Apparatus for dispensing packaging containers, particularly for food products

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for dispensing packaging containers (11), in particular for packaging food products, comprising: - a support and containment body (2) having an upper face (8) in which a picking opening (9) having an opening axis (Z-Z) is defined; - a support and dispensing group (100) comprising at least one lifting system (20) housed in the support and containment body (2) and comprising a movable support (21) configured to support a stack (12) of said containers (11), wherein the movable support (21) from a backward position, in which it is relatively further from the picking opening (9), is controllable to translate towards the picking opening (9) along the opening axis (Z-Z), or parallel to the opening axis (Z-Z), for lifting said stack (12) towards the picking opening (9); - an access hatch (5), constrained to the support and containment body (2) and movable with respect to the containment body (2) to be moved between an open operating position and a closed operating position.

Description

"Apparatus for dispensing packaging containers, particularly for food products"★ ★ ★DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of packaging, for example of food products. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing packaging containers, particularly but not exclusively of food products.

[0002] As is known, the packaging of fresh food products such as meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, for example, or fresh food preparations, requires particular hygiene. In fact, these products can be easily contaminated by bacteriological agents, insects, or parasites, which in some cases can compromise the correct preservation of the food products and / or harm the consumers' health.

[0003] The aforesaid food products are generally packaged by specialized operators in appropriate laboratories, using trays, e.g., polystyrene or aluminum or paper trays. After any operation of cutting or preparing the food products, the specialized operators use their hands to place the product in the trays and generally close the trays with a plastic or aluminum film, for example.

[0004] In an attempt to maintain the hygiene conditions as much as possible during the packaging operations, measures such as wearing gloves, periodically cleaning tools and work surfaces, using specific materials for the work surfaces, such as plastics or metals approved for use in the food industry, have been known for some time.

[0005] However, to date, the aforesaid measures are still insufficient. In fact, no particular attention is paid to the containers, obviously apart from the fact that such containers are made of a suitable material for containing food products. Therefore, it often happens that the containers are stored or handled under unhygienically appropriate conditions, or are placed on improvised surfaces, or are contaminated by food product residues long beforebeing used for packaging . In some cases , the containers accidentally fall onto unsuitable surfaces or are contaminated by the operators themselves , for example by saliva, mucus membranes or hair, or by insects , bacteria and parasites . Note that although this problem is particularly felt in the packaging of food products , such a problem is also felt in other fields , for example in the medical field .

[0006] Therefore , the need is felt to further increase hygiene in packaging, in particular but not only of food products , and the present invention aims at meeting such a need .

[0007] This and other obj ects are achieved by an apparatus for dispensing packaging containers , as defined in appended claim 1 in the most general form thereof and in the claims dependent thereon in some particular embodiments thereof .

[0008] The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof , given by way of nonlimiting examples , with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :- Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first non-limiting embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing packaging containers , in particular for food products , in which said apparatus is in a first operating configuration;- Figure 2 shows a further isometric view of the apparatus in Figure 1 , in which the apparatus is in a second operating configuration and where internal parts of the apparatus are not shown for simplicity of depiction;- Figure 3 shows a front plan view o f the apparatus in Figures 1 and 2 in which the internal parts of the apparatus have been made visible , in particular a support and dispensing group ;- Figure 4 shows an isometric view of an enlarged part of Figure 3 ;- Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the support and dispensing group in Figure 3 ;- Figure 6 shows an exploded view of a part of the support anddispensing group in Figure 3;- Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a functional block diagram of the apparatus in Figure 1;- Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing packaging containers, in which said apparatus is in a first operating configuration;- Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an enlarged part of the apparatus in Figure 8;- Figure 10 shows a further perspective view of the apparatus in Figure 8, in which said apparatus is in a second operating configuration;- Figure 11 shows a top view of a further possible embodiment of the support and dispensing group.

[0009] Equal or similar elements will be indicated by the same reference signs in the accompanying drawings.

[0010] In the accompanying Figures 1-7, there is shown a first exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of an apparatus 1 for dispensing packaging containers 11, in particular containers 11 for packaging food products 1, hereinafter also referred to in short as a dispensing apparatus 1. Said food products are meat or fish products, for example. According to a preferred embodiment, the containers 11 are bowls or trays, e.g., bowls or trays made of a suitable material for packaging food products. For example, the containers 11 are bowls or trays made of polystyrene, plastic, or paper. As already explained, the packaging containers 11 are not necessarily containers for packaging food products, but they can also be containers for packaging other products in all fields in which it is necessary or useful to adopt measures to ensure or improve hygiene of the containers and / or packaging, e.g., in the medical field.

