JP2000113309A - Merchandise housing device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a device for improving a display effect, and for surely and smoothly operating a loading work, and for reducing manufacturing costs by manually operating an operating member, and releasing the lock of a merchandise rack at the time of drawing the merchandise rack from a storing position to a drawing position. SOLUTION: At the time of drawing a merchandise rack from a storing position to a drawing position, an operating member is manually operated, and the lock of a merchandise rack is released. When a lever part 35a of an open lever 35 is pushed down by a finger, the open lever 35 is rotated, and a slide board 34 is pulled up and moved. At the same time, when the front arm part of a lock board 36 is pushed forward against the energizing force of a second coil spring by the pusher part of the slide board 34, the rock board 36 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, and the mating of a notched part 36c of the rock board 36 into the engagement protrusion of a rack frame is released, and the lock of the merchandise rack is released. Then, when both the right and left open levers 35 and 35 are pushed, the both side lock of the merchandise rack is released.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called showcase-type vending machine for storing a large number of products arranged side by side in the front-rear direction and for visually checking the products to be actually sold.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of product storage device, there is known a product storage device which is arranged substantially horizontally in a vending machine main body and has a plurality of product racks which can be pulled out from the vending machine main body. The merchandise rack includes a bottom wall and left and right side walls extending upward from both side ends of the bottom wall. A product passage for storing the items side by side is defined. In the product rack, a payout port for paying out products is formed at the front end of the product passage, and a transparent product stopper is provided facing the payout port. The product stopper is connected to a drive mechanism having a motor, and is held by the drive mechanism at a position where the payout opening is closed at the time of selling standby and at a position where the payout opening is opened at the time of sale. At the time of loading or the like, the merchandise rack is pulled out from the vending machine main body with the merchandise stopper closing the payout opening, and the merchandise is replenished in the merchandise passage.

On the other hand, a showcase-type product storage device having a plurality of product racks that do not have a product stopper or a driving mechanism, have a payout opening always open, and are fixed in a vending machine main body. Is also known. In these merchandise racks, merchandise is replenished from a payout port at a front end of a merchandise passage or a replenishing port at a rear end during loading.

[0004]

Generally, a showcase-type vending machine is greatly characterized by a display effect of showing a product to be sold to a product purchaser.
However, in the former product storage device, when waiting for sale, the product stopper is located at the position closing the payout opening and blocks the product at the frontmost position. The effect will be reduced. Further, since a product stopper and a drive mechanism for driving the product stopper are required for each product passage, manufacturing costs increase. On the other hand, in the latter product storage device, since the product rack is not provided with the product stopper or the drive mechanism on the front, the display effect is not reduced as in the former, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. However, in this product storage device, the product rack is fixed to the vending machine main body, and cannot be pulled out to the front during loading.
Loading property is not good. Even if the product rack is configured to be able to be pulled out to the front, the product may be dropped from the payout exit of the product passage at the time of pulling out or storing the product because there is no product stopper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. In a product storage device of a vending machine in which a product to be actually sold can be visually recognized from the front, a display effect can be improved and a loading operation can be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product storage device for a vending machine, which can surely and smoothly carry out the production and reduce the production cost.

[0006]

To achieve this object, a vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention has a vending machine main body having a transparent front panel and a vending machine body disposed behind the front panel. A product passage for storing the products arranged in the front-rear direction, and a payout opening for paying out products at the front end of the product passage is formed. A product rack movable in the front-rear direction between a withdrawal position drawn forward, a lock position for locking the product rack in a storage position, and a lock member movable between a lock release position for releasing the lock; A lock urging means for urging the lock member to the lock position side, a protruding position for closing the payout port by projecting to the payout port of the product rack, and a retracting position for retracting from the payout port. A product stopper movably provided, stopper urging means for urging the product stopper to the projecting position side, stopper holding means for holding the product stopper at the retracted position, and a product rack when the product rack is at the storage position. Move the lock member from the lock position to the unlock position,
And an operation member operable manually to release the holding of the product stopper by the stopper holding means.

According to the merchandise storage device of the vending machine,
In the sales standby state, the product rack is locked in the storage position in the vending machine main body by the lock member,
The product stopper is held at the retracted position by the stopper holding means, whereby the payout port of the product path of the product rack is open. Therefore,
Since there is nothing visually obstructing the product in the product path of the product rack from the front, the display effect of the product can be improved. Further, when the product rack is pulled out from the storage position to the pull-out position, when the operating member is manually operated, the lock member is driven to the unlock position while resisting the urging force of the lock urging means, and the lock of the product rack is released. I do. Thereby, the product rack can be pulled out from the vending machine main body. At the same time, the stopper holding means releases the holding of the product stopper by the operation of the operation member, and the product stopper moves to the projecting position by the urging force of the stopper urging means. by this,
The payout exit of the product passage of the product rack can be closed by the product stopper. Therefore, when pulling out the product rack from the vending machine main body or storing it in the vending machine main body,
Since the merchandise in the merchandise aisle does not fall forward from the payout port or is erroneously dispensed, handling of the merchandise rack at the time of loading or the like becomes easy, and the workability thereof can be improved. Further, since the payout port can be closed by the product stopper only by manually operating the operation member as described above, a driving mechanism including a conventional motor is not required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, the commodity path is constituted by a plurality of commodity paths arranged in the left-right direction, and the commodity stopper extends in the left-right direction. And a horizontal product stopper that closes all payout ports of the plurality of product passages when in the projecting position.

According to the vending machine product storage device,
One payout port of a plurality of product passages arranged in the left-right direction can be simultaneously closed by one horizontally long product stopper. As a result, workability can be further improved, and it is not necessary to provide a product stopper for each product path, so that manufacturing costs can be further reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the second aspect, when the operation member is manually operated, after the commodity stopper projects to the projecting position, the operating member moves the lock member. It is configured to be moved to an unlock position.

According to the merchandise storage device of the vending machine,
Since the closing of the payout port by the product stopper is performed before the unlocking of the product rack by the lock member, the product may fall forward from the payout port or be erroneously paid out when the product rack is pulled out. Can be more reliably prevented.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
A commodity storage device of a vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a vending machine 2 in which a product storage device 1 according to an embodiment is incorporated. The vending machine 2 stores a large number of items S such as canned beverages and PET bottled beverages in a horizontal box-shaped vending machine main body 3 in a front-rear direction, and stores the products S in a transparent sliding front surface. This is a so-called showcase type that can be seen through a door (front panel) 3a. The vending machine 2 includes the vending machine body 3 and a product S
And a product storage device 1 for receiving and paying out the goods S paid out from the product storage device 1 at the time of sale.

