JP2002329240A - Dummy container of automatic beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a dummy container easy to be assembled and to expand the application range of the dummy container. SOLUTION: The dummy container has a dummy container body 1 and a cylinder body 2 for charged liquid beverage display; and the dummy container body 1 is composed of a transparent plastic member and has an opening part 1a on the reversed side and the cylinder body 2 for charged liquid beverage display has a specific color corresponding to liquid beverage and is provide with a fitting part 2a on its reverse side. The fitting part 2a can be fitted in the dummy container body 1 through the opening part 1a. The cylinder body 2 while fitted in the dummy container body 1 has its fitting part 2a exposed in the opening part 1a, and its color can be seen through from outside the dummy container body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dummy container for a beverage vending machine such as a soft drink in a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a method of using a vending machine as a sales form of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks in cans or bottles. In this type of container-based beverage vending machine, a dummy container, which is a sample for product display corresponding to the type of product, is mounted on a mounting plate called a station so that buyers can see at a glance various products sold there. Are displayed. As these dummy containers, a color coating corresponding to the color of the liquid beverage to be filled is applied from the bottom to the line of sight on the outer peripheral surface of the plastic container, so that the liquid beverage of a predetermined color is filled in the container. There is something that seems to be. At the time of display, light is emitted from a light source disposed below the dummy container toward the bottom opening of the dummy container. In conventional dummy containers, a predetermined color coating is applied to the outer peripheral surface.Therefore, during transportation, collision with other dummy containers etc. will cause a part of the coating to peel off and reduce the commercial value. There was a problem that required attention. In addition, there is a problem that the painting operation requires skill and costs. As means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a flexible plastic thin plate for display having a color provided inside a dummy container main body formed of a transparent member is formed into a cylindrical shape, and is inserted through the bottom opening of the dummy container. A dummy container in which a dummy container is detachably mounted on a mounting plate has been proposed.

[0003]

The prior art, which comprises a transparent dummy container body detachable on a mounting plate and a display plastic thin plate inserted therein, can solve the problems of transport management and painting. Despite several advantages, there are several areas for improvement: The first point is that the seams (cuts) of the plastic display thin plate that is cylindrical during transportation may move to the front of the dummy container due to vibration, and in such a case, it may be located on the back side of the dummy container. Although it is necessary to make corrections, the correction operation is performed in the dummy container main body, making it difficult to perform the operation.To reliably solve this problem, it is necessary to secure the display plastic thin plate to the dummy container in advance with tape. Yes, assembling was troublesome. The second point is that if the diameter of the bottom opening of the dummy container body is small, it is difficult to insert the display plastic thin plate, and if the internal shape of the dummy container is square, the display plastic thin plate does not fit well, The function is impaired, and the range of the dummy container to which the conventional example can be applied is limited. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to facilitate the assembly of a dummy container and to expand the applicable range of the dummy container.

[0004]

A feature of the present invention resides in that a dummy container main body and a filled liquid beverage display cylinder are provided. The dummy container main body is made of a transparent member, and the lower part is an opening. The filled liquid beverage display cylinder is given a predetermined color corresponding to the liquid beverage, has a mounting portion at a lower portion, and can be fitted into the dummy container body through the opening. The mounting portion is exposed from the opening while the filled liquid beverage display cylinder is fitted in the dummy container main body, and the color can be seen through from the outside of the dummy container main body. Each of the dummy container main body and the body portion of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder has a cross section of an appropriate shape such as a polygon such as a square or a pentagon, a circle (including a substantially circular shape), or an ellipse.

