JP2003346235A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of the difference in temperature among commodities stored in a commodity storing part of a storage. <P>SOLUTION: In a vending machine wherein the air having passed through an evaporator 51 or a heater 52 is circulated and supplied to a commodity accommodating part 40 of the storage 30, whereby the commodities stored in the commodity storing part 40 are kept in a desired temperature state, ducts 70 for guiding the air of the commodity storing part 40 to a heat exchanging part 50 are mounted respectively on a back face and side faces of the storage 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for circulating and supplying air after passing through a heat exchange means such as an evaporator or a heater of a refrigerator to a product storage portion of a storage box to bring the product to a desired temperature state. It relates to a vending machine that is to be maintained.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 shows a prior art of this kind of vending machine. In this vending machine, a shooter 2 is provided inside a storage case 1 surrounded by a heat insulating material, and a product storage portion 3 is defined at a position above the shooter 2, while a shooter 2 is defined. A heat exchange portion 4 is defined at a position located below the heat exchange portion 4. The product storage part 3 is provided with a product storage rack 5 for storing products such as canned beverages and PET bottled beverages. The merchandise storage rack 5 is for storing merchandise along the up-down direction and paying out the lowest-order merchandise to the shooter 2 when a merchandise sales instruction is given.
The heat exchange part 4 communicates with the product storage part 3 through a ventilation hole (not shown) provided in the shooter 2 and a back duct 6 extending to the back of the storage case 1. Heat exchange means such as a heater 7 and a heater 8 and a blower fan 9 are provided.

In the vending machine configured as described above, for example, when the blower fan 9 is driven while the refrigerator is driven, the air cooled by the evaporator 7 causes the product storage portion 3 to pass through the vent hole of the shooter 2. And the air in the product storage section 3 is led out to the heat exchange section 4 through the rear duct 6, so that the products stored in the product storage rack 5 of the product storage section 3 can be cooled. Become. Conversely, when the blower fan 9 is driven while the heater 8 is driven, the air heated by the heater 8 is supplied to the product storage portion 3 through the vent hole of the shooter 2 and the product storage portion 3 The air is led out to the heat exchange part 4 through the rear duct 6, so that the goods stored in the goods storage rack 5 of the goods storage part 3 can be heated.

[0004] During this time, when a product sales command is given in accordance with the purchase operation of the purchaser, the product stored at the lowest position in the corresponding product storage rack 5 is paid out to the shooter 2. The product paid out to the shooter 2 is guided to the product outlet 10a of the outer door 10 according to its inclination, and passes to the purchaser's hand through the product outlet 10a.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the air after passing through the evaporator 7 or the heater 8 simply passes in one direction from the front toward the rear through the product storage portion 3. Just do it. For this reason, there is a possibility that a temperature difference may occur between a plurality of products stored in the product storage rack 5. In particular, the air flow tends to be worse in the portions close to the left and right wall surfaces than in the central portion of the product storage portion 3. Therefore, the above-mentioned temperature difference between the products in the left-right direction of the product storage portion 3 becomes more remarkable. Such a situation causes, for example, a person who has purchased a plurality of types of heated products at a time to feel the temperature difference of the products, which may impair the impression of the vending machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine which can prevent a situation where a temperature difference occurs between products stored in a product storage portion of a storage box.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a vending machine according to the present invention circulates and supplies air after passing through a heat exchanging means to a product storage portion of a storage box to supply goods. In a vending machine maintained at a desired temperature state, ducts are provided on the back and side surfaces of the storage box, respectively, for leading air of the product storage portion to the heat exchange means ( Claim 1).

[0008] In a vending machine provided with a product storage rack for storing products in a vertical direction in the product storage portion while paying out products at the lowest position based on a product sales command, After passing through the heat exchange means, the air supplied from below to the product storage portion passes through the product storage portion from the front to the rear by ducts provided on the back and side surfaces of the storage, and in the side direction. And spread evenly across multiple items in the storage room. In this case, it is preferable that the duct provided on the side surface of the storage is configured at a lower position than the duct provided on the rear surface of the storage (claim 2).

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The vending machine exemplified here sells products such as canned beverages and plastic bottled beverages, and includes a main body cabinet 20. The main body cabinet 20 is configured by combining a plurality of steel plates, and has a rectangular shape with an open front surface.

