JP2001014537A - Commodity discharging device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity discharging device for an automatic vending machine which realizes reduction of its cost and simplification of its structure by decreasing the number of switches. SOLUTION: A pressing member 24 and the auxiliary members 25 are continuously placed on a timing belt 22 which is stretched from the top surface to the inside of the main body 21 of this commodity discharging device. A commodity detection member 26 which energizes a sold-out switch 28 contained in the main body 21 is continuously pressed by the members 24 and 25 in place of a commodity when this commodity is discharged. When the discharging of the commodity is over, the front edge under surface of the next commodity is supported by the members 25 to cancel the pressed state of the member 26 caused by the commodity. Then the switch 28 is temporarily turned off and this state of the switch 28 is detected as a stop command. Thus, the switch 28 can serve as a stop switch.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise dispensing apparatus which is incorporated in a lower part of a merchandise column and sequentially discharges merchandise stacked and stored in the merchandise column, and in particular, to simplify the structure and reduce the cost. The present invention relates to an intended product dispensing device for a vending machine.

[0002]

[Related Background Art] A vending machine that sells packaged products such as cigarettes comprises a plurality of product columns 2 for stacking and storing a plurality of products inside a box-shaped vending machine main body 1 as shown in FIG. It has. In accordance with a selective operation of a product selection button (not shown) provided on the front door 3, the corresponding product is paid out from the product column 2 and guided to the product take-out section 5 via the product chute 4. Is done.

[0003] In the lower part of each of the product columns 2, for example, a product payout device 6 configured as shown in FIG. 10 is incorporated. The product dispensing device 6 has a device main body 7 having an upper surface thereof as a product mounting surface, and an endless orbit provided in a front-rear orbit from the upper surface of the device main body 7 to the inside thereof. And a pressing member 9 attached to the outer periphery of the endless belt 8.
The endless belt 8 is driven to run in accordance with a product selection operation, and the pressing member 9 is moved from the rear end of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 7 toward the front end thereof to be placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 7. The product (not shown) is extruded and discharged to the front (the front side of the product column 2).

[0004] In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a sold-out detection switch (shown in the figure) which is pressed by a product placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 7 and is buried inside the apparatus main body 7 and is incorporated in the apparatus main body 7. ) Is a product detection member (lever) that urges the product.

[0005]

By the way, the commodity dispensing device 6 generally incorporates not only the sold-out detection switch described above but also a stop switch (not shown) for controlling the running of the endless belt 8. The stop switch is configured such that, for example, the pressing member 9 attached to the endless belt 8 is
When a predetermined position is reached, the pressing member 9 is pressed and urged to issue a stop command.

However, electric switches and other electric components such as a motor (not shown) for driving the endless belt 8 occupy a large proportion of the component cost in the product dispensing device 6, and are incorporated in the product dispensing device 6. This hinders cost reduction. In particular, the sold-out detection switch merely confirms the accommodation of the product in the product column 2 and is normally constantly energized and directly involved in the delivery of the product by driving the endless belt 8 to travel. do not do.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a commodity dispensing apparatus for a vending machine having a simple configuration in which the number of switches is reduced to reduce the cost. Is to do.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directed to a product column which is built in a lower portion of a product column for stacking and storing a plurality of products, and is arranged on a front surface of the product column in order from the lowest product. The present invention relates to a product dispensing device of a dispensing vending machine, wherein an endless flexible body is provided by hanging from the upper surface of the device main body having the upper surface as a mounting portion of a product to the inside of the main body, making a circular orbit in the front-rear direction, The endless flexible body is driven to travel by a motor, and the endless flexible body is protruded from the rear end side of the apparatus main body to the front end side with the traveling of the endless flexible body toward the front end side. Attach a pressing member that moves toward and pushes out the lowest product in the product column, and protrudes a product detection member that urges a sold-out switch built in the device main body to the upper surface of the device main body. And the equipment It is provided so as to be pressed by a product placed on the upper surface of the main body so as to be immersed inside the main body. Further, when dispensing the product by the pressing member, the product detection member is pressed instead of the product, and when the dispensing is completed, the next product is completed. An auxiliary member that supports the lower surface of the front end of the device and forms a space in which the product detection member protrudes from the upper surface of the apparatus body is connected to the pressing member and attached to the endless flexible body.

