FR2839177A1 - Cut-flower automatic vending machine for individual cut flowers or bouquets thereof comprises a support frame with a rotating shaft on which flowers are supported in elongated support bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic vending machine for stemmed vegetation (10), notably plants or cut flowers, comprises a frame (1) integral with a central rotating shaft (13), integral in turn with a plate (14) on which are fixed support devices for the plant stems. The support devices comprise detachable cups in which the feet of the stems are placed and elongated support bodies.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic plant distributor with

rods,

  natural plants or flowers, individually or in bouquets.

  Distributors are known, for drinks or sweets in particular, in which an order releases the chosen object from its upper storage area and causes it to fall into a lower bin provided with a hatch. Such a principle cannot be applied to

  flowers or natural plants, which are particularly fragile objects.

  Distributors are also known, for example sandwiches, in which the objects to be selected are arranged in compartments formed in rotary drums. A single vertical door allows the chosen object to be grasped on a preselected drum, the compartments of the other drums being temporarily closed. Such distributors have been adapted to the storage of flowers and plants, by

  adding more or less complex water tanks or sprinkler systems.

  Thus US-A-3336773 provides water supply pipes for each pot, the plants being placed in individual cells, arranged below

of a water reserve.

  In FR-A-1 151 210, the plants or flowers are already packed, a reserve of water being provided in the lower part of the packaging, which must therefore be sealed, and

  the assembly must permanently be kept vertical.

  The documents FR-B-2 253 349 and EP-A-0 710 936 describe compartments whose flat or inclined bottom itself serves as a water tank. It goes without saying that such devices require frequent and demanding maintenance to renew the water and clean the walls, even if a water recirculation system with supply and

  collection can also be provided.

  2s In addition, most distributors have compartments of fixed dimensions, which, when one wants to offer for sale flowers of different sizes, poses difficulties in storing larger flowers, or vice versa

  induces a loss of space which cannot be used when the flowers are small.

  Consequently, the aim of the present invention is to provide automatic distributors of simple natural plants or flowers considerably reducing the cleaning problems, and making it possible to adapt to plants of variable sizes,

stored simultaneously.

  The present invention also aims to provide a flower storage device which supports them without pressing on the flower heads or their petals and allows a presentation of the plant with excellent visibility. To this end, the distributor according to the invention is an automatic distributor of plants with stems, comprising a frame secured to a vertical central rotating shaft secured to at least one plate on which are fixed support devices for the stems of plants, said support devices being associated with removable buckets 0 intended to receive the feet of plants. Thus, the feet of the plants presented (flowers for example) plunge or rest in removable cups, associated with each

  support device, which may contain water or a suitable nourishing liquid.

  Removable buckets can be easily removed for either cleaning or replacement. According to advantageous embodiments of the dispenser according to the invention: A The support device is formed by an elongated stake provided at its upper end with a fork, enclosing the upper part of the rods, the stake preferably being adjustable in height , thus adapting each time to the size of the flowers or plants presented. The fork can take the form of two "fingers", of a V, of a U. or of a semicircle for example, so as to maintain the stem of the vegetable along the stake. À The support device is inclined with respect to the vertical, thereby allowing a better presentation of the flowers for example. The claimed inclinations are between 20 and 50 degrees approximately, advantageously between 30 and 40 degrees approximately, relative to the vertical. In fact, if this angle is too small, the plants are almost vertical and lack space relative to each other, and if this angle is too large the plants occupy a very large diameter and their stability at rest, and

  a fortiori when the plate is in movement, is more difficult to maintain.

  À The frame supports transparent side walls, rear glass doors for the dispenser to be loaded by the florist, and at the front at least one hatch allowing the customer to grasp the chosen plant (plant or flower). Preferably, the hatch is of rectilinear displacement with pressing action at the end of the race in the closed position. Thus, the hatch once closed, can only be reopened after a new

order another plant.

  With hatch and turntable are powered by motors, preferably

s independent.

  Advantageously, there is also a system of "anti-theft" boxes associated with the hatch, which enclose and isolate other plants, the plant (s) presented in front of the hatch. These boxes are mounted in opposition on vertically movable guides by means of a cable / pulley assembly actuated by a motor,

  o their movement being dissociated from the movement of the hatch.

  The central vertical axis also serves as a support for a rotating template. This template, movable around the central vertical axis, is used to control the maximum dimensions of the plants placed on the tray, when the dispenser is loaded by the florist. The florist can thus arrange the plants, and adjust the height of the fork of the support device, so that they do not subsequently impede rotation

  of said tray. The problems of distributor failure for this reason are thus eliminated.

