JP2001175943A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To heat or cool only articles in a lower part by forming an intermedi ate circulating path in the intermediate part of a column. SOLUTION: First vend mechanisms 54a and 54b for vending articles 17 are provided in the lower terminal part of columns 51a and 51b, and second vend mechanisms 54a and 54b which form a circulating path R for air to be circulated are provided in the intermediate part of the columns 51a and 51b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vending machine,
In particular, the present invention relates to a vending machine in which an intermediate circulation path is formed in an intermediate portion of a column for storing commodities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a heater 12, a cooler 14 of a refrigerating cycle 13 and a lower part of an inner case 11 of a vending machine 10, as shown in FIG.
A fan 15 and the like are provided to circulate heated air or cooling air inside the internal case 11.

[0003] A plurality of columns 16a and 16b are provided in the upper portion of the front of the case 11 in the vertical direction so as to store a large number of products 17.

Further, a duct 18 extending vertically is provided at the upper portion of the rear surface of the case 11 inside the refrigerator, and an upper end opening 18a is located above the columns 16a and 16b, and a lower end opening 18b is located above the heater 12, the cooler 14 and the like. Provided, column 16a,
The heated air or the cooled air circulated through 16b or the like is returned to the heater 12 and the cooler 14.

The upper portions of the columns 16a, 16b are provided with product storage openings 19a, 19b,... For storing the products 17 to be sold, and the lower portions are provided with bend mechanisms 20a, 20b, 20c. The product 17 is shot 2 by operating the operation panel after the input of money (not shown).
1 through the product sales outlet 22.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a compressor of the refrigeration cycle 13, and reference numeral 24 denotes a condenser. Reference numeral 25 denotes a sensor which maintains the internal temperature of the internal case 11 at approximately 55 ° C. during heating, and maintains approximately 5 ° C. during cooling. 26 is a front door of the inner case 11, and 27 is an intermediate door of the inner case 11. Although not shown, the chute 21 is provided with a plurality of through holes through which circulating heated air or cooling air is passed.

In order to sell canned coffee or the like in a hot state in the winter season or the like by the vending machine 10 configured as described above, the heater 12 is heated and the fan 15 is rotated.

As a result, the heated air heated by the heater 12 flows through the through hole of the chute 21, the lower gap between the columns 16a and 16b, the space between the products 17, the upper gap, and the upper opening 18a of the duct 18 as indicated by solid arrows. Then, circulation is performed so as to return to the heater 12 through the intermediate portion and the lower end opening 18b, so that a large number of commodities 17 are all heated to a temperature of about 55 ° C. to make beverage products in a hot state.

As described above, in order to sell canned juice in a cold state by the vending machine 10 in the summer season or the like, the refrigerating cycle 13 is operated to cool the cooler 14 to cool the fan 1.
Rotate 5

As a result, as shown by solid arrows, the cooling air cooled by the cooler 14 is in the hot state, as shown by solid arrows, the lower gap between the columns 16a and 16b, the gap between the products 17, the upper gap, and the duct. A large number of products 17 are circulated to return to the cooler 14 through the upper end opening 18a, the middle portion, and the lower end opening 18b of the plurality of products 18 at almost 5 ° C.
It is cooled to about the cooling temperature to make cold beverage products.

As described above, the vending machine 10 sells the product 17 in a hot state or a cold state according to the preference of the consumer.

However, if all the products 17 are kept in a hot state, the milk and the like in the coffee are decomposed by the heated air because the coffee and the like in a can contain a large amount of milk. There is a problem that lowers.

Further, when all the products 17 are brought into a hot state or a cold state, a large amount of heating power for the heater 12 and cooling power for the refrigeration cycle 13 are required, which raises a problem that power costs are increased.

In order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 3, an intermediate opening 32 provided with a shutter 31 is opened in an intermediate portion of the duct 18 of the vending machine 30, and the heated air or the cooled air is mainly supplied to the column 16a. , 16b circulating in the middle portion, and mainly for heating the lower product 17 or the like.

As a result, only the lower product 17 can be heated or cooled. However, since the product 17 to be heated or cooled is stored in almost all of the columns 16a and 16b, the circulating air in the middle portion is cooled. Resistance cannot be reduced too much.

