CN113744454B - Commodity storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention can well accommodate small-sized and lightweight commodity with smaller capacity and size of a container. The commodity storage device includes: a passage forming member which is attached to the base side plate so as to face each other and which defines a commodity-accommodating passage extending in the up-down direction and accommodating commodities in sequence; and a posture control plate which is provided swingably to the passage forming member in a manner of moving forward and backward with respect to the commodity storing passage and which is normally biased by the biasing member to enter and move into the commodity storing passage, and which, when the posture control plate abuts against a commodity passing through the commodity storing passage, performs a withdrawal movement against a biasing force of the biasing member to correct a passing posture of the commodity, the commodity storing apparatus including a passage fitting member which is detachably provided to one passage forming member defining the commodity storing passage in a manner of defining a front-rear dimension of the commodity storing passage and which restricts an entering movement amount of the posture control plate provided to the one passage forming member.

Description

Commodity storage device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a commodity storage device, and more particularly, to a commodity storage device which is applied to, for example, a vending machine selling a beverage or the like contained in a container such as a can or a PET bottle as a commodity and which can appropriately deliver the commodity stored in a commodity storage path.

Background

Conventionally, in vending machines that sell beverages and the like loaded in containers such as cans and PET bottles as products, for example, a product storage rack is provided in a product storage box that is the inside of a main body cabinet of a vending machine main body. The commodity storage rack has a commodity storage path extending in the up-down direction and a commodity delivery device arranged below the commodity storage path.

The commodity delivering device is configured that a lower pedal and an upper pedal are arranged on a base. The lower pedal and the upper pedal are linked with the actuator via the link, and are driven by the actuator, so that the distal ends of the lower pedal and the upper pedal are appropriately advanced and retreated relative to the commodity-accommodating path.

In such a commodity delivery device, in the standby state, the upper pedal is in a state of being withdrawn from the commodity storage path, while the lower pedal is in a state of being moved into the commodity storage path. Thus, the lower pedal is brought into contact with the commodity stored in the lowest position of the commodity storing passage, and the commodity stored in the commodity storing passage is restricted from moving downward.

When a commodity delivery instruction is received, the driver drives the upper pedal to move into the commodity storage path via the link and contact the 2 nd commodity from the lowest position, thereby restricting the commodity and the commodity stored above the commodity from moving downward. Further, the driver is driven to withdraw the lower pedal from the commodity storing passage, the commodity at the lowest position is only outputted downward, and after the commodity is pushed through the lower pedal, the lower pedal enters and moves to the commodity storing passage under the urging force of the spring. When the driving of the driver is stopped, the lower pedal that has moved into the commodity-accommodating path is restricted from moving out, and the upper pedal is moved out from the commodity-accommodating path, so that the state is restored to the standby state (for example, see patent literature 1).

In addition, conventionally, for example, as a commodity storage device for selling commodities such as canned beverages and PET bottled beverages, a serpentine commodity shelf has been known. In such a commodity storage device, a passage forming member configured to be curved in a meandering manner is arranged so as to oppose each other between a pair of base side plates that are erected to face each other in the left-right direction, so that a commodity storage passage is provided that is partitioned so as to extend in a meandering manner in the up-down direction. In addition, in the commodity storage device, a delivery mechanism for delivering the commodity at the lowest position is provided below the commodity storage path.

In such a commodity storage device, the posture control plate is provided at a protruding portion of the passage forming member that protrudes toward the commodity storage passage. The posture control plate is disposed in a protruding portion of the passage forming member so as to be swingable in a state of being moved forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage, and is normally biased by a posture control plate spring so as to enter and move into the commodity-accommodating passage, and is brought into contact with a commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage so as to withdraw and move against the biasing force of the posture control plate spring so as to correct the passing posture of the commodity (for example, refer to patent document 2).

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 3791413

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 4345664

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for selling small and lightweight products, which have smaller containers than the above products, in vending machines. However, in the commodity delivery device, the protruding dimension of the lower pedal from the base when moving into the commodity storage path becomes excessively large compared to the width dimension or the radial dimension of the small and lightweight commodity, and the small and lightweight commodity may be placed on the base end side of the lower pedal in a state where the movement is performed.

If a commodity (small-sized and lightweight commodity) is placed on the base end portion side of the lower pedal in the state of moving in this way, when the lower pedal is moved out and the upper pedal is moved in upon receiving the delivery command, the behavior of the commodity becomes extremely unstable, and the commodity cannot be delivered satisfactorily.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for selling small and lightweight products, which have smaller capacity and smaller size than conventional products, in vending machines. However, in the above-described commodity storage device, the front-rear dimension of the commodity storage passage is excessively large compared to the width dimension of the small-sized and lightweight commodity, and the small-sized and lightweight commodity may be blocked in the middle of the commodity storage passage by the reaction force applied to the small-sized and lightweight commodity from the posture control plates provided to the passage forming members facing each other, and thus the commodity may not be stored satisfactorily.

In recent years, for example, as snack foods or the like filled in containers such as PET bottles, there has been an increasing demand for selling products lighter in weight than conventional products (hereinafter, also referred to as light-weight products) in vending machines. However, in the commodity storage device described above, the light commodity may be blocked in the middle of the commodity storage passage by the reaction force applied to the light commodity from the posture control plates provided to the passage forming members facing each other, and the commodity may not be stored properly.

In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a commodity delivery device (commodity storage device) that can deliver small and lightweight commodities having a small capacity and a small size to a container.

In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a commodity delivery device (commodity storage device) capable of favorably storing small-sized and lightweight commodities having a small capacity and a small size.

In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a commodity delivery device (commodity storage device) that favorably stores light commodity.

Solution for solving the problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a commodity storing apparatus comprising: a passage forming member that is attached to the pair of right and left base side plates so as to face each other, and that defines a commodity-accommodating passage that extends in the up-down direction and accommodates commodities in order in a sideways posture; and a posture control plate which is swingably provided to the passage forming member so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage, and which is normally biased by a biasing member so as to enter and move into the commodity-accommodating passage, and which, when the posture control plate abuts against a commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage, is withdrawn and moved against the biasing force of the biasing member so as to correct the passing posture of the commodity, and when a delivery instruction is received, the commodity-accommodating device delivers the commodity at the lowest position among the commodities accommodated in the commodity-accommodating passage downward, the commodity-accommodating device being characterized in that the commodity-accommodating device includes a passage fitting member which is detachably provided to one passage-forming member partitioning the commodity-accommodating passage so as to limit the front-rear dimension of the commodity-accommodating passage, and the amount of the entering movement of the posture control plate provided to the one passage-forming member is limited.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, the passage fitting member includes: a passage restricting plate extending in the up-down direction so as to face the commodity storing passage in front thereof; and a posture restricting plate integrally attached to a rear surface of the passage restricting plate, the posture restricting plate being engaged with the one passage forming member, and restricting an amount of movement of the posture controlling plate provided to the one passage forming member.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, the passage fitting member includes an opening that allows the tip end portion of the posture control plate provided to the one passage forming member to pass therethrough.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, the passage fitting member extends in a meandering manner in the up-down direction.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a commodity storing apparatus comprising: a passage forming member that is attached to the pair of right and left base side plates to define a commodity-accommodating passage that extends in the up-down direction and accommodates commodities in order; and a posture control plate which is provided in the path forming member so that a proximal end portion thereof is swingably provided in a state in which a distal end portion thereof moves forward and backward with respect to the commodity storing path, the posture control plate being normally biased by a biasing member so that the distal end portion enters and moves into the commodity storing path, and on the other hand, when the posture control plate abuts against a commodity passing through the commodity storing path, the posture control plate corrects a passing posture of the commodity by withdrawing the distal end portion against a biasing force of the biasing member, and when a delivery command is received, the commodity storing device delivers the commodity at a lowest position among the commodities stored in the commodity storing path downward, the commodity storing device being characterized by comprising a posture control fitting member which is detachably provided to the path forming member and which restricts an entering movement amount of the posture control plate by pressing a pressing portion of the posture control fitting member itself against the proximal end portion of the arbitrary posture control plate.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, the posture control fitting member is detachably provided in the passage forming member by forming the pressing portion at a lower end portion and the locking piece at an upper end portion of the posture control fitting member, and inserting the locking piece into the locking hole formed in the passage forming member to lock the posture control fitting member to the passage forming member.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, the passage forming member is formed with a plurality of passage forming raised strips protruding from the passage forming base, and the locking piece is locked to the passage forming member with the end portion thereof abutting the passage forming raised strips.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, the posture control plate is formed with a plurality of posture control raised strips protruding from the posture control base, and the exposed portion of the pressing portion of the posture control fitting member that engages with the base end portion is raised to a height equal to or less than the height at which the posture control raised strips protrude from the posture control base.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a commodity storing apparatus, including: a lower pedal provided swingably on the base so that a distal end portion thereof moves forward and backward with respect to a commodity storage path for storing the commodity to be put in the up-down direction; and an upper pedal swingably provided to the base in such a manner that a distal end portion moves forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage in a region above the lower pedal, wherein the commodity-accommodating device includes a fitting member removably provided to the lower pedal in such a manner that a contact surface forming portion covers the contact surface and a passage width limiting plate disposed opposite to the base to place a commodity at a lowest position, and wherein the fitting member is configured to move the upper pedal toward the commodity-accommodating passage to contact a commodity 2 from the lowest position and move the lower pedal away from the commodity-accommodating passage to deliver the commodity at the lowest position downward when the commodity-accommodating device is driven, and wherein the fitting member is provided to form a projection portion closer to the distal end portion of the commodity-accommodating passage than the contact surface forming portion.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, when the lower pedal is moved into the commodity storage path, the inclined guide portion extends so as to be inclined downward gradually toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal.

