JP2003077055A - Article attitude control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article attitude control device capable of realizing speed reduction and attitude control of a fed article by a simple and thin device and preventing article jamming, etc., in two adjacent article passages in an article storage rack. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a first base plate 11 and a second base plate 12 forming an inner wall of the article passage 3 to face the two adjacent article passages 3 and 3 in the article storage rack 1 and disposed and integrated to face to article carrying-out devices 5, plate springs 29 for energizing lower end parts of segments 4 of a final stage to the article passages 3 side, and flappers 33 and 36 which are rotatably journalled in upper end parts and are energized to the article passages 3 side by springs 35 and 38. The base plate 11 and 21 are provided with opening parts 12, 14, 22 and 24 and journaling claws 13 and 23 to easily journal and store shafts 34 and 37 of the flappers 33 and 36 and the springs 35 and 38 by saving space.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product attitude control device, and more specifically, to control deceleration and attitude of a product to be inserted in a product storage rack in two adjacent product passages with a simple and thin device. The present invention relates to a product attitude control device that can be realized and can prevent product jams and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A serpentine type product storage rack for storing canned drinks and PET bottled drinks products in a product storage by stacking them vertically in a vertical posture is a meandering in the height direction with a pair of left and right rack side plates. And a segment for forming a product passage, and at the lower end of the product passage, a product carry-out device for carrying out the products one by one based on a sales command is arranged.

This product unloading device is provided with an upper pedal for receiving the product at the lowermost end, and an upper pedal which is located above the upper pedal and which is placed from the bottom when the product is unloaded.
It is known that a lower pedal for receiving the second product is provided, and the carrying-out of the product is controlled by alternately turning and projecting these pedals toward the product passage side.

In such a product storage rack, when a serviceman inserts the first product into the product passage, the product is guided by the segment and falls meandering in the product passage, thereby decelerating and posture. Is controlled and is finally held by the lower pedal of the product discharge device. In addition, the second and subsequent products are decelerated in the same manner as described above, and are sequentially stacked on the first product.

When a product having a different outer diameter is loaded, the interval between the opposing segments is changed to change the product passage width so that the meandering deceleration is appropriately performed, and the position facing the product unloading device is also provided. A product attitude control device (exit adjuster) for changing and adjusting the product passage width is provided to control the attitude of the product to be put in so that the product can be held securely by the pedal.

Further, two product posture control devices are provided at the boundary between two product passages adjacent to each other in the front and rear direction so as to face each product passage, and the product width is adjusted to control the product posture. Was there.

[0007]

However, in the conventional product storage rack, the deceleration and attitude control of the input product are performed by the meandering drop by the segment.
In recent products with a wide variety of materials, it is difficult to decelerate and control the attitude of the product only by the segment, and the product is not placed at the appropriate position on the pedal, causing product jams. There was a problem of being lost.

[0008] Further, for example, a bottle product having a low height containing a nutritional drink agent may stand on the lower pedal when the first product is introduced and the lower pedal is reached.
There was a problem that product jams such as the upper pedal not closing completely could occur.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a demand for miniaturization of the depth dimension of the vending machine, and it is possible to realize the deceleration and attitude control of the inserted product at a position facing the product discharge device with a simple and thin structure, and the product is jammed. It has been desired to provide a product attitude control device that can prevent such a problem.

In particular, in a situation where it is demanded to reduce the depth dimension of such a vending machine, a conventional product is provided so as to face each product passage at a boundary portion between two product passages adjacent to each other in the front and rear. If two attitude control devices are arranged, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and the depth dimension occupied by the device increases, which makes it impossible to reduce the depth dimension of the vending machine.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is possible to realize deceleration and attitude control of an input product by a simple and thin device in two adjacent product passages of a product storage rack. An object of the present invention is to provide a product attitude control device capable of preventing product jamming and the like.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a product attitude control device according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured so that the product path of a product storage rack faces two adjacent product paths. A base plate that forms one inner wall and is disposed so as to face the product unloading device, and a lower end portion of a final-stage segment that is rotatably supported by an upper end portion and is disposed above the base plate. Segment urging means provided on the front and back of the substrate for urging the product passage side, and upper and lower ends of the substrate rotatably supported on the front and back of the substrate respectively, and the flapper urging means for the product passage. And a flapper biased to the side.

