The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine for use in supermarkets and other stores which saves on product packaging and/or queues at shop "check out" desks.
The birth of large stores has led to the packaging of almost every type of consumeable product. This applies not only to what would otherwise be perishable food, but also to washing powder, toiletries, and other household items. Goods are individually packaged first, then packaged in small boxes of say 100 items, and then a number of these small boxes are then packaged in large boxes. Both the large and small boxes are thrown away by the shop or store, and the consumer then disposes of the individual package. This results in a huge waste of resources, not only in terms of the forests which are cut down or the oil used to make plasctics, but also in terms of the energy required to convert raw material into packaging and- the packaging process itself. Furthermore huge queues exist at store "check out" desks from customers waiting to pay for their items.The invention seeks to provide a solution to the above problem.
According to the present invention there is provided a vending machine comprising: a) a chute for receiving good to be vended, b) at least one dispensing nozzle at one end of the chute, c) a valve or gate operable to dispense goods from each nozzle, d) a detachable container of goods to be dispensed attached to the end of the chute remote from the nozzle.
Preferably the chute is vertical with the nozzle at the lower end and the container at the top. Preferably the nozzle and/or valve or gate is designed to deliver a metered quantity of goods to be be vended. In one embodiment there are two nozzles each dispensing different quantity of goods. Preferably there is a tray under each nozzle. In another embodiment of the invention the dispensing of goods is activated and paid for by a credit card. The amount of goods being dispensed may also be controlled by a user of the machine.
The invention also comprises a plurality of the above machines interconnected or integral with each other. In such a case, each container may have its own unique connection to the chute whereby a chute designated to a particular type of goods cannot be fed by another type of goods. Also each machine may be adapted only to dispense goods when a suitable receptacle is in place to receive the goodsThe invention also relates to a supermarket or store having one or more of the above machines, said supermarket or store having a ground and first floor, said nozzles being accessible by a user from the ground floor, and said container being replaceable from the first floor.
The inventiojn will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 shows a cross section view of a machine according to the present invention, andFigure 2 shows a front view of another machine according to the present invention.
Referring to figure 1, there is shown a machine 1 having a chute 2 which divides into sections 2a,2b. At the lower ends of chute 2a,2b are nozzles 3a,3b for dispensing goods stored in a container connected to the upper end of chute 2. Two valves or gates 5a,5b meter the amount of goods dispensed by nozzles 3a,3b. Valves 5a.5b are activated by credit card reader 6 and the amount of goods dispensed and from which nozzle is controlled by the user using selector switches 7. A shelf 8 may be used to place receptacles on which may be filled by the nozzles.
The machine 1 may be installed on the gound floor 9 in a store and may be of a height so as to extend into the first floor 10.
When the container 4 is empty it may be replaced from the first floor without interupting shoppers on the ground floor.
Let us assume the goods being dispensed is soap powder. A shopper arrives at the machine with a trolley. The shopper places a receptacle under the nozzle, places credit card in the reader 6, presses the required switch of the selector switches 7 for the quantity required and the nozzle required, and waits for the receptacle to be filled. The appropriate charge for the goods is automatically deducted from the shopperes credit card account.
Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that this machine dispenses three different types of product through each of the three different sets of nozzles 3a,3b. For example it could dispense non-biological soap powder, biological soap powder, and fabric conditioner. The machine operates in exactly the same way as the device in Figure 1 except the shopper can choose the goods. A separate container 4 is provided for each of the goods dispensed. The connection means between each container and its corresponding chute may be different according to the goods, whereby a container of conditioner is not connected to a soap powder chute. This is to make the changing of containers simple without store staff making mistakes.
Shoppers may be provided with reusable containers each designed to receive different goods, and means may be provided e.g using sensors (not shown) to prevent a nozzle filling a container not suitable for the type or quantity of goods dispensed from that nozzle. For example means may be provided to prevent a cardboard container being used to receive liquids, or a 1 litre container receiving 2 litres of product.
Shoppers using the machne with reusable containers prevent waste of packaging, and the shopper need not queue at the "check out" as payment is automatically made by the credit card. The containers 4 can be reuseable and thus the store does not need to dispose and waste endless cardboard boxes. It is envisaged that numerous machines of the above described type can be used in stores to vend a variety of goods.
Further modification of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.