Preferably, the auxiliary member is a member having the same structure as the pressing member, and has a column supported by the endless flexible body, and a lateral portion provided at an upper end of the column. It is provided so as to protrude in the direction, passes over the product detection member while pressing the product detection member at the lower surface thereof, and is realized as a structure having an eave portion supporting the lower surface of the next product at the upper surface. I have.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the endless flexible body is stopped with the auxiliary member supporting the lower surface of the front end of the commodity at the lowest position as a standby position, and the sold-out member is sold out. When the product selection switch is operated in a state where the detection switch is energized, the traveling drive is performed, and
The stop control is performed at a position where the vehicle has traveled to the standby position with the release of the urging of the sold-out detection switch as a stop command.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lift member which protrudes from the upper surface of the apparatus main body as the endless flexible body travels and lifts the lower surface of the rear end of the next product. It is characterized in that the next product is supported in a bridge-like manner by the member and the product detection member forms a space protruding from the upper surface of the apparatus main body.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; This product dispensing device is incorporated in the lower part of a product column 2 of a cigarette vending machine and used for paying out products (cigarettes) from the product column 2, and is unitized as shown in FIG. It has an external configuration. In this product dispensing device, the upper surface of a device main body 21 forming a box-shaped housing is used as a product mounting portion, and a plurality of products stored in the product column 2 are stacked on the upper surface of the device main body 21. Products are paid out in front of the product column 2 in order from the lowest product.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 21 is mounted on the apparatus main body 21 from its upper surface.
, An endless timing belt 22 is provided which extends around the orbit in a front-rear direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the timing belt 22 is provided between a driving pulley 31 incorporated at a front portion of the device main body 21 and two guide pulleys 32, 33 incorporated at a rear portion of the device main body 21. The motor is mounted on the inside of the timing belt 22 and driven by a motor 23 incorporated in the apparatus main body 21 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown). Note that, instead of the guide pulleys 32 and 33, the orbital traveling trajectory of the timing belt 22 may be set using a wall-shaped guide body integrally formed with the apparatus main body 21.

A pressing member (pusher) 24 is mounted on the outer periphery of the timing belt 22 so as to protrude from the rear end of the apparatus main body 21 to the upper surface thereof and move toward the front end as the timing belt 22 travels. And two auxiliary members 25, 25 connected to the pressing member 24.
Is attached. These auxiliary members 25, 25 are preferably made of a member having the same structure as the pressing member 24 in order to share components. Incidentally, the pressing member 24 (auxiliary members 25, 25) is roughly composed of a support portion 24a mounted on the outer periphery of the timing belt 22 and the support portion 2a.
Eaves portion 24b provided at the upper end of 4a so as to project laterally
And a T-shaped member having That is, as for the three members connected to the outer periphery of the timing belt 22, the first member in the traveling direction of the timing belt 22 is used as the pressing member 25, and the second and subsequent members are the auxiliary members 2.
Used as 5,25.

The pressing member 24 has a T-shaped eave portion 2.
By moving while pressing the rear end of the product placed on the upper surface of the device main body 21 at the front end of the device 4b, the product plays a role of dispensing the product from the device main body 21, that is, from the product column 2. . Auxiliary members 25, 25 provided in tandem with the pressing member 24 push a product detection member 26, which will be described later, into the inside of the apparatus main body 21 on the lower surface of the eaves portion 24 b, and a product paid out by the pressing member 24. It plays a role of supporting the lower surface of the front end of the next product placed on the upper surface of the eaves portion 24b. The role played by the auxiliary members 25, 25 will be described later in detail.

