JP2002329247A - Article sending-out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an article arranged between windings of a coil from slanting owing to the rotation of the coil and then not being discharged. SOLUTION: This device comprises a mount surface where an article is mounted, the coil having the article stored between the windings, a rotary mechanism which rotates the coil so that a frictional force operate in the direction wherein the article moves away from the mount surface, and a guide which is arranged by the article.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product delivery device for delivering a product as required while holding the product between windings of a coil. In particular, the present invention relates to a merchandise delivery device capable of inexpensively manufacturing a vending machine for delivering a card showing a surface design to a purchaser to the purchaser. The “product” used in this specification may be anything that can be held between the windings of the coil. The present invention
It is suitable for sending out products such as prepayment cards, magnetic cards, IC cards, character cards, MD cases, CD cases, and cassette tape cases.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-27397 is known as this kind of apparatus. That is, the product is held between the windings of the coil, and the product is sent out in one direction by using the spiral of the coil by rotating the coil around its axis, and the product is freely dropped from a drop port.

[0003] The rotation direction of the coil is set in a direction in which the product is lifted from the mounting surface. For this reason, when the product is lightweight such as a character card, the product may be lifted and inclined by the frictional force between the coil winding and the product. If the product is tilted, the width of the product may be larger than the width of the falling port and may be caught and may not fall.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent a product from being tilted due to the rotation direction of a coil and to prevent the product from being discharged. More specifically, by frictional contact with the coil,
It is an object of the present invention to prevent a product from tilting with a simple device. Another object is to make it easier to load the product between the windings of the coil.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a mounting surface for mounting a product, a coil for storing the product between windings, and a mounting surface for mounting the coil on the product. The product delivery device is constituted by a rotation mechanism that rotates so that a frictional force acts in a direction in which the product is lifted from the product, and a product guide.

As described above, when the product guide is arranged, even if the product is inclined by the rotation of the coil, the product is blocked by the guide and cannot be inclined. Therefore, since the product does not tilt during the delivery, the product can be reliably discharged.

[0007] In the present invention, it is preferable that the guide further includes a guide slope which opens upward. When the guide slope is arranged in this way, the product can be refilled correctly without inserting the product between the coil windings so as to be substantially upright with respect to the mounting surface. That is, even if a product is inserted while being inclined with respect to the mounting surface, a part of the product is guided by the guide slope and can be replenished in a state of being substantially upright with respect to the mounting surface.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commodity delivery apparatus according to an embodiment as viewed obliquely from the upper front right side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view seen from obliquely above the rear right of the commodity delivery device of the embodiment. Figure 3
FIG. 4 is a front view of the commodity delivery apparatus according to the embodiment, in which a first bracket and a second bracket are partially removed. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the commodity delivery apparatus according to the embodiment, in which a part of the first bracket and a part of the second bracket are removed. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control device according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation.

First coils 1a horizontally arranged at predetermined intervals
And a second coil 1b, and an upwardly channel-shaped product guide 2 disposed between the coils 1a and 1b constitute a product delivery device d. That is, the first shaft 3a
Then, both ends of the first coil 1a are fixed, and the first coil 1a rotates around the first shaft 3a. Similarly, both ends of the second coil 1b are fixed to the second shaft 3b,
The second coil 1b is configured to rotate around the shaft 3b.

[0010] Both ends of the first shaft 3a are horizontally and rotatably attached to a box-shaped first bracket 4a. Similarly, both ends of the second shaft 3b are horizontally and rotatably attached to the box-shaped second bracket 4b.
The first coil 1a and the second coil 1b are fixed to the base 5 in a horizontal state at a predetermined interval.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b are located below the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b.
A channel-shaped product guide 2 is arranged between the coils 1b and fixed to the base 5. The first side wall 2a of the guide 2 is
It comprises a first vertical wall 5l that rises vertically, and a first inclined wall 5u that opens outward above the first vertical wall 5l. The first side wall 2a has substantially the same length as the first coil 1a.