[0011] The dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a support and containment body 2, generally box-shaped, e.g., in the shape of arectangular parallelepiped . For example , the support and containment body 2 comprises a plurality of support feet or wheels 3 to rest on a support surface such as a floor, for example . For example , the support and containment body 2 comprises a plural ity of metal panels fastened to a support frame 4 .

[0012] An internal housing space 200 is defined inside the support and containment body 2 . The dispensing apparatus 1 comprises an access hatch 5 , constrained to the support and containment body 2 and movable with respect to the containment body 2 to be moved between a closed operating position, shown in Figure 1 , and an open operating position, shown in Figure 2 . In the open operating position, the access hatch allows access to the internal housing space 200 from the outside . In Figure 3 , the access hatch 5 has not been shown to make the internal housing space 200 of the support and containment body 2 visible . According to a particularly advantageous embodiment , the access hatch 5 is slidingly constrained to the support and containment body 2 to translate between the closed operating position and the open operating position and vice versa . Preferably, the access hatch 5 can slide along a hori zontal or substantially hori zontal direction X-X ( Figure 1 ) .

[0013] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment , the access hatch 5 forms part of a drawer 5 , 6 and thus the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a drawer 5 , 6 comprising the access hatch 5 and a sliding shel f 6 stably fastened to the access hatch 5 and sliding together with the access hatch 5 with respect to the support and containment body 2 . Preferably, the sliding shel f 6 is perpendicular to the access hatch 5 and more preferably has a front end portion fastened to a lower end portion of the access hatch 5 . According to an advantageous embodiment , the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a sliding guide 7 , to allow the drawer 5, 6 to slide with respect to the containment body 2 . For example , the sliding guide 7 comprises two mutually parallel tracks along and on which the drawer5, 6, in particular the sliding shelf 6, is slidingly supported.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the support and containment body 2 has four sides facing each other two by two, one of said sides being an open side. The access hatch 5 is arranged in front of said open side to occlude such an open side when it takes the closed position. Said open side is preferably a front side, i.e., a side placed frontally with respect to a user during normal use conditions of the dispensing apparatus 1.

[0015] Preferably, the access hatch 5 comprises a grip handle 15 for facilitating the movement of the access hatch 5 between the closed position and the open position by a user.

[0016] The support and containment body 2 comprises an upper face 8 in which a picking opening 9 for picking containers 11 and having an opening axis Z-Z is defined. The upper face 8 is conveniently perpendicular to the opening axis Z-Z. The opening axis Z-Z is conveniently a vertical or substantially vertical axis. The picking opening 9 is configured to allow a user to pick one or more containers 11. The upper face 8 of the support and containment body 2 is preferably a work surface, on which the containers 11, the products to be packaged, and any tools used during the packaging operations can be placed. The work surface is preferably a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface. Preferably, the picking opening 9 is a quadrangular opening, e.g., rectangular or square.

[0017] Advantageously, the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a door 10 movable between a closed operating position, shown in Figure 1, in which the door 10 closes the picking opening 9, and an open operating position, shown in Figure 2, in which the door 10 leaves the picking opening 9 open. In other words, the door 10 is configured to removably occlude the picking opening 9. According to an advantageous embodiment, the door 10 is a door sliding parallel to the picking opening 9, i.e., sliding perpendicular to the opening axis Z-Z.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the door 10 is an automatically closable / openable door. For example, the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a motor 16 (only shown in the diagram in Figure 7) , operatively connected to the door 10 and controllable to move the door 10 between the closed position and the open position and vice versa. The motor 16 can be either a rotary motor or a linear motor. If the motor 16 is linear, the motor 16 can be an electric motor or a pneumatic motor, for example. The motor 16 is conveniently housed in the container body 2.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the motor 16 has a drive shaft supporting a toothed wheel which engages a rack fastened to the door 10 in order to translate the door 10 during the opening and closing movements.

