Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
  • G07F11/70—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
• • 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
  • G07F11/38—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which the magazines are horizontal
  • G07F11/42—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which the magazines are horizontal the articles being delivered by motor-driven means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an automatic distributor of fresh cut flowers making bouquets on demand.
• Vending machines are more and more widespread. They make it possible to multiply the points of sale and to increase the duration of marketing of the products presented without mobilizing personnel whose cost is increasingly high in developed countries. They give users the possibility of purchasing an increasingly wide range of varied products at all times, ranging from confectionery to bread, including cigarettes, hot or cold drinks or toys. To our knowledge, to date there are no distributors of fresh flowers allowing free choice of the composition of a bouquet. However, it is certain that many people wishing to buy flowers, in particular to offer them, must give up because the shops are closed or absent. It is also certain that the presence of a distributor in an appropriate place can encourage people who had not planned to buy a bouquet. Patent No. FR 2 588 107 filed on 04/11/85 by M.
• NERACOULIS (expired on 12/31/86) describes a refrigerated isothermal enclosure, the front face of which comprises two superposed panes, and intended for automatic distribution, using a toll method, natural cut flowers individually or in bouquets.
• the flowers are presented in compartments arranged around the periphery of a drum and forming a barrel allowing the display of the products.
• the extraction of the conditioned flowers is done via an automatically retractable gate, a selection command allowing to choose, among the products presented, the desired one.
• This device which does not seem to have been developed, has several drawbacks. In particular, the arrangement of flowers on a drum only allows you to see part of the available products at the same time. Above all, it is totally impossible to compose a bouquet according to your imagination and means.
• the device according to the present invention aims to remedy this state of affairs. It allows you to develop and personalize your own bouquet on demand, and to adapt the selection to the financial needs of customers.
• It consists of a device comprising a storage and preservation structure which can receive several series of different fresh cut flowers and arranged to allow at least one flower from each series to be seen from the outside, a mechanism with external control associated with a coin acceptor allowing to choose these flowers one by one and to forward them towards a unit of conditioning of the bouquet thus created under packing individual stretchable or by means of a transparent roll film.
• FIG. 1 represents a bouquets distributor seen from the front, in elevation
• FIG. 2 is a view schematic in perspective showing one of the possible embodiments of the device
• Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a tube with water reserve foam mounted on the stem of the flowers to ensure their conservation.
• the device consists of a cabinet 1 similar in appearance to that of current automatic confectionery and similar products, preferably made of painted or stainless steel, and comprising a transparent part 2 revealing the flowers 3 stored inside as well as an exterior control panel 4 with coin mechanism 5 allowing the internal selection mechanism to be controlled.
• a door 6, or a drawer, allows you to take possession of the bouquet once it is duly packaged.
• the selection mechanism which ensures storage at the same time, is formed by a set of rotary tendrils 7 with horizontal axes perpendicular to the front face of the cabinet 1, at the rate of two synchronized tendrils (or more ) by series of identical flowers, arranged to release a flower when they make a turn, while advancing the flowers in reserve located behind, so that the one that will be released at the next maneuver is always located at the front and visible.
• the flowers selected and released one by one fall into a receptacle 8 where they are packaged in a bouquet 9 and wrapped in a transparent film 10 delivered by a roller 11, thanks to a mechanism of known type, common in the packaging industry and not described here.
• a mechanism of known type common in the packaging industry and not described here.
• a small tube 12 containing foam 13 full of water can be threaded onto each of the stems 14 ( Figure 3).
• the latter will advantageously be cut during packaging in a bouquet 9, so as to eliminate the tubes.
• the flowers 3 are stored vertically. In this case, it is possible to provide water tanks in which the end of the rods 14 soak.
• Storage will be refrigerated if the climatic environment requires it.
• Selection and storage can be carried out according to different systems, provided that the flowers 3 can be released one by one on request.
• One can for example use inclined rods, drums with cells constituting an endless chain, or all systems used in known distributors.
• the flowers can be stored vertically in a horizontal chute, held by a rotary spin 7 or several superimposed tendrils, and guided one by one by a tube which pours them into a chute where they are vibrated and then wrapped.
• the bouquet 9 can be wrapped using individual stretch bags made of pleated paper, preferably in the form of stackable cones.
• the fresh cut flowers will be chosen according to the region, the season and local productions. They will be calibrated to a stem length of the order of 30 centimeters and those whose flower bud will have a diameter exceeding a certain value, for example 10 centimeters will be eliminated.
• the stems will be de-seeded and leafless beforehand.
• the system could be designed to store 5 categories each comprising 20 flowers and make bouquets of up to 21 flowers.
• the coin mechanism 5 may advantageously be supplemented with a payment card reader, and the control panel 4 comprise a device for displaying luminous and possibly audible information, a voice command system, and / or commands with raised keys. Braille.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26232781

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (15)

Family Cites Families (19)

• 1996
  • 1996-06-13 FR FR9607578A patent/FR2749960B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-10-24 ES ES97912245T patent/ES2217400T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-10-24 DE DE69728175T patent/DE69728175T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-10-24 AT AT97912245T patent/ATE262202T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-10-24 WO PCT/FR1997/001904 patent/WO1999022347A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1997-10-24 EP EP97912245A patent/EP0968486B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-10-24 US US09/381,471 patent/US6474501B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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