JP2004038638A - Commodity passage width adjusting device for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity passage width adjusting device for vending machine capable of automatically adjusting the width of a commodity passage in conformation to various commodity diameters. <P>SOLUTION: When a major diameter commodity B is put into the commodity passage 1 set to a passage width for minor diameter commodity, the major diameter commodity B is collided to a commodity detecting plate 31, and the commodity detecting plate 31 is rotated downward. The plate 31 then presses an operating plate 32, and the operating plate 32 is guided to an elliptic hole 36 and moved obliquely upward to the rear. BY the obliquely backward movement of the operating plate 32, a passage width adjusting plate 33 is successively moved obliquely upward toward the rear through elliptic holes 37 and 38. Accordingly, the passage width is extended by the portion of the backward movement of the operating plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33, and set to the passage width matched to the major diameter commodity B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a merchandise passage width adjusting device for a vending machine that adjusts a merchandise passage width according to a diameter of a product stored in a product column.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In a serpentine type vending machine, a product discharging device and a product passage width adjusting device are installed as devices for discharging products in a product column one by one.
[0003]
The product unloading device and the product aisle width adjustment device are arranged opposite to each other with the product aisle sandwiched therebetween. During standby for sale, the gate lever of the product unloading device protrudes into the product aisle, and the lowest product is the gate lever and the product aisle width adjustment. It is held between the device. On the other hand, at the time of sale, the lock lever of the product unloading device projects into the product passage, and holds the second lowest product between the lock lever and the product passage width adjusting device, while moving the gate lever out of the product passage. The lower products are dropped out. By repeating the operations at the time of selling standby and at the time of selling, one by one from the lowest order product is sold.
[0004]
By the way, among products sold at vending machines, there are products having different shapes such as cylindrical can products, rectangular bottle products having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and even large-diameter products (even cylindrical can products). There are products with a large cross-sectional area and products with a small diameter (products with a small cross-sectional area). In order to sell these products smoothly, the diameter of various products (diameter for cylindrical can products, diagonal line for square bottle products) Length) to adjust the width of the product passage.
[0005]
Therefore, the product aisle width adjusting device is provided with a aisle width adjusting plate, which narrows the aisle width when selling small-diameter products, while increasing the aisle width when selling large-diameter products or rectangular bottle products. are doing.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional product passage width adjustment device, the advancing and retreating operation of the passage width adjustment plate is performed by a manual operation such as lowering or raising the operation lever, and the operation lever must be operated each time the diameter of the sold product changes. It was rather troublesome.
[0007]
In addition, when products of different diameters are erroneously stored in one product column, the products are blocked in the product passage and the sales are prohibited, so that there is a problem that sales opportunities are lost.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a merchandise passage width adjusting device for a vending machine, which can automatically adjust a merchandise passage width according to various product diameters in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a product delivery device provided with a gate lever for holding a lowest product in a product column and a lock lever for holding a second product from the lowest. A vending machine that holds a large-diameter product and a small-diameter product between a gate lever and a lock lever by adjusting the width of the product path by moving the product path back and forth and moving back and forth with respect to the product path. In the product passage width adjusting device, a product detection plate that is pivotally supported at the upper end and rotates downward by the pressing force of the inserted large-diameter product, and a vertically extending product that is pressed rearward by the product detection plate that rotates downward. An operating plate, a vertically extending passage width adjusting plate connected to the lower end of the operating plate and interlocking with the operating plate, and a first guide for guiding the operating plate pressed rearward obliquely upward rearward. Guideway and operation It has a second guide path for guiding obliquely upward passage width adjusting plate with the movement of obliquely upward toward the rear of the structure with.
[0010]
According to the first aspect of the invention, when a small-diameter product is stored in the product column, the product detection plate is on standby without being pressed rearward. That is, the operating plate is waiting at the front end side of the first guideway due to its own weight, and the passage width adjusting plate is also waiting at the front end side of the second guideway due to its own weight, whereby the product passage is narrow. It is set to the passage width (the passage width corresponding to small-diameter products).
[0011]
On the other hand, when a large-diameter product is introduced into the product passage set to the passage width of the small-diameter product, the large-diameter product hits the product detection plate and the product detection plate rotates downward. Next, the load of the large-diameter product is applied to the operation plate via the product detection plate, and the operation plate is guided to the first guide path and moves obliquely upward rearward. Subsequently, the passage width adjusting plate moves obliquely upward rearward through the second guide path due to the oblique rearward movement of the operating plate. As a result, the passage width is increased by the amount by which the operating plate and the passage width adjusting plate are moved rearward, and the passage width is adapted to large-diameter products.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity passage width adjusting device for a vending machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating plate and the passage width adjusting plate are suspended by a spring member substantially balanced with the load.
