JP2680048B2 - Vending machine product transfer equipment - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine having a plurality of product storage units arranged in parallel.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in this type of vending machine, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of product storage units (50) are arranged side by side in the left-right direction and the front-back direction, and the product storage units (50) are selectively selected from below. A forward feed chute (52) is provided for guiding the delivered product to a product delivery outlet (51) formed below the delivery position (50a) of the product storage section (50).

However, in the case of this type of vending machine, since the formation position of the product withdrawal outlet (51) becomes low with respect to the ground, when taking out the product withdrawn to the product withdrawal outlet (51),
The body had to be bent so that it could be taken out, and it was very difficult to take out, especially with heavy products.

Moreover, muddy water or the like is likely to adhere to the product outlet (51), especially when the vending machine is installed on the roadside.
Since muddy water splashed by an automobile or the like also adheres, there is a sanitary problem that the product dispensing outlet (51) becomes dirty in a short period of time.

To solve this problem, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-152092, a plurality of product storage units are arranged side by side, and the product is selectively dispensed from the lower part of the product storage units. A lateral transport mechanism for laterally transporting products in the side-by-side direction of the product storage unit, and a product laterally transported by the horizontal transport mechanism unit for transporting products to a product dispensing outlet formed above the dispensing position of the product storage unit. A product transfer device for an automatic vending machine provided with a vertical transfer mechanism part has been proposed, but this product transfer device is an endless belt or the like that is driven and rotated in series over a horizontal transfer path and a vertical transfer path. In addition to providing the carrier, a supporting piece is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the carrier so as to push out the product in the conveying direction by the supporting piece in the horizontal conveying passage and push up the product by the supporting piece in the vertical conveying passage. The support piece is configured to After spent, since the moving space of the support piece to return to the conveyance start end of the horizontal conveying path are separately provided, there is a drawback that a dead space of the vending machine is increased.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 5, a door (C) is provided in a door section (C) which is openably and closably provided in front of a commodity storage section (B) in which the commodity storage section (50) is arranged. A width-shifting chute (53) is provided, and the width-shifting chute (53) is provided.
After collecting the products which are guided to move into the door section (C) by the forward feed chute (52) at a specific location in the door section (C), the product is provided in the door section (C). A vertical transport mechanism (54) is used to vertically transport the product to the position where the upper product payout port (55) is opened, and thereafter, the product is carried out from the product payout port (55). It is considered.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional product transfer device for the vending machine, there are two types of chutes: the forward chute (52) in the product storage section (B) and the width-shift chute (53) in the door section (C). It is equipped with goods, that is, the transfer of goods between the two shoots, that is, the forward feed chute (52)
There was a problem that the transfer of the product to 3) may not work depending on the attitude of the product.

In addition, the width of recent vending machines tends to be particularly large, so that the width-shifting chute (5
When the 3) is inclined, it is often difficult to move the products smoothly, and it is necessary to incline the chute (53) due to a large drop, which causes dead space. There was a problem that it would increase.

In addition, there is a problem in that there is a risk of becoming uncertain because the product is not forcibly carried out from the product payout exit (55).

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product transfer device for an automatic vending machine that can solve the above problems all at once.

[Means for solving the problem]

A product transfer device for an automatic vending machine according to the present invention has a plurality of product storage units arranged side by side, and the products selectively dispensed from the lower part of the product storage units are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction of the product storage units. An automatic machine provided with a horizontal transport mechanism unit for transporting and a vertical transport mechanism unit for transporting the products horizontally transported by the horizontal transport mechanism unit to a product dispensing outlet formed above the dispensing position of the product storage unit. A product transfer device for a vending machine, wherein a product receiving table for receiving products laterally transferred by the horizontal transfer mechanism part is tiltably supported on an elevator stand of the vertical transfer mechanism part, and the product delivery port is provided. At the product delivery position corresponding to
An inclining mechanism is provided for inclining the product cradle from a horizontal position to an inclining position in which the product can be slid down and carried out to the product dispensing exit, and the tilting mechanism corresponds to the lateral transport end portion of the lateral transport mechanism unit. Over the range from the product receiving position to the product dispensing position, engages with the product receiving stand that is moved up and down by the vertical transport mechanism unit, and changes the horizontal distance from the engaging position to the pivotal support position. Therefore, a characteristic is that an inclination guide guide is provided for switching and guiding the product cradle between a horizontal posture and an inclined posture.

(Operation)

When the product is carried out to the product payout exit using the product transfer device of the vending machine, the product that is selectively paid out from the lower part of the product storage unit is the product that is laterally transferred by the horizontal transfer mechanism unit. It is received by the receiving table and is vertically transported by the vertical transport mechanism section. Then, by the tilting mechanism, the product pedestal is tilted to a tilted posture in which the product can be carried down to the product payout exit by the tilt mechanism until the product cradle that has received the product moves to the height of the product payout exit. Therefore, the goods on it are forcibly carried out to the goods payout exit by the downhill movement.

