JP2002279515A - Article storage device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article storage device for an automatic vending machine that can prevent an article passage from getting jammed with articles by properly maintaining the passage width of the article passage that is set by a passage width setting plate. SOLUTION: The article storage device 1 for the automatic vending machine stores the plurality of articles S in stacked relation in the vertically extending article passage 3. The device 1 comprises left and right side plates 2, 2 facing each other across an established spacing, front and back guide plates 4 provided at the front and back, respectively, in opposed relation between the left and right side plates 2, 2 and defining the article passage 3 in cooperation with the left and right side plates, the vertically extending passage width setting plate 5 laterally movable within the article passage 3 for setting the lateral width of the article passage 3 in cooperation with one of the left and right side plates 2, 2, and upper and lower lock members 16, 4 which engage with respective upper and lower parts of the laterally moved passage width setting plate 5 for locking the passage width setting plate 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine product storage apparatus for storing a plurality of products in a stacked state in a product path extending in a vertical direction, and more particularly, to setting and changing the width of the product path in the left-right direction. Product storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a product storage device of a vending machine for beverages that sells can products, bottle products, and PET bottle products has a plurality of product storage columns extending vertically. Each product storage column is provided between the left and right side plates and the both side plates, and a large number of vertically arranged front and rear arcuate guide plates are provided movably between the both side plates, and the products to be stored are stored. The width of the product passage in the left-right direction (hereinafter referred to as “passage width”) is set in accordance with the size of the product passage. The passage width setting plate and one side plate ( A serpentine-type merchandise passage extending vertically is formed between the merchandise passage and the passage passage plate. Then, in the product passage thus formed, the products in the lying position are stored in a stacked state.

As such a product storage device, for example,
A device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-87666 already proposed by the present applicant is known. The product storage column of the product storage device includes a horizontal support shaft extending between upper portions of left and right side plates, the passage width setting plate suspended by the support shaft, the passage width setting plate, and the other side plate. (Hereinafter referred to as “link side plate”), and a parallel link mechanism for smoothly moving the passage width setting plate in the left-right direction along the support shaft. This parallel link mechanism has a passage width setting plate as one of its constituent elements, and a pair of upper and lower parallel links which are vertically spaced apart from each other and whose one end is rotatably supported by the passage width setting plate. And a connecting link that is attached to the link side plate so as to be slidable vertically along the link side plate, and that connects the other ends of the parallel links in a rotatably supported manner. Further, each of the parallel links is arranged so as to be inclined forward and downward from the passage width setting plate toward the link side plate.
Therefore, when the passage width setting plate is moved toward the link side plate in order to widen the passage width of the product passage, the inclination angle of the parallel link increases while the connecting link of the link side plate slides downward. Conversely, when the passage width setting plate is moved in the direction opposite to the above, the inclination angle of the parallel link becomes gentle while the connecting link slides upward, thereby narrowing the passage width of the product passage.

[0004] The above-mentioned passage width setting plate usually has an upper end portion facing the product insertion port, and an operator who loads the product sets the passage width according to the size of the product before loading. By operating the upper end of the plate, the passage width setting plate is set at a predetermined position. More specifically, a top plate extending in the front-rear and left-right directions is disposed between the product introduction port and the upper end of the product passage, and along the top plate, the upper end of the passage width setting plate is used for product introduction. It extends forward to near the mouth. On the top plate, a plurality of slits are formed side by side in a left-right direction with a predetermined interval therebetween, while the lower portion of the top plate extending to the vicinity of the product insertion port of the passage width setting plate has a top plate. Each slit is formed with a locking projection that can be inserted from above. Also, the passage width setting plate is
It is configured to be slightly movable in the up-down direction with respect to the above-mentioned support shaft from which this is suspended.