[0013]
According to the invention of claim 2, when the large-diameter product passes through the product passage, the load of the large-diameter product pushes the operating plate and the passage width adjustment plate obliquely upward. Since each plate acts as a lifting force, each plate smoothly moves upward even if the load of a large-diameter product is light.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for adjusting the width of a product passage of a vending machine according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, two second guide paths are arranged so as to correspond to the vertical position of the width adjustment plate. At the lower ends of the upper and lower two guide paths, a concave portion formed downward is formed.
[0015]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a small-diameter product is stored in the product column, the passage width adjusting plate stands by at the front end of the second guide path, and the upper and lower portions of the passage width adjusting plate are upper guides. It fits in the recesses of the road and the lower guideway. Thereby, the movement of the passage width adjusting plate in the front-rear direction is restricted, and the passage width of the small-diameter product is maintained.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the commodity passage width adjusting device for a vending machine according to the third aspect, at least the upper end of the upper guideway of the second guideway has a convex portion formed upward. ing.
[0017]
According to the invention of claim 4, when the large-diameter product is stored in the product column, the passage width adjusting plate waits at the rear end side of the second guide path, and at least the upper portion of the passage width adjusting plate is the upper portion. It fits into the convex part of the guideway. Thereby, the movement of the passage width adjusting plate in the front-rear direction is restricted, and the passage width of the large-diameter product is maintained.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 to 6 show an embodiment of a product passage width adjusting device for a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the vending machine, and FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the product passage width adjusting device. FIG. 3 is a side view of a small-diameter product during standby, FIG. 4 is a side view of a small-diameter product at standby, FIG. 5 is a side view of a large-diameter product during standby, and FIG. FIG.
[0019]
First, an outline of a vending machine will be described with reference to FIG. This vending machine is a serpentine type vending machine, in which a plurality of product columns 1 are arranged in front and behind, and a product unloading device 2 and a product passage width sandwich a product passage 11 at a lower side of the product column 1. An adjusting device (hereinafter, referred to as an adjusting device) 3 is provided.
[0020]
The structure of the product unloading device 2 is well known, and as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the gate lever 21 protrudes to close the product passage 11 in the standby state for sale, and the lowest products A1, B1 (FIGS. 3 and 5). At the time of sale, the lock lever 22 protrudes into the product passage 11, whereby the second lowest product A2, B2 is held. The gate lever 21 rotates downward while the second lowest products A2 and B2 are held, and the lowest products A1 and B1 are dropped and carried out (FIGS. 4 and 6). By repeating the selling standby operation and the selling operation, the lowest order products A1 and B1 are sold one by one.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment device 3 includes a product detection plate 31, an operation plate 32, and a passage width adjustment plate 33 interposed between the side plates 12 in order from the top. The operating plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33 are suspended by a coil spring 34, and the plates 31, 32, 33 are supported by respective holes 35, 36, 37, 38 formed in the side plates 12 on both sides of the product column 1. Have been.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the commodity detector 31 has its upper end curled and fixed to a shaft 311, and the shaft 311 is rotatably fitted into the round hole 35 of the side plate 12, whereby A product detection plate 31 is mounted on the side plate 12 so as to be rotatable downward. The lower end of the product detection plate 31 is bent in an R shape so that the products A and B are not damaged even when the products A and B hit the lower end of the product detection plate 31. Further, the product detection plate 31 is formed with a plurality of projections 312 protruding from the front side to the rear side in a chevron shape, and when the product detection plate 31 moves downward, the operation plate is provided via each projection 312. 32 is pressed. As described above, since the operating plate 32 is pressed through the respective protrusions 312, the contact area between the product detection plate 31 and the operating plate 32 is reduced, the frictional resistance is correspondingly reduced, and the operating plate 32 receiving the pressing force is reduced. Works smoothly.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation plate 32 has its upper end curled and fixed to a shaft 321, and the shaft 321 slidably penetrates the elongated hole 36 (first guide path) of the side plate 12. ing. On the other hand, the lower end of the operation plate 32 is curled and fixed to the shaft rod 322, and the shaft rod 322 penetrates the elongated hole 37 (upper guide path of the second guide path). Thereby, the upper and lower sides of the operation plate 32 are bridged on the side plate 12 via the respective shaft rods 321 and 322.