[0020] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises at least one sterilization and / or sanitization system 18, 19 using ultraviolet (UV) rays. Advantageously, the sterilization and / or sanitization system 18, 19 is a germicidal ultraviolet radiation system. The germicidal ultraviolet radiation (UVGI) is a sterilization method that uses ultraviolet (UV) light with wavelengths in the UV-C band (between 100 and 280 nanometers) , which modifies the DNA or RNA of microorganisms and thus prevents them from reproducing or being harmful. The sterilization and / or sanitization system 18, 19 comprises a first plurality of UV-LED sources 18 housed inside the support and containment body 2. The UV-LED sources 18 are divided, for example, into a first plurality of UV-LED arrays distributed in the internal housing space 200. As will be described later, the sterilization and / or sanitization system 18, 19 can comprise a second plurality of UV sources 19 which are arranged outside the support and containment body 2.

[0021] The dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a support and dispensing group 100 housed in the support and containment body 2. For thepurpose of the present description, support and dispensing group 100 means an assembly of parts supporting the containers 11 inside the support and containment body 2. Such parts are movable in a controlled manner to allow dispensing the containers 11, in particular through the picking opening 9.

[0022] For simplicity of depiction, the support and dispensing group 100 is not shown in Figure 2, but it is shown in Figures 3-5.

[0023] The support and dispensing group 100 comprises at least one lifting system 20 housed in the support and containment body 2. The lifting system 20 comprises a movable support 21 configured to support a plurality of containers 11, arranged stacked on top of one another preferably partially inserted into one another. In other words, the movable support 21 is configured to support a stack 12 of containers 11, in particular a stack of empty containers 11.

[0024] The movable support 21, from a backward position in which it is relatively further from the picking opening 9, is controllable to translate towards the picking opening 9 along the opening axis Z-Z or parallel to the opening axis Z-Z for lifting a stack 12 of containers 11 towards the picking opening 9. In particular, the movable support 21 is controllable to translate from a backward operating position with respect to the picking opening 9, i.e., relatively further from the picking opening 9, to a forward operating position with respect to the picking opening 9, i.e., relatively closer to the picking opening 9. Conveniently, the movable support 21 is also controllable to translate in the opposite direction to lower the stack 12 of containers 11 with respect to the picking opening 9, for example, once the dispensing of one or more containers 11 has been carried out.

[0025] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the movable support 21 is or comprises a fork, preferably a fork with two teeth.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment, the lifting system20 comprises a guide 22 and the movable support 21 is slidingly constrained to the guide 22 to translate in two opposite directions along the guide 22. Said translation occurs due to the action of at least one electric motor 23 included in the lifting system 20.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the lifting system 20 (in particular the guide 22) is fastened to a side wall of the support and containment body 2. According to an alternative embodiment, the lifting system 20 (in particular the guide 22) is fastened to the drawer 5, 6, preferably to the sliding shelf 6.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment, the support and dispensing group 100 comprises at least one support module 24, 25 adapted to store and support a respective stack 12 of containers 11.

[0029] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the support and dispensing group 100 comprises a plurality of support modules 24, 25 each of which is configured to store and support a respective stack 12 of containers 11. The storage and dispensing capacity of the apparatus 1 is thus increased. In the particular non-limiting example shown in the figures, the support and dispensing group 100 comprises four support modules 24, 25.

[0030] Moreover, the provision of a plurality of support modules 24, 25 allows the dispensing apparatus 1 to dispense containers 11 having mutually different dimensions, because each support module 24, 25 can support containers 100 stacked onto one another having dimensions not depending on the stacked containers 11 supported or supportable by further support modules 24, 25. For that purpose, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the support and dispensing group 100 comprises at least two support modules 24, 25 having mutually different transverse dimensions so that, for example, a first module 24 can support containers 11 having a first transverse dimension and a second module 25 can support containers 11 having a second transverse dimension other than the first transverse dimension. Advantageously, the apparatus 1 thus allowsdispensing containers 11 having mutually different dimensions. "Transverse" means horizontal and / or perpendicular to the opening axis Z-Z.

[0031] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the at least one support module 24, 25 is configured to be moved inside the support and containment module 2 in a plane perpendicular to the opening axis Z-Z, e.g., a horizontal plane, in order to move the respective stack 12 of containers 11 correspondingly. In particular, the support module 24, 25 is configured to rotate and / or translate in a plane perpendicular to the opening axis Z-Z.