In the commodity storage device according to the present invention, the contact surface forming portion of the fitting member extends along a shape of the mounting surface of the lower pedal.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, since the passage fitting member provided in the one passage forming member defining the commodity-accommodating passage so as to be attachable and detachable thereto and so as to limit the front-rear dimension of the commodity-accommodating passage, the amount of movement of the posture control plate provided in the one passage forming member is limited, only the posture control plate provided in the other passage forming member acts, and the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage can be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, when a small-sized and lightweight commodity having a small capacity and a small size passes downward through the commodity-accommodating passage, the posture of the commodity is corrected only by the posture control plate provided to the other passage-forming member, and the commodity can be accommodated in a sideways posture without causing a jam or the like. Therefore, the small-sized and lightweight commodity with a small capacity and a small size of the container can be well stored.

Further, according to the present invention, since the pressing portion of the posture control attachment member itself detachably provided to the passage forming member presses the base end portion of any of the posture control plates to limit the amount of movement of the posture control plates, the number of posture control plates for abutting against the commodity passing through the commodity storage passage to correct the posture thereof can be reduced. Accordingly, in the commodity storage device to which the posture control attachment member is attached and fixed, the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity storage passage can be sufficiently reduced, and therefore, when a light commodity such as a snack or the like loaded in a container such as a PET bottle passes downward through the commodity storage passage, the reaction force applied to the light commodity from the posture control plates provided respectively at the passage forming members facing each other is reduced to a minimum necessary magnitude, whereby clogging of the light commodity in the middle of the commodity storage passage can be suppressed, and the light commodity can be stored in a sideways posture. Therefore, the light weight commodity can be stored well.

Further, according to the present invention, in the fitting member detachably provided to the lower pedal so that the contact surface forming portion covers the mounting surface, the inclined guide portion for causing the commodity in the lowest position to rest on the passage width limiting plate is formed in the contact surface forming portion at a position closer to the distal end portion than the protruding portion formed on the mounting surface, and therefore, the effect is exhibited that: even a small and lightweight commodity with a small capacity and a small size of a container can be held and delivered well according to a delivery instruction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which the commodity delivery apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed from the right side.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the 1 commodity delivery device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the 1 commodity delivery device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the 1 commodity delivery device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a main part of the commodity presentation apparatus shown in fig. 2 to 4 as seen from the right.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a main part of the commodity presentation apparatus shown in fig. 2 to 4 as seen from the right.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a main part of the commodity presentation apparatus shown in fig. 2 to 4 as seen from the right.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the fitting member shown in fig. 2 to 4.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fitting member shown in fig. 8 is attached and fixed to the lower pedal.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view for explaining an operation of the commodity delivery device to which the attachment member shown in fig. 8 and 9 is attached and fixed.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view for explaining an operation of the commodity delivery device to which the attachment member shown in fig. 8 and 9 is attached and fixed.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which the commodity storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the forefront commodity storing apparatus shown in fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the passage fitting member shown in fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the passage fitting member shown in fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the passage fitting member shown in fig. 14 and 15 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the forefront commodity storage device in the case where the passage fitting member shown in fig. 14 and 15 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 18 is a side view showing a main portion of the commodity storing apparatus in a state where the passage fitting member shown in fig. 14 and 15 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity storing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a side view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity storing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which the commodity storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the forefront commodity storing apparatus shown in fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view showing the posture control fitting member shown in fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing the posture control fitting member shown in fig. 22.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged main portion of the forefront commodity storage device in the case where the posture control fitting member shown in fig. 23 and 24 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 26 is a perspective view showing a state in which the posture control fitting member shown in fig. 23 and 24 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 27 is a side view showing a main portion of the commodity storing apparatus in a state where the posture control fitting member shown in fig. 23 and 24 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity storing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 29 is a side view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity storing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

1. A main body cabinet; 13. a commodity storage passage; 16. a passage width defining plate; 20. a commodity delivery device; 21. a base; 28. a pedal is arranged; 281. a pedal body portion; 281a, a mounting surface; 281b, a protrusion; 29. a pedal is arranged; 40. a driving unit; 60. a fitting member; 61. an abutment surface forming portion; 611. an inclined extension portion; 612. a top portion; 613. an inclined guide portion; 614. an abutment surface portion; 62. a locking piece part; 63. a locking claw part; 10A, a commodity storage device; 11A, a base side plate; 12A, a passage forming member; 12Aa, a locking hole; 13A, commodity storage passage; 14A, gesture control panel; 19A, a charging port; 30A, a pathway fitting member; 31A, a passage limiting plate; 311A, a passage restriction base; 312A, a passage restriction locking portion; 313A, a passage restricting abutment; 32A, a posture limiting plate; 321A, a posture limiting base; 322A, a posture limiting locking part; 33A, fastening members; 10B, a commodity storage device; 11B, a base side plate; 12B, a passage forming member; 121B, action holes; 122B, a locking hole; 13B, a commodity storage path; 14B, gesture control panel; 141B, a tip end portion; 142B, a base end; 142Ba, notch; 30B, a posture control accessory member; 31B, fitting base; 311B, 1 st base; 312B, base 2; 313B, 3 rd base; 32B, a pressing part; 321B, rear extension; 322B, inclined lower extension; 323B, a lower extension; 33B, locking piece.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the commodity delivery apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which the commodity delivery apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed from the right side. The vending machine illustrated herein is used for selling goods in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 1, an outer door 2, and an inner door 3.

The main body cabinet 1 is formed by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opening on the front surface, and has a commodity storage box 4 having a heat insulating structure inside. The outer door 2 is provided to cover the front surface opening of the main body cabinet 1 and is provided to be openable and closable at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1. The front surface of the outer door 2 is provided with a display window, a commodity selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, an integrated display, a coin return slot, a commodity take-out slot 2a, and other members necessary for selling commodities. The inner door 3 is a heat insulating door divided vertically into two parts for covering the front surface opening of the commodity storage 4, and the upper heat insulating door 3a is disposed on one side edge of the outer door 2 so as to be openable and closable, and the lower heat insulating door 3b is disposed on one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be openable and closable, at a position further inside than the outer door 2. A commodity output port 3c for delivering the commodity to the outside of the commodity storage 4 is provided below the lower heat insulating door 3b of the inner door 3.

In the vending machine, a commodity chute 5 is provided in the commodity storage 4, a temperature adjusting means 6 is provided in a region below the commodity chute 5 (hereinafter, also referred to as a "heat exchange region"), and a commodity shelf 10 is provided in a region above the commodity chute 5 (hereinafter, also referred to as a "commodity storage region").

The commodity chute 5 is a plate-like member for guiding the commodity output from the commodity storage rack 10 to the commodity output port 3c of the inner door 3, and is provided so as to be inclined downward gradually toward the front side. The commodity chute 5 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes (not shown) penetrating through the heat exchange area and the commodity storage area, which are not explicitly shown in the figure.

The temperature adjusting unit 6 is configured to maintain the internal environment of the commodity-accommodating container 4 at a desired temperature state, and includes an evaporator 6a, a heater 6b, and a blower fan 6c of a refrigeration cycle. In this temperature adjustment unit 6, for example, when the blower fan 6c is driven while the refrigeration cycle is operated, the air cooled in the evaporator 6a is sent upward through the vent hole of the commodity chute 5, and therefore the commodity storage area can be maintained in a low-temperature state. On the other hand, when the blower fan 6c is driven in a state where the heater 6b is energized, the air heated by the heater 6b is sent upward through the vent hole of the commodity chute 5, and therefore the commodity storage area can be maintained in a high-temperature state. The compressor, condenser, and expansion valve of the refrigeration cycle are not explicitly shown in the drawing, but are provided in the equipment room 7 which is the outside of the commodity storage container 4.

The commodity storage racks 10 are arranged in three rows in the front-rear direction, and include a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) commodity storage passages 13, and the plurality of commodity storage passages 13 are configured to have a serpentine shape in the up-down direction by bridging the passage component 12 between the pair of base side plates 11, and a plurality of commodities are stored in a sideways posture in the up-down direction inside the commodity storage passages 13. More specifically, the passage component 12 is appropriately disposed on the front side and the rear side of the commodity storage passage 13 so as to face each other, and is fixed to the base side plate 11. Thus, the two commodity-accommodating passages 13 are provided adjacent to each other in the commodity-accommodating frames 10.

The passage component 12 is provided with a shutter not explicitly shown in the drawings. The shutter is swingably provided to the passage component 12 so as to advance and retreat with respect to the product accommodating passage 13. The shutter is biased by a coil spring (not shown) and normally assumes a posture in which it moves into the commodity-accommodating passage 13. The shutter itself abuts against the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage 13, and thereby the posture of the commodity is corrected by withdrawing and moving in a serpentine-shaped commodity-accommodating passage 13 against the urging force of the coil spring.

In the commodity storage rack 10, a top tray 14 is provided at an upper portion of the commodity storage path 13, and a commodity delivery device 20 is provided at a lower portion of the commodity storage path 13.

The top tray 14 is formed by bending a flat metal plate, and is provided between the base side plates 11 so as to gradually incline downward from the front toward the rear. The upper surface of the top tray 14 forms a commodity guide path 15 for guiding the commodity introduced through the inlet to the commodity storage path 13.

Fig. 2 to 4 show the 1 commodity delivery device 20 shown in fig. 1, respectively, fig. 2 and 3 are perspective views, and fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view. Fig. 2 to 4 show a state in which no commodity is placed.

Hereinafter, the commodity dispensing apparatus 20 having the front surface facing the commodity storage path 13 will be described, and since the commodity dispensing apparatus 20 mounted back to back with the commodity dispensing apparatus 20 is different in only the left-right direction, the main structure is the same, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted. The respective components are described below with reference to the directions shown in fig. 1 to 4.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the commodity delivering apparatus 20 is provided at a lower portion of the commodity storing passage 13. The commodity delivery device 20 includes a base 21 and functions as follows: by controlling the behavior of the commodity between the commodity storage path 13 and the opposing path width limiting plate 16, the commodity is stored in the commodity storage path 13 in a standby state, and when the commodity storage path is driven by receiving the delivery instruction, the corresponding commodity is delivered to the commodity chute 5 one by one.