The vending machine main body 3 is formed by assembling a plurality of outer wall panels 3b in a box shape, and has two sliding doors 3a, 3a attached to an open front surface thereof. Each sliding door 3a is normally closed and locked, and is opened at the time of loading the product S, for example, and replenished with the product S as described later. Further, a cooling device 5 for cooling the product S is provided at an upper part of the vending machine main body 3, and at a right side of the front sliding door 2a, a product outlet 6 and a card insertion slot 7a into which a prepaid card is inserted. And a control panel 7 to which a card reader, a numeric keypad type product selection button (both not shown) and the like are attached. The control panel 7 has a built-in control device including a microcomputer (not shown).

The product unloading device 4 is provided in front of the product storage device 1 with a Y module 4a movably provided in the left-right direction.
And an X-direction drive mechanism 4b for driving the Y module 4a in the left-right direction, and upper and lower guide mechanisms 4c, 4c for guiding the Y-module 4a in the left-right direction. A movable body 4d extending in the up-down direction and driven in the left-right direction by an X-direction drive mechanism 4b;
A bucket 4e protruding from the right side surface of the movable body 4d and provided to be movable vertically with respect to the movable body 4d. The movable body 4d has a built-in Y-direction drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the bucket 4e in the vertical direction. The bucket 4e includes a reflection photosensor and a transmission photosensor (not shown), and a bucket 4e. And a pusher driving mechanism 8 as shown in FIG.

The reflection type photo sensor is a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, which are arranged side by side. The light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the object and is incident on the light receiving element to detect the object. I do. The reflection type photo sensor is capable of detecting only an object located within a predetermined distance in front thereof and having a certain degree of light reflectivity, and outputs a detection signal to the control device. The control device, at the time of sale,
In order to carry out the product S, the bucket 4e is placed in the payout position (the payout port 11b to be described later) where the product storage device 1 pays out the product S.
To the position facing the). In this case, as described later, the presence of the price label L2 is detected by determining the detection time T in the reflective photosensor. When the price label L2 is detected, the bucket 4e is stopped to stop the bucket 4e at the payout position.

The transmissive photosensor is also a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing each other. The light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked by the object and does not enter the light receiving element side. An object is detected and a detection signal is output to the control device. The light emitting element and the light receiving element of the transmission type photo sensor are attached to the rear end of the bucket 4e, and the control device detects the delivery of the product S from the product storage device 1 by the transmission type photo sensor.

At the time of sale, the LED 4f blinks when the reflection type photosensor of the bucket 4e detects the price label L2 on the partition wall 13 and sells the bucket 4e.
Is stopped at the payout position, and is turned on while the detection signal of the price label L2 is continuously output from the reflective photosensor. This LED 4f is
The bucket 4e is disposed on the front upper portion of the bucket 4e and is visible from the front through the transparent sliding door 3a.
Is operating, that is, selling operation. In addition, at the time of a test run or the like, an operation check is performed to determine whether or not the distance between the reflective photosensor and each price label L2 is a predetermined distance, that is, whether or not the distance is detected in an appropriate detection time. It is used for determining whether or not the reflection type photosensor is operating normally.

The pusher drive mechanism 8 includes a swing arm 8
a, a plurality of gears including a drive gear G1 attached to the upper end of the swing arm 8a, and a motor (not shown) driven by the control device. The drive gear G1 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 8 via a motor and a plurality of gears. The swing arm 8a pivots clockwise between a standby position in a vertical position shown in FIG. 8 and a meshing position where the drive gear G1 meshes with a gear G2 of the product storage device 1 described later. It is rotatable. The swing arm 8a is held at the standby position at the time of selling standby, and rotates to the meshing position at the time of selling. At this time, the drive gear G1 meshes with the gear G2, so that the rotation of the motor of the pusher drive mechanism 8 is reduced to the gear G2.
2 is transmitted.

Next, the structure of the product storage device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the product storage device 1 has a rack frame 10 assembled in a vending machine main body 3 and a horizontal frame mounted on the rack frame 10. A number of commodity racks 11 are provided. The rack frame 10 has vertical frame members 10a,
10a. These vertical frame materials 1
The upper and lower frame members 0a are connected by upper and lower horizontal frame members (not shown), and side wall panels (not shown) are attached to the vertical frame members 10a. Product storage room 1
0b and 10b are defined. In the left storage room 10b,
The upper and lower 10-stage product racks 11 are stored in the right storage room 10b, and the upper and lower 9-stage product racks 11 are stored in the right storage room 10b, respectively, as shown in FIG.
It is stored in the storage position so that its front end is lined up flush. The product rack 11 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction between the storage position and a drawing position (not shown) as described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the product rack 11 has a rectangular shelf plate 12 and a plurality of partition walls removably mounted on the shelf plate 12 to partition the shelf plate 12 in the left-right direction. 13 is provided. Two partition walls 13, 13 each
Between the right side wall 12c of the shelf 12 and the partition wall 13,
A product passage 11a extending in the front-rear direction is defined, and a front end of each product passage 11a opens forward to form a payout opening 11b for paying out the product S. The same type of product S is stored in each product passage 11a (FIG. 1).
0 and FIG. 18). The shelf board 12 is manufactured by bending a steel plate, and has a flat bottom wall 12a forming the bottom of the commodity passage 11a, a front wall 12b bent downward from the front end of the bottom wall 12a, and a bottom wall 12a. Left and right side walls 1 bent upward from the left and right ends and the rear end, respectively
2c, 12c and a rear wall 12d.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 15, the front wall 12b is folded back from the front edge of the bottom wall 12a (to the right in the figure, the same applies hereinafter), and is further bent vertically downward. Upper wall 12j extending parallel to the front edge of 12a
And a step (stopper holding means) 12i which is bent obliquely forward from the upper wall portion 12j and further extends downward. As shown in FIG. 5, a large number of horizontally long front square holes 12e are formed in the upper wall portion 12j. These front square holes 12e are arranged in the left-right direction, and are formed such that the distance between two adjacent centers, that is, the pitch P, is equal to each other. In this shelf 12, the pitch P is 13 m
m.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A large number of sets of rear square holes 12f, 12f extending in the left-right direction extend in the left-right direction along the rear end of the shelf board 12, and are vertically aligned with two horizontally long rear square holes 12f, 12f.
f. The rear square holes 12f, 12f of each set are positioned at positions corresponding to the respective front square holes 12e of the front wall 12b, that is, the vertical planes extending in the front-rear direction including the respective front square holes 12e.
d, each of which is formed on an intersection line intersecting with the corresponding one of the right and left rear square holes 12f, 12f.
Is set to 13 mm similarly to the front square hole 12e.

The front square hole 1 is provided at the front and rear portions of the bottom wall 12a.
2e and a plurality of sets including two reference holes (not shown) arranged front and rear on a crossing line where a vertical plane including the corresponding rear square hole 12f and extending in the front-rear direction intersects the bottom wall 12a. Are formed side by side in the left-right direction. Each set of reference holes is arranged for every seven front square holes 12e.
These reference holes are used as marks for aligning and attaching the partition wall 13 to the shelf 12 in the left-right direction, as described later.