[0032] By virtue of the aforesaid possibility to move the support module 24, 25 in a controlled manner, the loading of the stack 12 of containers 11 into the support and containment body 2 by an operator can be made easier. Moreover, if the support and dispensing group 100 comprises a plurality of support modules 24, 25, it is possible to move the support modules 24, 25 so as to axially align to the picking opening 9 the support module 24, 25 which supports the stack 12 of containers 11 from which the dispensing of one or more containers 11 is to take place. Moreover, the support module 24, 25 can be moved so as to be brought as close as possible to, e.g., in front of, the lifting system 20 so that the movable support 21 can pick up the stack 12 of containers 11 from the support module 24, 25 and translate it towards the picking opening 9 to allow dispensing one or more containers 11 towards the picking opening 9.

[0033] According to an advantageous embodiment, the support module 24, 25 comprises a base 26 configured to support a stack 12 of containers 11 resting thereon. For example, the base 26 is a plateshaped base.

[0034] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the base 26 is configured to be crossed by the movable support 21 of the lifting system 20. For example, the base 26 comprises one or more recesses 27 to be crossed by the movable support 21 or by a portionthereof . When translating, the movable support 21 can thus pick a stack 12 of containers 11 resting on the base 26 without interfering with the base 26. According to an advantageous embodiment , i f the movable support 21 is shaped like a fork with a plurality of teeth, the number of recesses 27 of the base 26 is equal to the number of teeth, so that each tooth can cross a respective recess 27 . In the particular example depicted in the figures , without introducing any limitations , the movable support 21 has two teeth and the number of recesses 27 defined in each base 26 is equal to two .

[0035] According to an advantageous embodiment , the at least one support module 24 , 25 is constrained to the sliding shel f 6 , so as to translate together with the sliding shel f 6 in the transition of the access hatch 5 from the closed operating position to the open operating position and vice versa . This contrivance allows the operations of loading the support module 24 , 25 with the containers 11 to be simpli fied and made more easy .

[0036] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment , the support module 24 , 25 comprises one or more lateral abutment elements 28 , 29 adapted to prevent the containers 11 from falling from the base 26 . Preferably, the one or more lateral abutment elements 28 , 29 only partially confine a respective stack 12 of containers 11 , and by virtue of this contrivance , the manual picking of one or more containers 11 from the stack 12 by an operator is made easier . Moreover, by virtue of this contrivance any interference with the li fting system 20 is avoided . For example , the one or more lateral abutment elements 28 , 29 are or comprise one or more abutment rods . In the particular non-limiting example shown in the figures , the support module 24 , 25 comprises a plurality of abutment rods 28 , 29 laterally delimiting a space , adapted to house a stack 12 of containers 11 , therebetween and along three sides . According to an advantageous embodiment , the plurality of abutment rods 28 , 29 comprises three abutment rods 28 , 29 perpendicular to the base 26 .Said plurality of abutment rods 28, 29 comprises a central rod 28 and two lateral rods 29. Advantageously, the support module 24, 25 comprises a further rod 30 which is transverse to the abutment rods and which is fastened to the central rod 28 and supports the two lateral rods 29. Said further rod 30 is conveniently U-shaped or C- shaped .

[0037] The support and dispensing group 100 comprises at least one motor 50 controllable to move the support module 24, 25 inside the support and containment body 2. For example, said motor 50 is a rotating electric motor.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the motor 50 comprises a drive shaft 51 operatively connected to the at least one support module24, 25 by means of a drive system 52, 53, 54, 55. For example, the drive system 52, 53, 54, 55 comprises at least one driving wheel 52 supported by the drive shaft 51, at least one drive chain or belt 53, at least one driven wheel 54 connected to the driving wheel 52 by means of the drive chain or belt and supported by a shaft 55, which is preferably an idle shaft. If the drive system 52-55 comprises a drive belt 53, the driving wheel 52 and the driven wheel 54 are pulleys. If the drive system 52-55 comprises a drive chain 53, the driving wheel 52 and the driven wheel 54 are gear wheels.

[0039] According to an advantageous embodiment, the at least one support module 24, 25 is constrained to the drive chain or belt 53. For example, the central rod 28 is fastened to the drive chain or belt 53, e.g., by means of clamping plates. BY means of the motor 50, it is thus possible to move the at least one support module 24,25. In the particular example depicted in the figures, the support and dispensing group 100 comprises a plurality of support modules 24, 25, in particular four support modules 24, 25, constrained to the same drive chain or belt 53.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the drive shaft 51 and the idle shaft 55 are constrained to the drawer 5, 6, in particular to theshelf 6. Therefore, by opening the drawer 5, 6, it is easy to access the support modules 24, 25 to load them with the containers 11, for example .