Fig. 5 to 7 are explanatory views schematically showing main portions of the commodity delivery apparatus 20 shown in fig. 2 to 4 when viewed from the right. In the following description, the configuration of the commodity presentation device 20 will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 7 as appropriate.

The base 21 is formed by cutting and bending a steel plate, and the base 21 is disposed so that the surface of itself faces the passage width limiting plate 16. The base 21 has side walls 21a formed by bending both side portions, and the base 21 has 1 st through holes 22 and 2 nd through holes 23 formed in the middle portion. Like the side wall 21a, the peripheral edges of the 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 are bent to form a flange.

The 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 are formed in a manner of being aligned in the left-right direction with each other and have the same size in the up-down direction. Of these 1 st through-hole 22 and 2 nd through-hole 23, 1 st through-hole 22 is located on the left side of 2 nd through-hole 23, and the left-right width of 1 st through-hole 22 is larger than the left-right width of 2 nd through-hole 23. The 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 are through openings (which are recesses for allowing a lower pedal 28 and an upper pedal 29 to be described later to be retracted into the base 21) having a substantially rectangular shape as a whole.

The 1 st left bearing piece 22a is provided at the left edge of the 1 st through hole 22, the 1 st right bearing piece 22b is provided at the right edge of the 1 st through hole 22, the 2 nd left bearing piece 23a is provided at the left edge of the 2 nd through hole 23, and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23b is provided at the right edge of the 2 nd through hole 23. The 1 st left bearing piece 22a corresponds to a flange formed at the peripheral edge of the 1 st through hole 22, and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23b corresponds to a flange formed at the peripheral edge of the 2 nd through hole 23. The 1 st right bearing piece 22b and the 2 nd left bearing piece 23a are formed on shaft insertion flanges of two leg pieces forming a shape of a japanese コ of a bearing holding portion for fitting and holding a bearing portion 24 described later, and the bearing holding portion is integrally formed on the housing 21 and is formed in a shape of a japanese コ of cross section (discontinuous). The bearing holding portion has the following functions: the strength of the base 21 can be maintained even when the base 21 is formed with a large through-hole formed by the 1 st through-hole 22 and the 2 nd through-hole 23 which are formed in a substantially rectangular shape as a whole.

A bearing portion 24 and a sold-out detection switch 25 are mounted and fixed to the base 21 having such a structure. The bearing portion 24 is made of a resin material or the like, and is fitted between the 1 st right bearing piece 22b and the 2 nd left bearing piece 23 a. The sold-out detection switch 25 is a so-called push-type switch, and includes a contact (not shown) that is raised by being biased by a spring (not shown). The sold-out detection switch 25 is turned off to send an off signal when the contact is not pressed, and is turned on to send an on signal when the contact is pressed to displace against the biasing force of the spring.

The base 21 is provided with a 1 st swing support shaft 28a and a 2 nd swing support shaft 29a. The 1 st swing support shaft 28a is a shaft-like member that extends through the through holes formed in the base 21 and the bearing portion 24 so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction, and supports the lower pedal 28 at an intermediate portion of the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. Further, a not-shown sold-out connecting rod is disposed at the right end portion of the 1 st rocking support shaft 28 a.

The 2 nd swing support shaft 29a is a shaft-like member that extends through the through holes formed in the base 21 and the bearing portion 24 so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction in a region above the 1 st swing support shaft 28a, and supports the upper pedal 29 in the intermediate portion of the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a.

The lower pedal 28 is a plate-like member, and the 1 st rocking support shaft 28a is inserted through the base end portion of the lower pedal 28, whereby the lower pedal 28 is arranged swingably about the central axis of the 1 st rocking support shaft 28 a. The distal end portion of the lower pedal 28 extends in the radial outer direction of the 1 st rocking support shaft 28a, and the lower pedal 28 is movable to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storage passage 13 through the 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 while rocking about the central axis of the 1 st rocking support shaft 28 a. That is, the lower pedal 28 is swingably disposed so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storing passage 13.

A lower pedal spring 28b is interposed between the lower pedal 28 and the base 21. The lower pedal spring 28b always biases the lower pedal 28 in the direction of moving into the commodity storage path 13. To describe in more detail, as shown in fig. 5, the lower pedal spring 28b causes the lower pedal 28 to be in a standby position (hereinafter, also referred to as a commodity-free standby position) such that the tip end portion of the lower pedal 28 is located above the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. When a commodity is placed on the upper surface of the lower pedal 28, as shown in fig. 6, the lower pedal spring 28b sets the lower pedal 28 in a standby position (hereinafter, also referred to as a waiting position with a commodity) so that the tip end portion of the lower pedal 28 is positioned at the same height level as the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. Thus, when the stand-by posture is made without a commodity, the tip end portion of the lower pedal 28 is located above the tip end portion of the lower pedal 28 when the stand-by posture is made with a commodity.

When the lower pedal 28 is in the standby position without any product, the sold-out link presses the contact of the sold-out detection switch 25, and the contact is pushed by the sold-out detection switch 25 to displace rearward against the biasing force of the spring, thereby turning on the switch, and outputting a communication signal to a control unit, not shown. On the other hand, when the lower pedal 28 is in the standby position with the product, the sold-out link is in a free state, and the contact is biased by the spring to be in the standing position by the sold-out detection switch 25, and the contact is in an off state, and an off signal is output to the control unit.

The lower pedal 28 includes a plate-shaped pedal body 281 and a pair of pedal guide portions 282. The upper surface of the pedal body 281 serves as a mounting surface 281a, and the pedal body 281 has a projection 281b protruding upward on the rear base end side thereof.

A pair of pedal guide portions 282 are provided on the rear surface side of the pedal body portion 281. The pedal guide 282 is a plate-like member extending in the up-down direction, and is formed so as to face each other. The pedal guide groove 283 is formed on the opposite surface of each pedal guide portion 282 facing each other.

The pedal guide groove 283 includes: the pedal fitting portion 283a is located at the lowest position in a state (state shown in fig. 5) in which the lower pedal 28 is disposed at an entry position (state shown in fig. 5) in which the lower pedal is maximally moved with respect to the article storage passage 13, and is fitted into a pedal operation shaft 361 of a rotation stopper 36 described later; the pedal contact portion 283d is located uppermost in a state in which the lower pedal 28 is disposed at the retracted position (state shown in fig. 7) in which the lower pedal is maximally retracted with respect to the commodity storage path 13, and the pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36 contacts the pedal contact portion 283d; and 1 st and 2 nd pedal guide portions 283b and 283c, and the 1 st and 2 nd pedal guide portions 283b and 283c connect the pedal engaging portion 283a and the pedal abutting portion 283d so as to be continuous with each other.

The 1 st pedal guide 283b is formed in the pedal guide 282 as follows: in a state where the lower pedal 28 is disposed at a position (entering position) where the movement is maximally performed with respect to the commodity storage path 13, the 1 st pedal guide portion 283b is inclined obliquely upward from the pedal fitting portion 283a so as to be away from the base 21, and then is inclined obliquely upward so as to be close to the base 21, and reaches the pedal contact portion 283d.

The 2 nd pedal guide 283c is formed in the pedal guide 282 as follows: in a state where the lower pedal 28 is disposed at a position (entering position) where the movement into the commodity storage passage 13 is maximally performed, the 2 nd pedal guide portion 283c is inclined obliquely downward from the pedal contact portion 283d so as to be away from the base 21, and reaches the pedal engaging portion 283a.

The length of the lower pedal 28 in the radial outer direction from the 1 st rocking support shaft 28a is set to a length that can satisfy the following condition: when the lower pedal 28 is located at a position (entering position) where the maximum entering movement is performed with respect to the commodity-accommodating path 13, a gap smaller than the maximum width of the commodity having the smaller maximum width can be ensured between the lower pedal 28 and the path-width limiting plate 16.

The upper pedal 29 is a plate-like member, and the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a is inserted through the base end portion of the upper pedal 29, whereby the upper pedal 29 is arranged on the base 21 so as to be swingable about the central axis of the 2 nd swing support shaft 29 a.

The tip end portion of the upper pedal 29 extends in the radial outer direction of the 2 nd rocking support shaft 29a, and the upper pedal 29 is movable to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storage path 13 through the 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 while rocking about the central axis of the 2 nd rocking support shaft 29 a. That is, the upper pedal 29 is swingably disposed so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storing passage 13.

An upper pedal spring (not shown) is interposed between the upper pedal 29 and the base 21. The upper pedal spring always biases the upper pedal 29 in a direction of withdrawing movement with respect to the commodity storage path 13.

The upper pedal 29 is provided with a pressing inclined surface 291, a recess 292, a stopper abutting portion 293, and a protruding portion 294. The pressing inclined surface 291 is provided at the distal end portion of the upper pedal 29, and is a curved inclined surface formed so as to gradually decrease toward the commodity-accommodating passage 13 when the upper pedal 29 is moved out of the commodity-accommodating passage 13. The recess 292 is provided on the rear surface side of the upper pedal 29, and is a single recess formed so as to be opened on both side surfaces of the upper pedal 29 and extending in a substantially horizontal direction. The stopper contact portion 293 is a portion against which a stopper pin 34a described later contacts, and is provided on the rear surface of the upper pedal 29 so as to incline upward of the recess 292. The projection 294 is provided at the base end portion of the upper pedal 29 so as to project toward the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

The upper pedal 29 is biased by the upper pedal spring to be retracted and moved relative to the commodity-accommodating passage 13, but since the stopper pin 34a abuts the concave portion 292, the initial position of the upper pedal 29 is set in a state in which the upper pedal 29 is retracted and moved relative to the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

Such upper pedal 29 is in a state of being tilted forward with respect to the vertical line passing through the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a in a state (state shown in fig. 7) in which it is located at a position (entering position) where the movement is maximally performed with respect to the commodity storage path 13. Further, the length of the upper pedal 29 in the radial outside direction from the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a is set to a length that can satisfy the following condition: in the forward inclined state, a gap smaller than the maximum width of the commodity having a smaller maximum width can be secured between the upper pedal 29 and the passage width limiting plate 16.

