JP2004287629A - Merchandise storing device for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the merchandise storing device of a vending machine for reducing the width size of a merchandise storing device, and reducing the manufacturing costs. <P>SOLUTION: In this merchandise storing device of the vending machine in which a storage carriage path 3 vertically extending while meandering is formed between the two columns of path forming boards, and a path forming board 2B is arranged so as to be made to appear/disappear with respect to the storage carriage path 3, a regulating member 4 for regulating the path forming board 2B is turnably arranged, and an interlocking plate 5 for turning the regulating member 4 is arranged outside a side board 1 at only one side. Thus, it is possible to satisfactorily regulate the path forming board 2B, and it is necessary to form only one interlocking board 5 with respect to one storage carriage path 3. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the width size of the merchandise storage device, and to reduce the manufacturing costs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product storage device of a vending machine that stores products such as canned beverages and bottled beverages.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a product storage device of this kind of vending machine, a plurality of passage forming plates curved in an arc shape are arranged in a vertical direction between a pair of left and right side plates, and the rows of these passage forming plates are placed close to each other. There is a so-called serpentine rack in which the storage and transport passages extending vertically while meandering are formed between these passage forming plate rows, which are arranged so as to face each other with the vertical position shifted between the side and the rear side. . As the passage forming plate, both ends of the support shaft provided at the upper end thereof are rotatably engaged with the side plate, and the lower side is swingably supported about the support shaft so that the lower side moves back and forth with respect to the storage conveyance passage. Some are known.
[0003]
By the way, products sold by vending machines have a plurality of diameters. In this way, even when the diameters of the products stored in the respective storage and transport paths are different, the products pass through the storage and transport paths while falling. At this time, it is necessary to ensure that the impact at the time of the drop is well absorbed, stored in a good posture at the time of storage, and is properly introduced into the commodity discharging section at the lower end, so that the discharging operation is reliably performed. Therefore, in the conventional product storage apparatus, in one (or both) of the passage forming plate rows, an urging spring for urging the passage forming plate toward the inside of the storage conveyance path is mounted on a support shaft or the like, and the urging force is applied by the urging force. The formed passage forming plate strongly contacts the product when passing the product and increases the shock absorbing power at the time of falling, corrects the falling posture of the product, and allows the product to move horizontally in the storage transport passage when storing the product. It is intended to prevent the product from standing in the vertical direction, that is, a so-called product standing state, without being in the overlapping position.
[0004]
However, in the same storage and transport passage, when handling products having a large diameter to a small diameter as products, for example, when handling large-diameter products and ultra-fine-diameter products, the passage forming plate is biased as described above. If only the product is stored, the product may be in a standing state in which the product stands in the vertical direction in the storing and conveying path when storing a very small diameter product, and the payout of the product may be defective.
[0005]
In order to cope with this, the swing range of the passage forming plate is regulated to reduce the size of the storage conveyance passage. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, for example, a regulating shaft 52 extending left and right is disposed at a position on the back side of the passage forming plate 51 in one row, and the regulating shaft 52 is attached to each of the side plates 53 on both sides. The restricting shaft 52 is moved in parallel in the range where the elongated hole 54 is formed, and the swing range of the passage forming plate 51 is restricted. In order to move the regulating shaft 52 in parallel within the range in which the elongated hole 54 is formed, a connecting shaft 56 is attached to the outside width adjusting plate 61 for adjusting the effective width of the outlet passage of the commodity dispensing section 60 outside each of the side plates 53 on both sides. When the interlocking plate 55 interlocking with the intervening plate is arranged to be able to move up and down along the side plate 53 and the outlet width adjusting plate 61 is moved obliquely along the width adjusting irregular holes 62 and 63 formed in the side plate 53, The swinging range of the passage forming plate 51 is regulated by moving the regulating shaft 52 substantially horizontally in conjunction with the interlocking plate 55 which moves up and down in conjunction with the outlet width adjusting plate 61.
