JP2005242608A - Serpentine type merchandise storage device for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a vending machine thin by improving the caulking structure of segments configuring serpentine type merchandise storage racks. <P>SOLUTION: This serpentine type merchandise storage device of a vending machine is provided with serpentine type merchandise storage racks 5 arranged so as to face each other in front and behind between a pair of side boards 10 arranged so as to face each other, and equipped with merchandise paths vertically formed in a meandering manner by a segment where engagement members projecting right and left are caulked and fixed to the side boards, a merchandise feeding port 4 opened to the front, and a top tray 8 linking the merchandise feeding port 4 and the upper ends of the merchandise paths in the serpentine type merchandise storage racks 5. The engagement member of a segment 5b adjacently fixed to the front and rear end faces of the side board 10 among the segments is formed as a paul member 55 integrally formed with the segment 5b, and the paul member 55 is inserted into an engagement hole 10e formed at the side board 10 so as to be caulked and fixed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a product storage rack having a product passage for storing products of canned beverages and plastic bottle beverages in a product storage cabinet in a horizontal position and storing them vertically, and in particular, a product passage in a serpentine type product storage rack. It is related with the fixing structure to the side plate of the segment which comprises.

  As a conventional apparatus for this type of vending machine, a typical can beverage vending machine is shown as an example in FIG. 4 and FIG. In each figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body cabinet of a vending machine as a box-shaped heat-insulating housing having an open front. The main body cabinet 1 has a single-open outer door 2 that closes the front opening. Yes. The interior of the main body cabinet 1 is partitioned into a plurality of product storage rooms (three rooms in this example) arranged side by side with a partition wall, and each product storage room has a top tray 8 (see FIG. 5), a serpentine type. The product storage rack 5, the product carry-out shooter 6 and the cooling / heating unit 7 are accommodated in the vertical direction. In addition, 3 is an inner door that closes the front surface of the interior, 3a is a product carry-out port with a flapper that is open to the inner door 3 by linking the product carry-out shooter 6 and the product take-out port 2a, and 4 is a product input port. Further, as is well known, the serpentine-type product storage rack 5 includes a product passage formed by arranging a segment row in which curved segments are vertically arranged between a pair of left and right side plates facing each other in the front-rear direction. The product that has been introduced into the product passage from the product entry port 4 through the top tray 8 is stacked in a vertical position in a vertical position and stored in accordance with the operation of the selection button at the bottom of the product passage. A product unloading mechanism for unloading the stacked products one by one is provided.

  Next, the linkage between the top tray 8 and the serpentine product storage rack 5 is shown in FIG. 6 shows the serpentine type product storage rack 5 having two rows of product passages in the front and rear, and only the main part of the rear row of product passages linked to the top tray 8 is shown.

  In FIG. 6, the top tray 8 has a flat plate shape made of a steel plate, curled portions 8a and 8b are formed at the front and rear ends thereof, and the curled portions 8a and 8b are formed to protrude to the left and right. The curled portions 8a and 8b formed to project from the front and rear left and right ends of the top tray 8 are loosely fitted in front and rear deformed holes 10a and 10b formed in the left and right side plates 10, respectively. The front and rear modified holes 10a and 10b have a step in the front and rear direction so that the rear modified hole 10b is lowered. With the curled portions 8a and 8b engaged with the deformed holes 10a and 10b, the top tray 8 is disposed so as to incline downward in the depth direction. Roll or slide up.

