JP2004272517A - Commodity delivery port opening and closing device of vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity delivery port opening and closing device of vending machine capable of smoothly performing the rotation of a gate from a close position to an open position and the rotation from the open position to the close position without interfering with a commodity facing a commodity delivery port. <P>SOLUTION: A gate driving means rotates the gate 3 from a first position located in the commodity delivery port to a second position separated forward from the commodity delivery port while retaining the close position shielding the commodity delivery port of a commodity passage to rotate the gate from the close position to the open position for opening the commodity delivery port in the second position, and also rotates the gate 3 from the open position to the close position in the second position to return the gate from the second position to the first position while retaining the close position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product outlet opening / closing device that opens and closes a product outlet in a product path of a vending machine, and more particularly, to open and close a gate without interfering with a part of a product protruding from the product outlet. The present invention relates to a product outlet opening / closing device that can be used.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of products are arranged and stored in a product path formed to extend in the front-rear direction in a refrigerator, and during sale, the products are sent out from a product outlet of the product path and transferred to another transport mechanism such as a bucket. Known vending machines are known.
[0003]
In recent years, in such vending machines, products having a shape in which the diameter of the container is not constant in the height direction (for example, a product having an inverted truncated cone shape with a diameter gradually increasing toward the upper side of the container, a product with a cap, Are selling products in bags). When selling a product having such a shape, a part of the product at the forefront position may protrude forward of a vertical plane through which the gate rotates when the gate blocks the product outlet. .
[0004]
In this case, when the gate is opened, the product may get caught or bumped into the protruding part, hindering the turning operation of the gate, leading to a risk of unsale of the product, deformation or damage of the product. is there.
[0005]
Also, when replenishing products in the product aisle, if the product pushes the gate in the product delivery direction by putting in products exceeding the specified number or putting in products that have deformed and expanded, The frictional force with the gate may hinder the turning operation of the gate.
[0006]
Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, after the gate is temporarily moved forward in the closed state, the gate is further moved forward while being rotated from the closed position to the open position.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-90344 A
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when the gate is returned to its original position after the product has been sent out, the gate is rotated from the open position to the closed position and simultaneously retracted rearward. Therefore, the next product moves forward along with the previous product delivery operation and faces the product delivery port, but when the product is protruding from the product delivery port, the gate that is about to be closed protrudes. Interference with the parts can occur. A similar problem of interference between the gate and the product may occur when the gate moves forward while pivoting to the open position.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to prevent the rotation of the gate from the closed position to the open position and the rotation from the open position to the closed position from interfering with the product facing the product outlet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine product outlet opening / closing device that can be smoothly operated without any problem.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the commodity outlet opening / closing device of the vending machine of the present invention, the commodity passage is rotatable between a closed position that blocks the commodity outlet in the commodity passage in which the commodity is stored in the front-rear direction and an open position that opens the commodity outlet. And a gate linearly movable between a first position located at the product outlet and a second position spaced forward from the product outlet, and driving the gate And gate driving means for
The gate driving means moves the gate from the first position to the second position in a state where the closed position is held, and rotates the gate from the closed position to the open position at the second position,
It is characterized in that the gate is rotated from the open position to the closed position at the second position, and is returned from the second position to the first position while the closed position is maintained.
[0011]
This allows the gate to be rotated only when it is at the second position separated from the product outlet to the front side, thereby preventing interference with the product facing the product outlet. Therefore, even if the product has a shape that easily protrudes from the product delivery port, the selling operation can be performed without causing a sales defect or a deformation or breakage of the product or the container.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
(First Embodiment)
FIG. 11 shows a main part of the inside of a vending machine in which the commodity delivery opening / closing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is incorporated.
[0014]
In the refrigerator, a plate-like product shelf 26 is provided substantially horizontally. Although only one level of the product shelf 26 is shown in the figure, a plurality of similar product shelves are provided in the storage.
[0015]
A plurality of transport belts 27 are directly hung on the product shelves 26, and a detachable partition wall 32 is attached to a side of each of the transport belts 27, so that a product passage extending in the front-rear direction of the product shelf 26. 2 are configured.
[0016]
Each partition wall 32 has a long plate shape extending in the front-rear direction. In each partition wall 32, the product outlet opening / closing device 1 is incorporated at the front end side of the product passage 2, that is, at the product outlet side. The product outlet opening / closing device 1 includes a gate 3 for opening and closing the product outlet as described later.
