The invention also relates to a novel device for the output of the product units one by one from storage in the dispenser, together with an application of the invention.

A series of designs for vending machines are known.

All possible products are sold through such vending machines, both foodstuffs (chocolate), smoke items, toilet articles, perfumes etc. Usually such a vending machine consists of a housing-forming unit (a floor-or wall- placed box), and which contains all devices which are necessary in order for the vending machine to function.

There being: Mutually separated storage space or shafts for a number of units of product, and a mechanism for releasing, on the basis of the user's choice (he presses on a select button or like selector function) a single such product unit down into a common drop shaft to a common opening (a drawer or the like) in a housing outer wall from which the user can take out the product unit chosen. A pay unit such as for coin-and/or disc collection and/or credit card reader unit, an electronic connection between the pay unit and the selector unit (which has a number of selector buttons which correspond to the number of goods which the vending machine can sell. On this general principle for a

vending machine, the physical design itself can vary considerably.

A vending machine for beverages is known from Swedish Patent Specification No. 370,804. The vending machine comprises: a number of containers each of which can hold powder, such as bouillon, coffee, chocolate, lemonade, a storage space for mugs, and a water container with a device for heating the water. Powder is filled into the containers as required, while the water container can be coupled to the available water supply network of the locality. When the user chooses the type of drink, he presses the relevant button, a mug falls down and is first filled with a correct dose of powder, for hot water to be added from the water tank so that the powder is dissolved.

This Swedish sales vending machine shows a sales vending machine with a base unit which can hold two product cassettes each having a fair-sized coherent amount of a pulverised product. From an opening in the bottom of the cassette there is portioned out a measured amount of product via the base unit. The cassette, or the braced box-shaped product container, is in itself not sufficient to run the vending machine.

Such vending machines function admirably according to their purpose. There are however a series of drawbacks which, with the present invention, one aims to remedy, so that a vending machine can become more flexible and easily adjusted for dissimilar changing needs for dissimilar goods.

The most significant drawback with to-day's vending machine construction is that when a group of products is to be replaced with another, so must 1) the storage unit (for example the shaft) be emptied of the old stock of goods, 2) a number of the new product must be filled into the storage unit, 3) on the selector unit the old illustration must be taken out, and a new one installed, and possibly the price

marking must be changed (in such a case the electronics in the coin registration unit must also be adjusted to the new price).

The object of the present invention is to provide a new design or construction of sales vending machines, where the change of product in the vending machine is done by means of a few simple manipulations.

Further the aim is to provide a vending machine construction which will be well-suited for vending machine sales of smaller products, such as small samples of perfume stored in small flacons or flasks, disposable shaving items, mouth hygiene products, and which will be well-suited for an optional location, but especially well- suited for communication means like planes, ships, trains, or for travel terminals, airports and the like, and in theatres, cinema layouts, and for hotel rooms.

More specifically the vending machine ought to be able to handle products, of widely different sizes, and can be packaged in boxes of dissimilar shapes and sizes, a case, in a linked form, as a jacket of plastic film/paper, or be vacuum-packed. For example a pack of two cigarettes, or 4-5 toothpicks, can be vacuum-packed. Every vending machine ought to be able to handle products which in packaged form, have sizes varying for example downwards from a conventional vacuum-packed toothpick and upwards to a can of lemonade, and larger than this (that is to say as realised according to the following claims 11-16).

For example the new construction can be considered to comprise 5 vending machine units according to the invention for the sale of 5 dissimilar types of perfume, which can be placed for example centrally on board a plane (for example in the toilets) which passes over longer distances (such as trans-Atlantic). In order to get out a single unit the user needs only to put in a coin, for example a five kroner, 10 kroner or 20 kroner, in Norwegian currency. Then he/she gets sufficient of the

product (the perfume) to increase his/her own well-being for the remainder of the journey.

The arrangement according to the invention is distinguished by the features which are evident from the characterising portion of the following claim 1. More specifically the arrangement is distinguished in that it comprises a dispenser holder with a number of spaces for placing and fixing of a corresponding number of replaceable housing-shaped dispensers, and where each dispenser comprises: a product storage-section in which separate product units can be arranged, and a section for presentation of the product type. Preferred constructions are evident from the dependent arrangement claims 1-9.

The device according to the present invention is distinguished by the features which are evident from the characterising portion according to claim 11. Preferred constructions are evident from the dependent device claims. The use is indicated in claim 10.

The present invention comprising a combination of a dispenser holder and replaceable dispensers, represents a substantial simplification of the previously known vending machine systems.