  As described above, the serpentine-type product storage rack 5 linked to the top tray 8 is formed by arranging segment rows in which curved segments 5a are vertically connected between a pair of left and right side plates 10 so as to face each other in the front-rear direction. Although provided with a merchandise path, segments 5b and 5c having a shape different from that of the segment 5a are arranged opposite to each other on the upper end side of the merchandise path linked to the top tray 8. The segment 5b is formed in a shape in which the center is substantially flat and the upper and lower ends are slightly curved. The segment 5c is a segment for adjusting the length of the product passage. At the upper and lower ends of each segment 5a, 5b, a curled portion 51 as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 7 is formed. As shown in FIG. 7, the left and right ends of the curl 51 protrude from the ends of the segments 5a and 5b and are formed as caulking pieces 52 (engaging members). The caulking piece 52 is formed in a sawtooth shape, and after the serrated caulking piece 52 is inserted into the engagement hole 10a formed in the left and right side plates 10, the serrated caulking piece 52 protruding from the side plate 10 is radially opened by a jig. Thus, the segments 5a and 5b are caulked and fixed to the side plates (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The caulking jig is described in Patent Document 2 although the object is different.

  Returning to FIG. 6, reference numeral 11 denotes an insertion port guide. The insertion port guide 11 is disposed so as to be swingable by loosely fitting a support shaft 11 a in a shaft hole 10 c formed in the side plate 10. A contact part 11b and a cover part 11c are provided at both ends of the support shaft 11a, and the contact part 11b is formed so as to overlap the flat part of the segment 5b.

With this configuration, by moving the top tray 8 back and forth, the distance between the rear end of the top tray 8 and the contact portion 11b of the inlet guide 11 that contacts the segment 5b can be set. When set at the front position of the deformed holes 10a and 10b, the distance between the rear end of the top tray 8 and the abutting portion 11b of the inlet guide 11 becomes the passage width of a large-diameter product having a large product diameter. Is moved to the rear and set to the rear position of the modified holes 10a and 10b, the distance between the rear end of the top tray 8 and the contact portion 11b of the inlet guide 11 is a passage width of a small-diameter product having a small product diameter. It becomes. Accordingly, by moving the top tray 8 back and forth in accordance with the product diameter stored in the product passage, for example, when a large-diameter product is introduced when the passage width of the small-diameter product is set, A large-diameter product is stopped between the end and the abutting portion 11 b of the insertion port guide 11. Here, when the product input from the product input port 4 changes its posture in the middle of rolling or sliding on the top tray 8 and reaches the product path in the vertical direction, the input port guide 11 inputs the product. The contact portion 11b of the mouth guide 11 and the cover portion 11c and the rear end of the top tray 8 are locked at three points to prevent the product facing in the vertical direction from falling into the product passage.
JP 20031966731 A Japanese Patent No. 2611523

  As is well known, this type of vending machine is desired to be thin because it is restricted from protruding onto the road. By the way, as described above, the serpentine-type product storage rack 5 includes a product passage formed by arranging a segment row in which curved segments 5a are vertically arranged between a pair of left and right side plates 10 so as to face each other. However, a segment 5b that receives and determines the position of the contact portion 11b of the slot guide 11 that regulates the merchandise to be thrown is disposed at the upper end thereof. Since the lower end of the segment 5b falls while the product slides, if the curled portion is arranged inside the product passage in the same manner as the curled portion at the upper end of the adjacent segment 5a, the lower end must be sharply curved, Thus, when it curves suddenly, there exists a possibility that the product which falls may collide with the curved surface of the segment 5b, and in the case of the product containing a carbonated drink, the foaming phenomenon in which a drink bubbles arises. For this reason, the curvature radius is formed large at the lower end of the segment 5b so that the falling product does not collide violently. Accordingly, the curled portion at the lower end of the segment 5b is disposed outside the curled portion at the upper end of the adjacent segment 5a, and the saw-toothed caulking pieces 52 (see FIG. 7) protruding outward from the side plate 10 are radially pushed open. It must be fixed by caulking. In this case, the jig for pressing and fixing the serrated caulking piece 52 radially is assumed that the length of the serrated caulking piece 52 protruding from the side plate 10 is equal to the length of the diameter of the curled portion of the segment 5b. The size of the segment 5b is approximately twice the diameter of the curled portion. On the other hand, since the curled portions 10d are formed at both the front and rear ends of the side plate 10 to increase the rigidity, the jig is used when the saw-toothed caulking pieces 52 of the segment 5b are radially opened to be caulked and fixed. Therefore, the rear end of the side plate 10 must be extended backward so that it does not contact the curled portion 10d of the side plate 10. Thus, since the rear end of the side plate 10 must be extended rearward only for the purpose of caulking and fixing the saw-toothed caulking piece 52 of the segment 5b, the size of the side plate 10 in the front-rear direction increases and the side plate 10 When the dimension in the front-rear direction increases, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the thickness of the vending machine.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to solve the above-mentioned problems and improve the structure for fixing the segment to the side plate to reduce the thickness of the vending machine. An object is to provide a portable product storage device.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a pair of side plates arranged opposite to each other, and an engaging member that protrudes from side to side between the side plates is caulked and fixed to the pair of left and right side plates. A serpentine type product storage rack having a product passage formed by meandering up and down by a segment, a product input port that opens to the front, and the product input port and the upper end of the product passage in the serpentine type product storage rack are linked. In the serpentine product storage device of a vending machine provided with a top tray that performs, the engagement member of the segment fixed in proximity to the front and rear end surfaces of the side plate among the segments is a claw member formed integrally with the segment The claw member is formed and inserted into an engagement hole formed in the side plate and fixed by caulking (Claim 1).