[0006]
Here, 50 in FIGS. 6 to 9 is a storage / conveyance passage, 59 is a support shaft for swingably supporting the passage forming plate 51, 64 is formed on the interlocking plate 55, and the support shaft 59 is inserted therethrough. A vertical guide hole for guiding the 55 in a vertically movable manner, 58 is a deformed slide hole formed in the interlocking plate 55, 65 is a horizontal guide hole inserted through a connecting shaft 56 connected to the outlet width adjusting plate 61 in the interlocking plate 55, 66 Is an insertion shaft inserted through the outlet width adjustment plate 61 and the width adjustment irregular hole 63; 70 is a product dispensing device that discharges products at the lower end one by one; 67 is an exterior packaged on the support shaft 59 for storing and conveying the passage forming plate 51; An urging spring 68 that urges the inside of the passage 50 is attached between the side plates 53 and is a contact shaft to which one end of the urging spring 67 is applied. When the outlet width adjusting plate 61 is moved obliquely along the width adjusting deformed holes 62 and 63, the interlocking plate 55 moves up and down as the outlet width adjusting plate 61 moves up and down. The swing range of the passage forming plate 51 is changed by the lateral movement of the regulating shaft 52 accompanying the operation.
[0007]
Further, as similar to the structure shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, it is also possible to reduce the size of the storage transport passage by arranging the entire passage forming plate so as to be movable in the direction of retracting and moving relative to the storage transport passage. (For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2), also in this vending machine product storage device, a regulating shaft that regulates the movement of the movable-side passage forming plate row in the retreating direction is provided by a side plate on both sides. Are fitted in and supported by the long holes respectively formed, and the restricting shaft is moved in parallel in the range in which the long holes are formed to restrict the moving range of the passage forming plate. The movement of the exit width adjusting plate is transmitted to the regulating member by the interlocking plate arranged in the control member.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-54696
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-89350
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the merchandise storage device of the vending machine having the conventional configuration as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 and the configuration of the merchandise storage devices of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, each of the regulating shafts 52 has a long hole. In this configuration, the interlocking plates 55 for transmitting the movement of the outlet width adjusting plate 61 to the regulating shaft 52 are disposed outside the side plates 53 on both sides. A relatively large space is required as a space for disposing the plate 55, and a problem has arisen that the width of the entire product storage device becomes large.
[0011]
In addition, since two interlocking plates 55 are required for each storage / conveyance passage 50, the number of components is increased by that amount, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device of a vending machine in which the width of the product storage device can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 arranges a plurality of curved passage forming plates in a vertical direction between a pair of left and right side plates, and arranges the rows of these passage forming plates in the near side and the back side. A storage and conveyance path extending vertically while meandering is formed between the passage formation plate rows, and at least one of the passage formation plates is arranged so as to be able to move in and out of the storage and conveyance path. A product storage device for a vending machine, wherein the passage forming plate is allowed to move to a position where the amount of retreat from the storage and transport passage side is large at a rear portion of the retractable passage forming plate between the side plates. An axial center portion provided on the restricting member, the restricting member having a restricting member that restricts movement in a first position and a second position that restricts the path forming plate to move only to a position in which the amount of retreat from the storage / transport path is small. The both sides In the state of being engaged with the side plate, the supporting member is rotatably supported about this axis, and the restricting member is formed with a protruding portion protruding laterally from the side plate. And an interlocking plate which is movable along the axis and rotates the regulating member by contacting the protrusion of the regulating member.
[0013]
In this configuration, when one interlocking plate is moved, the interlocking plate abuts on the protruding portion of the restricting member, and the restricting member moves to the first position or the second position. As a result, the moving position of the passage forming plate is changed. The size of the storage / conveyance path is regulated and adjusted to a path width suitable for the diameter of the product. According to this configuration, only one interlocking plate needs to be provided for one storage / conveyance passage, so that the width of the product storage device can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise storage device of the vending machine according to the first aspect, the interlocking plate is formed with guide portions for holding the regulating member in the first posture and the second posture, respectively. Features.
[0015]
With this configuration, the regulating member can be favorably held in the first posture and the second posture by the guide portion of the interlocking plate.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise storage device of the vending machine according to the first or second aspect, the interlocking plate is interlocked with an exit width adjusting plate that adjusts an effective width of an exit passage of the commodity dispensing section. Features.
