Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D16/00—Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
  • F25D25/04—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by conveyors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
  • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
  • G07F11/36—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which the magazines are of helical or spiral form
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
  • G07F9/10—Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
  • G07F9/105—Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
  • F25D2303/082—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
  • F25D2303/0822—Details of the element
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
  • F25D2303/082—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
  • F25D2303/0822—Details of the element
  • F25D2303/08222—Shape of the element
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2500/00—Problems to be solved
  • F25D2500/02—Geometry problems

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for distributing refrigerants, in particular of plates or sachets containing a substance formulated to accumulate frigories, comprising a box containing at least one storage unit for said refrigerants, refrigerated by a cold generating device arranged to charge frigories.
• said cooling elements transfer means for transporting at least one refrigerating element stored and loaded with frigories from the refrigerated storage unit to at least one outlet orifice provided in a wall of the box and control means arranged to activate said elements means of transfer.
• the invention also relates to said cooling elements.
• Respect for the storage temperature of frozen products is fundamental because the development of microorganisms can be extremely rapid and dangerous for health. Indeed, for sensitive products, such as minced steak, we must not detect any presence, even minute, of microorganisms dangerous to health or toxins. At -10 ° C, the bacterial multiplication is stopped.
• thermomarkers changing color according to time-temperature variables, inform consumers about the quality and freshness of the products. If everything is done to improve respect for the cold chain from producer to distributor, there is little to avoid breaking this chain between the distributor and the consumer.
• frost tends to stick the elements together, which further complicates the extraction of the elements.
• the elements are not guided during their storage and can be positioned at an angle thus blocking the device.
• This storage system also considerably limits the storage capacity of the refrigerated elements for a device of reasonable size.
• the problems of bonding and guiding the cooling elements are increased in the case where these elements are flexible as in certain devices described with reference to the publications mentioned above. In addition, these flexible elements can be pierced easily and can no longer be recovered.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device for distributing refrigerant elements in which the elements are guided throughout their storage, these elements are stored side by side and not one on the other, it ⁇ • • * no risk of sticking between two elements by the formation of frost, the capacity; storage is very important for a compact device, and the elements are rigid and reusable many times without being damaged.
• this device is of a simple design, inexpensive, requiring very little maintenance. Its use is very easy and flexible because this device also allows well the simple distribution, the simple recovery but also the exchange of cooling elements.
• the invention relates to a device for dispensing refrigerating elements of the kind indicated in the preamble, characterized in that said refrigerated storage unit comprises a helical tube extending towards the outlet orifice so that the refrigerating elements move to the outlet during storage.
• the box can also include transfer means for transporting at least one refrigerating element to be recycled from at least one inlet orifice formed in a wall of the box and control means arranged to activate said transfer means to transfer said refrigerating element to recycle from said inlet to the refrigerated storage unit, the helical tube extending substantially from the inlet to the outlet.
• the helical tube comprises along its lower generatrix a guide rail of planar shape so that the cooling elements are guided during their movement in the refrigerated storage unit.
• the refrigerating elements to be recycled Before being placed in the refrigerated storage unit, the refrigerating elements to be recycled can be cleaned and sanitized by a cleaning device arranged in the path of said refrigerating elements to be recycled between the inlet orifice and the storage unit.
• the cleaning device may include a sanitizer injector and at least one brush arranged to clean the cooling element to be recycled.
• the transfer means for transporting at least one refrigerated element stored and charged with frigories towards the outlet orifice and the transfer means for transporting at least one refrigerant element to be recycled from the inlet orifice constitute the same device for transferring the cooling elements, and, the outlet orifice and the inlet orifice constitute the same inlet / outlet for the refrigerating elements respectively to be recycled and charged with frigories so that at by means of said transfer device, a refrigerant charged with frigories is transferred from a lower zone of the refrigerated storage unit to the inlet / outlet port while a refrigerant to be recycled is transferred from the inlet / outlet port to an upper area of the refrigerated storage unit, the heco hose extending from the upper area to the lower area so that the refrigerant elements move towards the base of the transfer device during their storage.
• the transfer device comprises a slide comprising means for gripping the cooling elements and arranged so as to move vertically along the wall of the box in which the inlet / outlet orifice is formed, and means for pushing the refrigerating elements to be recycled, arranged to place the refrigerating element to be recycled coming from the slide in the refrigerated storage unit.
