Classifications

• • 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
  • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
  • F25D31/006—Other cooling or freezing apparatus specially adapted for cooling receptacles, e.g. tanks
  • F25D31/007—Bottles or cans
• • 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
• • 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
  • G07F11/34—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which the magazines are of zig-zag form
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/0064—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for processing of food articles
  • G07F17/0071—Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
  • G07F5/18—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• • 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
  • G07F9/002—Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• • 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
  • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
  • F25D2331/805—Cans

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a beverage can storage and transfer units.
• the aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device that comprises a beverage can storage unit and a transfer unit, occupying a small amount of space and maintaining fast delivery of beverage cans to the user.
• the cooling device of the present invention comprises a beverage can storage unit wherein the beverage cans or bottles are stored to be cooled, a transfer unit having two opposite, vertical and moving plates and horizontal supporting arms on the plates for carrying the beverage cans in the storage unit from below upwards for delivering to the user and the beverage cans are lifted onto the supporting arms between the plates by means of a driving mechanism that activates the two opposite plates upwards and downwards.
• the driving mechanism moves the opposite plates simultaneously in vertically reverse directions, and while one plate moves upwards and downwards respectively, the opposite plate moves downwards and upwards.
• the two opposite plates move by making short distance lifting-lowering movements, thus the delivery time of the beverage cans to the user and the volume required for the motion of the driving mechanism decreases.
• the driving mechanism having of two rack gears connected to the moving plates and a pinion gear driven by an electric motor that rotates between the opposite rack gears for moving the rack gears simultaneously in opposite directions.
• U shaped supporting arms are provided on one of the moving plates wherein the supporting arms of the other plate can pass through during the upwards-downwards motion of the opposite moving plates.
• the transfer unit that carries the beverage cans comprises two support plates that cover the sides of the opposite first and second moving plates and guide the upwards-downwards motion of the first and second moving plates, a separator that prevents accumulation of the beverage cans coming from the storage unit at the passage orifice between the storage unit and the transfer unit, during each cycle of upwards-downwards motion of the moving plates, allowing passage one by one through the passage orifice to the transfer volume in the transfer unit, a stopper for stopping the beverage cans coming by rolling from the passage orifice in the transfer volume and to be taken horizontally by the supporting arms and more than one protrusion arranged on the supporting arms that prevent rolling of the beverage cans.
• the beverage can transfer unit in the cooling device comprises loading windows situated on the first moving plate for the beverage cans in the storage unit to directly pass into the transfer unit without entirely traversing the passageway and loading covers that catch the beverage can coming rolling down on the passageway in the storage unit and pass through the window into the transfer unit.
• the beverage can transfer unit in the cooling device comprises a locking mechanism that maintains the loading covers to stay shut on the window while the driving mechanism operates and thus prevents the loading cover from bumping by opening towards the storage unit and allowing to open towards the storage unit only in positions wherein the moving plates stop and the supporting arm connected to the loading cover is empty.
• Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooling device comprising beverage can storage and transfer units.
• Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a beverage can storage unit and a beverage can transfer unit.
• Figure 3 - is the sideways schematic view of a beverage can storage unit and a beverage can transfer unit.
• Figure 4 - is the exploded view of a beverage can transfer unit.
• Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the first moving plate and the supporting arms on the first moving plate, the loading cover and window in a beverage can transfer unit.
• Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the second moving plate and the U shaped supporting arms on the moving plate in a beverage can transfer unit.
• the cooling device (1) comprises a body (2) wherein the beverage cans (K) are stored to be cooled, a loading-unloading opening (3) for loading and unloading the beverage cans (K) inside the body (2) situated on the upper side of the body (2), a storage unit (4) having inclined passageways (S) for the beverage cans (K) loaded from the opening (3) to be moved from above downwards, a transfer unit (5) for transferring the beverage cans (K) in the storage unit (4) from below upwards for delivering to the user from the opening (3) and a passage orifice (6) disposed between the storage unit (4) and the transfer unit (5) allowing the passage of the beverage cans (K) in the storage unit (4) to the transfer unit (5).
• the transfer unit (5) comprises a first moving plate (7) that can move upwards-downwards and a second moving plate (8) opposite the first moving plate (7), movable upwards-downwards, both positioned in the vertical direction and opposite to each other, having a transfer volume (V) between the first moving plate (7) and the second moving plate (8) wherein the beverage cans (K) are transferred, for transferring the beverage cans (K) in the transfer volume (V) from the passage orifice (6) towards the opening (3).