[0017]
A shaft member 29 is provided in front of the product shelf 26 so as to extend in the lateral direction. The shaft member 29 is supported by being passed through the lower end portion of the front end of each product outlet opening / closing device 1.
[0018]
A plurality of guide rollers 30 are rotatably supported by the shaft member 29 with respect to the shaft member 29. For example, one guide roller 30 is arranged corresponding to each product passage 2 formed between the pair of partition walls 32. A space is provided between the front end of the product shelf 26 and the shaft member 29 to allow the guide roller 30 to rotate.
[0019]
Each of the transport belts 27 is a ring-shaped endless belt, and is hung between the guide roller 30 and the rear end of the product shelf 26.
[0020]
In each product passage 2, a plurality of products (not shown) are stored in close proximity to one another along the product feed direction X. Each product is placed on the transport belt 27, and when the transport belt 27 is driven in the product feed direction X and the gate 3 is opened as described later, the product at the frontmost position facing the product feed port is moved from the product feed port to the later-described position. Transferred to the bucket.
[0021]
Further, to each of the conveyor belts 27, a product fall prevention member 28 in a posture standing on the upper surface (product mounting surface) side of the conveyor belt 27 is connected. Move forward in direction X.
[0022]
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the front end side of the partition wall 32. The commodity outlet opening / closing device 1 is incorporated in a front end portion of a long plate material (made of metal) 33 which is a main component of the partition wall 32. A protrusion 25 is formed on the bottom of the case 4 of the product outlet opening / closing device 1. The protrusion 25 is fitted into a hole formed in an L-shaped bottom surface 33 a of the plate material 33, and the product outlet is opened. The switching device 1 is positioned.
[0023]
In the case 4, a plurality of recesses defined by ribs are formed on the side surface opposite to the side surface shown in FIG. 12 as shown in FIG. 1, and the recesses accommodate gate driving means described later. Have been. The side surface on which the recess is formed is covered with a plate member 33 to protect the gate driving means from dust and the like and prevent the gate driving means from falling off.
[0024]
The case 4 is made of a resin material, and a notch 34 is formed in a lower portion of a front end thereof, and the shaft member 29 (see FIG. 11) is fitted into the notch 34. The shaft member 29 is fitted so as to expand a constricted portion formed in the middle of the notch 34, and the constricted portion prevents a downward drop.
[0025]
The claw portion 5 provided on the bottom side of the case 4 like the projection 25 is engaged with an engaging hole formed in the product shelf 26 (see FIG. 1). 26 and is positioned and attached. An engagement projection is also formed on the rear side (not shown) of the plate member 33, and the engagement projection is engaged with an engagement hole formed in the product shelf 26.
[0026]
As described above, the partition wall 32 in which the product delivery opening / closing device 1 is incorporated at the front end of the plate member 33 is attached to a desired position on the product shelf 26. The plate member 33 and the product outlet opening / closing device 1 may be configured as an integral body instead of being separate bodies.
[0027]
(Composition of the product outlet opening and closing device)
FIG. 1 shows a side surface on the opposite side of the commodity outlet opening / closing device 1 shown in FIG. In the drawing, the above-mentioned plate member 33 covering this side surface is shown broken. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the gate 3 is in the closed position, and in this closed position, the gate 3 blocks the commodity delivery port of the commodity passage 2 (see FIG. 11). Further, the state shown in FIG. 1 is a state where the gate 3 is at the first position located at the commodity outlet. When the gate 3 is at the first position, the protrusion of the product from the product outlet is restricted.
[0028]
The product outlet opening / closing device 1 mainly includes an elongated plate-shaped gate 3 and gate driving means for rotating and linearly moving the gate 3.
[0029]
The gate driving means has the following configuration.
[0030]
A gate drive shaft 6 extending rearward from the front (product outlet) of the product passage 2 is integrally fixed to the back surface on one end side of the gate 3. The front and rear ends of the gate drive shaft 6 are fitted into grooves 7 and 8 formed on the inner surface of the case 4, and are guided by the grooves 7 and 8 so as to be able to reciprocate along the product feeding direction X. Has become. The gate drive shaft 6 is made of, for example, a resin material.