In the housing 21, a stopper pin 34a, a pedal stopper pin 34b, and a stopper shaft 34c are provided between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23 b.

The stopper pin 34a is a shaft-like member disposed between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23b in a substantially horizontal direction. The stopper pin 34a is coupled to the pedal link 35, and the stopper pin 34a can move in the up-down direction along with the up-down movement of the pedal link 35. The stopper pin 34a abuts on the recess 292 of the upper pedal 29 at the initial position.

The pedal stopper pin 34b is a shaft-like member disposed between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23b along a substantially horizontal direction. The pedal stopper pin 34b is coupled to the pedal link 35, and the pedal stopper pin 34b can move in the up-down direction along with the movement of the pedal link 35 in the up-down direction.

The stopper shaft 34c is a shaft-like member disposed in a substantially horizontal direction between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23 b. The stopper shaft 34c supports the rotation stopper 36 at its intermediate portion.

The stopper shaft 34c passes through the through hole in the base end portion of the rotation stopper 36, and the rotation stopper 36 is arranged between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23b so as to be swingable about the center axis of the stopper shaft 34 c.

The distal end portion of the rotation stopper 36 extends in the radial outer direction of the stopper shaft 34c, and the rotation stopper 36 is capable of advancing and retreating relative to the commodity storage path 13 through the 2 nd through hole 23 while swinging around the central axis of the stopper shaft 34 c.

The rotation stopper 36 has the pedal operation shaft 361 by passing the pedal operation shaft 361 through the through hole 36a of the tip end portion of the rotation stopper 36. The pedal operation shaft 361 is a shaft-like member disposed in a substantially horizontal direction, and both ends thereof are fitted into the pedal guide grooves 283 of the lower pedal 28.

A pedal operation spring (not shown) is interposed between the rotation stopper 36 and the base 21. The pedal operation spring always biases the rotation stopper 36 in the direction of moving into the commodity storage path 13.

Such a rotation stopper 36 is biased by the pedal operation spring in the direction of moving into the commodity storage path 13, the pedal stopper pin 34b enters the recess 36b of the rotation stopper 36, and the rotation stopper 36 abuts against the pedal stopper pin 34b, so that the movement of the rotation stopper 36 in the direction of withdrawing movement is restricted, and the initial position in the state where the rotation stopper 36 moves into the commodity storage path 13 is set. Further, since the lower pedal 28 is biased by the lower pedal spring 28b, both ends of the pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36 are located at the pedal fitting portion 283a of the pedal guide groove 283, and the initial position of the lower pedal 28 is set at a position where the lower pedal 28 moves into the commodity storage path 13.

A flat plate-like shielding portion 36c extending upward is provided on the back surface side of the rotation stopper 36, that is, on the back surface side of the recess 36 b. The shielding portion 36c covers a portion of the pedal stopper pin 34b on the opposite side of the commodity storing passage 13. More specifically, the shielding portion 36c covers a portion of the pedal stopper pin 34b that moves in the up-down direction on the opposite side of the commodity storage path 13.

The pedal link 35 is a vertically elongated plate-like member that extends in the vertical direction, and an upper portion of the pedal link 35 extends upward after being bent forward. A link abutment piece 351 is provided on an upper portion of the pedal link 35, and a link locking portion 352 for locking the link spring 35a is provided, and the link abutment piece 351 extends obliquely upward after extending rearward. The link spring 35a is interposed between the pedal link 35 and the base 21, and constantly biases the pedal link 35 downward.

In a state where the pedal link 35 is biased by the link spring 35a to be disposed downward, the recess 292 of the upper pedal 29 disposed at the retracted position abuts against the stopper pin 34a. The rotation stopper 36 disposed at the entry position abuts against the pedal stopper pin 34b, and the withdrawal movement of the rotation stopper 36 is restricted. The pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36 disposed at the entry position is fitted into the pedal fitting portion 283a of the lower pedal 28, and thus the retraction movement of the lower pedal 28 disposed at the entry position is restricted.

In contrast, in a state where the pedal link 35 is disposed upward against the biasing force of the link spring 35a, as shown in fig. 7, the stopper abutting portion 293 of the upper pedal 29 abuts against the stopper pin 34a, and the retraction movement of the upper pedal 29 is restricted, and the upper pedal 29 moves into the advanced position against the biasing force of the upper pedal spring and is disposed in the advanced position.

On the other hand, since the restriction of the withdrawing movement of the rotation stopper 36 by the pedal stopper pin 34b is released, the restriction of the withdrawing movement of the rotation stopper 36 centering on the stopper shaft 34c is released. Here, the load of the commodity abutting against the lower pedal 28 held at the entry position by the rotation stopper 36 acts on the rotation stopper 36, and the restriction of the withdrawal movement of the rotation stopper 36 is released, so that the withdrawal movement of the rotation stopper 36 is started. When the rotation stopper 36 starts the withdrawal movement, the pedal operation shaft 361 is disengaged from the pedal engagement portion 283a of the lower pedal 28, and therefore, the lower pedal 28 is allowed to withdraw from the 1 st swing support shaft 28a as a center, and the lower pedal 28 is withdrawn against the elastic force of the lower pedal spring 28b under the load of the commodity (see fig. 7).

When the lower pedal 28 is thus retracted, the sold-out connecting rod is free, and the contact is biased by the spring to assume the raised posture in the sold-out detecting switch 25, thereby maintaining the open state. That is, even when the lower pedal 28 is retreated, the sold-out link does not press the contact of the sold-out detection switch 25, as in the stand-by posture of the commodity.

The commodity presentation device 20 having such a structure includes the driving unit 40, the lever member 50, and the accessory member 60 in addition to the above-described structure.

The driving unit 40 is a housing having a motor incorporated therein, and is a unit that drives when an issuing instruction is received. The driving unit 40 moves the pedal link 35 upward against the biasing force of the link spring 35a when driven.

The lever member 50 is disposed so as to be swingable in a state of being movable forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating path 13 in a state of penetrating the lever opening 214 at the right upper end portion of the base 21. More specifically, a pair of right and left lever locking pieces 215 protruding rearward are formed at both side edge portions of the lever opening 214 on the back surface side of the base 21, and as shown in fig. 3, the lever member 50 is arranged so as to be swingable about the axial center of the shaft portion 51 provided to the lever locking pieces 215. A lever spring 52 is interposed between the lever member 50 and the base 21 so as to wind the shaft portion 51, and the lever member 50 is biased by the lever spring 52 to normally assume a posture in which the distal end portion moves to the commodity storage path 13.

The attachment member 60 is a plate-like body formed by processing a metal plate or the like, for example, and is provided so as to be detachable from the lower pedal 28. As shown in fig. 8, the fitting member 60 is configured by integrally forming the contact surface forming portion 61, the locking piece portion 62, and the locking claw portion 63.

The contact surface forming portion 61 has a size sufficient to cover the entire area of the mounting surface 281a, which is the upper surface of the pedal body portion 281 of the lower pedal 28. Such an abutment surface formation 61 includes an inclined extension portion 611, a top portion 612, an inclined guide portion 613 and an abutment surface portion 614.

The inclined extension portion 611 extends in a gradually upward inclined manner as going from the rear to the front. The top portion 612 is continuous with the inclined extension portion 611, and is a portion horizontally extending from the inclined extension portion 611 toward the front. The inclined guide portion 613 is continuous with the top portion 612, and extends in a manner gradually inclined downward from the top portion 612 as going forward. The abutment surface portion 614 is continuous with the inclined guide portion 613, and is a portion extending horizontally from the inclined guide portion 613 as going forward. The upper surface of the abutment surface portion 614 constitutes an abutment surface.

The locking piece 62 is formed continuously to the left side of the rear end portion of the abutment surface portion 61. The locking piece 62 is configured to extend from the contact surface forming portion 61 to gradually incline downward as going rearward, and to bend from the extending end portion thereof to protrude rearward downward.

The locking claw 63 is formed continuously with the center portion of the tip end portion of the abutment surface forming portion 61 in the lateral direction. The locking claw 63 is configured to extend in a gradually downward inclined manner as going forward, and is formed with a pair of left and right locking claws 631 protruding rearward from both left and right end portions of the extending end portion thereof.

As shown in fig. 2, 3 and 9, such a fitting member 60 is mounted and fixed in such a manner that the contact surface forming portion 61 covers the entire area of the upper surface (mounting surface 281 a) of the pedal body portion 281. More specifically, after the fitting member 60 is disposed so as to cover the entire area of the mounting surface 281a with the contact surface forming portion 61, the engaging claw 63 is rotated rearward about the boundary between the contact surface forming portion 61 and the engaging claw 631 is engaged with the top lower portion of the pedal body portion 281, whereby the fitting member 60 is attached and fixed to the lower pedal 28. Further, by rotating the locking claw 63 forward about the above-described boundary portion, the locking claw 631 is separated from the top lower portion of the pedal body 281, and the fitting member 60 can be separated from the lower pedal 28.

When the fitting member 60 is attached and fixed to the lower pedal 28, the top portion 612 is located above the protrusion 281b formed in the pedal body portion 281, the inclined extending portion 611 is located on the base end portion side of the protrusion 281b, the inclined guiding portion 613 is located on the tip end portion side of the protrusion 281b, and the contact surface forming portion 61 extends along the shape of the mounting surface 281a of the lower pedal 28. That is, when the lower pedal 28 moves into the commodity storage path 13, the inclined guide portion 613 extends so as to gradually incline downward toward the tip end portion of the lower pedal 28.

In the commodity delivery apparatus 20 configured as described above, the attachment member 60 is not attached and fixed, and the operation is performed as follows.

