JP2001184555A - Article carrying-out device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article carrying-out device for an automatic vending machine with which an article can be suitably stored in a bucket and can be reliably carried out into an article take-out port at the time of vending. SOLUTION: An article carrying-out device 8 for an automatic vending machine carries out an article S dispensed forward from an article path 22 into an article take-out part 5. This device is provided with a bucket 42 which receives the dispensed article S and stores it inside for carrying out the article S into the article take-out port 5 by having the inside communicated with the article take-out port 5 when the article is moved to the article take-out port 5, a driving motor, a drum 71 for feeding the dispensed article S into the bucket 42, a switch 101 for detecting whether the article S fed into the bucket 42 is abutted on an opening/closing door 92 of the bucket 42, and stop means for stopping the rotation of the drum 71 by stopping the operation of a driving motor when it is detected that the article S is abutted on the opening/closing door of the bucket 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product for receiving a product paid out from a product aisle at the time of sale and receiving the product in a bucket, and moving the bucket to carry out the stored product to a product outlet. The present invention relates to a vending machine product carrying device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present invention has proposed a product unloading device of this kind,
For example, an application has already been filed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-158309. FIG. 8 shows that the bucket of this product unloading device is
FIG. 9 shows a state in which the product has been moved to the vicinity of the payout exit of the product passage at the time of sale, and FIG. 9 shows a state of paying out the product and delivering the product to the bucket. As shown in these figures, the product unloading device 141 is a horizontal product rack 142.
At the time of sale, a product stored in the product path 143 extending in the upper front-rear direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 8 and 9) is moved forward while pressing from the rear, and the frontmost product is paid out at the time of sale. The mechanism 144 and the goods paid out by the goods payout mechanism 144 are transferred to the goods passage 14.
3 is received near the payout port at the front end of the bucket 3 and stored in the bucket 145, and thereafter, the bucket 145 moves and transports the stored product to a product outlet (not shown). I have.

[0003] The bucket 145 of this product transport device 146
Is formed in a box shape, and has a space formed therein for accommodating the paid-out products.
An opening / closing door 14 that opens and closes the lower half by pivoting about the upper end is provided in the lower half of the front surface of the bucket 145.
On the other hand, a tray 148 is provided on the bottom surface of the bucket 145 to open and close the bottom surface by rotating around the rear end. The opening / closing door 147 and the tray 148 are connected to each other by a link 149, and the opening / closing door 147 is also opened / closed in conjunction with opening / closing of the tray 148. A lock pin 148a protruding leftward is attached to the center of the left side of the tray 148 in the front-rear direction, and has a U-shaped notch 150a having an open back when the tray 148 is closed. The lock pin 148a is engaged with the lock plate 150 which is slidable in the front-rear direction, so that the tray 148 is locked, so that the tray 148 and the opening / closing door 147 are kept closed. .

Further, on the outer surface of the left side wall of the bucket 145, at the time of sale, the commodity delivery mechanism 144 is driven, the gate 151 which normally closes the exit of the commodity passage 143 is opened, and the opening / closing door is opened. 147 and Tray 1
Further, a drive mechanism 153 for rotating and driving a drum 152 for opening the 48 and for bridging the discharged goods to the bucket 145 is provided. The drum 152
It is always stored in the bucket 145, and when paying out the product at the time of sale, as shown in FIG. 9, while protruding to the rear product passage 143 side, and rotating counterclockwise in FIG. The paid-out product is sent out into the bucket 145 while being supported from below. In addition, the bucket 145 indicates that the product is bucket 1
45 has a sensor (not shown) for detecting that the product is stored in the bucket 145 when the sensor detects that the product has been stored in the bucket 145.
The rotation of is stopped.

[0005] The product unloading device 141 configured as described above.
Then, the product delivered from the product path 143 is carried out to the product outlet as follows. In other words, the product paid out by the product payout mechanism 144 is sent out into the bucket 145 by the rotating drum 152. The goods pass over the drum 152 and are
The rotation of the drum 152 is stopped when the above-described sensor (not shown) detects that the drum 152 is accommodated in the drum 5. Then, the bucket 145 containing the product moves to the product outlet and stops. Thereafter, the driving mechanism 153 unlocks the tray 148 by sliding the lock plate 150 forward, thereby
8 and the opening / closing door 147 are opened, and the product in the bucket 145 is carried out to the product outlet while falling.

[0006]

According to the above-described commodity carrying-out device 141, the bucket 145 depends on the size and shape of the commodity and the state of storage in the bucket 145.
In some cases, even though the product has been completely stored in the inside, that is not properly detected by the sensor.
In this case, as the drum 152 continues to rotate, the product is placed on the front wall 145a of the bucket 145 (opening door 1).
47 and the front wall 145a and the drum 15
In some cases, they may be strongly sandwiched from the front and the back by 2.
As described above, when the product is stored in the bucket 145 in a state sandwiched between the front wall 145a and the drum 152, the product moves to the product outlet and the tray 148 and the opening / closing door 147 are opened. Is held in the bucket 145 and may not be properly carried out to the product outlet. In addition, when the product is soft, the product may be deformed.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the above case, when the product S comes into contact with the opening / closing door 147 and presses it, a force for opening the door acts on the opening / closing door 147. Then, the opening / closing door 147 is provided via the link 149.
The force for opening also acts on the tray 148 connected to the
8a is pressed against the bottom surface of the notch 150a of the lock plate 150 from above. In this case, the unlocking of the tray 148 by the driving mechanism 153 may not be performed, so that the tray 148 and the opening / closing door 147 cannot be opened, and the product S cannot be appropriately carried out to the product outlet.

