JP2005032093A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine preventing a commodity while suppressing increase of a size a commodity takeout part in a longitudinal direction. <P>SOLUTION: This vending machine is provided with a commodity takeout part 1, a lid part material 2 attached to the front door 3 rotatably between a closing position closing the commodity takeout part 1 and an opening position inclining toward the front side of a front door 3 to open the commodity takeout part 1, a shutter member 22 closing a communicating passages communicating a commodity storing part and the commodity takeout part 1 with the inclination of the lid part material 2 to the open position and a link mechanism connecting the lid part material 2 and the shutter member 22 so that the shutter member 22 moves up and down to open/close the communicating passage in conjunction with the rotation of the lid part material 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more specifically, the product take-out portion is opened by tilting the lid member that closes the product take-out portion forward, and the product take-out from the main body side in conjunction with the tilt of the lid member. The present invention relates to a vending machine in which a communication passage of goods to a section is closed by a shutter member.

  A problem with vending machines is theft that causes the product inside the main body to be pulled out by inserting a hand or tool from the product take-out section. Various attempts have been made to prevent such theft.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when the lid member is tilted to the front side of the front door, the shutter passage integrated with the lid member closes the communication passage for dropping the product from the main body side to the product takeout portion. To prevent theft.
JP 2002-279504 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the shutter member is integrally formed on the rear edge portion of the lid member, and operates so as to draw an arc from the rear to the front as the lid member tilts. When the lid member returns to the closed position, the lid member also operates in an arc from the front to the rear. Thus, since the shutter member operates along a trajectory that draws an arc, in addition to the front and rear dimensions of the space for receiving the product, a space for allowing the operation must be secured in the front and rear direction.

  In particular, in a vending machine with a structure in which products must be arranged on the product shelf in the front-rear direction and a moving space for the bucket that moves between the product shelf and the product takeout part must be secured in front of the product shelf. Since the dimension in the front-rear direction tends to be large, there is a demand for not generating a useless space in the front-rear direction as much as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that prevents goods from being stolen while suppressing an increase in the size of the product take-out portion in the front-rear direction.

  In solving the above problems, the vending machine of the present invention is formed with an opening in the front door, and is capable of receiving a product dispensed from the product storage unit, and a closed position for closing the product removal unit. A lid member attached to the front door so as to be pivotable between an open position that tilts forward of the front door and opens the product take-out portion, and a product storage portion as the lid member tilts to the open position A shutter member that closes the communication passage that communicates with the product take-out section, and a link that connects the lid member and the shutter member so that the shutter member moves up and down to open and close the communication passage in conjunction with the rotation of the lid member. And a mechanism.

  According to the present invention, since the shutter member and the lid member are not integrally coupled, but the shutter member is connected to the lid member via the link mechanism, the shutter member and the lid member are interlocked with the lid member that is rotated. The shutter member can be moved up and down without rotating. Thereby, the space for allowing the movement of the shutter member in the front-rear direction is not necessary, and an increase in the dimension of the product take-out portion in the front-rear direction can be suppressed.

  In the present invention, a lid member for opening and closing the product take-out portion and a shutter member for opening and closing a communication passage connecting the product storage portion and the product take-out portion are connected via a link mechanism, and the lid member is opened and closed. Since the connecting passage is opened and closed by moving the shutter member up and down in conjunction with each other, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the product take-out portion in the front-rear direction. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the vending machine in the front-rear direction, and a required installation space can be saved.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product take-out unit 1 of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated state is a state in which the lid member 2 is tilted to the front side of the front door 3 and the product take-out portion 1 is opened to the outside. FIG. 2 shows a state where the lid member 2 is further tilted forward from the state of FIG. 1 and is substantially perpendicular to the front door 3.