  The segment is a segment facing the rear end of the top tray at the upper end of the serpentine type product storage rack, and the engaging member at the lower end of the segment may be a claw member (Claim 2).

  In this invention described in Claim 1, the engaging member of the segment fixed near the front-and-back end surface of the side plate among the segments is formed as a claw member integrally formed with the segment, and the claw member is By adopting a structure that is inserted into the engagement hole formed in the side plate and fixed by caulking, it is only necessary to bend and fix the claw member in one direction. The curl portion of the side plate can be disposed close to the claw member of the segment without interfering with the portion, thereby reducing the size of the side plate in the front-rear direction, and thus reducing the thickness of the vending machine. Can be planned.

  In the present invention described in claim 2, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the vending machine with only a slight design change.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples shown in the drawings. In addition, in the figure of an Example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member corresponding to FIG. 6, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.
(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part structure in a serpentine type product storage device of a vending machine showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the difference from the conventional one is between a pair of left and right side plates 10. In a serpentine-type product storage rack 5 having a product path formed by arranging a segment row in which curved segments 5a are continuously arranged facing each other in the front-rear direction, the upper end side of the product path linked to the top tray 8 is provided. This is the point of the caulking structure at the lower end of the segment 5b. That is, the curled portion is not formed at the lower end of the segment 5b, and the flat crimping pieces 55 (claw members) as the engaging members shown in FIG. An oblong hole 10e (engagement hole) is formed in the side plate 10 corresponding to the flat caulking piece 55. The flat caulking piece 55 is formed integrally with the segment 5b, and notches 55a and 55a are formed at the connecting portion between the flat caulking piece 55 and the segment 5b to release bending stress during caulking. A round hole 55b is also formed in the bent portion of the portion 55 to release bending stress during caulking. Note that a curled portion is formed at the upper end of the segment 5b as in the conventional case, and a saw-toothed caulking portion (FIG. 7) protruding left and right from the curled portion is provided.

