Automatic gas bottle vending and empty bottle collection machine, in which full bottles are dispensed and empty bottles are collected following a monetary transaction

摘要

The vending machine has groups of compartments, formed by an axis (5) supporting plates (9,10,11), subdivided (12) into compartments (13) each designed to receive a gas bottle (B). The bottle transfer device (8) is an actuator driving and positioning an assembly (2,3) formed by a compartment group in a storage zone, a detection zone or an exchange zone (ZS,ZD,ZE). The latter allows a single access to the exterior via a controlled window (14,15,16). Automatic gas bottle vending machine which includes: (a) a communication module (20), receiving a clients request and carrying out the transaction (payment, order/accessory), connected to a central control (30); groups of bottle compartments (9,10,11) designed to store ordered and returned bottles (B); a storage zone (ZS) for full and/or empty bottles; a delivered bottle detection zone (ZD), receiving a compartment loaded with a bottle to control so as to cooperate with a sensor; a bottle exchange zone (ZE) receiving a compartment for bottle acceptance or placed at the disposition of a full bottle; a transfer system (8) to control the displacement of a compartment (13), chosen from a group (9,10,11), towards one of the zones (ZS,ZD or ZE) according to the operation to be executed; a sensor (50), movable (S1,S3), between control zones (ZD) for different compartment groups so as to effect the detection of the activated detection zone; a control unit (30) connected to the communication module (20) to the bottle compartment groups and to the sensor (50) so as to receive (a) data from the module (20) relative to a transaction, (b) data from the sensor (50) concerning a bottle placed in a compartment in an activated detection zone (ZD) so as to control transfer from the chosen compartment into the activated zone(s) (ZD,ZE).