JP2004199721A - Structure for mounting display dummy to vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure for mounting a display dummy that enables the display dummy to be firmly mounted on a stage by being easily fitted into fitting holes with varying sizes (diameters) and varying thickness formed in the stage and into fitting holes with varying diameters. <P>SOLUTION: The structure for mounting the display dummy to a vending machine is used with a lower end of the display dummy fitted into the fitting holes in the stage installed at the display part of the vending machine. The display dummy is made from an elastic material in a halved shape. Retaining parts that fit into the fitting holes in the stage are formed at the bottom of the dummy. Also, reinforcing ribs for increasing the retaining force of the retaining parts are provided in a horizontal line on the bottom surface of the dummy to form the retaining parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display dummy attached to a display part of a vending machine for unmanned sales of beverages in containers such as coffee, juice, beer and tea, or tobacco, dry batteries, etc. (imitation products for display). Mounting structure.

  For example, in vending machines for various beverages and other products in containers such as PET bottles, a stage is provided on a display portion in front of the vending machine, and a display dummy is installed on this stage. As shown in Patent Document 1 and the like, a display dummy having the same shape as a product to be sold and having a holding portion formed at a lower portion is formed, and this holding portion is fitted into a fitting hole formed in a stage. Was.

However, in such a device, since the cost is increased, a half display dummy is used in which the bottom of the half type display dummy is elastically deformed and fitted to the mounting holding portion of the stage.
If the display dummy is half, the dummy installed on the stage may be tilted or shifted due to vibration or wind pressure when opening and closing the door. To prevent this, for example, see Patent Document 2 below. As shown in FIG. 2, there is known a device which is attached to a stage via an adapter holding half of a display dummy.

However, in the case where half of the display dummy is installed on the stage via an adapter, in addition to the production of the display dummy, the adapter must also be produced, which is not only time-consuming but also takes time. Since the adapter is manufactured according to the type of the display dummy, there are also problems that the types are increased and the manufacturing cost is further increased.
Further, the above-mentioned problem becomes remarkable also when the type of beverage needs to be changed and replaced.

JP-A-10-79078 JP 2000-222636 A

  The present invention has been developed in view of the problems described above, and is applicable to fitting holes having different sizes (diameters) and thicknesses formed on the stage and fitting holes having dimensional variations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display dummy mounting structure that can easily fit the display dummy to a stage.

  The mounting structure of the display dummy according to the present invention is a display dummy in a vending machine used by fitting a lower end of the display dummy into a fitting hole of a stage installed in a display portion of the vending machine. In the mounting structure, the display dummy is formed in a half-split shape using a material having elasticity, and a holding portion that fits into a peripheral portion of a fitting hole of the stage is formed at a bottom portion thereof, and is formed on a bottom surface. The holding portion is formed by providing reinforcing ribs for enhancing the holding force of the holding portion in a line shape in the left-right direction.

  In the mounting structure for a display dummy according to the present invention, the holding portion that fits into the fitting hole of the stage may be formed by a groove that fits into the peripheral portion of the fitting hole, or the groove may be formed of the display dummy. It is also characterized in that it is formed by a lower portion and a convex portion formed at a predetermined interval in front of the bottom surface.

  In the display dummy mounting structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the display dummy mounting structure according to the first aspect of the present invention reinforces the display dummy by holding the portion near the holding portion of the display dummy by hand and elastically deforming the portion. By elastically deforming the ribs, the width of the left and right ends of the holding portion is elastically deformed so as to be smaller than the diameter of the fitting hole of the stage, contracted, inserted into the fitting hole, then elastically restored, and fitted. The holding force of the holding part is strengthened by the reinforcing ribs, so the display dummy can be easily attached to and detached from fitting holes with different diameters and thicknesses and fitting holes with uneven dimensions. it can.

Further, the mounting and holding portion is temporarily contracted from the left and right directions, and is inserted into the fitting hole and elastically restored in this state, whereby the reinforcing rib is elastically restored, so that the fitting and holding force of the holding portion is strengthened, and There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the display dummy installed on the stage from easily coming off the fitting hole or being inclined by being displaced or tilted due to the vibration or wind pressure when opening and closing.

A display dummy mounting structure in a vending machine according to a best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
First, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine, and reference numeral 1 in the figure generally indicates the vending machine. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a front door which can be opened and closed to replenish the product, and a can-type display dummy 3 and polyethylene terephthalate (P.E.) formed on the upper part of the front door and having substantially the same dimensions as the product. .T), a display chamber (display part) 5 for displaying bottle-type display dummies 4 (hereinafter referred to as dummies 3 and 4 inclusive) is provided in two upper and lower stages.
On the front door 2, push buttons 6, 6,... For selecting products related to the dummies 3, 4 are arranged.
A product take-out port 7 is provided at the lower side of the front door 2, and a cash slot, a change port 9, and an operation lever 10 for returning money are provided in addition to the cash inlet 8 shown in FIG. I have.