[0041] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the drive system 52-55 comprises two or more mutually parallel drive belts or chains 53 which together support the at least one support module 24, 25. For example, with reference to Figures 3 and 5, the drive system has two mutually parallel drive belts or chains 53 which together support the four support modules 24, 25. Obviously, in this case, as many driving wheels 52 and as many driven wheels 54 are provided as the number of drive belts or chains 53.

[0042] According to an advantageous embodiment, the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a human-machine interface 13, 14 which allows an operator to control the operation of the dispensing apparatus 1. For example, the human-machine interface 13, 14 comprises a display 13 and / or one or more control buttons 14. According to an advantageous embodiment, the display 13 is a touchscreen display.

[0043] With reference to Figure 7, the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises an electronic control unit 60 operatively connected to the human-machine interface 13, 14, e.g., a touchscreen display 13 and one or more control buttons 14. For example, the electronic control unit 60 is or comprises a PLC or a computer board, e.g., a Raspberry.

[0044] The electronic control unit 60 is operatively connected to the motors 16, 23, 50 described above for controlling said motors 16, 23, 50.

[0045] In the embodiment in which the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises the sterilization and / or sanitization system 18, 19, the electronic control unit 60 is operatively connected to said system 18, 19 to control the operation thereof, e.g., to switch on and off the UV-LED sources and / or to control one or more operating parameters of the UV-LED sources.

[0046] The dispensing apparatus 1 can comprise one or more sensors61 for controlling the apparatus 1, which are operatively connected to the electronic control unit 60. For example, the dispensing apparatus 1 can comprise a first sensor 61 being an end-of-stroke sensor which allows stopping the upwards translation of the movable support 21, when the upper end portion of the stack 12 of containers 11 reaches a desired height, e.g., when it is flush or substantially flush with the picking opening 9. For example, said first sensor is an optical sensor, e.g., a photocell. For example, the apparatus 1 can comprise one or more presence or weight sensors 61' , each associated with a respective support module 24, 25 for detecting whether the respective stack 12 of containers 11 has run out or is about to run out. Advantageously, the apparatus 1 comprises a sensor 61' ’ adapted to detect whether the access hatch 5 or the picking opening 9 is in the closed or open state, for switching off the first plurality of UV-LED sources 18 in the transition from the closed state to the open state and preferably for switching them on, or allowing them to be switched on, in the closed state.

[0047] A non-limiting example of operation of the dispensing apparatus 1 will now be described. In a condition in which the dispensing apparatus 1 is empty, an operator can conveniently load each of the support modules 24, 25 with a respective stack 2 of containers 11 by opening an access hatch 5. Preferably, during loading the door 10 is closed. After loading and closing the hatch 5, the apparatus 1 is ready to be used. An operator intending to use a container 11 for packaging a product, e.g., a food product, by means of the human-machine interface 13, 14, e.g., by means of the touchscreen display 13, can request the dispensing of a container 11. If several support modules 24, 25 are provided, a movement of the support modules 24, 25 is carried out, being controlled by the electronic control unit 60 to bring a specific support module 25, 25 under the picking opening 9. The movable support 21 is moved to lift the stack 12 of containers 1, in this case by picking it fromthe support module 24, 25. The electronic control unit 60 controls an opening of the door 10, and by virtue of the movable support 21 an upper end portion of the stack 12 is flush or substantially flush with the picking opening 9, for example, and the operator can pick one or more containers 11. After picking, or following a command given by the user or for example in a timed manner, the door 10 is closed and the movable support 21 returns to the backward position, leaving the stack of containers on the support module 24, 25.

[0048] In Figure 8 there is shown a second embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 1, which differs from the dispensing apparatus described up to now in that it comprises a turret 70 overhanging the picking opening 9 and supporting a plurality of external UV sources 19 of the sterilization and / or sanitization system 18, 19. For example, the turret 70 supports a plurality of LED arrays 19 facing the picking opening 9. The container 11 which is about to be dispensed is thus further sanitized and / or sterilized.

[0049] With reference to Figures 8 and 9, a further difference is that the dispensing apparatus 1 here comprises a knife holder 80 adapted to support one or more knives 81, preferably fastened outside the support and containment body 2. The knife holder 80 preferably comprises two mutually parallel and spaced apart panels 82, for example made of plexiglass, preferably supported by a metal frame, for example made of stainless steel. The blades of one or more knives 81 can be inserted in the space between the two panels 83, leaving the handles out.

