JP2001202558A - Merchandise storing device and merchandise package body for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the merchandise storing device of an automatic vending machine capable of always housing a merchandise package body in a correct direction and also smoothly performing operation of taking out a merchandise package body, etc., and the merchandise package body. SOLUTION: The merchandise storing device 1 has cylindrical housing cases 2 provided obliquely. Many merchandise package bodies 10 are arranged in the cases 2 and housed in a freely slidable way. The cases 2 are provided with a pressing slider 3 having a weight 22, and the slider 3 can be subjected to descending movement in the case by gravity and pushes the surface of the last housed merchandise package body 10. The body 10 is provided with a notch 14 at one corner part, and an engaging projection part 21 corresponding to the notch is attached to a corner part of a case 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise storage device used for vending machines such as popcorn, and a merchandise package used for the storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A popcorn vending machine which is cooked immediately before sale and provided for sale has already been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-161845. This vending machine is equipped with a product storage device and a microwave oven in the machine, takes out product packages one by one from the storage device in accordance with an instruction from a customer, sends it to a microwave oven, cooks it, They are now offered for sale. Also,
In this vending machine, several storage devices are provided vertically in a cylindrical shape, and each of the storage tubes accommodates a different type of uncooked corn package, and according to the customer's wishes. Can be selectively taken out. Further, the shape of the product package here is a cup-filled one, in which uncooked corn and an appropriate seasoning additive are put at the bottom of the cup, and the cups are stacked and stored in a storage cylinder. .

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional popcorn vending machine, the storage device is a vertical cylinder, and a dozen or so cylinders are provided so as to be freely circulated and movable. The cylinders thus circulated are moved to a take-out position and are taken out one by one. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the structure of the device becomes large and the manufacturing cost increases. Further, since the package is packed in a cup and is stacked and stored in a cylinder, there is a possibility that dust or insects may enter the cup, which poses a sanitary problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine merchandise storage device which has a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost. Another object of the present invention is to provide a product package for a vending machine which is excellent in hygiene in a completely sealed form.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a product package that can be stored in a storage device without mistaking the direction of the product and that can facilitate the operation of taking out and the like.

[0005]

The technical means of the merchandise storage device of a vending machine according to the present invention is provided with a storage case for slidably transferring a product package and a movable case inside the storage case. It is composed of a pressing slider, the storage case is installed in an inclined shape, and at one corner of the case, an engaging projection for determining the storage direction of the product package is formed, and the pressing slider is Due to its own weight, it moves downward along the inclination of the storage case, and pushes the rearmost surface of the packaged products stored side by side.

The engaging projection may be formed by projecting a wall surface at a corner of the storage case or by attaching a rod to the corner.

[0007] The product package of the present invention, at one corner,
There is a notch for determining the direction when the device is stored in the case.

[0008] Further, the product package may be a bag-packed type and a folded type.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a product storage device and a product package according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a popcorn vending machine. In the machine, a plurality of commodity storage devices 1 each containing a large number of commodity packages are arranged vertically. The storage case 2 of each storage device 1 is installed in an inclined shape (about 15 ° in the illustrated example), and a pressing slider 3 is provided in the case so as to be movable by its own weight, and the package housed in the case is provided. 10 is pressed from the back by the pressing slider 3.

At the end of each storage device 1, an extruding device 4 is provided, and one of the extruding devices 4 is operated in accordance with an instruction, and pushes out the product packages one by one from the storing device. The extruded product package is sent upward by a product transport elevator 5, further sent into a microwave oven 6, cooked by heating, taken out after cooking, and placed in a product sales outlet (FIG. (Not shown).

The shape of the product package 10 in the present invention is as follows.
This is shown in FIGS. Since the illustrated embodiment is used for a popcorn vending machine, it is packed in a bag. That is, the material of the packaging bag 11 is made of resin-coated paper, and a raw material cone and various seasonings are put inside the tube-shaped bag material, and both ends are fused and sealed 12 to form a completely sealed form. . In addition, popcorn is bulky and swells during cooking, so that both sides 13 of the bag are folded inward and the bag is folded in two so that the material corn is stored only at the bottom so as to withstand this. And

A notch 14 is formed at one corner of the bottom end of the packaging bag 11. This notch 14 corresponds to FIG.
As shown in FIG.
1, and plays a role in correctly storing the product package 10 in the storage case 2 without mistaking the orientation of the package 10. In the drawing, reference numeral 15 denotes an extension piece, 6 denotes a finger hole, and when the bag is opened, a finger is hung thereon so that the upper edge of the bag sealed with the fusion seal 12 can be easily opened. I have.