[0008] Therefore, in view of the above points, there is room for improvement in the above-mentioned commodity carrying-out apparatus already filed by the present applicant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and can appropriately store a product in a bucket at the time of sale, and can surely carry the product to a product outlet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product discharging device for a vending machine.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a merchandise unloading device for a vending machine, wherein the merchandise unloading device of the vending machine discharges the merchandise paid out from the merchandise aisle to the merchandise outlet when selling. Along with receiving the paid-out product and storing it inside, the product is configured to be movable between a receiving position for receiving the product and the product outlet, and when the product is moved to the product outlet, the interior is defined as the product outlet. By communicating with each other, a bucket for carrying out stored goods to the commodity outlet, a driving source, and a rotatably provided rear end portion of the bucket. When the bucket is located at the receiving position, the driving source moves in a predetermined direction. By being driven to rotate, the rotating body that feeds the dispensed product from below into the bucket while supporting it from below, and the product that is dispensed into the bucket by the rotating body abuts on the front wall of the bucket. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the product has come into contact with the front wall of the bucket, and stopping the rotation of the rotating body by stopping the operation of the driving source when the detecting means detects that the product has contacted the front wall of the bucket. Means.

According to this configuration, at the time of sale, the commodity paid out from the commodity passage is transferred to the bucket at the receiving position. At the time of this delivery, the product is sent out into the bucket while being supported from below by the rotating body at the rear end of the bucket. Then, when it is detected by the detecting means that this product has contacted the front wall of the bucket,
The operation of the drive source is stopped by the stopping means, whereby the rotation of the rotating body is stopped. That is, when the product being sent into the bucket by the rotating body comes into contact with the front wall of the bucket, the sending of the product is stopped. Thereby, the goods sent out by the rotating body,
It is possible to prevent the bucket from being strongly pressed against the front wall of the bucket or being strongly sandwiched between the front wall of the bucket and the rotating body. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the product from being held in the bucket and the product from being deformed when the product is carried out to the product outlet. Therefore, at the time of sale, the product can be appropriately stored in the bucket, and the product can be reliably carried out to the product outlet.

In this case, the bucket is provided on the bottom surface thereof, and pivots around the rear end portion between a lower door opening position for opening the bottom surface and a lower door closing position for closing the bottom surface. The lower door that opens and closes, and the front wall of the bucket,
A front door that opens and closes the front, and a lower door and a front door are connected by rotating around the upper end between the front door opening position that opens the front of the bucket and the front door closing position that closes the front. A connection link that opens and closes the other as one of the lower door and the front door is opened and closed, and an engaging portion that can be disengaged from the lower door, and when the engaging portion is engaged with the lower door. In addition to supporting the lower door from below, the lower door is locked in the lower door closed position, and prior to opening of the lower door, the locking portion is released from the lower door, thereby unlocking the lower door. And a lock mechanism.

According to this structure, when the goods stored in the bucket are carried out to the goods outlet, first, the engaging portion of the lock mechanism is disengaged from the lower door, and the lower door is locked at the lower door closed position. Is released. Thereafter, when one of the closed lower door and the front door starts to open, the other connected via the connection link also starts to open. When the lower door and the front door are opened, the bucket opens from the front surface to the bottom surface, and the inside of the bucket communicates with the product outlet. As a result, the products stored in the bucket are carried out to the product outlet while falling.

The lower door when locked by the lock mechanism is supported from below by the engaging portion. In this state, when the product is delivered to the bucket, the product is not pressed against the front door of the bucket by the rotating body, and the force to open the front door at the front door closed position is generated by the product. The force that attempts to open the lower door connected to the front door via the connection link with almost no action on the front door, that is, to press the lower door against the engagement portion of the lock mechanism from above. Little force acts on the engaging portion. Therefore, when the product is delivered to and stored in the bucket, unlike the related art, the engaging portion can be reliably detached from the lower door, and as a result,
The lock of the lower door can be reliably released.

In this case, the detecting means has a switch which is turned ON / OFF by the front door when the front door is rotated by a predetermined amount from the front door closed position to the front door open position. Is preferred.

According to this configuration, the commodity sent out into the bucket by the rotating body contacts the front door and presses it, whereby the front door rotates from the front door closed position to the front door open position. I do. When the front door is rotated by a predetermined amount, the switch of the detecting means is turned on / off by the front door.
F is switched. Therefore, switch ON / OF
Based on the F switching, it is possible to easily detect that the product has contacted the front door, and thereby easily and reliably detect the timing at which the delivery of the product by the rotating body should be stopped.

In these cases, the connecting link is connected to the lower door and the front door, respectively, and the first link and the second link are slidably connected to each other in the longitudinal direction. Holding means for holding the two links in a reduced state and allowing the first link and the second link to slide in the direction of extension when the goods stored in the bucket press the front door. Is preferred.

According to this configuration, the lower door and the front door are respectively connected by the first link and the second link that are slidably connected to each other in the longitudinal direction, and the first and second links are connected to each other.
The link and the second link are normally kept in a reduced state by the holding means, and when the goods stored in the bucket press the front door, the first means is held by the holding means.
Sliding of the link and the second link in the extension direction is allowed. For this reason, when the product stored in the bucket presses the front door, even if the lower door is locked at the lower door closed position, the front door is slid in the extension direction of the first link and the second link. Can be rotated from the front door closed position to the front door open position to escape. Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the product from being strongly pressed against the front door or being strongly sandwiched between the front door and the rotating body. Further, in a case where the lower door and the front door are opened while the first link and the second link are held in a reduced state by the holding means, and the products stored in the bucket are carried out to the product outlet, When pressed by the product, the first link and the second link
It can slide in the extension direction according to the size of the product. When the first link and the second link slide in the extension direction, the lower door and the front door are opened, and the discharge opening formed from the front surface to the bottom surface of the bucket is formed by the first link and the second link. It is larger than when it is in a reduced state. As a result, it is possible to prevent the product from being clogged between the lower door and the front door when the product is carried out from the bucket to the product outlet.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a vending machine incorporating a product unloading device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 includes a box-shaped vending machine main body 2 and a main door 3 that opens and closes a front surface thereof. The main door 3 incorporates a transparent panel 4 corresponding to the size of the front surface of a product storage 7 described later, and a glass heat insulating door 6 is provided on the front of the product storage 7. That is, the vending machine 1 is of a so-called sheath type in which the product S itself stored in the product storage 7 is used as a display and the purchaser can see the selling operation of the product S.

