JP2003217025A - Commodity containing rack and commodity guide plate for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently support load of commodities, and facilitate assembling work. <P>SOLUTION: In this commodity containing rack for an automatic vending machine, segments 20 having curvatures are disposed to face each other between a pair of side plates 30 to part a zigzag commodity passage 8. A plurality of curvature parts 21 are continuously provided in the segment 20, and between the segment 20 and the side plate 30, action surfaces 24a and receiving surfaces 32a are provided to get in contact with each other based on relation of tangents. The action surfaces 24a and the receiving surfaces 32a are put to get in contact with each other to support the load of commodities applied to the segments 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product storage rack of an automatic vending machine and a product guide plate, and more particularly to the shape of a product guide plate defining a meandering product passage and its mounting structure. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a general vending machine for selling products such as bottled beverages, canned beverages, and PET bottled beverages. In this vending machine, an outer door 2 and an inner door 3 are openably and closably provided in a front opening of a main body case 1, and a product storage rack 4 and a product discharge shooter 5 are provided inside the main body case 1. .
As shown in FIG. 9, the product storage rack 4 is provided with a plurality of product passages 8 extending in the vertical direction. Each product passage 8 is provided with a product loading tray 7 at its upper end, and a product unloading mechanism 9 is provided at its lower end. It should be noted that reference numeral 6 in FIG. 8 is a product outlet provided in the outer door 2.

In this vending machine, the product loading tray 7
Introduce products such as bottled beverages, canned beverages, and plastic bottled beverages in a horizontal orientation. The introduced products are
It is stored so as to overlap the product passage 8 corresponding to the product input tray 7. From this state, for example, when a charge is put into the vending machine and the purchase button for the desired product is pressed, the pedal 9a is appropriately driven in the product discharge mechanism 9 of the product passage 8 for storing the specified product, The products stored in the lowermost stage are delivered to the product outlet 6 via the shooter 5 one by one.

As is apparent from FIG. 9, the product passage 8 of the vending machine includes a plurality of product guide plates 10 and a pair of side plates 12.
It is formed in a meandering shape by appropriately disposing it between the two. That is, the product guide plates 10 each have a curved shape that is convex outward, and by vertically connecting the product guide plates 10 in a state where the height positions of the product guide plates 10 are displaced from each other, the product guide plates 10 define the meandering product passages 8. Will be completed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of the product guide plate 10. In this mounting structure, curl-shaped shaft portions 10a and 10b protruding laterally are provided at both upper and lower end portions of the product guide plate 10, respectively.
Inserting holes 12a, 12b of the side plate 12 at both ends of a, 10b
After being inserted into the side plate 12, the product guide plate 10 is attached between the pair of side plates 12 by, for example, crimping or expanding the diameter.

According to the product storage rack configured as described above, the products introduced into the product passage 8 in the manner of falling from the product insertion tray 7 come into contact with the meandering product guide plate 10 in sequence. Therefore, it becomes possible to mitigate the drop impact.

[0007]

By the way, in such a product storage rack of a vending machine, a product having a single curved shape is applied as the product guide plate 10 described above, and the product guide plate 10 is provided at both upper and lower ends thereof. The shaft-shaped portions 10a and 10b are attached to the side plate 12, respectively. Therefore, even when the product that is dropped and comes into contact with the product guide plate 10 and the product load is applied to the product guide plate 10, it is possible to sufficiently support the product load.

However, the work for assembling the product storage rack is not always preferable. That is, the product guide plate 1 formed in a single curved shape
When 0 is applied, a large number of product guide plates 10 are required to define one product passage 8, which complicates the assembly work.

In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a product storage rack and a product guide plate for a vending machine which can sufficiently support the product load and can facilitate the assembly work. To do.

[0010]

In the product storage rack of a vending machine according to the present invention, a curved product guide plate is disposed between a pair of side plates so as to define a meandering product passage. In the product storage rack of the vending machine described above, the product guide plate is provided with a plurality of curved portions in succession, and an action surface and a receiving surface that can contact each other between the product guide plate and the side plate. Is provided, and the product load acting on the product guide plate is supported by bringing the working surface and the receiving surface into contact with each other (claim 1).