As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG.
Box-shaped partition wall body 1 long in the front-back direction (left-right direction in FIG. 8)
4, a front and rear connection adapter 15 and 16 attached to the front and rear ends of the partition wall main body 14, and a pusher 20 movably mounted in the front and rear direction on the partition wall main body 14. Parts. As shown in FIG. 6, the partition wall main body 14 has the same substantially rectangular vertically long cross-sectional shape in the front-rear direction, is manufactured by extruding an aluminum alloy, and has a width W set to 19 mm. ing. An upper groove 14a is provided at the upper end of the partition wall body 14.
The upper groove 14a is formed with the partition wall body 14.
Communicates in the front and rear direction. Furthermore, the upper groove 14a
The partition wall is defined by a wall having the same cross-sectional shape as that of the C-shaped steel. The partition wall is opened on the upper surface of the partition wall body 14, and the opening is a narrow slit 14b extending in the front-rear direction. Also,
The lower end of the partition wall body 14 has a lower hollow portion 14 having a rectangular cross section.
c is formed, and the lower hollow portion 14c is
4 continuously extends in the front-rear direction.

A guide groove 14e extending in the front-rear direction is formed in an upper portion of the right side surface 14d of the partition wall body 14.
The upper and lower edges of the opening of the guide groove 14e are vertically engaging projections 14f, 14f which protrude vertically in the right side surface 14d and extend continuously in the front-rear direction in parallel with each other. The guide groove 1 is provided at the center of the right side surface 14d.
A groove 14g having a rectangular cross section extending in the front-rear direction in parallel with 4e is formed. A timing belt 17 extending in the front-rear direction is stored in the groove 14g.

Also, the front connection adapter 15 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, two vertical protrusions 15a are provided on the upper and lower ends of the rear surface of the synthetic resin molded product. ing. The upper set of projections 15a is fitted to the front opening of the upper groove 14a of the partition wall body 14, and the lower set of projections 15a is fitted to the front opening of the lower hollow portion 14c. The connection adapter 15 is attached to the partition wall main body 14.

As shown in FIG. 7, upper and lower mounting frames 15b and 15c are provided in the upper and lower portions on the front side of the front connection adapter 15, respectively. As shown in FIG.
b, a number label L1 indicating the number of the product passage 11a, in other words, the number of the product S stored therein,
A price label L2 indicating the price of the stored product S is attached to the lower attachment frame 15c. Upper mounting frame 1
A slit SL1 is formed at the upper end of 5b, and grooves (not shown) are formed in the left and right frame portions of the upper mounting frame 15b so as to be continuous with the slit SL1 and extend vertically in parallel with each other. . As a result, the number label L1 is attached to the upper attachment frame 15b by being inserted into the slit SL1, and conversely, is removed from the upper attachment frame 15b by being pulled upward. Thus, the number label L1 is attached to the upper mounting frame 1
When the number of the product passages 11a of the product rack 11 is changed,
Replaced accordingly.

On the other hand, the lower mounting frame 15c is also
The price label L2 is configured to be the same as that of the lower mounting frame 15b, and is detachably attached to the lower mounting frame 15c by being inserted into a slit SL2 formed on the upper portion of the lower mounting frame 15c. Therefore, when the price of the product S stored in the product path 11a is changed, the price label L2 is replaced accordingly.

Further, the price label L2 has light reflectivity, and the above-described bucket 4 is operated while the vending machine 2 is operating.
When the reflective photosensor e emits a light beam toward the price label L2, the emitted light is reflected by the price label L2 toward the light receiving element side of the reflective photosensor. In addition, the price label L2 is located at the forefront position of the product storage device 1 and is arranged so that the distance between the price label L2 and the reflective photosensor in the front-rear direction is constant.
As a result, the detection time T of the price label L2 in the reflection type photosensor, that is, the time T required for light rays emitted by the reflection type photosensor to be reflected by the price label L2 and incident on the light receiving element side is set to a predetermined value Tp. The control device determines the detection time T of the reflection type photo sensor.
Is determined to be the predetermined value Tp, and the price label L2
Is detected. That is, when the detection time T is equal to the predetermined value Tp, the reflection type photo sensor displays the price label L2.
Is determined to have been detected.

As shown in FIG. 8, a forwardly extending concave portion which opens in the front-rear direction is formed in the center of the front connection adapter 15, that is, between the upper mounting frame 15b and the lower mounting frame 15c. A gear G2 with a front pulley 18 is provided in the recess, and these are integrally formed of synthetic resin. The gear G2 is attached to the front connection adapter 15 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis extending in the left-right direction.
The front end of the gear G2 projects slightly forward from the front edge of the front connection adapter 15 via the front opening of the recess. The front pulley 18 is formed of a toothed pulley that meshes with the teeth of the timing belt 17. When the gear G2 is driven clockwise by the drive gear G1, the front pulley 18 also rotates clockwise integrally therewith. And timing belt 1
Rotate 7 clockwise.

The lower mounting frame 15 of the front connection adapter 15
c on the back surface of each of the engagement projections 1 projecting rearward horizontally.
5d and a connecting claw 15e are formed respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, the engagement protrusion 15 d is attached to the bottom wall 12 a of the shelf 12.
The front connection adapter 15 is locked so as not to move upward with respect to the shelf board 12. On the other hand, the connecting claw 15e is provided immediately below the engagement protrusion 15d, and the lower surface of the tip thereof has
A step is formed. The connecting claw 15e has elasticity, and is inserted into any one of the front square holes 12e of the front wall 12b of the shelf board 12 described above, and the stepped portion is locked so that it cannot be pulled out. Snap fit. Thus, the front connection adapter 15 is locked so as not to move in the left-right direction and downward with respect to the shelf board 12. As described above, the front connection adapter 15 is
5e and the engagement protrusion 15d are connected to the shelf board 12 in a retaining state, and the distal end of the connection claw 15e can be elastically deformed upward by hand to be detached from the shelf board 12 as needed. .

Further, the front connection adapter 15 has a notch hole 15f cut out in a semicircular shape on the upper side of the rear portion on the right side thereof, and the notch hole 15f is continuous with the guide groove 14e of the partition wall body 14. So that it is located in front of the guide groove 14e.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the rear connection adapter 16 is also a vertically long synthetic resin molded product.
At the upper and lower ends of the front, two left and right
The two projections 16a, 16a constitute one set, and two sets of upper and lower projections 16a are provided. Upper set of projections 16a
Is located at the rear opening of the upper groove 14a of the partition wall body 14 described above,
The lower set of projections 16a are fitted in the rear openings of the lower hollow portion 14c, respectively, and the rear connection adapter 16 is attached to the partition wall main body 14 by these fittings.

