EP3318714A1 - Article dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a blind arrangement for an article dispensing system, comprising a cabinet (2), compartments, boxes or drawers (4) for items to be dispensed (80), two blinds (6, 8, 10, 12) coupled together for the front area of the Cabinets and opening means for the blinds to the article issue. The blinds (6, 8, 10, 12) are dimensioned and arranged in the length such that their closing edges are located in the front region of the cabinet (2) and their other end edges are spaced from each other by a distance (A) in the closed position of the blinds , which has at least the dimension of the largest compartment height. Positioning means (40) are provided for moving the closed blinds (10, 12) with the closing edges (18, 20) in front of a selected compartment (4) with articles to be dispensed. The opening / closing means (60) move apart the closing edges of the blinds (10, 12) moved in front of a selected compartment for the opening of the compartment (4), the blinds (10, 12) being brought together again after the article has been dispensed.

Description

The invention relates to an article dispensing system for articles to be stored, in particular tool dispensing systems.

Warehousing and dispensing systems for various items are being used more and more often, be it in the tooling industry, in drugstore pharmacies, in localities, including vending-machine shops. The storage and dispensing systems simplify the management of the stored articles, the filling with the articles and the removal of the articles, including sales process. Savings of space, personnel and storage capacity can be achieved in this way.

In the manufacturing industry are traditionally tool dispensing systems in use, the tool holders are usually designed as subjects, boxes or drawers. The sizes of the tool holders depend on the size of the tools. Subdivisions of the tool holders, flaps for individual subjects in drawers, special holders for example, occupational safety articles, etc. can be provided. To the front, to the output location, the compartments, boxes or drawers are each closed by their front panels or front panels. For the article removal, the subjects and the like are pulled forward or opened, for example, flaps or doors.

Shutter system for cabinets, shelves and other storage furniture, for example, the Rauvolet shutter system of the company Rehau AG + Co., 95111 Rehau, provide Venetian blinds with different optics. By means of partially circumferentially placed guide systems, the blinds can be moved in vertical and horizontal use to the back wall area, so that winding the blinds with the required space is not required.

In a wall unit with guided in vertical guides shutters according to the DE 34 27 417 C2 the weight of the blinds is compensated in whole or in part by a preloaded spring pull.

In the DE 298 04 964 U1 is a cabinet furniture described with a closing and opening device that can be designed as a blind with tension mechanism. In this, a force acting on a tension element spring may be included.

From the DE 10 2009 009 983 A1 a blind unit for furniture is known which comprises two blinds, which are movable in opposite directions to open or close an opening. By means of a cable and adjustable rope tensioners, the two blinds are synchronized movable.

At one in the EP 1 061 013 A1 described storage rack with rotating in the manner of a paternoster in the vertical direction storage containers are provided for an access opening a vertically movable front door and behind the front door two closing elements. The closing elements are designed, for example, as shutters which are arranged opposite one another and can be moved in the horizontal direction and are individually controllable. Laterally on the storage rack winding devices for opened shutters are arranged. Due to the paternoster system of this storage rack, there are restrictions on the dimensions of the items to be stored. Due to the presence of a front door and additional closing elements, moving drives are required. As a result, the storage rack is expensive. Storage space is lost due to the rewinding devices.

The invention has for its object to provide a front cover for article dispensing systems, which allows a common cover for multiple receptacles or subjects and a targeted single removal of items from the respective receptacle (tray).

This object is achieved by the invention in a Venetian blind arrangement for an article dispensing system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the blind assembly according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

A blind arrangement for an article dispensing system according to the invention thus comprises a cabinet, compartments, boxes or drawers for items to be dispensed, two interlinked blinds for the front of the cabinet and opening means for the blinds for the issue of items. The blinds are sized and arranged in length so that their closing edges are in the front of the cabinet and their other end edges are arranged in the closed position of the blinds with a distance from each other, which has at least the dimension of the largest compartment height. Positioning means are provided for moving the closed blinds with the closing edges in front of a selected compartment with articles to be dispensed. Opening means move apart the closing edges of the blinds in front of a selected compartment for the opening of the compartment. After the article has been released, the blinds are moved together again.

According to the invention, the article dispensing system comprises a cabinet. Here are under the collective name cabinet also shelves, chest of drawers and other storage devices are included, in which items (articles) can be stored and stored. Also, in addition to compartments, drawers and boxes of the cabinet or the other storage facilities other subdivisions of cabinets and the like or corresponding other recording and storage means includes, which may contain items (articles), such as hanging baskets.