It is preferable that the working surface and the receiving surface are in contact with each other in a tangent relationship with each other (claim 2). In addition, a supporting piece is provided on the side edge portion of the product guide plate so as to project, and the working surface is formed on the outer surface of the supporting piece, and an insertion hole that allows the supporting piece to be inserted is formed on the side plate, It is preferable to form the receiving surface on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole (claim 3).

Further, in the product storage rack of the above-mentioned vending machine, the support piece and the supporting piece are projected on the side edge portion of the product guide plate so as to be inserted into the insertion hole, and are inserted into the insertion hole. It is preferable to provide a stopper piece that prevents the product guide plate and the side plate from moving away from each other when the tip portion is bent later.

On the other hand, the product guide plate of the vending machine according to the present invention is curved, and the product guide plate of the vending machine defines a meandering product passage by being disposed between a pair of side plates so as to face each other. In the above, a plurality of curved portions are continuously provided, and at a side edge portion facing the side plate, a supporting piece that can be inserted into an insertion hole formed in the side plate is provided in a protruding manner, and when a product load acts, the The outer surface of the support piece is tangent to the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole (claim 5).

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a product storage rack and a product guide plate of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a product guide plate of an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The product guide plate (so-called segment 20) illustrated here is a product storage of a vending machine for selling products such as bottled beverages, canned beverages, and PET bottled beverages, like the one shown in FIG. The rack is for forming the product passage 8 between the pair of side plates 30, and is configured to have a plurality of curved portions 21 by one plate member, for example, a steel plate.
More specifically, three curved curved portions 21 that are concave toward the product passage 8 are provided, and a curved connecting portion 22 that is convex toward the product passage 8 is provided between the curved portions 21. As a result, three continuous curved portions 21 are formed in one segment 20. As is apparent from FIG. 1A, the curved portions 21 are configured to have the same radius of curvature, and the connecting portions 22 are the same as each other, and Is also configured to have a small radius of curvature.

The segment 20 is provided with shaft-like portions 23 at both upper and lower ends thereof, and support pieces 24 and stopper pieces 25 are provided at both left and right edge portions thereof.

The shaft-like portion 23 is formed by molding the upper and lower end portions of the segment 20 into curls, and both of the individual end portions project outward from the side edges of the segment 20.

The support piece 24 is a tongue-shaped portion that projects outward from a portion corresponding to the connecting portion 22 on the side edge of the segment 20. Each of the support pieces 24 has the same radius of curvature as the connecting portion 22 of the segment 20 and is curved so as to be convex in the same direction. The surface constitutes the working surface 24a. The stopper pieces 25 are tongue-shaped members that project outward from portions on both sides of each support piece 24 on the side edges of the segment 20. As is clear from FIG. 1B, the support piece 24 is formed to have a sufficient width and a width larger than the outer diameter of the shaft-like portion 23 described above, while the stopper piece 25 is It is formed to have a narrow width which is about the radius of the shaft-like portion 23. Also, these support pieces 2
The amount of protrusion of 4 and the stopper piece 25 is substantially equal to the amount of protrusion of the shaft-like portion 23 and larger than the thickness of the side plate 30.

On the other hand, the side plate 3 to which the segment 20 is attached
0, as shown in FIG.
3, a mounting hole 31 is formed in a portion corresponding to No. 3, and a supporting piece 24 and a stopper piece 25 of the segment 20.
An insertion hole 32 is formed in a portion corresponding to. Mounting hole 3
Reference numeral 1 is a circular hole having a diameter slightly larger than that of the shaft-like portion 23 of the segment 20. On the other hand, the insertion hole 32 is an arcuate hole that is curved in the direction along the connecting portion 22 of the segment 20.
The inner peripheral surface located on the curved inner side of the insertion hole 32 has a receiving surface 32a with respect to the working surface 24a of the segment 20 described above.
And the radius of curvature is smaller than that of the working surface 24a (see FIG. 4).

The segment 20 having the above structure
When assembling the product storage rack with the side plates 30, first, both ends of the shaft-like portion 23 provided in the segment 20 are inserted into the mounting holes 31 of the side plate 30, respectively, and as shown in FIG. The stopper piece 25 is inserted into the insertion hole 32.