A stage 11 is provided inside the display chamber 5 as a mounting surface for the dummies 3 and 4.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stage 11 is formed by forming a metal strip into a horizontally long, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a low height, and a plurality of fitting holes 13 are provided on a top surface thereof at predetermined intervals. It is formed so that a holding portion 12 formed below the dummies 3 and 4 to be described later can be fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the fitting holes 13 emits light of a fluorescent lamp (not shown) installed inside the stage 11 from inside the dummies 3 and 4 so that the product emerges. The semicircular portion, which also functions as a transmission hole and has a smaller diameter than the diameters of the dummy 3 and 4, is installed in a state positioned in front of the stage 11.

On the other hand, each of the dummies 3 and 4 installed on the stage 11 is formed as shown in FIGS.
That is, the dummies 3 and 4 are printed on one surface of a transparent sheet made of polycarbonate excellent in heat resistance and weather resistance with a light-transmitting ink in the same manner as that of the product, and vacuum-formed so that the printed surface is inward. The holding part 12 is integrally formed below the dummy members 3 and 4 simultaneously with the vacuum molding.
Here, the term "half-split shape" as used in the present invention includes not only a true half portion of a cylindrical product but also a product having both end portions elongated rearward.

The holding portion 12 that fits into the fitting hole 13 of the stage 11 is formed by a groove 16 that fits into the peripheral portion 13 a of the fitting hole 13 and a reinforcing rib 17 that increases the holding force of the groove 16.
The above-mentioned groove 16 is formed in a semi-circular projection 18 at two locations, that is, at lower portions 3a and 4a of the dummies 3 and 4 and at bottom portions 3b and 4b of the dummies 3 and 4 and at side portions thereof. In addition, both left and right sides are formed so as to protrude laterally from the ends thereof, and are formed between the two locking projections 19. These projections 18 and 19 are simultaneously formed when the dummy 3 and 4 are molded. Is formed.
Further, the reinforcing ribs 17 for enhancing the holding force of the groove 16 and thus the holding force of the holding portion 12 are formed by providing unevenness having a mountain-like or corrugated cross section in a line in the left-right direction.

Next, a case where the dummies 3 and 4 configured as described above are attached to the stage 11 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower ends of the torso portions 3c and 4c of the dummy members 3 and 4 are sandwiched between fingers so that the reinforcing ribs 17 are elastically deformed against the elastic force of the linear reinforcing ribs 17. Then, the diameter of the holding portion 12 of the dummy 3 or 4 is reduced.

Next, with the diameter reduced in this manner, the holding portions 12 are inserted into the desired fitting holes 13 of the stage 11 with the back sides of the dummies 3 and 4 facing the partitions 14, and after the insertion, the holding portions 12 are held as described above. By loosening the force of the finger, the holding portion 12 is elastically returned together with the body portions 3c and 4c.
As a result, the holding portion 12 returns to the original state, and the groove 16 fits into the peripheral portion 13 a of the fitting hole 13.
At the same time, the reinforcing ribs 17 that have been flexed so far are elastically restored to linear shapes, and the grooves 16 are made to bite into the peripheral edge portion 13 a of the fitting hole 13 of the stage 11 deeply and securely.
Therefore, the dummies 3 and 4 are securely attached to the stage 11.

Although not shown, positioning protrusions are formed in a part of the groove 16 of the holding portion 12, and positioning recesses are formed in the peripheral edge 16 of the fitting hole 13 corresponding to the positioning protrusions. Therefore, the dummy members 3 and 4 are attached to the stage 11 at the correct positions by these fittings.
In the above-described embodiment, the dummy 3, 4 is made of a polycarbonate transparent sheet made into a half-split product by vacuum molding. However, any other material having excellent heat resistance and weather resistance can be used. Needless to say, the molding method is not limited to vacuum molding.

Further, the form of the groove 16 of the holding portion 12 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and it goes without saying that the structure can be implemented as long as the structure can be securely attached to the peripheral portion 13 a of the fitting hole 13 of the stage 11.
Furthermore, it goes without saying that the number of the reinforcing ribs 17 may be one or three or more.

It is a perspective view of the vending machine concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view of the stage part concerning this invention. 1 is a front view of a display dummy according to the present invention. It is a side view of the display dummy concerning this invention. It is a bottom view of the display dummy concerning this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a display dummy according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a state in which the body of the display dummy according to the present invention is grasped and attached to the fitting hole of the stage.

Explanation of reference numerals

1 Vending machine 3, 4 Display dummy 5 Display part (display room)
11 Stage 12 Holding part 13 Peripheral part 16 of fitting hole 13a 13 Groove

Claims (3)

A display dummy mounting structure in a vending machine used by fitting a lower end of a display dummy into a fitting hole of a stage installed in a display portion of a vending machine,
The display dummy has a holding portion that fits into the peripheral portion of the fitting hole of the stage at a bottom portion formed in a half-shape of an elastic material, and the holding force of the holding portion is enhanced on the bottom surface. A mounting structure for a display dummy, wherein a fitting portion is formed by providing reinforcing ribs in a line shape in the left-right direction.   The mounting structure for a display dummy according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion that fits into the fitting hole of the stage is formed by a groove that fits into a peripheral portion of the fitting hole.   The mounting structure for a display dummy according to claim 2, wherein the groove is formed by a lower portion of the display dummy and a protrusion formed at a predetermined interval in front of a bottom surface.

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