JP2001331866A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine capable of smoothly selling even quadrate article with weak strength by stabilizing the attitude of article located the lowest position in the time of filling article. SOLUTION: This machine is provided with an article carrying device 4 having a lower pedal 6 which is formed in a freely projectable way in an article path 1 and supports article G1 located at the lowest position and an upper pedal 5 which is formed freely projectable way in the path 1 side following the opening operation of the pedal 6 and supports article G2 located at the second place from the bottom, and an article attitude inclining means 8 which is arranged oppositely from the device 4, is a part of the path 1 and inclines the attitude of the article G1 located at the lowest position. Thus, the load applied to the article G1 is dispersed into the means 8 and the pedal 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a serpentine type product rack for storing canned beverages and PET bottled beverages in a product storage box in a vertical position in a horizontal position, in which posture control is difficult and strength is low. The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of smoothly carrying out products in a rectangular container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
It is a side view which shows the principal part of the conventional vending machine disclosed by No. 72 gazettes. As shown in FIG.
Includes a main stopper 106 for receiving the lowermost commodity G1 (square container) and an auxiliary stopper 105 located above the auxiliary stopper 105 for receiving the second commodity G2 (square container) from the bottom when the commodity G1 is carried out. The stoppers 105 and 106 are disposed below the product passage 101.
By rotating and protruding alternately to the sides, the products G1, G
2 is controlled.

A spacer 110 having an upper half 110B protruding from a lower half 110A is attached to the inner wall of the product passage 101 at a position facing the product unloading device 104 to form a step. As a result, the lowermost product G1 held by the main stopper 106 is deflected to the lower half 110A side of the immediately above product G2, so that the rotation space 101a of the auxiliary stopper 105 is secured and the product G2 is held. It has become. Note that a product (not shown) located above the product G2 falls along the inclined surface 110C, and enters the sales standby state shown in FIG.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional vending machine in which a large number of products are stacked and stored in a vertical position in a horizontal position, the corners of the products G1 and G2 are formed by stoppers 106 and 105. Since it is held in a cantilever state, concentrated load is applied to the portion. Therefore, when filling PET bottle products with low strength,
There has been a problem that the container is deformed by the concentrated load, and the product is likely to be clogged.

[0005] In particular, when a product in a rectangular container is first filled into the product passage 101, it is difficult to control the attitude of the product delivery device 104, and there is a problem that the product may be jammed.

Further, there is another problem that a large number of spacers 110, that is, passage width adjusting members (attachment members) are required for each product in order to form a product passage shape corresponding to the product size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a vending machine capable of stabilizing the posture of the lowermost product at the time of filling the product and smoothly selling a low-strength rectangular product. Aim.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to a first aspect of the present invention is formed so that it can protrude in a product passage and supports a product located at the lowermost end. A product discharging device having a pedal and an upper pedal formed so as to protrude toward the product passage side following the opening operation of the lower pedal and supporting a product positioned second from the bottom, The apparatus further includes a product posture inclining unit that is disposed to face the apparatus and forms a part of the product path, and inclines the posture of the product located at the lowermost end.

The operation will be described by taking as an example the case where the product container is a square PET bottle. First, when the first product is filled in the product path, it is arranged at the lowermost end. At this time, since the corners of the product are in contact with the lower pedal and the side portions are in contact with the product attitude tilting means, even if a large number of products are subsequently stacked, the product load is reduced by the lower pedal and the product attitude tilting means. Are distributed.

[0010] Therefore, unlike the conventional case, since a concentrated load is not applied to one corner of the commodity at the lowermost end, it is possible to prevent the container from being deformed and clogging even when the PET bottle commodity having a low strength is filled. Can be prevented.

[0011] Further, by contacting the product attitude tilting means, the lowermost product can be accommodated better, and clogging during product filling can be prevented.

When the lower pedal is retracted based on the sales command, the lowermost commodity falls and is carried out to the commodity outlet. At the same time, the upper pedal protrudes toward the product passage, and holds the second product from the bottom (sales state).