From this state, the side plate 3 in the shaft-like portion 23
If the portion protruding from the mounting hole 31 of No. 0 is crimped or the diameter thereof is expanded, the shaft-like portion 23 is prevented from coming off from the mounting hole 31, and the segment 2 is provided between the pair of side plates 30.
0 will be attached. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the portion of the stopper piece 25 projecting from the insertion hole 32 of the side plate 30 is bent, the bent end of the stopper piece 25 engages with the outer surface of the side plate 30. Becomes
The mutual separation movement of the segment 20 and the side plate 30 is prevented.

As described above, if the segments 20 are attached between the pair of side plates 30 so as to face each other, the pair of side plates 30 and the segments 20 facing each other form a meandering shape in the vertical direction. The extending product passage 8 is defined.

Here, according to the present embodiment, as described above, three continuous curved portions 21 are formed in one segment 20. Therefore, the number of parts to be handled can be significantly reduced as compared with the case of using the single curved segment 20, and the assembling work can be significantly facilitated.

Further, in each segment 20, the working surface 24a of the supporting piece 24 protruding from the portion corresponding to the connecting portion 22 at the side edge is in the state of facing the receiving surface 32a in the insertion hole 32 of the side plate 30. At the same time, the stopper pieces 25 provided on both sides of each support piece 24 are in a state of being prevented from moving away from the side plate 30. Therefore, when the product that is dropped and comes into contact with the segment 20, the working surface 24a of the support piece 24 surely comes into contact with the receiving surface 32a of the insertion hole 32.
Mutual contact between 4a and the receiving surface 32a makes it possible to sufficiently support the product load acting on the segment 20.

Moreover, since the radius of curvature of the receiving surface 32a provided on the side plate 30 is smaller than that of the working surface 24a provided on the segment 20, the two come into contact with each other in a tangent relationship. Therefore, there is no possibility that the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 32 will be scraped by the edge of the support piece 24, and conversely, the contact area between the both will decrease as the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 32 wears. As a result, the product load can be increased and the product load can be supported sufficiently and reliably even when the product is used for a long period of time.

In the above-described embodiment, the supporting piece 24 is provided on the side edge of the segment 20 corresponding to the connecting portion 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if a supporting piece is provided at a portion of the side edge of the segment 20 corresponding to the intermediate portion of the curved portion 21, the same operational effect can be expected. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the curved outer side outer surface of the support piece 24 'serves as the working surface 24a', and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 32 'provided in the side plate 30 is located on the curved outer side. Is the receiving surface 32
a '. Therefore, in order to bring them into contact with each other in a tangential relationship, the receiving surface 32 is more than the acting surface 24a 'of the supporting piece 24'.
It is necessary to increase the radius of curvature of a '. In this case, the receiving surface 32a 'does not necessarily have to be curved, and may have an infinite radius of curvature, that is, a flat surface.

A support piece 24 provided on the segment 20 is also provided.
Does not necessarily have to be curved, and as shown in FIG. 6, a support piece 24 ″ having a flat plate shape may be provided. Also in the modification shown in FIG. 6, the curved inner side of the insertion hole 32 ″ is provided. If the inner peripheral surface located on the side is the receiving surface 32a ″, they can be brought into contact with each other in a tangent relationship.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the segment 20 is integrally provided with the stopper piece 25, and the stopper piece 25 is engaged with the side plate 30 to prevent the segment 20 and the side plate 30 from moving away from each other. Therefore, the above-described effects can be obtained without increasing the number of parts, but the stopper piece 25 does not necessarily have to be integrally provided on the segment 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a pipe 40 is installed between the pair of side plates 30, or as shown in FIG. 7B, a bar member 41 is installed between the pair of side plates 30. Pipe 4
0 and the bar member 41 prevent the pair of side plates 30 from moving in the direction in which they are separated from each other.
It is possible to reliably contact the a and the receiving surface 32a of the insertion hole 32 to support the product load.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, 1
Although three curved portions are formed in one segment, the number of curved portions does not have to be three if it is plural.