In the standby state, the driving unit 40 stops driving, and as shown in fig. 3, the pedal link 35 is in a state of being disposed below. Further, since the commodity is placed on the placement surface 281a of the pedal body portion 281 of the lower pedal 28 by the commodity put into the commodity storage passage 13, the lower pedal 28 assumes a standby posture in which the commodity is present, and the upper pedal 29 assumes a posture in which the upper pedal is retracted and moved from the commodity storage passage 13. As described above, since the lower pedal 28 is in the standby position with the commodity, the contacts of the sold-out detection switch 25 are in the raised position and are in the off state.

When receiving the delivery instruction of the commodity stored in the commodity storage path 13, the commodity delivery apparatus 20 operates as follows. When the motor of the driving unit 40 is driven, the link lever of the driving unit 40 is brought into contact with the link contact piece 351 of the pedal link 35, and the pedal link 35 is moved upward by a predetermined distance against the biasing force of the link spring 35 a. As the pedal link 35 moves upward, the stopper pin 34a moves upward and the pedal stopper pin 34b moves upward.

At this time, the stopper pin 34a moves upward while abutting against the edge wall of the recess 292 of the upper pedal 29, and therefore the upper pedal 29 moves from the initial position against the urging force of the upper pedal spring. The upper pedal 29 is moved upward by the stopper pin 34 a. The stopper pin 34a abuts against the stopper abutting portion 293 when reaching the predetermined upper end portion, and thereby the upper pedal 29 is restrained from being withdrawn.

The upper pedal 29 having moved in is brought into contact with the 2 nd commodity (hereinafter, also referred to as the next commodity) from the lowest position, and the next commodity is restricted from moving downward.

On the other hand, since the load of the commodity in contact with the lower pedal 28 held at the entry position acts on the rotation stopper 36, the pedal stopper pin 34b moves upward to release the restriction of the withdrawal movement, and the rotation stopper 36 starts the withdrawal movement.

When the rotation stopper 36 starts the withdrawing movement in this way, the pedal operation shaft 361 is disengaged from the pedal fitting portion 283a, and the lower pedal 28 starts the withdrawing movement against the urging force of the lower pedal spring 28b by the self weight of the commodity. The pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36, which is disengaged from the pedal embedding portion 283a, moves along the 1 st pedal guide portion 283b toward the position at which the 1 st pedal guide portion 283b and the 2 nd pedal guide portion 283c intersect.

Thereafter, the lower pedal 28 is retracted by the self weight of the commodity at the lowest position, allowing the commodity at the lowest position to move downward and the commodity at the lowest position to be output downward (see fig. 7). The output commodity is guided to the commodity output port 3c via the commodity chute 5, and is in a state that it can be taken out via the commodity take-out port 2 a.

Here, after the commodity in the lowermost position is pushed through the lower pedal 28, the lower pedal 28 is moved toward the entry position by the elastic force of the lower pedal spring 28b, and the rotation stopper 36 is also moved toward the entry position by the elastic force of the pedal operation spring. When the lower pedal 28 and the rotation stopper 36 move toward the entry position, the pedal operation shaft 361, which is held at the position where the 1 st pedal guide 283b and the 2 nd pedal guide 283c intersect, moves along the 2 nd pedal guide 283c toward the pedal embedding portion 283a, and the lower pedal 28 and the rotation stopper 36 return to the entry position.

During this time, the pedal link 35 moves upward, the stopper pin 34a is positioned at the predetermined upper end, and the pedal stopper pin 34b is positioned at the predetermined upper end.

After that, the driving unit 40 stops driving, and the pedal link 35 is biased by the link spring 35a to move downward. The pedal link 35 moves downward, so that the stopper pin 34a moves downward, and the pedal stopper pin 34b moves downward.

When the pedal stopper pin 34b moves downward, the pedal stopper pin 34b abuts against the recess 36b on the rear surface side of the rotation stopper 36 that returns to the entry position. Thereby, the movement in the direction of the withdrawal movement is restricted, and the lower pedal 28 returns to the standby position without the commodity, in which the movement is entered with respect to the commodity storage path 13, under the urging force of the lower pedal spring 28 b.

On the other hand, the upper pedal 29 is biased by an upper pedal spring, and retreats as the stopper pin 34a moves downward. This allows the next commodity to move downward, and thereafter the next commodity is restricted from moving downward by abutting against the lower pedal 28 having moved in, while the lower pedal 28 is brought into a standby position with the commodity and returns to a standby state.

When the attachment member 60 is attached and fixed to the lower pedal 28 of the commodity delivery device 20 that performs such an operation, the inclined guide portion 613 of the abutment surface forming portion 61 of the attachment member 60 is located closer to the distal end portion side of the lower pedal 28 than the protrusion 281b of the lower pedal 28, and when the lower pedal 28 moves into the commodity storage path 13, the inclined guide portion 613 extends so as to gradually incline downward toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal 28, and therefore, as shown in fig. 10, the commodity at the lowest position can be abutted against and held by the abutment surface portion 614 in a state of being abutted against the path width limiting plate 16.

Then, upon receiving a commodity delivery instruction, the motor of the driving unit 40 is driven, whereby the lower pedal 28 can be withdrawn and moved to deliver the commodity in the lowest position downward as shown in fig. 11.

As described above, in the commodity delivery device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the inclined guide portion 613 for causing the commodity at the lowest position to rest on the passage width limiting plate 16 is formed in the contact surface forming portion 61 at a position closer to the distal end portion than the protrusion 281b formed on the mounting surface 281a, the fitting member 60 fixed to the lower pedal 28 is mounted so that the contact surface forming portion 61 covers the mounting surface 281a, even a small and lightweight commodity having a small capacity and small size can be held, and the commodity can be delivered favorably in accordance with the delivery instruction.

With the commodity transferring apparatus 20 described above, since the fitting member 60 is detachably provided to the lower pedal 28, it is possible to apply to a conventional vending machine, and it is not necessary to adjust the dimension of the commodity storage path 13 in the front-rear direction, so that it is possible to easily store and transfer small and lightweight commodities.

With the commodity delivery apparatus 20 described above, the contact surface forming portion 61 of the attachment member 60 extends along the shape of the mounting surface 281a of the lower pedal 28, so that the gap between the attachment member 60 and the lower pedal 28 can be minimized, and deformation of the attachment member 60 itself due to contact with the commodity can be suppressed.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, the inclined guide portion 613 is formed continuously with the top portion 612, but in the present invention, the inclined guide portion does not have to be continuous with the top portion as long as the inclined guide portion is located closer to the top end portion side of the lower pedal than the protrusion of the lower pedal and extends in a gradually downward inclined manner as going toward the top end portion of the lower pedal when the lower pedal enters the commodity storing passage, and the upper surface of the inclined guide portion may constitute the abutment surface.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which the commodity storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine illustrated herein is used for selling goods in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main cabinet 1A, an outer door 2A, and an inner door 3A.

The main body cabinet 1A is formed by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an opening on the front surface, and a commodity storage 4A having a heat insulating structure inside. The outer door 2A is provided to cover the front surface opening of the main body cabinet 1A and to be openable and closable at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1A. The front surface of the outer door 2A is provided with a display window, a commodity selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, an integral display, a coin return slot, a commodity take-out slot 2Aa, and other members necessary for selling commodities, which are not explicitly shown in the figure. The inner door 3A is an insulating door for covering the front opening of the commodity storage container 4A, and the inner door 3A is provided on one side edge of the main body cabinet 1A so as to be openable and closable at a position inside the outer door 2A. A commodity outlet 3Aa for delivering the commodity to the outside of the commodity storage 4A is provided below the inner door 3A.

In the vending machine, a chute 5A is provided in the commodity storage 4A, a temperature control unit 6A is provided in a region below the chute 5A (hereinafter, also referred to as a "heat exchange region"), and a commodity storage device 10A is provided in a region above the chute 5A (hereinafter, also referred to as a "commodity storage region").

The chute 5A is a plate-like member for guiding the commodity output from the commodity storage device 10A to the commodity output port 3Aa of the inner door 3A, and is provided so as to be inclined downward gradually toward the front side. The chute 5A is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes (not shown) penetrating through the communication between the heat exchange area and the commodity storage area, which are not explicitly shown in the figure.

The temperature adjustment unit 6A is configured to maintain the internal environment of the commodity-accommodating chamber 4A at a desired temperature state, and includes an evaporator 6Aa, a heater 6Ab, and a blower fan 6Ac of a refrigeration cycle. In this temperature adjustment unit 6A, for example, when the blower fan 6Ac is driven in a state in which the refrigeration cycle is operated, the air cooled in the evaporator 6Aa is sent upward through the vent hole of the chute 5A, and therefore, the commodity storage area can be maintained in a low-temperature state. On the other hand, when the blower fan 6Ac is driven in a state where the heater 6Ab is energized, the air heated by the heater 6Ab is sent upward through the vent hole of the chute 5A, and therefore the commodity storage area can be maintained in a high-temperature state. The compressor, condenser, and expansion valve of the refrigeration cycle are not explicitly shown in the drawing, but are provided in the equipment room 7A which is the outside of the commodity storage 4A.

In the illustrated example, the commodity storage devices 10A (10 Aa, 10Ab, 10 Ac) are provided in three rows in the front-rear direction, and include commodity storage paths 13A, and the commodity storage paths 13A are configured to be serpentine in the up-down direction by disposing path forming members 12A between a pair of base side plates 11A, and a plurality of commodities are stored in a sideways posture in the up-down direction inside the commodity storage paths 13A. More specifically, the passage forming members 12A are appropriately disposed on the front side and the rear side of the commodity accommodation passage 13A so as to face each other, and are fixed to the base side plate 11A.