Therefore, when setting such a passage width setting plate, the passage width setting plate is moved in the left-right direction with the passage width setting plate slightly lifted, and the locking projection is set in accordance with the size of the product to be stored. The passage width setting plate is lowered so as to be inserted into the predetermined slit from above. As a result, the passage width setting plate is locked in a state where movement in the left-right direction is prevented, and is set at an appropriate position according to the product size. If the product size changes due to replacement of the product and the width of the product passage needs to be changed, lift the passage width setting plate slightly to pull out the lock projection from the slit. Similarly to the above, the passage width setting plate is set at an appropriate position by inserting the lock convex portion into an appropriate slit corresponding to the product size after replacement.

[0006]

As described above, when the passage width setting plate is set at a predetermined position, only the upper end is locked and the lower end is a free end. When a large number of commodities stored in the aforesaid device are biased toward the passage width setting plate, the lower part of the passage width setting plate may be bent toward the link side plate. In particular, for example, in a vending machine installed in a train, when the train accelerates or decelerates,
When the inertial force of the product in the product passage acts on the passage width setting plate, the above-described bending of the passage width setting plate may be further increased. As described above, when the lower portion of the passage width setting plate is bent toward the link side plate, the width of the lower portion of the product passage increases, and a large space is created between the product in the product passage and the lower portion of the passage width setting plate. Would. In this case, the product in the product passage or a part of the product enters the space, and the posture of the product is likely to be disturbed. As a result, the product may be jammed in the product passage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to appropriately maintain the width of a product passage set by a passage width setting plate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine product storage device capable of preventing product clogging in a vending machine.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention is a commodity storage device for a vending machine for storing a plurality of products in a stacked state in a product path extending in a vertical direction. Left and right side plates facing each other at a predetermined interval, and front and rear guide members provided between the left and right side plates so as to face each other in the front-rear direction and defining a product passage together with the left and right side plates; Extending in the direction
A passage width setting plate movably provided in the product passage in the left-right direction and for setting the width of the product passage in the left-right direction between one of the left and right side plates, and a passage width setting plate moved in the left-right direction. And an upper lock member and a lower lock member that lock the passage width setting plate by engaging with the upper and lower portions of the, respectively.

According to this structure, the passage width setting plate is moved in the left-right direction, and the distance between the passage width setting plate and one of the side plates, that is, the width in the left-right direction of the commodity passage is set to the width of the commodity to be stored. Set at a predetermined position corresponding to the size. In this case, the upper and lower lock members engage the upper and lower portions of the passage width setting plate, respectively, so that the plate is locked at the set predetermined position. As described above, since the passage width setting plate is locked at the upper and lower two places,
Even if the product stored in the product passage is pressed toward the other side plate, bending of the product passage in the direction to increase the width of the passage is suppressed, so that the passage width can be appropriately maintained. As a result, the posture of the product is not disturbed due to the increase in the width of the product passage, and the product can be prevented from being blocked in the product passage.

In this case, the passage width setting plate has upper and lower protrusions which can be respectively engaged with the upper lock member and the lower lock member, and is provided movably with play in a direction different from the left-right direction. The upper lock member is formed in a state where the upper lock member is arranged side by side in the left-right direction with an interval therebetween, and has a plurality of slits with which the upper protrusion is selectively engaged, and the lower lock member corresponds to the plurality of slits, respectively. Having a plurality of recesses which are formed at positions in the left-right direction and in which the upper protrusion engages with one of the plurality of slits and the lower protrusion engages with the corresponding one. Is preferred.

According to this structure, the passage width setting plate having play is moved in a direction different from the left-right direction, and the upper protrusion of the passage width setting plate is engaged with one of the plurality of slits. The lower protrusion can be automatically engaged with the concave portion corresponding to the engaged slit. Therefore, when setting the passage width of the product passage by the passage width setting plate, the lower protrusion can be engaged with the recess of the lower lock member only by engaging the upper protrusion with the slit of the upper lock member. The setting work of the width of the product passage can be performed easily and quickly.