[0013] When a product is initially loaded into the product passage at the time of storing the product, the product drops in the product passage while being decelerated by a large number of segments and comes into contact with the last-stage segment,
Due to the damper effect of the segment biasing means, the shock at the time of falling is absorbed and the speed is further reduced.

Since the product comes into contact with the flapper and falls while closing the flapper against the urging force of the urging means for the flapper, the damper effect by this flapper absorbs the shock at the time of the fall and further decelerates. . Further, since the product falls while being pushed toward the pedal side of the product unloading device by the flapper, it can be reliably held by the pedal.

[0015] Conventionally, for example, a bottle product having a low height containing a nutritional drink, etc., stands up on the lower pedal when the first product is loaded and reaches the lower pedal of the product unloading device. Although this has been a cause of product jams, in the present invention, the flapper is an obstacle and this product standing is surely prevented.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize the deceleration and the attitude control of the inserted product in one product which is simple and thin in the two product passages before and after the product storage rack which are adjacent to each other. It can be prevented.

Further, in the product attitude control device according to claim 2 of the present invention, the substrate includes a first substrate facing one of the two adjacent product passages and a second substrate facing the other product passage. And a first substrate and a second substrate, which are formed by superimposing, on each other, the first substrate and the second substrate having a bearing opening formed therethrough to accommodate the flapper rotating shaft and the flapper biasing means.
The bearing support claw for holding the rotating shaft, and a relief opening for escaping a part of the flapper provided on the other substrate and a protruding portion of the flapper biasing means are provided in the bearing opening. The rotating shaft of the stored flapper is fixed by being sandwiched between the shaft supporting claw and the other substrate.

As a result, the strength of the substrate against the product load can be enhanced and the device can be made thin. In particular, by providing the bearing opening and the escape opening and the shaft support claw, the bearing of the flapper rotating shaft can be formed easily and in a small space, and the device can be made thin.

The product attitude control device according to claim 3 of the present invention is such that a low friction portion is provided on the surface of the substrate on the product passage side. As a result, when the final product is sold and dropped by opening the lower pedal of the product carry-out device, there is no product stacked on top of it, so the product itself will drop due to its own weight. Dynamic friction is reduced, smooth drop operation is ensured, and product clogging can be prevented.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a product attitude control device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of a product attitude control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a first substrate of the product attitude control device, and FIG. 3 is a product. 2 is a side view showing the first substrate of the attitude control device, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA cross section of the first substrate shown in FIG. 2, and FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing a BB cross section of the first substrate shown in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows CC cross section of the 1st board | substrate shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the second board of the product attitude control device, FIG. 8 is a side view showing the second board of the product attitude control device, and FIG. 9 is a second view shown in FIG. Substrate DD
Sectional drawing which shows a cross section, FIG. 10 is a front view which shows the 2nd board | substrate which provided the leaf spring on the front and back, FIG. 11 is a side view which shows the 2nd board which provided the leaf spring on the front and back, and FIG. 12 is a leaf spring. It is a top view which shows the 2nd board | substrate which provided the front and back.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing the first substrate and the second substrate which are tying and united together, and FIG. 14 is a side view showing the first substrate and the second substrate which are tying and uniting.
15 is a front view showing a lubricating steel plate, FIG. 16 is a side view showing a lubricating steel plate, FIG. 17 is a front view showing a product attitude control device, FIG. 18 is a side view showing a product attitude control device, and FIG.
FIG. 20 is a partial side view showing the product attitude control device before bending the locking claws of the lubricating steel plate, and FIG. 20 is a partial side view showing a state in which the flapper shaft is fixed by the shaft support claws.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product storage rack 1 is
A pair of left and right rack side plates 2 and a curved segment 4 for forming a product passage 3 meandering in the height direction are provided. The product passages 3 are provided in a plurality of rows (5 rows in FIG. 1) in the depth direction of the vending machine. At the lower end of the product passage 3, a product carry-out device 5 for carrying out products one by one based on a sales command is arranged.

