JP2003016515A - Device for carrying out commodity of vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity carrying out device of an automatic vending machine which reduces costs with a simple configuration with a small number of parts by reducing the number of used switches and wiring between the switches and a controller while maintaining reliability. SOLUTION: This commodity carrying out device of a vending machine comprises a commodity detection lever 12 for detecting the existence/ nonexistence of commodity due to abutment movement with housed commodity 3 and a stopper piece 14 which is displaced by the movement of a commodity pushing-out member 11, moves the detection lever 12 to the outside of the range of commodity existence/nonexistence detection due to movement of the pushing- out member which is not shorter than a prescribed distance and also locks the detection lever in a detection state with no commodity. The commodity carrying out device detects the position of the pushing-out member by releasing a locked state to perform detecting operation with commodity existing and stops a carrying out operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine, and more particularly to a stop configuration of a product unloading device in a product unloading drive section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vending machine that sells packaged products such as cigarettes, in a plurality of product columns provided by vertical partitions inside the vending machine body, A plurality of packaged products are stacked and stored, and a product unloading device is provided at the bottom of the product column.

This product unloading device is provided with a bottom plate which is a surface on which a product is placed, and a reciprocating mechanism which moves an extruding member below the bottom plate according to a selection operation of the product. This reciprocating mechanism is one in which the sliding body reciprocates along the guide shaft in the reciprocating spiral groove due to the rotation of the guide shaft, and at the time of selling the product, by operating the product selection button provided on the front door of the main body. The product at the bottom of the product column is pushed forward and dispensed, and taken out through the product chute through the product chute.

When the product is placed on the bottom plate of the product column in the product discharge device, the product presence / absence detection switch for detecting the presence / absence of the product by being pushed down by its weight and the pushing member are stopped. Therefore, two sensor switches, an extrusion unit stop switch that controls the traveling of the moving mechanism, were used.

However, these switches are required for each product column, and since the ratio of these switches to the cost of the product unloading device is large, cost reduction is required.

The present invention has been made in view of this point. By reducing the number of switches used and the wiring between the switch and the control device while maintaining reliability, the cost is reduced and the number of parts is reduced. It is intended to provide a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine having a small number of simple structures.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a product discharge device of a vending machine according to claim 1 comprises a product detection lever for detecting the presence or absence of a product by abutting movement with a stored product. The extruding member comprises a stopper piece that is displaced by the movement of the product extruding member, and moves the product detecting lever out of the range for detecting the presence or absence of the product by the movement of the extruding member more than a predetermined amount and locks the detection state without the product. When is returned to the standby position, the locked state is released and a product presence detection operation is performed, thereby detecting the position of the pushing member and stopping the carry-out operation. .

With this configuration, it is possible to detect the presence / absence of the product and the detection of the stop position of the pushing member with one switch for detecting the presence / absence of the product, and simplify the configuration of the product unloading device while maintaining reliability. Significant cost reduction can be achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the commodity detection lever according to the first aspect is formed such that one end is pivotally supported, the other end is formed with an engaging portion, and the central portion is formed with a chevron portion. The presence or absence of a product is detected by rotating it so that it projects above the bottom surface of the product column, and the other end of the stopper piece is engaged with the engaging part. It is possible to enable two detections with different engagement configurations.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the extruding movement of the commodity according to the second aspect is performed by an extruding member that interlocks with a mechanism in which a sliding body reciprocates in a reciprocating spiral groove when the guide shaft rotates in one direction. Since the push-out mechanism reciprocates on the same plane, the relational structure between the detection lever and the stopper piece can be simplified.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the presence or absence of the product is detected by the product detection lever by the light transmission detection in which a light-shielding piece interlocking with the product detection lever is engaged with an optical sensor provided at a predetermined portion of the main body. As a feature, two types of detection, that is, the presence / absence of a product on the product column and the detection of the stop position at the standby position of the extrusion device after the carry-out operation can be performed easily and rationally.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The cigarette vending machine (1) shown in FIG. 1 has a plurality of product columns (4) for storing products such as cigarettes (3) laterally defined by a plurality of partition walls (2) inside the main body. At the lower part of the column (4), a product unloading device (5) for unloading the stacked products (3) is installed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the product unloading device (5) is provided below the bottom plate (6) on which the stacked cigarettes (3) are placed, and is not shown according to the product selection operation. A lead screw (7) as a guide shaft that is rotated by a drive motor via a gear mechanism is housed in a housing (8) with its axial direction in the front-rear direction.

By the rotation of the lead screw (7), the sliding body is guided in the reciprocating spiral groove (9), and the moving body (10) having the sliding body built therein is rotated only in one direction.
And a mechanism for reciprocating the pushing member (11) in the front-rear direction along the lead screw (7).