In this case, it is preferable that the lower lock member is formed at a lower portion of the guide member and a plurality of recesses are formed in the guide member.

According to this structure, the lower portion of the existing guide member is used as a lower lock member, and a plurality of recesses are directly formed in the guide member, so that there is no need to separately provide a lower lock member, and the manufacturing cost increases. Can be suppressed.

In these cases, each of the plurality of recesses is formed on a side far from one side plate, is formed on a side plate parallel plane parallel to the one side plate, and on a side close to the one side plate, and is formed on the side plate toward the opening. And an inclined surface that is inclined so that the width between the parallel surfaces is gradually increased.

According to this configuration, since each recess is formed so that the width between the side plate parallel surface and the inclined surface gradually increases toward the opening, the upper projection of the passage width setting plate is formed. When engaging with the slit, the lower protrusion can be smoothly and reliably engaged with the concave portion while guiding the lower protrusion on the inclined surface. In addition, since each recess has the side plate parallel surface as described above, even if the passage width setting plate is pressed toward the other side plate by the product stored in the product passage, the pressing force is reduced by the pressing force. It is possible to prevent the passage width setting plate from moving in the direction in which the protrusion comes out of the recess. Thereby, the lock at the lower part of the passage width setting plate can be kept in a stable state.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a product storage device of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied. The vending machine provided with the product storage device 1 can store canned goods and bottled goods,
Further, a product S having a substantially circular cross section, such as a PET bottle product, is stored in the product storage device 1 and sold.
FIG. 1 shows a part of the product storage device 1, and in an actual vending machine, a plurality of the illustrated product storage devices 1 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction and the front-back direction.

The product storage device 1 includes left and right side plates 2 and 2,
A large number of front and rear guide plates 4 and 4 (guide materials) provided between the side plates 2 and 2 and defining a product passage 3 together with the side plates 2 and 2.
A passage width setting plate 5 movably provided in the product passage 3 in the left-right direction; and a parallel link mechanism 6 for moving the passage width setting plate 5 in the left-right direction in parallel. At the lower end of the product storage device 1, there are provided a product dispensing mechanism 7 and a depth setting plate 8, which are spaced from each other in the front-rear direction and arranged to face each other. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The components other than the side plate 2 are provided in two rows in the front and rear directions and are arranged substantially symmetrically in the front and rear direction.

The left and right side plates 2 and 2 are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval capable of accommodating the tallest product (for example, a 500 ml PET bottle product) among the products to be sold. Extend in parallel to A plurality of mounting holes (not shown) for mounting the front and rear guide plates 4 are formed in the same predetermined positions of the side plates 2 and 2, and are arranged in a staggered manner in the vertical direction.

Each of the guide plates 4 is formed by pressing a metal plate, has a convex arc shape on the outside, and has, on its surface, a number of unillustrated holes for allowing cool air or warm air to flow into the product passage 3. Are formed. The guide plate 4 is rotatably attached to the side plates 2 and 2 by engaging both ends of a curl portion 4a integrally formed at the upper end thereof with mounting holes of the side plates 2 and 2 respectively. Further, the lower end of the guide plate 4 is formed in an arc shape protruding inward of the product passage 3, and the guide plate 4 immediately below the guide plate 4.
Is in contact with the curl portion 4a from the inside. With the above configuration, the so-called serpentine-type product passage 3 that extends while meandering in the vertical direction is defined by the side plates 2 and 2 and the front and rear guide plates 4 and 4. The upper end of the product passage 3 communicates with a product insertion opening 3a that opens on the front surface. The product S is thrown from the product insertion opening 3a in a sideways posture, and is stored in the product passage 3 in a stacked state. You.

