JP2003141619A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine capable of securely preventing commodities from falling forward during the replenishment of a vertically piled commodity column with commodities, and facilitating the replenishment of commodities. SOLUTION: Supporting members 10A and 10B are disposed at a prescribed intervals in a plurality of places positioned vertically along the front face of a commodity housing part of the commodity column 2. A first guide rod 11A is disposed between the supporting members 10A and 10B, capable of moving between the position for preventing commodities from falling forward and the position of refuge, and impelled toward the position for preventing commodities from falling forward. A second guide rod 11B is disposed between a ceiling board 5 and the supporting member 10B, also capable of moving between the position for preventing commodities from falling forward and the position of refuge, and impelled toward the position for preventing commodities from falling forward. Commodities are prevented from falling forward by loading commodities with the first and second guide rod 11A and 11B moved to the position of refuge one after another during the replenishment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a vertically stacked product column for vertically stacking and storing products and sequentially paying them out from the lowest product. The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a member for preventing the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine that stores and sells a box-shaped packaged product in a vertically stacked product column, it is usually necessary to prevent the product from falling forward or popping out while waiting for the product to be sold or when the product is sold. A vertical guide rod is provided substantially in the center of the front surface of the product column. This guide rod is moved to the vicinity of the side surface of the product column when the product is replenished, and the front surface of the product column is opened so that the product can be replenished.

However, if the guide rod for preventing the product from falling down is provided on the front surface of the product column, when the product column is large vertically and the number of products to be loaded and stored is large, the guide rod is used to replenish the product. When a certain number of products remain in the product column when moved to the side of the product column, the remaining stacked products lose their balance and move forward when the guide rod moves to the side. They may fall, and when they pile up supplementary products, they may lose their balance and fall forward.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-307959.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication, apart from the guide rod, at a predetermined position of the partition plate of the product column, projecting to the front of the product column,
In addition, a fall prevention component that comes into contact with the front end of the product is provided so that it can be retracted from the front of the product column, and
As described in the publication, at the predetermined position of the guide rod as a product pop-out prevention member, even when the guide rod is moved laterally, a part of the product is projected to the front of the product column to prevent the product from falling. It has been proposed to provide a protection.

[0005]

However, according to such a method, when the guide rod is moved to the retracted position during the replenishment of the product, the fall prevention member and the product fall prevention portion are provided at the position. Although it is possible to prevent the product from falling forward, the fall prevention member and the product fall prevention part are only located on a part of the front surface of the product column. There is nothing that supports the front of the product when moves to the retracted position,
It was not possible to prevent the product from falling forward from such a position.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to surely prevent the products from falling forward when replenishing the vertically stacked product columns, and to easily replenish the products automatically. The purpose is to provide a vending machine.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a product column for vertically stacking and storing a predetermined number of products, the product column being formed by partition plates on the left and right side surfaces.
In a vending machine in which the front face is opened, the products are stacked and stored in an aligned state along the partition plate, and the products are paid out in order from the lowest product in the product column. A plurality of guide members are provided in a substantially continuous arrangement, and each guide member can be individually converted into a fall prevention position for preventing the product from falling forward and a retracted position for allowing the product to be replenished. .

As described above, on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column of the automatic vending machine, a plurality of positions can be individually converted into a fall prevention position for preventing the product from falling forward and a retract position for allowing the replenishment of the product. By providing the guide members in a substantially vertically aligned arrangement, each guide member is set to the fall prevention position during product sales standby and during product sales, and most of the products stacked in the product column are supported from the front. And prevent it from falling forward,
During the product replenishment work, the guide members are moved one by one from the lower guide member to the retreat position so that the plurality of guide members do not reach the retreat position at the same time, and the product replenishment amount falls forward at the position of each guide member. By returning the guide member to the fall-prevention position before reaching the height, it is possible to prevent the product from fall-down at the time of replenishment.