[0016]
With this configuration, by moving the outlet width adjusting plate, the interlocking plate is interlocked, and the regulating member is rotated to the first posture or the second posture.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a product storage device of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a product storage device of a vending machine, a plurality of passage forming plates 2 curved in an arc shape are arranged in a vertical direction between a pair of left and right side plates 1, and these passages are arranged. The rows of the forming plates 2 are arranged so as to face each other with the vertical position being shifted between the front side and the rear side, and a storage transport passage 3 extending vertically while meandering is formed between the rows of the passage forming plates 2. are doing.
[0019]
Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the passage forming plates 2A in one row (the row shown on the right side in FIGS. 2A and 2B) forming the storage transport passage 3 are provided at the upper end thereof. The protruding shaft portions 2a are engaged with the holes 1a of both side plates 1, and the lower end portions are locked to the upper end portions of the passage forming plate 2A and the passage guiding component immediately below, and are fixed at predetermined positions. .
[0020]
On the other hand, the passage forming plates 2B of the other row (the rows shown on the left side in FIGS. 2A and 2B) forming the storage transport passage 3 are supported by the mounting plate 7 mounted between the side plates 1. The upper end is inserted into the support shaft 7a, and the lower side of the support shaft 7a is supported not only so as to be swingable so as to be able to move back and forth with respect to the storage / conveyance passage 3 as well as the passage forming plate 2B. One end of an urging spring 6 composed of a helical spring that urges the inside of the storage conveyance path 3 is engaged, and the passage forming plate 2B urged by this urging force strongly contacts the article S when the article passes. To increase the shock absorption when falling. The other end of the biasing spring 6 is in contact with the mounting plate 7.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a regulating member 4 extending to the left and right is rotatably arranged between the side plates 1 at a position on the back side of the passage forming plate 2B. The restricting member 4 is engaged with a round hole 1c formed in each of the side plates 1 on both sides, and is rotatably supported between the side plates 1, and extends in a radial direction around the protruding shaft portion 4a. The regulating plate portion 4b and a projecting portion 4c projecting from both sides from the side surface of the regulating plate portion 4b are integrally formed. The protruding portion 4c is protruded laterally from the side plate 1 through an arc-shaped opening 1d formed in the side plate 1, and the restricting member 4 is positioned such that the protruding portion 4c can move within the opening 1d. It is arranged rotatably. In this embodiment, the case where the projecting portions 4c are provided on both sides in order to share one type of regulating member 4 with each product storage device is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the projecting portions 4c are regulated. You may comprise so that it may protrude to one side only from one side surface of the board part 4b.
[0022]
An interlocking plate 5 that is movable up and down along the side plate 1 and abuts on the protruding portion 4c of the restricting member 4 to rotate the restricting member 4 is provided outside the side plate 1 on only one side. As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and the like, a guide hole 5a is formed in the interlocking plate 5 so as to extend vertically and connect an upper square hole 5a 'and a lower groove hole 5a ". The guide piece 1e is inserted into the upper square hole 5a 'of the guide hole 5a of the interlocking plate 5 and slid into the lower slot 5a "of the guide hole 5a, and the interlocking plate 5 is pulled out by the guide piece 1e. In this state, the interlocking plate 5 is guided to be able to move up and down freely. The interlocking plate 5 is provided with the regulating member 4 in the first posture X shown in FIGS. 4 (a), (b), 5 (a), (b) and in FIGS. 4 (c), 5 (c). Guide portions 8 that are respectively held in the second posture Y shown are cut out and formed. As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c), the guide part 8 has an arcuate surface part 8a formed on the upper part, an inclined surface part 8b formed on the lower part, and a horizontal connecting part between these ends. And a surface portion 8c.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the interlocking plate 5 is engaged at its lower end with an outlet width adjusting plate 11 for adjusting the effective width of the exit passage of the commodity dispensing section 10. The plate 5 moves up and down. The outlet width adjusting plate 11 is disposed opposite to a product discharging device 12 provided in the product discharging unit 10 via an outlet passage, and includes a plurality of engaging projections 11a, 11b, 11c provided on the outlet width adjusting plate 11. , Are inserted into and engaged with the width adjustment irregular holes 1 f, 1 g, 1 h formed in the side plate 1. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the outlet width adjustment plate 11 has a large diameter product within a range in which the engagement projections 11a, 11b, 11c move within the width adjustment irregular holes 1f, 1g, 1h. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the attitude of the large exit width corresponding to S1 and the attitude of the small exit width corresponding to the very small diameter product S2 are arranged so as to be movable in a substantially oblique direction. The engaging projection 11a integrally formed on the upper portion of the outlet width adjusting plate 11 is not only inserted into the width adjusting deformed hole 1f, but also a horizontal sliding hole formed at the lower end of the interlocking plate 5. 5b, the outlet width adjusting plate 11 is moved in an oblique direction along the width adjusting deformed holes 1f, 1g, and 1h. The plate 5 moves up and down.