The lowermost guide plate 4 (lower lock member) is formed with a lock opening 11 with which a lower lock portion 18 of the passage width setting plate 5 described later is engaged. The lock opening 11 penetrates in the front-rear direction and is formed in a horizontally long shape.
A plurality of recesses 1 respectively corresponding to a plurality of slits 17
2 (four in this embodiment) have a predetermined interval from each other,
It is formed in a state of being arranged in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the left side surface 12 a (side plate parallel surface) in each recess 12 is a vertical surface, while the right side surface 12 b (inclined surface) in the recess 12 other than the right end is It is inclined upward. That is, each of the concave portions 12 has a substantially frontal shape
It is formed so that the width in the left-right direction between the left side surface 12a and the right side surface 12b gradually increases toward the upper end opening.

The passage width setting plate 5 is formed by the right side plate 2 according to the size of the product S to be stored.
For setting the width of the passage. In the following description, the left and right side plates 2 and 2 will be appropriately referred to as a “link side plate 2a” and a “passage side plate 2b”, respectively. The passage width setting plate 5 is made of a metal plate having a meandering shape that traces the commodity passage 3, and extends vertically from the commodity insertion port 3 a to the space between the commodity delivery mechanism 7 and the depth setting plate 8. , And between the front and rear guide plates 4. The meandering outer peripheral portion of the passage width setting plate 5 is subjected to drawing processing, whereby the outer peripheral portion is formed to slightly protrude toward the link side plate 2a. Thereby, the rigidity of the passage width setting plate 5 in the front and back directions (left and right directions in FIG. 1A) is higher than that of the metal plate of the raw material.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the passage width setting plate 5
An operation unit 5a extending in the front-rear direction and facing the product insertion port 3a is provided at the upper end of the product. An elongated hole 13 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the rear portion of the operation unit 5a, and a support shaft 14 that is horizontally inserted into an upper portion between the link side plate 2a and the passage side plate 2b is loosely inserted into the elongated hole 13. ing. In other words, the passage width setting plate 5 is suspended from the support shaft 14 via the long hole 13, and has a play that can be moved in the vertical direction by the length of the long hole 13, and is provided along the support shaft 14. To move freely in the left and right direction. An upper lock portion 15 (upper protrusion) projecting downward is formed on a lower surface of the operation portion 5a, and the upper lock portion 15 forms a lower surface of the product insertion port 3a and is a product that has been inserted. The top plate 16 (upper lock member) for guiding the product S to the product passage 3 while rolling the S is locked. In particular,
As shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of slits 17 (four in this embodiment) are formed in the top plate 16 at predetermined intervals from each other and arranged in the left-right direction. One of these slits 17 has an upper lock 1
By selectively inserting the passage width setting plate 5 from above, the passage width setting plate 5 is locked in a state where the movement in the left-right direction is prevented. At the front end of the operation section 5a, an operation hole 5b for catching its own finger when the operator operates the passage width setting plate 5 is formed.

At the lower part of the passage width setting plate 5, a lower lock portion 18 (lower protrusion) which engages with the lock opening 11 is provided at a position facing the lock opening 11. The lower lock portion 18 is formed so as to project slightly forward from the lowermost guide plate 4 via the lock opening 11, and the top plate 16 into which the upper lock portion 15 is inserted.
Recess 12 of locking opening 11 corresponding to slit 17
Engages.

The support shaft 14 for suspending the passage width setting plate 5 has a bottle guide 1 of a predetermined shape for preventing the product S from being loaded in an improper posture during loading.
9 is mounted movably in the left-right direction via a mounting portion 19a having a through hole. This mounting portion 19a
Is formed in an inverted U-shape, and is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the upper end of the passage width setting plate 5 by rotating the bottle guide 19 about the support shaft 14. Therefore,
When the width of the product passage 3 is set, the passage width setting plate 5 is moved in the left-right direction while the mounting portion 19a is engaged, whereby the bottle guide 19 is moved in the left-right direction. Can be done.

