JP2002358568A - Merchandise housing dispenser for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the merchandise housing dispenser of an automatic vending machine with which merchandise is appropriately housed and discharged even without special knowledge regardless of housed merchandise. SOLUTION: The merchandise housing dispenser is provided with a front pulley 22 and a rear pulley 23 respectively freely rotatably provided on a front end part and a rear end part inside a merchandise path 14, feed belts 24 wound to the front pulley 22 and the rear pulley 23, on which two or more pieces of merchandise S are mounted, a backrest 25 attached to the feed belts 24, on which the last merchandise S positioned on the rearmost side among two or more pieces of the mounted merchandise S can lean, and a driving device 53 moving two or more pieces of the mounted merchandise S forward and discharging sold merchandise S forward by turning the feed belts 24 in a prescribed direction by rotationally driving at least one of the front pulley 22 and the rear pulley 23 in the prescribed direction at the time of selling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise storing and dispensing apparatus for a vending machine which stores a plurality of merchandise in a state of being arranged in the front-rear direction and pays out the frontmost merchandise when selling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a product storage and dispensing apparatus of this kind, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-2000
The thing described in 105868 is known. This product storage and dispensing apparatus is applied to a large-scale vending machine capable of selling a wide variety of products, and includes a plurality of product racks arranged vertically and a plurality of product racks spaced apart from each other. And a plurality of partition walls extending in the front-rear direction, which are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and pushers that are provided on each of the partition walls and that push the product from behind while moving forward during sales. On each merchandise rack, a plurality of merchandise passages are defined in a state of being arranged in the left-right direction by partition walls adjacent to each other. In each product passage, many products of the same item are placed on a product rack and stored in a state of being arranged in the front-rear direction.

In such a product storage and dispensing apparatus, at the time of sale, the pusher of the product path for storing the selected product moves forward, and presses the last product located at the end of the product path from the rear. Then, the last product presses the immediately preceding product, and the pressed product similarly presses the immediately preceding product. Therefore, the product other than the last product is pressed by the product immediately behind, and as a result, the product in the product path moves forward as a whole. Then, the sales product located at the forefront reaches the payout port at the front end of the product passage and is paid out forward. The paid-out sales product is transported to a product outlet by the product transport device and provided to the purchaser.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned merchandise storage and dispensing apparatus, at the time of sale, in order to move the merchandise in the merchandise aisle to the front, all the merchandise other than the last merchandise are pressed by the immediately following merchandise. Therefore, depending on the product, it may not be possible to properly move the product in the product path. For example, when a product (including a packaging form) is soft, such as a snack or a confectionery bread, the product may be out of shape or collapsed by being pressed. In addition, for example, when the product is of a shape that is difficult to press, such as a beverage product in an inverted conical type container, or when the product is thin, such as a stocking, postcard, bag, etc. In some cases, during the movement of the product in the product passage, the posture of the product is easily disturbed, and the product may fall down in the product passage. As a result, there is a possibility that the sales product cannot be properly paid out.

[0005] Even for the above-mentioned products, it is possible to appropriately move the products in the product passage by preparing an adapter suitable for the product and attaching it to a pusher. However, in this case, special knowledge of an adapter suitable for the product is required. Therefore, if the knowledge of the operator is insufficient, the adapter suitable for the product may not be properly mounted. In addition, when the product is soft, such as snacks, the product can be moved forward by storing the product in the product aisle in a lying position, but in such storage, , The appearance of the product will deteriorate. In this respect, there is room for improvement in the product storage and dispensing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is possible to appropriately store and pay out products without special knowledge regardless of the stored products. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product storage and dispensing device for a vending machine that can be used.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A merchandise storage and dispensing apparatus for a vending machine according to the present invention stores a plurality of merchandise in a merchandise passage extending in a front-rear direction in a state of being arranged in the front-rear direction, and at the time of sale, a plurality of goods. A merchandise storage and dispensing device for a vending machine for dispensing a foremost sales product out of a product from a product aisle to a front side, wherein the device is rotatably provided at a front end and a rear end in the product aisle. A front pulley and a rear pulley, a belt wound around the front pulley and the rear pulley, and a belt on which a plurality of products are placed; and a belt attached to the belt and located at the rearmost one of the plurality of products placed thereon. At the time of sale, at least one of the front pulley and the rear pulley is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction, so that the belt is moved in a predetermined direction. Succoth by, the placed multiple items are moved forward, the driving means for paying out the sales merchandise forward, characterized in that it comprises.

