JP2002083358A - Theft prevention structure in commodity discharge device of vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent illegal takeout of a commodity from a vending machine. SOLUTION: This commodity discharge device of the vending machine is equipped with a storage conveyance route 5, an upper stopper 53 journalled by a frame body 51 arranged so as to face to the lower end part of the storage conveyance route 5, for regulating drop of the second commodity 4 from the lower side of the storage conveyance route 5 by being projected into the storage conveyance route 5 from an open window 51a of the frame body, a lower stopper 55 journalled rotatably by the frame body 51, for regulating drop of the commodity 4 by being projected into the storage conveyance route 5 from the open window 51a of the frame body 51, and a driving source 56 for rotating the upper stopper 53 and the lower stopper 55 through a driving arm 57 from a storage attitude when stored in the frame body to a projection attitude projecting into the storage conveyance route 5. In the device, an elongation edge 51c or a projection part 55b is formed on an inner bottom edge 51b of the open window 51a for the lower stopper formed on the frame body 51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly, to a structure for preventing theft in a merchandise dispensing apparatus configured to discharge merchandise stored in a storage conveyance path from below.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a vending machine for products such as canned beverages,
A so-called serpentine type vending machine is known.

This vending machine has a vending machine main body 2 whose front opening is opened and closed by a front door 1, as shown in FIG.
Inside, three to six rows (four rows are shown in FIG. 6) are arranged in the front-rear direction such that storage transport paths 5 for storing the products 4 such as can bodies extend in a meandering shape vertically. Have been. A product delivery device 6 for sequentially paying out stored products 4 every other row at a position facing the lower end of the storage transport path 5.
The goods 4 paid out by the goods payout device 6 are guided by the chute 7 and paid out to the goods take-out opening 8.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 7, the commodity dispensing device 6 has a pair of dispensing units 10 arranged in a back-to-back state, and a commodity width regulating plate 9 is provided at a position facing the dispensing unit 10 with the storage transport path 5 interposed therebetween. The dispensing units 10 are arranged so as to face the lower end of each storage transport path 5.

[0005] As this type of dispensing unit 10, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-232542. The payout unit 10 is disposed facing the lower end of the storage transport path 5, and has a plurality of open windows 11a as shown in FIGS.
The frame 11 is formed rotatably by a frame 11 having an upper shaft 12 supported by the frame 11, and projects into the storage transport path 5 as shown in FIG. 7 is rotatably supported by an upper stopper 13 that regulates the falling of the second product 4 from below and a lower shaft 14 that is supported by the frame 11, and inside the storage transport path 5, as shown in FIG. 7. And a lower stopper 15 for restricting the first product 4 from falling in the storage transport path 5 by projecting from the lower side, and a rear side of the frame 11 of the dispensing unit 10 which is not facing the storage transport path 5, and A solenoid 16 for raising and lowering the retreating portion 16a, an upper end thereof is connected to the extending / retracting portion 16a of the solenoid 16, and a return spring 18 is provided on the lower end.
, The upper drive pin 19 inserted into the groove 13 b between the projections 13 a which is inserted into the upper part of the drive arm 17 and bulges to the back side of the upper stopper 13, and the lower end of the drive arm 17 And a lower drive pin 20 which is inserted into the lower stopper 15 and is capable of abutting on a protrusion 15 a bulging to the back side of the lower stopper 15.
Further, the lower stopper 15 is fixed to the frame body 11 so as to extend vertically at a position near the center on the back side of the lower stopper 15, and supports an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the upper shaft 12 and the lower shaft 14 through an insertion hole (not shown). Also, a receiving member 21 having pin long holes 21c and 21d for guiding one ends of the upper drive pin 19 and the lower drive pin 20, respectively, and the upper drive pin 19 and the lower drive pin are formed integrally with the frame 11. The other end of 20 is provided with a rising piece 22 and the like that is guided by the elongated hole portions 22a and 22b.

When the solenoid 16 is not energized, the drive arm 17 is pulled downward by the urging force of the return spring 18 and the upper drive pin 19 inserted into the drive arm 17 as shown in FIG. While the upper stopper 13 to be engaged is in the storage position, the lower stopper 15 is moved by the lower drive pin 20 inserted into the drive arm 17.
Is pushed out and assumes a protruding posture. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the falling of the product 4 at the lower end of the storage transport path 5 is restricted by the lower stopper 15, and the product 4 in the storage transport path 5 is held.

When the solenoid 16 is energized, as shown in FIG. 9, the retracting portion 16a of the solenoid 16 rises, so that the drive arm 17 moves upward, and the upper stopper 13 which engages with the upper drive pin 19 is moved. The lower drive pin 20 is pushed out and assumes a protruding posture, while the lower drive pin 20 is separated from the projection 15 a of the lower stopper 15 and
Rotates to the storage position. As a result, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 7, the fall of the second product 4 from below the storage transport path 5 is regulated by the upper stopper 13, and the product 4 above the second from below the storage transport path 5 While being held, the lower stopper 15 is in the storage posture, so that there is no one that restricts the first product 4 from dropping from below the storage transport path 5 and only this product 4 is paid out.