The push-out member (11) is moved forward from the standby state in a standing posture by the carry-out device (5) at the time of sale of the product, and pushes the lowermost stack of cigarettes (3) forward from the rear, The push-out members (11), which have been discharged one by one, have moved back to the front end position, in the state of being tilted forward, return to the lower surface of the cigarette and return to the standby position. It will stop.

As shown in the detailed structure of FIG. 3, the product unloading device (5) detects the presence or absence of cigarettes (3) which are the products on the bottom plate (6) of the product column (4). A detection lever (12) is provided.

When the cigarette (3) is placed on the bottom plate (6), the commodity detection lever (12) is pushed down by its weight to detect the presence or absence of the cigarette (3). It has a chevron shape, one end of which is rotatably supported by the main body (12a) and is biased upward by a spring (13), and the other end is bent in an L shape (12b) in the horizontal direction. Is. The chevron-shaped top piece (12c) is a bottom plate (6) when there is no cigarette (3) in the product column (4).
It is provided so as to project above the bottom plate (6) from the through hole (6a) provided in the substantially central portion above.

As described above, the commodity detection lever (12) is controlled in its rotation by the urging of the spring (13) and the placement of the cigarette (3), and the movement of the pushing member (11). The rotation is also controlled by the interlocking stopper piece (14).

The stopper piece (14) is provided near the pivotal support portion (12a) of the product detection lever (12).
a) is provided, and one end (14b) is extended to the vicinity of the standby portion,
The other end is extended in the same direction as the product detection lever (12) by interlocking with the lower part of the pushing member (11) that is moved by the traveling of the moving body (10) in the product discharge device (5), and the end (14
c) is located above the L-shaped portion (12b), and the pressing member (1) with the pivotal support portion (14a) as a fulcrum.
It rotates with the movement of 1).

When the pushing member (11) is at the standby position, one end edge (14a) of the stopper piece is at the lower position due to the engagement with the pushing member (11), and the other end (14).
Although c) is located above, the other end edge (14c) of the stopper piece (14) is rotated downward by the forward movement of the pushing member (11).

Further, when the pushing member (11) moves forward and the moving distance reaches a predetermined value or more, the other end (14) of the stopper piece is moved.
c) At the tip that rotates downward, L of the product detection lever
The product detection lever (12) is rotated downward by engaging the character-shaped portion (12b). Then, after the push-out member (11) has moved to the front end on the bottom plate (6), the push-back member (11) is returned to the standby position again in the forward tilted state by the returning movement of the moving body (10). ing.

Then, the product detection lever (12)
Is for operating a light transmission detection sensor (15) installed at a predetermined position of the carry-out device (5), and a light shielding plate (16) attached to the detection lever in accordance with the rotation of the product detection lever (12). When the cigarette (3) is on the bottom plate by moving the sensor and passing through the sensor part (15) consisting of the light emitting part and the light receiving part, the on operation is performed by light transmission, and there is no cigarette on the bottom plate. When the detection lever (12) is projected on the bottom plate, or when the product detection lever is in the lower position due to the movement of the pushing member (11) while the product is being carried out, the light shielding plate (16) blocks light transmission. It is configured to operate off.

The product unloading mechanism is constructed as described above, and the operation of each step thereof will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Follow the instructions below.

FIG. 4 shows a standby state for carrying out the product, and when the cigarette (3) is on the bottom plate (6), the product detection lever (12) shows the placed cigarette (3) as shown by a solid line. ), The chevron top portion (12c) is on the bottom plate portion, and the light shielding piece (16) does not block the sensor portion (15), so that light is in a transmissive state and the sensor switch is on. In addition, the stopper piece (14) is the extruded member (1
Since 1) is still in the standby position, it is not pressed and has no engagement relationship with the product detection lever.

When there is no cigarette (3) on the bottom plate (6), the merchandise detection lever (12) has a mountain-shaped top protruding upward from the bottom plate (6) surface, as indicated by a chain double-dashed line. Then, the light blocking piece (16) blocks the through hole of the sensor (15), and the sensor switch is turned off.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the carrying-out of cigarettes is started by the sales operation command by operating the product selection button. The stopper piece (1) is moved by the forward movement of the pushing member (11).
The other end of 4) has started to rotate downward.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the product is being unloaded. While the product is being carried out by the pushing member (11), the other end (14c) of the stopper piece is pressed to a lower position, and its tip engages with the L-shaped part (12b) of the product detection lever to detect the product. By rotating the lever (12) downward,
The light blocking piece (16) is in a state of blocking the light transmission of the sensor part (15), and the sensor switch is off.

