JP2003099848A - Serpentine type article storage rack for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To pile and store various types of articles with different length sizes and vessel shapes in an article passage by stably controlling their attitudes without using a conventional movable side plate. SOLUTION: This serpentine type article storage rack for a vending machine is so constituted that rack segments 2 are oppositely disposed between left/right rack side plates 1 to partition the meandering article passage 3 and the articles 7 in their inverted attitudes are piled in the article passage into a vertical column. The rack segments are divided into multiple divided segments 2A-2C in the lateral width direction of the particle passage, the lateral width of the divided segment 2A is responded to short and small size articles as a fixed segment, the residual divided segments 2B and 2C are movably disposed (energized by springs from the rear parts) in the direction narrowing the depth width of the article passage as movable segments, and the lateral width of the article passage is automatically adjusted by moving the movable segments according to the large-shape, medium-shape, and small-shape articles 7L, 7M, and 7S to be loaded on the racks.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a serpentine type product storage rack of an automatic vending machine for selling cans, bottles, PET bottles and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above-mentioned serpentine type product storage rack of a vending machine is well known, and is an arcuate rack lined up and down in front of and behind a rack side plate standing upright and leftward so as to sandwich a passage. A canister, a bottle, which is arranged in a row in a confronting manner to define a product passage (column) that meanders in the vertical direction, and which is vertically stored in the product passage in an inverted posture and stored in one line up and down,
Products such as plastic bottles are dropped and carried out in order from the product lined up at the bottom by the operation of the bending mechanism based on the sales instruction.

FIG. 5 is a general configuration diagram of a serpentine type product storage rack. Reference numeral 1 is a rack side plate which faces left and right and stands upright, and 2 are arranged in front and rear rows and are installed between the rack side plates 1 in a meandering shape. A rack segment row that defines the product passage 3, 4 is a bend mechanism arranged at the lower end of the product passage 3 for each column, 5 is an adjusting plate for the width of the outlet passage facing the bend mechanism 4, and 6 is the product passage for each column A top tray for loading products, which is laid on the upper side in a row with 3, is a product.

In the serpentine-type product storage rack having such a structure, when the product 7 is loaded from the front of the rack to the top tray 6 in an inverted posture when the product is replenished, the product 7 rolls on the top tray 6 tilted backward, It rolls down from the end and is stacked and stored in a line in the product passage 3. The operation of selling a product is well known, and the description thereof is omitted here.

On the other hand, as the product 7 to be sold by the vending machine equipped with the above-mentioned serpentine type product storage rack,
There are various products such as cans, bottles, and PET bottles, and the length dimension of the container varies depending on the content volume. Therefore, in order to allow various products of different length sizes to be sold together in the same serpentine-type product storage rack, in the conventional serpentine-type product storage rack, the lateral width (width in the left-right direction) of the product passage 3 is set to the product 7 width. In order to adjust according to the length size of the rack, a movable side plate 8 extending vertically along the meandering product passage 3 is provided inside the rack side plate 1 as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). The movable side plate 8 is set to the solid line position and the chain line position shown in the drawing to match the built-in long size product 7L (for example, PET bottle product) and short size product 3S (can product or bottle product), and the effective width of the product passage 3 is set. L and L1 (the distance between the right side rack side plate 1 and the movable side plate 8) are the ones that are adjusted in practice.
This system is adopted by most of the serpentine type product storage racks of vending machines currently on the market, which are well known in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0-65877.

The movable side plate 8 is provided on the left side rack side plate 1 through a parallel link mechanism 9 provided for each column.
And the vertical position of the movable side plate 8 is passed through the guide rod 10 that is bridged between the left and right rack side plates, and is engaged with the adjustment groove 11a of the positioning plate 11 to engage with each adjustment position. I am trying to fix it.

[0007]

However, the conventional product passage width adjusting system using the movable side plate 8 has the following problems. (1) At the location of the vending machine, when adjusting the movable side plate 8 according to the change of the sold product, insert the hand from the upper side and the lower side of the product storage rack as the work and set the movable side plate. Need to be changed, and the operability is extremely poor, and the work requires time and effort. Also, if the upper and lower positions are misaligned due to an operation error, the posture of the movable side plate tilts, which may cause transport problems such as product jams in the middle of the product passage. Merchandise is unstable and the rolling posture tends to tilt.

(2) Further, the movable side plate 8 to the product storage rack
The assembly requires a large number of parts including an adjusting mechanism such as the parallel link mechanism 9 and assembling man-hours, and the space occupied by these parts increases the lateral width of the column, resulting in a large rack. . Moreover, in the configuration in which the columns are arranged in the front and rear rows in the rack as shown in FIG.
Since the total length of the racks is different, it is necessary to prepare movable side plates having different heights in accordance with the total length of the racks, which increases the cost of the rack.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a can and a bottle having different length sizes and container shapes by a novel system which does not use a movable side plate having a conventional structure. , It is an object of the present invention to provide a serpentine-type product storage rack of a vending machine in which various products such as PET bottles can be stably posture-controlled and stacked and stored in a product passage.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, between the rack side plates standing upright on the left and right, a circular arc-shaped lined up and down in front of and behind the rack sandwiching the passage. An operation of a bend mechanism based on a sales order for products such as cans, bottles, and PET bottles that are arranged in a zigzag line in a row to define a meandering product passage by arranging rack segment rows facing each other In a serpentine-type product storage rack of a vending machine that is designed to drop and carry out products in order from the bottom, the rack segment is divided into a plurality of divided segments in the width direction of the product passage over the entire length of the meandering product passage. In addition, the width of one of the divided segments is set as a fixed segment corresponding to the short and small size products, and the remaining divided segment is set as the movable segment to increase the product length. Movably arranged in a direction to narrow the depth width of the article passage according to the size (claim 1).

In the above structure, for large and large-sized products, the movable segment and the fixed segment are aligned and arranged side by side. As a result, the horizontal width of the product passage becomes the distance between the left and right rack side plates, which corresponds to a large product. On the other hand, with respect to small and small sized products, the fixed segment corresponding to the length of the product is left and other movable segments are projected inward of the passage (diameter direction of the product). As a result, the movable segment protruding inward of the passage functions in the same manner as the conventional movable side plate, and the width of the product passage is effectively regulated in accordance with the length size of the small product. Also, for PET bottles, bottled products, and other products with a tapered main body container, the movable segments that line up at the positions corresponding to the caps project inside the passage so that the product caps are sandwiched from the front and back. By narrowing and guiding the passage, it is possible to stably control the attitude of bottle products that easily tilt in the product passage.

Further, according to the present invention, the divided segment having the above structure can be structured and supported in the following manner. (1) The rack segment is divided into three parts in the width direction of the product passage, and the divided segment of the length corresponding to the short and small size product is fixedly arranged at the left and right center position of the product passage, and the segment is sandwiched between the left and right parts. Movable divided segments are distributed and arranged on both sides (claim 2).

In the above structure, for short can products, the movable segments arranged at the left and right ends of the product passage project inward of the product passage (diameter direction of the product).
The lateral width of the product passage is regulated by the movable segments in the left and right lateral regions corresponding to the width of the fixed segments that are effectively arranged in the center. As a result, when the product rolls in the product passage, the left and right end surfaces thereof are guided by being guided by the edges of the movable segments arranged side by side, so that the rolling posture is stabilized.

(2) Further, as the urging means for urging the movable segment of the above-mentioned divided segment inward of the passage, in the present invention, the urging means is urged by a spring so as to protrude from the back toward the inside of the product passage (claim 3). Further, the movable segment is provided at a fixed position on the inner surface side of the fixed segment installed between the rack side plates via an urging spring, and the movable segment is projected into the product passage via the urging spring. ).

By thus urging the movable segment from the rear side by the spring, the movable segment protrudes inward of the product passage so as to narrow the depth of the product passage when the product load is not applied. When the product put in is entered between the movable segments, the movable segment is pushed by the product and automatically expands the passage width. Therefore,
Even when changing the product to be sold to a product of a different size, the manual setting operation of the product passage width, which was done with the conventional movable side plate method, is not necessary, just by inserting the product insertion position on the top tray, Various products with different lengths can be stacked and stored in the product passage by properly controlling the posture.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. In the drawings of the embodiments, members corresponding to those in FIGS. 5 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. First, the basic structure and operation of the present invention are shown in FIG.
This is explained in (a) to (c). In the illustrated embodiment, between the left and right rack side plates 1 (the distance between the rack side plates is a large product 7).
A rack segment laid facing each other along the meandering product passage 3 defined by the length L (PET bottle product) is defined by 3 in the left-right direction of the product passage 3. The divided segments 2A, 2B,
2C, and the divided segment 2A lined up at the right end here is
The length (width) L1 of the fixed segment is shown in Fig. 1 (c).
It is set in correspondence with the small and small product 7S (can or bottle product) shown in (4). Further, the two divided segments 2B and 2C arranged on the left side of the fixed divided segment 2A are
The widths thereof are set to L2 and L3, respectively, and the movable segments are formed so as to project inward of the product passage 3 (diameter direction of the product) and can be moved so as to narrow the depth of the passage. The urging means for the movable segment will be described later.

When a large product 7L such as a PET bottle is stored in the rack having the above-mentioned structure, the divided segments 2A to 2C are movable so that they are aligned in a horizontal row as shown in FIG. 1 (a). Retract 2B and 2C to widen the depth of the passage. As a result, the lateral width of the product passage 3 becomes the maximum width L corresponding to the length size of the large product 7L. on the other hand,
When changing a sale product to a medium-sized product 7M (for example, a can product), the movable segment segment 2B is aligned with the fixed segment segment 2A in a horizontal row as shown in Fig. 1 (b), and the left segment segment Narrow the passage by protruding only 2C inward. As a result, the divided segment 2C protruding into the passage functions like the conventional movable side plate (see FIG. 6), and the width of the product passage 3 substantially corresponds to the length size of the medium-sized product 7L. Regulated by.

Further, when the sold product is changed to the small product 7S (bottle or can product), as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the movable divided segment 2B is arranged on the left side leaving the fixed divided segment 2A. , 2C project inwardly of the passage as shown. As a result, the width of the product passage 3 is restricted to the width L1 substantially corresponding to the length of the small product 7S. Further, in this case, when the small product 7S is a bottle product with a cap 7a, the divided segments 2B protruding inward of the passage function as guide rails for guiding the bottle product cap 7a from the front and the rear, As a result, small bottle products are rolled and stored in the passage in a stable posture.

Next, the divided segment 2A in FIG.
An application example in which the arrangements of 2B and 2C are changed is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a fixed divided segment 2A is installed at the left and right center position of the product passage 3, and movable divided segments 2B and 2C are arranged on both sides thereof. Then, when the small product 7S is stored in the rack, the divided segments 2B and 2C at the left and right ends are projected inwardly of the passage as shown in the figure, so that the product 7S is placed between the side edges of the divided segments 2B and 2C from the left and right. It is sandwiched and guided stably along the central segment 2A. In this respect, when the small product 7S is guided in the state of FIG. 1 (c), the right end face of the product comes into contact with the plate surface of the rack side plate 1 and the left end face comes into contact with the side edge of the divided segment 2B. Depending on the situation, due to the difference in sliding frictional resistance of the surface, the rolling posture of the product may tilt and can stand up in the middle of the passage, but by using the arrangement of FIG.
Such a problem can be solved. In this case, the small product 7S is placed in the center of the top tray 6 (see FIG. 5).

Next, based on the construction of FIG. 1, the construction of a concrete embodiment in which the movable divided segments 2B, 2C are combined with a biasing spring is shown in FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b). In this embodiment, first, the segment segments 2A, 2B, 2C each have a structure in which a single steel plate is subjected to corrugation forming to form arc-shaped segment rows that are continuous in the vertical direction. The beam members 13 installed between the rack side plates 1 are supported as follows. That is, the divided segment 2A is fixedly supported by the beam member 13, and the divided segment 2B. 2C individually biases the beam member 13 from the back so as to project toward the product passage 3 via a biasing spring (weak compression spring) 12.

With such a configuration, in the steady state (column is empty), the movable segment segments 2A and 2C are movable as shown in the figure.
Urges into the passage by a spring bias and regulates the lateral width of the product passage 3 to a width corresponding to the fixed divided segment 2A. This state corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 1 (c). On the other hand, when a medium-sized product or a large-sized product loaded in the rack enters the product passage 3 from the top tray, the load of this product causes the segment segments 2B and 2C to retreat so as to widen the passage width against the biasing spring 12. Then, instead of the state shown in FIG. 1A or 1B, the width of the product passage 3 is restricted to the width corresponding to the large product 7L and the medium product 7M.

As a result, unlike the conventional method shown in FIG. 6, the movable side plate 8 is adjusted according to the length size of the product 7 each time the product to be sold is changed, without any troublesome manual operation. The width of the product passage 3 can be automatically adjusted to the size of the input product. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment different from that of FIG. 3, and in this embodiment, the movable segment 2
B and 2C are provided side by side on the inner surface side of the arc-shaped rack segment 2 fixedly installed between the rack side plates 1 and protrude inwardly of the passage via a leaf spring-like biasing spring 14. That is, the urging spring 14 is a V-shaped leaf spring, and the central portion thereof is caulked to the plate surface of the rack segment 2 via the fixing pin 14a. On the other hand, split segment 2
The leaf spring guides 15 are provided on the left and right on the back side of B and 2C,
Both ends of the leaf spring are slidably inserted and supported here.

With such a configuration, in a steady state without products,
As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the segment segments 2B and 2C are spring-biased and project inwardly of the passage to restrict the lateral width of the product passage 3. On the other hand, when the product 7 is stored, the divided segments 2B and 2C receive the load of the product 7 as shown in FIG. 4 (c), and the biasing spring 14 is bent to retreat to widen the passage. As a result, the same function as that of the embodiment of FIG.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a serpentine type product storage rack, the rack segment is divided into a plurality of divided segments in the lateral direction of the product passage over the entire length of the meandering product passage. In addition, one of the divided segments has a horizontal dimension that is fixed for small and small products, and the remaining divided segments are movable segments that can be moved in a direction that narrows the depth of the product passage according to the length of the product. By arranging it, the horizontal width of the product passage can be adjusted according to the length size of the product to be sold without using the conventional movable side plate, and thus the occupied space of the movable side plate and its support mechanism (parallel link mechanism) This reduces the size of the rack, which in turn reduces the installation area of vending machines.

Further, according to the constitution of claims 3 and 4 in which the movable segment is biased by the spring, even when the vending machine installed at the location is used to change the sale item to a different size item, the conventional method is used. The width of the product passage can be automatically adjusted according to the product size without the need for manual adjustment operation, and the serviceability to the user can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the structure and operation of a rack according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a), (b), and (c) are product stores corresponding to large-sized products, medium-sized products, and small-sized products, respectively. Cross-sectional view of the column showing the state

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a column showing an application example of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a specific embodiment in which a movable segment is combined with a biasing spring based on the configuration of FIG. 1, (a) and (b) are a side view and a cross-sectional view of a column, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment different from FIG. 3, in which (a) is an external perspective view of a main part, and (b) and (c) are side views showing a steady state and a product storage state, respectively.

[Fig. 5] Schematic diagram of the basic configuration of a serpentine-type product storage rack

6A and 6B are explanatory views of a movable side plate adopted in a conventional rack, in which FIG. 6A is an external perspective view showing the structure thereof, and FIG. 6B is a column transverse sectional view of FIG. 6A showing an adjusting operation of the movable side plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 rack side plate 2 rack segments 2A fixed segment 2B, 2C movable segment 3 product passages 4 Bend mechanism 7 products 7L large product 7M Medium size product 7S Small product 12, 14 Bias spring for movable segment

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A meandering product passage is defined by arranging arc-shaped rack segment rows arranged vertically in front of and behind a rack side plate standing upright to the left and right so as to sandwich the passage. An automatic vending machine in which products such as cans, bottles, and PET bottles that are stacked and stored in the product passage in an upside down posture are dropped and carried out in order from the product lined up at the bottom by the operation of a bend mechanism based on a sales command. In the serpentine type product storage rack, the rack segment is divided into a plurality of divided segments in the width direction of the product passage over the entire length of the meandering product passage,
In addition, one of the divided segments is a fixed segment corresponding to short and small size products, and the remaining divided segments are movable segments that can be moved in a direction that narrows the depth of the product passage according to the length size of the product. This is a size-type product storage rack for vending machines. 2. The product storage rack according to claim 1,
The rack segment is divided into three parts in the width direction of the product passage, and the divided segment of the length corresponding to short and small size products is fixedly arranged at the left and right center position of the product passage, and the segment is movable on both sides of the segment. Serpentine-type product storage rack for vending machines, characterized by arranging the divided segments of. 3. The product storage rack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable segment is spring-biased so as to protrude from the rear toward the inside of the product passage. 4. The product storage rack according to claim 3,
A serpentine type product storage rack for a vending machine, characterized in that a movable segment is provided between the rack side plates and is attached to the inner surface side of the fixed segment via a biasing spring.