  The lid member 2 includes a front panel 4 and left and right side plates 5 and 6 provided at left and right edges on the inner surface side of the front panel 4. A window 4a made of, for example, a transparent resin material is formed on the front panel 4 so that the inside of the product take-out portion 1 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  FIG. 8 shows one side plate 5. A round hole 5 a is formed below the back surface portion of the side plate 5 attached to the front panel 4. The side plate 5 has a plurality of elongated slits 5b.

  FIG. 9 shows the other side plate 6. Also in the side plate 6, a round hole 6 a is formed below the back surface portion attached to the front panel 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 10 when the side plate 6 shown in FIG. 9 is viewed from the [10]-[10] line direction, two overhangs projecting substantially perpendicular to the side plate 6 are provided at the lower end portion of the side plate 6. Portions 7 and 8 are formed.

  The overhang 7 is formed with a spring hook 7c sandwiched between a rectangular slit 7a and a circular notch 7b. The overhanging portion 8 is formed with a lever member engaging portion 8a that enters a long hole of a lever member described later.

  The round holes 5a and 6a of the side plates 5 and 6 are fitted to a shaft member 9 (see FIG. 5) fixed to the lower end of the outlet of the product take-out portion 1, and the lid member 2 is a fulcrum using this fitting location as a fulcrum. Between the closed position (the state shown in FIG. 5) that closes the product take-out portion 1 and the open position (the states shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6) that tilts toward the front side of the front door 3 and opens the product take-out portion 1. It is free to rotate.

  The product takeout unit 1 is defined as a space in which a product can be received by a frame 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a top view of the frame 10. The frame 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 3 in which the product take-out portion 1 is viewed from the back side. The frame 10 includes a pair of side wall portions 12 and 13 facing each other, 13 and a top plate portion 11 connected to the upper end portion.

  The rear end portions 15 and 16 of the side wall portions 12 and 13 are bent at substantially right angles. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, regulating plates 18 and 19 are attached to the side wall portions 12 and 13 near the rear end portions 15 and 16. Like the rear end portions 15 and 16, the restriction plates 18 and 19 extend in the vertical direction and face the front surfaces of the rear end portions 15 and 16. The rear end portions 15 and 16 and the regulation plates 18 and 19 constitute a guide member that guides the vertical movement of a shutter member 22 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a protruding portion 17 is formed at the lower end portion of the side wall portion 13 so as to protrude substantially perpendicular to the side wall portion 13. The overhanging portion 17 is formed with a spring hooking portion 17c sandwiched between a rectangular notch 17b and a round hole 17a.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a fluorescent lamp 20 is provided as an illuminating unit on the outside of the side wall portion 12. The fluorescent lamp 20 extends in the front door 3 along the vertical direction. A plurality of daylighting holes 14 (see FIG. 3) are formed in the side wall part 12 facing the fluorescent lamp 20 so that light from the fluorescent lamp 20 can be taken into the product takeout part 1 through the daylighting hole 14. It has become.

  A coil spring 21 is applied between the lid member 2 and the frame body 10 to urge the lid member 2 to the closed position shown in FIG. Specifically, one end of the coil spring 21 is hung on a spring hook 7c provided on the side plate 6 of the lid member 2 shown in FIG. 10, and the other end is provided on the side wall 13 of the frame 10 shown in FIG. It is hung on the hung spring hook 17c.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lid member 2 is connected to a shutter member 22 described later via a link mechanism. The link mechanism includes a connecting plate 23 that connects the lid member 2 and the shutter member 22, a connecting portion between the connecting plate 23 and the shutter member 22, and a lever member 24 that connects the lid member 2. Yes.

  14 shows a side view of the connecting plate 23, and FIG. 13 shows a top view of the connecting plate 23 shown in FIG. The connecting plate 23 has three plate portions 27a, 27b, and 27c that are integrally connected to form an obtuse angle, and the front end portion 25 and the rear end portion 26 are rounded into a cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 13, the front end portion 25 is connected in the lateral direction (the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 23), but the rear end portion 26 is divided into three.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front end portion 25 of the connecting plate 23 is fitted to the shaft member 9 fixed to the lower end of the outlet portion of the product take-out portion 1 and is rotatable with respect to the shaft member 9. .