The pressing member 24 and the auxiliary members 25, 2
The fifth eave portion 24b is set to have a width that can pass through the inside of the apparatus main body 21 and is wider than the width of the timing belt 22, and is set lower than the height of the product. Then, by widely abutting the rear end surface of the product, the product is pressed while keeping the payout posture of the product stably, and the lower surface on the front end side of the next product is stably supported.

On the other hand, the apparatus main body 21 is located on the side of the timing belt 22 and protrudes from the upper surface thereof.
In addition, the commodity detecting member 26 is immersed in the apparatus main body 21.
Is provided. The product detection member 26 is biased by a spring 27 and protrudes from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21 as shown in FIG. 2, and basically receives a load from a product placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21 and receives the load from the spring 27. In order to urge the sold-out detection switch 28 incorporated in the apparatus main body 21 into the apparatus main body 21 against the pressure. When the pressing action of the article detecting member 26 by the article is interrupted in the process of paying out the article by the pushing member 24, the above-mentioned pressing member 24 and the auxiliary members 25, 25 are replaced with the article detecting member by the eave portion 24b instead of the article. It has the function of pressing 26.

At the rear end of the apparatus main body 21, it protrudes from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21 while rotating in the opposite direction to the timing belt 22 as the timing belt 22 travels.
A lift member 29 is provided to lift the lower surface on the rear end side of the next product. The rotational drive of the lift member 29 is performed in conjunction with the traveling drive of the timing belt 22 by transmitting the rotational force of the guide roller 33, for example. In particular, the operation timing of the lift member 29 is determined so that the lift member 29 protrudes from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21 only when the delivery of the product is completed.

The operation of the commodity dispensing apparatus thus constructed will be described step by step with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. The commodity dispensing apparatus incorporated in the lower part of the commodity column 2 will be described with reference to FIG. A rear auxiliary member 25 is attached to the front end of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21.
Is stopped, the timing belt 22 is stopped, and the lower end front end of the commodity A stored in the commodity column 2 is supported by the auxiliary member 25 to stand by [standby state].

At this time, the commodity A at the lowermost position, which is supported obliquely with the front end of the lower surface riding on the auxiliary member 25, has an upper part of the front end face of the restraining member 11 provided on the front surface of the commodity column 2.
To prevent the restraining member 11 from coming out of the opening area between the front end of the commodity dispensing device. Further, the commodity detection member 26 provided substantially at the center of the apparatus main body 21 is pressed at the center of the lower surface of the commodity A at the lowest position obliquely supported as described above, and a sold-out detection switch inside the apparatus main body 21 is provided. 28. When there is no product in the product column 2, the product detection member 26 protrudes from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21 under the bias of the spring 27, so that the sold-out detection switch 28 is not biased. In this state, the sold-out of the product is detected.

When a commodity selection switch (not shown) is operated in the standby state described above, the motor 23 is driven on condition that the sold-out detection switch 28 is energized, and the timing belt 22 starts running. Then, as the timing belt 22 runs, the auxiliary member 2
Since the product 5 comes out from the lower surface of the product A at the lowermost position, the product A in the product column 2 is placed directly on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21 as shown in FIG. The next product B is also in a horizontal state. And timing belt 2
2 and the auxiliary members 25 and 25 connected thereto move through the inside of the apparatus main body 21 to the rear end side of the apparatus main body 21 as the timing belt 22 runs, and move to the rear end. Protruding from the upper part [payout start state].

As the timing belt 22 runs, as shown in FIG.
The product A is pushed out from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21 by moving toward the front end while pressing the rear end. At this time, the next product B superimposed on the product A abuts on the restraining member 11 provided on the front surface of the product column 2 and is prevented from moving, so that it is left as it is in the product column 2 [payout] The first half of the state].