[0008] According to this configuration, the plurality of products stored in the product path are placed on the belt and stored in a state of being arranged in the front-rear direction. In this case, even if the product to be stored is easy to fall down or hard to stand up, lean the backmost product at the rearmost position on the back with a slightly inclined posture, and place the product at the front of the last product. Similarly, a plurality of products are stored in the product aisle in an upright posture by successively leaning the products immediately behind on the product located at. At the time of sale, at least one of the front pulley and the rear pulley is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction by the driving means, so that the belt wound around these pulleys turns in a predetermined direction. As a result, the product in the product passage moves forward as a whole while remaining on the belt, and the sales product located at the forefront is paid out from the product passage. As described above, since the product in the product passage is sent forward together with the belt while being placed on the belt, unlike a conventional pressing-type product storage and dispensing device that forcibly pushes the product by a pusher, Regardless of the shape and packaging of the stored product, the product moves forward in the product aisle at the time of sale and does not fall down and moves stably while keeping the product in the stored position And payment of the goods can be appropriately performed. In addition, when replenishing products, simply place the products to be stored on the belt and arrange them in the front-rear direction in the product passage, and simply and properly store the products without special knowledge. Can be.

In this case, the belt is protruded from the surface of the belt at a predetermined distance from each other in the length direction, and engages with the lower ends of the plurality of products to lock the plurality of products, respectively. It is preferable to have a plurality of product locking portions for the purpose.

According to this configuration, since a plurality of product locking portions project from the surface of the belt at predetermined intervals in the length direction, the product to be stored is thin. Even when the lower end of the product is engaged with the product locking portion and the product is successively placed on the product immediately behind the product, the products are all tilted forward and downward, and The products can be stored in the product path with the lower ends of the products being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction. In this case, of the plurality of products stored in the product passage, the one located at the front side is more likely to fall down by increasing the inclination angle with respect to the vertical line, but the lower end of the product is engaged with the product locking portion. By doing so, each product is maintained in a posture inclined forward and downward without falling down. Therefore, for example, even a thin product such as a stocking, a postcard, or a shopping bag can be appropriately stored in the product path, and can be reliably dispensed one by one. Also,
When refilling the product, the lower end of the product to be stored should be engaged with the product locking portion, and it should be arranged in the front-rear direction in the product passage while leaning on the product immediately behind it. It is possible to easily and appropriately replenish products even for products having a small thickness.

In these cases, it is preferable that the portion of the belt on which a plurality of commodities are placed is inclined forward and upward.

According to this configuration, since the portion of the belt on which the products are placed is inclined upward, the products placed on the belt are less likely to fall forward. Thereby, the forward movement of the product at the time of sale can be performed more stably.

In these cases, it is preferable that the backrest has a mounting member attached to the belt, and a backrest body detachably attached to the mounting member and on which the last product leans.

According to this configuration, since the backrest body is removably attached to the mounting member, various backrest bodies suitable for the shape and size of various commodities are prepared in advance to change the goods to be stored. Therefore, by changing only the backrest body, it is possible to quickly and easily respond to a change in the product.

In these cases, the product is rotatably provided near the front pulley, and is rotatably driven in a predetermined direction by a driving means at the time of sale, so that the lower part of the product for sale reaching the vicinity of the front pulley is moved forward. It is preferable to further include a posture control rotating body that controls the sold product to a posture in which the product is tilted rearward by sending.