[0005]

The filled liquid beverage display cylinder is attached to an attaching means such as an attaching plate via an attaching portion, and functions as a display means for the filled liquid beverage in the dummy container main body.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A dummy container shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a dummy container main body 1 and a filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 fitted in the dummy main body.
It is mounted on the mounting plate 3 in an upright state.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the dummy container main body 1 is formed in a transparent plastic bottle shape having a square cross section by an elastically deformable plastic member (FIG. 5). The lower portion of the dummy container main body 1 is opened by an opening 1a, and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 can be inserted into the dummy container main body from the opening 1a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a notch 1c for expanding is formed in a corner portion of the dummy container main body 1 so as to extend linearly from a lower end to a neck portion 1b. The notch 1c is for further facilitating the elastic deformation of the dummy container body 1. The filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 is given a predetermined color corresponding to the liquid beverage, and has a mounting portion 2 a having a smaller diameter than the main body of the cylinder below. It is provided. A stepped portion 2b is provided between the main body of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 and the mounting portion 2a. The filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 can be fitted into the dummy container main body 1 through the opening 1a, but the mounting portion 2a is always exposed below the dummy container main body 1 (FIG. 1). Filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2
Is display means for making it appear as if the liquid beverage is filled in the dummy container main body 1. The filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 is inserted into the dummy container body 1 with a line of sight 4
It can be fitted to a position corresponding to (FIG. 2). As a method of applying color to the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2, a suitable method such as a molding method using a colored plastic member, a method of applying color to the outer surface of the cylinder, a method of attaching a color paper to the surface of the cylinder, and the like are selected. You. The color of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 matches the color of the liquid beverage of the product corresponding to the dummy container main body 1. For example, if the color of the liquid beverage of the product corresponding to the dummy container main body 1 is orange or cloudy, the color of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 is also made to correspond to the color. The mounting portion 2a at the lower part of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 is mounted via a mounting hole 3a of the mounting plate 3 (FIG. 4). The attachment portion 2a is provided with a locking projection 2a1 and a positioning projection 2a2 on its outer periphery. In FIG. 4, the mounting projection 2 has two locking projections 2 opposite to each other.
a1 is formed in the circumferential direction. Locking ridge 2a
Numeral 1 is inclined in the downward direction toward the moving direction side, that is, the left side in FIG. The positioning projection 2a2 is a locking projection 2a1.
Are provided vertically in a continuous manner at the upper part of the. In the mounting plate 3 shown in FIG. 8, the mounting holes 3a formed in the mounting plate 3 are formed in a plane circular shape, and are arranged at intervals in the length direction of the mounting plate. The mounting hole 3a is formed with a notch hole 3a1 for insertion, which is substantially fan-shaped in a plane, facing the inner peripheral edge thereof. In addition, a positioning recess 3a is provided at an inner peripheral edge of the mounting hole 3a at a position between the notch holes 3a1.
2 is provided. The relationship between the dummy container main body 1 and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 will be described. When the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 is in a state of being fitted into the dummy container main body 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the color of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder is changed to the color of the dummy container main body 1. It is possible to see through from the outside. In a state where the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 is fitted into the dummy container main body 1, the level of the upper end surface 2 c of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder coincides with the viewing line 4.
Also, as in the example shown in FIGS.
When the liquid beverage display cylinder 2 and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 are brought into close contact with each other, the impression that the liquid beverage is actually filled in the dummy container body is further enhanced.

Next, the operation of attaching the dummy container to the attachment plate 3 will be described. First, the mounting holes 3 of the mounting plate 3
The mounting portion 2a of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 is arranged directly above the mounting hole 3a, and the mounting portion is attached to the mounting hole 3a with the locking projection 2a1 facing the notch hole 3a1 for insertion. And the step 2b eventually hits the inner peripheral edge of the mounting hole 3a. At this time, the locking ridge 2a1 protrudes below the lower surface of the mounting plate 3. Next, when the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 is turned counterclockwise in FIG.
Is inserted between the locking projection 2a1 and the lower surface of the step 2b, and the rotation continues, the positioning projection 2a2 is locked by the positioning recess 3a2 formed at the edge of the mounting hole, and the filling liquid is filled. The beverage display cylinder 2 is fixed on the mounting plate 3. After the fixation, as shown in FIG. 1, the dummy main body 1 is put on from the upper side of the cylinder 2 for displaying the filled liquid beverage which is standing up. At this time, the cut 1c is at a position where it cannot be seen from the front. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Stands on the mounting plate 3 via the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2, the color of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder is displayed on the outer surface of the dummy container main body, and the upper end face of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder Since 2c has reached the viewing line 4, it is possible to give a viewer an impression that the beverage is filled in the dummy container main body 1.