The passage forming member 12A is provided with a posture control plate 14A. The posture control plate 14A is swingably provided on the passage forming member 12A so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storage passage 13A. The posture control plate 14A is biased by a biasing member (not shown) to normally assume a posture of moving into the commodity accommodation path 13A. The posture control plate 14A itself abuts against the commodity passing through the commodity storage passage 13A, and thereby the commodity is retracted and moved so as to follow the meandering commodity storage passage 13A against the biasing force of the biasing member, thereby correcting the passing posture of the commodity.

In such a commodity storage apparatus 10A, the delivery mechanism 15A is provided below the commodity storage path 13A, while the inlet guide 17A and the top tray 20A are provided above the commodity storage path 13A from the 3 rd row and thereafter.

The delivery mechanism 15A functions as follows: by controlling the behavior of the commodity between the commodity storage path 13A and the path width limiting plate 16A disposed opposite thereto, the commodity is stored in the commodity storage path 13A in the standby state, and when the delivery instruction is received, the corresponding commodity is delivered to the inclined grooves 5A one by one. Such intersection mechanism 15A is configured to include a lower pedal member 15Aa and an upper pedal member 15Ab.

The lower pedal member 15Aa is swingably disposed so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storage path 13A, and in a standby state, the lower pedal member 15Aa moves into and contacts the commodity at the lowest position in the commodity storage path 13A to restrict the downward movement of the commodity, while in the case of receiving the delivery instruction, the lower pedal member 15Aa moves out of the commodity storage path 13A to permit the downward movement of the commodity. The upper pedal member 15Ab is swingably disposed so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, and in a standby state, the upper pedal member 15Ab is moved out of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, and in a case where a delivery command is received, the upper pedal member 15Ab is moved into contact with the 2 nd commodity from the lowest position with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, thereby restricting the movement of the commodity downward. Such delivery mechanism 15A is a conventionally known delivery mechanism, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The inlet guide 17A is swingably provided around the axis of a shaft member, not shown, so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity passage region 18A in the upper region of the commodity storage path 13A. Such a loading port guide 17A abuts against the commodity loaded through the loading port 19A and before the commodity is loaded into the commodity storage path 13A, and adjusts the posture of the commodity.

The top tray 20A is formed by bending a flat plate-shaped metal plate, and locking projections (not shown) protruding laterally from the left and right end portions of the top tray 20A are inserted into locking holes (not shown) provided in the base side plates 11A, so that the top tray 20A is provided between the base side plates 11A. The top tray 20A includes a commodity guide portion 20Aa and a passage forming portion 20Ab.

The commodity guide 20Aa is a portion that gradually slopes downward from the front toward the rear, and when the commodity storage path 13A is present behind the commodity guide 20Aa itself, the upper surface of the commodity guide 20Aa constitutes a commodity guide path that guides the commodity input through the input port 19A to the commodity storage path 13A. In addition, in the case where a flat plate-like guide formation portion 22A gradually inclined downward from the front toward the rear is provided between the base side plates 11A in the front region of the commodity guide portion 20Aa of the top tray 20A, the upper surface of the commodity guide portion 20Aa itself forms a commodity guide path together with the upper surface of the guide formation portion 22A. The passage forming portion 20Ab is a portion extending in a downward curved manner from the rear end portion of the commodity guide portion 20Aa, and forms the commodity storage passage 13A together with the passage forming member 12A located below itself.

As shown in fig. 13, the passage attachment member 30A is detachably disposed in the front-most article storage device 10A. The following description will be given of the respective components of the passage fitting member 30A in the direction shown in fig. 13. As shown in fig. 14 and 15, the passage fitting member 30A illustrated here is configured to include a passage restricting plate 31A and a posture restricting plate 32A.

The passage restricting plate 31A is formed by processing a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally forming the passage restricting base 311A, the passage restricting locking portion 312A, and the passage restricting contact portion 313A. The passage restricting base 311A is a vertically elongated plate-like body having a longitudinal direction, and the passage restricting base 311A extends in a meandering manner in the vertical direction, as in the passage forming member 12A.

The passage restriction locking portion 312A is provided so as to be continuous with the upper end portion of the passage restriction base portion 311A, and includes a restriction front extension portion 312Aa and a restriction lower extension portion 312Ab. The restriction front extension 312Aa is a flat plate-like portion extending forward from the upper end portion of the passage restriction base 311A. The restriction lower extension 312Ab is a portion extending downward from the front end portion of the restriction front extension 312Aa, and the rear surface of the restriction lower extension 312Ab is opposed to a portion of the front surface of the passage restriction base 311A. A tongue-shaped restricting protrusion 312Ac extending rearward is formed at both right and left ends of a lower end portion which is an extending end portion of the restricting lower extending portion 312Ab.

The passage restriction contact portions 313A are provided in a pair (two in the illustrated example) in a right-left manner. These passage restriction abutment portions 313A are tongue-like portions of the passage restriction base 311A extending forward from both left and right end portions of the portion protruding forward.

The posture restricting plate 32A is formed by machining a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally forming the posture restricting base 321A and the posture restricting locking portion 322A. The posture restricting base 321A is a vertically elongated plate-like body having two wide restricting portions 321Aa and two narrow restricting portions 321Ab.

The width limiting portions 321Aa are portions each having a width in the left-right direction smaller than a length in the left-right direction of the passage limiting base 311A, and the width limiting portions 321Aa are each joined to a portion of the passage limiting base 311A protruding forward via a fastening member 33A such as a pin.

The narrow width limiting portions 321Ab are portions having a width in the left-right direction that is substantially smaller than a length in the left-right direction of the wide width limiting portions 321Aa, and the narrow width limiting portions 321Ab are connected to the lower end portions 321Aa1 of the wide width limiting portions 321Aa, respectively. Of these two narrow width limiting portions 321Ab, the upper narrow width limiting portion 321Ab connects the two wide width limiting portions 321Aa, and is connected to the lower end portion 321Aa1 of the upper wide width limiting portion 321Aa and to the upper end portion of the lower wide width limiting portion 321 Aa. The lower end of the lower narrow restriction portion 321Ab is joined to a portion of the passage restriction base 311A protruding forward via a fastening member 33A such as a pin.

The posture restricting base 321A extends in a meandering manner in the vertical direction as a whole, and a lower end 321Aa1 of the wide restricting portion 321Aa and an upper end 321Ab1 of the narrow restricting portion 321Ab are separated from the passage restricting base 311A in front of the passage restricting base 311A.

The posture limiting locking portions 322A are provided in a plurality (two in the illustrated example) in a right-left pair. These posture-restricting locking portions 322A are provided at the upper end portions of the wide-width restricting portions 321Aa, respectively. More specifically, the posture-restricting locking portion 322A includes: a locking front extension portion 322Aa extending forward from both left and right end portions of an upper end edge portion of each width limiting portion 321 Aa; and a locking lower extension portion 322Ab extending downward from a front end portion of the locking front extension portion 322Aa as an extension end portion.

After the passage metal fitting member 30A having the above-described configuration is inserted into the inlet 19A from the lower end portion of the passage restriction plate 31A, the posture restriction locking portion 322A of the posture restriction plate 32A is inserted into the locking hole 12Aa formed in the passage forming member 12A on the front side from the rear, whereby the passage metal fitting member 30A is mounted and fixed to the passage forming member 12A on the front side in a state in which the locking front extension portion 322Aa of the posture restriction locking portion 322A is placed on the lower edge portion of the locking hole 12Aa and the limitation front extension portion 312Aa of the passage restriction locking portion 312A is placed on the lower edge portion of the inlet 19A, as shown in fig. 16 and 17.

In this case, the locking lower extension portion 322Ab of the posture-restricting locking portion 322A extends downward on the front side of the locking hole 12Aa, and the restriction lower extension portion 312Ab of the passage-restricting locking portion 312A extends downward on the front side of the inlet 19A, so that the passage fitting member 30A is locked to the passage forming member 12A on the front side via the passage-restricting locking portion 312A and the posture-restricting locking portion 322A. The front end of the passage restricting contact portion 313A contacts the rear surface of the passage forming member 12A on the front side.

Further, by displacing such a passage fitting member 30A upward and then rearward, the posture-restricting locking portion 322A is disengaged from the locking hole 12Aa, and the passage-restricting locking portion 312A is disengaged from the inlet 19A, and then the passage fitting member 30A is pulled out from the inlet 19A and removed from the passage forming member 12A on the front side.

In the case where the passage attachment member 30A is attached and fixed to the passage forming member 12A on the front side, as shown in fig. 18, the rear surface of the passage restricting plate 31A faces the commodity-accommodating passage 13A and faces the passage forming member 12A on the rear side, so that the front-rear dimension of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A can be defined. The dimension of the left-right width of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A can be defined by displacing a rack side plate, which is conventionally known, in the width of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A.

By attaching and fixing the passage attachment member 30A to the passage forming member 12A on the front side, the posture control plate 14A of the passage forming member 12A provided on the front side is brought into contact with the posture restricting plate 32A, and the amount of movement of the passage forming member with respect to the commodity storage passage 13A is restricted. In particular, in the example shown in fig. 16 to 18, the posture control plate 14A of the passage forming member 12A provided on the front side cannot face the commodity storing passage 13A due to the passage fitting member 30A, and only the posture control plate 14A of the passage forming member 12A provided on the rear side functions in the commodity storing passage 13A.

Accordingly, in the commodity storage device 10A to which the passage attachment member 30A is attached and fixed, only the posture control plate 14A of the passage forming member 12A provided on the rear side acts in the commodity storage passage 13A having the front-rear dimension defined by the passage attachment member 30A, and therefore, the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity storage passage 13A can be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, when a small-sized and lightweight commodity having a small capacity and a small size is put into the commodity storage passage 13A through the input port 19A and passes downward, the posture thereof is corrected only by the posture control plate 14A provided on the passage forming member 12A on the rear side, and the commodity can be stored in a sideways posture without causing a commodity jam or the like.

Therefore, with the commodity storage device 10A according to the embodiment of the present invention, small and lightweight commodity with small capacity and small size of the container can be well stored.