There is provided an automatized operation which will yield big efficiency gains as regards replacing product units and rearranging counters, and price statements. The vending machines can be rearranged on short notice, and very rapidly to offer new products for sale.

A preferred, but non-limiting, construction of the invention will now be explained further having regard to the accompanying Figures, wherein: Figure 1 shows schematically a dispenser holder with 4 dispensers separately installed.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the dispenser holder of Figure 1, according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of one of the four dispensers of Figure 1 according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows an example of a display unit having a mirror unit and a light spot.

Figure 5 shows according to an embodiment, a perspective view of a storage and output mechanism of the dispenser.

Figure 6 shows a side cross-section of the storage and output mechanism of the dispenser according to Figure 5.

Figure 7 shows a section of the lower section of the repository device.

Figure 8 shows a side view of a rail having electronically controlled downward foldable drawer holders.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 the dispenser holder 10 is constructed with a standard framework, appearing as an oblong box comprising a rear wall 12, side walls 14,16, and bottom plate 18. Three partition walls 20,22,24 divide the box, into a number of dispenser- carrying spaces in which a corresponding number of housing-formed dispensers can be replaceably located and fixed. The partition walls 20,22,24 start at the bottom 18 of the box and extend forwards to the roof plate's 34 closing cover of the side walls. The dispenser box has no front panel.

Top plate 34 of the box extends only partly over the side walls 14,16 and the partition plates.

The metrical sizes of the box are marginally greater than the inserts/dispensers which are shown in Figures 1 and 3, so that they can be set in place in a ready manner.

On one side wall 16 of the dispenser holder 10 there is mounted in the front two coin collectors 36,38 and an arrangement in the form of one (or more) slots 40 for reading of credit cards or discount cards or the like.

On the side wall/or rear wall of the dispenser holder there is fitted a lock mechanism (not shown specifically) for mounting/dismounting on a wall or in another device where the vending machine is to be located,

plus that there is a device mechanism for locking of the dispenser to the dispenser holder.

With reference to Figures 1,3 and 4, the insert/dispenser is shown designed as a closed housing part or small box 42, which preferably can be grasped with one hand. The side walls 44,46 have mutually identical measurements. The roof plate 48 covers the side walls 44,46. The roof is removeable but lockable mounted, for example by means of a hinge in the rear edge, so that the roof plate 48 can be tilted upwards at the front edge. The insert also has a double bottom formed by plates 54,56.

The insert has a front 50 and a rear 52 (back) plate having a relatively large mutual spacing.

The front back plate 50, seen from the front, terminates against the uppermost bottom plate 54. Further the bottom plate 54 only extends forwards to the regions where it is joined to the plate 50. Thus there is established a free passage between the hollow space (see below) of the bottom plates 54,56 and the hollow space 51 between the two back plates 50,52. In the hollow space 51 of the back plates there is mounted a register, that is to say one for each dispenser unit, and product storage (not shown further) with well-known mechanical principles for assistance, if desired with the novel selector and forward feeding mechanism indicated in claims 11-16. In addition there are installed counters on the same units.

In front the bottom plates extend forwards and outside the side walls 44,46 and the roof 48, and comprise preferably a rounded/arcuate front wall 58. The uppermost bottom plate 54 has upstanding parallel rails on the longitudinal sides. Two such parallel rails 62,64 are shown in Figure 2. Most forward and centrally disposed on the front wall there is cut out an opening for a drawer 66. In immediate connection to the drawer for drawing out there is mounted a register for feeding product units to the drawer. The forward feeding register is further connected to a corresponding forward feeding register and

product storage in the space 51 between the two back plates of the dispenser.

Centrally in front of the forward back wall 50 there is designed a separate section or a ramp, see 80 Figure 4, for display of the product itself which is to be sold. If necessary the wall 50 or the under side of the roof 48 can have a light spot 82 placed for illuminating the object which is to be sold. As Figure 4 also shows, the display ramp can also comprise an arcuate mirror 84 which will provide a mirror image of the product 86, and thereby a more delicate and attractive display of the product.

The dispenser comprises according to the invention a separate product storage section in which the separate product units can be arranged, and a separate section for presentation of the type of product. As is evident from Figure 4, the storage space is especially preferred arranged in the rear section of the dispenser while the section for presentation is in the forward section of the dispenser, as is indicated in the previous paragraph.