[0011] Inside the main body cabinet 20 is formed a storage box 30 for storing commodities. The storage 30 is defined by a ceiling wall 31, a side wall 32, a bottom wall 33, and a rear wall 34, and is partitioned into a plurality of independent chambers 30L, 30C, 30R by providing a partition wall 35. In the illustrated example, by providing two partition walls 35, three chambers 30L, 30L
C, 30R are defined. Each room 30L, 3
Ceiling wall 31, side wall 32, bottom wall 3 surrounding 0C, 30R
3. The rear wall 34 and the partition wall 35 are each configured to have a heat insulating function such as filling a hollow steel panel with a heat insulating material.

An inner door 21 and an outer door 22 are held at one side edge of the main body cabinet 20. The inner door 21
This is for opening and closing the front opening of the storage case 30 and, like the ceiling wall 31, the side wall 32, the bottom wall 33, and the rear wall 34 of the storage case 30, has a heat insulating function such as filling a hollow steel panel with a heat insulating material. It is constituted so that it may have. The outer door 22 is for opening and closing the front opening of the main body cabinet 20 and is a portion that becomes the front of the vending machine. Although not shown in the drawing, a display window for displaying a sample of a product for sale, a selection button for selecting a product for sale, a currency slot for inserting money, and a payout are provided on the front surface of the outer door 22. Arrangements necessary for selling the product, such as a product outlet for taking out the product, are provided.

On the other hand, each room 30L, 30C,
30R, a column-shaped product storage rack 41 is disposed in a product storage portion 40 defined above the shooter 23, respectively, while a refrigerator is provided in a heat exchange portion 50 defined below the shooter 23. Heat exchange means such as an evaporator 51 and a heater 52, and a blower fan 53 are provided.

The merchandise storage rack 41 stores merchandise in the up-down direction, and pays out the merchandise stored at the lowest order to the shooter 23 when a merchandise sales command according to a user's purchase operation is given. For example, it is configured in a meandering shape called a serpentine type.

The evaporator 51 and the heater 52 are for maintaining the goods stored in the goods storage rack 41 at a desired cooling temperature or heating temperature. In the first embodiment, a room configured on the left side as viewed from the front (hereinafter referred to as a left room 3 as appropriate)
0L), and the evaporator 51 and the heater are provided in a central chamber (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a middle chamber 30C) and a chamber formed on the right side as viewed from the front (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a right chamber 30R). 52 are arranged. The blower fans 53 are provided in all the rooms 30L, 30C, 30R. The condenser 61, the compressor 62, the expansion valve 63, and the outside blower fan 64 of the refrigerator are common to all the evaporators 51, and are housed in a machine room 60 formed below the housing 30. is there.

Further, each heat exchange part 50 of the storage 30 is
A product storage portion 40 is provided through a ventilation hole (not shown) provided in the shooter 23 and a duct 70 provided in the storage 30.
It is configured to communicate with. The vent holes of the shooter 23 allow the air that has passed through the evaporator 51 and the heater 52 to pass through the heat exchange portion 5 at the front side of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R.
It is for supplying from 0 to the product storage portion 40.
As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 3, the duct 70
Each of the chambers 30L, 30C, and 3 has a U-shape in plan view.
0R. That is, by arranging the duct configuration plate 71 having the rear facing portion 71a and the pair of side facing portions 71b in the respective chambers 30L, 30C, 30R, the ducts on the rear side and both side faces of the respective chambers 30L, 30C, 30R. A duct 70 is formed in the spanning portion.
The rear facing portion 71a and the pair of side facing portions 71b of the duct configuration plate 71 have the same height as each other, and the product storage portion 40 of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R.
In this case, the duct 70 is configured to draw air from the same height position on the back side and both side faces. Further, the duct forming plate 71 has an opening 71 that communicates with the heat exchange portion 50 only in the rear facing portion 71a.
c, and the air extracted from the product storage portion 40 flows into the heat exchange portion 50 through the opening 71c.

In the vending machine configured as described above, for example, when the blower fan 53 is driven in a state where the refrigerator is driven, the air cooled by the evaporator 51 generates
The air is supplied to the product storage portion 40 through the ventilation hole 3 and the air in the product storage portion 40 is led out to the heat exchange portion 50 through the duct 70, and is stored in the product storage rack 41 of the product storage portion 40. The product can be cooled. Conversely, when the blower fan 53 is driven while the heater 52 is driven, the air heated by the heater 52 is supplied to the product storage portion 40 through the vent hole of the shooter 23 and the product storage portion 40 The air is led out to the heat exchange part 50 through the duct 70, so that the products stored in the product storage rack 41 of the product storage part 40 can be heated.