Each guide member is provided with a support member at a predetermined position on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column, and the support member allows
It can be supported so as to be convertible between the fall prevention position and the retracted position. Then, by providing the support members at a plurality of positions on the front surface of the product column that are vertically spaced,
A guide member can be installed between the support members, and the uppermost guide member of the guide members is
It can be installed between the ceiling plate on the upper surface of the product column and the support member provided at the position closest to the ceiling plate.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a front view of the vending machine of the embodiment when the door is opened,
2 is a front view of a product column, FIG. 3 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of the first supporting member and its vicinity,
FIG. 4 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of the second support member and its vicinity, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second support member and its vicinity.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of product columns 2 for stacking and storing the products in a vertical direction inside the vending machine body 1 in a row. The column 2 is provided with a payout mechanism 3 below, and the products packaged in a box shape are stacked and stored in each product column 2, and the product is paid out in order from the lowest order for sale.

Each product column 2 is formed by partition plates 4 on its left and right sides, its upper surface is closed by a ceiling plate 5, its rear surface is closed by a back plate 6, and its front surface stores products in the product column 2. It is opened for replenishment, and the payout mechanism 3 is arranged below. The space inside each product column 2 partitioned by the partition plate 4, the ceiling plate 5, the back plate 6, and the upper surface of the dispensing mechanism 3 constitutes a product storage unit. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the door 7 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 2, a partition plate 4 on one side (left side in FIG. 1) of each product column 2 is attached to the upper surface of the payout mechanism 3 when a first supporting member 10A described later is attached. In order to face the front of the product column 2 at two positions, a position slightly larger than the height dimension for one product s and a position approximately in the vertical direction of the product storage part of the product column 2. Mounting plates 9A and 9B are projected along the front surface,
The first and second support members 10A and 10B are attached by inserting them into the attachment plates 9A and 9B.

The first support member 10A includes a lower mounting plate 9
It is attached to A and is positioned in front of the product storage portion of the product column 2 with a space slightly larger than the height of the product from the upper surface of the dispensing mechanism 3. The second support member 10B is attached to the upper mounting plate 9B, and is located substantially in the middle in the vertical direction on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2.

On the front surface of each commodity column 2, the first
Between the first support member 10A and the second support member 10B provided at a predetermined interval above the first support member 10A, a first guide rod 11A (guide member) is provided in the vertical direction. The ceiling plate 5 and the second supporting member 10B are installed.
And a second guide rod 11B is installed in the up-down direction so as to be substantially continuous with the first guide rod 11A.

The first guide rod 11A is a straight rod-shaped member, and the first support member 10A is located at a position where the lower end portion is displaced to one side (left side in FIG. 2) with respect to the center of the product column 2 in the left-right direction. Is supported by the second column so that the upper end thereof can move between the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage unit of the product column 2 and a position offset to one side (left side in FIG. 2) with respect to the center. It is supported by the support member 10B.

The second guide rod 11B is a bar-shaped member having an upper end bent into an L-shape and an inverted L-shape at two locations to form a crank shape. 2 is supported by the ceiling plate 5 at a position deviated to one side (left side in FIG. 2) with respect to the left-right center of the front of the product storage unit, and the lower end is located on one side with respect to the left-right center of the product column 2 (see FIG. It is supported by the second support member 10B at a position deviated to the left side in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first support member 10A is provided with a support hole 12A in the rear portion, which is in the shape of a mortar and opens upward. The support hole 12A has a first guide rod 11A.
By fitting the lower end of the first guide rod 11
The lower end of is supported.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second support member 10B has a support hole 12B in the shape of a mortar in the rear portion, and the lower end portion of the second guide rod 11B is fitted into this support hole 12B. As a result, the lower end of the second guide rod 11B is supported. Further, a support portion 13 that supports the upper end portion of the first guide rod 11A so as to be movable left and right is provided at the lower portion on the front surface side of the second support member 10B, and further at the front portion of the second support member 10B. Is provided with a spring member 14 as a biasing means for biasing the upper end portion of the first guide rod 11A toward the center of the product storage portion of the product column 2 in the left-right direction.

The support holes 12A and 12B of the first support member 10A and the second support member 10B are offset to one side (left side in FIG. 2) with respect to the center of the front side of the product storage portion of the product column 2 in the left-right direction. It is provided in the position.