[0030]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, a plurality of curved portions are continuously provided on the product guide plate, and the product guide plate and the side plate can contact each other. Since the product load acting on the product guide plate is supported by providing the working surface and the receiving surface to be contacted with each other, the product load is sufficiently supported and assembled. It becomes possible to facilitate the work.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the working surface and the receiving surface are contacted with each other in a tangent relationship, the working surface and the receiving surface are scraped off from each other. It can be prevented. On the contrary, as the wear of the two progresses, the contact areas of the two increase, and it becomes possible to sufficiently and reliably support the product load even when the products are used for a long period of time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a supporting piece is provided on the side edge portion of the product guide plate so as to project on the outer surface of the supporting piece, while the supporting piece is provided on the side plate. Since the insertion hole that allows insertion is formed and the receiving surface is formed on the inner peripheral surface of this insertion hole, it is sufficient to insert the support piece into the insertion hole when defining the product passage. The work can be further facilitated.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the tip end portion is protruded from the side edge portion of the product guide plate in such a manner that it can be inserted into the insertion hole together with the support piece, and the tip end portion is inserted into the insertion hole. Since a stopper piece is provided to prevent the product guide plate and the side plate from moving away from each other when bent, it is possible to reliably bring the working surface and the receiving surface into contact with each other without increasing the number of parts. it can.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, a plurality of product guide plates of a vending machine, which are curved and define a meandering product passage by being opposed to each other between a pair of side plates, The curved portion is continuously provided, and at the side edge portion facing the side plate, a supporting piece that can be inserted into an insertion hole formed in the side plate is projectingly provided, and when the commodity load acts, the outside of the supporting piece is Since the surface is tangent to the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, the product load can be sufficiently supported and the assembling work can be facilitated. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the outer surface of the support piece and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole from being scraped off from each other. On the contrary, as the wear of both progresses, the contact area of each other increases,
Even when used for a long period of time, the product load is sufficient.
In addition, it becomes possible to reliably support it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a side view showing a product storage rack of an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B shows a product guide plate of the automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an attachment mode of a product guide plate and a side plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a mode of supporting the support piece and the stopper piece of the product guide plate and the insertion hole of the side plate.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a modified example of a support mode of a support piece and an insertion hole.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a modified example of a support mode of a support piece and an insertion hole.

7A and 7B show a structure for preventing a pair of side plates from moving apart from each other, where FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example in which a pipe is installed, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example in which a bar member is installed. is there.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view conceptually showing a general vending machine.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view schematically showing a product storage rack.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure for attaching a conventional product guide plate to a side plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 product passages 20 segments 21 curved part 22 Contact 23 Shaft 24 Support piece 24a Working surface 25 Stopper piece 30 side plate 31 mounting hole 32 insertion hole 32a receiving surface 40 pipes 41 bar members

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Ken Tsuruha             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naoki Kuwahara             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Ohno             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kengo Takenaka             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Zhao Akira             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Saiki             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E046 BA03 BB03 BB04 CA04 CC03                       CC04 DA01 EA08 FA03 GA10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A product storage rack of a vending machine, wherein a curved product guide plate is disposed between a pair of side plates so as to define a meandering product passage. Is provided continuously, and between the product guide plate and the side plate, an action surface and a receiving surface which are capable of contacting each other are provided, and the action surface and the receiving surface are brought into contact with each other. A product storage rack for a vending machine, which supports a product load acting on a product guide plate. 2. The product storage rack of a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the working surface and the receiving surface are in contact with each other in a tangent relationship. 3. A support piece is projectingly provided on a side edge portion of the product guide plate, and the working surface is formed on an outer surface of the support piece,
3. A product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein an insertion hole that allows the support piece to be inserted is formed in the side plate, and the receiving surface is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole. rack. 4. The product guide when projectingly provided on a side edge portion of the product guide plate in such a manner that it can be inserted into the insertion hole together with the support piece, and the tip portion is bent after being inserted into the insertion hole. The product storage rack of the vending machine according to claim 3, further comprising a stopper piece that prevents the plate and the side plate from moving away from each other. 5. A product guide plate of a vending machine which is curved and defines a meandering product passage by being opposed to each other between a pair of side plates, and a plurality of curved portions are continuously provided, A supporting piece that can be inserted into an insertion hole formed in the side plate is projectingly provided on a side edge portion facing the side plate, and an outer surface of the supporting piece is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole when a product load is applied. A product information board for a vending machine, which is characterized by being tangent to.