• Said means for gripping the cooling elements may comprise first means for gripping the refrigerating elements loaded with frigories, disposed substantially in the lower part of the slider and second means for gripping the refrigerating elements to be recycled, disposed substantially in the upper part of the slider and said means for pushing the refrigerating elements to be recycled are arranged in correspondence with the second zone, so that said second gripping means receive said refrigerating element to be recycled through the inlet / outlet port while said first gripping means take up said refrigerating element loaded with frigories in the refrigerated storage unit and so that the pushing means place said refrigerating element to be recycled in the refrigerated storage unit while said first gripping means bring said refrigerated element rant loaded with frigories in the inlet / outlet port.
• the first gripping means may comprise a clamp with two articulated branches, arranged to apprehend the refrigerating element loaded with frigories on its sides, the ends of said branches comprising jaws.
• the second gripping means may include a window provided in the slide and of a shape complementary to the cooling element.
• the pushing means can comprise a rocker arranged to push the refrigerating element to be recycled on the helical tube.
• the slide, the thrust means and the cleaning device are actuated by the same mechanism.
• This may include at least one rack extending along said slide while the thrust means and the cleaning device may respectively comprise at least one drive pinion arranged to cooperate with said rack.
• the transfer means are separate, the inlet and outlet ports are separate, the inlet port being disposed close to the upper zone of the storage unit and the outlet port being disposed close to the lower area of the storage unit, and the hehcoidal tube extends from said upper area to said lower area so that the cooling elements move towards the lower area during their storage.
• the transfer means may comprise a jack arranged to push a refrigerating element loaded with frigories from the storage unit towards the outlet orifice, this cooling element being taken out of the hehcoidal tube and resting against a guide wall for facing said outlet.
• the transfer means may comprise at least two brushes, forming part of the cleaning device, these brushes being cylindrical and parallel, driven in rotation and arranged to move said refrigerant element to be recycled from the inlet orifice to the storage unit and at least one friction element arranged parallel to the direction of movement of said refrigerating element and against the latter to brake it, in order to create a differential speed between it and the brushes so that they can ensure cleaning correct of said cooling element.
• the dispensing device comprises at least one detector arranged at the rear of the inlet orifice and arranged to detect the presence of a refrigerant element to be recycled, this detector being connected to the means for controlling the means of transfer. More particularly, it comprises two lateral detectors and an upper or lower detector arranged to recognize the shapes of the cooling element.
• the dispensing device comprises watertight doors constituted for example by flat brushes and rubber strips.
• the apparatus for distributing refrigerants can comprise at least one coin mechanism connected to the control means
• the invention also relates to a cooling element containing a substance formulated to accumulate frigories, intended for use in a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, characterized in that it is in the form of a substantially rectangular plate and in that that it has a flared through orifice opening out on its front and rear faces, of substantially circular radial section with a diameter substantially greater than that of the héhco ⁇ dal tube so that the lower rear end of the through orifice is not in contact with said tube and that the upper rear end of the orifice is tangent to said héhco ⁇ dal tube, this point of contact constituting the fulcrum of the cooling element on the helical tube.
• the refrigerant can. include a slot communicating said through hole with the outside of the cooling element, said slot having a shape complementary to that of the guide rail provided on the héhco ⁇ dal tube. It may also have notches on its sides for gripping by the transfer means.
• the refrigerating element is also designed so that its center of gravity is located below said support point and that it is offset axially relative to said point d 'support in the direction of its movement on the helical tube.
• This can be obtained by the fact that the cooling element has a clearance angle located below said fulcrum, said angle being formed by the angle of inclination of the rear face of the cooling element under the orifice. crossing.
• the substance contained in the cooling element consists of a eutectic liquid.
• FIG. 1 represents a front view of the appliance for dispensing refrigerating elements according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the dispenser of refrigerants with two storage units
• Figure 3 is a top view of the dispensing apparatus for refrigerants according to the invention.
• Figure 4 is a top view of the slide and its actuation mechanism
• FIG. 5 shows in detail the means for gripping the refrigerating elements loaded with frigories
• FIG. 6 shows in detail the gripping means and the thrust means of the cooling elements to be recycled
• FIG. 7 shows a front view of the cooling element according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 represents a top view of the cooling element according to the invention.