Similarly, the second side wall 2b also rises vertically.
It is composed of a vertical wall 6l and a second inclined wall 6u that opens outward above the second vertical wall 6l. The second side wall 2b is
It has almost the same length as the coil 1b. The first side wall 2a and the second side wall 2b are connected by a mounting surface 2c located horizontally.

The distance between the first vertical wall 51 and the second vertical wall 61 is
The lower end of the product c to be sent out can move between them, and is formed slightly larger than the width of the product c so that the inclination of the product is within a predetermined range. The first vertical wall 5l extends from the inner end of the first coil 1a to about one third of the coil diameter,
It is located on the 3a side. The second vertical wall 61 is also located on the side of the second shaft 3b from the inner end of the second coil 1b, about one third of the coil diameter.

The tip of the first inclined portion 5u is located almost directly below the first shaft 3a. The tip of the second inclined portion 6u is
It is located almost directly below the shaft 3b. The product delivery device d further includes a product sensor 7. Product sensor 7
Is a transmission type photoelectric sensor including, for example, a light projector 7i and a light receiver 7r.

The light projector 7i is fixed to the first bracket 4a so that the light projecting portion is located inside the vicinity of the first vertical wall 51. The light receiver 7r is fixed to the first bracket 4a with the first side wall 2a interposed therebetween so that the light receiver receives the light emitted from the light emitter 7i. Further, a bracket 9 is fixed to the delivery end 2e of the product guide 2 to form a rectangular drop opening 8.

A card sensor 10 is fixed to the bracket 9. The card sensor 10 is, for example, a reflection type photoelectric sensor. A guide chute 11 formed in a groove shape is fixed below the drop port 8. Photoelectric sensor 10 of guide chute 11
An opening 12 is formed in a portion opposite to the above so that the light is not reflected.

Next, the rotation mechanism dr of the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b will be described with reference to FIGS. First shaft 3a
Has a gear 20a fixed thereto via a one-way clutch 25a. A fixed shaft 23a is fixed to the first bracket 4a. An idle gear 24 is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 23a. The idle gear 24 meshes with the gear 20a.

The one-way clutch 25 is provided on the second shaft 3b.
The gear 20b is fixed via b. The rotating shaft 21 is rotatably attached to the second bracket 4b. This rotating shaft 21
, A gear 22 is fixed and meshes with the gear 20b. Further, a timing pulley 26 is fixed to the rotating shaft 21. The product delivery device d of the present embodiment has the above configuration.

In this embodiment, two product delivery devices d are mounted on the base 5 to form a product delivery device unit du. The paired product delivery devices d are denoted by the same reference numerals with p added, and description thereof is omitted.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the drive mechanism dm of the commodity delivery devices d and dp will be described. The drive gear 31 is rotated by the motor 30 (FIG. 3) fixed to the lower surface of the base 5. A rotating shaft 32 is rotatably mounted between the commodity delivery devices d and dp. A gear 33 is fixed to the rotating shaft 32. The gear 33 is provided with the idle gears 24 and 24p.
Are engaged.

A timing pulley 35 is fixed to the rotating shaft 32. Timing belts 36 and 36p are wound between the timing pulley 35 and the timing pulleys 26 and 26p, respectively. The transmission ratio from the rotating shaft 32 to the gear 20b and the transmission ratio from the rotating shaft 32 to the gear 20a are set to be the same. Reference numeral 37 denotes a tension device that applies a predetermined tension by pressing a roller 40 supported at one end of a lever 39 rotatably attached to a shaft 38 fixed to the base 5 against the timing belt 36.

The one-way clutches 25a and 25b have their transmission directions reversed. For example, in FIG. 4, when the gear 33 rotates clockwise, the first coil 1a is set to rotate clockwise in the figure, and the second coil 1b is set to rotate counterclockwise. At this time, the first coil 1ap of the commodity delivery device dp is set so as not to be rotated by the one-way clutch 25ap, and the second coil 1bp is not rotated by the one-way clutch 25bp.