The product unloading device 5 is provided with an upper pedal 6 for receiving the lowermost product and a lower pedal 7 located above it for receiving the second product from the bottom at the time of unloading. The carrying-out of the product is controlled by alternately projecting 7 to the product passage 3 side.
The product unloading device 5 is formed so as to sell products having various outer diameters without changing the width of the product passage 3.

Product attitude control device 1 according to the present embodiment
0 is disposed at the boundary between adjacent front and rear product passages 3 and 3 and is opposed to the product unloading device 5. In each of the product passages 3 and 3, the leaf spring 29 urges the product passages 3. By the damper effect of the segment 4 at the final stage and the damper effect of the flappers 33, 36 urged by the springs 35, 38 described later, the falling speed of the product falling from above at the time of selling the product is reduced. The product attitude is adjusted and the product attitude is controlled so that the product is brought closer to the pedals 6 and 7 and stably held.

That is, the product attitude control device 10 is configured so that the attitude of the products in the two adjacent product passages 3 and 3 can be controlled by one device. The product attitude control device 10 includes a first substrate 1 having a flapper 33.
1 and the second substrate 21 provided with the flapper 36 and the leaf spring 29 are integrated by spot welding, and the front and back sides are provided with the lubricating steel plates 31 that reduce friction with the product and ensure a smooth drop operation. It is thinner (see FIG. 18).

The product attitude control device 110 controls the attitude of the product in one product passage 3.
In order to urge the lower end of the final stage segment 4 which is rotatably supported by the base plate 111 forming the inner wall of the product passage 3 and the upper end of the product passage 3 to the product passage 3 side. The leaf spring 112 provided on the substrate 111 and the substrate 11
1, a top end portion of which is pivotally supported, and a flapper 121 biased by a torsion coil spring (not shown) and a leaf spring 117 is provided on the side of the product passage 3.

The product attitude control device 110 includes a segment 4 and a leaf spring 112, and a flapper 121 and a leaf spring 11.
The damper effect of 7 reduces the falling speed of the product falling from the top when the product is sold to adjust the product attitude, and the product attitude so that the product is held closer to the pedals 6, 7 side stably. Are in control.

The configuration of the product attitude control device 10 will be described in detail below. First, the first substrate 11 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the lower opening 12 of the first substrate 11 is formed as a mounting space for the shaft 34 of the flapper 33 and the spring (torsion coil spring) 35 (FIGS. 17 and 18). The shaft 34 is formed so as to be locked by bending the shaft support claw 13 (see FIG. 20). In addition, the upper opening 14 of the first substrate 11
Is formed as an escape space for the shaft 37 of the flapper 36 and the spring (torsion coil spring) 38 provided on the second substrate 21.

The locking claw 16 is for locking the product attitude control device 10 in a locking hole (not shown) of the rack side plate 2. The notch 17 is provided by positioning the bent locking claw 32 of the lubricating steel plate 31 so that the locked locking claw 32 does not project after bending (see FIGS. 17 and 18). Further, the convex portion 15 is provided so as to secure the rigidity of the first substrate 11 and to receive the product load applied to the lubricating steel plate 31.

Next, the second substrate 21 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, the upper opening 24 of the second substrate 21.
Is formed as a mounting space for the shaft 37 of the flapper 36 and the spring 38 (see FIGS. 17 and 18), and the shaft 37 is formed so as to be locked by bending the shaft support claw 23. (See FIG. 20). Also, the second
The lower opening 22 of the substrate 21 is formed as an escape space for the shaft 34 and the spring 35 of the flapper 33 provided on the first substrate 11. The cross-sectional shape of the upper opening 24 is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the lower opening 12 of the first substrate 11 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The locking claw 26 is for locking the product attitude control device 10 in a locking hole (not shown) of the rack side plate 2, and is located at a position overlapping with the locking claw 16 of the first board 11. Has been formed. The notch 27 is provided so that the bent locking claw 32 of the lubricating steel plate 31 is positioned so that the locked locking claw 32 does not project after bending (see FIGS. 17 and 18).
Further, the convex portion 25 is provided so as to secure the rigidity of the second substrate 21 and receive the product load applied to the lubricating steel plate 31.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the leaf spring 2 for urging the segment 4 (see FIG. 1) at the final stage of the product storage rack 1 toward the product passage 3 is provided on the second substrate 21.
9 are provided on the front and back, and are fixed by caulking, for example.