During this time, when a product sales command is given in response to a purchase operation by the purchaser, the product stored at the lowest position in the corresponding product storage rack 41 is paid out to the shooter 23. The product paid out to the shooter 23 is guided to the product outlet 22a of the outer door 22 according to its inclination, and passes to the purchaser's hand through the product outlet 22a.

According to the vending machine described above, since the duct 70 is formed in the room 30L, 30C, 30R at the portion extending to the rear side and both side surfaces, the duct 70 passes through the evaporator 51 or the heater 52. After passing through the product storage portion 40 from the front to the rear, the air does not simply pass in one direction, but also passes through the product storage portion 40 so as to spread in the left-right direction. For this reason, the air that has passed through the evaporator 51 or the heater 52 is evenly distributed to a plurality of products stored in the product storage rack 41, and each of the chambers 30L, 30L
There is no danger of causing a temperature difference among a plurality of products in the depth direction and the left and right direction of C and 30R. Therefore, for example, a person who has purchased a plurality of types of heated products at a time does not feel the temperature difference of the products, and there is no fear that the impression of the vending machine is spoiled.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The vending machine illustrated here sells products such as canned beverages and plastic bottled beverages, as in the first embodiment, and differs from the vending machine of the first embodiment only in the configuration of the duct. .

That is, in the vending machine according to the second embodiment, each of the chambers 30L, 30C,
A duct 80 is formed in 30R. That is, the duct configuration plate 81 having the rear facing portion 81a and the only side facing portion 81b is connected to the respective chambers 30L, 30C,
By arranging in 30R, each room 30L, 30C, 3
A duct 8 is provided on the portion extending between the rear side and one side of the OR.
0 is configured. The rear facing portion 81a and the side facing portion 81b of the duct configuration plate 81 have the same height as each other, and the same height on the back side and one side surface of the product storage portion 40 of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R. Duct 80 to draw air from the
Is configured. Also, the duct configuration plate 8
1 has an opening 81c that communicates with the heat exchange portion 50 only in the rear facing portion 81a, and air derived from the product storage portion 40 flows into the heat exchange portion 50 through the opening 81c. .

The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the vending machine configured as described above, for example, when the blower fan 53 is driven while the refrigerator is being driven, the air cooled by the evaporator 51 flows through the vent hole of the shooter 23 to store the product in the vending machine. 40, and the air in the product storage portion 40 is
The product stored in the product storage rack 41 of the product storage portion 40 can be cooled. Conversely, when the blower fan 53 is driven while the heater 52 is driven, the heater 52
Is supplied to the product storage portion 40 through the vent hole of the shooter 23, and the air of the product storage portion 40 is supplied to the heat exchange portion 50 through the duct 80.
The product stored in the product storage rack 41 of the product storage portion 40 can be heated.

During this time, when a product sales command is given in accordance with the purchase operation of the purchaser, the product stored at the lowest position in the corresponding product storage rack 41 is paid out to the shooter 23. The product paid out to the shooter 23 is guided to the product outlet 22a of the outer door 22 according to its inclination, and passes to the purchaser's hand through the product outlet 22a.

According to the vending machine described above, since the duct 80 is formed in each of the chambers 30L, 30C, and 30R at a portion extending to the back side and one side, the evaporator 51 or the heater 52 is provided. After passing, the air passes not only in one direction from the front to the rear in the product storage section 40 but also in the side direction of the duct 80 so as to spread. For this reason, the air after passing through the evaporator 51 or the heater 52 spreads evenly to the plurality of products stored in the product storage rack 41, and the plurality of products in the depth direction and the left-right direction of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R. There is no danger of causing a temperature difference between each other. Therefore, for example, a person who has purchased a plurality of types of heated products at a time does not feel the temperature difference of the products, and there is no fear that the impression of the vending machine is spoiled.

Third Embodiment FIGS. 6 to 8 show a vending machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
The vending machine exemplified here is similar to the first embodiment,
It sells products such as canned beverages and PET bottled beverages, and differs from the vending machine of the first embodiment only in the configuration of the duct.