According to this configuration, at the time of sale, the lower part of the sale product that has reached the vicinity of the front pulley is sent forward by the drive means rotating the attitude control rotating body in a predetermined direction. As a result, the sold product is paid out forward while being controlled to the posture of falling backward. in this way,
Since the sold merchandise is paid out in a uniform posture falling down to the rear side, for example, the delivery of the paid out merchandise to the bucket and its detection can be performed reliably and accurately.

In this case, the belt is composed of two left and right belts which are spaced apart from each other in the left and right direction and arranged in parallel, and the attitude control rotating body is disposed between the two left and right belts, and It is preferable that they are integrally formed.

According to this configuration, since the belt on which the product is placed is composed of two belts on the left and right, the product is placed between these belts so as to pass over the belt, so that the product is supported at the two left and right locations The product can be stably placed on the belt. In addition, the width of each belt is sufficient that the product can be placed when the product is passed between the two left and right belts. In addition, since the attitude control rotating body is disposed between the two belts on the left and right and is integrally formed with the front pulley,
At the time when the product for sale reaches the vicinity of the front pulley, the attitude control of the product for sale can be started.
It is possible to quickly and smoothly pay out merchandise.

In the above case, two left and right side walls that define a product passage, a base that extends in the front-rear direction and rotatably supports the front pulley and the rear pulley,
And a support member for supporting the two side walls and the base, wherein at least one of the two left and right side walls and the base are each selectively attachable to one of a plurality of positions in the left-right direction of the support member. Is preferred.

According to this configuration, at least one of the two left and right side walls that define the product passage can be selectively attached to the support member at one of a plurality of positions in the left-right direction. By attaching the two left and right side walls at appropriate positions in accordance with the width of the product in the left-right direction, the width of the product passage in the left-right direction can be optimally set. In addition, the base can be selectively attached to the support member at one of a plurality of positions in the left-right direction. Therefore, by attaching the base to an appropriate position, it is possible to stably move the product in the product passage. The belt can be set in the position where it can be done.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a part of a merchandise storage and dispensing device of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The merchandise storage and dispensing apparatus 1 stores a large number of commodities in a line in the front-rear direction, and at the time of sale, pays out the foremost sales merchandise S in a forward direction. It is applied to showcase type vending machines that can be seen. Note that this vending machine can sell a wide variety of products.

The merchandise storage and dispensing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of merchandise racks 2 (only one is shown in the drawing) arranged in a vertically arranged state, and a right and left merchandise rack 2 on each merchandise rack 2 at appropriate intervals. A plurality of partition walls 3 (two are shown by solid lines and two-dot chain lines in FIG. 1) attached in a state aligned in the direction, and a commodity payout unit 4 disposed between adjacent partition walls 3
And a control circuit (not shown) having a microcomputer for performing various controls in the vending machine including the product payout unit 4.

The product rack 2 (supporting member) includes a horizontal rack body 11 having a rectangular planar shape, and a rack body 11 having a rectangular shape.
And a rear wall 13 extending a predetermined length upward from the rear end of the rack body 11. A large number of locking holes 12a, 13a for locking the front end and the rear end of the partition wall 3 and the merchandise payout unit 4 are formed in the front wall 12 and the back wall 13, respectively, in a state where they are arranged in the left-right direction. Have been. When the partition walls 3 are placed on the rack body 11, the front end and the rear end are respectively provided with a locking hole 12 a in the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13.
It is attached to the product rack 2 by being selectively locked via the connector 13a. Then, the two partition walls 3 and 3 adjacent to each other define a product passage 14 that extends in the front-rear direction on the rack body 11 and stores a large number of products S in a loaded state. Therefore, on the rack body 11, a plurality of product passages 14 are defined by the plurality of partition walls 3 in a state of being arranged in the left-right direction. It is stored in the state of being lined up in the direction. FIGS. 1 and 2 show bag goods such as snacks as the goods S stored in the goods passage 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the partition wall 3 (side wall) also functions as a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power, and extends in the front-rear direction and has a predetermined shape in cross section. 15 and a first gear 16 and a second gear 17 provided at a front end in the partition wall main body 15 and meshing with each other. The first gear 16 is formed of a spur gear, and is disposed such that a substantially front half thereof faces forward from the partition wall body 15. On the other hand, the second gear 17 is
A spur gear having a larger diameter than that of the first gear 16 is provided. The second gear 17 is rotatably attached to a detachable right side plate 15a of the partition wall body 15 via a mounting bracket 18 having a predetermined shape. The right side of the rotating shaft 19 of the second gear 17 faces rightward through a through hole 15b formed in the right side plate 15a, and is formed so that a power transmission tool 44 described later can be attached and detached. I have.