As shown in FIG. 2, the parallel link mechanism 6
A pair of upper and lower parallel links 21, 21 (upper link and lower link) which are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction and whose upper ends are rotatably supported by the link side plate 2a.
And a connecting plate 22 attached to the passage width setting plate 5 so as to be slidable up and down along the lower end of each of the links 21 and 21 so as to be rotatably supported. have. In addition, since the upper link 21 and the lower link 21 have the same configuration, the following description focuses on the upper link 21.

The link side plate 2a supporting the upper and lower links 21, 21 is one of the components of the parallel link mechanism 6, and is arranged on the link side plate 2a at intervals in the vertical direction. Upper and lower support portions 23, 23 for supporting the upper ends of the links 21, 21, respectively, are formed. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4, each support portion 23 is bent and formed so as to protrude outward by forming a vertically long rectangular opening 24 by cutting and raising the upper end portion left and right. It has a pair of left and right bent portions 25, 25 facing each other. These bending portions 25, 25 have links 2
Support holes 25a, 25a for rotatably supporting the support member 1 are formed, and these support holes 25a, 25a
The right and left ends of the upper end of the link 21 are loosely engaged with the link a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the connecting plate 22 for connecting the upper and lower links 21 and 21 is formed of an elongated rectangular metal plate, and has a passage width through a mounting plate 26 of a predetermined shape extending vertically. It is attached to the left side of the setting plate 5. The mounting plate 26 is formed so as to protrude toward the link side plate 2a, and is fixed to the passage width setting plate 5 by welding or the like while covering most of the connecting plate 22. The mounting plate 26 is formed with a pair of left and right slits 26a, 26a facing each other and extending a predetermined length in the vertical direction, and the connecting plate 22 is engaged with these slits 26a, 26a. . That is, the mounting plates 26 are provided on the left and right sides of the upper and lower ends of the connecting plate 22.
A pair of left and right bent portions 27, 27 facing each other and projecting outward through the slits 26a, 26a are bent toward the link side plate 2a. These bends 27,
27, like the bent portion 25 of the link side plate 2a,
Support holes 27a, 27a for rotatably supporting the left and right ends of the lower end of the link 21 are respectively formed.

Each link 21 is formed of an elongated rectangular metal plate, and is formed in a predetermined shape with both upper and lower ends being point-symmetrical. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper and lower ends of the link 21 are each formed in a T-shape in plan view, and the length in the left-right direction of FIG. 21
And the bent portions 25, 25
Rotating portions 31, 31 slightly longer than the interval between (27, 27) (only the rotating portion at the upper end is shown in FIG. 4). The left and right ends of these turning parts 31, 31 are inserted into the support holes 25a of the bent parts 25, 25 of the link side plate 2a and the support holes 27a of the bent part 27 of the connecting plate 22 from inside, and are turned. It is movably supported.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the upper and lower ends of each link 21 are used as escapes when the link 21 is attached to the link side plate 2a and the connecting plate 22 on either the left or right side. Notches 32, 32 are formed, and the upper and lower ends of the link 21 are bent at predetermined angles at the notches 32, 32, respectively. The width W of each notch 32 is determined by the distance d1 between the support hole 25a of the bent portion 25 and the opening 24 (see FIG. 4) and the distance d between the support hole 27a of the bent portion 27 and the left end of the bent portion 27.
2 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, for example, when the upper end of the link 21 is attached to the support portion 23 of the left side plate 2, first, the link 21 is placed in a substantially horizontal posture (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5A).
The end of the rotating portion 31 on the side of the notch 32 is inserted into the support hole 25a of the bent portion 25 from the opening 24 side. In this case, by using the notch 32 as a relief for the edge of the support hole 25a, both ends of the rotating portion 31 can be easily inserted into the support holes 25a, 25a. The lower end of the link 21 is also attached to the bent portions 27 of the connecting plate 22 by using the notch at the lower end in the same manner as described above.