[0024]
In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the outlet width adjusting plate 11 is set to have a large outlet width corresponding to the product S1 having a large diameter, the engagement protrusion 11a of the outlet width adjusting plate 11 is used. 4A, the interlocking plate 5 is shifted upward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. The inclined position is pushed up from below by the surface portion 8b. In this state, when the product S1 having a large diameter is replenished into the storage / conveyance passage 3 and comes into contact with the passage forming plate 2B, the passage forming plate 2B is opposed to the urging force of the urging spring 6 as shown in FIG. As shown by the imaginary line in (a), the swinging member swings in the direction of retreating from the storage transport passage 3, and the back surface of the passage forming plate 2 </ b> B comes into contact with the tip of the regulating plate portion 4 b of the regulating member 4. Here, since the regulating member 4 is rotatable to the position shown in FIG. 5B, as shown in FIG. 4B, the passage forming plate 2B swings in the rotation range up to this position. Is allowed, and the product S1 having a large diameter is satisfactorily conveyed downward in the storage conveyance path 3 while pushing the passage forming plate 2B.
[0025]
On the other hand, when the outlet width adjusting plate 11 is set to have a small outlet width corresponding to the product S2 having a very small diameter, as shown in FIG. 2B, the position of the engaging protrusion 11a of the outlet width adjusting plate 11 is changed. Accordingly, the interlocking plate 5 is shifted downward, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the protruding portion 4c of the regulating member 4 is sandwiched between the arc surface portion 8a and the horizontal surface portion 8c. It becomes a horizontal posture like that. In this state, the product S2 having an extremely small diameter is replenished into the storage / conveyance passage 3 and comes into contact with the passage forming plate 2B, and the passage forming plate 2B resists the urging force of the urging spring 6 in FIG. As shown by the imaginary line, when swinging in the direction of retreating from the storage conveyance path 3 and coming into contact with the tip of the regulating member 4, the regulating member 4 is in a horizontal posture as shown in FIG. At the same time, since the protruding portion 4c is located between the arc surface portion 8a and the horizontal surface portion 8c, it is stretched in this horizontal posture, and the passage forming plate 2B is moved only to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. Does not swing. As a result, even when the product S2 has an extremely small diameter, the dimensions of the storage and transport passage 3 are adjusted to the passage width corresponding to the diameter of the product S2, and the ultra-small diameter product S2 stands in the storage and transport passage 3 in the vertical direction. Is prevented. Thus, the payout operation can be favorably performed regardless of whether the product S has a large diameter or a very small diameter.
[0026]
In addition, according to the above configuration, the regulating member 4 is rotatably disposed and the regulating member 4 is positioned by regulating the rotation operation. Therefore, as shown in FIG. When the interlocking plate 5 for controlling the position is provided only on one side with respect to one storage / conveyance passage 3, the regulating member 4 is well positioned and is well controlled. As a result, it is only necessary to provide one interlocking plate 5 for one storage / conveyance passage 3, so that compared with the conventional case where two interlocking plates are provided for one storage / conveyance passage, the product storage device Can be reduced in size and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0027]
Further, as described above, since the interlocking plate 5 is formed with the guide portions 8 for holding the restricting member 4 in the first posture X and the second posture Y, the posture of the passage forming plate 2B can be favorably switched. , Can be held.
[0028]
In the above embodiment, the case where the interlocking plate 5 is linked to the exit width adjusting plate 11 of the product payout unit 10 is described. In this case, the exit width adjusting plate 11 is moved so that the interlocking plate 5 is moved. Since the regulating member 4 is rotated to the first posture or the second posture in conjunction with the control, the switching operation according to the diameter of the product can be performed with a very small amount of operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to arrange the interlocking plate 5 itself so as to be exposed at a place operable by hand or the like, and to manually operate the interlocking plate 5 itself.