Further, the ceiling plate 5 is provided with a support hole 15 into which a tip end of a second guide rod 11B bent in a crank shape is fitted and which is rotatably supported, and the second guide rod. A spring member 16 is provided for urging the upper end of the straight rod portion of 11B toward the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2. Second guide rod 11
In B, the crank-shaped upper end portion has a support hole 15 of the ceiling plate 5
Is rotatably supported, and the upper end of the straight rod portion is urged by the spring member 16 toward the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage unit.

The lower end of the first guide rod 11A is supported by the support hole 12A of the first supporting member 10A, and the upper end thereof is supported by the supporting portion 13 of the second supporting member 10B so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Is urged by the spring member 14 toward the center in the left-right direction on the front of the product storage portion of the product column 2, and when the product is on standby or during sales, the urging force of the spring member 14 causes
The upper end portion is moved to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2 and is held at a fall prevention position for preventing the product s in the portion facing the first guide rod 11A from falling forward or popping out. During product replenishment work, the upper end of the first guide rod 11A is slid to one side in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 2) on the front surface of the product storage unit so that the first guide rod 11A swings about the lower end as a fulcrum. It can be moved to the retreat position where the front of the product storage unit is opened and the replenishment of the product s is allowed.

The lower end of the second guide rod 11B is supported in the support hole 12B of the second support member 10B,
The tip of the crank-shaped upper end portion is rotatably supported in the support hole 15 of the ceiling plate 5, and the upper end of the straight rod portion is biased by the spring member 16 toward the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage unit. At the time of sale, due to the urging force of the spring member 16, the upper end of the straight rod portion moves to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2 and the front of the product s in the portion facing the second guide rod 11B. It is held in a fall prevention position to prevent it from falling or popping out, and when replenishing the product, crank the upper part of the straight rod part of the second guide rod 11B to one side in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 2) in front of the product storage part. By doing so, it is possible to swing the second guide rod 11B with the lower end as a fulcrum, open the front surface of the product storage portion, and convert the second guide rod 11B to the retracted position that allows replenishment of the product s.

The mounting position of the first supporting member 10A is such that a space, which is slightly larger than the height dimension of the product s, is opened between the first supporting member 10A and the upper surface of the dispensing mechanism 3. The first support member 10A supports the first guide rod 11A between the first support member 10A and the second support member 10B at this position, and also prevents the commodity s from jumping out.

The mounting position of the second support member 10B is a height position where the products s stacked in the product storage section of the product column 2 are prone to fall forward. It is an intermediate position. In addition, as described later, the second support member 10B having the above-described configuration may be provided at a plurality of positions where the product s is likely to tilt forward. The second support member 10B has a second position between the ceiling plate 5 and the second support member 10B.
While supporting the guide rod 11B, the product itself prevents the product s from falling forward or popping out at the time of replenishment work, standby for sale, and sale.

When replenishing products to this vending machine, first, the upper end of the first guide rod 11A is pushed by hand or by the replenishment product s, and is slid to the left in FIG. The guide rod 11A of the product column 2 is held in the retracted position where the lower part of the front of the product storage portion of the product column 2 is opened, and the first product is inserted into the product storage portion of the product column 2 from the front side.
The products s are loaded while inclining so as to avoid the guide rod 11A, and returned horizontally and stacked up and down.

When the product s is loaded up to the vicinity of the mounting position of the second supporting member 10B, the first guide rod 11
The upper end portion of the first guide rod 11A is separated from the first guide rod 11A by releasing the hand from A or the product s held by the hand from the first guide rod 11A. Of the product column 2 is returned to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front of the product storage portion of the product column 2, and the first guide rod 11A is prevented from falling forward or falling out of the product s in the portion facing the first guide rod 11A. Hold in the prevent position. This completes the product replenishment in the portion of the product storage unit of the product column 2 below the second support member 10B.