The procedure instead of winding the blinds, the space required in the cabinet or shelf is significantly lower than a blind-winding system. The blinds only have to be moved along the periphery of the cabinet, with the blinds usually located on the back. Since only on the blind side edges guides such as e.g. Rails are needed, except the trajectory little space in height, the third dimension, needed. The length of the blinds is dimensioned so that the front can also be removed from compartments also at the top and bottom or left and right emptied. This means that even if the two shutter closing edges are located there, the rest of the front area is completely covered by the blinds.

The opening means release after the moving apart of the closing edges of the two blinds of the respective subject content for the article issue and cause after the removal process, the resealing of the relevant subject. This ensures that there is only access to a selected bin and access is possible during the picking process. An unwanted removal of articles from the cabinet can thus be avoided.

In one embodiment of the invention are appropriate after selection of a compartment for the article removal and the subsequent process of the blinds by the positioning the shutter closing edges in front of the selected compartment. If they are located opposite to an edge area of the compartment and a blind covers the front of the compartment, the opening means only have to move one shutter to release the compartment opening while the other shutter is not moved further. This requires a smaller scope of control and effort for the design of the opening means. In the case of vertical blinds, the positioning means can thus move the blinds such that the closing edges lie opposite the upper edge region of the selected compartment, and the opening / closing means move the lower blind downwards. When the closing edges of the two blinds are opposite the front of the selected shelf, the opening / closing means move both blinds away from each other.

In one embodiment of the blind arrangement according to the invention tension springs are provided between the other end edges of the blinds. These pull apart the blind closing edges and thus support the opening process. The opening / closing means may be provided with a stop means which fixes the two blinds in the closed position after closing the compartment opening. After selecting a compartment and moving the two blinds until their closing edges lie opposite the compartment front, the opening / closing means can release the stop means for moving apart the two blinds or their closing edges, and the tension springs pull apart or support the closing edges movement apart.

As a drive, the positioning means and / or the opening / closing means may have a preferably electric or electromechanical linear drive, in particular a spindle drive. The drive can also be pneumatic or hydraulic. A tandem version of the drive may also be provided.

For the procedure of the blinds, a cable may be provided.

To protect the operator, the opening / closing means may have anti-pinch protection. This may include optical sensors that prevent the compartment from being closed while a finger, hand or article is being scanned. It may further be provided that upon detection of an obstacle by the sensors an opening process is initiated again to avoid an accident, injury or damage.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Vorderansicht eines mit zwei vertikalen Fachreihen und jeweils zwei Jalousien ausgestatteten Schranks für die Lagerung von Artikeln, wobei der Schrank in geschlossenem Zustand dargestellt ist,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Vorderansicht des Schranks von Fig. 1, wobei ein Fach in geöffnetem Zustand dargestellt ist,

Fig. 3

eine perspektische Ansicht des Schranks von Fig. 1 in geschlossenem Zustand und mit entfernter Seitenwand, wobei der Jalousienverlauf und die Antriebe für das Verfahren der Jalousien sowie das Öffnen und Schließen der Fächer dargestellt sind, und

Fig. 4

eine perspektische Ansicht des Schranks von Fig. 1 mit entfernter Seitenwand und einem geöffneten Fach, wobei der Jalousienverlauf und die Antriebe für das Verfahren der Jalousien sowie das Öffnen und Schließen der Fächer dargestellt sind.

The invention will be further described below with reference to an embodiment and the drawing. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1

a front perspective view of a equipped with two vertical rows of shelves and two blinds each cabinet for the storage of articles, wherein the cabinet is shown in the closed state,

Fig. 2

a front perspective view of the cabinet of Fig. 1 wherein a compartment is shown in the open state,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the cabinet from Fig. 1 in the closed state and with the side wall removed, showing the blind profile and the drives for the procedure of the blinds and the opening and closing of the compartments, and

Fig. 4

a perspective view of the cabinet from Fig. 1 with the side wall removed and an open compartment, showing the blinds and the drives for the operation of the blinds and the opening and closing of the compartments.

Fig. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an equipped with a blind arrangement cabinet 2 for an article-dispensing system. The cabinet 2 has two vertical rows of shelves. The compartments, of which the compartment 4 in Fig. 2 is shown open, serve for receiving and storing articles. In the front area of the cabinet 2 by blinds 6, 8; 10, 12 closed. Respectively two blinds 6, 8 and 10, 12 belonging to a compartment row are coupled and are actuated for the article output by positioning means and opening / closing means which will be described below. The closing edges 14, 16; 18, 20 of the blinds 6, 8; 18, 20 are located in the front region of the cabinet 2. The closing edges 18, 20 of the blinds 10, 12 moved apart in front of the open compartment 4 to the upper and lower boundary wall apart. In this position articles can be taken from the subject. Behind a side wall 22 are the positioning means and opening / closing means. The back and top of the cabinet 2 are through a rear wall 24 and a cover plate 26 covered.