[0031]
On the rear end side of the gate drive shaft 6, first and second projecting portions 9, 10 projecting in the circumferential direction are provided. The first protrusion 9 is a ring-shaped member fitted on the gate drive shaft 6, and the second protrusion 10 is formed integrally with the gate drive shaft 6.
[0032]
The rear end portion 11 of the gate drive shaft 6 has a larger diameter than the width of the groove 8, and the rear end portion 11 abuts on the back surface of the rib on which the groove 8 is formed, so that the gate drive shaft 6 and the gate 3 is prevented from slipping forward.
[0033]
A rib 12 protrudes from the front end of the gate drive shaft 6 to the first protrusion 9 on the surface thereof. The rib 12 is formed integrally with the gate drive shaft 6. In the rib 12, the front half 12a extends linearly along the direction in which the gate drive shaft 6 extends, and the rear half 12b is twisted by 90 ° with respect to the front half 12a.
[0034]
A slider 13 is provided below the gate drive shaft 6. The slider 13 is fitted in a groove 14 opened on the front end side of the case 4, and is guided by the groove 14 so as to be linearly reciprocable in the product feeding direction X.
[0035]
A coil spring 15 is interposed between the rear wall of the slider 13 and the rear wall of the case 4 in a compressed state, and the coil spring 15 urges the slider 13 forward. The rod 16 extending rearward from the rear wall of the slider 13 penetrates a through hole 17 formed in the rear wall of the case 4, and the rear end 16 a of the rod 16 is larger in diameter than the through hole 17. Therefore, when the rear end portion 16a of the rod 16 abuts on the rear wall of the case 4, the forward movement of the slider 13 is restricted.
[0036]
A pair of guide members 19a and 19b are provided integrally on the upper front end side of the slider 13 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The guide members 19a and 19b face each other with a shift in the direction in which the gate drive shaft 6 extends. The opposing surfaces 23a, 23b of the respective guide members 19a, 19b are inclined with respect to the extending direction of the gate drive shaft 6, and the opposing surfaces 23a, 23b are parallel to each other. A guide groove 18 is formed as a gap between the facing surfaces 23a and 23b.
[0037]
The rib 12 of the gate drive shaft 6 is fitted in the guide groove 18. As will be described later, the guide groove 18 also linearly moves along the direction in which the gate drive shaft 6 extends with the linear movement of the slider 13, and the rib 12 and the guide groove 18 State is always maintained. That is, the rib 12 and the guide groove 18 are slidably fitted.
[0038]
The slider 13 and the gate drive shaft 6 are in a cooperative relationship via a lever 20 disposed on the rear end side of the both. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the lever 20 is rotatable around a shaft portion 20 a inserted into a boss hole 21 formed on the inner surface of the case 4.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 6, a U-shaped notch 20b is formed at the upper end of the lever 20, and the notch 20b is formed between the first and second protrusions 9 and 10 of the gate drive shaft 6. The shaft is slidably fitted.
[0040]
The lower end of the lever 20 is located in a recess 13a formed at the rear end of the slider 13 when the slider 13 shown in FIG.
[0041]
(When waiting for sale)
At the time of standby for sales, the commodity delivery opening / closing apparatus 1 is in a state shown in FIG. That is, the gate 3 is closed across the commodity outlet as shown in FIG. 11, and the rear side of the gate 3 is at the first position in contact with the vertical plane of the commodity outlet, and the commodity facing the commodity outlet is It is held in the product passage.
[0042]
(Operation when sending goods)
When the product purchaser presses the product selection button provided on the front door of the vending machine, the box-shaped bucket 40 moves to the designated product passage in front of the product delivery port as shown in FIG. Stop. Next, the pin 44 provided on the bucket 40 is driven by a driving unit (not shown) to push the slider 13 backward against the urging force of the coil spring 15.
[0043]
By the linear movement of the slider 13 rearward, the lower end of the lever 20 is pushed by the inner wall surface of the recess 13a, and the lever 20 tilts forward about the shaft portion 20a (see FIG. 6) as a fulcrum.
[0044]
Due to the forward tilt of the lever 20, the upper end of the lever 20 pushes the first protrusion 9 of the gate drive shaft 6 forward. Thereby, the gate drive shaft 6 is guided by the grooves 8 and 7 and linearly moves forward (see FIG. 2).