In addition, since the product laterally conveyed by the lateral conveyance mechanism section is received vertically by the merchandise cradle pivotally supported by the elevator stand of the vertical conveyance mechanism section, the merchandise cradle is laterally conveyed. There is no need to move it to the horizontal transport start end of the transport mechanism,
It is not necessary to secure a moving space for that purpose.

Furthermore, the product pedestal moved up and down by the vertical transport mechanism is engaged and guided by an inclined guide guide provided over a range from the product receiving position to the product paying position, and from the engaging position. Since the horizontal posture and the inclined posture are switched by the variation in the horizontal distance to the pivotal position, the product pedestal does not accidentally tilt due to a malfunction at the intermediate position of the vertical conveyance path, and As in the case where the product cradle is tilted by abutting against the fixing member facing the vertical transport path, vibration does not act on the product cradle at the time of contact with the fixing member. Therefore, it is less likely that the conveyed product will be displaced from the predetermined position on the product receiving table and will be jammed due to being caught by another object existing in the middle of the vertical conveying path.

〔The invention's effect〕

Therefore, according to the product transporting apparatus of the present invention, the lateral transporting mechanism ensures that the lateral transporting of the products is performed. As a result, the lateral shifting mechanism, which is required in the conventional apparatus as shown in FIG. The problem of failing to transfer the product from the forward feed chute to the width-shift chute is eliminated. Moreover, not only the width-shifting chute is unnecessary as described above, but also a moving space for moving the product receiving tray to the horizontal transport starting end of the horizontal transport mechanism is not required, which causes dead space to increase. The conventional problem of doing is solved. Further, since the product is forcibly carried out at the product payout exit based on the downhill due to the inclination of the product cradle, and the reliable carry-out is carried out, the carried product is taken out from the product payout exit. easy. In addition,
No new drive source for tilting the product cradle is required, and the drive system does not become complicated.

Furthermore, since it is possible to reliably and smoothly switch between the horizontal posture and the inclined posture of the product cradle, the products conveyed laterally by the lateral conveyance mechanism section are not jammed during vertical conveyance, The product can be conveyed to the product receiving stand and vertically conveyed to the product payout exit.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a serpentine type vending machine, in which a plurality of product storage units (2) for storing a plurality of products (A) in the vertical direction are stored in the product storage unit (B). They are arranged side by side with a predetermined interval in each direction.

A product insertion opening (2a) that opens to the front is formed at the top of each of these product storage units (2), and at the bottom of each of the product storage units (2) at the bottom end based on a product selection signal. An unillustrated payout mechanism for paying out the stored products (A) located separately is provided.

Below the commodity storage section (2), the commodity (A) selectively paid out from the lower part of these commodity storage sections (2).
Is provided with a forward feed chute (3) for sliding down and forward, and the product (A) which is guided down and down by the forward feed chute (3) is a plurality of in-compartment product outlets (7). ), And is carried out onto a lateral transport mechanism (4) arranged in the lower part of the inside of a door (C) which is openably and closably provided in front of the product storage section (B), or The vertical transfer mechanism section (6) is arranged on one side of the door section (C) and is carried onto the product receiving stand (6a). More specifically, the plurality of product storage units (2)
Only the merchandise (A) guided downhill from the merchandise storage (2) located on the side where the vertical transport mechanism (6) is arranged via the forward feed chute (3) is stored in the merchandise storage (2). After passing through the corresponding in-compartment product outlet (7), it is carried out onto the product receiving stand (6a) of the vertical transport mechanism section (6), and the remaining product storage section (2) passes through the forward feed chute (3). The product (A) that was guided down in the area passed through another product outlet (7) in the warehouse,
It is carried out onto the horizontal transfer mechanism section (4), further laterally transferred by the horizontal transfer mechanism section (4), and then transferred onto the product receiving table (6a) of the vertical transfer mechanism section (6). It is like this.

The relative positional relationship between the lateral transport mechanism unit (4) and the vertical transport mechanism unit (6) will be described in detail. The lateral transport end portion of the lateral transport mechanism unit (4) is a vertical transport mechanism unit. The product (A), which is disposed close to the lower end of (6) and is carried out from the end of the horizontal transfer mechanism unit (4), is vertically transferred in a state in which it is located at the product receiving position near the bottom dead center. The merchandise receiving stand (6a) of the mechanical section (6) can receive the merchandise.