Although not shown, a coin insertion slot, an amount display portion for displaying the amount of inserted coins, a return lever for returning coins, and a return lever for taking out returned coins are provided on the front surface of the main door 3. A coin return slot and a selection button for selecting a product S are provided.
Further, below the main door 3, a product outlet 5 for the purchaser to take out the product S is provided.

The vending machine body 2 has a product storage 7 defined by a front heat insulating door 6 and a peripheral wall 7a containing a heat insulating material.
A product unloading device 8 that unloads the product S stored in the product storage 7 to the product outlet 5 and a microcomputer that performs various controls in the vending machine main body 2 including the product unloading device 8 (not shown). Control circuit (including a stopping means). The product storage 7 is slightly upper than an intermediate portion in the vertical direction, and is divided into upper and lower stages by a heat insulating partition plate 9 and the like. A heating chamber 11 is on the upper side and a cooling chamber 12 is on the lower side. The product unloading device 8 includes a product delivery mechanism 24 and a product transport device 41, which will be described later.

The heating room 11 and the cooling room 1 of the product storage 7
2 is a product rack 1 for placing and storing the product S
3 are arranged in three stages and four stages in the vertical direction, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each product rack 13 has a horizontal storage plate 14 on which the product S is placed, and the left and right ends and the rear end of the storage plate 14 are bent upward. Is formed. Eight partition walls 21 extending in the front-rear direction and arranged in the left-right direction are arranged on the storage plate 14 in parallel with each other. The storage plate 14 is partitioned by these partition walls 21, and a product path 22 is defined by partition walls 21, 21 and the like adjacent to each other, and the product S of the same item is placed in each product path 22 in the front-rear direction. Are stored side by side.

Each partition wall 21 has a partition body 23 extending in the front-rear direction and constituting a side wall of the product passage 22. The product S stored in the product passage 22 is paid to the partition body 23 forward at the time of sale. A product dispensing mechanism 24 for dispensing and a stopper mechanism 25 for opening and closing the dispensing opening 22a at the front end of the product passage 22 at the time of sale are assembled.

The product dispensing mechanism 24 includes a gear 31 (only the front end gear is shown) rotatably provided at the front end and the rear end of the partition body 23, and these gears 31.
The timing belt 32 is wound around the timing belt 32. The timing belt 32 is connected to the timing belt 32. The timing belt 32 is provided so as to protrude into the product passage 22. It is constituted by a pusher 33 for pressing the product S in the passage 22 from behind, and the like. The gear 31 at the front end is a gear having a large diameter and a small diameter, and is configured in two stages. A gear part having a large diameter faces outward from the front end of the partition body 23, and the timing belt 32 is attached to a gear part having a small diameter. It is wound. In the following description, the gear 31 provided at the front end of the partition main body 23 is referred to as a “dispensing gear 31”.

On the other hand, the stopper mechanism 25 is for preventing the product S from unexpectedly dropping out of the product path 22 during standby for sale, and is a rod-shaped rotatably provided at the front end of the partition body 23. Stopper 34 and this stopper 3
4 is supported, and the pressed portion 35a is pressed down by a pressing lever 70, which will be described later, or when the pressing down is released, the stopper 34 is released.
Is constituted by an opening / closing mechanism 35 for rotating the motor.

Product delivery mechanism 2 configured as described above
4 and the stopper mechanism 25 allow the product S stored in the product path 22 to be sold at the time of sale as follows.
2 paid out. That is, first, the stopper mechanism 2
The pressed part 35 a of the fifth unit is pressed down by the pressing lever 70. Then, the stopper 34 that has laid horizontally and closed the payout port 22a is turned by approximately 90 degrees and rises to open the payout port 22a. Thereafter, when the dispensing gear 31 of the commodity dispensing mechanism 24 is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction by a floating gear 73 described later, the timing belt 32 rotates, and accordingly, the pusher 33 moves the commodity S stored in the commodity passage 22. It moves forward while pressing the whole from behind. As a result, the commodity S located at the forefront of the commodity path 22 is paid out from the commodity path 22 forward. Note that, after the commodity S is paid out, when the pressing of the pressed portion 35a of the stopper mechanism 25 by the pressing lever 70 is released, the stopper 34 automatically rotates and returns to the original position,
The payout opening 22a is closed.

Next, a description will be given of a product transport device 41 for transporting the product S paid out from the product path 22 to the product outlet 5. The product transport device 41 accommodates and holds the product S paid out from the product rack 13, moves to the product outlet 5 and carries out the product S, and a horizontal movement that moves the bucket 42 in the left-right direction. A mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “X module”) 43 and a vertical movement mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “Y module”) 44 for moving the bucket 42 in the vertical direction are provided.

The X module 43 has a bucket 42 therein.
And a horizontally long box-shaped bucket container 45 having a length substantially equal to the width of the product storage 7, and a moving mechanism (shown in the drawing) that is built in the bucket container 45 and moves the bucket 42 in the left-right direction. Z)). The bucket container 45 has a large opening on the back and bottom surfaces, and the commodity S paid out from the commodity passage 22 is delivered to the bucket 42 through the opening on the back, and the commodity S
Is carried out to the product outlet 5 through the opening in the bottom surface.