  A shaft member 28 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) that extends in the lateral direction within the product take-out portion 1 is passed through the rear end portion 26 of the connecting plate 23. Both end portions of the shaft member 28 do not interfere with the side wall portions 12 and 13 of the frame body 10, so that the inside of the product take-out portion 1 can be moved by the operation of a lever member 24 (described later) fitted to the shaft member 28. It has become.

  A shutter member 22 is connected to the shaft member 28. FIG. 11 shows a front view of the shutter member 22, and FIG. 12 shows a side view of the shutter member 22 shown in FIG. 11 viewed from the direction [12]-[12].

  The lower end 30 of the shutter member 22 is rounded into a cylindrical shape, and the upper end 29 is folded back to the opposite side of the protruding direction of the lower end 30. The lower end 30 is divided into two parts in the lateral direction (long direction of the shutter member 22). The side edge portions 31a and 31b near the upper end portion 29 protrude laterally from the side edge portions of other portions.

  The shaft member 28 is passed through the lower end 30 of the shutter member 22, and the shutter member 22 is connected to the connecting plate 23 via the shaft member 28. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the two-divided lower end portion 30 of the shutter member 22 is positioned between the rear end portion 26 of the connecting plate 23 divided into three parts, and the rear end portion 26 of the connecting plate 23 and The shutter member 22 is aligned with the lower end portion 30 in a straight line, and the shaft member 28 is passed through the rear end portion 26 and the lower end portion 30.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter member 22 is disposed in the product take-out portion 1 in an inclined posture in which the upper end portion 29 side is tilted backward. Side edge portions 31a and 31b (see FIG. 11) near the upper end portion 29 of the shutter member 22 are provided at the rear end portions 15 and 16 of the side wall portions 12 and 13 of the frame body 10 shown in FIG. The side edge portions 31a and 31b of the shutter member 22 are in contact with the front surfaces (inner surfaces) of the rear end portions 15 and 16 of the frame body 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lower end portion of the lever member 24 is connected to the shaft member 28. In the upper half of the lever member 24, a long hole 24 a is formed along the longitudinal direction of the lever member 24. A lever member engaging portion 8a provided at the lower end portion of the side plate 6 of the lid member 2 shown in FIG. 10 enters the elongated hole 24a. In the closed position state of the lid member 2 shown in FIG. 5, the lever member engaging portion 8a is positioned closer to the lower end portion of the long hole 24a.

  As described above, the shaft member 28 is connected to the rear end portion 26 of the connecting plate 23, the lower end portion 30 of the shutter member 22, and the lower end portion of the lever member 24, each of which rotates relative to the shaft member 28. It is free to move.

  A bottom plate 32 shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 is attached to the connecting plate 23, and the bottom plate 32 constitutes the bottom of the product take-out portion 1. 15 shows a top view of the bottom plate 32, FIG. 16 shows a front view of the bottom plate 32 shown in FIG. 15 viewed from the [16]-[16] line direction, and FIG. 17 shows [17] of the bottom plate 32 shown in FIG. ]-[17] The side view seen from the line direction is shown.

  The bottom plate 32 has a product receiving portion 33 and a side surface portion 34 that hangs downward from one end portion of the product receiving portion 33 and is integrally connected. The product receiving portion 33 is connected to the side surface portion 34. It is inclined downward from the one end portion to the other end portion. Therefore, there is a high and low drop between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the commodity receiving portion 33.

  The merchandise receiving portion 33 is not flat but is gently curved downward and convex in the front-rear direction. The bottom plate 32 itself is made of, for example, a steel plate, and a polyethylene sheet, for example, is attached to the surface of the product receiving portion 33. Thereby, the friction with the product is reduced, and the posture of the product can be easily corrected by the action described later.