[0045]
As a result of the forward movement of the gate drive shaft 6, the gate 3 moves from the first position shown in FIG. 1 to a second position (the position shown in FIG. 2) separated forward. During the movement, the rear end 11 of the gate drive shaft 6 does not come into contact with the rear surface of the rib on which the groove 8 is formed, and thus does not hinder the movement of the gate drive shaft 6 to the second position. .
[0046]
At this time, the guide groove 18 also linearly moves rearward with the movement of the slider 13, but the guide groove 18 slides on the linear front half 12a of the rib 12, so that the gate drive shaft 6 rotates. Not done. That is, the gate 3 is moved from the first position to the second position while maintaining the closed position.
[0047]
When the slider 13 further moves rearward, the twisted rear half portion 12b of the rib 12 is guided by the guide groove 18 that moves linearly, and the gate drive shaft 6 rotates. As a result, the gate 3 rotates upward about the gate drive shaft 6 and reaches the open position shown in FIG. At this time, the lower end of the lever 20 only slides on the upper surface of the slider 13, and receives no tilting power from the slider 13.
[0048]
The distance between the second position and the product outlet is set so that the gate 3 can be rotated without interfering with the product facing the product outlet.
[0049]
In parallel with the above operation, the drive roller 41 provided on the bucket 40 side presses the guide roller 30 on which the transport belt 27 is hung. Then, after the gate 3 is turned to the open position and the product outlet is opened, the drive roller 41 is rotated through the pulley 43 and the belt 42 for a predetermined time, and the transport belt 27 is moved forward by a predetermined distance. Move. Thereby, the product at the forefront position facing the product delivery port is transferred to the bucket 40.
[0050]
(Return operation of the gate after sending the product)
When the product is transferred to the bucket 40, the pin 44 retracts toward the bucket 40, and the slider 13 moves forward by the urging force of the coil spring 15.
[0051]
Thereby, first, the twisted rear half portion 12b of the rib 12 is guided by the guide groove 18 which moves linearly, and the gate drive shaft 6 rotates in the opposite direction to the above. , And returns to the closed position shown in FIG. At this time, the lower end of the lever 20 only slides on the upper surface of the slider 13 and does not receive the tilting power from the slider 13.
[0052]
Next, when the lower end of the lever 20 reaches the recess 13a by the further returning operation of the slider 13, the lower end of the lever 20 is pushed forward on the inner wall surface of the recess 13a, and the entire lever 20 is moved. The shaft 20a (see FIG. 6) is tilted rearward about a fulcrum.
[0053]
Due to the backward tilt of the lever 20, the upper end of the lever 20 pushes the second projecting portion 10 of the gate drive shaft 6 backward. As a result, the gate drive shaft 6 moves linearly rearward while being guided by the grooves 8 and 7, and the gate 3 returns to the first position shown in FIG.
[0054]
After the gate 3 returns to the closed position at the second position, the guide groove 18 slides on the linear front half 12a of the rib 12, so that the gate drive shaft 6 is not rotated. That is, the gate 3 is moved from the second position to the first position while maintaining the closed position.
[0055]
In the above-described series of operations, the rotation of the gate 3 from the closed position to the open position and the rotation of the gate 3 from the open position to the closed position are both performed at the second position apart from the commodity delivery port. Therefore, the opening and closing operations of the gate 3 can be performed without interfering with the product facing the product delivery port, and it is possible to reliably prevent poor sales and damage to the product.
[0056]
In addition, the goods transferred to the bucket 40 are transported together with the bucket 40 to a goods outlet from which the purchaser can take out the goods by hand.
[0057]
(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the gate driving means is different from the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0058]
FIG. 7 shows a product outlet opening / closing device 51 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the gate 3 is at the closed position and the gate 3 is located at the product outlet and at the first position for restricting the product from protruding from the product outlet.
[0059]
The product outlet opening / closing device 51 mainly includes an elongated plate-shaped gate 3 and gate driving means for rotating and linearly moving the gate 3.
[0060]
The gate driving means has the following configuration.
[0061]
A gate drive shaft 6 extending rearward from the front (product outlet) of the product passage 2 is integrally fixed to the back surface on one end side of the gate 3. The front and rear ends of the gate drive shaft 6 are fitted into grooves 7 and 8 formed on the inner surface of the case 4 ′, and are guided by the grooves 7 and 8 to be able to reciprocate along the product feeding direction X. It has become.