  The dispenser according to the invention is particularly suitable for the presentation of cut flowers, in bouquets or individual, the stem feet of which must be kept hydrated at all times (roses for example). The support device keeps these flowers in the presentation position, without resting on the flower heads, by tilting them slightly to better highlight them, while reducing their

  space, and the turntable allows optimal visibility.

  The invention will be better understood by means of the following figures given by way of illustrative but nonlimiting example: Figure 1 shows in section the whole of the dispenser according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the turntable for fixing the rod support devices, the dispenser according to the invention; Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show an embodiment of a support device associated with the bucket, Figure 3a being a sectional view of the support device - bucket assembly, Figure 3b a view of Figure 3a according to arrow A, and s Figure 3c a top view of the bucket attached to the support device; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an "anti-theft" box; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the dispenser assembly according to the present invention; o etlaFigure6 is a view of a distributor hatch, with a view

  partial of its sliding mechanism.

  Example of embodiment: In Figures 1 and 5 is presented the entire example of a dispenser according to the invention. This comprises a frame 1 consisting of a structure, mechanically welded in tube or in screwed profile, fixed to the ground and in the case presented, also fixed to the lintel of the bay 3 of the store. In this case, the bay 3 naturally includes recesses or openings made so that customers can access the dispenser. The frame 1 is composed in particular of four vertical uprights 4 provided with feet 5, and horizontal uprights 6 forming several frames: an upper frame 7 here supporting the computer hardware 8 and of automation management, a lower frame 9 mainly serving to support the plant storage and presentation device 10 (shown here in the form of hatched bouquets in FIG. 5), and an intermediate frame 11 supporting in particular the motor 12. Two other uprights

  2s vertical 2 are used to support the hatches and "anti-theft" boxes described below.

  The actual plant storage and presentation device 10 is here on two levels (in the example presented each level can receive eight bouquets

  lO) and is secured to a vertical central arDre 13 secured to two turntables 14.

  The shaft is motorized by means of a geared motor 12 placed above it, on the

frame 11.

  A turntable 14 is shown schematically in Figure 2. I1 consists of a flat disc 15, in the center of which is an orifice receiving a cylindrical sleeve 16 integral with said disc and which is as above and below the s of the plane formed by the disc 15. This sleeve 16 is crossed radially by a fastening element 17 s (screw for example) making it possible to fix it on the shaft 13. Eight tubes 18 of approximately square section are welded to the periphery of the disc 15, preferably equidistant from each other, and in an inclined position at an angle o: relative to the

  vertical. The angle oc here is advantageously 35.

  These tubes 18 are intended to receive the support devices 19 for the stems of the plants 0, composed of a stent or elongated dish 20 provided at its upper end with a fork 21 which is here in the shape of a V (see FIG. 3b) . The stake 19, presented in Figure 3a, enters the tube 18 to which it is fixed and adjustable in height by means of a knurled button 22. Thus the fork is located at about two thirds of the total height of the stems of the plants . Each dish 20 serves as a support for a cup 23 with a sealed bottom, here of cylindrical shape, but which could have a square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc. section. It may for example be made of plastic material such as PVC. Each bucket 23 is provided with a base 24 (see FIG. 3c), comprising a groove 30, which serves as an interface for its attachment to the stake 20 by means of a knurled button 25. I1 is also adjustable in height thanks to this button 25. The feet of the bouquets 10 are placed in these removable filled or partially filled cups,

  of water or nourishing liquid for the conservation of the vegetable.

  It is also possible to provide, in place of the bucket 23, another type of support, for example a flat support, for receiving bouquets called “bubble” bouquets 2s having their own water tank in the packaging or for place plants in pots there. A template 26, formed of a double curved rod according to the maximum possible dimensions of the bouquets 10 in the distributor, is arranged around the bouquets. This jig 26 is presented in Figures 1 and 5 in solid lines I1 is mounted freely on the vertical shaft 13, and is shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 in dotted lines in another position, after having turned 180 around the shaft 13. It thus gives an indication

  useful for the florist who garnishes or replenishes the dispenser.

  The frame supports transparent side walls (not shown) and glass doors 40, 41 arranged at the rear for loading the distributor by the florist. At the front are provided two hatches 27 allowing the customer to grasp the bouquet 10 chosen. These hatches 27 are motorisces, and possibly balanced by counter-poies 28, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. Their rectilinear displacement with action of plating at the end of the travel in the closed position is guided by rails 29

arranged on uprights 31.