With the commodity storage device 10A, the passage attachment member 30A is detachably provided on the passage forming member 12A on the front side, and therefore, can be applied to a conventional vending machine.

With the commodity storage device 10A, the passage attachment member 30A attached and fixed to the passage forming member 12A on the front side includes: a passage restricting plate 31A extending in the up-down direction with its rear surface (front surface) facing the commodity accommodating passage 13A; and a posture restricting plate 32A integrally attached to the front surface (back surface) of the passage restricting plate 31A and restricting the amount of movement of the posture control plate 14A of the passage forming member 12A provided on the front side, so that the rigidity of the passage fitting member 30A itself can be improved. Further, since the posture limiting locking portion 322A provided in the posture limiting plate 32A that abuts against the posture control plate 14A is inserted into the locking hole 12Aa of the passage forming member 1A on the front side, and the passage fitting member 30A is locked to the passage forming member 12A on the front side, the passage fitting member 30A can be prevented from being pressed toward the commodity storage passage 13A by the urging means of the posture control plate 14A.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made.

In the above embodiment, the passage attachment member 30A is in contact with the posture control plate 14A provided on the passage forming member 12A on the front side, and the condition that the posture control plate 14A faces the commodity storage passage 13A is restricted, but in the present invention, as shown in fig. 19, the passage attachment member 30' a (the passage restricting plate 31' a and the posture restricting plate 32' a) may be formed with the openings 314A, 324A allowing the passage of the tip portion of the posture control plate 14A.

In this case, as shown in fig. 20, the distal end portion of the posture control plate 14A faces the commodity accommodation path 13A, but the amount of movement of the posture control plate 14A into the commodity accommodation path is limited by the size of the openings 314A, 324A. Therefore, when a small and lightweight commodity is put into the commodity storage passage 13A through the input port 19A and passes downward, the posture thereof is corrected by the posture control plate 14A of the passage forming member 12A provided on the rear side, and the commodity can be stored in a sideways posture without causing a commodity jam or the like. Therefore, small and lightweight products can be well stored.

In the above embodiment, the passage fitting member 30A is constituted by the passage restricting plate 31A and the posture restricting plate 32A, but in the present invention, the passage fitting member is not necessarily constituted by two restricting plates, and various configurations can be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the passage fitting member 30A is detachably provided to the passage forming member 12A constituting the front side of the foremost commodity-accommodating passage 13A, but the present invention is not limited to the foremost commodity-accommodating passage, and the passage fitting member may be detachably provided to the passage forming member constituting various commodity-accommodating passages.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which the commodity storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine illustrated herein is used for selling goods in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main cabinet 1B, an outer door 2B, and an inner door 3B.

The main body cabinet 1B is formed by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an opening at the front surface, and has a commodity storage container 4B having a heat insulating structure inside. The outer door 2B is provided to cover the front surface opening of the main body cabinet 1B and to be openable and closable at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1B. The front surface of the outer door 2B is provided with a display window, a commodity selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, an integral display, a coin return slot, a commodity take-out slot 2Ba, and other members necessary for selling commodities, which are not explicitly shown in the figure. The inner door 3B is an insulating door for covering the front opening of the commodity storage container 4B, and the inner door 3B is provided on one side edge of the main body cabinet 1B so as to be openable and closable at a position inside the outer door 2B. A commodity outlet 3Ba for outputting the commodity to the outside of the commodity storage 4B is provided at a lower portion of the inner door 3B.

In the vending machine, a chute 5B is provided in the commodity storage 4B, a temperature control unit 6B is provided in a region below the chute 5B (hereinafter, also referred to as a "heat exchange region"), and a commodity storage device 10B is provided in a region above the chute 5B (hereinafter, also referred to as a "commodity storage region").

The chute 5B is a plate-like member for guiding the commodity delivered from the commodity storage device 10B to the commodity output port 3Ba of the inner door 3B, and is provided so as to be inclined downward gradually toward the front side. Not explicitly shown in the drawings, a plurality of vent holes (not shown) for communicating the heat exchange area with the commodity storage area are provided in the chute 5B.

The temperature adjustment unit 6B is configured to maintain the internal environment of the commodity-accommodating chamber 4B at a desired temperature state, and includes an evaporator 6Ba, a heater 6Bb, and a blower fan 6Bc of a refrigeration cycle. In this temperature adjustment unit 6B, for example, when the blower fan 6Bc is driven while the refrigeration cycle is operated, the air cooled in the evaporator 6Ba is sent upward through the vent hole of the chute 5B, and therefore, the commodity storage area can be maintained in a low temperature state. On the other hand, when the blower fan 6Bc is driven in a state where the heater 6Bb is energized, the air heated by the heater 6Bb is sent upward through the vent hole of the chute 5B, and therefore the commodity storage area can be maintained in a high-temperature state. The compressor, condenser, and expansion valve of the refrigeration cycle are provided in the equipment room 7B outside the product storage 4B, which is not explicitly shown in the figure.

In the illustrated example, the commodity storage devices 10B (10 Ba, 10Bb, 10 Bc) are provided in three rows in front-rear direction, and include commodity storage paths 13B, and the commodity storage paths 13B are configured to be serpentine in the up-down direction by disposing path forming members 12B between a pair of base side plates 11B, so that a plurality of commodities are stored in a sideways posture in the up-down direction inside the commodity storage paths 13B. More specifically, the passage forming members 12B are appropriately disposed on the front side and the rear side of the commodity accommodation passage 13B so as to face each other, and are fixed to the base side plate 11B.

The passage forming member 12B is provided with a posture control plate 14B. The posture control plate 14B is provided with a base end 142B swingably on the passage forming member 12B in such a manner that the tip end 141B moves forward and backward with respect to the commodity storage passage 13B. The posture control plate 14B is biased by a biasing member (not shown) to normally assume a posture in which the distal end portion 141B moves into the commodity storage path 13B. The posture control plate 14B itself abuts against the commodity passing through the commodity storage path 13B, and thereby the distal end portion 141B is retracted and moved so as to follow the meandering commodity storage path 13B against the biasing force of the biasing member, so that the passing posture of the commodity is corrected.

In such a commodity storage apparatus 10B, the delivery mechanism 15B is provided below the commodity storage path 13B, while the inlet guide 17 and the top tray 20B are provided above the commodity storage path 13B from the 3 rd row and thereafter.

The delivery mechanism 15B functions as follows: by controlling the behavior of the commodity between the commodity storage path 13B and the path width limiting plate 16B disposed opposite thereto, the commodity is stored in the commodity storage path 13B in the standby state, and when the delivery instruction is received, the corresponding commodity is delivered to the inclined grooves 5B one by one. Such intersection mechanism 15B is configured to include a lower pedal member 15Ba and an upper pedal member 15Bb.

The lower pedal member 15Ba is swingably disposed so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, and in a standby state, the lower pedal member 15Ba moves into and contacts the commodity at the lowest position in the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, and restricts downward movement of the commodity, while in a case where an issuing instruction is received, the lower pedal member 15Ba moves out of the commodity-accommodating passage 13B to permit downward movement of the commodity. The upper pedal member 15Bb is swingably disposed so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, and in a standby state, the upper pedal member 15Bb is retracted from the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, whereas in a case where a delivery command is received, the upper pedal member 15Bb is moved into contact with the 2 nd commodity from the lowest position by moving into contact with the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, and the commodity is restricted from moving downward. Such delivery mechanism 15B is a conventionally known delivery mechanism, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The inlet guide 17B is swingably provided around the axis of a shaft member, not shown, so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity passage region 18B in the upper region of the commodity storage path 13B. Such a loading port guide 17B abuts against the commodity loaded through the loading port 19B and before being carried into the commodity storage path 13B, and adjusts the posture of the commodity.

The top tray 20B is formed by bending a flat plate-shaped metal plate, and locking projections (not shown) protruding laterally from the left and right end portions of the top tray 20B are inserted into locking holes (not shown) provided in the base side plates 11B, so that the top tray 20B is provided between the base side plates 11B. The top tray 20B has a commodity guide portion 20Ba and a passage constituting portion 20Bb.

The commodity guide 20Ba is a portion inclined gradually downward from the front toward the rear, and when the commodity storage path 13B is present behind the commodity guide 20Ba itself, the upper surface of the commodity guide 20Ba constitutes a commodity guide path for guiding the commodity input through the input port 19B to the commodity storage path 13B. In the case where a flat plate-like guide formation portion 22B gradually inclined downward from the front toward the rear is provided between the base side plates 11B in the front region of the commodity guide portion 20Ba of the top tray 20B, the upper surface of the commodity guide portion 20Ba itself forms a commodity guide path together with the upper surface of the guide formation portion 22B. The passage forming portion 20Bb is a portion extending in a downward curved manner from the rear end portion of the commodity guide portion 20Ba, and forms the commodity storage passage 13B together with the passage forming member 12B located below itself.

As shown in fig. 22, the posture control fitting member 30B is detachably disposed in the forefront article storage device 10Ba. In the following, each constituent element of the posture control fitting assembly 30B is described in terms of the direction shown in fig. 22.

The posture control fitting member 30B illustrated here is formed by machining a metal plate or the like, and as shown in fig. 23 and 24, the posture control fitting member 30B is configured by integrally molding a fitting base 31B, a pressing portion 32B, and a locking piece 33B.

The fitting base 31B is a plate-like body extending in the up-down direction, and includes a 1 st base 311B, a 2 nd base 312B, and a 3 rd base 313B. The 1 st base 311B is a flat plate-like portion in a rectangular shape constituting the upper end portion of the fitting base 31B. The 2 nd base 312B is continuous with the lower end portion of the 1 st base 311B, and extends from the lower end portion so as to gradually incline rearward as going downward. The bottom end of the 2 nd base 312B has a smaller left-right width than the top end of the 2 nd base 312B. The 3 rd base 313B is continuous with the lower end portion of the 2 nd base 312B, and is a flat plate-like portion extending downward from the lower end portion. The 3 rd base 313B has a shape tapered toward the lower end.