On the other hand, the Y module 44 is
The bucket housing 45 is moved up and down while supporting the bucket container 45 at both left and right ends. Specifically, each Y module 4
The pulley 46 and the sprocket 47 are rotatably provided at upper and lower ends of the product storage 7, respectively, and are wound around the pulley 46 and the sprocket 47, respectively. A wire 51 and a chain 52 whose rear ends are connected to each other via a weight 49. Both Y modules 44,
44 pulleys 46, 46 and sprockets 47,
47 are arranged coaxially, and while each pulley 46 rotates independently of each other by the wire 51,
The two sprockets 47 are rotated in synchronization with each other via a drive shaft 53.

Both Y modules 4 configured as described above
In 4 and 44, when the drive shaft 53 is driven to rotate by the Y module drive motor 54 provided in the lower part of the product storage 7, the sprockets 47 fixed to both ends thereof are provided.
47 rotates and the wire 51 and the chain 52 are driven. Accordingly, the bucket container 45 is driven in the vertical direction, and accordingly, the bucket 42 is driven in the vertical direction.

Therefore, the bucket 42 is driven up, down, left, and right in front of the product rack 13 by the X module 43 and the Y modules 44, 44 configured as described above at the time of sale, and the receiving position in front of the product path 22. Between the product and the product outlet 5.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bucket 42 receives a commodity S delivered from the commodity passage 22 and temporarily stores and holds the commodity S until it is carried out to the commodity outlet 5. The bucket main body 61 has a drive mechanism 63 mounted on an outer surface of a left side wall 61a of the bucket body 61 via a case 62 for driving a payout / storage mechanism 66 and a carry-out mechanism 67 described later.

The bucket body 61 is formed in a box shape and has a structure that is open from the rear half of the upper surface to the upper half of the rear surface. The product storage opening 6 in this open portion
4, the goods S paid out from the goods passage 22 are:
It is housed in a housing part 65 formed in the bucket body 61. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The dispensing mechanism 24 and the stopper mechanism 25 are driven, and the dispensing / storing mechanism 66 for accommodating the ejected commodities S in the accommodating section 65 and unloading for ejecting the accommodated commodities S to the merchandise outlet 5. A mechanism 67 is provided.

The dispensing / storing mechanism 66 is provided with a product accommodating opening 64.
And a drum 71 (rotating body) that sends the product S to the storage portion 65 while supporting the product S from below when paying out the product S at the time of sale, and rotatably supports the drum 71. A drum holder 72 rotatable about a fulcrum 72a at a lower end thereof, and an engagement that is rotatably supported by the upper end of the drum holder 72 and engages with the payout gear 31 as the drum holder 72 rotates. A stopper mechanism for opening a floating gear 73 that is rotationally driven between a position (see FIG. 9) and a separation position (see FIG. 4) that is separated from the dispensing gear 31, and a discharge port 22a of the product passage 22. 2
5 is pushed down from above, and the stopper 3
And a pressing lever 70 for rotating the shutter 4.

The drum 71 extends horizontally in the left-right direction and is inserted into a cylindrical drum body 74 having a length substantially equal to the width of the inside of the bucket body 61, and is inserted into bearings therein. A rotation shaft (hereinafter referred to as a “drum rotation shaft”) rotatably supported above the fulcrum 72 a
75). Therefore, the drum 71
9 is a position where most of the drum holder 72 is accommodated in the bucket body 61 due to the rotation of the drum holder 72 (refer to FIG. 4, this position is also hereinafter referred to as a “separated position”), and a position protruding toward the product passage 22 (FIG. (This position is also referred to as the "engagement position" below.)
And rotate between.

The drum rotating shaft 75, together with the bearing of the drum body 74, constitutes a so-called one-way clutch. When the drum rotating shaft 75 is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction by a drive motor (drive source) (not shown), Accordingly, the drum main body 74 rotates only in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. A drive gear 76 for rotating the drum body 74 and the floating gear 73 is provided at the left end of the drum rotation shaft 75. The drive gear 76 is a two-stage gear having large and small diameters, and a first intermediate gear 77 for driving the floating gear 73 meshes with the large diameter gear portion. The first intermediate gear 77 is also configured in two stages, similarly to the drive gear 76, and the drive gear 76 meshes with the large-diameter gear portion, while the small-diameter gear portion rotationally drives the floating gear 73. Gear timing belt 78 is wound. On the other hand, a small diameter gear portion of the drive gear 76 is provided with a drum holder 72.
A drum timing belt 80 driven by a second intermediate gear 79 provided coaxially with the fulcrum 72a is wound. Thus, when the second intermediate gear 79 rotates, the driving gear 76 is driven to rotate via the drum timing belt 80. As the drive gear 76 rotates, the drum rotation shaft 75 is driven to rotate, and the first intermediate gear 77 and the gear timing belt 7 are rotated.
The gear rotation shaft 83 described later is rotationally driven through the gear 8.

The floating gear 73 is rotatably supported by the upper end of the drum holder 72 and rotatably supported by the upper end of the drum holder 72. Shaft (hereinafter referred to as “gear rotation axis”)
83. The floating gear body 82 is configured substantially in the same manner as the dispensing gear 31. A large-diameter gear portion is disengaged from the dispensing gear 31, while the small-diameter gear portion is wound around the gear timing belt 78. ing. Further, the gear rotating shaft 83 constitutes a so-called one-way clutch together with the bearing of the floating gear main body 82.
, Is rotated only in the counterclockwise direction.