• FIG. 9 represents a sectional view of several cooling elements on the helical tube
• FIG. 10 is an overall view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing refrigerants according to the invention.
• FIG. 11 is a plan view of the interior of the apparatus of FIG. 10,
• FIG. 12 is a cross-section along the axis XIII-X1T of the apparatus of FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is a cross section along the axis XUI-X ⁇ i of the apparatus of FIG. 11.
• the box 2 contains a central tube 49 allowing the circulation of air in a forced circuit, two storage units 7 and 7 refrigerated by a cold generating device (not shown) comprising in a traditional manner a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and a recovery tank. Foam is injected or foam plates are placed between all of the refrigerated storage units 7, 7 ′ and the walls of the box 2 so as to isolate said ref igerated storage units from the outside.
• Each refrigerated storage unit 7, 7 comprises a héhco ⁇ dal tube 8, 8 'with constant pitch extending from the top to the bottom.
• the turns that make up said héhco ⁇ dal tube 8, 8 ' make an angle between 18 ° and 25 ° approximately with the horizontal.
• a guide rail 9, 9' of planar shape.
• the guide rail 9, 9 ' is extended beyond the upper end 29 of the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8, 8' over a few centimeters.
• the two refrigerated storage units 7 and 7 are arranged in the box 2 so that the two helical tubes 8 and 8 'and the two guide rails 9 and 9' form two parallel helices of the same pitch, one offset by relative to the other by a distance equal to half the step.
• a support tube 10 is fixed to the opposite interior faces of the guide rails 9 and 9 ′, every 45 degrees. Other fixing means can be envisaged.
• the helical tubes 8 and 8 'and the guide rails 9 and 9' are made of a metallic material.
• a defrosting system (not shown) can be installed inside the tubes 8 and 8 'to prevent the formation of frost.
• the box 2 can contain only one refrigerated storage unit 7 and in this case a single inlet / outlet orifice 4, a single safety hatch 5 and a single coin mechanism 6.
• the dispensing device with two refrigerated storage units being symmetrical with respect to its central axis, it will only be described below with a single refrigerated storage unit 7.
• Said unit refrigerated storage container 7 contains a plurality of refrigerating elements 11 arranged one behind the other on the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8. With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, the refrigerating element 11 is in the form of a substantially parallelepiped plate with rounded corners.
• the lateral faces 22, 23 and upper 26 of the cooling element 11 have notches 24, 25 and 27 of substantially semi-cylindrical shape.
• the notches 24 and 25 are provided to facilitate gripping of the cooling element 11.
• the notch 27 is provided for filling the cooling element 11 with the substance formulated to accumulate frigories
• the cooling element 11 On its front and rear faces 12 and 13, the cooling element 11 has a flared through orifice 14, of substantially hyperbolic axial section and of substantially circular radial section of diameter substantially greater than that of the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8 so that, as can be see in Figure 8, the lower rear end 15 of the through hole 14 is not in contact with said tube 8 and that the upper rear end 16 of the orifice 14 is tangent to said héhco ⁇ dal tube 8, this contact point 16 constituting the single point of support of the cooling element 11 on the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8.
• the through orifice 14 is extended downwards by a slot 17 so that the cooling element 11 has below the through hole 14 and on each side of the slot 17 two legs 18 and 19.
• the front face 12 of the cooling element 11 is flat while the rear face 13 has a clearance angle ⁇ from the fulcrum 16 in the part of the cooling element 11 which is below the orifice through 14.
• This construction means that the center of gravity of the cooling element 11 is located below the fulcrum 16 and that it is offset axially relative to said fulcrum 16 in the direction of movement of this element on the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8.
• the front and rear faces 12 and 13 form an angle, varying the thickness of the refrigerating element 11, the thickest part being located outside when the refrigerating elements 11 are placed on the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8. Thus they support on each other over the entire surface of the faces 12 and 13 above the through hole 14 when they move on said hehcoid tube 8.
• the through hole 14 and the slot 17 are off-center on the side of the thickest part of the cooling element 11 so as to balance the distribution of the substance contained in the cooling element 11 between the legs 18 and 19.