[0029]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the passage forming plate 2B is swingably supported has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the entire passage forming plate 2B and the entire row of the passage forming plate 2B are The present invention can also be applied to a device movably supported in the storage / transport passage 3. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the passage forming plate 2A on the side where the regulating member 4 is not provided is fixed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the passage forming plate 2A is also swingable. Applicable even if supported.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the regulating member for regulating the passage forming plate is rotatably disposed, and the interlocking plate for rotating the regulating member is disposed outside the side plate on only one side. While it is possible to satisfactorily regulate the passage forming plate, it is only necessary to provide one interlocking plate for one storage / conveyance passage, so that the width of the product storage device can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. .
[0031]
In addition, by interlocking the interlocking plate with the exit width adjusting plate that adjusts the effective width of the exit passage of the product payout section, by adjusting the exit width adjusting plate, the regulating member is also interlocked via the interlocking plate, The switching operation in accordance with the diameter of the device can be performed with extremely few operations.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a product storage device of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a regulating member of the product storage device.
FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are cross-sectional views of main parts of the product storage device, respectively. FIG. 2 (a) shows a case where large-diameter products are stored, and FIG. Show.
FIG. 3 is a rear view schematically showing a passage forming plate of the product storage device and a portion in the vicinity thereof.
4 (a) to 4 (c) are side views schematically showing a passage forming plate of the product storage device and a portion in the vicinity thereof, and FIG. 4 (a) shows a case where a large-diameter product is set and in a standby state. , (B) shows a state in which large-diameter products have been introduced, and (c) shows a case in which ultra-fine products are stored.
FIGS. 5A to 5C are conceptual side views schematically showing an interlocking plate and a regulating member of the product storage device, respectively, and FIG. 5A shows a standby state when a large-diameter product is set; (B) shows a state when a large-diameter product is introduced, and (c) shows a case where an ultra-fine product is stored.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a conventional vending machine.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the product storage device of the conventional vending machine.
FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing a passage forming plate and a portion near the passage forming plate of the conventional product storage device.
9 (a) and 9 (b) are side views of a product payout section of the conventional product storage device, wherein (a) shows a case where large-diameter products are stored, and (b) shows an ultra-thin product. The case where it is stored is shown.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Side plate 1c Round hole 1d Opening 1e Guide piece 2, 2A, 2B Passage forming plate 3 Storage / transport path 4 Restriction member 4a Protruding shaft 4b Restriction plate 4c Projection 5 Interlocking plate 5a Guide hole 6 Bias spring 8 Guide 8a Circular surface portion 8b Inclined surface portion 8c Horizontal plane portion 10 Product discharging section 11 Exit width adjusting plate 12 Product discharging device X First posture Y Second posture

Claims (3)

Between a pair of left and right side plates, a plurality of curved passage forming plates are vertically arranged and arranged,
The rows of these passage forming plates are arranged facing each other on the near side and the back side,
Forming a storage and transport passage extending vertically while meandering between the passage forming plate rows,
A vending machine product storage device in which at least one row of passage forming plates is disposed so as to be able to move back and forth with respect to a storage transport path,
A first position for allowing the passage forming plate to move to a position in which the amount of retreat from the storage / conveying path side is large at a rear portion of the retractable passage forming plate between the side plates; A restricting member that restricts movement over a second position that restricts movement only to a position in which the amount of retreat from the transport path side is small, in a state in which a shaft portion provided on the restricting member is engaged with both side plates, It is supported rotatably around this axis,
The regulating member has a protruding portion that protrudes laterally from the side plate,
A product of a vending machine, characterized in that an interlocking plate that is movable along the side plate and abuts on a protruding portion of the restricting member and rotates the restricting member is disposed outside the only one side plate. Storage device. 2. The merchandise storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking plate is formed with guide portions for holding the regulating member in the first posture and the second posture, respectively. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking plate is interlocked with an exit width adjusting plate that adjusts an effective width of an exit passage of the product dispensing section.

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