The merchandise payout unit 4 forwards the merchandise S stored in the merchandise aisle 14 at the time of sale and pays out the merchandise S from the merchandise aisle 14 to the front. A front pulley 2 rotatably provided at a front end and a rear end of the base 21.
2 and rear pulley 23, and these pulleys 22, 23
, Two left and right feed belts 24, 24, which are wound around at an interval in the left-right direction to send the product S forward.
(Belt), and a backrest 25 attached to the feed belts 24, 24 for resting the last product S thereon.
And an impeller 26 (attitude control rotating body) that is integrally formed with the front pulley 22 and controls the attitude of the sales product S while rotating when dispensing the sales product S.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base 21 is formed by, for example, bending a metal plate having a predetermined shape. The base 21 has a space inside, and the upper plate portion 21a constituting the upper surface has a front side. It slopes upward toward the front. A chute 31 inclined downward and forward is fixed to a portion of the base 21 in front of the front pulley 22 to guide the sales product S forward when paying out.
The chute 31 has a base 2 at its lower end.
There are provided two left and right locking claws 31a, 31a for attaching the front end portion 1 to the front wall 12 of the product rack 2.
In addition, two locking holes 31b, left and right, for detachably attaching the chute adapter 32 are formed in the upper front end of the chute 31. Shoot adapter 3
2 is prepared in a variety of types that are horizontally longer and different in length than the chute 31, and when the width of the product S to be stored in the left-right direction is larger than that of the chute 31,
One selected according to the size of the product S is the shoot 31
Attached to.

A rear pulley support plate 34 is provided at the rear end of the base 21 so as to be slightly slidable in the front-rear direction via a guide plate 33 and rotatably supports the rear pulley 23. I have. At the rear end of the rear pulley support plate 34, two right and left locking claws 34a, 34 for attaching the rear end of the base 21 to the back wall 13 of the product rack 2 are provided.
a is provided.

The front pulley 22 functions as a motor vehicle, is disposed between the upper plate portion 21a of the base 21 and the chute 31, and rotates together with a rotation shaft 35 extending horizontally in the left-right direction. The front pulley 22 is formed with two left and right gear portions 36, 36 each having a large number of teeth (not shown) on the outer peripheral surface thereof at intervals in the left-right direction. The two feed belts 24, 24 are wound around the front pulley 22 in a state where the two feed belts 24, 24 are engaged with these gear portions 36, 36, respectively. The impeller 26 is provided between the gear portions 36 of the front pulley 22.

The impeller 26 has a cylindrical main body 26a extending in the left-right direction, and four blades 26b provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 26a. The main body 26a is made of a hard resin, and is fixed to the rotation shaft 35 of the front pulley 22. On the other hand, the four wing portions 26b are all made of a soft resin, are formed slightly convex from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 26a and extend in the left-right direction, and are arranged at an equal angle to each other. The impeller 26 configured as described above rotates together with the front pulley 22 at the time of sale, and presses the lower end portion of the sales product S having reached the vicinity of the front pulley 22 forward with the wing portion 26b. Thereby, the sales product S is
It is paid out forward while being controlled to the posture of falling backward.