• Said substance is a eutectic mixture whose melting point is for example equal to -16 ° C.
• the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8 has a lower end or lower zone 28 which extends towards a first zone called "gripping station" Has cooling elements 11 loaded with fiigories, said zone being placed behind the wall 3 in which the inlet / outlet orifice 4 is formed.
• the length of the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8 is such that the last refrigerating element 11 charged with frigories is no longer carried by said héhco ⁇ dal tube 8 but is simply maintained between the wall of the grip A and penultimate refrigerating element 11 charged with fiigories.
• An insulating material is placed around the gripping station A in order to isolate it from the outside.
• a transfer zone B Above said gripping station A is a transfer zone B, separated from the gripping station A by a hatch 31 provided with a reminder system (not shown).
• the transfer zone B communicates with the outside via the inlet / outlet orifice 4 in the wall 3 of the box 2. It is therefore at ambient temperature.
• a slide 30 which can move vertically along the wall 3 of the gripping station A to a second zone called "pushing station" C of the refrigerant elements 11a recycle, the pushing station C being located above transfer zone B.
• the slide 30 is actuated by an electric motor 50 and a pinion / rack transmission, the rack 51 being provided on the back of said slide 30.
• the latter is guided in translation by two vertical guides 54 and 55 provided on box 2 by means of rollers 52 and 53.
• the lower part of the slider 30 is extended by a clamp 35 in the form of an M, shown in FIG. 5.
• Said clamp 35 is fixed to the slider by a pivot 38 at the "tip" of the M and comprises two articulated branches 36, 37 by two pivots 36 'and 37'.
• the ends of the branches 36, 37 end in two jaws 39 and 40 of shape complementary to the notches 24 and 25 of the cooling element 11.
• the two branches 36, 37 are connected by a transverse bar 41 with respect to which they can pivot freely thanks to two pivots 36 "and 37".
• the transverse bar 41 makes it possible to keep substantially the same distance between the two branches 36, 37, this distance being substantially greater than the width of the cooling element 11.
• the upper end of the slide 30 has a window 42 cut out so as to have a shape complementary to the cooling element 11.
• the lower edge 43 (missing a view of the slide from the front) of the window 42 comprises a vertical plate 44 of complementary shape to the slot 17 of the cooling element 11.
• This plate 44 constitutes an orientation device in order to correctly place the cooling element to be recycled.
• This orientation device can also be provided in the inlet / outlet orifice 4.
• a device 48 for cleaning the refrigerating elements 11 to be recycled (to be represented on the same drawing as the scale) ! consists of a sanitizer injector, two brushes and two squeegees arranged on either side of the window 42.
• the injector is supplied by a liquid reservoir (not shown) comprising a sanitizer supplemented with a cleaning product and anti-foaming agents in an aqueous medium.
• the brushes are actuated by pinions meshed in another pinion in direct engagement with the same rack 51 which actuates the slide 30.
• the pushing station C is isolated from the outside by an insulating material and separated from the transfer zone B by a hatch 32 provided with a return system (not shown). It comprises a rocker 45, fixed on a toothed wheel 46 in direct engagement with the same rack 51 which actuates the slider 30.
• the rocker 45 is of width substantially less than that of the window 42 in the slider 30. It is positioned in the pushing station C so as to be substantially at the same height as the guide rail 9 extending the upper end or upper zone 29 of the helical tube 8.
• the length of the slider 30 is such that the clamp 35 is opposite the inlet / outlet orifice 4 when the window 42 is opposite the rocker 45 and such that the window 42 is opposite the inlet / outlet orifice 4 when the clamp 35 is opposite the lower end 28 of the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8.
• the dispensing device 1 is placed, for example near the shelves of frozen products in a large area.
• the dispensing device 1 can be used as a single or double-sided dispensing face and then comprises one or two refrigerated storage units 7.
• the refrigerated storage unit 7 is filled with cooling elements 11 loaded with fiigories which can be stored beforehand on a pallet in freezers. Thanks to an access door (not shown), the personnel of the large area can arrange the refrigerating elements 11 loaded with frigories on the helical tube or tubes 8, 8 ′.
• the slide 30 descends into the gripping station A by pushing on the hatch 31 to open it.
