The object of the utility model relates to a refrigerator adapted for serving packaged non-perishable foodstuffs, into which a product vending machine is built for mainly drinks bottles and/or cans no larger than 0.5 litres, as well as packaged non- perishable foodstuffs, e.g. confectionary, biscuits and savoury snacks.

Refrigerators smaller than average household refrigerators, so-called minibars installed in the rooms of hotels and other accommodation now constitute an integral part of comprehensive hospitality services. Usually payment of the cost of the drinks and foods consumed from the minibars takes place subsequently, simultaneously with the payment of the hotel service bill on the basis of the "honesty box" principle. Unfortunately guests do not always report their consumption fairly, and so the accommodation hosts suffer significant financial losses.

Food and drinks vending machines usually placed in public spaces or places where there is public traffic that operate using various forms of payment, e.g. by card or by inserting coins, have been known of for a long time. These are exceptionally popular, and for many represent fast relief from thirst or hunger even at times when shops and catering units are closed. All of these, such as, e.g. the vending machine disclosed in patent specification number RO 201200066, are large apparatuses usually created for just one type of foodstuff, in other words either for food or drink. Utility models with numbers U9300298 and U1500212 disclose such large-sized vending machines installed in public spaces and are only for obtaining drinks.

The objective with the utility model, in the knowledge of the well-known vending machines, was to create a closed system refrigerator, i.e. minibar, primarily for hotels and other places of accommodation in the case of which the foodstuffs offered and desired for consumption are only almost exclusively accessible after payment. With this the requirements of both the guests and the accommodation hosts may be satisfied.

The objective was also for the vending machine installed in the refrigerator to serve for the provision of both food and drink, and, in addition, for the foodstuffs stored in it to be easily seen, and for its operation and refilling to be performed simply.

It was recognised that if a storage apparatus is built into a refrigerator that has electronically controlled rotating plates installed on a vertical shaft, and foods and/or drinks are placed onto these, which only become accessible through a dispensing opening after the use of a form of payment, then the set objective may be achieved.

The set task in accordance with the utility model was solved with a refrigerator adapted for serving packaged, non-perishable foodstuffs, which has a closed cabinet provided with a door, a storage space in this, in which there is at least one storage tray, furthermore the door is provided with a security lock, and a product vending machine is built into the storage space of the cabinet, which at the bottom has a supporting frame and on this there is a vertical shaft, as well as a storage tray formed as a rotating plate and a dispensing opening, the shaft located in the middle of the storage space is connected to the supporting frame at the bottom and to the upper wall of the cabinet at the top, several storage trays formed as rotating plates are positioned centrally on the shaft one above the other, a drive motor is connected to the shaft, a magnetic locking switch is connected to the drive motor, and on the door of the cabinet there is a number of covering elements corresponding to the number of storage trays which are preferably made from a transparent material, at least a proportion of these is an electronically controlled openable cover of the dispensing opening. A further feature of the utility model is that the circular storage trays formed as rotating plates are installed on the shaft at a variable distance from each other.

In the case of a preferred embodiment push buttons and an information display, as well as a money slot are formed on the door of the cabinet for the selection of the products on the storage trays and for paying their price.

The door of the refrigerator has a transparent covering to facilitate easier selection of the stored products, and the internal storage space is provided with LED lighting.

Hereinafter a possible embodiment of the utility model is disclosed in more detail on the basis of figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a front view of the refrigerator with its door closed,

Figure 2 shows a front view of the refrigerator with the door open.

Figure 1 depicts the refrigerator from the outside. It may be seen that there are covering elements 13 made from a transparent material, preferably plastic on the door 2 of the cabinet 1, a proportion of which constitute the openable covers 12a of the dispensing openings 12. The information display 10 may be found on the upper part of the door 2 above the covering elements 13, which provides information on the contents of the refrigerator and on the offered products. Additionally the product to be consumed may be selected using the push buttons 11 located next to it. A payment slot 14 is located on the door 2 for payment of the price of the selected product. Payment may take place in various known ways using means of payment placed into the payment slot 14.

Depending on the structure of the refrigerator payment may take place using cash, which may be in the form of inserting coins or banknotes, or using a bankcard, possibly using previously purchase tokens, or by using the card or electronic key belonging to the room, the use of which has become popular in hotels in recent times.

Figure 2 illustrates the arrangement of the interior of the refrigerator with the door 2 open. A supporting frame 3 is built into the bottom of the storage space 9 of the cabinet 1, and the vertical shaft 4 is located in the middle of it. The shaft 4 is secured at the bottom to the supporting frame 3 and by bearings 5 to the top of the interior wall of the cabinet 1. Storage trays 6 formed as rotating plates for storing the offered foodstuffs are centrally arranged one above the other on the shaft 4. Depending on the sizes and amounts of the stored foodstuffs the storage trays 6 may be located at equal distances or at difference distances from each other. A drive motor 7 for rotating the storage trays 6 on the shaft 4 is built in under the supporting frame 3, and a magnetic locking switch 8 is connected to the drive motor 7.

The use of the refrigerator takes place in such a way that the product to be consumed placed on the storage tray 6, visible through the transparent covering element 13 and appearing in the selection shown on the information display 10 is selected using the push button 11, which product may be a bottled or canned drink with a small volume, i.e. no greater than 0.5 litres, or a small item of packaged non-perishable foodstuff, such as chocolate, biscuits, salted nuts, etc. This is followed by payment through the payment slot 14 using one of the known payment methods. The built in electronics detect the price of the selected product, release the magnetic locking switch 8 and simultaneously with this the drive motor 7 rotates the storage tray 6 formed as a rotating plate to the appropriate position, in other words positions the selected product in front of the dispensing opening 12. At this time the lock of the cover 12a of the dispensing opening 12 is released and after opening the desired product may be removed from the device. The storage trays 6 located on the shaft 4 are positioned in such a way that in all cases only one product can be reached through the dispensing opening 12. After the cover 12a of the dispensing opening 12 has been closed the lock locks once again, and after further payments are performed another product maybe selected from any storage tray 6.

In order that the storage products may be easily seen the entire door 2 of the refrigerator, the covering elements 13 on it and the covers 12a of the dispensing openings 12 forming a part of these are made from a transparent material, preferably from plastic. For purposes of security or to provide an aesthetic appearance it is possible to place a cover in front of the door 2, but that too should be made of a transparent material.

Also in the interest of ensuring that the products may be easily seen LED light fittings may be installed in the storage space 9 of the refrigerator that illuminate the products directly.

The main advantages of the refrigerator according to the utility model are its small space requirement and low operation costs; additionally it may be operated with complete security, without making any losses.

It may be used to good effect in all places, for example in accommodation providing facilities, where a minibar service is provided to the guests.