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DE-102025135940-A1 - Rail for a vending machine

DE102025135940A1DE 102025135940 A1DE102025135940 A1DE 102025135940A1DE-102025135940-A1

Abstract

A rail (1, 1') for use in a vending machine (10, 10') with a spiral conveyor (11, 11'), comprising an elongated base body (2) with a straight support surface (3), is characterized in view of the task of specifying a vending machine with a spiral conveyor with which products can be easily stored and conveyed within the vending machine and can be easily and precisely dispensed from the vending machine, in that a first connecting piece (4, 4', 4") for connecting to a spiral coupling (12) is arranged at one end of the base body (2) and a second connecting piece (5, 5', 5", 5''') for connecting to a product drawer (13, 13') is arranged at the opposite end of the base body (2).

Inventors

  • Erfinder gleich Anmelder

Assignees

  • Philipp Röper

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250908
Priority Date
20241113

Claims (15)

  1. Rail (1, 1') for use in a vending machine (10, 10') with a spiral conveyor (11, 11'), comprising an elongated base body (2) with a straight support surface (3), characterized in that a first connecting piece (4, 4', 4") for connecting to a spiral coupling (12) is arranged at one end of the base body (2) and a second connecting piece (5, 5', 5", 5''') for connecting to a product drawer (13, 13') is arranged at the opposite end of the base body (2).
  2. Rail after Claim 1 , characterized in that on both sides of the rail (1) bands (6a-6d) are arranged which have side walls (7a-7d) that border the support plane (3) on both sides and project beyond it and/or project orthogonally from it.
  3. Rail after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the base body (2) consists of at least two elongated base parts (2a, 2b) which are connected to each other and form the support plane (3).
  4. Rail according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (2) consists of four base parts (2a, 2b), wherein two base parts (2a, 2b) are inserted into each other to form a partial rail and a support plane (3), and wherein two partial rails run parallel, so that two support planes (3) run parallel.
  5. Rail after Claim 4 , characterized in that a modified first connecting piece (4') is inserted into two base parts (2a), wherein a modified second connecting piece (5') is inserted into two further base parts (2b).
  6. Rail after one of the Claims 3 until 5 , characterized in that two opposing bands (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) are arranged on one or each base part (2a, 2b).
  7. Rail according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a receptacle (8) for a sign (19) or a label or a data field for providing information is provided on the second connecting piece (5, 5', 5", 5''').
  8. Rail according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shield (19) is arranged on the second connecting piece (5, 5', 5", 5''') which has connecting means (20), preferably in the form of claws.
  9. Rail according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connecting piece (4, 4', 4") has a pin (4a) for insertion into the spiral coupling (12).
  10. Rail according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connecting piece (5, 5', 5", 5''') has a hook (5a) for gripping an edge of a product drawer (13, 13').
  11. Vending machine (10, 10') with a rail (1, 1') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rail (1, 1') is arranged within a spiral (14) of a spiral conveyor device (11, 11') and/or is arranged collinearly with the axis of the spiral (14) and/or is arranged flush right or left within the spiral (14).
  12. vending machine after Claim 11 , characterized in that the support plane (3) of a rail (1, 1') is oriented orthogonally to a support plane (3) of another rail (1, 1') and/or orthogonally to a floor on which the vending machine is placed.
  13. vending machine after Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the rail (1, 1') is connected to a spiral coupling (12) with its first connecting piece (4, 4', 4") and to a product drawer (13, 13') with its second connecting piece (5, 5', 5", 5''').
  14. vending machine after Claim 13 , characterized in that the first connecting piece (4, 4', 4") is inserted into the spiral coupling (12) with a pin (4a) and the second connecting piece (5, 5', 5", 5''') engages the edge of a product drawer (13, 13') with its hook (5a).
  15. vending machine after one of the Claims 11 until 14 , characterized in that at least one plug-in (16) is provided which can be slid onto a product partition (17) and/or which is connected to at least one second connection piece (5, 5', 5", 5''') is fixed or reversibly connected.

Description

The invention relates to a rail for use in a vending machine according to the preamble of claim 1. Vending machines are known from the prior art that dispense products to a consumer when the consumer operates the machine accordingly. Such products include, for example, beverage cans, beverage bottles, sweets, milk cartons, and cereals stored in the vending machine. Spiral conveyor devices are known for transporting these products to a dispensing point. The spiral conveyor system comprises spirals shaped like a helical and rotatably attached at one longitudinal end to a spiral coupling. The goods are held between the turns of the spiral. By rotating the spiral, the goods are conveyed translationally in a product drawer to the product output. However, in vending machines with spiral conveyors, cans and beverage bottles can become jammed in the spiral due to their often round and smooth design. The consequences of jamming include malfunctions, incorrect dispensing, or failure to dispense a product. Furthermore, beverage cans or bottles often appear at an angle in vending machines because the spiral mechanism forces them into this position. This slanted presentation significantly reduces the product's appeal to potential customers. Selling smaller products, such as lighters, can also be problematic, as these small items cannot be properly guided between the coils or spiral arms, or may even fall through them. Ultimately, the pitch of the coils, i.e., the distance between two spiral arms, determines how precisely a product can be conveyed and how it is transported and positioned by the spiral. The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a vending machine with a spiral conveyor device with which products can be easily stored and conveyed within the vending machine and can be easily and precisely dispensed from the vending machine. The present invention solves the aforementioned problem through the features of claim 1. According to the invention, it has first been discovered that a rail with a flat support surface allows beverage cans and bottles to be placed flat and not at an angle. It has further been discovered that the rail can be positioned within a spiral. It has then been discovered that a first connecting piece must be attached to the spiral coupling at one end of the rail, and a second connecting piece must be attached to the product drawer at the other end of the rail, in order to overcome the aforementioned problems. The rail does not rotate with the spiral but remains fixed in the product drawer. It has also been discovered that the rail makes it possible to position products at a higher level and on a horizontal surface in a sales compartment. This avoids the risk of a product becoming jammed in the spiral. Even small products can be pushed along the rail through the spiral in a controlled manner. On both sides of the rail, barriers could be arranged with side walls that border the support surface on both sides and extend beyond it and/or project orthogonally from it. This prevents products from falling off the rail laterally. Furthermore, the barriers provide lateral support for the products, preventing them from tipping or tilting. These optional barriers allow products that are typically too small to be transported in a vending machine operated by a spiral conveyor to be conveyed on the rail. The base body could consist of at least two elongated base parts that are connected to each other and form the support surface. This allows the rail to be easily adjusted in length to different spiral lengths. The base body could consist of four base parts, with two base parts interlocking to form a partial rail and a support surface. Two partial rails run parallel, resulting in two parallel support surfaces. This allows for the transport of wider products. The products are transported more stably and with less wobbling on the larger overall support surface. When transporting wide or uneven containers on a can guide, these containers can sometimes be moved forward by the spiral with considerable instability. A wider support surface could significantly improve this stability. A significant increase in stability can be achieved. This allows for a kind of double can guidance system. A modified first connector could be inserted into two base parts, with a modified second connector being inserted into two further base parts. In this way, two partial rails can be connected as one rail with the product drawer and the spiral coupling. Each base section could have two opposing rails. This allows the rail to be mounted and fitted with side walls. The second connector could include a receptacle for a sign, label, or data field to provide information. This allows for product identification on the rail or the provision of information about the products. At the end of the rail where the second connector is located, an optional receptacle for information signs can be provided, which can be used for advert