The vertical transport mechanism section (6) will be described in more detail. The vertical transport mechanism section (6) is located at an appropriate position in the vertical direction, specifically, at a top dead center higher than the height of the product dispensing outlet (5) and the above-mentioned. A pair of upper and lower sprockets (6b) and (6c), which are arranged at appropriate upper and lower positions respectively corresponding to the bottom dead center, and a chain (6d) wound between the sprockets (6b) and (6c). , An elevator stand (6e) having an L-shape in a front view attached to an appropriate position of the chain (6d), and a front face which is pivotally supported by a tip portion of the elevator stand (6e) and can be tilted forwardly. It is provided with an L-shaped product receiving stand (6a). Then, in a state along the arrangement direction of the both sprockets (6b), (6c), from the product receiving position corresponding to the lateral transport terminal end of the lateral transport mechanism unit (4) to the product dispensing outlet (5). A linear upper and lower guide (6f) is extended over the range up to the product dispensing position, and the vicinity of the product dispensing outlet (5) is substantially parallel to the upper and lower guides (6f) and the product dispensing outlet is located near the product dispensing outlet. (5)
The inclined guide guide (6g) gently bent and protruded to the side from the product receiving position corresponding to the end end of the horizontal transfer of the horizontal transfer mechanism section (4) to the product delivery position corresponding to the product outlet (5). Is extended over the range. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower guides (6f) are engaged with rollers (6h) attached to the elevator base (6e),
As shown in FIG. 3, the inclination guide guide (6g) is engaged with the rollers (6i) attached to the commodity receiving base (6a), based on their individual engagement relationships, that is, For horizontal distance fluctuations from the engagement position of the roller (6i) of the product cradle (6a) and the tilt guide (6g) to the pivot position of the product cradle (6a) and the elevator pedestal (6e) Based on this, as the elevator pedestal (6e) rises and reaches the vicinity of the product payout exit (5), the attitude of the product pedestal (6a) is such that the product (A) from the lateral transport mechanism section (4) is A series of guides are provided while gently changing from a horizontal posture in which the product (A) is received to a forward tilted posture in which the tip is lowered, which is a tilted posture in which the product (A) can be slid down and carried out to the product dispensing exit (5). In other words, a combination of the tilt guide (6g), the roller (6i), and the like constitutes a tilt mechanism (E) that tilts the product cradle (6a) to the forward tilted posture. Due to E), the product cradle (6a) is tilted as described above based on the vertical transport force of the vertical transport mechanism section (6), and the tilt causes the product dispensing outlet (5) of the product (A) positioned above it. ) Is forced to be carried out.

A product (A) is produced by using the product transfer device of the vending machine.
When carrying out the product to the product outlet (5), the product storage unit (2)
The product (A) that is selectively dispensed from the lower part of the product is laterally transported by the lateral transport mechanism unit (4) and then the product cradle (6a).
Received by the vertical transport mechanism (6) and transported vertically.
Alternatively, it is directly received by the product receiving stand (6a) and is vertically transported by the vertical transport mechanism section (6). By the tilting mechanism (E), the product cradle (6a) causes the product (A) to be vertically conveyed to the position of the product payout port (5). The product (A) is tilted forward so that the product can be carried out to the product payout port (5).

It should be noted that all the products (A) that are selectively dispensed from the lower part of the product storage unit (2) are laterally transported by the lateral transport mechanism unit (4) and then horizontally transported by the horizontal transport mechanism unit (4). An embodiment is also conceivable in which the product (A) is received by the product receiving stand (6a) of the vertical transfer mechanism unit (6) and the product is transferred vertically.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional front view showing an automatic vending machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main portion thereof, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are conventional automatic machines. It is a perspective view showing a vending machine. (2) …… Product storage section, (4) …… Horizontal transport mechanism section,
(5) …… Merchandise exit, (6) …… Vertical transport mechanism, (6
a) …… Product stand, ( 6e) …… Elevator stand, (6g)…
… Inclination guide guide, (A) …… Product, (E) …… Inclination mechanism.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of product storage units (2) are arranged side by side, and products (A) selectively delivered from the lower part of these product storage units (2) are arranged in the product storage unit (2). A lateral transport mechanism section (4) for lateral transport in the setting direction, and a product (A) laterally transported by the horizontal transport mechanism section (4) are formed above the dispensing position of the product storage section (2). A product transfer device for an automatic vending machine, which is provided with a vertical transfer mechanism part (6) for transferring to a product outlet (5), wherein the product (A) is horizontally transferred by the horizontal transfer mechanism part (4). The product stand (6a) for receiving the product is pivotally supported on the elevator stand (6e) of the vertical transport mechanism section (6) in a tiltable manner, and at the product payout position corresponding to the product payout exit (5), the product Inclination to tilt the cradle (6a) from a horizontal position to an inclined position that allows the product (A) to slide down to the product outlet (5) Further, a structure (E) is provided, and the tilting mechanism (E) is further provided with the vertical structure over a range from a product receiving position corresponding to a horizontal transport terminal end of the horizontal transport mechanism section (4) to the product dispensing position. It engages with the product cradle (6a) that is moved up and down by the transport mechanism (6), and the product cradle (6a) is leveled by the horizontal distance variation from the engagement position to the pivot support position. A product transfer device for a vending machine equipped with a tilt guide (6g) that guides switching between posture and tilt posture.