[0008]

By the way, in such a conventional product dispensing apparatus of a vending machine, a standby state,
That is, when the lower stopper 15 of the commodity dispensing device is in a state of protruding into the commodity general delivery path 5 as shown in FIG. 7 or 8, the free end 15b of the lower stopper 15 and the opening window for the lower stopper of the frame body 11. 11a lower edge 11b
(FIG. 8) and a gap s through which a human finger can pass
Can be.

Therefore, after inserting a hand or a tool into the vending machine main body 2 from the product outlet 8, it is also possible to insert a finger or a tool from the gap S to move the drive arm 17 upward. The lower stopper 13 can be moved in the submerging direction by the movement, and the product 4 stopped by the lower stopper 15 can be illegally taken out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to prevent such illegal removal of a product, and prevents a lower stopper from being illegally operated by inserting a finger or a tool to move a receiving member. The task is to

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-theft structure for a product dispensing apparatus for a vending machine, wherein the anti-theft structure is provided so as to extend substantially vertically and accommodates a plurality of products. A rotatable shaft is rotatably supported by a possible storage transport path and a frame body facing the lower end portion of the storage transport path, and is protruded into the storage transport path from an opening window of the frame body. An upper stopper for restricting a second product from falling from the lower side of the road, and an upper stopper rotatably supported by the frame body, and projecting from an opening window of the frame body into the general storage path to store the product in the general storage path. A lower stopper that regulates the fall of the product at the lower end of the frame, and a drive source that rotates the upper stopper and the lower stopper via a drive arm from a storage position stored in the frame to a protruding position that protrudes into the general storage path. A vending machine dispensing device comprising: a lower stopper opening window formed in a frame body having an inner edge formed with an extended edge for narrowing a gap with the lower stopper back surface. It is.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the gap between the distal end of the lower stopper and the inner surface of the window is narrowed by the extending edge, so that insertion of a finger or a tool can be prevented. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article dispensing apparatus for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the lower stopper is provided on a back surface of a lower drive pin facing a lower edge of a lower stopper mounting window formed in a frame. A projection for narrowing a gap with a lower edge of the mounting window is formed.

According to this structure, when the lower drive pin is positioned in the outgoing direction, that is, when the lowermost position of the product located at the bottom of the product transport path is supported in standby for the next payout, the lower drive pin back surface and the lower stopper are connected. Since the gap with the edge of the mounting window is narrowed by the protrusion, the insertion of fingers and tools is also prevented, and theft is also prevented.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Since the main configuration of the vending machine other than the commodity dispensing device is the same as that of the conventional vending machine, only the location of the commodity dispensing device will be described. In the vending machine product dispensing apparatus, a pair of dispensing units are arranged in a back-to-back state, and a product width regulating plate is provided at a position facing the dispensing unit with the storage conveyance path interposed therebetween. Each payout unit is arranged so as to face the lower end of each storage transport path.

Embodiment 1 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing unit 50 is rotatable by a frame 51 having a plurality of opening windows 51a and an upper shaft 52 supported by the frame 51. And is protruded into the storage transport path 5 so that the storage transport path 5
An upper stopper 53 for restricting a second product 4 from falling from below, and a lower shaft 5 supported by a frame body 51.
The first product 4 from below in the storage transport path 5 is rotatably supported by the projection 4 and projects into the storage transport path 5.
And a thin solenoid 56 having a retractable portion 56a disposed on the back side of the frame body 51 not facing the storage transport path 5 of the dispensing unit 50.
A drive arm 57 having an upper end locked to a retracting portion 56 a of a solenoid 56, an upper stopper 53 that is interlocked via an interlocking link 59 from an upper drive pin 58 that is pivotally supported by the drive arm 57, The lower interlocking mechanism 60 is provided on the arm 57 and drives the lower stopper 55 to open and close by engagement with a block member 55 a swelling on the back surface of the lower stopper 55. The lower interlocking mechanism 60 is fixed to the lower center position on the back side of the frame body 51. A bearing member 65 that receives one end of the upper drive pin 58 and one end of the rolling shafts 61 and 62 of the lower interlocking mechanism 60 in a vertically movable position, and a return spring that urges the extending / retracting portion 56a of the solenoid 56 to the projected position. 66, and a sold-out detection lever 67 which detects the sold-out by contacting the second product 4 from the lower side of the storage transport path 5 That.

An extending edge 51c for narrowing a gap s with the back surface of the lower stopper 55 is provided on the inner bottom edge 51b of the lower stopper opening window 51a formed in the frame 51.
1 is formed.