  18 shows a top view of the bottom plate 32 attached to the connecting plate 23, and FIG. 19 shows a side view of the bottom plate 32 attached to the connecting plate 23. FIG. The bottom plate 32 is disposed on the connecting plate 23 with its longitudinal direction being along the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 23, and mounting portions 35, 36 formed on both side ends of the bottom plate 23 are connected to the connecting plate 23. For example, it is fixed by welding.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the front door 3, a transparent panel 40 is fitted above the product take-out unit 1, and is stored in the product storage unit on the main body side (not shown) and the product storage unit through the transparent panel 40. The product is visible from the outside of the front door 3. A plurality of product shelves are disposed in the product storage unit, a plurality of product columns are formed on each product shelf, and each product column extends in the front-rear direction. Then, the products are stored side by side along the front-rear direction with a standing posture in each product column.

  Further, the fluorescent lamp 20 shown in FIG. 7 extends to the product storage unit, and the inside of the product storage unit can be illuminated.

  A bucket and bucket moving means are disposed between the product storage unit and the front door 3. The bucket is movable in the vertical and horizontal directions between a position facing the front of each product column and a position facing the back of the product take-out unit 1. Therefore, a space for allowing the bucket to move is formed between the product storage unit and the front door 3.

[Product purchase flow]
When the purchaser presses a product selection button provided on the front surface of the front door 3, the signal is received, the bucket moves to the selected product column, and stops in front of the product column. When the product is transferred from the product column into the bucket by the product delivery means (not shown), the bucket starts moving toward the product extraction unit 1 below.

  When the bucket reaches a position facing the back of the product take-out unit 1 (not just behind but slightly above the position of the product take-out unit 1), it stops at that position, and the belt in the bucket is driven to bring the product to the front side. The product is sent to the product take-out unit 1 through a connection port 42 (see FIG. 2) formed in the front panel of the main body. At this time, the lid member 2 is still closed, and the shutter member 22 does not close the front side of the communication port 42 and does not prevent the product from entering the product take-out portion 1.

  For example, products such as bottled beverages and paper-packed beverages are taken out from the communication port 42 with the bottom surface facing the front side, and the transparent flapper 41 (see FIG. 2) is rotated to the front side to take out the product take-out unit 1. Come in. The flapper 41 is provided on the back side of the product take-out portion 1 and is rotatable about the upper end portion.

  The product that has entered the bottom side toward the front side is corrected in posture by the drop of the product receiving portion 33 of the bottom plate 32 that constitutes the bottom of the product take-out portion 1. That is, the bottom of the product is dropped toward the lower side end portion of the product receiving portion 33 so that the product is supported on the product receiving portion 33 in a lying posture. Thereby, even a long bottle beverage can be placed on the product receiving portion 33 without being caught in the product taking-out portion 1, and as a result, the product taking-out portion 1 when the lid member 2 is opened. Facilitates the removal of goods from

  Further, light from the fluorescent lamp 20 (see FIG. 7) can be taken into the product take-out portion 1 through the daylighting hole 14 formed in the side wall portion 12 and the slit 5b formed in the side plate 5 of the lid member 2. The product stored in the product take-out portion 1 can be visually recognized through the transparent window 4a of the lid member 2 even in a dark environment. The fluorescent lamp 20 originally provided for illumination in the product storage portion that can be visually recognized from the outside is extended downward to a position facing the side wall portion 12 of the product take-out portion 1. Since the light is also used for illumination of the product take-out unit 1, no major design change or cost increase is required.

  When the purchaser confirms that the product has been paid out into the product take-out unit 1 through the transparent window 4a of the lid member 2, the purchaser places the hand on the lid member 2 and tilts the lid member 2 forward so that the product take-out unit Open 1 to the outside.

  When the lid member 2 is tilted forward (leftward in the figure) from the closed position of FIG. 5 with the shaft member 9 as a fulcrum, the side plate 6 of the lid member 2 starts to rotate forward with the shaft member 9 as a fulcrum. . Along with this rotation, the lever member engaging portion 8a (see FIG. 10) provided at the lower end portion of the side plate 6 moves upward in the elongated hole 24a of the lever member 24.