In the illustrated example, the dummy container main body 1 and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 are formed in a rectangular cross section. However, as shown in FIG. The cross section of the cylindrical body 2A may be circular. In such a circular example, the dummy container main body 1A
When the notch 1Ac moves to the front due to misalignment during transportation, when setting the vending machine, the dummy container main body 1A is turned to be positioned at the back as shown in the drawing,
Alternatively, the notch 1Ac may be removed from the filled liquid beverage display cylinder, put on the original position again, and the position of the cut 1Ac may be corrected from the front to the back. For this reason, transportation management is easier than in the conventional example. 2Aa is a mounting portion for the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2A. In addition, the cross-sectional shapes of the dummy container body and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder include polygons such as pentagons and hexagons in addition to squares, shapes including circles such as ellipses in addition to circles (including substantially circles), and the like. The shape is appropriately selected.
Further, it is desirable that the cross-sectional shapes of the dummy container main body and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder correspond to each other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. It is not necessary to make them correspond to each other as long as they can be put on each other.

In the present invention, the dummy container bodies 1, 1
A is configured to cover the filled liquid beverage display cylinders 2 and 2A, so even if the shape is square as shown in FIG.
It is not affected by the shape of the dummy container, and even if the main body is small, it is possible to display the filled liquid beverage. It will be easier. In this manner, the display of the filled liquid beverage can be performed without being affected by the shape and size of the dummy container, and the assembly can be easily performed.

As a material of the dummy container main body 1, a colorless transparent member, a colored transparent member, a translucent member, or the like is used as a transparent plastic member. Any material can be used as long as it is displayed and the display can be recognized. The position of the cut is not limited to the corner of the dummy container main body as shown in FIG. If the cuts are provided, the elastic deformation of the dummy container main bodies 1 and 1A becomes large and the assembling becomes easy, but it is not always necessary to provide them. The mounting structure of the mounting portion 2a of the filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2 to the mounting plate 3 includes the locking ridge 2a1 and the notch hole 3a1 for insertion, but is not necessarily limited to this example.

[0011]

According to the present invention, it is possible to display a filled liquid beverage with a simple structure without being affected by the shape and size of the dummy container. Therefore, the applicable range of the displayable dummy container is expanded. And assembly can be performed easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a dummy container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a dummy container of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a dummy container main body in the dummy container of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the dummy container main body shown in FIG. 2 is rotated clockwise by 135 degrees about its axis.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a filled liquid beverage display cylinder in the dummy container of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a main part of the mounting plate.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another form of the dummy container main body in the dummy container.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dummy container main body 1a Opening 1c Cut 1A Dummy container main body 2 Filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2a Attachment part 2A Filled liquid beverage display cylinder 2c Upper end surface 2Aa Mounting part 3 Mounting plate 3a Mounting hole 4

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A dummy container main body made of a transparent member and having an opening at a lower portion, a predetermined color corresponding to a liquid beverage, and an attachment portion provided at a lower portion. And a filled liquid beverage display cylinder that can be fitted through the opening, and wherein the filled liquid beverage display cylinder is fitted in the dummy container body and the mounting portion is A dummy container in a beverage vending machine, wherein the dummy container is exposed from an opening, and the color can be seen through from the outside of the dummy container main body. 2. The dummy container in a beverage vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the dummy container main body is formed with a notch for expanding upward from a lower end. 3. The dummy container main body and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder have a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and a cut is formed at a corner of the dummy container main body. Item 3. A dummy container in a beverage vending machine according to item 2. 4. The dummy container main body and the filled liquid beverage display cylinder have a circular cross-sectional shape, and a cut is formed in a back portion of the dummy container main body. 3. A dummy container in the beverage vending machine according to 2.