That is, in the vending machine according to the third embodiment, each of the chambers 30L, 30L is formed so as to form a U-shape in plan view.
C, 30R. That is, the back facing portion 91
a and a duct configuration plate 91 having a pair of side facing portions 91b is disposed in each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R, so that the duct 90 is formed in a portion extending over the rear side and both side faces of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R. Is configured. Each side facing portion 91b of the duct configuration plate 91
Has a height smaller than that of the rear facing portion 91a, and the ducts 90 are configured to draw air from a position lower than the rear side in the product storage portion 40 of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R. Will be. Further, the duct configuration plate 91 has an opening 91c that communicates with the heat exchange portion 50 only in the rear facing portion 91a,
The air extracted from the product storage portion 40 is
c and flows into the heat exchange section 50.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the vending machine configured as described above, for example, when the blower fan 53 is driven while the refrigerator is driven, the air cooled by the evaporator 51 causes the product storage portion to pass through the vent hole of the shooter 23. 40, and the air in the product storage portion 40 is
The product stored in the product storage rack 41 of the product storage portion 40 can be cooled. Conversely, when the blower fan 53 is driven while the heater 52 is driven, the heater 52
Is supplied to the product storage portion 40 through the vent hole of the shooter 23, and the air of the product storage portion 40 is supplied through the duct 90 to the heat exchange portion 50.
The product stored in the product storage rack 41 of the product storage portion 40 can be heated.

During this time, when a product sales command is given in accordance with the purchase operation of the purchaser, the product stored at the lowest position in the corresponding product storage rack 41 is paid out to the shooter 23. The product paid out to the shooter 23 is guided to the product outlet 22a of the outer door 22 according to its inclination, and passes to the purchaser's hand through the product outlet 22a.

According to the vending machine described above, since the duct 90 is formed in each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R on the rear side and both sides, the duct 90 passes through the evaporator 51 or the heater 52. After passing through the product storage portion 40 from the front to the rear, the air does not simply pass in one direction, but also passes through the product storage portion 40 so as to spread in the left-right direction. For this reason, the air that has passed through the evaporator 51 or the heater 52 is evenly distributed to a plurality of products stored in the product storage rack 41, and each of the chambers 30L, 30L
There is no danger of causing a temperature difference among a plurality of products in the depth direction and the left and right direction of C and 30R. Therefore, for example, a person who has purchased a plurality of types of heated products at a time does not feel the temperature difference of the products, and there is no fear that the impression of the vending machine is spoiled.

In addition, according to the vending machine of the third embodiment, since the air is led out from a position lower than the rear side on both sides of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R, the evaporator 51 is provided. Alternatively, the air after passing through the heater 52 is intensively supplied to a part of the products stored in the lower area of the product storage rack 41, that is, a part of the product stored at an earlier position in the sales order (zone cooling, zone heating). ). As a result, the product can be efficiently cooled or heated without affecting the temperature of the product for sale, and the power consumption can be significantly reduced. In addition, the product is not heated to a high temperature for a long time, and there is no fear that the product is deteriorated.

(Embodiment 4) FIGS. 9 and 10 show a vending machine according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The vending machine illustrated here sells products such as canned beverages and plastic bottled beverages, as in the first embodiment, and differs from the vending machine of the first embodiment only in the configuration of the duct. .

That is, in the vending machine according to the fourth embodiment, each of the chambers 30L, 30C,
A duct 100 is formed in 30R. That is, the duct configuration plate 101 having the rear facing portion 101a and the only side facing portion 101b is connected to each chamber 30L,
30C, 30R, each room 30L, 3
A duct 100 is formed in a portion extending from the rear side and one side of the OC and 30R. Duct configuration plate 10
The first side facing portion 101b has a smaller height than the back facing portion 101a, and each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 3
The duct 100 is configured so that air is led out from a position lower than the rear side in the product storage portion 40 of the OR. Also, the duct configuration plate 101
Has an opening 101c that communicates with the heat exchange portion 50 only in the rear facing portion 101a.
Will flow into the heat exchange section 50 through the opening 101c.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the vending machine configured as described above, for example, when the blower fan 53 is driven in a state where the refrigerator is driven, the air cooled by the evaporator 51 flows through the vent hole of the shooter 23 to store the product in the vending machine. 40, and the air in the product storage portion 40 is
Therefore, the product stored in the product storage rack 41 of the product storage portion 40 can be cooled. Conversely, if the blower fan 53 is driven while the heater 52 is driven, the heater 5
2 is supplied to the product storage portion 40 through the vent hole of the shooter 23, and the air in the product storage portion 40 is led out to the heat exchange portion 50 through the duct 100, so that the product storage portion The products stored in the 40 product storage racks 41 can be heated.

During this time, when a product sales command is given in accordance with the purchase operation of the purchaser, the product stored at the lowest position in the corresponding product storage rack 41 is paid out to the shooter 23. The product paid out to the shooter 23 is guided to the product outlet 22a of the outer door 22 according to its inclination, and passes to the purchaser's hand through the product outlet 22a.