[0050] Preferably, between the two panels 82, at an insertion opening, there are two rubber flaps 85, for example rectilinear or L-shaped, opposing each other and between which the blade of one or more knives 81 is forcibly inserted. During the insertion and removal, the blade is thus automatically cleaned by the rubber flaps 85.

[0051] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the knife holder80 comprises a plurality of UV optical sources 86, e.g., a UV LED array, configured to sterilize the blade of one or more knives when the blade is inserted between the two panels 82. For example, the LED array is arranged between two panels 82 or arranged on a peripheral edge of said panels 82.

[0052] Note that although the knife holder 80 has been shown fastened outside the support and containment body 2 in the embodiment in Figures 8 and 9, in an alternative embodiment the knife holder 80 can be arranged inside the support and containment body 2. In this case, for example, the blade insertion opening can be defined in the upper face 8.

[0053] Moreover, note that the embodiments in Figures 1-7 and 8-9 can be combined together since the embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 1 in Figures 1-7 can also be provided with the sterilization turret 70 and / or the knife holder 80 described with reference to Figures 8-9.

[0054] Finally, with reference to Figure 10, note that a further difference with respect to the apparatus described with reference to Figures 1-7 is that the support and dispensing group 100 has one or more support modules 230 configured to support a respective container stack 12 and each having an integrated lifting mechanism, with a movable support 231 and a base 232, where the movable support231 is constrained to the base 232 so as to translate with respect to the base 232 along the opening axis Z-Z or along an axis parallel to the opening axis Z-Z. For example, each support module 230 comprises one or more linear actuators interposed between the base232 and the movable support 231, which support the movable support 231 with respect to the base 232 and which are controllable to allow the aforesaid translation. It is apparent that here the lifting system is different from that described with reference to Figures 1-7, because in the embodiment in Figures 1-7 the lifting system is outside the support modules 24, 25.

[0055] A further difference of the support and dispensing group 100 in Figure 10 is that this support and dispensing group 100 comprises a guide or rail 240 on which the support modules 230 are slidingly constrained, instead of the drive belt or chain 53. Conveniently, the bases 232 of the support modules 230 can be slidingly constrained to the rail 240. For example, the guide or rail 240 is fastened to the shelf 6 of the drawer 5, 6. Advantageously, said rail 240 is in the shape of a closed loop, preferably is elliptical, oval, or circular in shape. Also in this case an actuator can be provided, e.g., an electric motor and a drive belt or chain which here has no function of supporting the support modules 230 but is only used for moving them.

[0056] A further constructional variant of the support and dispensing group 100 is shown Figure 11. Here, the support and dispensing group 100 comprises a rotating platform 101 configured to rotate about an axis Z1 parallel or substantially parallel to the opening axis Z-Z. For example, the aforesaid rotating platform 101 is a circular platform. For example, the rotating platform 101 is operatively coupled to a rotary electric motor 160 configured to rotate the platform.

[0057] The one or more support modules 24, 25 are integrated or assembled on the rotating platform 101. For simplicity of depiction, only two support modules 24, 25 are shown in Figure 11, but the number of support modules 24, 25 could be greater, e.g., equal to three or four. Moreover, only one support module 24, 25 could also be provided.

[0058] If the lifting system 20 (depicted for simplicity with a box in Figure 11) is the same as or similar to that of the embodiment in Figures 1-7, one or more recesses 27 are advantageously defined in the rotating platform 101, which can be crossed by the movable support 21. Moreover, the support modules 24, 25 cannot include here the base 26 in Figure 6, because the rotating platform 101 itselfacts as a base 26 on which the container stack 12 rests .

[0059] Advantageously, each support module 24 , 25 comprises a plurality of lateral abutment elements 28 , 29 . Advantageously, at least one lateral abutment element 29 is slidingly constrained to the rotating platform 101 , so as to slide along a preferably linear, respective guide 290 . It is thus possible to adj ust the position of the abutment element 29 as a function of the transverse dimensions of the containers 11 . In the example in Figure 11 , each support module 24 , 25 comprises three abutment elements 29 , in particular three rods , slidingly constrained to the rotating platform 101 and a fixed abutment element 28 . As can be noted, the sliding abutment elements 29 in the support module 24 are positioned so as to accommodate a container stack 12 comprising containers 11 having a greater transverse dimension than the containers of the stack 12 accommodated by the support module 25 .

