JP2005239253A - Merchandise case for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise case for automatic vending machine, which makes it possible to sell merchandise other than cigarettes by the use of the automatic vending machine for cigarettes. <P>SOLUTION: The merchandise cases are accommodated in the storing shelf of the vending machine for cigarettes, and the outside shape of each case has a size that allows the cases to be taken out one at a time. The case comprises a case body 1 for accommodating merchandise other than cigarettes, and a lid 2 over the case body 1 that is freely opened or closed. The case body 1 and the lid 2 are long quadrangular. One of the long edges of the case body 1 and that of the lid 2 are connected together with such a hinge 3 that the other long edge of the case body 1 and that of the lid 2 are on the opened or closed side. The case body 1 and the lid 2 have engagement projections that elastically engage with each other. The engagement projections are formed in the middle and at both ends of the long edge on the opened or closed side of the case body 1. Likewise, the engagement projections are formed in the middle and at both ends of the long edge on the opened or closed side of the lid 2. The engaging forces of the engagement projections 17, 27, 18, and 28 at both the ends are stronger than the engaging forces of the engagement projections 16 and 26 in the middle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a product case for a vending machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a product case for selling products other than tobacco with a tobacco vending machine.

  Traditionally, tobacco vending machines sell only tobacco. The structure is comparatively simple, and has a mechanism in which individual packaging boxes of cigarettes are stacked and stored on a storage shelf and discharged one by one from the bottom (Non-Patent Document 1). Cigarette brands that can be sold range from one to about 40, and even if there are many brands, the machines are almost the same size.

By the way, there are places where vending machines are installed in small places and wide places, and vending machines such as noodles other than cigarettes and lunch boxes, or vending machines for cup drinks, etc. is there. In this case, the consumer can freely purchase various products, but if there are only one or two vending machines in a small place, the consumer can purchase only limited products.
In addition, even if a company with a vending machine intends to sell various products, there is a problem that only cigarettes can be sold in a place where only a cigarette vending machine can be installed, making it difficult to make a profit. .

Product Dictionary 308 pages Published on October 15, 1992, 12th edition Toyo Keizai Inc.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product case that enables a product other than tobacco to be sold using a cigarette vending machine.

A product case for a vending machine according to a first aspect of the present invention is a case of an outer dimension that is accommodated in a storage shelf of a cigarette vending machine and can be taken out one by one, and a case main body that accommodates products other than tobacco, and the case main body It is characterized by comprising a lid that can be freely opened and closed.
The product case for a vending machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the product case according to the first aspect, wherein the case main body has an engagement protrusion that elastically fits to the case body when the cover is closed, and the opening edge of the case body and the periphery of the lid It is characterized by being provided in each part.
The vending machine product case according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the second aspect, wherein the case body and the lid are long squares, one side of each long side is connected by a hinge, and the other side of the long side is Each of the open / close side long side of the case main body and the open / close side long side of the lid are formed with engaging protrusions at one place at the center and at both ends. The engaging force of the engaging protrusions at both ends is set stronger than the engaging force of the engaging protrusions of the two parts.

According to the first invention, since the product case has an external dimension that can be accommodated in a cigarette vending machine and taken out one by one, if a product other than tobacco is accommodated in the product case, the cigarette vending machine can Products other than can be sold. Therefore, if cigarettes and other products are mixed, a single vending machine can automatically sell a plurality of types of products.
According to the second invention, when the case main body containing the product is closed with the lid, the engagement protrusions can be elastically fitted to each other, so that the lid does not open naturally in the cigarette vending machine, and there is no deterioration in quality. Can be saved. In addition, after taking out from the cigarette vending machine, the lid can be easily opened by applying force by hand, so that the product can be easily taken out and the usability can be improved.
According to the third invention, even if the product accommodated in the case main body is somewhat bulky, it is possible to prevent the lid from opening naturally with the engaging protrusions having strong engaging forces at both ends, and after taking out, When the engaging protrusions having only a weak engaging force at the center part are first opened by hand, the engaging protrusions at both ends are easily detached. For this reason, the lid can be easily opened when it is desired to open artificially while reliably preventing the lid from being naturally opened due to the repulsive force of the bulky product.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product case A according to an embodiment of the present invention with the lid open, FIG. 2A is a plan view of the product case A with the lid open, and FIG. The figure is a front view with the lid closed, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the product case in use.

1 and 2, 1 is a main body case, 2 is a lid, and 3 is a hinge. In the product case A of the present embodiment, these members are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material.
The main body case 1 is a deep dish-like container having an open top surface on a rectangular parallelepiped, which includes a bottom wall 11, side walls 12 and 13 on the long side, and side walls 14 and 15 on the short side.
The lid is a shallow dish-shaped member having a rectangular parallelepiped lower surface, which is composed of a top wall 21, long side walls 22 and 23, and short side walls 24 and 25.
The side wall 12 on the long side of the main body case 1 and the side wall 22 on the long side of the lid 2 are connected by a hinge 3. Since the hinge 3 is a thin member made of synthetic resin, the lid can be opened and closed any number of times by bending the portion.