  Then, the lever member engaging portion 8a comes into contact with the upper inner wall surface of the long hole 24a to lift the lever member 24. When the lever member 24 is lifted, the shaft member 28 passed through the lower end portion of the lever member 24 is also lifted.

  As a result, the shutter member 22 having the lower end portion 30 connected to the shaft member 28 is also lifted, and as shown in FIG. 6, the upper end portion 29 side is tilted backward and the side edge portions 31a and 31b are left. 11 (see FIG. 11) is moved upward in contact with the front surfaces (inner surfaces) of the rear end portions 15 and 16 of the frame body 10.

  Due to the upward movement of the shutter member 22, the shutter member 22 blocks the front of the communication port 42 as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the communication path from the communication port 42 into the product take-out unit 1 is closed. In the present embodiment, the shutter member 22 does not block all the communication ports 42 but blocks the lower half or the lower two thirds. The remaining portion is blocked by a flapper 41 that overlaps the front side of the shutter member 22. Of course, all of the communication ports 42 may be blocked by the shutter member 22. Thereby, it is possible to block the entry of hands and tools into the communication port 42 and prevent the product from being removed.

  Further, when the shaft member 28 is lifted, the rear end portion 26 of the connecting plate 23 connected to the shaft member 28 is also lifted, and the connecting plate 23 is fitted to the shaft member 9 as shown in FIG. The front end 25 is pivoted forward with the fulcrum as a fulcrum.

  With this rotation of the connecting plate 23, the product receiving portion 33 of the bottom plate 32 attached to the connecting plate 23 comes to the front side, and the product placed on the product receiving portion 33 is grasped by hand. Easy to take out.

  When the product is taken out and released from the lid member 2, the coil spring 21 (extended between the side wall portion 13 of the product take-out portion 1 and the side plate 6 of the lid member 2 is moved by the movement of the lid member 2 to the open position. The lid member 2 is returned to the closed position shown in FIG. 5 by the restoring force in the state of FIG.

  As the lid member 2 returns, the shaft member 28 connected to the lid member 2 via the lever member 24 also returns to the position shown in FIG. 5, and thus the shutter member 22 connected to the shaft member 28 also moves downward. To return to the position shown in FIG. As in the case of the upward movement, the shutter member 22 remains in a tilted posture in which the upper end portion 29 side is tilted backward, and the side edges 31a and 31b (see FIG. 11) are the rear end portion 15 of the frame body 10, It is moved downward in contact with the front surface (inner surface) of 16.

  As a result, the shutter member 22 is removed from the position blocking the front of the communication port 42, and entry of the product into the product take-out portion 1 through the contact port 24 at the time of the next product purchase is not prevented. The flapper 41 is provided on the back side of the product take-out portion 1 so as to be rotatable about the upper end portion, and the product coming out from the contact port 42 is rotated by moving the flapper 41 to the near side. Comes in 1.

  As described above, since the operation of the shutter member 22 accompanying the turning operation of the lid member 2 is a vertical movement, a useless space is not formed behind the product take-out portion 1 as in Patent Document 1. Thus, space saving in the front-rear (depth) direction in the product take-out portion 1 can be achieved.

  Further, the shutter member 22 is further prevented from falling backward by the rear end portions 15 and 16 of the side wall portions 12 and 13, and is further moved forward by the restriction plates 18 and 19 facing the rear end portions 15 and 16. Since the fall is regulated, the shutter member 22 can be moved up and down stably.

  The vending machine according to the present embodiment is a so-called see-through type vending machine, and the product storage section and the products stored therein are visible from the outside via the transparent panel 40 (FIG. 1). The product take-out unit 1 is positioned at a medium height with respect to the height direction of the vending machine so that the product can be taken out even if a person does not bow, and although not shown in FIG. There is also a transparent panel and a product storage portion visible through the transparent panel below the transparent panel.