A torsion spring 84 is provided at a fulcrum 72a of the drum holder 72, and the torsion spring 84 urges the drum holder 72 toward the engagement position. Thus, when the floating gear 73 is located at the engagement position, the floating gear 73 is pressed against the payout gear 31, and the gears 73 and 31 can be properly engaged. Further, an engagement portion 85 that engages with a triangular link 122 described later is provided at the front end of the drum holder 72. The engaging portion 85 has a rectangular through hole 85a formed therein.
2, the engaging pin 122c is loosely inserted. Then, the drum holder 72 always holds the engaging pin 122c.
As a result, the engagement pin 122c is moved backward to be pulled to the separated position against the torsion spring 84, and when the attraction is released, the engagement pin 122c is rotated to the engagement position side.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the pressing lever 70 is housed in the bucket 42, it extends substantially vertically, and when the payout port 22a is opened, the stopper mechanism 25 is used.
The pressing portion 70a which comes into contact with the pressed portion 35a from above and presses down the pressing portion 35a, and is connected to the lower end portion of the pressing portion 70a by bending downward and forward, and the leading end portion is a rack member 126 to be described later.
The side cross section is formed in a substantially U-shape by the connecting portion 70b engaged with. Further, a front pin 70c and a rear pin 70d are provided on the left side surface of the bent portion of the pressing lever 70, each of which protrudes leftward and has a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction. The front pin 70c extends vertically in the left side wall of the case 62, and is loosely inserted into a front long hole 62a that extends rearward while the upper portion curves upward and convex. On the other hand, the rear pin 70d is loosely inserted in the left side wall of the case 62 in the rear long hole 62b which extends in the vertical direction near the upper portion of the front long hole 62a at a predetermined interval behind the front long hole 62a. As a result, the pressing lever 70 moves the front long hole 62a and the rear long hole 62a.
b, the rear pin 70d abuts on the upper end in the rear elongated hole 62b when driven upward by a rack member 126 described later. In FIG. 4, the pressed portion 35a of the stopper mechanism 25 is pressed down.

Next, the unloading mechanism 67 will be described. The unloading mechanism 67 includes a tray 91 (lower door) provided on the bottom surface of the bucket body 61 so as to be openable and closable, and an openable door 92 (front door) provided on the lower half of the front surface of the bucket body 61 so as to be openable and closable.
And a connection link 93 for connecting the tray 91 and the opening / closing door 92 to each other.

The tray 91 is formed of a flat plate, and has a front edge and both left and right edges bent downward. The rear end of the tray 91 is located on the left and right side walls 6 of the bucket body 61.
The trays 1a and 61a are rotatably supported and have a tray closed position (lower door closed position) as shown in FIG. 4 and a tray lowered position as shown in FIG. The bottom surface of the bucket body 61 is opened and closed by rotating between an open position (a lower door open position). A torsion spring 95 is provided on a rotation shaft 94 at the rear end of the tray 91.
1 is held in a tray closed position.

At the left end of the tray 91, a pressed portion 96 is provided which extends obliquely upward. The pressed portion 96 is carried out of the product S by a pressing pin (not shown) that can move horizontally in the front-rear direction in accordance with the rotation of the driving mechanism 63 in a predetermined direction and a predetermined angle of a cam disk 111 described later. Sometimes it is pushed forward. Then, when the pressed portion 96 is pressed from behind by the pressing pin, the tray 91 rotates from the tray closed position to the tray open position, and opens the bottom surface of the bucket body 61. Conversely, when the pressing pin retreats and the pressing on the pressed portion 96 is released, the tray 91 is automatically returned from the tray open position to the tray closed position by the torsion spring 95, and the bucket body 61.
Close the bottom of.

Further, at the left end of the tray 91, there is provided a lock mechanism 97 for always locking the tray 91 to the tray closed position and releasing the lock when the goods S are carried out. The lock mechanism 97 includes a lock pin 98 attached to the left side surface of the tray 91 at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction so as to protrude leftward, and is slidable in the front-rear direction and detachable from the lock pin 98. Lock plate 99
And a tension spring 100 that urges the lock plate 99 rearward to engage the lock pin 98. The lock plate 99 has a U-shaped notch 99a with an open back surface, and when the lock pin 98 of the tray 91 is inserted into the notch 99a, the lock pin 98 can move in the vertical direction. As a result, the tray 91 is locked at the tray closed position. Conversely, the lock plate 99 is driven forward by the drive mechanism 63 against the tension spring 100 and detaches from the lock pin 98, thereby unlocking the tray 91.
Prior to the opening of the tray 91, the lock plate 99 is driven forward in accordance with the rotation of the cam disk 111 of the drive mechanism 63 in a predetermined direction and at a predetermined angle.

On the other hand, the opening / closing door 92 has its upper end rotatably supported by left and right side walls 61a, 61a of the bucket body 61, and as shown in FIG. By pivoting between a position (front door closing position) and an opening / closing door opening position (front door opening position) that is in a forward lowered position as shown in FIG. 6, the lower half of the front surface of the bucket body 61 is rotated. Open and close.

Further, as shown in FIG.
At the lower end of the side wall 61a of the first switch 61, a switch 101 for detecting whether or not the product S sent to the storage portion 65 in the bucket body 61 by the drum 71 abuts on the opening / closing door 92 when the product S is received. Detection means). The switch 101 is turned on by being pressed by the opening / closing door 92 when the opening / closing door 92 is located at the opening / closing door closing position, and the sent product S comes into contact with the opening / closing door 92, By turning this to the open / close door open position by a predetermined amount, the state is switched to the OFF state.

The connecting link 93 is formed in a rod shape, and has a rear end portion rotatably connected to a pressed portion 96 of the tray 91 (a first link). The door link 103 (second link), which is formed in a rod shape, is connected to the tray link 102, and has a front end rotatably connected to the opening / closing door 92, and always reduces the tray link 102 and the door link 103. Tension spring 104 for holding in a state
And (holding means). The tray link 102 is provided with a front end thereof and a pair of engaging pins 102a, 102a which are engaged with the door link 103 at a position separated rearward by a predetermined distance from the front end. On the other hand, the door link 103 has a pair of long holes 103a, which engage with the engagement pins 102a, 102a in a retaining state, respectively.
103 is formed. Therefore, tray link 1
02 and the door link 103 are slidable with each other in the longitudinal direction.