When the product replenishment below the second support member 10B is completed in this manner, the product s is replenished to the portion of the product storage portion of the product column 2 above the second support member 10B. The upper portion of the guide rod 11B is manually pushed or pushed by a product to be replenished and slid to the left side in FIG.
Is held in the retracted position where the upper part of the front of the product storage section of the product column 2 is opened, and the product s is mounted on the product storage section of the product column 2 from the front side while inclining so as to avoid the second guide rod 11B. Put in, return horizontally, and stack vertically.
At this time, since the first guide rod 11A is in the fall prevention position, it is possible to prevent the products stored in the portion of the product storage unit below the second support member 10B from tilting forward. .

Then, the product s is replenished to the vicinity of the ceiling plate 5 of the product column 2, and when the product replenishment of the product column 2 is completed, the hand is released from the second guide rod 11B or the product s held in the hand is removed. By separating from the second guide rod 11B, the upper portion of the straight rod portion of the second guide rod 11B is moved in the left-right direction of the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2 by the action of the spring member 16 provided on the ceiling plate 5. After returning to the vicinity of the center, the second guide rod 11B is held at the fall prevention position for preventing the product s in the portion facing the second guide rod 11B from falling forward or popping out. This completes the product replenishment work for the product storage unit of the product column 2.

Since the first guide rod 11A and the second guide rod 11B are urged toward the falling prevention position by the spring members 14 and 16, respectively, the first guide rod 11A and the second guide rod 11B are automatically prevented from falling from the retracted position after the replenishment work of the products. Return to position. Therefore, forgetting to return does not occur.

In this embodiment, as a guide member that can be converted into a fall prevention position for preventing the product from falling forward and a retracted position for allowing the product to be replenished, on the front surface of the storage section of the product column 2, The first guide rod 11A and the second guide rod 11B are provided in a substantially continuous arrangement in the vertical direction. The two guide rods 11A, 11
In order to support B, the first support member 10A and the second support member 10B are provided, and the second support member 10B is located at a substantially middle position in the vertical direction of the product storage portion where the product is likely to fall forward. The first guide rod 11A is installed between the first support member 10A and the second support member 10B, and the second guide rod 11B is provided between the second support member 10B and the ceiling plate 5 of the product column 2. Depending on the vertical dimension of the product column 2, the type of product, etc., the guide members are installed in a vertically divided manner and are arranged substantially continuously in three or more, and these three or more guide members are respectively installed. It may be possible to individually convert to a fall-prevention position and a retracted position. In that case, the second support members 10B are provided at a plurality of positions where the product is likely to fall forward, and the second support members at the plurality of positions are provided. 1
The first guide rod 11A having the above-mentioned configuration may be installed between 0B.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a front view of the vending machine of the embodiment when the door is opened,
7 is a front view of a product column, FIG. 8 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of the first supporting member and its vicinity,
FIG. 9 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of the second support member and its vicinity, and FIG. 10 is a front view of the first guide rod.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the vending machine of this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of product columns 2 for vertically stacking and storing products are provided inside the vending machine body 1. Is provided in a horizontal row, and the payout mechanism 3 is provided below each product column 2. The products packaged in a box shape are stacked and stored in each product column 2, and the payout mechanism 3 sequentially from the lowest order. Pay out and sell.

Also, in each product column 2, the left and right side faces are formed by partition plates 4, the top face is closed by the ceiling plate 5, the back face is closed by the back plate 6, and the front face is inside the product column 2. Each of the product columns 2 is opened so as to be replenished with products and a payout mechanism 3 is arranged below the partition plate 4, a ceiling plate 5, a back plate 6, and an upper surface of the payout mechanism 3.
The internal space constitutes the product storage section. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the door 7 is opened.

Also, one side of each product column 2 (see FIG. 6)
As shown in FIG. 7, when the first support member 20A described later is attached to the partition plate 4 on the left side in FIG.
Face the front of the product column 2 at two positions, a space slightly larger than the height dimension of one product s between the top surface and a position approximately in the vertical direction of the product storage portion of the product column 2. Mounting plates 9A and 9B are provided so as to project along the front surface of the product column 2, and the first and second support members 20A and 20B are mounted by being inserted into the mounting plates 9A and 9B.