• the gripping station A at the end of the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8, there is a cooling element 11 charged with frigories.
• the jaws 39 and 40 of the articulated branches 36 and 37 of the clamp 35 come into contact with the upper edges of the refrigerating element 11 loaded with frigories, these move apart and pivot slightly thanks to the different pivots 36 ', 37' , 36 ", 37” and 38 to cooperate with the notches 24 and 25 of the refrigerating element 11 loaded with frigories.
• the jaws 39 and 40 then hold in the clamp 35 the cooling element 11 loaded with fiigories without tightening it.
• An end of travel detector (not shown) makes it possible to determine the end of the downward movement of the slide. Then, the slide 30 goes up towards the transfer zone B, the refrigerating element charged with frigories being maintained by the clamp 35.
• the hatch 31 closes thanks to its return system once the couhsseau 30 has left the gripping station A. In the transfer zone B, the couhsseau 30 rises sufficiently so that the clamp 35 arrives at the entry / exit orifice 4.
• a limit switch (not shown) allows the slider 30 to stop in the correct position. Then, the chent opens the safety hatch 5 and grasps the refrigerating element 11 charged with frigories by the inlet / outlet orifice 4 for example through the orifice 14 and puts it in its insulated bag. Once the safety hatch 5 closed, the couhsseau 30 descends to the rest position.
• the clamp 35 When the slider 30 reaches the end of its travel in its downward movement, the clamp 35 is opposite the lower end 28 of the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8 and grasps a cooling element 11 charged with frigories. In this position, the window 42 is located opposite the entry / exit orifice 4. The chent manually opens the safety hatch 5. Two limit switches (not shown) make it possible to stop all operation of the device as soon as the safety hatch is raised. The chent can then introduce its refrigerating element to be recycled through said inlet / outlet orifice 4, into said window 42. The gripping of the refrigerating element 11 is facilitated by the notches 24 and 25.
• the chent can only put its refrigerating element to be recycled in one direction.
• the safety hatch 5 closes under the action of its return spring as soon as the chent has released it once the refrigerant element to be recycled is in place.
• the couhsseau 30 rises towards the upper part of the transfer zone B so that the cooling element li to be recycled passes through the cleaning device 48.
• sanitizing product is sprayed on the refrigerant to be recycled which is then cleaned using brushes and dried by the squeegees.
• the couhsseau continues to move upwards during the cleaning of the cooling element to be recycled and reaches the pushing station C after having opened the hatch 32 by simple pushing.
• a limit switch (not shown) allows the couhsseau 30 to stop in the position shown in FIG. 6 such that the cooling element li to be recycled is opposite the upper end 29 of the guide rail 9 and such that the window 42 is substantially at the same height as the rocker 45.
• the rack 51 meshes with the toothed wheel 46 on which the rocker 45 is fixedly mounted so that said lever 45 pivots by an angle ⁇ in the direction of the refrigerating element li to be recycled.
• the rocker 45 then pushes the cooling element 11 to be recycled so that it is fitted onto the guide rail 9 and then onto the hehcoidal tube 8.
• the fitting of the cooling element 11 to be recycled onto the hehcoidal tube 8 is particularly facilitated by the flared shape of the through orifice 14.
• the clamp 35 holding the refrigerant element 11 charged with frigories is located opposite the inlet / outlet orifice 4.
• the chent opens the safety hatch 5 to allow it to take said cooling element loaded with fiigories. As soon as the chent has released the safety hatch 5, it closes under the action of its return spring. Then the couhsseau 30 descends into the transfer zone B, the hatch 32 closes with its return system and the slider 30 returns to the rest position awaiting a new request.
• the single fulcrum 16 of the refrigerating element 11 on the héhco ⁇ dal tube 8 and the lower and offset position of the center of gravity of the refrigerating element 11 relative to said fulcrum 16 create a couple of so that the cooling element 11 naturally moves along the inclined héhco ⁇ dal tube 8.
• the displacement is favored by the fact that the refrigerating elements 11 in the upper part of the refrigerated storage unit 7 push the refrigerating elements 11 into the lower part of the refrigerated storage unit 7.
• the refrigerating element dispensing device makes it possible to store 415 cooling elements per unit refrigerated storage.