That is, when the gear 33 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 4, the first shaft 3a, and hence the first shaft 3a, is driven through the idle gear 24, the gear 20a, and the one-way clutch 25a.
The coil 1a is rotated clockwise. Further, the second shaft 3b, and thus the second coil 1b, is rotated counterclockwise via the timing pulley 35, the timing belt 36, the timing pulley 26, the rotating shaft 21, the gear 22, the gear 20b, and the one-way clutch 25b.

On the other hand, the gear 33 rotates the gear 24ap via the idle gear 24p, but the one-way clutch 25ap does not transmit the rotational force, so that the first shaft 3ap, and therefore the first coil 1ap, does not rotate. Further, a timing pulley 35, a timing belt 36p, a timing pulley 26p,
The gear 20bp is rotated via the rotating shaft 21p and the gear 22p,
Since the one-way clutch 25bp is set not to transmit the rotation, the second shaft 3bp, and therefore the second coil 1bp does not rotate.

When the gear 33 is rotated in the opposite direction, neither the first coil 1a nor the second coil 1b is rotated because the one-way clutches 25a and 25b are set not to transmit the rotation. On the other hand, since the one-way clutches 25ap and 25bp transmit rotation, the first coil 1ap is rotated counterclockwise and the second coil 1bp is rotated clockwise in FIG.

Next, the control device 50 shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The control device 50 includes an MPU 51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53
And a microprocessor comprising: The control device 50
The commodity sensors 7 and 7p, the card sensors 10 and 10p, and the payout signals pg and pgp for each commodity are input to control the operation of the motor 30 and the display on the display device 54.

The product delivery unit du is mounted in a vending machine so that the product can be seen from the outside. When there are many types of products, the number of product delivery units du is increased so that one product delivery device d accommodates one type of product.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Prior to the operation, the product c is set in the product delivery devices d and dp. That is, the coils 1a and 1b are turned by hand to
The phase of the storage section 1c between the windings of the coil 1b is matched. That is, the axis of the product guide 2 and the surface of the product c are held in a substantially perpendicular state.

Next, a product c such as a card or a card case containing a plurality of cards is inserted from above the storage section 1c. Products that have passed through the storage section 1c of each coil 1a, 1b
The lower end of c then reaches between vertical walls 5l and 6l.

At this time, even if the product c is inclined, its lower end is guided by the first inclined wall 5u and the second inclined wall 6u and guided between the first vertical wall 51 and the second vertical wall 61. , Commodity c
Can be easily stored. As shown in FIG. 3, the product c is held at its middle left end by the first coil 1a and at its right end by the windings of the second coil 1b.

The product c held by the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b has a lower left end on the first vertical wall 51 of the first side wall 2a and a right end on the second vertical wall 51 of the second side wall 2b. The lower end is located on the bottom surface 2c of the guide 2 close to the vertical wall 6l. Similarly, the product cp is inserted into the storage portion 1cp between the windings of the coils 1ap and 1bp of the product delivery device dp.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the case where the product c of the sending device d is selected by the purchaser will be described. In step s1, when there is no selection signal pg of the commodity sending device d, step s11
To determine the existence of the selection signal pgp of the product cp of the sending device dp, and if there is no selection signal pgp, return to step s1 again and wait for the output of the selection signal.

When the selection switch of the product c of the product delivery device d is turned on and the selection signal pg is output, the process proceeds to step s2, and the motor 30 is rotated forward. When the motor 30 rotates forward, the one-way clutch 25a transmits the rotation to the first shaft 3a to rotate the first coil 1a counterclockwise in FIG.
The second coil 1b is rotated clockwise in phase with the first coil 1a by the rotation transmitted by the one-way clutch 25b.