• V transfer volume
• the first moving plate (7) is disposed between the storage unit (4) and the transfer unit (5) and the second moving plate (8) is situated opposite the first moving plate (7), at the front side of the cooling device (1) body (2).
• the beverage cans (K) that pass from the storage unit (4) to the transfer unit (5) via the passage orifice (6) are lifted in the transfer volume (V) between the first and second moving plates (7, 8) to be carried towards the opening (3).
• the transfer unit (5) comprises more than one first supporting arms (9) disposed on the first moving plate (7) and more than one second supporting arms (109) on the second moving plate, pivotally connected to the moving plates (7, 8), foldable on the moving plates (7, 8) by rotating upwards around the joints, arranged on top of one another and facing each other in the transfer volume (V) between the moving plates (7, 8), staying in the horizontal position by bearing against the moving plates (7, 8) at the joints, supporting the beverage cans (K) thereon from below and carrying the beverage cans (K) in the horizontal position from the bottom upwards in the transfer volume (V). Since the supporting arms (9, 109) bear against the moving plates (7, 8) to which they are fastened in the horizontal position, they do not fold downwards and thus the beverage cans (K) thereon do not fall down.
• the cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a driving mechanism (10) that moves both of the moving plates (7, 8) in opposite directions and vertical to the base, within a distance that can be adjusted according to sizes of the loaded beverage can (K), for the beverage can (K) placed on one of the supporting arms (9, 109) by passing through the passage orifice (6) into the transfer volume (V) to be transferred to the other supporting arm (9, 109) there above and repeating the said motion of the moving plates (7, 8) for each beverage can (K), enabling the supporting arms (9, 109) to be folded on each other or over the moving plates (7, 8) connected thereto by the pushing of the beverage cans (K) from below and to transfer the beverage cans (K) between the supporting arms (9, 109) that move together with and opposite to the moving plates (7, 8) upwards-downwards and thereby to be lifted step by step, to be carried from the passage orifice (6) up to the opening (3).
• the moving plates (7, 8) are moved by the driving mechanism (10) in two phases.
• the driving mechanism (10) while moving the second moving plate (8) upwards, simultaneously moves the opposite first moving plate (7) downwards as much as the upwards distance of the second moving plate (8) and at the end of this motion, the beverage can (K) on the supporting arm (109) at the second moving plate (8) is transferred to the supporting arm (9) of the first moving plate (7) facing thereof.
• the driving mechanism (10) while moving the second moving plate (8) downwards, simultaneously moves the opposite first moving plate (7) upwards and at the end of this motion, the beverage can (K) on the supporting arm (9) of the first moving plate (7) is transferred to the supporting arm (109) facing thereof and above the former one at the second moving plate (8).
• the beverage cans (K) are carried from the bottom upwards by the supporting arms (9, 109) connected to the first and second plates (7, 8) in the transfer unit (5), the delivery duration of the beverage cans (K) is shorter by means of two moving plates (7, 8) moving oppositely upwards downwards as compared to the applications in the prior art.
• the second moving plate (8) does not have to be lifted by inasmuch as the distance between two superposed supporting arms (109) for each beverage can (K), since the first moving plate (7) facing thereof simultaneously moves downwards, the lifting motion is executed in two phases, thereby it is sufficient to lift up the second moving plate (8) by half the distance between the two supporting arms (109).
• the beverage can (K) passes from the supporting arm (109) at the second moving plate (8) to the supporting arm (9) at the first moving plate (7) and when the second moving plate (8) again starts to move upwards, the beverage can (K) on the supporting arm (9) is taken by the upper supporting arm (109) of the second moving plate (8) to be carried upwards, thus the beverage can (K) goes up half a step at each upwards-downwards motion of the second moving plate (8) and the simultaneous downwards-upwards motion of the first moving plate (7), and as the movement is repeated, the second half step is completed and the beverage can (K) is lifted up one step, that is inasmuch as the distance between the two superposed supporting arms (9, 109) of the same moving plate (7, 8).