When the sale is over, the upper pedal retreats, the second commodity from the bottom is released and falls, and becomes the lowest commodity, and the lower pedal projects and is retained by this (standby for sale). Status). In addition, when the product is filled in the circular container, the operation is substantially the same as the above-described operation.

In this way, by stabilizing the posture of the commodity at the lowermost end at the time of filling the commodity and dispersing the commodity load, it is possible to sell the commodity of the rectangular container having low strength smoothly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine, wherein the commodity attitude inclining means is a base plate arranged in parallel with the commodity carrying-out device, and a commodity supported by the base plate and located at the lowermost end. And an inclined plate formed in such a manner that the lowermost product position abuts on the product located second from the bottom, and the lowermost product position is deviated from the second product position from the bottom to the side opposite to the product unloading device. It is a thing.

At the time of selling the lowermost product, the second product from the bottom has its corners in contact with the upper pedal and its side portions in contact with the inclined plate of the product attitude tilting means. And the inclined plate, thereby preventing product clogging due to deformation of the container.

Further, since the inclined plate is formed as described above, it is possible to easily secure a rotation space of the upper pedal on the side of the product passage, so that the same product posture tilting means can be used even if the product diameter is slightly increased. Thus, the shape of the product passage can be generalized (standardized), and the depth dimension of the product passage can be reduced.

Further, in the vending machine according to a third aspect of the present invention, the inclined plate is detachably provided on the base plate. Therefore, the shape of the product passage can be easily changed by attaching and detaching the inclined plate according to the type and shape of the product to be filled, so that it is possible to flexibly cope with the sales of diversified products.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The product passage 1 is formed by arranging a plurality of segments 3 between a pair of left and right side plates 2 and 2 so as to be swingable. In the lower part of the product passage 1, a product unloading device 4 for unloading products stored one by one in a vertical position in a sideways posture based on a sales command is supported by pins 7, and an inner wall surface of the product passage 1 is provided. Are arranged to form

That is, the commodity unloading device 4 includes a lower pedal 6 for receiving the lowermost commodity G1 (square container) and a second pedal G2 (square container) located above the lower pedal 6 when the commodity G1 is carried out. A receiving upper pedal 5 is provided, and the pedals 5 and 6 are alternately rotated and protruded toward the product passage 1, thereby controlling the carry-out of the products G1 and G2.

The product attitude tilting means 8, which is a main part of the present invention, comprises:
In order to secure the rotation space 1a of the upper pedal 5 and to incline the posture of the commodity G1 at the lowermost end (in FIG. 1, the bottom surface or the top surface of the commodity G1 is inclined upward to the right), the commodity discharging device 4 is used. They are arranged facing each other to form an inclined inner wall surface. The base plate 9 fixed to the side plate 2 is disposed so as to be parallel to the product unloading device 4 and has an engagement hole 9a.

The inclined plate 10 has stepped inclined surfaces that respectively contact the side surfaces of the product G1 and the product G2, and an engaging piece 10a that engages with an engaging hole 9a of the base plate 9; And a protrusion 10b that is brought into contact with the slab to define an inclination angle. The engagement piece 10 a of the inclined plate 10 is formed to be detachable from the engagement hole 9 a of the base plate 9.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when the first product G1 is filled in the product path 1, it is arranged at the lowermost end. At this time, since the corner of the product G1 is in contact with the lower pedal 6 and the side surface is in contact with the lower inclined surface of the inclined plate 10, even if a large number of products are subsequently stacked,
The product load is distributed between the lower pedal 6 and the inclined plate 10.

Therefore, unlike the prior art, a concentrated load is not applied to one corner of the product G1.
Even if a PET bottle product with low strength is filled, the container can be prevented from being deformed and clogged.

Further, the contact of the product G1 with the inclined plate 10 improves the accommodation of the product G1, thereby preventing clogging when the product is filled.

When the lower pedal 6 is retracted based on the sales command, the product G1 falls and is carried out to a product outlet (not shown). At the same time, the upper pedal 5 is turned
To hold the product G2 (sale state).

At this time, since the corner of the product G2 is in contact with the upper pedal 5 and the side portion is in contact with the upper inclined surface of the inclined plate 10, the product load is distributed between the upper pedal 5 and the inclined plate 10. In addition, it is possible to prevent product clogging due to deformation of the container.