At this time, both the one-way clutches 25ap and 25bp on the commodity delivery device dp rotate the first shaft 3ap,
Since it is not transmitted to the second shaft 3bp, the first coil 1ap, the second coil
Neither coil 1bp rotates. Due to the rotation of the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b, the product c is pushed out to the drop opening 8 side.

That is, the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b
Due to the spiral of the winding of the product c, the product c is pushed to the drop opening 8 side while receiving a pushing force from below by the winding on the back side. As a result, the leading product c reaches the drop opening 8 and falls under its own weight. During this extrusion, the product c tends to be tilted due to the imbalance of the forces received from the first coil 1a and the second coil 1b, but is blocked by the first vertical wall 5l and the second vertical wall 6l, and is almost vertical. It is pushed out while standing.

The card sensor 10 detects a commodity c that has fallen from the fall opening 8. In response to the detection signal from the card sensor 10, the process proceeds from step s3 to step s4, and the rotation of the motor 30 is stopped. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step s5, and if the card absence signal is not output from the product sensor 7, the process ends. If there is no card signal in step s5, step s6
Then, the display device 54 is caused to display the sold-out display, and the processing is terminated.

Next, a case where the product cp of the product delivery device dp is selected will be described. When the selection signal pgp is output,
Proceeding from step s11 to step s12, the motor 30 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction. Due to this reversal, the delivery device dp in FIG.
Of the first coil 1ap rotates clockwise through the one-way clutch 25ap, and the second coil 1bp
It rotates counterclockwise through 5bp, and pushes the product cp to the falling port 8p side. On the other hand, the first coil 1 of the product delivery device d
a, the second coil 1b is not rotated by the one-way clutches 25a, 25b.

Thus, the product cp is pushed out by the coils 1ap and 1bp and falls from the drop port 8p in the same manner as the operation of the product delivery device d. Card sensor 10 for falling of product cp
When p is detected, the process proceeds from step s13 to step s14,
The rotation of the motor 30 is stopped.

Next, in step s15, the card absence signal from the commodity sensor 7p is confirmed, and if there is no card absence signal, the processing is terminated. When the no card signal is output,
Proceeding to step s16, a sold-out display is displayed on the display device 54, and the process ends. The case of the product delivery device dp,
When the product cp is inclined, it is blocked by the vertical walls 5lp and 6lp, so that the product cp is pushed almost vertically.

The present invention can be variously modified within the gist of the invention.   For example, the inclined wall improves the convenience of storing the product in the guide, but need not always be provided.

[0041]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commodity sending-out device according to an embodiment, viewed obliquely from the upper right front;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the commodity delivery apparatus according to the embodiment as viewed obliquely from the upper right rear.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary front view of the commodity delivery apparatus according to the embodiment, in which a first bracket and a second bracket are partially removed;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary rear view of the commodity delivery device according to the embodiment, in which a first bracket and a second bracket are partially removed;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Product c, cp Drive mechanism dm Coil 1a, 1b, 1ap, 1bp Mounting surface 2c, 2cp Product guide 2,2p First inclined wall 5u, 5up Second inclined wall 6u, 6up

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2C005 HA30 LB45 3E046 BB06 CA13 DA03 EA13 3F343 FA15 FB09 FC01 FC03 FC04 GA01 GB02 GC01 GC03 GD04 JA11 JA20 KB04 LB01 LD04 LD10 LD28

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mounting surface (2c, 2cp) on which a product (c, cp) is mounted,
Coil (1a, 1b, 1ap, 1) for storing the product (c, cp) between windings
bp) and a rotation mechanism (dr) that rotates the coil (1a, 1b, 1ap, 1bp) so that a frictional force acts in a direction in which the product (c, cp) floats from the mounting surface (2c, 2cp). , Product (c, cp) guide (2,2p),
Product delivery device comprising: 2. The product delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the guide (2, 2p) includes an inclined wall (5u, 6u, 5up, 6up) that opens upward.