  In providing the shutter member 22 in the product take-out unit 1 located on the front side of the product storage unit, as described above, the size of the product take-out unit 1 does not increase in the front-rear direction. Can be stored and more products can be stored. As described above, the product in the product storage unit is carried through the space between the product storage unit and the product take-out unit 1 by the bucket, and enters the product take-out unit 1 from a position facing the back of the product take-out unit 1. come.

  Therefore, the communication path from the product storage unit to the product take-out unit 1 extends in the substantially front-rear direction, and in order to block or release the communication path, the shutter member 22 is moved only in the vertical direction. Good. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the communication passage is opened above the product takeout portion as in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to operate the shutter member so as to draw an arc on the front side so as to close the opening.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shutter member 22 is moved up and down in a tilted posture in which the upper end portion 29 side is tilted backward. However, the shutter member 22 may be moved up and down in a vertically standing posture.

It is a perspective view of the goods extraction part of the vending machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and shows the state by which the cover member was tilted to the front side. It is a perspective view of the goods extraction part seen from the angle different from FIG. It is a rear view of a goods extraction part. It is a principal part enlarged view in the back surface of a goods extraction part. It is a side view of a goods extraction part, and shows the state where a lid member is closed. FIG. 6 is a side view of a state in which the lid member is tilted forward from the state of FIG. 5. It is a top view of the frame which defines a goods extraction part. It is a side view of one side plate of a lid member. It is a side view of the other side plate of a lid member. It is the top view which looked at the side plate of FIG. 9 from the [10]-[10] line direction. It is a front view of a shutter member. It is the side view which looked at the shutter member of FIG. 11 from the [12]-[12] line direction. It is a top view of the connection plate which connects a cover member and a shutter member. It is a side view of the connection board of FIG. It is a top view of the baseplate which receives goods. It is the front view which looked at the baseplate of FIG. 15 from the [16]-[16] line direction. It is the side view which looked at the baseplate of FIG. 15 from the [17]-[17] line direction. It is a top view in the state where the bottom plate was assembled to the connecting plate. It is a side view of the state in which the bottom plate was assembled | attached to the connection plate.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Product extraction part, 2 ... Cover member, 3 ... Front door, 10 ... Frame, 12 ... Side wall part, 13 ... Side wall part, 14 ... Daylighting hole, 15 ... Rear end part of side wall part 12, 16 ... Side wall part 13 rear end portion, 18 ... regulating plate, 19 ... regulating plate, 20 ... illuminating means, 22 ... shutter member, 23 ... connecting plate, 24 ... lever member, 31a ... side edge, 31b ... side edge, 32 ... Bottom plate.

Claims (4)

A product take-out unit that is formed to open in the front door and accepts products to be paid out from the product storage unit;
A lid member attached to the front door so as to be rotatable between a closed position that closes the product take-out portion and an open position that tilts toward the front side of the front door and opens the product take-out portion;
In a vending machine comprising a shutter member that closes a communication passage that connects the product storage unit and the product take-out unit as the lid member tilts to the open position.
A vending machine provided with a link mechanism that connects the lid member and the shutter member so that the shutter member moves up and down to open and close the communication passage in conjunction with the rotation of the lid member. .   2. A guide member that guides the vertical movement of the shutter member by restricting the shutter member from tilting forward or backward is provided to face a side edge of the shutter member. Vending machine as described in.   The bottom part of the product takeout part is inclined from one side wall part of the product takeout part to the other side wall part opposite to the side wall part, and a difference in height is given to both side end parts of the bottom part. The vending machine according to claim 1 or claim 2. A part of the front door is transparent, the product storage part is visible from the front side of the front door, and the illumination means for illuminating the product storage part extends to the outside of the side wall part of the product take-out part. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a daylighting hole is formed in the side wall portion so as to extend the light from the illumination means into the product takeout portion.

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