• the dispensing device 101 is essentially distinguished from the device 1 described above by the presence of two separate orifices, one orifice inlet and an outlet, and by removing the transfer slider 30 and its drive system. These differences make it possible to further simplify the device 101, reducing its cost, its size and its maintenance.
• This device 101 of substantially square shape, comprises a casing 102, a wall 103 of which has, at the top, an inlet port 104 and, at the bottom, an outlet port 105.
• a coin mechanism is installed on the same wall 103 106 of traditional operation located substantially at the same height as the inlet orifice and connected to an electronic control and management unit 109 provided inside the apparatus in the upper part.
• the arrangement of these various elements can be modified.
• the box 102 contains an evaporation and ventilation device 149, a storage unit 107 refrigerated by a traditional cold generating device 150 provided under the device 101.
• the storage unit 107 is isolated from the walls of the casing 102 by injected foam or foam plates and comprises a héhco ⁇ dal storage and guide rail 108, of flat section, replacing the previous storage tube 8 and guide rail 9 but having the same functionality . Its design allows a reduction in the diameter and pitch of the propeller, thus making it possible to increase the storage capacity of the refrigerating elements 11 by reducing the space required.
• the turns that make up this rail 108 make an angle of between 8 ° and 15 ° approximately with the horizontal.
• This hehoidal rail 108 extends from one end or upper zone 129 situated substantially at the same height as the inlet port 104 towards an end or lower zone 128 situated substantially at the same height as the outlet port 105.
• This hehoidal rail 108 is fixed to the interior walls of the storage unit 107, or could be fixed to a central support tube (not shown), by means of U-shaped stirrups 110 distributed regularly throughout said rail, for example, every 90 °.
• the héhco ⁇ dal rail 108 is arranged to receive a plurality of cooling elements 11 identical to those described above.
• the inlet port 104 is oriented substantially horizontally and has a shape complementary to that of a cooling element 11a recycle presented lying in the direction of the port 104.
• the shape of the slightly conical inlet port 104 allows correctly orient the cooling element 11 to be recycled.
• This cooling element 11 can be introduced both by its legs 18, 19 and by its upper face 26.
• Three limit switches or recognition cells 111a, 111b and 111c are disposed directly behind the orifice d input 104, including two lateral detectors 111a and 111b and an upper or lower detector 111c so as to be placed above the slot 17 of the refrigerating element 11.
• a cleaning device 112 for the refrigerating elements 11a to recycle is provided between this inlet orifice 104 and the storage unit 107.
• This cleaning device 112 comprises several pairs of cylindrical brushes 113, and in this case three pairs, rotating, arranged one after the other, the brushes of each pair being spaced to define a more or less narrow passage for receiving the cooling element li to recycle, this passage being arranged in the extension of the inlet orifice 104.
• An injector 114 is provided in the upper part of the cleaning device 112 and allows the spraying of a sanitizing product added with a cleaning product and d defoaming agents in an aqueous medium, this product coming from a liquid tank 115 and from a pump 116.
• This sanitizing product is then recovered and evacuated by a pipe 115 ′ to the condensate recovery tank of the cold group 150, this pipe passing through the walls of the casing 102.
• the rotation of the brushes 113 is controlled by an appropriate drive device and, for example, a small motor coupled to the different brushes by means of '' a gear train or a toothed belt and pinions.
• the rotation of the brushes 113 causes the cooling element li to be recycled to and into the storage unit 107 through a sealed door 117.
• This sealed door 117 comprises for example flat brushes and rubber strips.
• Fixed friction elements 113 ′ are arranged laterally and parallel to the direction of movement of the cooling element 11 driven by the brushes 113 and are arranged to rub against the lateral faces 22, 23 of said cooling element 11 in order to brake it to create a differential speed between it and said brushes and allow the latter to clean it effectively.
• These friction elements 113 ′ consist for example of brushes, rubber pads or other suitable members.
• the refrigerating element li to be recycled After the passage of the watertight door 117, the refrigerating element li to be recycled, no longer being guided, tilts under the effect of its weight and is positioned directly on the héhco ⁇ dal rail 108 for storage and guidance which begins just after the waterproof door
• Upper guide 118 and lateral guide blades 119 are provided at the outlet of the watertight door 117 and above the upper zone 129 of the héhco ⁇ dal rail 108 and are arranged to correctly position the cooling element li to be recycled on the rail. héhco ⁇ dal 108, even if the latter is introduced by its upper face 26. Then, the cooling element li to be recycled descends along the héhco ⁇ dal rail 108 until it meets the other refrigerating elements 11 which are already stored. Meanwhile, it recharges with frigories.