Further, as the timing belt 22 travels, the extrusion of the product A by the pushing member 24 proceeds, and the product A
Is pushed out by more than half its length, the next product B loses its overall support by the product A, and tilts backward as shown in FIG. At this time, the pressing member 24 pressing the rear end face of the product A, and the auxiliary members 25 and 25 connected to the pressing member 24 pass over the product detection member 26 and, as shown in FIG.
The product detection member 26 is pressed one after another by the lower surface of the "a".
That is, the product A is displaced from the position above the product detection member 26 as the product A is extruded. At this time, the product detection member 26 is pressed by the eaves member 24b of the pressing member 24 pressing the product A. And the eaves member 24 of the auxiliary members 25, 25
The product detection member 26 is continuously pressed one after another at b and 24b. Therefore, sold out detection switch 2
8 is kept energized continuously [second half of payout state].

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the pressing member 25 moves to the front end of the apparatus main body 21 and the dispensing of the commodity A is completed, the auxiliary member 25 is accordingly moved to the commodity detecting member 2.
Finish passing above 6. The lower surface of the next product B at the front end side is supported by the upper surface of the eave portion 24b of the auxiliary member 25, and at the same time, the lower surface of the rear end portion is lifted by the lifter member 29 protruding from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21. As a result, the next product B is supported in a bridge shape by the auxiliary member 25 and the lifter member 29, and is lifted by a predetermined height from the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21. Then, the product detection member 26 is released from being pressed by the products A and B, the pressing member 24, and the auxiliary members 25, 25, so that the spring 2
7 and is biased upward by the urging force of 7, and the urging of the sold-out detection switch 28 is released [payout completion state].

The release of the urging of the sold-out detection switch 28 is issued as a stop command of the motor 23, and the drive of the motor 23 is stopped by a motor drive circuit (not shown) with a predetermined time delay from the stop command, for example. The timing belt 22 stops at the position of the standby state shown in FIG. Thus, the timing belt 22
Is stopped (standby state), the lifter member 2
9 is immersed inside the apparatus main body 21 again, and the rear auxiliary member 25 only supports the lower surface on the front end side of the next product B. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the support angle of the next product B becomes shallower, and the product detection member 26 is pressed again inside the apparatus main body 21 on the lower surface of the next product B. Is again energized, and the next product B is in a standby state for payout.

Thus, according to the commodity dispensing apparatus which operates as described above, the pressing member 24 attached to the timing belt 22 and the auxiliary members 25, 25 allow the commodity detecting member 26 to discharge the commodity A at the lowermost position. Since the pressed state is continued and the pressed state of the commodity detection member 26 is only temporarily released upon completion of the payout, the state change of the sold-out detection switch 28 pressed and biased by the commodity detection member 26 (temporary change). Off operation) can be detected as the completion of the product payout. By issuing a stop command to the motor 23 upon detection of the completion of the payout, the timing belt 22 is stopped, thereby completing a single product payout operation from the product column 2.

Therefore, according to the present apparatus, the running of the timing belt 22 can be controlled by effectively utilizing the sold-out detection switch 28, which merely monitors the remaining state of the product independently. There is no need to incorporate a stop switch. In other words, one switch 28 can be made to function as a sold-out detection switch and a stop switch, and the number of switches that cause a high component cost can be reduced to one. Moreover, a plurality of pressing members 2
4 is simply prepared and attached to the timing belt 22 as the auxiliary members 25, 25, so that the configuration is simple and the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