As a result, a part of the heated air or the like is guided to the intermediate opening 32 as shown by the solid arrow, but the remaining heated air or the like is still guided to the upper side as shown by the dashed line, and the lower commodity 17 In addition, there is a problem that the product 17 such as coffee in a can cannot prevent decomposition of components such as milk by the heating.

In addition, since the heated air is sent to almost the entire inside case 11, there is a problem that the power cannot be sufficiently reduced.

Therefore, in such a vending machine, there is a problem that a reduction in the quality and taste of the product cannot be sufficiently prevented, and energy saving cannot be achieved.

Therefore, according to the present invention, an intermediate circulation path is formed in an intermediate portion of a column for accommodating commodities to heat or cool the lower commodities and to maintain the temperature close to a normal temperature so as not to decompose the components of the upper commodities. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a vending machine adapted to do so.

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a column for accommodating a product to be heated or cooled by heated air or cooling air circulating in a case in the refrigerator, and circulating the heated air or cooling. In a vending machine provided with a duct for circulating air back, a first bend mechanism for selling goods is provided at a lower end of a column, and an intermediate circulation path of circulating air is formed at an intermediate portion of the column. Since the second bend mechanism is provided, only the lower commodities can be efficiently guided or heated or cooled while only the lower commodities are maintained at a normal temperature state.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first bend mechanism and the second bend mechanism are operated synchronously so that a product to be heated or cooled can always be supplied to the first bend mechanism. It was done.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the intermediate circulation path communicates with the intermediate opening formed in the intermediate portion of the duct, so that the heating air or the cooling air is prevented from being led to the upper commodity, and the lower commodity is provided. The heating air or the cooling air can be guided only to the air.

Further, in the invention of claim 4, since the intermediate opening is provided with a shutter which is opened and closed by a driving device, the shutter can be opened and closed according to temperature conditions.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since a shutter of a shape memory member is provided in the intermediate opening, the shutter can be automatically opened at the time of heating to heat the commodity below.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the vending machine of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

The vending machine 50 of the present invention basically has the structure shown in FIG.
Since they are almost the same as the conventional vending machines 10 and 30 shown in FIG. 2, the same parts as those of the conventional vending machines 10 and 30 will be described with the same reference numerals.

The vending machine 50 of the present invention is provided with an inner case 11 made of a heat insulating material. A plurality of vertically extending columns 51a and 51b are provided on the upper part of the front surface of the vending machine 50.
A duct 52 extending vertically in the upper part of the rear surface and having an upper end opening 52a and a lower end opening 52b is provided.

The lower end of each of the columns 51a and 51b has a first
The bend mechanisms 53a, 53b, and 53c are provided to heat or cool only an appropriate number of products 17 to be sold immediately.

A second part is provided between the columns 51a and 51b.
The bend mechanisms 54a, 54b and 54c are provided to sufficiently heat or cool the commodity 17 for immediate sale in the lower part while maintaining the commodity 17 in the upper part at a substantially normal temperature. A low resistance intermediate circulation path R having a gap of one or one and a half of the product 17 is formed so as not to flow into the part.

The first bend mechanisms 53a, 53b, 53
b and the second bend mechanisms 54a, 54b, 54c are synchronously operated, that is, the first bend mechanisms 53a, 53b, 53c
Performs the selling operation of the product 17, the second bend mechanism 5
4a and 54b transfer the product 17 to the first bending mechanisms 53a and 53b.
b, 53c and the first bend mechanisms 53a, 53
b, 53c sells the product 17 sold by the second bend mechanism 54
a, 54b and 54c are replenished.

An intermediate opening 55 is formed in an intermediate portion of the duct 52 facing the intermediate circulation path R, and a shutter 56 (not shown) driven by an electromagnet, an electric motor, or the like is attached to the intermediate opening 55.

In order to sell the merchandise 17 of the vending machine 50 constructed as described above in a hot state, the heater 12 is heated, the fan 15 is rotated, and the shutter 56 is opened by electric drive as shown in the figure.

As a result, the heated air heated by the heater 12 passes through the through hole of the chute 21, the lower gap between the columns 16a and 16b, the space between the products, and the low-resistance circulation path R and the duct 52 as indicated by solid arrows. It circulates so as to return to the heater 12 through the circulation opening 55 and the lower end opening 18b, and only a large number of products 17 at the lower part of the columns 16a and 16b are substantially 55
Heat to an appropriate temperature of about ℃ to make it hot.