• the hehoidal rail 108 ends in a rectilinear portion substantially perpendicular to the outlet orifice 105 and stops to release a refrigerant element 11 loaded with frigories and position it against a guide wall 126 so that it is substantially opposite the outlet orifice 105.
• This outlet orifice 105 is oriented substantially vertically or slightly inclined and has a shape complementary to that of the cooling element 11 charged with fiigories in a standing position and oriented in profile.
• This orifice 105 is separated from the storage unit 107 by a sealed door 120 comprising for example flat brushes and rubber strips.
• a jack 121 is mounted on the guide wall 126 to push the refrigerant element 11 loaded with frigories through the sealed door 120 towards the outlet orifice 105, this jack being controlled by the control and management unit 109 in function of the limit switches 1 U a, 111b and 111c and / or the coin mechanism.
• the rod of this jack 120 moves parallel to the guide wall 126 and to the outlet orifice 105 and has a rounded end 122 complementary to the semi-cylindrical notch 24 provided in the cooling element 11 in which it is supported.
• Stops 123 are provided on the outside of the wall 103 of the device 101, above and below the outlet orifice 105, to keep the refrigerant element 11 loaded with frigories in position and facilitate its gripping by the 'user.
• the use of the device 101 is even simpler and faster than that described above.
• the user introduces a refrigerating element 11 to be recycled into the inlet orifice 104 and in exchange retrieves, a few seconds later, a refrigerating element 11 charged with frigories ready for use in the outlet orifice 105. It can also buy a refrigerant element 11 loaded with frigories if it cannot make an exchange.
• the command and management unit 109 provided in this device 101 is a device known and marketed under the brand VISIOCOM TM which can be assimilated to a PLC and which makes it possible to control and manage, remotely, the cold generator group 150, the control of the brushes 113 and of the jack 121, the stock of cooling elements 11 contained in the device 101, the level of the sanitizing product. It thus offers a very appreciable flexibility of use and management.
• a telephone socket 124 is provided at the rear of the box 102 in addition to an electrical supply socket 125 of the device which is connected to the 220 V sector with earth.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but extends to any modification and variant obvious to a person skilled in the art.
• the couhsseau provided in the first variant can be replaced by any equivalent means of transfer.
• the couhsseau, the cleaning device and the rocker can be respectively actuated by actuating means equivalent to the rack.
• the device according to the second variant can also be provided with a double storage unit.
• the transfer means by the brushes 113 and the jack 121 could be different.
• the appliance for distributing refrigerants has been described here as being used in a large area.
• the side walls can be used as advertising media to promote new products.
• a location 127 with 220V power outlet is provided on the upper part of the dispensing unit to install a VCR and a TV to inform the chentele.
• a VCR and a TV to inform the chentele.
• campsites or motorway relays For example, truckers or vacationers can always have a refrigerant loaded with frigories in their cooler. This allows them to transport their food in peace and during the whole trip.
• an anti-vandalism device can be provided for the dispensing devices placed outside.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Amplifiers (AREA)
• Commercial Cooking Devices (AREA)
• Containers, Films, And Cooling For Superconductive Devices (AREA)
• Thermistors And Varistors (AREA)

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• 1996
  • 1996-03-11 FR FR9603192A patent/FR2745933B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-03-07 AU AU20313/97A patent/AU710304B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1997-03-07 CA CA002221049A patent/CA2221049C/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-03-07 DE DE69703073T patent/DE69703073T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-03-07 PT PT97908319T patent/PT824739E/pt unknown
  • 1997-03-07 EP EP97908319A patent/EP0824739B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-03-07 WO PCT/FR1997/000404 patent/WO1997034264A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1997-03-07 AT AT97908319T patent/ATE196379T1/de active
  • 1997-03-07 US US08/952,198 patent/US6056152A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-03-07 JP JP53232197A patent/JP4016401B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-03-07 ES ES97908319T patent/ES2154029T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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