[0062]
On the rear end side of the gate drive shaft 6, first and second protrusions 9 'and 10 protruding in the circumferential direction are provided. Both the first and second protrusions 9 ', 10 are integrally formed with the gate drive shaft.
[0063]
From the front end of the gate drive shaft 6 to the first protrusion 9 ', a rib 12 is formed to protrude on the surface thereof. The rib 12 is formed integrally with the gate drive shaft 6. In the rib 12, the front half 12a extends linearly along the direction in which the gate drive shaft 6 extends, and the rear half 12b is twisted by 90 ° with respect to the front half 12a.
[0064]
A slider 52 is provided below the gate drive shaft 6. The slider 52 is fitted in a groove 14 opened on the front end side of the case 4 ′, and is guided by the groove 14 so as to be able to linearly reciprocate along the product feeding direction X.
[0065]
A coil spring 15 is interposed between the rear wall of the slider 52 and the rear wall of the case 4 in a compressed state, and the coil spring 15 urges the slider 52 forward. The radial movement of the coil spring 15 is restricted by fitting the projection 52 b formed to project rearward from the rear wall of the slider 52 into the coil spring 15.
[0066]
As in the first embodiment, a pair of guide members 19a and 19b are provided integrally on the front end side upper portion of the slider 52 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The guide members 19a and 19b face each other with a shift in the direction in which the gate drive shaft 6 extends. The opposing surfaces 23a, 23b of the respective guide members 19a, 19b are inclined with respect to the extending direction of the gate drive shaft 6, and the opposing surfaces 23a, 23b are parallel to each other. A guide groove 18 is formed as a gap between the facing surfaces 23a and 23b.
[0067]
The rib 12 of the gate drive shaft 6 is fitted in the guide groove 18. As will be described later, the guide groove 18 also linearly moves along the direction in which the gate drive shaft 6 extends along with the linear movement of the slider 52, and the rib 12 and the guide groove 18 State is always maintained. That is, the rib 12 and the guide groove 18 are slidably fitted.
[0068]
The guide members 19a and 19b are supported by a block 55 integrated with the slider 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the block 55 abuts on a block 56 disposed near the opening of the groove 14, whereby the forward movement of the slider 52 is restricted.
[0069]
In the slider 52, a groove 52a is formed on the upper surface behind the block 55 located on the front end side.
[0070]
The slider 52 and the gate drive shaft 6 are in a cooperative relationship via a lever 53 disposed on the rear end side of the both. The lever 53 has a shaft 53b (see FIG. 10) inserted into a boss hole formed in the inner surface of the case 4 ', and is rotatable about the shaft 53b.
[0071]
As shown in FIG. 10, a U-shaped notch 53 a is formed at the upper end of the lever 53, and the notch 53 a is provided between the first and second protrusions 9 ′, 10 on the gate drive shaft 6. Are fitted slidably.
[0072]
The lower end of the lever 53 is divided into two parts in the moving direction of the slider 52, and the lower end 54b on the front side is in contact with the upper surface of the rear end of the slider 52 when the slider 52 shown in FIG. .
[0073]
The product outlet opening / closing device 51 configured as described above is incorporated into the front end side of the partition wall 32 and attached to a desired position on the product shelf 26 as in the first embodiment.
[0074]
(When waiting for sale)
At the time of selling standby, the commodity delivery opening / closing device 51 is in a state shown in FIG. That is, the gate 3 is closed across the product outlet, and the back side of the gate 3 is at the first position in contact with the vertical surface of the product outlet, and the product facing the product outlet is held in the product path. I have.
[0075]
Further, even when the product passage is inclined or an impact is applied, for example, when the product is refilled into the product passage, a load from the product is applied to the gate 3, and the lower end 54 b of the lever 53 contacts the upper surface of the slider 52. In this state, the gate 3 cannot be opened unless the slider 52 is operated, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the product from erroneously coming out of the product delivery port. .
[0076]
(Operation when sending goods)
When the product purchaser presses the product selection button provided on the front door of the vending machine, the box-shaped bucket 40 moves to the designated product passage in front of the product delivery port as shown in FIG. Stop. Next, the pins 44 provided on the bucket 40 are driven by driving means (not shown), and push the slider 52 backward against the urging force of the coil spring 15.