• the driving mechanism (10) maintains the beverage cans (K) on the supporting arms (109) of the upwards moving second moving plate (8) at the last point of the upward motion and at the moment of starting the downward motion, to be transferred to the supporting arms (9) of the first moving plate (7) opposite thereof that has ended the downwards motion and starting the upwards motion and afterwards to be again transferred from the supporting arms (9) of the first moving plate (7) to the supporting arms (109) of the second moving plate (8) and thus allots the lifting motion for each beverage can (K) to the two opposite moving plates (7, 8).
• the driving mechanism (10) is a pinion - rack mechanism, and comprises two rack gears connected to the first and second moving plates (7, 8) and a pinion gear driven by an electric motor, e.g. a step motor, that rotates between the opposite rack gears for moving the rack gears simultaneously in opposite directions.
• an electric motor e.g. a step motor
• the transfer unit (5) furthermore comprises two support plates (11) that cover the sides of the opposite first and second moving plates (7, 8) and guide the upwards-downwards motion of the first and second moving plates (7, 8), a separator (12) that prevents accumulation of the beverage cans (K) coming from the storage unit (4) at the passage orifice (6) during each cycle of upwards-downwards motion of the moving plates (7, 8), allowing passage one by one through the passage orifice (6) into the transfer volume (V) and a stopper (13) for the beverage cans (K) coming rolling from the passage orifice (6) to be stopped in the transfer volume (V) and to be taken horizontally by the supporting arms (9, 109).
• the transfer unit (5) comprises U shaped supporting arms (109) provided on the second moving plate (8) wherein the supporting arms (9) of the first moving plate (7) can pass through during the upwards-downwards motion of the oppositely moving plates (7, 8).
• the supporting arms (9) of the first moving plate (7) can easily pass through due to the U shape of the supporting arms (109) provided on the second moving plate (8), preventing jamming up and tangling of the opposite supporting arms (9, 109) to each other.
• the transfer unit (5) comprises more than one protrusion (15) arranged on the supporting arms (9, 109) that prevent rolling of the beverage cans (K).
• the transfer unit (5) comprises one or more windows (16) disposed on the first moving plate (7) that allows the beverage can (K) in the storage unit (4) to be directly passed from the storage unit (4) to the transfer unit (5) ( via a shortcut) without traversing the entire passageway (S) if the supporting arms (9, 109) are empty while the beverage cans (K) are loaded into the storage unit (4) and one or more loading covers (17) that catch the beverage can (K) coming rolling downward on the passageway (S) in the storage unit (4) and pass through the window (16) into the transfer unit (5).
• the empty supporting arms (9, 109) in the transfer unit (5) are filled in quickly by means of the windows (16) and the loading covers (17), decreasing the delivery time of the beverage cans (K) to the user and the cooling device (1) is always ready to serve from the opening (3).
• the loading cover (17) is connected to the supporting arm (9) of the first moving plate (7), such that the angle between the loading cover (17) and the supporting arm (9) is approximately 90 degree.
• the beverage can (K) taken from the storage unit (4) rolls onto the supporting arm (9) from the loading cover (17) while passing through the window (16) and as the supporting arm (9) moves down with the weight of the beverage can (K), it pulls the loading cover (17) to itself, enabling to close on the window (16) and the path is opened for the other beverage cans (K) loaded in the storage unit (4) and moving in the passageway (S).
• the transfer unit (5) comprises one or more locking mechanisms (14) that maintain the loading cover (17) to stay shut on the window (16) while the driving mechanism (10) operates and thus prevents the loading cover (17) from damage by opening towards the storage unit (4) during the upwards downwards motion of the moving plates (7, 8) and allowing to open towards the storage unit (4) only in positions wherein the moving plates (7, 8) stop and the supporting arm (9) connected to the loading cover (17) is empty.
• the products such as beverage cans (K) or bottles are quickly lifted to the opening (3) arranged at a height for easy access and service by means of the beverage can (K) transfer unit (5) and the driving mechanism (10) actuating the transfer unit (5), if the transfer unit (5) is empty then the beverage cans (K) in the storage unit (4) are passed into the transfer unit (5) via a shortcut, decreasing the delay period thereby enabling an express delivery to the user.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=41126820

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2009
  • 2009-04-09 AT AT09737992T patent/ATE525621T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2009-04-09 ES ES09737992T patent/ES2370199T3/es active Active
  • 2009-04-09 EP EP09737992A patent/EP2286164B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2009-04-09 WO PCT/EP2009/054304 patent/WO2009132948A1/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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