On the other hand, the rear pulley 23 functions as a driven vehicle, and has two left and right rear pulleys 23 arranged at the same distance as the distance between the two gear portions 36 of the front pulley 22.
23 (only the right side is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). Each rear pulley 23 is provided with a rotation shaft 35 of the front pulley 22.
And is rotatable with respect to a rotation shaft 37 having both ends fixed to the rear pulley support plate 34, respectively. A portion of the rotary shaft 37 between the rear pulleys 23 is urged rearward by a tension spring 39 via a pressing plate 38. Thereby, an appropriate tension is applied to the two right and left feed belts 24, 24 wound around the rear pulleys 23, 23.

The gears 36, 36 of the front pulley 22 and the rear pulleys 23, 23,
The book feed belts 24 are wound around and parallel to each other. Each feed belt 24 is formed of a rubber-made toothed belt having a large number of teeth on its inner peripheral surface.
1a, it is arranged in a posture in which it makes a full turn in the front-rear direction, along which it is inclined forward and upward. Also,
A backrest 25 that is movable in the front-rear direction along the upper plate portion 21a is attached to the feed belts 24, 24.

The backrest 25 is fixed to the feed belts 24, 24, and has a mounting member 41 formed to project upward and the backrest plate 4 removably mounted on the mounting member 41.
2 (back body). The mounting member 41 is
A front surface 41 which is formed by bending a metal plate of a predetermined shape or the like, and which is substantially orthogonal to the upper plate portion 21a of the base 21.
a. The mounting member 41 is provided on the base 2.
1 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction along the upper plate portion 21a, and moves forward as the feed belts 24, 24 rotate in a predetermined direction at the time of sale. On the other hand, the backrest plate 42 is formed of a rectangular metal plate, and has a mounting portion 43 in which a portion of a predetermined height at a central portion in the left-right direction is cut out in a U-shape, and is folded at a substantially right angle on the back surface side. ing. Then, by screwing the screw 40 from above the through hole 43a in a state where the through hole 43a formed in the mounting portion 43 is aligned with the screw hole 41b formed on the upper surface of the mounting member 41, the backrest plate 42 is It is fixed to the mounting member 41.

There are many types of backrest plates 42 having different sizes and shapes and different angles of folding of the mounting portion 43. Therefore, an appropriate back plate 42 is selected according to the size and shape of the product to be stored and the stability at the time of standing, and the product is attached to the mounting member 41, so that the product passage 1
4 can be stored in an upright posture and in a stable state. When the size of the product to be stored is smaller than the front surface 41a of the mounting member 41, the backrest plate 42 can be omitted.

The commodity delivery unit 4 configured as described above is driven via a power transmission tool 44 shown in FIG. The power transmission device 44 includes a shaft 45 having a predetermined length, and a partition wall-side connecting member 46 and a unit-side connecting member 4 loosely inserted into both ends of the shaft 45.
7 and the shaft 45 are inserted, and both connecting members 46 and 47 are inserted.
And a compression spring 48 that urges them in a direction away from each other. Both ends of the shaft 45 are each formed in an elliptical cross section, and through-holes 46a, 47a having substantially the same shape as the ellipse are formed in both connecting members 46, 47, respectively.

The partition wall side connecting member 46 is formed so that a half of the partition wall 3 side is engaged with the right end of the rotary shaft 19 of the second gear 17, and a through hole 46a is formed in the rotary shaft 1
9 is formed so as to be fitted to the central portion at the right end. On the other hand, the unit-side connecting member 47 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is formed so as to be fitted to the left end of the rotating shaft 35 of the front pulley 22. Therefore, when connecting the rotation shaft 19 of the second gear 17 and the rotation shaft 35 of the front pulley 22 via the power transmission tool 44, the shaft 45 is connected to the through hole 46 a of the partition wall side connection member 46. The left end and the center of the right end of the rotating shaft 19 of the second gear 17 are inserted, and the through hole 4 of the unit side connecting member 47 is inserted.
The right end of the shaft 45 and the left end of the rotary shaft 35 of the front pulley 22 are inserted into 7a. Thus, the power transmission device 4
4, the rotation shaft 19 of the second gear 17 and the front pulley 2
By connecting the second rotation shaft 35 to the second gear 17,
Is rotated, the power transmission 44 also rotates, whereby the front pulley 22 also rotates.

