by the electronic control unit of the beverage vending machine, and the electric actuator is configured to keep the rotating member 5 in the retracted resting position. Figure 4 ) and the forward extraction position ( Figure 5 The agitator 2 moves between the stack 4 and the support surface 6 in the retracted resting position, with the stepped portion (i.e., the pusher 7) facing the agitator 2 at the bottom of the stack 4. In the forward extraction position, the rotating member 5 moves forward (i.e., Figure 4 and Figure 5 Rotate counterclockwise (in the middle) to a certain extent, so that the pusher 7 is arranged beyond the outlet 8 of the stirring rod box 3.

[0042] As the device moves between the retracted resting position and the forward extraction position, the pusher 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 the extraction direction orthogonal to the hinge axis 9 and transverse to the longitudinal axis 2', 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 push of a spring.

[0043] During the extraction of the stirring rod 2, the stack 4 is supported by the raised portion 13 of the extractor 5, and when the rotating member 5 returns to the resting position, the stack returns to resting on the lowered portion 12.

[0044] Therefore, in the above embodiment, the extractor 5 includes a lowering portion 12 and a raising portion 13 that move as a whole as part of a swing member.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), when the extractor 5 is in the resting position, the stack 4 rests on the upper surface of the raised portion 13 rather than the upper surface of the lowered portion 12, and the extractor 5 is controlled to eject the stirring rod 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 during the return stroke rather than during the forward stroke of the extractor 5. Also in this embodiment, the lowered portion 12 may be integrally formed with the raised portion 13, and thus may move or remain stationary together with the raised portion.

[0046] 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 at the bottom of the stack 4. That is, the width of the support surface 6 (measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 2' of the agitator 2) is designed such that the agitator 2 at the bottom of the stack 4 contacts the support surface 6 only at the central portion 2B of the agitator 2, and not along the entire length of the agitator.

[0047] Still referencing Figure 4 and Figure 5 The stir bar dispenser 1 also includes a shaped front housing 18 that surrounds the extractor 5 and defines a drop chute 19 to guide the extracted stir bar 2 into the cup B.

[0048] The drop chute 19 has: an inlet 20 adjacent to the head portion 11 of the extractor 5, and the inlet is configured to receive one stirring rod 2 from the extractor 5 at a time; and an outlet 21 disposed below the inlet 20 and near the upper end of the cup B, and the outlet is configured to supply the stirring rod 2 into the cup B.

[0049] Specifically, the shaped outer shell 18 includes: a substantially vertical upper portion 23 with a constant cross section that defines the inlet 20; and a lower portion 24 that tapers downward that defines the outlet 21 and has a front wall 25 that slopes downward toward the frame T, and the lower portion forms a guide groove that guides the stirring rod 2 toward the outlet 21.

[0050] Still referencing Figure 4 and Figure 5 The stirring rod dispenser 1 also includes a movable stop member 26, which can be operated to temporarily stop each stirring rod 2 as it descends toward the outlet 21.

[0051] The movable stop member 26 is arranged in the drop chute 19 spanning the upper part 23 and the lower part 24, and is suspended on the head part 11 of the extractor 5 like a swinging element or a rocking element.

[0052] The movable stop member 26 is formed of a plate and includes an upper plate 27, the upper end of which is hinged to the head portion 11 to rotate about a horizontal hinge axis 29 that is stationary relative to the head portion 11, and the lower end of which is securely connected to the stop block 28.

[0053] The position of the hinge axis 29 on the head portion 11 is selected such that when the rotating member 5 is in the retracted position, the distance between the hinge axis 29 and the frame T measured in the horizontal direction is greater than the distance between the hinge axis 9 and the frame T measured in the same direction.

[0054] The stop block 28 is conveniently formed from a plate body, the thickness of which is greater than the thickness of the upper plate 27, and the stop block is arranged to face the wall 25 that defines the guide groove.

[0055] Conveniently, the front of the head portion 11 is formed with a hook-shaped portion 30, and the upper plate 27 has two intermediate pivot pins that are inserted into the hook-shaped portion 30 through the front channel. Thus, the movable stop member 26 is free to swing back and forth freely about the hinge axis 29. This allows the movable stop member 26 to rotate autonomously only during the movement of the rotating member 5, i.e., only under the sole action of its weight.

[0056] Specifically, the inclination of the guide chute, the vertical dimension of the movable stop member 26, and the center of gravity G of the movable stop member are selected such that when the extractor 5 is in its forward extraction position, the movable stop member 26 is arranged in the forward operating position such that the stop block 28 is arranged adjacent to the guide chute to temporarily stop the stirring rod 2 in the drop chute 19, and when the extractor 5 is in the retracted position or near the retracted position, the movable stop member 26 is arranged in a non-operating or resting position in which the movable stop member allows the stirring rod 2 to advance toward the outlet 21 within the drop chute 19.

[0057] As can be clearly seen from the above, the placement of the movable stop member 26 and its autonomous and automatic positioning solely by gravity enable the transformation of the free-fall movement of the stirring rod 2, present in known solutions, into a controlled fall movement in an extremely simple and safe manner. In other words, the presence of the movable stop member 26 allows the fall path to be canceled or interrupted at a predetermined point, which can be selected by simply designing the dimensions of the movable stop member 26 and the geometry of the guide chute, the fall speed of the stirring rod 2, and controlling the impact intensity of the stirring rod within the cup B.

[0058] In addition, the movable stop member 26 also defines another resting plane or adjacent and control element for the position of the stirring rod 2. This other resting plane specifically defines another guide for the stirring rod 2, which cooperates with an inclined plane that defines an intermediate channel with a variable cross-section during the movement of the stirring rod toward its resting position, which inevitably guides the stirring rod 2 toward the outlet 21 and accurately in the desired inlet direction in the cup B.

[0059] Figure 6 The variant shown relates to a stirring rod dispenser 30, which is connected to... Figures 1 to 5 The difference in the stir bar dispenser 1 shown lies in some structural details, and where possible, its components are indicated by the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts of the stir bar dispenser 1.

[0060] The stirring rod dispenser 30 includes an extractor 31, which differs from the extractor 5 in that the head portion 11 includes, in addition to the lowering portion 12 and the raising portion 13, a rocker-type extraction rod 33 for removing the stirring rod 2 extracted from the head portion 11 and pushing it toward the inlet 20 of the drop chute 19.

[0061] The extraction rod 33 is arranged in a partial receiving seat 34, which is formed in the head portion 11 between the lowering portion 12 and the raising portion 13.

[0062] The seat 34 communicates with the outside through two openings 35 and 36, which are separated from each other by a wall 37 that is integrally formed with the raised portion 13.

[0063] The extraction rod 33 has a middle portion 38 arranged below the wall 37 and hinged to the head portion 11 to swing about a fixed hinge axis 39 parallel to the axis 9.

[0064] The extraction lever 33 includes two opposing end portions 41 and 42, shaped such that when one is raised and located outside the head portion 11, the other is lowered and inserted into the seat 34, and vice versa. Figures 7 to 10 As shown.

[0065] During operation, when the extractor 31 is in its retracted position, such as Figure 7 As shown, portion 42 is held in the lowered position by the stirring rod 2 resting on the lowered portion 12, and therefore, portion 41 protrudes upward through the opening 35 and extends beyond the resting plane of the raised portion 13, as... Figure 7 As shown.

[0066] When the extractor 32 is in its forward position, such as Figure 8 As shown, portion 41 is held in the seat 34 by the stack 4 of the stirring rod 2, i.e., in a lowered position in the seat 34, and portion 42 is raised and protrudes upward through the opening 36 and beyond the resting plane of the lowered portion 12, as shown. Figure 8 As shown.

[0067] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the rear of the stirring rod 2, which is pulled out of the stack 4, is lifted by the protrusion of the opening 36 of the portion 42. The stirring rod 2 is spaced apart from the lowering portion 12 and from the step portion between the portions 12 and 13, and then the stirring rod 2 is pushed into the drop chute 19.

[0068] Regardless of the geometry of the stirring rod 2 or the material it is made of, the extraction rod 33 ensures the separation of the stirring rod 2 from the stack 4.

[0069] As can be understood from the above, in the stir bar dispenser 1, the geometry and dimensions of the movable stop member 26 and the relative positions of the hinge axes 9 and 29 may differ from those described in the exemplary embodiment, wherein the purpose is to change or modify the height of the interception point of the stir bar 2 along the drop chute 19 to change the profile of the forward movement of the stir bar.

[0070] In the stir bar dispenser 30, the geometry of the extraction rod 33 may be different, and the extractor 31 may not have a movable stop member 26, or the extractor may be provided with a stop device different from the stop device applicable to the stir bar dispenser 1, or the extractor may be associated with the stop device.

Claims

1. A stir bar dispenser (1; 30) for a beverage vending machine; the stir bar dispenser (1) comprising a fixed frame (T); a stir bar box (3) supported by the fixed frame (T) and configured to accommodate a stack (4) of stir bars (2) resting on a support surface (6); and a dispenser (5) disposed below the stir bar box (3) for individually dispensing the stir bar (2) from the stack (4), wherein, The extractor (5) is coupled to the fixed frame (T) and driven to move between a retracted resting position and an advancing extracting position in the extraction direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (2') of the stirring rod (2), in which the stack (4) rests on the support surface (6), and in the advancing extracting position, the stirring rod (2) located at the bottom of the stack (4) is extracted; and a drop chute (19) having an inlet (20) adjacent to the extractor (5) to receive one stirring rod (2) from the extractor at a time, and the drop chute having An outlet (21) is arranged below the inlet (20) to supply the stirring rod (2) to a beverage container (B) located below; characterized in that the stirring rod dispenser includes a movable retaining device arranged within the drop chute (19) and movable back and forth in the drop chute to temporarily stop the stirring rod (2) as it descends toward the outlet (21); the movable retaining device includes a movable stop member (26) carried by the extractor (5) and configured to cooperate by abutting against the stirring rod (2).

2. The stirring rod dispenser according to claim 1, wherein, The movable stop member (26) is hinged to the extractor (5) to rotate about a hinge axis (29) that can move together with the extractor (5).

3. The stirring rod dispenser according to claim 2, wherein, The hinge axis (29) is arranged horizontally.

4. The stirring rod dispenser according to claim 3, wherein, The movable stop member (26) is a swing member extending downward from the hinge axis (29), and the movable stop member swings freely about the hinge axis (29).

5. The stirring rod dispenser according to claim 4, wherein, The drop chute (19) is defined by a fixed wall (25) extending from the outlet, and the oscillating member is arranged to face at least partially toward the fixed wall (25) and is movable relative to the fixed wall (25) between a retracted resting position and an advancing operating position. In the retracted resting position, the oscillating member allows the stirring rod (2) to be transported within the drop chute (19). In the advancing operating position, the oscillating member cooperates with the fixed wall (25) to temporarily stop the stirring rod within the drop chute (19).

6. The stirring rod dispenser according to claim 2, wherein, The extractor (5) includes a rotating member hinged to the frame (T) for reciprocating rotation about another hinge axis (9), which is stationary relative to the frame (T) and parallel to the hinge axis (29), and the other hinge axis is arranged in a lower position relative to the hinge axis (29); the hinge axis (29) is arranged at a distance from the frame (T) greater than the distance between the other hinge axis (9) and the frame (T) measured in the same direction, such that when the extractor (5) is in the forward position, the movable stop member (26) is automatically arranged in the forward holding position, and when the extractor (5) is in the retracted position, the movable stop member returns to the resting position.

7. The stirring rod dispenser according to claim 1, wherein, The movable stop member (26) is made of a shaped plate.

8. A beverage vending machine (A) comprising a stir bar dispenser (1; 30) according to claim 1.

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