[0077]
Due to the linear movement of the slider 52 rearward, the front lower end portion 54b of the lever 53 falls into a groove 52a formed on the upper surface of the slider 52, and the rear lower end portion 54a moves to the rear end portion of the slider 52. Is pushed backward. As a result, the lever 53 tilts forward with its shaft 53b (see FIG. 10) as a fulcrum.
[0078]
Due to the forward tilting of the lever 53, the upper end of the lever 53 pushes the first protrusion 9 'of the gate drive shaft 6 forward. Thereby, the gate drive shaft 6 is guided by the grooves 8 and 7 and linearly moves forward (see FIG. 8).
[0079]
As a result of the forward movement of the gate drive shaft 6, the gate 3 moves from the first position shown in FIG. 7 to a second position (the position shown in FIG. 8) separated forward. During the movement, the rear end 11 of the gate drive shaft 6 does not come into contact with the rear surface of the rib on which the groove 8 is formed, and thus does not hinder the movement of the gate drive shaft 6 to the second position. .
[0080]
At this time, the guide groove 18 also linearly moves rearward with the movement of the slider 52, but the guide groove 18 slides on the linear front half 12a of the rib 12, so that the gate drive shaft 6 rotates. Not done. That is, the gate 3 is moved from the first position to the second position while maintaining the closed position.
[0081]
When the slider 52 further moves rearward, the twisted rear half 12b of the rib 12 is guided by the guide groove 18 that moves linearly, and the gate drive shaft 6 rotates. As a result, the gate 3 rotates upward around the gate drive shaft 6 and reaches the open position shown in FIG.
[0082]
During the movement of the slider 52, the lower end 54b on the front side of the lever 53 falls into the groove 52a on the upper surface of the slider 52, and the lower end 54a on the rear side has its flat lower surface parallel to the upper surface of the slider 52. The lever 53 does not receive the tilting power from the slider 52. In addition, since the rear lower end portion 54a contacts the upper surface of the slider 52, the lever 53 is prevented from falling backward.
[0083]
The distance between the second position and the product outlet is set so that the gate 3 can be rotated without interfering with the product facing the product outlet.
[0084]
In parallel with the above operation, the drive roller 41 provided on the bucket 40 side presses the guide roller 30 on which the transport belt 27 is hung. Then, after the gate 3 is turned to the open position and the product outlet is opened, the drive roller 41 is rotated through the pulley 43 and the belt 42 for a predetermined time, and the transport belt 27 is moved forward by a predetermined distance. Move. Thereby, the product at the forefront position facing the product delivery port is transferred to the bucket 40.
[0085]
(Return operation of the gate after sending the product)
When the product is transferred to the bucket 40, the pin 44 retracts toward the bucket 40, and the slider 52 moves forward by the urging force of the coil spring 15.
[0086]
Thereby, first, the twisted rear half portion 12b of the rib 12 is guided by the guide groove 18 which moves linearly, and the gate drive shaft 6 rotates in the opposite direction to the above. , And returns to the closed position shown in FIG. Also at this time, the lower end 54b on the front side of the lever 53 is inserted into the groove 52a on the upper surface of the slider 52, and the lower end 54a on the rear side is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the slider 52. No tilt power is received from 52.
[0087]
Next, the forward lower end portion 54b of the lever 53 is pushed forward by the rear end wall of the groove 52a by the further forward return operation of the slider 52, and the entire lever 53 is a shaft portion 53b (see FIG. 10). Tilt backward about the fulcrum.
[0088]
Due to the tilting of the lever 53 backward, the upper end of the lever 53 pushes the second protrusion 10 of the gate drive shaft 6 backward. As a result, the gate drive shaft 6 moves linearly rearward while being guided by the grooves 8 and 7, and the gate 3 returns to the first position shown in FIG.
[0089]
After the gate 3 returns to the closed position at the second position, the guide groove 18 slides on the linear front half 12a of the rib 12, so that the gate drive shaft 6 is not rotated. That is, the gate 3 is moved from the second position to the first position while maintaining the closed position.
[0090]
Also in the present embodiment, in the above-described series of operations, the rotation of the gate 3 from the closed position to the open position and the rotation of the gate 3 from the open position to the closed position are both performed at the second position apart from the product outlet. It is performed in. Therefore, the opening and closing operations of the gate 3 can be performed without interfering with the product facing the product delivery port, and it is possible to reliably prevent poor sales and damage to the product.