The goods S stored in the bucket body 61 are carried out to the goods take-out port 5 by the carry-out mechanism 67 configured as described above as follows. That is, the driving mechanism 6
When the third cam disk 111 rotates by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction,
The tray 91 is unlocked by a tray opening / closing means (not shown) interlocked with the rotation of the cam disk 111, and then the tray 91 is driven to rotate from the tray closed position to the tray open position. Then, this tray 91
Opening and closing door 9 connected to connection door 103 via connection link 103
2 also rotates from the door closed position to the door open position. Thereby, the opening 105 for carrying out is formed in the bucket main body 61 from the lower half of the front surface to the bottom surface.
), The product S in the bucket body 61 falls while being guided by the tray 91, and is carried out to the product outlet 5.

Next, a description will be given of the drive mechanism 63 for driving the payout / storage mechanism 66 and the carry-out mechanism 67 configured as described above. The driving mechanism 63, as shown in FIG.
A cam disk 111 which is arranged substantially at the center of the case 62 and has a number of teeth on the peripheral surface and has a cam groove 121 of a predetermined shape on the side surface, and this cam disk 111 is A cam motor 113 that rotates and a drive motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the drum 71 and the idle gear 73 are provided.

The cam disk 111 is configured to rotate forward and reverse via a reduction gear train 112 when the cam motor 113 rotates forward and backward. Cam disk 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 11 indicates a state before the start of rotation, that is, a state where the home position is located. In the following description,
The rotation direction of the cam disk 111 and the extending direction of the cam groove 121 will be described with reference to the case where the cam disk 111 is viewed from the right side (when viewed from the front side of the paper surface in FIGS. 4 to 6).

As shown in FIG. 4, by rotating the drum holder 72 on the left side of the cam disk 111, the floating gear 73 and the drum 71 are rotationally driven between the engagement position and the separation position. Cam groove 121 is formed.
The cam groove 121 is formed so as to extend from the vicinity of the center of the cam disk 111 to the vicinity of the peripheral surface while making an approximately 7/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction. The cam groove 121 is formed in a substantially triangular shape. Triangular link 122 is engaged via a pin 122a provided at the front apex. When the cam disk 111 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4, the triangular link 122 rotates counterclockwise about the upper fulcrum 122b, and the engaging pin 122c provided at the rear vertex is provided.
Is moved backward, thereby releasing the drum holder 72 from being attracted to the separated position. As a result, the drum holder 72 is supported by the torsion spring 84 so that the fulcrum 72 a
In the clockwise direction, and the floating gear 73
And the drum 71 rotates toward the engagement position (see FIG. 9). Conversely, when the cam disk 111 rotates clockwise while the drum holder 72 is at the engagement position, the triangular link 122 rotates clockwise about the fulcrum 122b, and the engagement pin 122c By being driven forward,
The drum holder 72 is pulled toward the separation position side against the torsion spring 84. As a result, the drum holder 72 is
4a, the floating gear 73 and the drum 71 rotate to the separated position side (FIG. 4).
reference).

On the right side of the cam disk 111, a pinion member 125 for driving the pressing lever 70 and a rack member 126 always meshing therewith are provided. The pinion member 125 is composed of a sector gear loosely inserted into the rotation shaft 127 of the cam disk 111,
A rim 128 which is formed in an arc shape concentric with the rim 11 and has a large number of teeth on the outer surface,
And eight ribs 129 extending radially toward the fin 8. On the right side of the cam disk 111,
A tension spring 131 having one end attached to the right side of the cam disk 111 and the other end attached to the rib 129 of the pinion member 125 is provided. Specifically, the other end of the tension spring 131 is attached to a rib 129a located on the front side and at the end of the center of the pinion member 125 at the home position shown in FIG. The extension spring 131 urges the pinion member 125 in a direction for rotating the pinion member 125 clockwise, whereby the pinion member 125 is securely engaged with the rack member 126.

On the right side surface of the cam disk 111, two projections 132 and 133 are provided with a portion where the one end of the tension spring 131 is attached therebetween.
One of these protrusions 132 and 133 abuts on the rib 129a or 129b located at the end of the pinion member 125 when the cam disk 111 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle. Board 1
With the further rotation of 11 by a predetermined angle, the pinion member 125 is rotated while being pressed.

On the other hand, the rack member 126 extends in the up-down direction, and the pinion member 125 extends over the entire front surface.
A rack 135 having a large number of teeth that mesh with each other and a connecting portion 136 extending rearward from the rear surface of the upper end of the rack 135 and connected to the pressing lever 70 are formed in an inverted L-shape. The rack member 126 thus configured
The pinion member 125 is rotated by rotation of the cam disk 111.
When the is rotated, it moves up and down, and drives the pressing lever 70. Specifically, when the rack member 126 moves upward, the stopper 34 is opened by the pressing lever 70 (see FIG. 9).
When the 26 moves downward, the pressing lever 70 is stored in the bucket 42 (see FIG. 4).