The dispenser/insert 42 is closed in the front by the installation of a transparent cover 70. The cover 70 has a corresponding rounded off form in its roof portion at 72 as the front wall 58 in the bottom portion. The front of the cover has a corresponding rounding off in its termination lowermost. The front side of the cover is ovally shaped as is clearly evident from the Figures. The height and breadth of the cover 70 are marginally less than the insert/dispenser so that the cover can be easily installed on the front side of the insert/dispenser. The cover has no bottom plate other than rails in the termination of the side walls. The straight side walls of the cover 70 are terminated by 1. back wall in the insert.

Particularly for this invention the displayed product can have a totally different form and dimensions than the product unit present behind. For example a perfume bottle (or a whiskey bottle) can be displayed in full size, while

the product unit itself can be a much smaller flacon or bottle.

Since the products which are especially intended for sale, have a very small dimensional volume, such as in the form of separate product units are of small perfume bottles, smaller boxes and the like, the dispensers can also have a neat and small size, for example so that the operator with a single hand can get hold of a dispenser and set in place in the holder, and carry out a locking function so that the dispenser cannot be unintentionally removed from the holder. This means that 4 dispensers which are to replace 4 dispensers which have stood in a holder for a time, can be readily placed in a handbag, rucksack or the like.

The holder can for example be fastened in a simple manner to a wall, without taking much space.

REPOSITORY FOR STORING/DELIVERING OF SAMPLES/PRODUCT UNIT According to another invention, there is here proposed, with reference to the Figures 5-8, a completely novel device/mechanism for a repository for storing/ delivering of product units of dissimilar shapes and sizes. The repository, which is sketched wholly schematically in the Figures, is adapted and dimensioned to be arranged in space 51 of the dispenser between the two plates 50,52, and connected to the bottom space beneath the bottom plate 54. The repository can for example comprise 15 drawers for depositing product units.

In the Figures 5-8 one of the drawers is shown in a lowered position on supplying the product unit. The product unit is conveyed by free downward sliding forward to a drawer or a hatchway portion which is accessible to the user either in the bottom of the holder component, or in the dispenser bottom itself.

The device comprises a trussed framework 100 having a given plane section. Within the framework there is space for a number of plate-shaped tapered designed drawers 112

a-n which are placed on top of each other with a mutual vertical spacing. In the one end of a drawer 112 two pins 114 project horizontally outwards, in opposite directions.

In each of two adjacent corner-frame members 100a, and 100b a vertical longitudinal groove 116 is formed. A drawer 112 (also termed a storage flap) is mounted within the framework so that the two oppositely projecting pins lie within respective grooves 116 which thereby function as a guide groove. The drawer can thus be pushed upwards and downwards through the whole framework with the pins lying in the groove. About the middle of each of the two adjacent framework side surfaces 118 and 120 facing towards each other there is mounted a holder rail 122,124 as shown in Figure 8.

The holder rail comprises a number of electronically controlled and foldable holder flaps 126 a-n, that is to say 15 flaps are shown here. On the selector front of the dispenser there is a push button in force for this dispenser, which electronically releases the foldable flaps 126, one by one from below and upwards, from a outward projecting closing position to a inserted drawer- drop position. In the outward projecting closing position two flaps project as a pair horizontally forwards so that they become situated below an associated product unit drawer and hold this in its place in the framework. In this way all the product unit drawers 112 are mounted so that they occupy this position, the one above the other as shown at 112 b-n in the Figures 5,6 and 7, that is to say with a given smallest mutual vertical spacing.

The Figures 5,6 and 7 show a repository where the lowermost drawer 112a is released from the flap pair 126a in that the latter is downward folded as a consequence of a selection from the panel of the vending machine. The vertical groove 116 is stopped at 136 so that the drawer is pivoted, illustrated by the arrow P, downwards about a horizontal axis through the two pins 114. The oblique angle of the drawer becomes thereby so large that the

product 130 slides down the plate 112a, and further out on an obliquely positioned delivery tray and forwards to the drawer of the vending machine or the selection hatchway where the user can fetch out the product.

When a product again is selected from this vending machine dispenser, the closing flap-pair 126b is dropped downwards and inwards, and drawer number 2 falls, with the pins sliding downwards in the groove 116, a short distance vertically until the left part of the drawer (Fig. 5-6) lies on top of drawer number 1. Thereafter this drawer number 2 is pivoted about its respective horizontal pins downwards in the direction of the arrow and the product in the drawer falls down on the tray 132 and further out in the delivery drawer or hatchway. The drawer 112b is thereafter standing in this oblique position on top of the underlying drawer 112a.