The extending edge 51c is different from the conventional inner bottom edge 51b shown in FIG.
Is formed so as not to hinder the transition of the gap, and is narrower than the gap S0 when there is no extending edge 51c.

With the above-described structure, the lower stopper 55 is in the extended state as shown in FIG.
Even when the can product 4 is held, the extending edge 51c extends between the back surface of the lower stopper 55 and the inner bottom edge 51b of the opening window 51a, and as is apparent from FIG. It is difficult or impossible to insert a finger or tool into the device.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the can armed product 4 from being illegally taken out by operating the drive arm 57. In addition,
When the two frame members 51 are stacked back to back as shown in FIG. 7, the drive window 57 on the opposite side cannot be operated from the back side as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
It is desirable to provide an extended edge 51c also on the inner bottom edge 51b on the other side in the width direction of 1a. Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a rear view of the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the first embodiment
The only difference from the present embodiment is the anti-theft portion, and the other portions are the same. Therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 and detailed description is omitted.

In FIG. 4, the structure of the second embodiment is similar to that of the lower stopper opening window 51a formed in the frame 51.
A protrusion 55b is formed on a block member 55a formed on the rear surface of the lower stopper 55 facing the inner bottom edge 51b of the lower stopper opening window 51a so as to narrow the gap with the inner bottom edge 51b of the lower stopper opening window 51a from a portion shown by a dotted line. It is configured.

In the second embodiment, the block member 55a and the protruding portion 55b are formed of plastic or the like. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the lower stopper 55 is in the extended state as shown in FIG. 4, and even when the can product 4 is held, the lower stopper 5
5, a protruding portion 55b protrudes between the back surface and the inner bottom edge 51b of the opening window 51a, and it is difficult or impossible to insert a finger or tool in the direction of the drive arm 57, as is apparent from FIG. It has been.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the illegal operation of operating the drive arm 57 to take out the can goods 4 illegally. In addition to the above, a configuration in which the extending portion described in the first embodiment and the protrusion described in the second embodiment are provided at positions not interfering with each other may be adopted. In this case, fraudulent acts can be more reliably prevented.

The solenoid 56 for driving the lower stopper 55, the drive arm 57, and the like are provided on one side of the frame 51 as shown in FIGS. Even if the 51s are stacked back to back as shown in FIG. 7, the projecting portions 55b projecting to the back side as in the second embodiment do not interfere with each other, and can be assembled in the same manner as in the related art. .

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the gap between the lower stopper of the dispensing unit and the frame is narrowed by the extension piece formed on the frame or the projection formed on the back surface of the lower stopper. This makes it difficult or impossible to insert tools or tools, and can prevent the removal of canned goods by fraudulent acts with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an anti-theft structure in a commodity dispensing device of a vending machine, showing a standby state of commodity dispensing according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the anti-theft structure in the commodity dispensing device of the vending machine, showing a state when dispensing the commodity according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the commodity dispensing device of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the anti-theft structure in the commodity dispensing device of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the commodity dispensing device of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the vending machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a product payout device in a product storage and transport section of a vending machine.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional product dispensing apparatus in a standby state in a product storage and transport section of a vending machine, as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional product dispensing device in a product dispensing state in a product storage and transport section of a vending machine, as viewed from the rear side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Commodity 5 Storage / Conveyance Path 50 Dispensing Unit 51 Frame 51a Opening Window 51b Opening Window Inner Bottom Edge 51c Extension Edge 52 Upper Shaft 53 Upper Stopper 54 Lower Shaft 55 Lower Stopper 55a Block Member 55b Projection 56 Solenoid (Drive Source) 57 Drive arm

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage / conveyance path which is arranged to extend substantially in the vertical direction and is capable of storing a plurality of products, and a shaft rotatably provided in a frame disposed to face a lower end portion of the storage / conveyance path. Supported, an upper stopper that protrudes from the opening window of the frame into the storage transport path to restrict the second commodity from falling from below the storage general transport path, and is rotatably supported in the frame body, A lower stopper that protrudes from the opening window of the frame into the general storage path to prevent a product from dropping at the lower end in the general storage path, and that the upper stopper and the lower stopper are accommodated in the storage body in the frame. A vending machine provided with a drive source that rotates via a drive arm over a protruding posture that protrudes into the storage general delivery path, wherein the inner bottom of an opening window for a lower stopper formed in a frame body. On the edge,
An anti-theft structure in a product dispensing device of a vending machine, wherein an extending edge for narrowing a gap between the lower stopper and the back surface is formed. 2. A commodity dispensing apparatus for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a back surface of said lower stopper facing an inner bottom edge of an opening window for a lower stopper formed in a frame body,
An anti-theft structure in a product dispensing device of a vending machine, wherein a protruding portion for narrowing a gap between the lower stopper opening window and an inner bottom edge is formed.