At the upper and lower ends of the rear surface of the rear connecting adapter 16, connecting protrusions 16b, 16b projecting rearward are formed. These connecting projections 16b, 16b are provided in any one set of the rear square holes 1 in the rear wall 12d of the shelf board 12 described above.
2f and 12f, respectively.
The rear connection adapter 16 is connected to the shelf board 12. Thus, the rear connection adapter 16 is connected to the rear wall 12 d of the shelf 12.
And the front connection adapter 15 is connected to the front wall 12b of the shelf 12 as described above,
The partition wall 13 is connected to the shelf board 12. In addition, as described above, the connecting claws 15e of the front connecting adapter 15 are elastically deformed with the fingers and removed from the front square holes 12e, and at the same time, the partition wall 13 is moved forward to connect the connecting protrusions 16b to the rear square holes 12e.
By separating the partition wall 13 from the shelf board 12, the partition wall 13 can be removed from the shelf board 12.

In the center of the rear connection adapter 16,
A concave portion having an open front surface is formed, and a rear pulley 19 having the same configuration as the above-described front pulley 18 is provided in the concave portion. The rear pulley 19 is attached to the holder 19a so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis extending in the left-right direction. The timing belt 17 described above is stretched between the rear pulley 19 and the front pulley 18.

The holder 19a has a cross section "U" when viewed from above.
, And is urged rearward by two upper and lower coil springs 16 c, 16 c built in the rear connection adapter 16. As described above, the timing belt 17 is held in a stretched state by the holder 19a being urged rearward by the coil spring 16c. In this case, since the tension of the timing belt 17 acts to bring the rear pulley 19 and the front pulley 18 closer to each other, the front connection adapter 15 is connected via the front pulley 18 to the rear connection adapter 16.
Are pressed toward the partition wall body 14 via the rear pulley 19 and the coil spring 16c. Therefore, as described above, even if the partition 13 is removed from the shelf 12,
The front and rear connection adapters 15 and 16 are held so as not to be disengaged from the partition wall body 14.

Further, the rear connection adapter 16 is provided with a semicircular cutout hole 16d above the front portion of the right side surface thereof. The cutout hole 16d is formed in the guide groove 14e of the partition wall body 14. It is arranged on the rear side of the guide groove 14e so as to be continuous.

On the other hand, the pusher 20 pushes the stored product S in the product path 11a forward at the time of sale and pays out the product S from the payout opening 11b. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the pusher 20 includes a support 21 and the support 2.
1, a pusher main body 22 for pressing the product S in the product passage 11 a, two front and rear first guide rollers 23, 23 rotatably mounted above the front and rear portions of the support 21, respectively. And a second guide roller 24 rotatably attached to the lower end.

The support 21 is manufactured by bending a rectangular metal plate, and has a rectangular plate wall 21a.
And three upper and lower and front flanges 21 bent rightward from the upper and lower ends and the front end of the plate wall 21a, respectively.
b, 21b, 21b. The plate wall portion 21a
The partition wall 14 is disposed vertically along the right side surface 14 d of the partition wall body 14, and its lower center portion is connected to the lower horizontal portion of the timing belt 17. By this connection, the pusher 20 moves forward via the support 21 with the clockwise rotation of the timing belt 17 as described above.

The pusher body 22 is a vertically long and thick rectangular plate, and is attached to the front flange 21b of the support 21 so as to extend at right angles and vertically to the right side surface 14d of the partition wall body 14. ing. The front surface of the pusher body 22 is a flat pressing surface 22a for pressing the product S forward when the pusher 20 moves forward, and a sold-out label 22b is attached to the pressing surface 22a. This sold-out label 22b indicates that when the product S in the product passage 11a becomes empty, the sliding door 3a
Through which the product S is sold out.

The front and rear first guide rollers 23 are respectively attached to the plate wall 21a of the support 21 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis extending in the left-right direction. These first guide rollers 23, 23 are arranged such that their rotation axes are horizontally aligned with each other.
Is provided in the vicinity of the left side. A U-shaped groove 2 extending over the entire periphery of the first guide roller 23 is provided at the center of the outer peripheral surface.
3a are formed. The U-shaped groove 23a is formed between the upper and lower engaging projections 14 of the guide groove 14e of the partition wall body 14.
f, 14f, and a guide groove 14e is housed in the inner half of the first guide roller 23. As a result, the first guide roller 23 is engaged with the engagement protrusions 14f, 14f.
, And can roll in the front-rear direction. At the time of this rolling, the front first guide roller 23 is attached to the edge of the notch hole 15f of the front connection adapter 15 described above.
The range in which the pusher 20 can move in the front-rear direction, that is, the stroke amount, is defined by the fact that the pusher 20 is locked at the edge of the notch 16d of the rear connection adapter 16 described above. In this case, the notch holes 15f and 16d are semicircular, so that the stroke amount before and after the pusher 20 is as large as possible.

The second guide roller 24 is attached to the lower flange 21b of the support 21 so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis. The second guide roller 24 is provided on the lower flange 21
The pusher body 22 is located rearward of the pusher body 22 in the vicinity of the lower surface of the pusher body b. With the movement of the pusher 20, the second guide roller rolls on the right side surface 14d of the partition wall main body 14.

The pusher 20 is configured as described above. At the time of sale, the pusher drive mechanism 8 of the product unloading device 4 rotates the timing belt 17 clockwise in FIG. Go to
The merchandise S in the merchandise passage 11a is paid out from the payout opening 11b.

As described above, the partition wall 13 is provided on the shelf 1
2 and can be attached to and detached from the shelf board 12e by the connecting claws 15e and the connecting protrusions 16b, 16b.
It can be changed by selectively fitting any one pair of the front square hole 12e and the rear square hole 12f. At present, the canned beverage product S on the market is 66,53m
Most of the lactic acid beverage products S having a diameter of 38 mm have a diameter of 38 mm. In this product storage device 1, in order to efficiently and easily store the main products S of these three diameters, when the mounting position of the partition wall 13 is changed and the width of the product path 11a is changed, The front square holes 12e, 12e (or the rear square holes 12f, 12f) adjacent to each other so that the clearance between the product S and the partition walls 13 on both sides (the sum of the gaps on both sides) is an appropriate value and does not vary. )
The pitch P between them is set.

From this point of view, more specifically, the pitch P is set as follows. Partition wall 1
3 is W (mm), the pitch between adjacent front square holes 12e, 12e is P (mm), and 66, 53,.
Partition walls 13 on both sides when a product S with a diameter of 38 mm is stored
The pitch numbers between them are N, N-1, and N-2 (N is an integer of 3 or more), and the clearances between the commodity S having a diameter of 66, 53, and 38 mm and the partition walls 13 on both sides are C1 and C, respectively.
2, C3 (mm), the following equations (1) to (3) hold.

P · N−W−66 = C1 (1) P · (N−1) −W−53 = C2 (2) P · (N−2) −W−38 = C3 (3)

When the absolute values Z1 to Z3 of the differences between the clearances are obtained from these equations (1) to (3), the following equation (4) is obtained.
To (6).