The link 21 as described above can be manufactured by pressing a metal plate into a predetermined shape and bending both ends. In addition, as described above, by bending both ends of the link 21 at a predetermined angle,
When the passage width of the product passage 3 is set, even if the passage width setting plate 5 is moved in the left-right direction, the link 21 remains in the link side plate 2a.
Or from the connecting plate 22 can be prevented. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, a link 21 having upper and lower ends bent at a predetermined angle has a movable angle of substantially 90 degrees, and is almost horizontal (a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5A). (Position indicated by) does not come off from the bent portion 25. On the other hand, the link 21A shown in FIG.
That is, the link 21A in a state before bending the end of the link 21 has a small movable angle with respect to the link 21 and rotates about 45 degrees from a vertical posture (a two-dot chain line in FIG. ), There is a possibility that it will come off the bent portion 25. Therefore, by bending the upper and lower ends of the link 21 as described above, the link 21
Can be widened, and can be made hard to come off. In addition, unlike the link generally manufactured conventionally, it is not necessary to process both ends of the link into a curled shape, and accordingly, the link 21 can be manufactured at a low cost.

Next, a brief description will be given of a method of setting the passage width of the product passage 3 using the passage width setting plate 5. First, the passage width setting plate 5 is slightly lifted while grasping its operation portion 5a, and the upper lock portion 15 of the passage width setting plate 5 is pulled out from the slit 17 of the inserted top plate 16. Accordingly, the lower lock portion 18 of the passage width setting plate 5 is
It comes out upward from the concave portion 12 with which the locking opening 11 has been engaged. As a result, the passage width setting plate 5 is unlocked in the up and down directions, so that the passage width setting plate 5 can move in the left and right direction along the support shaft 14. And while keeping this state,
The passage width setting plate 5 is moved in the left-right direction, and the upper locking portion 15 is formed in the slit 17 corresponding to the size of the product S to be stored.
The passage width setting plate 5 is lowered so that is inserted from above.
Accordingly, the lower lock portion 18 of the passage width setting plate 5 automatically moves into the concave portion 12 corresponding to the slit 17 into which the upper lock portion 15 is inserted, while being guided by the inclined right side surface 12b in the concave portion 12. Engage. As a result, the passage width setting plate 5 is set at an appropriate position corresponding to the product size, and at that position, the movement in the left-right direction is locked.

As described in detail above, according to the commodity storage device 1 of the present embodiment, the passage width setting plate 5 set at an appropriate position according to the commodity size has two upper and lower passages. Since the product is stored in the product passage 3, even if the product S stored in the product passage 3 is pressed toward the link side plate 2 a, the bending of the product passage 3 in the direction in which the passage width is increased is suppressed, and the passage width is reduced. It can be maintained properly.
As a result, the posture of the product S is not disturbed due to the increase in the width of the product passage 3, and it is possible to prevent the product from being jammed in the product passage 3.

Each recess 12 of the lock opening 11 with which the lower lock portion 18 of the passage width setting plate 5 engages is formed so as to correspond to the slit 17 of the top plate 16.
Since the width in the left-right direction gradually increases toward the upper side, when setting the width of the product passage 3, the passage width setting plate 5 that has been once lifted is moved down in the left-right direction and then lowered. By simply inserting the upper lock portion 15 into the slit 17 from above, the lower lock portion 18 can be smoothly and reliably engaged with the concave portion 12 corresponding to the slit 17. Thus, the work of setting the width of the product passage 3 by the passage width setting plate 5 can be performed easily and quickly, and the completion of the setting can be easily confirmed. It can be kept in a stable state. Also, since the left side surface 12a in the concave portion 12 is vertical, the product S in the product passage 3
Even when the passage width setting plate 5 is pressed toward the link side plate 2a, the pressing force can prevent the lower lock portion 18 from coming out of the concave portion 12, that is, prevent the passage width setting plate 5 from moving upward. Thus, the lower lock of the passage width setting plate 5 can be kept in a more stable state.