Here, according to the vending machine described above, the duct 100 is formed in each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R at a portion extending over the rear side and one side.
The air after passing through the evaporator 51 or the heater 52 not only passes in one direction from the front to the rear in the product storage section 40 but also spreads in the side direction of the duct 100. become. For this reason, the air after passing through the evaporator 51 or the heater 52 spreads evenly to the plurality of products stored in the product storage rack 41, and the plurality of products in the depth direction and the left-right direction of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R. There is no danger of causing a temperature difference between each other. Therefore, for example, a person who has purchased a plurality of types of heated products at a time does not feel the temperature difference of the products, and there is no fear that the impression of the vending machine is spoiled.

Further, according to the vending machine of the fourth embodiment, the air is led out from a position lower than the rear side on the side of each of the chambers 30L, 30C, 30R. The air that has passed through the heater 52 is intensively supplied to a part of the products stored in the lower region of the product storage rack 41, that is, some of the products stored earlier in the sales order (zone cooling, zone heating). . As a result, the product can be efficiently cooled or heated without affecting the temperature of the product for sale, and the power consumption can be significantly reduced. In addition, the product is not heated to a high temperature for a long time, and there is no fear that the product is deteriorated.

In the first to fourth embodiments, a plurality of (three) chambers are provided in the storage, but it is not always necessary to provide a plurality of rooms in the storage. When a plurality of chambers are provided in the storage, the ducts have the same configuration in all the rooms, but the ducts may be configured to be different from each other.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the vending machine according to the above, since ducts for guiding the air of the product storage portion to the heat exchange means are provided on the back and side surfaces of the storage, respectively, the air after passing through the heat exchange means is Not only does the product storage portion pass from one direction to the other from the front to the rear, but also extends so as to spread also in the side direction forming the duct. For this reason, the air after passing through the heat exchange means spreads evenly to the product storage portion, and there is no fear that a temperature difference occurs between a plurality of products in the depth direction and the left and right direction.

According to the vending machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, while the merchandise is stored in the merchandise storage portion along the up-down direction, the lowest-order merchandise is paid out based on the merchandise sales order. In a vending machine provided with a product storage rack, the air after passing through the heat exchange means is supplied from below to the product storage portion, and a duct provided on a side surface of the storage is Because it is configured at a position lower than the duct provided on the back of the warehouse, the air after passing through the heat exchange means will be in the lower area of the product storage part, that is, some products stored in the earlier position of sales order In other words, the supply will be concentrated. As a result, the product can be efficiently cooled without affecting the temperature of the product for sale,
Alternatively, heating can be performed, and power consumption can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view of a main part and (b) is a cross-sectional view thereof.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the vending machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part conceptually showing a flow of air in a storage of the vending machine shown in FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view of a main part, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part conceptually showing an air flow in a storage of the vending machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a main part of a vending machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the vending machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part conceptually showing a flow of air in a storage of the vending machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a main part of a vending machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main portion conceptually showing the flow of air in a storage of the vending machine shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional side view showing a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 Main body cabinet 21 Inner door 22 Outside door 22a Product exit 23 Shooter 30 storage 30L, 30C, 30R room 31 Ceiling wall 32 Side wall 33 Bottom wall 34 back wall 35 partition 40 Product storage part 41 Product storage rack 50 Heat exchange part 51 Evaporator 52 heater 53 blower fan 60 Machine Room 61 Condenser 62 compressor 63 expansion valve 64 Outside fan 70 duct 71 Duct configuration plate 71a Back facing part 71b Side facing part 71c opening 80 duct 81 Duct configuration plate 81a Back facing part 81b Side facing part 81c opening 90 duct 91 Duct configuration plate 91a Back facing part 91b Side facing part 91c opening 100 duct 101 Duct configuration plate 101a Back facing part 101b Side facing part 101c opening

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine in which air after passing through a heat exchange means is circulated and supplied to a product storage portion of a storage so as to maintain the product at a desired temperature state. A vending machine provided with ducts for guiding air in the product storage portion to the heat exchange means on each of the side and the side. 2. A merchandise storage rack for storing merchandise in the merchandise storage portion along a vertical direction, and dispensing the lowest-order merchandise based on a merchandise sales command, wherein the merchandise rack passes through the heat exchange means The rear air is supplied from below to the product storage portion, and the duct provided on the side surface of the storage is configured at a lower position than the duct provided on the back surface of the storage. Item 5. The vending machine according to Item 1.