[0091]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is, of course, not limited to these, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.
[0092]
In each of the levers 20 and 53, a shaft that coincides with the center of rotation is provided on the opposite side of each of the shafts 20a and 53b, which is the center of rotation, and a partition wall that further covers one side surface of the cases 4, 4 '. A hole into which the shaft portion is inserted may be formed in the plate material 33 of the thirty-two, and the levers 20 and 53 may be supported at both ends.
[0093]
The transport belt 27 is not limited to be driven by the pressing of the drive roller 41 from the bucket 40 side. For example, a gear integrated with the guide roller 30 is provided, and a gear engaged with the gear is shifted to the bucket 40 side. The guide roller 30 and the transport belt 27 hung on the guide roller 30 may be driven by rotating the gear on the bucket 40 side.
[0094]
Alternatively, instead of driving the transport belt 27, a configuration in which the product is sent out by a pusher may be adopted.
[0095]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the rotation of the gate is performed only at the second position separated from the product outlet, so that the product facing the product outlet when the gate rotates can be used. Interference can be reliably prevented, and malfunctions and damage to products or gates can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a product outlet opening / closing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a gate is in a closed position and a first position.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the product outlet opening / closing device, showing a state in which a gate has moved to a second position from the state of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the product outlet opening / closing device, showing a state in which a gate is turned to an open position from the state of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the commodity sending and opening device.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a guide member in the commodity outlet opening / closing device.
FIG. 6 is a rear view of a lever in the product outlet opening / closing device.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a product outlet opening / closing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a gate is in a closed position and a first position.
8 is a side view of the commodity outlet opening / closing device, showing a state where the gate has moved to a second position from the state of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a side view of the product outlet opening / closing device, showing a state where the gate has been turned to the open position from the state of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lever in the product outlet opening / closing device.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a main part in a vending machine housing into which the commodity sending / receiving opening and closing device of the present invention is incorporated.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a structure for assembling a product outlet opening / closing device to a partition wall according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Commodity exit opening / closing apparatus, 2 ... Commodity passage, 3 ... Gate, 4 ... Case, 6 ... Gate drive shaft, 12 ... Rib, 12a ... Front half, 12b ... Rear half, 13 ... Slider, 14 ... Groove, 18 ... Guide grooves, 19a, 19b ... Guide members, 20 ... Lever, 26 ... Product shelf, 27 ... Convey belt, 30 ... Guide roller, 32 ... Partition wall, 40 ... Bucket, 41 ... Drive roller, 44 ... Pin, 51 ... Commodity delivery opening / closing device, 52: slider, 53: lever.

Claims (3)

A product outlet opening and closing device of a vending machine that opens and closes a product outlet of a product passage in which products are stored in a line in a front-back direction,
It is provided rotatably between a closed position that blocks the product outlet and an open position that opens the product outlet,
And a gate provided linearly movable between a first position located at the product outlet and a second position spaced forward from the product outlet,
Gate driving means for driving the gate,
The gate driving means moves the gate from the first position to the second position while the closed position is held, and turns the gate from the closed position to the open position at the second position. Move
Automatically rotating the gate from the open position to the closed position at the second position and returning the gate from the second position to the first position while the closed position is held. Vending machine product outlet opening and closing device. The gate driving means includes:
A gate drive shaft fixed to a rotation center of the gate and extending along the front-back direction;
A rib formed continuously from the front to the rear on the surface of the gate driving shaft, and a rear half portion twisted following a linear front half portion;
A slider having a guide groove slidably fitted to the rib, the slider being linearly moved along the extending direction of the gate drive shaft in a state where the rib is fitted to the guide groove; ,
The gate drive shaft engages with both the slider and the gate drive shaft and tilts forward only when the guide groove slides on the front half of the rib with the movement of the slider. And a lever that pushes the gate drive shaft from the first position to the second position or tilts backward to pull back the gate drive shaft from the second position to the first position. The vending machine product outlet opening / closing device according to claim 1. When the gate is at the first position, the end of the lever abuts on the slider to restrict the forward tilt of the lever, and the slider is moved rearward to thereby prevent the lever from tilting forward. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the end of the slider is released from contact with the slider.

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