After the goods have been carried out, as shown in FIG.
The push-out member (11) tries to return to the initial standby position as the carry-out device moves backward, and by the engagement with the push-out member,
The other end of the stopper piece (14) begins to rise, but the sensor (15) is still in the off state due to the light shielding piece (16), and light transmission starts with the return movement.

In FIG. 8, the other end (14c) of the stopper piece rises as the return movement of the pushing member (11) progresses, the engagement with the product detection lever (12) is released, and the detection lever is a spring. Shows a state of being raised by the biasing force. At this time, if there is a cigarette (3) on the bottom plate (6), the detection lever (12)
Is prevented from rising by the cigarette and the sensor (15) is switched from off to on by transmitting light, and by detecting this, the motor drive is stopped after a predetermined time, and the pushing member (11) is moved to a predetermined standby position. Is to stop.

Further, at this time, when the products on the bottom plate are exhausted, as shown in FIG. 9, the detection lever (12) continues to further rise and protrudes onto the bottom plate (6). 8), after detecting the position by switching from OFF to ON operation by light transmission in the step in FIG. 8, the light is shielded again by the light shielding piece (16) to be in the OFF state, and "no product" is detected.

Then, finally, the state shown in FIG. 10 is reached, and when there is a cigarette on the bottom plate (6), the presence of a product is detected by light transmission, and the standby state is maintained until the next sales command, If you don't have a cigarette, the "out of stock" detection will
The selling operation is stopped until the goods are replenished.

The operation of the product unloading device (5) is as described above. At the time of selling cigarettes, which are products, the product selection button provided on the front door of the main body is operated to move the product from the product column (4) to the bottom. The cigarette (3) is extruded to the front and dispensed, and taken out from the outlet through the product chute.

The product pushing member can be stopped by using a sensor switch for detecting the presence or absence of the product.

In the above description, the unloading of goods is
The mechanism for reciprocating the push-out member (11) in the front-back direction by the movement of the sliding member in the reciprocating spiral groove (9) by the rotation of the lead screw has been described, but the relation mechanism between the product detection lever and the stopper piece is changed. By adopting a configuration in which detection is switched again in the standby state, it can be applied to a product unloading mechanism by driving and rotating a conveyor belt or a chain.

Further, although the sensor switch using the product detection lever has been described as the light transmission detection sensor, the invention is not limited to this, and another switch such as a micro switch may be used.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By associating the operation of the product presence / absence detection lever and the stopper piece that interlocks with the product extruding device of the unloading device, it is possible to perform two detections, product presence / absence detection and extrusion device stop position detection, with a single switch, It is possible to obtain a product unloading device that is highly reliable, has a simple structure, and is capable of significantly reducing costs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a product unloading device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a related configuration of the carry-out mechanism in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view showing a product unloading standby state in the product unloading step of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing the product unloading operation start state.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state during the same product unloading operation.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view showing a state during the returning operation of the pushing member.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing a state during the returning operation (with a product).

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state during the same returning operation (without a product).

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram showing the same stopped state (to a standby state).

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic vending machine 3 ... Commodity 4 ... Commodity column 5 ... Commodity unloading device 6 ... Bottom surface 7 ... Lead screw 8 ... Housing 9 ... Reciprocating spiral groove 10 ... Moving body 11 ... Extruding member 12 ... Commodity detecting lever 14 ...
Stopper piece 15 ... Optical sensor 16 ... Shading piece

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A product detection lever for detecting the presence / absence of a product by abutting movement of a stored product and a product detection lever which is displaced by a movement of a product pushing member, and the product detection lever for detecting the presence / absence of a product by moving the pushing member more than a predetermined amount It consists of a stopper piece that is moved to the outside of the range and is locked in the detection state without a product, and when the pushing member returns to the standby position, by releasing the locking state and performing a detection operation with a product, A product unloading device for an automatic vending machine, which detects the position of an extruding member and stops the unloading operation. 2. The product detection lever has one end pivotally supported and the other end formed with an engaging portion and a central mountain portion formed so that the mountain portion is pivotally projected above the bottom surface of the commodity column. The presence or absence of a product is detected by using the stopper, and the other end of the stopper piece is engaged with the engaging portion. 3. An extruding member that interlocks with a mechanism for reciprocating a sliding body to reciprocate in a reciprocating spiral groove by rotating the guide shaft in one direction.
The product delivery device of the vending machine described. 4. The product presence / absence detection by the product detection lever,
3. The product discharge device for an automatic vending machine according to claim 2, wherein a light-shielding piece interlocking with the product detection lever is engaged with an optical sensor provided at a predetermined portion of the main body to detect light transmission.