[0060] According to an advantageous embodiment , the at least one sliding abutment 29 comprises locking means , configured to lock and unlock the sliding of the abutment element 29 . For example , a slider (not shown in the figures ) sliding in the guide 290 is provided at the base of the sliding abutment element , and the sliding of the slider can be locked or unlocked by a stop element , for example manually operable .

[0061] Finally, in a further constructional variant , a rotating platform could also be provided in the embodiment in Figures 8 - 10 instead of the guide or rail 240 . Here , the support modules 230 could be mounted on the rotating platform .

[0062] Based on the above description, it is thus possible to understand how the dispensing apparatus 1 of the type described above allows fully achieving the purposes mentioned above with reference to the prior art . In fact , the storage and dispensing of the containers 11 occurs under highly improved hygiene conditions compared to the case of the prior art .

[0063] Without prej udice to the principle of the present invention, the embodiments and the constructional details may be broadly varied with respect to the above description merely disclosed by way of non-limiting example , without departing from the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus (1) for dispensing packaging containers (11) , in particular for packaging food products, comprising:- a support and containment body (2) having an upper face (8) in which a picking opening (9) having an opening axis (Z-Z) is defined;- a support and dispensing group (100) comprising at least one lifting system (20) housed in the support and containment body (2) and comprising a movable support (21) configured to support a stack (12) of said containers (11) , wherein the movable support (21) from a backward position, in which it is relatively further from the picking opening (9) , is controllable to translate towards the picking opening (9) along the opening axis (Z-Z) , or parallel to the opening axis (Z-Z) , for lifting said stack (12) towards the picking opening (9) ;- an access hatch (5) , constrained to the support and containment body (2) and movable with respect to the containment body (2) to be moved between an open operating position and a closed operating position .

2. An apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the container stack (12) extends between a top container (Ila) arranged at a relatively higher height and a bottom container (11b) arranged at a relatively lower height and resting on the movable support (21) during the translation of the movable support (21) .

3. An apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support and dispensing group (100) comprises at least one support module (24, 25) adapted to store and support a respective stack (12) of containers (11) , the at least one support module (24, 25) being configured to be moved in the support and containment body (2) in a plane perpendicular to the opening axis (Z-Z) , in order to move the respective stack (12) of containers (11) correspondingly.

4. An apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein the support module (24, 25) can be moved so as to be brought as close as possibleto the lifting system (20) so that the movable support (21) can pick up the stack (12) of containers (11) from the support module (24, 25) and translate said stack (12) towards the picking opening (9) to allow dispensing one or more containers (11) through the picking opening ( ) .

5. An apparatus (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the support and dispensing group (100) comprises a plurality of support modules (24, 25) each of which is configured to store and support a respective stack (12) of containers (11) .

6. An apparatus (1) according to claim 5, wherein the support and dispensing group (100) comprises at least two support modules (24, 25) having mutually different transverse dimensions so that a first support module (24) can support containers (11) having a first transverse dimension and a second support module (25) can support containers (11) having a second transverse dimension other than the first transverse dimension.

7. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, wherein said support module (24, 25) comprises a base (26) configured to support a stack (12) of containers (11) resting thereon, and wherein the base (26) is configured to be crossed by the movable support (21) .

8. An apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein the movable support (21) is or comprises a fork.

9. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the access hatch (5) is slidingly constrained to the support and containment body (2) to translate between the closed operating position and the open operating position and vice versa.

10. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a drawer (5, 6) comprising said access hatch (5) and a sliding shelf (6) stably fastened to the access hatch (5) and sliding together with the access hatch (5) with respect to the support and containment body (2) .

11. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a door (10) movable between a closed operating position, in which the door (10) closes the picking opening (9) , and an open operating position, in which the door (10) leaves the picking opening (9) open, wherein the door (10) is preferably an automatically closable / openable door.

12. An apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a sterilization and / or sanitization system (18, 19) comprising a first plurality of UV-LED sources (18) housed inside the support and containment body (2) .

13. An apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the support and dispensing group (100) comprises a rotating platform (101) which supports the at least one support module (24, 25) and which is configured to rotate about an axis (Zl) parallel or substantially parallel to the opening axis (Z-Z) .

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