The operation is so repeated for each push choice on the vending machine panel, completely until all the drawers are disengaged of folding and they are lying directly the one on top of the other, until the dispenser is emptied of product units.

Thereafter the dispenser is taken out of the holder unit, the drawers are replaced with filled in new products.

By using such a device according to the invention, one and the same identical dispenser construction can be employed for the product units of widely different shapes and sizes, something which represents a very large rationalization gain during the operation of such vending machine systems which the invention is prepared for.

FUNCTION DISPENSER HOLDER/DISPENSER The dispenser holder functions in combination with the dispensers as a vending machine, constructed on simple, well-known mechanical principles. The dispenser according to the example provides 4 free of choice alternatives, of which 1 choice is possible per time.

The coin collector/card reader on the dispenser holder are electronically connected to withdrawable drawers on the dispensers.

After the coin collection or card reading the sensor button on the chosen drawer (or for chosen goods) is pushed in. The drawer with the correct contents will thereby kick out. After a taken time interval/removing of product the drawer will return to the original position and simultaneously terminate the process.

Alternatively the holder member for example in the region by the pay register 36,38,40 can itself comprise the sensor buttons for the product selection.

After emptying the drawer this will be automatically filled up again with one specimen of the product.

An electronic/mechanical register, for example as shown in the Figures 5-7, will push a new and identical article forward into the drawer. This mechanism connects the drawer with stored-product in the double bottom of the dispenser and further to the stored product in the rear hollow space of the dispenser.

Thus the dispenser will itself arrange for new products from storage to be delivered until the same storage is emptied. The counter mounted for storage tells all the time about withdrawals/stock on hand.

Cast rails lowermost on the side walls of the dispenser fasten the insert against equivalently designed rails on the uppermost bottom plate of the dispenser holder.

The locking mechanism on the side wall of the dispenser holder locks and fixes the dispenser against the dispenser holder. Correspondingly mechanisms lock/release the dispenser holder from the wall.

The card reader is equipped with functions for registering and storage of data about the card user.

According to an alternative and completely applicable method, the bottom space 57 having the drawer function is installed as"the floor member"of dispenser holder

itself, that is to say that the dispenser does not comprise this drawer construction.

The afore-mentioned description of the mechanism for storage, selection and output of product units, shall only be considered as a non-limiting example, since this can be carried out in a series of alternative ways.

FUNCTIONS AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE VENDING MACHINE The vending machine integrates all member functions in one unit.

The bottom of the vending machine includes separate spaces, which continue further up into the back space of the vending machine.

The most central space is arranged for storage, counting and delivery functions for physical goods. The mechanical is designed according to the water wheel principle. Thus the vending machine will fetch goods from storage in the back plate portion and transport this to the front of the vending machine.

The delivery of goods takes place by pulling out drawers in the front.

The two outermost spaces are pure coin vending machines.

Arrangement for exchanging functions are possible.

A coin vending machine is intended for necessary currency of the respective country. The other will accept other types of currencies, such as Euro currency.

The coin vending machines will possess well-known mechanics.

Each space/duct will in addition be equipped with an internal counter.

On the side panels of the vending machine there is mounted a signal lamp which shows the size of the goods in stock of the storage.

In the roof panel of the vending machine there is mounted a small spot, which illuminates displayed goods in the display window of the vending machine.

On the side panel there is further installed a lock mechanism with the following functions: Locking of the vending machine and its window <BR> <BR> <BR> cassette.<BR>

Fixing of the vending machine to a fastening mechanism in the wall. On the side panel there is arranged besides for a fastening arrangement with"twin vending machines".

In the front of the vending machine is mounted a transparent plastic cassette. Thus permanently located goods of the visible bottom plate will be able to be viewed.

The cassette is fastened on rails in the bottom of the vending machine and by a clip in the back portion.

Thereby the cassette can be readily replaced as required without consequences for the vending machine as such.

For additional emphasis of the goods in the vending machine a mirror can be mounted between the goods and the first back plate of the vending machine.

The mechanical functions of the vending machine are separated from its display window by means of internal walls in the bottom and back portions.

The replacement of the dispensers is very easy. The operator needs only to"lock up"the lock mechanism on the dispenser holder, whereby each of the dispensers is drawn off the dispenser holder one after the other. Thereafter the operator sets the new dispensers into the holder and resets the lock mechanism. That is the whole operation.

The light spots, and the other electrically driven functions of the dispensers for the vending machine are supplied with current either by a battery, or are coupled by installation directly in on the current delivery of the holder.

The invention will consequently represent a big advance, and widen the possibilities for the sale of products via vending machines.