The first support member 20A includes the lower mounting plate 9
It is attached to A and is positioned in front of the product storage portion of the product column 2 with a space slightly larger than the height of the product from the upper surface of the dispensing mechanism 3. The second support member 20B is attached to the upper mounting plate 9B, and is positioned approximately in the vertical direction in the middle of the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2.

On the front surface of each product column 2, the first
The first guide rod 21A (guide member) is provided in the up-down direction between the support member 20A and the second support member 20B provided above the first support member 20A at a predetermined interval. The ceiling board 5 and the second supporting member 20B are installed.
And a second guide rod 21B is installed in the up-down direction so as to be substantially continuous with the first guide rod 21A.

The first guide rod 21A has a straight rod shape, and a lower half of the first guide rod 21A constitutes a spring portion 22, and a hook portion 23 formed at a lower end of the spring portion 22 with respect to the center of the product column 2 in the left-right direction. The hook portion 24, which is supported at the lower end by being hooked on the first support member 20A at a position slightly offset to one side (left side in FIG. 7) and is formed at the upper end, has the left and right center of the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2 in the horizontal direction. On the same side (Fig. 7
Second support member 2 at a position slightly deviated to the left side in FIG.
Supported by hooking on 0B.

The second guide rod 21B has a first guide rod.
Similar to the second guide rod 11B of the embodiment of the above, the upper end is a crank-shaped rod member that is bent into an L shape and an inverted L shape at two locations, and the tip of the crank-shaped upper end is a product. The column 2 is supported by the ceiling plate 5 at a position deviated to one side (left side in FIG. 7) with respect to the center of the front of the product storage portion of the column 2, and the lower end portion is located to one side of the center of the product column 2 in the left-right direction ( It is supported by the second support member 20B at a position deviated to the left side in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first support member 20A is provided with an engaging portion 25 for engaging the hook portion 23 at the lower end of the first guide rod 21A at the upper portion on the rear surface side. Hook portion 2 at the lower end of the first guide rod 20A
By hooking 3, the lower end of the first guide rod 20A is supported.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second support member 20B is provided with a support hole 12 in the shape of a mortar in the rear portion, and the lower end of the second guide rod 21B is fitted into this support hole 12. As a result, the lower end of the second guide rod 21B is supported. In addition, in the lower portion on the front surface side of the second support member 20B,
The first guide rod 21A is provided with a locking portion 26 for hooking the hook portion 24 on the upper end, and the hook portion 24 on the upper end of the first guide rod 20A is hooked on the locking portion 26 to fix the first guide rod 20A. The upper end is supported.

The support hole 12 of the second support member 20B is provided at a position deviated to one side (left side in FIG. 7) with respect to the center of the front of the product storage portion of the product column 2 in the left-right direction.

Further, the ceiling plate 5 is provided with a support hole 15 into which the tip end of a second guide rod 21B bent in a crank shape is fitted and is rotatably supported. A spring member 16 is provided which biases the upper end of the straight bar portion 21B toward the center of the front of the product storage portion of the product column 2 in the left-right direction. Second guide rod 21
In B, the crank-shaped upper end portion has a support hole 15 of the ceiling plate 5
Is rotatably supported, and the upper end of the straight rod portion is urged by the spring member 16 toward the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage unit.

In the first guide rod 21A, the hook portion 23 at the lower end is supported by the engaging portion 25 of the first supporting member 20A, and the hook portion 24 at the upper end is engaging by the engaging portion 26 of the second supporting member 20B. It is supported, and at the time of waiting for sale and during sale, the straight rod-shaped upper portion and the spring portion 22 form a straight line vertically at a position slightly deviated to one side (left side in FIG. 7) with respect to the center of the product column 2 in the left-right direction. The first guide rod 21A
Is held at a fall prevention position for preventing the product s from falling forward and popping out, and at the time of product replenishment work, the spring portion 22 of the first guide rod 21A is pushed to one side in the left-right direction of the front of the product storage portion ( By bending it to the left side in FIG. 7, it is possible to open the front surface of the product storage unit and convert it to a retracted position that allows replenishment of the product s.