The pressing portion 32B is continuous with the lower end portion of the 3 rd base 313B of the fitting base 31B, and constitutes the lower end portion of the posture control fitting member 30B. The pressing portion 32B includes: a rear extension portion 321B having a uniform width in the left-right direction and extending rearward from the lower end portion of the 3 rd base portion 313B; a sloped lower extension portion 322B gradually sloped downward from an extension end portion of the rear extension portion 321B toward the rear; and a lower extension 323B extending downward from an extension end of the inclined lower extension 322B.

The locking pieces 33B are a pair of left and right members formed continuously with upper end portions of both left and right end portions of the 1 st base 311B of the fitting base 31B. The right locking piece 33B (hereinafter also referred to as right locking piece 33 BR) is a portion that is bent leftward while being bent rearward from an upper end portion of the right end portion of the 1 st base portion 311B, and then extends leftward. The left locking piece 33B (hereinafter, also referred to as left locking piece 33 BL) is a portion that is bent to the left while being bent to the rear from the upper end portion of the left end portion of the 1 st base portion 311B, and then extends to the left.

As shown in fig. 25 and 26, in the posture control fitting member 30B having the above-described configuration, the pressing portion 32B is inserted from the front into the action hole 121B formed in the passage forming member 12B on the front side, the right locking piece 33BR and the left locking piece 33BL are inserted from the front into the locking hole 122B formed in the passage forming member 12B, and then the posture control fitting member 30B is displaced to the left to be attached and fixed to the passage forming member 12B on the front side. In this case, the lower extending portion 323B of the pressing portion 32B penetrating the action hole 121B enters the notch 142Ba formed in the central portion of the base end portion 142B of the posture control plate 14B, and presses the base end portion 142B, limiting the amount of movement of the posture control plate 14B into the commodity accommodation path 13B. More specifically, the posture control fitting member 30B presses the posture control plate 14B against the biasing force of the biasing member by the pressing portion 32B to a posture in which the posture control plate 14B is retracted from the commodity storage path 13B, and limits the amount of movement of the posture control plate 14B into the commodity storage path 13B.

The passage forming member 12B is subjected to the ridge processing by forming a plurality of passage forming ridge portions 12Bb protruding from the front and rear surfaces of the passage forming base 12Ba, and the posture control plate 14B is subjected to the ridge processing by forming a plurality of posture control ridge portions 14Bb protruding from the posture control base 14 Ba. After such posture control fitting member 30B is displaced rightward, the posture control fitting member 30B is pulled out forward so that the right locking piece 33BR and the left locking piece 33BL pass through the locking hole 122B and the pressing portion 32B passes through the action hole 121B, whereby the posture control fitting member 30B is separated from the passage forming member 12B on the front side.

Further, by attaching and fixing the posture control attachment member 30B to the passage forming member 12B on the front side, the amount of movement of any posture control plate 14B into the commodity storage passage 13B is restricted, and as shown in fig. 27, the number of posture control plates 14B for abutting against the commodity passing through the commodity storage passage 13B and correcting the posture thereof can be reduced.

Accordingly, in the commodity storage device 10B to which the posture control attachment member 30B is attached and fixed, the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity storage path 13B can be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, for example, when a commodity having a weight smaller than that of a conventional commodity (hereinafter, also referred to as a light commodity) such as a snack or the like filled in a container such as a PET bottle passes through the commodity storage path 13B downward, the reaction force applied to the light commodity from the posture control plates 14B provided in the path forming members 12B facing each other is reduced to a minimum necessary magnitude, whereby the light commodity can be prevented from being jammed in the middle of the commodity storage path 13B, and the light commodity can be stored in a sideways posture.

Therefore, the commodity storage device 10B according to the embodiment of the present invention can favorably store light commodity.

In the commodity storage device 10B, the posture control fitting member 30B is detachably provided on the passage forming member 12B on the front side, and therefore, can be applied to a conventional vending machine.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made.

In the above embodiment, the posture control fitting member 30B presses the posture control plate 14B by the pressing portion 32B to a posture in which the posture control plate 14B is retracted and moved from the commodity storage passage 13B against the urging force of the urging member, and the amount of movement of the posture control plate 14B into the commodity storage passage 13B is restricted.

Although not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, as shown in fig. 28, the posture control fitting member 30B may be attached and fixed in a positioned state by the posture control fitting member 30B being locked to the passage forming member 12B in a state in which an end portion of the locking piece 33B (in the illustrated example, the right locking piece 33 BR) abuts against the passage forming raised line 12 Bb.

Although not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, in the present invention, as shown in fig. 29, the protruding height of the exposed portion (inclined lower extension 322B) of the pressing portion 32B with respect to the posture control base 14Ba is preferably equal to or less than the protruding height of the posture control raised strip portion 14 Bb. This can prevent damage to the commodity passing through the commodity storage path 13B.

In the above embodiment, the posture control fitting member 30B is detachably provided to the passage forming member 12B on the front side of the frontmost commodity-accommodating passage 13B, but in the present invention, the posture control fitting member is not limited to the frontmost commodity-accommodating passage, and may be detachably provided to the passage forming member constituting various commodity-accommodating passages.

Claims (10)

1. A commodity storage device, comprising: a passage forming member that is attached to the pair of right and left base side plates so as to face each other, and that defines a commodity-accommodating passage that extends in the up-down direction and accommodates commodities in order in a sideways posture; and a posture control plate which is swingably provided to the passage forming member so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage, and which is normally biased by a biasing member so as to enter and move into the commodity-accommodating passage, and which, when the posture control plate abuts against a commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage, is withdrawn and moved against the biasing force of the biasing member so as to correct the passing posture of the commodity, and when a delivery instruction is received, the commodity-accommodating device delivers the commodity at the lowest position among the commodities accommodated in the commodity-accommodating passage downward,

The commodity storage device comprises a passage fitting member which is detachably provided on one passage forming member dividing the commodity storage passage in a manner of limiting the front-rear dimension of the commodity storage passage and limits the amount of movement of the posture control plate provided on the one passage forming member,

the passage fitting member includes:

a passage restricting plate extending in the up-down direction so as to face the commodity storing passage in front thereof; and

a posture restricting plate integrally attached to a rear surface of the passage restricting plate and restricting an amount of movement of the posture control plate provided to the one passage forming member,

the posture restricting plate is locked to the one passage forming member.

2. The article storage device of claim 1, wherein,

the passage fitting member includes an opening that allows a tip end portion of the posture control plate provided to the one passage forming member to pass therethrough.

3. The article storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the passage fitting member extends in a meandering manner in the up-down direction.

4. A commodity storage device, comprising: a passage forming member that is attached to the pair of right and left base side plates to define a commodity-accommodating passage that extends in the up-down direction and accommodates commodities in order; and

a posture control plate which is provided with a base end portion swingably to the passage forming member in a state in which a distal end portion thereof moves forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage, and which is normally biased by a biasing member so that the distal end portion enters and moves into the commodity-accommodating passage, and on the other hand, when the posture control plate abuts against a commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage, the posture control plate moves out of the passage by overcoming the biasing force of the biasing member so as to correct the passing posture of the commodity,

when receiving the delivery instruction, the commodity storage device delivers the commodity at the lowest position among the commodities stored in the commodity storage path downwards, and is characterized in that,

the commodity storage device comprises a posture control fitting member which is detachably arranged on the passage forming member and limits the entering movement amount of any posture control plate by enabling a pressing part of the posture control fitting member to press the base end part of the posture control plate,

The posture control fitting member is detachably provided to the passage forming member by forming the pressing portion at a lower end portion and the locking piece at an upper end portion, and by inserting the locking piece into a locking hole formed in the passage forming member to lock the locking piece to the passage forming member.

5. The article storage device of claim 4, wherein,

the passage forming member is subjected to a convex strip processing by forming a plurality of passage forming convex strip parts protruding from a passage forming base part,

the locking piece is locked to the passage forming member in a state in which an end portion abuts against the passage forming convex strip portion.

6. The article storage device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein,

the posture control plate is processed with raised strips by forming a plurality of posture control raised strips protruding from a posture control base,

an exposed portion of the pressing portion of the posture control fitting member engaged with the base end portion has a protruding height with respect to the posture control base portion that is equal to or less than a protruding height of the posture control ridge portion.

7. The article storage device according to claim 1 or 4, which is an article delivery device comprising:

A lower pedal provided swingably on the base so that a distal end portion thereof moves forward and backward with respect to a commodity storage path for storing the commodity to be put in the up-down direction; and

an upper pedal provided on the base so as to be swingable with a tip portion thereof moving forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating path in a region above the lower pedal,

in a standby state, the upper pedal is moved to withdraw from the commodity-accommodating passage and the lower pedal is moved to enter the commodity-accommodating passage, so that the commodity at the lowest position is placed on the placement surface of the lower pedal and a passage-width limiting plate arranged opposite to the base, and the commodity is restrained from moving downward, while in a driving state, the upper pedal is moved to enter the commodity-accommodating passage and is abutted against the 2 nd commodity from the lowest position, and the lower pedal is moved to withdraw from the commodity-accommodating passage and the commodity at the lowest position is delivered downward,

the commodity storage device includes a fitting member detachably provided to the lower pedal so that the abutment surface forming portion covers the mounting surface, and an inclined guide portion for causing the commodity at the lowest position to rest on the passage width limiting plate is formed at a position of the abutment surface forming portion closer to the distal end portion than a projection formed on the mounting surface.

8. The article storage device of claim 7, wherein,

when the lower pedal is moved into the commodity storing passage, the inclined guide portion extends so as to be inclined downward gradually toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal.

9. The article storage device of claim 7, wherein,

the contact surface forming portion of the fitting member extends along a shape of a mounting surface of the lower pedal.

10. The article storage of claim 8, wherein,

the contact surface forming portion of the fitting member extends along a shape of a mounting surface of the lower pedal.