[0024]
Here, the long holes 36 and 37 extend obliquely upward toward the rear, and the operation plate 32 can move obliquely rearward through the long holes 36 and 37. In addition, a recess 371 formed downward is formed at the front lower end of the elongated hole 37, and the shaft 322 is fitted into the recess 371 to restrict the movement of the operation plate 32 in the front-rear direction. Further, the rear upper end of the elongated hole 37 has a convex portion 372 formed upward, and a shaft rod 322 is fitted into the convex portion 372 so that the operation plate 32 can be moved in the front-rear direction. Regulated.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, the passage width adjusting plate 33 is formed in a vertically long shape, and its upper end is curled and fixed to the shaft 322 similarly to the operation plate 32, and the shaft 322 is , The movement of the passage width adjusting plate 33 in the front-rear direction is restricted. Further, a lower portion of the passage width adjusting plate 33 has a portion bent in a chevron shape toward the front side and a portion bent in a backward direction, and a shaft 331 passes between the respective portions. Both ends of the shaft 331 are slidably penetrated through the elongated holes 38 (the lower guideway of the second guideway) of the side plate 12. Thereby, the upper and lower sides of the passage width adjusting plate 33 are bridged on the side plate 12 via the respective shaft rods 322 and 331.
[0026]
Here, the elongated hole 38 extends obliquely upward toward the rear, and the passage width adjusting plate 33 is also movable obliquely upward toward the rear. Further, a concave portion 381 formed obliquely downward is formed at the lower end of the front end of the elongated hole 38, and a shaft 331 is fitted into the concave portion 381 to restrict the movement of the passage width adjusting plate 33 in the front-rear direction. ing.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the coil spring 34 has an upper end hooked on the shaft 311 and a lower end hooked on the shaft 321, and the operating plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33 are suspended by the coil spring 34. When the operating plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33 are located at the lower ends of the front ends of the elongated holes 36, 37, 38, the urging force of the coil spring 34 is equal to the total load of the plates 32, 33 and the shaft rods 321, 322, 331. It is almost balanced with the power. Thereby, when the rearward moving force is not applied to the operation plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33, the plates 32, 33 are suspended from the front end lower end through the elongated holes 36, 37, 38. State. On the other hand, when a backward moving force is applied to each of the plates 32 and 33 and the plates 32 and 33 move obliquely upward, the contraction force of the coil spring 34 acts as a lifting force on each of the 32 and 33.
[0028]
The unloading operation by the product unloading device 2 and the adjusting device 3 according to the present embodiment will be described below. When selling the small-diameter product A, the product detection plate 31 is not pressed by the small-diameter product A because the diameter of the small-diameter product A is small. That is, since no rearward moving force is applied to the operation plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33, the plates 32, 33 are suspended at the front positions of the elongated holes 36, 37, 38. I have.
[0029]
In addition, since the lower end of the operation plate 32 and the upper and lower ends of the passage width adjustment plate 33 are fitted into the recesses 371 and 381 via the shaft rods 322 and 331, the operation plate 32 and the passage width adjustment plate 33 move in the front-rear direction. Movement is restricted, and the width of the passage is maintained at a size corresponding to the small-diameter product A. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the small-diameter products A are stacked on the gate lever 21 in an appropriate posture and stand by.
[0030]
When a sales signal is input in this standby state, as shown in FIG. 4, the lock lever 22 protrudes toward the product passage 11, and the second lowest product A2 is moved to the lock lever 22 and the passage width adjusting plate 33. While the gate lever 21 rotates downward to drop and carry out the lowermost product A1. Next, the gate lever 21 rotates upward, and then the lock lever 22 retreats, so that the second lowest product A2 falls, is held on the gate lever 21, and returns to the standby state again. By repeating such a standby state and a carry-out state, small-diameter products A are sold one by one.
[0031]
On the other hand, when a large-diameter product B is thrown into the product passage 11 set to the passage width of the small-diameter product A, the large-diameter product B hits the product detection plate 31 and the load of the large-diameter product B is reduced. , The product detection plate 31 rotates downward. Next, the rotational force of the product detection plate 31 is applied to the upper end of the operation plate 32 through the protrusion 312, and the upper end of the operation plate 32 is pressed rearward. The shaft 321 moves obliquely upward through the elongated hole 36 due to the rearward pressing force. The operation plate 32 is lifted upward by the diagonally upward movement of the shaft 321, so that the shaft 322 of the operation plate 32 comes off the concave portion 371. Then, the shaft 322 further moves obliquely upward, and finally fits into the recess 372. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation plate 32 is moved rearward.