Further, since two inclined surfaces are formed in the inclined plate 10 in a stepped manner, the rotation space 1a of the upper pedal 5 can be easily secured. The means 8 can be used, and the shape of the product passage 1 can be generalized (standardized), and the depth dimension of the product passage 1 can be reduced.

When the sale is over, the upper pedal 5 retreats, the product G2 is released from holding and falls to become the product G1, and the lower pedal 6 projects and is held by this (standby state for sale). In addition, when the product is filled in the circular container, the operation is substantially the same as the above-described operation.

As described above, according to the vending machine according to the first embodiment, the lowermost commodity G at the time of filling the commodity.
By stabilizing the posture of (1) and dispersing the product load, square products with low strength can be smoothly sold.

Further, the shape of the product passage 1 can be generalized (standardized), and the depth dimension of the product passage 1 can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, the product attitude inclining means 8 composed of the base plate 9 and the inclined plate 10 has been described as being retrofitted to the product path 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The inner wall surface itself may be formed in the above-described inclined shape.

The product attitude tilting means 8 is connected to the pedals 5,
Although the present invention has been described as being applied to the product discharge device 4 that alternately pivots and protrudes toward the product passage 1, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to another product discharge device having a pedal protrusion mechanism.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The same members as or members corresponding to those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The product attitude tilting means 8 according to the present invention includes a base plate 12 fixed to the side plate 2, a first tilt plate 13 and a second tilt plate 14 which are detachably and tiltably provided on the base plate 12. It is provided with.

The first inclined plate 13 is for inclining the posture of the product G1. The first inclined plate 13 is provided with a pair of curled portions 13a formed in the depth direction of the paper of FIG. ) A projection 13b is provided, and a plurality of projections are provided between the curl 13a and the projection 13b and are provided in the same direction.

The second inclined plate 14 is for inclining the attitude of the product G2, and is provided with a plurality of (for example, three) curled portions 14a formed in a pair in the depth direction of FIG. ) The projection 14b is provided with a plurality of projections provided between the curled portion 14a and the projection 14b, and a plurality of projections are provided in the same direction.

The base plate 12 has curled portions 13a, 14a
Of the first inclined plate 13 in the engaged state.
3a is formed in a long hole shape so that it can move horizontally.
The lower edge of the first inclined plate 13 is provided with the first inclined plate 13.
A knob portion for gripping when setting / releasing the inclination of is provided.

Further, when the curled portion 13a of the first inclined plate 13 in the engaged state is horizontally moved, the projection 13b and the convex portion of the base plate 12 fit into the base plate 12, and the first inclined plate 1
Plural holes (not shown) for releasing the inclination of 3
It has.

The first inclined plate 13 and the base plate 12
When the first inclined plate 13 is horizontally moved with respect to the base plate 12 to release the inclination, the projections 14 b and the convex portions are fitted into the plurality of holes for releasing the inclination of the second inclined plate 14. A hole (not shown) is provided.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when the first product G1 is filled in the product path 1, it is arranged at the lowermost end. At this time, since the corner of the product G1 is in contact with the lower pedal 6 and the side portion is in contact with the first inclined plate 13, even if a large number of commodities are subsequently piled up, the commodities load is equal to that of the lower pedal 6. And one inclined plate 13.

Therefore, unlike the case of the prior art, a concentrated load is not applied to one corner of the product G1.
Even if a PET bottle product with low strength is filled, the container can be prevented from being deformed and clogged.

Further, the contact of the first inclined plate 13 makes it possible to improve the convergence of the product G1 and prevent the product G1 from being clogged at the time of filling.

When the lower pedal 6 is retracted based on the sales command, the product G1 falls and is carried out to a product outlet (not shown). At the same time, the upper pedal 5 is turned
To hold the product G2 (sale state).

At this time, since the corner portion of the product G2 is in contact with the upper pedal 5 and the side portion is in contact with the second inclined plate 14,
The product load is distributed between the upper pedal 5 and the second inclined plate 14,
Product clogging due to deformation of the container can be prevented.

