Transport system

• US 20020179629A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zopa A.S.
• Original Assignee: Zopa A.S.
• Inventors: Sorensen, Per
• Application Number:
  US10/148,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20020179629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/209
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/06 dispensing from top for spring-urged trays or plates B65G1/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/04 air-conditioned, refrigerated refrigerators F25D; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/809 Holders
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/04 by conveyors in general B65G

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport system for everyday commodities, comprising a supply device which is located, e.g., in a store, a transport arrangement with at least one open or closed transport way and a discharge device which, eg., is located in sales premises. The transport system is characterized in that the transport way comprises at least one of the following units: advertising units, temperature-regulating units, insulating units, storage units, detector units, pure transport units, push/pull units and delivery units.

Claims

1. A transport system for everyday commodities, comprising a supply device which, e.g. is located in a store, a transport device with at least one open or closed transport way and a discharge device which, e.g. is located in sales premises, where the transport way comprises at least one temperature-regulating unit,

characterized in that the temperature-regulating unit is equipped with transport devices for cooling/heating agents, which transport devices are designed in such a manner that the cooling/heating agents and the goods are not in direct contact with one another.

2. A transport system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the temperature-regulating device comprises a support layer for the item, together with one or more additional layers at a distance from the support layer, thus enabling the cooling/heating agents to circulate between the transport way and the additional layer or layers.

3. A transport system according to one of the claims 1-2, characterized in that the cooling/heating agents are cold or hot air.

4. A transport system according to one of the claims 1-3. characterized in that the transport way comprises an internal duct which forms an opening (1) through which the item is transported, an intermediate duct which together with the said internal duct forms a channel (2) through which the cooling/heating fluid can circulate back, and an external duct which together with the said intermediate duct forms a space (3) for insulation, and which is preferably filled with air.

5. A transport system according to one of the claims 1-4, characterized in that in addition it comprises at least one of the following units:

advertising units, insulation units, storage units, detector units, pure transport units, push/pull units and delivery units.

6. A transport system according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one unit which is a combination of advertising units, temperature-regulating units, insulation units, storage units. detector units, pure transport units, push/pull units and delivery units.

7. A transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the advertising units are equipped with light sources, including light diodes, and/or advertisement holders, and/or transparent parts, and/or parts equipped with special effects such as, e.g., misting devices, and/or sound effect devices.

8. A transport system according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the temperature-regulating units are equipped with means for permitting air, water or another fluid to circulate in contact with the goods.

9. A transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating units are equipped with thermal or sound insulation.

10. A transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage units are equipped with heating/cooling devices.

11. A transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detector units comprise means for detecting the presence or passage of the goods and/or smoke, steam and ice detectors or temperature gauges.

12. A transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delivery units comprise a holding mechanism with an external and an internal set of bars, where each set is equipped with arms for securing the item and where the bars permit movement of the arms in a desired direction.

13. A transport system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delivery units comprise a support surface for the cooling/heating fluid or the transport fluid, and/or a suction hole for the cooling/heating agent, and/or comprise a lid for closing the transport way when it is not in use or is empty.