Z1 = | C1-C2 | = | P-13 | (4) Z2 = | C2-C3 | = | P-15 | (5) Z3 = | C1-C3 | = 2 | P −14 | …… (6)

Referring to the above equations (4) to (6), Z1
The values of Z3 are 0 to 0 in the range of P = 14 ± 2 mm.
It falls within the range of 4 mm. That is, it can be seen that the variation in the values of C1 to C3 falls within the range of 0 to 4 mm. Thus, if P = 14 ± 2 mm, the product passage 11a
The product S can be stored in a stable state and stored well. Further, in the range of P = 14 ± 1 mm, the variation of the values of C1 to C3 falls within the range of 0 to 2 mm.
At the time of 14 mm, (Z1, Z2, Z3) = (1, 1,
0) mm. That is, when P = 14 mm, C
It can be seen that the variation in values between 1 and C3 is the smallest. In the present embodiment, appropriate values of the clearances C1 to C3 that can ensure the easiness of the loading operation and the smoothness of the payout operation and improve the convergence of the stored product S are as follows:
Considering that 7 ± 1 mm, N = 7 and P = 13 mm by setting W = 19 mm.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The lowermost product rack 11b stores a wide product S1 in which a half dozen canned beverage products S are packed in a paper pack. As shown in FIG. 9, in the product rack 11, the width of the product passage 11 a is set to be wide according to the wide product S <b> 1, and the pusher 20 is provided with a pusher adapter 25. Pusher adapter 25
Is a metal plate having an L-shaped cross section provided with a wide front wall portion 25a and a top plate portion 25b, which protrude rightward from the pusher 20 into the product passage 11a.

A sold-out label 25c having the same configuration as the sold-out label 22b is attached to the front surface of the front wall 25a. A rectangular long hole 25d is formed at the left front end of the top plate 25b, and the long hole 25d is fitted to the pusher main body 22, so that the pusher adapter 25 is connected to the front wall portion 25a. The back is the pusher body 2
2 is detachably attached to the pusher 20 in a state in which it abuts on the front surface of the pusher 2 without a gap. A third guide roller 25e that is rotatable around a vertical axis is attached to the left rear end of the upper surface of the top plate 25b. The third guide roller 25e moves when the pusher 20 moves in the front-rear direction. Rolls on the right side of the partition wall 13.

The pusher adapter 25 is provided for the following reason. When the wide product S1 is pressed only by the pusher 20, the pusher main body 22 contacts only the left rear end of the product S. For this reason, the pusher body 22
When the pressing force does not act evenly on the product S and the acting area is reduced, the product S may not be able to be smoothly dispensed forward. However, when the pusher adapter 25 is attached to the pusher 20 as described above, the contact area between the front wall 25a and the wide product S1, that is, the pressing force of the pusher 20 increases the width of the wide product S1 due to the wide width of the front wall 25a. , It is possible to smoothly pay out the wide product S1 forward even if it is wide.

Also, as described above, 66, 53, 38 m
When storing the canned beverage product S having a diameter different from that of the m-sized canned beverage product S, a partition wall adapter 26 as shown in FIG. 10 is attached to the partition wall 13. Hereinafter, a state in which the partition wall adapter 26 is attached to the partition wall 13 will be described. The partition wall adapter 26 is a metal plate that is long in the front-rear direction, and includes a vertical plate wall portion 26a, an insertion portion 26b that is bent rightward from the upper end portion of the plate wall portion 26a, and further bent downward, and a plate wall portion 26a. And a contact portion 26c that is bent rightward from the lower end of the contact portion 26c. The partition wall adapter 26 is detachably attached to the partition wall 13 by inserting the distal end of the insertion portion 26b into the slit 14b on the upper surface of the partition wall body 14 and fitting the slit into the slit 14b. The contact portion 26c is in contact with the left side surface of the partition wall 13, whereby the partition wall adapter 26 is attached to the partition wall 13 in a stable state. Thus, by attaching the partition wall adapter 26 to the partition wall 13, the width of the product passage 11a can be appropriately adjusted according to the width of the stored product S.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when selling a product S which can be stored in the product passage 11a only in a sideways state, such as a canned beverage product S having a small diameter or a chocolate product S having a small cylindrical shape, a bottom is required. The wall adapter 27 is attached to the bottom wall 12a of the shelf board 12. The bottom wall adapter 27 can be attached to the bottom wall 12a with its up-down direction reversed between a use state shown on the left side in the drawing and a non-use state shown on the right side in the figure. The bottom wall adapter 27 attached to the wall 12a will be described. The bottom wall adapter 27
A mounting frame 27a provided on the front surface of the vertical front wall,
Left and right engagement claws 27b, 27 projecting rearward from both side ends
b, engaging projections 27c, 27c formed vertically on both side ends with each engaging claw 27b therebetween, and a wedge-shaped guide portion 27d extending rearward from the upper end of the front wall. .

The mounting frame 27a is similar to the front connection adapter 1 described above except that a slit SL3 for inserting the product name label L3 is formed on the right side of the mounting frame 27a.
5 has the same configuration as the lower mounting frame 15c. That is, the product name label L3 is detachable from the mounting frame 27a, and is replaced in response to a change in the price of the product S stored in the product path 11a. Further, the product name label L3 is set to have considerably lower light reflectivity than the price label L2, so that the reflection type photo sensor can be moved in the horizontal direction at a height such that the bucket 4e faces the payout opening 11b. When moving to
The reflected light from the price label L2 can be detected, and the reflected light from the product name label L3 cannot be detected.

The bottom wall adapter 27 is fitted into the front end of the bottom wall 12a in a groove between the upper engagement projection 27c and the guide portion 27d, and thereby does not move upward with respect to the shelf board 12. It is locked as follows. Also, the left and right engagement claws 27b
Have elasticity, and are inserted into any two of the front square holes 12e, 12e of the front wall 12b of the shelf plate 12 so as to be snap-fitted thereto in a retaining state. Thus, the bottom wall adapter 27 is locked so as not to move in the left-right direction and downward with respect to the shelf board 12.

The upper surface of the guide portion 27d is a guide surface 27f which is obliquely downward and lower.
7f extends so as to be continuous with the upper surface of the bottom wall 12a. The inclination of the guide surface 27f of the guide portion 27d is such that the product S in the overturned state is held in the product passage 11a without being erroneously rolled out of the product passage 11a during standby for sale, and is pressed by the pressing force of the pusher 20 during sale. The angle is set such that the product S easily passes over the guide portion 27d and is paid out from the payout opening 11b.