Further, the lower locking portion 18 of the passage width setting plate 5
Is formed directly on the existing guide plate 4, so that there is no need to separately provide a device for locking the lower lock portion 18, thereby suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.

The present invention can be implemented in various modes without being limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the passage width setting plate 5 is formed with the elongated hole 13 extending in the up-down direction, and the support shaft 14 is loosely inserted therein, so that the passage width setting plate 5 has play in the up-down direction. By forming the elongated hole 13 to extend in the front-rear direction, the passage width setting plate 5 may have play in the front-rear direction, and the passage width setting plate 5 may be moved in the front-rear direction to be locked. . Also, the connecting plate 2 of the parallel link mechanism 6
2 is attached to the passage width setting plate 5, but the connecting plate 22 is attached to the link side plate 2a so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and the upper and lower links 21 and 21 are directly rotatably supported on the passage width setting plate 5, respectively. You may do so. Also,
The detailed configuration of the product storage device 1 shown in the embodiment is as follows.
This is merely an example, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0036]

As described above in detail, the product storage device of the vending machine according to the present invention can maintain the width of the product aisle set by the aisle width setting plate properly. This has the effect of preventing product clogging in the aisle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a product storage device of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a front view and (b) is a side sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a periphery of a passage width setting plate in a state where a front guide plate is removed in the product storage device of FIG. 1, and a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion cut along line AA. .

3A and 3B show the periphery of a passage width setting plate, FIG. 3A is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged perspective view showing a lower end portion of the passage width setting plate.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged views of a mounting portion where a link is mounted on a link side plate, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a right side view.

FIG. 5 is a view for comparing and explaining a link in a state where the end is bent and a link in a state before bending.
It is explanatory drawing corresponding to (a), (a) shows the bent link, (b) shows the link before bending.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity storage apparatus 2 Side plate 2a Link side plate (the other side plate) 2b Passage side plate (one side plate) 3 Product passage 4 Guide plate (guide material) 5 Passage width setting plate 11 Locking opening 12 Concave portion 12a Left side surface of the concave portion (side plate) 12b Right side surface (inclined surface) of recess 15 Upper lock part (upper protrusion) 16 Top plate (upper lock member) 17 Slit 18 Lower lock part (lower protrusion) S Product

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A product storage device for a vending machine for storing a plurality of products in a stacked state in a product path extending in a vertical direction, comprising: left and right side plates facing each other at a predetermined interval; A front and rear guide member which is provided between the left and right side plates so as to oppose each other in the front and rear direction, and defines the product passage together with the left and right side plates; and extends vertically and is movable in the product passage in the left and right direction. A passage width setting plate for setting the width of the product passage in the left-right direction between one of the left and right side plates, and an upper portion and a lower portion of the passage width setting plate moved in the left-right direction, respectively. An article storage device for a vending machine, comprising: an upper lock member and a lower lock member that lock the passage width setting plate by being engaged. 2. The passage width setting plate has upper and lower protrusions respectively engageable with the upper lock member and the lower lock member, and is provided movably with play in a direction different from the left-right direction. The upper lock member is formed in a state where the upper lock member is arranged in the left-right direction with an interval therebetween, and has a plurality of slits with which the upper protrusion is selectively engaged. The upper protrusion is formed at a position in the left-right direction corresponding to each of the plurality of slits, and the lower protrusion engages with the corresponding one as the upper protrusion engages with one of the plurality of slits. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine has a plurality of recesses. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the lower lock member is formed at a lower portion of the guide member, and the plurality of recesses are formed in the guide member. Storage device. 4. Each of the plurality of recesses is formed on a side far from the one side plate, is formed on a side plate parallel surface parallel to the one side plate, and on a side near the one side plate, and faces an opening. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 2, further comprising: an inclined surface that is inclined so that a width between the side plate parallel surface and the side plate parallel surface is gradually increased.