At the rear end of the bucket body 61, a product sensor 137 for detecting that the product S has reached the drum 71 is provided. This product sensor 13
Numeral 7 has a set of optical sensors composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and these elements are located above the drum 71 and opposed to the rear end portions of the left and right side walls 61a, 61a of the bucket body 61. Attached to. When the commodity sensor 137 detects that the commodity S has reached the drum 71 at the time of dispensing the commodity S from the commodity passage 22, the operation of the drive motor (not shown) is stopped. 24 is stopped.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, a series of operations of the product unloading device 8 at the time of sale will be described with reference to the bucket 42.
The following description focuses on the internal operation of. In the following description, of the projections 132 and 133 shown in FIG. 4, the one on the front side (the left side in FIG. 4) is referred to as “opening projection 132”
The rear side (the right side in FIG. 4) is referred to as a “closing projection 133”. Further, of the ribs 129a and 129b located at the end of the pinion member 125 shown in FIG. 4, the front side (left side in FIG. 4) is referred to as "opening rib 129a", and the rear side (right side in FIG. 4). The thing is called "closing rib 129b".

When the selection button of the desired product S is pressed by the purchaser, first, the X module 43 and the Y module 44 are operated, and the bucket 42 stores the product storing the selected product, as shown in FIG. It moves to the receiving position in front of the passage 22 and stops.

Next, the cam motor 113 operates, and FIG.
Is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. In this case, the floating gear 73 and the drum 71 located at the separated position are rotated to the engagement position side by the drum holder 72, and the floating gear 73 engages with the dispensing gear 31, and the drum 71 approaches the product passage 22. I do.

In this case, when the cam disk 111 at the home position rotates by a predetermined angle, the opening / closing projection 132 abuts on the opening rib 129a of the pinion member 125, and when the cam disk 111 further rotates, the opening rib 129a Is pressed by the opening projection 132, the pinion member 125 rotates counterclockwise with the cam disk 111. With the rotation of the pinion member 125, the rack member 126 moves upward, and accordingly, the pressing lever 70
Also move upward. When the rack member 126 moves further upward, the pressing lever 70 pushes the rear pin 70 d into contact with the upper end of the rear long hole 62 b of the case 62, and the rear pin 70 d
Rotate clockwise around. Then, the pressing lever 70
While the pressing portion 70a rotates downward, the pressed portion 35a of the stopper mechanism 25 is pressed down. Thereby, the horizontally lying stopper 34 is driven to rotate so as to stand up, and the payout port 22a of the product passage 22 is opened (FIG. 9).
reference).

Thereafter, when the drive motor (not shown) operates so as to rotate forward, the drum rotation shaft 75 is driven to rotate clockwise through the second intermediate gear 79, the drum timing belt 80, and the drive gear 76. In this case, the drum main body 74 is kept stopped without any rotation, while the gear rotation shaft 83 of the floating gear 73 is moved through the first intermediate gear 77 and the gear timing belt 78,
It is rotationally driven in a counterclockwise direction.
2 rotates counterclockwise. When the payout gear 31 meshing with the floating gear body 82 is driven to rotate, the product payout mechanism 24 operates. As a result, the entire product S in the product path 22 is moved forward by being pressed from behind by the pusher 33, and the product S located at the forefront is paid out toward the front bucket 42.

When the commodity sensor 137 detects that the paid-out commodity S has reached the position of the drum 71, the operation of the drive motor (not shown) is temporarily stopped, and immediately thereafter, the drive motor rotates reversely. Works as follows. In this case, the drum rotation shaft 75 is driven to rotate counterclockwise, and accordingly, the drum body 74 rotates counterclockwise,
On the other hand, the floating gear body 82 is stopped with a stop of a drive motor (not shown), and is kept stopped thereafter.

When the product S is sent out by the drum 71 to the storage section 65 in the bucket body 61, the product S is stored in the storage section 65 so as to be placed on the tray 91. In this case, the stored product S is
As shown in FIG. 5, when the switch 101 is brought into contact with the opening / closing door 92 and slightly rotated toward the door opening position, the switch 101 held in the ON state by the pressing of the opening / closing door 92.
Is switched to the OFF state. And the switch 10
Based on this switching, the operation of the drive motor (not shown) is stopped by the control circuit, and the rotation of the drum body 74 is also stopped.

Thereafter, the cam motor 113 operates to rotate in the reverse direction, and the cam disk 111 rotates clockwise toward the home position. In this case, when the cam disk 111 rotates by a predetermined angle, the closing projection 133 contacts the closing rib 129b of the pinion member 125, and the cam disk 111
Is further rotated, the closing rib 129b is moved to the closing protrusion 1.
The pinion member 125 rotates clockwise together with the cam disk 111 by being pressed by 33. With the rotation of the pinion member 125, the rack member 126 that has moved upward has moved downward, and accordingly, the pressing lever 7 that has pressed down the pressed portion 35a of the stopper mechanism 25.
0 returns to the predetermined position of the bucket 42. Thereby, the payout opening 22a of the product passage 22 is closed again. When the cam disk 111 rotating clockwise approaches the home position, the tension spring 131 expands, and the pinion member 125 is driven to rotate clockwise by the tensile force. Thereby, when the cam disk 111 returns to the home position, as shown in FIG.
The 25 closing ribs 129b are separated from the closing projection 133.

As the cam disk 111 rotates toward the home position, the drum holder 72 rotates counterclockwise, and the floating gear 73 and the drum 71 rotate from the engaged position to the separated position. , Are stored in a bucket 42.

After the cam disk 111 returns to the home position, the X module 43 and the Y module 44 are operated, whereby the bucket 42 moves from the receiving position to a position obliquely above the commodity outlet 5. Then, the cam motor 113 operates again so as to rotate in the reverse direction.
The cam disk 111 rotates a predetermined angle clockwise from the home position. With the rotation of the cam disk 111, the lock plate 99 of the lock mechanism 97 is driven forward against the tension spring 100 by the tray opening / closing means (not shown). As a result, the lock of the tray 91 is released, and then the cam disk 111 is further rotated, so that the tray 91 and the opening / closing door 92 are rotated as shown in FIG.
Is released. Then, the product S in the bucket body 61
Is dropped while being guided by the tray 91 through the opening 105 formed by the opened tray 91 and the opening / closing door 92, and is carried out to the commodity outlet 5 in front.