Further, the bottom wall adapter 27 can be attached to the bottom wall 12a in a non-use state shown on the right side of the figure when storing the product S in an upright state. In this case, the engaging claw 27b is elastically deformed to make the front square hole 12
e, the engagement claw 27b is snap-fitted into the front square hole 12e. At the same time, the product name label L3 is also mounted on the mounting frame 27a upside down.
As shown in the figure, when the bottom wall adapter 27 is attached to the bottom wall 12a in a non-use state, the bottom wall adapter 27 does not protrude above the bottom wall 12a and does not hinder the dispensing operation of the commodity S. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 12, the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls 12c, 12c of the shelf board 12 extend in the front-rear direction and have rails 12g having a U-shaped cross section, and extend in the left-right direction. A roller 12h rotatable about a horizontal axis is attached to each. Although not shown,
Rails and rollers similar to the rails 12g and rollers 12h are provided on the side wall panel of the rack frame 10, respectively. The rollers 12h of the shelf board 12 engage with the rails of the rack frame 10 and roll inside the rails. It is movable. Further, the rollers of the rack frame 10 are engaged with the rails 12g and can roll into the rails 12g. As described above, the product rack 11 is movable from the rack frame 10 in the front-rear direction between the storage position shown in FIG. Although not shown, the rack frame 10 has a shelf 1
2 is provided with a leaf spring which abuts against the rear wall 12d and urges the rear wall 12d forward.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, a lock function for locking the product rack 11 to the rack frame 10 and a product rack 11 for loading or the like are provided below the product rack 11. A lock mechanism 30 having a function of holding the product S in the product passage 11a when the product S is pulled out from the front is provided. The lock mechanism 30 is configured symmetrically to the left and right, and the configuration of the right half will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the lock mechanism 30 moves the product S to the product path 11a.
Stopper 31 for holding the product stopper 31 inside, a push plate (stopper biasing means) 32 for biasing the product stopper 31 forward (downward in FIG. 13, the same applies hereinafter), and a first coil spring (Slider plate 34) connected via (stopper urging means) 33 and an opening lever (stopper holding means, operating member) 35 connected to slide plate 34.
And a lock plate (lock member) that engages with the slide plate 34
36, and a frame 37 attached to the lower surface of the bottom wall 12a of the shelf 12. As shown in FIG. 8, the frame 37 is manufactured by bending a metal plate, and
It has steps with different heights.

The product stopper 31 is manufactured by bending a metal round bar, and is a rod-shaped stopper portion 31 a extending slightly longer in the left-right direction than the shelf plate 12.
And an arm portion 31b which is bent rearward at a right angle from both ends of the stopper portion 31a, and further bent at a right angle on the side wall 12c side of the shelf board 12. The rear end of the arm 31b is attached to the frame 37 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis extending in the left-right direction and movable in the front-rear direction, and is upwardly moved by a coil spring (stopper biasing means) (not shown). Always energized. The product stopper 31
It is rotatable between a retracted position shown in FIG. 15 and a projected position shown in FIG.
The rear surface of the step portion 12i of the front wall 12b and the release lever 35
And is held between them in a state of contact with the lower surface of the. When the product rack 11 is pulled out from the vending machine main body 3 forward, the release lever 35 is pushed down to rotate to the protruding position, and as shown in FIG.
The payout opening 11b of the commodity passage 11a is closed. As a result, the product stopper 31 holds the product S in the product path 11a.

The push plate 32 is manufactured by bending a metal plate, and is attached to the frame 37 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction between the position shown in FIG. 15 and the position shown in FIG. The push plate 32 includes a flat plate portion 32a that is elongated and flat in the front-rear direction, a front wall portion 32b that is bent upward from the front end of the flat plate portion 32a, and a flat plate portion 32.
and a hook 32c bent downward from the right end of FIG. The rear end portion of the first coil spring 33 is connected to the hook 32c, and the push plate 32 is constantly urged forward by the first coil spring 33, and the front wall portion 32b is Arm 3 of stopper 31
1b is in contact with the rear end. As a result, the product stopper 31 is always urged forward in the retracted position, and is always urged upward by the coil spring as described above, and is locked to the stepped portion 12i and the release lever 35. Have been.

The slide plate 34 is movable in the front-rear direction between the position shown in FIG. 15 and the position shown in FIG.
It is attached to the frame 37. Slide plate 34
Is manufactured by laminating and fixing two metal plates 34A and 34B bent together. The upper slide plate 34A includes a flat plate portion 34Aa, a front engagement portion 34Ab bent upward from the front end of the flat plate portion 34Aa, and further bent forward, and a front engagement portion 34A.
b.

The lower slide plate 34B has a flat plate portion 34Ba.
And a hook 34Bb bent downward from the front of the right end of the flat plate 34Ba, and a pusher 34Bc bent downward from the rear end of the flat plate 34Ba. The first coil spring 33 is attached to the hook portion 34Bb.
Are connected to each other, whereby the slide plate 34 is constantly urged rearward. Pusher part 34
Bc is provided at a position where it can contact the lock plate 36 from behind.

The release lever 35 is attached to the frame 37 so as to be rotatable between a closed position shown in FIG. 15 and an open position shown in FIG. The release lever 35 is connected to the bottom wall 1
The lever 2a includes a lever 35a that projects slightly forward from the front edge of the lever 2a and has a horizontal upper surface, and a protrusion 35b that extends upward from the rear end of the lever 35a. This projection 35b
The long hole 34 of the front engagement portion 34Ab of the slide plate 34
Ac, so that the release lever 35
Is pivoted counterclockwise to the open position shown in FIG.
The slide plate 34 is moved forward. As described above, since the slide plate 34 is constantly urged rearward by the coil spring 33, the release lever 35 is always kept at the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 13, the lock plate 36 is a metal plate having a forearm portion 36a and a rear arm portion 36b, which are formed in a “<” shape in plan. Lock plate 3
6 is attached to the frame 37 so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis between a lock position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 13 and an unlock position indicated by a two-dot chain line. A notch 36c is formed at the right end of the rear arm 36b of the lock plate 36, and the rack frame 10 is provided with an engagement projection 10c that fits into the notch 36c.

A front end of a second coil spring (lock urging means) 38 is attached to the right end of the forearm 36a of the lock plate 36. The second coil spring 38 extends obliquely rearward left and its rear end is connected to the frame 37. The lock plate 3 is formed by the second coil spring 38.
6 is always urged clockwise in FIG. 13, and its notch 36c is always fitted with the engaging projection 10c. By this fitting, the product rack 11 is locked in the storage position shown in FIG. 2 while resisting the forward urging force of the leaf spring of the rack frame 10. Further, a pusher portion 3 of the slide plate 34 is provided at the right end of the forearm portion 36a of the lock plate 36.
4Bc is in contact with the lock plate 36 and the slide plate 3
When 4 moves forward to the position shown in FIG. 16, it is pushed by this and rotates counterclockwise to the unlock position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the product rack 11 can be pulled out to a drawing position (not shown). As described above, the right half of the lock mechanism 30 is configured, and the left half thereof is similarly configured.