  0 I1 is also provided a system of two "anti-theft" boxes 32 associated with the hatches 27, which enclose and isolate from other plants, the bouquet presented in front of the selected hatch. These housings 32, shown in Figure 4, and visible in Figure 5, are mounted in opposition on vertically movable guides by means of a cable / pulley assembly actuated by a motor. Each housing 32 has the approximate shape of a parallelepiped whose lateral faces 33 are each provided with a tab 34 arranged perpendicular to said face 33 and serving as a connection to the guide carriage. The housing 32 presented in FIG. 4 does not have upper and rear faces, and has a lower face 35 provided with a notch 36 here in the shape of a U. turned towards the rear so as to receive the stems of a bouquet 10 selected by the client, and a front face 37 largely hollowed out in a wide cutout 38, so as to present to the client only the upper part of said bouquet, while

  hiding the other bouquets. He can therefore enter only one bouquet at a time.

  The dispenser according to the invention also comprises a payment system by coins, by tickets or by card (bank card reader for example) and a 2s ticket printer (not shown), on the front face of the frame 1. The automation of the distributor also includes in particular a PC, a PLC, a frequency converter and a

incremental encoder.

  Table 1 shows an example of a general operating algorithm. AT

  step n 1 the distributor is waiting for the insertion of a credit card.

  The user, after inserting his card, must in step n 2 enter his secret code. If his secret code is valid, he can rotate the vending machine trays using two keys. Once his choice has been made, he selects the floor of the chosen plant using the corresponding button. In step 6, the "anti-theft" boxes are put in place, then the hatch opens and the user can enter the plant. He must then press a new key to recover his card and order the closing of the hatch. Once the hatch is closed, the card is ejected and the ticket is printed. The system can then

  come back to wait for the insertion of a new card.

  The example described above relates to a dispenser installed inside a

  store, incorporated in a part of the window thereof.

  In this first case, the immediate environment of the plants benefits from the interior atmosphere (temperature, humidity, shaded situation) of the store itself. In another situation, the dispenser according to the invention can be placed in outdoor places (sidewalks, places, ...). The frame is then fully enclosed and can be provided if necessary with an air conditioning system comprising temperature and hygrometry regulation circuits, arranged in the upper part of the distributor (for example on the upper frame 7). Diffusers, placed in the axis of the turntable (s) and connected to a water reserve, produce a fine humid mist to prevent drying of the plants presented, depending on the environmental conditions outside (in the event of exposure to the sun for example), and in particular for the presentation of cut flowers. This spray regulation is controlled

by a hygrostat.

  The regulation of the temperature, controlled by a thermostat, can be effectuce either by production of cold by means of a small refrigerating unit and a double flow exchanger, or by increase of the temperature via a resistance.

TABLE 1

From step From step X4 X8 _

WAITING

  r '.. _- Card inserted _ _ 2. Detection of card inserted

_ _ AND Control of the secnet code.

  AND Control of the banking authorization _- Correct secret code - Bad secret code AND Press on one of the rotation keys _ _ _ From step X5 _ 11 Restitution of the L otation card in the desired direction ll + Released key Towards step ls 1 Stop II _ _ _- Press one of the rotation keys _- Floor of the selected product validated _ _ Go to step 6 | Ouverturetrappe. | I X3 Product taken | AND Press the card restitution button on the hatch _ _ _- Fermoe hatch _ _ 8 1 Card restitution I I | AND Ticket printing I I \ 1 / .. To step X1

RE VEN D IC AT IO N S

  1- Automatic plant distributor (10) with stems, comprising a frame (1) secured to a vertical central shaft (13) rotating secured to at least one plate (14) on which are fixed support devices (19) plant stems, said support devices (19) being associated with removable cups (23) intended to receive

plant feet (10).

  2- A dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the support device (19) is formed by an elongated tutor (20), provided at its upper end with a

  fork (21) enclosing the upper part of the rods.

  lo 3- Dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the device for

  support (19) is inclined relative to the vertical.

  4- Dispenser according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the tutor (20)

is adjustable in height.

  - Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims,

  characterized in that the frame (1) supports transparent side walls, rear glass doors (40, 4 1) for loading the dispenser, and at the front at least one

  hatch (27), used to grasp the plant (plant or flower) chosen.

  6- Distributor according to claim 5, characterized in that the hatch (27) is

  rectilinear movement with plating action at the end of travel in the closed position.

  7- Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims,

  characterized in that is associated with the hatch (27) a system of "anti-theft" housing (32) which encloses the plant (s) presented (s) in front of said hatch (27) in the (es) insulating from other plants, and which are mounted in opposition on movable guides

  vertically by means of a cable / pulley assembly actuated by a motor.

  8- Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims,

  characterized in that a template (26), movable around the central vertical axis, serves to control the maximum dimensions of the plants placed on the turntable (14),

when loading the dispenser.

,.,. .. ...

  9- Use of the dispenser according to any one of claims

  previous to the presentation of cut flowers.