In order to change the distance between the partition wall 3 and the product payout unit 4, it is only necessary to change the shaft 45 to a shaft having an appropriate length according to the distance. By preparing a plurality of types of shafts, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the distance between the partition wall 3 and the product payout unit 4.

The vending machine to which the commodity storing and dispensing apparatus 1 constructed as described above is applied is provided with a commodity transporting apparatus 51 for transporting the dispensed selling commodity S to a not-shown commodity outlet. . The product transport device 51 moves up, down, left, and right while maintaining a gap in the front-rear direction with the product rack 2, and pays out the sold product S that has been paid out, at the front end of the product path 14 in which it is stored. Has a bucket 52 that receives the product in front of the product and conveys the product to the product outlet. The bucket 52 is formed in a box shape with a large opening on the back side, and a driving device 53 for rotating and driving the first gear 16 of the partition wall 3 is attached to the left and right sides. The drive device 53 has a drive gear 54 that is swingable and rotatable in the front-rear direction. The drive gear 54 protrudes rearward and engages with the first gear 16 to rotate, thereby driving the front gear 16 to rotate in a predetermined direction.

Next, the storing and paying out of the goods in the goods storing and paying device 1 will be described. When storing a large number of products S in the product passage 14 of the product storage and dispensing apparatus 1, first, the products S to be refilled first are placed on the back plate 42.
Leaning on the feed belts 24, 24 so that the feed belts 24
24 and the base 21 are placed on the upper plate portion 21a. Thereafter, in the same manner, the product S, which has been replenished earlier, is placed on the upper plate portion 21a while being placed upright. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the large number of products S replenished in the product path 14 is
It is stored in the state of being lined up in the front-back direction.

At the time of sale, when the first gear 16 is driven to rotate by the drive gear 54, the second gear 17 and the power transmission
The front pulley 22 and the impeller 26 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. Along with this, two feed belts 2
Reference numerals 4 and 24 rotate so that the upper portion of the upper plate portion 21a moves forward. Thus, the products stored in the product path 14 move forward as a whole as the feed belts 24 rotate. The sales product S that has reached the vicinity of the front pulley 22 has the lower end portion of the blade portion 2 of the impeller 26.
6b, the posture is controlled so as to fall backward, as shown in FIG.
While being guided by 2, the goods are paid out from the payout exit of the product passage 14 and delivered to the bucket 52.

When the sold product S is delivered to the bucket 52 and detected by the product sensors 55, 55 provided at the rear end of the bucket 52, the drive gear 54 is stopped. , The feed belts 24, 24 also stop.
Thereby, the movement of the commodity S in the commodity passage 14 to the front also stops. Then, the sold product S is conveyed to the product outlet by the bucket 52 and provided to the purchaser.

As described in detail above, according to the commodity storage and dispensing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the feed belts 24, 24 on which the commodity S stored in the commodity passage 14 is placed,
By turning in a predetermined direction, the product S in the product path 14 is sent forward together with the feed belts 24, 24, so that unlike the conventional press-type product storage and dispensing device, the shape and packaging form of the stored product Regardless, during the forward movement of the product S in the product passage 14 at the time of sale, the product S can be stably moved without falling down while keeping the product S in the stored position, Payout of the product S can be appropriately performed. In addition, at the time of replenishment of goods, the backrest plate 42 is used, and the goods to be stored are erected in the product passage 14 in the front-rear direction while being simply placed on the feed belts 24, 24 and the upper plate 21a. It is only necessary to arrange them, and goods can be stored easily and appropriately without special knowledge.