Further, the first inclined plate 13 and the second inclined plate 14 are arranged in a stepped manner, so that the rotation space 1 of the upper pedal 5 can be reduced.
a can be easily secured, so that the same product attitude tilting means 8 can be used even if the product diameter is slightly increased,
The shape of the product passage 1 can be generalized (standardized) and the depth dimension of the product passage 1 can be reduced.

When the sale is over, the upper pedal 5 retreats, the product G2 is released from holding and falls to become the product G1, and the lower pedal 6 projects and is held by this (standby state for sale). When a product is filled in a circular container, the operation is substantially the same as the operation described above.

The inclination of the product attitude inclining means 8 can be set and released by grasping the knob of the first inclined plate 13 and sliding it appropriately, and inserting and removing the projection 13b and the projection into and out of the hole. And can be easily performed.

As described above, according to the vending machine according to the second embodiment, the lowermost commodity G at the time of filling the commodity.
By stabilizing the posture of (1) and dispersing the product load, square products with low strength can be smoothly sold.

Further, the shape of the product passage 1 can be generalized (standardized), and the depth dimension of the product passage 1 can be reduced.

[0052]

As described above, according to the vending machine according to the present invention (claim 1), the lower pedal which is formed to be protrudable in the product passage and supports the product located at the lowermost end, and A product discharging device having an upper pedal which is formed so as to protrude toward the product passage side in accordance with the opening operation of the lower pedal and supports a product positioned second from the bottom, and is disposed to face the product discharging device; And a product attitude inclining means for inclining the attitude of the product located at the lowermost end, so as to stabilize the attitude of the lowermost product when filling the product and to reduce the product load. By dispersing, it is possible to smoothly sell products in containers having low strength.

Further, according to the vending machine of the present invention (claim 2), the product attitude tilting means is supported by the base plate arranged in parallel with the product unloading device, and at the lowermost end. An inclined plate formed in such a manner as to abut the positioned product and the product located second from the bottom, and that the lowermost product position is deviated to the side of the second product product from the bottom from the product discharging device side. So that 2
The load applied to the third product is distributed to the upper pedal and the inclined plate, so that product clogging due to deformation of the container can be prevented. In addition, since the rotation space of the upper pedal can be easily secured on the product passage side, the same product posture inclination means can be used even if the product diameter is slightly increased, and the shape of the product passage is generalized (standardized). In addition, the depth dimension of the product passage can be reduced.

According to the vending machine of the present invention (claim 3), since the inclined plate is detachably provided on the base plate, the inclined plate can be detached according to the type and shape of the product to be filled. Thus, it is possible to easily change the shape of the product passage and flexibly cope with diversifying product sales.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of a vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a main part of a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity passage 1a Rotation space 4 Commodity unloading device 5 Upper pedal 6 Lower pedal 8 Commodity attitude inclination means 9, 12 Base plate 9a, 12a, 12b Engagement hole G1, G2 Commodity 10 Inclined plate 10a Engagement piece 10b, 13b, 14b Projection 13 First inclined plate 13a, 14a Curled portion 14 Second inclined plate

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuki Ohno 1-1-1, Tanabe-Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (reference) 3E046 BA03 BB03 BB04 CA01 CD04 DA01 EA09 GA03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A lower pedal, which is formed to be protrudable in a product passage and supports a product located at the lowermost end, and is formed to be protrudable to the product passage side following an opening operation of the lower pedal, from below. A vending machine provided with a product discharging device having a second pedal for supporting a product positioned at a second position, wherein the vending machine is disposed to face the product discharging device, forms a part of the product passage, and is located at the lowermost end. A vending machine comprising a product attitude tilting means for tilting the attitude of a product to be manufactured. 2. A product attitude tilting means, a base plate arranged in parallel with the product unloading device; and a product supported by the base plate and in contact with a product located at a lowermost end and a product located second from the bottom, And an inclined plate formed such that the lowermost product position is shifted more toward the opposite side of the product unloading device than the second lowermost product position. vending machine. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the inclined plate is detachably provided on the base plate.