When the hot state is set, the heated air passes only through the intermediate circulation path R having a small air resistance or less.
Hardly flow above the bend mechanisms 54a, 54b, 54c.

As a result, the flow of the heated air to the upper portion is prevented, the upper product 17 is maintained at a substantially normal temperature, and the heated air is well guided to the lower product 17 for sale. can do.

Therefore, in the hot state of the product 17, only the immediate sale is suppressed in a short time, so that the product 17 such as
Then, the quality and taste can be prevented from lowering.

On the other hand, since the upper product 17 maintains a substantially normal temperature state, its quality and taste can be maintained for a long period of time.

In order to sell the product 17 of the vending machine 50 in a cold state, the cooler 14 is cooled by operating a refrigeration cycle, the fan 15 is rotated, and the shutter 56 is opened by electric drive as shown in the figure.

As a result, the cooling air cooled by the cooler 14 passes through the through hole of the chute 21, the lower gap between the columns 16 a and 16 b, the space between the products, and the low-resistance circulation path R and the circulation of the duct 52, as indicated by solid arrows. Circulating so as to return to the heater 12 through the opening 55 and the lower end opening 18b, only a large number of commodities 17 under the columns 16a and 16b are cooled to an appropriate temperature of about 5 ° C. and brought into a cold state.

In this manner, the cooling air can cool only the product 17 below the intermediate circulation path R as in the hot state. In addition, since the cooling portion is reduced, the operation rate of the refrigeration cycle 13 is reduced, and power can be saved as in the case of the heating operation.

The shutter 56 is opened in principle, but may be opened by electric drive when the product 17 is heated and closed when it is cooled. Even in this case, power saving during heating can be achieved.

In the above-described embodiment, the shutter 56 is electrically driven. However, a member such as a bimetal shutter or a shape memory alloy that opens the illustrated state in a heated state and closes the intermediate opening 55 in a cooled state and a normal state is used. When used, the cooling air in the cooled state cannot flow from the intermediate portion of the duct 52, but this can be performed automatically in the heated state.

In addition, since a device such as an electric driving device for opening and closing the shutter is not required, the inner case 1
1 can increase the effective area.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the second bending mechanisms 54a, 54b, 54c are attached to the intermediate portions of the columns 51a, 51b, but this position is suitable for the first bending mechanisms 53a, 53b, 53c for selling the goods 17. Number, for example, 4
It is preferable to determine a position where about 10 to about 10 pieces can be secured.

[0045]

The invention of each claim comprises a column for storing goods heated or cooled by the heated air or cooling air circulating in the case inside the cabinet, and returns the circulating heated air or cooling air. In a vending machine provided with a circulating duct, a first bend mechanism for selling products is provided at a lower end of a column, and a second circulating passage for circulating air is formed at an intermediate portion of the column. Since the bend mechanism is provided, only the lower commodities can be efficiently guided or heated or cooled while the upper commodities are maintained at a normal temperature state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a vending machine of the present invention with a partial cross section.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of a conventional vending machine with a partial cross section.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an outline of another conventional vending machine with a partial cross section.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 30, 50 Vending machine 11 Inside case 12 Heater 14 Cooler 15 Fan 16a, 16b, 51a, 51b Column 17 Product 18, 52 Duct 20a, 20b, 20c, 53a, 53b, 53c, 54a,
54b, 54c Bend mechanism 21 Chute 22 Merchandise outlet 25 Sensor 31, 56 Shutter 32 Opening 55 Intermediate opening R Intermediate circulation path

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automatic apparatus comprising: a column for storing or heating a product by heating or cooling air circulating inside a case in a refrigerator; and a duct for returning the circulating heating air or cooling air. In a vending machine, a first bend mechanism for selling goods is provided at a lower end portion of a column, and a second bend mechanism for forming an intermediate circulation path of circulating air is provided at an intermediate portion of the column. Vending machine. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first bending mechanism and the second bending mechanism are operated by synchronous driving.
The vending machine described. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate circulation path communicates with an intermediate opening formed in an intermediate portion of the duct. 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein a shutter which is opened and closed by a driving device is provided in the intermediate opening. 5. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein a shutter of a shape memory member is provided in the intermediate opening.