The operation of the product storage device 1 configured as described above will be described. First, when loading the product rack 11 from the vending machine main body 3 during loading,
The operation of the lock mechanism 30 for unlocking the product rack 11 will be described. First, when the lever portion 35a of the opening lever 35 is pressed downward with a finger, the opening lever 35 rotates counterclockwise from the closed position shown in FIG. 15 to the open position shown in FIG. With the rotation of the release lever 35, the slide plate 34 is pulled forward and moves to the position shown in FIG. At the same time, the pusher portion 34Bc of the slide plate 34 pushes the forearm portion 36a of the lock plate 36 forward while resisting the urging force of the second coil spring 38, whereby the lock plate 36 becomes a two-dot chain line in FIG. Rotate counterclockwise to the position indicated by. With this rotation, the lock plate 3
6 and the notch 36c of the rack frame 10
0c is disengaged, and the lock of the product rack 11 is released. By pressing both the left and right release levers 35, 35 with fingers, the locks on both sides of the product rack 11 are released.

As a result, the product rack 11 is pushed forward by the urging force of the leaf spring of the rack frame 10,
The rail 12g of the shelf board 12 is guided by the rollers of the rack frame 10 and the rollers 12h are guided by the rails of the rack frame 10 to move forward. Then, the product rack 11 can be pulled out to the pull-out position.

Further, the lock mechanism 30 holds the product S in the product passage 11a by the product stopper 31 at the same time as the unlocking operation on both the left and right sides of the product rack 11. This operation will be described. As described above, when the left and right release levers 35 are simultaneously rotated counterclockwise,
As shown in FIG. 16, the product stopper 31 is pushed downward by the release lever 35 and rotates downward. The product stopper 31
When the push plate 3 is rotated to the position shown in FIG.
2 and is slid forward along the lower surface of the release lever 35. And release lever 3
At the point when it protrudes forward from 5, the urging force of the coil spring rotates clockwise to the protruding position as shown in FIG. 17, and closes the payout port 11b of the product passage 11a.

In particular, in the lock mechanism 30, the commodity rack 1 is closed after the commodity stopper 31 closes the payout opening 11b.
The operation timing is set such that the locks on both the left and right sides of the device 1 are released. For this reason, since the product rack 11 can be pulled out only when the product stopper 31 closes the payout opening 11b, the product S does not fall forward from the product passage 11a by mistake during the pulling-out operation.

When loading the product S on the product rack 11 pulled out, the pusher 20 is moved backward by hand. In this case, since the pusher 20 is attached to the rotatable timing belt 17, it can be easily moved backward.

Next, after the loading is completed, the merchandise rack 11 is stored in the storage position in the vending machine main body 3. Also in this case, since the product stopper 31 can store the product with the payout opening 11b closed, the product S does not fall forward from the product path 11a by mistake during the storing operation. When the product rack 11 is pushed to the storage position shown in FIG. 13 while resisting the urging force of the leaf spring of the rack frame 10, the notch portions 36 of the left and right lock plates 36 of the lock mechanism 30 are provided.
By fitting c into the left and right engagement projections 10c of the rack frame 10, the left and right sides of the product rack 11 are locked to the rack frame 10. Thereby, the product rack 11 is locked at the storage position. Thereafter, the product stopper 31 is manually moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. 15 and held between the stepped portion 12i of the shelf 12 and the release lever 35. As a result, the product stopper 31 opens the payout opening 11b and does not hinder the product payout operation of the product storage device 1.

When changing the width of the product passage 11a at the time of loading or at the start of operation of the vending machine 2, the partition wall 13 is first removed from the shelf board 12. At this time, as described above, the connecting claw 15e is elastically deformed with the finger and removed from the front square hole 12e, and at the same time, the partition wall 13e is formed.
Is moved forward, and the connecting projection 16b is pulled out from the rear square hole 12f, whereby the partition wall 13 is removed from the shelf board 12. As described above, even when the partition wall 13 is removed from the shelf 12, the front and rear connection adapters 15 and 16 are kept in contact with the partition wall body 14 by the tension of the timing belt 17.
Since they are pressed to the sides, they are held so as not to be disengaged from the partition wall body 14.

Further, when the partition wall 13 is mounted at an appropriate position on the shelf plate 12, the upper and lower connecting projections 16b, 16
b is inserted into the rear corner holes 12f, 12f at appropriate positions. Thereby, the partition wall 13 is positioned so as to stand upright. The projections 1 are set so that the partition wall 13 is parallel to the reference holes before and after the bottom wall 12a.
By moving the partition wall 13 backward while inserting the 6b, 16b into the rear square holes 12f, 12f, the connecting claws 15e are snap-fitted to the appropriate front square holes 12e. As described above, when the partition wall 13 is attached, the partition wall 13 can be appropriately attached to the shelf board 12 so as to extend in the front-rear direction without being inclined. Also, the mounting operation can be easily performed because it is only necessary to insert the connecting projection 16b of the partition wall 13 into the rear square hole 12f using the reference holes at the front and rear of the bottom wall 12a as a mark.

If the number label L1 needs to be changed in accordance with the change in the width of the product passage 11a, the old number label L1 is extracted from the slit SL1 of the upper mounting frame 15b, and the new number label L1 is inserted into the slit SL1. And mounted on the upper mounting frame 15b. Similarly, stored goods S
If the price label L2 needs to be changed due to a change in the price label L2, the old price label L2 is removed from the lower mounting frame 15c and a new one is mounted.

Next, a description will be given of a commodity dispensing operation of the commodity storage device 1 at the time of sale. First, when a product purchaser inserts a prepaid card into the card insertion slot 7a, selects a product S and presses a product selection button, the control device determines the selected product S, drives the product unloading device 4, and drives the bucket 4e.
The payout opening 11b of the commodity passage 11a for storing the commodity S
To the payout position facing the. In this case, bucket 4e
Product path 1 by the reflective photo sensor
1a is detected. Specifically, the presence of the price label L2 on the left partition wall 13 defining the commodity passage 11a is detected by the reflection type photo sensor, and the bucket 4e is stopped at the detected position. When the bucket 4e moves, the LED 4f blinks when the bucket 4e passes through a non-target payout position and the reflective photosensor temporarily detects the price label L2, and the bucket 4e moves to the target payout position. When stopped and the reflection type photo sensor continuously outputs the detection signal of the price label L2, the lighting state is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the drive gear G1 and the gear G2 are engaged by driving the pusher drive mechanism 8 and rotating the swing arm 8a to the engagement position. Then, the driving gear G1 is rotated counterclockwise,
By rotating the gear G2 clockwise, the timing belt 17 is rotated clockwise. The pusher 20 moves forward with the rotation of the timing belt 17, and pushes the products S arranged in the product path 11a forward. As a result, the product S is paid out from the outlet 11b of the product passage 11a into the bucket 4e.