Further, as shown in the embodiment, in the standby state, the timing belt 22 is stopped in a state where the auxiliary member 25 is positioned at the front end of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21, so that the lowermost product in the product column 2 is located. The lower surface of the front end of A is supported by the auxiliary member 25, and the commodity A at the lowermost position is inclined backward, so that the front end of the commodity A can be brought into contact with the restraining member 11. As a result, it is possible to expect a secondary effect such as an undesired drop of the product A from the product column 2 can be effectively prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, by increasing the number of auxiliary members 25 attached to the timing belt 22,
By shifting the support position of the next product B at the time of completing the dispensing of the product A at the lowermost position to the rear side and increasing the inclination angle of the next product B, the product detection member 26 can sufficiently project to the upper surface of the apparatus main body 21. A space may be formed.
Alternatively, the height itself of the pressing member 24 and the auxiliary member 25 may be increased to increase the support inclination angle of the next product B. In this way, the sold-out detection switch 28 can be turned off when the delivery of the product A is completed without providing the lift member 29, so that the configuration can be further simplified. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, such as the drive mechanism of the timing belt 22 and the configuration of an endless flexible body that replaces the timing belt.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the commodity detecting member for pressing and pressing the sold-out detecting switch is pressed by the auxiliary member provided in connection with the pressing member attached to the endless flexible body. And the auxiliary member releases the pressing of the product detecting member by temporarily lifting the product placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, so that the sold-out detecting switch is used as a switch for stopping the operation. It can be shared. As a result, a great effect can be achieved such that the number of switches that cause a high component cost can be reduced and the cost of the product dispensing device can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a commodity dispensing device of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic internal structure of the commodity delivery device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view for explaining the operation of the commodity dispensing device shown in FIG. 1 and shows a standby state.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view for explaining the operation of the commodity dispensing device shown in FIG. 1 and shows a dispensing operation start state.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view for explaining the operation of the commodity dispensing device shown in FIG. 1 and shows a first half state of a dispensing operation.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view for explaining the operation of the commodity dispensing device shown in FIG. 1, showing a latter half state of the dispensing operation.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view for explaining the operation of the commodity dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and shows a dispensing completed state.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a configuration and an operation of a product payout apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and showing a state of completion of payout.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vending machine.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional general product payout apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Product Column 21 Device Body 22 Timing Belt (Endless Flexible Body) 23 Motor 24 Pressing Member (Pusher) 25 Auxiliary Member 26 Product Detection Member 28 Sold Out Detection Switch (Stop Switch) 29 Lift Member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A commodity dispensing device for a vending machine which is incorporated in a lower part of a commodity column for storing a plurality of commodities in a stacked manner and pays out the commodity from the lowest position to the front of the commodity column in order. An endless flexible body which is provided on the inside of the main body from an upper surface of the main body of the apparatus, and which is provided in a circular orbit in a front-rear direction and which is driven to run by a motor; The endless flexible body is attached to the flexible body, and protrudes from the rear end side of the apparatus main body to the upper surface as the endless flexible body travels, moves toward the front end side, and pushes out the lowest product in the product column. A pressing member, which protrudes from the upper surface of the apparatus main body and is provided so as to be immersible inside the main body, and urges a sold-out switch which is pressed by a product placed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body and incorporated inside the apparatus main body. A product detection member, The product detection member is attached to the endless flexible body in connection with the pressing member, and presses the product detection member when the product is dispensed by the pressing member, and supports the lower surface of the front end of the next product when the dispensing is completed, so that the product detection member is an apparatus. An auxiliary member forming a space protruding from the upper surface of the main body; 2. The auxiliary member is made of a member having the same structure as that of the pressing member, and has a column supported by the endless flexible body, and is provided at an upper end of the column to press the product detecting member. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising an eave portion that passes thereover while supporting the lower surface of the product. 3. The endless flexible body stops when the auxiliary member supports the lower surface of the lower front end of the commodity at the lowermost position as a standby position, and selects the commodity when the sold-out detection switch is energized. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is driven when the switch is operated, and is controlled to stop after traveling to the standby position with the release of the urging of the sold-out detection switch as a stop command. 3. Dispensing device. 4. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body includes a lift member that protrudes to an upper surface as the endless flexible body travels and lifts a rear end lower surface of a next product. Machine for dispensing goods.