Since the upper portion of the upper plate portion 21a of the base 21 and the upper portion of the upper plate portion 21a of the feed belt 24 are inclined forward and upward, the product S stored in the product path 14 is It is difficult to fall to the front side,
The forward movement of the product S at the time of sale can be performed more stably. Further, when the sales product S is dispensed, the sales product S is dispensed by the impeller 26 in a uniform posture that has fallen to the rear side. And the delivery of the sold product S to the bucket 52, the product sensor 55,
5 can be reliably and accurately performed.

Further, the partition wall 3 can be selectively attached to one of a plurality of positions in the left-right direction with respect to the product rack 2, so that the product S can be stored according to the width in the left-right direction of the product S to be stored. The passage width of the passage 14 can be set optimally. Further, the base 21 of the product payout unit 4 can also be selectively attached to the product rack 2 at one of a plurality of positions in the left-right direction, so that, for example, a product passage having a passage width set according to the product. By attaching the base 21 to the vicinity of the center of the width of the passage on the commodity 14, the commodity S in the commodity passage 14 can be supported from below at the vicinity of the central part in the left-right direction, and the commodity S in front of the commodity S at the time of sale Can be performed more stably.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the commodity storing and dispensing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, only the two left and right feed belts 24, 24 of the commodity dispensing unit 4 are different from those of the first embodiment.
For example, thin products (hereinafter referred to as “thin products”) such as stockings, postcards, and clothes bags are stored and paid out. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 (a), each feed belt 24 of the product payout unit 4
A plurality of product stoppers having a large number of teeth on the inner peripheral surface similar to those of the first embodiment and protruding from the outer peripheral surface at a predetermined distance (for example, 3.4 cm) from each other in the length direction. It is composed of a rubber toothed belt having 24a (commodity locking portion). In addition, both feed belts 24, 24
Are the product stoppers 24a, 2
4a are arranged so as to be located on a straight line extending in the left-right direction.

The replenishment of thin goods into the goods passage 14 in which the goods payout unit 4 having the feed belts 24 and 24 is installed is performed as follows. First, while engaging the lower end portion of the product S to be replenished first with the product stoppers 24a, 24a located immediately in front of the backrest plate 42 of the feed belts 24, 24 in a state of abutting from behind, the product S is released. Hang it on the back plate 42. As a result, the product S is in a posture inclined forward and downward, and the product stopper 24
a, 24a. Thereafter, similarly, the lower end of the product S is engaged with the product stoppers 24a, 24a, which are in front of the product stoppers 24a, which hold the previously replenished product S, and the product S is immediately rested on the product S immediately behind. As a result, a large number of thin goods S replenished in the goods passage 14 are shown in FIGS.
As shown in (1), all of them are stored in a posture inclined downward and forward with a predetermined interval between the lower ends in the front-rear direction. In this case, as shown in both figures, the product passage 1
4, the angle of inclination with respect to the vertical line increases as the number of thin goods S stored in the front side increases.

As described above, a large number of thin goods S stored in the goods path 14 move forward as a whole as the feed belts 24, 24 rotate, similarly to the first embodiment. Sales product S that has reached the vicinity of the front pulley 22
Is paid out forward while being controlled in attitude by the impeller 26, and is delivered to the bucket 52. And the sale product S
As in the first embodiment, is transported by the bucket 52 to the product outlet and provided to the purchaser.

As described in detail above, according to the commodity storage and dispensing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, the lower end portions of the thin commodity S are placed on the commodity stoppers 24a, 24a of the two feed belts 24, 24 as described above. Is engaged, a large number of thin goods S can be appropriately stored in the goods path 14, and
It can be paid out one by one without fail.