When the pusher 20 pushes the product S forward, the first guide rollers 23, 23 before and after guiding the movement of the pusher 20, the upper and lower engaging projections 14 of the guide groove 14e.
Even if the bending force about the axis extending in the left-right direction is generated in the pusher main body 22 by the pressing force of the product S by engaging with the product S, the first guide rollers 23 before and after these are engaged. , 23 restrain the pusher body 14 from rotating around this axis and support the pusher body 14 so as not to tilt backward. Further, the second guide roller 24
Is disposed behind the pusher body 22, so that when the pusher 20 moves forward, even if a bending moment around the axis extending in the vertical direction is generated in the pusher body 22 by the pressing force of the product S, The rotation of the pusher main body 22 about this axis is suppressed, and the pusher main body 22 is supported so as not to tilt backward.

When the delivery of the commodity S is detected by the transmission type photo sensor of the bucket 4e, the rotation of the gear G2 is stopped and the swing arm 8a is returned to the standby position. Thereafter, the bucket 4e is moved to the product outlet 6, the product S is paid out into the outlet 6, and the selling operation is completed.

As described in detail above, according to the commodity storage device 1 of the present invention, the commodity rack 11 is locked at the storage position in the vending machine main body 3 by the lock plate 36 in the selling state or the selling standby state. At the same time, the product stopper 31 is held at the retracted position by being held between the stepped portion 12i of the shelf board 12 and the opening lever 35, whereby the payout port 11b of the product path 11a of the product rack 11 is held.
Is open. Therefore, the display effect of the product S can be improved because the product S in the product path 11a of the product rack 11 is not visually obstructed from the front.

Further, when pulling out the product rack 11 from the storage position to the pull-out position, the release lever 35 is pressed downward with a finger and rotated counterclockwise, whereby the lock plate 36 is moved to the second position.
It is driven to the unlocked position while resisting the urging force of the coil spring 38, and unlocks the product rack 11. Thereby, the product rack 11 can be pulled out from the vending machine main body 3. At the same time, when the release lever 35 rotates counterclockwise, the product stopper 31 is pushed by the push plate 32 by releasing the holding between the step portion 12i of the shelf 12 and the release lever 35. The slide lever 35 slides forward along the lower surface of the release lever 35 and rotates upward to a protruding position shown in FIG. 17 by a coil spring (not shown). Thereby, the payout opening 11b of the product passage 11a of the product rack 11
Can be closed by the product stopper 31. In this case, the closing of the payout opening 11b by the product stopper 31 is performed before the unlocking of the product rack 11 by the lock plate 36.

Therefore, when pulling out the merchandise rack 11 from the vending machine main body 3 or storing it in the vending machine main body 3, the merchandise S in the merchandise passage 11a falls forward from the payout opening 11b or is erroneously paid out. Can be prevented. In particular, since the closing of the payout opening 11b by the product stopper 31 is performed before the unlocking of the product rack 11 by the lock plate 36, it is possible to more reliably prevent the product rack 11 from being pulled out. . Thereby, the product rack 11 at the time of loading or the like is
Can be easily handled, and its workability can be improved.

Further, as described above, only by pushing down the release lever 35 with a finger, the payout port 11 is
Since b can be closed, a driving mechanism including a conventional motor is not required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
In addition to this, all the outlets 11b of the plurality of product passages 11a can be simultaneously closed by one horizontally long product stopper 31, so that workability can be further improved and each product passage 11a By eliminating the need to provide the product stopper 31, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

In the above embodiment, the lock mechanism 30 is provided at the lower part of the product rack 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the lock mechanism 30 may be provided on the rack frame 10. In addition, the shelf 12 is mounted horizontally on the rack frame 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shelf 12 may be mounted slightly obliquely downward. In this way, it is possible to prevent the commodity S in the commodity passage 11a from accidentally falling from the payout opening 11b due to an earthquake or the like.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention, a display effect can be improved in a vending machine product storage device in which products to be actually sold can be visually recognized from the front, and the loading operation can be performed reliably and securely. It can be performed smoothly, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the product storage device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a product rack.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a main part of the product rack.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a partition wall.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an operation of attaching a number label and a price label to upper and lower attachment frames.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a partition wall and a pusher driving mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which a wide product is stored in a product path of a product rack.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where a partition wall adapter is attached to a partition wall of a product rack.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an operation of attaching a bottom wall adapter to a bottom wall of a product rack in a used state and a non-used state.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a product rack.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a lock mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a lock mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing the lock mechanism when the product stopper is at the retracted position.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing the operation of the lock mechanism when the release lever is pressed and the product stopper moves.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing the lock mechanism when the product stopper moves to the protruding position.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the product rack when the product stopper is at a protruding position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Merchandise storage apparatus 2 Vending machine 3 Vending machine main body 3a Sliding door (front panel) 11 Merchandise rack 11a Merchandise passage 11b Payout port 12i Front wall step (stopper holding means) 31 Product stopper 32 Push plate (stopper urging means) 33) First coil spring (stopper biasing means) 35 Release lever (stopper holding means, operating member) 36 Lock plate (locking member) 38 Second coil spring (lock biasing means) S Product S1 Wide product

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E044 AA01 BA06 CA02 CA03 CC03 CC06 CC10 DB02 DB05 DB14 EA03 EA08 EA20 EB02 FB01 FB03 FB05 FB07 FB09 3E046 AA07 BA03 BB02 BB03 BB04 CA20 CC03 CC08 CD10 CD04 DA01 FA01 EA01 HA01 HA03 HA04 HA05

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine main body having a transparent front panel, a merchandise passage arranged behind the front panel and accommodating a large number of merchandise arranged in a front-rear direction, and the merchandise being provided at a front end of the merchandise passage. A product rack formed with a payout opening for paying out the product, the product rack being movable in the front-rear direction between a storage position stored in the vending machine main body and a withdrawal position pulled out from the vending machine main body forward; A lock member movable between a lock position for locking the product rack in the storage position and a lock release position for releasing the lock; lock biasing means for biasing the lock member toward the lock position; By protruding into the payout port of the product rack, a product storage movably provided between a projecting position for closing the payout port and a retreat position retracting from the payout port. Stopper urging means for urging the product stopper toward the projecting position, stopper holding means for holding the product stopper at the retracted position, and the lock member when the product rack is at the storage position. An operating member which is manually operable to move the lock from the lock position to the unlock position and to release the holding of the product stopper by the stopper holding means. . 2. The commodity passage is constituted by a plurality of commodity passages arranged in the left-right direction, and the commodity stopper extends in the left-right direction, and all payout ports of the plurality of commodity passages are located at the projecting position. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product storage device is constituted by a horizontally long product stopper for closing the product. 3. The operation member is configured to, when manually operated, move the lock member to the unlock position after the product stopper projects to the projecting position. The vending machine product storage device according to claim 1.