[0032]
By moving the operating plate 32 backward, the passage width adjusting plate 33 operates as follows via the shaft rod 322. That is, the upper end of the passage width adjusting plate 33 moves obliquely upward rearward according to the shaft rod 322. By this movement, the passage width adjusting plate 33 is pulled upward, the shaft 331 of the passage width adjusting plate 33 is disengaged from the concave portion 381, and further moves diagonally upward. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the passage width adjusting plate 33 is in a state of being moved rearward.
[0033]
The rearward movement of the operating plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33 as described above automatically increases the passage width of the product passage 11 and forms a passage width corresponding to the large-diameter product B. Further, when the operating plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33 move diagonally upward, the contraction force of the coil spring 34 acts as a lifting force on each of the plates 32 and 33, so that the passage width for the large-diameter product B is set. It is performed smoothly, and even if the weight of the large-diameter product B is slightly lighter, the passage width of the large-diameter product B can be set without any trouble.
[0034]
Further, when the passage width is set for the large-diameter product B, since the upper end of the passage width adjustment plate 33 is fitted into the convex portion 372 via the shaft rod 322, the passage width adjustment plate 33 is not moved in the front-rear direction. The passage width is regulated, and is kept at an appropriate size for the large-diameter product B. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the large-diameter products B are stacked on the gate lever 21 in an appropriate posture and stand by.
[0035]
When a sales signal is input in this standby state, the operation is performed in the same manner as the operation of selling the small-diameter product A described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the gate lever 21 and the lock lever 22 operate alternately, and are sold one by one from the lowest product B1.
[0036]
In the above embodiment, no convex portion is formed at the upper end of the elongated hole 38, but a convex portion may be formed. Thereby, the movement of the lower end of the passage width adjusting plate 33 in the front-rear direction can be restricted, and the passage width set for large-diameter products is more firmly held.
In the above embodiment, the plates 31, 32, and 33 are supported on the side plate 12 by the shaft rods 311, 321, 322, and 331. However, projections (not shown) are provided on both sides of the plates 31, 32, and 33. You may be made to attach to. Further, although the elongated holes 36, 37, 38 are formed as guide paths for the operation plate 32 and the passage width adjusting plate 33, an elongated groove may be provided in the side plate 12 instead of the elongated holes 36, 37, 38. .
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the product passage width can be automatically adjusted according to various product diameters. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the spring member Since the contraction force acts as a lifting force for the operation plate and the passage width adjustment plate, the operation plate and the passage width adjustment plate can be smoothly moved to a predetermined position even if the load on the large-diameter product is light. According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, after the passage width is set, the movement of the passage width adjusting plate in the front-rear direction is regulated, so that various passage widths can be stably maintained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vending machine. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a product passage width adjusting device. FIG. 3 is a side view of a small-diameter product on standby for sale. FIG. FIG. 5: Side view of a large-diameter product at standby for sale [FIG. 6] Side view of a large-diameter product at the time of sale [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Commodity column, 2 ... Commodity discharge device, 3 ... Commodity passage width adjustment device, 11 ... Commodity passage, 21 ... Gate lever, 22 ... Lock lever, 31 ... Commodity detection plate, 32 ... Operating plate, 33 ... Passage width adjustment Plate, 34: coil spring, 36, 37, 38: long hole, 371, 381: concave portion, 372: convex portion, A, A1, A2: small diameter product, B, B1, B2: large diameter product.

Claims (4)

A product passage having a product lever having a gate lever for holding the lowest product in the product column and a lock lever for holding the second product from the lowest position faces the product path with the product path therebetween. In a product passage width adjusting device of a vending machine for adjusting a product passage width by moving forward and backward to hold a large-diameter product or a small-diameter product between the gate lever and the lock lever,
A product detection plate whose upper end is pivotally supported and rotates downward by the pressing force of the inserted large-diameter product,
A vertically extending operation plate pressed rearward by the product detection plate rotating downward,
A vertically extending passage width adjustment plate connected to the lower end side of the operation plate and interlocking with the operation plate,
A first guide path for guiding the operation plate pressed rearward diagonally upward rearward;
A second guide path that guides the passage width adjusting plate obliquely upward toward the rear as the operating plate moves obliquely upward, a product passage width adjusting device for a vending machine. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating plate and the passage width adjusting plate are suspended by a spring member substantially balanced with the load. The said 2nd guideway is arrange | positioned at the upper and lower sides of the said passage width adjustment plate, and has the recessed part formed downward at the lower end of two upper and lower guideways. Item 2. A product passage width adjusting device for a vending machine according to Item 2. 4. The apparatus for adjusting the width of a product passage of a vending machine according to claim 3, wherein at least an upper end of the upper guide path of the second guide path has a convex portion formed upward.

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