A method of caulking and fixing in Example 1 in which the flat caulking portions 55 are formed at the left and right ends on the lower end side of the segment 5b as described above will be described below. First, the flat caulking piece 55 of the segment 5 b is inserted into the oblong hole 10 e of the side plate 10, and the segment 5 b is assembled to the side plate 10 so that the flat caulking piece 55 protrudes outside the side plate 10. The flat caulking piece 55 protruding outward from the side plate 10 is formed in advance so as to be slightly inclined backward, or after the segment 5b is assembled to the side plate 10, the flat caulking piece 55 is inclined backward. Let Thereafter, the flat caulking piece 55 is caulked and fixed to the side plate 10 with a jig. In this case, the size of the caulking jig that presses and fixes the flat caulking piece 55 from above is large enough to bend the flat caulking piece 55 and press it against the side plate 10, in other words, the flat caulking piece 55 is the side plate. Any size corresponding to the length protruding outward from 10 may be used. This means that even if the curled portion 10d of the side plate 10 is brought close to the caulking fixing portion by the amount of the curled portion of the segment 5b removed from the conventional apparatus, that is, by the diameter dimension of the curled portion, This means that the caulking jig does not interfere with the curled portion 10 d of the side plate 10 when it is caulked and fixed to 10. Accordingly, the curled portion 10d of the side plate 10 can be brought close to the vicinity of the flat plate-like caulking piece 55, and the length of the side plate 10 in the front-rear direction can be reduced.
(Modification 1)
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an essential part showing a modification of the flat caulking piece according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the difference from the first embodiment in the illustrated variation 1 is a sawtooth caulking instead of the flat caulking piece 55. This is a point that is a piece 56 (claw member). In the case of the flat caulking piece 55 shown in the first embodiment, since the flat caulking piece 55 is curved with the curvature of the curved segment 5b, it is difficult to bend the curved flat caulking piece 55 at a right angle. On the other hand, according to the serrated caulking piece 56, the serrated caulking piece 56 is curved along the curve of the segment 5b along the entire length of the serrated caulking piece 56. Since it is substantially flat when viewed, it is possible to easily bend individual saw teeth. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of caulking and to attach the segments 5b without backlash.

In the above-described embodiment, the caulking structure of the lower end of the upper end side segment 5b facing the rear end of the top tray 8 in the serpentine type product storage rack has been described. However, the curvature radius of the segment 5a is increased to increase the curvature radius of the segment 5a. In a vending machine which tends to reduce the size of the storage rack in the front-rear direction, the upper and lower curled portions in the segment 5a are deleted to form an engaging member made of a claw member as in the present invention. It is something that can be done.
The present invention described above can be applied to, for example, a vending machine that sells canned beverages, bottled beverages, paper-packed beverages, and pet-bolted beverages in a refrigerated or heated state.

The cross-sectional view of the principal part structure of the goods storage apparatus which shows Example 1 of this invention Enlarged view of the flat caulking piece shown in FIG. The enlarged view which shows the modification of the crimping piece in FIG. Perspective view showing a general can beverage vending machine Cross-sectional view of the can beverage vending machine shown in FIG. Cross-sectional view of the main structure showing the linkage between the top tray and the product passage showing the conventional device Enlarged view of the caulking piece of the segment shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet of vending machine 2 Outer door 5 Serpentine type product storage rack 5a Segment 5b Segment 5c Segment 8 Top tray 10 Side plate 10e Oval hole (engagement hole)
11 Input Port Guide 55 Flat Caulking Piece (Claw Member) as an Engaging Member
56 Saw-toothed caulking piece (claw member) as an engaging member

Claims (2)

A product passage formed by meandering up and down by a pair of side plates opposed to each other and a segment that is arranged to be opposed to the front and back between the side plates and that is caulked and fixed to a pair of left and right side plates. Serpentine-type product storage rack having a front, a product input port that opens to the front, and a top tray that links the product input port and the upper end of the product passage in the serpentine-type product storage rack In the product storage device,
The engagement member of the segment fixed near the front and rear end faces of the side plate among the segments is formed as a claw member formed integrally with the segment,
A serpentine-type product storage device for a vending machine, wherein the claw member is inserted into an engagement hole formed in the side plate and fixed by caulking. 2. The serpentine product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the segment is a segment facing the rear end of the top tray at the upper end of the serpentine product storage rack, and the engaging member at the lower end of the segment is a claw member. Serpentine type product storage device for vending machines.

Images