In this case, even if the length of the conveyed product S between the opened tray 91 and the opening / closing door 92 is slightly larger than the opening width W of the opening 105 shown in FIG. When the opening / closing door 92 is pressed by the product S, the opening / closing door 92 rotates so as to increase the opening width W while the door link 103 slides in the extending direction as shown in FIG. This can prevent the product S from being clogged between the tray 91 and the opening / closing door 92 when the product S is carried out.

Thereafter, when the unloading of the product S is detected by a product unloading sensor (not shown) provided in the product outlet 5, the cam motor 113 operates so as to rotate forward, and the cam disk 111 rotates counterclockwise. It rotates around and returns to the home position (see FIG. 4). Accordingly, the tray 91
And the opening / closing door 92 is closed, and the sale of the product S is completed. When the door 92 is closed, the switch 101 is switched from OFF to ON by the door 92.

As described in detail above, according to the commodity discharging device 8 of this embodiment, the bucket body 6 is
The goods S sent out to the storage portion 65 in the opening / closing door 9
2, the rotation of the drum 71 stops when the opening / closing door 92 rotates a predetermined amount toward the door opening position. That is, immediately after the product S comes into contact with the opening / closing door 92, the delivery of the product S by the drum 71 is stopped. For this reason, the product S sent into the bucket body 61 is strongly pressed against the opening / closing door 92,
It can be prevented from being strongly pinched between the drum 2 and the drum 71. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the product S from being held in the bucket body 61 and the product S from being deformed when the product S is carried out to the product outlet 5. Therefore, at the time of sale, the product S can be appropriately stored in the bucket body 61, and the product S can be reliably carried out to the product outlet 5.

Further, when the commodity S is received, the commodity S is not pressed against the opening / closing door 92, so that the commodity S is connected to the opening / closing door 92 via the tray link 102 and the door link 103, and is locked by the lock mechanism 97. A force for opening the tray 91 hardly acts. For this reason, the notch 9 of the lock plate 99
A force that presses the lock pin 98 of the tray 91 from above against the 9a hardly acts on the notch 99a. Therefore, the lock plate 99 is connected to the lock pin 98
The tray 91 can be reliably released from the lock.

Further, the detailed configuration and the like of the commodity discharging device shown in the embodiment are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention.

[0070]

As described above in detail, the commodity discharging device of the vending machine according to the present invention can appropriately store the goods in the bucket at the time of sale, and can surely discharge the goods to the goods outlet. It has the effect of being able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vending machine provided with a product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a side sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of a product rack.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a bucket.

FIG. 4 is an internal structural diagram showing a bucket immediately after stopping at a receiving position.

FIG. 5 is an internal structural view showing the bucket in a state where an opening / closing door is pressed by a product stored in the bucket.

FIG. 6 is an internal structural diagram showing a bucket in a state where a tray and an opening / closing door are opened.

FIG. 7 is an internal structural diagram showing the bucket in a state where the opening and closing door is pressed by a product from the state shown in FIG. 6 and the opening width is enlarged.

FIG. 8 is an internal structural view showing a state immediately after the bucket of the product unloading device of the vending machine for which the applicant has already applied has stopped at the receiving position.

FIG. 9 is an internal structural view showing the bucket when paying out the goods and delivering the goods to the bucket.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a product is sandwiched between an opening / closing door and a drum in a bucket.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 5 Merchandise exit 8 Merchandise unloading device 22 Merchandise passage 42 Bucket 71 Drum (rotating body) 91 Tray (lower door) 92 Opening / closing door (front door) 93 Connecting link 97 Lock mechanism 99 Lock plate (engagement part) 101 Switch (detection means) 102 Tray link (first link) 103 Door link (second link) 104 Tension spring (holding means) S Product

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A merchandise unloading device for a vending machine for unloading merchandise paid out from a merchandise aisle to a merchandise take-out port at the time of sale, comprising:
It is configured to be movable between a receiving position for receiving a product and the product outlet, and when the product is moved to the product outlet, the inside communicates with the product outlet so that the stored product can be stored in the product outlet. A bucket, which is rotatably provided at a rear end of the bucket, and is rotatably driven in a predetermined direction by the drive source when the bucket is located at the receiving position. A rotator that feeds the output product into the bucket while supporting the output product from below, and a detection that detects whether the product sent into the bucket by the rotator contacts the front wall of the bucket. Means for stopping rotation of the rotating body by stopping the operation of the drive source when it is detected by the detection means that a product abuts on the front wall of the bucket. And a stopping means. 2. The bucket is provided on a bottom surface thereof,
A lower door that opens and closes the bottom surface by rotating around a rear end between a lower door opening position that opens the bottom surface and a lower door closing position that closes the bottom surface; and a front wall of the bucket. A front door that opens and closes the front surface by rotating around an upper end portion between a front door opening position for opening the front surface of the bucket and a front door closing position for closing the front surface, A connection link that is connected to the lower door and the front door, and that opens and closes the other as one of the lower door and the front door opens and closes; By supporting the lower door from below when the engaging portion is engaged with the lower door, the lower door is locked in the lower door closed position, and the opening of the lower door is performed before the lower door is opened. The lock of the lower door is released by the joint part detaching from the lower door. Article conveying device for the automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a locking mechanism, a to. 3. The detection means has a switch which is turned on / off by the front door when the front door rotates a predetermined amount from the front door closed position to the front door open position. 3. The device for unloading goods from a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The first link and the second link are connected to the lower door and the front door, respectively, and are slidably connected to each other in a length direction. And holding means for holding the second link in a reduced state and allowing the first link and the second link to slide in the direction of extension when the product stored in the bucket presses the front door. 4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the device has: