JP2003132416A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine capable of accurately moving an elevator and a merchandise bucket toward a target position at the time of selling merchandise. SOLUTION: This automatic vending machine is provided with a rotary encoder 6f for outputting a reference signal for generating the position data of a rack board position detecting part 3a according as an elevator 5 is moved, a rotary encoder 8e for outputting a reference signal for generating the position data of a shelf position detecting part 4h according as a merchandise bucket 7 is moved, a control part 21 for generating rack board position data based on the reference signal from the rotary encoder 6f and the detection signal of a rack board position detecting sensor 5a, and for generating shelf position data based on the reference signal from the rotary encoder 8e and the detection signal of a shelf position detecting sensor 7g, a memory 21a for storing the rack board position data and shelf position data generated by the control part 21, and a control part 21 for setting a target position from the rack board position data and shelf position data stored in the memory 21a based on a merchandise selling command, and for moving the elevator 5 and the merchandise bucket 7 at stand-by positions toward the set target positions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine that guides a product stored in one of a plurality of product columns provided in a storage chamber to a product sales outlet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic vending machine of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 82171 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-259342, a plurality of shelf plates provided at intervals in the up and down direction in a storage chamber, and a plurality of product columns arranged side by side on each shelf plate. , An elevator that can move in the vertical direction, a product bucket that can move in the horizontal direction on the elevator, an elevator moving means that moves the elevator in the vertical direction, and a bucket move that moves the product bucket in the horizontal direction And means.

Since the products stored in each product column can be visually recognized from the outside through the transparent plate of the main door, the purchaser directly looks at the products stored in each product column and selects the purchased product. When the purchaser presses the product selection button, the elevator and product bucket at the standby position move toward the target position based on the product sale command, and the product is sent to the product bucket from the predetermined product column at the target position. The products in the product bucket are delivered to the product sales outlet.

[0004]

Since this type of vending machine feeds products to the product bucket from a predetermined product column at the target position, the product bucket and the product column after being moved to the target position. If the positional relationship is misaligned, the above-described product feeding cannot be smoothly performed.
In other words, in order to smoothly send the product from the product column to the product bucket, it is necessary to move the elevator and the product bucket so that the moved product bucket faces the product column in an appropriate state.

The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic vending machine capable of accurately moving an elevator and a product bucket toward a target position when selling a product. .

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of shelves provided at intervals in the vertical direction in a storage chamber, and a plurality of shelves arranged in parallel on each shelf. A product column, an elevator that can move in the vertical direction, a product bucket that can move in the horizontal direction on the elevator, an elevator moving means that moves the elevator in the vertical direction, and a product bucket that moves in the horizontal direction. And moving the elevator and the product bucket in the standby position toward the target position based on the product sales command, and then sending the product from the predetermined product column in the target position to the product bucket. It is an automatic vending machine that carries out the products in the product bucket to the product selling port, and can detect the shelf plate position detection unit provided on each shelf plate and the shelf plate position detection unit. And the shelf plate position detection sensor provided in the elevator, the first signal output means for outputting a reference signal for the shelves position data generator with the movement of the elevator,
A column position detection unit provided on each product column, a column position detection sensor provided on the product bucket so that the column position detection unit can be detected, and a reference signal for generating column position data as the product bucket moves. Second signal output means for outputting, shelf board position data corresponding to each shelf board based on the reference signal from the first signal output means and the detection signal of the shelf board position detection sensor, and second signal output means. Position data generating means for generating column position data corresponding to each product column based on the reference signal from the column and the detection signal of the column position detecting sensor, and the shelf board position data and column position data generated by the position data generating means. Position data storage means to be stored, and the target position from the shelf board position data and column position data stored in the position data storage means based on the product sales command. Set, and a movement control means for moving the elevator and commodity bucket in the standby position toward the set target position, and its main characteristic that.

According to this vending machine, the shelf position data corresponding to each shelf and the column position data corresponding to each product column are stored in the position data storage means, and the position data is stored based on the product sales command. Since the target position is set from the shelf plate position data and column position data stored in the means, and the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position are moved toward the set target position, the number of shelf plates Regardless of the number of product columns, the elevator and the product bucket can be moved so that the product bucket faces the predetermined product column in an appropriate state, and the product can be smoothly fed from the product column to the product bucket.

The above and other objects, constitutional features, and operational effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

[0009]

1 is a front view of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a vending machine body showing an internal mechanism of the vending machine shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine body 1 is provided with a heat-insulating storage compartment 2 having a front opening, and a machine compartment (not shown) is provided below the storage compartment 2. Seven shelves 3 are provided in the compartment 2 at intervals in the vertical direction, and a product G is placed on each shelf 3.
The three product columns 4 for storing are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Further, on the front side of the product column 4, there is provided an elevator 5 having a left-right dimension that substantially matches the shelf plate 3,
An elevator moving mechanism 6 (see FIG. 6) for moving the elevator 5 in the up-down direction is provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the compartment 2 facing the elevator 5. Further, one product bucket 7 is provided on the elevator 5, and a bucket moving mechanism 8 (FIG. 4 (B) and FIG. 5 (B) that moves the product bucket 7 in the elevator 5 in the left-right direction is provided. ) Reference) is provided.

Although not shown, the front opening of the compartment 2 is openably and closably covered by an inner door having a transparent plate made of glass or transparent resin. In addition, an evaporator, a heater and a blower for cooling or warming the products are provided in the storage chamber 2, and a compressor, an evaporator and the like which constitute a refrigeration unit together with the evaporator are accommodated in the machine chamber. There is.

As shown in FIG. 1, a main door 11 is provided on the front of the vending machine body 1 so as to be openable and closable. This main door 11
An opening 11a is formed on the front surface of the, and a transparent plate 12 made of glass, transparent resin, or the like is provided in the opening 11a. In addition, on the front surface of the main door 11, a display unit 13, a bill insertion slot 14, a product selection button 15, a lock 16 for the main door 11, a cash insertion slot 17, a return lever 18, and a cash return slot. 19 and a product sales port 20 are provided.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the product G of a predetermined product column 4 is constituted by the elevator 5, the elevator moving mechanism 6, the product bucket 7, and the bucket moving mechanism 8.
A product unloading mechanism that guides the product to the product sales port 20 is configured.

3 to 6 show the details of the product unloading mechanism. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the product column shown in FIG. 2 and its sectional view taken along the line a1-a1, and FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the product bucket and a sectional view taken along the line a2-a2, showing a state in which the push-down lever, the connecting arm, and the product guard are displaced from the standby position to the product unloading position.
-A3 line sectional drawing and the enlarged view of the a4 part, FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the elevator moving mechanism shown in FIG.

Each of the shelves 3 is placed on hooks (not shown) provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the compartment 2 or,
The left and right edges of the shelf plate 3 are screwed onto the left and right inner surfaces of the storage chamber 2 so that the shelf plate 3 is disposed inside the storage chamber 2. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 5A and 5B, each shelf 3
At the left and right ends of the front surface of the shelf, thin plate-shaped shelf position detecting portions 3a are provided separately or integrally with the shelf plate 3.

Each product column 4 is shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B).
As shown in FIG. 5 (A), a U-shaped column main body 4a attached to the shelf plate 3 via a slide rail or the like, and a partition plate 4b detachably provided in the left and right center of the column main body 4a, A pair of front and rear timing pulleys 4c arranged inside the column body 4a, an endless timing belt 4d wound around each pair of front and rear timing pulleys 4c, and a product clerk provided on each timing belt 4d. A stop plate 4e, a driven gear 4f provided at the outer end of the shaft of each front timing pulley 4c, and each timing belt 4d in a state of being biased upward by a coil spring.
And a commodity guard 4g provided on the upper front side of the. Further, a thin plate-shaped column position detecting portion 4h is provided separately or integrally with the column body 4 at the left and right center of the front surface of the column body 4a.

On the two timing belts 4d of each product column 4, paper pack drinks, canned drinks and products G other than drinks are stored side by side in the front-rear direction. Each of the product columns 4 does not have a power source for individually moving the two timing belts 4d, and each of the timing belts 4d receives the product G when the rotational force is transmitted from the product bucket 7 described later to the driven gear 4f. The action of sending the Further, by removing the partition plate 4b from each product column 4, a product having a larger size than the illustrated product can be placed over the two timing belts 4d. Each product column 4 basically stores different types of products, but two or more product columns 4 may store the same product.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C and 5A, the product bucket 7 includes a bucket body 7a, a plurality of rollers 7b provided on the bucket body 7a, and a bucket body 7a. Two drive units 7c provided on the left and right
And a pair of front and rear timing pulleys 7d arranged on the bucket body 7a, and a pair of front and rear timing pulleys 7d.
It is provided with two left and right endless timing belts 7e wound around d. A guide bush 7f into which a guide rod 8c described later is inserted is provided on the bottom surface of the bucket body 7a. Furthermore, the bucket body 7a
A column position detection sensor 7g for detecting the column position detection portion 4h is provided at the center of the rear surface on the left and right. The column position detection sensor 7g is composed of a reflection type photoelectric switch, and detects the position when the column position detection unit 4h faces directly.

Each drive unit 7c includes a push-down lever 7
A first motor and a gear mechanism (not shown) for simultaneously operating c1, the connecting arm 7c2, and the product guard 7c3 are provided inside, and a second gear for rotating a drive gear 7c4 provided on the connecting arm 7c2 is provided. It has a motor and a gear mechanism (not shown) inside. Further, one drive unit 7c is provided with a third motor and a gear mechanism (not shown) for rotating one of the pair of front and rear timing pulleys 7d to feed the product G forward to both timing belts 7e. Has been. Further, on the inner surface of the rear side of one drive unit 7c, one of a light emitter and a light receiver forming an entrance side sensor 7c5 for detecting the position of the product G is provided, and the other drive unit 7c is provided with the light emitter and the light receiver. The other of the vessels is provided. Furthermore, one of the light emitter and the light receiver forming the outlet side sensor 7c6 for detecting the position of the product G is provided on the front inner surface of the one drive unit 7c, and the other drive unit 7c has the light emitter and the light receiver. The other of the vessels is provided.

The bucket moving mechanism 8 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (A), left and right 1 provided in the elevator 5
A pair of timing pulleys 8a, an endless timing belt 8b wound around a pair of left and right timing pulleys 8a, a guide rod 8c installed in the elevator 5 in the left-right direction, and a motor for transmitting a rotational force to the left timing pulley 8a. 8d and a rotary encoder 8e for detecting the rotation angle of the motor 8d. Incidentally, the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 8e is used as a reference signal for generating shelf plate position data described later. In the commodity bucket 7, the bucket body 7a is fixed to a part of the timing belt 8b, and the guide bush 7f on the bottom surface of the bucket body 7a is attached to the guide rod 8.
It is engaged with c and the roller 7b is in contact with the elevator 5. As the bucket moving mechanism 8, a mechanism in which a motor-driven ball screw is provided in the elevator 5 and a nut that engages with the ball screw is connected to the product bucket 7 can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B) and FIG. 6, the elevator 5 is generally U-shaped. Also,
Shelf plate position detection sensors 5a for detecting the shelf plate position detection unit 3a are provided at both left and right ends of the rear surface of the elevator 5. The shelf plate position detection sensor 5a is made of a transmissive photoelectric switch, and detects the position when the shelf plate position detection unit 3a enters the recess.

As shown in FIG. 6, the elevator moving mechanism 6 has two chained ends 6a, one end of which is connected to the left and right ends of the elevator 5, and each chain 6a is wound on the upper part of the mechanism. Two gears 6b and each chain 6
balance weight 6c attached to the other end of a and 2
A rod 6d that connects the two gears 6b, a motor 6e that transmits a rotational force to the rod 6d, and a rotary encoder 6f that detects the rotation angle of the motor 6e are provided. Incidentally, the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 6f is used as a reference signal for generating column position data described later. As the elevator moving mechanism 6, it is also possible to employ a mechanism in which two endless chains are wound around gears arranged vertically and the balance weight 6c is eliminated.

FIG. 7 is a control circuit diagram for controlling the operation of the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7. In the figure, 21 is a control unit having a microcomputer configuration, 22 is an elevator movement based on a control signal from the control unit 21. Motor 6e of mechanism 6
The drive unit 23 for supplying a predetermined electric power to the motor 8 d of the bucket moving mechanism 8 based on the control signal from the control unit 21.
Is a drive unit that supplies a predetermined electric power to the.

The control unit 21 receives signals from the two shelf plate position detection sensors 5a provided in the elevator 5 and also receives signals from the column position detection sensor 7g provided in the product bucket 7. In addition, the signal from the rotary encoder 6f of the elevator moving mechanism 6 is input, and the signal from the rotary encoder 8e of the column moving mechanism 8 is input.

Further, the control section 21 has a function of generating shelf board position data corresponding to each shelf board 3a based on the signal from the rotary encoder 6f and the detection signal of the shelf board position detecting sensor 5a, and the rotary encoder 8e. Has a function of generating column position data corresponding to each product column 4 on the basis of the signal of the column position detection sensor 7g and the memory 21a for storing the generated shelf board position data and column position data. Is equipped with.

The method for controlling the operation of the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 and the product unloading method which are realized by the control circuit shown in FIG. 7 will be described later.

The product selling operation in the vending machine described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In order to sell the products in the above-mentioned vending machine, the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 in the standby position shown in FIG. 2 are appropriately moved so that the product bucket 7 becomes one of the 21 product columns 4 in total. Proper state, specifically, FIG.
As shown in, the upper surfaces of the timing belts 7e of the product buckets 7 and the upper surfaces of the timing belts 4d of the predetermined product columns 4 need to be aligned so that their height positions are substantially aligned with each other.

Therefore, a total of seven shelf boards 3 are stored before storing the product G in each product column 4 or at the initial stage of storage.
And the positions of the three product columns 4 on each shelf 3 are stored in advance.

Specifically, as shown in the program flow in FIG. 8, the motor 6e of the elevator moving mechanism 6 is operated to raise the elevator 5 from the standby position, and the shelf position detecting sensor 5a of the elevator 5 is moved from below. When the shelf position detector 3a of the first shelf 3 is detected, the controller 21 generates the position data of the first shelf 3 from the bottom based on the output signal (pulse signal) of the rotary encoder 6f. Then, it is stored in the memory 21a and the elevator 5 is stopped (steps SS1 to SS4 in FIG. 8). As will be described later, since the level of the shelf 3 and the elevator 5 is maintained in the unused state where the product is not sold yet or the initial state of use, the two shelves provided at the left and right ends of the elevator 5 are kept. The plate position detection sensor 5a is a left and right shelf plate position detection unit 3a.
Are detected almost at the same time.

After the position data of the first shelf 3 is stored, the motor 8d of the bucket moving mechanism 8 is operated to move the product bucket 7 to the left or right to detect the column position detection sensor 7g of the product bucket 7. Detects the column position detector 4h of each of the three product columns 4 on the first shelf 3, and controls the position data of each product column 3 based on the output signal (pulse signal) of the rotary encoder 8e. The product bucket 7 is generated and stored in the memory 21a, and the product bucket 7 is stopped (steps SS5 to SS in FIG. 8).
9).

After that, the same procedure is repeated until the number of shelves reaches 7, and after storing the position data of each of the three product columns 4 on the shelf plate 7 at the seventh stage from the bottom, the elevator 5 and the products are stored. The bucket 7 is returned to the standby position (steps SS10 to SS11 in FIG. 8).

At the time of selling the product, based on the shelf position data and the column position data stored in the memory 21a of the control unit 21, based on the product sales command sent when the purchaser presses the product selection button 15. The target position, that is, the product column 4 storing the product G corresponding to the product selection button 15 and the shelf board 3 on which the product column 4 is placed
2 is set, and the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 are moved from the standby position shown in FIG. 2 toward the set target position.

As described above, the shelf 3 is kept at the initial position as shown in FIG. 10 (A) in the unused state where the product is not sold yet or the initial state of use. By moving the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 toward the target position, the product bucket 7 can face the predetermined product column 4 in an appropriate state (see FIG. 11).

However, due to repeated product sales, product replenishment, etc., the position of the shelf board 3 slightly changes from the initial position to the upper and lower positions due to inclination, distortion, etc., as shown in FIGS. Alternatively, the position of the product column 4 may slightly change from the initial position to the left and right. By the way,
FIG. 10 (B) shows a state in which the shelf 3 is tilted downward to the left and the left shelf position detector 3a is at a position P1 lower than the target position R. In FIG. 10 (C), the shelf 3 is shown. FIG. 10D shows the state where the shelf plate position detection unit 3a on the right side is tilted to the lower right and is located at a position P2 lower than the target position R. In FIG. Position detector 3a
Shows a state in which it is at the same position P3 lower than the target position R, and C1 to C3 in the figure represent the left and right center positions of the product column 4. Of course, there may be a state in which one of the shelf plate position detecting portions 3a of the shelf plate 3 is located higher than the target position R, and the left and right shelf plate position detecting portions 3a of the shelf plate 3 are located above the target position R. There may be a state that becomes.

When such a position change occurs on the shelf board 3 or the product column 4, the position data stored by the initializing operation does not match the actual position of the shelf board 3 or the product column 4 position. Even if 5 and the product bucket 7 are moved toward the set target position, the product bucket 7 cannot be opposed to the predetermined product column 4 in an appropriate state.

In order to prevent this, the above-mentioned vending machine adopts a method of re-detecting the position of the shelf board 3 and the position of the product column 4 each time the product is sold and rewriting the position data based on the detection result. is doing.

Specifically, as shown in the program flow in FIG. 9, when the product selection button 15 is pressed by the purchaser, the product column 4 storing the product G corresponding to the button 15 and the shelf board. The position data of 3 is read out to set the target position, and the elevator 5 and the commodity bucket 7 are moved toward the target position from the standby position (steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 9).

After the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 reach the target position, first, whether the right shelf plate position detecting sensor 5a of the elevator 5 detects the right shelf plate position detecting portion 3a of the predetermined shelf plate 3 is detected. Whether or not the left shelf position sensor 5a on the left side of the elevator 5 has detected the left shelf position detecting unit 3a on the shelf 3 is determined (steps S3 and S6 in FIG. 9).

When the position of the shelf board 3 is kept at the initial position as shown in FIG. 10A, the left and right shelf boards of the elevator 5 are reached when the elevator 5 and the commodity bucket 7 reach the target positions. The position detection sensor 5a detects the left and right shelf board position detection parts 3a of the shelf board 3 almost at the same time.

However, as shown in FIGS. 10B to 10C, when the position of the shelf board 3 is slightly changed from the initial position to the lower side, the elevator 5 and the commodity bucket 7 are moved to the target positions. Either one or both of the left and right shelf board position detecting sensors 5a detect the left and right shelf board position detecting portions 3a prior to the arrival timing. In such a case,
Including the case where the position of the shelf 3 is kept at the initial position, the process proceeds to step S9, and the shelf position detection unit 3a on the right side of the current shelf 3 based on the output signal (pulse signal) of the rotary encoder 6f. And the position data of the left shelf position detector 3a are generated, and the shelf position data stored in the memory 21a is rewritten to the current shelf position data.

On the other hand, if at least one of the shelf board position detecting portions 3a of the shelf board 3 is at a position higher than the target position R shown in FIG. 10A, the elevator 5 and the commodity bucket 7 reach the target position. Even if at least one of the shelf position detecting units 3a cannot be detected by the shelf position detecting sensor 5a, in such a case, the elevator 5 is not detected until the non-detecting shelf position detecting unit 3a is detected. Is slowly increased from the target position (steps S4, S5, S in FIG. 9).
7, S8). After the detection, the process proceeds to step S9 in the same manner as described above, and based on the output signal (pulse signal) of the rotary encoder 6f, the shelf position detecting unit 3 on the right side of the current shelf 3 is detected.
The position data of a and the position data of the left shelf position detecting unit 3a are generated, and the shelf position data stored in the memory 21a is rewritten to the current shelf position data.

Then, the target position of the elevator 5 is corrected on the basis of the current position data of the shelf position detection unit 3a on the right side of the shelf 3 and the position data of the shelf position detection unit 3a on the left side, and the elevator 5 is operated. It is moved to the corrected target position and stopped (steps S10 and S11 in FIG. 9).

Here, a method of correcting the target position of the elevator 5 based on the current position data of the shelf 3 will be described.

When the shelf board 3 is tilted as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the height position of each product column 4 changes in accordance with the tilt gradient, so that the control unit 21. In step 3, the inclination gradient of the shelf board 3 is obtained from the current position data of the left and right shelf board position detecting portions 3a, and the inclination gradient and the position of each product column 4 on the shelf board 3 stored in the initializing operation are stored. The height position of each product column 4 is calculated from the data, and the target position of the elevator 5 is set so that the top surface of the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the top surface of the timing belt 4d of the predetermined product column 4 are substantially aligned. To correct. The left and right shelf board position detectors 3a are set at the target position R.
The same correction is performed when the shelf 3 is tilted at a lower position. In addition, one shelf plate position detection unit 3a
Is higher than the target position R, the shelf plate 3 is tilted, or the left and right shelf plate position detectors 3a move to the target position R.
The same correction is performed when the shelf 3 is tilted at a higher position.

On the other hand, the front end position or the whole of the shelf board 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in 0 (D), when the left and right shelf board position detection units 3a are at the same position P3 lower than the target position R, based on the current position data of the left and right shelf board position detection units 3a. Then, the target position of the elevator 5 is corrected so that the upper surface of the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the upper surface of the upper surface of the timing belt 4d of the predetermined product column 4 substantially coincide with each other. The left and right shelf board position detectors 3a are set at the target position R.
The same correction is performed when the front end of the shelf 3 is raised in the same position higher than the above.

After the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 have reached the target positions, it is subsequently determined whether or not the column position detection sensor 7g of the product bucket 7 has detected the column position detection unit 4h of the predetermined product column 4. Yes (step S in FIG. 9)
12).

When the position of the product column 4 is maintained at the initial position, when the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 reach the target position, the column position detection sensor 7g of the product bucket 7 detects the column position of the product column 4. The detection unit 4h is detected almost at the same time.

However, when the position of the product column 4 slightly changes from the initial position to the side where the product bucket 7 is approaching, the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 reach the target position before the timing. Since the column position detection sensor 7g detects the column position detection unit 4h, in such a case, the process proceeds to step S15 including the case where the position of the product column 4 is kept at the initial position, and the rotary operation is performed. Based on the output signal (pulse signal) of the encoder 8e, the position data of the current column position detector 4h of the product column 4 is generated, and the column position data stored in the memory 21a is rewritten to the current column position data.

On the other hand, when the position of the product column 4 slightly changes from the initial position to the side on which the product bucket 7 is coming, the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 reach the target position. Since the column position detection sensor 7g cannot detect the column position detection unit 4h, in such a case, the column position detection unit 4g which is not detected is detected.
The product bucket 7 is moved at a low speed from the target position until h is detected (steps S13 and S14 in FIG. 9). After the detection, similarly to the above, the process proceeds to step S15, where the position data of the current column position detection unit 4h of the product column 4 is generated based on the output signal (pulse signal) of the rotary encoder 8e and stored in the memory 21a. The existing column position data is overwritten with the current column position data.

Then, the target position of the product bucket 7 is corrected based on the current position data of the column position detector 4h of the product column 4, and the product bucket 7 is moved to the corrected target position and stopped (FIG. Step S16 of 9,
S17).

After the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 reach the corrected target position, a predetermined product unloading operation described below is performed (step S18 in FIG. 9).

First, as shown in FIG. 12, the first motor in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7 is operated to displace the push-down lever 7c1, the connecting arm 7c2, and the product guard 7c3 from the standby position to the product unloading position. . As a result, the push-down lever 7c1 descends from the standby position and pushes down one of the product guards 4g of the product column 4 against the spring biasing force, and the product guard 4g causes the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 and the timing of the product bucket 7 It is inserted in the gap between the belts 7e. In addition, the connecting arm 7c
2 projects rearward from the standby position, and the drive gear 7c4 engages with the driven gear 4f of the product column 4. Further, the product guard 7c3 is lowered from the standby position, and the product guard 7c3 is moved to the timing belt 4d and the product bucket 7 of the product column 4.
Is inserted in the gap between the timing belts 7e.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the second motor in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7 operates to rotate the drive gear 7c4, and this rotational force is applied to the driven gear 4f of the product column 4. After being transmitted, the one timing belt 4d performs an operation of sending the product G forward. At the same time, the third motor in the product bucket 7 operates to cause the timing belts 7e to feed the product G forward.

When the product G has the standard size, as shown in FIG. 13, the leading product G on the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 moves forward and the entrance side sensor 7c5 of the product bucket 7 is turned off. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 stops. The timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 operates for a predetermined small amount of time even after the timing belt 4d of the product bucket 7 is stopped to move the product G to the center of the timing belt 7e. Of course, when the product is smaller than the standard size, after stopping the timing belt 4d of the product column 4, the timing belt 4d is operated in the opposite direction for a predetermined time to return the second product to the proper position. If the product is larger than the standard size, the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 may be stopped and then the timing belt 4d may be operated in the same direction for a predetermined time to send the second product to the proper position. I do not care.

Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the first motor in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7 operates in the opposite direction to push down the lever 7c1 and the connecting arm 7c.
2 and the product guard 7c3 return to the standby position from the product unloading position, and the product guard 4g of the product column 4 returns to the standby position by the biasing force of the coil spring.

Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the motor 6e of the elevator moving mechanism 6 operates to return the elevator 5 to the standby position, and at the same time, the motor 8d of the bucket moving mechanism 8 operates to move the commodity bucket 7 to the standby position. Return to.

Next, the third motor in the product bucket 7 operates to cause both timing belts 7e to send the product G forward, and the product G on the timing belt 7e is sent to the product selling port 20.

Product sales port 2 for product G in product bucket 7
Since the transition to 0 is detected by the exit side sensor 7c6, it is judged whether or not the product unloading operation has been completed based on the presence or absence of this detection signal (step S19 in FIG. 9). The operation ends.

As described above, according to the above-mentioned vending machine, the position data corresponding to the shelf position detecting section 3a provided on each shelf 3 and the column position detecting section 4h provided on each product column 4 are supported. The position data to be stored in the memory 21a of the control unit 21.
And stores it in the memory 21 based on the product sales command.
Since the target position is set from the shelf plate position data and the column position data stored in a, the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 at the standby position are moved toward the set target position. Number of boards 3 and product column 4
Regardless of the number of
Column 4
The product can be smoothly sent from the product bucket 7 to the product bucket 7.

Further, every time the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 at the standby position are moved toward the target position, the shelf plate position detecting section 3 provided on the predetermined shelf plate 3 at the target position.
a is a shelf position detection sensor 5a provided in the elevator 5
Re-detection to generate the current shelf board position data, rewrite the shelf board position data stored in the memory 21a to the current shelf board position data, and target the elevator 5 based on the rewritten shelf board position data. Since the position is corrected, even if the position of the shelf board 3 slightly changes from the initial position to the upper and lower positions, the position of the shelf board 3 after the change is accurately grasped and the product bucket 7 is placed in a predetermined product column. 4 can be moved to face each other in a proper state.

Moreover, the shelf plate detectors 3a are provided at the left and right ends of each shelf plate 3, and the shelf position detection sensors 5a are provided at the left and right ends of the elevator 5 corresponding to the left and right shelf plate detectors 3a, The shelf plate 3 is adapted to correct the target position of the elevator 5 based on the current position data of the left shelf position detecting unit 3a and the right position data of the right shelf position detecting unit 3a. Even when the product bucket 7 tilts, the predetermined product column 4 on the shelf plate 3 after tilting the product bucket 7
Can be moved to face each other in an appropriate state.

Further, each time the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 at the standby position are moved toward the target position, the product bucket 7 is provided with a column position detection unit 4h provided on a predetermined product column 4 at the target position. The column position detection sensor 7g re-detects to generate the current column position data, the column position data stored in the memory 21a is rewritten to the current column position data, and the product is based on the rewritten column position data. Since the target position of the column 4 is corrected, even if the position of the product column 4 slightly changes from the initial position to the left and right, the position of the product column 4 after the change is accurately grasped and the product bucket 7 is opened. It can be moved so as to face the predetermined product column 4 in an appropriate state.

In the above embodiment, three product columns 4 are arranged in parallel on each of the seven shelf boards 3, but the number of shelf boards 3 is 8 or more but 6 or less. The number of product columns 4 may be 4 or more or 2 or less.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, every time the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 at the standby position are moved toward the target position, the shelf plate position detecting section provided on the predetermined shelf plate 3 at the target position is provided. 3a is re-detected by the shelf plate position detection sensor 5a provided in the elevator 5, and the column position detection unit 4h provided in the predetermined product column 4 at the target position is provided in the product bucket 7. Although the re-detection is performed by 7 g, if the position change of the product column 4 is extremely small compared to the position change of the shelf plate 3 and can be ignored, only the re-detection of the shelf position detecting unit 3a may be performed. I do not care. On the contrary, when the position change of the shelf board 3 is extremely small compared with the position change of the product column 4 and can be ignored, only the re-detection of the column position detection unit 4h may be performed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 8e of the bucket moving mechanism 8 is used as a reference signal for generating shelf plate position data, and is output from the rotary encoder 6f of the elevator moving mechanism 6. Although the pulse signal to be generated is used as the reference signal for generating the column position data, if pulse motors are used as the motor 8d of the bucket moving mechanism 8 and the motor 6e of the elevator moving mechanism 6, the output from each pulse motor is obtained. The generated pulse signal can also be used as a reference signal for generating shelf plate position data and column position data.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a transmissive photoelectric switch is shown as the shelf plate position detecting sensor 5a for detecting the shelf plate position detecting portion 3a provided on the shelf plate 3, and a column provided in the product column 4 is shown. Although the reflection type photoelectric switch is shown as the column position detection sensor 7g that detects the position detection unit 4h, a transmission type photoelectric switch may be used as both sensors, or a reflection type photoelectric switch may be used as both sensors. Of course, a known position detection sensor such as a micro switch or a proximity switch may be used instead of the transmissive or reflective photoelectric switch.

[0068]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Regardless of the number of shelves or the number of product columns, the product bucket can be moved so as to face the product column in an appropriate state, and the product can be smoothly fed from the product column to the product bucket.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a vending machine body showing an internal mechanism of the vending machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the product column shown in FIG. 2 and a sectional view taken along line a1-a1 thereof.

4 is an enlarged front view of the product bucket shown in FIG. 2, a sectional view taken along the line a2-a2, and a view showing a state in which a push-down lever, a connecting arm, and a product guard are displaced from a standby position to a product unloading position.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line a3-a3 of FIG. 2 and an enlarged view of the portion a4.

6 is a configuration diagram of the elevator moving mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a control circuit diagram for controlling the operation of the elevator and the product bucket.

FIG. 8 is a program flow relating to an initialization operation.

[Figure 9] Program flow for product sales

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where the position of the shelf board is kept at the initial position and a state where the position of the shelf board is changed to the initial position.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state where the product bucket faces a predetermined product column in an appropriate state.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a product unloading operation.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a product unloading operation.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a product unloading operation.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a product unloading operation.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a product unloading operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Storage room, 3 ... Shelf plate, 3a ... Shelf plate position detection unit, 4 ... Product column, 4h ... Column position detection unit, G ... Merchandise, 5 ... Elevator, 5a ... Shelf plate position detection sensor, 6 ... Elevator movement Mechanism, 6f ... Rotary encoder, 7 ... Commodity bucket, 7g ... Column position detection sensor, 8 ... Bucket moving mechanism, 8e ... Rotary encoder, 20 ... Commodity sales port,
21 ... Control unit, 21a ... Memory.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of shelf boards provided at intervals in the up-down direction in a storage chamber, a plurality of product columns arranged in parallel on each shelf board, and an elevator capable of moving in the up-down direction. A product bucket capable of moving in the left-right direction on the elevator, an elevator moving means for moving the elevator in the up-down direction, and a bucket moving means for moving the product bucket in the left-right direction, based on a product sales command. After moving the elevator and the product bucket in the standby position toward the target position, the product is sent from the predetermined product column in the target position to the product bucket and the product in the product bucket is carried out to the product sales outlet. A vending machine, which includes a shelf position detecting unit provided on each shelf, and a shelf position detecting sensor provided at an elevator so as to detect the shelf position detecting unit. First signal output means for outputting a reference signal for generating shelf plate position data in accordance with the movement of the elevator, a column position detector provided in each product column, and a product bucket so that the column position detector can be detected. The column position detection sensor provided, the second signal output means for outputting the reference signal for generating the column position data with the movement of the product bucket, the reference signal from the first signal output means, and the shelf position detection sensor. Shelf board position data corresponding to each shelf board is generated based on the detection signal, and column position data corresponding to each product column is generated based on the reference signal from the second signal output means and the detection signal of the column position detection sensor. Position data generating means for generating, position data storing means for storing the shelf board position data and column position data generated by the position data generating means, and a product sales command Based on the shelf plate position data and the column position data stored in the position data storage means based on the target position, and the movement control means for moving the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position toward the set target position. A vending machine that is equipped with. 2. Each time the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position are moved toward the target position, a shelf position detecting unit provided at a predetermined shelf plate at the target position is provided at the shelf position provided at the elevator. Shelf board position data rewriting means for re-detecting with the detection sensor to generate the current shelf board position data, and rewriting the shelf board position data stored in the position data storage means to the current shelf position data. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a target position correction unit that corrects a target position of the elevator based on the shelf plate position data. 3. Shelf plate detection units are provided at both left and right ends of each shelf plate, and shelf position detection sensors are provided at both left and right ends of the elevator corresponding to the left and right shelf plate detection units. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the elevator target position is corrected based on the current position data of the left shelf position detecting unit and the current right position data of the shelf position detecting unit. . 4. A column position detection unit provided on a product bucket is provided with a column position detection unit provided on a predetermined product column at the target position each time the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position are moved toward the target position. The column position data rewriting means for re-detecting by the sensor to generate the current column position data and rewriting the column position data stored in the position data storage means to the current column position data, and the rewritten column position data based on the rewritten column position data. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a target position correcting unit that corrects a target position of the product bucket.