The lower end of the second guide rod 21B is supported in the support hole 12 of the second support member 20B, and the crank-shaped upper end of the second guide rod 21B is rotatably supported in the support hole 15 of the ceiling plate 5. Then, the upper end of the straight rod portion is urged by the spring member 16 toward the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the product storage portion, and the upper end of the straight rod portion of the product column 2 is urged by the urging force of the spring member 16 at the time of standby and during sale. The product is moved to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front of the product storage unit, and is held at a fall prevention position for preventing the product s from falling forward or popping out in a portion facing the second guide rod 21B. By cranking the upper part of the straight rod portion of the second guide rod 21B to one side in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 7) on the front surface of the product storage portion, the second guide rod 21B is swung with the lower end as a fulcrum, It can be converted into a retracted position for allowing the replenishment of goods s by opening the pay unit front.

The mounting position of the first supporting member 20A is such that a space, which is slightly larger than the height dimension of the product s, is opened between the first supporting member 20A and the upper surface of the dispensing mechanism 3. The first support member 20A supports the first guide rod 21A between the first support member 20A and the second support member 20B at this position, and also prevents the commodity s from jumping out.

The mounting position of the second support member 20B is a height position where the products s stacked in the product storage section of the product column 2 are prone to fall forward. It is an intermediate position. In addition, as described later, the second support member 20B having the above-described configuration may be provided at a plurality of positions where the product s is likely to tilt forward. The second support member 20B is located at such a position between the ceiling plate 5 and the second support member 20B.
While supporting the guide rod 21B, the product itself prevents the product s from tipping over or popping out at the time of replenishment work, standby for sale, and sale.

When replenishing the vending machine with commodities, first, the spring portion 22 of the first guide rod 21A is pushed by hand or the commodity s to be replenished is pushed to bend the spring portion 22, and The guide rod 21A is pushed to the left side in FIG. 7 and held in the retracted position where the lower part of the front of the product storage section of the product column 2 is opened, and the first guide rod is inserted into the product storage section of the product column 2 from the front side. Products s are loaded while tilting so as to avoid 21A, returned horizontally, and stacked vertically.

When the product s is loaded up to the vicinity of the mounting position of the second supporting member 20B, the first guide rod 21
By releasing the hand from A or by releasing the product s held in the hand from the first guide rod 21A, the first guide rod 21A is moved by the tension of the spring portion 22 to the product column 2
Of the front of the product storage portion to a position slightly deviated from the center in the left-right direction, and the first guide rod 21A is prevented from falling forward or popping out of the product s in the portion facing the first guide rod 21A. Hold in position. This completes the product replenishment in the part below the second support member 20B of the product storage portion of the product column 2.

When the product replenishment below the second support member 20B is completed in this manner, the product s is replenished to the portion above the second support member 20B of the product storage portion of the product column 2, so that the second product is replenished. The upper portion of the guide rod 21B is manually pushed or pushed by a product to be replenished, and is slid to the left side in FIG.
Is held in a retracted position where the upper part of the front of the product storage section of the product column 2 is opened, and the product s is mounted on the product storage section of the product column 2 from the front side while inclining so as to avoid the second guide rod 21B. Put in, return horizontally, and stack vertically.
At this time, since the first guide rod 21A is in the fall prevention position, it is possible to prevent the products stored in the portion of the product storage unit below the second support member 20B from tilting forward. .

Then, the product s is replenished to the vicinity of the ceiling plate 5 of the product column 2, and when the replenishment of the product in the product column 2 is completed, the hand is released from the second guide rod 21B, or the product s held in the hand is removed. By separating from the second guide rod 21B, the upper portion of the straight rod portion of the second guide rod 21B is moved in the left-right direction of the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column 2 by the action of the spring member 16 provided on the ceiling plate 5. After returning to the vicinity of the center, the second guide rod 21B is held at a fall prevention position that prevents the product s in the portion facing the second guide rod 21B from falling forward or popping out. This completes the product replenishment work for the product storage unit of the product column 2.

The first guide rod 21A holds the fall prevention position by the tension of its own spring portion 22, and
Since the second guide rod 21B is urged toward the fall prevention position by the spring member 16, the second guide rod 21B automatically returns from the retracted position to the fall prevention position after the product replenishment work. Therefore, forgetting to return does not occur.