The first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21 formed as described above are integrated by spot welding at the welded portion 30, as shown in FIGS. It is strengthening. The lubricating steel plates 31 shown in FIGS. 15 to 16 are integrated with the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 11 in order to reduce friction with a product and ensure a smooth drop operation.
It is fixed to the front and back of the substrate 21, and this fixing is performed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19, the locking claw 32 is bent.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 20, the flapper 33 of the first substrate 11 has a shaft 34 inserted through a curl portion formed at the upper end thereof, and the shaft 34 is inserted into the lower opening 12. Located on the rear surface of the second substrate 21 and the pivotal pawl 13
It is sandwiched and supported by. The spring 35 mounted on the shaft 34 is for urging the flapper 33 toward the product passage 3 side.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 20, the flapper 36 of the second substrate 21 has a shaft 37 inserted through a curl portion formed at the upper end thereof, and the shaft 37 is inserted in the upper opening 24. Placed on the back surface of the first substrate 11 and the pivotal support claw 23.
It is sandwiched and supported by. The spring 38 mounted on the shaft 37 serves to bias the flapper 36 toward the product passage 3 side.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 18. For convenience of description, the product passage 3 between the first substrate 11 and the product discharge device 5 will be described. The product initially put into the product passage 3 at the time of storing the product falls in the product passage 3 while being decelerated by the large number of segments 4, and when it comes into contact with the final stage segment 4, it falls due to the damper effect of the leaf spring 29. The shock is absorbed and the speed is further reduced.

Since the product comes into contact with the flapper 33 and falls while closing the flapper 33 against the urging force of the spring 35, the damper effect of this flapper 33 absorbs the shock at the time of dropping and further decelerates. . Further, since this product falls while being pushed to the pedals 6, 7 side by the flapper 33, it is securely held by the pedals 6, 7.

Conventionally, for example, a bottle product containing a nutritional drink and having a low height may stand on the lower pedal 7 when the first product is introduced and the lower pedal 7 is reached. Although this has been a cause of product clogging, in the present embodiment, the flapper 33 is an obstacle and this product standing is surely prevented.

When the final product is sold and dropped due to the release of the lower pedal 7, the product is not piled up, so that the product falls due to its own weight. However, when the product comes into contact with the lubricating steel plate 31, Dynamic friction is reduced, smooth drop operation is ensured, and product clogging can be prevented. It has been confirmed that this is particularly effective for PET bottle beverage products having a large diameter (for example, products having a diameter of about 69 mm).

The product passage 3 between the second substrate 21 and the product unloading device 5 is also segment 4 and leaf spring 2.
9. Since the flapper 36 operates in the same manner as described above, duplicate description will be omitted.

As described above, according to the product attitude control device 10 according to the present embodiment, a simple and thin device is used to insert the two product passages 3 and 3 in the front and rear adjacent to the product storage rack 1. Product deceleration and posture control can be realized, and product clogging can be prevented.

The first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21 are integrated as one substrate by spot welding.
It is possible to strengthen the substrate strength against the product load and make the device thinner. In particular, the openings 12, 14, 22, 24
By providing the shaft support claws 13 and 23, the bearings of the flappers 33 and 36 can be formed easily and in a small space, and the device can be made thin.

Further, since the lubricating steel plate 31 is provided, the dynamic friction with the product is reduced, and the smooth dropping operation is ensured.
Can prevent product jams.

In the above embodiment, the leaf spring 29 is provided on the second substrate 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if the damper effect of the flappers 33 and 36 is sufficient, the leaf spring 29 is not necessary. The spring 29 does not necessarily have to be provided.

Further, a separate lubricating steel plate 31 is attached to the first substrate 11
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first substrate 11 itself and the second substrate 21 itself may be formed of a lubricating steel plate.

[0048]

As described above, according to the product attitude control device (claim 1) of the present invention, one inner wall of the product passage is provided so as to face two adjacent product passages in the product storage rack. None, and the lower end of the final stage segment, which is arranged above the substrate and rotatably supported on the upper end of the substrate and the substrate arranged to face the product unloading device, is located on the product passage side. Segment urging means provided on the front and back of the board for urging, and upper and lower ends of the board rotatably supported on the front and back of the board, and urged toward the product passage by the flapper urging means. Since the flapper is provided, the deceleration and the posture control of the inserted product can be realized by one simple and thin device in the two adjacent product passages of the product storage rack, and the product jam can be prevented.