Further, as for the feed belt 24, a rubber toothed belt having a large number of teeth similar to the inner circumferential surface may be used on the outer circumferential surface thereof (see FIG. 6B). In this case, in addition to being able to obtain the same effects as described above, the thin goods are stored with the interval between the lower ends of the thin goods appropriately set according to the thickness and size of the thin goods to be stored. It is possible.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be implemented in various modes. For example, in the embodiment, two feed belts 24,
24, but one or three feed belts
More than one book can be used. Further, in the embodiment, the attachment member 41 of the backrest 25 is
4, the mounting member 41 is connected to the feed belt 24,
The attachment member 41 may be configured to be able to slide rearward in a state where the feed belts 24, 24 do not rotate, by making the attachment belt 41 detachable or using a one-way clutch or the like. In this case, only the backrest 25 can be slid backward without the feed belts 24 rotating when the product is replenished.
Even if a product remains in 4, a product for replenishment can be newly stored between the remaining product and the backrest 25 slid backward while keeping the product in the same position. Can be sold on a first-in first-out basis.

Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, as the products stored in the product path 14,
Although bag goods and thin goods which are generally easy to fall have been illustrated, it is possible to appropriately store and pay out goods that stand in a stable state, such as canned beverage goods. Further, the configuration of the details of the product storage and dispensing apparatus 1 shown in the embodiment is merely an example, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention.

[0052]

As described above in detail, the commodity storing and dispensing apparatus of the vending machine of the present invention appropriately stores and dispenses commodities regardless of the stored commodities without special knowledge. It has effects such as being able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a merchandise storage and dispensing device of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the product storage and dispensing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a commodity payout unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a merchandise storage and dispensing device of a vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the merchandise storage and dispensing device shown in FIG. 4;

6 (a) is an enlarged perspective view showing a tip portion of the product payout unit shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 (b) is a product payout unit to which another feed belt different from FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a front-end | tip part.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity storage and dispensing apparatus 2 Commodity rack (support member) 3 Partition wall (side wall) 4 Commodity dispensing unit 14 Commodity passage 21 Base 22 Front pulley 23 Rear pulley 24 Feed belt (belt) 24a Commodity stopper (commercial locking part) 25 Backrest 26 impeller (posture control rotating body) 41 mounting member 42 back plate (back body) S product

Claims (7)

[Claims] A plurality of products are stored in a product passage extending in the front-rear direction in a state of being arranged in the front-rear direction, and at the time of sale, a sales product located at the forefront of the plurality of products is moved forward from the product passage. A front pulley and a rear pulley rotatably provided at a front end and a rear end in the product passage, respectively, and wound around the front pulley and the rear pulley. A belt on which the plurality of products are placed, and a backrest attached to the belt and capable of leaning on the last product located on the rearmost side of the plurality of products placed above, By rotating at least one of the front pulley and the rear pulley in a predetermined direction to rotate the belt in a predetermined direction, A plurality of goods are moved forward, the driving means for the sales product paying forward, product storage dispenser of a vending machine, characterized in that it comprises. 2. The belt is protruded from a surface of the belt at a predetermined interval in a length direction, and engages with lower ends of the plurality of products, thereby engaging the plurality of products. The product storage and dispensing device for a vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of product locking portions for stopping. 3. The merchandise storage and dispensing device of a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the belt on which the plurality of commodities are placed is inclined forward and upward. 4. The backrest according to claim 1, wherein the backrest has an attachment member attached to the belt, and a backrest body detachably attached to the attachment member and on which the last product leans. Item 4. A merchandise storage and dispensing device for a vending machine according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. A lower portion of the sales product that has reached the vicinity of the front pulley by being rotatably provided in the vicinity of the front pulley and being rotated in a predetermined direction by the driving means at the time of sale. The product storage of a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a posture control rotating body that controls the product for sale to a posture tilted backward by being sent to the vending machine. Dispensing device. 6. The belt is composed of two left and right belts which are spaced apart in the left-right direction and arranged in parallel with each other, and the attitude control rotating body is arranged between the two left and right belts, The device according to claim 5, wherein the device is integrated with the front pulley. 7. A left and right side wall defining the product passage, a base extending in the front-rear direction and rotatably supporting the front pulley and the rear pulley, a base extending in the left and right direction, the left and right side walls, And a support member for supporting the base, wherein at least one of the two left and right side walls and the base are each positioned at one of a plurality of positions in the left and right direction of the support member.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus can be selectively attached to a vending machine.