Next, details of the storage device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The storage case 2 has a cylindrical shape as described above and is provided in an inclined shape, and its cross-sectional shape substantially matches the outer shape of the folded bag 11 as shown in FIG.
The bag 11 can slide freely in the case 2. A sliding plate 20 (material, trade name: Teflon) is provided on the bottom of the case 2 to reduce the contact resistance between the bag and the case.
Is provided so that the bag 11 can smoothly slide in the case 2. In addition, an opening for inserting and removing the bag 11 is formed on the front side of the case. Further, the above-mentioned engaging projection 21 is formed at the upper upper corner of the back of the case 2, and the notch 14 of the bag 11 engages here. In addition,
The engaging projection 21 is formed by projecting the wall surface of the case as shown in the illustrated example. Alternatively, a separate rod may be attached thereto.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing slider 3 is provided with a weight 22, which tends to move downward by its own weight, and constantly presses the rearmost surface of the bags 11 arranged and stored. Add. The pressing slider 3 is supported so as to be able to move lightly with a slight force of its own weight.
That is, in the illustrated example, the guide rod 2 provided above the case 2
3, the roller 24 is slidably suspended and supported, and rollers 24 are attached to both lower ends of the pressing slider 3 so as to contact the inner wall of the case 2. Accordingly, the pressing slider 3 can move very smoothly in the case, and moves along the slope only by its own weight by the weight 22, and can apply a pressing force to the last surface of the bag 11.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be freely modified and implemented within the scope of the claims. In particular, the cross-sectional shape of the storage case, the moving support form of the pressing slider, the structure of the engaging projection, the form of the product package, the shape of the notch, and the like are free.

[0016]

The merchandise storage device of the present invention is of a type in which the rearmost surface of the merchandise packages stored side by side is pressed by the pressing slider, so that the merchandise packages can be reliably fed to the merchandise package, and the merchandise storage device can be removed from the storage case. Can be taken out smoothly and without trouble. Furthermore, in the present invention, the engaging projection is provided at the corner of the storage case,
Since it corresponds to the notch of the product package, the product package can always be correctly placed in the correct direction when stored. Further, the present invention has an advantage that the structure is simple and it can be manufactured at low cost.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the engaging projection is formed by processing the case wall, it can be manufactured without increasing the number of parts.

According to the third aspect, since the engaging projection is formed by attaching the rod, the manufacturing is simple, and it is possible to easily cope with a change in the shape of the cutout of the product package.

The package of the present invention is provided with a notch at one corner, and when storing, the notch is aligned with the engaging projection of the storage case and stored. It is possible to take out the product package from the storage case,
Subsequent work can be performed smoothly.

The fifth aspect is a bag-filled type and is completely sealed, so that it is excellent in hygiene. Further, since it is folded in two, no space is required at the time of storage, and the storage efficiency can be improved. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a product package.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a product package is placed in a storage case.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of the commodity storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity storage apparatus 2 Storage case 3 Pressing slider 4 Extruder 5 Conveyor elevator 6 Microwave oven 10 Merchandise package 11 Packaging bag 12 Fusion seal part 14 Notch 20 Sliding plate 21 Engagement protrusion 22 Weight 23 Guide rod 24 Roller

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 21, 2000 (2000.1.2
1)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 2

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage case for accommodating a product package in a slidable manner, and a pressing slider movably provided in the storage case. At one corner, an engaging projection for determining the storage direction of the product package is formed, and the pressing slider is moved down along the inclination of the storage case by its own weight, and is stored side by side. A product storage device of a vending machine that presses the last side of a product package. 2. The merchandise storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the engaging projection is formed by projecting a wall surface at a corner of the storage case. 3. The merchandise storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the engaging projection is formed by attaching a rod to a corner of the storage case. 4. A product package for a vending machine having a notch at one corner to determine a direction when the product is stored in a case. 5. The product package for a vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the package is formed into a bag and is folded.