BULK PRODUCT DOSING MACHINE

Abstract

A bulk product dosing machine, characterized in that it comprises: - A product receiving station (1), - A product pre-dosing and weighing station (2), - A product dispensing station (3), - Control means (4); the control means (4) being linked by data communication with the receiving station (1), the pre-dosing station (2) and the dispensing station (3), and having the capacity to control them; the receiving station (1), the pre-dosing station (2) and the dispensing station (3) being mutually arranged, positioned and enabled so that the product follows a path through them in this same order; the control means (4) being provided with a user interface (41), which is enabled for the user to input data of the desired product weight to be dispensed at the dispensing station (3); wherein the control means (4) are enabled for sequential control of the receiving station (1), the pre-dosing station (2), and the dispensing station (3) according to the data entered into the interface (41) indicating the desired product weight.

Description

BULK PRODUCT DOSING MACHINE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The purpose of this invention application is to register a bulk product dosing machine, which incorporates notable innovations and advantages over the techniques used to date. More specifically, the invention proposes the development of a bulk product dispensing machine, which, due to its particular arrangement, allows a user to dispense a certain bulk product, according to a weight pre-established by said user in the same machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known within the state of the art of large-scale distribution that measures are being implemented to minimize the use of non-reusable packaging and, consequently, reduce household waste. This issue has become particularly critical in recent years, and therefore, any solution that can optimize the use of non-reusable packaging within the large-scale distribution sector is considered a high-priority innovation and, consequently, can be implemented immediately in logistics and sales operations across standard distribution channels. Furthermore, the distribution of fixed quantities of a particular product can often mean that some of the surplus product, especially in the case of fresh and perishable products, may end up being discarded, with the economic loss that this entails. The present invention contributes to solving and resolving the present problem, since it allows a dispensing to a user of a certain bulk product, according to a weight pre-established by said user in the same machine. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been developed for the purpose of providing a bulk product dosing machine, comprising: - A product receiving station, - A product pre-dosing and weighing station, - A product dispensing station, - Some means of control; the control means being linked in data communication with the receiving station, the pre-dosing station and the dispensing station, and with the capacity to govern them; with the receiving station, the pre-dosing station and the dispensing station mutually arranged, positioned and enabled so that the product follows a path through them in this same order; the control means being equipped with a user interface, which is enabled for the user to input data on the weight of the desired product to be dispensed at the dispensing station; in which the control means are enabled for sequential control of the receiving station, the pre-dosing station and the dispensing station according to the data entered in the interface indicative of the desired product weight. Alternatively, in the bulk product dosing machine, the receiving station comprises a vibrating and / or oscillating tray, electromechanical means enabled to impart a vibrating and / or oscillating movement to the tray, and a sensor for detecting the presence of product in the tray, said tray being arranged and enabled in the same receiving station so as to receive product from the outside. Alternatively, in the bulk product dosing machine, the receiving station comprises means for receiving packaged product, enabled for pouring the same product out of its packaging onto the vibrating and / or oscillating tray. Preferably, in the bulk product dosing machine, the product pre-dosing and weighing station comprises a vibrating platform, electromechanical means enabled to impart a vibratory motion to the platform, and a plurality of weighing hoppers; the platform being arranged so as to receive product from the receiving station; furthermore, the platform and the hoppers being mutually arranged so that the vibration of the platform causes the product to be displaced and filled into the hoppers from the platform; each hopper having a weighing capacity for the product filled inside, and an individual opening capacity for emptying the product from within;with each hopper linked in data communication with the control means, said control means being enabled for processing the product weight data recorded in each hopper and for individual opening and closing of each hopper according to the processed weight data of each hopper and also according to the desired product data entered by a user in the user interface; each hopper being arranged and enabled for pouring the product from its interior to the product dispensing station. Alternatively, in the bulk product dosing machine, the product dispensing station comprises a collection conduit enabled for receiving the product poured from any of the weighing hoppers and communicating said product to dispensing means; said dispensing means being enabled for positioning a container and pouring the product into said container. Preferably, in the bulk product dosing machine, the dispensing means are enabled for manual positioning of a container by a user. Alternatively, in the bulk product dosing machine, the dispensing means are enabled for automatic positioning of a container. Alternatively, the bulk product dosing machine comprises user-supplied means of fertilization corresponding to the desired product weight. Furthermore, the present invention would solve an additional problem, which would consist of the possibility for the consumer to be able to acquire a highly customizable quantity of product and, therefore, not be obliged to buy a pre-packaged unit of product of 500g or 1Kg, for example, without it being really optimal to their specific consumption needs of said product. Furthermore, given the advantages mentioned above, and considering the current volatility of the selling prices of certain products, the machine of the invention would provide a solution for carrying out a highly customizable product transaction, and therefore, give the consumer the possibility of acquiring a smaller quantity of a given product, fresh or not, which might be difficult for the consumer to access depending on the price / kg set by the point of sale, but would allow them to make a purchase of, for example, 125g of the same product, which would cover the user's specific consumption needs, without the obligation to acquire a substantially larger quantity of the product, with the consequent economic disadvantage that this would entail. Taking into account all of the above, the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention aims to solve this problem, providing a realization in which the user can personalize the purchase operation of a certain bulk product, choosing the specific quantity of product he wishes to acquire, according to his specific needs. The present invention is very well suited for use with edible products such as small fruits, such as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, almonds, etc., or similar, which may be demanded by a user at a certain weight. Other features and advantages of the bulk product dosing machine will become apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1.- It is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention. Figure 2.- It is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a bulk product dosing procedure disclosed in the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown schematically in Figure 1 in a general description, the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention comprises: - A product receiving station 1, - One pre-dosing and weighing station 2 for the product, - One product dispensing station with 3 units, - Some means of control 4; The control means 4, which in turn comprise a microprocessor, are linked in data communication with the receiving station 1, the redosing and weighing station 2 and the dispensing station 3, and with the ability to control them. Furthermore, in a general conception of the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention, and as can be seen in Figure 1, the receiving station 1, the pre-dosing and weighing station 2 and the dispensing station 3 are mutually arranged, positioned and enabled so that the product can follow a path through them in this same order. Furthermore, the control means 4 are equipped with a user interface 41, which is enabled in turn for a user to input data on the weight of the desired product, which the same user wishes to receive from the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention. For the operation of the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention, control means 4 are enabled for sequential control of the receiving station 1, the pre-dosing and weighing station 2 and the dispensing station 3, according to the data entered in the interface 41 indicating the weight of product desired by the user. Going into more detail on the description of the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention, the receiving station 1 comprises a vibrating and / or oscillating tray 11, electromechanical means enabled to impart a vibrating and / or oscillating movement to the tray 1 and a sensor for detecting the presence of product in the tray 11 (not represented in the drawings), said tray 11 being arranged and enabled in the same receiving station 1 so that it receives bulk product from the outside. In other preferred embodiments of the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention, the receiving station 1 may also comprise means for receiving packaged product, not shown in the drawings, and enabled for receiving the packaged product, and pouring the same product out of its packaging already in bulk format to the same vibrating and / or oscillating tray 11. Continuing with the description of the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention, and as can also be seen in the schematic representation of Figure 1, the product pre-dosing and weighing station 2 comprises a vibrating platform 21 and a plurality of weighing hoppers 22. It also comprises electromechanical means (not shown in the drawings) enabled to impart a vibratory motion to the platform 21. Platform 21 is arranged so that it receives product in bulk format from receiving station 1, and specifically from vibrating tray 11. Furthermore, said platform 21 and hoppers 22 are mutually arranged so that the vibration of platform 21 causes the bulk product to be displaced and filled into hoppers 22 from said platform 21. Each hopper 22 has the capacity to weigh the product filled inside, and each hopper 22 can also be opened individually, for emptying the product from inside. In accordance with the initial generic description of the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention, each hopper 22 is linked in data communication with the control means 4. Furthermore, the user has previously marked in the user interface 41 the desired weight of product to be supplied by the bulk product dosing machine of the invention. Through this interface 41, the control means 4 receive the data representing the weight of the product desired by the user and proceed with its processing. Similarly, control means 4 are enabled for processing the product weight data received from each hopper 22. Therefore, the control means 4 jointly process the representative data of the weight of the product desired by the same user and the product weight data received from each hopper 22. Accordingly, the control means incorporate suitable software designed to select a certain group of hoppers 22 with at least one hopper 22, in which a sum of the product weights recorded in each of such hoppers 22 is as close as possible to the value of the product weight desired by the user and marked by the user in interface 41. Once the control means have established that specific group of hoppers 22 selected, in which the sum of the product weights recorded in them most closely approximates the value of the product weight desired by the user, the same control means proceed to activate an individualized opening of each of those selected hoppers 22. This therefore involves emptying the selected hoppers 22, and thus also pouring the product housed inside said selected hoppers 22 towards the product dispensing station 3 for final collection by the user. For this purpose, the product dispensing station 3 comprises a funnel-shaped collection conduit 31, enabled for receiving the product poured from the hoppers 22 that have been opened. The product exiting the selected and opened hoppers 22 from the control means thus passes through the conduit 31 to dispensing means 32. It is at these dispensing points 32 where the product can be collected by the user. For this purpose, these dispensing points 32 are designed for positioning a container and pouring the product into said container. In different preferred embodiments of the bulk product dispensing machine of the invention, the dispensing means 32 are enabled for manual positioning of a container 33 by the user, onto which the desired weight of product, marked by the user on the interface 41, is poured. In other preferred embodiments of the same bulk product dispensing machine of the invention, the dispensing means 32 are enabled for automatic positioning of a container without user intervention, for subsequent collection of the same container by the user with the desired weight of product already poured into the same container. In a possible intended and usual use, the bulk product dispensing machine of the invention is intended to be positioned at retail outlets of large distribution centers, with a similar purpose to the orange juice dispensing machines that are currently in operation at retail outlets of such large distribution centers, and where, like the other products purchased by a given user, the product dispensed by the machine of the invention would be paid for by the user at the end of their purchase operations at the checkout. However, optionally, the bulk product dosing machine of the present invention may comprise user-supplied means corresponding to the desired product weight introduced by the user into interface 41. The proposed invention also discloses a bulk product dosing procedure, as schematically represented in Figure 2, which can also be executed, for example, by the bulk product dosing machine described above. This procedure comprises the following stages: - A perfect 10 product reception, - A pre-dosing 20 of the same product received in a plurality of 22 individual weighing hoppers, - An individual weighing of the product in each of the hoppers 22.- A communication of the weighing data in each of the hoppers to control means 4. - A processing 50 of said weighing data of each hopper 22 by said control means 4, and also of some weight data of the desired product that have been previously entered by a user into the same control means 4 by means of a user interface 41. - Calculation and establishment 60 by control means 4 of a certain group of hoppers 22 with at least one hopper 22, in which the sum of the product weights recorded in each of such hoppers 22 is as close as possible to the value of the desired product weight previously entered by the user. - Opening 70 of the hoppers 22 of the group of hoppers established above. - Discharge and communication 80 of the outgoing product from said hoppers 22 to a container enabled for collection by a user. The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used in the manufacture of the bulk product dosing machine of the invention, may be conveniently replaced by others that are technically equivalent and do not depart from the essence of the invention or the scope defined by the claims included below.

Claims

1. A bulk product dosing machine, characterized in that it comprises: - A product receiving station (1), - A product pre-dosing and weighing station (2), - A product dispensing station (3), - Control means (4); the control means (4) being linked by data communication with the receiving station (1), the pre-dosing station (2) and the dispensing station (3), and having the capacity to control them; the receiving station (1), the pre-dosing station (2) and the dispensing station (3) being mutually arranged, positioned and enabled such that the product follows a path through them in this same order; the control means (4) being provided with a user interface (41),which is enabled for user input of desired product weight data intended for dispensing at the dispensing station (3); wherein the control means (4) are enabled for sequential control of the receiving station (1), the pre-dosing station (2), and the dispensing station (3) according to the data entered in the interface (41) indicating the desired product weight.

2. Bulk product dosing machine according to claim 1, wherein the receiving station (1) comprises a vibrating and / or oscillating tray (11), electromechanical means enabled for imparting a vibrating and / or oscillating electromechanical motion to the tray (11), and a sensor for detecting the presence of product in the tray (11).said tray (11) being arranged and enabled in the same receiving station (1) so as to receive product from the outside.

3. Bulk product dosing machine according to claim 2, wherein the receiving station (1) comprises means for receiving packaged product, enabled for pouring the same product from its packaging onto the vibrating and / or oscillating tray (11).

4. Bulk product dosing machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the product pre-dosing and weighing station (2) comprises a platform (21) with vibrating capacity,electromechanical means enabled to impart a vibratory motion to the platform (21) and a plurality of weighing hoppers (22); the platform (21) being arranged so as to receive product from the receiving station (1); furthermore, said platform (21) and the hoppers (22) being mutually arranged so that the vibration of the platform (21) causes the product to be displaced and filled into the hoppers (22) from said platform (21); each hopper (21) having a weighing capacity for the product filled inside, and an individual opening capacity for emptying the product from within; each hopper (22) being linked in data communication with the control means (4),said control means (4) being enabled for processing the product weight data recorded in each hopper (22) and for individual opening and closing of each hopper (22) according to the processed weight data of each hopper (22) and also according to the desired product data entered by a user in the user interface (41); each hopper (22) being arranged and enabled for pouring the product from its interior to the product dispensing station (3).

5. Bulk product dosing machine according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the product dispensing station (3) comprises a collection conduit (31) enabled for receiving the product poured from any of the weighing hoppers (22) and conveying said product to dispensing means (32); said dispensing means (32) being enabled for positioning a container and pouring the product into said container.

6. Bulk product dosing machine according to claim 5, wherein the dispensing means (32) are enabled for manual positioning of a container (33) by a user.

7. Bulk product dosing machine according to claim 5, wherein the dispensing means (32) are enabled for automatic positioning of a container.

8. Bulk product dosing machine according to any of the preceding claims, comprising user payment means corresponding to the desired product weight.