Further, according to the product attitude control device of the present invention (claim 2), the substrate is the first substrate facing one of the two adjacent product passages and the other substrate facing the other product passage. The first substrate and the second substrate are formed by superposing two substrates, and the first substrate and the second substrate are formed with a bearing opening formed penetratingly for accommodating the flapper rotating shaft and the flapper biasing means, and the rotating shaft. And a relief opening for escaping a part of the flapper provided on the other substrate and a protruding portion of the flapper urging means, and the housing accommodated in the bearing opening. Since the rotating shaft of the flapper is fixed by being sandwiched between the shaft supporting claw and the other substrate, the substrate strength against the product load can be enhanced and the device can be made thin. In particular, by providing the bearing opening and the escape opening and the shaft support claw, the bearing of the flapper rotating shaft can be formed easily and in a small space, and the device can be made thin.

Further, according to the product attitude control device (claim 3) of the present invention, since the low friction portion is provided on the surface of the substrate on the product passage side, the final product is sold by opening the lower pedal of the product carry-out device. At the time of dropping, there is no stacked product, so the product will drop due to its own weight, but the product comes into contact with the low-friction part to reduce dynamic friction, ensure a smooth drop operation, and prevent product clogging. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement state of a product attitude control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a first substrate of the product attitude control device.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a first substrate of the product attitude control device.

4 is a sectional view showing an AA section of the first substrate shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a BB cross section of the first substrate shown in FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a CC cross section of the first substrate shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a second substrate of the product attitude control device.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a second substrate of the product attitude control device.

9 is a cross-sectional view showing a DD cross section of the second substrate shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a second substrate having leaf springs provided on the front and back sides.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a second substrate having leaf springs provided on the front and back sides.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a second substrate having leaf springs provided on the front and back sides.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a first substrate and a second substrate which are tied together and integrated.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a first substrate and a second substrate which are tied together and integrated.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a lubricated steel plate.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a lubricated steel plate.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing a product attitude control device.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing the product attitude control device.

FIG. 19 is a partial side view showing the product attitude control device before bending the locking claws of the lubricating steel plate.

FIG. 20 is a partial side view showing a state in which the flapper shaft is fixed by a shaft supporting claw.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 product storage rack 2 rack side plates 3 product passages 4 segments 5 Product unloading device 6 Upper pedal 7 Lower pedal 10 Product attitude control device 11 First substrate 12 Lower opening 13 Shaft support claws 14 Upper opening 15 convex 16 locking claws 17 Notch 21 Second substrate 22 Lower opening 23 Shaft support 24 Upper opening 25 convex 26 Locking claw 27 Notch 29 leaf spring 30 welds 31 Lubricated steel plate 32 locking claw 33 flapper 34 axes 35 spring 36 flapper 37 axes 38 springs

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An inner wall of the product passage so as to face two adjacent product passages in the product storage rack,
Also, the substrate disposed so as to face the product unloading device and the lower end of the final stage segment, which is rotatably supported at the upper end and is disposed above the substrate, are urged toward the product passage side. In order to do so, the segment urging means provided on the front and back of the board and the upper and lower ends of the board are rotatably supported by the front and back of the board, and urged toward the product passage by the flapper urging means. A product attitude control device equipped with a flapper. 2. The substrate is formed by stacking a first substrate facing one of the two adjacent product passages and a second substrate facing the other product passage, the first substrate and the second substrate The substrate includes a bearing opening formed to penetrate the flapper rotating shaft and the flapper biasing means, a shaft supporting claw for holding the rotating shaft, and a flapper provided on the other substrate. A relief opening for escaping a part and a protruding portion of the flapper biasing means, and the rotation shaft of the flapper housed in the bearing opening includes the pivot claw and the other substrate. The product attitude control device according to claim 1, wherein the product attitude control device is fixed by being sandwiched by. 3. The product attitude control device according to claim 1, wherein a low-friction portion is provided on the surface of the substrate on the product passage side.