The blinds 4, 6; 8, 10 each extend over the front of the cabinet 2 and then along the floor or ceiling to the back of the cabinet. There are the other end edges 28, 30 of the blinds 4, 6; 8, 10 at a distance A from each other, which has at least the dimension of the largest compartment height. This is in Fig. 3 illustrated. Between the end edges 28, 30 of the blinds 8, 10 are not shown tension springs, which contract the end edges 28, 30.

In Fig. 3 and 4 the side wall 22 is not drawn so that the already mentioned positioning means 40 and the opening / closing means 60 can be seen. The positioning means 40 serve to move the blinds 8, 10 in the closed state with the closing edges 18, 20 in front of a selected tray 4. They include a 42 equipped with a spindle linear actuator 44. Of course, other drives for moving the blinds can be used. The length of the spindle 42 is dimensioned such that the closing edges 18, 20 can be moved in front of compartments along the entire cabinet height. With the method of the blinds 8, 10 or of their closing edges 18, 20 also moves in accordance with the free area between the other end edges on the back. How out Fig. 3 and 4 it can be seen, in the illustrated embodiment, the closing edge 18, the blind 8 after positioning relative to the upper shelf limit. The blind 10 covers in the in Fig. 3 shown position, the front front of the tray. 4

The opening / closing means 60 serve to move apart the closing edges 18, 20 of the shutters 10, 12 moved in front of a selected compartment 4 for the opening of the compartment 4 and, if necessary, to bring them together again after the article has been dispensed to assist the action of the tension springs. The opening / closing means comprise one with a spindle 62 linear drive 64. Of course, other drives for moving the blinds can be used. Since the movement stroke of the opening / closing means corresponds at most to the largest compartment height, the movement stroke is smaller than that of the positioning means 40. In Fig. 4 the closing edges 18, 20 by the height h of the tray 4 apart, ie the blind 12 drove down, with the linear drive 64 has moved by the distance h along the spindle 62 down. As a result, the distance of the end edges 28, 30 at the back of the cabinet 2 is reduced to the distance B (B = A - h).

Claims (10)

Venetian blind arrangement for an article dispensing system, comprising a cabinet (2), compartments, boxes or drawers (4) for items to be dispensed, two interlinked blinds (6, 8, 10, 12) for the front of the cabinet and blind opening devices Product output
characterized in that
the blinds (6, 8, 10, 12) are dimensioned and arranged in length such that their closing edges are located in the front area of the cabinet (2) and their other end edges are spaced from each other by a distance (A) in the closed position of the blinds having at least the dimension of the largest compartment height,
Positioning means (40) are provided to move the closed blinds (10, 12) with the closing edges 18, 20) in front of a selected tray (4) to be dispensed articles, and
Opening / closing means (60) move apart the closing edges of the blinds (10, 12) moved in front of a selected compartment for the opening of the compartment (4), the blinds (10, 12) being moved together again after the article has been dispensed. Venetian blind arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that tension springs are provided between the other end edges of the blinds. Venetian blind arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the positioning means (40) move the blinds (10, 12) in front of the selected compartment in such a way that the compartment (4) is covered by one (12) of the two blinds and the closing edges (10). 18, 20) of the two blinds (10, 12) opposite to an edge region of the compartment (4) lie, and the opening means (60) which move a blind (12) on. Venetian blind arrangement according to claim 3, in which the blinds are arranged vertically, characterized in that the positioning means (40) move the blinds (10, 12) such that the closing edges (18, 20) are opposite the upper edge region of the selected compartment (4). and the opening / closing means (60) move the lower blind (12) downwards. Venetian blind arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the opening / closing means are provided with a stop means, which is released for the disengagement of the blinds of the selected compartment such that the tension springs pull out the blinds in front of the selected compartment. Venetian blind arrangement according to one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that the opening / closing means move both blinds away from each other. Venetian blind arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the positioning means (40) and / or the opening / closing means (60) have a linear drive (44; 64). Venetian blind arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the positioning means (40) and / or the opening / closing means (60) have a spindle drive (42, 44, 62, 64). Venetian blind arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a cable is provided for the method of the blinds. Venetian blind arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the opening / closing means have an anti-trap.

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