In the second embodiment, only the first guide rod 21A has the spring portion 22, but the second guide rod 21B also has the spring portion 16.
May be provided. In that case, instead of the support hole 12, a support portion similar to the locking portion 26 of the first support member 20A is provided on the rear surface side of the second support member 20B, and
Hook the upper end of the guide rod 21B of the second guide rod 2B instead of the support hole 15 in the ceiling portion 5.
It suffices to provide a locking portion capable of hooking the upper and lower ends of 1B, and by doing so, the structure of the guide member supporting portion becomes simpler.

Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, depending on the vertical dimension of the product column 2, the type of product, etc., the product column 2 is divided into three or more and arranged substantially vertically. Guide members may be provided so that the three or more guide members can be individually converted into the fall-prevention position and the retracted position. In that case, the second member is provided at each of a plurality of positions where the product is likely to fall forward. A first guide rod 21A provided with a support member 20B, and the spring member 22 having the above-mentioned configuration between the plurality of second support members 20B.
Should be installed.

[0056]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the fall prevention position for preventing the product from falling forward and the replenishment of the product on the front of the product storage portion of the product column of the vending machine. By providing a plurality of guide members that can be converted to a retreat position that allows the product to be arranged substantially continuously in the up-and-down direction, it is possible to prevent the product from falling forward during product sales standby and during product sales. The guide members can be moved to the retracted position one by one during the replenishment work of the products, and the other guide members can be replenished while the other guide members are held at the fall prevention position, so that the products can be prevented from falling down forward.

Further, each guide member may be provided with a supporting member at a predetermined position on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column so that the guide member can be supported by the supporting member so as to be convertible between a fall prevention position and a retracted position. In addition, support members can be provided at a plurality of vertically spaced positions on the front surface of the product column, and guide members can be installed between the support members. The uppermost guide member is the ceiling plate on the top surface of the product column. And a supporting member provided at a position closest to the ceiling plate, so that the guide member can be supported with an easy and simple structure, and when the vertically stacked product column is replenished with products. The product can be easily replenished while surely preventing the product from falling forward.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention when a door is opened.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a product column of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of a first support member and its vicinity in the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of a second support member and its vicinity in the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second support member and its vicinity in the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention when the door is opened.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a product column of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of a first support member and its vicinity in the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view (a) and a side sectional view (b) of a second support member and its vicinity in the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a first guide rod in the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Vending machine body 2 product column 3 payout mechanism 4 partition boards 5 ceiling board 9A, 9B mounting plate 10A, 20A First support member 10B, 20B Second support member 11A, 21A First guide rod 11B, 21B Second guide rod 14, 16 Spring member 22 Spring part s products

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kenichi Matsuyama             3 at 352 Hiramatsu, Otsu-ku, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture F-term (reference) 3E046 BB02 CA11 CC01 DA01 GA02                       HA05

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A product column for stacking and storing a predetermined number of products in a vertical direction, wherein the product columns are formed by partition plates on the left and right side surfaces and the front surface is open, and the products are aligned along the partition plates. In a vending machine that is stacked and stored in a state, and is sequentially dispensed from the lowest product in the product column, a plurality of guide members are provided in front of the product storage portion of the product column in a substantially vertically aligned arrangement. An automatic vending machine characterized in that each of the guide members can be individually converted into a fall-preventing position for preventing the product from falling forward and a retracted position for allowing the product to be replenished. 2. The automatic according to claim 1, wherein a support member is provided at a predetermined position on the front surface of the product storage portion of the product column so as to support the guide member so as to be convertible between a fall prevention position and a retracted position. Vending machine. 3. The support member is provided at a plurality of vertically spaced intervals on a front surface of a product storage portion of the product column, and at least a part of the guide members among the guide members is provided between the support members. The vending machine according to claim 2, which is installed. 4. The product column includes a ceiling plate on an upper surface,
The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein an uppermost guide member of the guide members is provided between the ceiling plate and the support member provided at a position closest to the ceiling plate.