On the opening / closing side of the lid 2 of the main body case 1, that is, on the outer surface of the opening edge 10 on the side opposite to the hinge, one engagement protrusion 16 is formed at the center and two engagement protrusions 17 and 18 are formed at both ends. Has been. On the other hand, on the inner surface of the opening edge portion 20 on the non-hinge side of the lid 2, one engagement protrusion 26 is formed at the center and two engagement protrusions 27 and 28 are formed at both ends. The engaging projections 16 and 26 at the center and the engaging projections 17, 27, 18, and 28 at both ends are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material together with the case body 1 and the lid 2, and the elasticity of the synthetic resin Are elastically fitted.
Of the engaging portions, the engaging protrusions 16 and 26 in the central portion have a relatively small size and a relatively small engaging force. On the other hand, the engagement protrusions 17 and 27 and the engagement protrusions 18 and 28 at both ends are made larger in size than the engagement protrusions 16 and 26 at the central part, so that the engagement force is relatively large. It is getting bigger.

Since the product case A of the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, if an arbitrary product is packed in the main body case 1 and closed with the lid 2, the product can be maintained in a packed state. And the goods to be accommodated are not limited except for the size, and any goods may be accommodated.
And the product made into the compact like a cloth can also be accommodated after carrying out an inner packaging with a synthetic resin film. When the folded product has elasticity due to the elasticity of the material, for example, even in stockings, when the lid 2 is closed, the engagement force between the engagement protrusions 17 and 27 and the engagement protrusions 18 and 28 at both ends is large. Therefore, the lid 2 does not open naturally.

  In order for the product case A to be sold by a cigarette vending machine, its outer dimensions, ie, width, depth, and height, must be such that it can be stored in a storage shelf of a cigarette vending machine and can be taken out one by one. I must. In other words, it must be the same size as an individual packaging box that normally contains 20 cigarettes. There are four types of cigarettes: regular (70mm), long (80mm), king (85mm), and super king (100mm), so the product case of the present invention can be made in four types of width. .

As shown in FIG. 3, a wrapping paper 4 may be attached to the outer surface of the product case A in a state where the product is accommodated. The wrapping paper 4 has, for example, a top surface portion 41 and a side surface portion 42 that are continuous, the top surface portion 41 has the same or slightly smaller area as the top surface of the lid 2, and the side surface portion 42 is formed of the product case A. The area may be a little smaller than the side surface. And the side part 42 is provided with the cutting tape 43 in the longitudinal direction. The cut-off tape 43 is a tape in which a thin tape such as a film stronger than paper is attached to the inside of the side surface portion 42, and a perforation or the like is formed on the side surface portion made of paper on the outside of the tape such as the thin film. What has been put in, or one in which two perforations or cutting lines are made in the side surface portion 42 so that the paper-cutting tape 43 can be torn off, is used.
Such a wrapping paper 4 may be attached to the product case A with an adhesive or the like. With this wrapping paper, the contents of the product and various announcements can be printed, which is convenient for consumers.
And after taking out from a vending machine, after tearing off the cutting tape 43, if the cover 2 is opened, the purchased goods can be taken out.

According to the product case A of this embodiment, if cigarettes and other products are mixed, a single vending machine can automatically sell a plurality of types of products.
Further, when the case body 1 containing the product is closed with the lid 2, the engagement protrusions can be elastically fitted to each other, so that the lid 2 does not open naturally in the cigarette vending machine and is taken out from the cigarette vending machine. After that, the lid 2 can be easily opened by applying force by hand, so that the product can be easily taken out while being stored safely.
Furthermore, when the engaging protrusions 16 and 26 having only a weak engaging force at the center are first opened by hand after removal, the engaging protrusions 17, 27, 18 and 28 at both ends are easily detached. For this reason, the lid 2 can be easily opened when it is desired to open it artificially while reliably preventing the lid 2 from naturally opening due to the repulsive force of the bulky product, so that the usability is improved.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment, the lid 2 of the product case is a single opening using the hinge 3, but the lid 2 not using the hinge may be a separate body from the main body case 1.
In addition to the integrally formed thin material, the hinge 3 may use any means such as a hinge or a non-thin member with a crease line.

It is a perspective view of the state where the lid of goods case A concerning one embodiment of the present invention was opened. (A) is a plan view of the product case A with the lid open, and (B) is a front view with the lid closed. It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of the goods case.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 2 Cover 3 Hinge 16, 17, 18 Engagement protrusion 26, 27, 28 Engagement protrusion

Claims (3)

It is housed in a storage shelf of a cigarette vending machine and is a case with external dimensions that can be taken out one by one.
A product case for a vending machine comprising a case main body for storing products other than cigarettes and a lid for closing the case main body so as to be freely opened and closed. The engagement protrusion which elastically fits each other when the lid is closed on the case body is provided on the opening edge portion of the case body and the peripheral edge portion of the lid, respectively. Product case for vending machines. The case main body and the lid are long rectangles, one side of each long side is connected by a hinge, and the other sides of the long sides are on the open / close side,
In each of the open / close side long side of the case body and the open / close side long side of the lid, engagement protrusions are formed at one place at the center and at both ends.
3. The product case for a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the engaging force of the engaging protrusions at both ends is set stronger than the engaging force of the engaging protrusion at the central portion.